Gratitude Resets Thoughts

In the past week, I have read many articles and listened to a number of talks centered around gratitude. Gratitude brings happiness. Gratitude also puts a focus on the good in a situation, dampening fear. It helps people form stronger bonds across borders and through their differences. It encourages generosity. One writing referred to the expression of appreciation as a kind of reset for thoughts, saying that it allows calm, reflective thinking, which is just what we need in order to bring a healing perspective. These wise words could certainly be applied to many situations in our current atmosphere, don't you think? I'm going to practice this as a way of turning around fearful or defensive thinking when it occurs. If someone is saying something which I find abrasive, I will find something to be grateful for about them. When a politician has upset me with his actions, I shall try to follow my own advice. Whatever the case, I love thinking about gratitude as a reset. While writing this, I looked at my beautiful cats sleeping peacefully and told them how grateful I am that they came to live with me. As I was thinking about the love I feel toward them, I glanced out the window and saw the moon in all its majesty, shining brightly through my Christmas “stick” (as I think of it). Life is Good, and I am grateful!

“You are being blessed by every beneficent thought of any of your brothers anywhere. You should want to bless them in return, out of gratitude. You need not know them individually, or they you. The light is so strong that it radiates throughout the Sonship and returns thanks to the Father for radiating His joy upon it. Only God’s holy children are worthy channels of His beautiful joy, because only they are beautiful enough to hold it by sharing it. It is impossible for a child of God to love his neighbor except as himself. That is why the healer’s prayer is: Let me know this brother as I know myself.”
A Course in Miracles T-5.in.3:1-8

"Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech."
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 3:25-26

The Actuality of Being

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

We’ve often heard it said: It’s not what happens to us; it’s what we do with it. Many of us have impediments we believe are keeping us from freely going forward joyously in daily life. Dr. Gabor Mate is a man who has observed the effects of childhood trauma. He beautifully describes what we can do to break free of the circular events which follow us around after experiencing pain and fear, particularly in our younger years. These demons are not something to be ignored or covered up with things like drugs and distractions. They are to be faced in order to release them. For some people, it takes years of therapy, for others it’s the realization that they can be free right here and now. Everyone is different and that’s okay. The guilt we hold onto is as destructive as the pain we’ve experienced and keep reliving. Seeing what holds us in unhappiness is the key to finding joy. Let’s give ourselves permission to be happy!

“The so-called pleasures and pains of matter perish, and they must go out under the blaze of Truth, spiritual sense, and the actuality of being. Mortal belief must lose all satisfaction in error and sin in order to part with them. Whether mortals will learn this sooner or later, and how long they will suffer the pangs of destruction, depends upon the tenacity of error.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 296:14-21

“To be wholehearted you must be happy. If fear and love cannot coexist, and if it is impossible to be wholly fearful and remain alive, the only possible whole state is that of love. There is no difference between love and joy. Therefore, the only possible whole state is the wholly joyous.⁵To heal or to make joyous is therefore the same as to integrate and to make one. That is why it makes no difference to what part or by what part of the Sonship the healing is offered. Every part benefits, and benefits equally.”
A Course in Miracles T-5.in.2:1-7

Playmates

Artist Yayoi Kusama 

While listening to an old Ram Das video I heard him say: “It’s delicious to find a playmate to play with your mind.” Hearing this, I laughed out loud remembering the wonderful mind playmates I’ve had in the last few decades! When moving to Eureka Springs almost 30 years ago, I found a different way of thinking from the parents and teachers at the Clear Spring School. It was a glimpse of intelligent free-thinking which was delightfully different to my experience. From there it just got better! Having an art gallery and representing the creative geniuses of our town and the surrounding area was a joyous time of life. I have no words for the beauty of these years, but the feeling will never leave me — nor the friendships. The five years of my association with our local metaphysical society was a whole other level of thought, which led to ideas and friendships which feel like a wonderful flavor in my mouth. A group of people who met monthly for a free-wheeling salon became my dearest of all friends and I will never forget our exciting and fun-filled conversations. My long-lived bookclub has kept me reading books I probably would not know about on my own, and our discussions have led to deep friendship and admiration for each and every one of these women. What a fortunate woman I am to have so many playmates! And I am grateful …

“Love never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object. One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful. Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 248:4-8

“There is no grace of Heaven that you cannot offer to your brother, and receive from your most holy Friend. Let him withhold it not, for by receiving it you offer it to him. And he will receive of you what you received of him. Redemption has been given you to give your brother, and thus receive it. Whom you forgive is free, and what you give you share. Forgive the sins your brother thinks he has committed, and all the guilt you think you see in him.”
A Course in Miracles T-19.IV-D.15:5-10

Isn’t It Madness …

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

When I was a young child, I always heard that women could not be newscasters, or politicians, or astronauts, or any number of positions which were considered to be of leadership and importance. As I grew up, I saw that to be untrue. Often I wondered why we divided everything into male and female. As my youngest son asked when he was a small child : Why do we have men’s and women’s clothing? Why not just clothes? I agree! And while we’re at it, let’s quit splitting things up into gender for any reason! If somebody’s good at something, that’s what they should be doing. Give men the freedom to stay home and take care of children and cook, if that’s what they want to do. I feel a change in the air. Join me in celebration!

“Isn’t it odd that once upon a time in Europe a woman could be killed for making potions from the plants around her.

“Isn’t it insane that once upon a time wise women were burnt or drowned for helping birth babies, knowing their herbs, gathering in groups of more than two, being outside alone, being strong, being beautiful, being ugly, being different, being sexual, being non sexual or touching a nettle, smelling a rose or drinking wild teas.

“Isn’t it madness that a woman who knew her body, her mind and her heart was cast aside as evil, as a sinner and her life taken away.

“Women! Do not let the ancestral memory of this that is held in your make up, in your bones and blood hold you back. Rise dear sweet sisters, rise so that our daughters and daughters’ daughters don’t have to wonder when we lost our tongues and denied our hearts.

“Grow a new tongue, invite the wolf in, awaken the witch and dance under the moon. Embrace your heart, your womb, your gut and your wisdom.

“Roar dear sister, break the silence and take back your power so the young ones won’t have to.”
~ Brigit Anna McNeill

Always With You

Writing By Tahlia Hunter

“Patience visited me

And it reminded me 

That good things take time to come to fruition

And grow slowly with stability 

Peace visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I may remain calm through the storms of life 

Regardless of the chaos surrounding me 

Hope visited me 

And it reminded me 

That better times lay ahead 

And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I may achieve it 

Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less

But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me

And it reminded me 

To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself 

And those surrounding me

Confidence visited me

And it reminded me

To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents 

In order to make others feel more comfortable 

But to embrace what makes me me 

Focus visited me

And it reminded me

That other people’s insecurities and judgements about me

Are not my problem 

And I should redirect my attention 

From others back to me 

Freedom visited me 

And it reminded me 

That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts and wellbeing 

But me

And love visited me 

And it reminded me 

That I need not search for it in others

As it lies within me.”

By Tahlia Hunter

“I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being, imperishable glory, — all are Mine, for I am God. I give immortality to man, for I am Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love. I give life, without beginning and without end, for I am Life. I am supreme and give all, for I am Mind. I am the substance of all, because I am that I am.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 232:31-8

“When I said ‘I am with you always,’ I meant it literally. I am not absent to anyone in any situation. Because I am always with you, you are the way, the truth and the life. You did not make this power, any more than I did. It was created to be shared, and therefore cannot be meaningfully perceived as belonging to anyone at the expense of another. Such a perception makes it meaningless by eliminating or overlooking its real and only meaning.” 

A Course in Miracles  T-7.III.1:7-12

Harmony

Art by J. Clement Wall

Peace is a state of mind. We can feel the epitome of peace in the midst of turmoil, or we may be in an outer oasis of stillness but, due to our tumultuous state of mind, be anxious and upset. It helps me to know that we are all, each and every one, the reflection of Spirit. With this realization, I am able to see everything through the eyes of divine Love. This is not to say that I'm always calm. Sometimes I forget I am the idea of God, and that everyone else is, too. At those times, who knows how I may be interpreting events! In a state of forgetfulness, I am at the mercy of material belief, being swayed by thought systems which were put in place long before my appearance in this world. But when I remember the spiritual Truth of creation, things appear differently to me -- and there is peace.

“Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites understanding to eternal harmony. 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 506:10-14

“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. ⁶When you bring in the stranger, he becomes your brother.” 

A Course in Miracles T-1.III.7:1-6

The Function of Truth

Do you ever feel as though there’s too much information (and disinformation) floating around in our atmosphere? It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of facts which present themselves to us every moment of every day. We don’t even have to search for them; they find us. I remember when I was growing up and television and radio commercials were just coming into fashion. We were warned about subliminal messages hidden beneath the surface, and the brainwashing effects of repetitious phrases and tunes. The first political candidate’s commercial was for Eisenhower in the 50s, which, to those of us born in that decade, seems like yesterday. The bombardment of political misinformation is too much for many of us to handle, so we choose our favorite commentator and believe their words. I would like to encourage everyone to not give up! Please, find a trusted source for facts and read whenever possible. 

“To my sense, the most imminent dangers confronting the coming century are: the robbing of people of life and liberty under the warrant of the Scriptures; the claims of politics and of human power, industrial slavery, and insufficient freedom of honest competition; and ritual, creed, and trusts in place of the Golden Rule, ‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.’”
Mary Baker Eddy - from the article Insufficient Freedom written in 1900 for the New York World.

“The function of truth is to collect information that is true. Any way you handle error results in nothing. The more complicated the results become the harder it may be to recognize their nothingness, but it is not necessary to examine all possible outcomes to which premises give rise in order to judge them truly.”

A Course in Miracles T-8.VIII.6:7-9