When you give this gift to a friend or relative you never know, but it may be just what they need!
This essay collection offers reflections on choosing peace while living in the world. We live in a world that has problems; the wars, sorrow, tragic killings, and death. But inner peace is possible. It is a choice made consciously, nurtured and attended to carefully.
The world is dualistic with opposites; good and bad; love and fear and life and death. We inherited a split mind. The ego part chooses judgment and separation. It is NOT your friend. It is the opposite of love. It is a manipulator and gives only to get. It must win at all costs, its stingy; jealous; lies; and judges everyone and everything. We learn to watch it and see how it works. Becoming aware is critical to silencing it and choosing the voice for love inside. Just because a thought enters the mind, it doesn’t mean it is true. Don’t believe everything you think. The ego runs on automatic. It makes you miserable, separate and alone.
But the other voice in the mind resides in the higher Self. Turning away from the ego, you have the power to see the world in a different light; thoughts of healing grace and forgiveness. This is your choice: listen to the ego or to the voice of truth residing in your Self. Only you can do it. No one can do it for you. A mind is a beautiful thing to change. When we get tired of the pain, we look for another way; the way of peace. We ask to see things differently.
These essays will help in learning how to access the perennial wisdom residing within. It is simple and it only takes mindfulness, watching and mind training. You are worth it! And so are those you love.
A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOURSELF, RELATVES AND FRIENDS.
The ego is TOTALLY wrong! It is a piece of flotsam and jetsam floating around in your Holy Mind. We come into this world and its voice is what we hear UNTIL we look at it, decide it is wrong and ask for HELP to “see” another way. The ego is usually always fear, mistrust, jealousy, judgment and something is thinks is love.
It makes us become suspicious of the world and what we “think” we see! We ask: Is this all there is? And Why? You may have a list of grievances that have accumulated since the first grade, right? Write them down on a piece of paper. That is all they are…..words on a piece of paper. You don’t have to carry them around and worship them OR continue to “believe it is still true” or pay homage to it or build a victim’s altar to the past in your mind! It is all from the ego and it is the past!
You do have an alternative. That alternative is also in your mind and it is called by many names: Holy Spirit, Truth, Grace, Wisdom, Voice of Truth, Intuition, The Answer and others. It came with you along with the ego however; the ego’s voice is loudest in the world. The alternative is healing; it is quiet, it is Peace. And it is the solution.
All you need to do is find time out of your busy day to be still. Go within to the quiet center. You will know it when you get there. Close your eyes take some deep breaths and go to the place where your mind is still. Thoughts may come but disregard them. Ask the inner wisdom, to “see” through the eyes of peace. Take one particular problem and say: “I need to see this differently. I want another way to see this.” This can be done even when there is chaos all around you, like screaming children, sirens, noise from a crowd or city streets. It only takes a minute to access the Peace that is always available in your mind.
Open to the possibility that help IS available. Change your belief that you are alone and dependent on the ego. You are NOT. Ask for the perspective of wisdom to come to you, the perspective of Peace!
We tend to see only the past because the ego keeps feeding it to us: Take a look at A Course In Miracles, Lesson 7. I see only the past. Most grievances are from the past.
Here is the lesson. Just click on the “speaker” and listen. Take it in and it may not seem like it but we do carry the past our mind and it reflects, projects and “colors” the future. Be Free, look at it and realize it was nothing and let it go. Do not let guilt enter your mind. That is the ego voice coming through the back door!
From: The James Webb telescope – 1 million miles above you or 1.5 kilometers!
Oh No! I wasn’t sure I wanted to go! After all it had been ?? years since I’ve seen these people!
I’m glad I went! It was “I” who had judged these people so many years ago…..time to drop all judgments!
It was “I” who decided – I was not “good enough, smart enough, rich enough or equal” to them.
It was “I” who judged each of them – mostly better than I. It was I who separated myself!
I don’t know what they thought about me and I have learned since is that it’s none of my business either! I wish I had known that way back then! So here is what to take or let go of – as you go to your reunion! Half of our problem is:
What do they think about me?
The other half is: What do I think about them!
Who Cares??? Reallly???
Decide you will have a wonderful time. It is up to you to decide this before you go because it will set you up for just that! Decide you will have a good experience and it is a worthwhile thing to do and you will enjoy, aka being “in joy”.
Decide you will drop all past judgments you have had about people! You will no longer see the “past” in them but only the Present! Let the past go…..it is gone anyway, no longer here and never to return!
Decide you will not let your past judgments cast any shadow on NOW! Besides your past judgments were probably wrong. Forgive the past, be free of it and have the peace of NOW…..right NOW! You can do this.
Go with an open heart and mind. Relax! Accept how things are NOW and not how they WERE. Love is here right NOW. Acceptance is here right NOW
Go with Faith in yourself and in them…. when you see someone you haven’t seen in awhile ask: What have you done since? ……..High school?……College? or been doing…….since I last saw you. Open them up to bring you up to date with their lives.
Go with Trust…….Trust in your Goodness…..Trust in their Goodness. Go with Love……Trust in Truth! God Bless – A Course In Miracles: Lesson 7. I see only the past.
The Courage Bench – Sits at Westpoint, overlooking the Hudson River
I don’t know about you but there are several things going on in my life and in our Country’s life that make me worry. I worry about the division that is making people blind these days. Maybe it has always been and always will be BUT I don’t have to buy into it and take sides. But my ego wants to of course.
The Course reminds us to “look within” and realize it is my choice to be worried but….this need not be! Since it is a choice I don’t have to choose it…..do I? What part of my mind is choosing? Where is my decision maker? A few days ago I caught a thought; actually it was a judgment (condemnation) about a person who was obese. I caught the thought and said “I don’t have to think this or believe this thought – I don’t choose it.” It was disturbing to think it! I stopped the ego – this need not be!
“When your mood tells you that you have chosen wrongly, and this is so whenever you are not joyous, then know this need not be. ³In every case you have thought wrongly about some brother God created, and are perceiving images your ego makes in a darkened glass.”(ACIM, T-4.IV.2:2-3)
That was it! I started seeing the beauty in that individual and the fine intelligent mind that out shown the form in every way. The judgment turned to acceptance and then opened to love.
One night I was worried sick about my son who was very late getting home. I finally decided I would put him in “God’s Hands” and let it go. This need not be!! I went to bed. Everything was fine and even if it turned out differently, he was in God’s Hands forever where I had placed him. The truth is WE, you and I are in God’s Hands too! If we are in God’s Hands then what is there to worry about? “
“Search sincerely for what you have done and left undone accordingly, and then change your mind to think with God’s. ⁶This may seem hard to do, but it is much easier than trying to think against it. ⁷Your mind is one with God’s. ⁸Denying this and thinking otherwise has held your ego together, but has literally split your mind.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.2:5-8)
Denying that we are One with God has left us bereft and lonely. When I am worried I am also sad because I made a mistake and wonder what the consequences will be and then that makes me anxious. This is all 1000% ego thoughts!
“When you are sad, know this need not be. ²Depression comes from a sense of being deprived of something you want and do not have. ³Remember: you are deprived of nothing except by your own decisions, and then decide otherwise. When you are anxious, realize that anxiety comes from the capriciousness of the ego, and know this need not be. ²You can be as vigilant against the ego’s dictates as for them.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.3:1–4:2)
And then I feel guilty because of the mistake – The Course tells us that only the ego can experience guilt and I am not my ego and neither are you!
“When you feel guilty, remember that the ego has indeed violated the laws of God, but you have not. ²Leave the “sins” of the ego to me. ³That is what Atonement is for. ⁴But until you change your mind about those whom your ego has hurt, the Atonement cannot release you. ⁵While you feel guilty your ego is in command, because only the ego can experience guilt. This need not be. Watch your mind for the temptations of the ego, and do not be deceived by it. ²It offers you nothing.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.5:1–6:2)
The Course mentions “sin” in the above paragraph and defines sin as lack of love! That’s it! I’m not sure what Jesus means when he says “to leave the ego to him” but I trust he has a good plan. And the “Atonement” means that we are called upon to Remember we are One with God….That’s it!! You don’t have to give yourself lashes with a whip or “atone” in some other way. We just need to re-member or re-attach ourselves to the memory of God…..we never left God! We SEEM to find ourselves alone in the world without him. Not True! He is with you and will be with you Always because He is in your Mind and always will be.
“Watch your mind for the temptations of the ego, and do not be deceived by it. ²It offers you nothing. ³When you have given up this voluntary dis-spiriting, you will see how your mind can focus and rise above fatigue and heal.” (ACIM, T-4.IV.6:1-3)
DECIDE – to Watch your mind, all thoughts that judge and separate, negative and good thoughts both separate you from others and are dis-spiriting. We are no longer in SPIRIT.
The Course says this is a HABIT to be developed if you let your mind slip, and feel moody, just look and see what you have thought that God would not have thought. Forgive – letting it go! You are FREE!
“One kindness a day keeps the Dr. away” Instead of an apple a day, one kindness a day will keep the Doctor away because when we give, we receive! Try it! I called a Senator who was receiving hate messages from those who disagree with him and told him he is doing a great job and he is appreciated and loved!
I hope the staff passes the message on but whether they do or not, I have sent the message with my heart and mind. I still have that message even though I “gave” it; I have it because when you give you receive! What do you think you receive when you are hold hate in your mind? Guilt!
If we give hope, acceptance and appreciation daily then we have them for ourselves.
You don’t need to say it out loud either. You can hold it in your mind because on some level minds are joined because we are One. Send love to someone you have held a grievance about or perhaps they have passed on. Maybe someone you detest! In that way you release yourself from the hold you have placed on the love that you are. Maybe they insulted you or snubbed you or called you a name. So what? They have a problem, don’t make it yours too.
Those who hate are in pain. Their judgment locks them in a prison of pain and separation. The people who left their message of hate on the Senator’s voice mail did not get rid of their hate just because they “left” the message. They still carry the hate in their mind and heart. They are in fear and need love. They reject love because they are afraid of it. Send them love anyhow. Refuse to hate and sully your beautiful holy mind, which by the way cannot really ever be stained.
When you find yourself upset, disgusted or hating someone STOP! Say: This is the ego’s choice not mine! I refuse to carry this judgment. Then look within to see what the problem is and admit it is also in you. Would you blame yourself for this ego mistake? You are not your ego. So don’t blame them either. If you want peace always go within and listen to the “small still voice”; the voice of the Holy Spirit; Love; mercy; Truth and Kindness. It is always available if we will listen. This is forgiveness and it offers everything you want.
Do yourself a kindness: Forgive and you will be well….all the days of your life!!
As we negotiate our lives we do wonder who we are.
We have many gifts and perhaps foibles and we wonder who we are.
We make mistakes (never call them sins) and we wonder who we are.
Are you L.G.B.T.Q or? Are you black, white, brown or? But you still wonder who am I, or what am I.
Do you know what you are?
This is what you are:
You are the Holy Son of God regardless of how you identify your body, male, female, straight, L.G.B.T.Q or your ethnicity!!! This is the Truth! Accept it because you are MORE than a body. You are Spirit first!
This is the truth regardless of what your sexual identity, ethnicity, cultural background or white, black, brown, yellow or red!
FACT: You are loved, complete, healed and whole and any uncertainty about that is self-deception.
Do not deny this reality regardless of how you self-identify, or how you see yourself or think others see you. You are a Holy Son of God regardless of what they think, how they see you or judge you and you are This over and above any other self-identification imposed upon you. Holy Son of God comes first!
And regardless of how others self-identify they too are a Holy Son of God, the same as you. Love them because as you judge them, you judge yourself. As you Love them; you love yourself.
And…..this is important: As you hate them you hate yourself.
You are God’s Son in whom he is well pleased! You are his Son regardless of what your doubting split mind may tell you. The ego part of your mind is what has doubts and it is insidious and not your friend. Do not listen to it. Tell it what you are instead.
See A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson 139. I will accept Atonement for myself.
Click on the “Listen” button and close your eyes, lean back and relax.
Tip: Atonement is defined in the Course as: The separation from God that never occurred. This is different from what some religions teach: that you have done something wrong. You have done nothing wrong but you need to remember you are as God created you; ONE with GOD; have always been and will always be and so is everyone else.
What “should” I do today? I should wash the kitchen floor; vacuum the living room; check my email for messages, pay some bills and oodles of other things that are needed or….. go for a hike?
I could knock on my neighbor’s door (mask on) introduce myself and tell them I don’t care if they are Democrats or Republican’s, and I don’t care if they are for guns or for fun; or if they are vaxed or not; for choice or not; religious or not; or black, white, brown, yellow, red or purple, I don’t care because we are equal beings of light and love and that is the Truth and Really, LOVE is all that matters.
I could surround the Russian troops gathered at the border of Ukraine with light and love and visualize angles hovering over them telling them that love is stronger than fear because it heals
I could surround every Senator that I now disagree with and who annoys me, with love and light and forgive them for they know not what they do……and neither do I.
I don’t know what anything is for…….except for Forgiveness.
A Course In Miracles Lesson 46. “God is the Love in which I forgive.” This lesson tells us that God does not forgive because He has never condemned, and forgiveness is the great need of this world because it is a world of illusions and that those who forgive as thus releasing themselves from illusions! (And gaining peace by the way!)
As we condemn only ourselves, so do we forgive only ourselves.
What I could do today is…….. forgive. What you could do today is……. forgive. Will I? Will you?
“God does not hate anyone. Those who preach hate towards any group do not speak for God.” Anonymous
The above message, hand written on cardboard appeared on PBS evening news hour, January 27th. It was one of several handmade signs lovingly placed with flowers on a New York city street honoring two young Harlem policemen who had been shot and killed.
The message gives me faith that amazing Truth is present even on the pavement of a city street – God only Loves. There is no hate, condemnation or for that matter any notice of skin color, religion, profession, wealth or sexual preference in God. God “sees” nothing because as far as we know of that mystery God does not have “eyes” or a body but is always extending love. It is just bodies that have judgment problems.
Even if we haven’t laid eyes on this mystery called God, every coin and paper dollar in the United States of America says We Trust in God. Do we? Think of the sayings: God willing; God help me and “God bless America” uttered by every American President. Saying: God Bless You/him/them it means: “God loves you/him/them.” Not everyone may believe in God but do appreciate love. English poet and theologian, Edward Young 1683 – 1765 in his poetic book, Night Thoughts said: “By night an atheist half believes in God.”
Valentine’s Day reminds us of romantic love but includes the love of friendship, acceptance, gratitude and unity. What kind of a world would we have if love was absent? Love came with our DNA. It is baked into our being. A mother and father hold their child and what instantly shows up? When my youngest son held his newborn son he said “Mom, I’m in Love!” A son/daughter holds the hand of their dying Father and even if they’ve had differences, what shows up? No person living, dead or yet to come, can exist without love. It may be buried in a grievous life, but the spark is there. Even Hitler loved something: art.
There is evidence of community love everywhere these days in the hospital workers; scientists finding solutions to Covid; policemen; firemen, Mom’s and Dad’s driving children to school, working to support themselves. Love is when we help a friend; neighbor; volunteer; donate to charity; homeless those in need and more. Regardless of circumstances no one can be a loser with an inheritance of love. We are all winners because along with love comes its gentle guidance. No one is exempt. Life is challenging. We all want to feel peaceful, to love and be loved. When I stop judging anyone, those I know, don’t know, present now or passed, that with condemnation stopped I relax, love enters and forgiveness follows naturally.
Consider rising above the battleground of political divisions; masking; vaccinations and ignore the opinions and confusion on TV, internet, social media and go within for the guidance love offers. This Valentine’s Day join me in offering love to everyone no matter whom they are or where they stand on an issue. Love them anyway.
When we give love, there is always more to give and we are IN love. Enjoy the gift of your inheritance. Happy Valentine’s Day!
All aspects of fear are untrue because they do not exist at the creative level, and therefore do not exist at all. ²To whatever extent you are willing to submit your beliefs to this test, to that extent are your perceptions corrected. ³In sorting out the false from the true, the miracle proceeds along these lines:
⁴Perfect love casts out fear. ⁵If fear exists, then there is not perfect love.
⁶But:
⁷Only perfect love exists. ⁸If there is fear, it produces a state that does not exist.
⁹Believe this and you will be free. ¹⁰Only God can establish this solution, and this faith is His gift. (ACIM, T-1.VI.5:1-10)
Repeat slowly several times: I am loved…..Love surrounds me….I am safe I offer love
Now close your eyes and repeat the above over and over.
You are held safely by the Universe for all time. You are eternal, you are innocent, you are loved.
When we extend love, we feel safe!
Love makes us safe. No matter where you go in this crazy world and especially if you feel fearful of something or someone…….think love; send love to everyone!
Do this practice everyday somewhere; at the bank; driving; on the subway; washing your hair; on the computer; on the phone. The more love you send…..the more you will have!
Every time something happens to us, something traumatic or hurtful, it is stored away in a locker called resentments and grievances. Those memories keep coming up because that’s the ego’s job, i.e. to continue looping the grievances, hurts and upsets thus keeping love far, far away.
When am I not ruling my mind, the thoughts, feelings, upsets and forgiving which is most of the time, I am listening to the ego. When something nice occurs, the ego easily dismisses it because “you’re not worthy of love so don’t pay attention to that kindness for Heaven’s sake.”
The solution: Have a storage locker for love and appreciation. Be vigilant for them and replay and then give it away. When you receive, and give you have! Appreciate and love yourself, allow it and let it in. The ego will dismiss but don’t accept that thought.
When we judge, (that thought comes from the ego) it is an attack. It is an attack on your mind, your identity. See that and say “No!” I have no need to judge this! “Holy Spirit: What? Help me here.”
The ego doesn’t notice or give any credence to love. It dismisses kindnesses and hangs on to the grievances or the upsets.
But you are responsible for all thoughts. The ego is not your boss! The mind is healed by love, by embracing Love, noticing Love; letting Love In.
Love heals. Your mind is perfect, complete and whole. You are the Decision Maker and you have the power to give love to everything your five senses perceive: see, touch, hear, smell, tastes or thinks of.
For example the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, if you stand above the battleground and send love to all those who were attacked and those who attacking, you are healing your mind. We don’t know what things are for. Everyone in that situation needs love, the whole country needs love. When you send love you are free and out of the judgment zone. I can’t say I appreciate the situation but I can appreciate the love I now feel. Whether you agree with the attackers or not, you are free because in are remembering love.
When we are in fear, angry, depressed, upset, remembering a grievance, we are listening to the ego, the fear and judgment producer. RECOGNIZE that you don’t want that anymore and ask the Holy Spirit to help you move into the Love column. That is your power!
Forgiveness is for bodies!
We remember resentments because we haven’t forgiven the past, the incidents or traumas. They have a way of sticking because fear and adrenaline is activated and we identify with the body. We fear for our lives or others. Maybe it was a “close call” that could have changed lives forever or maybe it did. Something BIG and important is so disturbing that it is imbedded in our psyche.
There are no accidents as it turns out. So whatever happened we now have the challenge of accepting, dealing with it and forgiving everyone and everything involved. We need to see how everything is for our best interests. We don’t always accept this but ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Where is the Love? Look for the love! It is there somewhere.
Allow Love and Gratitude to be at the top of your storage locker, the things to remember list. Love is never a little thing! Things may seem little but when we appreciate them, the love flows in.
If we develop an “attitude of gratitude” the big traumas won’t seem so big and awful. They will be superseded by the nice, the quiet; the sweet and touching moments.
In A Course In Miracles Manual #23. Does Jesus have a special place in healing? Pg. 58. p.4. s. 6. “And gratitude to God becomes the way in which He is remembered, for love cannot be far behind a grateful heart and thankful Mind.”
What has occurred recently that you forgot to add to your list? Today I received an appreciation note; it came out of the blue. The other day a gentleman looked at me and smiled. I don’t know why I just now remembered it but I do remember noticing his smile and smiling back and now I send appreciation and love back because I have them and I can give.
A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 236 – I rule my mind, which I alone must rule.
1. I have a kingdom I must rule. ²At times, it does not seem I am its king at all. ³It seems to triumph over me, and tell me what to think, and what to do and feel. ⁴And yet it has been given me to serve whatever purpose I perceive in it. ⁵My mind can only serve. ⁶Today I give its service to the Holy Spirit to employ as He sees fit. ⁷I thus direct my mind, which I alone can rule. ⁸And thus I set it free to do the Will of God.
2. Father, my mind is open to Your Thoughts, and closed today to every thought but Yours. ²I rule my mind, and offer it to You. ³Accept my gift, for it is Yours to me.
Inner Peace For You 