On Sunday I shared a talk by Rev. Sally Robbins at the WOW conference.  It was great fun.  Some of the things we can learn from Tigger are that we have tops made out of rubber, bottoms made out of springs, and we are each one of a kind. 

Remember playing with silly putty?  One of things many of us did was push the silly putty against the Sunday comics and come away with an image.  When we wanted to change it, we just massaged the putty and put it against another image.  

Our tops are made out of rubber; we can reset the imprint as many times as we want to.  This is putting our choices into the Law (Spirit) which always says yes. 

If our lives are reflecting an image we are ready to release, our rubber tops give us the opportunity to choose again. 

In our Shortcut to a Miracle class we are refining our ability to choose new ways of living in expectation.  Sally told the story of a brand new Practitioner who bought (the perfect house) and sold a house (for more than they were asking.) all in the span of four hours.  Most of us do not have that ease of realizing a new choice that quickly.   But we could have that expectation. 

Our bottoms are made out of springs.  We have the ability to transcend - jump over - obstacles, false beliefs, and limiting expectations.  Knowing this and 'oiling' our springs helps us move to a place where this is the norm in our lives.

Did you know that when the original Star Trek series was being created, they had a limited budget for special effects?  The producers let the writers know that creating the special effects of the Star ship Enterprise landing on a planet was too expensive.   So, the writers had to figure out how to get around that and the transporter was created.  For some of us that was our favorite part of the show.  "Beam me up, Scottie."  And it all came about because the writers had to use their springs to transcend an 'obstacle.'

"Tina Fey never ceases to amaze me and I am Tina Fey." ( quote by Tina Fey)

Tigger says: "Sometimes someone amazing shows up.  Here I am!"

Each of us is unique and we have our own unique gifts to give.  The world needs us!  So, keep that rubber top pliable, and those bottoms made out of springs oiled, and let the uniqueness that is you shine forth!

Blessings and Light,

Rev. Carolyn

This will be a new column we are starting from Vicky.  Let us know if you enjoy and want more of these.

Merry Christmas to ALL

First, on Sunday I got a few questions about the SynchroDestiny telebridge book study on Tuesday nights. The group is ongoing, but we have suspended meeting until the first Tuesday in January, which is January 7 at 8:00pm Eastern Time.

Also, along this same line, the Saturday Morning telebridge Discussion Group will also continue in 2014, and our next meeting is now Saturday, January 4 at 11:00 am Eastern Time.

To join either of these calls the number is the same: Dial 1 712 432 3100, then access code 809778.

Deepak Chopra calls Synchronicity "the Infinite Organizing Principle of the Universe." I mean he is talking about organization of Omnipotent Intelligence and down to subatomic detail. According to Deepak, learning the dance of synchronicity in Life opens literally limitless potential to orchestrate being a part of ongoing miraculous developments as a daily occurrence. My personal practice of this has born it out to be true, which is why I am on fire to share it with as many people as possible.

With "Principle" being a key component of Deepak's definition of synchronicity, it is no surprise that the practice of consciously working with synchronicities to cultivate miraculous demonstrations encompasses Science of Mind to a "T." In praying about this writing this morning, it came to me to research specifically what Ernest had to say about synchronicity in the SOM textbook. The word is used only one place in the text, in his sample treatment for Obstetrics. Personally, this alone was synchronistic for me, since I have a deep belief that one key to balance and harmony experienced in all things can be founded in how they come into creation. Ernest says that Creation is an infinitely synchronized process that is to be trusted.  What we first tend to notice as little coincidences are Spirit's invitation to us to dance.

So, how does storytelling figure into this? On Sunday, Rev. Carolyn led us into a delightful spontaneous opportunity to share personal Christmas stories. It was so rich to hear favorite memories, painted by those who had lived them like they were yesterday. Storytelling weaves our memories into rich texts for knowing and sharing who we are with the world. In this same way, storytelling about synchronicities weaves the pieces together and gives them energy through speaking the words with the emotions moments of perfect timing inspire. This combination of Attention with Intention is the Universal Recipe for Divine Demonstrations.

May simple joys throughout your Holidays make believing in what is Possible for You easier than ever!

Overflowing Blessings!
Vicky

I was thinking about why this time of year is so full of stories that are deeply heart-felt.  Part of it is that, it seems, the whole world is involved in creating a special time of the year full of expectations and "shoulds".   We should be happy.  We should be surrounded by family.  We should feel loved and be kind and send forth peace.  Christmas means these people should be together, eating this food, with these decorations, singing these songs, and saying these things, etc. etc. etc.   {Please don't expect me to have any thing other than an angel on the top of my tree.}

All of that is wonderful.  Or, it's not.

If everything works out as it 'should', then great; but for most of us that doesn't happen totally.  Learning to deal with the variations that happen, moves us from being in a reactive mode to things vs. being a creator of our lives.   It is the stories we tell ourselves around all of this that are important. 

On Sunday, we told stories.  Most were funny and warm and heart-inspiring.  And some (perhaps unsaid) were sad and nostalgic and brought a tear.

The spiritual truth in all of this is that we are our memories.  This is what makes us individuals.  

On a Sunday morning after all of us gather for a service, we each leave with a different memory of the past hour even though we all had the same 'experience'.   We interpret based on our past memories ( because what we have experienced is the filter through which all new experiences pass.).  The really cool thing is that we can rewrite our memories.

Oh yes we can!

a burning bowl ritual.  On January 5, we will have a meditative service and honor the different religions and expressions of Truth in the world.  One part of the service will be a world peace meditation.

I look forward to sharing this journey into the New Year with as many of you as possible in person, and with all of you in Spirit.  I anticipate with great joy creating memories with my LCSL family.

Much love and great glee! 

Rev.  Carolyn

P. S.  Thank you for supporting Tracy and I in creating a memory of playing cello and piano together to create a moment of sharing.  Playing for others is exciting, scary, terrifying and fun all at once.

I will be driving to Norcross, GA when this comes out.  I am going to a Minister'/Practitioner conference that is being held for two days before the four day general conference- The Circle of Love Gathering- begins on Tuesday . This conference or a version of it has been happening for a number of years in Georgia.   For a while, it was called the Eastern Conference.   I am hoping that it will be a wonderful substitute or alternative to the Asilomar Conference.  I'm sure I will have lots to say about it when I get back on Sunday October 20. 

While I am out on Sunday the 13th, James Stone will be doing the talk.  He gave me a couple of hints as to what he will be sharing; I think folks will really be able to relate and as always enjoy his humor.  I personally love the concept of "Spiritual narcolepsy."    It is a very visual idea for something, I think we all experience.   If you can't be with us, remember that you can listen to our Sunday talks on our website.

I want to throw in another plug for your gratitude quotes and affirmations.  In the month of November we will explore different ways to express gratitude and share the experience of keeping a gratitude journal.   

Have a great week and I will see some of you on October 20. 

Shalom = Peace, wholeness and well-being, for you and yours.
   

Much love,

Rev.  Carolyn

Our visioning meeting on Saturday was really great.  Dinah Smiley does a great job of pulling together information from a business/marketing point of view. Then we had great sharing in our visioning process.  My grateful thanks to all who attended and to those who couldn't be here personally, but supported us with positive energy and prayers.  We have a new volunteer to help us with getting our word out on the social media sites (this is the way marketing is done nowadays and an area that many of us just don't know how to use).  So we are very excited!

We love, love, love all of our volunteers.  They are how we grow and express as the vibrant community we are.

I am looking forward to our Member Sunday.  I fall into thinking that everyone knows what I know and that is simply not true.  So, on Sunday, I will share everything I know... OK, maybe not everything, but lots of stuff about our Center, what we offer and what we believe.  Hope to see us scramble to add more chairs to accommodate the crowd.  Trust me, it will be fun!

It seemed a natural thing to follow our discussions on "What We Talk About When We Talk About God" with "What does God Want."   These two books came across my desk at the same time.  In the second, Neale Donald Walsh tells us that God doesn't want anything.  Want indicates need and the Infinite, which is the All in All, has no needs.

Desires are different.  They are based on preferences, but not need and Neale lists three that he thinks the Infinite does have: 
1.  To know and experience Itself, in all Its glory.  Science of Mind and many other traditions teach " In the beginning, God...".  God contemplated, and out of this contemplation all that we see came about  for the Infinite to express Itself in a huge variety of ways.  Since there was only God substance in the beginning all we see, feel, comprehend, know, explore, etc., is God Substance.   Our existence allows the Infinite to experience the finite. 
2.  That we shall know and experience Who We Really Are, through the Power to create and experience ourselves in any way we choose.   This is what in another book God is quoting as saying, "Life - isn't it delicious?"  It certainly offers a huge variety of experiences.
3.  For the whole life process to be an experience of constant joy, continuous creation and never-ending expression and total fulfillment in each moment of now.  For this is the natural state the Infinite exists in. 

As we discussed last week, God is for us and we have been created to be choosers/creators.  Out of every moment we stand in the ability to choose.  We can be and respond as we did yesterday, or we can choose again.

For many of us this teaching is a new choice, a letting-go of past thinking and training and a stepping-into a place of blessing, creativity and joy.

Isn't...life...delicious?
 
Shalom - Peace, wholeness and well-being, for you and yours.    

Much love,

Rev.  Carolyn

On Sunday we talked about how God is for us and ahead of us.  The concept that The All-in-All is not about judging or finding fault, but is actually actively for us is one that will change our lives.

Having been raised in a faith that emphasized that I was being watched and when I did something 'bad' there would be punishment maybe even banishment to hell, the idea that God was actually for me, supporting me, sourcing me to fulfill my desires, blew my mind.   The knowing that Spirit is always with me and that I can't not end up with and live in Oneness with the Divine has changed my core beliefs and my life.   It took me a while to accept it, but since I have, life has been that great adventure others talk about instead of the fear laden movement to a possible really unhappy ending.

Rob Bell shared a definition of blessing I had not heard before but like a lot. Blessing actually means, "God is for you."  God is for me, oh yes!

Spirit is also ahead of me.  That next great idea that takes me further on the journey to living my highest and best is Spirit calling me forward.  Rob shared several stories from the Bible to show that Yahweh was meeting the people where they were at the moment and calling them forward. 

One was a scripture that others quote as being barbaric.  It talks about the spoils of war, especially women.  The scripture is telling how they must be treated as people and taken into the household after they have had a time of mourning to have the status of wife.  At the time, a woman taken as part of the spoils of war was slave/property with no standing, no rights and no hope.  This was calling for the humane treatment of all people.  In other words, this was a call to see the Oneness, the value, the proper treatment in and for all.

We as individuals and as communities and nations are ever being given new ideas of how to live our lives with more awareness and expression of the Oneness of All.   Spirit is ahead of us calling us to More.   We know that we must first be the change we want to see.   So, what new idea is percolating within you?  What must you release, embrace, become for the full expression of your highest and best?

The above questions are taken from the Visioning process.  We will be doing that and talking about the Louisville Center for Spiritual Living on Saturday from 9 AM to Noon here in Jeffersonville, come join us. 

Shalom - Peace, wholeness and well-being, for you and yours.
  

Much love,

Rev.  Carolyn 

Thank you!  The Board on the behalf of the Center sent a fruit and cheese basket to let me and my family know of your love and support.  Bob and I were in Angleton, Texas, to be with my son, Jim, and handle the service celebrating the life of my daughter-in-law, Kelly, last week.   She made her transition in early August after several months of dealing with the effects of liver disease.  Your continued prayers for Jim and all of us are deeply appreciated.   Loss is not easy even when we know her life continues in growth, expansion and love.  We will miss her.

On Sunday, our topic was Spirit with us.  Of course, that was the perfect subject for me at this time.  Knowing that I am never alone no matter how it looks or feels brings me great comfort.  I got to and I encouraged others to think of a moment or many moments when we felt the Presence, the moments when our hearts are open and we feel connection and rightness.  It is hard to explain what those moments are and how they feel. 

I love how Spirit unfolds in my life.  That morning I was practicing with the LCSL music ensemble and had one of those moments.  All of a sudden my heart filled with love for those in the room, for ky's music, for my ability to join in, for the words and melody of the new song we were learning and the tears flowed.  And I thought, how do you explain moments like these.  As best I can knowing that words fail me.  And even more important, how do I stay in the feeling for as long as I can and revisit it often?  By just breathing and being.

On September 28, we will have our annual meeting at which we vision for LCSL and talk about where we are and where we are choosing to go.  We will meet here in my home from 9 - 12 and encourage everyone who can to come and join us and give us their input.  We will talk about things that our minds tell us and we will vision/listen to hear what Spirit is revealing through our hearts. 

Visioning is a form of meditation designed to help us listen in a focused way.   We talked about it and experienced a taste of it on Sunday during our meditation time and will do so again next Sunday.  There will be pencils and paper for folks to write down what they are feeling and thinking.  We know that many will not be able to join us on Saturday and we want to capture as much input as possible from everyone.   I encourage you to spend some quiet time listening to the answer(s) you receive to the question, "What is the highest and best expression of LCSL?"  What you get may be words, or colors, or images, or feelings, or whatever.  Don't edit, just share with us.

Again, thank you for allowing me to serve as your minister.

Much love,

Rev.  Carolyn 

This Sunday was the second of two Practitioner Sundays where your practitioners gave the talks while Rev. Carolyn is at Asilomar.  ky li and I shared this opportunity this week. Last Sunday Dinah and James shared with us on the power of Choice and the profound influence that perspective and judgement have on our personal power of choice and how we use it.  

  

  

Following this lead, ky opened the presentation this Sunday clearly explaining the five steps of Spiritual Mind Treatment, or Affirmative Prayer. Treatment is a sure-fire way to apply making our choices in an atmosphere of  conviction spiritually. The Five Steps of Treatment are: Recognition, Unification, Realization, Thanksgiving and Release.

ky also explained a key difference between the way those of us who practice New Thought or Metaphysics pray and the way we may have been taught to pray in other religions, or spiritual groups. We do not ask for assistance or favors from a God who is outside of us or separate from ourselves. We pray from a place of knowing that God (Spirit, Source, etc.) is all there is, ever-present, ever-knowing, ever-powerful. Knowing this to be true, we, by definition, are one with this infinite Source.  From this place of Oneness, we speak the truth of our being, knowing it is done.

  

Vicky followed ky discussing the results of doing Treatment, which Ernest Holmes termed, "Demonstration." A demonstration is, very simply, what Science of Mind calls an answer to prayer. Ernest Holmes gave it this specific, distinctive word because outcomes from Treatment literally demonstrate for us The Way It Works. It is not a mistake that revealing the way something works is exactly what giving a demonstration of something is. So, I gave a little demonstration of how we cultivate our consciousness through Treatment; I used a three-ring notebook and notebook paper to shed light on it. Just like aligning the three holes in notebook paper to go onto the rings, clarity in Treatment calls us to bring into alignment what we are thinking about something, how we are feeling about it, and what we believe about it. When these three areas are in alignment, there is no resistance to embodying the demonstration of our desire into experience.

As our first Practitioner Sundays opportunity over these two weeks comes to this close, we hope we have offered a holistc view of how your perspectives form choices, and how choice is your ongoing vehicle for taking your life into the experiences of your dreams. Please do let us know any questions you may have, or if we may assist you in Affirmative Prayer.

  

  

Dinah Smiley, RSc.P, James Stone , RScP., ky li, RSc.P and Vicky Jeter, RSc.P

This Sunday was one of two Practitioner Sundays where your practitioners give the talks while Rev. Carolyn is at Asilomar.  James Stone and I shared this opportunity this week, while Vicky and ky will have the honor of sharing their wisdom with you next Sunday.  I'm sure James will agree, it's a blessing and an honor to perform these duties. 

  

  

Choice.  I talked about the challenges I have experienced studying our philosophy and preparing to become a practitioner.  The challenge I shared this week was reading, comprehending and interpreting the writings of Thomas Troward.  I could have chosen to read and reread Troward's work until I knew it verbatim.  But I was lead to, and chose to, sit with Troward's words until they morphed into a writing style more conducive to my simplified style.

  

  

I call my style Appalachian Metaphysics and I shared a story that I wrote while assisting Rev. Carolyn with "The Edinburgh Lectures," by Troward.  The story was about two separate vessels experiencing the life of their choosing.  One life led to many bumps, and and scrapes and cracks, on one vessel, while the other life resulted in a vessel ending her life of service in pristine physical condition.

  

  

I purposely omitted our human tendencies toward self- judgement, or comparison from my analogy.

  

  

James Stone delivered the second portion of the talk.  James focused on judgement.  The self-judgement he felt as he grew anxious about giving his portion of the talk and the way we learn our judgement habits at an early age.

  

  

He shared a story from his youth when he was taught by his parents to fear African Americans.  He lived with this fear until one day he found himself in the midst of a fight.  Before he came directly into harms way, six young African American men encircled and protected James from what he referred to "as the potential for the beating of my life."  This selfless act of compassion was a pivotal point in James' life where he chose to walk away from the fearful and prejudicial teachings of his childhood. 

  

  

Rather than living from a place of self-judgement and judgement of others, James lives from a place of evaluating and selecting actions that speak from the divine truth of his being.

  

  

May you feel the love and blessings that you give so freely to us,

Dinah Smiley and James Stone 

On Sunday I shared a variety of good things that are happening in the world.   We get lots of "ain't it awful" news, but there are lots and lots of "Hey, we are getting some things so right and things are going in the right direction" news events. 

Rev. Catherine (from the Hollywood area) shares the story of her 'heathen' friend who, when a woman fell down the stairs at a party in his home,  made sure 911 had been called and then lay on the floor with the woman and talked to her and touched her hand.  Later, when Rev. Catherine asked him why he had  done that, he said: "What did you expect me to do, stand and look down at her?"  

Perspective- all growth comes when we get a different perspective.   In this case, the man was willing to meet the woman where she was and see things as she saw them and offer his presence and care in support of her.   Wow, what would happen if lots of us worked at doing that?   ky told me that two leaders in our National organization attended the Pentecostal Conference.  They wanted to explore how we are alike.  It is easy to see where organizations, belief systems, and people differ; but  growth and healing come when we look for and see the areas where we are alike. 

I also shared a portion of a video that Bono made for ted.com where he showed graphs of changes that are happening.  The number of people living in bone- crushing poverty has dropped substantially world- wide and is continuing to do so.   At our current rate of eliminating starvation among people, we will eradicate that issue in just another 10 or fifteen years.   Think about that; we are making major progress in eliminating poverty and hunger.   As Bono told us, you don't hear that often.  Now, is it acceptable that even one person goes to bed hungry?  No.   Are we making progress?  Yes.  Are we moving in the right direction?  Yes.  Are we doing some really good things?  Yes.   

I also shared a story about how much of the earth is becoming desert. Even the driest land can be reclaimed by introducing herds of animals and letting them graze on land that doesn't look like it would support them, but it will !  Those herds will then push seeds into the ground where they can grow, and with their natural processes those herds will fertilize those seeds.  There are always seeds, but they can't take hold in dry land without help and fertilizer.  Over and over it has been proven that within a year, dry land can become green.  Then when the rains come, that water is captured.   Then people have food to eat and the ability to develop their lives.   

There are answers to our issues.  Part of finding those answers is knowing they are there.  Our greatest enemy is hopelessness.  Being the choosers we are, we can focus on knowing that things are and will continue to create a "World that Works for Everyone."   This is part of the vision and mission of the Centers for Spiritual Living. 

Remember - Saul Good and getting better!

Much love, 

Rev. Carolyn 

Perception??

Perception - how we see things, what we expect, is a result of past experience, what we have been told, and the way our brains work.  We categorize things so that we can quickly make decisions for our survival.  It is a very important skill to be able to recognize sights, sounds, feelings that tell us of danger, safety, something that will be of benefit to us, or something to avoid.  

It is important to look at our perceptions to see if they are based on some form of truth and if they are serving us well because they are creating our reality.  

There was a study years ago done in England.   It would not happen now, but they took two classes in an elementary school one was the highest achievers and the other the lowest achievers.   The next year they mixed the children up.  Putting half the high achievers with half the lower achievers in each class and they told the teachers that they either had a class of high achievers or low achievers when in actuality they had an equally mixed class.  The punch line is that at the end of the year, each class lived up to the expectations of them.  Even though some of the children had been high achievers the previous year, now they were low achievers and  the other children just the opposite.  

This is a classic example of what people perceive about us, expect of us, we will fulfill unless we are aware and confident in who we are.  And this is true of what we perceive and expect of ourselves.   In Science of Mind terms; you say it is and the Law says yes.  You say you are no good at ______ and the Law yes you are no good at _____.  You say ______ is easy and the Law says yes _____ is easy.  You will prove whatever it is to yourself over and over until you decide it is a perception without power or truth.  

To increase our awareness I told a few stories and invited folks to consider what a few facts can create in our minds.  Example:  I walked up to a Thornton's just as a young man was coming out the door.  He had spiked hair with a purple stripe, lots of piercings, pants that did not reach his waist, and a slight slouch.  When he held the door open for me, responded with 'your welcome' in a gentle respectful voice, to my thank you, I was surprised to see in myself how much I had expected something else.  

My perceptions were sending out a subtle negative energy/vibration.  If most folks who he meets do the same, won't we have an effect?  If others send out a vibe of love and acceptance of his place in the One,  won't this have an effect too?  When we are called to see our oneness and the oneness of everything, we are called to be a blessing, a positive influence, a positive vibration, an uplifting perception.     

In the last few weeks, we have talked about being on the road to enlightenment.   I like the definition of enlightenment being - complete freedom;  a place or state without limitation.  It will have to include complete absence of preconceived ideas and expectations because they limit us by creating boundaries of separation.   

It is a journey to enlightenment, so, today we can begin to build the perfect state of freedom.  We don't have to wait or have a unique experience, or hold a special object or learn a new skill.  Today we can look at someone, or ourselves with love and the only expectation one of potential and unfolding.  The more we do this, the more we release restrictions and open our experiences and the experiences of those around us to true freedom.  

Oh Spirit, we open to see you in everyone we meet, in every circumstance, in our own bodies,  in all of our affairs, and in ourselves this day and every day.

Much love, 

Rev. Carolyn 

erception - how we see things, what we expect, is a result of past experience, what we have been told, and the way our brains work.  We categorize things so that we can quickly make decisions for our survival.  It is a very important skill to be able to recognize sights, sounds, feelings that tell us of danger, safety, something that will be of benefit to us, or something to avoid.  

It is important to look at our perceptions to see if they are based on some form of truth and if they are serving us well because they are creating our reality.  

There was a study years ago done in England.   It would not happen now, but they took two classes in an elementary school one was the highest achievers and the other the lowest achievers.   The next year they mixed the children up.  Putting half the high achievers with half the lower achievers in each class and they told the teachers that they either had a class of high achievers or low achievers when in actuality they had an equally mixed class.  The punch line is that at the end of the year, each class lived up to the expectations of them.  Even though some of the children had been high achievers the previous year, now they were low achievers and  the other children just the opposite.  

This is a classic example of what people perceive about us, expect of us, we will fulfill unless we are aware and confident in who we are.  And this is true of what we perceive and expect of ourselves.   In Science of Mind terms; you say it is and the Law says yes.  You say you are no good at ______ and the Law yes you are no good at _____.  You say ______ is easy and the Law says yes _____ is easy.  You will prove whatever it is to yourself over and over until you decide it is a perception without power or truth.  

To increase our awareness I told a few stories and invited folks to consider what a few facts can create in our minds.  Example:  I walked up to a Thornton's just as a young man was coming out the door.  He had spiked hair with a purple stripe, lots of piercings, pants that did not reach his waist, and a slight slouch.  When he held the door open for me, responded with 'your welcome' in a gentle respectful voice, to my thank you, I was surprised to see in myself how much I had expected something else.  

My perceptions were sending out a subtle negative energy/vibration.  If most folks who he meets do the same, won't we have an effect?  If others send out a vibe of love and acceptance of his place in the One,  won't this have an effect too?  When we are called to see our oneness and the oneness of everything, we are called to be a blessing, a positive influence, a positive vibration, an uplifting perception.     

In the last few weeks, we have talked about being on the road to enlightenment.   I like the definition of enlightenment being - complete freedom;  a place or state without limitation.  It will have to include complete absence of preconceived ideas and expectations because they limit us by creating boundaries of separation.   

It is a journey to enlightenment, so, today we can begin to build the perfect state of freedom.  We don't have to wait or have a unique experience, or hold a special object or learn a new skill.  Today we can look at someone, or ourselves with love and the only expectation one of potential and unfolding.  The more we do this, the more we release restrictions and open our experiences and the experiences of those around us to true freedom.  

Oh Spirit, we open to see you in everyone we meet, in every circumstance, in our own bodies,  in all of our affairs, and in ourselves this day and every day.

Much love, 

Rev. Carolyn 

How to Use the Thing Itself

In our discussion on Sunday we were talking about the fourth chapter in The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes. The first of the Chapter is about understanding that the metaphysical principle is like any other scientific principle, it can be proved and must be to be used fully by the metaphysician. Ernest, in his work, strove to remove the mystery and uncertainty around understanding how the Universe works. In his most famous quote, "There is a Power in the Universe, and we can use it." Before we can use it, we must understand how it works. It always works the same for everyone. If this were not true, it would not be a principle, but just a nice idea. Page 53, "We should learn to control our thought processes and bring them into line with Reality. We should be able to look a discordant fact in the face and deny its reality, since we know its seeming reality is borrowed from illusion..." "While it is true that wrong conditions exist, they could not remain unless there were someone to experience them . Consequently, the experience must be in consciousness. Change the consciousness and the false condition will disappear." I gave the example of deciding to release the experience of sinus conditions. I withdrew my attention from that type of experience and when it tries to intrude, I simply deny it and ignore it. I give it no attention. It has now power of its own. Therefore, it simple dissipates into the nothingness it is. There is a beautiful meditation on page 56. There is so much to share and understand from this Chapter and in the others. I close with a quote from the last page of the Chapter. "A new light is coming into the world. We are on the borderland of a new experience. The veil between Spirit and matter is very thin. The invisible passes into visibility though our faith in it... Happy are we if we see these things which, from the foundation of the human race, have been longed for by all aspiring souls." Much love. Rev. Carolyn

We don't really know what is possible!

In November a story appeared in our newspaper about Jerry Beyl of New Albany, Indiana. Jerry is 88 years old and been in a wheelchair for ten years. In May of this year he had a small stroke. The lingering effects were weakness and loss of control in the right arm. He was sent to a rehab center where they hoped in a month, they could restore control and usage of the right arm. At the end of a week, his arm was better than they had expected and someone had the bright idea to see if they could get him on his feet. The first day they asked him to stand for one minute. He couldn't do it. But the next day they tried again and just kept going from there. By the end of his month in rehab, he walked out of the facility on his own. He shared he just wanted to walk hand and hand with his beloved wife, Agnes, and do some chores around the house and help her. Agnes is now dealing with a non-treatable breast cancer. Now my question was, "Who had the openness to even suggest an eighty-eight year old man, who had spent the last ten years in a wheel chair, could walk again?" Don't know but someone looked past what was precedent (what had gone on before) to see the possibility that is always nearer than our next breath. Spirit is not bound by precedent and neither are we. Oh if we could get that, there is no telling the places we would go. In thinking about what we know and the circumstances, I considered what in the consciousness of Jerry got him out of that wheel chair now. We know that outward expression is a result of thought/consciousness. I have no way of knowing and don't believe Jerry could tell us, but it makes sense to me that a deep desire in Jerry's heart was to help Agnes with what is happening for her now. The deep desires of our hearts are what Law/Spirit responds to. Could Jerry have said, "I think I need a small stroke so I can get out of this chair." I don't think so. But Spirit knows the how, our job is to choose the expression, the experience we want to have. I invite you in this moment to take a deep breath. As you release the breath think, "I release what I think I know is possible." As you breath in think, "I receive and recognize the deep desires of my heart." I feel how it feels. If we boil everything we desire down, the end result will be feelings of being loved, loving, belonging, being fulfilled, inspired, enthusiastic, abundant and safe. yummmmm that feels good. Warm and comfy hugs to each of you. Rev. Carolyn

Meditation & Knowing for Sue Pfaffinger

This is a meditation taken from 365 Days of Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes that Sue Pfaffinger found comforting as she faced a diagnosis of untreatable cancer. October 28 - I am an individualized center in the consciousness of God. I am an individualized activity in the Action of God. I am eternal, therefore, I do not have to wait for immortality. The resurrection of life is today living today as though I were an immortal being. I allow all thought of death, all fear of change to slip from me. I step out of the tomb of uncertainty and into the light of eternal day. The nighttime of my soul has passed and the eternal light of everlasting day dawns as the great Reality in my life. Joyfully I am resurrected into that which is beautiful, enduring and true. Silently I pass from less to more, from isolation into inclusion, from separation into oneness. Today, realizing that there is nothing in my past that can rise against me, nothing in my future that can menace the unfoldment of my experience. I declare that life will be an eternal adventure of greater and better experiences. I revel in the contemplation of the immeasurable future, the path of eternal progress, the everlastingness of my own being. I am renewed daily by that Divinity within me that has forever set the stamp of individualized Being on my mind. Sweet Sue, we bless you on your ever expanding adventure into greater experiences. Rev. Carolyn and LCSL

3rd in the series "The Untethered Soul"

To be able to answer yes to the question, "Do you want to be happy?", you must learn to detach or as Michael Singer describes it 'fall back.' When something happens or just in everyday life, we have the opportunity to practice falling back. Taking a mental step back from circumstances, people, our thoughts and be the observer we are. In order to truly experience the upward experience of oneness with the One, first we must detach. This is a skill, a habit, like every other that must be practiced and strengthened. It is like getting our bodies into shape, we must exercise the muscles. If we wait until the big things happen to try to detach, our chances are low. If we practice on the small things on a regular basis, then when we are engaged in the senses in a powerful way, we will have the muscle memory of stepping back and observing from the place of knowing the Truth of who we are. In traffic, we begin to fall back whenever we feel someone is cutting us off or speeding or being inconsiderate. I like to let people in when traffic is merging, but can be really engaged if they then do not wave a thank you. When I fall back I can see a basic belief that people should be appreciative of what I do and when they are not I get upset. When I fall back, I can see where my reaction is coming from, observe it but not let it determine how I feel about the situation or the fairness of my world. This has built an awareness and experience of the process. When someone close to me is in my opinion being inconsiderate, I now know that I can fall back and observe. This is not about being fully present in your life, it is about also knowing that you are the observer. Blessings on the journey, Rev. Carolyn

2nd in series on The Untethered Soul

Hello everyone, This week we have been talking about how we build in protection that ends up restricting/crippling us. In Michael Singer's book The Untethered Soul, he gave the metaphor of the thorn. Think about having a thorn in your body somewhere. It hurts when it is touched but otherwise we can ignore it. But, it is in a place that it gets touched often. So, we are careful where we might go that might have things that would reach out and touch it. We are careful what people we get around because they touch it, sometimes with just a word. If the wind blows too hard, it can hurt. We roll over on it in our sleep. It is so upsetting. So we construct a defense. We start by building up a small wall around it, but that doesn't fix it completely. So, we build a bigger defense Pretty soon, in protecting the thorn, we restrict our movements, our involvements, our very happiness in an effort to avoid pain. This thorn and our need to protect it takes over a large portion of our lives. Instead of living, we are protecting. When we have been hurt, unless we have dealt with it and released it, we spend lots of energy in trying to avoid that particular pain again. One example that comes to mind; if we ask for what we need, people won't like us anymore. The child who was told they were selfish and Mommy was angry when they asked for what they wanted and needed. So we avoid asking for what we need and end up unhappy, lonely and frustrated. We are going to talk about falling behind the thought to a place of observing. Simple yet very challenging concept. Have a great week. Rev. Carolyn

Which Self are we going to be true to?

Michael Singer in his book The Untethered Soul asks the question to which self will you be true? He invites us to look behind the constantly chattering voice that many of us think of as our true self and to ask who is it that is observing the voice? What is it that can question the voice, that can think as we are blowing off steam, "They are really out of control?" It is called by many names, soul, higher self, spirit, the never touched or harmed, etc. It is what we listen to when we meditate. We know it because it is so different from the chattering voice we normally hear. Why is that voice so reactive? Take a moment to close your eyes. When you open them do not label what you see, simply take it all in No dialogue. There is more input than we seem able to hold. So, the voice narrates and chooses what to focus on. Close your eyes and again open them normally and see what the voice picks out. It may focus on a particular person or object or the beauty around you. It just all depends and what gets focused on will give you an insight as to how your world is narrated and constructed by the voice. Take a moment to celebrate your 'narrator'. It is very important to your survival and it can be influenced by your making new choices, giving new input. So in our series, we are going to talk about and explore getting in touch with and increasing our awareness of our higher selves. "It's the commotion the mind makes about life that really causes our problems." Why does a teakettle whistle? To let off steam. Why does the mind focus on one thought and keep going over and over it? To let off energy. Think of a time when someone hurt your feelings. Your mind played it over and over and over again with narrative and what you should have said or done. It is processing the energy. When you realize this, you can step in and release the energy intentionally and move out of the loop of playing it over and over in your mind. You are not a slave to the 'voice.' It is all about informed choices. Have a great week! Rev. Carolyn

Four Power Spaces

As we talked about on Sunday, there are four Power Spaces that each of us does call upon and each of us can call upon more. We used Thomas Edison as an example of one life and some ways that he called upon and expressed these spaces. 1. Exploration - openness and commitment to exploring new possibilities. Thomas Edison asked the question, "Why?" all of his life. He was the kind of child that can drive adults to distraction when they realize how little they truly know about the things around them. He wanted to know why and how everything worked. He was forever experimenting and taking things apart and putting them back together so that they were better/more efficient than when he started. He has been called the most influential man of his century. He changed how we all lived, from phonographs to electricity in our homes. He once said, "Discontent is the first necessity of progress." Where are you discontent or are you so comfortable that in Tom's words, 'nothing is happening.' 2. Meaning - Knowing that there is value and purpose in your existence. A part of Tom's was that he wanted everything he did to serve others. He looked for what the world needed and then proceeded to invent it. When you think of the gift you would like to give the world, what is it? Not how you can do it, but what is it that makes your heart sing when you think about giving it? 3. Resource - "I know this world is ruled by infinite intelligence. Everything that surrounds us - everything that exists - proves that there are infinite laws behind it. There can be no denying this fact. It is mathematical in its precision." At the Centers for Spiritual Living we are dedicated to learning more about these 'infinite laws' and how to best express them in our lives. The basic Law we understand is that it is only One. What this means is that all the Infinite resources are ours for the accepting. 4. Identity - Who are you? The expression of the Whole. Our lives are a wonderful journey of awakening to the Truth of our being. The expression of the unique unfoldment of Spirit/Law that we are. These are very quick ideas around these profound ideas. I invite you to allow them to swim around in the edges of your mind and see where they lead. Joy in the journey, Rev. Carolyn

Two Stories of Life Supporting Creativity

The following two stories are examples of people living their creativity to create lives of their choosing. We are made to be creative. When we block that creativity, we diminish how we express and our enjoyment of life. There is a story about the young Stephen Spielberg and how he moved an obstacle in his life to being a life giving support. As a young man in Middle School he had a bully that liked to pick on him. He tried avoiding him and then one day he went up to him and said he was doing a home movie, did this kid want to be one of the actors? The bully responded with more bullying, but in a few days, he showed up at Stephen's and said tell me more. The bully became the hero in a movie about bullies in Nazi Germany. And, he became a life long friend to Stephen. Stephen had been creative in thinking of a new way of dealing with a situation that most of us would never have thought of. There was a Park Warden who was in charge of making sure that anyone who fished in a certain lake had a permit to do so. One day he saw a man with two buckets of fish. He asked to see his permit. The man with the buckets of fish said, "I don't need a permit, these are my pet fish." "Your what?" "My pet fish. I bring them out in the morning so they so out to play in the lake. Then they come back, jump in the bucket and I take them home." The Warden said, "that is impossible!" The man with the buckets of fish responded insisting that they were indeed his pet fish. So, the Warden finally said, "Show me." The man dumped the fish in the lake and then stood quietly. "Well, call the fish back!" "What fish?" Not only was the guy a fast thinker, creative in his response, but also now free to go. No evidence was available. How can you think a new thought this day? Rev. Carolyn

Five Supporting Steps to Power

In discussing Power vs. Force we explore five supporting steps to power or affirmative prayer. Power, is another name for Spirit. Power expressed clearly in our lives is the expression of the One. Force is when we work to manipulate or make something happen. This is true whether we are talking about ourselves, another person, a situation, etc. The five steps turn our attention to the One Power. The steps align us with who we truly are and Spirit. 1. Contemplate the One Life – Let in the Light. Every time we turn our attention to the Presence that is greater than we are, we are letting more Light and Presence in and as and through us. We are aligning ourselves with what cannot change, instead of focusing on what is in constant flux. 2. Stop fixating on problems and needs – Discipline. This is really tough. When something is right in front of us, even when we know it is only temporary and not truth, it is hard for us to take our attention off of it. I have learned that when I get a scratch in my throat, I can tell myself the story of, "Oh no, here comes a sinus infection or cold or whatever and start planning what medicine I am going to take." or "I know that I am the perfect health of Spirit and my sinuses are healthy now." When I finally got that seeing it is a problem, created the problem, I was able to change the story. Sinus events just don't happen to me. 3. Give into God – allow the infiltration of Love. Open yourself to all the things that remind you of Truth. Like a dry sponge soaks up moisture, soak up Spirit. 4. Affirm God’s Good for you. Your Divine Birthright. Study, read, contemplate the Truth that you are the creation of the One. One of my favorite affirmations is found in our brochure. It comes from the book by Ernest Holmes "Living the Science of Mind." - It goes something like this. - Good and more Good is mine. It flows to me, through me, surrounds me, supports me. Good and more Good is mine. Not going to be. Not if I do the 'right' things. Good and more Good is mine. 5. Celebrate and release. Trust that not by might but by the Spirit it is done. Smile a lot. Laugh a lot. And open to more reasons/opportunities to smile and laugh. Good and more good is yours. May you see it, feel it, and enjoy it! Rev. Carolyn