The Gift of the Blessing

As I sit here writing this blog post, I confess that I struggle with where to start.  By now, the latest illustration of the violence that is present within Humanity – the cold-blooded murder of 9 people – has received widespread attention.  By now, the specific details of this latest highly-publicized incident are well-known – the 9 individuals whose lives were ended on June 18, 2015 were members of one race of Humans and the individual who ended those lives was member of another race of Humans.  These two races have a long, sad history, and the frustration, and fear, and anger that has surfaced again – as it always does when these events occur, all too often – cries out to all of us to DO SOMETHING about these events.  In this case, there is a lot of attention on addressing the seemingly never-ending issue of race relations, and gun control.  The discussion regarding mental illness continues as well.

Some of us feel called to take a specific action, in the wake of this latest shocking incidence of hate-filled violence.  Some of us feel anger and hatred and call for justice and punishment.  And some of us feel numb, and helpless, and impotent.  The response of the citizens of Charleston, South Carolina has been beautiful and miraculous – calling for forgiveness and showing solidarity.  I wonder if they know how far these steps are taking them to ensure that these acts of violence become a thing of the very distant past?  I have a feeling that those whose lives ended on June 18, are very pleased with the actions of their community.

On some level, they are aware that acts of love – and forgiveness is a powerful act of love – are what is called for, if we as a nation and as a species want to evolve and thrive, and peacefully co-exist.  They are allowing the justice system to go through its process, all the while allowing love and grace and mercy and healing to flow through their community.

If we, as observers, want to take actions that are in alignment with that healing process, there is a way, and it can bring healing and peace and mercy into our lives and into this world.  It involves the incredible gift of compassion.  The challenge is, to feel compassion for all involved, including the perpetrator.  Now, you may have an eyebrow-raising reaction to that last statement, but I ask you to simply hear me out, and then decide for yourself.  After all, we all know that people who are happy and well-adjusted don't behave this way; they don't commit horrendous acts like this.

Compassion is the opposite of judging.  What this young man did to these 9 Human beings seems to cry out for judgement and swift justice – and we must leave that to our justice system.  Because when we as individuals focus on judgment and rage, we can easily slip into polarity thinking -- us vs. them -- in which case we are virtually ensuring that this terrible event will recur again and again.  

We must choose something different, in order to see change and make a difference in our world.  We must choose a more loving response.

I think we can all agree that we don’t want to see something like this happening again, ever. 

So, I bring to your attention, a process called The Gift of the Blessing.  You may feel some skepticism when you see the word ‘blessing’ especially as it relates to the perpetrator, so let’s look at the definition of that word.  It means ‘a thing conducive to happiness.’ I think we can all agree that the happier people are, the more peaceful our world is.  Whatever drove this young man to his actions, it wasn’t happiness.  And if we don’t want people who are in the same mind set as he, to be walking amongst us and performing similar acts, then we should do all we can to contribute to their healing.  This doesn’t mean that we condone their choices, nor does it mean that they won’t be held accountable.  But we as individuals and as a planet, gain more from desiring healing for these individuals, through the act of compassion, than we ever would through judgment and rage.  Because what we wish for others, we wish for ourselves and we bring the mercy and the grace of the Universe into our lives.

The Gift of the Blessing is based on our Creator’s unconditional love for us and mercy on us.  I first heard about it a few years back, when I attended a lecture by spiritual teacher Gregg Braden.  It was after the genocide in Rwanda, and I’d read Immaculée Ilibagiza’s book “Left to Tell.”  As a survivor of the Rwanda genocide, Ms. Ilibagiza knows about forgiveness and compassion, as the way to true freedom and healing.  I had felt overwhelmed and numb and helpless in the face of these events, and The Gift of the Blessing offered me a way to participate in healing our collective consciousness, and to feel more connected to Unconditional Love and grace, than other less loving options.

Like most deeply powerful conscious sacraments, The Blessing is very simple.  There are 3 parts:

1.            Bless those who have suffered.

2.            Bless those who have inflicted the suffering.  A reminder that this is not to condone their actions or to make light of those actions.  It is compassionate acknowledgement of the perpetrator’s part in the events.  It allows us to let go of the hurt and pain, to allow the emotion (Emotion=energy + motion) to move through us and not remain stuck in our body, where there is potential to wreak havoc with our own health and well-being.

3.            Bless us, the witnesses.

And the beauty of this process, is we can avail ourselves of this compassion and healing technology any time, whether in the aftermath of global events, or within the journey of our own life experience.

From the “Awakening Human Awareness” website, here’s the process:

There are three parts to the Blessing:

Step 1:    *Sit, relax, take a few deep breaths using stomach muscles to expand the lower 1/3 of your lungs, and then to push out the air from your lungs.

*Image a light from above, coming to the top of your head, flowing all about you. This is your “God-connection.”

*Imagine the situation that is challenging you now.  It can be a recent situation, or one from the past (strife in the Middle East, the gulf tragedy or the horrors of 9-11). Choose one that has strongly affected you or is causing you pain to think of it now.

Step 2:   SAY ALOUD:

1.            I bless those who have suffered.  I bless those who have lost loved ones, who have lost their children, their spouses, their friends.  I bless those who have lost their homes and their lands, and their precious possessions.  I bless those who are still suffering in their losses, their fears, and their agonies.

2.            I bless those who have inflicted the suffering, as they experience in the knowing of their part.

3.            I bless MYSELF in the witnessing of the suffering.  I bless myself in the witnessing of the pain and despair of others.  I bless myself for feeling the pain and yet the helplessness in the witnessing.  I bless myself in the witnessing of the sadness and losses of other people.  I bless my own feelings in the witnessing and the compassion I feel for the suffering of others.

Acts of compassion and forgiveness are very powerful ways to free yourself and others from a life experience of pain and suffering.  If we want to heal our world, we must first heal ourselves.  We must not create more rage, anger, condemnation and hatred, lest we guarantee another homicide. It takes strength to forgive -- Gandhi said, "Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Through compassion and a desire for a peaceful, harmonious world, you can find the strength and heal the world.

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I am a spiritual teacher, writer and speaker.  As a practical mystic and wisdom synthesizer, my passion is to articulate all that I have learned first-hand over the last 30 years, about the spiritual laws of our world, in my own personal and life-long search to better understand how it all works and how to live a happier, more peaceful, joyful and abundant life.

I welcome your comments, and I relish the opportunity to clarify the information that I offer, and answer any questions you may have. Email me at info@maryjobull.com.

How To Achieve Different Results, When the Same Problem Recurs

Have you ever found yourself saying, "Why does this keep happening over and over and over again?" Everyone has had this experience at one time or another in their lives.  We think we've dealt with something and then it pops up again.  It can be frustrating, at the least and anxiety-ridden at worst.

There IS a reason why these events keeping showing up, and we'll go into that in a minute.  But first, the solution!

First, take a deep breath and relax.

Make a point not to react the way you usually do.  Do you notice something significant about that word --re-ACT?  Acting again, the same way?  That's what we do, and that's where we get stuck, time and time again.


This may seem like a small thing, but trust me, it's not. Have you ever heard the expression, "Nothing changes, if nothing changes?"  It applies here.

Now, ask yourself a question.

Einstein said, "I think the most important question facing humanity is, is the Universe a friendly place? This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves." Once we make the decision for ourselves, we will see the Universe conspire to prove us right.

If I have decided that the Universe is a friendly place, then it follows that I can assume that solutions and resources, and blessings and beautiful outcomes are forthcoming. I can then do all that I am capable of doing, while staying aligned with my decision that the Universe is a friendly place, and then surrender the rest to the Universe.  When we surrender to the Universe, we are tapping into an infinite number of possibilities.  We can ask for a specific outcome, using our imagination and senses to allow ourselves to experience that outcome in a moment in time.  Feel the feeling that you'll believe you'll feel when your desired outcome manifests.  Spend as much time there as you can, and then release it to the Universe, with the prayer, "This or something better." 

Our only other option is to rely solely on our limited material resources, which are typically a reflection of what is and what HAS been.  But that's not been working because you are here again!  If you feel anxious or fearful or worried, you are cutting yourself off from the unlimited potential that the Universe wants to give you.  A Course in Miracles says that the presence of fear is a sure sign that you are trusting in your own strength. There's nothing wrong with being self-reliant, but there are times when we don't have the ability to manage all the moving parts of an issue.

When I insist on managing all the details in an attempt to bring about a desired outcome to a situation (PROBLEM), I cause myself to feel fear and frustration and anxiety. There are details that are out of my control, that only the Universe can affect. I always have a choice in the moment -- to focus my attention on all that could prevent my desired outcome, i.e. 'go wrong,' or to focus my attention on my chosen belief, that the Universe is a friendly place and is always conspiring in my favor.

From Re-ACTing to Responding

When we are reACTing to a situation, we are in, our consciousness is in the fight or flight state.  There's no consideration or contemplation - we do what we've always done.  When we take a moment to breathe and recenter our focus, we move into the state of restful awareness, creating space in that moment for the solution to be available to us.  

This changes what comes next, from what's always been to what now can be.

Wherever there is a "problem," the solution is close by as well.

But we won't see that if we are engaging in the same reaction.  It is helpful to take a moment to examine what we are thinking in the moment.  What are you afraid of?  How do you feel when this problem shows up?  Are you projecting consequences in the future? What's going on inside you when this problem shows up?


Einstein said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." Our thoughts and fears are creative -- chances are, this situation reflects the way I typically (unconsciously?) think and behave. And those behaviors are almost always driven by beliefs and experiences that are buried deep in our subconscious.

Now we come to the part about "why" this keeps happening.

I hope that when you asked yourself the question about whether the Universe is friendly or not, that you decided that it is.  Because it is -- each of us is loved unconditionally and cherished without question.  Like any loving parent, the Universe wants us to thrive and grow and prosper, and it has set up a fail safe system to show us where we have blind spots -- blind spots are areas where we are unconscious about our belief in lack in all its many illusory forms.  Because we are created in the image of the Creator, we are imbued with its powers of creation, through thought and feeling.  We can be, do and have anything, but very few of us are brought up "knowing" -- most of us are raised "doubting." Experiencing the pain of lack-based thoughts gets our attention, eventually.  It's that pain that makes us finally stop and say, "There's got to be a better way."


When it continues to show up, there's a message there.

When we understand this, and embrace it as the loving help from the Universe that it is meant to be, we can choose to take a different tack and change the outcome. Eventually, the circumstances stop recurring because we allow the Universe to work WITH us by allowing it to work THROUGH us.
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I am a spiritual teacher, writer and speaker.  As a practical mystic and wisdom synthesizer, my passion is to articulate all that I have learned first-hand over the last 30 years, about the spiritual laws of our world, in my own personal and life-long search to better understand how it all works and how to live a happier, more peaceful, joyful and abundant life.

I welcome your comments, and I relish the opportunity to clarify the information that I offer, and answer any questions you may have. Email me at info@maryjobull.com.

Changing Our Beliefs: We Have the Right and the Power!

"Yeshua said: When you bring forth that within you, then that will save you.  If you do not, then that will kill you." ~ The Gospel of Thomas, Logon 70

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What do you believe about who you are?  Where did those beliefs come from?  Where did you get them?  At one time, they served you – whether to connect you to your family, community or tribe, or to promote a feeling of safety and anonymity.  Maybe it was important to your sense of self-preservation, to play small and undeserving.

We are living at a time in human evolution that is unique to acknowledged history.  Everywhere we look, there are messages to “take back your power” and to “be who you want to be,” to “live your life, not the life chosen for you.”

If this has a familiar ring to it, read on.  You may find a nugget of wisdom, to transform your life experience.

Your Beliefs Are Running Your Life

Why is it important to examine our beliefs?  Our beliefs about ourselves and our world – especially those beliefs that are subconscious – set up a pattern of experience in our day-to-day life.  These beliefs influence and inform everything in our life experience.  They determine what thoughts we think on a routine basis, they determine the choices that we make in any given moment – sometimes in the blink of an eye and sometimes when we give a decision great consideration.  They are an integral part of the co-creation process that we undertake with the Divine.

Because of the truth of our origins and our core nature – we are physical expressions of the Creator, That Which Intended Itself Here, imbued with all the powers of creation – we are by nature in every moment pure potential.  Potential is defined as ‘existing in possibility.’  Where there is infinite potential, there is infinite possibility.

 

Potential, or possibility, implies choice – choosing from infinite possibilities.  What influences our choice?

Now You See Why It Is Vital to Examine Your Beliefs

Ancient wisdom tells us that we are created in the image of the Creator.  A Course in Miracles says, “The only difference between us and God, is God created us.  We did not create God.”   We are created in the image of the Creator, and therefore we have the ability to create.  We are always creating, either deliberately or by default.  If we don’t know what we believe about our self and our world, we are creating by default.

We can create deliberately – that’s why we are here!  And through that process, we can also become aware of those subconscious beliefs that no longer serve us. 

Did you see what I said there?  It isn’t necessary to clear all our old beliefs before we can create.  Don’t get pulled into the “I’m broken and I have to fix myself first” mouse trap! 

 

As we consider our life and make choices about what aspects to change, and then choose to change them, we will encounter a delicious feeling of possibility first – and then we will likely feel a degree of resistance.  Resistance is that knot in our gut that seems to say, “You can’t do that, what are you talking about?  This is your lot in life, learn to work with what you got.  Suck it up, buttercup!”  Welcome that feeling of resistance!  Because the true message behind that discomfort is, “There are some beliefs rolling around here in your mind that aren’t in alignment with the truth of who you are – an expression of God, in the physical body! Take a deeper look – bring those shadow beliefs to light and heal yourself.”  This ‘resistance’ is one of the ways that the Creator stacks the dice in our favor.  We can’t heal what we don’t recognize, especially if we are not aware of its existence.  We can’t heal what we don’t feel.  Without this resistance trigger, we would be at the mercy of God’s version of, “Well, if you don’t know, I’m not gonna tell you.”  Shadow beliefs are blind spots, and the feeling of resistance is a built-in failsafe that, if we will give it our attention, can lead us down the short path to where those shadow beliefs are residing.

The key, of course, when looking at these shadow beliefs, is not to become mired in them.  Remember that we are imbued with unlimited potential and any limits we experience are there because in that moment we have fallen asleep again to the truth of who we are.  When looking at your beliefs and belief systems, it can be most beneficial to take the perspective of an observer.  An observer has no opinion one way or another, but simply takes it all in and notes the important information that comes to light.  Without the perspective of the observer we can become emotionally enmeshed, in the process.  This does not necessarily serve us, as we can tend to go down the road of sorrow, sadness and loss – and stay there.  While it is healthy and healing to feel our feelings in order to let the old shadow beliefs go, we must also be hyper-aware if we are getting stuck all over again.  Ultimately, it does not really matter how or why these beliefs came to be in our psyche – whether we got them from our family, community, religious tradition, the media – and self-pity can be a very slippery slope.  A Course in Miracles says, "Look at the crucifixion but do not dwell on it."

How do I figure out what my limiting beliefs are?

There are several ways to determine our shadow beliefs, those beliefs that keep us from becoming the great expressions of Creation that we came here to be. 

First, recognize that this will take some time, and decide to make your own happiness and well-being a top priority.  This process requires time for reflection and examination.  You will benefit most by finding a quiet, comfortable space, and by giving yourself at least 30 minutes to sit in the quiet and do your process.  Scripture tells us, “Be still and know….”  It’s self-defeating to attempt this process with a lot of chaos and activity going on around you, whether you are participating or not.  It might be helpful to have paper and pencil handy, so you can write down what comes forth.  Relying on memory – especially as this is a process – can be risky.

The most effective way that I have experienced, has been a sort of reverse engineering.  I look at an area, or areas, of my life that could use improving and I develop an I AM statement that reflects my desired outcome.  For example, “I AM nurtured and supported by all the relationships in my life.  I AM beloved by my mate, and I AM surrounded by souls who see me and understand me.  I AM loved unconditionally.”

Whatever your I AM statement, it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds – if your current life situation is not entirely in line with your I AM statement – for ‘the voices’ to start up, telling you how impossible this is, you are lying to yourself, you have to face facts, etc.  Close your eyes and breathe, and put your focus on your gut.  Let the essence of the foundation behind these thoughts, come to the surface.  Underlying those voices, may be a belief that you have not yet met your perfect mate and it’s been a long, long time of trying and failing, or there may be a feeling of hopelessness about changing others’ behavior.  Make notes of the thoughts and ideas that surface.  Go back again, especially if you sense there is more to be revealed.  Ultimately, your foundational thought may be, “I don’t deserve to be happy.  I don’t deserve unconditional love.”  Don’t resist these uncomfortable thoughts, or try to argue with them.  Accept their current residence within your belief system, and know that you can change them at any time.

These uncomfortable feelings reflect a belief in lack, of some kind.  A Course in Miracles tells us there are only two feelings:  Love and Fear.  It is truth that the basis of fear is the belief that we are worthless and unworthy.  And we are taught these beliefs at a time in life when we are vulnerable and malleable – our childhood.  We therefore believe these untruths because others who have lived longer have handed them down to us – they must be true if these older, ‘wiser’ folks say so.  We don’t know at that time that we are infinitely powerful beings, so we give our power away unwittingly to those older, ‘wiser’ others.  But ultimately we can’t blame them because they got it from older, ‘wiser’ others in their lives, and back and back and back through our ancestral line.  Plus, blaming get us NOWHERE / NOW HERE fast.  It keeps us stuck. 

Ownership vs Blame

The New Thought movement is one of empowering the individual.  Blame is not empowering – it indicates a tacit belief that something or someone else has power over us.  It is a painful indicator that we have fallen asleep (or have yet to awaken) to the truth of who we are.

Ownership, on the other hand, is empowering.  Ownership says to us that while X,Y or Z appeared to be the situation at the time, we have the power over how we experience the situation and we can co-create with God what the final outcome will be.

As a final thought, I leave you with this.  As expressions of the Creator, we are loved and valued beyond our human comprehension.  We are Spiritual Beings having a human (physical) experience.  When we remember that we are God in the physical body, then it makes perfect sense that we are infinite beings with infinite potential, and that we can change our minds and our lives at any time.  With practice, effort and faith and belief in our cooperation with that part of our true selves t remains with the Creator, we can be, do and have whatever we desire.  And this path is a worthwhile use of our time, energy and focus.  It benefits us and all of those around us.  This is how we save the world.

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Want to hear more about beliefs, the truth of who you are and how to experience a happier, more joy-filled life?  Join me Thursday, April 2 at 8:00p eastern time on BlogTalk Radio.  This is an interactive call-in radio show and I welcome your questions!  It's a terrific opportunity to get a new perspective on an old idea or belief.  It can shift your world -- A Course in Miracles says that a miracle is a shift in perception, from fear to love!

Answers To Life's Biggest Questions

I went for a walk this weekend, enjoying the beautiful spring weather, and the beautiful notes of the songs on Secret Garden's "White Stones" album on my iPod.  I chose that album specifically because of the feeling of sacredness and spirituality that is elicited in my body when I listen to it.  I dearly appreciate walking meditation and this music has a meditative effect on my mind and body.

That music was a very powerful trigger, as it happened.  A few minutes into my walk, my mind was flooded with decade-old memories of similar walking meditations in my former neighborhood -- sacred woodland park land just behind my home, populated with wildlife, a gurgling stream flowing parallel with the walking path.  In the late 90's and early 2000's, I was in my early 40's and going through what some might label 'a mid-life crisis.'  At the age of 43, I had reached a point where I was ready, and eager, to deal with issues that had been dogging me for years -- namely, why do I always have this nagging, low-grade feeling of worry in my stomach?  What IS this feeling?  Does anyone else feel this way? 

And, of course, the ultimate consideration:  Who am I and why am I here?

Soon into my walk, I had a sudden and delicious moment of awareness -- all the questions I'd been asking have been answered and here I am more than ten years later, happier and more peaceful.  And while there had been challenging times, the experience had been rich with deep insights, meaningful conversations, sacred relationships and wisdom won through perseverance, persistence and grace.

I understand now that these 10+ years brought out in me, talents and gifts and abilities that had lain dormant for most of my life -- and that would lead me to my life's purpose, which is assisting my Human brothers and sisters on the path to self-actualization.  I am one of those way showers who can truly say, "If my troubles and difficulties can help even one person to avoid that pain, it was well worth it."

Each of us is pure potential, and each of us has the ability to save the world.  "Many are called but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14

Do you find yourself asking those same questions?  Everyone does at some point in their life.  But do we pursue the answers?  Because, in my experience, those answers are worth pursuing -- they are not difficult to reach and those answers make all the difference in the quality of the life that we experience.

Do you find yourself in the same place?  Do you feel stuck and frustrated?  I can help you--I've been there and I know the path! 

If you have questions, or maybe you are looking for a spiritual mentor, I hope you will email me!  In the meantime, check back here each week for more information about our journey to self-actualization -- and join me on BlogTalk Radio starting Thursday, April 2.  This is a new program where you will have an opportunity to call in with your questions and situations, to get information, insight and practical tools to change your life and move forward with optimism and anticipation!

For a taste of the content of my past shows, I invite you to click here to listen.

I hope to have the opportunity to talk with you soon!

Decisions, Decisions ...and Miracles

I’m presenting a class in Richmond, Virginia on August 22, and the topic is ‘miracle-preparedness.’  My intention with this class is to present a comprehensive perspective on miracles – who we are, where we come from and how to experience more miracles in life. 

I have been working through this presentation, for almost 6 months.  It’s what I do.  I get an idea and it rolls around in my psyche until it boils down to a core idea, a launching point.  And I have come to the understanding that making a decision -- a decisive act -- is imperative to experiencing significant change in my life.  It opens the way for miraculous occurrences.

We come from the Creator, and we are endowed with the same creative abilities and tools as our Source.  (And by the way, this is not about religious affiliation, rather, it's about the broader perspective of the purpose of life and why we exist.)  We have the power to create a wonderful life, filled with peace, harmony, joy and love.  We create with our thoughts and our emotions, when we join those to produce a feeling.  Those feelings act as an organizing mechanism to bring order to the particles of matter around us.  That may sound a bit 'woo-woo' but Western science has proven this is true.  I'll be talking about it at the August 22 class.

You can imagine, then, what a powerful role our beliefs play in that creation process.  After all, our beliefs drive us and determine what thoughts we focus on and what thoughts we discard.  Sadly, most of us are not consciously aware of what we believe, let alone why we believe what we believe -- or that our thoughts are creative.  As a result, we live our lives as they come, being buffeted around by the winds of change, by others' expectations, by institutions and entities with agendas that are probably not in alignment with individual creativity.  We feel anger, sadness and regret about our past, and we worry about our future.  We believe that it is our lot in life to play the hand we are dealt, prepare for the worst and hope for the best -- and that our eternal reward comes after we leave this earthly vessel.

But ancient scriptures and writings, from cultures and peoples in the remote past, tell us that we are here to create for ourselves.  And they tell us that everything we require to do that, we already have inside us.  Creating is our birthright, it is our purpose.  And now, at this time in the evolution and history of mankind, we are being challenged individually and as a species, to create "a new heaven and a new earth."  

You can do it, too.  All you may need is a slight shift in perspective.

Choice versus Decision

Creating is about making a decision.  Life is full of possibilities, and we discern our preferences through our life experiences, and that influences our choices.

But there’s a significant difference between a choice and a decision.

The word “choice” comes from the Old English word ceosan, meaning to seek out, try, test, taste, and approve.  In my perspective, this implies flexibility.  There is always the option to choose again, leaving endless room for possibilities in our life.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a decision means ‘to bring to an end.’  It derives from the Latin decidere – de- “off” and caedere “to cut.”  So literally translated, to decide means to cut off. 

When we decide, we eliminate all other options.

The crux of the class that I am currently working on, is this:  Each of us must decide for ourselves (to quote Albert Einstein), “whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”  Because those are the only two options we have.  For example, in my own life, it boils down to my perception of my personal deity, God.  Do I believe that God loves me unconditionally, or not?  The better I feel about that relationship, the more confident I feel about myself and my ability to craft my destiny.

The decision about what we believe is always ours, no matter what our past experiences have been, no matter what others around us may or may not believe.  And we can change our beliefs any time.  Yes, we can deliberately change what we believe -- it's a process, that's true, but we are always supported in this endeavor.  And with enough attention to my new beliefs and practicing those new beliefs consistently, over time belief becomes knowing.

Deciding to believe that God loves me unconditionally has led to miracles occurring in my life, almost on a daily basis.  That’s because when I decide to believe, all other options retreat back into nothingness.  This belief shifts how I see the world, how confident I feel, how strong my faith is, how connected I feel to hope and optimism and determination.

According to “A Course in Miracles,” the Holy Spirit tells us that a miracle is a shift in perception.  "A miracle is a correction.  It does not create, nor really change at all.  It merely looks on devastation, and reminds the mind that what it sees is false.  It undoes error, but does not attempt to go beyond perception, nor exceed the function of forgiveness.  Thus it stays within time's limits.  Yet it paves the way for the return of timelessness and love's awakening, for fear must slip away under the gentle remedy it brings.”

When I decide to believe that I am loved unconditionally and that I am here on purpose, I am free to be, do and have anything I desire.  The chains and shackles disappear, and life feels brighter and lighter.

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If you are in the Richmond area on August 22, I hope you’ll come to this class at The Alchemists at Stony Point Fashion Park.  I will offer wonderful, uplifting supplemental information about this topic, from many sources.  It is my deepest hope, strongest passion and fervent desire to assist humanity to awaken and become aware of the truth of who we are and where we come from, so that we may co-create a new heaven and a new earth for ourselves, our children and generations to come.

Faith and The Law of Attraction

I recently had dinner with a man who told me he didn’t believe in an afterlife.  He is a widower, for almost two years now, and it was clear from the strain on his face, in his voice and in his carriage, the years had exacted a toll.  He made it clear that he was moving on with his life, and shared with me several business opportunities that were coming his way.  But the sense I got from him was resignation – resentful resignation.  In fact, at one point he said, “It wasn’t supposed to be like this; I can’t believe this is where I am at this stage of my life.”  I sensed sadness, yes, but mostly resentment and confusion.  Well into the evening, I asked him, “Do you think you ever hear from your wife?”  That’s when he told me he didn’t believe in an afterlife – he said, “I know I’ll never see her again.”  It kind of took my breath away – it was rather shocking.  I asked him how he would feel if he knew he would see her again, and his measured gaze seemed to indicate that was a moot point.  The ensuing conversation told me that he’s a left-brained guy – he would have to have proof of an afterlife before he’d believe it.  I cited hundreds of books by those who have had near death experiences – many of whom were children under the age of 6.  He attributed those experiences to chemical processes in the brain or very lively imaginations.  Like me, he was raised in the Catholic tradition, and I reminded him that one of the main attraction points about Catholicism was its promise of an afterlife – that’s where our heavenly reward lies (according to Catholic dogma).  Even then, he rejected the idea.

Here was someone who, growing up, had received all the teachings, and followed the rules, like going to Mass on Sunday – this was something he’d started again after his wife had died.  He said he found comfort in the familiarity.  I asked him about his faith, and it wasn’t a topic he was keen to discuss.  He seemed to indicate that faith didn’t enter into it.

I felt sadness for him – but like so many of us, he’d been indoctrinated into the process, teachings and rules but never developed the faith at the same time.

How many of us struggle with faith?  According to Webster’s dictionary, one of the definitions of faith is, “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”  In the canonical Bible, the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Some say faith is too risky.  Ironically, we would rather keep our expectations low, believing that will lessen the feeling of disappointment. 

Faith is an important element in our deliberate and conscious collaboration with The Law of Attraction.  Manifesting is about more than getting stuff – it’s a journey to the Heart of the Spiritual Being that you really are.  And faith is an aspect of our Human nature which must be nurtured and exercised.  For many of us, for whom faith was not a strong part of our religious education, faith is like an atrophied muscle.  We haven’t used it, so it’s pretty weak. When a muscle is weak from little use, you strengthen it by using it – same with faith. 

Start with something that you perceive to be ‘small,’ something that doesn’t create resistance within you.  Focus on believing that the object of your faith will manifest, whether it’s a smooth commute to work, or an outcome that would be fun to experience – something that you don’t feel strongly about, it would be a bonus if it played out the way you want it to.  Imagine your desired outcome as though it has already come to fruition – how do you feel as you are imagining it?  Do you feel good?  Happy?  Delighted?  Are you smiling?  Do you feel lighter?

Now, pay attention going forward – the length of time may vary.  Look for evidence that your goal is manifesting.  More importantly, stay in a place that feels good – look for reasons to feel good, even if those reasons don’t appear to have anything to do directly with your manifestation.  Remember, you are working your faith muscle – the outcome isn’t even what’s important!  It’s learning how it feels as you are exercising your faith muscle.  This process is bringing you into alignment with your true essence, which is All That Is on the physical plane.  Like, when you are working out, you pay attention to that feeling we call ‘the burn.’  The burn tells you where you are in the workout process – it tells you the level of strength or fatigue that the muscle is experiencing.  It’s an indicator.

As you exercise your faith muscle more and more, you will start to see evidence of that which is unseen.

The feeling does not have to strong – it can be as even-keel as contentment.  The key is to recognize when you are feeling resistance and letting that go by turning your attention to something that makes you feel good.  Continue to focus on your faith, that all is well and you are in alignment.

Through this exact method, I was able to avoid losing my home after several months of being unable to my mortgage, and to manifest enough money to continue to work from home while healing from an unexpected illness. 

I’ve walked the talk, and I’m honored to share it with you here.

Faith is a strong thread in the fabric of religious tradition, and it’s also about learning to trust ourselves through the process.  Faith helps us to get in touch with our inner applications.  Few of us are taught how to recognize and use these gifts, like intuition and discernment.  Faith helps us to recognize the unseen.  Many times in my process over the years, through pushing myself to stay in faith, I’ve exclaimed, “So that’s what that is!”

Faith puts our focus back where it belongs – inside us, rather than outside of us and on things, people and institutions that may or may not be in alignment with our Divine Essence.  Many of us put our trust into the things of this world – material things which shift and change, come and go.  The First Commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”  In this Commandment, All That Is tells us that if we put our faith in the things of the material world, rather than putting our trust in the Spiritual and the unseen, we are headed for pain and suffering. 

Like the man in my story, when we rely only on the physical – needing proof that satisfies our physical senses – for our sustenance, we cause ourselves pain, suffering, and lack.  Faith leads us back to our connection, to Love, and it is essential in the manifesting process, spelled out in the very simple Law of Attraction.

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There is so much more to who you are and the life you are living, than you know!  If you are feeling a desire to expand and broaden your horizons ~ to develop a deeper understanding of Life, to get out from under the burden of fear or worry or sadness, to feel the power of your true Divine Essence ~ join me every week on BlogTalkRadio.  Don’t accept things as they are; don’t resign yourself to a life of ‘as good as it’s going to get.’  Listen to that inner voice – a new life is just waiting for you!