The other day I was talking to another writer about “the word for the year.”   It made me think about my word for 2008 …. It was Celebrate.

 At the time I picked that word, I was celebrating. I was in a new relationship, our community was thriving and Life was good.

 As I look back, Mr. Right turned out to be ‘not right for me’ (and me not right for him), beloved friends and a beloved pet died, I moved residences twice, finances got really tight, my back and arm were terribly painful for awhile, and so on.

 I thought for a fleeting moment: “What was there to celebrate?” and then I realized that in picking my word for the year, I had given myself an interesting challenge:  Is it possible to celebrate the hard times as well? 

 My answer is YES!  It’s all about Being with what is, and blessing it. Letting my experience of the moment show me what I truly desire for the future. 

 Celebrating is about being grateful.  I am grateful I could risk opening my heart and letting go of so much stuff to live “in love.”  I’m grateful I had the courage to realize it wasn’t working and let go.  I’m grateful for the time spent with those who’ve ‘walked the rainbow’ as the Hawaiians say.  I’m grateful for the travel and deepening friendships. I’m grateful I was able to become more aware of what I really want to experience and what’s important to me. I’m grateful for the financial, physical, mental and emotional challenges, because they brought me back to my Self.

 Yes, in the midst of tears and sorrow, just as in times of love and joy, one can celebrate Life.  Life is what we are, what we have, and what we experience.  And Life is always saying “You are my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”

 Celebrate was a good word for 2008. Divine is my chosen word for 2009 ….  I can only imagine the wonders it will bring!    What’s your word?

 

SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

 With a grateful heart, I celebrate Life.  God is Life – all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present Life.  It surrounds me, supports me and fills me.  My Life is God’s Life.

 I choose to make this Life I am experiencing even better by acknowledging every aspect of it as an expression of The Divine.  What ever I have experienced, be it judged positive or negative, it is all Good.  I make it so.

 I open my heart, my mind and my being to the enveloping Love of The Divine as I move forward along my Path.  God and I are inseparable, living and breathing Oneness, Loving all. I declare Life is Good. 

 Gratefully I release these words, knowing they are my Truth.  And so It is. 

 

 

Seeing how I just moved back to my townhome after 8 months living with someone else I can answer this easily -- what I missed the most was the silence -- and the protected stream area in my back yard, with its resident herons, raccoons, and other wildlife.

Monday afternoon I was waiting at a stop light behind another car. The light turned green and the car in front sped away as I shifted into gear to start moving. Suddenly there was a huge crash, and my car jumped forward a few feet. I yelped and looked in my rear view mirror. All I could see was a grill. Oh no, I'd been hit by a truck!

I pulled over imagining what the rear end of my car looked like. Cartoon pictures of accordion pleats were going through my mind. I got out and walked to the back. There wasn't a scratch! Not a dent, or a paint chip or anything. I looked at the grill of the truck, and then at the truck and realized it was the biggest one I had ever seen. I looked back at my car. Nothing. The truck driver was surprised as well. He even checked under my car and said everything looked good there too. He apologized and said he just wasn't paying attention. I smiled and said I'd been there, and everything was fine. We exchanged information and I drove away.

I started to get a little nervous about my back, but decided I was fine, just like my car. I went about doing my errands. By the time I got home I felt like I might be on the edge of stiffening up – so I lay down on my bed to do some stretches.

It was then I remembered speaking about Grace last Sunday at our Gathering. I remembered not only committing to live in Grace, but declaring we all would have an experience of it. I started laughing. Who could imagine a small car being rear ended by a huge truck and both the car and driver coming out unscathed!!! What an experience of Grace.

In the glossary of the Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes writes "Grace is the givingness of Spirit to Its Creation and is not a special law, but a specialized one. In other words, Grace is, but we need to recognize it. It is not something God imposed upon us, but is the logical result of the correct acceptance of life and of a correct relationship to Spirit. We are saved by Grace, to the extent that we believe in, accept, and seek to embody, the Law of Good; for the Law of Good is ever a Law of Liberty and never one of limitation. Limitation is not a thing, not an entity, but a belief. Freedom is a Divine Reality."

This experience could have gone many ways. I could have gotten out of my car mad at the truck driver. I could have focused on the idea that my back had been injured before, therefore was probably injured again. I could have dwelt in limitation. However, my recognition of the concept of Grace, my commitment to live in it, and my declaration to have an experience of it, led me to this Grace filled experience – without being consciously aware of it at the time!! I am so grateful I choose to live in a Divine Reality, letting go of all judgments and constantly expanding my idea of God - the All That Is.


SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

"Be still and know I am God."

I open my heart and mind and allow myself to settle in the stillness. I feel the Presence – a Presence that is larger than I could possibly imagine and yet is my own Life. I honour this Presence with every breath I take.

I declare I live in Grace. I am open to the givingness of Spirit to Itself as me. I let go of all judgments I have had about others and about myself. I stand proudly in the Truth that all there is – is God. There is One Life, and I am living this life with grace. Grace shines through every activity, every person, plant and animal, every thing. It is all Divine. There is nothing that is not an emanation of Divine Energy.

I see my expanded awareness of the Divine outpictured in my life, filling any areas where I might formerly have had a challenge. I am healthy, wealthy, wise, and in wonderful relationships. God is all there is, and where ever God is, all is well.

I am so grateful to have the freedom to choose my Path. I am grateful for my constantly expanding awareness of Love and Law. I am grateful the Presence is with me in all situations. A great calmness permeates my being, and I let go and let God do Its perfect work, in, through, around, and as me.

I release these words into the Law of Mind with Grace. And so it is.

My house gets a really good cleaning ... I go for a long walk .... or end up writing pages and pages in my journal .... all which help me release the energy.

My anger, if I allow it to,  becomes my mirror .. it points to a place I am being inflexible, judging others, or withholding Love. 

The last experience ??  The snow .... to be the first walking on that fresh glistening whiteness this morning was like an explorer who has just found a new land ...

 I “take a metaphysical reading on the State of the Collective Consciousness” during this time of year.  I wander the stores and malls with open eyes and ears and talk to clerks and strangers in the Christmas sections. 

 

Some of this year’s favourite ornaments seem to be penguins.  In meditating on what I know about penguins I’ve come up with this:

 

Penguins live in the coldest areas of our world, they are communal, they share responsibilities, they will march for miles to attain their desires, no matter how terrible the weather is, and they like to play.

 

The collective consciousness is filled with coldness at the moment – what with many things we’ve trusted falling apart.  People are losing their money, their jobs, and their homes.  Fingers are being pointed, rage and betrayal being felt. 

 

The First Nation peoples say that Penguin medicine teaches the ability to move freely between realities and situations, and to replace chaos with order.  This is our job as spiritual people.  To live IN the world but not be of it.  To hold the highest good in mind for all concerned, everywhere in our world.

 

With the internet and various organizations, we are creating a global community.  We band together for health, wealth, peace ,love and protection.  We have started thinking of the good of all, not just for ourselves.  We are beginning to share responsibilities.

 

We are ready to do what is necessary to attain peace in our own lives, as well as leave a peaceful, healthy world for our children.  We are ready to go the extra mile, no matter what.

 

And while we’re learning to be communal, share responsibilities, and be persistent, we are ready to have fun!!

 

Breathe deep.  Regardless of appearances, the future looks good.

 

Blessings, Angelica

 

SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

 

There is only One  - One Life living Itself through absolutely everything, One Power flowing throughout the Universe, One Heart in which we live, and move, and have our Being.

 

I am now awakening to the Truth of Life Itself as It animates my body, fills me up and spills out into my world.  I realize how power full I am, how loving I am, how compassionate I am.

 

I now open to the Greater Reality.  I willingly do my part.  I put forth my hands and mind in service to my world.  I put all life in my heart.   I serve with grace and gratitude.  I let Infinite Intelligence move through me using my thoughts and feelings to bless this world.

 

I am a conscious co-creator.  I am so grateful to be constantly expanding my experience of The Divine.  I am grateful to be alive at this moment in time.  It is good, very good.

 

I release these words into the Law of Mind, knowing they are already so.  And so it is.

The best part of Christmas Eve when I was a child, was listening to my Father read my Great Aunt’s Christmas Tale.  I have read it every Christmas Eve since and now I share it with you:

 

Once upon a time, there was a little boy, dressed in old, torn clothing, walking through the center of town.  He stared at the gaily decorated shop windows with longing eyes.  People rushed past him, with their warm coats and arms full of packages, getting into warm carriages to take them home.  Some carried shopping bags with delicious smells, and the little boy looked longingly at those too. 

 

None of the shop keepers paid any attention to him as he stopped outside their doors, letting the warm air heat his little body for an instant as the customers went in or came out.

 

The sounds of the carolers died away as the little boy walked away from the town’s busy center.  Snow had begun to fall, but not one carriage stopped to offer him a ride.  The little boy began to feel colder.  As he walked down the road, he came to a large, beautiful house.  The opulently decorated Christmas tree in the front window almost took his breath away.  It was covered with big red bows, glass balls and candles everywhere.  He could see toy soldiers and teddy bears, and pretty ballerinas.  It was wonderful!

 

Music was coming from the house, and he could hear laughter and singing.  “Perhaps these good people will take me in” he thought.  It took quite a while for the door to open when he knocked.  A tall, white haired man dressed in black and white, looked out at him, quite exasperatedly.  “Go away little boy – go away.  You should know better than to try to come in here!”  The huge door slammed shut with a gust of warm air so strong it almost knocked the little boy over in the snow.

 

This same thing happened at every house he tried.  Only the trees in the front windows changed.

 

Finally he came to the very edge of town.  The snow was falling much heavier, and it was becoming harder and harder to walk.  The little boy started to cry.  Then in the midst of his tears, he saw a tiny light off in the distance.  He struggled through the snow toward it and came upon a cottage.  The candle in the front window was very small, but it beckoned to him invitingly.  As he looked in, he could see a small tree branch in a pot on the table. It was decorated with bits of yarn and string, and underneath were some oranges and nuts.

In front of the fireplace was a woman dressed in simple clothing, holding a baby on her lap, talking to a small child seated in front of her.  He listened for a moment to the soft voice telling the story of another child.

 

The little boy tapped on the window trying to get their attention.  The small child tugged on the woman’s skirt.  “Someone’s outside, Mother.”  “No dear” she said, “it was only the wind blowing the tree branches against the house.”  She set the baby in the child’s lap and went to the stove.  “The porridge will be cooked in a minute, children, and then we’ll have our Christmas Dinner.”

 

The little boy knocked harder.  “Oh, Mother, there IS someone outside.” the child said.  The woman opened the door and saw the little boy.  “Oh my poor dear” she cried, “come in this instant and sit by our fire!  You are so cold and wet!”

 

The little boy soon found himself wrapped in a blanket, snuggled to the woman’s bosom.  He felt so good and warm.  The child brought a bowl of porridge for him to eat and then an orange and gave it to him as a Christmas present.

 

After awhile, the baby and the small child became sleepy, so the woman took them into the other room of the cottage to put them to bed.

 

The little boy sitting in front of the fire began to smile.  As he smiled, his face lit up and he became surrounded by a golden light.  The light grew larger and larger until the woman and her small child came back into the room to see what it was.  They gasped as they saw that the tiny branch had become a large, gaily decorated tree, filled with presents …. There were smells of turkey, ham and pies coming from the oven.  And as the light grew, the cottage expanded and new furnishings came into view.  Soon the light was so bright they could no longer see the little boy.  “Who was that Mama?, the little child asked “That was no little beggar boy!”  “No child,” said the Mother softly as tears streamed down her face. “That was the Christ Child.”

 

And from that Christmas on, a candle was always placed in the window to light the Christ Child’s way home.    

 

Blessings, Angelica

Christmas is over.  It was wonderful.   I am so grateful for this yearly Love Fest and for everyone who took part in it!

 This morning I opened my e-mail and felt bombarded by sales, trips down memory lane, and lots of "Best of" lists.  Whew!     After I got over my initial grumpiness about the whole thing, I realized this is just more of the collective consciousness seeking a greater good… some are seeking their good in material objects, some think their good was in the past, and some like to keep track of the best good they've experienced.

 Dr. Holmes wrote:

The boon you ask of life, This greater good
Is open unto all, but life will give
A love to all who know
How to receive;
It mirrors back in form
What you expect.
This is the circle of life
And this its story.
Earth is but a mirror of a greater glory.

The Greater Glory is already within you.   As we begin our journey to this new year – my question for you is "How much Glory are you ready to express?"   Expect to be God's Magnificent Mirror!! 

SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

 I open my heart and mind to the Indwelling Presence – the Glory Within.  I am filled with delight as I experience this Greater Glory first hand, with every breath I take. 

 I absolutely let go of any feelings of unworthiness, or separation.  I am one with the All Good and my life reflects this beautifully.  I can see this in my mind's eye, and it is wonderful.  

 There is only One Life,  that Life is God's and this is the Life I am living.  I walk into my future, knowing it is filled with possibilities and limitless potential.  I expect to see the fullness of Life expressed as me.  I expect health, wealth, love, and success. I expect to awaken each day giving thanks for another day of living the Divine Life. 

 I gratefully release these words, knowing they are not just for me, but for everyone.  They help create an awakening to our spiritual magnificence.  And so it is.