Could Ernest, would Ernest dance and sing?

Ernest Holmes reminds us to honor the
Divine spark of creativity that is found within each of us.

I'm in class again. Currently taking "The Essential Ernest" with Pattie Mercado and a group of seriously fantastic individuals. We read, we write, we think and then we get together on Monday nights to discuss it.

I've come to appreciate the teachings of Ernest Holmes on a whole new level. This philosophy he is associated with was not initially intending to be "a religion" but rather to supplement and support the teachings of your chosen faith.

I now view Ernest as a master curator of religious thought, drawing out and articulating the truth and principles of the ages and sages. I like to reflect on the unity found in all religious and the unity and principles I see represented in different faiths astounds me and gives me even more to appreciate in the unity of creative diversity found in this world.

And while we share thoughts and principles of truth with many many paths to God I have started to consider also the songs, the dances, the rituals, the artwork, the symbols and the dreams.

My comfort zone tends to be in the reading, writing, and discussion of ideas. Experiencing spirit from the neck up, it's a very cerebral experience. Looking ahead at our calendar of events I am thrilled to see some fantastic musicians and opportunities to play and dance on our Wednesday Wisdom schedule.

This Wednesday we are going to be very blessed to experience the transformational healing music of Anton Mizerak and Laura Berryhill. Read more about these fantastic musicians who will be sharing their gift of music at the Wednesday Wisdom service from 7-8.

The following Wednesday is our monthly potluck starting at 5:45. Bring a dish to share and enjoy fellowship before our "Community Hootenanny" from 7:00-8:00. This will be a great evening for the whole family. Bring an acoustic instrument or percussion instrument. (Kate, my three year old, will be so excited to share her drumming with you all.)

Making Peace with the Troublemakers

Have you ever felt this way?

"I was feeling all this oneness and peace and then you had to go and ruin it all!"

Have you ever felt this way?

I never have. Just kidding, it happens more than I care to admit.

It's all well and good when I am in my happy place, all spiritual and centered and inspired, reading from my "Essential Ernest Holmes" preparing for class. It's all happy happy happy when I am setting my iPhone's "Insight Timer" to a prescribed amount of time to meditate and everyone knows to "leave Mommy alone."

But my path is not to meditate all day nor is it to read wisdom literature in a secluded room. At some point the rubber has to meet the road and I am called to apply these lessons when I am not in that quiet, inspired, peaceful place.

So today in the "Joyous Living Journal" we are gifted with a lovely thought that helped me so I will pass it along. "Learn to disagree with ideas, not people."

When we find people "disagreeable" or when they appear to be the catalyst to a strong negative reaction it's not them, it's an idea. What is the idea they are triggering? Is it judgement, fear, anger? If we can honestly identify the idea this person triggers we can heal it.

We can read all the theory we want but until we internalize the truth till it cannot be shaken we still have work to do. These "troublemakers" as Pema Chodron calls them, point us to our work. Until we are no longer "hookable" by this person, who is just an idea carrier, we still have healing to do.

Where are you hookable? Come join me in some heightened neurosis.

Life is Like a Box of Crayons

Enter into the joy of creating.

Do you remember the excitement and joy of a brand new box of crayons?

Whether it was the box of 8 or the mongo 64 count with the sharpener in the back of the box, I sure remember the thrill.

The thrill came from the infinite promise, the possibilities, oh the possibilities.

Now sometimes that thrill was dampened by the fear of making a mistake or worry that your perfect box would no longer be perfect after you used them. Maybe you had a hard time deciding what you would create or that your creation would pale in comparison to what the kid next to you was doing.

I actually remember gettting an F on a drawing project because I colored a snowman light blue and pink. And no I am not scarred from that experience as the parental uproar was both swift and furious (thank you Mom and Dad.)

Now I am in that happy place where I just love the act of coloring (or painting or drawing or whatever). It's a treat for me. I find joy in just watching the pigment meet the paper and I know that participating in the act is pleasure enough.

Maybe that's all we need to do in life.

"We must all become artists in living. 

To live by inspiration means to sense the divine touch in everything; 

to enter into the joy of living."

 ~ Ernest Holmes

And don't underestimate the "lowly crayon."

Now check out the work of Don Marco, Master Crayola Crayons Artist. Enjoy

Never Limit Your View

Never limit your view of life by any past experience. ~Ernest Holmes

How the Boston Bombings Helped Me Understand God

We are one with all.  Allow me to shine my light into the darkness.

I am a student in Dr. Heather's "The Essential Ernest" class, which takes a deep dive into the principles of Science of Mind.

In the two years I have been in classes, I can honestly say, that I have experienced a very natural understanding and implementation of the principles in my life.

I have come to understand that everything that happens in the world is absolutely perfect.  The only challenge I have had in this principle is when an act of hatred maims and kills innocent people.  How could they have created that in their lives?

These questions have come up in previous classes, yet I have not completely understood or embodied the answers that have been given...

...until last night.

I wrote Dr. Heather's statement down exactly as she spoke it because it hit me so profoundly that I cried...

"We can use what is going on in the world as a treatment (prayer) request from the Universe as something that needs spiritual work."

She went on to explain that when these horrific experiences occur, "we pray (and affirm) for a world that is so aware of it's oneness that we create a peaceful, loving world that doesn't practice violence on itself."

PROFOUND!

Here's my take on why...

God cannot work through minds that are riddled in fear, anger, resentment, etc.  It cannot create peace through a mind that doesn't know peace.

God can only work through those who know and embody love, peace, joy, abundance...all the qualities that IT is. 

When something tragic occurs in our world, those of us who know that Reality is the Truth of God, we are equipped to recognize that the tragedy is NOT the Truth of God, and pray to affirm the Truth, which is peace, harmony and collaboration.

That perceived reality (the tragedy itself) was created out of fear, anger and resentment...NONE of those are God qualities, therefore, those who know and embody the qualities CAN create a different reality.

We do that by affirmatively praying and giving thanks for a world that works for everyone.  A world that is full of peace, joy, love, etc.

So, in class last night, I fully got that the Boston bombing was a message from God, to me (and everyone else who knows the Truth of God), to pray.

The Universe needs our help to heal our emotions, our cities, our country, and our world. We've been called into service by a tragedy.  Allow us to give of ourselves and be a channel of this great Divine Intelligence and let's pray.