Losing Your Mind ...To Heal the World!

This Wednesday's Wisdom - Practicing the Presence  (March 30 7:00 pm) welcomes back Freddie Weber for a very special workshop based on her work with Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson and Joel Goldsmith. And of course her very special music!

If you have not seen Freddie, you have missed out so don't miss this event!

Freddie is a Speaker, Author, Award-winning Broadway and Off Broadway performer and composer, who writes and performs inspirational and spiritual songs in the jazz idiom. She has won the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for best music and lyrics, as well as the New York Critics Circle Award, the Obie and Theater World Award for best musical performer Off-Broadway.

Freddie has been the guest speaker many times at New Thought Churches over the years, and presented her One Woman Show , “BEING HERE NOW,” as well as her workshop, all based on her studies with Eckhart Tolle and his books, “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth.”

Freddie Weber - Losing Your Mind to Heal the World

THE ART OF LIVING: The Wisdom of the Tao

There was something formless and perfect 
before the universe was born.
It is serene.  Empty.
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite.  Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao.

It flows through all things,
inside and outside, and returns
to the origin of all things.

The Tao is great.
The universe is great.
Earth is great.
Man is great.
There are the four great powers.

Man follows the earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.
          
                    -The Tao Te Ching, Verse 25


Isn't it beautiful and eloquent the way Lao Tzu describes the Infinite Greatness that lies within each of us?  At 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 25th, at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley, come join the conversation about the incredible wisdom of The Tao Te Ching and its author Lao Tzu.  See how these wise words from over twenty-five centuries ago can change your perspective on life TODAY!  Rev. Pattie and I will be facilitating this exchange, and will possibly discuss continuing the discussion beyond just that Wednesday service.  We look forward to seeing you all there.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  -Lao Tzu 

The Lure of the Physical

Don’t mistake the reflection of the moon for the moon.

The lure of the physical or “Don’t mistake the reflection of the moon for the moon.” I didn’t make that up … it’s something I saw on Facebook. It resonated with my reading of The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science that I am studying for my Thomas Troward class at the Center for Spiritual Living.

“If we realize that all visible things must have their origin in spirit, then the whole creation around us is the standing evidence that the starting point of all things is in the thought-images or ideas, for no other action than the formation of such images can be conceived of spirit prior to its manifestation in matter.” ~Thomas Troward

When we look to conditions we are looking at the reflection and not the moon.

Your Connection with the Divine
A friend of mine recently experienced the loss of two close friends. He was in a lot of pain and sorrow. He described his spiritual practice as having the effect of “feeling like knots were being untied within him,” pointing to his abdomen.

I couldn’t help but think of the Khalil Gibran quote from “On Pain”

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” ~ Khalil Gibran

We all have pain. We all have our stories. But the underlying theme is disconnection. Pain is the feeling of disconnection no matter what the story or the pain.

When we are all knotted up letting go of those knots can feel painful. Like releasing a muscle that has been clenched for far too long. We can’t feel connected when we are all tied up in knots.

Knots keep us separated and in pain. They impede the flow of life from coursing through our bodies and our lives. Pain teaches us where we are knotted up and where we need to release and open up to let the light in.

Recognizing the Infinite Oneness
We talk a lot about Oneness. “We’re all one” and all that stuff.

But talking about Oneness and really experiencing the mystical experience of Oneness are very different on the scale of true recognition.

On Sunday, Dr. David Ault shared his life changing experience of Oneness when he experienced the pain and suffering of the children in Cambodia. It was not out of pity but out of an overwhelming realization of his Oneness with them which precipitated his breakthrough moment and ultimately changed the course of his life.

His wailing in the pontoon boat was that moment when he experienced the Oneness which exists between every living creature on this planet.

My aha as of late and as a result of reading Thomas Troward is that this Oneness isn’t created in that mystical moment but is always existing and just waiting for our recognition of it.

“... you’ll come to realize the Divine is already there and always has been. Your greater good has just been waiting for the space and acknowledgement to come forth into your life.” ~Joyous Living Journal

It’s already there. It’s there right now!

Isn’t that exciting!

Marriage Equality is a Basic Human Right

Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon

"Everyone is equal in the eyes of God"

Marriage equality is a basic human right,  says Dr. Kenn Gordon, spiritual leader to more than 250,000 adherents worldwide of the New Thought philosophy known as Religious Science.

"This is a spiritual question, not a political one. Today's U.S. Supreme Court decisions are important steps toward the ultimate goal of full marriage equality. It is inane for us to put laws  forward in our social contract like marriage and say it is OK for some but not for everyone. Everyone is equal in the eyes of God. We believe that love is the foundation of all major religious philosophies, and therefore we support the expression of love in same-sex couples and the right of same-sex couples to marry."

"Religious Science endeavors to get to the spiritual truth of the matter and through that lens we see that marriage equality is about human and civil rights.  It is not up to a court to deny basic human rights to anyone."

Begun in 1924 by Dr. Ernest Holmes, Religious Science, also known as Science of Mind,  was founded on the belief that all individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  Gordon notes that from the beginning, a large percentage of adherents and ministers within the Centers have identified as LGBT and that continues today.



ABOUT CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING: Founded in 1924 by Dr. Ernest Holmes, there are now more than 250,000 adherents in over 400 centers and communities worldwide. Centers for Spiritual Living's vision is to awaken humanity to its spiritual magnificence and create a world that works for everyone.  www.CSL.org

Come join us!

Get into the Rhythm with Everything is Sound!

I discovered that family tensions seemed to run higher in the late afternoon during dinner preparations and homework.

At this month's Parent Forum, Rev. Pattie brought up the topic of creating a daily family  rhythm. Initially, I was resistant to the idea confusing rhythm with forcing a family of individuals into a set and rigid schedule. The last thing I needed was another hassle or argument trying to get the whole family to do something that wasn't necessarily required. 

But the more I sat with the idea, the more I realized what she actually meant by rhythm and really it only required me to cooperate. You see, I needed to find a daily rhythm. And when I set my own pace, swaying and moving with each little bump and bobble, I'm more at peace and centered. And, when I'm more at peace and centered, everyone around me feels it and acts accordingly. It reminds me of that saying, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I realized that living to my own beat creates internal contentment which then manifests in the external world. 

And the beautiful thing about setting your own rhythm, it doesn't require any great, earth-shattering changes. I found my rhythm in a song.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with life, then played a great song in the car or house and within seconds everything looked better, more manageable? 

Listening to Jason Mraz's music from the Love is a Four Letter Word CD provides me with a vacation from the daily ups and downs, resets my thinking and raises my vibration to joy! I found that one song in particular,  "Everything is Sound," refreshes my mind like a beautiful California spring day when you roll down the car windows, drive along the coast with music blasting and sing like no one is watching. 

In contemplating our family's need for rhythm, I discovered that tensions seem to run highest in the late afternoon and early evening when the kids are hungry waiting for dinner, stressed out over homework and overtired from a busy day. To counter the tension, I decided to put Love is a Four Letter Word on the CD player in the kitchen while I make dinner. It makes me happy. I sing, dance a little, and smile. I feel more relaxed and guess what!?! The whole atmosphere changes. Joy returns to the home. Yes, there is still homework questions and requests for a snack, but I handle them with more grace and ease. I am more present in the family dynamic and there is a whole lot less yelling. 

In the lyrics of "Everything is Sound," Mraz sings, "You don't need a vacation, when there is nothing to escape from." Isn't that so true? When we find our own rhythm and live at that tempo every moment is a song! Hallelujah!

Experience "Everything is Sound" for yourself. The lyrics are in the video so you can sing along then let me know by commenting if you feel lighter and refreshed. 

Let's All Sing...

Learning Forgiveness

Forgiveness. This word carries so much weight and meaning. It's said that forgiveness is one of the hardest lessons for human beings to learn. And one of the most important lessons as well.

I thought I knew all about forgiveness. All you have to do is pick out all the character flaws and shortcomings of the wrongdoer. Once accomplished, you feel so sorry for the individual with all these pathetic shortcomings you take pity and forgive them. After all, you are nothing like them so its a good thing you've drop kicked them out of your life. Right?! Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?

The old me would've stood up and screamed, "that's right sister!"

Alas, the new me has become enlightened on such self serving notions. It's challenging and freeing all at the same time. The challenge being I now have to look at every person in my life and how they mirror back to me. Whoa this is scary stuff! However, freeing because now I'm learning how to break the bonds of fear and anger which contribute to unforgiveness.

I'm learning  how to avoid judging other people because what I'm really doing is judging myself.

I'll leave you to contemplate this powerful quote from Lewis B. Smedes. I read it daily.

               " The only way to heal the pain that will not heal itself is to forgive the person who hurt you. Forgiving stops the reruns of pain. Forgiving heals your memory as you change the memory's vision. When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."

What Is New Thought In San Clemente?

"The Explanation Is The Cure" The first 15 min of the documentary "What Is New Thought?".

From the self-help industry to A.A. & from Oprah Winfrey to the Word-Faith movement, New Thought principles are instrumental in transforming the lives of millions of people. Now get a closer look at how New Thought has had an impact in our world.

See bonus unused footage of Maxine Kaye, Della Reese, Wally Amos, Joe Vitale, and many more teachers and speakers featured in the movie visit NewThoughtMovie.com

The Explanation Is The Cure.  
Think A New Thought.
And So It Is.