Author: CSLT-Faces

The Summer of Love…All the Time 365/24/7 by Rev. Rhoni Tretsven

As we try to “beat the heat” I thought a way to “cool down” would be to celebrate the “Summer of Love,” June through August, stepping back into the 1960s with music of that era being my talk titles and the music sung during our Sunday experience. So, I encourage everyone to wear your best tie dye, bell bottoms, peace signs and grooooovy sunglasses as we are turning back time. The year is 1967, San Francisco…. From a spiritual perspective, the Summer of Love wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon; it was a profound yearning for transcendence and a collective awakening to new forms of consciousness. Against a backdrop of war and societal unrest, the youth of the 1960s sought spiritual liberation, turning to Eastern philosophies, psychedelic exploration, and communal living as avenues for personal and collective transformation. This period saw a widespread rejection of materialism and traditional institutions in favor of inner peace, universal love, and a deeper connection to the divine. The spirit of the Summer of Love was, at its core, a call for humanity to shed its illusions, embrace its interconnectedness, and discover a more authentic, joyful, and spiritually attuned way of being.

Beyond the external manifestations of flower power and free love, the Summer of Love embodied a spiritual quest for inner peace and collective consciousness. It was a time when many sought to transcend the confines of conventional thought and embrace a more holistic understanding of existence. The influx of Eastern philosophies, particularly Zen Buddhism and Hinduism, coupled with the exploration of psychedelic substances, aimed to unlock deeper levels of perception and foster a sense of unity with all beings. This pursuit was not merely an escape, but a deliberate effort to create a world built on principles of compassion, interconnectedness, and a radical faith in the inherent goodness of humanity – a vision of a global spiritual family rather than a collection of competing nations.

The spiritual dimension of the Summer of Love went far beyond mere cultural trends; it represented a profound rejection of the perceived spiritual emptiness of post-war consumerism and materialism. Many of those who flocked to San Francisco were seeking authentic meaning and a deeper connection to something beyond the mundane.

This search manifested in various ways

• Exploration of Eastern Philosophies: There was a significant turn towards practices like yoga, meditation, and the study of Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. Figures like Alan Watts popularized these concepts for a Western audience, offering alternative paths to understanding the self and the universe. The idea of “cosmic oneness” often associated with psychedelic experiences resonated strongly with these Eastern mystical traditions.

• Psychedelic as Sacramental: For many, LSD and other psychedelics were not just recreational drugs but seen as tools for spiritual awakening and expanded consciousness. The belief was that these substances could break down ego barriers, induce mystical experiences, and reveal the interconnectedness of all things, thereby facilitating a direct encounter with the divine or a higher reality. Timothy Leary’s famous mantra, “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” while often misunderstood, had a spiritual undertone, advocating for an inner transformation that would lead to a re-evaluation of societal norms.

• Communal Living and Shared Ideals: The formation of communes and intentional communities was an attempt to live out spiritual principles in practice. These groups often emphasized cooperation, simplicity, and a rejection of competitive individualism. They sought to create micro-societies based on love, peace, and mutual support, reflecting an ideal of a more harmonious and spiritually aligned human existence.

• Reclaiming the “Sacred”: There was a conscious effort to find the sacred in everyday life and to integrate spirituality into all aspects of being. This involved a rejection of rigid religious dogma in favor of a more personal and experiential spirituality. Music, art, and dance became vehicles for spiritual expression, fostering a sense of collective ecstasy and communion. Events like the Human Be-In were intended as “gatherings of the tribes” to celebrate this new spiritual awakening and to demonstrate the power of collective consciousness.

• Antinomianism and the Pursuit of Authentic Self: The Summer of Love fostered an antinomian spirit, a rejection of established rules and norms, in the belief that true spiritual liberation lay in shedding societal conditioning and embracing one’s authentic nature. This often extended to expressions of sexual freedom, viewed not just as rebellion but as a natural part of a liberated and holistic self.

While the Summer of Love was ultimately fleeting and faced challenges with commercialization and practical difficulties, its spiritual undercurrent left an indelible mark on Western culture. It laid groundwork for the New Thought movement and continues to influence contemporary spiritual practices and a broader openness to diverse forms of consciousness and self-discovery.

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.” – Mick Jagger (from The Rolling Stones song, 1969)

–Namaste – Rev. Rhoni

 

Quiet, Please by Mariann Moery

All poetry quoted is from David Whyte’s What to Remember When Waking. Essentials p. 52

“To become human
is to become visible
while carrying
what is hidden
as a gift to others.

What gift lies hidden within each of us. So much of the time to be ignored if not actively put away.

“You are not
a troubled guest
on this earth
you are not, an accident
amidst other accidents,
you were invited
from another and greater
night than the one
from which
you have just emerged.

How often do we measure our worth, indeed our reason for being – our personal why – by judging ourselves against the standards of other, their assumed greater importance or a value we attribute to others. Neglecting, hiding, ignoring or simply denigrating ourselves.

Lest we seem arrogant, pushy, prideful. (We all know what happens with pride – going before that oh-so-deserved fall.)

Plus, it frequently seems easier to stay within our hidden aspects, not giving anyone a “handle” to maim us.

“What shape
waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread
its branches
against a future sky?

For me right now, it seems incredibly difficult to hear my singular inner voice amidst the turmoil that is the current moment. It doesn’t actually matter your position or place on the violently adamant V that has replaced the bell curve of human behaviors, it is simply very, very hard to find the quiet to be.

“What you can plan
is too small
for you to live.
What you can live
wholeheartedly
will make plans
enough for the vitality
hidden in your sleep.”

In closing – a favorite blessing from John O’Donohue. One I keep on or by my computer and placemark what I am reading. Because this is the blessing and prayer I frequently give myself and send to all the world.

TO COME HOME TO YOURSELF
May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.
May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquilities.
May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future Graced with love.

John O’Donohue To Bless the Space Between Us (pp. 97-98).

May this find its way into your heart and soul. Peace, Mariann

All poetry quoted above is from David Whyte’s poem What to Remember When Waking. Essentials pages 52-53.

From Me to We by Sharon Whealy, RScP

I have been resisting writing this week. I have been angry with the state of our nation. I am saddened to watch our elected officials vote to dismantle our government, take away the social safety nets so much of our nation relies on, threatening Social Security and Medicare that we have paid into all our working lives, all in favor of the billionaire class.

I feel helpless and hopeless as I watch everything we as a nation hold dear get dismantled. Gutting education, ignoring court rulings, deporting people without due process, and sending them to countries that are not their home, ignoring climate change, are but a few of my concerns. The lack of basic human decency, empathy, and integrity deeply saddens me.

In practitioner training, we were told if we were looking for something to pray about, look to the news. The news is overwhelming, and I can only take it in small doses, usually from my friends, Seth and Stephen, Jimmy K and Jimmy F, John O and Jon S. And yes, I pray. I know that under the mess and chaos; Spirit is evolving something new. I remind myself that systems need to be dismantled to be created anew, and this can be a painful and messy process.

I recently saw this quote from Fred Rogers, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It is easy to say, ‘it’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

As a white, heterosexual, cisgendered female, without children, who grew up in a middleclass neighborhood in southern California, I recognize my position of privilege. It is easy for me to look around and claim it’s not my problem; it’s not directly affecting me. The truth is that it is my problem; your children are my children, your community is my community, your world is my world. I then remind myself that problems are opportunities in disguise.

I am currently reading a book that I am finding very powerful. The author says that to fully practice wholeness, I have to turn my “me” work into “we” work. This echoes a recent three-week Laddership workshop examining the relationship of moving from me to we to us. True leadership asks me to look beyond my self-interests, to get out of my comfort zone, and look out into the world to find how I may be of service to my neighbors, be they next door, in the next state, or country. It is my opportunity to speak up and make a difference, no matter how small that difference may be. There is no big or small in Spirit.

As I figure out where my energies are best spent, I am grounded by the Centers for Spiritual Living’s Global Vision Statement. I am sharing three statements here:

• We envision all people, all beings, and all life as expressions of God.

• We envision a world where personal responsibility joins with social conscience in every area of political, corporate, academic, and social sectors, providing sustainable structures to further the emerging global consciousness.

• We envision a world where each and every person has enough food, a home, and a sense of belonging; a world of peace and harmony, enfranchisement, and justice.

–Sharon Whealy, RScP

 

Yes, Now. By Chris Wheeler

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Consider the following: I have the tools to re-define the reality of my life when I use them.

I was thinking the other day that I would very much like to feel like I am making progress in all the directions I wish to go. I was hoping to reframe my perceptions and feel good enough to feel like I was making headway. Very often that is as far as it goes, and I remain locked into old thinking loops. Sure sometimes I am doing better than I’m feeling but real progress at a rate I would like takes getting to some positive emotion like excitement or anticipation. Regular meditation is one of my life practices. I often join my wife on a zoom Transcendental Meditation call that began during Covid. The opening before the meditation includes interesting things that often speak to the genius of nature. After the meditation an inspirational thought or a poem. On this occasion I got exactly what I needed.

Our True Heritage
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds.

It needs you to breathe gently
for the miracles to be displayed.
Suddenly you hear the birds singing,
the pines chanting, see the flowers blooming,
the blue sky,
the white clouds,
the smile and the marvelous look
of your beloved.

You, the richest person on Earth,
who have been going around begging for a living,
stop being the destitute child.
Come back and claim your heritage.
We should enjoy our happiness
and offer it to everyone.
Cherish this very moment.
Let go of the stream of distress
and embrace life fully in your arms.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

This quote reminded me that what I seek is actually there all the time I need to remember to keep thoughts like that forefront in my mind. All I really need is to be persistently aware.

–Chris Wheeler

The Unfolding Seed: Nurturing Spiritual Growth By Rev. Rhoni Tretsven

Tamara Morrison, ELSP

Spiritual growth, much like the slow, deliberate unfurling of a seed, is a deeply personal and transformative journey. It’s not about reaching a fixed destination, but rather about cultivating an inner landscape that is fertile for wisdom, compassion, and a profound connection to something larger than ourselves. This journey we place ourselves on is marked by moments of quiet reflection, challenging periods of shedding old beliefs, and the gradual blossoming of a more authentic and expansive self. This month I will be talking about our slow stroll through our mental and spiritual garden. What seeds are we planting? What are we witnessing in our lives? Mental weeds of negative thinking? Tangled roots of a belief system that no longer works? How do we plant seeds better and reap the spiritual and mental rewards of a garden that nourishes us?

The initial seed of spiritual growth is often planted by a sense of unease, a yearning for something more, or perhaps a profound life event that shakes the foundations of our existing worldview. This initial stirring can feel like a subtle whisper, an intuitive nudge towards introspection. As we begin to pay attention to this inner prompting, we start to till the soil of our consciousness. This might involve practices like meditation, prayer, spending time in nature, or engaging with sacred texts and teachings. These practices act as sunlight and water for the nascent seed, providing the nourishment needed for it to sprout.

As the seed sends roots down, we inevitably encounter obstacles – the hard stones of ingrained habits, the tangled weeds of limiting beliefs, and the dry spells of doubt and discouragement. Spiritual growth requires courage and perseverance to navigate these challenges. It demands honesty with ourselves, a willingness to confront our shadows, and the humility to learn from our mistakes. This process of clearing and tending can be uncomfortable, even painful at times, but it is essential for creating a strong and healthy foundation for further growth.

The unfolding of spiritual growth is not linear. There will be periods of rapid expansion, where new insights and understandings blossom like vibrant flowers. There will also be times of dormancy, where outward progress seems slow, but deep inner work is still taking place beneath the surface. Just as a plant goes through seasons, our spiritual journey has its own rhythms of growth, rest, and renewal. The key is to remain patient, trusting the inherent wisdom of the process.

Ultimately, the fruit of spiritual growth is a deeper sense of peace, connection, and purpose. We begin to see the interconnectedness of all things, fostering greater compassion and empathy for ourselves and others. The relentless pursuit of external validation diminishes as we tap into an inner source of strength and contentment. We realize that the journey itself is the destination, and that the ongoing unfolding of our spiritual potential is a lifelong and deeply rewarding endeavor. Like a tree that continues to grow and reach for the light, our spirit too is meant to expand, to learn, and to contribute its unique beauty to the tapestry of existence. What tapestry of light are you weaving?

–Namaste, Rev. Rhoni

Yes, or No? By Sharon Whealy, RScP

“We cannot live a choiceless life. Every day, every moment, every second, there is choice. If it were not so, we would not be individuals.” Science of Mind p.143.3

I recently listened to Eugene Holden’s self-Mastery Academy podcast (episode 4) with Rev. Melissa Moorer-Nobles, and they were talking about connecting with our Yes! The conversation quickly turned to the power of our No! Rev. Melissa shared a job she said yes to, despite her knowing it was not the job of joy she had declared she wanted. Within three weeks, she knew her yes should have been no, and she left the job. The topic turned to why we say “yes” when we should be saying “no”.

In our teaching, we are urged to the “yes” side of things; say yes to the opportunity, say yes to Spirit! Sometimes, however, saying no is more aligned with our goals and desires. Why do we say yes when we know we should be saying no? For me, some answers are fear you won’t like me if I say no, or that I will disappoint you, FOMO (fear of missing out), guilt, a sense of duty or obligation, or a need to fix a situation. Saying yes when I mean no results in unhappiness, selfcriticism, and growing resentments. It can also be a confirmation that yes, I really did not want that.

We’ve heard the saying, “‘No’ is a complete sentence.” When we say no to something, we often follow it with an explanation of why we’re saying no, when no reason is necessary. In her book, Getting in Touch with Your Inner Bitch, Elizabeth Hilts suggests using the phrase, “I don’t think so” when having to turn a request down. No explanation and no excuse, it is a simple “I” statement that says no politely, leaving no room for push back.

“Our correct choice will be part of the working of the Law. All doubt and fear must go and, in their place, must come a faith and confidence, for we shall be led by the Spirit into all good. SOM, p.272.2

To get in touch with our “sacred no,” we must first be clear about our goals, desires, and values. Is saying ‘yes’ to this in alignment with my highest good? Am I saying ‘yes’ out of fear, guilt, obligation, or need? We must also examine if our ‘no’ is aligned with our highest good. Am I saying ‘no’ out of fear, smallness, safety, or not wanting to change? Being still and going within helps us center into the right choice.

“If we have to make a choice and feel we do not know which or what to choose, we must be still in our own consciousness and know that the Spirit within us knows which of these ways is the right, and most constructive way, and will guide us.” SOM, p. 273.1

A lot is going on in the world to say no to racism, deportations, stripping of our government, and leaders who don’t seem to have the people’s best interests at heart, to name but a few. It occurs to me that as I contemplate owning my no, I am simultaneously saying yes to human rights, democracy, honesty, and integrity. For everything I say no to, I am saying yes to something greater that is wanting to be called into expression.

–Sharon Whealy, RScP

My Wish for You by Linda Bullock

I love life and I enter into the joy of living. I enter into companionship with others, into cooperation with them. And I know that something within me reaches out and embraces the whole world. Something within me blesses everything it touches, brings life and happiness and joy to everyone. (Living the Science of Mind, pages 188-189)

This is my last article for the CSLT newsletter. Big changes are afoot, and the accompanying mixed emotions are floating around in my head.

I’m on record on our CSLT video saying that I came to find community and I found that and so much more. Pat Masters was in my first Foundations class taught by Reverend Donald Graves. What a gift to know Pat! I enjoyed the Services, especially the music of David Prouty. I have continued to learn from Science of Mind teachings.

Ernest Holmes says ALWAYS EXPECT THE GOOD. Have enthusiasm and, above all, have a consciousness of love. (SOM, page 184) Like my program of recovery, spiritual growth works best one day, one practice at a time.

The community of CSLT is significant to my spiritual growth. In early 2014 I was blessed to become a grandmother and moved parttime to Lake Havasu City for 5 years. I quickly found the local CSL and participated whenever in town.

I understand that in life Truth doesn’t change but so much else does. I am going to miss the people of CSLT, my fellow board members past and present, the practitioners, the musicians. Of course, streaming the services from a distance is possible, but that doesn’t give me the opportunity to smile and say Hello in person and give hugs. I will miss your sweet faces. If I have interacted with you since my time at CSLT, I hope I have been kind.

I know for CSLT leadership the strength and a willingness to be open to the varying needs of the community that may have not yet been expressed or nurtured. I know a dynamic time is ahead, that growth is being demonstrated. I know financial concerns are resolving.

I am releasing and letting go as we sing in Rickie Byers song. I have benefitted from ‘this or something better’ in my search for a new place to call home. I strive to be positive and use the spiritual tools I’ve learned. I know all will be well. I know the same for you.

From Roger Teel’s This Life is Joy, “… I see you as a Child of Light. I see you guided and directed by an inward Spirit that leads you unerringly on to the path that is just right for you. I see you strong and whole. I see you blessed and prospered. I see you courageous and confident. I see you capable and successful. I see you free from every limitation and all bondage of any kind. I see you as the spiritually perfect being that you truly are.”

–And so it is with love. Linda

Evolution Ongoing and Eternal by Chris Wheeler

”Through spiritual discernment, we see that we have within us a power which can overcome every obstacle in our experience and set us safe, satisfied and at peace healed, and prosperous in a new light and a new life.“ Ernest Holmes from (Your Aladdin’s Lamp by William H.D. Hornaday pg. 218

Science of Mind is the proof I needed to realize Religion has not stopped growing.

Once upon a time human beings were totally at the mercy of the elements, the earth and the heavens. We were in the process of learning and understanding the basics of survival.

There were things that we couldn’t reckon with: storms, floods and all sorts of disasters. Without any understanding of the mechanics and causes of things we experimented with ideas relating to the supernatural. If we did not have the power over these forces maybe someone or something did. Then there were all sorts of deities to be experimented with.

Time went on and our understanding grew. We understood that we have an effect on the world, and we can change certain aspects of our environment increasing our chances of survival.

We were having a bit of success with things around us. Our tribes were turning villages, villages into cities, cities into empires. Then monarchs were often given total power because any deity(s) involved must be on our side because we won. And this person must have a connection to the deity because we won … so the leader gets total power. And So It Goes…..

But our concept of God has been evolving along with our ability to comprehend increasingly complex systems.

We now have new information thanks to Ernest Holmes because of his attention to all religions. As our knowledge and understanding has increased, this new thought also coincides with our scientific knowledge. Our understanding of the universe (multiverse) has been realigned with an increased understanding of God and new laws that align with our understanding of God.

“Consequently, evolution is an eternal unfoldment of the more yet to be.” Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind Text – 44.1

We now have an increasing ability to influence and change our reality like never before. We will continue to evolve and gain a better understanding of the unknown. Leading us to an ever-increasing connection to God.

–Chris Wheeler

LIFE’S COAT by Rev. Rhoni

Imagine the universe beautiful and just and perfect. Then be sure of one thing: the Is has imagined it quite a bit better than you have– Richard Bach

Recently Charles and I took some time off, and traveled to Durango, Colorado for my brief break away from Sunday. We explored galleries, and wineries, and walked the historic downtown area. Our two dogs, Ambrose and Ralphie were also included in our family adventure. It was the perfect few days of a “rocky mountain high.”

I have found in ministry; you never really get “time off.” It is part of the soul contract I believe when I decided to take my place in this human experience. Off and on during my time away I thought about what I wanted to “teach.” April’s theme is, “Coming into Life Again.” I received two books from Spirit during my contemplation. Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Paths to Recovery (Al-Anon’s steps.) I usually become concerned when I receive two “nudges” out of the blue, both appear to be repeating the same information pointing me towards something to do or be aware of. By the “third nudge” its intent is to get my attention, because things are about to change and, in my experience, you do not really want to experience that “third tap” because things are going to get real.

This time it has been “gentler”, and I loved revisiting both books. I read Jonathan Seagull when I was a teenager, and the Al-Anon Recovery book was my guide and anchor during my marriage to my former husband who passed due to congested heart failure and alcoholism. Both with their wisdom go together nicely and will probably show up in my talks this month. However, I have kept alert of there being a “third” book or other for me to pay attention to. I asked the question, “Is this all that I need to know?” A few days later, I received my third nudge.

As I am going through files in my home office looking for my copy of the Easter service, I want to share with all of you this year, IT appeared. It is a poem I wrote many years ago when I was in the middle of Practitioner training. I can remember the feeling of writing it, because I felt different. Something had shifted in my heart and was affecting me deeply. The gift is, after reading it again, I discovered a perspective of, when we enter our spiritual path, we have no idea where it will lead us. I can declare with a grateful heart I am grateful for every experience I receive. Life is a coat of many colors and experiences and this as my “third nudge” I would like to share with all of you.

Life’s Coat

It happened over night it seemed a change was in the air,

I reached first for my sweater, but alas it was not there.

So, I went to my hallway closet, where I knew my old coat hung,

But for some unknown reason, it looked a little different hanging on the rung.

I took it out and tried it on and found it did not fit!

How could this be? I thought and fumed, now this really got me ticked.

But as I took a longer look, my coats parts summed up my life.

Each piece connected one by one, told the story of my strife.

The cloth it was made of was my shield from really living.

The shoulders bore my burdens, though I felt I was forgiving.

Each sleeve displayed my heart that I allowed to be unprotected.

The pockets were where I stuffed the things I loved and neglected.

The lapels were where I displayed, the courage I thought I had,

And the fact no one was close to me, my heart was deeply sad.

As long as my coat stayed buttoned, I knew I could still hide.

However, the hem was a giveaway, unraveling daily, along with my pride.

It was then that the thought struck me, I could put this old coat away.

Never to be taken out again, not even on a rainy day.

The coat had many colors, which up close I could not see.

Ribbons of harmonious perfection bounced back as a mirror, taunting me.

So, I changed my thinking and changed my life,

Putting that old coat back on the pole.

I happily chose another one, this time not for my body, but my soul.

-Namaste with love, Rev. Rhoni

Wherever you go…there you are by Mariann Moery

“When we go to a new place we shall find there only what we have taken with us. If we have taken success we will find success; if, on the other hand we have taken failure we will find failure. Ernest Holmes Creative Mind – 80.2

Or Friends. Or Loneliness. Or Pizza. Or Limitations.

Holmes first book: Creative Mind published originally in 1918 is amazingly clear and direct, expressing all the important tenets of Science of Mind largely unencumbered by any of the ideas or language contemporary to that time.

“We have missed the whole point, unless we have learned so to control our thought that time and place make no difference.” 21.4

C’est fait par du monde – lifting from Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals (Day 27): Attributed to a French-Canadian grandmother, ..whenever a family member expressed overawed admiration for art, technology, anything, it roughly translates to- People did that.

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, spoken by Cassius to Brutus.

“The thing to do is to unify ourselves with the biggest ideas that we can compass; and realizing that our ideas govern our power of attraction, we should be constantly enlarging within ourselves.” Ernest Holmes Creative Mind – 81.1

“If you want to do a new thing, get a new thought and then you will have the power of attraction which has the possibility of drawing to you the circumstances which will make for the fulfillment of your desires. Get over the old idea of limitation. Overcome all precedents and set yourself in the new order of thing…..God has created you for a glorious future; dare to fling out into mind the greater assurances about yourself.” Creative Mind 62.1

And one last quote:

“The one who dares to fling thought out into Universal Intelligence, with the assurance of one who realizes their own divine nature and its relation to the Universe—and dares to claim all there is—will find an ever-creative good at hand… God will honor the request. To the soul that knows its own divinity, all else must gravitate. Let us , then, enlarge our thought processes and dare to think in Universal terms. Let us dare to believe that every constructive word is invincible.” Ernest Holmes: Science of Mind Text – 142.3

May we all dare and do.

–In Peace, Mariann

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