Got Zoom?

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“When you and I know enough and are in Los Angeles and wish to be in San Francisco, we shall be there.” -Ernest Holmes Can We Talk to God? Pg. 52

I wonder if Ernest Holmes knew his thought would manifest into what we now know, and use, through the power of Zoom. Gosh, I love Zoom. For those of you who don’t particularly care for Zoom, I hope you will reconsider your thoughts and try using Zoom. During this pandemic Zoom has become the norm for many of us. It’s a lovely replacement for face-to-face contact and at the same time keeps us safe from the virus. I was hesitant at first and quickly learned with a couple touches on a keyboard I could be in Tucson, Reno, Tacoma or anywhere I wanted to go. A new world has opened for me.

I go places with Zoom. I have the ability to travel everywhere I choose and have gained many new friendships that I cherish. I have been able to study and take many classes I wouldn’t have been able to take if it weren’t for Zoom. I am able to tap into the CSL Universe from the comfort of my home.

Wherever we are, we are in sacred space.

I love attending our morning meditation practice. It starts my day out beautifully. I show up as I am, some mornings in my pajamas, and always drink my coffee. Zoom has a built-in beautification filter, although I haven’t found it yet. It’s really not important. We know beauty lies within each and every one of us and that is what we see. We chat, laugh, cry, read a reading, take 10 minutes of silent meditation, chat more and close our meditation with a prayer. I call it “taking my morning med.” The connections with each other are irreplaceable. From the comfort of my home, each day I know I am tapping into the Universal Source that runs through me.

I love attending our Sunday Service. I haven’t missed a Sunday Service yet. Zoom has made it so easy to show up with my family. My son David, has heard every message and I know it has to be of help to him. My St. Bernard Sissy occasionally makes her appearance known, and I know she’s listening to the Sunday message.

Looking back through this pandemic, Zoom has enabled our Community to hear from very special guests, prospective charities, to share the special light of the Solstice as well as services, classes and other ways to “be together” and safe in this time. It is amazing how much easier my life has become. I want the same for you. Until we can meet in person again, if you’re not Zooming, I sure hope you’ll reconsider. It is the quickest and easiest way to get to where you want to go or be. I look forward to seeing you soon on Zoom.

—Madeline Pallanes

Season of Wonder

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Humanity and Divinity will be identical when we recognize Divinity in humanity. We must learn to see through the apparent, to not judge accordingly to appearances,
and to realize at the center of every person’s soul God is throned.

— Ernest Holmes, 365 Science of Mind 340.1

Jesus is a mentor for me, not a savior, not a physical being who is going to return and redeem the world. I don’t put Jesus on a pedestal and worship, because I would be missing practicing the way of life he taught, practicing Christ Consciousness.

During this time of year societal focus is on the birth of Jesus. But the birth of Jesus is also a reminder of Christ Consciousness, the idea of transcending physical existence and experiencing one’s own divinity and God-like nature. The realization that Humanity and Divinity are no longer separated. We are spiritual beings living in a physical form. The idea of celebrating Christ Consciousness (which I just got while writing this article) is something I can embrace joyfully.

In the past I had only looked at Jesus’ later life as being a teaching, but his birth is also about all of us being a unique expression of God/Divine Mind/Spirit/The Source. A reminder that all of us are a miracle. When I think of the creation of life, that two half cells join together to create one cell and from that one cell, all the other cells in the body are made, bone, muscle, ligaments, organs. I am in awe. And maybe that’s part of what Christmas is about, taking the time to appreciate the miracle of life.

Everything is made of the same cosmic stuff. And from that cosmic stuff things may be similar, but in reality nothing is the same, no two people, snowflakes, trees, flowers are alike. Everything is a unique expression of Divine Mind.

This Christmas season I am grateful for the reminder I too am a unique expression of God, and have the potential to live a life of light and love, peace and harmony, joy and delight. What an incredible gift, to get, and share through a life of embracing and radiating Christ Consciousness.

Once we were particles of Light
Now we are Beings of Light,
Radiating love.
— Rumi

— Maria

Complete Freedom from All Discord

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From The Science of Mind Declaration of Principles:
“WE BELIEVE the ultimate goal of life to be complete freedom from all discord of any nature, and that this goal is sure to be attained by all.”

Here we are, finally in December, and the end of the contentious, paradoxical, sometimes excruciating, 2020.

Most of our lives have been turned upside down by COVID, drastic changes in our democracy, and rampant misinformation thrown at us on a daily basis. Sometimes it can get challenging to remember the Truth.

I don’t know what I would do without a solid connection to Spirit that tells me it is always darkest before the light. Just as a seed in the ground reaches toward the light for expansion, growth and transformation, I know that God will prevail, not necessarily on my timetable.

We all have the capacity to put out into the Law wishes not only for our own well-being, but for the well-being and relief of suffering for all sentient beings. The metaphorical darkness is the fertile ground for ascending from despair into hope, and from fear into courage — to face what presently presents itself with a knowing that the Divine is always with us, sometimes unfolding and mystical but comforting ways.

I am always grateful for the Divine that has guided me through each moment of every day. The trick for me is to look for the good in all things and give thanks for the principles of Science of Mind and that what we believe we will experience.

So, let’s keep the faith that has been gifted to us and adapt to new ways of expressing the love of God and the love we have for each other.

May you experience a blessed season of goodwill and love of the teachings of Science of Mind that sustain us and allow us to live in God’s Grace and Love.

And when nothing else seems possible, Ben’s Bells reminds us all, “Be Kind.”

PAX,
Janie Hooper

The Consecration of the Moment

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“The joy of life is not in the grand gesture but in the consecration of the moment.””The joy of life is not in the grand gesture but in the consecration of the moment.”

— Kent Nerburn

We’ve made it to Thanksgiving week, in the most bizarre, unexpected, absurd year I have experienced in my life… so far. I won’t add importance to how weird, strange, or whatever, this year has been. I’m just grateful most of us have made it this far, mostly intact.

So what can we do to appreciate, or consecrate (make sacred), this moment?

First, we can acknowledge our experience, know what we don’t feel we have, and what we do have.

Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful man in the world from 161-180 CE, one of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ of the Roman Empire and served as the last emperor during Pax Romana, a relatively peaceful era of roman history. And his legions were at war continuously; he often battled with them. Floods, famine and the Antonine plague, which lasted 15 years, dominated his reign.

And yet, in his Meditations, he wrote:
“If you’ve seen the present, you’ve seen all things, from time immemorial into all of eternity. For everything that happens is related and the same.”

Life happens. In some ways, it’s quite predictable. The sun rises and sets. The moon waxes and wanes. It rises and sets, though sometimes that happens during daylight hours, which confuses some people. Seasons change. If rain is predicted in southern Arizona, it may rain, or it might not. People get uneasy and they try to control something, anything, and the stores run out of paper products. Politicians pose. Newscasters talk. Neighbors help each other. Friends check on one another. Strangers change other people’s tires when they have a flat on the side of the road. CSLT identifies potential 2021 charities.

Things happen in our lives that we don’t like, we don’t want to have to deal with them, and yet…

J.R.R.Tolkien created the perfect reminder for us in this exchange between Frodo and Gandalf:
Frodo: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
Gandalf: “So do all who live to see such times; but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.”

What if we all meant to be here? What if it’s an encouraging thought that we are the ones who have either been called, or we chose (depending on your frame of reference), to be here at this time to work out how to live in these most unusual times? It’s both an honor and a challenge, right?

How can we honor, celebrate, commemorate, even consecrate, these remaining days of 2020? In a previous year, these days would have been filled with parties and travel and gatherings of all sorts. We can bemoan what we don’t have, or don’t have right now, or we can look at what we do have to work with, and decide to make the best use we can of what we do have. We can find joy in consecrating this moment.

Master Teacher Jesus said it best, “Love one another.” We know how to do that, even if we are apart. We’ve known how since we were very small children. And that is an encouraging thought.

–Rev Janis Farmer

Got Class?

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I’ve turned into a classaholic. Yep, that’s me.

Have you ever taken a class, book study or workshop through CSLT? You too can easily become a classaholic and I highly recommend that you do.

Let me tell you a little bit on how I got here.

Many years ago I found our Center for Spiritual Living. Every so often I would bop into service, usually late. Every so often meant my life was in complete turmoil and I didn’t know how to handle my life. I showed up, sat down and listened up. Often I silently would leave my problems there. I always left service feeling better. I did this for years.

In more recent years, our phenomenal band was now playing music I knew.
Let the show begin. Service now included a concert each week. I’d sing along watching the dancers dance in the aisles or in front of the stage. What great entertainment along with the spiritual guidance I so sought. Going to service started becoming a habit. Hearing the message was helping me to heal my life, while I still silently left my problems there. Answers would appear. The weekly programs held all sorts of info including upcoming classes, book studies & workshops.

Life always gets better. I retired. I took a class, and you know what happened? It wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was different from what I expected. It was what I needed to learn…. class after class after class. I had homework and I had projects. I had (and still continue to have) tremendous inner spiritual & mental growth because of these classes. I got hooked.

Yeah, I’ve got class. Take a class or two and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a classaholic, like me. The rewards are truly immeasurable. I am grateful that I’m a part of CSLT. Looking forward to spending time with you (yes you) in our next class.

—Madeline Pallanes

Playfully Connected

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Getting out of the car on my way into the gym, I see a lone stone on the curb that has been hand painted. It has the word “wish” with a design that reminds me of dandelions. I pick it up and take it with me and think about what I would wish for. It didn’t take me long to realize what I wished for was a closer relationship to God. I had always had a relationship to the creator, a force and essence outside of myself, many times walking by my side. We are playful on my walks. I will see something on the ground during my walks and I’ll say, “so, I’m suppose to pick that up.” Once I was walking near a school around Valentine’s day. I picked up a valentine, the to and from had no names, but on the other side said “You can do anything, Valentine. It is one of those cards that when you move it, the image changes. This card had a caterpillar that became a butterfly. I still have it on my desk.

             

 

One Saturday evening after picking up the stone, I was surfing the net and came upon Oprah talking about The Secret with Michael Beckwith. I decided to get the book. The next day at work a colleague of mine said, “I think you loaned me one of these books and I’d like to get it back to you.” Indeed, one of the books was one I had loaned her, the other was The Secret. And she let me borrow it.

I started listening to Michael Beckwith’s services, then looked for a group in Tucson, and listened to Rev. Janis’ reminders. I made the big step to come to a service two years ago. The two messages that stick in my head were, “Time is my ally” and the importance of engaging with life. It is my usual standard operating system that I be invisible, however, I made the commitment to talk to three people and I did. I remember wishing Rev. Janis a groovy week.

One day Donna showed me the affirmation cards. “Wait a minute” I pulled out my wallet to the little “I delight in my life” paper in my wallet that someone had given me at the Tucson Festival of books a few years ago. I took it out looked on the back and there was the CSLT logo.

And I keep coming back with a naturalness and ease. I’ve been taking classes that give a depth of conversation, connection and learning that I’ve longed for. It is great to have words for the way of being I’ve embraced.

Gratitude At All Times

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This newsletter will be received on Wednesday. (This post was written on Monday evening.) The Tuesday election will be over. At this point, I am not sure if we will know who won the Presidency or not. I know who I prefer to win but I am willing to recognize that the All Good does not always appear to me as I would like.

And I am willing to, after an initial adjustment, accept the results without railing against what I perceive as wrong, if that occurs. I experience the gift of a noble friend (noble friend = someone who helps me push my buttons and shows me where I am not seeing clearly) when I find myself distressed around political events. Oftentimes, in the morning meditation, I discuss how to re- align my sense of myself and how to recognize, again, that my well-being is not based on events outside of myself but on my inner experience and that my energy manifests my reality. Falling into a sense of victimhood is such an easy experience, and such a bummer!

Being a victim does not service me anymore! I wholeheartedly believe in the Science of Mind philosophy and practice – I have experienced results in my life based on the energy and focus I have put out into the Law through Spiritual Mind Treatments and by maintaining my vision. Attending the Prosperity Plus classes, in 2015 for PP2 and again for PP3 in 2019 and 2020, I have followed the practice of tithing on my income. I joke that it is my retirement planning although I have other income sources for retirement. The Mastermind group that meets twice a month, provides continuing support by holding for each person a phrase or a realized healing that we then manifest. Mine for November 1 was “I claim the peace, joy, love & order within my reach. Including continuous positive cash flow”.

My experience of joy is an intense stab of feeling so the prospect of feeling joy on a daily basis does not fit. Reverend Janis’ addition of that which is “within reach” made all the difference. A Mastermind member yesterday talked about contentment being happy peacefulness. That is lovely and I can see it working for me!

I say that I welcome contentment into my life, but I still obsessively read my CNN app after my meditation this evening! I had put a 10-minute timer on the app (oh-the wonders of my watch!) and I bypassed it to add one more minute.

I am quite excited about the election – I regularly emit a vision of my candidate winning and I expect that I will experience some anxiety about it tomorrow.

But then I breathe deeply and remember that the kingdom of love is at hand. I read again today’s meditation from 365 Days of Richer Living, The Infinite Law of Good Brings Me Complete Satisfaction, and know that I live in All-Good, I manifest All-Good and Spirit expresses All-Good through me at all times, even when I forget. For this, I feel great gratitude.

–Marya Wheeler

Divine Inspiration

As a new board member, I was told that I needed to write an article for our newsletter every so often. And I wondered whatever should I write about? After some thought, I decided that given the current events of this year… covid, riots, politics, excessive heat, no monsoons, isolation, etc., I would share about what helps me get through my days and weeks with joy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude toward life in general. It is Divine Inspiration.

I understand God, Spirit or whatever you call It, is a power that created me in eternal life and loves me very much. So, I look to God, who I know is everywhere present, as my constant companion throughout my day and as we walk hand in hand together and I look for Divine Inspiration everywhere. For me, this is not defined as the “Big Stuff”, that happens in my day, but rather all the little gifts I am given and recognize as I go about living my life. For example, a penny I spy in the parking lot and pick up, a beautiful cloud I notice in the sky, a soft breeze caressing my skin, a tender kitty kiss when I least expect it. So many little things that make me smile in joy and gratitude. I am always humbled by Spirit’s love and my given awareness.

What about the light that turns green right when I am ready to slow down at an intersection, or the piece of pie that falls off of my fork and lands on my wrist and not on my new blouse? The phone that rings when I am just thinking about that person and it is them, thinking about me! Even a task that I was dreading and as I am completing it, turns into something not so bad after all. God is always offering Divine Inspiration and I am always at choice, to see, acknowledge and build on it as a part of the All Good in my life. These are the little blessings that add so much meaning to everyday living.

“Big Stuff” happens. Some great, some maybe not so much. But recognizing beautiful miracles in the small things constantly through out the day create an attitude of gratitude that fills me with……you guessed it, Divine Inspiration. Pulling me up, leading me forward into a greater expression of Love and joy. It is seeing God in Life. Spirit, my constant companion.

—Wendie Arison

Yet is a power filled word!

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This spring, I began to have my account run out of money that I had been living very frugally from for the past 2 years due to an accident that I can now say I am grateful for. So, with love and grace Pat Masters (I call her Miss Pat) invited me to live with her and her sweet pup Trek in the gorgeous foothills of Tucson for the summer. Huge blessing! I had such fun being part of her summer plans of friends and family visits as well as a trip to Payson, AZ into the forest! All too quickly there was 2 weeks left until I needed to move. I had looked a bit for a job but those I applied for I didn’t hear anything. I started arguing with the Universe about why did the pandemic lock down have to happen? I was just 3 days shy of passing my last State Board test and getting my Aesthetician license, working at a resort, and soon to be on a cruise ship giving facials to people in beautiful places all over the world that I would get to see! I felt totally ripped off! WHY!!!!

With the 2 week mark for needing to move somewhere paid somehow I got focused about what I wanted. I told Miss Pat and happily she knew for me the choices I wanted for employment and a place to live. I had the money to get a place but needed to have the job pretty ASAP to make everything sail smoothly. I started looking in the northwest area of Tucson which I had lived in before online at apartments. All that I like and were open just cost a bit too much for my comfort. I decided to call my old apartments I had just moved out of 3 months prior. They had 1 apartment left that suited my needs so I went straight over to check it out, it was the late hot afternoon. After inquiring I was given a gate key to go look at where the apartment was located. I need to interject here that I love trees, they make me feel at home. Also green grass too. So I found the apartment front door and facing the front door were (and still are) 3 huge green broadleaf trees that I don’t know what kind they are however they are healthy and big! As if that didn’t seal the deal of this is SO where I am moving to – an owl flew above me and landed in the tree nearest to me! (I love birds and was thrilled!) The owl looked at me and I told it I got the message. I headed to the apartment offices and signed the papers and gave them almost all the money I had. So great, a place to live! Next, job.

I started the next day looking online (did I mention I am not all warm and cozy with computers) and things were looking pretty bleak. I remembered Mary Morrissey, Ernest Holmes, and my Kung Fu teacher all telling me not to let circumstances dictate my choices.

I had Miss Pat, my Prosperity Plus Mastermind Group, and my Practitioner Prayer Partner hold for me the specifics I chose about my new job. I felt so much stronger in my belief due to all these people saying that they would know this for me! I continued to do my spiritual mind treatments and within 3 days out of the blue (ha ha wink wink) I got a text from a recruiter looking for someone with my background for an online position as an elementary school counselor. This had been my previous career for many years. The offer fit my requirements I had been treating for. I accepted the position and I am still continuing to follow my dream for being an Aesthetician knowing what is coming is even better still then what I had dreamt.

–Shelly Dunn RScP

Mine To Do?

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One of the biggest ‘worries’ that new Board Members have is what to write for their blog posts. Sometimes I puzzle about that too. Usually, though, if I think about it a minute, I realize I’m swimming in an ocean of possibilities and have to narrow my focus down to pick just one or two things.

Some of you know I’ve been taking a Story Skills Improvement Workshop for the past several months. We all know that we remember stories better than we remember bare facts, especially if the stories are well told. As it turns out, there are a couple formulas that anyone can use to tell better, more memorable, stories. There are books too, that provide insight into writing better. My current favorite is by William Zinsser. It’s called On Writing Well. (I’m breaking most of the rules and the suggestions in both the writing class and the book, so far, in writing this post.) Whatever.

First, I want to reiterate part of Monday’s reading during our Daily Morning Meditation Practice. Ernest Holmes and Raymond Charles Barker, in 365 Days of Richer Living (p.286) wrote, The assets of a spiritually minded person include their ability to remain untouched by the confusion of the world around them, and to instigate a creative process which will bring order out of chaos. It may seem easier to exist in a panicky state of mind, telling all whom we meet how difficult life is, than to remain poised and say nothing at all. Yet, we are assured that there is a way of thinking wherein we can handle every situation with ease, stability and poise, by becoming still, and from a center within ourselves, find a peace that has never been disturbed.

Easier said than done, right? How do we live in our world, and engage meaningfully while staying poised and centered? The first thing I think we would all benefit from doing is to look at the stories we tell ourselves, and the expectation that we have that everyone we come across will share our stories, or if they don’t, that we’ll be able to change their minds because “our position is so much better than theirs.” We know a priori that this is not true. We always come across people who think differently than we do. Is it possible to engage with another person who disagrees with us on fundamental issues without becoming reactive? I think it is, and it takes intentional work on our part to be still and stay centered (as Holmes and Barker wrote, above). It is far from easy. I do think for us to participate in creating meaningful change, we have to figure out how to stay poised, centered and speak Truth calmly, without irritation, aggravation or animosity.

The second thought I want to plant today is that perhaps our best way of inspiring change is to walk our talk, or live what we say we believe. This is also far from easy. And I believe it is the way we can make the most impact. By demonstrating what we believe in how we live, we prove to ourselves, and others, what is true for us. One of my adopted nephews posted this cartoon, which I think is totally brilliant.

I assume the little green guy eventually does quit trying to encourage the little blue guy to take action and just jumps, showing him that the spikes are not too high and that the next step is doable. Once we give up the idea that whatever our dream or goal might be is too hard or too scary, we take the action in that direction, we take the stand, we hold the position in Truth. We move. We let others come along when they are ready.

–Rev Janis

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