Category: Spiritual Living

A Time for Everything … by Mariann Moery

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:  Ecclesiastes 3

Many of you know that I am, personally, in a time of change of my life focus and energy. I have been graced with helping two groups from positions of leadership for the last few years, and that season for me is passing.

It is time to transfer the energy and commitment I’ve happily (mostly) given to people and groups I honor. The time is now for that energy to flow toward more personal dreams.

I am exiting where and what I have been to open the space/time to be another expression of myself that is creative in a very different way. My camera has basically been idle for these last years and it’s now time to pick it up and move into that which has been set aside for too long.

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiousity, wonder,
spontaneous delight or any experiences that
reveals the human spirit.” e e cummings

For whatever reason or whatever, I’ve been so busy with things that needed doing, I’ve kind of missed the actual home-work. So, that’s the plan. Time to do me in whatever, wherever and with whomever I am graced with encountering.

“Consider the computer metaphor for yourself. You’ve taken in so much
information, and heard so many instructions. That’s enough input.
It’s time for output. Run the program. Stop interrupting yourself
with new information. Let yourself execute one plan of action,
and see it through to fruition. Derek Sivers Useful Not True, page 73.

Or to phrase it another somewhat more elegant way: Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life’s desire. Awaken your spirit to adventure; Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, For your soul senses the world that awaits you. John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us – A New Beginning.

Thank you one and all for the gifts given, the time shared and the lessons learned. See you sometime. In Peace, Mariann

The Power of Choice by Sharon Whealy, RScP

I have been participating in a CSL certificated class based on Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Last week’s topic was chapter three, The Law of “Karma,” and the main theme of this law is our power to choose. He says, “You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in the field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.” As someone who enjoys her routine, it was a great reminder to be more conscious about the choices I am making, from brushing my teeth to where I will go on vacation. When I think about my life, every moment from getting out of bed in the morning to when to get to sleep at the end of my day is a moment of choice. My day is filled with infinite opportunities to make a choice.

One of the discussion points in class was about reacting versus responding. Are we allowing those “buttons” and “triggers” to be pushed, and then reacting according to our pre-programmed choice about the thing? I shared that many years ago, I began the practice of noticing when a “button” was pushed. I practice noticing the “button” when I feel upset or find myself reacting in a particular pattern, by getting angry or withdrawing. Chopra says this is the first step in conscious choice-making.

Chopra’s second step in choice-making is to ask ourselves two questions when faced with a choice: “‘What are the consequences of this choice that I’m making’ and ‘Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also those who are affected by this choice?’”

I often think of the story of the “two wolves,” a tale often attributed to a Cherokee grandfather, about two wolves battling inside a person: one representing negative emotions like anger and envy, and the other representing positive qualities like love and joy. When the grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather replies, “The one you feed,” meaning the one you choose to nourish with your thoughts and actions will ultimately be the one that prevails. In all my choices, I ask myself where my attention is, and what I am choosing by focusing my attention on it. With all that is going on in our country and the world, am I focused on what is not working, or can I turn my attention to what I want to create? Am I being the change I want to see in the world?

This past Saturday, I attended the No Kings protest in Oro Valley. As I was thinking about my signs, I wanted to be sure to be grounded in what I was for and not focus on what I am against. One side of my sign said I was there standing for Human Rights, Freedom of Speech, Democracy, Free and Fair Elections, and Accountability. These are all things I am choosing for our country as we move through this time of national disturbance. The other side of my sign is a quote from Sharif M. Abdullah’s book The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times: “Can you imagine a world in which everyone acts out of love and compassion instead of fear and pain?”

Every day I do my best to make choices that will bring happiness, security, love, and a sense of belonging for others as well as myself. Today I choose Love.

Dream Catcher White Wolf Black Wolf by Carol Cavalris

–Sharon Whealy, RScP

In Gratitude…. by Rev. Rhoni Tretsven

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This past Sunday, the Center for Spiritual Living, Tucson held our annual meeting, where we elected and approved of new Board members. A rite of passage that happens every October. An important event in the life of our spiritual community. When I became the spiritual leader of CSLT, Mariann Moery, Chris Wheeler, Janet Salese and Linda Bullock were the standing Board members having already given 3 years of dedication. Sharon Whealy, RScP joined later in the year. As their new minister I asked, well, more like begged them to stay on for one more year since I was not familiar with the congregation to begin asking for “volunteers” to help me navigate the church. You see, the Board is responsible for the business/financials of the CSLT, and I am responsible for the ecclesiastical and education as a Science of Mind Center. We work as a team to create a safe, supportive, and spiritual environment for all of us.

In the last two years there have been significant shifts in our congregation. Many beautiful souls that were here in my beginning, have made their transition, or have moved to be closer to family. I reflect often on the joy they shared, and grateful for their presence in the life of CSLT and the gift they gave me knowing them. At the beginning of this year, we moved from our Little Theatre Workshop location, to sharing sacred space with Unity of Tucson. This was to support our growing community. In the process we have made the decision to either rent or sell our previous office space on Craycroft. I am sure most of you had no idea some of the “magic” that happens behind the scenes! Nothing stays static, everything eventually shifts or completely changes. It keeps us all busy, in a good way.

My reason for sharing this with all of you, is Mariann, Chris, Janet, Linda, Sharon, and I have made some significant decisions. Each one being closely scrutinized for the health and prosperity of our beloved CSLT. It wasn’t always easy, but we worked together and got it done. The Board of Trustees is a very important element of our Center. It is because of these individuals who said “yes” for another year, we are, in my humble opinion, doing very well. On Sunday the 19th, I will be honoring Mariann and Chris for their dedication and service. They are the last of the original Board when I began this journey with all of you. If you see them on Sunday, please let them know your appreciation. It is beyond words the gratitude I have for their ”hanging in there” an additional year. I know they are tired, but somehow, they still manage to smile and show up to our meetings. They are beautiful, dedicated souls, thank you.

On Sunday the 19th, I will be “swearing in” and presenting our new Board members. Jeff Jackson, Sandy Schnieder, and Morgana Campbell. In addition, Rev. Donna Smith will be joining the Board in January. Sharon Whealy, RScP will continue as a Board member for the year 2026. As your spiritual director, I am very excited about these individuals. Each has a background in business, finance, teaching, organization or more. They are equally as excited and looking forward to digging deep into, what creates a cohesive community? As Jeff has expressed, we are looking for “sticky.” What is our “product” that people just “have to” have? There is more to it, however, but that is your invitation to being part of finding the “sticky.” Being part of the glue, creating a supportive, growing, fun, safe spiritual community. There is much ahead for all of us, and I am truly grateful for all that is, all that has been, and all that will continue to grow! Thank you all for being a significant change agent in the life of CSLT.

Namaste – Rev. Rhoni

A Time of Change… by and for Mariann Moery

Right Now Right Here … (to mess with Michael’s lyrics) is for me a most definite time of change. Handing over responsibilities attached to being President of two Boards and catching up on the personal responsibilities I seem to have blithely ignored for too long a period of time, I find myself trying to smoothly transition some exits and begin the process of re-configuring what I do on a daily basis.

Call in the big power – Pulling out my dog-eared, heavily underlined copy of A NEW DESIGN FOR LIVING by Ernest Holmes – edited by Willis Kinnear.

To start with the blessing I invoke every morning:

“Something new and wonderful comes into my experience today. Today I bless everything I touch and am prospered in everything I do. Today nothing but love and good goes forth from me, therefore nothing else can possibly return. Today, this day, I am happy and whole. A New Design page 131.

Some mornings it takes 2 or 3 repeats to get there, but it supplies a spark to start the day.

Along with Dr. Holmes’ provocative, inspiring text extra good is provided by the inclusion of quotations from several remarkable leaders. “We are potentially all things; our personality is what we are able to realize of the infinite wealth which our divine human nature contains hidden it its depths.” W R Inge.

“We should never be afraid of change, never fearful of what will come. Instead we should bring to bear on each new event the influence of the creative nature of our thought—an influence that is founded on an inward calm, a sense of certainty and peace, which will reflect itself in the changing scene of our everyday lives. A NEW DESIGN page 55

“…We need to work at clearing away those thoughts, ideas, or concepts which appear to be barriers to the greater good we desire….break the confines of our own imprisonment, whether it be our own individual thinking or the limitations of the thinking of the world about us that we have accepted. No progress was ever made by the individual who was satisfied with the status quo. A NEW DESIGN page 46

Recalling the teaching that there is no ‘big or little’ but only what we can know as ours: thimble or tanker. We choose. Adding ‘this or something better’ makes possible more rather than less or staying with what we know.

“….It might be wise if we do not try to do a remodeling job on our life. …The design will get messed up and we will find ourselves using too much secondhand material which is of no particular value, and more often than not completely useless. Start new, start fresh. …wipe our minds free of the influence of all undesirable conditions….finding ourselves unhampered, unrestricted… designing a new set of conditions about us. A NEW DESIGN page 121.

And from Dr. Holmes Conclusion – this important reminder for me and anyone thinking a New Design: “… you are now on your own. ….If at first you don’t succeed, think, think again. A NEW DESIGN FOR LIVING page 239

–Spirit’s grace, energy and power to all who ‘design’. In Peace, Mariann

Garbage In, Garbage Out: Media, Influence, and Choosing Our Input by Chris Wheeler

“Garbage in, garbage out” is one of the first phrases many computer science students learn. It’s a simple truth: computers will process whatever data they’re given—regardless of its quality. Bad input leads to bad output.

My interest in what used to be called “mass communications” began in high school, thanks to a teacher who made a strong impression on me. That teacher introduced our class to Marshall McLuhan, famous for his deep insights into media and its effects. We learned about the advertising industry and its carefully crafted messages designed to shape the perspectives of consumers.

One example has always stuck with me: Saturday morning commercials targeted at kids. These ads would show only the hands of a child playing with a toy, filmed from behind to simulate the viewer’s own perspective. The message was clear—imagine yourself owning and enjoying this toy.

When my children were young and we watched similar advertisements, I’d often ask them, “Whose hands are those?” It became a running question in our household, a reminder to look critically at the media we consume.

Today, the influence of mass communications has expanded far beyond television. Social media, constant notifications, and curated headlines surround us. I find myself mostly skimming headlines now, but sometimes a single image or mismatched photo stops me. Recently, I noticed a news photo that seemed entirely disconnected from its headline. Whether intentional or not, this is a reminder: news and media are often packaged to provoke reactions and drive profit, not just to inform.

Turning the Lens Inward

But there’s good news: perspective, self-talk, and thoughts are things we can influence. Modern stressors are now permanent features in the landscape of our lives, but our response is still up to us. Practicing mindfulness and what Science of Mind teaches—a mental recalibration—helps me reset and regain clarity.

Imagine if we consciously chose better inputs:

• Build our world on collaboration.
• Build our media on truth and understanding.
• Shape social platforms around positive connection.
• Use technology for empowerment.
• Consume foods that promote health and healing.
• Foster cultures rooted in creativity.

It all starts with the input we allow into our minds. We can’t always control what’s out there, but we can choose how we engage with it—and what we pass along.

–Chris Wheeler

NOW IS THE TIME Mariann Moery

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“They” say it always comes to this….if you don’t practice stillness when times are good that when you really need the strength and calm of it – you’re starting if not from ‘scratch’then certainly without all the ‘ingredients’ you need.

So here we are – and it doesn’t matter where you stand politically or other – the times are filled with events that whipsaw us from one mental state to another with daily headlines and postings.

Letting go of personal, individual knowing what’s right, and just stopping for a few minutes to breathe and letting mind and body rest. That’s where it is for me at this point in my individual space/time continuum.

There are I’m sure thousands of “ways” to meditate – the only thing that’s important is the actual stopping to give yourself a chance to simply be. Minds wander and egos distract and to do lists pull attention. It’s okay. Really.

I have it from Pema Chodron who on a three year (!) meditation retreat wrote how easily and often she was distracted. Granted she’s probably better at returning to place than I am, but still – it happens — to her. Stop using it as the excuse that you just can’t.

Not to say that being easily distracted is not a thing – because it is. Mike Manson, incredible life coach/teacher admits to doing Sudoku in meetings to occupy just enough of his brain to enable him to sit through and be present. Personal truth: I frequently do stupidly complex doodles during meetings for the same reason. So …

There are ways to increase your presence through some activity – journaling with an open mind to what flows from your pen, listening to certain kinds of music – R Carlos Nakai works for me – literally walking with intention. If sitting in the traditional posture doesn’t work for you, then don’t try for it.

Teachers are legion and some are legendary. Sharon Salzburg, Jack Kornfield, Jon KabatZinn, CSL’s Rev. Dr. Edward, Henry Shukman, Pema. Insight Timer is an app many use as it includes hundreds of guided meditations and a wide choice of soundtracks.

All that really matters is that we stop as best we can and let the outside subside to as dull a roar as we can – and that does get better with practice. Can’t be said enough, it is a practice.

An amazing yoga instructor once told me when I was in a personal world of hurt: It doesn’t matter if you do the poses – just get your butt on the mat for a bit. That will help. And it did.

So have a seat and just breathe.

Holding peace, calm and ease for all of us through this time and beyond.

–Mariann

Emerging from Routine… By Chris Wheeler

I Ching Image # 3. Chaos – Where Brilliant Ideas are Born

I Ching Image # 3. Chaos – Where Brilliant Ideas are Born

For years—then all through COVID, and even until now—my music room was a comfortable nest of familiarity. Everything had settled into its place so completely that, at every turn, change felt insurmountable. My drum set sat planted in the same corner like an old tree. Every time I walked in to play, everything was exactly as I’d left it. Safe, but somehow stifling.

We’re often told that progress is the product of careful planning, step-by-step orderliness, and an unwavering commitment to structure. The desk should be neat, the calendar colorcoded, the to-do list checked off with precision. But life rarely happens so neatly—and even if it does, things can become stale or stagnant. Sometimes, in order to grow, we need to do something that feels backwards: we have to throw things out of order.

Order provides stability, but too much order can make us feel boxed in. When everything is predictable, patterns repeat themselves. We optimize for safety and comfort, but real progress often requires shaking things up.

Think about it. The rooms we live in for years—eventually, the arrangement becomes invisible. We stop asking if our furniture still suits us, or if we even like half the things we keep. The same pattern shows up in business routines, creative projects, and personal habits. We cling to “what works” until it stops working, and then we try to fix things by doubling down on the same old structure.

But sometimes the cure for stagnation isn’t reordering within the same frame—it’s tossing out the frame altogether.

Right now, I’m still in the thick of this process. It’s taking much longer than I expected, but I’m determined to see it through. The repercussions of reorganizing are already rumbling through the house as decisions get made and the overflow of items creates—and demands—attention.

It’s messy, and the disorder can be unnerving, but it’s necessary.

This process has freed up energy. It’s helped me recognize what I’ve outgrown and remember what still excites me. I can see new possibilities that I’d forgotten in the comfort of routine. I’m embracing the discomfort—chaos is loud, but it’s honest—and I’m challenging myself to rise to the occasion.

The next time you feel boxed in by your own order—whether in a music room or anywhere else—remember: progress doesn’t always begin by putting things in line. Sometimes, it begins when you pull everything out, start fresh, and let yourself discover a rhythm you never expected.

The Power of Conscious Thought: Shaping Your World from Within! by Rev. Rhoni Tretsven

In the vast landscape of metaphysical thought, a single, profound truth stands as the cornerstone of all spiritual practice: thought is a creative force. This isn’t just a feel-good phrase; it’s the fundamental principle that governs our lives. Every experience you have, every outcome you witness, and every reality you inhabit is first born as a thought, a belief, or a feeling in the great laboratory of your mind.

The universe, in its infinite wisdom and creative power, is a non-resistant medium. It’s a field of pure potentiality, a canvas waiting for an artist. Your mind is the artist, and your thoughts are the brushstrokes. The universe does not judge the quality of your thoughts; it simply responds to them. If you focus on lack and limitation, the universe, in perfect harmony with your mental state, will bring you experiences that mirror that feeling. If you focus on abundance, joy, and opportunity, the universe will likewise conspire to bring those things into your life.

This is a beautiful and sometimes daunting responsibility. It means we are not victims of circumstance but rather co-creators of our own destiny. Our freedom lies not in controlling the world outside of us, but in mastering the world within.

So, how do we harness this incredible power? The secret lies in moving from passive, unconscious thinking to active, conscious thought.

Practical Exercises for Conscious Creation

Here are two powerful tools to help you take control of your creative power:

1. Affirmative Prayer (Spiritual Mind Treatment): This is not a prayer of begging or pleading, but an affirmative statement of truth. It’s a conscious alignment with the reality you wish to create.

o How it works: Instead of saying, “Please give me a new job,” you would say, “I am now employed in a fulfilling position that brings me joy and prosperity. I am grateful for this opportunity and the gifts it brings.” You are speaking as if the desired outcome is already a fact, impressing the idea of completion upon the Universal Mind.

2. Visualization: Your mind doesn’t know the difference between a vivid imagination and a real-life event. By using visualization, you can impress a new reality onto your subconscious mind, which then works to manifest it.

o How it works: Find a quiet place and close your eyes. Picture in your mind’s eye what it would feel like to have already achieved your goal. If you desire better health, visualize yourself full of energy, engaging in activities you love. Feel the joy, the freedom, and the gratitude of that reality as if it were happening right now.

The power of conscious thought is the ultimate tool for personal empowerment. It teaches us that our inner world is the true command center, and that by tending to our thoughts with care and intention, we can create a life of purpose, joy, and unlimited possibility. As we learn to master this art, we step fully into our role as divine co-creators, shaping not only our own lives but contributing to a more beautiful and abundant world for everyone.

–Rev Rhoni

“Otherness” by Mariann Moery

I’ve been thinking and reading and wondering what it is within us humans that assigns doubt, fear and distancing to those who are seen as different. “Otherness” is the current naming for it, and it occasionally runs amok through the world.

And it is NOT restricted to any one political party or group.

Literal distance can certainly be a contributing factor, though it is not a requirement. Neighbors can be ‘other.’ A friend was telling me about a current cable series which is based on a society that has two groups. One, of course, socially more elevated with the ‘other’ group bound by rules, laws and behaviors strictly regulated and enforced. Not hard to take that metaphor into daily life historical and current.

But it needn’t be that overt. Each of us carries definitions of what is acceptable and what makes us nervous and reluctant to interact.

City mouse and Country mouse. Even in children’s literature the divide has been recognized.

And yet …

God wills us to have everything. As we express life, we fulfill God’s law of abundance, but we do this only as we realize that there is good enough to go around—only as we know that all of God’s gifts are given as freely and fully as the air and the sunshine… alike to all.

Ernest Holmes:  The Science of Mind 459.2

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Livin’ life in peace

John Lennon – Imagine

When we realize that God and man are One and not two, we shall love both. We shall love man as an expression of God, and God as the Life Principle in all…. We are to look for God in each other and love this God, forgetting all else. But would this compel us to accept from people that which is not good? Of course not! …for this would be like suffering for righteousness’ sake, which is always a mistake. We should be wise in the ways of the world, as well as imbued with Divine wisdom.

Ernest Holmes: The Science of Mind 459.5

And so the hard and harder part….to accept each and all as emanations of Spirit – the love that knows no bounds – while remaining able to disagree without hate or anger. It has been proven anger overrides intelligence. It limits our vision as to what might otherwise be possible.

It seems the times in which we live are well past ‘interesting’ and deeply into challenging.

My prayer is that enough of us learn to lean past our anger and open to knowing we are all One and that is the only way to move on.

–In Peace, Mariann

Gracious Endings by Sharon Whealy, RScP

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Several people have asked about my upcoming class: What is Five Wishes? Is this a genie in the lamp thing? And they’ve asked about the new business I am creating. The two questions share the same answer.

The upcoming Five Wishes class teaches a path to plan for end-of-life needs with love and care. This is the service path I am exploring.

In December 2023, the paramedics revived my mother after her housekeeper found her passed out on her bedroom floor. The month of December was hectic for the family as she was transported from Show Low to Phoenix, then admitted to a rehab hospital. She wanted nothing to do with rehabilitation, so in addition to her birthday and Christmas, my sister and I had to rush and find a place for her to live where she would be cared for.

I am happy to say we got her settled here in Tucson, and she is still with us. However, the journey of getting her here set me on a path that I am choosing to embrace today. At the time, we had no idea what she wanted – there were so many questions! What should I bring from her home to make her new room feel homey and welcoming? What clothing should I pack? What does she want done with her remains when she does pass? What sort of celebration, if any, would she like after she has gone?

Early in 2024, I took an eight-week class called Gentle Dying that touched on before, during, and after death care. I have always thought of death as the other side of birth, and the class resonated strongly with me. What I felt most called to was the planning our death aspect of the course, and how those plans are not only a gift to ourselves, but a gift to our loved ones.

In February of 2025, I was introduced to the Five Wishes organization through a workshop that led to me taking a four-week class based on the Five Wishes advanced care planning. This is the work I have decided to do!

Why is advanced care planning important? From FiveWishes.org,

Advance care planning helps ensure that:

•you (or your loved/significant ones) receive care at the end of life that aligns with what matters most to you as a unique person

•you do not receive unwanted medical treatments at the end of life

•you do receive the care and treatments you want at the end of life

•loved/significant ones and health providers are prepared to make decisions based on what matters most to you

I am naming my new venture Gracious Endings because, according to an AI definition, “a gracious ending is characterized by kindness, politeness, and courtesy when concluding something, be it a conversation, a relationship, or even a job.”

This is the gift we give our loved ones when we preplan our ending. This is just the first step in my new venture. To learn more, join me for a four-week workshop based on the Five Wishes, happening in person on Tuesdays in August, or on Zoom Tuesdays in September.

–Sharon Whealy, RScP

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