Roman Clarkson

Over the past month I have been reading the book Journey of the Heart (John Welwood, 1991). I read most of this book during my business travels over the month of December. December, the time of year when I get to spend a lot more time with my immediate and extended family, as well as with friends. So, at this time of year I was particularly connected with a lot more people on many intimate levels. Exactly what this book was focused on. There I was in many of the situations the book described with a variety of people. So the real question I sought to answer is : Did the writings in this book help me remain in the present moment and be intimate and authentic with each person that I came in contact with. The answer I came up with was yes.

I realize that there is no one book that will bring me conscious awareness but it sure can help to remind me of what I want to accomplish in life. One of those accomplishments are having an authentic relationship with my wife, children, family, and friends that allows me to be who I am. I liken it to a dancer with a partner. Welwood states in his chapter Dancing on the Razor’s Edge

The great paradox of love is that it calls on us to be fully ourselves and honor our individual truth. (pg. 45)

Like the dance between dancers, relationships are the dance on the razor’s edge. Each dance requires the couple to rely on the other for their strengths, grace and willfull participation. Some dances are loving, rife with strife, while others express the individuality of the dancers in an interplay of the unknowingness of the other. The hidden beauty of the dance is the practice and devotion of the dancers to their hidden and public performances. This idea reminds me in a poetic way of just what relationships are; a journey between the known and unknown. I find that it inspires me to push more into the unknown with all my relationships.

Poetics aside, the real value of this book is the underlying theme that relationships are about being our Spiritual Self. Better yet, remembering our Spiritual Self. In the course of life there are times when I know that I have forgotten my Spiritual Self. I feel like it would be very difficult for me without the help of others to remember that for myself. Especially people who are connected and committed to relationships at that level. I think it would be great if relationships could start out with the intention of being authenticate instead of developing relationships into authenticity. I think every person should at least read the section on Commitment as Path (pg. 100) in the chapter Conscious Commitment (pg. 85). He actually has what I would call a “Vow to Recall Love” between individuals in any relationship. It uncovers the simplistic nature of remembering just who we are and why we are in a relationship together. His statement is this:

Whatever problems our personalities have together, we will not let them get between us. If our egos are at war, we will not let that ruin our deeper connection – we will always come back and meet on this deeper level. We will help each other wake up and become all that we can be. We will keep opening to each other and to life itself in and through this relationship. (pg. 101)

This is one of the best ways to say “I am sorry” before you even get in the dog house. The only change I would have made to his statement is to put the positive first then the negative reflections last. Set the intention then the remediation. I think the beauty of it is that it can apply to anyone in any kind of relationship.

Overall, I am very happy with the learning value that I got from the book. I would like to share some of the ideals in a workshop one day and I plan on writing and using this book as a reference. I am going to add this book to my collection, I borrowed this one. Welwood is a thoughtful person who presents the information in an inspiring way that I love. Also, it’s the best relationship book I have read so far.

Bibliography

John Welwood, Ph.D. (1991). Journey of the Heart (1st Edition Ed.). New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

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Some of you may know, I am on the CORE Council for the Center for Spiritual Living here in Saint Louis.  Just so I can put this post in context, I just happen to be the current president of the Council.  Let me say this, it is an exciting and busy time of year.  Why?  Well, every January the CORE has a retreat.  It picks a location and spends a Friday evening and entire Saturday day reviewing, planning and getting motivated for the current year. 

What I have noticed over the past few years is that I am usually wondering, “what is it that we are going to experience this next year?”  Right up to the night the retreat begins, we as a council really get ramped up for a lot of leadership training and exercises mixed with spiritual meditations.  At the end of the 24 hours, you are in a state of reflection.  You know that place where you just have to sit and say, “Did that really happen?”

This is my second year as president and I have to say I find planning and executing the retreat is the most challenging task that I am given.  I can deal with people/congregants who are happy and giving compliments to the exact opposite, where people are giving me a tongue lashing for something that was decided and acted upon without knowledge of it.  The lesson learned: When you are involved with peoples spiritual home they get very passionate and animated about it. 

So, the question is “What are we going to do?”  The answer is “great things”.  We are going to hone our goals for the Center’s internal operations and expand our community involvement.  I have termed this year’s theme as a bridge year.  Lot’s of God stuff going.

So, when I recover from the retreat I will let you know how I fared.  I am know I will be the better for it.

Namaste

Check out the Center for Spiritual Living for more information about the organization.

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The first thing that comes to mind is Creation. All three words are embodied in it. Without them there would be no Creation. Now that I am asked to write about these words I wonder what I thought about them in the past. With many of the thought papers I have found that what was has been wholly transformed, through the creation process, into something new. Many times I didn’t even consciously think about the subject before I read the assignment.

First, the word “create” means to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. But in reality it is only being transformed from one or more things into something uniquely new and individualistic.

Second, “creative” is an adjective that describes the power to create. But it really is the innate ability of the cosmos to express itself through some object whether it is reproduction, galaxies forming or just me writing a paper. In Science of Mind terminology that would me that a person has the realization that they can use the power of Creation at anytime in any manner.

Third, “creativity” is the state or quality of being creative. This is where someone is actively transforming something in their life. It could be a job, an idea, a relationship, anything. I think of this as the real destination/realization that many of us want to maintain. That special place where things are and become what you think at every turn.

Now that I looked into the words’ definitions and impact on my thinking I have come to the conclusion that my idea of Creation is far beyond the simple definitions given to us. I think the main difference is that I know that there is a Creation Process that exists and that we are participant in it, either actively or passively. I know my path is to be an active co-creator.

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Things I thought before

When I started Year II I never really thought about my role as a Professional Practitioner. I really was focused more on myself as practitioner learning his spiritual practice. I never really gave much thought about how I was going to impact other people’s lives and the responsibilities required of a Practitioner after licensed. As the Term progressed I began to understand the role of a Practitioner in two lights. The first is the responsibility to oneself and the second is to others. In Term I, I was happy that more class time was focused on the Practitioner/Client role and that the personal development was more in my own personal time. That classroom focus really helped me focus on listening and conversing with people. In my daily life listening and conversing with people is not a main focus. Fortunately, I have the resources available to me to continue to hone those skills.

Things I think about now.

During the term my view of Professional Practitioners did begin to change. The change was less about how I view myself as a Professional Practitioner but more about my role as a private practitioner. Really, while I was learning more and more about how to treat for others and the roles of practitioner and client, I was really learning about how to keep my consciousness clear and focused for people and myself. I began to see people saying things that I just simply refuse to believe. Not only that, I intentionally tell myself that that it is not true for me and it is not true for them. It keeps me focused on the cause and not the effect. I spent a lot of time looking at healing as a process in Spirit. I have spent more time treating for Nancy than any other person, perhaps even myself. I think that kind of focus on other people has been the biggest change.

Thinks I need to think about.

There are two particular things I need to focus on in Term II; 1) my word and 2) my works. I think that I need to start focusing more on how I speak around other people. Now that I have begun to realize the impact of people’s words on me, I know how much of an impact my words have on other people, especially, when those words are coming from a soon to be Professional Practitioner. Another thing I need to start focusing on is my works around other people. My main call to practice is to do. Demonstrate all I can and not waiver in my knowing. I think that if I stay focused on my sacred service to others and me it will be my biggest demonstration of all.

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In the pursuit of understanding Intuition in the life of a Practitioner I went straight to Ernest Holmes. “Intuition is God in man, revealing to him the Realities of Being. Just as instinct guides the animal, so would intuition guide man, if he would allow it to operate through him. The ability to know without any process of reasoning. God knows only intuitively”. (603, SOM) Then I tried to figure out a definition for myself and what I came up with was “Intuition is the silent conscious observance between Spirit and Mind. It is like two things staring at each other in the eyes making no sound or physical communication. Just a simple recognition that the other exists.”

Intuition, for me, is a matter of my personal connection with Spirit in the present moment. The more I am focused on the present the more I know and feel my connection with Spirit. It is in each moment that I am able to feel the draw of Intuition. What I find really interesting about Intuition is that it provides me with a source of constant curiosity. When I am in the flow of Spirit and I listen to Intuition, I find that Intuition has a since of curiosity through me as well. When I am really listening to intuition I find it is really a source of untapped “energy” or “power”. It gives me a lot of control of the moment and allows me to manifest what I consciously want. I find that to be a great feeling of personal power. With that power I really feel the control I have over my life. It is as if intuition is living my life for me from Mind. It really is like letting go and letting God. I think Ernest most elegantly describes this feeling when he says “The highest faculty in man is intuition and it comes to a point sometimes where, with no process of reasoning at all, he instantly knows.” (359-1, SOM) Another observation that I have made is that it is completely impersonal but is always working for me. Sometimes, I feel that events are beyond my control when I feel connection with Spirit but I remain focused on the moment. When I allow intuition to guide me most of the things I treated for and want to manifest come to fruition. Even thought it was not in the order or effect I fully expected.

The real lesson that I continue to learn is when do I notice Intuition? There are times when I can just tell that intuition is guiding me. It is a feeling that can come as urgency or patience, subtle whispers or screaming shouts. Other times I think intuition is guiding me and it is just my reasoning mind getting in the way. Disguising the two is the study guide to the lesson. There are times when I know I am really guided by intuition. When I am not absorbed or effected into my surroundings I feel the “push” of intuition guiding me. It is most definitely when I am not buying into stories, mine or others, that are not the Truth. It also occurs I am centered a focused on the moment. I think these guide posts are pointing out the difference between the internal and external, rather form and unformed, experiences. “The spirit of man seems to have an external and an internal perception. Its external perception is by appearance; its internal, through intuition”. (113-2, SOM) This statement summarizes what I am trying to express here.

I am learning to use my intuition by allowing it to guide me without effort and in perfect harmony with my perfection. Brown states that “This is the final step we must take to free ourselves from thinking, from planning, and from our attempts to control this world”. (Brown, p. 296) There are many ways I allow this natural flow to occur. First and foremost is while playing music. There is no time that I feel less control in my life. I allow my talent and training to be guided by intuition. Intuition always seems to know the right note at the right time. I think my next favorite example is when I am writing software. For some unknown reason I am guided by intuition or Spirit. I completely get into a “zone” and let my fingers type by the guidance of Mind. It is so wonderful. I think the most difficult time I have had with intuition is dealing with people. I have studied this one but can only come to a couple of conclusions. One, I perceive myself as separate and second I can enter into judgment. If I avoid either of these perceptions I have no issues communicating with people in almost any circumstance. Generally, I let solutions unfold before me. An example would be building bookshelves in my front room that everyone will see. The unfolding process, when judged, was a little ugly. However, in the end the book shelf turned out great and served every purpose intended.

In my meditation and reflections I have asked myself why I use intuition and how it impacts my life. The answer came pretty readily. It makes the present moment unfold effortlessly and outcomes appear to be better. The reason I get is that Spirit’s suggests an action and that action tends to have better outcomes than my reasoning mind. The impact it has on my life is like searching for answers you will never find. The more I search for it the further away it is. Secondly, it’s rather annoying when it is whispering in my year and not yelling at me. I get reminded in times of annoyances that I need to practice patience and listen. The annoyance, or any other auto-emotion, is becoming a trigger that I am not fully focused on the present.

I had to determine when, as a Practitioner, do I use intuition? I learned that when I cannot make a rational decision or the decision is irrational I turn to intuition. It is in those times that I get refocused and listen. Similar to the rational/irrational decisions, when I cannot determine the answer to a question I turn inward for an answer. Answer does not necessarily manifest itself instantly in my mind. It may send me to an expert in a field, a publication or trial and error. In the end, I tend to get the right answer. I think the most significant moments of using intuition is when I have to size up a situation in times of emergency or expediency. It’s like my mind goes into autopilot and Spirit takes over. All my actions appear before me without my control. It is in my reflection of those times where I am most certain intuition and Spirit are acting through my physical body.

The effect of Intuition on my life has been uncalculatable. It really keeps me on my toes. It operates like a sign post, much like a yield sign on a road. I approach with caution but I can always drive through and expect to make it across the intersection with ease. I just have to pay attention. It’s when I stop paying attention to my Intuition that I am forced to stop at every stop light, I cannot turn right on red, and I inevitable have to deal with traffic cops.

What have I learned from my study and experience with Intuition is echoed in Ernest Holmes words “We give Intelligence outlet in two ways: by pure inspiration or intuition, or the more common way of bitter experience, and with most of us it is through the latter” (273-5, SOM). This was at one time my experience as well. However, I have chosen to experience the Intelligence of Mind as pure inspiration AND intuition. I have chosen to maintain that experience by maintaining constant Spiritual vigilance in a number of ways. Some of my ways have been through meditation, SEVA, and through SOM Practitioner Training. The biggest challenge that I face is that the experience requires constant present moment awareness. I have been treating to change that view know that is my true state and is effortless. In the end I have a lot to learn and teach.

Bibliography

Brown, M. (2005). The Presence Process. New York: Beaufort Books.

Holmes, E. (1996). Science of Mind. Los Angeles, CA, USA: Science of Mind Publishing.

intuition, Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). (n.d.). (Random House, Inc.) Retrieved 12 1, 2008, from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intuition

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A Practitioner is one who consciously knows the truth for themselves through treatments, meditation, and a spiritual routine. A Practitioner has also committed themselves to the expression of God in all their actions.

A Practitioner’s work is to know the divine truth of all things as a perfect expression of God. They do their work through treatment, meditation, and spiritual routines.

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I know that there is only one power this is everything right now. I know that power as God. God is that perfect expression of life unfolding and peace.

I am of that one power, that perfect expression of peace and life. I know this Truth is for my prayer partner equally. We are both the Truth of God expressed.

In this moment our lives are unfolding perfectly. We experience perfect balance, health, abundance, and peace in our lives. We are expressing all the qualities of God perfectly in every moment.

I am grateful that I know this as my Truth. I give all my thanks to God knowing it comes back to me as give.

I release my word into the Law knowing it is so, Amen.

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I know that the divine power, that is god, is ever present in the moment. I know that that power is in all things at all times.

I am of that power, greatness, and wholeness of Spirit that flows through all things, all people. The One Spirit is me as me, for me and is my client for my client.

Knowing this I know that my client has no condition, mentally or emotionally rooted in cause, but only in effect. I know that my client is a reflection of me, and we are complete.

I am grateful to have the knowledge of the One Spirit moving through me to provide the perfect rapport that exists between my client and myself.

I release my word in to the Law knowing it is complete, perfect, already present and manifested. Amen.

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I interpret Ernest’s statement about wholeness as the fundamental paradigm of Science of Mind (SOM). In the first clause in the statement, Ernest states quite simplify and completely the basic rule of SOM for all practitioners. All practitioners must know that wholeness is all there is. In the second clause, he presents the conundrum of healing. He is telling us that healing is based on perception. So, the statement is actually a falsehood that looks like a truth but the falsehood is only revealed to those who understand his teaching of the SOM.

In his teachings, he is consistently telling students that there is nothing that needs to be healed. He says that we only need to know the wholeness of all things and in all things their truth is revealed. The question I ask myself from this teaching is how I would apply this in a practical application? If I was asked to do a treatment for someone to be healed I would treat that their truth is already revealed and that there is no illness and only my perception must be treated.

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I am not really sure how the prodigal son story relates to me directly. I guess in some manner I am more similar to the brother in the story rather than the prodigal son himself. I have often found myself reflecting more on the fortunes of others when I found them undeserving and wondering why I did not receive the fortunes.

In this respect, I have learned that I should cherish other peoples’ successes as much as I would cherish my own. I find that when I am in gratitude that things flow to me effortlessly and with positive abundance. This occurs even when I practice that gratitude on another’s behalf knowingly or unknowingly to them. To this extent, the story is my own.

I know that the Spirit is boundless and limitless in what it is and what it can provide. There is no amount to be divided, no amount that needs to be shared and there is end to the supply of goodness that is Spirit. I know that that Spirit is everything and manifests equally for me and everyone else. There is no division necessary between others and me. Therefore, I know that all that I am and all that I have are available to me as well as everyone else. I share in the gratitude, abundance, love and peace that is all people. We are all one and need not want. We have all we need. I am thankful to know that I and all people are one in the same. I happily share all that I am and have with anyone who needs it. I release my word into Law knowing that it has already overflowed all of our chalices many times without limit, and so it is.

Religious Science, Science of Mind center for spiritual living, religous, spirit, religion, science of mind