Author Archives: Joyce

I Choose Once Again

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I enjoyed role playing at today’s “A Consciousness of Joy” class, and also laughing at what other groups came up with to illustrate how people’s perceptions impact their responses. It’s crazy and violent how people can get when they let their egos run rampant not knowing all sides to a situation. When we step into another’s shoes, it’s easier to become understanding, compassionate, and kind since we can relate to an experience of human beingness. We always have a choice as to how we respond to a situation. I can take on a negative perspective and go down the rabbit hole with it. Or, I can choose to see the blessing in what’s happening, and climb into an upward spiral. I keep vigilant with my monkey mind. I take a breath, come back to the present moment, and re-think “Do I want to be miserable or happy?” “You always choose between your weakness and the strength of Christ in you.” – A Course in Miracles, T-31.VIII.2.3 When I remember Spirit is my foundation, my core, within me, within you, always present, everywhere, I rest easy with what’s happening in life. It’s all so fleeting anyway, isn’t it? So how important … Continue reading →

In the Still of the Night

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Yesterday I blogged about my learning Spiritual Mind Treatment, an integral part of the Science of Mind philosophy. In the still of the night, a Spiritual Mind Treatment came to me with ease and grace—and I hadn’t even asked for it. In fact, I’d been asleep and I was awakened! I’ve been in my rental house here in Prescott for six months now and have not replaced the three (!) different-sized HVAC filters for which I am tasked with the responsibility. The ceilings are high, and even though I bought a taller step stool, it is still not sufficient for me, at my height, to safely reach the vents and do the maintenance. Through the years of living alone, I’ve never bought a ‘real’ ladder and managed to get by. Now, however, it appears perhaps that run is over. I still haven’t made any close friends nor know the neighbors; I could try to find a handyman. But really, the filters need to be changed every month or two, and that could be inconvenient and costly. Not knowing anyone nearby to lend me a ladder, I’m open to purchasing one, finally. But then there’s the issue of getting it home … Continue reading →

Learning Spiritual Mind Treatment

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My soul is filling up thanks to more interaction with people and readings related to the Science of Mind philosophy, and incorporating something that is integral to the philosophy, Spiritual Mind Treatment. Spiritual Mind Treatment is a scientific form of affirmative prayer that underlies the teachings of Science of Mind. It shifts your mind so that your life manifests that which you desire. After all, our thoughts create our world! If you’re faced with a situation you would like to change, you can use this process to define and claim what you want. It is important to be clear about what you desire. Spiritual Mind Treatment is a direct, focused, and organized method using five steps to get to your desired outcome. The shorthand version of them is: Recognition (God is) Unification (I am) Realization/Declaration (I accept; I affirm) Acceptance/Thanksgiving (I give thanks) Release (I let go and let God)   I’m learning and practicing this form of affirmative prayer. Certain steps seem to come to me more easily and naturally than others. In the near future, I expect to share some examples; perhaps they will be helpful to you as well. Stay tuned.

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Believe and Receive

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I always get a kick out of duplication of topics in my daily spiritual readings. One, it reminds me of synchronicity (so meaningful to me because it’s how I “came to believe”) even if they’re only remotely related. Two, it makes me pay even greater attention to the message. This morning provides an example. In today’s 365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes, the founder of the Science of Mind philosophy quotes Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Holmes continues: “There could be no more explicit technique for effective prayer than this, laid down by the Master himself.” We are not to doubt the outcome; in fact, we must believe it is already done. Since the Law of Good governs my life and affairs, I need to cast out any fear, doubt, and uncertainty, and replace it with acceptance of the good that I desire. And, I really have to release control (as if I really have it): I let the Law of Good handle how my desire will manifest. Without doubt hanging out in my … Continue reading →

Love, Caring, and Compassion

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Keeping score in a relationship does not benefit anyone. It permeates the relationship with negative energy and will ultimately destroy it. … Just like when I judge someone and see the darkness in them. It’s difficult to see the good in others when I’m busy focusing on what I perceive is inadequate in them. When I view others from a perspective of love, caring, and compassion, then those attributes will not only shine on and uplift them, but reflect back and permeate my world too. Of course, there is no doubt I will feel better about myself, and the relationship can move on in a positive, forward trajectory. Everyone wins! I really don’t want to be negative, judgmental, or keep score on others, diminishing them and myself. If I desire to have an abundance of loving, caring relationships, I need to change my inner world. The inner world is where my true power lies. That’s where I make my connection to all powerful Spirit. Praying to God, I am not looking to magically change external circumstances. Rather, I am tapping into my higher power and asking It to change the nature of my thoughts. With that change, my world shifts. … Continue reading →

Every Second, With Every Breath

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“God insists that we ask, not because He needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual discipline of asking.” – Catherine Marshall “I need to be in touch with my Creator every hour of the day.” – In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery, January 24 *As We Understand God My last bit of time in bed this morning was filled with worry and anxiety. Somehow my mind had seized upon thinking about how I am not prepared for financial income as I progress into older age. I’ve always assumed I would be able to keep working as long as I needed to, never thinking about ageism in the corporate world, perhaps a decline in health, or any other possibility. It’s definitely something to address, but nothing that I want to have disturbing my sleep, let along my peace! Soon thereafter the alarm rang, and I was off to my meditation space, chanting and then sitting in the silence. I am so grateful that I really do believe in a Power greater than myself, a Power that is for Good, only wants the best and highest good for me, that is there to help me. That, coupled … Continue reading →

Places of Joy

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I may not be feeling joy within me very often during this particular period in my life, but I sure have it in my awareness. How could I not with objects and readings all around me? I have a set of coffee mugs I purchased at Christmas time one year with calligraphy written on them. “Peace on earth, good will toward men” is one, “Joy to the world,” the other. I drink from them year-round. Each morning I check in as to whether I am feeling the energy of joy or peace, and decide on which one I want to have by my side during my morning sabbath. A dear friend gifted me a pillow several years back, and it has its own place on the chair in my bedroom. I can’t miss it whether laying in bed, or exiting the door. And once again this week, a reading was about joy. Today’s Science of Mind Magazine is entitled “The Soul’s Joy, a Pathway to Love.” Its author, Rev. Christine Green, shares about her places of joy. Walking in the forest, and observing the sunlight coming through the trees… walking on the beach, feeling the sand on her feet, the … Continue reading →

Just as You Are, and Just as You Are Not

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Each Sunday morning at Centers for Spiritual Living–Prescott the minister or licensed practitioner of the day opens the service welcoming folks “just as you are, and just as you are not.” The first time I heard that I was pretty shocked—I’d never heard a welcoming greeting like that before. As I digested it, I realized how unique and profound it was. They were coming right out and saying I didn’t need to be perfect, I didn’t have to be a certain way, I could be ‘lacking’ something… I was being welcomed and accepted in my totality and being invited to be authentic. I could just relax and be me. Wow—especially from a group of strangers! One of this morning’s readings reminded me of the aforementioned in it also conveys acceptance of one’s whole beingness. “The thing we must get locked firmly in our mind is that it’s all right to be who we have been and who we are now. We know how to repair the damage now. Our program shows us the way to recovery, the way back to genuine esteem in ourselves as God’s creations. God made us, and always loves us just the way we are.” – In … Continue reading →

Registering Joy

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This past week’s homework for “A Consciousness of Joy” class has been ‘interesting.’ The assignment was to notice each day during the week when I felt joy and write it down. It was a helpful exercise because it naturally had me more on the lookout for joy when I otherwise might have not noticed and passed it by as I know I can do. This, in itself, was a positive step towards increasing the joy in my life. This week my spiritual readings and other material often included the word joy. Like today’s quote in 365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes: “I walk in the joy of increasing Good.” I had to smile. Alas, I cannot say that I actually felt joy this week—maybe if there had been horses on the farm where I volunteered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I would have felt joy (they’re still being boarded elsewhere for the winter)! I’m not surprised at the outcome of this week’s homework, as I know that joy has been fairly scant in my life for some time now. That’s one reason I wanted to take the class, to learn about how to … Continue reading →

A Touch

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“Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia What popped out to me when I read this quote, was the mention of the power of touch. Since March 2020, when the pandemic was officially declared and the interaction of people became forever changed, I have experienced a huge void in the area of personal touch, mainly hugs, but also the touch I received while joyously contra dancing. Living alone has always been a challenge to getting a sufficient amount of touch for good health—except when I attended 12 Step meetings and my need to give and receive hugs was always easily satisfied. Now during these unique times, I have had to make an even more concerted effort to at least be in some sort of contact socially with people. That has been mainly through online classes and meetings, texts, and emails. But of course, none of those are physical in nature. Thank heaven for my Teddy (bear)! At my spiritual center, hugs are the norm even during these … Continue reading →