Category: Solutions

Hello my friends! I hope this new year is treating you well!

This year has started off right up the ego’s alley – separation, division and differences. I’m speaking of the political scene seemingly dividing many groups at this time.  Let’s look at it through ACIM‘s perspective.

A Course in Miracles reminds us that everything  we see in the world is a reflection of the thought of separation in the mind. The Course teaches that we are mind – this is the mind outside time and space where we are viewing our dream.  It doesn’t matter what images that thought system reflects, it’s all part of the same illusion that has never left its source in the mind. The world is a projection of the unconscious guilt in our mind over the seeming separation from our Creator/Source.  The unconscious guilt projected from the mind  takes form – bodies, objects- animate and inanimate. The Course teaches that the world is an “outside picture of an inward condition”. The inward condition is the ego thought system of separation. The ego wants to keep us convinced we’re bodies so we never go back to the mind and choose against it in favor of Spirit.

The Course teaches ” I am never upset for the reason I think.”  We forget that what we see is all part of the same projected illusion. The illusion of the world and body comes from the illusory thought in the mind.  This illusory thought that we could be separate from our Oneness in Heaven seemed to occur as a “tiny mad idea…” in the mind. When we chose to believe this “tiny, mad idea”, it set into motion the whole chain of seeming choices that resulted in the making of the illusory time-space universe.

The mind seemed to go to sleep for a little while and is dreaming we are separate from our Creator/Source.  We are fooled into thinking that the cause of our upset is all the people and situations in the world. However, we are really upset because we chose the teacher of  sin, guilt and fear in the mind that made up the illusory world to keep us mindless.

The figures in our dream take many forms – these forms include political figures. Remember…anytime anything external in the world makes us upset, triggered, angry, a victim, depressed, sad, etc., that is our clue to go back to the mind (cause) and choose the right teacher.

A  political situation is no different than any other situation, person, or event. We forgive all images equally because they’re all untrue.  As we forgive, we undo the idea of separation in the mind, thus helping us awaken from the dream.

When we forgive the images our body’s eyes show us for what they haven’t really done, we make the choice for the entire sonship because there’s only one mind that thinks it’s here.  Everyone is included when we make a choice for the atonement, which is the correction of our belief in sin.  Atonement in ACIM says we did NOT sin (we did not separate from our Creator). Mistakes call for correction, not punishment.

The core process of forgiveness is withdrawing our projections. The miracle (a shift in perception) takes our attention from the illusory world and brings it back to the mind so we can choose again.  Changing our thinking changes everything in our experience. It does not necessarily change the world/forms, but when we are right-minded we are not concerned with form, rather we are focused on the content of love in the mind. The love is then reflected into all our actions and words.  Our bodies are involved in the “doing”, however we know that we are not really our bodies.  When we feel there’s something to “do”, the Course asks us to let the content of love be the agent of our “doing”.

Love & blessings,
Jackie

Hello my friends!

I hope this post finds you well and you’re enjoying the fall season. This is my favorite time of year!

I was talking with a client tired of feeling the need to “prove” himself  in all areas of his life.  This is a challenge for so many people. Here are my thoughts and suggestions.

The need to “prove” ourselves stems from feelings of not being good enough. We are afraid. There’s a false belief we’re not going to make the “right” decisions, people don’t understand us, or we’re inadequate in some way and therefore trying to be something/someone we’re not.

In my experience everything comes down to self-worth. How we feel about ourselves guides our thoughts and subsequent actions.   Fear is experienced when we solely trust in our OWN strength.  Allowing the connection with our Source to guide us and remembering our true identity as Spirit engenders inner peace, not fear.

How do we move out of fear? One thought at a time.

1). Be honest with yourself and say , ” I am feeling fearful right now. I choose to remove the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence and remember who I am.”

If that’s as far as you go for the moment…great! Turn your fearful thoughts over to God, the Holy Spirit or your Higher Self (substitute your word) for correction.  You’ve moved from being caught up “in” the fear to having the “awareness” you are the observer with the power to “choose” a different thought. That’s all you have to do in the moment.

If you start feeling a little more peaceful and want to take another step:

2). In the awareness of being the “observer”, turn the rest of your day over to the Holy Spirit. “Holy Spirit, you be in charge of my thoughts. I choose to remember my true strength. Help me see through spiritual sight today.”

What is happening when you do this? You are activating the highest part of your mind (not brain, but the part of your mind that knows Who and where you really are).  Making a conscious choice to be inspired and choose peace removes conflict (uncertainty, unconscious guilt) from the mind. Then peaceful, loving energy will automatically flow into  actions you take in the world.

3). There’s no need to analyze or evaluate yourself or your progress. Allow the highest part of yourself to take over integrating and replacing old thoughts with new thoughts at just the right level and pace.

So we come full circle! When connected to Source, there is nothing to “prove”. Why? When remembering  Who we are – Spirit, whole and innocent, there is nothing to prove, but everything to “be”.

My sister says , “We have nothing to do and everything to be.”

Allow Spirit to be “reflected” THROUGH you. Let your light and Divine spark shine through every action. What is the purpose of your actions now? Your PURPOSE has changed, so you won’t feel you have to prove yourself, just BE yourself.

Blessings… be well everyone!
Jackie

There seems to be so many problems in our own lives and in the world at large.  Where do we start?

Let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  I’d like to suggest starting each day with a short meditation.  It can be 2 – 5 minutes.  Think about joining with God, the Holy Spirit or your Higher Self. ( substitute your word if necessary)  Think about merging with the larger part of you.  Let your Mind be still.  “A tranquil mind is not a little gift.” – A Course in Miracles, M-20.4.

If you practice this form of joining in the morning it will help you come from a place of true power when confronting an issue or problem.  What does that mean?

It means you have put your “Right Mind” in charge of your thoughts.  Instead of responding from the ego’s reactionary state, you come from a centered, peaceful place of being – often receiving inspired guidance about how to handle a problem.  It lifts  the burden of deciding what to “do” all the time.  Rather, you can “allow” right action or inspiration to flow through you.

This approach does not make us passive in the world or stop us from “doing” things.  It simply means we’re passive to the ego and active to the Holy Spirit.

Love & blessings,

Jackie 🙂

As spiritual growth and healing excite more and more people these days, it is becoming increasingly beneficial to clear your energy field and use techniques to release any emotional “baggage” or negative patterns in your life.  Some of the more sensitive of you have  noticed a shift in energy levels on the planet and it’s harder to live amidst all the anger, fear and negativity prevalent in our society.  This can manifest in your life in several ways: you’re growing tired of the escalating violence on TV,  you feel more compassion towards others, your current job is not fulfilling, you lose interest in certain activities, or you feel there’s a higher purpose to your life and you’re being guided to explore something new.  No matter how it’s manifesting for you, there is a discomfort or restlessness as old patterns, habits and judgment of others  seem to fade away in favor of a more peaceful way of life.  This can be unsettling at times because it feels like you’re entering the “unknown”.  Awakening to Spirit isn’t always comfortable because the ego will fight for its “familiar” existence.  What can you do?  Listen to your inner voice-what is it whispering to you? Trust it and gently move in the direction of its suggestions.  How do I listen to my inner voice?  1.  Ask to connect with your higher Self.  ” I ask my  higher Self to assist me.”  2.  Ask a question out loud or in your mind.  ” Is this new job opportunity a good fit for me?” Or “What is holding me back from moving forward?” 3. Take a deep breath, exhale, and pause…you can feel good because you put your question out there.  4. Check in with how you feel.  Are any messages, ideas or thoughts coming in to your mind? If not right away, they will eventually. The message(s) you receive will feel different to you when it’s coming from your higher self…probably like a  gentle suggestion or a “knowing.”  Do this exercise at your own pace.  There is no pressure or hurry for answers, rather allow a gradual process of guidance to unfold one step at a time –  steps that your mind can accept without fear.  There is an individualized curriculum just for you!   Let your new ideas and insights unfold in a relaxed way 🙂  Be well everyone!

Created over a century ago, The John Lewis Partnership ( JLP) in England is the largest department store chain in the country with 35 department stores and 272 Waitrose grocery stores.  It is 100% employee owned.  It was created with fairness in mind.

As Marjorie Kelly notes in her article “The Good Corporation” in Yes! Magazine, there are economic alternatives to capitalism, akin to JLP, emerging as cooperatives, employee-owned firms, social enterprises and community land trusts.  Ownership by its employees unites these new models.

Our current economic system is crumbling.  As old systems break down, corporations and individuals alike would benefit from redefining their company purpose.  Instead of only answering to shareholders, enabling a “few” to profit, holding a shared vision of keeping the planet and all its inhabitants thriving would be a welcome change.  Embracing healthy sustainability and fairness empowers employees and their communities to flourish.

How do we make the switch to this alternative?

Fortunately, companies like JLP and Organic Valley serve as examples.

Organic Valley is a farmer-owned cooperative where the owners are the suppliers.  Kelly points out the shared benefits of this model:  ” Farmers benefit from healthy income. Employees benefit from stable jobs and rewarding work. Customers benefit from chemical-free food. Investors in the firm’s preferred stock benefit from dependable rates of return. Farming communities benefit from the return of vitality that flows from farmers’ prosperity.”

Change emerges through unity by holding the highest intentions for all involved – whatever the business, idea, or project.

An inspiring article written by Robert Mellinger in Yes! Magazine highlights veterans who are getting a fresh start through several different projects around the country.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) was formed by Michael O’Gorman, a successful organic farmer for 40 years. The FVC “connects veterans to the resources they need to start their farming careers.”   The FVC established the Farmer-Veteran Fellowship Fund which provides “individual grants of up to $10,000 for education, supplies, and equipment.”

The University of Nebraska – Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has designed “Combat boots to Cowboy Boots” to assist in training military personnel, their families and armed forces veterans to become farmers, ranchers, and business entrepreneurs.

I can imagine how healing it is for veterans to find necessary, meaningful work.  Many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Not only do these programs contribute to the healing and transition out of combat for our veterans, but farming also serves the needs of a larger community.  Rebuilding dwindling rural counties and creating new farming communities  will be necessary to sustain us in the future.

As the average American farmer (many baby-boomer farmers born between 1946 and 1964) is nearing retirement age, we welcome a new generation of farmers.

Dilemma: Can cooperation “beat out” competition?

A better understanding of the benefits of shared interests versus separate interests allows more room for cooperation in American culture.

Research dating back to the 1800’s repeatedly verifies the benefits of cooperation.   Dr. Perry W. Buffington wrote Competition vs. Cooperation, an article detailing interesting findings on this subject.

Cooperating with others makes us feel good.  Good feelings enhance overall well-being creating a better mood.  This results in better decision making.  When making better decisions we feel better about ourselves.  When we feel better about ourselves we are healthier and more productive.  Being productive becomes fun!

Competition, when used to pit one person against another depletes our energy and induces stress.  People often ask, “Isn’t it good to have a healthy sense of competition?” Although this thought is inherent in our culture, many experts favor cooperation.

Solution:

It is helpful to encourage people to their do “their personal best”.  If we can foster a sense of accomplishment for people and provide positive feedback, it wouldn’t be about “doing better than others”.  Rather people would feel good about themselves and their contributions to the whole.  This enhances self-esteem and boosts confidence.  The more confident people are, the less they tend to seek the approval of others.  Then creativity can flow unabated.

Cooperation joins us together, fosters creativity, strengthens community, enhances self-esteem, and allows everyone to share their talents without criticism and fear of rejection.

Cooperation can be as simple as showing appreciation, compromising, or engaging in active listening without judgment.  It’s never too late to find common ground!