New Thought for the New Year

My thought goes forth to meet the dawn.

It goes forth to greet the face of the One who dwells in the midst of Eternity.

It is not afraid but travels afar in company with unseen forces of Life and unnumbered hosts of the Invisible.

I stand in the center of the Universe and behold the One who inhabits the endless ages.

Mighty thoughts rush out to greet Thee and Thy Presence encompasses All.

As our thought goes forth to view what the future holds in store and we contemplate its possibilities, building our expectations upon past experiences we may more or less accurately prophesy the new age. That a new age is being ushered in no thinking or observant person can doubt. The signs of the times and the revolution of thought which the world is undergoing, economically, religiously, politically and internationally, furnish positive evidence that the human race is on the verge of a new experience.

Human evolution, which is the unfolding of the inner life through the personality of each person, is an eternal progress in an ever widening circle. Always the future is a logical outcome of the past and the present suspended between the past and future is a tendency linking events into one sequential whole. Standing before the portals of a new year, meditating upon the past and anticipating the future, we may well pause and ask ourselves what tendency our life is taking.

To the student of Religious Science the past has been a vehicle conveying the soul to an eternal future of enlarging possibilities, brighter outlooks and broader ranges of experience. We carry no corpses with us but let the dead past bury its dead having learned by experience lessons both hard and easy we consciously let go of all unpleasant memories and seek to forgive and to forget. Whatever of sorrow or grief may have been endured, it is enough that the lesson is learned, it is enough that we have progressed for this is the eternal mandate of Mind. We should carry into the future only that which is ennobling, inspiring and constructive.

If the past has taught anything it has taught the futility of trying to run the universe with the feeble intelligence of finite minds. Again and again we are brought back to the fundamental proposition that the universe is self-existent and is run by the propulsive action of its own untiring energy. Perhaps the greatest lesson which we have to learn is the lesson of faith, faith in the good, the true and the beautiful. While the sun sets on falsehood and the night closes in on mortal strife that which is true endures forever.

The temple of Faith must be entered through the gateway of understanding; on either side of this gateway stand the pillars of love and reason symbolizing the out-pouring of Spirit and the government of Law.

Faith is not a blind belief, its language is not a child crying in the night; it is the voice of truth shouting in the wilderness of human superstition and proclaiming its own intuitional perceptions.

True faith is built on the foundation of immutable law and through love carries with it the atmosphere of eternal givingness while reason justifies itself and establishes the mind on the only certain foundation, the Truth which is, is ever self-evident to those who perceive it.

Reading the pages of human evolution we watch the gradual ascent of humanity from the first unconscious, upward glance to the state wherein we now live and we note that it has been a continual progression, a consistent growth, a slow steady but certain advancement. Nature has not forced itself upon humanity but has attended the way, ready and willing to do our bidding whenever and wherever we have understood its laws. Things undreamed of in prehistoric times are today an essential part of everyday life, this through the agency of natural forces, unknown to our ancestors. Despite crime, pestilence, famine, tidal wave and flood, despite human avarice, greed, lust and cupidity the world has progressed and judging the future by the past, it will still continue to progress. The world is today more unified, more compassionate, more solicitous for the welfare of the human being than at any period in history. Life is easier and all have greater opportunities than ever before. It seems as though there were an urge behind all things forever pushing onward and upward and the path of human experience is unquestionably leading to the gateway of good.

Having learned the lesson of the past, having forgotten its failures, its doubts and its fears, let us carry with us into the future only that which is abiding that upon which the sunshine of eternal truth can never decline.

We are each on the pathway of experience, ever ascending, ever progressing, ever unfolding, ever increasing in knowledge and wisdom. Each person is an individualized center of God-consciousness and the Divine Urge, inherent in all things, is the cause of our progress. As we cannot compute the infinity of numbers so we cannot fully anticipate the possibilities of man. This possibility becomes a probability only as we allow the Divine currents to flow through us, the eternal mind to inspire us and the eternal loving kindness to stimulate our actions.

True religion is as essential to the spiritual nature of each person as food is to our physical well being. No person lives who is not religious. The religion of the future will be one of faith because it will be based upon a scientific understanding of the subtle laws of mind and Spirit which govern all things. Passing through the gateway of love, guided by reason, we enter the temple of Faith and meet a new experience; our true relationship with the Creator, the unity of all life.

The future religion will be free from fear, superstition and doubt and will ask no one where God may be found. For the “secret place of the Most High will be revealed in the inner sanctuary of each person’s own heart and the eternal God will sit enthroned in each mind. We can know no God external to that power of perception by which alone we are conscious of anything. God must be interpreted to each person through that person’s own nature. Who would know God, must be as God, for the One who inhabits eternity finds Its objective dwelling in Its own creation. Standing before the altar of receptivity in the temple of Faith one learns that one is an integral part of the universe and that it would not be complete without us. That native faith within, which we call intuition is the direct impartation of Divine Wisdom through us. Who can doubt its gentle urges or misunderstand its meaning. The Divine face is witnessed by all and in the silent moments of contemplation one merges with the whole and no longer guesses but knows.

The temple of Faith is built on an elevation higher than the range of finite vision. We must climb if we would view the length and breadth of reality. The Infinite will not be finite, therefore the finite must expand and it is for this purpose that we study the laws of mental science.

Deep scientific research and profundity of thought have been necessary for the development of religion as a science, now we must simplify our language and hasten the explanation.

TREATMENT: I am therefore I exist; therefore I must be and know that I am employed in the business of the One who moves and works through all. Harmonious activity is expressed by my very existence and nothing can operate within or through me to hinder my Divine expression. No fear within me no lack within me. Joy and bountiful blessings alone manifest through me.

–originally published in Science of Mind Magazine, January 1928, as “Greetings to the Dawn” by Ernest Holmes. Edited here into gender neutral language for the 21st century.

Raymond Charles Barker – Major New Thought Figure

Raymond Charles Barker was one of the most popular exponents of New Thought in the mid-20th century.  Below is an excerpt from his book Treat Yourself to Life:

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TreatYourselfToLife“WILL I EVER be happy again?” is the cry which comes from the hearts of thousands.

For twenty years I have been talking with hundreds of these people and have proved to them that their happiness can be regained and expanded IF they follow a few simple rules.

Wherever you are, in an apartment in New York or San Francisco, a farm in Iowa, a house in Texas or a bungalow in Florida, there is an inner you which is craving love, self-expression, permanence in your health and security in money.

If not actually fearful of the future, you are at best suffering mild anxiety, the number one mental symptom of the twentieth century.

Elizabeth Andrews in a great New York City hospital looked up at me from her bed and said:
“I have just been told by the doctors that I have Padgett’s Disease, a malignant disease, and that I will never walk again without heavy braces and crutches. I don’t want to accept this verdict. Need I?”

Knowing that this woman was capable of making drastic changes in her thinking and feeling, I answered: “While the factual evidence of bone disease is true— your need to believe it permanent is not. You can treat yourself out of this, and I know it can be done.”

Eight months later, without a brace or a crutch, Elizabeth Andrews walked into her church on a Sunday morning and joined others in the acknowledgment of a Power which knows no incurability!

How could this happen? Life limits no one, offers itself freely to all. If you can accept this new viewpoint as Elizabeth did, you can treat yourself to greater living. Elizabeth had learned that what man, with his material science, could not do for her, creative thinking could, provided she directed it herself.

Standing at her bedside on the day of her sentence to a life of invalidism, I saw her faint hope that I would agree she would walk again. Knowing her sincerity, and her capacity in the past to control her thinking, I immediately said:

“You certainly can walk again, and I will help you every step of the way.”

Every day for months, she and I knew certain basic truths together. She, in her hospital bed, and I, in my home or office, replaced in her subconscious the verdict of an incurable disease with a sure knowledge of a woman walking through life with ease.

One cold autumnal day when Elizabeth was walking down Fifth Avenue, she suddenly fell. The ambulance intern told her she had broken her leg. Her fall, however, had not been the usual kind, no broken pavement, no icy sidewalk, nothing to trip over. The bones in her right leg had simply given way!

At the hospital the X-rays showed the disease. The doctor anxiously made his way to her room, carrying the pictures with him, hoping that as her own eyes saw the condition, the blow would be softened as he told her:

“You have Padgett’s Disease.”

She had faith in her doctor and obeyed his orders. She knew that his diagnosis was accurate and factual.

For a single moment the news terrified her, tears came to her eyes and panic clutched her heart. But she instantly turned in thought to her greater, faith in God and affirmed that the Creative Power was equal to this situation. The calm came, the faith returned, and I came to her bedside in answer to her call.

Her recovery was not miraculous. For four months she never left the bed. I was there the day they brought to her the heavy massive brace, to cover her from hip to toe. She looked at it and had a momentary cry. Then, catching herself, she turned to me and said:

“We’ll fool them yet, won’t we?” My agreement with her faith was instantaneous.

Four months later she walked into church without that brace or even a crutch!

The key to Elizabeth’s victory was in her own ability to keep her thinking clear and to waver not in her knowledge of her own self as a creative channel for an unlimited intelligence. She knew that life would respond to her as she responded to it.

This reciprocal action between your patterns of thought and feeling, and the universal life has determined every experience which you have ever had, are having or will ever have.

You can learn how to treat yourself to greater living. Your mind is no different than Elizabeth’s, mine or anyone’s else. The greatest sages, saints and messiahs had minds no greater and no finer than yours. Only, they knew how to use them. They knew how to keep their minds directed to creative ends. This book is not written to give you faith, that your church will give you. It is written to show you how to translate your faith into right subconscious action, to produce the results you want.

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Create the Life You Want, a newly edited collection of Raymond Charles Barker’s writings is available from Hudson Mohawk Press

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The Inner Light as the Voice of God

“[W]e must be in absolutely constant relation or mental touch with that essence of life which permeates all and which we call God. This is almost unrecognizable unless we live into it ourselves actually—that is, by a constant turning to the very innermost, deepest consciousness of our real selves or of God in us, for illumination from within, just as we turn to the sun for light, warmth, and invigoration without. When you do this consciously, realizing that to turn inward to the light within you is to live in the presence of God or of your Divine self, you soon discover the unreality of the objects to which you have hitherto been turning and which have engrossed you without.”
from William James, “The Varieties of Religious Experience”

“Intuition is an inner spiritual sense through which we are opened to the direct revelation and knowledge of God, the secret of nature and life, and through which we are brought into conscious unity and fellowship with God, and made to realize our own deific nature and supremacy of being as the child of God. Spiritual supremacy and illumination thus realized through the development and perfection of intuition under divine inspiration gives the perfect inner vision and direct insight into the character, properties, and purpose of all things to which the attention and interest are directed. It is, we repeat, a spiritual sense opening inwardly, as the physical senses open outwardly; and because it has the capacity to perceive, grasp, and know the truth at first hand, independent of all external sources of information, we call it intuition. All inspired teaching and spiritual revelations are based upon the recognition of this spiritual faculty of the soul and its power to receive and appropriate them. Conscious unity of humanity in spirit and purpose with God, born out of our supreme desire and trust, opens the soul through this inner sense to immediate aspiration and enlightenment from the divine omniscience, and the co-operative energy of the divine omnipotence, under which we become seers. On this higher plane of realized spiritual life in the flesh the mind acts with unfettered freedom and unbiased vision, grasping truth at first hand, independent of all external sources of information. Approaching all beings and things from the divine side, they are seen in the light of the divine omniscience…

Many will receive great help, and many will be entirely healed by a practice somewhat after the following nature:—With a mind at peace, and with a heart going out in love to all, go into the quiet of your own interior self, holding the thought, I am one with the Infinite Spirit of Life, the life of my life. I now open my body, in which dis-ease has gotten a foothold, I open it fully to the inflowing tide of this infinite life, and it now, even now, is pouring in and coursing through my body, and the healing process is going on… If you would find the highest, the fullest, and the richest life that not only this world but that any world can know, then do away with the sense of the separateness of your life from the life of God. Hold to the thought of your oneness. In the degree that you do this, you will find yourself realizing it more and more, and as this life of realization is lived, you will find that no good thing will be withheld, for all things are included in this.”
from Ralph Waldo Trine, “In Tune with the Infinite” (originally written in 1902, here rendered into gender neutral language for the 21st century)

More Symbolic Bible Interpretation – The Wise Men Led By the Star

FollowTheStar

Let’s take a look at another symbolic metaphysical interpretation of a Bible passage, from the January 1912 issue of Unity Magazine. Here again, Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore shared an interpretation related to the Nativity story — the famous story of the “three wise men” who followed a star to visit the newborn Christ.  Below is the text of Matthew 2:1-12, followed by Fillmore’s symbolic metaphysical, New Thought, interpretation:

1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

2. Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

5. And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,

6. And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth a governor, who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.

7. Then Herod called together the Wise-men in secret, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.

8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said. Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.

9. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshiped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

In Scripture symbology “east” represents the within. As here used the word in the original is plural; the significance therefore is, that from the regions of interior wisdom there come thoughts of reverence for the Holy Life that has begun its growth in the consciousness.

This attitude of reverence is an important feature in developing the Christ-consciousness. Without it the mind loses a certain necessary connection with Spirit and lacks that central poise of faith that gives a religious tenor to the process. Therefore, holy devotion is a factor of vast import in bringing forth the perfect Christ child.

All causes are of the spiritual; even the forms of matter are held in place by invisible thought-ideas. Thought-forms are reflected into what may be termed the astral, or star-dust realms. Thus the body of the Christ child in us is not yet projected into visibility, but its thought-form exists as an image, or pattern, of the coming Jesus—the Star. This is perceived by the inner wisdom, and is a guide to the locality in the nerve centers where it is building …

Herod, the ruling will of the physical, catches a vague feeling of this new power beginning to make itself manifest at the heart, or Jerusalem Center, and he is troubled, and all that part of the consciousness also. There is often a great stirring up of the solar plexus when the new birth sets in, and those who are not in the devotional frame of mind, and are therefore out of touch with the informing wisdom, are liable to think that they have some disease. When you have been quickened of the Spirit you should count every experience as in some way connected with your development on that plane of consciousness.

Those who live in the outer thought alone have no concept of the many subtle mental processes constantly going on in their souls and bodies. Even those who are deep in thought discipline are not always aware of the crafty, plotting ambitions, and many other phases of mentation, working out their natures in the inner consciousness. All that is here described in this lesson might take place in the subjective consciousness of a busy man or woman in whom the Christ mind and body is beginning to be active, and they would not outwardly recognize it except as a vague unrest, or maybe nervous condition.

Thus Herod may be plotting subjectively to destroy the young Christ-consciousness, which he feels gradually usurping his rule, and his subtle thoughts may rise to the surface in a feeling of opposition to any change in existing conditions. If we give up to this our hearts grow spiritually cold, and the Christ-character does not come forth in wisdom and stature, but is suppressed by the scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, and all those states of mind that constitute the person without.

But the “good shepherd” is one who knows the sheep, and they know the shepherd’s voice—every thought is under discipline, and when the wise thoughts from within bring their presents, there is great rejoicing and satisfaction in consciousness.

The presents which the Wise-men bring are symbolical of the inner resources open to the Christ child. They may be stored-up good deeds and thoughts of previous incarnations, which this wisdom within carefully guards and gives to the soul as an inheritance when it arrives at mature age. Thus no good thought or deed is ever lost in the Divine economy, and although you may seem to fail in bringing forth to perfection the Christ child there is no cause for discouragement.

GOLDEN TEXT:  “Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is no one else.”—Isaiah 45:22.

 

A Symbolic Metaphysical Reading of the Story of the Birth of Jesus

In the January 1912 issue of Unity Magazine, Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore shared an interpretation of the story of the birth of Jesus told in Luke 2:1-16, from a symbolic metaphysical, New Thought, perspective.  Below is the text of Luke 2:1-16, followed by Charles Fillmore’s metaphysical interpretation:

1. Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

2. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3. And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city.

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

5. To enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him being great with child.

6. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

7. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:

11. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

15. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

Vigilance in watching our flocks (thoughts) makes us receptive to the spiritual side of existence. As the shepherds in Oriental countries have a name for every sheep, which is trained to come and go at command, so we should be familiar with our thoughts, and discipline them so thoroughly that they will be obedient to us when we send forth our desire. This familiarity with our mental realm leads to an acquaintance with the character, and gives one an opportunity to strengthen the weak points and repress the undesirable tendencies. It thus clears up and harmonizes the soul so that it is receptive to Divine Ideas. A thought realm in constant turmoil and mortal confusion cannot possibly receive a message from the spiritual realms of consciousness. The command of the One Great Orderly Mind is, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Order in one’s life should also extend to affairs without; this is the decree of Caesar Augustus that “all the world should be enrolled.”

Joseph and Mary represent the Wisdom and Love, which have been ideas in mind, but are now to bring forth a manifestation in substance. The body is the earth, and the various towns and persons mentioned in connection represent the brain centers and their presiding geniuses. Galilee means to whirl, that is, energy or life; Nazareth, despised, the sexual center; Judaea, praise; David, love; Bethlehem, house of bread (substance, or stomach center).

It is thus seen that the birth of Christ is the beginning in the inner realms of consciousness of a higher set of faculties that, when grown to full stature, save the whole man from ignorance and sin. It is a growth in man as tangible to those who reach certain stages as is that of the child in the mother. In its beginnings it is a mere quickening flutter, right under the stomach, with, quite often, unusual sensitiveness in the emotional nature. We do not in the first stages of this process understand it, and sometimes are moved to put it away from us. This is the spiritual significance of the statement that Joseph was merely “betrothed” to Mary, yet she was “great with child.” The soul is heavily charged with Divine Life, and so full it cannot express itself intelligently, because no union has yet taken place between it and the understanding (Joseph).

“Swaddling clothes” are bands of cloth in which it was customary to wrap young children like mummies, which represents the confinement to the limitations of the physical nature (“manger”) of this first emanation of Divine Life, “there being no room for them in the inn” (outer consciousness).

The message of the angels to the shepherds are those periodical outbursts of Divine illumination which come to us, and we, for the time, know that something unusual is going on within, but we have our duties in life to fulfill, and we return to our flocks (thoughts) “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.”

GOLDEN TEXT:  “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”— Luke 2:11.

Listen to the Spark Through Music – “Spark Seeker” by Matisyahu

The album "Spark Seeker" by Matisyahu has been described as a mix of reggae, hip-hop and electronica layered over Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms. It is infused with Jewish spirituality and mysticism and touches the divine spark within.

“Spark Seeker” by Matisyahu

Music is one of the best ways to listen to the spark.  Often a piece of music can touch you in ways that are difficult to describe in words.  But the experience itself is as real as you can get.  This kind of intuitive knowledge through experience is a sure sign that you are listening to the spark.  Music helps us transcend the artificial boundaries that the material world uses to separate us, whether race, religion, ethnicity, age or whatever.

Some artists seem to make it their job to uncover the divine spark within themselves, while at the same time acting as a catalyst for you to uncover the spark within you when you listen to their music in this intuitive way with an open mind.  Some musicians bring a message of unity and love through the uniqueness of their music.  Matisyahu is one such artist.  His music is steeped in elements of Jewish spirituality and mysticism.  Matisyahu first came to my attention with his excellent inspirational song “One Day”, released in 2009.  If only the world would move in the direction of peace and understanding he describes in that song.

Matisyahu appears to have evolved spiritually since he started making music.  You can read about his journey at various spots around the internet where people discuss his music.  From what I see it boils down to something like this:  He went from finding meaning and comfort by immersing himself in Orthodox Judaism, to saying that “[w]hat he is now isn’t always clear – and that’s fine with Matisyahu.”  I love it when people move from certainty into uncertainty.  In some ways I think being certain about many things, especially spiritual or religious matters, is almost guaranteed to stifle or even shut off your channel to the spark.  Uncertainty, on the other hand, raises awareness and heightens the senses — just what is needed to listen to the spark.  As Matisyahu says,

“I think that things grow and people move in different directions … I’m just continuing and trying just to make the decisions that feel right and go after, intuitively, the things that I know to be right.”

That about sums up what it means to listen to the spark, and Matisyahu’s latest album, “Spark Seeker”, goes right to the heart of the matter.   Like Matisyahu’s new spiritual point of view, it is difficult to stick the album into any one category.  It has been described as a mix of “reggae, hip-hop and electronica layered over Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms.”  Sounds good to me.  Who needs categories anyway?  Also, it’s not necessary to agree with Matisyahu’s political opinions to enjoy his music; that’s true of other musicians as well.  Nobody is perfect, and the world would be much less interesting if everyone was.  We should appreciate those parts of people (including ourselves) that bring joy to the world.  Just listen here to the music, and you’ll hear the spark — Matisyahu’s and hopefully your own.

Namaste.

Welcome to Listen To The Spark!

Listen to the spark within you and within others.  Some call it divine, and others call it “intuition” or might explain it in other non-spiritual ways.  All spiritual traditions honor it.  Many philosophies say it is the key to happiness and success.  It speaks out of love, drawn from the boundless energy of the universe.

Leave behind anything of religion that does not speak of love for others and yourself.  Banish all negative thoughts; they do not come from the spark.  Look for good, in yourself and in others, and you will find it.  Do not give your energy and attention to the negative, because whatever you give energy and attention to will grow.

Lift each other up with positive words and deeds, and your spirit will fly free.  Remember that silence is better than negative words.  Say only what is uplifting.  Speak and act from your joy, and you will increase the joy in the world.

There is much more to come.

namaste
I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.

For more information about this project please contact me at info@listentothespark.com