Pathways of Light Miracle Stories 9/97, p.2

Miracles News Summer 2000

Listening to Spirit • Scare City Becomes Sacred City • Being in the World But Not of It • Transformed in the Light • Purpose • My Soul's Purpose • More Miracles News Stories
Click here to email a link to this page to your friends.

Listening to Spirit -- by Rev. Mary Manke

Recently I had the opportunity to look at and give up one of my long held beliefs through the process of a Spiritual Counseling. The night before I had gone to bed and asked for help as I felt the pain that I thought was mine. The next morning, I asked Holy Spirit for the courage to ask my friend (and trained Spiritual Counselor) for the Accessing Inner Wisdom Counseling, and the courage to go through the process. It is not that the process is difficult, it was that I was afraid that my ego would convince me that the Spiritual Counseling wasn't necessary. Fortunately, I listened to the Voice of Love, and followed through.

The beautiful message I received in the Counseling process did not seem too extraordinary. It did uncover a long hidden, seemingly "horrible" thought. I felt almost dazed, but went on with the rest of my day. When I got home, I sat down and reviewed the scribed words of healing that had come to me from Holy Spirit. The tears of release flowed again, and I did not question anything that I felt or read. I gave it all to my Inner Guide. When I let peace fill me once more, Spirit gave me these words:

Your best and only interest is in listening to Spirit -- listening to the Guide Who gives you every option and lets you choose the path you take, but desires only perfect love and peace for you. If you take but three times out of the day to listen, you will start a habit that will engage with Divine communication more and more. It will become the "natural" thing for you to think of and do -- asking for guidance in every thought, every decision, every puzzle, and every heartbeat.

You have been very aware of where your thoughtless actions have brought you, of where the old trance-scripts have been played and replayed. So that you are aware of the hidden agenda underneath each script -- and its futile attempts at closure of any scene. You are seeing the non-meaning of each story, the trips that led nowhere, the lifestyle of feeling left empty or being in the void.

You are so aware, that all you want now, is to release these old scripts. You want to have the brilliance of passion, the Light of true knowing, and the breath of Love fill you. It will not be every day yet, but as you practice, and entrain new habits and new thoughts to replace the sick thoughts, you have fewer and fewer days of trance. You will have days of more compassion, more freedom, more joy, more laughter, more life!

You will focus on every moment -- to ask and let light shine on you, through you, to shine the way before you; to show the steps that lead you on a path, to discover you have never left Home.

Counseling Process --Thought cluster: (Wounded) Aspect; feels like hiding. I'm not good enough. I've never been good enough. It hurts to try. It hurts my tummy and hurts my head. It's hard to talk. No one listened before. (Aspect feels defiant now, doesn't "need" to talk.) Feels angry... feelings of smallness. I'm so small and insignificant. I'm in a huge place, in the dark, all by myself. It feels like I was left alone, like I was forgotten. Nobody cared enough. When you don't care about something, you forget about it. Feels like I've always been here. I want to know if I'll ever understand. This empty place doesn't make sense to me. I want to know what I was supposed to learn from this experience. It was a lesson I chose.

Insight from Inner Wisdom: You felt anger and abandonment. You weren't allowed to express feelings, the pain, the fear, the isolation you felt. The anger has been played out in many forms which brought you to a point of realizing that anger is another form of isolation, another form of fear. When you believe you are alone, you will attract those lessons that support this belief. In this lesson you are learning that it is only you that can abandon your self. With Inner Guidance, you have always been supported. You have always been held in the Light. It is time to see the past as the dream that it is, symbols of learning, symbols of thoughts that needed correction.

Symbols surround you; you choose what to make of them. This past with its lessons, the seeming abandonment, was a symbol of the belief that you abandoned God. There is no abandonment. You know Who walks with you. Your need to be carried is lessening, for your understanding is clearer in Who guides you. You can rest in the perfect Guidance, in the perfect Love that always surrounds you. It is your ability to let this past go. The belief you held is based on illusion. You know that when you ask, you can see the illusion for what it is. God created you and not the dream. You are always safe. I am always with you. Bring your doubts to Me. Realize you are always free to be perfect peace, perfect love, shining in His Light. There is nothing I cannot remove for you, and I will remove every fear if you ask. Accept this healing. Rest in me.

New Focus: When other people share their perception of the past you will remember that it is part of their dream and not a part you need to share. You choose to see your experiences differently. Focus on what is in the moment. Think of it as a new page in a book you are reading. When you read a book it is not necessary to keep returning to the introduction or to the first chapter. Just read one page at a time, and remember Who is with you every day. You don't have to control any outcome. Let Spirit be in charge.

You can give the day to Spirit, and then each hour, and soon it will be moment to moment. No pressure, no rush. Your trust develops on many avenues and many levels. Day by day is just another avenue to walk with Spirit. Allow yourself this pleasure. You will find great joy in it. This will be following your will and your Father's. It is time to overturn the bushel (basket). Let your light shine. It is not your true Self that fears letting the Light shine. Be honest with yourself; it will help you be honest with others. You have made another step through fear and we are grateful that you trust in us enough. It is acknowledging what is Real in you, your Sacred Self. You honor the Light that your Father shines upon you. It is not difficult, not complicated. It is simple joy. When fear rushes in, you need only ask, and in gentle Light, it will be ushered out. It only takes a second, and your willingness. Would you rather be happy? You can be safe and happy.

You think it is too much to ask to give your attention between each (daily) activity to put your focus on Spirit. We suggest that as you dress, put your focus on Spirit. And when you stop for lunch, focus on Spirit. And when you prepare dinner, pause and focus on Spirit. If you start out with these smaller steps, you will build a habit of asking for Spirit's perception. It does not seem so monumental to start with three moments out of a day. Keep it simple. Keep any task simple and it is easy to do.

Click here to email Mary.

Also see Mary's article, Willingness.

Scare City Becomes Sacred City -- by Rev. Christine Anderson

There once was a little girl who lived in a place called Scare City. The people there entertained thoughts of scarcity and lack continually in their minds. She was very lonely and empty inside. She thought nobody liked her. She thought she wasn't good enough. Her Dad wouldn't play with her and her Mom was angry a lot. Her bubbly laughter wasn't encouraged. She learned how not to breathe when feelings came up inside and how to hold back tears.

One day, when she was alone sitting quietly on the little wooden back porch of her house, she was in her imagination seeing that the world was inside of a big ball -- even the sky. There was a hole at the top of the ball where light would come through because the light was surrounding the ball. She didn't know this was her first conscious contact with Spirit or her Higher Self.

That little, precious child was me, and as I grew into adulthood, I attracted codependent relationships. I agreed to play the role of caretaker and eventually saw these relationships as a mirror for me to show me that I needed to take care of and love myself. Life teetered between times of euphoric laughter and somber depression. Midway between the ups and downs, I used masks to present an appropriate face and mood for any occasion.

Guided by Spirit, I entered the realm of the healing arts. This brought me many good experiences but the feeling of inadequacy was still present. No amount of serving others would make up for the absence of self love.

Again through Spirit's guidance, I connected with what I call a Sacred City -- Pathways of Light. During my stay, my experience has been rich and fun too! In a safe and loving atmosphere, I and other light beings have been given valuable information, tools and techniques to come out of the darkness of feeling "less than" and into the light of "I am the love I've been searching for."

Today, as I was standing in the beautiful woods here, communing with nature, with my own authentic voice, a decree went out along the sunbeams of eternity. The town known as Scare City is no longer in existence (actually it never was). It's not on the map any more. It has been totally embraced by the State of Oneness, where everyone lives in Sacred City.

Click here to email Christine.

Being in the World But Not of It -- by Rev. Mary Stoelting

My major lessons these past few years have revolved around the awareness of being in the world but not of it. I have found this requires a willingness to pay attention to what is going on in my mind.

One of the major themes that comes to me again and again from Inner Wisdom is, "Relax... detach... observe with nonjudgment. Look at your ego and don't take it seriously." One of the ways I use to put this into practice is to monitor the tension level in my body.

When my body is relaxed, I have noticed that there is also an energy of peace, good will, gentleness and compassion towards others and myself. If my body is tense, I have noticed that there is also an energy of defending, putting up barriers, impatience and judgment.

With the help of Inner Wisdom, I have learned to watch the scripts in my mind while they are going on. I have found that if I can observe these thoughts without judgment, I can see the ego in action. I then have the opportunity to choose whether to keep this line of thought going or to take it to my Inner Wisdom for a transformed perspective.

There have been times when it took me quite a while before I recognized that I was tense or was willing to give the thoughts causing the tension to God for healing. But as I continue on my path of awakening, I am finding that it is not comfortable to continue to hold on to the old ways of thinking.

As I continue, my willingness is growing stronger and stronger. The saying in A Course in Miracles, about asking if I want to be right or happy has great meaning to me. My old habitual ways of thinking have not served me and I am willing to be given a completely different way of looking at the circumstances in my life.

With the help of the part of my mind that brings Universal Inspiration, I am learning to look at each circumstance in my life as an opportunity for healing, or seeing this circumstance from the Holy Spirit's perspective.

One of the most important things I have learned from all my studies is that with peace comes understanding. This means that if I'm confused or not understanding, I have denied peace the opportunity to bring understanding to me.

I really get that I cannot hope for clarity until I am willing to soften enough -- let go enough to let peace lead the way. I have learned to focus on the idea of peace, even though I may not be feeling it right then.

I then imagine peace washing through me, clearing away all the cobwebs of tension. I imagine peace going to every tense place, softening it so that it can be healed. I relax... detach... and let go of my attachment to whatever I think is happening in the moment... I focus on surrendering my thoughts and allowing a new perspective from the Holy Spirit to enter my mind.

When I am willing to change my mind -- lift the veil of old attitudes and beliefs -- I am always given the most important gift possible. This has been how my Inner Teacher continues to give me mind training with being in the world but not of it.

I have found this to take time. I know that this mind training will continue for as long as I need it. I understand that this is what my life is for -- to undo all the confused thinking I have bought into. I have found a lot of layers and I am learning to be patient with myself and others as another layer comes up to be healed.

I do know with all of this that if I am willing, the answer is always there for me. As I continue on, my trust is getting stronger and stronger. The foundation is getting firmer and the gifts of God -- joy, peace and love -- are experienced more often. I am learning to let the Holy Spirit return the memory of God to my awareness. I understand now that this is my only function that is truly meaningful.

Click here to email Mary.

Transformed in the Light -- by Rev. Robert Stoelting

I believe that the physical world I experience is a reflection of my thoughts and that my physical body is a very effective indicator that shows me when I need to release limiting beliefs. One time, when I was feeling congestion in my chest, I used the Accessing Inner Wisdom Counseling process to go beneath the surface appearance and transform the belief that caused the congestion.

I became aware of an aspect in my mind that wanted to stay hidden and unnoticed. This aspect was like a frightened ten year old boy. He was afraid that if anyone, including God, noticed him and saw what he was really like, they would realize how undeserving he was. He believed that he was not worthy of anything good happening to him. Underneath that feeling of unworthiness was also a fear of responsibility.

Because of these fears, the boy felt like he was in a dark room. As I observed him in my mind, there was barely enough light to distinguish his huddled form in the corner, frightened and trying to hide. Then I became aware of a faint sense of a loving Presence, just strong enough for the boy to notice a change. He stayed huddled in the corner, a little wide-eyed.

The Presence maintained a gentle energy of love to allow the boy to get used to it. As the boy's fear subsided, the Presence of love grew stronger and the room gradually became lighter. Occasionally, if the boy became too nervous, the growing Presence of love and light would pause to allow time for him to adjust. Finally the room was fully lit and I was aware that there was nothing in the room except the boy and the Presence.

The boy began to open up from his protective huddle. The loving Presence gradually took on a form that felt like a loving father to the boy. He began to relax more. Glowing and radiating love, the fatherly image held out his hand to the boy. Tentatively, the boy reached out and took his hand. Very gently, the father lifted the boy to help him stand on his feet.

The father asked, "Would you like to feel happier?" The little boy was not so sure that he deserved it, but he answered that he would like to be happy. He was aware of the comforting, loving presence of this father figure. He felt more safe than he had ever felt before.

Holding the boy's hand, the father gently led him in front of a full-length mirror. He motioned to the boy to look in the mirror. When the boy looked in the mirror, he saw two figures of light, very radiant and brilliant. He felt a lot of love coming from the two figures who appeared almost regal, yet not superior. There was a sense of complete abundance, complete certainty and authority.

As he looked at the two radiant figures, it gradually dawned on him that what he was seeing was a reflection of himself and the father. And the two figures were equal and the same. Looking at them, he could not tell one from the other. It was hard for the boy to believe, yet he knew it was true.

He looked down at his feet to see what he looked like without the mirror. He saw that he was radiant light. He looked at his hand that was holding the father's hand and saw that his hand and the father's hand were the same -- light. He realized that he and the father were one. There was no difference between them. He turned to the father and they embraced. They joined as one and became one Light. The room disappeared, There were no boundaries, no limits, no form. There was nothing to fear for there was nothing outside the light.

Click here to email Robert.

Purpose -- by Rev. George J. Moore

Much of my life was spent spinning my wheels in search of a purpose. As a child, I made pleasing others my purpose even when I was sad and crying on the inside. During my teen years, I turned "leading" into my purpose. I was president of one club, treasurer of another and secretary of a third while being drum major of the marching band. I was convinced my high school would collapse without me because all of my purposes were so important. At this time in my life, I wept every time I was alone.

More recently as an adult, I received one career offer after another. I would accept these offers only to repeat a pattern where I excelled, began to feel central to the organization, became overwhelmed and quit to slip into depressions that would have me bedridden.

I came to Pathways of Light hoping to end this cycle and find my true purpose. One day in a meditation, these words were given me: All purpose is one. Your purpose is integral to one. The one purpose is everything. Well, what does that mean? I wanted to know what kind of work to do and I get this?

Later, when I opened A Course In Miracles, I saw the point of the words I received. Jesus chose Dr. Helen Schucman to scribe his message for the modern era, but much more than her purpose went in to my getting the message. There was the logger who cut the trees, the trucker who brought them to the mill, the miller who made the paper, and the printer who made the book. Also involved, were the people who taught me to read and the bookstore owner. Anyway, I'm sure that I see how there are many purposes involved in creating the one goal.

As synchronicity would have it, the chapter (24) that I opened to in the Course that evening was about there being only one goal, and all purposes being part of that goal. All means equal the end which is Truth, Love, Oneness and God. In other words, it doesn't matter what we do as long as we do it with awareness of Love and extend Love to others. Then, we are doing it in the name of Love. We are fulfilling the one true purpose.

Click here to email George.

My Soul's Purpose -- by Rev. Karen Jacobson

From the time I was little, I heard that there was a purpose for everything... under heaven. Throughout my life, I have searched for that purpose, in everything. "Why is this happening to me, what is the purpose of this?" became almost a mantra to me. I felt that if I only knew the reason why my life was going the way it was, that I would be able to keep on going. Somewhere in there, I would find peace and joy. Finding purpose, to me, was finding the reason why.

When I came to Pathways of Light a few years ago, I really didn't know what I was looking for. If someone would have told me then that I was searching for my own life's purpose I probably would have said, "Yes, I knew I was here to grow, learn and heal." Knowing my life had a purpose was an extra bonus. Finding out what that purpose is would be frosting on the cake.

The realization came when I was in the Pathways of Light course 132: Self-Image Transformations. We were being guided in a meditation to see ourselves from a different perspective. My new vision was supposed to be of me -- living out my soul's purpose. The image I saw is forever etched in my mind and my notebook. It was of myself and two other people, in an intimate circle, sharing. I knew then that my career in computers was over and that I was really here to be a friend and counselor. But as circumstances would have it, I was not ready to manifest these changes in my life. I still needed to heal. So, I took a job teaching computer classes and wondered "Why is this happening to me, what is the purpose of this?" -- Again! I continued on my self-awakening journey.

Knowing your purpose and accepting it can be two very different experiences, so it took me some time for me to accept mine. If I had known the results of this acceptance when I had the first glimpse three years ago, I would have tried to hurry the process.

The results of living in direct alignment with my soul's purpose have been profound. There has been tremendous healing in my relationships with family and friends. I found out that there is a Divine Order to the Universe and that all of the events and relationships in my life were there for a reason, and were vital to my development. The peace and joy that I had searched for all those years is mine now. I no longer have to ask "why." I am finally feeling bliss.

Click here to email Karen.

The ideas represented herein are the personal interpretation and understanding of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by the copyright holder of A Course in Miracles.

Listening to Spirit • Scare City Becomes Sacred City • Being in the World But Not of It • Transformed in the Light • Purpose • My Soul's Purpose • More Miracles News Stories