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The Mentor Within

by Rev. Mary Gerrard Lenihan, author of The Mentor Within

God is a far-fetched idea to many; too hard of a concept to grasp – invisible, intangible. Because humans cannot often image God, we fail to be in a relationship with God. This is why depending on our self-made images is a tool the ego uses to maintain separation.

Christ is the true “nature” of God, the essence of God available to us all. Jesus played this out here on earth. He became an image of God by shattering all of our images. By overcoming the illusion of death he overcame the illusion of life on this earth. He resurrected our perception of God from one Who satisfies our earthly desires, judges and condemns, to one who simply loves by seeing the Innocence within.

Jesus, many thought, was not ever supposed to leave the world behind, much less leave it so unattended, and certainly many are still awaiting his return. Again, the human image of God became a projection of a superhuman. That ego never gives up.

Holy Spirit resides in our mind and upon our willingness, merges us with Christ, the essence of God. It seems we are left unattended when we are not paying attention. I started paying closer attention. Here, I discovered The Mentor Within. Many wake-up calls have I been given, but oh that snooze button. Thankfully, God provides. The book, The Mentor Within, Let your SELF be seen, was the beginning of my willingness to awaken.

Here are three excerpts from the book which is a series of conversations I had with the Mentor, the Holy Spirit, over a nine month period. The Mentor is in italics. In Joy, Mary Gerard.

“Do You Hear”?

It is on this day that I am given the title of the book. The Mentor begins to speak.

It is not outside of ourselves — whatever we are looking for is not outside of ourselves. We are making ourselves sick looking for answers out there in a world where there are no answers. Oh yes, we may be temporarily satisfied, have an “aha” moment, but are you not fleeting frantically to the next endeavor, experience, goal, guru, friend, family member, therapist, doctor, financial advisor, church, book, job …? Are you not feeling anxious, lost, depressed, numb, out of control, in control, controlling between gurus?

How many gurus does it take to screw in a light bulb? There will never be enough because the Light is within. The peace of God is within. The moment of truth is within. You will feel whole when you accept that no one outside of you can make you whole — you are in fact complete because God completed you before you were born. Nothing or no one in this world can complete you who are already finished. Additions make for distractions.

How many rooms does a house need before it is a home? How many blades of grass does a field need before it can be called a field? I am telling you; one room makes a home, one blade of grass on a spot of land makes a field. You are that room, you are that blade of grass; you are home, you are a field. Nothing else matters.

Life will unfold as we listen. Do you hear the sound of your own unfolding? What a gift.

I cannot make anything happen. I can only be a gift to that which is already happening. It is the greatest freedom I have.

“The Untrained Mind”

What a beautiful day. I sit in such beauty. Do you have any advice for me today?

Clear vision arises from within that which is already clear. Rinse your mind of all grief and let yourself be carried on into the healing waters. An open pool of water awaits us.

Ah, that sounds so refreshing. I see myself standing naked in the center of expanding water circles, a pool of new life melting all over my mind. How do I bring others to this healing water?

Quit fantasizing about “reality.” Your purity of consciousness saves even the worst of egos. As your mind settles out of rationalizing your behavior, you release others into the hands of God. A lot of requirements await the minds of those still imprisoned. Get out of the way.

What do you mean, “quit fantasizing about reality”?

Reality (the real thing) is seen in the purest of sight and stands side by side with fantasy. One calls us, luring us into deep sleep, frustrating all of our attempts to stay awake. One keeps us awake.

So fantasizing about reality keeps me from reality?

Reality cannot hold fantasy. Fantasy slips like sand through open fingers. There is never enough to fill; the sandbag is always empty. Fantasizing about reality keeps you craving more fantasy.

What do you mean by “a lot of requirements await the minds of those still imprisoned”?

Before rules and regulations there exists freedom.Not freedom from rules and regulations, but freedom in and of itself. Freedom, like truth, stands apart from fantasy, rules, and regulations, for true freedom is seen only in relationship to itself, otherwise it would be seen 100 different ways within relationship to 100 different thoughts, beliefs, or actions.

Imprisoned minds know not of freedom, rather only escape hatches that lead one out of one “framed” thought into another. All of these thoughts framed within relationship to other thoughts quite similar to them, though appearing different to the untrained mind. So one runs from one mode of thinking to another, takes a snapshot, and implants the new picture in one’s mind which then serves as the updated version of “reality.”

So what are the “requirements”?

Each mind has its own set of requirements that it has chosen for itself. Now of course none of these requirements are real. They are fantasy requirements that keep us engaged in countless searches. Fantasy requirements are like our own individualized computer programs that interface with other programs to keep the fantasy going.

What do we have “requirements” for?

The game states that with each requirement met we are one step closer to freedom. Eventually, we rise to the occasion and see the requirements for what they really are — nothing.

That sounds familiar. Been there, done that! You told me to “get out of the way.” What does this mean?

The joy of movement for you is when you do not have to choreograph, right?

When I have a hard time getting out of the way is when people start professing their ideas about whatever and they sound professional, educated, business oriented, spiritual – like they know all of the answers. I jump in there and try to resonate with what they are saying so that they feel heard and so that I sound intelligent. I do not know how to insert what I think and have experienced without coming off abrasive.

Let your Self be. The truth can sound abrasive to the one who believes in that which is not the truth.

“Spiritual Teachers”

What about spiritual teachers?

Those who have gone the way open doors amidst bolts and fire.

How do I know who has “gone the way”?

They sit behind open doors. Everlasting love in union with God precedes them; they love.

When you say those who have “gone the way,” what do you mean?

Those who have risen from the dead. Like a white daisy among a bed of red roses. The seed that has been planted emerges as pure truth.

Why are not the red roses in your description also pure truth?

For they know one another only as a mirror, a reflection of one’s small self. They see only that which they believe themselves to be.

What does the white daisy see?

Nothing. It looks within and becomes nothing in its own eyes.

When the white daisy looks within and sees nothing, then what is its motivation to live?

All the red roses, awaiting salvation.

How does the white daisy save the red roses?

By seeing them differently, for who they truly are.

How do I rise from the dead; how do I go the way?

Seamlessly walk in God.

Seamlessly? What is seamlessly?

We cannot know the path until we take it.

Rev. Mary Gerard Lenihan is a Pathways of Light minister living in St. Louis, Missouri. Mary is the author of the book, The Mentor Within, Let your SELF be seen. You may purchase this delightful book at the Pathways of Light bookstore and soon online. Visit Mary’s web site at: http://www.thementorwithin.com

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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The Spiritual Journey Is Here and Now

by Rev. Étienne Pait

On my personal journey, in my own way, I asked Spirit to guide me to the next level of my spiritual awakening — to the next level of my spiritual awareness of remembering Who I am. In my asking, I had envisioned my own particular fantasies of how this spiritual journey would be and appear in this physical world of form.

For some reason, I thought I would either be touched by the “hand of God” or “Spirit would whisper in my ear” clearly leading me directly to the next level and fulfilling what I perceived to be in my best interest. In the back of my mind, when I was being honest with myself, I knew I was indicating to Spirit how this spiritual journey ought to unfold.

From my request, I immediately recognized my internal inconsistencies resulting in conflict. Was I willing to surrender? Was I willing to surrender what I thought I knew and allow knowledge to be transformed into wisdom? Knowledge is the “collection of data.” Wisdom is the “movement of allowing.” Knowledge is of the mind. Wisdom is of the heart.

I was reminded of a Truth I discovered very early on in life: I no more have control of my next step any more than I did with the process of my own birth — my ego attempts to deceive me that I do and can!  At best, I can be aware! Life is way too simple, too complex and far too advanced for me to figure it out from an individualized egotistical perspective.

Even though I may not have the control, I can be aware of the next step when I arrive. Another Truth I discovered: Spirit always has my best interest “in heart” and is guiding my every footstep. Knowing Spirit always has my best interest “in heart,” I am aware that the predominant desire of my heart is Spirit’s dominant interest for me.

I was confronted with a challenge. I thought I fully trusted Spirit and the process. I do now trust the process knowing that all is well in spite of appearances that may be judged to the contrary. I say this because I never thought the next step of my spiritual journey would entail selling cars at Saturn of Green Bay.  Never in my wildest dreams or fantasies did I ever deduce in my thinking mind or embrace in my consciousness that selling cars would be an important and necessary step in my spiritual journey.

Spirituality, in my previous limited thinking, took on different images. Spirituality, to me, meant participating in an integral part or directing a healing center, ministering to the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical needs of my clients, publishing my spiritually oriented book, giving workshops, biking or walking across America as part of a vision quest or any expression that my ego’s point of reference considered “spiritual” based upon my definition. These activities do not define my spirituality nor do they necessarily lead to greater Self-Awareness as I asked of Spirit — on the same token, they can!  Oh, what a paradox!

As I now clarify, the spiritual journey is “here and now,” not “there and then.”  My spiritual journey is the moment-to-moment application of the Divine attributes (calmness, kindness, sincerity, patience, compassion, steadfastness, integrity, etc.) as best I know how, wherever I am and with whomever I am engaged.

One of many arenas in which I currently apply the Divine attributes is with Saturn team members and guests (customers).  The focus of attention of applying these Divine attributes absolutely, undeniably, leads me to greater Self-Awareness. How?  I lovingly and non-judgmentally observe myself applying the attributes with the aim of not engaging or reacting to “my stuff” that may come up while in the process.

My application of the Divine attributes is the truth of me. My reactivity to any stuff coming up in me is the false part of me.  By not engaging the false, the truth of me is easily revealed — voila, Self-Awareness!  This process of Self-Awareness helps me to remember Who I am.

With that said, the first few weeks of employment with Saturn wreaked havoc in my mind, not only because of the process of learning a totally new and absolutely alien job to my previous professions, but also because of the resistance I felt in trusting Spirit’s Wisdom. I was, in my own fearful way, interrogating Spirit’s Guidance.

Every morning for these few weeks I felt scared that I had derailed from my journey, anxious about grasping a new and unfamiliar profession, overwhelmed by the intricacies of the business, confused about Spirit’s intention for me and plagued by a hyper-thinking mind trying to “figure it out.” The emasculating experience literally resulted in intense inner body heat as I dripped with uncontrollable sweat at the breakfast table.
My constant mantra throughout the days as I was trying to learn the product, the profession and allowing non-resistance were: “Thy will be done; Only good can come from this; Thank you, God, for receiving your guidance.”

I asked Spirit to move me to the next level (whatever I thought that was) and I was given the gift of “willingness,” more accurately, “conscious willingness.” The question resonating in my mind was, “Am I willing?” Am I willing to let go of the image of what I think the spiritual journey is and simply be present and apply the appropriate Divine attribute now?

My spiritual journey is not defined by the place or image, for they will change. My spiritual journey is defined by my conscious willingness and non-resistance in allowing the expression of the Divine attributes in all places and images. Spirit has moved me to the next level as a sales consultant with Saturn.

My real job at Saturn is not selling cars; for that will happen because of my intention of being present to Spirit within the profession. My real job is to express the Divine attributes in each moment, as best I know how. And as I express these beautiful Divine attributes, the guests’ needs and wants will be automatically fulfilled with the tangible (the vehicle) and the intangible (someone cares about them).

The common need and want we all have is to feel loved. The product is the vehicle (no pun intended) that facilitates that experience to happen. Saturn of Green Bay is the forum where divinity is in movement.  Wow! I never would have thought it!

Spiritual awareness is a ‘non-experience experience’ of observation without reactivity. It is a result of the fulfillment of my mission — Self-Awareness, Self-Discovery. Spiritual awareness can happen to anyone at any time in any place. Spiritual awareness, like any spiritual intention, is not reserved for only those individuals praying at a consecrated wall, walking on a specific plot of land or kneeling inside of an elaborately constructed stained-glass ornamented building. The wall, the land and the building are all crystallized temporal structures. Spiritual awareness is not contingent on any structure, but is both invited and recognized by a pure heart,  which is inherent in all of us.

Spiritual awareness can and does happen anywhere. We don’t have to reserve a spot in the semi-annual ‘hurry-up, last chance, only a few seats left’ workshop.  It’s not necessary to retire from our job and retreat to a monastery to experience spiritual awareness.

Spiritual awareness can happen in a workshop, but it is not necessary to go there to receive. Spiritual awareness can happen to anyone at any time in any place. We don’t have to go to a faraway exotic place or island to experience spiritual awareness. Wherever we are — God is!

It’s a motionless journey — a journey of stillness and non-judgmental observation recognizing what is false, consequently, revealing what is true. We’re all equal recipients of the spiritual awareness, if we simply — BE!

Spiritual awareness happens in a moment of allowing — allowing now! The spiritual awareness can happen Monday through Friday. It can happen on the weekend. It can happen on the Sabbath. It can happen on any secular day. It can happen on any Holy day or holiday — day or night.  It doesn’t even have to be quiet to experience the ‘non-experience experience’ of spiritual awareness. Spiritual awareness is not governed by our man-made creation or perception of time, event or place — never happening in the past, future or “there.”
 
Spiritual awareness is available only in the now — and in every now — by simply committing — committing to be fully Present in the Moment — here and now!

Rev. Étienne Pait is a Pathways of Light minister living in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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My teleconference Experience!

by Rev. Deborah Bolton

It is true; circumstances continue to present themselves for further healing of my mind! When I trust that, I have had wonderful connections and experiences… Guess what! More comes! It is infinite, the power to grow and heal!
 
When I had a student approaching ordination, I felt a pull to join with her… however, the entire teleconference experience was not something I could fully embrace. I found myself finding many reasons to not include myself in the weekends it entailed. After all, Mother’s Day weekend (my favorite holiday), then again Memorial Day weekend? Six hours on the phone, two days in a row? The resistance was there, I felt it strong. How could this experience hold a candle to the Pathways/ Kiel experience?

I selfishly held on to my own image of my ordination experience. The people joining, growing, all tumbled in my mind like a gift that was so powerful that there was no way a phone call could hold a candle to it! Well, let me tell you…

The teleconference proved to me (once again) the power of Spirit. It had nothing to do with our bodies being together. It has everything to do with our one and only Spirit! This experience was powerful!  We were 11 people, with headphones, notebooks and enthusiasm, scattered all over the map… all connected. I felt such a beautiful connection to everyone on that phone line that in my mind the phone didn’t even exist. Not only did the students grow, I grew. Let me share the growing…

1. It affirmed that we are Spirit. We were one, we are one, and we felt one! The processes were just as powerful, and the connections strong.

2. It was like a spiritual tune up, revisiting the courses again en masse. I also got to be the recipient of two Accessing Inner Wisdom Counseling’s! It was wonderful, and I had the most powerful counseling ever!

3. It deepened my strong belief in the connection of Spirit and I felt so blessed to be able to know the new ministers and the wonderful people Pathways is attracting. We are so blessed!

4. We got to have Mary and Robert be part of the entire experience. That was a treat!

5. I have released my teleconference fears!  It was all a silly illusion!

6. I know that from this experience, my phone counseling’s will be raised to a higher level.

If you, like myself, have any trepidation about the teleconference experience, I strongly nudge you to participate. It is loving, peaceful, joyous, affirming and fun!

Rev. Deborah Bolton is a Pathways of Light minister living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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What Am I Listening To?

by Rev. Lee Catalano

There is nobody out there. In the past few days I have had lots of company. A Course in Miracles students and just regular ole friends. This is what I learned.

Listening, if I am hearing someone using a parable of healing, meaning a great healing story of their life, I am not to listen to “them,” I am to listen to my mind.

All personal stories are parables of healing, not just with Course students. When someone is sharing personal stories of their life, the Holy Spirit is very active in my mind, teaching me.

When I am sitting with my friend and they are telling me something, if I insist on leaving the story with “them” and insist that they are talking about themselves, I have missed the boat — the boat of healing my own mind. It is always about me, without exception.

If someone is heart broken, I can be shown where they chose suffering, keep my mouth shut, and receive the miracle in that moment for myself. This goes for when someone is angry, the offer is for me, if someone is using the past as a teaching mechanism seemingly for themselves, oh yeah, for me again.

Every moment with any Brother is truly a moment of generosity.

This is wonderful news. There are no limits on God. It is all literally for my own healing. Every single word. Amen

Rev. Lee Catalano is a Pathways of Light minister living in Belmont, Massachusetts.

© 2007, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice and website address are included.

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