In The Case of “Stupid”

“All rise,” said the bailiff in a booming voice–there was a loud shuffle of feet as members of the courtoom stood. The bailiff continued: “Court is now in session. The honourable Judge Mary Bullwinkle is presiding.”

The judge ascended the two steps to the raised platform and assumed her position behind the bench.

Mr. Travolta, the attorney for the defense, raised his hand.

“Something on your mind?” said Judge Bullwinkle, with a frown.

“Yes,” your Honour, “may I approach the bench?”

“Only if you do a funny walk.”

Without batting an eye, Mr. Travolta stepped out from behind his desk, did a slide step right, a scoot to the left, and a two-step goose step. After a brief moonwalk, he was there–in front of the bench. Ms. Ciriello, the Crown Prosecutor, sedately stepped forward and joined him.

“Nice work, Travolta,” said Judge Bullwinkle as she leaned forward. “You realize this is highly irregular. We haven’t even begun.”

“Yes, your Honour, I’m well aware; but I believe I can supply evidence that can end this trial before it even begins.”

“Hmph, we’ll see about that,” muttered Ms. Ciriello.

While the members of the court remained standing, the two attorneys conferred in whispers with the judge. Finally Judge Bullwinkle gave a nod and motioned for the bailiff to approach the bench. After he listened to her instructions, he nodded assent and turned around to face the members of the court.

When the attorneys were standing behind their respective desks, the bailiff nervously said, “All of you may now be seated–ahem, except the stupid ones.”

A great kerfuffle erupted. The members of the court sat, stood up again, turned right and left, and yo-yoed between standing or seated positions.

“Do I look stupid?” one elderly woman beseechingly asked the person next to her. “Not particularly,” came the reply.

“I got a “C” once in Home Ed. Does that count?” asked another lady.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” exclaimed a man behind her. “Letters don’t count–numbers do!”

“I’ve never been good with directions,” said one woman nervously. “I got lost twice coming here!”

“I don’t know a great deal about cooking,” stated one man with a glum expression. “I’ve been eating bacon and eggs for years–don’t know how to cook anything else.”

“I flunked History and Geography in high school,” said a young woman.

“My ten-year-old son had to solve my Rubik’s Cube for me,” stated a mother, close to weeping.

“I once purchased polyester slacks,” blurted another lady. “Honestly, I thought they were cotton!”

“I’ve been married six times,” said one lady. “Does that make me stupid?”

“Of course not!” exclaimed the man to her right. “I’m on my seventh–practice, my dear, practice!”

The see-saw of the members of the court seemed unstoppable. With a stern expression, Judge Bullwinkle finally reached for her gavel and slammed it down hard. “Order!” she exclaimed. “All of you–sit down, now!”

Mr. Travolta adjusted his tie. “May I, your Honor?,” he asked with a wave of his hand.

“I wish that you would,” replied Judge Bullwinkle, “since you’re the cause of this mess.”

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” he began.

Suddenly the doors at the back of the courtroom flung open as Jack Nicholson burst into the room and snapped off his trademark sunglasses. After positioning himself mid aisle, he shook a scowl onto his face and bellowed, “You can’t handle the truth!”

“C’mon, Jack, ” said Mr. Travolta, “is this really necessary?”

“Not at all,’ said Jack, grinning nonchalantly. “A guy named Art Russell asked me to do a walk-on.” He then saluted the court, snapped his heels together, and marched from the courtroom.

Mr. Travolta rolled his eyes at the court reporter and said, “Now, where was I?”

The reporter carefully scanned her computer and said, “yada, yada, yada.”

“Oh yes,” said Mr. Travolta, “thank you. I assert that my client, Mr. Dimwatt, has been unjustly accused of “Gross Stupidity” and that all charges against him should be dropped immediately! We’ve just had proof–right here, in this very courtroom–that even you fine folks can’t determine if you’re stupid unless you compare yourselves against someone else. Humans have this insane habit of judging themselves by appearance and performance. It’s nonsense! Isn’t it true that each and every one of us has strengths and weaknesses? Aren’t all of us gifted in our own ways? I’ll tell you what’s really stupid, folks:

Trying to be like everyone else!

Be yourself, shine!

We’re meant to share our unique gifts for the common good.

I strongly urge you–in fact, I beg of you–to find Mr. Dimwatt NOT GUILTY, on all counts! Finally, Mr. Travolta spun around to face Judge Bullwinkle and spiked his best Saturday Night Fever impression. He then bowed and said, “Your Honour, I rest my case.”

Given a few moments to reflect upon the case (and the secret knowledge that she had flunked the Bar Exam twice, and always been a Jack Nicholson fan), Judge Bullwinkle snapped down her gavel and proclaimed, “Case dismissed! Mr. Dimwatt is free to go.”

***

Believe it or not, there’s actually a point to the story: The competitive mindset of humankind is the cause of great suffering and misery. If we desire to express our greatest potential, we must learn to accentuate what’s positive and embrace our innate creativity. We must cast aside our habit of judging ourselves against the appearance and performance of so-called others. Each of us is a miracle, with unique talents and intrinsic value. Isn’t it time that we learned to love ourselves…just…as…we…are?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones), press here. My YouTube videos can be found at Think2wice@I-Am-Aware. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. “Thank You” & “Note to Publishers” 🙏🏻🧡

Affirming Truth

It’s almost inevitable that anyone who is earnest about studying the Law of Attraction will come across the following famous quote attributed to Henry Ford. It has become an integral part of the human story, especially as it pertains to motivation. Unfortunately, the depth of its meaning is often lost to most persons. The quote reads as follows:

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

The quote is truly inspiring; but it may lead many individuals to conclude–understandably so–that if we focus on our goal, work extremely hard, and apply ourselves diligently that we can achieve whatever we desire. However, there is a huge chunk of missing information that must be known and understood if we desire to manifest more effectively. For the majority of individuals, the information will seem so astonishing as to be unbelievable. Before we delve deeper, please read the next quotation; it’s from Andrew Carnegie, who was once considered the richest man in the world:

“Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered, will begin to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate form available.”

Are you curious why a man who–apparently–achieved such incredible financial success would write such a quote? What could he possibly have meant by writing that ideas held in the mind would begin to clothe themselves in form? Mr. Carnegie did not inform us to work really hard, forfeit our heath, and sacrifice our family life in an effort to achieve our goals. So, just what was he really suggesting? Could it be that he and a relatively few others knew a secret–unrealized by the masses–by which they wielded a scepter of great power? Let’s open our minds to more understanding by reading the following quote from Napoleon Hill, who was commissioned by Mr. Carnegie to write Think and Grow Rich, which is still considered one of the best motivational books of all time:

“More gold has been mined from the minds of men than the earth it self.”

What could Napoleon Hill have possibly been trying to convey through such a quotation? I mean, really, Napoleon–get a grip! Let’s read his words again in an attempt to absorb their full meaning: “More gold has been mined from the minds of men than the earth it self.” Nonsense–at least from the human perspective; for any logical thinking human knows that gold is mined from the earth–that real stuff beneath our feet. The following passage from Mark 9:23 may add to our growing curiosity:

Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Could it be that the Bible and other sacred books actually hold great truths that have been thrown aside by the majority of persons due to innocent ignorance? Is it possible that we could be healed if we changed our fundamental beliefs about the nature of reality? Could this explain why placebos (sugar pills) often outperform supposed “actual” drugs in test trials? The next quotation is borrowed from This Mysterious Universe by James Jeans, who was a noted English physicist and astronomer:

“The Universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter… we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter.”

The true secret related to the Law of Attraction eluded me for many years, in spite of my reading a great many books related to the subject. Such is understandable; for we’ve been strongly conditioned to blindly accept the materialist perspective, which supposes that objects exist independent of the mind. They do not. For more than one hundred years, science has realized that mind and matter are irrefutably linked. The original Buddha shared Truth twenty-five hundred years ago through the following quote:

“Events happen, deeds are done, consequences happen, but there is no individual doer of any deed.”

To understand this fully, we must deeply investigate the very nature of our Being. We must be relentless; we must ask ourselves What–not who–we truly are. Here’s the answer: We are Spirit, whether we’re aware of the fact or not. What is impressed upon the mind (as Andrew Carnegie expressed) will be expressed as the apparent circumstances of our so-called human life. Right now, as you read the lines upon this page, YOU ARE DREAMING; but the majority of human beings are asleep to this fact. Let’s add to my words through a passage from Open Secret, by Wei Wu Wei, who was a respected author and scholar of philosophy and metaphysics:

“Our dreamed ‘selves,’ autonomous in appearance, as in life, can be seen in awakened retrospect to be puppets totally devoid of volitional possibilities of their own.”

The person that you think you are is rendered by the mind and is conceptual only. Enlightenment means to awaken from the dream of personhood to the awareness of our essential nature, which is Presence. Sages have been aware of this since time immemorial. We do not live on a planet made of matter; we live in a realm that exists in Consciousness, as do our body-minds.

For readers who believe this is ludicrous, it may help to know that René Descartes considered this, although he ultimately backed away from the position. His famous quote–“I think, therefore I am”–is backward; rather, it should read: “I am, therefore I think.” To realize this can be of tremendous benefit. According to our degree of faith, we may remedy at least part of our apparent lacks–in health, wealth, and relationships–through a change in our beliefs. This means, of course, that we must be careful about what we intentionally–and unintentionally–impress upon the mind. And, yes, this definitely applies to what has been impressed upon us during the current world situation. Wake up, wake up, wake up!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Tree House Talk

One might naturally assume that with the last name of Biggley, Hector would have been saddled with a few extra pounds; but such was not the case. He was quite thin, despite having an appetite that easily convinced him to clean his plate at every meal. On the other hand, Ronny Rail, was on the heavy side, despite being force-fed leafy greens by his parents. Such is life. The boys, who were ten and nine respectively, had been best friends for five whole years. On this day, they were sitting in their shared tree house, talking about life. Topics such as smoking, stealing, and doing drugs had already been discussed and unanimously voted down; and the subject of dating girls wasn’t yet on the agenda.

“My mom is a big fan of somethin’ called the Law of Attraction,” blurted Hector. He opened a small bag of salt and vinegar chips and began to munch.

“What’s that?” asked Ronny. He dug into his coat pocket and removed the tupperware container with carrot sticks that his dad had packed for him.

“She says that it’s a spiritual law; that what we send out as thoughts comes back to us, kinda like a boomerang.”

Ronny’s mind immediately dashed off to the time when he and Johnny Brewer had gone to a playground with Johnny’s new birthday boomerang. They’d thrown that thing for hours, but couldn’t get it to come back. “Carrot stick?” Ronny said temptingly, as he held out the Tupperware container.

“Nah, thanks, though,” said Hector as he continued to munch his chips.

To Ronny, Hector’s response seemed to disprove this whole thing about the Law of Attraction. He took a bite of a carrot and said, “What else she say?”

“She said a lot,” said Hector. “She said that the Universe was always watching–that it knew everything. She said that when you gave something, you had to offer sincerely or the offer was more like bartering.”

“Bartering?”

“Yeah, you know. That’s when you offer something but you’re really thinking about getting instead of giving.”

Ronnie’s adam’s apple bobbled and his eyebrows raised by their own volition. “You don’t say,” he said. Point noted, he filed it away in his young mind. “She tell you anything else?”

“She said the law of attraction really works–that it was how she’d turned our home business into a success. She tol’ me that she visualized every day, just for a few minutes.

“What’s that?” asked Ronny.

“You know. It’s when you imagine what you really want. You picture it as being already done in your mind.”

Again, Ronnie’s mind darted off to the image of the chips, the bag of which was now crumpled on the tree house floor. “Maybe next time I’ll focus more strongly,” he thought.

“Mom tol’ me that when we think positively, send out good feelings to the Universe, and are kind to people, it’s a lot more likely that we’ll get that kind of treatment back. She said we should be nice to everyone.”

“Everyone?” said Ronny.

“Yup, everyone,” replied Hector.

“You don’t think that means we even have to be nice to our little sisters?”

Hector paused for a moment, giving the question its full due. “Nah,” he said, with a shake of his head. “That’s different.”

“Whew,” said Ronny; and with the subject settled, the boys descended the tree house ladder and headed home.

***

One of the verses that sums up this spiritual law is found in Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This is not intended as punishing rule for persons who believe in a personified God. The verse is intended as good advice, to help us improve the quality of our circumstances and the lives of those with whom we interact. It means that if we’re going to sow any ideas–with regard to business, health, wealth, or relationship–we must sow them sincerely from our heart! What do you think, folks, worth a sincere try?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Substance Abuse

Most of us are well aware, either personally or professionally, of the unfortunate type of substance abuse that is so prevalent in our current world. This article has nothing to do with that issue, but the title is still appropriate. The Substance to which the title refers is Consciousness. It (aka God) is the foundation of our Being. Without Substance we literally could not be. The abuse of Consciousness occurs every time we use God’s name in vain, or benefit from God’s goodness without expressing our gratitude. Substance is our very breath; every inhalation and exhalation is a gift. I’m aware that this may be a seemingly impossible case to build in a short article; but I’m up to the challenge. So, let’s begin….

The cropped photo attached to this article is from a book by Neville Goddard. He was a modern-day mystic (born in the Barbados) who lectured widely throughout the United States in the early to middle twentieth century. Some of his other books include The Power of Awareness, Faith is Your Fortune, and Feeling Is The Secret. That “Consciousness is the Only Reality” will be easier to comprehend if we answer the following questions: “Have you ever had an experience in the absence of Consciousness? Could such be possible? Could you ever know a sensation, image, feeling, thought, or object without Consciousness? No, of course we couldn’t. Here, we at least acknowledge that consciousness is integral to our life.

To someone unfamiliar with the Law of Attraction, the claims that “what we think about, we bring about” may seem patently absurd. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we are separate selves and the physical doers of actions. We’ve also assumed (due to long-standing ignorance) that events happen by chance. All that it takes to debunk this myth is to take a look at nature. How often does spring follow winter? Occasionally…or always? What type of plant might we expect to manifest if we planted a corn seed? A sunflower…or a corn plant? What of the tides? Do they only ebb...or do they also flow? As has been expressed many times, we live in an orderly Cosmos (not chaos) that functions by spiritual law.

The comedian Steve Harvey made a statement that adds credence to this article. From what I know of Mr. Harvey, he endured some very challenging years before becoming a successful comedian and television host. During an audience warm-up prior to the taping of one of his television shows, he made the following (paraphrased) statement: “You don’t get yourself up in the morning; God gets you up!” Most persons would proclaim, “Baloney, I get myself up! What if, however, our assumption that there is a little “i” in the head is erroneous? What if we realized, contrary to common belief, that we do not have volition as persons? To awaken to our true Self is to awaken to power.

That which is termed “reality” by the majority of persons is actually the waking state. Although similar to the dream state, it is more clearly defined and has a continual plot. Beings who’ve deeply investigated their essential nature are aware that they are not the doers of our actions. This is echoed in books such as Ramakrishna on Non-Doership by Gautam Sachdeva. Mind is the power that moves our bodies, despite the persistent illusion that we move ourselves. Such is directly states in John 14:10, through the following words attributed to Jesus:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.
John 14:10

Does that help to build the case that we are not the doers? Consciousness (God) is the Doer. Let’s add a little more evidence through another verse; this time from Acts 17:28:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”
Acts 17:28

When we realize that Consciousness is the only reality, the quality of life we experience can change dramatically. Such is dependent on our level of understanding and degree of faith. If we dream our desire with feeling, God can make it apparently real. That’s the deal. That’s also the reason that the Bible contains verses that relate this understanding, such as the following from Matthew 17:20: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

You’re not the doers, folks; neither am I. This article appears in Consciousness because Spirit (what I truly Am) desired to share an inspirational article that had the potential to elevate your life. I know that it definitely feels as though we’re the doers; but that’s the very nature of dreams–to feel real. You know, like the ones in which you wake up in a sweat? For us to be the doers, there would have to be a “someone” within the body-mind, and such is not the case. Science has deemed the search for that little rascal (the ego) as “the hard problem of consciousness.” Science will never find it because it’s a fictional character. God (Consciousness) is the only Knower. Our true Self is Spirit, dreaming a human life. This is the truth that lies beneath Henry Ford’s famous quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Mr. Ford realized that through God all things are truly possible.

An effective way to attract the good that we seek, is to stop the Substance abuse by giving thanks to God each and every day…even for the supposedly little things. Gratitude is the polar opposite to ingratitude; and according to spiritual law, it must attract circumstances that are in harmony with it. Just ask Mr. Harvey. Note: For those who are curious to learn more about the mysterious nature of this “reality,” press here for a link to a twenty-minute presentation about quantum physics.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Master Key

A “master key,” as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is as follows: “a key designed to open several different locks.” In the ordinary sense of the word, we might imagine someone–perhaps a landlord–who, in an emergency, might need to gain access to various apartments. In this article, however, we’re interested in the extraordinary–the meaning that can help us recognize true Self and, thus, unlock esoteric powers to co-create that are not in the domain of those who still assume they are the persons they’ve been conditioned to believe themselves to be. Accompany me, if you will, as we journey toward a deeper understanding of master key:

***

The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel (who was a successful businessman and new thought author and teacher) is a foundational book for anyone with a keen interest in the Law of Attraction. To the uninitiated, it may not seem an easy read; but it is definitely a worthwhile read, for the teachings contained within its pages are unparalleled. Originally published in 1912 as a correspondence course for those interested in the study of new thought, it was first published as a book in 1916. It begins as follows: “It is my privilege to enclose herewith Part One of the Master Key System. Would you bring into your life more power? Get the power consciousness. More health? Get the health consciousness. More happiness? Get the happiness consciousness. Live the spirit of these things until they become yours by right. It will then become impossible to keep them from you. The things of the world are fluid to a power within man by which he rules them.”

Those of you who–believing yourself to the sum total of body-mind–may now be tempted to throw up your hands in frustration and shout “lunacy”–or worse! But if you’re keenly interested in manifesting a more successful life, you may be curious enough to keep reading. What Haanel was stating is the same truth that all successful motivational speakers still inform us of today: If we desire to change what “appears” without (the phenomenal world), we absolutely must–FIRST– change our paradigms within. A paradigm (again, courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary) is defined as follows: “example, pattern; an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.” With regard to deliberate manifestation, we might consider our paradigms to be a set of closely-held subconscious beliefs related to every aspect of our apparent life.

Key to understanding this subject matter on a deeper level is this: We can only manifest that with which we are in harmony. Meaning: We’ve got to be it (our desire) before we can see it. If we’re telling ourselves that we’re financially rich but still embracing a poverty mindset (as evidenced by our shopping patterns and the words that we speak–“I can’t afford that!”), we have more work to do with regard to changing our paradigms. There are various ways to change our paradigms, but repetition of new beliefs (stated in the affirmative, present tense: “I Am rich,”–not “I Am not poor.”) is the most powerful. In conjunction with putting the mind to work, we must also put our Awareness to work; for Awareness is the guardian at the gate of our mind. Through Awareness, we govern what we permit access into our mind and that which we don’t. Please remember this: What is habitually impressed upon the mind will be expressed as our “reality.”

From the time that we were young children, all of us mentally absorbed the habitual beliefs of our parents, neighbours, and persons in positions of authority. We had little choice to do otherwise; for our persona (which would become more apparent later) had not fully developed its right to govern what information to believe or disbelieve with regard to the world. Thus, if our parents believed that money was hard to come by, such also became our belief. If they habitually spoke of apparent lack, limitation, and disease, we naturally assimilated their negative paradigms unless those beliefs were challenged as “untrue” by persons with greater influence and more positive worldviews.

I offer now a couple passages from the Bible, which I believe have the power to help you manifest that which you desire. The first is from Mark 11:24: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We must claim that our desires have already been fulfilled NOW–not that they will be in the future (which is non-existent). The second is from Job 22:28: “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” It’s important to understand that the apparent “reality” we sense is rendered by the mind–only. As Paramahansa Yogananda stated in The Law of Success, “Mind is the creator of everything.” We’ve all been programmed to believe that we are the body-mind (aka person) and that we must work–very hard, indeed–to achieve what we desire. However, we are not now, nor were we ever, the doer. Mind is the doer. We are living Spirit, witnessing an apparently human experience in the Waking State.

Not by accident (for there truly are none), I selected a photo that has a heart-shaped lock within it to accompany this article. The heart represents an important ingredient toward successful manifestation. We must feel the truth of our affirmations (against all logical protests from the little “i”) if our desires are ever to manifest. Time spent in meditation is beneficial on two counts: It helps us become acquainted with true Self (the silent witness), and we can also use the quiet solitude to visualize the end results that we desire. If doing so, it’s important to visualize yourself from the perspective of your desire fulfilled. To do so sends a very clear paradigm to The Universe, which, according to spiritual law, must manifest.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

A Coin So Thin

The Law of Attraction–always functioning, ever present, one-hundred percent of the time. What we think about, we bring about. Due to it, we’re able to co-create in accordance with the habitual feeling-imbued thoughts with which we resonate. With that in mind, let’s examine the title of this post in more detail.

Most of us may be familiar with the custom of tossing a coin to make a determination. It might have played out as follows: A coin is selected and both sides–Heads and Tails–are shown. A spokesperson for the players involved–perhaps two teams of children–states his/her choice and waits for the coin to be tossed into the air. Then everyone watches. The coin is caught and slapped onto the back of the tosser’s other hand. The covering hand is lifted, revealing the verdict. It’s simple: Heads you win; Tails you lose: The team that called it goes first, or plays from a certain end. How that coin toss applies to the Law of Attraction is found through a saying of mine: You can never slice a coin so thin that it will not have two sides. Please read that again and contemplate it deeply. What do I mean?

Based on the circumstances that we witness, it can often be easy to assume that Life is dividing us into categories, in much the same way as the coin toss. On one side, Heads, we may mistakenly believe that only winners are allowed. They will be the rich, the famous, the ones with the great career, great family, and great health. On the other side, Tails, we may mistakenly believe that only losers are found. They will be the poor, the downtrodden, the ones with minimum wage jobs, dysfunctional families, and poor health. In this article, we’re going to challenge that belief through the Principle of Polarity, which is discussed in a book of esoteric teachings entitled The Kybalion.

All of us are aware of opposites: light and dark; up and down; right and left. The Kybalion informs us that both (although apparently opposites) are actually just poles, or extremes, of one thing. In the matter of “Hot” and “Cold,” no one can state where hot begins and cold ends; for both are merely differing degrees of the one. So, how does this mystical teaching apply to our lives? It means that if we are experiencing the negative pole of any situation, we should mentally begin to slide our attitude toward the other pole. This would be accomplished through deliberate and conscious mental effort. Using my example of the coin, we should figuratively toss the coin again–seeking the good that absolutely must be there! If a situation seems unfavourable, toss the coin again! Please contemplate the following: The Head side of the coin literally can’t exist without the Tails! In time, as we mature as co-creators, we realize that we (via our thinking) possess both sides of the coin about anything. The coin is always ours–both sides! Each and every time, we may choose to toss the coin again and discover the good that inherently must exist.

This isn’t an exercise in trite sayings. It’s fact. We are the one having our life experiences, and we are the one labelling them. I’m not saying that challenging life situations will never occur; for they do. I’m saying that in every situation we may toss the coin again (applying The Principle of Polarity) and discover the favorable side of the coin. On a grander scale, we may come to realize that situations once labelled “bad” were actually blessings in disguise. Through conscious use of our creative abilities, we’ll come to understand that we have always held both sides of the coin; and that we can toss it again whenever we please. We can change ourselves (our attitude and thinking) and thereby attract to us accordingly.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Not Until “I Am”

The world, as all of us realize, is currently reflecting a state of tremendous confusion. Everywhere we see evidence of this. Even if we’ve unplugged from mainstream media, someone–somewhere–is going to inform us of ongoing fear and strife. There is the continuing world story about an apparent virus; conflict related to a presidential election; illogical regulations and restrictions; joblessness; hunger; homeless persons living in tent cities in the middle of previously prosperous cities. Entrenched ways that were corrupt–and heartless–at their core are being revealed. This is not intended as a rant; for what we resist does, indeed, persist. The heart of this article relates to the Law of Attraction and the following verse from Proverbs 29:18:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

What does this mean? It means that if we desire positive change beyond our current circumstances (refer to the above paragraph), we must see with eyes not of this world. In short, we must envision a new world. The Law of Attraction (we bring about what we think about) applies both personally and collectively. If we–through ignorance of our essential nature–continue to believe that we are merely stick figures called persons, our challenges will continue unabated. Ignorance of our true nature does not relieve us of the effects that we, as co-creators, are creating. We must apply vision–such a rare commodity these days. We must learn to ask ourselves–and know–what we desire to see. What kind of world do we wish to inhabit? Is it a world in which we live free? Is it a world in which we value qualities such as love, honor, and respect? Or is it a world in which only robotic actions, performed by unaware persons, are welcomed? To move beyond what is currently presenting, we must learn to have faith–not in a God outside of us; but in a vision which we, as incarnate aspects of God, envision. I offer the definition of faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

To understand what we’re currently witnessing on a deeper level, we may conceptualize humanity as a shared basket. All of us, whether knowingly or not, are spiritual basket weavers. Everyone is contributing, because what everyone thinks matters through the power of attention. We may ask ourselves what type of energy we are contributing to our universal basket. Are we offering the energy of fear or FAITH? Are we offering the energy of selfishness or GENEROSITY? Are we offering the energy of hatred or LOVE? Are we reinforcing–through focus–the current situation, or are we envisioning a BRIGHT NEW WORLD?

Not until we collectively unite and envision a positive future, will we see it. Not until we envision peace, will there be peace among nations. Not until we envision brotherly and sisterly love for everyone, will our interactions reflect that love. Not until we envision feeding the world’s hungry people, will everyone’s belly be full. Not until our hearts are purged of the negativity that has permeated our lives, will we see beauty rise, glorious and transcendent. Not until we have stopped gorging ourselves on problems, will we eat the fruit of solution-based thinking. Not until “I Am” reigns supreme over egos, will the selfish fires of humankind be extinguished.

What I’m asking you to do is to step outside the costume that has been masquerading as “you” and flex your spiritual power of Beingness. You, dear friends, are neither the body nor the mind; no more so than the boots in the corner of my kitchen. You are Divine Spirit…now. United in vision, we are capable of creating a bright new future. We arrive at that tomorrow by envisioning it as already existing…today, here and now. We are wise to embrace it, embody it, and wear it with every fiber of your being; for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Great “New”Charlie Brown

Most of you will probably be familiar with Charlie Brown, the principal character in the comic strip named Peanuts. He–with the round head, delightful innocence, and lack of self confidence–was often depicted as being a lovable loser. His character proved popular, indeed, to his faithful followers who could often relate to his trials. Secretly, we saw ourselves in him. For instance, whenever Charlie Brown played football with Lucy, he would always fall flat on his backside after she–in her devilish manner–suddenly yanked the football away at the last moment. We’ve all had days like that, when life seemed to dash our hopes and aspirations. Ahh, Charlie Brown, how I wish that I could help you. Actually, I can:

***

If you can relate to many of the comic situations in which Charlie Brown found himself on the losing side of life, it’s likely because you’ve identified with your character, more than its creator–the true You. Despite popular misconceptions and seeming appearances, you are neither your body-mind (the Charlie Brown) nor its personal history. It’s vital that you know that you are its creator. In the case of Charlie Brown, that creator was Charles M. Schulz. He decided, he chose, he visualized the situations for Charlie Brown and then drew them into Charlie Brown’s apparent life situations. If you wish to increase the degree of success in your life expression, you must draw them for your character by visualizing them as true now.

You’ll recognize more of your innate creative powers when you–through stillness–recognize that you are not the character that you see before you. Since birth, you’ve been programmed to believe that all there is to you is name and form; but such is erroneous. The masses (who are unaware; and unaware that they’re unaware) will eagerly inform you that all you are is flesh and bones–that you were born, and you will die. That’s their storyline; but it needn’t be yours. With some deep introspection, you can discover your true Self. You are a divine aspect of Infinite Living Mind. You are co-creator with Consciousness Itself, eternal and immortal.

If you, like Charlie Brown, just once (or many times) desire to kick that football sailing through the goal posts, you must–first–imagine yourself doing so. “As within, so without.” Until you change your subconscious beliefs (your paradigms) from within, your apparent results will remain the same. It matters not whatever apparent “Lucy” seems to be challenging you! Dream the result that you desire to see! Feel its reality. If it’s great financial wealth; dream it in living detail. If it’s better health, or even a cure; dream it. Engage all of your senses. See your imagined reality as being more real than current circumstances; for current circumstances are only a reflection of your past thinking. Set aside a few minutes each day to visualize the type of life that you desire. Dream it from the end result, from the perspective of you playing a starring role.

Draw–as Mr. Schulz did for Charlie–the person that you desire to be. You’ll manifest that new-and-improved version of you when you feel its truth. Every thought you think and every word that you utter is a stroke of fortune or loss upon the comic strip called “your life.” Old tales full of woe only produce more apparent woe. Thoughts and words of a very bright future create a more rich and fulfilling future. The Law of Attraction is real; you bring about what you feelingly think about. Also, it’s important that you keep your visions for your future Charlie Brown secret; for the less that naysayers know, the better. This is your life, and you’re going to kick that ball through the goal posts when you believe that you can!

Doubt this can be true–that imagining your bright future can actually create it? I’ll end this article by offering a quote from Andrew Carnegie, who–in the late 19th century–was one of the wealthiest men in America. It was he who commissioned Napoleon Hill to write the classic motivational book entitled Think and Grow Rich: “Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered, will begin at once to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate form available.” What a strange–magical–quote to come from such a successful man, don’t you think?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Dream On

If you’re not sitting down before beginning to read this article, you might want to do so now. As you may or may not realize, I write articles about Consciousness, Spirituality, and The Law of Attraction. These subjects have held a tremendous fascination for me for many years. It’s been an interesting journey. It has involved–and still does–learning more about our essential nature (the True Self) and how to manifest the results that we desire. There’s been a lot of surprises; not the least of which is related to the following quote from Sri Ramana Maharshi, who was a sage from India who realized his true nature at the age of sixteen:

“That which is not present in deep dreamless sleep is not real.”

What Sri Ramana Maharshi was expressing is that the apparent world and the objects within it–including our body-mind–occur due to the power of Maya. Maya is a Sanskrit word which translates loosely as illusion. The world is real, but only relatively so. The real You is the changeless Self; which is the same in nature and quality (differing in degree) as the Absolute Self. That–Self–is customarily referred to by many reverent names which can point to, but never define, It.

Many persons write and speak about the Law of Attraction; but it’s unlikely that the majority realize the depth of the material. I sure didn’t; even though I easily grasped the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. Most persons are applying the Law of Attraction from the perspective of the body-mind, aka person. They are still living from the perspective of Jane or John Doe, because–until they awaken to their essential nature (which is Spirit, aka Consciousness)–they literally have no choice to do otherwise. Thus, they believe they are living a very busy life on Earth. The truth is that such…is a dream. The Waking State is similar to Dream State, only longer in duration, continual, and more clearly defined. The essential nature of our True Self is Awareness, or Consciousness. It could be likened to deep sleep, which is the reason that Sri Ramana Maharshi made the statement quoted above.

To fully understand this requires a tremendous shift in perspective and understanding, which can only be experienced directly. It cannot be learned or arrived at via processes of the mind; for the mind deals with conceptualizations. A quote from Paramahansa Yogananda, who was the author of Autobiography of a Yogi and instrumental in introducing Kriya Yoga to the West, may be of help. From another of his books, entitled The Laws of Success, I offer the following:

“Mind is the creator of everything.”

The body and the mind that seem so very real to us (in fact, which seem to house “me“) is rendered by the mind. Consciousness is not created within the body-mind; despite what the masses may proclaim. In science, this is commonly referred to as “the hard problem of consciousness.” Science is still attempting to discover how neurological processes within the brain lead to our sense of awareness. They’ll never find it, for one simple reason: Such is backward, for Consciousness is that which gives rise to the mind and the body. To “Know Thyself” deeply would clear up so much confusion.

Consciousness is prior to the mind and body. It is the very foundation of our Being. When the mind is active, we experience the Dream State (usually referred to as nighttime dreams by most persons). When the mind and senses become active, we experience the Waking State (referred to as reality by the majority of the world’s population). This grossly erroneous assumption occurs in such tremendous numbers because the population is unaware, but unaware that they are unaware.

“But,” I can hear you say, “this can’t be!” Yes, it actually is. This is how the Law of Attraction truly functions. We can only attract circumstances with which we are harmoniously attuned. We must first “be” that which we desire to experience. Please consider this: What is the only thing (truly not a thing) required to have any apparent experience? Could we experience the eating of a meal if we weren’t aware that such was occurring? No, of course, not. Consciousness is the linchpin of every experience. The thoughts (either positive or negative) which we–Spirit–habitually impress into the subconscious will eventually be expressed in the dream of “our life.” I share this information so you’ll realize that the quality and the nature of your thoughts truly do matter. Our destiny is within our hands.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Heartbound

Today, a man on LinkedIn posted a short video presentation of a happening that occurred within his family. I watched his presentation intently. I’ll be honest, it moved me to tears. Literally, I wept. Why? Because what he shared resonated with the Truth of my Being. That “Being” is in me–pervading; and It is also in everyone else–pervading. It is the substance of That from which all of us are made. In a world of illusion, It is That which is Real. It is raw, undiluted LOVE in all its fullness. Here is the account:

***

“My daughter did something wonderful this morning,” the man began. He then related that he had watched as his elder daughter placed some newspapers in the mailbox. He was puzzled, so he asked her why. She told him that her younger sister so enjoyed going to the mailbox and finding some mail. That’s why she did it–to be a source of joy for her little sister. The man then wondered to himself when the last time was that he had performed such a deed, purely for the sake of bringing joy to someone else. The man further shared that when his younger daughter checked the mailbox, she was ecstatic!

***

As I’m writing this, the joy of that short account is still ripe within me. No happiness of the ego can approach its transcendent authenticity. The account reminds me of what my dear mother, who experienced her fair share of suffering, often wisely told me. She told me that the easiest way to shake off the blues was to do something nice for someone else. There–in the heart of this timeless moment–is the secret to a very rich life; a life devoid of the self-centered “what’s-in-this-for-me?” perspective of the little “i.” If you can catch that thief in operation, you are on your way to liberation from its rule.

The false self, the character of Mister or Misses “me,” is not the real Self. As far as natures go, those two are galaxies of distance apart. True Self is giving. It is the Source of love, comfort, joy, and peace. We feel our way to It; and we recognize and appreciate It just as It is. The false self is the psychological me; the fictional self who outwardly may appear giving; but who inwardly is subtly or overtly interested in self-preservation, appearance, and taking. It is the author of The Book of Sly.

Today–right now–we can take back our birthright and be heartbound. We’ll recognize the nature of True Self by the way we feel. No thinking is required; in fact, thinking is the hindrance that keeps us from recognizing our essential nature, which is Truth. When we rediscover the Center of our Being, we are once again home in our sense of belonging. True Self is closer than our breath–not a heartbeat away. One of the best ways to rediscover It is to live from the perspective of that elder daughter. What can we give? A friendly smile or kind word? Some financial support? Time spent sharing a talent? A telephone call to someone who is lonely? A shoulder to lean upon? And what of that “beggar” on the street–the one who shares the same True Self? Isn’t it time that we truly live by giving of the heart?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: Positive thinking

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Affirming Truth

Tree House Talk

Substance Abuse

The Master Key

A Coin So Thin

Not Until “I Am”

Great “New”Charlie Brown

Dream On

Heartbound

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