Muscleman Joe

Muscleman Joe was “the man” at his local gym, and knowing that filled him with quiet pride. He had dedicated a major amount of his time and energy to achieving that status. All of the other weightlifters and bodybuilders, both male and female, considered him as the epitome of their sport. He possessed the strength, bulk, and definition that made the majority of them stand back in awe. He was the king of the chest press, squat, and deadlift. He had lost count of the number of first-place trophies that he’d won at various competitions.

In Joe’s mind, he (not surprisingly) held a crystal-clear image of who he thought he was. In his mind’s eye, he imagined himself as a successful bodybuilder, a veritable physical legend. Unbeknownst to Joe, however, his mind contained various other images, which (having been unwittingly impressed with feeling into the subconscious mind) were creating their effects. Like the greater unseen portion of an iceberg, these contents were causing other areas of Joe’s life to sink like the Titanic. His personal relationships were filled with conflict; his financial debt load was heavy; and his career path always veered from success.

One night after leaving the gym, Joe got into his truck and attempted to start the engine. Instead of hearing the familiar sound of a cranking engine, however, all that he initially heard was silence. It seemed to envelope him and force him to remain still. Within a few moments, he became even more bewildered when he heard a soft voice utter the following words:

“You’ve been attempting to live a lie, Joe. Mistakenly, you believe that you are a physical bodybuilder. Given the conditioning of your environment, it’s understandable that you would believe that you are a person and, therefore, the doer; but such is an erroneous perspective. There is only one doer, Joe, and I Am That. Despite appearances to the contrary, I Am the One who lifts the weights…through you. I also beat your heart and breathe your lungs. To improve aspects of your life that you currently deem a failure, you must change the nature and quality of your thinking. There is no other way.”

When the message from the voice ended, Joe shook off his disbelief at what had occurred and pressed the starter button again. The car’s engine started without hesitation. Shaken with puzzlement, he then slowly drove home and soon fell into a deep sleep that lasted all night long.

***

In the coming months, Muscleman Joe began to flex spiritual government of his mind. Meditation and visualization became a regular part of his daily routine. Just as he deliberately chose which foods to include in his diet, he learned to deliberately choose which thoughts to allow entry into his mind. No longer did he dwell upon negative circumstances. It became his ingrained habit to remain strong in his true power; to seek opportunity in every situation. By embracing a new vision for his future (through persistent positive thoughts, imbued with the feeling of having already achieved his goals), he finally turned his circumstances around. In fact, in some circles he is now better known as Spirit Man Joe.

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” 🙏🏻🧡

By God, Through God

When I was first studying the teachings of the Law of Attraction, I read various books that emphasized that there’s only one true power, and that It’s spiritual. From my limited perspective at the time, such was an incredible premise to accept. It contradicted common sense and everything that I’d been conditioned to believe. Every which way I turned, I saw evidence of a seeming multitude of sources of energy; there was chemical, mechanical, thermal, nuclear energy, and at least a couple of others. Why, then, did the books clearly state that there was only One Power?

The answer is hinted by the capitalization of the last two words of the previous paragraph. When I refer to the One-and-Only Power, which is God (Consciousness), I ensure to capitalize any reference to It as a sign of my deep love and respect. The following are some passages from the Bible that point to the principle that I’m relating:

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
John 1:3

“For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him.”

Colossians 1:16 -20

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

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

John 14:10

Of course, the Bible is not the only source that relates this information. I offer the following two quotes to help relate the point about One Power more clearly:

“There are only two things you can do for yourself. One is conception, and the other is conviction. All the work of creation rests with another than you. For no man [woman] is responsible for anything in his [her] life except his [her] thought and his [her] belief.”
Three Magic Words, by U. S. Andersen

“No thought of form can be impressed upon original substance without causing the creation of that form. A human being is a thinking center and can originate thought.”
The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles

***

When we rise in our level of Consciousness, we realize that all of the apparent sources of power actually subsist within the One; which is Infinite Living Mind, or God. We also realize that our body-mind (person) is never the doer. That it undoubtedly seems that way is just part of the grand illusion. This is easier to comprehend when we realize, through comparison, that although we most certainly feel like the doers in our nighttime dreams, such is an impossibility. It’s due only to our ignorant assumptions that we believe that we, as the person, are the source of our own life. There’s only One Life, and It empowers what we ask of It via our predominant thoughts and beliefs.

As co-creators of reality, our task is to patiently and persistently maintain our highest ideals and rest assured that by God, and through God, they will be achieved.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Moving Mountains

During the years that I have studied the law of attraction and our essential nature, I’ve faithfully used many affirmations. One of my favourites is the abridged version of the passage found in Matthew 17:20:

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,

‘Move from here to there,’

and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

If the statement that “and nothing shall be impossible for you” seems too good to be true, please continue reading with an open mind. My initial interpretation of the passage was based upon a much more limited perspective; but now I know–not just believe–that all things are truly possible through God. As each of us is unique, the circumstantial mountains that we might desire to be removed will be different. For some persons, it might be a health issue or financial problem. For others, it could be a career challenge or conflict within a relationship. Whatever the nature of mountain we face, greater understanding plays a tremendously important role in removing it.

The biggest issue that all of us face is our own ignorance (meaning unawareness) of the nature of the world and our true Being. The majority of persons are unaware of their essential nature; but they’re also unaware that they are unaware. Thus, they (as the apparent person) struggle against circumstances that often seem insurmountable. This was certainly the case with me. To gain greater clarity, we must let go of our assumptions and know REALITY as it IS. Let’s dive deeper into the subject by reading the following content from various books:

The Wish Fulfilled, by Neville Goddard

***

Before I Am, by Mooji

***

I Am That, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

***

Living Truth, by Jean Klein

***

What you have read in the quotations is true. The reason why mountains can be moved by our belief is because they are “dream” mountains, MADE OF MIND. What we habitually affirm (through our thoughts, beliefs and actions) is confirmed as our apparent reality; but when we change our beliefs and attitudes, our problems are compelled to change. The well-known placebo effect illustrates this perfectly. When a patient has absolute faith that a medication or procedure will work, the treatment WORKS! The principle related to belief is shared in the Bible in Matthew 9:29, through the following words spoken by Jesus:

“According to your faith be it unto you.”

To move our apparent personal mountains, it’s vitally important that we realize that we are–literally–not the body-mind (person). Such goes against every last bit of our mental conditioning. Therefore, we cannot possibly be the doer of actions. We are Awareness dreaming an apparently human life. This is also related in the Bible, in Acts 17:28:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

The depth of this is more easily comprehended by contemplating that we also believe, with absolute certainty, that we’re the doers during our nighttime dreams. Of course, when the dream ends, we realize that such couldn’t possibly have been the case–that all of the fantastic adventures, or scary situations, were rendered via the mind. Any actions that seemed to have been performed occurred within a dream. The same holds true in this, the waking-state dream. In Truth, we are the witness only.

Most Beings who are tightly bound to egoic identity will find the content of this article impossible to believe or, perhaps, even ludicrous; but its Truth may be known directly via the practice of self inquiry. Are you absolutely certain that you are the person? Can you actually be a name, or a body form that is changing moment to moment?

It took years for me to comprehend the nature of our mountains. The biggest challenge was my own lack of understanding. Perhaps you will also realize that you’ve been attempting to move mountains through an illusory character, instead of via the real YOU. Wouldn’t it be easier to let God within do it for you, and open yourself to life more abundant?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Videos To Serve

Dear Readers,

In an effort to help expand your understanding about our essential nature and the law of attraction, I offer you three of my YouTube videos. I hope you will find them both interesting and helpful.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Our Ruts of Fear

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of the word rut, as it relates to how I am applying it within this article, is as follows: “a track worn by a wheel or by habitual passage.” With regard to the human condition, persons often have certain ruts of fear that threaten, or outright sabotage, our quality of life. For example, some individuals may be fearful of spiders, crowds, or dogs, which, thereby, limit their exploration of environments in which any of those three might be present. For other persons, the ruts of fear may be related to larger subjects, such as love, success, or fame. In any of these cases, either specific or general, our mental ruts are formed by repeatedly travelling the pathways of our fears.

At subconscious levels of our Being, our personal ruts of fear–which pretend to keep us safe–apply their subtle and subversive techniques and manipulation. At the brink of escape, as we reach for that which we most yearn, so-called logic or common sense, often claws us back or blocks our pathway to success. It is then that the voice of the rut, most often disguised as a friend, whispers its haunting message: “Come back; come back to the safety of the known.” If given attention, our ruts of fear actually choke our lives of the very reason we breathe in the first place:

If not for the more joyful expression of the gifts within us,

why do we live?

Dear Readers: Please hear this message and let it resonate deeply within your heart. In all of our issues of life, greater awareness is the magic key to greater accomplishment and joy. Let not your ruts of fear keep you apparently safe, while the clock of your lifetime ticks the minutes away. It is only by examining our fears by the Light of Consciousness that they diminish.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Omnipresence Overlooked

Books related to the law of attraction often share mysterious-sounding titles: The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne; The Hidden Power, by Thomas Troward; Discover the Power Within You, by Eric Butterworth; The Secret of The Ages, by Robert Collier; and The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel. Cynical readers might naturally assume that the intention behind such catchy titles is solely financial gain through the sale of books–that the content couldn’t possibly match the titles’ claims. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although I can’t speak to the content of every law of attraction book, I can speak for those listed above because I’ve read them. If you’re willing to move forward in faith and deep curiosity about your essential nature, perhaps you will one day agree.

The crux of the secret is related to true identity. To realize the mystery that lies beyond our assumptions, we must be a discerning safe cracker about “What“–not who–we actually are. We must apply ourselves to understanding with an open mind. If we persist, the tumblers will eventually click into alignment, and the safe door will yawn open. This isn’t an exaggeration. It’s the reason why the esoteric book entitled The Kybalion contains the following mystical passage:

“The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding.”

The passage means that a knower is wise enough not to share information until the student is capable of comprehension. Through the law of attraction, the teacher and student will be brought together when the time is right. To the teacher, the student’s earnest curiosity is a telling sign of readiness. With regard to this, another mystical saying is also true:

It takes one to know one.

What, though, is the benefit of realizing the secret to which the books allude? The secret that must be realized is quite literally priceless. In the Bible, it’s referred to as the pearl of great price. To find it (the kingdom of heaven), we must dive deep into the nature of our Being. When clearly understood, the secret gives access to power beyond compare.

The greatest challenge related to this mystical secret is that it can only be via direct experience. To gain information about it isn’t enough. To find the secret related to identity, look within–you’re not who you think you are!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Pink Elephant Begone!

Early in Helen’s study of the law of attraction, she learned the importance of thinking properly. She remembers reading the example of a pink elephant: that we can never rid ourselves of a pink elephant by thinking of it. Of course, the lesson has nothing to do with a pink elephant, but everything with the principle related to it. Helen realized that to rid herself of unfavourable conditions in her life (the illness, poverty mindset, and lack of success) that she much focus on their apparent opposite. She knew that to attract what she desired, she must claim it (through feeling-imbued imagination) as–already–being hers Now. As a result, she began a daily visualization practice that she still continues to this day.

To understand the law of attraction more clearly, Helen had to realize that we, as apparent humans, are not actually observing an independent, stand-alone reality (for no such reality exists!) and that we are co-creators of it. Her teacher repeatedly emphasized that mind is the creator of everything. The following four quotes also helped to deepen Helen’s understanding:

“There is but one consciousness in the universe able to think; and when it thinks, its thoughts become objective things to it.”

The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel

***

“Like produces like, attracts like, creates like. If we could see our thoughts and take a picture of it and our conditions we would see no difference between the two, for they are really but the inside and outside of the same thing.”

Creative Mind, by Ernest Holmes

***

“The Universal Mind that flows through everyone knows no limitations or lack, and nothing is impossible to it. Its great dominant characteristic is creativeness. Since it is all knowledge and all substance and all power, indeed, the only thing it does is create. And it creates exactly what the mind of each individual thinks into it.“

The Magic in Your Mind, by U. S. Andersen

***

“Things have no reality other than in consciousness. Therefore, get the consciousness first and the thing is compelled to appear.”

Neville Goddard’s Interpretation of Scripture, by Neville Goddard

***

It took months of meditation to arrive at a deeper knowing of her true Self, beyond name and form; but Helen finally realized that “her” true Self was Universal Consciousness. Her so-called personal self (the body-mind) was actually created via Consciousness, as is everything else.

***

What about you, dear readers: Are you attempting to get rid of poverty, illness, and failure by focusing your attention upon them? If that’s the case, you might be wise to take a look around your living area. It’s highly probable that there’s a pink elephant standing somewhere nearby. You get rid of it by visualizing that which you desire, not what you don’t.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Standing “As”

This world can seem a battlefield of challenges and strife. On a daily basis, we directly view or hear reports of varying degrees of conflict. Everyone has preferences: we desire this, but not that. As the number of so-called “others” increases, the issue becomes more complex. Our differing opinions regarding right and wrong leave us with little or no middle ground labelled “Peace.” During such times, it can be challenging to resist the temptation of being “against” a circumstance, rather than having the wisdom of being “for” what feels right in our heart. This metaphysical principle of behaviour (which I refer to as Standing “As”) is vitally important to understand: That to which we give our attention persists more strongly. To improve conditions, we must resolutely place our attention on that which we desire, not its apparent opposite. Let’s imagine, if we can, a peaceful world in which we live by the following:

Can we stand “as” tolerance, without being against intolerance?
Can we stand “as” honesty, without being against dishonesty?
Can we stand “as” selflessness, without being against selfishness?
Can we stand “as” equality, without being against inequality?
Can we stand “as” honour, without being against corruption?
Can we stand “as” love, without giving your energy to hate?
Can we stand “as” peace, without being against war?
In short, can we stand for the result we desire, rather than expending our energy by being against its opposite?”

Through the development of our character, we may exemplify the beliefs that we hold most dear, without becoming self-important or proud. This is clearly illustrated in a famous poem entitled Sermons We See, by Edgar Guest. Here I offer the first stanza:

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

Mahatma Ghandi also expressed this vitally important principle in his famous and succint expression:

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Perhaps we could develop the habit of asking ourselves, “What attitude am I broadcasting to the world today?” It’s up to us to ensure it’s a good one, born of our highest ideals.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Curses Begone!

Boj (no relationship to Job, I assure you) had it rough. Just ask him, and he would eagerly relate the woes of his life. He was cursed, he was certain. Habitually he thought about, and spoke about, all that was wrong. To him, every day seemed a chore, a battle to be endured from dawn to dusk. He didn’t just believe in Murphy’s Law; he’d been the inspiration for its first draft. Boj was infamous for his uncontrollable tirades. It never dawned on Boj that if he changed positively within that the so-called world without could improve, as a reflection of that change.

When circumstances went wrong, as they often did for Boj, his usual way of reacting was a version of the following performance: With his face reddening with building pressure, Boj would bend down into a deep squat (as though gathering energy from Mother Earth), and then spring upward onto his tippy-toes. At the apex of the spike, with his head convulsing from side to side like a ravenous lion, he would roar:

Dam# iT# al&L tH#E waY to $he%Ll and #ba$%%^k! Swee#T Ffly#%ing #fU@g%-a- doodle!

This lifE i$ one #h3!! of a RuFf bu##ggnng ride!

It was on one of these not-so-sweet occasions, that his neighbour, better known as Granny Goodadvice, approached him and softly said, “Having a rough one, Boj?”

“What was your first clue?” asked Boj, with a scowl.

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Granny, with a subtle grin. “A little birdie tol’ me so.”

“So, what of it?” asked Boj.

“Well, I just wanted to share some advice, in case it could be some service to you.” Granny, who was ninety-nine according to neighbours, waggled her index finger at BoJ, with a come-here-sonny look.”

When Boj had moved closer, she leaned close and whispered: “At one time, I was also no stranger to cursing. I knew all of the curse bombs, and I dropped them haphazardly everywhere I went. I could unload great big A-bombs, and strafe the atmosphere with rat-a-tat tat machine-gun ones. But one day, a dear brave soul approached me and tol’ me that my life would improve if I started expressing sincere gratitude…from my heart.”

“That’s it!?” exclaimed Boj. “That’s your great pearl of wisdom?!”

“Uh, huh,” said Granny, with a nod. “Yup, that’s it.”

“And just what,” said Boj, with a scowl, “do you think that I have to be grateful for?”

Granny squinted like the Clint Eastwood fan she was and said, “Your life, sonny. Your very life.” And with that, she turned and ambled back to her home. It was time to watch her afternoon soap opera.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Baker’s Dozen: Power Quotes

There are many people who believe that they understand the law of attraction; but quite often that isn’t the case. To get the most from the following baker’s dozen of power quotes, a paradigm shift (from a matter-based world to a consciousness-only reality) is required. As you read the quotes, please imagine your body-mind to be as light as your character would feel to you in a nighttime dream. So-called daily “reality” is actually occurring within the waking state. This understanding (as challenging as that might be to your logical mind) is the key to help you manifest more of what you desire. What follows are thirteen of many law of attraction quotes that I have accumulated during years of study. May they help to awaken a deeper understanding within you:

“There is but one consciousness in the universe able to think; and when it thinks, its thoughts become objective things to it.”

(The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel)

***

“No living soul can demonstrate two things at the same time, if one contradicts the other. There is no way except to let go of all that you do not wish to come into your experience, and, in mind, take all that you do wish.”

(Creative Mind, by Ernest Holmes)

***

“Wealth consciousness is simply the expansion of your consciousness and awareness into the wealthy parts of your Self.”

(A Happy Pocket Full of Money, by David Cameron Gikandi)

***

“More gold has been mined from the minds of men, than the earth itself.”

(Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill)

***

“There are only two things you can do for yourself. One is conception, and the other is conviction. All the work of creation rests with another than you. For no man is responsible for anything in his life except this thought and belief.”

(Three Magic Words,” by U. S. Andersen)

***

“When you change the story you tell, the world changes too.”

(Magic Words, by Genevieve Davis)

***

“Thought is the only power which can produce tangible riches from the formless substance. The stuff from which all things are made is a substance which thinks. A thought of form in the substance produces the form.”

(The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles)

***

“All is mind and we are mental, we are in mind and can only get from it what we first think into it. We must not only think but we must know. We have to provide within ourselves a mental and spiritual likeness for the thing desired.”

(Creative Mind, by Ernest Holmes)

***

“The law is always the same, that our Thought forms a spiritual prototype which, if left undisturbed, will reproduce itself in external circumstances.”

(The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science, by Thomas Troward)

***

“Thought creates the world. Thought brings things into existence.”

(Thought Power, by Sri Swami Sivananda)

***

“The Power in you is the Creator of the world.”

(Illusion vs Reality, by Shri Ranjit Maharaj)

***

“The mind is a magnet and attracts whatever corresponds to its ruling state. Whatever image is in mind, whatever we expect and think about, will tend to bring into our lives the things and conditions that in harmony therewith.”

(Working With The Law, by Raymond Holliwell)

***

“Things have no reality other than in consciousness. Therefore, get the consciousness first and the thing is compelled to appear.”

(Neville Goddard’s Interpretation of Scripture, by Neville Goddard)

***

Because it’s in my nature to give, and we are always told to “go that extra mile in everything we do,” I’m going to close this article with another quote, to make it fourteen in total:

“As the Divine Thought Energy flows through your consciousness and out into the phenomenal world to appear as prosperous experiences and conditions, its ‘plastic’ quality allows it to be impressed by the tone and shape of your dominant belief. Therefore, what you see, hear, taste, and smell are your beliefs objectified.”

(The Abundance Book, by John Randolph Price)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: Law of Attraction

Muscleman Joe

By God, Through God

Moving Mountains

Videos To Serve

Our Ruts of Fear

Omnipresence Overlooked

Pink Elephant Begone!

Standing “As”

Curses Begone!

Baker’s Dozen: Power Quotes

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