The High Way to Healing

Life, as everyone realizes, can wear upon us. The challenges of unfamiliar circumstances may overwhelm us. Our fears may be high, and our reserves of strength low. On their own, each pelting raindrop of trials and tribulations may seem innocuous; but collectively, such drops can seem like a torrential downpour intent on drowning us. “Dear God,” we pray, “please..please stop the rain and give me peace.”

The details of the challenging events in my life story are unimportant. For the purposes of this article, it’s enough to share that part of my healing included several long solo motorcycle trips. On the surface level, the trips were about visiting new places, meeting new people, and learning how to live on my own again. In hindsight, however, I now understand that the trips were about so much more. Learning how to outride our history is a tremendously important lesson; for unless we stop carrying our personal baggage–both the good and the bad–it will prevent us from riding into a glorious new future. It’s also vitally important that we investigate the nature of the person that we believe is carrying the baggage.

Although I was unaware of it at the time, divine magic was definitely at play during my High Way to Healing. From the depths of suffering, there arose a great gift. Please join me now, if you will, and look at some of the following photos that “somehow” caught my eye as I rode away the pain during those lonely kilometers:

These photos (and several more that I haven’t shared) reveal a strong religious theme. The images naturally caught my eye while I was riding my motorcycle. For some of the photos, the attraction felt so strong that I was compelled to turn around and backtrack to ensure a photograph. Please keep in mind that prior to my departure, it was never my intention to capture a religious collage. The photos simply occurred.

By a few of the photos, it might be easy to assume that I was then, or that I am now, this religious guy who follows a particular spiritual doctrine; but such isn’t the case. With regard to our spiritual nature, I’m more comfortable with how Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj expressed our shared Oneness in his spiritual classic I Am That:

“The same water is in all the wells. You just draw from the nearest.

In my case the water is within me and I am the water.”

The story of my life also includes off road healing that occurred through the reading of many books by some of the greatest spiritual leaders, past and present. I became familiar with, and was nurtured by, the works of Rupert Spira, Eckhart Tolle, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Mooji, Neale Donald Walsch, Sir Ramana Maharshi, David R. Hawkins, Swami Vivekananda, and Ramesh S. Balsekar; to name but a few in very long list. The content which they generously shared helped to unearth a spiritual knowing buried deep within me. My deepest appreciation goes out to each and every one of them.

I’m happy to report that The High Way to Healing occurred through the Grace of our Creator. I now clearly understand that the real cause of our suffering is not our apparent life circumstances, but our delusional belief that we are–or ever could be–separate from our essential nature. The Bible expresses this very clearly in Acts 17: 28: “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” The most important message in this article is this: The healing recognition of true Self can also happen for you. My wish is that you’ll discover the peace that you’re seeking. Here’s a clue: look within. To seek elsewhere, is to search in vain.

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Walking on Water

I am not certain if the content I relate in this article will resonate with readers; but I feel compelled to share it. Most persons who delve into the subject of spirituality are doing so for one of two reasons: (1) Due to suffering, they are seeking solutions beyond the normal scope of daily living; or (2), for reasons unknown, they have been naturally drawn to investigate life at a deeper level. My life contained both components, with the balance periodically tipped toward suffering that provided the driving force to find answers NOW.

For many of my years, I lived in the opposite manner implied by the title of this article. I felt as though I was walking on eggshells–that circumstances could go horribly wrong at any moment. When we live in a fearful mode for extended periods, we unconsciously invite fear to stay, as though it were an old familiar friend. In my case, the behaviour may have been fostered by the sudden passing of my father when I was sixteen. It was then that I learned that unforeseen events can arise swiftly, without warning. What we assume is guaranteed–isn’t. Not even close. In hindsight, it’s not surprising that my fearful subconscious paradigms gave rise to circumstances that mirrored them. The tendency to worry provides situations that prompt an even greater degree of worry.

One of the practices that helped shift my perspective from fear to FAITH was the daily use of positive affirmations expressing gratitude to God. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the deep significance of them; but they definitely felt good to say. They helped me learn that I could trust that all was actually well, in spite of apparent circumstances. The following affirmation is still one of my favourites:

“Thank you, God, for being my Infinite Source and Supply.”

What, you might ask, has this to do with the title? Am I now proclaiming that I’m capable of walking on water? No. However, I can relate that a dramatic shift in my life makes me feel as though I could, if the need arose. The shift is due to recognition of my essential nature, true Self. Now, I realize That which is the true Source of power and intelligence. The resources of Art Russell are as naught without the loving benevolence of The Absolute. Through That, I know peace that was previously lacking. I also realize that wherever I walk, through whatever nature of circumstances, I never walk alone. EVER. It is this direct recognition, dear readers, which I wish for you.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Ever-Present “I Am”

Regarding knowing recognition of our essential nature, it has been my experience that apparently “little” points can make a huge difference in the degree of our understanding. Through Grace, the gifts of clarity often arrive when we least expect them and displace more of our delusional beliefs. The following is the account of one such incident that occurred out of the blue:

***

About three years ago, I was in a local store when I met a man whom I occasionally interacted with during my career as a paramedic. His formal career was as a respiratory therapist; but from our past discussions, I also knew that he was very knowledgable about our spiritual nature. Our meeting was an opportunity of which we took full advantage. For several minutes, we stood to the side of an aisle and allowed our enthusiasm to transport our conversation into the very depths of life.

At that time in “my” life, a lot of conditoned beliefs were still being shed. On some days, it felt as though “Art” had disappeared in the ocean of Truth; but on other days, it felt as though “Art” had reappeared to recite the details of “his” apparent life. In relating the situation, I believe that I said that some days I feel as though “It” (meaning my essential nature) is here, but that on other days as though “It” has left. In response to this, my friend made the following short comment, which serves as the foundation of this article. He said:

“Where would It go?”

I immediately smiled and nodded in agreement. The comment that my ex-colleague had made was so relevant and CLEAR. On those days when it felt as though my essential nature had departed, that, of course, wasn’t the case. And it can never be the case for you, either! A seeming departure actually means that my old conditioning (the belief in being the person) had once again returned and attempted to take center stage. Although our essential nature can neither be described nor defined (for it is limitless), It is often expressed as being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent–meaning all knowing, all powerful, andpresent everywhere.

The main point of this article relates to this: We awaken to true Self when we knowingly recognize That which neither comes nor goes. It is the substratum of all that ever was, is, and will be. The Absolute is One, playing all of our apparent roles as persons. It does not arise in us–the persons; we–the persons–arise in It. Eternal and indivisible, It is the unchanging foundation of our Being.

***

The photo at the top of this article is taken from my apartment. Several years ago, I felt inspired to attach the quote from St. Francis of Assisi to an old suitcase that had belonged to my parents. His message was that we are now–already–That which we are seeking. My point in attaching the message to the suitcase is actually the opposite of what persons might assume: We don’t have to pack our suitcase and travel anywhere to know That which we already are…here and now. We can unpack our history, take a deep breath, and just BE.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Spiritual High Rollers”

The majority of Beings are knowingly unaware of their essential nature; so it really wasn’t surprising to learn that Reginald still seems lost in his body-mind “story.” How can we be certain that Reginald has not yet awakened to his true nature? When he was recently a contestant on a game show called Spiritual High Rollers, the host asked him to complete the following sentence: “As it relates to your essential nature, beyond name and form…”

A m

A n

E T E R N _ L

B _ _ _ _

As the clock ticked down the remaining seconds (dum de dum-dum, dum dee do; dum dee dum-dum, dee, dee, dee-dee-dee-dee), Reginald’s face turned red, and he blurted the following answers:

“I am an eternal bigot!

I am an eternal beast!

I am an eternal baker!”

When the timer alarm sounded, Reginald spun on his heels and flung down his arm. It was over, and he knew it.

“I’m sorry,” said the host, as he noticed Reginald’s dejected expression, “but time has run out. Please don’t feel too sad, though; there’s good news. We’re inviting you back for another round!”

***

What about you, dear reader: Beyond belief, would you have known–directly–the answer that stumped Reginald? It’s possible to recognize a deeper dimension of Self here and now.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Observations of Terah

In a distant galaxy, far far away, there’s a planet named Terah with a population of almost eight billion people. The people, who are of various races, colours, and creeds, live in compartmentalized sections of land called “countries” and usually consider themselves to be quite civilized; that is, when they aren’t waging war against one another for the sake of keeping the peace. Terahlings are usually quite proud of themselves; for they believe they have advanced from the dark ages. Ignorance, however, can be a tricky beast to wrestle, because we are often unaware that we’re unaware. This is the case with the majority of Terahlings, who, for reasons unknown, choose to turn a blind eye to the following:

***

Despite the discovery in 1911 by Ernest Rutherford (one of Terah’s acclaimed scientists) that atoms are actually comprised of 99.999% empty space, the citizens of Terah continue to believe that they live upon a planet made of solid stuff called matter, which they assume to exist independent of consciousness. No amount of logic-based arguments can sway their population from the reports of their senses.

***

Despite passages in one of their Holy books called the Bible, which states (in Acts 17:28) “for in Him we live and move and have our being,” Terahlings continue to believe that each of them is, indeed, a separate source of consciousness. Their argument is that it certainly feels that way. That David Chalmers, who’s a noted philosopher and cognitive scientist, coined the phrase “the hard problem of consciousness” to refer to the unprovable assumption that neuronal processes of the brain give rise to consciousness, seems unimportant.

***

Despite the best efforts of sages and saints of Terah, who claim that the “reality” of their lives actually occurs in the Waking State (which is similar to the well-known Dream State, in which people, objects, and events are also experienced), the majority of Terahlings choose to ignore such reports and continue to believe in their autonomy as “persons.” The irony is that by doing so they’re denying the existence of the Creator that is the very Source of their life.

***

Despite evidence from science (The Double-Slit Experiment), which strongly suggests that mind is directly related to apparent objects experienced in consciousness, and that a world independent of consciousness cannot be proven, Terahlings continue to deny their divinity as co-creators with Infinite Living Mind and assume themselves to be mortals of flesh and bones.

***

The majority of Terahlings are actually prodigal, without being aware of it. In the well-known Biblical account of the prodigal son, the son turned away from The Father (his Creator) and spent his inheritance with his attention facing outward, toward the apparent world. When his suffering related to the perspective of being a “person” became too great, the son finally turned his attention back toward The Father, which symbolizes turning his attention within, to the Truth of his Being.

By last account, life is much the same for the citizens of Terah–strife, conflict, mass shootings, selfishness, greed, and war. Of course, there’s also a lot of goodness that occurs; but for some strange reason, that doesn’t get reported very often. One noted university professor of Terah, who preferred to remain anonymous for the purposes of this article, stated, “Do you have any idea how much it would cost to rewrite all of our history books…and tell the Truth?! Don’t be insane!” Please note: Any similarity to the situation on Earth is ~~purely~~ coincidental.

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

“Job, Well Done”

Humankind has it backwards. The trouble is, it thinks it’s doing a good job. All of our human mistakes occur, and continue to reoccur, for two basic reasons: 1. We’re unaware that we unaware we’re making them. 2. The majority of humans are unaware of their higher nature. Due to our ignorance (defined as: lacking wisdom or knowledge), humankind is constrained to act in accordance with ways that it thinks are best. However, to produce the best results, it’s not enough to embody the best that we think we can be; in daily living we must express “Being” the best that we are. Only when we awaken to the Truth of our essential nature will our results reflect our inner greatness.

If we allow ourselves to be governed by the finite mind of humankind, the work that we think we can do will always be somewhat stained by self-centered motives. Such means that no matter how good our intentions, we will still be ruled to a certain degree by human instincts and drive. No doubt, there is much goodness in human potential; but that’s not enough. Only when we knowingly live from our Being will we create the best-of-the-best conditions on earth. The following illustrates the difference:

If I allow Art to perform what he (the false self) desires to express,

the work, even if only faintly, will bear the stamp of getting.

In other words, there will still be self-interest of the little “me.”

Conversely:

If the Spirit of Infinite Living Mind (the true Self) expresses Itself through Art,

the work will bear the stamp of giving.

This means that everyone potentially gains.

In the first example, we can see that the work will still contain what’s in the best interest of Art. However, when we live and move and have our Being in accordance with the second example, we–in human form–become a conduit to the expression of Divine Greatness. Deep down, all of us know when we’re living according to the second way; for there’s not a hint of selfishness within the work.

At this point in human evolution, the majority of us are habitually expressing our finite humanity. Why? Because we’ve been conditioned to believe that we’re mere flesh and bones. Our results will dramatically improve when we fully express our Infinite Divinity. When we habitually express That, which is Infinite in potential and Glorious in actuality, will our work bear proof that we have knowingly climbed to the peak of our Being. Only then will we lovingly look at one another and truthfully say, “Job, well done.”

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Still Small Voice

One day, Frank became aware.

He became aware that he had been living unaware; that for as long as he could remember he had been existing on automatic pilot. Every day of the week was pre-planned, and so a week, a month, and, thus, a year. With startling clarity, he realized the shadow of his future–scripted by forces not his own–was both frightening and depressing. The revelation foretold the story of a man, apparently alive, standing at the foot of his own grave, awaiting the fall.

As Frank’s level of consciousness increased, he noticed that for years untold, he had willingly subjected his “Self” to the “cacophony of the multitude.” The trend had been so insidious that its increasing noise had escaped his attention. Morning news (“weapons of mass destruction“) was parroted at mid-day and echoed, yet again, at night. Repeatedly, various media outlets offered identical sound bites. For most of his life, Frank had assumed that the intention of such programs was simply meaning to inform; but now, he realized that conform, conform, conform was their more likely message. He also began to notice that neighbours and colleagues, in somnambulistic reverie, were eager to instruct him in action that he should take…if he were wise. “They’re asleep,” Frank now realilzed, “as was i.”

When Frank examined what he had assumed to be his life, he discovered that the grooves of his own behaviour were very deep, indeed. He realized (from the perspective of witness), that he always stirred the milk into his coffee with three clockwise turns–not two, followed by a tapping clink of the spoon against his favourite mug. He realized that he prefaced many sentences with the word actually, for no apparent reason. After showering, he realized that if it were not for awareness, his right arm would always reach to dry his left shoulder first. From his new vantage point, Frank intentionally severed as many patterns as possible; and subsequently felt more alive than he had felt in years.

On that day that Frank became aware, he made a promise to himself, which he has kept. The promise is that he would always favour the Still Small Voice within, instead of the cacophony of the multitude. Much later, Frank discovered that the Voice that guides his actions is referred to in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Frank also wisely follows another action. When persons ask him for his opinion, it is to “That”–their own Still Small Voice–that he politely suggests they turn.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

I’ll Be With You

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “I’ll be with you in a moment.” We’ ‘ve probably heard it or even used it ourselves. It’s often stated in polite conversation, to indicate that there will be a short delay before an intended interaction will occur. In the majority of cases, it’s uttered perfunctorily; in much the same way that an empty glass is handed to someone who is thirsty for water. If we care about the depth of our communication (and I hope that we do), we would be wise to contemplate the deeper meaning of the expression.

In the deepest sense of the saying, it’s actually impossible to “be” with someone in a moment. By the most literal interpretation, Being only occurs in the eternal and timeless Now. To accept anything less means that we’re dealing with the concept of time and, thus, interacting with conceptual selves. It means that the thought of “me” is dealing your thought of “you.” While this may seem to be of trifling consequence, I assure you it’s not.

To the degree that the interpretation of the expression differs, the communication between persons is highly vulnerable to conflict or misinterpretation. Why? Because the definition of a “moment” is subject to various opinions. To one person, a moment is literally one second–one little blip of a digital time piece. To another person, a moment, used offhandedly, might signify a lapse of five or ten minutes. Of course, we’re well aware that all of our words are not interpretted literally; it’s up to us to determine when we are speaking literally or figuratively. A personal best habit, however, would be to choose our words wisely.

The most important point of this article (of truly being present) can be understood more easily through the following: Have you ever shared the company of someone and asked, or been asked, “Where are you?” If so, you understand that the two persons, although physically close, were dimensions apart. One might have been quite present, awaiting a reply. The other, for whatever reason, may have drifted mentally and, thus, not been present. To truly “be” with someone we must meet them at the level of the heart. In this placeless place of sympathetic resonance, words and actions are not required.

If we desire to truly share openly and honestly with other dear souls who are taking this apparent journey called “life,” we owe it to ourselves and them to be “here” with them Now. To do so requires that we get out of our busy mind and be present: Such is the price of admission to real, meaningful communication. In time, everyone is being defrauded in varying degree. When we, as Presence, are there for “others,” we also benefit; for this means that we’re not functioning on behalf of the “voice in the head” that claims to be our real identity. With regard to issues that really matter, to settle for anything less than heart-based communication is to offer an empty glass.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Almighty Fearlessness

Have you experienced fear that robs you of the joy of each moment? Have you, as the person, been afraid of the so-called future? Have you, in the dark of night, tossed in a bed of worries about the coming day? If such is the case, there’s a solution of which you may be unaware. We lead into it through the following passage from Teachings of Ramakrishna:

Q: What is the nature of absolute reliance?

A: “It is like that happy state of comfort and satisfaction which is felt by a weary man when, reclining on a pillow, he smokes at leisure after a hard day’s toil: it is the ceasing from all anxiety and fear.”

The peace that’s described in the passage is not achieved by actions taken by the person. In fact, to attempt any actions from that perspective will almost certainly fuel our anxiety; or at best allow a brief reprieve. To discover the peace that passes all understanding, we must recognize our essential nature beyond name and form.

To understand this clearly, we must realize that persistent anxiety and fear belong to the perspective of the false self, also referred to as the person. Our body-mind is imbued with natural protective instincts that are intended to keep it safe; these usually function perfectly and should be heeded. However, prolonged anxiety and stress is generated by the fictional “i,” which believes it’s separate from All That Is. Fear of any nature doesn’t belong to true Self, because there’s literally nothing to oppose It.

How do we adopt this point of view? From the human perspective, we don’t attempt to do anything; for by repressing our fears, we would only add another layer to the belief in the false self. To arrive at true fearlessness, we must go within and knowingly recognize That which we actually are. When we become still (meditate)and know that I am God; we realize that we never were the person. We are Consciousness, in which the perspective of our body-mind appears. It was only our human conditioning that has made us interpret experience in such a fearful manner.

When we recognize that our higher Self is actually in charge of our life, we realize that we are free to live fearlessly. We learn to trust and have faith during circumstances that seem very uncertain. And the more that we trust That, which is our true nature, the more easily we flow with life. The verse from John 14 offers more inspiration: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: True Self

The High Way to Healing

Walking on Water

Ever-Present “I Am”

“Spiritual High Rollers”

Observations of Terah

Baker’s Dozen: Power Quotes

“Job, Well Done”

The Still Small Voice

I’ll Be With You

Almighty Fearlessness

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