We Are The Solution

There’s an old account/story told that goes as follows:

***

A town lies in the pathway of an oncoming flood. The residents are warned that they must evacuate because the water level is rising very quickly. Most people heed the warning and flee, using whatever means available to find dry land. One man, however, remains in his home. The water rises to the level of his front porch. Soon after, people in a rubber dinghy paddle up to his house. “Get in,” they call, “we’ll save you!” “No,” says the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The people in the dinghy reluctantly leave, and the waters continue to rise.

A few hours later, the man is forced to climb to the second floor of his home. He is standing on the balcony when people in a power boat come by. “Get in,” they call, “we’ll save you!” “No,” calls the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The people reluctantly leave, unable to believe their eyes.

The flood waters rise with even greater intensity, and the man is forced to climb onto the roof of his home. He is clinging to the chimney when a helicopter flies overhead. A rope ladder is flung out of the helicopter, and a rescuer descends. “Grab hold,” calls the rescuer, “we’ll save you!” “No,” shouts the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The helicopter is forced to fly away. The house finally tumbles over in the raging waters, and the man drowns. The story relates that he goes to Heaven and that he is very angry with God. “I believed in You!” he cries. “Why didn’t you save me?” To this, God replies: “What did you want? I sent you a dinghy, a power boat, and a helicopter!”

***

There was a time when I thought the account was just a mildly amusing story–which reveals that I, too, missed the boat! The story is actually intended to relate great wisdom. God/Source/The Universe works through us. Until we understand this, we’re missing a tremendously important point. All of us possess gifts that are intended to be shared for the benefit of everyone; and fortunately our gifts are as unique as we are. To enable ourselves to give from the heart, we must do some soul searching and discover our true passion. When we live our purpose–there’s the joy!

The next time that you’re seeking Divine assistance with a certain problem, keep your eyes open (and intuition attuned). The solution you’ve been searching for might arrive through a person sitting next to you on the bus or subway; or through a friend who knows of a friend. More important, you might realize that Divinity Incarnate–in you and the “other” person–is looking at Itself.

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. My YouTube videos may be found via this link; and my Linkedin profile via this link. May the content help you along your spiritual journey. 🙏🧡

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Awakening of Joshua

Joshua once lived in a house with many mirrors. They seemed everywhere he looked. There were mirrors in the bedrooms; mirrors in the bathrooms; mirrors in the halls; mirrors in the living room, dining room, and grand entrance. All about him, he saw reflections of whom he thought himself to be. The proof seemed inescapable, irrefutable, real. A glance in one of his many mirrors was all it took to reinforce his belief.

There he was–the business man. There he was–the husband. There he was—the father. There he was–through the faculty of memory–the little boy, brimming with innocence, joy, and enthusiasm. And here he was now–the forty-six-year old man, with the personal history of trials and tribulations; the one who was twice divorced, deep in debt, out of shape, lonely, isolated, a workaholic and near alcoholic; a man who was running as fast as he could to keep pace with a world that was forever changing. His identity was also reflected–and reinforced–by and through his interactions with his family, friends, and acquaintances.

Joshua’s view of the world was this: Some people are fortunate enough to be born into a rich family, but most are not. Some individuals get all the lucky breaks, but for most–as in his case–this world is a dog-eat-dog experience. Some people will have healthy bodies most of their lives, but the majority will succumb to one of an infinite list of lurking diseases. On a good day, he could line up his ducks and–with unrelenting attention–keep them in a row. On a bad day, he couldn’t even find them. There was no sense trying to change this reality. It was just the way of the world.

Time passed, until a year came when Joshua–inspired by a deep longing for a more meaningful way of Being in the world–quit work, sold his home, and moved to a cabin that he purchased on a small island. The island, which he nicknamed No Man’s Land, had no other residents. He lived alone there; free to come and go as he pleased. He rose early and stayed up late. He ate, slept, and communed with nature. On the third day, he forgot to wear his watch and never wore it again. Life seemed simpler without time. Soon after, he began a meditation practice and faithfully gave himself to it every day. One morning when he was heading outside for a walk, he noticed a small inscription carved into the back of the cabin’s front door. He assumed it to be from the previous owner. It read: To find yourself, you must lose yourself. Its meaning was perplexing, yet raised a strange but comfortable feeling within him.

Although the cabin was very different from the grand house in which Joshua had once lived, he soon became accustomed to it. Of the noticeable differences was that it had no mirrors–not one. Nowhere in his humble home could Joshua see his reflection. That felt startling at first; for it almost seemed he wasn’t there. There was direct evidence, however, that he was! He was conscious; he was alive; he was living moment to moment on an island. As the days turned into months, Joshua realized he was happier than he had been in years. It felt as though he had shrugged off a heavy burden; for everything about himself and his experiences felt so much lighter–real but unreal. This way of Being felt natural to him, as though a birthright now remembered. The reason?

***

Simple, when we understand the mechanics of how this reality operates; and the nuts and bolts of how it’s constructed. When Joshua moved to the cabin with no mirrors–on an island on which he was the sole resident–there was nothing to reinforce the identity of the false self (the conceptual self, which exists only in the mind and is constructed from a multitude of beliefs and memories). In the light of a deeper reality, his real self–Spirit–had the space to rise up and make itself known. “Here I Am, it whispered, “the One for whom you’ve been longing.” What are the practical implications that relate to the Law of Attraction? First: That, as in Joshua’s case, the person experiencing the problematic life is conceptual…only; nothing more than a fabrication of the mind. Second: That we should continue to dream and create–as that is our nature–but from the wiser and detached perspective of our true self. By doing so, we gain access to an Infinite Well of power and knowledge.

Joshua’s awakening was a process of true recognition; not a single ah–ha moment. As his mind released its stranglehold on his identity, his true essence was free to shine forth. To Joshua, it felt as though he had shrugged off costume after costume after costume; all of which had been worn by a small fictional actor who had no true reality outside of the mind. As compulsive interpretations fell away, the awakened Joshua was left free to live and breathe and have his Being in this world; but with the intimate recognition that he was not–now or ever–of this world.

***

In time, as Joshua’s new way of living stabilized, he left the seclusion of the island and returned to the hustle and bustle of the world. Its hectic pace continued, changing from moment to moment; but he felt grounded in the Unchanging. He felt untouchable–safe, sound, secure. He started a new business and bought a new home. In fact, he fell in love and married again. Knowing what he knew, he chose to focus his attention positively and thereby create a better life. However, the most important change in Joshua’s life came through knowing his true identity. Thus: All painful longing and false belief of separation fell away.

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”

I AM…

If we pay attention to the language we habitually use–often subconsciously–to describe ourselves, we may learn an interesting point. It’s this: Every word or phrase that follows the great “I AM,” (which according to many spiritual texts and teachers expresses who we actually are) limits, expands, or in some other way defines our human experience. A few examples may help us consider this in more depth:

I AM…a loner.
I AM…outgoing.
I AM…a homebody.
I AM…adventurous.
I AM…successful.
I AM…a failure.
I AM…happy
I AM…sad.
I AM…confident.
I AM…shy.

To examine this train of thought further, let’s imagine that Jane is a woman who often uses “I AM a homebody” to describe herself. It may roll off the the tip of her tongue as though she’s stating nothing at all–just facts of life. By doing so, Jane is claiming that she prefers to stay at home; that she likes the tranquility and safety it provides; that she neither needs nor desires a more exciting, adventurous, and extroverted life. She may believe this was fated, as though decreed by a deity on a distant cloud; or she may never question the origin of her own traits. All is good. The truth–at least from a Law of Attraction perspective–however, is this:

Every time Jane states I AM a homebody, she is actually creating more of that reality! The very moment that she repeats her self description, she is also simultaneously preventing a different reality from becoming part of her experience. Thoughts of being a homebody do not lead to actions of jet setting around the world. To be a homebody is fine; that’s not the point. What matters deeply–even poignantly–is if Jane actually yearns for more–perhaps being capable of visiting the Great Pyramids of Egypt, climbing to a Base Camp on Mount Everest, running a successful travel business, or learning to ride a motorcycle. In most cases, it is our identification with the false self (the conceptual identity) that prevents us from reaching for our dreams. What would people think? says the false self; or I can’t do that!–something inconceivable to the great I AM.

Some of the self descriptions we use aren’t truly that important. However, many are. This becomes more relevant when we consider the following example: I AM sick. If Jane had the capacity to create a homebody experience for herself (by precluding a different reality), is it not logical to conclude that by repeating I AM sick that a person could only be creating more sickness? How could health become? Are we who study and practice the Law of Attraction asking individuals to deny sickness? No, of course not! Wishing a condition away is not the same as creating something new–possibly a cure or improved state of well being! A person who is experiencing sickness is wise to seek every possible avenue for healing. That very healing, however, will begin by stating a new affirmation; something that breaks the cycle of current conditions and circumstances that such a person may have believed fated. The words to begin such a process might include: I AM…healed, I AM…well, or I AM…getting better each and every day. The way will be revealed.

An important point regarding the deliberate application of our words: To state our new affirmation in a lifeless and monotone manner is not enough. Our words take on power and creative vibrancy when we imbue them with feelings connected to images in our mind. For the man who feels crippled, that would require imagining himself flexible, pain free, and walking with ease. For the woman who feels poor, that would require imagining herself surrounded by ample signs of abundance. It’s wise to initially stretch our beliefs by small increments, by envisioning goals that seem plausible for us.

Lastly: A creator is a creator is a creator! Not only on Thursdays when the sky is blue and we’re content with what we’ve created in our life. Every day, every hour, every moment! Our ignorance of our deeper nature–our I AM-ness–does not prevent us from creating, nonetheless. It’s in our nature to create–we cannot escape it. How do we create? Through our thoughts, words, feelings, and actions. The process always begins, however, with thought. Our words are merely thoughts given verbal expression. And our actions are intimately connected to what we think, believe, and speak. This truth may be worth considering the next time we’re tempted to casually attach a word or phrase to the great I AM.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Agreement

It’s been expressed repeatedly in numerous books about the Law of Attraction: Ask. It’s the first step in the creative process; and we fulfill it when we know what we truly desire–what powerful magnetic goal draws our attention. Prior to knowing, we are much like dust in the wind, being blown about by the vagaries of life. We yearn for more, though; for we are creators! We desire to have our deepest longing fulfilled.

And what is The Agreement to which I allude in the title? It’s an agreement between God (Source, Divine Intelligence) and everyone who has ever lived, is living, and will ever live. It may be summarized thus: When we fully, completely, and faithfully commit to a goal, Source will communicate the way for its achievement. Pure and simple and true. A condition applies, but it has nothing to do with being blessed or cursed by a personified deity. To believe so is a misconception, for God does neither. The only condition we must fulfill is to ensure that our goals are for the good of all–for God is in all, through all, and working for all. To ask God to work against Its own nature, which is only good, would be illogical. The agreement may also be expressed as a promise: God is always with us, and we will never be forsaken or forgotten. Ever.

We live this truth by placing a demand upon the Universe–by daring to believe that our expectations could actually be fulfilled! For many individuals, this may seem impossible to believe. Why? Because we’ve been conditioned to believe that the very Source of our being could potentially be against us! If this is our belief, we should know this: Demand precedes supply! Until we Ask, Source (which is an impersonal force) does not possess an impetus to create. Think: Regarding the building of physical strength, it is only when we place the demand upon our muscles–by lifting greater and greater weight–that more muscle and strength is supplied. We trust and Divine Intelligence delivers. Do we manage the actual increase in muscle, or does that occur as though by magic?

That same magic is available to us in every aspect of our life. No demand is too great; no desire too grand. All that’s required is our faith (belief) and action based upon intuitive nudges that we receive. Want greater love in our life: Ask! Want greater health? Ask! Want greater financial wealth? Ask! A new home, a new car, a new career? Ask! How, literally, could we ever receive what we desire until the Source through which we live and act and have our Being knows what we desire?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Right…Where “I Am”

This world can feel so strange. We’re born into an environment that seems to compel us to reach. And keep on reaching. As children, we learn the rules early: Kindergarten is meant to lead to Grade One, Grade Two, and so on. We are taught–explicitly and implicitly–that we should strive, reach, become more, and make something of ourselves. And to that end we often sacrifice a greater gift to the false gods of materialism, success, and money. Often, although not always, we pay a steep price for the ignorance of our ways.

Some years ago, the title of this article would have seemed nonsensical to me. I would not have understood. The very concept of being Right…Where I Am would have felt tantamount to capitulation. I would have been a loser. Without a mountain to climb or a vision to make real, I would have felt so very lost. Without purpose, what would have been the sense of living? Being, then–at least to me–was such a nebulous concept, for life was in the dreaming, doing, and achieving. Such misguided thinking seemed to offer only two paths called Success and Failure. And who of us desires to walk the latter? In my ignorance, I spent the first half of my life trying to succeed; only to later discover that I had not lived.

Now, I have a clearer understanding. I realize that Right…Where I Am we may find–if we still ourselves and awaken–that everything is, always was, and always will be just fine. Beyond the machinations of the mind, we may realize–now—that we don’t need to go anywhere, or be someone other than ourselves. Here, in this glorious moment–not the next or the next after that–a greater realization may also dawn: that we are not alone. The One is with us, and has been from the start. One: Omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. One: Beyond time, eternal. One: In our family, friends, and so-called foes. One: In every rock, tree, and butterfly. One: The All in all, including us.

What does Right…Where I Am mean? It means fine–fine with, and fine without. It means accepting of what is, and what is not. It means peace; living from a realm in which we’re not striving to be somewhere else. It means joyously creating, but from a detached and wiser perspective. It means content; dwelling with the Maker of our breath. Lastly, it means that we may rest, for we know that Right…Where I am, God is too. And with that knowing, what more could we truly want? Peace be yours, now and forever.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Recognizing Who We Are

The title of this article may seem silly; perhaps idiotic. Of course we know who we are! Or do we? Are we just a bunch of Jane and John Does, or are we far more than names and other descriptive terms suggest? In the teachings of the Law of Attraction, we are told that we are creators–or more accurately, co-creators. The uninitiated may scoff, for the term seems to be absolute rubbish. Is it?

Think, or at least consider: How do we know any thing? By its traits? Description? By how we perceive it through our five senses? If we think of a leopard, do spots and speed come to mind? If we think of an elephant, do a long swinging trunk and massive body come to mind? If we think of a shark, do gills and razor-sharp teeth come to mind? Of a monkey–long hairy arms and swinging from tree branches? Of an apple–a palm-sized fruit that grows on an apple tree? And if we think of a spider, do multiple legs and cobwebs spring from our memory?

And when we think of us what comes to mind? Do we think of a bipedal creature of two genders, who walks upright, speaks various languages, eats, breaths, sleeps? In the usual course of a day–during the hustle and bustle of a world that can seem to be driving us–do we ever consider that we are creators? The answer: probably not! Who, then, is creating our experience? If we were to imagine a creator, would a creator not require the one trait that we actually possess? That’s right! A creator would have to possess the ability to think–to imagine the visions that only a creator could hold in mind. Just as we recognize a leopard by its spots, and an elephant by its trunk, we may also recognize that we are creators–due to the one defining trait that defines a creator: the ability to think. Now…

With this unique ability comes great responsibility. Why? Because in our waking hours, we are always thinking–sometimes more, sometimes less. All day, every day, we are immersed in thoughts that we either originate or receive. The caution with this ability is this: Positive and constructive thoughts lead to positive results. Negative and destructive thoughts lead to negative results.

When we truly know who we are we may free ourselves from the tyranny that we–through our own ignorance–have placed upon ourselves. We are far more than names; far more than physical description; far more than race and roles: We are co-creators of the universe. Is this blasphemy? Are we claiming that we are God? No, but we are individuated form (human beings) that are created in His image (imagination). We, too, create through our faculty of imagination. What shall we choose to create? If not up to us, who?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: God

We Are The Solution

The Awakening of Joshua

I AM…

The Agreement

Right…Where “I Am”

Recognizing Who We Are

Menu