My favorite slide from class this week showed the similarities and differences of dualism and monism. Here is a quick review:
Dualism
Subject-Object
Mind-Body
God & Creation
Good & Evil
God power & other power (s)
You are not God
Supplication: Prayer to God
God is within you
Give thanks
Monism
One Consciousness
Mind only (or physical only)
All is God (or energy, etc.)
Good & evil = a continuum
Only God Power
You are God
Affirmation: Prayer as God
You are within God
Realize all is well
I really like this brief snapshot of a relationship with God. And I wondered at first why I was so attracted to it. The Unity message seems to be in both of these categories and at different times of my life, I think I have switched sides. Right now I seem to resonate more with the monism list....and I finally figured out why. The "You are within God" statement sends a few goosebumps up and down my body. Yes, that certainly feels right. This is what I am experiencing in meditation! In the last year, my meditation practice has increased to one hour at night. I also use this awesome Holoysync mediation CD that takes my brain into a theta pattern. I know that I am creating new brain pathways and with those pathways....a greater connection to God. It feels like I am now within God! Goosebumps again! I knew there was a reason why I liked the Holosync system so much. Now I know!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Divine Order & Predestination
My prayer chaplain at church honored me with a phone call this weekend. With all of our conversation in class about Divine Order, I thought that to be a wonderful prayer request. While I truly loved the prayer and inspiration, I really had to remain centered in my own interpretation of Divine Order and not hers. It sounded like her definition of Divine Order had some aspects of Predestination thrown in. In Van Harvey's A Handbook of Theological Terms, Harvey defines Predestination as "the idea that before the creation of the world, God determined all that would come to pass in it....God's will...respecting the destiny of intelligent creatures." I think a great number of people in Unity think that is what Divine Order means. Well, it doesn't.
Based on the works of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, the founders of Unity, Divine Order really refers to the the Divine Order of Mind, Idea, and Expression. Our Mind creates Divine Ideas, and those Ideas, in turn, express in the world as Spirit. The Divine Idea is Unity's version of Heaven. From that thought seed of creation, all new things are formed!
So when I was asking for a prayer on Divine Order, I think I was really blessing this creative process within me that brings new God seed ideas to the table of life. And then, it is up to me to serve them to the world! While this may seem to be a little variance from Predestination, there really is a huge theological difference here. With Predestination, the power seems to be coming from another predetermined force outside myself. From the view point of Unity's Divine Order, the power is current and all within! Love that!!!
Based on the works of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, the founders of Unity, Divine Order really refers to the the Divine Order of Mind, Idea, and Expression. Our Mind creates Divine Ideas, and those Ideas, in turn, express in the world as Spirit. The Divine Idea is Unity's version of Heaven. From that thought seed of creation, all new things are formed!
So when I was asking for a prayer on Divine Order, I think I was really blessing this creative process within me that brings new God seed ideas to the table of life. And then, it is up to me to serve them to the world! While this may seem to be a little variance from Predestination, there really is a huge theological difference here. With Predestination, the power seems to be coming from another predetermined force outside myself. From the view point of Unity's Divine Order, the power is current and all within! Love that!!!
Friday, November 9, 2012
The Great Mystery
I've always thought my experience of God was something of a mystery! How exciting to hear in class this week that our oldest ancestors thought so too. When Dr. Tom mentioned that the Greek Word "mysterion" was miss-translated into a Latin term "sacramentum", I have to admit, I got a few goose bumps on my arms. The word sacramentum has overtones of duty or allegiance. That is not what the Greeks intended! Mysterion honors the mysterious, luminous experience of God. Now, that is the God I know!
I think Unity knows how to embrace mysterion in ceremony. Perhaps that is why I was initially attracted to Unity in the first place. In my early days at church, I remember crying over the Christening ceremonies. How incredibly beautiful to honor the perfection of each child....instead of affirming their inherent defects.
I love this Unity definition of Sacrament..."any place at which God's normally mysterious, unknowable Presence breaks through and makes itself known to seeking persons." For years I've been experiencing this through candle lightings, music, meditation, communion, white stone ceremonies, burning bowl ceremonies, and even a funeral or two. How stunning for me to realize that this was all about Sacrament! For some strange reason, this makes me feel closer to the millions of practicing Christians throughout the world...and not just Unity...everyone!
How strange to be moved by the discovery of a new word...mysterion. Is this new understanding I now have a sacrament too?
I think Unity knows how to embrace mysterion in ceremony. Perhaps that is why I was initially attracted to Unity in the first place. In my early days at church, I remember crying over the Christening ceremonies. How incredibly beautiful to honor the perfection of each child....instead of affirming their inherent defects.
I love this Unity definition of Sacrament..."any place at which God's normally mysterious, unknowable Presence breaks through and makes itself known to seeking persons." For years I've been experiencing this through candle lightings, music, meditation, communion, white stone ceremonies, burning bowl ceremonies, and even a funeral or two. How stunning for me to realize that this was all about Sacrament! For some strange reason, this makes me feel closer to the millions of practicing Christians throughout the world...and not just Unity...everyone!
How strange to be moved by the discovery of a new word...mysterion. Is this new understanding I now have a sacrament too?
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Life After Death?
After a few weeks of Metaphysical Theology classes, I've noticed how much my beliefs have changed in the past few years. I certainly am a work of Process Theology! I was most interested in the conversation about afterlife, specifically identifying the four main beliefs or destinations that exist. Do you believe in extinction, judgment, reincarnation, or universalism?
It is only in the past few years that I have really embraced the concept of reincarnation...although don't try to start a dinner party conversation around this! People are certainly funny about this concept. They either love it or hate it. I love it, perhaps because it supports the developmental models in transpersonal and integral spirituality. My new teachers....Ken Wilber and Alan Cohen...support the concept of reincarnation, but admittedly don't teach a lot about it. I listened to a talk they gave recently and I did like one idea that supports a belief in reincarnation. How can people be born with advanced stages of knowledge? For instance, I understand Beethoven wrote a complete symphony at the age of four. How can I possibly explain that level of skill without seriously looking at the possibility of reincarnation? I believe that we grow in consciousness at the soul or subtle level and when we die, that consciousness then goes with us. Beethoven must have been a composer in another life and then brought that skill with him into his new life...and for that I am very grateful! That is what I believe for now....but I know that may also change with time.
Surprisingly enough, I am also considering the extinction category. I think it is possible that nothing happens at death...consciousness may end. But if I REALLY believed that, I'd be atheist, wouldn't I? I just can't do that...yet. The energy of God exists...of that I am positive!
It is only in the past few years that I have really embraced the concept of reincarnation...although don't try to start a dinner party conversation around this! People are certainly funny about this concept. They either love it or hate it. I love it, perhaps because it supports the developmental models in transpersonal and integral spirituality. My new teachers....Ken Wilber and Alan Cohen...support the concept of reincarnation, but admittedly don't teach a lot about it. I listened to a talk they gave recently and I did like one idea that supports a belief in reincarnation. How can people be born with advanced stages of knowledge? For instance, I understand Beethoven wrote a complete symphony at the age of four. How can I possibly explain that level of skill without seriously looking at the possibility of reincarnation? I believe that we grow in consciousness at the soul or subtle level and when we die, that consciousness then goes with us. Beethoven must have been a composer in another life and then brought that skill with him into his new life...and for that I am very grateful! That is what I believe for now....but I know that may also change with time.
Surprisingly enough, I am also considering the extinction category. I think it is possible that nothing happens at death...consciousness may end. But if I REALLY believed that, I'd be atheist, wouldn't I? I just can't do that...yet. The energy of God exists...of that I am positive!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I'D RATHER MEDITATE
I feel a bit like I'm in vocabulary hell. After several weeks of theological terms, I'd really rather just sit and meditate. Don't get me wrong. I am really learning a lot in this class and think Dr. Tom has incredible knowledge to share...I just wonder what I am going to do with this glossary of terms. I do have a better understanding of Unity and how it fits into this theological discussion (very important for ministers), but do I really need to know all of this?
It does seem that the spiritual journey takes people in different directions. A few weeks ago, I heard one of the students ask a similar question in the Integral Spirituality class. She wasn't sure the class was an essential part of her education. For me, Integral and Transpersonal Psychology are a HUGE part of my journey. I wouldn't even be the same person today without having taken Brumet's Trans Psych class over a year ago. And just having a working knowledge of ILP (Integral Life Practice) brings me to an entire new dimension of spiritual and personal growth potentialities. It is the practice that attracts me, not necessarily the theological discussion....although I could probably talk about transpersonal psychology for hours...hummm...
So if your wondering how I feel about the Trinity...the whole mind, idea, expression thing...I don't have a whole bunch to say. I am very glad that the Fillmore's created a metaphysical interpretation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This helped me understand the Bible in an entirely new way many years ago and for that I will always be grateful. I love that I am expression in action! There is always a creative process going on in the world and in me. That is about as deep as I want to go with the discussion of the Trinity right now. As I mentioned earlier, I'd really rather clear my mind and meditate. I signed up for Brumet's retreat next weekend. I hope to see you there!
It does seem that the spiritual journey takes people in different directions. A few weeks ago, I heard one of the students ask a similar question in the Integral Spirituality class. She wasn't sure the class was an essential part of her education. For me, Integral and Transpersonal Psychology are a HUGE part of my journey. I wouldn't even be the same person today without having taken Brumet's Trans Psych class over a year ago. And just having a working knowledge of ILP (Integral Life Practice) brings me to an entire new dimension of spiritual and personal growth potentialities. It is the practice that attracts me, not necessarily the theological discussion....although I could probably talk about transpersonal psychology for hours...hummm...
So if your wondering how I feel about the Trinity...the whole mind, idea, expression thing...I don't have a whole bunch to say. I am very glad that the Fillmore's created a metaphysical interpretation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This helped me understand the Bible in an entirely new way many years ago and for that I will always be grateful. I love that I am expression in action! There is always a creative process going on in the world and in me. That is about as deep as I want to go with the discussion of the Trinity right now. As I mentioned earlier, I'd really rather clear my mind and meditate. I signed up for Brumet's retreat next weekend. I hope to see you there!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Spiritual Spiral
I was somewhat surprised to hear so many people in class this week share their beliefs that the spiritual path is a linear process. I understand that thinking. That is how I used to live my life. Today, at least for me, the spiritual journey has become a spiral. Here is how I look at it...
In the premodern world, indigenous cultures like the Native American Indians lived seasonal lives that flowed in a circle. From Fall, to Spring, to Summer, to Winter, these people lived as one with nature. Native American's call this pattern "The Hoop" and as a circle it represents feminine receptive energy. The circle also represents a pattern of birth and death. Natives were cycling through life for survival, but may not have been evolving.
With the introduction of the industrial revolution in America, the modern world moved away from this circle pattern. Instead of the circle, people began honoring the penetrating energy of straight line growth. Imagine an arrow shooting off in a diagonal into the sky! I believe it was at that time that America more fully embraced the male leadership model. This linear model exemplifies masculine action energy. True growth abounds as people strive to reach a target.
I believe the post-modern world combines the best of both of these feminine and masculine energies and creates a spiral. Like the slinky toy I used to play with as a child, the spiral brings the circle into a three dimensional world. Here, circular birth and death patterns are constant...but so is the ascension to a new way of being. This is the best of both worlds...receptivity and action unite!!! At this level of maturity, I believe the feminine and masculine energies in each individual come together, bringing a new level of wholeness to the community and to the world.
A few months ago I graduated as a Shamanic Breathwork Minister & Facilitator. I find it interesting that I attracted this practice just at the time I was uniting my own male and female energies. The spiral reigns in the breathwork world and I am so grateful for this shift in perception. I feel it is a huge leap to something new. I can't wait to see what it will manifest for me and for others!
In the premodern world, indigenous cultures like the Native American Indians lived seasonal lives that flowed in a circle. From Fall, to Spring, to Summer, to Winter, these people lived as one with nature. Native American's call this pattern "The Hoop" and as a circle it represents feminine receptive energy. The circle also represents a pattern of birth and death. Natives were cycling through life for survival, but may not have been evolving.
With the introduction of the industrial revolution in America, the modern world moved away from this circle pattern. Instead of the circle, people began honoring the penetrating energy of straight line growth. Imagine an arrow shooting off in a diagonal into the sky! I believe it was at that time that America more fully embraced the male leadership model. This linear model exemplifies masculine action energy. True growth abounds as people strive to reach a target.
I believe the post-modern world combines the best of both of these feminine and masculine energies and creates a spiral. Like the slinky toy I used to play with as a child, the spiral brings the circle into a three dimensional world. Here, circular birth and death patterns are constant...but so is the ascension to a new way of being. This is the best of both worlds...receptivity and action unite!!! At this level of maturity, I believe the feminine and masculine energies in each individual come together, bringing a new level of wholeness to the community and to the world.
A few months ago I graduated as a Shamanic Breathwork Minister & Facilitator. I find it interesting that I attracted this practice just at the time I was uniting my own male and female energies. The spiral reigns in the breathwork world and I am so grateful for this shift in perception. I feel it is a huge leap to something new. I can't wait to see what it will manifest for me and for others!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A Culture of Happy People...or are they?
The vast majority of my experience with Unity has been incredibly positive. The culture of positive uplifting spiritual messages fed me for years, as I experienced success and prosperity in so many areas in life. How sad that when the market crashed and life wasn't working....the entire Unity message just didn't seem to work anymore. It even started to sound a bit, well, fake. Those few people that knew of my situation seemed fairly confident that I was creating every circumstance in my life. After all, aren't we all co-creators? And I do believe they wanted it to be about me, because if it is not...then couldn't they experience the same kind of loss? Could they? Anyway, I'm still wrestling with my experience and wonder what it has to offer others. It certainly is a lesson in cultural conditioning. Of that, I can be certain.
I do know that my efforts to seek spiritual counseling in my own church were a dismal failure. I was in spiritual crisis and I just don't think the enormity of what I was experiencing was recognized....perhaps because I was recognized as a very prosperous leader? While I started telling my story....the minister kept trying to move me on to a more positive way of being...really even denying what was going on. Now, I haven't taken Brumet's counseling classes yet, but I do know from my own experience that the ministers role is NOT to change anyone. If people come in the door and ask for help, I'd better have an ability to hear it...perhaps even speak it back...and then find out what the person needs. I'm pretty convinced that the role of spiritual counseling is NOT to jump into a metaphysical discussion of how our thoughts create our world. People in pain do not need to hear that.
I think what surprised me the most about this experience was the unwillingness of a lead Unity minister to hear anything that was not positive. I was actually beginning a rather lengthy process of grieving my losses, and that was not supported. In fact, I was encouraged to move away from any "negative" feelings, so that I wouldn't attract more negative in my life...as if that was going to fix the situation. No, that is not the answer. That is metaphysical malpractice. Fortunately I was smart enough to move on from this attempt at spiritual counseling to find someone that was more qualified. I began talking with Rev. Robert Brumet probably two and a half years ago and have experienced really incredible healing and growth as a result. Without him, I probably would have left Unity a long time ago.
Today, I'm fairly certain I'm one of the best qualified Unity people to counsel someone dealing with pain and loss (minister or not.) I've lived it. Brumet taught me to fully enter my pain, instead of move away from it...and grieve...no matter how long it takes!
As I continue this journey with Unity, I do wonder where I'll end up. Can I teach the prosperity and positivity lessons that served me for so long in my 20's and 30's, or do I need to do something else? Since Unity has been a major part of my life, I seem to live with that polarity on a daily basis now. I need to make a decision about ministerial school...and I just don't know. I am certainly not a pessimist, nor am I an idealistic optimist anymore. Perhaps there is a middle ground for Unity today. I think a more balanced version of Unity is needed to bring these teachings into the 21st century. No more magical thinking and no more metaphysical malpractice! I continue to support the idea of creating an Integral Unity church. That would work for me...I think.
I do know that my efforts to seek spiritual counseling in my own church were a dismal failure. I was in spiritual crisis and I just don't think the enormity of what I was experiencing was recognized....perhaps because I was recognized as a very prosperous leader? While I started telling my story....the minister kept trying to move me on to a more positive way of being...really even denying what was going on. Now, I haven't taken Brumet's counseling classes yet, but I do know from my own experience that the ministers role is NOT to change anyone. If people come in the door and ask for help, I'd better have an ability to hear it...perhaps even speak it back...and then find out what the person needs. I'm pretty convinced that the role of spiritual counseling is NOT to jump into a metaphysical discussion of how our thoughts create our world. People in pain do not need to hear that.
I think what surprised me the most about this experience was the unwillingness of a lead Unity minister to hear anything that was not positive. I was actually beginning a rather lengthy process of grieving my losses, and that was not supported. In fact, I was encouraged to move away from any "negative" feelings, so that I wouldn't attract more negative in my life...as if that was going to fix the situation. No, that is not the answer. That is metaphysical malpractice. Fortunately I was smart enough to move on from this attempt at spiritual counseling to find someone that was more qualified. I began talking with Rev. Robert Brumet probably two and a half years ago and have experienced really incredible healing and growth as a result. Without him, I probably would have left Unity a long time ago.
Today, I'm fairly certain I'm one of the best qualified Unity people to counsel someone dealing with pain and loss (minister or not.) I've lived it. Brumet taught me to fully enter my pain, instead of move away from it...and grieve...no matter how long it takes!
As I continue this journey with Unity, I do wonder where I'll end up. Can I teach the prosperity and positivity lessons that served me for so long in my 20's and 30's, or do I need to do something else? Since Unity has been a major part of my life, I seem to live with that polarity on a daily basis now. I need to make a decision about ministerial school...and I just don't know. I am certainly not a pessimist, nor am I an idealistic optimist anymore. Perhaps there is a middle ground for Unity today. I think a more balanced version of Unity is needed to bring these teachings into the 21st century. No more magical thinking and no more metaphysical malpractice! I continue to support the idea of creating an Integral Unity church. That would work for me...I think.
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