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CREATION SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
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JULY 2011
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Dear Friends of Creation Spirit,
I hope you are enjoying the benefits Summer Solstice brings us from day to day, and are looking forward to celebrating Independence Day. And by now, that your flowers are blooming more brilliantly than the grass is growing tall. Summer is a time for vacationing, for refreshing body and soul in fun-loving ways. To be all we are with friends and family and all that surrounds us.
Summer is also a time to demonstrate what comes new to us as inspiration and enlightenment. A time to be what we are called to extend out into the Universe from the inside, out. A time to be an example of what it means to live lovingly, as a way to encourage others to also live lovingly--both toward themselves and others.
Unmistakably, each of us is called to exercise our natural state of divinity. To be expansive, reaching out to learn and to know from the Source of our heart of hearts, to share what we are, to live, to be. Like a Monarch butterfly exiting its chrysalis anew, to fly in all our magnificence. To dance with the Universe in all our brilliance. Who are we not to fly in all our magnificence? Who are we not to dance with the Universe in all our brilliance? Ours is to inspire--by being only what we are.
I know what you are: divine. I know what you can do: anything of which you become spiritually aware. So, be what you are--be and do what you can see and hear--inwardly. Become independent in this season of Independence Day.
Let's be together this way.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Gratefully,
Jim
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WHAT PRICE INDEPENDENCE?...
All those many years ago, our "foreparents" left the "Mother County" and sailed to America in order to establish their independence--both from political control of the Mother Country and to achieve religious freedom. Some paid the price with their very lives. Others paid the price of burdening the shifting governmental foundation and freedom of religious expression on their backs.
In retrospect, ever-grateful for the richness of our form of government and religious foundation, I suggest we take a moment to reflect on what price we must now pay in order to move the impact of our foundation to even
deeper levels of being.
I begin by asking: what is it you feel governs you from day to day? What is it you worship?
Is your life governed by external agencies, Congress, outward appearance, the beliefs and opinions of others? Do you even supplicate yourself to and petition some god outside yourself for favor?
Discerning what it is that governs your life is asking you to define a spiritual foundation for your life. Notice I didn't say a religious foundation. You already have established your religious foundation, and that is not by the church or religious doctrine to which you subscribe. You define your religion by the life you lead.
Everything we express out into the world we demonstrate religiously, routinely, often unthinkingly, organized religious doctrine notwithstanding. From this perspective, our religious practice is defined by the long list of beliefs and opinions we turn into our momentary acts, one way or another.
Interestingly, this same definition articulates what we allow to govern us. And if we allow ourselves to be governed like the religious practice we express, often we are left feeling hollow and incomplete, like an egg with no yolk--a body lacking soul.
What I suggest here--and what I've included in a few excerpts below--is that we turn ourselves in an entirely different direction. That we change our direction by turning away from living via outward signs and externalize beliefs and opinions, and instead live from the inside, out. What do I mean by living from the inside, out? We begin by going inward for the Truth found only there. We redefine prayer to mean that we listen inward for the still, small voice of spiritual consciousness--and then surrender to its guidance, and only its guidance--thus providing spiritual order for our lives.
When we begin and abide each day only with the guidance of the inner Source, our lives are governed only by Source, each step of the way. Should we fail in this regard, we then live feeling like victims of external agencies and under the influence of others' desires and mandates for us. I'd like to invite you to feel victimized no longer, and to return to your most natural state--our innate state of divinity. I invite you to do so both for the richness such transcendence will bring to your lives, but also because your spiritual example will inspire others to follow your lead. When you and they form your lives from your innate divinity, the power of Truth expands exponentially--as does the transformation of our government and our sense of true religious freedom.
That's not so high a price to pay for spiritual government and religious freedom, is it? Join me, won't you?
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GETTING STARTED...
Often, the most difficult part about moving from our fixation on outer authority to engaging inner Source in order to become spiritually independent is getting started. Below are a few comments that may inspire you in this vein. My own experience is simply to "show up" each day with the intention to live from the inside, out. Inspiration is waiting for you to show up and become aware. You'll see this to be true when you do.
From A Course in Miracles (you can change the language to fit your preference for spiritual clarity) :
Being Still
"Simply do this: Be still, and lay aside all your thoughts of what you are and what God is; all concepts you have learned about the world all images you hold about yourself. Empty your mind of everything it thinks is either true or false, or good or bad, of every thought it judges worthy, and all ideas of which it is ashamed. Hold on to nothing. Do not bring with you one though the past has taught, nor one belief you ever learned before from anything. Forget this world, and come with wholly empty hands unto your God.
Let us be still an instant, and forget all things we ever learned, all thoughts we had, and ever preconception that we hold of what things mean and what their purpose is. Let us remember not our own ideas of what the world is for. We do not know. Let every image held of everyone be loosened from our minds and be swept away.
Is it not He Who know the way to you? You need not know the way to Him. Your part is simply to allow all obstacles that you have interposed between the Son and God the Father to be quietly removed forever. God will do His part in joyful and immediate response. Ask and receive.
But do not make demands, nor point the road to God by which He should appear to you. The way to reach Him is merely to let Him be. For in that way is your reality proclaimed as well."
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"Years ago, I would have said there are only two kinds of people: those who are Love and those who want to be Love. Today, I would say there are only two kinds of people: those who gnow* they are Love and those who have forgotten they are Love. Either way--whether one gnows, or one has forgotten--that's what plays out on the stage of Life for them.
*Gnow is a word I've coined to capture the meaning of gnosis, the intuitive apprehension of spiritual Truth. I use gnow when I wish to make the point that it is the deeper meaning we experience in our heart of hearts that voices our Truth--and defines the spiritual path we walk. Gnosis contrasts with the word "know," which ties us to the limitations of "thinking" and our fear of losing control over our lives. It is gnowing that sets us free to be all we really are; knowing severely limits us to what we have habitually come to think we are." Jim Young
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An inspirational response to sending a friend in Greece a Rumi quote:
Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious! (Rumi)
"You know what...maybe I will destroy my Pilates reputation, and start living notoriously where I fear...I guess I will start writing!" (Sophie)
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Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
(Browning)
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"Time flees irretrievably, while we wander around, prisoners of our love of detail." (Virgil)
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THE 100% "RULE"...
Let's "punctuate" the importance of spiritual independence by being radical. Seems to me that shifting the hold these chaotic times have on us requires a radical approach. Simply sliding along, being satisfied with spiritualizing our ego consciousness, just won't do.
It's much more difficult and debilitating on the long term to function at less than a 100% commitment to living spiritually. When we live anything less than 100%, even at the 98% level, we are reduced to continually strive or seek to become what we already are: 100% divine, complete, spiritual, throughout eternity. Why struggle, when all we need do is to engage our innate divine nature in full awareness of it? Look and listen inwardly and awareness will show the way...
This takes me to "The 100% Rule": "It just doesn't matter," or perhaps more accurately, "Nothing else matters."
This 100 % Rule provides me with a rather detached, mischievous state of mind that is blithely heedless of what anyone thinks about anything. By trusting my intuition above all other influences, I'll be exercising my right and the privilege to be free from the likes of expectations, precedents, dogmas, beliefs and opinions. Thus, I'll be declaring my independence from everything that doesn't resonate as Truth, deep in my heart of hearts (gnosis*). And I'll be extending out into the Universe only the renderings of that Source, which provide but spiritual order to Life and, along with it, nothing less than authentic Love.
*Gnosis: intuitional apprehension of spiritual Truth. (Thanks to my friend, Lothar Schäfer, for this definition of gnosis, called cosmic consciousness in his lexicon.)
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WHAT A SALON MEANS TO YOU...
Following the last newsletter, which focused on the initiation of Salons--a social means of sharing ideas pertaining to issues, concerns and perceptions thought to be important by like-minded people--a number of you responded in your own language. What follows are some of your responses, space allowing but a few this time around.
"I enjoy your newsletters very much... and I want to comment on this month's subject. Your salon sounds similar to what used to be called a "Chautauqua." My grandmothers used to attend; you can read about it on Wikipedia."
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"You have started a wonderful get together. Please post us about the talk of the salon so that we will also participate. In meetings like this, I would have taken you to Garret Hardin's warning about 21st century life and then how Michael Jackson has talked about Mayan Calendar in his music. I have got a mind like that--very deviation, digressing, connecting and a very best fit for Eureka Springs Salon. All the best. Have great fun!"
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"People do things like this in the name of grapevine (in the management field), kitty party (in the field of housewives) etc.
I really liked this idea and I have shared it in Facebook and all other connections too."
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"I love the concept of your Salon. I had even thought of creating something like this in KC at different points. I do have circles that I am a part of where we check in and connect. However they have always been all women. Your format sounds wonderful. And I think the idea of people of different ideas and perspectives sounds even better. I love my circles and I am going to think about a Salon group of men and women. Once again it seems we think along the same paths."
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"Congratulations on our new Salon initiative. I hope for you that it flourishes into many
blossoms."
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I have shared your newsletter article about the Salon with Facebook people and several are excited about the idea. See what you are starting, so easily? We WANT connection.
Actually my often-repeated fantasy was to live in my own version of Walden's pond. So the Salon experience could well be the beginning of that."
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Even tho I was the owner of a hair salon for years...and found it an incredible venue for talking to people of all walks of life...I do love the idea of a home salon... have read about the salons of more famous people...and the results being so creative and adding to each persons personal life. I love that you are doing this. "
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"I have often thought of doing this myself. Now, I'm approaching the end of my life...so they say. I feel like every day is a salon of sorts. Lots of visitors, some I've been close to for years, some, I've only come to know through my illness. But, we talk...we talk about everything. Art, beauty, fear, dying, living, loving, sharing, how we can make differences in the world.
I wish you and your group...and all groups that decide to come together the very best. This is a wonderful thing. Thank you for bringing this to the light. Peace and harmony,
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"Was nice to read your newsletter & hear of your salon. Pictures of men removing their top hats, sitting in tails and ladies all in lace with parasols paraded thru my mind. I used to host monthly meetings here with some women friends & we chatted about various subjects out on my patio. Each get together was a tea party with different themes, so we would all dress accordingly, such as a rose theme with a rose decorated table & serving dishes. We would wear hats or clothes embued with roses. Was fun! Our talks took us many places."
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I sent this on to a niece in Fayetteville, a small animal veterinarian and to Lois here in Christway. Maybe the Salon idea has already taken "root" in Hot Springs."
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"I called soomeone this morning to discuss community groups, especially getting together people interested in supporting the education of the Children of Now. From what he said, THIS IS THE TIME for many small groups forming. We plan on meeting in a week or two to formulate further plans. Dr. Jean Houston said the same thing: NOW is the time for Community support and TIME to activate our gifts to give to the larger Community of Humanity."
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SPEAKING TOUR SCHEDULE...
Should you wish to schedule a presentation or program with Jim,
SEE ASSORTMENT OF PROGRAMS HERE
SCHEDULE A PROGRAM WITH JIM HERE
Thur., Sept. 1, 7:00 PM - Spiritual Frontier Fellowship, 4900 Waters Edge Dr., Raleigh, NC: 2013! The Beginning is Here.
Sat., Sept. 3, 10 AM-2 PM (registration 9:30 AM) - Spiritual Frontier Fellowship, Raleigh, NC: A workshop - Living Beyond 2012.
Sun., Sept. 4, 10:30 - Triangle Center for Spiritual Living, 4900 Waters Edge Dr., Raleigh, NC: Live 2013 Now!
Sun., Sept. 4, 12:30-2:30 -Triangle Center for Spiritual Living, Raleigh, NC: Living from the Inside, Out
Sun., Oct. 16, 6 PM - Fellowships of the Spirit, Lily Dale, NY: 2013! The Beginning is Here. (716) 595-2159
Fri., Oct 28-Sat. Nov. 5 - Speaking tour in Germany, related to the German translation of: AWARE IN A WORLD ASLEEP. A specific itinerary will be announced at a later date.
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THANK YOU!...
I remain grateful to those of you who maintain your interest and support for the CREATIVE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER. Below you will find that a simple click on "Forward email" will send a copy of this edition of the newsletter to a friend. Thank you!
I wish you a joy-filled Independence Day. And may you celebrate your spiritual independence EVERY day from now on. I am here for you...
Namaste'!
Warm regards, wrapped in gratitude,
Jim Young
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