ARCHIVES 2022
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 A recent poll from the UK found that many adults consciously limit themselves in life because they fear what others would think if they moved out of their comfort zone. People reported that they feel more alive when they take a risk, or when they engage even in simple adventures, like singing out loud, expressing their feelings, and – maybe the whackiest behavior of all – dancing in front of others.
“It is during the times I am far outside my element that I experience myself the most, that I see and feel who I really am. It's during those scary moments, hurling myself into the unknown, that I am like a comet hitting a new atmosphere. Suddenly I illuminate magnificently. I discover a smile I didn't know I had. I uncover a feeling that I didn't know existed in me. I see myself.” - C. JoyBell C., author Affirmative prayer: Today, I boldly go where the Infinite is always coaxing me to be. I advance to the forefront of consciousness, to the place where there is no sense of otherness, no judgment – just the love of pure Beingness and the certainty that anything is possible. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  The Clooney Foundation for Justice, founded by George and Amal Clooney, advocates in matters of human rights and justice around the world for women, minorities, journalists, and survivors. “We wage justice for victims of human-rights abuses, said Amal. “We bend the arc toward it.” Read more about their work here.
“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break, and all things can be mended. So go, love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” - L.R. Knost, author and social justice activist Affirmative prayer: I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper. Tenderly aware of our Oneness, I embrace the joys and sorrows of others. Taking on God’s vision for a higher good, I bring my compassion, talents, and ingenuity to bear. I know what I’m called to do. My inspiration has legs, and I lift up my companions with the strength and love of God. Amen.  “How much of your creative energy is tied up in guilt, hatred, resentment, lack, or fear? The truth is that you could be using all that energy to re-create a new destiny.” – Joe Dispenza, Becoming Supernatural
Affirmative prayer: I show up in my life as one sourced by Infinite Intelligence. My creative energy is charged by Divine essence, and I move from thoughts and beliefs that downplay my life to an empowered consciousness which uplifts my heart and imagination. Today, I look at the fear behind my anger. I perform one act of forgiveness. In this, I more clearly know the truth of my being, and am made free to fulfill my potential. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Located near a hillside in Sussex, England, in a field of fluffy farm animals, a “sleep dome” is offering the chance to dose off counting real sheep. The dome hosts two guests and features views of idyllic surroundings. Guests are encouraged to count the sheep before gently drifting off into a blissful slumber beneath the stars.
“Rituals are useful in threshold moments: lighting a bed-time candle, reciting an evening prayer, peace-giving lullabies. These are agents of restfulness. Sleep is more than sleep. It tells us that the world is, in many ways, safe.” – Evan Hodkins, School of Alchemy Prayer: “Now the day is over. Gently dance us out of this day into the arms of night. Give us peaceful rest. Let the star dust of your love descend on us. O mysterious Beauty, your music lingers in our souls, lulling us to sleep peacefully in the shadow of your wings. O Dancer of the Distant Stars, we are part of your starlight. Renew us and restore us as we sleep. Amen.” - Macrina Wiederkehr  In 1937, the “Wedding of the Waters” occurred when a gourd of water was carried from Tulainyo Lake in Sierra Nevada – the highest lake in the United States – to Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest U.S. lake. The gourd was first carried on foot, then by horseback, a covered wagon, a mule team, stagecoach, a narrow-gauge train, and lastly a Lincoln-Zephyr car. Finally, the water from Tulainyo Lake was emptied into Badwater Basin.
“This journey is a spiral and never a straight line.” – Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I ready myself for the journey before me, moving through the highs and lows with trust, vision, and purpose. With each step, I find myself home in Spirit’s Life. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  When tennis great Roger Federer played his final match last week, all the re-counting of his many career wins was eclipsed by the love he showed for his fellow players – and their love for him. Roger's tears were flowing at his goodbye match and his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, cried alongside him. Roger’s unbelievable number of wins proves his class, but his love for his opponents shows his true greatness.
“How we live and whom we love leads us to a profound understanding of our purpose. There are no insignificant relationships. Every experience that we have contains purpose and meaning. Our spiritual task is to elevate them in our awareness so that our mission can shine forth in its full dimensions.” – Caroline Myss, Sacred Contracts Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I open to the beauty of loved ones in my life, to the blessings of relationships. I give thanks for my soul friends, and I nourish our communion with my attention, affection, and gratitude. Heart to heart, I reach out. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Today, Jupiter is making its closest approach to Earth in 59 years. The two planets don’t orbit the Sun in perfect circles, so they’re at different distances each time they pass. Today, Jupiter is only 367 million miles from Earth. Excellent views may be possible this evening with a good pair of binoculars.
The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in balance, measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his or her own soul? – Oscar Wilde, De Profundis Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I am sourced, upheld, and guided along my cosmic journey. The image of my self is bright as I reflect the love and light of God. I give thanks that I share this life with other brilliant lights. In our orbit, we are points of love and inspiration for one another. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Stephen Colbert said he learned to “love the thing that I most wish had not happened.” Talking about a plane crash that killed Stephen's father and two of his brothers when he was 10 years old, he said, " It's a gift to exist, and with existence comes suffering. If you are grateful for your life, then you have to be grateful for all of it. You can't pick and choose what you're grateful for."
“Grief has a very holy purpose. Through our feelings of loss, we actualize true gratitude. When we see the depth of our grief as reflecting the depth of our love, the holes that a loved one's spirit once filled go from triggers of sadness and regret to altars of gratitude.” – A. Helwa, Secretes of Divine Love Affirmative prayer: Today I let myself grieve, consciously being in the sadness. No resistance, no avoidance, no masking my grief with a brave smile. I welcome the gifts that this moment offers, finding resilience, wisdom, and a renewed sense of hope. I’m thankful for the depth of realness, for the healing, the soul recovery, and the lightness of being. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  “Your treasure is within you and, to claim it, you must leave the busy commotion of the mind, abandon the desires of the ego, and enter into the silence of the heart.”
– Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love Affirmative prayer: Today, I quit striving. I let my agendas, plans, and dreams rest, allowing them to steep in a relaxed sense of wholeness. All my attention now is in the field of consciousness, this moment, pure Presence – and all is well. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  The International Day of Peace is observed today, September 21, around the world. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace entails more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all people feel that they can flourish, creating a world in which people are treated equally.
Affirmative prayer: I know there is but One Mind, which is the Mind of God, in which all people live and move and have their being. I know there is a Divine Pattern for humanity and within this pattern there is infinite harmony and peace, cooperation, unity and mutual helpfulness…so all people shall live together in peace, harmony and prosperity forever. – Excerpted from “A Prayer for World Peace,” by Ernest Holmes. Go here to read the entire prayer.  Stuck in gridlock, an Indian surgeon ditched his car and ran almost two miles to the hospital where one of his patients was awaiting him for gallbladder surgery. Dr. Govind Nandakumar of Bengaluru said he sat in traffic for quite a while, then made the decision to make a run for it. “Running in the middle of the road in formal shoes is not ideal, but the surgery went smoothly and my patient recovered well.”
"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and, when I run, I feel God's pleasure." – Eric Liddell, British Olympic runner Affirmative prayer: I live and move and have my being in the life of Spirit. Today I live with great intention, mindful that, with every step I take, I am moving more deeply into God’s heart. Amen.  Sea urchins like to put rocks and shells on their heads to protect them from predators and the sun. So aquarists made little hats for them. Not only are they kept safer, they’re quite stylish.
“I asked the earth, I asked the sea and the deeps. I asked the winds that blow, the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars. My question was the gaze I turned to them. Their answer was their beauty.”- St. Augustine Affirmative prayer: Today, I cultivate a greater awareness of my place in the ocean of Spirit’s Life. I am kept safe and vibrant by Divine Love. I am in plain sight of God, giving thanks that the Divine sees me as part of the holy mystery of Its own life. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  In his book, The Lyrics, Paul McCartney divulges the origins of his most enduring songs: the way snippets of memory inspired him; his mother’s bedside jar of Nivea cold cream; and spotting the name “Rigby” on a tombstone.
“Life infused us with the power to conceive, express, and enjoy the fruits of our creative power. We create through thought, word, and deed. We are each here to reveal the creative ideal of the Divine.” – Iyanla Vanzant, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up Affirmative prayer: Today, in concert with the Divine, I give radiant life to the landscape of my soul and my estate. My creations, my handiwork are made visible wherever I place my attention. I manifest beauty, abundance, love, and right action. I do this on purpose for myself and for those in my orbit. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  When three of their four children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition that causes a loss or decline in vision, Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier decided to take them round the world. “We’re going to fill their visual memory with the best, most beautiful images we can."
“The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. They become self-fulfilling prophecies.” – Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot Affirmative prayer: I behold the beauty of this life, the near-at-hand and the sweeping visions of my eyes and heart. My soul is enlivened in this grace, and I move with reverence and a keen awareness that my life is made whole, dignified, and enlarged. I’m so grateful that this is the essence and beauty of what is before me this day. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  In the 19th and early 20th centuries, before alarm clocks were invented, many workers in Britain were woken by the sound of a tapping at their bedroom window. People known as "knocker-uppers" were paid to stroll around cities and wake people up, using long sticks, rattles, or pea shooters. The big question is, who woke up the knocker-uppers?
“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep.” - Rumi Prayer: Infinite Presence, “Awaken me. Come, meet me in the garden of my life. Lure me into elation. Revive my silent hope. Coax my dormant dreams. Roll back the stone of my indifference. May I become ever more convinced that your presence lives on. Awaken me!” – Joyce Rupp, Out of the Ordinary  The pursuit of meaning has underlined human activity for millennia, stretching back to thinkers like Aristotle and Plato all the way up to modern-day philosophers and scientists. Research shows that not only does finding meaning in life inform our priorities, it also shapes how we respond to life’s twists and turns and fosters a sense of well-being.
“There are two major tasks to human life. The first is to build a strong "container" or identity; the second is to find the contents that the container is meant to hold.” – Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Affirmative prayer: Today, I am becoming clear about what is important in my life. I discern the meaning of Spirit’s “I Am-ness,” aligning my self-image with the Divine’s impression of me. I hang out in the Absolute, adding spiritual qualities to my life’s container. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Elizabeth Leighton, who lives in Dull, England, was touring the U.S. when she drove into Boring, Oregon. She sent her friend in England a message: “‘Isn’t this amazing? I’m in Boring and you are in Dull.” Inspired by the sense of connection, Elizabeth got in touch with the city councils of each town. Dull and Boring are now sister cities.
“To live spiritually is to know that everyone and everything just is. Do not label, define, or judge what is.” – Joel Goldsmith, The Infinite Way Affirmative prayer: Today, I awaken from my dullness and rise vigorously toward the callings of my heart. I embrace this life with passion and purpose. Every day, I shall fall more in love with the community of blessed souls – my sisters and brothers – who bring warmth and color to my life. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  With schools back in session, students in some states are seeing the enactment of new laws restricting teaching about race, history, and gender identity – and a growing number of books are being pulled from library shelves. "What this amounts to is censorship," said Jeremy Young of PEN America, which defends and celebrates free expression through the advancement of literature and human rights.
“The Divine plan is one of freedom, the birthright of every living soul. The inherent nature of all is to express itself in terms of freedom. This inner voice tells us of a life wonderful in its scope, of a love beyond our fondest dreams.” – Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind Affirmative prayer: I give thanks for the freedom to express and abide in my life principles, and I pray that all people live in this Divine right. I honor those who support others in living their truth. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Pakistan’s first-ever female architect, Yasmeen Lari, is saving lives. She is the cofounder of the Heritage Foundation which makes bamboo huts for Pakistanis stricken by floods. This year, more than a million people have lost their homes to flooding. Yasmeen, who is 81 years old, is creating a place for them to live.
“The whole business of the Divine is to care for you, to love you with an everlasting love, to note your slightest cry, and to rescue you.” – Emilie Cady, Lessons in Truth Affirmative prayer: I give thanks for my two hands, energy, and caring heart that I may be an instrument through which the Divine brings comfort and hope to those in need. I am strengthened by my awareness of our holy union, allowing me to be a conduit for resources and Spirit’s love. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  “We reside inside God’s imagination, the territory of unbounded sunniness. As far as I’m concerned, God can dream all over me.” - Evan Hodkins, School of Alchemy
Affirmative prayer: I am the out-picturing of God’s dream for complete life. I am fulfilled by my union with Universal Intelligence, the Divine Core, and the blessed souls in my orbit. We live in the heart of one another, in God’s heart. Thank you, Spirit, forever. Amen.  When Tom Segura learned that Bert Kreischer drinks a gallon of Kool-Aid every day, the two friends could only laugh. Not just a little chuckle; they couldn’t stop laughing. It was the kind of spirit-lifting moment that can heal, renew, and stop time. See it here.
“Laughter is a holy thing. It is as sacred as music and silence. Laughter is like a prayer, like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other. Laughter is like mercy; it heals. When you can laugh at yourself, you are free.” – Ted Loder, Tracks in the Snow Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I’m lightning up today and entering into sacred playfulness. I follow the holy tenet, “If I’m laughing with others and with the gods, my whole body is filled with light.” I am in the energy of God’s delight. I am enlightened. Thank you, God, forever, Amen.  Photographer Mathew Nichols caught stunning images of a rainbow inside ice caves near Mt. Rainier. "It was an amazing natural phenomenon. The vibrancy of the colors was wild.” Rainbows in ice caves are given their colors by light refracting through the algae and ice. See more here.
“The beauty of Divine nature is everywhere we look. The color of the desert at dawn, the daffodil in its sweet simplicity, the majestic beauty and strength in the mountain and in the wave. Beauty is symmetry, charm, grace, and loveliness. We can identify ourselves with this beauty that pours its warmth and color over everything and is the very root of our being. – Ernest Holmes, Richer Living Prayer: “Beautiful reflection of divine light, shine on me. Rejuvenate and invigorate me. Renew my commitment to the tasks of this day. Lead me to my courage. Warm what has grown cold in me. Energize all that has become lethargic. Enliven my growing moments. Help me to stand before my life with an open heart.” – Macrina Wiederkehr, Seven Sacred Pause  California is starting to cover its canals with solar panels to help drought conditions. Scientists say if all of the state’s 4,000 miles of canals were covered, the panels would save 63 billion gallons of water from evaporation and provide enough green energy to power 750,000 homes.
“Out of adversity comes resourcefulness.” - Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race" and "National Geographic Explorer" Affirmative prayer: Today, in the reality of Oneness, I affirm that I am resourceful in my life expressions. I look not to the conditions I face, but to the vast reservoir of creativity and power which flows through me. I am a conduit for Life’s goodness, and I can all things through Spirit which strengthens me. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  The Gemini North telescope has spotted two entangled galaxies, 60 million light-years away, that will eventually merge into one. The galactic pair NGC 4567 and NGC 4568, nicknamed the Butterfly galaxies, have just begun to unite as gravity pulls them together. In 500 million years, the two cosmic systems will complete their merger to form a single elliptical galaxy.
“As the rivers flowing east and west merge in the sea and become one with it, so do all creatures lose their separateness when they merge at last into pure Being. There is nothing that does not come from the inmost Self, the Self supreme.” - The Chandogya Upanishad, Sanskrit text, 7th century BC Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I am blessed to be a part of the cosmic journey of life. I give thanks that my whole-life awareness allows me to be a source of joy and hope for others. I revere each one’s journey, taking delight and assurance that we’re all walking this path together. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S., is the next role model to be honored in Barbie's line of Inspiring Women dolls. Walker, born in 1867 to slaves, founded a line of haircare products and cosmetics designed for Black women. She became an activist and philanthropist, supported orphanages and Black colleges, and advocated for civil rights organizations and women's rights.
“It’ pretty hard for the Lord to guide you if you haven’t made up your mind which way to go.” - Madame C. J. Walker Affirmative prayer: I am open to the many ways that pure Spirit shows up in my life. I steadfastly follow the path brightened by the Divine, and I am grateful for the wellspring of love and power within me. I am in union with others on this journey. May I be a loving presence for my sisters and brothers. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. |