A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 18

A Course in Miracles

Workbook Lesson 18

 

"I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing."

 

Interpreted by Roberta Gallop

 

Daily Welcome:  Blessed day my rambunctious loves, it is nice to see you well rested and chomping at the bit. We are doing it, all of us, one day at a time. Banding together, learning lessons, enjoying each other's energy, and having a general yummy time. So, today's temperatures may be a little cooler, let's dress a little warm and happily get at it. Love you guys.

 

Prayer: My beloved All That Is, please guide us to reach to you and know we are one. Thank you for creating me and experiencing my life with me, knowing we are all made by your design to fulfill the calling you have chosen for each of us. Please help us to stay confident that we are your Son, and that we can do as you would have us do, and help us to know and accept our worth. Allways.

 

Workbook Lesson: "I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing." So, this is a great reminder that we are one and we are not in this alone, and even though there are many millions of us on the planet, our mind is one. We are all connected through that mind, so as all of us little selfs down here think, feel, and make more and more thoughts, decisions, and illusions we all feel the effects of these illusions together. So, we reinforce the separation, that judgement of what is good and what is bad, of which acts are acceptable and which ones are not. I think media of all kinds is very responsible for influencing our thoughts and subsequent views and actions. We are so addicted to having our thinking handed to us on a silver platter, for anything from political views to fashion trends, to societal norms and expectations. Thoughts from movies, thoughts from tv, from music, from internet, the list goes on and on. With this cacophony of crazy going on it's a wonder God can get a thought in edgewise. The nice thing is it works the other way too. As we continue to grow in expanded consciousness and raised awareness, more and more we are collectively influenced by those thoughts too.

 

 

Thinking It Over: There were two dogs, a black one and a white one and they were constantly fighting. And the question was which one is winning? The answer was, the one I feed regularly. I chose this to show how powerful the effects of our thoughts are. If I see the black dog as separation thoughts and the white dog as Christ centered thoughts of oneness, then it really shows me when I focus on the Course, and continue to surrender, release, and forgive the past to the point of non – existence, I really am making a difference. Which dog do you feed regularly?

 

Tips & Tricks: So, please remember to check in and see how routine is going with the Course lessons. You can set reminder alerts on your phone so you can do the lessons as recommended. I use index cards to write the daily lesson and the times I should do it. It is also recommended to take first thing in the morning and at night to connect to the Wholly Spirit. I didn't do it perfectly, but I found as I did my connecting in, more and more frequently, I felt stronger and more centered. 

 

Upon Closing: Wow, we did it another day of getting down and getting on, taking care of business. I think it might be nice to get out the red and white checkered tablecloth and have an old-fashioned picnic. I got the mashed potatoes, and you and your friend brought the apple pie and fried chicken, and I think I saw some coleslaw in the bottom of the basket. I saw some cold cider by the stream. So, let's have a little celebration, just because we are together, and we can. I know the Course can become a brain drain, but please stick with it, cause I look forward to starting out with ya every morning. Have a gentle and blessed night and know you are loved. Love & Light, Riki 🌈

 

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 17

A Course in Miracles

Workbook Lesson 17

 

"I see no neutral things."

 

Interpreted by Roberta Gallop

 

Daily Welcome:  Hi my beautiful buddies, up and at um, another day of moving along. Maybe we can slow the pace down a little and just kinda sashay down the path doing our best runway model impersonation. It's so important that we take the fun where we can find it. I think I'm gonna wear my best feathered boa and pink leather skullcap and my favorite designer overalls, no heels, just my ten little piggies. What will you wear? How will you outrageously express yourself today? When it comes to the Course there are as many ways to rock it, as there are people. 

 

Prayer: Our Precious and steadfast Teacher, please help us to believe in ourselves, please help us to see ourselves as you see us. Please help to strengthen our resolve to want to put away the thinking and image making and reach to light, reach within to you. Thank you for loving us into existence and being with us every step of the way on our grand adventure together. We love you and wish only to feel the true oneness. Please guide us to the garden. Thank you for teaching us. Allways.

 

Workbook Lesson: "I see no neutral things. Judgment is a powerful tool; it created the world as we know it. The knowledge of good and evil has made everything mean something, pretty car, ugly blonde etc. The way my teacher explains it is. "So, if you are not making something different, you are seeing everything not just the same, but it's reality before it's discerned is different." (Rev. Devan Jesse Byrne, ACIMi L17, ex.)  I think he is talking about how our judgment makes everything different, and definitely not neutral. I believe neutral is love, and our natural state before we start defining and judging, that is why it is different. We take the beautiful wholeness of All that is, and then with our thoughts start slicing and dicing. This Course aims at helping us learn to unthink and just be as we are naturally. As these lessons focusing on cause and effect continue, we are reminded by the Course that as we think so we believe we are. This is where illusion comes from because the weaving of thoughts makes the effect.

 

Thinking It Over: It's like with any movie, the thought, the idea, comes first. My thoughts were I hate myself, no one loves me, I am a pathetic loser, I can't do this, I need help, everyone thinks I'm a joke. What thoughts caused your movie? Then they add the images and plots, scenery, actors, and on and on. I usually played the victim, the helpless, misunderstood, damsel in distress, waiting to be saved.  What does your movie effect look like?

 

Tips & Tricks: I hope you like the new section,s it was created with the hope that we can expand our own understanding of the lesson and share on them, I know nothing gets me pondering like a good honest question. Also, that regular reminder to do the lessons the best you can, whether you understand how it fits or not, and if you miss one you don't have to beat yourself up, just start with the missed lesson the next day, just doing one lesson at a time. Please don't try and play catch up by doing more than one lesson a day. If you have a lesson that you would like to do for more than one day that's fine.

 

Upon Closing: Hey you guys, we did it, we found our way to a resting place for today. I don't know about you, but I feel like I put a day in. Please allways remember you are loved and valued, and it would be unthinkable for me to have to do this without you, cause you bring so much joy to my heart. Please remember you are never alone on the journey, that you make such a stupendous difference in my life, and a reminder that you were called to the Course by divine design, basically you're here cause God wanted you here. Please have an inspiring rest of your day, a blessed night and remember to call upon the Wholly Spirit. Hugs, Love & Light, Riki 🌈

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 16

A Course in Miracles

Workbook Lesson 16

 

"I have no neutral thoughts."

 

Interpreted by Roberta Gallop

 

Daily Welcome:  Hi, my exciting buddies, connecting with you is always my favorite part of each new lesson, because this Course is the real deal, and I love the support along the way. Sometimes I am confused, sometimes I have no idea what I am, and it helps to know I am accepted and not judged no matter what. So, I hope the lessons are treating you well and that you are all raring to go another couple miles as we ease on down the road.

 

Prayer: Loving Christ, please help us to the difference between truth thoughts and imagination thoughts. Our minds get kinda numb and we get easily lost along the way, please guide us to know your design for us, so we can express our unique gifts and talents. Please open us deeply, but gently so we can feel every bit of our wonderous connection with you. Also help us to as we awaken, we awaken the world. Please lead us to where you would have us go, show us how to connect to those we can best help and give us the messages to say. I feel so loved and cared for by you, and I have the hope you will grant us all we need to remember the garden. Thank you for teaching us, and for granting us perseverance to continue the lessons. Allways.

 

Workbook Lesson: "I have no neutral thoughts."  Well, if this lesson don't just put the icing on the cake. I can't stop thinking, this much is crystal clear to me, I can't seem to get much of a handle on it. Then the Course says, "every thought you have contributes to truth or to illusion; either it extends the truth, or it multiplies illusions." (ACIM workbook, L16,) Now that sounds innocent enough, but remember I have no idea about my thoughts at all, past, future or anything else. So, when I think thoughts, (which is constantly) I have no idea if they contribute to truth or illusion, until I see how things start turning out, kinda like, oooppppssss that wasn't it. Yup, yup, yup, nope, well yup, oh I mean nope, doggoneit.

 

I have found with this lesson I have had to have extreme patience with myself, cause it is terrifying to realize I'm making crazy shit that isn't real, and then to accept I am utterly insane. Then I keep thinking these insane thoughts with my mind, and if that isn't bad enough, like oh ya by the way, you know those thoughts you addictively keep thinking. THEY COUNT, they are not neutral. I was better off when I thought they didn't mean anything. Remember we are not alone, there is power going on far beyond my little self, and there is most definitely a way out. God's got it.

 

Tips & Tricks: The best tip when it comes to this lesson or the Course lessons in general is one, I have mentioned frequently, to call in the Wholly Spirit and ask Him to help you see things differently. Because with the change in mind, brings that most needed change in perspective that brings on the miracles. I have also noticed that during these lessons I can get very preoccupied so doing things that will help you stay in the present, like meditation and breathing can help a lot. I wish I could snuggle you up in a blankie my friends, give you a warm bottle and guarantee you will make it this time. But the truth is whether you awaken through the course this time, is based on how bad you want it, and what lengths you are willing to go to get it.

 

Upon Closing: I'm pooped, how about you? This one left me quite emotionally drained, I bet you are a little tuckered yourself.  Sandwich anyone? As we get used to doing the lessons the daily discipline gets easier, but though the lessons do get more intense in some ways, Christ is making us stronger at the same time. But you got us right here for moral support and understanding, that's what friends are for. Blessed and Wholly Spirit, please do for us what we can't do for ourselves. Have a beautiful day, and gentle night. Love & Light, Riki 🌈