As I continue to try to find words for the new experiences that have been occurring in my life, I felt moved to share another snippet from A Course in Miracles Study Group gathering. We were reading the section in the Manual for Teachers called, “Are “Psychic” Powers Desirable?” (ACIM, M-25).
In the past, if something didn’t fit my understanding of A Course in Miracles, I’d dismiss it. For instance, I wasn’t open to considering the existence of guides other than Jesus or the Holy Spirit, and I was barely open to the idea of angels because they were barely touched upon in the Course. I was also dismissive of my intuitive abilities because I’d tell myself I was “just projecting.” Not realizing it at the time, I was dimming my own light.
However, when I embodied an open-mindedness like I never had before, it was as if layers of my small self were finally given a chance to fall away. Somewhere along the road, I became open to other guided ways to connect with the Divine, whether it is written in A Course in Miracles or not, while still having the Course as my foundation.
Now, I can talk about angels more freely. I’m only beginning to get comfortable with talking about things that are more outside of my frame of reference, like nature spirits or connecting with those who have seemingly died. But whether I’m comfortable talking about these things or not, that doesn’t change their existence and it doesn’t change the truth. The degree to which my mind is open is the degree to which the Holy Spirit can bring me helpful experiences to guide me as my curriculum unfolds.
In this ACIM Study Group call, I jokingly refer to my old self as “judgmental Corinne” and my current self as “open-minded Corinne.” I’m still identified as Corinne, but each experience of God’s love that unfolds in my life brings me one step closer to knowing who I really am (and who we really are).
I also share about how our bodies are intimately connected to the earth, I speak about the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine joining to roll up the dream like a carpet (thereby ushering in the end of dreaming), and I touch upon not dismissing our experiences when our head wants to get in the way.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment below.
“The Meaning of Mary Magdalen” by Cynthia Bourgeault is a great book that speaks to the divine feminine and divine masculine
Thank you for this recommendation!
Thanks so much for sharing this Corinne -I have experienced similar confusion about how my love for nature fits into the Course teachings. I’ve always felt that I “found God’ quite unexpectedly through nature years ago. Not that I thought nature was God, but I truly felt God’s presence as I sauntered around the mountains where i live. I felt so connected with God’s love when I immersed myself in the natural world.
Those experiences years ago changed my life. I discovered the Course in Miracles books a short time afterwards. Throughout my practice of ACIM up to the present day, I still feel most connected with God’s presence when I am immersed in nature; even during those events which are upsetting to me as a human nature lover (eg: predator & prey issues).
Hi Linda,
I also feel God so easily when I’m in the woods. It’s as if the veil becomes thinner there, even though that “thinness” is available to us where ever we are. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Corinne. I really like what you said about open-mindedness. There can be a tendency to become somewhat “religious” about the Course if we are not careful because the Course itself is very “unequivocal”. Because it is so unequivocal the ego can have us project this “unequivocal-ness” (if that’s a word) onto everyone and everything and we can become very condemning and closed-minded without realizing it. I became aware of the Holy Spirit’s power and love before I came across ACIM so I know that I do not NEED the Course to feel Holy Spirit’s Presence. The Holy Spirit takes the unequivocal teaching of the Course and makes them a gentle, forgiving, individually-directed cirriculum. It turns what could be perceived as a harsh, black or white teaching into a gentle journey. We will have bumps in the road but HS’s compassion and caring are always there to lean on; “I will never leave you comfortless”. This aides us in being open minded because, by knowing that our Identity is safe, stable, and protected by the Holy Spirit’s Love, we will not be threatened by new ideas. I am, as you are, learning to listen to Spirit’s evaluation of new ideas that seem to be outside the Course without just immediately rejecting them. In this regard, I think Deedre’s acknowledgment of her intuitive powers will be helpful to us all when she becomes the new Sunday ACIM Host. Thank you for your open-mindedness. It helps us all!
Hi Dave! I love everything you wrote here and you beautifully stated how we can become close-minded without even realizing that is what is happening. I also love how you said this: “knowing that our Identity is safe, stable, and protected by the Holy Spirit’s Love, we will not be threatened by new ideas.” That’s so perfect. Thank you!
male energies and female energies becoming one – look up Ardhanareshwara, Shiva and Devi in one form.
Thank you!