While listening to a podcast of my minister, Rev. Toni Fish from Unity in Frederick, MD, I was reminded of one of the favorite subjects of one of the instructors at Unity Village, Rev. Dr. Paul Hasselback.  That subject is ‘watch your language.’ 

Toni was referencing a story she saw in the monthly Science of Mind magazine where in the writer was talking about Hurricane Sandy and the fact that the household was going to ‘lose power’.  Think about that…what are you really saying to the universe when you say, ‘we lost power’ or ‘I lost power’?   You’ve just given your power away just as easily as if you handed it over to someone and said, “Here, do with me what you wish”. 

Think about it.  What other ways have you handed over your power with careless words?

Here’s another thing we hear all the time, mostly in the media (which is another reason NOT to listen to the media!); “the storm was devastating” or “it’s a catastrophe” or “I’m sick about it” or I’m sorry for …” or; it’s a challenge”.  All these words send a vibrational message, if you will, to the universe saying a negative message.

Our self talk is often as negative: “I’m sick”; “I’m tired”, “I’m not smart” or “I’m stupid, dumb, not good enough …”whatever it is that we all put behind the words “I AM”.   If you understand the meaning of those words, you might think twice about using them in a negative way.  The “I AM” is the name Yahweh, God, gives in the Old Testament when ask who it is Moses is speaking with.  So any word or meaning we place after “I AM” is a statement of what or who we actually are. 

Try making up affirmations using the I Am as a start.  I AM good.  I AM kind.  I AM prosperous.  I AM beautiful.  You fill in the blank.  I AM grateful is a very important one.

Here’s something a friend and I use to do while riding in to work: start with the alphabet and say an I AM affirmation for each letter on the alphabet.  I AM agile.  I AM beautiful.  I AM caring.  I AM dependable.  You get the picture.  Try it.  Not only is it a good practice for positive affirmations, but it is great for setting the stage to change your thoughts.  And after all, we all know, “Change your thoughts, change your life!”

A recent conversation with a close friend made me wonder what people really think a metaphysical interpretation of spirituality is. Why would I wonder that, especially after a conversation with a close friend? Well, it’s because the friend wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. Now, if this was a conversation about the weather or my day-to-day happenings, it would not have struck me as it did. But this conversation was about my being told that, yes, I had cancer, and all that that prognosis entailed.

This made me recall what the spiritual practices of my friend said they were doing. I had asked specifically because I was concerned about what I saw in her life and how that had changed. And that had to do mostly with the “Law of Attraction’ philosophy. I understand this law very well and it’s a great way for folks to work on their positive thinking. I do question whether that can be the only means of one’s spiritual practice.

There is so much more to Spirit than ‘positive thinking’. What about all the other laws? Like the Law of Cause and Effect? Or what about the Principles we in Unity use to as a guide to our lives like God is all good, and prayer works, and we create our world through our thoughts, etc?

So often when people talk about prosperity and abundance, it’s relation to monetary abundance. There’s so much more to life than how much money one has in the bank. Yes, money is good and necessary in this world. But there is also nature, friends and family, the ability to think, hear, taste, smell, and touch. What would life be without these? I thank Spirit constantly that I can still hear the birds singing this spring and see the stars at night and taste and smell the wonderful aromas and tastes of the food I eat. I am always amazed at the variety of music that has blessed us through the ages. So much and it’s all different! I would miss music.

But all this brings me to something I saw in the Daily Word this week. The question that was left with the readers was, “what is your heart’s desire”? I immediately placed my hands over my heart and taking a deep breath, sat for a few minutes. It didn’t take me long to realize that my hearts’ desire was for peace and love and compassion and to serve.

I didn’t once think of money or prosperity as most would think. And that’s not like I couldn’t use some extra money. I couldn’t offer any funds for the latest need for the animal rescue I work with because of taxes due. (I do keep saying to the Universe if I could just win the lotto, there is SOOOO much good that could come of it! I have a list!) And you know I was so glad, when I discovered what my hearts’ desire was, that I didn’t go to the thought of anything to do with prosperity.

Please keep in mind, Universe, Spirit, Goddess, God…I’ll still be happy with that Lottery win, or even a little extra money in the bank!

Easter brought about several good things for me this year. Of course, family. It was good to be with family, both immediate and extended. and then there was the opportunity to spend time with my ‘family of choice’. I missed my friends from home so I got to see Bob & Peggy, Lois, and Barbara, and her ‘little brat’, Emma.

Another good thing that came from Easter was the drive. Well, spending three and a half hours in the car isn’t always considered a good thing, what happens as you drive is. I got to see much of nature: hawks, snow geese, deer, rainbows and all that nature provides. It is truly wonderous.

Another good thing about the drive is the opportunity to listen to music, books and lectures. Now, again, some would not consider listening to a lecture very exciting. But you would be surprised what thoughts are formed from listening to music and books and lectures as you are driving. Right now I am trying to enlarge my knowledge about the Gospels. It can be difficult when the lecturer is pretty traditionally Christian, but once and awhile you can get some little tidbits from the talk.

So here’s a little tidbit I learned yesterday…the teachers that we look to for guidance, whether Jesus, Buddha, etc. where all looked at by their followers as a mystery. They had to figure out what the message was that the teacher was trying to convey. Often the Apostles didn’t know what Jesus was trying to convey with the parables He used as a lesson. We are a mystery too. We have to learn about ourselves and then figure out what we want to keep and what needs to change. The most important thing we have to figure out is that we are Spiritual Beings!

Another thing I was reminded of this weekend: I need to release myself from my history to free myself to create my future unencumbered by my past. As my freind Peg would say, “Sounds good to me!”