Do you remember the Seth books by Jane Roberts in the ’70’s?
I devoured them. My favorite was The Nature of Personal Reality.
Seth, a disembodied spirit channeled through Jane, challenged our assumptions about the nature of reality. He explained how the conscious mind directs unconscious activity and has at its command all the powers of the inner self. And, he said, reincarnation was true.
It was mind blowing. I thought it had changed my life forever.
But then, previously, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill and The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale had changed my life too.
Afterwards, came Arnold Patent who wrote You Can Have It All and my deep foray into A Course in Miracles.
I have to admit that I did learn from the Course. Mainly, that you should forgive people, not to be holy, but because everyone is doing the best they can in this moment. They may be in kindergarten and you are in the 11th grade. They are not just capable of doing 11th grade work.
Currently, it is all about The Secret.
But looking back to when I was seven years old and from a devout Catholic family, I had already come to the following conclusions:
1. God was not an old man with a beard who was keeping records on me. There was some force out there but I did not know what to call it.
2. Is Jesus more God than I was? Maybe, he was just in a higher grade.
3. God would not send you to hell if you ate meat on Friday or missed Mass.
4. No loving God would doom innocent babies who were not baptized to Limbo.
5. Nothing bad would happen to me if I went into a Protestant church.
6. I had this funny feeling I had lived in this world before. That there was something inside me that had nothing to do with the body I was in right now.
Remember, I was seven. I would not dare mention these things to anyone. That would have made me a heretic.
Catholics laugh and call people like this a “Delicatessen Catholic” in these days. You are tolerated if you just take a little of this and a little of that and believe what you want. Not then.
I am not knocking these great spiritual and self-help books. They are inspiring to many people. Keep reading them if they help you.
But, what I learned at seven was this. If you really, really want something, it is not going to happen if you don’t do something to get it. You can’t just put it out to the Universe because this does not work.
For example, what my brother Henry and I really, really wanted was to go to the Rialto movie theatre on Flatbush Avenue on Saturdays. It cost seven cents.
We spent the entire week looking through people’s garbage for bottles. You got two cents return for each bottle.
We went to the movies every week.
When I was twenty six I had two children and was pregnant. The gas company came and turned off my heat for non payment despite my pleas that one of my children was ill.
I really, really decided that was never, never going to happen to me again. I got a job as a real estate salesman and I was very successful because I really, really wanted to be able to pay my bills.
I was able to buy an expensive home but I never paid the gas company until they actually came to my house to turn off the heat. There was a rule that they had to ring the doorbell and inform you your gas was being turned off. The check was waiting but they had to come and get it. I would never mail it.
I really, really got even with them.
I have to admit that all these esoteric spiritual books did one important thing for me. They confirmed everything I already knew at seven. It is valuable to know you are right.
But the key to it all is if you want something you have to want it bad. Really want it. Then, you have to go out and get it. You can’t just envision it in your mind.
The books are helpful. They reinforce what we have decided we want.
The missing ingredient in most of them is taking action. Watching for your spot and going for it with all your heart. With all your wanting.
But, I am really, really hoping to get spiritual some day soon.
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If you really, really want your life changed, try asking Jesus Christ into your life and you will find that He is much, much more that you think now or thought when you were seven. He changes lives like no one else can – I know! He changed mine and I am spiritual, peaceful, happy and content in all circumstances because He loves me and He IS God! You really, really don’t know what you are missing!!! Nothing else can compare to Him – He is real – not some “disembodied spirit named Seth” – He is all in all – whether you believe it or not. Don’t judge God by religion – God hates religion! Religion is just man trying to be what he thinks God wants him to be – trying to be good. Christianity is God reaching to man saving him and loving him even though we are not good. It’s really quite exciting! A wonderful journey of which I never tire! Love you Corrine – hope you still love me too-lol Pam
Dear Pam -
I consider Jesus a very close friend and I depend on this friendship in my daily life.
Thank you for your beautiful comment!
Love,
Corinne
Amen
Dear Dick -
That was the shortest and most profound comment I have ever received.
Thanks1
Love,
Corinne
Wanting. And action. Yes indeed. No substitutes.
I am wondering, though: after ACIM, is The Secret not a step back? Strongly desiring certain things to happen in The Dream? Instead of forgiving The Dream and letting the HS direct life?
Dear Eolake -
Thanks for your comment. Happy to connect with you.
The Secret is based on the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks. Look up their book, The Power of Intention. Or their website. It is interesting. They were not included in the Secret because the publisher wanted too many rights to their material. Their work is helpful. Coming from a different direction from ACIM but interesting. Very much like the Seth materials.
I think the book serves its purpose. Might get a certain type of person going on their life.
When I had a TV show, I interviewed more than 400 personal growth authors. Every one of them had a “nugget” of information people could use.
There is nothing on the planet to compare with A Course In Miracles. I think it is important to note that it is a spiritual thought system and not a religion.
As far as wanting things as we live in the “Illusion,” I think it is like my nine year old grandsom who plays video games. Loves them. He knows they are not real but he still wants to win the game. Then he goes out and shoots some baskets in the driveway. He knows he is not in the NBA but he still enjoys gettting the ball in the basket.
My thought is that if we are in the “game” here, why not play it to win!
Come back soon!
“My thought is that if we are in the “game” here, why not play it to win!”
Fair enough.
I think, though, that there is tendency to see Mind-Over-Matter as being *spirituality*, when it’s most of the time simply Playing The Game better. It looks like spiritual progress, but it just gets you to higher levels in the video game, and will never get you out of it.
Some of the most heinous and materialistic people in history have used “The Secret” very successfully. They weren’t spiritual, they were just hot-shots on the joystick.
Oh… and like you say, your grandson sometimes quits the games console and goes out. A Course In Miracles is the way to do just that, so you’re not stuck in the game forever.
One last thought on the discussion.
What if the whole thing is just a game?
In the meantime, most of us are just trying to get through the night. The whole illusion thing seems very real to us.
ACIM is a a vey complicated spiritual process.
I have facilitatied nine years of study groups in my home. Not including a program in a jail and with prostiitues.
In Chicago, I was billed as the “easy” course. A friend who conducted the Course nine miles away was billed as the “strict” course.
We are very good friends. I met people where they were. My friend took them where they wanted to go.
We laugh about it as people transited my group to hers and sometimes back to me.
We are all doing the best we can. That is the important part.
Who is counting anyway?
So Pam, Just HOW do you know what god hates? And what did I do so bad that I have to be “saved” ….
????? And, my dear, he is not “ALL”.
Corinne, You are a scream … How did you get to be so aware at age 7? It took me until I was 18 before I could break out of the sick confines of catholicism. I am now a total recovered catholic, but it has taken me many years, and I suspect many, many lifetimes to free myself of its power and control. I cannot believe I ever fell for this rap. I have always loved what Goerge Carlin said about catholics eating meat on Friday …. “What about all the catholics doing time on the meat rap?” An answer anyone?
Ok I said that was my last thought on ACIM. You kow, when I wrote this article, I thought that I was talking about the new craze about the Power of Intention.
My point was that you have to do SOMETHING. NOT JUST VISUALIZE IT.
I did not think I would mobilize all the answers from born agains and students of ACIM.
The ACIM people talk a lot about our living in the illusion.
I understand it. I have studied long and dilgently. Comments, which are not shown on this blog, came from the UK and other sources. It was spread all over the Internet.
I was quite surprised.
So, maybe my last word is an article I wrote about doing a ACIM program in Cook County Jail.
These inmate students lived, two at a time in a 8×10 cell with a 2″ mattress, a blanket and a toilet.
Do you think it would impress them if I said this was all an illusion?
Here is my article.
http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/jail-time-a-spiritual-program/
You decide. I feel we have to meet our fellow brothers where they are. Not where we think they should be.
Mary Beth – Actually He is ALL
Pam, He is not all to me; he is not all to Jews; he is not all to Islamics; he is not all to Buddists and he is not all to the millions of athiests on the planet.
Therefore Pam, he cannot be all – except to you. and that should be good enough for you. And for cryin’ out loud, do NOT tell me that I have to be “saved” by him or I’ll burn forever.
Mary Beth
He is Who He is – truth is truth whether you believe it or not. Sorry I started this “debate” had no intention of doing that – but Corrine will get traffic from it anyway. lol
Pam – Debates are great, do not shy away from them. Arguments are different from debates. Whatever works for you – works for you and if you find joy and peace in your choice: I honor that and want the same from you. Enjoy what you have found and just keep it sacred for you. I’ll do the same for me.
Love and light to you.
I stumbled over here and found the post a little bit interesting, but not that much since it underscores things that already resonated with me.
However, in reading the comments this has become a lot more interesting. Oftentimes people believe in their religion so deeply that they identify with it… and the religion becomes a validation of their existence.
So often people get caught up in being “right,” that they lose sight of being joyful.
Anytime, anyday (and particularly during ‘debates’), if we stop to ask ourselves “What is the most compassionate perspective for myself and all others in this situation?” we may find answers far different than the automatic words we spew out of our mouths (myself included).
Dear Chris -
Thanks for stopping over!
You are right – the comments were really interestng. I touched some people’s “hot buttons!”
- When my main intention in the article is that you had to get off your couch and DO SOMETHING!
At least that what I thought I intended!
Two books that rocked my world: Seat of the Soul and Illusions. Sometimes it is best to go back to the basics to help you get over yourself. Maybe it’s time I go re-read those again these many years later. I’ve come to realize in my middle years that my mother has been the greatest teacher of all, teaching me to learn compassion, patience, and the notion that we all do the best we can. I’ve come to love my mother not from her actions, but from what her actions have forced me to learn. Sometimes our teachers are strange bedfellows indeed.
Dear Michelle -
Oh! I forgot about Illusions! I have to find it.
I remembering staying up late reading it and then instead of going to bed, I read it again!
PS Michelle -
Your mother was a tremendous influence in your life.
I wrote a article lately on what would have been my mothers 97th birthday.
In case you missed it -
http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/luck-from-a-lady-happy-birthday-mom/
Chris — I can be a wonderful compassionate soul some of the time – but I have really come to grips with the truth — I am a human and there is part of me that is tacky, petty, greedy, mean and stupid — some of the time – but I recognize that now that I have recovered from my birth religion (catholic) – I can really be compassionate with the person in my life who always needed it the most – and never got it –ME. ME. ME.
One thing I have found frustrating in the six months or so I have been blogging and taking part in discussions within the self development domain is the search for “systems” or “answers” to move forward. My constant refrain is self development involves change – in particular learning new skills. Having a passion can give a framework and direction, but nothing will change without action.
Dear David -
That is our job as personal development bloggers. Look around. There are not a lot of us.
We have to support each other and the Universe of all of us who are trying to live a good and productive life.
I wrote an article about change.
Please take a look at it and give me some feedback.
http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/change-is-it-time/
Corinne, thanks for sharing some of your older articles. This is one apparently from before I found your blog. I got your intention and agree with it. I did learn things from reading the book The Secret and from watching the movie which has Esther Hicks in it. I am reading one of the Abraham books but was not aware that The Secret came from their work.
Isn’t it always interesting to write our posts with one intention and then see where the comment section takes our ideas. I once got into an intense discussion with my daughter over one of my articles. She picked one statement out of the whole article and couldn’t get passed her interpretation of what she thought I said. I was able to explain what I said so that she understood. I had to step back from her words and see where she was coming from before I could explain where I was coming from.
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