Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Spiritual Living Center!

Happy New Year everyone!  Today is the last day of the Season of Illumination. If you have done the spiritual practices every day, you have set yourself up for a great beginning of this new year, and this new decade.  Even if you haven’t done it every day, just being aware, reading the daily post, and thinking about it, has set your soul on a path to new and wonderful stuff.

Today we add to our wreath a bird as a symbol of joyful release.  Here is the affirmation to say when you are hanging the bird on your wreath:  “Just as this bird lets go and trusts its perfect flight, I let go and trust in the creation of my perfect good.”

And here is the treatment we have been doing over the last ten days:

            God is all there is to see.

            God is here inside of me.

            I realize that all the Good of God is flowing through me now.

            My heart is filled with gratitude.

            I let go and let God.

            I release this Treatment into the action of the Law knowing that it is already done.

            And so it is!

At the time you take down your holiday decorations, you may want to remove the symbols from your wreath and add them to your treasure map.  Also, remember to mail your thank you notes.  It is our desire at Center for Spiritual Living – Carson City to make the Season of Illumination an annual event, so store your wreath, star and bird in a safe place until next year.  We welcome any comments or suggestions as to how the Season was meaningful to you or ways to make it more so.

Today you can also join in a world peace meditation.  I have specifically heard from Centers for Spiritual  Living in the following places:  Falls Church and Sterling, Virginia; Eureka, San Francisco and Oakland, CA; Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Denver, CO; Lewisville, KY.  All of these centers have reported in that they are participating in the world peace meditation.  I know there are others.  By participating in a meditation in which people from all over the world are participating, you join in that common consciousness and contribute your part to world peace.  This meditation began this morning at 4 am Pacific Time, and will continue throughout the day.

Once again, have a glorious and fun filled and peaceful New Year!

Today we enter into the release stage of treatment.  The affirmation given is “I let go and I let God.”

Here’s where a lot of folks, including myself, might have a bit of trouble.  I don’t have trouble with the release stage of  treatment, or even with releasing that which no longer serves me.  I do have trouble with that saying.  The languaging simply does not work for me.  No one has ever been able to satisfactorily explain to me how to let  go, and the languaging of “let God” implies that I am allowing something outside of me to do  something.

Spirit lives within me.  It is everywhere, but when I want to change something in my life, which is really what this stage is all about, I go to the Spirit within me.

I’ll give you a different affirmation, and you can use either one, but let’s talk a bit more about what exactly we are being asked to do today.

We are being asked to identify and then release that which no longer serves us.  In Religious Science, we are taught that all outside manifestations begin with our beliefs, our thoughts and our feelings, so I am going to stick with the basics today and say that if you have something outside of yourself that is not serving you (such as a job, relationship, whatever), start within and work to change the thought, belief or feeling that created it in the first place. 

This might take longer than one day.

But today is symbolic, and will put you on the path, it the exercises here during this Season of Illumination are very powerful.

So get quiet, and grab a pen and paper, and write down some words that represent what is not working in your life.  The paper should be small, for reasons which will shortly become apparent, so just write a few words.

This isn’t about judgement.  This is about discerning that which simply doesn’t work for you in your life.  There are no shouldas, wouldas or couldas, no shame, no blame. 

Once  you have your words written down, burn them in a safe way.  This could be in a ceremonial bowl, or in a fireplace or wood stove, just make sure it’s safe.,  It’s symbolic of the release of what no longer serves.

Continue with your daily affirmation and spritual practices.  If today’s affirmation doesn’t serve you well, try this one:  “Today I release and replace.  I release  that which no longer serves, and allow Spirit within to replace with something that does.  Release and replace.”

Or you can come up with something of your own.

Happy Releasing!

Before I begin today’s writing, I want to report that one of the participants in the Season of Illumination has requested that I do  a Treasure Mapping class  So, I’m going to call it a Treasure Map Playshop, and I’ve scheduled it for Saturday, January 30.  Cost is $29, plus a $5 materials fee.  You can call me at 530-906-9336 and pay with a credit card, or mail a check to me at P.O. Box 3326, Stateline, NV, 89449, or you can go to my web site at www.laketahoespirituallivingcenter.com and use the Pay Pal button!   Be sure to leave me your phone number and email so that I can contact you with details about the playshop.  I’m excited!  We will have a fun filled day of discovery and play!

Onward, to today’s exercise!  I sure am ejoying this Season of Illumination!  It is causing an inner shift within me that I am only, at this moment, slightly able to define. Does it happen like that for you as well?  You know something inside is shifting, but it takes you a while to figure out what is shifting, and from where to where?  Just go with the flow, this shifting of things can be an enjoyable process, and all will be revealed when the time is right.

Today is another day spent in gratitude, with the same affirmation as yesterday, “At this moment, my heart is filled with gratitude.”  Only today the gratitude shifts (there’s another shift!) from stuff you are thankful for already having, to something you want to experience in the coming year.  Write another thank you note, but write it in the present tense.  Here’s an example:

Instead of ,  “I am grateful that all will be ok.”, write, “I am grateful that all is Ok!” 

Have everyone share their thank you notes today, and hang them on the wreath.

Today we move into the third stage of treatment and express our gratitude.

In Religious Science we believe that the more you give thanks for what you have, the more things you will have to be thankful for.  This is sometimes called the Law of Attraction.  The principle of gratitude is sometimes spoken of as changing your energy to attract a different sort of result.  I recommend making a gratitude list to many of the people that I work with, as a starting point, or to move them beyond a point of “stuckness.”  Many spiritual paths advocate gratitude as a basic spiritual concept.   A grateful heart actually opens us up to receiving more good into our lives.

Today’s affirmation is: “At this moment, my heart is filled with gratitude.”

And the exercise for today is to write a thank you note to a person, organization or condition that has assisted you in recognizing your Divine Self.  This note may or may not be mailed at the end of the Season of Illumination.  In some cases, you may write a note of thanks that would not be mailed, such as to a pet or a person no longer living.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are still in the realization stage, but the affirmation for today has changed a bit.  Today, affirm that ”I realize that all the Good of God is flowing through me now.”

Gather your family if you are doing this practice with them, otherwise, take a moment for yourself today, and hang something on your wreath.  But not just any something!  Hang a symbol of something you are ready to accept into your life.  I got a little cotton ball angel ornament from a friend for Christmas.  It’s made from real cotton.  Today I will hang that on my wreath as a symbol of all good.  I also have a heart ornament I could hang as a symbol of love.  I think you get the idea.

Today is the day we move into my favorite of the five steps of treatment, realization.  This is where we know, where we realize the truth.  Since God is all there is and we are a part of God, we now realize we are heir to the Good that God is.  This means through our thoughts and words we open ourselves up to experiencing more of what we want, including health, prosperity and loving relationships.  

It’s my favorite part because this sort of completes a cycle for me:  daily spiritual practices train my thinking, so that I think and speak that which I wish to manifest.  And because of daily spiritual practices, my mind is trained so that when thoughts I don’t wish come along, I can quickly change them.   This is taking responsibility for my life, and I love the feeling of empowerment I get from that.

The affirmation for today is “I realize that all the Good of God is flowing through me now.”

And, today, we get to make our treasure map!  A treasure map is a visual affirmation of the things you are ready to accept.  Start by cutting out words and pictures out of magazines that represent your desires.  Glue the pictures onto a poster board, making a collage.   You can then display your treasure map where you can see it and meditate on it through the coming year.   I would love to see a photo of your treasure map when it’s done.  And if you give me permission, I’ll post it  here too.  I’ll post  one of mine as well.

Have fun treasure mapping!

Merry Christmas to everyone!  I hope that all of you are experiencing all the wonder and gifts that Christmas has to offer.  Not just the material gifts, but the spiritual ones.  For it is the spiritual gifts that are the most important.  For me, this season is a reminder, because sometimes I forget that I have the Christ consciousness within me all year long.  Yes, this season is special, and it does provide us with an opportunity to reach out, say hello, give to strangers, acknowledge our love and caring for our families and friends, but what if we did that all year long?  Think about it.  What if  you consciously carried the spirit of this season with you all year long?  What do you think would happen?  How do you think that would change your life?  Try it.  Try incorporating a conscious knowing that the Christ consciousness is within you, each day, when you do your spiritual practices.  Make this your resolution for the New Year.  And let me know how it goes!

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Today we continue with the second step of treatment, recognizing our unification with God.    Continue the affirmation, “God is here inside of me.”

And add a bit more:  today we start writing.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been blessed with several new journals from Christmas (yes, I opened  my presents already!) and also from my birthday last month.  I’m going to break out one of the new ones for this assignment today, to write in a journal on the subject, Who Am I?

Now that we have spent two  days on the first step of treatment, acknowledging that God is everywhere present, it’s now time to move  on to the second step:  unification, that of knowing that just as God is everywhere present, so is God present within us.  We are a part of God, it is a part of us.

The affirmation now becomes, “God is here inside of me.”

This is Christmas Eve, the night when many of us literally bring back the light into our lives by attending a candlelighting service.   I will be attending one tonight in Carson City, at 7 pm. at the Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City.  Address is 1927 North Carson, in the Frontier Plaza, on the corner of Winnie Lane and Highway 395 at the north end of town.  You are welcome to attend and I would love to see you!

You don’t need to attend a candle lighting service to light your own candle and affirm your own light within you, for light is just another word for God.

This is also the day when you will hang your star on your wreath, with your family if you have chosen to do  this Season of Illumination with them, repeating the words:  “This star represents the light of God within each of us.  It is hung in the center of the wreath to represent that even as we are the light of God, we are surrounded and enfolded by the love of God.”

I hope you have some fun today, and can take some time to recognize and know within you the love, light and laughter of this season!

I’ll be back tomorrow to wish you a Merry Christmas and to take you one more day further into the Season of Illumination!

I sure did enjoy my little reminders yesterday, that God is all there is to see! Every once in a while I would stop what I was doing and say to myself, “God is there, and there, and there, and there too!”  It was a great  reminder for me and felt good.   How did you do with that? 

The purpose of these two days of recognizing that God is all there is to see is just that:  Recognition.

There’s a grand scheme to this whole thing that will all come together for you at the end of the ten days.  Each set of two days has been divided into the one of the five steps of a treatment, so  for this ten days you are doing one giant treatment!  And, everyone who is participating in this is doing this together!  I can’t wait to hear about any revelations, thoughts, feelings you might experience!

So continue, today, to reaffirm that God  is all there is to see.  Recognize God everywhere you go, in everything that you do.  Just notice that presence.

I hope you have your star to hang on your wreath, and a piece of poster board and lots of magazines for your treasure map!  There’s still time to get those items! 

I wish you a happy day, today and always!

Today is the beginning of the Season of Illumination, as well as the day after Winter Solstice.  The days from now on will last just a little bit longer each day, bringing more and more light into our lives.  Thus, today is the day to begin calling back the light.

During the next ten days, commit yourself to a daily meditation practice, even if it is only for five minutes.  During your meditation period you will be contemplating either the day’s affirmation, or a step corresponding with the five steps of a treatment, which is the form of affirmative prayer that we practice in Religious Science.   You will need an undecorated wreath, a star ornament, a symbol of a bird and various personal symbols.

Today’s affirmation is:  “God is all there is to see.”

Choose an activity that occurs several times during your day to remind you to repeat the daily affirmation, “God is all there is to see.”  For example, you could choose each time that you stop at a red light, or each time you look into the mirror to remind you to take a moment to know this Truth and to repeat this affirmation. 

On the first day of Recognition, pick a time for you or your family to hang the Treatment wreath someplace in your home where it will be accessible throughout the Season.  It should be a time when everyone in the family will be together.  If you live alone, as I do, then do this alone, it will have just as much, if not more meaning. 

Once the wreath is hung,  state the meaning of the wreath and the step of Recognition.  An example might be:

“We hang this wreath as a symbol of the start of our Season of Illumination.  The unbroken circle represents the allness and continuity of Life.  In this we recognize that God is all there is to see.”

Continue saying the affirmation throughout the day, and tune back in tomorrow for  Day 2 of the Season of Illumination!