"Spiritually Speaking" by Rev. Carla Golden

The White Stone Ceremony & The Burning Bowl

The first Sunday in January is often designated as "White Stone" Sunday at Unity churches. What is "White Stone" Sunday? It is the day when we set our intentions for the rest of the year. I'm not talking about resolutions, because in the White Stone ceremony, we don't make a list. Usually, we come up with one or two words which represent the changes we wish to make or what we want to see expressing in our experience.

Generally, the way it works is that each person is presented with a white tile upon entering the church and a pencil or pen. During the course of the service, a meditation is done that helps the person connect with their divine essence, Higher Self, Divine Mind--whatever we call God. We are invited to ask for guidance on what our word or words will be for the year that will represent our highest intention or it may be a name that we hear for this new spiritual identity. That name is then written upon the white tile. We keep the white tile as a reminder of our intention. 

The idea of the White Stone ceremony comes from Revelation 2:17: "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers (who overcomes) I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it."

In most Unity churches, White Stone Sunday follows a "Burning Bowl" service held at the end of the year. At this service, there is a symbolic releasing of what we wish to let go of before we move into the new year. It is written on a piece of paper and then dropped into a large bowl or container which contains fire. Participants let go of such things as feelings of anger, unforgiveness, unhealthy habits, relationships, etc.

You can create these rituals at home if you have not had the opportunity to participate at a church. I have found both rituals to be very powerful and have seen differences in my life, and the lives of others, as a result of taking part in these ceremonies.

Practicing the Presence

Brother Lawrence, the medieval mystic lay monk, coined the phrase, "The practice of the Presence of God." What did he mean by that? What exactly is the practice of the Presence of God?

Brother Lawrence was not infering that God was a mysterious presence that would come and go in our lives. What Brother Lawrence was practicing was the consistent awareness of the truth that God was always present in our lives.

God doesn't go away and leave us alone to face our challenges. We, like the Prodigal Son, are the ones that take leave through our lack of awareness. We can never actually leave the presence of God, because God is everywhere present. What we can do is to allow ourselves to feel alone and isolated from this presence.

Doesn't it give you comfort and a feeling of security to know that anywhere you go and anything you do, that God is there with you. In fact, God is in you as your eternal substance, life force and strength. When you begin to live in an awareness of that truth you will never feel alone.

Why not take a moment now and practice the Presence of God?

Celebrating an Inner Christmas

Every year, I watch as Christmas decorations go up earlier and earlier, to coax people into shopping. "Black Friday" is the day when many people push and shove their way into stores looking for bargains. The health of the economy is indicated by how much people spend on that one day.

Where is the true meaning in this holiday? Where is the love? Is love about buying the most expensive gift and spending the most money?

And what about the Christmas of our soul? The inner Christmas? When do we celebrate that? And how?

There are 12 days that are perfect for this sacred celebration of the soul, according to Lynn Jericho who produced a short movie called "The Inner Christmas". Starting on December 25 and ending on January 6, this is the time of celebrating and connecting with our purpose and sacredness.

What always strikes me, as I look at pictures of trees covered with snow, is that the trees are in a period of dormancy and rest. They are not in their growth mode at this time of year. They are not busy putting forth leaves, berries, flowers, or other manifestations. They pull into themselves and stand--most of them naked, with no leaves--and rest.

Perhaps we can learn from the trees to take time to have a period of rest, introspection and focus on what is going on within us. To breathe in and feel the warm breath of spirit, to feel our heart beating in our chest, and to know that there is something within us that is profound and awesome.

This time of inner Christmas can be the perfect opportunity to recognize how far we have come in our spiritual journey, our awakening to the truth of our being. To celebrate the growth of our soul and the wonder of how beautifully created we are.

Take a few moments and watch this beautiful movie created by Lynn Jericho. It may be the perfect time for you to pause and reflect on the holiday season,the meaning it has for you and the sacred gift that you have already been given.

Here is the link: http://www.theinner christmasmovie. com/   

Are you a "Workaholic"?

Back in the 1980's, I got my first job after completing my college degree. I was determined to prove myself. It was a job that I loved, so at first it didn't bother me working more hours. But after awhile, it took its toll. I had trouble sleeping and I was often anxious about whether I was good enough or smart enought, a problem that had its roots in my childhood. I was afraid of failure and thought that by working harder I could protect myself from that. At the time, I didn't realize the depths of my fear and the effect that it was having on me.

Workaholism, according to Gary Zukav in his book, The Heart of the Soul, is a "flight from emotions." It is an escape from feeling our emotions.

I know a woman who is constantly working on one project or another, always running, compulsive in her need to control situations and take charge. She shares with me how exhausted she is and even sends me her agenda for the day so that I can see how hard she works and how many things she needs to accomplish. She seems to thrive on chaos and drama.

On the other hand, this woman's marriage is in a sad state of affairs. It was perhaps a marriage that should not have occurred, but now that she is in it, she is hesitant to get out because of her two children and finances.

Gary Zukav would say that this woman's workaholism is an escape from pain and sadness. How many of us have used our work or another addiction to escape from our emotions? Whether it's alcohol and drugs, shopping, or gambling, it is all about escape.

Are you using any of these escapes in your life? The most important thing is to first acknowledge it, to be able to awaken from the self-induced trance that you have been in. Be willing to be an observer in your own life. Talk to your friends and family. Have they noticed this behavior? Be honest with yourself about your life and whether it is really working for you the way it is. And be willing to let the feelings and emotions come up from deep inside you where they have been suppressed. I recommend finding a good therapist or spiritual advisor.

I have heard the analogy of holding a beach ball under water. It takes a lot of energy to suppress that ball and it takes even more energy for you to suppress the emotions that lie within you. It is draining physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Once the emotions have been released and the pain has been acknowledged, action may then be necessary. Once the realization occurs that the workaholism is an escape, the person will need to deal with the situation that may be contributing to the pain.

God is the power and the presence within us that enables us to work through these issues, to strengthen us as we go through them and to see the good that is there for us. It's all about transformation.

Into the Deep: A Book About Facing Traumatic Events with Faith

On August 30, 2003, Robert Rogers and his wife and four children were driving from Wichita to their home near Kansas City, Missouri. They had attended a wedding in Wichita and now, with the children (all under the age of nine) wearing their pajamas and securely buckled into their seats, were making the three-hour trip home.

Robert's wife, Melissa, was driving in the rain, which had been unceasing for hours. About halfway to Kansas City, outside Emporia, Kansas they suddenly found themselves surrounded by water. Jacob Creek, which normally amounted to nothing more than a slow trickle had turned into a torrent. The family's van began to fill up with water in the darkness. The children awoke and began to cry as the cold water rose up around their legs. The car stalled and the windows would not open. There seemed to be no escape. Then a wall of water carried their van over an embankment and it became clear that something had to be done. Robert kicked out a window to provide a way out. Immediately he was sucked out into the raging waters and found himself drowning, breathing in water.

Robert survived but his wife and four children did not. He had to face the loss of his whole family and to return home to a house which was filled with memories. He had to go through the funeral--five white caskets lined up for burial.

As I read the book Into the Deep, written by Robert Rogers, my heart literally ached for this man and I found myself in tears more than once. I could not imagine going through such a traumatic time as this. To lose one family member or loved one is hardbreaking enough, but to lose your entire family is beyond comprehension.

Robert is an evangelical Christian. He asked God the questions that anyone would: "Why did this happen to us?" "Why didn't you save my family?" It was an enormous test of his faith. He prayed for strength and peace and help in getting through all that followed. Even though he didn't get the answers to his questions, he got the strength and peace for which he prayed. He grieved as any normal person would and should do, but in the worst of times, he knew that he was being supported by God.

Robert came to believe, like many of us, that there is not always an answer as to why something like this happens in our lives. But it is about how we deal with these crises that occur that is important.

Many people find these events to be turning points, defining moments, where they are forced to choose the direction in which they will go. Some lose their faith and turn away from God in anger and frustration. Others choose to surrender their burden to God and trust that power and presence to sustain them as they walk through the valley of the shadow. It is these individuals that generally come out on the other side, seeing and knowing that they have been supported and strengthened during their ordeal.

While Robert comes from the standpoint that we all are familiar with, that "God doesn't give us more than we can handle," I don't believe that God causes such events to occur. If there is any explanation that rings true for me, it is the idea that our souls make choices throughout various lifetimes that allow us to learn lessons and to evolve in spiritual awareness. The book, The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch is a good example of that philosophy.

Whatever we choose to believe about the reason for these life-changing events, like Robert came to realize, it's how we choose to react that is of the utmost importance and which, ultimately, will make all the difference in our experience.

The Rivers of Lethe and Mnemosyne: Forgetting and Remembering

In my last post, I left you with a question: "Would you take a drug that would help you forget a traumatic event?"

My answer to that question is "no". The traumatic events in my life have been defining moments and have provided me with opportunities to stretch and grow. Yes, they were painful, but not one person makes it through life without some pain.

In the book The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran writes: "Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief."

The Greeks had a belief that souls on their way to Hades had to cross the River of Lethe (Lethe means forgetfulness) to prepare for the next incarnation. Drinking from this river would cause the souls to lose all memory of their past as well as their knowledge and wisdom.

Cults developed that taught members to ignore their great thirst when crossing the Lethe and to continue on to the River of Mnemosyne (meaning memory). By drinking from this river they would remember everything that had ever happened to them, and in doing so, they would again feel the pain and the sorrow, as well as the joy. But these souls would also retain the wisdom and the knowledge that they had gained as a result of these painful events.

To me, the other benefit of living through and remembering the difficult times of our lives, is the depth of compassion that comes as a result of our experience. Our hearts are like wells of compassion that fill to the point of over-flowing, and we can truly empathize with the experience of others.

No matter what traumatic experience you may have experienced in your life in the past, or that you may be going through at this very moment, know that you are deepening and expanding in wisdom and compassion. The stone or seed of the fruit of your understanding is preparing to burst forth into new awareness.

And lastly, remember that you are never alone as you face these times of trial and tribulation. The one presence and the one power, God, is with you--is within you--as your strength, comfort and peace.

Would you take a drug that would help you forget a traumatic event?

A woman in Texas was trying to escape a flash flood with her baby. Suddenly, her baby was torn from her arms and carried away in the swirling waters. This memory is now etched in her mind.

Not long ago, a drug was found that would destroy traumatic memories,  if taken within a short period of time after the event. If you had the opportunity to take a drug to help you forget a traumatic event in your life, would you take it? Why or why not? Your comments are invited.

Unity "World Day of Prayer"

On Thursday, September 13, Unity will hold its 14th annual World Day of Prayer. This year the focus is on peace.

We have been assured that "wherever two or more are gathered" that Christ is in the midst of them. Can you imagine how powerful that Christ presence can be when there are millions of people joining together throughout the day to pray for peace, love and harmony in the world?

I invite you to set aside time during the day on the 13th to pray--whether it's for a few minutes or for an hour. It doesn't matter where you are, at work or at home; you can close your eyes for a few moments of prayer. No matter what your faith may be, whether it's Christian, Muslim, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism or whatever--pray or meditate according to your tradition.

Here is a link to the web site for Unity's World Day of Prayer: http://www.worlddayofprayer.org/ On the web site you will find: a place to list the people that you would like put on a prayer list; a schedule of events being held at Unity Village in Missouri during the day on September 13; Unity churches around the world that will be holding special events for World Day of Prayer; live streaming video of the events of the day as they unfold. You can call Unity Village directly for more information at 816-524-3550.

We invite you to join the rest of us in affirming:

We are peacemakers, one in the love of God. With hearts united,we establish harmony and peace in our lives and in the world.

And so it is. Amen.

Why Not Let Your Light Shine Every Day?

I was among the thousands who participated in the “Fire the Grid” project on the morning of July 17. I received emails from many friends and comments on my Gather articles from others who had said they were excited about the opportunity to be a "Messenger of Light" -- to pray and meditate for the healing of this planet and for peace on earth.

Sitting next to my husband in the quiet of our den, I was uplifted by the knowledge that so many of us were doing this at the same time around the world. I could feel the positive energy of this combined prayer consciousness.  Afterwards, I thought to myself that we need to continue sending this positive energy out into the universe and spreading the loving vibrations that were set forth in this project that we participated in on July 17. Then I remembered that my good friend, Rev. Elizabeth Haugen, had started a movement designed to help do this.

Here is what she has to say about her new project, SMILE, in her own words. I hope that you’ll check it out and get involved. It will cost you nothing and will continue the work that we have already begun.

Are you ready to make a difference in our world? Are you willing, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “to be the change you wish to see in the world”? The SMILE Movement (Sharing My Inner Light Everyday) was organized for just that purpose.

Individually we, as SMILE ambassadors, are dedicated to uplifting and healing the world, one heart at a time. We seek first to show up every day as loving beings who live by the SMILE Covenant of Being. This Covenant is to:

Speak with authenticity

Model an attitude of non-judgment,

Interact lovingly,

Listen deeply, and

Enrich the world.

We are also committed to recognizing and acknowledging others when they show up in positive and loving ways. When we interact with or observe someone being a positive light in the world we share SMILE Award cards with them letting them know that they have made a difference.

If you would like more information on the SMILE Movement, desire to become a SMILE ambassador, or are interested in obtaining a supply of SMILE Award cards for sharing with others, please go to our Web Site at www.smilemovement.com or e-mail us at contactus@smilemovement.com . There is no fee to become a SMILE ambassador.

“Individually we make a difference. Collectively we transform the world.”

—Elizabeth Haugen

The 10 Commandments for Driving

The Vatican recently came up with the 10 Commandments for drivers. They include:

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.

In addition, the Vatican encourages us all to pray while we drive (they suggest the rosary) and to make the sign of the cross before we start out. I'm not Catholic, but I agree that praying as we drive is a great idea. My drive to work takes about 25 minutes in the morning and I speak positive affirmations while I'm driving. I affirm such things as "I am a clear channel of God's love expressing in the world," "I always know what I need to know, when I need to know it," and "I am divinely guided and directed in all that I do and say."

I also take time to name all that I am grateful for in my life and to give thanks. By the time that I get to work, I'm in a great mood. I also find that I relate to people in a different way when I have taken the time to do this prayer work. Try it and see how it works for you.