It's NOT a Secret!

I remember when the movie "The Secret" was first released. My dear sister-friend called to tell me about this "amazing movie that just shook my whole world". She was beside herself with excitement. (ever wondered how you can be "beside yourself"? that one always cracks me up.) She went on for nearly an hour about this movie and then said, "Don't buy it. I'm sending it to you TODAY."

So I waited. With great anticipation. And on the day it arrived I cleared my calendar, turned off the phones, and sat down with a bowl of popcorn to watch the movie that she'd said would "likely change your life".

Now, some years later, I can still recall the thrill I had while watching. Not all the folks who participated had an impact on me. In fact, there was only one who really made the hair on my neck stand upright. It was Esther (Hicks) whose voice reached me. There was something about what she was relaying that really struck a chord in me. And, at the very end, when she said, "Welcome to Planet Earth....", I had tears rolling down my face and a smile wide enough to span the Grand Canyon.

Shortly thereafter, a different friend sent me a recording of one of the Hicks' workshops. She did not know I'd seen "The Secret", nor did she know that I was more than curious about what the Hicks' were doing. She'd been given the recording by her sister and thought it might be something I'd enjoy.

She was right.

I remember thinking, "WOW! How cool is this?! Right outta the blue..."

But, of course, I knew it wasn't outta the blue. I knew it was because I'd been thinking about it so much that I "brought it into my experience" without even a hint of effort. That's how it works. No trying. No working. No struggling. Just focused thought...with a whole lotta emotion...and PRESTO! Whatever it is, it just shows up!

As I continued listening and reading and researching (and having a ball the whole while), I heard something that really got my attention. That was: "Do not be surprised if you find this a bit of a lonely road. There are not yet many others who understand these Laws. But do not despair. The path you are now walking is going to lead you to the Life you came here to live."

They were right. There are not many who follow these teachings; that is to say, not many compared to the numbers who follow other teachings. More often than not, when I speak of these wonders, I am met with great resistance and a whole bunch of "what in the world are you talking about???". Folks just don't realize that we're really talking about the same things. Mostly, it's a matter of semantics. They use different words and practice different rites. But in all, it's pretty much the same thing.

With one major difference.

Those who believe in a particular "religious" tenet have this very strong belief that "God" is a separate entity. They usually give this god a gender (mostly "He") and believe that "He" has total control of their lives. Their only job is to "obey"...and then, one day, they'll get to join "Him" in some heaven way up in the sky.

I suppose that has always been my biggest aversion to religious tenets. I guess I was just born with a very strong sense of Self. Or maybe I just never much cared for the idea that my Life was in someone else's hands. Or maybe I just didn't (and still don't!) like the idea of having to wait til this Life is over to enjoy the fruits of my "obedience". I used to argue that if this God was so All-Knowing and All-Powerful, why would "he" be so vengeful and jealous and indifferent? It just never made any sense to me. Even when I was a kid.

I don't argue about it any more. I don't even talk about it unless asked. I simply immerse myself in the Knowing that none of it really matters. The ONLY thing that matters is that I live in Joy every single day. That's it. Joy. Not fear. Not worry. Not doubt. Just JOY. Because, in the end, the only thing we're taking with us when we check out is the Energy we came with. We started out as Joy. We'll leave the same way. And "wherever" it is we go from here remains to be seen. In the interim, there is no point in arguing about it. Because, as I have learned, the more you argue, the more the other person just digs in. The quintessential Tug-of-War. Nobody wins. And, really, it just does not matter.

The most beautiful thing about having Knowledge is using it...to better our lives, to make each day worth living, to spread the Joy wherever we go. And regardless of what those beliefs are, you can be sure of one thing:

It is YOUR Life to live. Nobody gets to tell you HOW. It's all your doing.

Doncha just love knowing that?

affirmations and other such "nonsense"...

"There is only a stream of well-being".....

Before you think about that, check your gut. How does that statement make you feel? How resistant are you to this idea? Was your reaction, "Yea. Right."? Or was it, "I can  feel that. It's truth. There is only a stream of well-being."

I pose this today because it has become clear to me that when such thoughts are relayed, should you be in a place of "less-than", words like that can really get your shorts in a twist.

On the other hand...should you happen to be in your groove, for any reason whatsoever, such words can lift you up and take you further into your groove.

Yes or no?

Here's what I mean:

You know all those zillions of "affirmation cards" that seem to be available everywhere? The ones that have those fun images and phrases like, "I am a powerful Creator. Everything comes easily to me." Or, "I am an Abundant Being. Money flows to me with no effort." Or some such.

I recall the first set of such cards I received from a dear friend many years ago. They were by Louise L. Hay of "You Can Heal Your Life" fame (among other things). The cards were nicely laminated with bright, colorful drawings and affirmations for just about everything under the sun. They came in a very sturdy little box that looks good on the shelf and keeps the cards 'safe'. As soon as I got them, I made a few cool little card holders out of some exotic wood scraps I had in my workshop. Then I carefully chose spots where I'd see the cards all day long, reminding me to "state my affirmation".

But I also remember that I was in a pretty icky place at the time. My usually-optimistic attitude had been overshadowed by a very unfamiliar cynicism. Not the best of places to live in. So every time I'd see one of the cards I'd chosen for the day, and try to use the affirmation with gusto, I'd get this loud voice in my head saying, "Yea. Right. What a bunch of crap."

After a while, I put those cards back in the box and put the box on a shelf. Didn't touch them for a long time. Every now and then, I'd dust off the box and wonder, "How come it doesn't work for me?" It was a giant
tug-of-war between me and Me. But for some reason, I never got rid of them. Just kept dusting them and putting them back on the shelf.

Then, not long ago, I heard something that really got my attention. It was Abe, talking about those "silly affirmation cards" that they'd recently made available. They were standing there, reading the affirmations and then making fun of the whole idea. It was hysterically funny. I watched that video several times, completely amused by their antics and feeling the shift as they talked about why those affirmations could never work unless you were already in a space of "allowing". In other words, if you're in a funk, there isn't an affirmation in the world that's gonna change anything. First you have to get yourself in the good-feeling place; then you can say your affirmations and feel them resonate. Made sense to me.

The thing that was so fun about the whole experience was that they purposely (and quite sarcastically) teased about their "product". They told everyone listening, "Don't buy these cards. They're not going to help you until you make up your mind to change what you're thinking...and how you feel." Shocking stuff to say about one's own products, doncha think?

But the best thing about it was that I finally realized "why" those affirmations never worked. I finally saw how futile such practices are...if I'm not deliberately focused. And really, no cards are needed. No mantras or prayers or Books of Revelations are necessary for each of us to find our groove and work our 'magick'. The magick is all around us. It's inside of us. It IS us. The only reason we don't see the results of said magick is because we're too busy fussing and worrying over dumb stuff that distracts our attention from that flow of well-being. It's really that simple.

How do I know?

Cuz I'm living it. NOW. I'm living it every single day and I can tell you this:

It's a WHOLE LOT EASIER than you may think.

So then...

where do YOU wish to focus your attention?