gratitude

I just realised that having got regular access to the internet once again I am able to resume making regular posts. The journey since I last posted has involved many sights along the way but I would like to post based on the current thoughts in my awareness.

I am very grateful that I have been guided to the work of Byron Katie. I have found it extremely helpful in looking at the thoughts that arise within the mind without judgement. I discover, through going within and feeling for alignment, those thoughts that resonate with That Which is True for mySelf.

I am also very grateful for the teachings that are shared through Regina Dawn Akers website. Holy Spirit has shown me many useful thoughts through listening to these teachings and allowing the messages to be shared in One Mind.

I am grateful for the willingness present in every spark of our One Mind that connects us to the Truth of Who We Are.

I am also grateful to every brother and sister in this perceptual realm for the gift of projection that they present to me. Through the gift of their presence in the life of Esther this mind is able to see what was once hidden. Through interacting with Esther they uncover thoughts that were unseen through the gift of projection. Through their interaction in the life of Esther certain thoughts are "pulled out" from deep within and POP! here they are seen clearly infront of me. At this point I am free to enquire within and discover if the thoughts I sought to hide are in alignment with the Truth about mySelf.

I had a clear example of that today when I came home and saw a situation in my house that allowed frustration to be pulled out from the mind and rise up in awareness. In this instance I did not initally see the situation in these terms. I looked at the physical 'facts.' In the space of a few seconds I had the opportunity to question and turned away from that opportunity at lightening speed. I chose not to look at what was arising. Several times I had the prompt to look at this sense of frustration and I chose to look away. At about the 5th prompt I sat down with a pen and paper and decided to look at the situation using the four questions of Byron Katie. After a short time I came across the thought I was choosing to put my faith in:

I shouldn't be angry at this situation (it's silly to be angry at this situation, I should be more mature than that...)

AHA! I could feel that I had invested faith in this thought because there was a strong feeling attached to it. Immediately I could ask the questions-

1) Is it true? I shouldn't be angry at this situation?
Answer: the reality is that anger is arising in response to this situation so no, it's not true for me that I shouldn't be. I would rather look at what IS arising. That is in greater alignment with the truth than to deny what is arising.

so then I skip to the third question

3) How do I feel when I invest my faith in the thought that I shouldn't be angry in response to this situation and anger is arising?
Answer: I refuse to question what is occuring. I refuse to look at what is occuring. I distract myself by any means necessary, hoping to forget that the anger arose.

4) What would it be like if it was impossible for the thought to arise that I shouldn't be angry?
Answer: There would be a spirit of enquiry, an open-mindedness. There would be a clear awareness of the willingness to look upon the thoughts that draw a veil over the decision "not to know mySelf".

At this point the mind was perfectly willing to see the Turnaround "I SHOULD be angry at this situation." Rephrasing the original statement to read "anger should not be arising in response to this situation" takes away the personal element, and so it becomes "anger should be arising in response to this situation."

This makes far more sense than the original thought that anger should not be arising and at the same time acknowledges that mySelf is no longer identified with anger. The mind is now freed to look at anger without seeing the anger as something that reduces its vastness. The presence of this anger in the mind is not seen as a threat.

The next step is to find three ways in which the Turnaround is truer than the original thought:

* Anger should be arising because this is a perfect opportunity to practice willingness. This is an opportunity for mySelf to allow the anger to be there and at the same time be willing to accept responsibility for the choice that was once made to value the absence of Knowledge.

*Anger should be arising because this is a perfect opportunity to practice patience. I am being given the chance to consistently choose Communion as the point of reference. As I do this I remember that nothing can affect Who We Really Are and so I can practice looking patiently upon ALL thoughts that seek to offer proof that separation is real.

* Anger should be arising because it gives me the opportunity to remember what I value. It gives me the opportunity to remember that I value my brother and sister for showing me what would otherwise be hidden within the mind. I have chosen to uncover that which I sought to hide and so it is perfect that my brother gives me the opportunity to look upon this anger with willingness and patience.

The final step is a further statement of willingness:

I look forward to experiencing anger arise in awareness again.

Four ways in which I look foward to it...

* I look foward to uncovering all obstacles to the awareness of Love.
* I look foward to accepting responsibility for the choice made in OneMind to turn away from Knowledge.
* I look forward to being aware of that choice and accepting my part in it without judgement.
* I look forward to allowing ALL things to teach me that which I need to learn.

Thank you Holy Spirit for your constant presence and guidance.

Esther