Thoughts of Awakening # 293

Why are you afraid to let go of thought?
Because you think thinking
is what you are.

Question what you think you are.
Ask, “What am I?”

Notice the silence.
Notice it is the truer you.

Identify with silence,
and thinking can slip away.

~From our Holy Spirit

Thoughts of Awakening # 292

With careful observation
you will notice two things
that seem to be within you.

One is active chatter.
It has concerns.
It is darting to and fro.

The other is silence.
It may feel like trust
when the mind does not trust.
It may feel like patience
when the mind is afraid.
But what it is
is stillness.

Observe these two things,
and then ask,
“What am I?”

Learn to recognize
and identify with
your Self.

~From our Holy Spirit

The Awakening Together Sanctuary will be open throughout the Holidays.

Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day all fall on days when the Sanctuary is normally closed. Because of this the Sanctuary will remain open.

Happy Holidays to everyone. See you in the Sanctuary!

Join us at 10:15 am ET/ 8:15 am MT for the Weekly Sunday Gathering with Rev. Christy Goldsmith

Title: “Christmas Meaning: Am I Naughty or Am I Nice?”

Description: What is the meaning of Christmas, and what does “The I Am Bad Belief” have to do with it? Join with Rev. Christy as she considers Jesus’ message to the world, and how we can probe our deepest thoughts to reveal the Christ within.

Reading: Anne Blanchard will be reading selected passages from The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI) Acts.

 

*Weekly gathering is held every Sunday morning at 10:15 am ET/8:15 am MT in the Awakening Together Sanctuary. Join us after the Gathering for our Fellowship Time, hosted by Michelle Costa.

Enter Sanctuary Here

 

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Join us at 1:30 pm ET/ 11:30 am MT for Reflections from the Satsang with Regina – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard

Following the recent Awakening Together online 2-day retreat with Regina Dawn Akers those who had burning questions for Regina shared those questions with her. And now those who attended the retreat are invited to share what Regina shared with them and how it is currently guiding their Awakening journey to the True Self.

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Join us at 2:30 pm ET/ 12:30 pm MT for Qigong “The Movement of Now” with Ian McArthur

In this program, we will learn the traditional Mind, Body, and Spirit practice of Qigong (Chi Kung). Qi meaning life energy, referring to the energy circulating through the body, and Gong meaning cultivation or work. By following movements (forms) and a simple breathing technique, we encourage more Qi to flow which in turn allows us to feel more peaceful and at One with ourselves.

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Join us at 5:00 pm ET/ 3:00 pm MT for The Mighty Companions

Revs. Glen Ganaway and Yolanda Mapes, who are interfaith ministers, share a delightful, funny, and inspiring hour of A Course in Miracles. Come join in on the fun, the laughs, and the music while unlearning the ego through the lessons and chapters of ACIM.

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Join us at 6:00 pm ET/ 4:00 pm MT for Something Genuine with Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert

Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert facilitates this program, in which Awakening Together members and friends join together to watch and discuss TED talks that reveal the Truth of ourselves and our universe based on the actual experience of ordinary people. Their insights are genuine—not based upon theory or dogma—and give us a “man on the street” perspective on what we are coming to learn through Awakening Together.

 

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Join us at 7:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm MT for The Guiding Light with Rev. Regina Dawn Akers

Regina Dawn Akers reads selections from the book Perfect Brilliant Stillness by David Carse. The purpose of this inspired book study is to learn to stop focusing on words and concepts. Join Regina as she dives deep into this enlightened book study which isn’t a book study at all! Here’s a link to the book here: Get the book for free

 

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Join us at 7:30 pm ET/ 5:30 pm MT for a Live Satsang with Stephen Mitchell

Rev. Gloria Wells will be interviewing Stephen Mitchell. Stephen was born in Brooklyn in 1943, educated at Amherst, the Sorbonne, and Yale, and de-educated through intensive Zen practice. He is married to Byron Katie, founder of The Work.

His many books include the bestselling Tao Te Ching, Gilgamesh, The Gospel According to Jesus, The Book of Job, the Second Book of the Tao, The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, Bhagavad Gita, The Iliad, The Odyssey, Beowulf, and The Way of forgiveness, and The First Christmas. He is also the co-author of three of his wife Byron Katie’s bestselling books.

If you would like to find out more about Stephen Mitchell, you can visit his website: stephenmitchellbooks.com

 

 

Thoughts of Awakening # 291

Do not fool yourself.
Do not pretend to be at peace
when you are not.
Do not pretend to be happy
with an undercurrent of fear or upset.

Always be honest with yourself
about your feelings.

In upset, give willingness for peace.
In willingness, have gratitude for true desire.
In peace, be joy.

~From our Holy Spirit

Rev. Saina Fernandez guides a group of committed students through year 1 of Gentle Healing who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love. This group meets weekly on Thursdays at 6-8 pm ET and all members are committed to specific assignments and practices between group meetings.

Listen to the Audio

Please note: it may be necessary to download the audio to listen to it fully.

Homework for next week:

1. Homework Assignment A: Workbook lessons 313-319 including Regina’s tips. Practice daily awareness-watching-awareness, Loving Consciousness, or Abandon Release Method meditation for 20-30 minutes each day. Practice the “Loving All” Method.
   
2. Homework Assignment B: Read NTI 2 John, 3 John and Jude, pgs 453-459.