Subjective States

"You are a mirror of Truth, in which God Himself shines in perfect light. To the ego's dark glass you need but say, "I will not look there because I know these images are not true." Then let the Holy One shine on you in Peace, knowing that this and only this must be." -- A Course in Miracles

"Watch your mind carefully for any beliefs that hinder Peace, and step away from them. Judge how well you have done this by your own feelings, for this is the one right use of judgment." -- A Course in Miracles

I had someone ask me why I write this blog every day. It's a legitimate question. ACIM says the most important question you can ask about any endeavor is, "What is it for?" If I think I will get anything out of it or convince anyone of anything, it is all ego and so much hot air. My answer to them is: I have no idea why I'm writing the blog. But I can tell you what it is for. The Voice said write, and so I write. When nothing comes from that Awareness, I don't write. I refuse to force myself to do it, or to write just to fulfill a role. It either comes from Self or not at all. So occasionally I will miss a day or two, until I hear to write again. At some point the blog will stop, like all things in the world do. Until then, I am following and writing.

This is a different experience than the subjective states of mind that have plagued me as a writer in the past. Feeling up or down, on or off, with it or out of it... these subjective states determined my focus and productivity. Interestingly, writing this blog has none of that... whatever is up for the day, whatever emotions might arise, whatever situations occur, they are all just part of what is written about, used as compost for the organic process of awakening that is taking place. The Voice always leads us in this way. Whether it says to garden or write or run or simply to sit, it will always lead us back to an awareness of our true Self.

ACIM says that all the emotions that come and go are just judgments on what we are projecting... change our minds about what it is all for and the insubstantial emotions pass pretty effortlessly. Feelings, on the other hand, are our gage of Who we are listening to and following. Peace is the litmus test. Where there is Peace, regardless of how you tell the story, regardless of what emotions come and go, you are following the One. Remember, the Kingdom of Heaven is not a place nor a condition, but merely an Awareness of perfect Oneness... and Peace is the condition of this Awareness.

I remember one of the poems by Robert Louis Stevenson that my mother used to quote to me: "The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings." But the thing is, no number of things ever does make us happy. The subjective states that come and go even when we get what we think we want are the way of it. How many times have you been lulled into complacency by thinking that this time everything is different? That this time you will be happy forever? How long did that last?

This is not a bad thing. If our illusions didn't shift and change as they do, we would never bother to wake up, and would wander the dream of subjective illusions for eternity. So our job is simply to forgive our illusions and be happy and at peace with whatever is arising. Have fun when it's fun. Cry when you need to. Be real and honest with yourself and others. And know that none of it is a measure of Who You Are or has anything to do with your Real Self, anymore than dreaming you are a street person or a king during your night dreams has any real effect when you wake up.

Subjective states come and go. You don't.

"Let nothing disturb thee. Let nothing dismay thee. All things pass. God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God finds he lacks nothing. God alone suffices." -- Theresa of Avila