Ascend and Transcend

The Hand of God

Ascend is to climb stairs or rise up in a plane according to the Oxford Dictionary. According to the Bible, Jesus ascended into heaven. He transcended the earthly plane. Ascend to me, means that it relates to the physical beingness and transcend would be metaphysical or going beyond the physical as Jesus did.

Rumi is one of my favorite poets and I believe he had experiences of transcending the earthly plane in meditation. Transcend, as in moving beyond the normal range of human experience. (Paraphrasing the Oxford Dictionary.) We can transcend our current physical reality while meditating and becoming like a blank slate, emptying our mind of thoughts. The following poem is an example.

“THE ALCHEMY OF LOVE”

You come to us
from another world

From beyond the stars
and void of space.
Transcendent, Pure,
Of unimaginable beauty,
Bringing with you
the essence of love

You transform all
who are touched by you.
Mundane concerns,
troubles, and sorrows
dissolve in your presence,
Bringing joy
to ruler and ruled
To peasant and king

You bewilder us
with your grace.
All evils
transform into
goodness.

You are the master alchemist.

You light the fire of love
in earth and sky
in heart and soul
of every being.

Through your love
existence and nonexistence merge.
All opposites unite.
All that is profane
becomes sacred again.”
— Rumi

Some metaphysical ‘food for thought.’

What do you think?

Rev Airin

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Life After Life After….

I haven’t had a near death experience, have you? Joe Geraci has and I learned about it during his Ted Talk. One of the things he said was there were no words in our vocabulary that could describe it adequately. He did say he felt love and he was the love, the brightness, and the peace.  Below is a poem he wrote about it, over 30 years later. He wrote some others, too, about his view of life on earth.

Fleeting Voyage

From up here the stars pass like street lights

as I sit back and stare into ancient history

I’ve never been this far away from home

the thought comes just as easily as it goes

She takes my hand and my thoughts cascade into a blur

I can feel the hum of the universe

to a land of dreams

She says she’ll take me far away from everything

just as I wake

Copyright © Joe Geraci | Year Posted 2012

As a chaplain at the hospital, I will sometimes get asked about it. Honestly, none of us know what it is really like unless we have had a near death experience or we have been with someone or read or heard about what others have said. And then we need to consider that it is interpreted through their own filters. The one thing that I inherently believe is that it is peaceful.

Einstein is known to have said it was beautiful. Steve Jobs said, “Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! His sister said that he was a romantic and had a capacity for wonderment. Italian artist, Raphael’s last word uttered was, “happy.” When John Wayne died, he turned toward his wife Marie and said, “Of course I know who you are. You are my girl, I love you.” Bo Diddley as he listened to a song called, “Walk around heaven,” he said. “Wow.”¹

Some people say that the experience after death is what one believes it will be. I was told by an intuitive that he had a visit from a friend after she died. She said that the after life was everything that they had talked about.

Unity teachings are spiritual and metaphysical and say that the physical body dies but that isn’t the end of ourselves. Everything is energy, our soul lives on and we transition to another form for a bit. Death is a new beginning. Charles Fillmore, our cofounder, taught that we are reincarnated, when we come back in a physical body we have another chance to do things better.

I am planning on an “Oh wow” experience. How about you?

Rev Airin

¹https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58534/64-people-and-their-famous-last-words

What is life to you?

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service.        I served and I saw that service is joy.” — Kahlil Gibran

“Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you. Remember, life is an echo.   It always gets back to you. So, give goodness.” —- Unknown

“Life is an adventure to be lived, not a problem to be solved” — Terry Brooks book

“Life is consciousness and relationship. The consciousness you                       show up in dictates how the relationship unfolds” — Airin’s credo

What is life to you? Have you thought about it as such? Maybe you have and there is a favorite quote or credo that inspires your life. Recently I was drawn to the first quote because I have experienced it. The happiness and joy quotes that I shared in one of my articles last month all apply, too. See: https://revairin.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/happiness-and-joy-quotes/

One of the quotes describes joy as a feeling which resonates for me. I’ve literally had a love or dislike relationship with joy. To use hate instead of dislike would be untrue and too strong of a descriptor. I have felt and experienced true hatred in my life toward and from another which was an incredibly horrible feeling on both sides that I never want to experience again. The ‘Life is an echo’ quote exemplifies that. We were both in love with the same woman and he was using emotional blackmail to get her to stay with him. This happened about 6 years before I discovered the teachings of Unity.

The good ending to the story was this woman saw through what he was doing and I had put everything on the line by giving her the straight scoop. This was one of the first times that I tried with every fiber of my being not to be attached to the outcome. In college at that time I was using the Terry Brooks quote above as a credo that I followed.

The quote came to me when I was talking with someone last week. When I look through the archives of my life, it has always been an adventure. I have taken risks and like my Aunt Nancy said once, “You have always landed on your feet, just like a cat.”

The main quote and some minor ones lasted me until finding Unity at age 27, as I have mentioned before and then I began reading Charles Fillmore, as his teachings had been organized into books. He cofounded Unity with his wife, Myrtle. When I graduated from Unity’s seminary, I used the ‘Life is consciousness…’ credo above that I developed from the teachings I had received. This continues to serve me like an umbrella over my life’s adventures.

Going back to where I began, the first quote ending with ‘service is joy’, relates to a promise that I made to myself after graduating from college and knowing that I would be working and earning my way in the world. No matter what my work was, I would make sure it was something I loved, and I have truly served in joy. (Little did I know that I had been feeling it all along, for a win, win!)

High Vibrations for the Universe

The angst is great

Emotions are high

All feel justified

On every side

A stinking swamp

What can one do?

Empathic hearts

Yearning to know

How to stop bullies

And egos with greed

Are they all for one?

Or one against them all

Retaliation

Never pays for

Innocent victims

What can one do?

Join together

Raise the vibration

Lift the energy

With thoughts from the heart

High vibrations of love

Positive thoughts

Seeing it rightly

Knowing the Truth

Quells the unrest

Lifts the Universe

Conscious Awareness

How aware am I of how I show up in the world? I know that I am different now than when I was in my 20’s or even my 40’s. I remember when I turned 41. I had experienced significant financial losses from risks I had taken and still landed on my feet like a cat with nine lives. I had the safety net of the Unity teachings to support me and bail me out. I had learned early on at age 27 when I discovered Unity, that by changing my thoughts, one word at a time, one sentence at a time, that it changed my consciousness. This changed my life, one moment at a time.

From BlessingManifesting .com

When I look back, I like what each decade taught me. I liked my 40’s in particular because I had experienced enough of life that it gave me some wisdom to be more aware of how I showed up in the world and how to live while simultaneously I had so much more to experience and learn from the world. All of this contributed to my inner world, my spiritual journey with God as my copilot.

I have the opportunity when I am rounding at the hospital, to ask people how they are doing. I’ll ask, “how are you doing” or “how’s it going?” The replies are: “It’s going”, I’m good,” “living the dream,” or “I’m here.” It tells me a lot about their conscious awareness in that moment. How conscious is a person of how they are showing up in the moment? They may just be responding to be polite. If I ask it in a tone that uses inflection on certain words I might get more than “I’m good.” For example, “How are you doing?” This sometimes elicits more of a response because I am saying that I really want to know. Also emphasizing the word ‘doing.’ Not using any emphasis on words tends to give a pat answer or automatic response.

If it’s an employee I have cultivated a relationship with and they are having a rough day, they will say so. After they debrief, sometimes I will say, “Did you know that you can begin again in this moment and start your day over? Brush it off your shoulders and begin again in this moment.” It is a concept many haven’t heard of. I learned it from being involved at Unity.

How aware am I of how I show up in any given moment? I am not always conscious of how I am showing up. Since awareness is the other half of it. I have a credo I live by: Life is consciousness and relationship. The consciousness that I show up in dictates how the relationship unfolds. It serves me well and brings me back to my center of conscious awareness.

Thoughts to ponder for this week.

Rev Airin

A Prophecy of Love

I visited a patient this week who was upset about the turmoil and craziness in the world right now, especially politics. Then she said, “None of the kids today have grown up knowing about God. That is why we are in such a mess.”  I responded with, “I receive a morning message from my minister and todays was to give love and come from love.” She started to smile as she was eating her eggs before they got too cold. I said, “Even those with whom I speak who don’t know God, know love. Love is a synonym for God.’’ I actually looked later at the text message, and it didn’t say that at all, but many of them are about being loving.

“So, what is your prophecy for the future of things?” she asked. “Mine is a prophecy of love.” There was no hesitation in my response. “Focusing on things that I can’t do anything about doesn’t feel good here.” At which point I rested my hand on my stomach. Meanwhile the pager on my belt kept going off periodically during the visit and I would have to check it.

“It’s a better use of my energy to focus on the things that I can do something about. And even those who don’t identify with a God, can identify with love. Love, is also a synonym for God.” She seemed to like this. I really did need to leave and attend to the last page that I got and had a feeling that things could be wrapped up with a prayer. I left her one of the prayer cards that I keep in my wallet that has Unity’s ‘The Prayer of Protection’¹ on it by James Dillet Freeman. I said, I have committed this to memory because I use it when I am not sure of how something is going to go.” She looked at it and said, “thank you.”

Later, on another visit, I kept with the prophecy of love theme. They had just been talking about all the love the patient had given to her daughter who was visiting.

When I think about the negative events going on in the world, it doesn’t feel good in my gut. There is a truth that what you focus on you get more of.

Oprah Winfrey Quote: “What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.”

Do I want to dwell on the negative circumstances or look at them through the eyes of love, from a higher level. Jesus looked at Peter with the eyes of love even after he denied knowing him. Even better than this is focus on what you would like to have more of, or more experiences. No one needs to settle for the status quo. There is so much more to life. What do you want to create more of?

Start with seeing with the eyes of love for others and help create A Prophecy of Love. By the way, you will also be creating what it is you want more of!

Rev Airin

1 The Prayer of Protection – “The light of God surrounds me; The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me; The presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is! Amen”

Happiness and Joy Quotes

“The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and bring that person joy.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

“Happiness is part of who we are. Joy is the feeling”
― Tony DeLiso, Legacy: The Power Within

“When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness… all the good things.”
― Maya Angelou

“After all, you can’t truly be happy if you’ve never known pain. You can’t truly feel joy if you’ve never felt heartbreak. You can’t know what it’s like to be filled unless you’ve been empty.”
― Kelly Cutrone, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You

“Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.”
― Og Mandino

“One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

“We are visitors on this planet. We are here for one hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. if you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

Giving to another gave me the feeling of joy this week. What makes you happy that causes joy to be felt with in you?

Rev Airin

What is Unity

Here are some notes on what Unity is all about.

Non-denominational Christian community that metaphysically interprets the Bible, discerning the meaning beyond the words.

Unity is a spirituality not a religion.

Unity utilizes a “practical application” of the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus is our brother and way shower, not a God that is worshipped.

“Not a church or sect,
   but a place
where the students of Jesus
gain a spiritual understanding
   of the words of Jesus,
   the parables of Jesus
   and the rites of the church.
We baptize not with water
   but with Spirit…”

Written by Charles Fillmore, cofounder, with his wife Myrtle

We do our best to follow the 5 Unity Principles:

Mind: 1. God is absolute good, everywhere present. 2. Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are also inherently good.

Idea: 3. Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought. 4. Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.

Expression: 5. Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must also live the truth that he or she knows.

Mind, Idea, Expression is the metaphysical Trinity of Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Most of us meditate daily in the morning or when walking or during a meditative activity. Just to listen for and connect with the ‘still small voice’ within.

Many of us follow our gut or listen to our intuition as a daily practice.

Questions are welcome in the comments below. Also, go to https://www.unity.org/ if you want to know more and look up a church or center near you.

Rev Airin

Present to the Moment

Last week I was talking with one of the administrative assistants where I work at the hospital as a chaplain. I said that I didn’t multitask well. She said, I don’t either, I pivot back and forth. I thought about that for a second. I like that word, pivot. She said no one can do more than one thing at a time, really. I thought, yeah, no one can be focused on more than one thing and do it well.

Then there’s ‘present moment focus’. Eckart Tolle, a mystic and author, said “As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love – even the most simple action.” From his book, The Power of Now.

What I remember from his book is that ‘the action happens in the present moment.’ If one is busy lamenting the past or worrying about the future, they can’t be in the present moment, let alone even concentrate. It is also energetically fatiguing sending one’s energy out ahead of oneself before you can be there physically to focus on it and accomplish the task.

From Unity Minister Eric Butterworth’s Sunday lessons, “Where You Are,” is a Zen Story. It tells of a monk who is being chased by two tigers near the edge of a cliff and frantically let himself down by a vine that was hanging there. Having climbed down a while, he looked up above him and at the very top two mice were gnawing at the vine. Frantically looking down, and he saw two more tigers awaiting him at the bottom, pacing back and forth licking their chops.

Just then he saw a beautiful strawberry within his arm’s reach. He picked it, enjoyed the best strawberry he had ever tasted.

As typical Zen, it’s a parable of life. Wherever you are in time and space, be there. Live the moment and the experience completely. There may be regrets about the past, there may be apprehensions about the future. But what about today? What about the opportunity for joy and fulfillment in this moment just where you are. One of the great discoveries, which is somewhat puzzling to many persons, is the truth that now is all the time there is. Now is all the time there is, this moment. ¹

When one is living in the present moment, being here now, you can then be present and a presence to pets, people, situations and more along with also having a clearer mind. Sometimes one can receive an intuitive knowing such as “I think I might meet someone that is coming to dinner tonight that works where I work.”

I discovered Unity Church in 1986, it was the following spring that I was practicing the teaching ‘Be here now’ while I was mowing a lawn behind my walk behind mower. I was in the habit of thinking about the next thing or place that I needed to be. I had no sooner said that to myself when a mouse ran across the front of the mower, and I was able to avoid hitting it.

When one is in conversation with another, are they listening to what is being said, or are they thinking about what they want to say next? How present are they being with that person? I am a reflective thinker so sometimes people tend to interrupt me when I am speaking. I might pause before I am finished and the person will jump in and finish it in a different way than I had intended. They were merely meaning to be helpful. There are ways to check in with ourselves on how present one may be in the moment. That is one of them. Are we thinking about something else while they are talking? If one is feeling stressed or worried, that can be hard to keep focused.

As a hospital chaplain, our ministry is often referred to as a ministry of presence. We are present to patients, their families, and the staff. We are there to listen and/or be present in the silence. We meet them where they are with unconditional regard and support. We are also a calm presence for staff and families during a code Blue when someone has a heart that stopped or a code White when they are having a possible stroke, seizure or respiratory challenge. Also, a code Gray which involves a patient’s behaviors being a danger to themselves or others from reactions to medications or change in mental capacity.

‘Be here now,’ was the best way for me to train my mind to be present. I invite you to try it. You may find that you have more energy throughout the day, as well. If you have another way that helps you with a present moment focus, please share it in the comments below.

Rev Airin

¹ https://www.truthunity.net/ebup/where-you-are

A Gotchaback God

What could that mean? It doesn’t mean a person surprised you back or got you back in ‘a tit for tat’ way. As you know, I promote positive perspectives in this blog. It means God’s got our back. This means that God’s got you, understands you unconditionally, no matter what. God is on our side, in our corner, and always looking out for us. This is even when we are unaware.

The phrase came to me when I was visiting a patient on Saturday. She hadn’t had any sleep for a week, worried about her baby that she was carrying, yet receiving care in the hospital. It wasn’t the normal pregnancy that she had expected and it was her first. Part of the spiritual conversation was regarding God wanting us to be happy and always being there for us. She has a strong faith and is currently in her denomination’s ministerial school to become a minister.

People sometimes use the phrase, gotcha, when they understand us. I also said, had she heard the phrase ‘let go and let God.’ She said yes. Then I said, let’s reverse that, first give your situation to God who is greater than all our problems, then let go. God will take care of it. We have a gotcha God, 24/7. She said she loved that and wrote it in her blank lined book. When you have truly let go, you may find you can fall asleep. It is my hope that she slept better that night.

The God I know, who Jesus called Abba, also loves us unconditionally, never judging us. In Unity, members strive to love unconditionally as demonstrated by Jesus. To refresh your memory, as a Unity truth student I worship God. Jesus is my brother and way shower. I do my best to follow his example and teachings, loving unconditionally and being aware if I am judging another person.

In the above picture it shows another being that loves unconditionally as well as playful, a dog. For me, life wouldn’t be the same without my four-legged child and friend, Bailey. There is a quote that I acquired that hangs on the wall of my living room by Anonymous.

It came to me that every time

I lose a dog they take a piece

Of my heart with them.

And every new dog who comes into my life

Gifts me with a piece of their heart.

If I live long enough all the components of my heart

Will be dog, and I will become as

 Generous and loving as they are.

Dogs are also a good unconditional judge of character. They also remember a person the first time they meet them. Dog happens to be God spelled backwards. They are definitely a presence in physical form just as God is in my life although I can’t see a physical form. There is plenty of evidence in my life that God exists and that is a topic for another blog.

Try out letting God and then letting go. Give it over to God first and then let go of it into God’s care and keeping.

Remember, God’s A Gotchaback God!

Rev Airin