Protection that cannot fail

At a time when daily conversations are about places closing and events being cancelled due to the coronavirus, the topic of true protection is of great relevance. Perfect health is a state of mind in alignment with our Spirit-given function - with Gods will. When our mind is filled with the light of communication, the body serves its function perfectly.

Our thoughts, our state of mind, is of extremely high importance. Questions that help clarify alignment are: What is the direction of my thinking? Is it towards forgiveness and truth? Which thought system am I aligned with - even if I seem to be sharing 'observations' or stories about what is happening? Truly, what is the purpose of speaking in this moment? (If this is unclear you can always ask and observe "How does it feel? Does it / did it lead to a miracle of joining in truth or did it result in reinforcing a world of external causation... which feels problematic and unresolved?" Last night I had the pleasure of guest-facilitating an ACIM group in Lafayette. I found myself sharing a powerful parable of having extreme flu symptoms in Argentina in 2008 - right as a 'killer virus' was circulating in Buenos Aires.

The symptoms were intense and I had cancelled the groups with my students. My host and student had taken the role of my doctor and advisor... which was completely upside down - I was in total weakness.... losing faith in everything. All it took was one phone call with mighty companions, who took one look at me on a Skype video call and called me on avoiding my function. Yes I admitted, I had been avoiding my assignment because of the confrontational and angry reactions... thereby siding with weakness rather than the strength of Christ. This one avoidance and led me away from the light and love of my function and deeper into doubt and darkness to where I looked like Lazarus in a tomb! After this 30 minute wake-up call I was back in the direction of my function - Asking my host to join me in the truth and call the rest of the students to come the following day. Health on every level began to return.... And Jesus' words to me? Enough now. I am your physician. Never again are you to put your faith in magic. From now on your absolute and total faith is in me. Of course magic can be supplemental - even then i felt guided to stay warm in a blanket and sip on lemon and honey drinks as the physical symptoms slowly subsided - but the core direction of our faith and our though must be towards the source and Answer.

"There is one thought in particular that should be remembered throughout the day. It is a thought of pure joy; a thought of peace, a thought of limitless release, limitless because all things are freed within it. You think you made a place of safety for yourself. You think you made a power that can save you from all the fearful things you see in dreams. It is not so. Your safety lies not there. What you give up is merely the illusion of protecting illusions. And it is this you fear, and only this. How foolish to be so afraid of nothing! Nothing at all! Your defenses will not work, but you are not in danger. You have no need of them. Recognize this, and they will disappear. And only then will you accept your real protection.

How simply and how easily does time slip by for the teacher of God who has accepted His protection! All that he did before in the name of safety no longer interests him. For he is safe, and knows it to be so. He has a Guide Who will not fail. He need make no distinctions among the problems he perceives, for He to Whom he turn s with all of them recognizes no order of difficulty in resolving them. He is as safe in the present as he was before illusions were accepted into his mind, and as he will be when he has let them go. There is no difference in his state at different times and different places, because they are all one to God. This is his safety. And he has no need for more than this. " (ACIM. M-16.6,7) May our one response be healing. May we teach only love, to know this is what we are. And may we allow ourselves to rest in the holiness and peace that is ever available to touch upon within and then extend to the world

With blessings, Kirsten

Herein lies Freedom...

Tonight begins an intimate weekend retreat here at the house in Alkmaar, Holland. An opportunity to immerse in silence, allow what is ready to arise for healing, and be within an atmosphere of safety, presence, prayer, and Love, with the Holy Spirit Guiding the weekend.

Inspired by the profound and practical teaching in the Course that minds are joined, and therefore private thoughts must be brought to the light in order to heal and experience the freedom, joy and intimacy that we all desire.

“This course is not beyond immediate learning, unless you believe that what God wills takes time… The holy instant is this instant and every instant. The one you want it to be it is... For beyond the past and future, where you will not find it, it stands in shimmering readiness for your acceptance… Your practice must therefore rest upon your willingness to let all littleness go.” (T-15.IV)

After the Being Guided tour came to an end I have been in prayer to be shown directions... which involves allowing the 'not-knowing'... allowing the space... allowing feeling deactivated without knowing if I will ever be activated again... allowing each moment to be so full and total that there is nothing else... tears falling in the letting go of everything...

And then the call quietly shows itself... such as for an intimate retreat... and now before we begin there is a waiting list and group already asking for the next one to be arranged... ready to set a date...

It seems to be more and more like that - things arranging themselves and telling me that they are happening... and so we shall see... for sure it will be obvious, as His Plan always is.

My gatherings inspire songs in the hearts of those who come... awakening to the realization of what is blocking and what is truly supportive to know God... I just show up... available to be moved, to be shown what is the Call and how Grace would answer... for now this is the part He would have me play to know Him, to be with Him, to be released from the belief that I am anything more or less than the listening, the following, the Presence that is felt...

Of myself I can do nothing... thank you God... herein lies true freedom... herein lies love ❤

Psychotherapy, ACIM, or both?

Dear Kirsten,

I have a question in regards to traumatic experiences. What or better how would Jesus deal with personality disorders for example? Would you suggest therapy or simply doing the course? or both?

I doubt that in certain cases prayer alone will do and that it certainly a lack of faith. So where am I when I still believe in therapy on a psychological level?

I think where I am struggling at the moment is to put a fix label over someone e.g. you have this and that borderline personality and it is rare to be cured. I find it easier if I see that certain traces are here coming up from the unconscious in a very painful way but the label, the diagnosis hurts me. Makes me feel even more hopeless...as if once diagnosed as disordered or even ill you are always ill. Aren't all identities in some way disordered as long as we are not living our true reality..

Warm wishes, C

Hi C,

There is a booklet called the Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice, within which Jesus describes the value and purpose of psychotherapy. I find that when working with others including 1-1 sessions, and also in gatherings when someone asks a question and is open to exploring their healing on a deeper level directly within a group, it is often psychotherapy. Particularly when it involves trauma, it can be very supportive and helpful to be 'walked through' a healing process by someone who is clear on the process of forgiveness and can both hold the space to allow for emotional healing, and can gently guide the process to see the present core beliefs in the mind that are ready to be seen.

ACIM is a mind training tool to help your mind, discern what is of the ego, and to align the direction of our thinking and prayer towards the Voice for God. Because this is a pathway involving relationships, the journey will no doubt involve psychotherapy at some level.

I join you in giving any "official diagnosis" over to the Spirit for release. While also acknowledging the need for support and healing. It is good to be open to who and what the Spirit brings onto our path for healing - and to stay open to the recognition that the healing goes far beyond the recent story or experiences of this lifetime. There are core beliefs in the mind that are ready to be faced and healed. This is the context for seeing the healing within the perspective of awakening, which is not personal, and then need not be resisted or seen as failure of any kind.

With much love,

Kirsten 

The Psychotherapy booklet is available to order here, and is also included in newer editions of ACIM, as published by the authorized publishers, The Foundation for Inner Peace