A.R.E. Meeting for 7/30/12

Leader: Greg
Reader: Not applicable

Due to the extreme weather, we only had four truth seekers show up this week. We watched short ARE videos on "cooperation" and "know thyself," and then Marsha led us in interesting discussions for the rest of the evening. We did not read further in the SFG book. The experiment stays the same as last week, which is:

Each night before falling asleep say a prayer asking that in your dreams you will be guided to experience that which is best for your growth. Try to retain this sense of seeking as you fall asleep. Keep a careful record of your dreams and of your feelings when you awaken in the morning.

The interesting John Van Auken article I mentioned that was on the ARE blog about Will Power, and how to tell if an ambiguous decision is the correct one, is at: http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/blog.aspx?id=7073&blogid=445.

Inner Vision: Will Power Heavenly Gift, Earthly Test

The following is an article by John Van Auken that was posted to the ARE blog on 7/27/12. The part that meant something to me is where he says that we face decisions every day and many of them are amibiguous. So even with an ideal, how do we choose the right path? His answer is that which brings more love to others or to our own hearts.

Will, free will, is God’s gift to us.

According to the Cayce readings, the Book of Job was written by the high priest Melchizedek, the King of Salem (King of Peace, predecessor to the Prince of Peace), as a guide to all incarnate souls concerning Earth life. The Book of Job presents Earth as a realm of testing, of meeting oneself (soul self) and one’s karma, to see if we curse God, as Satan said we would, or seek out God’s companionship to better understand why life is the way it is. In the end, Job did not curse God but sought Him out. The two grew to know each other, and all that Job had lost in the test was restored to him, a hundredfold.

This life is a test of our free will. Set before us are all manner of opportunities and challenges. We are to choose the best course according to our heart’s desire. And that is exactly why the test exists: to determine the true motivation of our hearts. Are we self-centered, self-gratifying, self-glorifying, or cooperative parts of the Whole, God, and all of creation? Through our choices, we reveal our hearts.

Now some appear to be living without making choices. They just roll with the circumstances of life. Whatever comes along, takes them along, with little thought as to the consequences. It is important to set an ideal, a standard by which we guide our decision making. Among the many directives given by Edgar Cayce’s attunement to the Universal Consciousness, setting an ideal was number one. Even with an ideal, the choices are rarely as clear as good or evil. They are often ambiguous. Here the guiding principle for making a choice is love. Whichever choice brings more love to others and to our hearts is most likely the better choice. The greatest commandment, greater than all the laws and prophets, is to love God with all our being and others as ourselves.

Of course, there are laws and realities that can make the loving choice difficult or even impossible. For example, if Jesus so loved us, why did he go away? Wouldn’t the more loving choice have been to follow Judas’ way, to overthrow Rome, liberate Jerusalem, and raise all of us into paradise? From outward appearances it seemed so, but from inner truth it was not. As Jesus explained to Peter when he said those hard words, “Get thee behind me Satan,” we often become stumbling blocks to ourselves and others, because we want to do things the way they appear best to man from a physical, material perspective. But we must learn to see life’s decisions from a godly, spiritual perspective — the way God sees them. This requires more than book knowledge, more than good intentions. It requires a conscious sense of God’s guidance in our lives.

Despite the difficulties, getting in touch with God is key to realizing our full potential and purpose for existence. In order to be a companion, we have to have a relationship. To have a relationship, we have to have communication. Is communication with God the same as communication with others? Is God individual or universal? Is God finite or infinite? Obviously, communicating with a universal, infinite consciousness is not the same as communicating with an individual, finite one. This is evidenced by the way Edgar Cayce got his information. He subdued his individual, finite self and attuned himself to the universal, infinite consciousness, the mind of God. Through his efforts we’ve learned that we can all do this, and we all should do it. God still speaks to those who will listen. It is not a thing of the ancient past and the Old Testament.

Yet, many crimes have been committed in the name of God’s guidance. This is why the laws and commandments were laid out for us, to give us a reference point from which to measure guidance. The Ten Commandments and the “love God and one another” precepts are the best touchstones by which to measure guidance. Jesus told us to judge by the fruits; evil fruits do not come from good sources. If the actions and thoughts resulting from our inner guidance make us better people, then it is of God and fits well with the commandments and laws.

It’s a matter of will; choosing to do so. In the midst of all of life’s activities and options, it takes will power to budget time each day to attune oneself to the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, the Guide within — God, our spiritual parent, who loves us and seeks our companionship. What is it that keeps us from seeking God’s companionship in our lives? Self. Self’s constant interest in its own things, its own ideas, its own desires. The only power capable of changing this is self’s will. Using self’s will to subdue self’s will in order to attune to God’s will is the great way to heavenly consciousness and eternal life.

As has been given, "There is set before thee life and death, good and evil — choose thou."

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/23/12

Leader: Greg
Reader: Marsha

We read two sections in the chapter on "Know Thyself," and one section in the Experiments book. Next week we will start with the section in the chapter titled "The Awakening of Self."

The experiment for the following week is:

Each night before falling asleep say a prayer asking that in your dreams you will be guided to experience that which is best for your growth. Try to retain this sense of seeking as you fall asleep. Keep a careful record of your dreams and of your feelings when you awaken in the morning.

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/16/12

Leader: Greg
Reader: Sylvia

We started the chapter on "Know Thyself." Next week we will pick up with the section "Self in Relation to Others." The experiment for the following week is:

Be aware of your body each day. Take special note of its desires and functions and try to keep an awareness of holiness as these activities are fulfilled (e.g., eating a meal with a sense of holiness.

If that experiment doesn't feel right for you, then try another.

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/9/12

Leader: Greg
Reader: Nancy & Sylvia

We listened to an ARE recording on the topic of cooperation, and then read almost to the end of the cooperation chapter in the Experiments book. Next week we will start the next chapter on "Know Thyself."

The experiment for the following week is:

Live with the awareness that what you are thinking is actually creating and is very real. At the end of each day, review your thought patterns. Record those that you feel were especially constructive or helpful. Without a sense of self-condemnation, record those you feel were not consistent with your ideals.

If you have the urge to try a different experiment, then please do so.

Coffee with Cream

I know a person who drinks coffee with cream. Whenever the opportunity arises with people who drink coffee this way, I will mention that I have heard this is a problem for your digestion and should be avoided. Since this person knew of Edgar Cayce, I decided to look through the readings to find out more, and to see if I could find the reason it is harmful. According to my search for "coffee," there were 524 places in the readings where this term was mentioned. (Many of the readings had to do with soaking your feet in coffee grounds.) Here are some quotes from the readings that I extracted for coffee and cream:

From Reading 133-4:
5. Mornings - citrus fruit juices (either the juice of one or the other of such fruit), with browned whole wheat toast that may be buttered if so desired, and a little coffee; or preferable to coffee would be Ovaltine or any CEREAL drink, though if coffee is taken it should be without cream or milk.

From Reading 243-22:
9. (Q) Does it hurt me to use sugar in my coffee?
(A) Sugar is not near so harmful as cream. May use sugar in moderation.

From Reading 257-159:
3. And during the whole period keep more of an alkalin diet. No white bread. Principally use fruit juices, and citrus fruit juices at that! A little coffee without cream may be taken as a stimulant, or a little whiskey and soda later in the evening may be taken.

From Reading 257-210:
17. (Q) Does black coffee with sugar have bad effect on body?
(A) No.

From Reading 275-45:
13. (Q) Is the chemical reaction of raw milk in coffee the same as cream in coffee in relation to the digestion in the stomach?
(A) Well, this depends - to be sure - upon the activity of the system at the time. Cream, to be sure, is less hard, or more easily digested and produces LESS of that hard to be assimilated by portions of the system. But in coffee it is PREFERABLE for the body to use neither cream nor milk. Of course, cream is less harmful - and of course carries more food value, of a different nature. But there is a portion in same that becomes gradually hard upon the activity of the juices from the pancreas and spleen to the activities upon the system through the lacteals in their absorbing from digestion.

14. (Q) What about sugar in coffee?
(A) Brown sugar, of course, is preferable. Sugar is NOT as harmful, provided there is of course not too much sugar taken in other sweets.

From Reading 295-10:
16. (Q) Should coffee be entirely eliminated for the better physical functioning of the body?
(A) Coffee without cream is NOT harmful for the body, if taken in moderation.

From Reading 303-2:
40. (Q) Is tea and coffee harmful to the body?
(A) Tea is more harmful than coffee. Any nerve reaction is more susceptible to the character of tea that is usually found in this country, though in some manners in which it is produced it would be well. Coffee, taken properly, is a food; that is, WITHOUT cream or milk.

From Reading 326-6:
12. (Q) Is coffee harmful for this body?
(A) With cream or milk, yes; without same not so harmful - rather a stimulant.

From Reading 349-10:
9. Mornings - citrous fruits, or stewed fruits with cereal, or fresh fruits with cereal - but not both; that is, not the citrous fruit AND the cereal with the fruit in same. Or cereal, OR a citrous fruit may be taken, with a coddled egg - but do not eat other than the YOLK of the egg, with coffee or tea - but no milk in the coffee or tea, and little sugar.

From Reading 379-2:
19. (Q) Are tea and coffee injurious?
(A) An excess is. Do not drink coffee or tea with milk or cream.

From Reading 404-3:
20. (Q) Should I drink coffee and when?
(A) Coffee is not harmful to the body, provided it is FRESH coffee.

From Reading 412-11:
13. In the diet, do not combine great quantities of cheese with macaroni or the like; for these are IRRITATING to the skin. Milk, coffee and tea may be taken in moderation, but do not mix them during the same meal. Use neither milk nor cream in the coffee or tea, but they may be taken separately or on different days.

From Reading 462-2:
10. (Q) Is coffee or tea good for this body?
(A) Coffee is better than tea, though the body may prefer the tea. Coffee without milk and without sugar is preferable; but coffee without cream or milk IS a food value. There is very little food value in tea, though it is a stimulant. Coffee is preferable.

From Reading 462-17:
14. (Q) Would it be best to cut out coffee? If so, what would be a good substitute for me?
(A) Not necessarily cut it out, just so there is not milk or cream taken in same. The quantity may be reduced, but we would not cut same out. There is a good stimulant in same, and some food values.

From Reading 555-8:
Mornings - either citrus fruit juices or cereals dry or cooked. Do not take citrus fruit juices and cereals at the same meal. A little very crisp bacon, coddled egg or the like. Milk OR coffee, but do not mix coffee and milk together before drinking. It's alright to be mixed after it is drunk, by taking them at the same meal but not together; for it's the variation in the activity of the gastric juices of the system causing disturbance. Sugars may be taken in moderation. Toast brown or whole wheat or rye bread. Any of these may be taken.

From Reading 613-1:
26. (Q) Should he take coffee at all? If so, should cream be taken in it?
(A) When coffee is taken, if milk or cream is used in same it is NOT a food. Without milk or cream it IS a food to the body. For this body, LITTLE of coffee; rather a cereal drink is preferable.

From Reading 684-1:
24. (Q) Can she drink coffee?
(A) Coffee, fresh - without cream, is a food. In excess, WITH cream - or with quantity of sugar, it becomes as a poison, or hard for a digestive system - if taken in excess. This may be taken in moderation.

From Reading 816-5:
12. (Q) Can coffee and tea be used by this body without harmful effects?
(A) No one can use them without AFFECTING the body. As to whether they are harmful or not depends upon the extent to which they are used. Use one or the other; don't use them both. Tea is more harmful than coffee. Coffee is a food if it is taken without cream or sugar, and especially without cream; and if taken without the caffeine - as Kaffa Hag, or the like - it's really a food for the body.

From Reading 877-28:
15. (Q) What about coffee and tea?
(A) No milk OR cream in coffee OR tea, this in moderation will not be harmful for the body. A little sugar may be used if desired, but NO cream or milk.

From Reading 942-1:
18. Mornings - citrus fruit juices. Coffee or ten may be taken in moderation, or Sanka coffee or those compounds with the toxic forces removed; such as Kaffa Hag and the like. Do not OVER use cream or milk in the coffee taken, for it forms that which is detrimental to the gastric flow of the stomach itself.

From Reading 975-1:
As to the drinks; drink plenty of water - six to ten glasses full each day. Do not take quantities of tea, but a very small quantity once a day may be taken. Coffee may be taken in moderation provided milk or cream is NOT used in same. Without the cream coffee is a food; WITH milk or cream it is very hard on the system.

From Reading 983-1:
Not great quantities of tea or coffee, but these may be taken in moderation provided they do not carry milk or cream in same when taken. These are as foods without same, and are more nourishing. While the food values in the milk or cream may be considered of an equal value alone, when used together they form a condition in the lactic juices of the stomach itself that does not make for the proper eliminations carried on through the whole of the alimentary canal. Keep rather an alkalin diet, adhering to the one raw vegetable meal each day.

From Reading 1073-1:
Coffee or tea should preferably be without milk or cream, for again we find that the combination of the acids - or the tannic forces, the chickory, or the properties there are the food values to the digestive forces - becomes disturbing, when combined outside of the body. However, if milk and coffee are taken at the same meal - but not combined before they are taken - the gastric juices flowing from even the salivary glands in the mouth so taking these CHANGE the activity so that the food values of both are taken by the system, in the activity through the alimentary canal.
Coffee or tea may be taken then at the same meal, but NOT with the milk IN same. Little sugar, for this - as indicated, of course - makes for an activity upon the pancreas that, unless there is a great deal of physical exertion, creates the tendency for the increase of avoirdupois throughout the whole body itself.

From Reading 1224-3:
Coffee may be used if desired, but NOT with milk or cream in same! for this is hard upon the heart, as well as the digestion. If a little sugar is desired, it is very well, but no milk or cream in the coffee.

From Reading 1236-1:
Coffee, tea, milk - do not combine milk with tea or coffee; these make for an acidity, and especially are hard on the digestive forces where acid is superactive in the system from the general disturbances.

From Reading 1830-2:
11. (Q) Any other advice?
(A) A far as any coffee, tea or the like is concerned, - these in moderation, of course, are not harmful. Much - or too much of either of these would become hard on the digestion. Any cereal drink is preferable. Coffee once a day. Do not take any carbonated drinks.

From Reading 2472-1:
Coffee may be taken, but no sugar or cream or milk in same. If sweetening is desired for this, use either honey or saccharin.

From Reading 2868-2:
15. (Q) Is coffee or tea harmful?
(A) With milk or cream, harmful.

From Reading 5190-1:
19. (Q) Does coffee affect my nervous system?
(A) Not necessarily. If you think so, yes!

From Reading 5211-1:
6. There are conditions surrounding the body, just as there have been those suggestions to the body. There may be, just as is indicated in many an individual consciousness, those who can drink coffee and it never hurts them; there are those whose consciousness is such that this if taken late of an evening would prevent sleep. There are those who would not sleep if they didn't take it, for they would have the headache. For certain properties stimulate certain activities.

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/2/12

Leader: Greg
Reader: Greg

We read through the entire lesson on "Cooperation" in the SFG book and continued on to read about half the chapter in the Experiments book. We stopped at the top of page 24. Next week I will bring an audio downloaded from the ARE website on the topic of cooperation, and we can finish the chapter in the Experiments book.

The experiment for the following week is:

Work on relating to others with kindness. Expecially focus on speaking kindly. Record those instances where you were able to replace an impulse to speak harshly or thoughlessly with kind words. Record as well, without a sense of self-condemnation, those instances where greater kindness than you expressed would have been helpful.