A.R.E. Meeting for 12/27/21

Leader: June
 
Seven shared an opportunity to keep the Christmas spirit among the group alive through the magic of Zoom. We even had one in Montana and another in New Jersey. In the SFG Book II Opportunity chapter, we read “A Knowledge of Self Helps Us To Recognize More Opportunities,” and “The Higher the Ideal the Greater Are the Opportunities.” We discussed how some people do good, like inventors, but do not see the true results of their endeavors during their lifetime. We seemed to resonate with part of reading 373-2: “Do ever in self that thou knowest to be right, though it may make of self even an outcast to thine neighbor.”
 
In the Experiments book, we have a choice of two:
 
Experiment 1: Whenever you find yourself restless or disenchanted with a current situation, become aware of how it has been particularly created for you here and now because it perfectly meets your need for that experience. Thank the Father for it.
 
Experiment 2: Focus on doing the little things of daily life well and with love. Choose one “little” thing, such as beginning the day with a prayer of gratitude, smiling, offering to help another.
 
We thank June for her leadership during the month of January.

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/20/21

 Leader: June

We had a full house of seven attending this week as we manifested this opportunity for fellowship. We talked of astronomy and sojourns and Eric made us aware of John Moyer on YouTube.
 
To begin the chapter on Opportunity we read “Definition” and “Opportunities Come Through Cooperation.” In the Experiments book, we read through the experiment on page 6:
 
Experiment: Try meeting each “problem” which confronts you in daily life with this question: “How would my own thoughts and ideals have played a role in helping to create this situation?” (Examples—(1) financial problem: perhaps past thoughts of fear about losing money created a self-fulfilling prophecy; (2) health problem: perhaps past attitudes toward my body led to poor eating habits and now this illness; (3) relationship problem: perhaps I have silently been overly critical of this person in the past."

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/13/21

Leader: June
 
Four unique seekers met this week to work on applying our search for God. The question was raised whether we wanted to meet every Monday during December. The feeling was expressed that as long as we had three members Zoom in, then we would meet. The question was also asked whether we should change to group ideal from Oneness to Love. The decision was made to postpone the idea until more from the group were present.
 
June read the Preface to SFG Book II, something we may have passed over previously. There were large excerpts from Cayce reading 5749. We then went to the experiments book and read the Introduction: How to Use This Book, where Mark Thurston spells out what he hopes we get from his books.
 
For the experiment this week: Work on your meditation, trying to raise your consciousness, and possibly try new things. Practice love and self-love during your meditation time.

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/6/21

Leader: June

When all arrived, we had six sensational loving souls, expressing what they love. Like the section we read in the SFG book talked about personal experiences, so did we.
 
We finished Book 1 in the SFG book after completing the chapter on Love. We have been assigned the last experiment in the Experiments book:
 
Experiment:  Select and write down the name of one person in your life whom you would like to love more deeply. Write out a list of your current perspectives and feelings about this person. Each day for at least a week keep an attitude of being open to see a deeper reality. This new perspective of a greater dimension may come through a dream, a meditation insight, an intuitive impression or something that someone else says. Keep a record of how a new, more loving outlook towards this person awakens in you.

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/29/21

Leader: Sylvia

We reached five entities briefly this week at our meeting, then dropped down to four. We updated ourselves on Thanksgiving celebrations and holidays, but then delved into the vaccine mandates. We discussed how to rid things of smells and how addictive gambling can be. All were discussed lovingly.

In the SFG book, we read two sections in the Love chapter: “Love is Giving,” and “Divine Love Passes Understanding.”

We read the next two experiments for this week:

Experiment 1: Work with the principle of giving at the physical level. Each day for at least a week, be willing to give of the best that you have. Especially try to do this with small things, such as sharing an exceptionally nutritious piece of food with someone or giving someone a favorite book. Record your experiences with this approach to love.

Experiment 2: Love others by being present in the now and by giving without trying to elicit a particular response. Keep a record of those specific instances in which you were able to love in this way.

   Example: I helped my child clean up his room without any concern as to whether or not he would thank me when we were done.

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/22/21

Leader: Sylvia

We eventually worked our way up to six loving learners this week in attendance. Cindi said she contacted our former group member Nancy D., and she and family are doing well in Washington State. In the SFG book, we read the next two sections in the Love chapter: The Power of Love and The Test of Love. Not only did we read that Love is God, but love allows no place for hate and recognizes no evil.

 We read the next two experiments for this week:

 Experiment 1: Make an effort to experience the potential within you to love life. Try to have a feeling of trusting life. Look beneath those experiences that seem “ugly, or heavy, or hard” for a deeper meaning and the hand of the divine. Record instances in which you are able to see life in this way.

 Experiment 2: Select and write down the name of one person whom you frequently view as an enemy, a rival or a troublesome person. Then write down the good qualities that you can see in him. If you cannot think of any, spend several days observing him in your daily life until you find something you can write down. Finally, spend at least a week thinking of that person in terms of these good qualities and acting on that perception. Keep a record of your actions. 

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/15/21

Leader: Sylvia

Five fabulous servants met to share the love of our search for God. We started the chapter on Love and read the “Introduction” and “Love Manifested” section. Just before that, we touched on the topics of evil and possession based on a fairly recent blog post on the A.R.E. website. We went to the Experiments book and have two experiments to consider this week:

Experiment 1: Demonstrate your love for individuals in your life by greeting them by name. Make a special effort to remember names when you are introduced. If you do not know the names of people you see frequently, try to find out. And then use the person’s name to show your caring for him as an individual.

Experiment 2: Select and write down one stimulus to which you often react in an automatic and inharmonious way. Then decide on one interrupting behavior or mudra. Make an agreement with yourself that for at least a week you will use your mudra anytime the chosen stimulus happens in your daily life. Keep a record of how you respond after completing the mudra. 

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/8/21

Leader: Sylvia
 
Four at-onement initiates convened to finish the chapter on “The Lord Thy God is One.” We brought up fears and anxieties that played roles in our experiment this week and how working with our oneness with God got us through it. We discussed auras and the increased vibration of our upper chakras.
 
Our experiment for the week is:
 
Experiment: In your relationship with others live with an attitude that the body, mind, and soul are one. Especially work to apply the understanding that the way in which you treat the body (yours or someone else’s) is the way you are treating the soul.

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/1/21

Leader: Sylvia
 
Six seekers started the first session, and one more joined the next two sessions. In the first session we watched the Fire Yogi, which as explained to us, was working through the law of one. He is able to subsist on two bananas and a glass of milk twice a day. In the second session, we meditated and commented on the experiment chosen for the week.
 
In the third session, we read and discussed our experiment for the coming week (page 126).
 
Experiment: Try the recommendation from the reading above (having at-onement in the consciousness of His love dwelling within). Whenever you experience the influence of fear, affirm that “God is working purposefully and well through my life.” Then act on that belief. Record any specific situation in which you were able to overcome a feeling of fear in this way.

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/25/21

Leader: Eric
 
Five entities came to their realization of oneness through the night’s lesson. Our leader was able to quell the divisive discussions of current events and politics and get us focused on our lesson.
 
In the SFG book we read the sections “How We May Come Into the Realization of the Oneness” and “The At-onement Though Jesus, the Christ.” In the Experiments book we read to the bottom of page124. We have two experiments we can try:
 
Experiment 1: When you find yourself desiring something or longing to repeat an experience you have already had, use the affirmation, “I have that experience within myself.” Let this affirmation awaken in your mind the realization of the oneness of all time.
 
Experiment 2: Try living each day for itself. Make necessary decisions for the future, but eliminate all unneeded worry or concern for things you anticipate may happen. Trust that you will be even more capable of doing the right thing when the event actually occurs. Where it is appropriate, say to yourself, “I don’t have to decide on that right now,” and then move your attention back to what is happening around you at that moment. If possible, spend some time in nature as part of this experiment, looking for examples of how nature does things unhurriedly and one at a time. Keep a record of specific instances in which you were able to know more fully the oneness of all time by living in the present.
 
Sylvia is our leader next month, but will miss the beginning of our next meeting, so put in a request to watch a video on “The Fire Yogi.”

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/18/21

Leader: Eric
 
Five connected souls got together to share their oneness as a group. Eric gave us tech support tips for better CenturyLink bandwidth during the first session. We later had a discussion about censorship among the tech platforms. Those wanting to hear a few interesting podcasts about Cayce or other metaphysical topics can try out TheRealityRevolution.com.
 
We read the Experiments book to the bottom of page 122. This week we have two experiments:
 
Experiment 1: Each day for a week keep this attitude in your mediation periods: “I am not concerned with what experiences come to me, but with how much I am able to give of myself to God and express my devotion.”
 
Experiment 2: In your daily contacts with others, imagine that they are part of your immediate family. If you feel apathetic or upset with someone, try to imagine how you might feel more caring or tolerant if that person were a close and beloved family member (e.g., a sister, brother, father, aunt, etc.). Then try to act on that new feeling. Record instances in which you try this experiment. Write the person’s name (unless it is someone you don’t know), the family member status you imagine for him, and how you acted on the feeling.
Example:
Person:  a stranger I was sitting next to on the bus
Family status imagined:  that she was my sister
Action:  I struck up a friendly conversation with her instead of just sitting there silently next to her.

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/11/21

Leader: Eric

We reached a high participation total of seven as we started a new chapter, “The Lord Thy God is One.” In the SFG book we read to the section “How We May Come into the Realization of the Oneness.”

We brought up the realization of colder weather coming this week, which may kill our gardens unless they are covered. We talked about social media, especially Facebook, and how it puts a damper on personal contact through voice conversations with our loved ones.

This week we have two experiments:

Experiment 1: Examine your life and choose one way in which you are using energy which is not in accord with your ideals. This can be an emotional, attitudinal or active way of using energy. Write down what you select. Then demonstrate in your daily life your understanding of the inherent oneness of all force by transforming that energy to a more loving or constructive form. Record your experiences.

Example: Feeling frustrated and angry with other drivers who are discourteous.

Transformation: Changing your expression of the one energy by sending out to those people a prayer instead of thoughts of anger.

 Experiment 2: In you daily meditation periods try to use distractions to take you deeper into the oneness with the meaning of your affirmation. Use each distraction as a gift. Have the attitude that says of each distracting thought, “Here is another great opportunity for me to bring some part of my life into the awareness of the oneness.” 

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/4/21

Leader: Eric
 
With June attending, we had six special entities to finish the Cross and Crown chapter in the Experiments book.
 
Eric had two dreams he shared with the group. Afterwards, we had a long and satisfying meditation. We have many experiments to choose from this week:
 
Experiment 1: Meet each of your crosses as if your work were symbolic of all humanity’s attempt to deal with this specific type of difficulty. Record you experiences of working with this attitude in mind.
 
Experiment 2: Chose and write down an area of your life in which you feel burdened. List the ways you have to work to feel this way – the attitudes you have to work on holding, the behaviors you have to do to keep this feeling. Then select one item from your list and write a more constructive replacement attitude or behavior. Work each day for at least a week on expressing that replacement in this area of your life.
Example:
  Burdened by:  frequent arguments with Richard
  Attitudes and behaviors I work at:  (1) make an effort to recall past instances where I thought he was selfish (2) make an effort to feel resentful (3) make an effort to speak unkindly of him to others
  Replacement: begin to speak in a more positive way of him to others
 
Experiment 3: Meet your crosses with an attitude of humility. Do not defend yourself with retorts or argumentative statements, even if you feel you are right. Keep a record of situations in which you were able to bear a cross in this way.
 
Experiment 4: Look for joy in living. Express joy in dealing with others. Live with an attitude of enjoyment of being alive in this place and in this special time in man’s spiritual evolution.

A.R.E. Meeting for 9/27/21

Leader: Cindi
 
There were six seekers who finally reached the crown of the lesson. There was no shame in it taking so long. It is just who we are. Just let go and let God as John says.
 
We finished the chapter in the SFG book, and have the following experiment for the week.
 
Experiment: Select one area of your life in which you are suffering (physically, emotionally, or mentally). Write down the inner resources which might be available to you which would aid in overcoming this condition. Consider each day the possibility that you are suffering so that you will become obedient to the Christ’s awareness that these qualities are with you. Affirm each day in prayer and meditation that the needed inner resources are becoming available to you. 

A.R.E. Meeting for 9/20/21

Leader: Cindi
 
We continued to progress through this difficult Cross and Crown chapter, helped along by discussion points from the Step-by-Step book. The four of us read solely from the SFG book, starting with the second section “Why is it necessary to bear a cross…” and up to the section “Why do we, as individuals, necessarily bear much…”
 
Cindi asked us to choose one or more practices this week from the following six:

• Look for opportunities throughout the week to “bring spiritual harmony into physical vibration.” Each day make note of one example of how you were able to do this.
• Pretend you’re explaining this chapter to a non-Christian. Rather than focusing on the specifics of the Christian faith, try to specify two or three universal ideals that are demonstrated in the life and teachings of Jesus. Choose one of these ideals and try to express it daily for a week.
• Jesus accepted His cross and through that acceptance overcame it. Throughout the week, try to accept what happens to you as a way of moving toward the law of grace.
• The message Jesus proclaimed from the cross was “Forgive them.” Try to apply this ideal of forgiveness for one week, as you trust in the Spirit to give you strength. For one week choose the ideal of “long suffering,” which actually refers to patient and determined endurance. See if manifesting patience, both with yourself and with those around you, makes you more able to bear the stresses of your life.
• For one day truly practice all that you believe. If the opportunity arises to “preach” to someone else, try to do it through example rather than verbally.

A.R.E. Meeting for 9/13/21

 Leader: Cindi
 
After a late start (sorry to not have sent out the link beforehand), the same four devotees as last week met and listened to an audio clip on “The Cross and the Crown.” However, we cut it short because the quality was not too good. This was a night for discussion, beginning with experiments, and continuing with questions about whether only we contribute to our crosses, or can others create crosses for us.
 
We did not read from the SFG book, but we read one more experiment, and decided to keep the two from last week. So now there are three experiments you can work on.
 
Experiment 1:  Try the three-step approach described above (questions to ask that will lead us to freedom). Select and write down a situation in life in which you feel trapped. Determine and write down an illusory image of yourself or a misconception about life that may have created this situation. Finally, seek to understand and accept the reality or purposefulness that lies beneath this difficulty. Keep a record of your experiences which come from the acceptance of this cross.
Example:
   Situation: Having no friends
   Misconception: Having close friends mean that I will be burdened by responsibilities to them and it’s better to be without them.
   Purposefulness of situation: I am learning how much I really do want to have people that I care about and who care about me.
   Acceptance of this cross: I will not blame others for not having declared their friendship for me, but will work actively to be a friend to others.
 
Experiment 2: Select and write down one cross in your life. Then consider how the Master would take up that cross and move with it. How would He act out in materiality His acceptance of that situation? Write down your answers to this question. For at least a week try to live and act in a way He would towards this situation.
 
Experiment 3: Select a person with whom you feel you share a common ideal or a common spiritual perspective of life. Let this also be someone with whom you occasionally experience a difficulty in your relationship. Work on (1) accepting what you perceive as the shortcomings of that person, and (2) truly meeting that person as a soul. Keep a record of your experiences.

A.R.E. Meeting for 9/6/21

Leader: Cindi
 
Our leader put the four of us through a meditation reverie based on our experiment from the previous week. We all used our perfectly placed stones to build a temple. This was followed by a 13-minute video by David McMillan about “The Cross and the Crown.”
 
We did not read from the SFG book, but read through the first two experiments in the Experiments book:
 
Experiment 1:  Try the three-step approach described above (questions to ask that will lead us to freedom). Select and write down a situation in life in which you feel trapped. Determine and write down an illusory image of yourself or a misconception about life that may have created this situation. Finally, seek to understand and accept the reality or purposefulness that lies beneath this difficulty. Keep a record of your experiences which come from the acceptance of this cross.
Example:
   Situation: Having no friends
   Misconception: Having close friends mean that I will be burdened by responsibilities to them and it’s better to be without them.
   Purposefulness of situation: I am learning how much I really do want to have people that I care about and who care about me.
   Acceptance of this cross: I will not blame others for not having declared their friendship for me, but will work actively to be a friend to others.
 
Experiment 2: Select and write down one cross in your life. Then consider how the Master would take up that cross and move with it. How would He act out in materiality His acceptance of that situation? Write down your answers to this question. For at least a week try to live and act in a way He would towards this situation.

A.R.E. Meeting for 8/30/21

Leader: John

There were only three attending tonight but that enabled some good discussion on what we perceived as our destinies. We read the Introduction for the chapter on “The Cross and the Crown.” We also read the last experiment in the chapter “In His Presence.” The experiment is based on a reverie where everyone comes together to build a cathedral. Each cuts a stone and brings it to the building site and places it in the right spot. Everyone prays that God’s will shall direct this common effort for all mankind.
 
Experiment: Take a few moments each day to experience the reverie described above (or one similar to it). You may want to have a special time to do this or use a few minutes before or after your meditation. Allow it to awaken within you the awareness of truly being a part of the scheme of things, and try to hold that awareness in your daily activities.
 
Next week is Labor Day but those present made the decision to meet.

A.R.E. Meeting for 8/23/21

Leader: John
 
We had four meet to finish the chapter on “In His Presence,” in the SFG book, but we have one experiment left to read in the Experiments book. Many long discussions were held on the topics of whether the end justifies the means, our destiny, and segregation. The one experiment we will work on this week is:
 
Experiment: Be willing to share your awareness of God’s working in the earth, especially with those who don’t have this perspective. Express your feelings to others. Speak of your own experience, as opposed to lecturing to them about what they ought to believe. Brief statements are usually best. Don’t be attached to some expectation about how they should respond to your words. Simply be open and honest about your beliefs. Trust that a seed is planted by what you do. Record (1) situations in which you do this, and (2) situations which, in looking back, you realize would have been good opportunities for this kind of sharing.

A.R.E. Meeting for 8/16/21

Leader: John
 
We started with three and built up to six individualists over the course of the night that were “In His Presence.” We have one last section to read in that chapter titled “Personal Experiences.” We read through the next two experiments, which are:
 
Experiment 1: Each day make an effort to listen and feel God’s presence (within and without) in the ordinary and the commonplace of life. Keep a record of your experiences of recognizing it in these situations.
 
Experiment 2: Whenever you find yourself talking about another person, speak as if God and the soul of that person were present in that place at that moment.
 
With some time remaining, we read things to discuss in the Step by Step book. Things brought to mind were the Freakonomics podcast, northern and southern astrological nodes and how they may apply to Cayce from his time as Bainbridge (the riverboat gambler). We discussed whether you can be “joyful in service” when it requires great sacrifice, and the deeper meaning of “long-suffering.”

A.R.E. Meeting for 8/9/21

Leader: John

Four arrived “In His Presence” as we started that chapter tonight. We read the “Introduction” and “The Knowledge of His Presence.” In the Experiments book, we covered the first two experiments:

Experiment 1: In your daily meditations don’t stop at the second level shown in the diagrams (thinking > feeling). When you are able to move to the feeling of the affirmation and hold that in silence, allow yourself to move further to a sense of oneness with it (i.e., the being level). If you drift away from the feeling, come back to it immediately, instead of allowing distracting feelings and thoughts to arise. Certainly this is not simply mastered; it takes practice. Record your experiences of working with this experiment.

Experiment 2: Start some new project for good. Affirm each day your desire that He express His presence and His will through you in this effort. Do the best you can, but turn over to Him all your concerns about the results.

We were also able to hold some good discussions with the Step by Step book. Our leader has asked that we look through this book during the week and bring to the group any good things to try next week.

A.R.E. Meeting for 8/2/21

Leader: John
 
Five of us finished “The Open Door” in both books. Along the way, we discussed Pavlov’s dog being like our karma, B.F. Skinner, whether angels have free will, is universal energy good or neutral, can angels and guides give us advice, or whether the small still voice is our Higher Self.
 
Anyway, we graduated from this chapter, and next week we start the chapter “In His Presence.” Look at the Step-by-Step book for ideas. In the meantime, we have some experiments:
 
Experiment 1: Look at life as being essentially good. Make choices each day for a week that reflect your belief that God is good and has as His deepest desire that good things would come to you. Record the decisions that you make from this point of view.
 
Experiment 2: Each day for at least a week adopt a prayerful response to the experience of doubt. These doubts may be in yourself, in others or in God. Record those situations in which you felt doubt and then took a moment for prayer.

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/26/21

Leader: Greg (for Scott)
 
Six came together for the open door, then we became five, and ended at four. We stayed in the Experiments book for the evening, and ended at the top of page 96. Here are the two experiments we covered:
 
Experiment 1: To your mind, what are the qualities of the Christ Consciousness? Write them down. Select one from your list to focus on for a week. Then choose and write down one area of your life in which there is special need to manifest that quality. Keep a record of situations in which you are successful in your attempts to express it in that part of your life.
 
Experiment 2: Each day for at least a week make a special effort to be aware of and act upon ways in which you can serve as an open door to others. Try to give those necessary influences into the lives of others that they may know greater joy and peace. Record ways in which you were able to do this. Make a note of the person’s name and the specific thing that you felt he or she needed for growth at that moment. 

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/19/21

Leader: Greg (for Scott)

Six willing tree-huggers met to continue our study of the open door.

In the SFG Book 1 chapter “The Open Door,” we read the sections “How to Open the Door” and “How to Know the Father.” We are up to “The Great Need for Service.”

In the Experiments book, we covered the experiments on pages 91 and 94, but next week we will circle back to the experiment on page 93.

Experiment 1: Give others the benefit of the doubt when you suspect they may have just said or done something to purposefully slight you. Act on the assumption that you were not the target. By moving beyond a tendency to be overly sensitive, experience an opening of the door that leads to a more holistic understanding of life. Record your experiences.

Example: John walked past me in the hall today at work. He looked the other way and didn’t speak. In the past I might have felt slighted, but I decided to assume that something was troubling him and he didn’t feel capable of interacting with anyone at the moment.

Experiment 2: Take at least two minutes during each meditation (e.g., at the beginning or the end of your meditation period) to experience an opening of the door by focusing on the fact that Christ has been and always will be with you. During your daily activities return to the awareness when you have any feelings of emptiness, doubt, lack or self-condemnation. Record any situations in your daily life in which you make use of this experiment.

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/12/21

Leader: Greg (for Scott)
 
Five Cayceists gathered to finish off the chapter on Patience and being “The Open Door.” To warm things up, we talked about capturing vs killing bugs, and the imminent retirement of Kevin Todeschi (link to blog post).
 
We started the SFG Book 1 chapter “The Open Door” and read the “Introduction” and “The Preparation of Self.” We also read the first two experiments, leaving off in the middle of page 90.
 
Experiment 1: Chose and write down something in your life that seems like a barrier to you (e.g., a problem in a relationship, a difficulty in meditation). Write down a constructive purpose which that barrier is serving (e.g., it is making me work hard on improving that relationship instead of taking it for granted; through this difficulty a particular positive quality is being awakened in me). During the week look for and respond to doorways that may open in the barrier. Do not expect the barrier or difficulty to suddenly disappear, but be attentive to the ways in which the Christ Spirit is speaking to you through this situation. Keep a record of your experiences.
 
Example:
  Barrier:    I don’t seem to be getting anywhere in meditation
  Purpose the barrier serves:   Helps me to awaken the qualities of patience and persistence within myself
  Doorways:   I became aware that what the Christ asks of me is to let go and let Him do the work in my meditations.
 
Experiment 2: Select and write down an area of your life in which you occasionally feel cheated (e.g., not getting the attention, love or money that you desire or think you deserve). Experience an opening of the door as you begin to replace this attitude with one that affirms your oneness with the whole and your access to infinite supply. Write and use a short affirmation that you can say to yourself when this attitude of feeling cheated by life arises.
 
Example: I feel cheated by life because I have to do such trivial, boring work each day. Other people have exciting jobs, but I don’t
Affirmation: Wherever I am and whatever I’m doing, God can be glorified

A.R.E. Meeting for 7/5/21

Leader: Greg (for Scott)

Three patient entities celebrated the observed Independence Day holiday by gathering and sharing thoughts and prayers. We reviewed the experiments from last week, meditated, sent out light and love, and read the remainder of the Experiments book chapter on Patience. Next week will should start “The Open Door” chapter.
 
Experiment 1: Each morning when you arise take a moment to imagine that this is the last day before the coming of the Christ and the fulfillment of His promises. Try to keep this awareness throughout the day as you experience living in the eternal now. If you find yourself starting to become impatient with any aspect of your daily affairs, re-affirm the importance you have assigned to this day and focus on acting in the highest spirit that you know. Keep a record of what happens with this experiment (e.g., noting the mornings you remind yourself of this exercise, noting daily situations in your life in which this experimental attitude towards the day helped you respond lovingly to others).
 
Experiment 2: Experience a movement in consciousness from impatience to patience with others. Seek to overcome any sense of self-righteousness within yourself by using a part of your daily prayer and meditation period to affirm the uniqueness of every soul’s approach to God. Then work with the technique suggested in the readings in the following two ways:

1. When you feel impatient with someone else say silently to yourself “What have we here?” and allow yourself to draw back, re-examine the situation and experience greater patience.

2. Whenever others become impatient with you and you feel yourself picking up their feelings and becoming impatient yourself, say aloud “What have we here?” Notice any effect it has on others as well as the effect it has on you.

A.R.E. Meeting for 6/28/21

Leader: Greg 

ARE Vision/Ideal: "Global manifestation of Oneness and the Love of God and all people.
 
ARE Mission Statement:  "To create opportunities for profound personal change in body, mind, spirit through the wisdom found in the Edgar Cayce material."
 
Lesson VII: Patience, completed reading in ASFG Book I.  We began reading bottom of page 79  and read through the experiment on page 83 of the "Experiments...." book.  Two experiments remain, from page 83 to the end of the experiments for actively living  "Patience"  on page 86, to complete next week.
 
Experiment 1:  "Choose and write down one area of your life in which you would like to experience greater patience.  Each day try to reflect the potential for wholeness that already exists (i.e., don't be passive). Also be active in your patience (in deed and thought)." See, think only, feel only the wholeness you intend to reflect. "If you find yourself falling into being only persistent, take time to review your ideals for that area of your life and re-orient yourself to active patience. Record your experiences."
 
Experiment 2:  "Select and write down some experience that you have been impatient to have happen to you (e.g., to get well, to get a different job, to get married, to have more friends). Each day affirm that you are having learning experiences that will allow you eventually to have that which you desire. At the end of each daily meditation period take a few moments to listen within and know that there is something within your soul that is directing and ordering your life.  Write down insights that come from this listening and which help you better to understand how your current experiences fit into your growth toward what you desire."
 
On this Monday night, three feminine and three masculine souls Zoomed into the ASFG Sacred Space for group meditation, healing prayers for others, to gain greater knowledge on developing  a personal relationship with Omniscient Universal Forces and to share spiritual insight gleaned by their intent to live in patience actively in a specific area this week past.
 
Two souls had good success in being actively patient in their individual situations. One of the two had such a good experience steadfastly being actively patient versus being passive and with the outcome experienced so as to present as overjoyed through out the meeting:  like actually doing this stuff really works!   When the well paid home repairman's three attempts and best efforts failed to produce needed results, a request for spiritual intervention by the homeowner  from a  guide resolved it quickly--with exemplary craftsmanship. The other soul was actively patient during an intense, angry, verbal attack in the workplace. Is this ever possible for one with a materialistic, passive consciousness?  Just hearing of their success was inspiring to those of us who were unable to complete this experiment for whatever reasons.
 
Current events entered our discussions later: The challenges of "opposite gender identifying" athletes competing in the Olympics, the new practice of stating personal pronouns according to an individual's self recognized identity; emotional reactions of toileting simultaneously in the same public restrooms designated "men or women" with transgender people physically of the opposite sex for the bathroom entered, and critical race theory.
 
"Active Patience", not passiveness, is the foundation, the cornerstone, an opportunity wherein our Faith* is tested. (*or other fruits of the spirit). If constant, active patience (prayer, relentlessly watching and measuring our own patience, with centered thoughts, loss of selfishness to trust in God, ideal/vision of spiritual outcome) is adhered to during our challenging, harassing tests, we  grow spiritually in strength over our weakness, step by step, bit by bit we develop. Cooperation with God in all of our activities and  selfless service increases knowledge of the Holy within, enabling us to express more patience actively--the patience that nurtures our soul. Standing in faith in active patience is simultaneously a step forward and also a step up. Now stronger to patiently overcome our next test of faith, stepping ahead and upward, stronger yet for a more difficult challenge to develop more patience and grow in other fruits of the spirit within our active patience.  "......Thus an entity becomes aware of its own soul and that soul's vision of the glories that may be its experience in its associations with those promises in the creative force of the soul alone that is eternal and in the image of the Maker.  683-1"
 
Do not be overanxious about various matters. Intend aspects and desires  mentally and spiritually for self to be able to say, "I myself will be guided by the influences from the inner meditations, and that which is shown me from within. 681-1." By seeking this way, according to definite promises, there may come more harmonious experiences in material things. Seeking inner guidance will also bring that contentment of an inner knowing that being steadfast this way leads to  a body's greater understanding of truths in mental experiences. Edited, 681-1.
 
Patiently awaiting that contentment.
In loving oneness,
 
Sylvia Raye
 
 
 

 

A.R.E. Meeting for 6/21/21

Leader: Greg

ARE Ideal/Goal: Global manifestation of Oneness and the love of God and all people.

ARE Mission Statement: To create opportunities for profound personal change in body, mind, and spirit through the wisdom found in the Edgar Cayce material.

ASFG Monday Night Study Group Ideal: Oneness

Action:  Affirm daily our oneness with each other.

Lesson VII Patience, section-- "Means Through Which Patience Is Gained"

Experiment:  pg. 79.

     At the end of the day, write down one experience from the day which, at the time it happened, was CONFUSING, FRUSTRATING or DIFFICULT for you to deal with. Then have a moment of quiet to center yourself and get in touch with your REAL SELF. Listen for an answer as to the purpose for your having that particular situation arise. Write down your understanding of that purpose. 

Example:  

situation: I ran out of money at the store. I had to borrow money from a friend and I was somewhat embarrassed.

purpose: I needed to remember that I needed the love and help of others and they need mine. 

At midsummer, just slightly past Summer Solstice (the single day of the year  holding an extra 5 hours, 38 minutes daylight in Colorado, as compared to sun lit hours of the December solstice) five serious seekers of knowledge on developing a personal relationship to the Divine Sweet Spirit, the all knowing, everywhere present, omnipotent Creative Forces, zoomed into a sacred space and read about, reported on, and discussed how one develops patience. A virtue also referenced as a fruit of the spirit, patience is so necessary for our spiritual growth.

A constant, prayerful attitude toward living purposefully leads to patience: in frequent, deep introspection, we may forget ourselves, awaken our inner selves to be in perfect attunement with our Ideal, so that our soul's expression is beauty--love expressed in our every word and act. Breath by breath, step by step, issue by issue, and in every test of patience that we ourselves created with our thoughts earlier, we must stay on guard, maintaining awareness of his promise--there is no need to fear, no risk of failure or an angry response because--God's strength adequately protects us from the slip-ups of "our selfish temptations to just let them have it."

Quite a lively discussion ensued when the groups ears heard the lesson being read aloud:  Corruption must be burned up, it may not inherit eternal life; every one the Lord loves is purged and scolded, is tested and tried; trials overcome in patience with the strength provided while attuned to Ideals and Universal Forces increases expansively a soul's capacity to express even more patience in the next test.

Discussion was something like this: "God is not a punishing God." God does not express vengeance. God doesn't test us for patience, to develop patience in a soul.

"No, we do that ourselves." (Whatever we cast upon the waters of Spirit returns to us, did He say, tenfold?)

Understanding the purpose underlying events we meet in our material world is a 3rd aspect awakened by our active patience practiced in attunement with the I AM from Creative Forces. Cayce's reading 581- 2 reminded us we are actively patient in simpleness, gentleness, humbleness, faithfulness, and long-suffering.

Selfishness, grudges, anger, separate us from our Higher Self, the I AM, our Comforter, our source of strength to overcome each trial in active patience. So growing our patience in meeting self-created challenges while maintaining our connection to our Higher Self also reveals to us the reason we experience the events we do as well as Universal Laws. 

We must continuously analyze self and know our motives and  the purpose  for which we incarnated in this life. From this position, Cayce told Ms. 1336-1, living in the fruits of the spirit, long-suffering, patience, mercy, brotherly love, kindness, gentleness in her daily experiences with others makes life worthwhile

Last Week's Experiment:  No one complained they lacked an opportunity to actively live the Fruits of the Spirit, i.e., long suffering. Being awakened quite late at night and kept awake for hours again this year by the loud muffler and revved-up motorcycle racing up and down the street was at the top of the most trying tests of length. Hours of late night wide awake noise is a high leap to see as "actually in the past."

Another member resolved her patience trying situation spiritually by asking her guide for help. Three home improvement projects for new air conditioning, upgraded  lawn sprinklers, and painting involving bids from contractors was a good test of another person's patience. There was a happy outcome for one whose test of patience involved different perspectives between two employees at work. And lastly, another caught self overdoing and needing to recommit to preciseness twice, and times of allowing thoughts of "limited time" to create separation as well, and then later, re-centering self.

In Loving Oneness,

Sylvia Raye

A.R.E. Meeting for 6/14/21

 Leader: Greg

We read from the Experiments book in the Patience chapter until the middle of page 78.

There are two experiments to choose from:

Experiment 1: Use the following affirmation in your daily life whenever you confront a frustrating or painful situation: "Everything happening around me is in the past. What's happening now is the way I choose to respond." Let this affirmation re-orient your understanding so that you can respond with patience and love. Record situations in which you are able to use this affirmation effectively.

Experiment 2: Select an aspect of your life that involves one of the three points above (overdoing something, feeling rushed, or being impatiently concerned about another person). Write down the person's name or nature of the frequent situation (e.g., I feel rushed every day to get my work done at my job). Work each day for a week on replacing your impatience with a new sense of patience which comes from affirming the continuity of your life as a soul. At the end of the day make notes about how you did with recognizing your timeless nature in this part of your life.

Universal Truths were identified (in Lesson VII, "Patience") for six Souls searching for understanding. Our relationship between body, mind, soul, was defined this way by Cayce:  ...the spirit is the life, mind is the builder, and the physical is the result; "my body-world."

If we haven't known before, our minds are creating, where do we create?  "Best definition ....of fourth-dimension is an idea!" said Cayce. 

Carl Jung wrote, "If we wish to form a vivid picture of a non-spatial being of the fourth dimension, we should do well to take thought as a being for our model. (Modern Man in Search of a Soul, p. 184).

"....Before any condition exists in the finite mind, it has become a past condition, relatively spoken, from the finite mind.  900-24

Author on Tibetan mysticism, Govinda also sees "our reality" is from an earlier time:  "What appears as form thus belongs essentially to the past,..." (Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism, p.69).

The karmic situations, we built in the past, can be healed now by responding according to our Ideal or love through the dimension of patience.

 "...Patience",  said the sleeping Cayce in answer to the question, "What do I need most to further my spiritual development"?

If our life is to be eternal with Him, a soul, an entity"... must ever become --then--as His prayer was:  Father, I pray that I may have the glory with Thee that I had before the world was.  This is not just a saying but a reality.    3292-1

...Life itself is a consciousness, a gift of an infinite influence we may call God.  2399-1

Experiencing Patience awakens an awareness and understanding (1) events in the physical world were built in the past (2) life is continuous.  Realizing the truth of Gods promise that as we work & sow, we also reap in material experience in the completeness of time.* Loss of patience creates regret and guilt; forgetting God's promises that people we have concern for will receive healing, peace or love in their relationships.

We block awareness that we are eternal spiritual Souls, that events in material earth were built in the past WHEN WE OVER IDENTIFY WITH OUR PHYSICAL BODIES in three situations-- (1) when we over do (as in eating) (2) feel rushed in limited time, forgetting the importance of the Spirit in which we act (3) We become anxious about others or personal relationship. Reminding ourselves the life of our spiritual essence is continuous may support our intent to be patient.

Laws of Universal Forces work perfectly, we do receive our rewards whether its wealth or love or justice, if not in this lifetime, then in another: *Do you recall the physical reading Cayce did about 1925 for a truck driver injured in an accident?   For this paraplegic man, he gave a treatment plan including instructions for surgically wiring his spine together. Finished with the physical reading, Cayce remarked that a Life Reading would have been more interesting. "This was Nero, see?"

So what happened to the Roman Emperor now famous for letting Rome burn, and persecuting Christians? His reading was followed up:  With no money, the surgery was never done. "He spent the rest of his life dependent upon Christians for his every need." He wasn't punished by ferocious lions, an erroneous concept of karma. The Love and Grace of God provided him with an opportunity to get a different perspective, to understand Christian people usually dedicated to ideals of service, healing the sick, feeding the poor.

Meditation, prayers for others, and sending healing energy to others, raised physical vibrations and consciousness, excellent preparation to discuss the dimension of patience, along with space and time.  Eric Tolle, author of "The Power of Now," was quoted and aided our concept of time. Material conditions were built in the past. Now we choose how to react. Ideally to heal our karma, our response will be with patience and love. Actually, past, present, future occur all at once. Other good books relating to our study were mentioned as well during our discussions.

The member who attended the joint program given by Rocky Mountain Region and Canada's study groups region reported on it, Cayce and the Chakra:  Where West Meets the East. The presenters explored connections between Cayce's chakra system and eastern chakra systems in ancient Yoga teachings. Cayce's accuracy on 5,000 years old Eastern texts is amazing.

This week as we experimented in observing ourselves as whether we responded in the dimension of patience according to our ideal, or not, netted interesting results. An anxious moment was resolved by prayers for opportunities for increased socialization among some strangers mingling with long term acquaintances. Another, suddenly out of work for an extended time, in patience was motivated to offer his job skills to others and was welcomed by several teams to help with their surplus of "to do" work. A behavioral/relationship challenge at work was met with patience by a third group member.

One had the expense of a broken side mirror to deal with in patience. By staying in the realm of patience, one member was well satisfied that he accomplished home maintenance upgrades and brought new life to dead spots in the lawn. And finally, one member felt only partial success at living in patience. While feelings weren't specifically expressed in words, tone and demeanor of one experimenter betrayed a forgetting that living a spiritual life is the spirit in which we speak or act. 

In Loving Oneness,

Sylvia Raye

 

A.R.E. Meeting for 6/7/21

 Leader: Greg

ARE Goal/Ideal: Global manifestation of oneness,  the Love of God and all people.
 
Ideal: Oneness 

Action:  Affirm daily my oneness with each member of our group.
 
Scripture: "In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19
 
Lesson VII: Patience;  Introduction, Value of Patience were read tonight.
 
Experiment:  This is an experiment in self-observation.  Be aware of the dimension of life which the readings call "patience."  How are you responding within yourself to things going on around you?  You may frequently hide that inner response from others, and yet it is an important factor in your growth in consciousness. Each day before you go to bed take a few minutes to think back over the day and write down inner responses you had to events of the day which you did not express or allow to show (e.g., when Jane made that remark this morning, it hurt my feelings, and I felt angry but I didn't let it show). Indicate which of your responses were in accord with your ideals (e.g., when John said he appreciated what I had done it made me feel really good towards him and myself; such feelings are in accord with my ideals.) Make an effort during the week to respond in ways consistent with your ideals, even to those situations which usually evoke a negative response.
 
Five seekers of truth, knowledge, and understanding of spiritual truth Zoomed into our meeting space, wherein vibrations synergistically rose higher given intentions and ideals of attendees. Watching a ten-minute long video on Lesson VII, "Patience", by David McMillian focused our minds on "patience."
 
Two experimenting Souls received confirmation and validation (1) with a phone call from the recipient reporting she had been receiving energy (2) the other received verbal assurance from others benefiting distance Reiki sent to them.  A third experimenter had confidence the prayers were beneficial without verbal validation after praying for another. Finally, amid grandchildren and with a canine companion, the experiment challenge was accepted to secure time alone, to find within self that that sustains one when one is unable to sustain self.  
 
One questioning soul this week past also asked for a sign as to whether or not she should call a person she did not know. Seeker then found in the road and stopped to get an object off the blacktop; the object had the same name as the person to be called. With the namesake object in hand, the seeker had confirmation "Yes," and confidence of a positive outcome of making that initial call.
 
Another had an unusual, unexpected experience that was so similar to our next experiment for the upcoming week. With greeting cards in hand, walking down the drive toward the mail box, she saw an unidentified car in the driveway near the street. Next to the car, a man holding a fawn explained, on his way to a job interview, he'd had an accident, his vehicle had broken the fawn's leg, he  said.  "Will you hold this fawn while I call the vet?," he asked, while hurriedly placing the fawn in her arms. She noticed how beautiful the fawn was, with its round white spots on its coat of tawny golden reddish colored, soft hair. The baby was in intense pain, with an open wound at the fracture site.  And frightened, so scared.  Just as she was able to soothe and calm the fawn, the mother Doe came into direct sight, some distance beyond the road, behind the wire fence set further back from it. Baby fawn's sweet soprano voice desperately called out to its mother, loudly, briefly, a call no longer than the caw of a crow.  Simultaneously leaping to run to mother, but instead, fawn hit the ground with a thud; yet still traveled quickly four or five feet before the man running, could come grab the baby and pick it up again. And now holding the fawn, also complete his call.  He described the location. Soon a vehicle stopped partially on the lawn, its driver emerged, ran around the auto, opened the passenger door, pushed the seat forward. The man and fawn entered the back seat and away they drove for help. While the body of the fawn was so much longer than the torso of a human baby's, perhaps 30", holding the hurting, fretting baby deer felt no differently than holding a distraught human baby. It weighed about as much as a six month old human child would. The fawn also responded to a soft soothing, reassuring human voice, as human babies do. She felt a oneness of life with a wild fawn. Then someone asked her the question, "If this were a metaphor, what would it be to you?" then she saw the reality. This grandma has been quarantined with family, across the country from home. And she's been feeling sadness and grief at leaving family with young grandchildren in a few weeks. It feels as if her baby is being torn, or leaping out of her arms. Just as the spiritual law Enoch gave, "As above, so below, as within so without." Or as some therapists say, the universe is your mirror. What are you being shown? Instead of being shown in a dream, unexpressed feelings of sadness being held within, appeared "without" as a sweet, gentle baby flying out of her arms".
 
Impatiently praying for patience WITHOUT ALL THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT MAKE YOU PATIENT.

In search of Loving Oneness,
 
Sylvia Raye

                                                                 

A.R.E. Meeting for 5/31/21

Leader: Greg (for Sylvia)
 
Four funtastic folks met on Memorial Day to work on our higher selves. We appreciate Cindi joining after driving 10.5 hours to end her trip and get to the meeting on time.
 
We had a discussion on memory loss, even though Cayce said there is no such thing as memory loss. Cayce sometimes recommended massages and adjustments to help coordinate the nervous systems in order to help in memory retrieval. We also talked about a few spiritual books we had read.
 
Our main focus for the night was watching a YouTube video on Channeling Your Higher Self found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dafS3p2ASNM. Next week we will move on to the chapter on Patience in A Search for God.
 
We will continue with the two experiments from last week in the Fellowship chapter:

Experiment 1. Select one person who has asked you for prayer. Take responsibility for the fact that through your faith--through your experiencing of the reality of the spiritual dimension of life--healing forces can be awakened that lie dormant within him.  Use a period at the end of your meditation to feel your faith having a constructive, uplifting influence upon this person.  In your daily contact with him, hold in mind and express this same feeling.

Experiment 2.  Each day for a week take time to be alone. If possible, have time each day when you are alone in the sense of not being around others (e.g., a walk alone in the woods).  However, experience aloneness even when you are with others. This does not mean a loneliness that makes you feel depressed or sorry for yourself. Instead, feel a desire to find fulfillment of your needs by looking within yourself rather than other people. Listen to hear the voice of that within yourself that sustains you when you cannot sustain yourself. Keep a record of your experiences in discovering your fellowship with God, using this approach.

Channeling you all through my higher self,
Greg

A.R.E. Meeting for 5/24/21

 Leader: Sylvia

Group Ideal:  Oneness 

Action:  Affirm daily our Oneness with each other.

Lesson:  Fellowship, ASFG Book I, Lesson VI, Sec:  Duty of Those Who Have Fellowship with the Father, Fellowship Brings a Peace that Passes Understanding.  "Experiments....", Thurston, p. 69-72.

Experiment 1. Select one person who has asked you for prayer. Take responsibility for the fact that through your faith--through your experiencing of the reality of the spiritual dimension of life--healing forces can be awakened that lie dormant within him.  Use a period at the end of your meditation to feel your faith having a constructive, uplifting influence upon this person.  In your daily contact with him, hold in mind and express this same feeling.

Experiment 2.  Each day for a week take time to be alone. If possible, have time each day when you are alone in the sense of not being around others (e.g., a walk alone in the woods).  However, experience aloneness even when you are with others. This does not mean a loneliness that makes you feel depressed or sorry for yourself. Instead, feel a desire to find fulfillment of your needs by looking within yourself rather than other people. Listen to hear the voice of that within yourself that sustains you when you cannot sustain yourself. Keep a record of your experiences in discovering your fellowship with God, using this approach.

Souls experimenting found no obvious spiritual laws nor saw results within this week of doing higher self meditation, allowing behaviors to fall away instead of affecting another, nor saw results of time spent with grandchildren.

We agreed to meet next Monday, May 31, at 6:30 pm, a holiday where a closed library meeting room prevented our meeting in years past.

Cayce defined our relationship with God as "Fellowship" and our relationships with people, or Souls housing the Divine spark of "Creative Forces," in relationships as "Brotherhood" (Sisterhood).  He further explained it is (1) our seeking a personal relationship with God becomes possible through setting aside selfish interests, searching out and releasing flaws, our blocks to loving relationships. (2) We initiate friendships, wherein, we love and forgive others as they are, in spite of their faults, we suffer with others, carry their burdens, (3) courageously live lives of service for others or a cause, (4) give of our life's energy when we share our own personal truth, that others may enjoy a moments rest in the Lord, the Holy.  (5) We compassionately heal, or comfort others.

THE SPIRITUAL LAW OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, is our Sisterhood-Brotherhood here is a reflection of our RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. (As above, so below, or, as without, so within. Laws given by Enoch) A mirror image. We can comparison test our IDEAL AGAINST our kind, generous, loving OR NOT, relationships to focus that mirror image more clearly ON WHERE WE STAND WITH CREATIVE FORCES. (5) We compassionately heal, or comfort others.

"May we lose no opportunity to bind up the broken-hearted, to pour oil on the troubled waters, or to heed the command, 'Comfort ye my people, saith your God'". Isaiah 40:10.  (pg. 67., p. 74 ASFG Book I.)

"...So may the entity, with the spirit of God through the power of the Christ Consciousness, come to know--in every thing, in every act--that love that may pass all understandings.  For as to others it may be as a myth, as a dream, as a thing hoped for, but to this body, to this entity, to this soul, who has tasted of the joys of the personal contact with those influences within the Soul, it may come to be His power working within.  255-12 " Cayce PR

Giving of our life's energy, as spiritually created beings, we can use our own life energy to transform our attitudes or consciousness about a person or troubled relationship.  In so doing, we can make LOVE a living thing (similar to Joshua's declaration to worship  "...THE LIVING GOD," or Jesus years of giving his life to "LOVING SERVICE", and finally total sacrifice."

As spiritually created beings we can also use our ability to transform energy "to be like a bridge," to assist one in need of healing to make that required according to Cayce, contact with the Divine for any and "...all healing."  Thurston noticed the implication of this assistance in healing, in two stories of Jesus healings, told by Matthew.

Getting out of the boat in Nazareth, people presented him with a paralyzed man laying on his bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, "...Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."  (Matt.9:1-2)

A centurion felt unworthy to have so great a Rabi come to his home.  He explained to Jesus he was both under and in authority over his men and his slave. He was accustomed to them doing what he asked of them and confident if Jesus spoke his servant's healing aloud, his servant would be healed. Jesus told his followers he had not previously found such tremendous faith in all of Israel. To the centurion "... Jesus said, 'Go; be it done for you as you have believed.' And the servant was healed at that very moment."  (Matt. 8:5-13)

"We must see that our fellowship is able to stand the test in every trial..." ASFG p. 70, or 77.

Do you agree with Thurston that "Modern man is afraid to be alone?" Being alone is a great tremendous trial necessary to develop a personal relationship to God.  Carl Jung described this required aloneness differently. In order to fulfill his duty as a doctor "... to help his patient to cope with life--  ...the highest and most decisive experience of all, ...is to be alone with his own self, ...The patient must be alone if he is to find out what it is that supports him when he can no longer support himself. ONLY THIS EXPERIENCE CAN GIVE HIM AN INDESTRUCTIBLE FOUNDATION." (Jung, Collected works. Vol. 12, pp. 27-28)

"...in the inevitable transmutation in thought, and character, and particularly in the midst of the quest for spiritual insight and spiritual understanding, we must often let go of others, and they must let go of us. ...new friends (will be) continually coming into the wave length of your need, keep a corner of your heart for the DIVINE LONELINESS and be careful NOT TO FILL IT for the sake of ASSUAGING THE PAIN OF GROWTH. The deepest manifestation of love is LOVE ABOVE THE LONELINESS,..." and finally we learned, four sources agree, our relationship with Creative Forces must pass the great test of aloneness. (Plus some examples outside our lesson:  Jesus' 40 days in wilderness, Reiki healing method without healer giving away own energy received by Dr. Usui in alone time on Holy Mountain in Japan, Buddha in forest, etc.)

In Loving Oneness of Brotherhood, Sisterhood,

Sylvia Raye

A.R.E. Meeting for 5/17/21

Leader: Sylvia

Lesson:  ASFG Book I , Lesson six,  sec. "Fellowship with God, the Need of the world",  Experiments Book-Chapter 7, pgs. 68, 69.
 
Bible verse John I, 1:17  “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another."
 
Experiment 1.  Give of your life to someone else.  Select a person and write down his or her name.  Then choose one of the three approaches to giving your life which have been described:  (1) making a special effort to give of your life energy to that person through whatever energies are needed most, (2) making a special effort to share with that person the truths of your life which you have discovered through experience, or (3) giving up one of "your' habits, desires, opinions that is causing that person difficulty. Decide which of the three approaches you will use and write that down. Keep a record of your experiences in giving of your life to this person.
 
Experiment 2.  Choose one difficult relationship in your life and work each day to express in that relationship a living kind of love. Through meditation and prayer allow the energy of states of consciousness which are less than your ideal to be transformed. Affirm in your life that you are not stuck with the responses you have been feeling to this person, because you are alive, you can grow.  Record the experiences in which you successfully transform energy associated with old patterns to new, constructive ways of responding.
 
Just as Jesus gave up his life in service, we can emulate him by sharing (1) the TRUTH we have learned or lived so others can enjoy being "in the Presence", or by sharing  (2) FRIENDSHIP, being the best friend, one that remains closer than a sibling. We can give our lives in (3) SERVICE to a cause or to a person. By letting go of a (3) HABIT, DESIRE, or OPINION that hinders or causes someone else difficulty or physical or emotional hurt, we give of our life too.
 
"Let us help our fellow man by our patience and forbearance and show him that love is a living thing." p.67, or 72.
 
(Forbearance= "Holding back". 1. Tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation; patience. 2. Self control, patience. 3. Law, ..giving a debtor more time to repay a loan, typically interest accrues at the same rate.)
 
Autumn leaves and rocks cannot grow as animals and trees do, and additionally, living things can transform energy. As spiritual creations, people can transform energy associated with non-physical aspects of their being: states of consciousness, or attitudes toward an experience. This indicates spiritually created beings can take a problem in a relationship with another person and grow with it; thereby, WE MAKE LOVE A LIVING, TRANSFORMING THING.
 
As Joshua said, "Others may do as they may, but as for me...I will serve the Living God."
  
Cayce told #255 in the 12th reading, they could "THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE POWER OF THE CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS," since they had experienced the joys of influences within the soul, they could through everything, in every act, realize the PERSONAL LIVING GOD could COME TO BE HIS POWER working within.
 
To Live love is to be love. To be one with the Father is to be equal with the Father. ALL IN ONE--for Love is law, law is Love.
 
In the Loving Oneness of FELLOWSHIP.
Sylvia Raye

A.R.E. Meeting for 5/10/21

Leader: Sylvia
 
Lesson: FELLOWSHIP
 
Experiment 1. Select one pattern that you frequently hold of resentment toward or irritation with another person. Each day for a week work with letting go of that pattern. Stop feeding it and giving attention to it when it comes to your mind. Even though a part of you may enjoy entertaining it, affirm that the reward of knowing fellowship with God will be a greater experience. Keep a record of your experiences of knowing a greater sense of fellowship in this way.
 
Experiment 2. Take the initiative in speaking to others (especially strangers) and showing your love for all mankind. Do those things that you know will be helpful, risking the possibility that you may not be understood or appreciated. Record your experiences.
 
Business: Discussion of group preferences and suggestions for weekly minutes of weekly meetings, to prevent further errors, that meets needs and allows everyone to feel comfortable with the degree of confidentiality held, and provides a summary of the lesson read.
  
Next week we begin reading Mark Thurston’s “Experiments....” on page 67, just below the experiment.
 
The reading accomplished tonight for the first experiment describes the importance of living lives in service for others as Jesus did. It could be living for, or serving a cause or a person courageously giving daily of our life’s energy. The bare bones of Cayce’s reading 262-29 asks the listener whether you gave “the truths” that another might enjoy a moments rest in the Lord? He advised being “the best” in whatever role we take on. Just as vital, we give of our lives to others if we decide to “let go of anything” that hinders someone else: negative, critical thoughts of them, desires, habits.
 
For second experiment, we learned from reading our book to investigate what it is within ourselves that makes us fail to be daring and take the initiative in reaching out to another. Reaching out to share our Truth, to minister to their needs, to be the best, a friend as close and protective, “give my life” brotherly like friend.
 
To begin our study of the ASFG book, we will discuss the remainder of the long section we read on “Fellowship with God”, from p. 72-74. Following our digestion of this section via discussion, we’ll read the “Fellowship with God, the Need of the World”. We begin to read ASFG on p. 74, slightly more than halfway down the page.
 
A thought to ponder: Is this “minutes” as is given here according to what was discussed? Where there unresolved issues to resolve by taking a “show of hands” vote?
 
In Loving Oneness
Of FELLOWSHIP,
Sylvia

A.R.E. Meeting for 5/3/21

 Leader: Sylvia

“Global manifestation of oneness, and the Love of God and All People.
 
Group Ideal: Oneness
Action: Affirm daily our oneness with each other.
 
Lesson: Fellowship. Scripture: I John 1:7
If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.
 
Books: ASFG I and accompanying experiments book by Mark Thurston, Ph.D.
 
Experiment 1. Before each meditation period have a short prayer time to awaken fellowship. In prayer affirm your awareness of being called by God to do a work. Express your desire to answer personally this call in all aspects of your life.
 
Experiment 2. Listen to others. Don’t let yourself get caught in being overly concerned about a particular approach or technique to listening. Refrain from thinking of your response while the other person is still talking. You may find helpful to say to that person something like, "Those were some really important thoughts you just expressed. Let me think about them for a few minutes before I respond." Record instances in which you feel you really were able to listen.
 
In preparation of entering into the inner holy of holies, we said a prayer of attunement. John ohmed externally, and we did the “r re ohm” internally. For additional attunement, we did relaxing neck stretches, alternate breathing, and a prayer of protection prior to 15 minutes of silence focused toward fellowship. Sending out that which we received from universal forces, via fellowship within, in the form of the energy of Love, Healing, & Light to all the people, places, and situations, it became apparent we were praying for both the microcosm and the macrocosm. The situations where we had prayer concerns for locally, we also had concerns for the same issues nationally and internationally. And we prayed for people’s wellness, protection, healing everywhere.
 
We acknowledged ARE and leaders being sued by former youth campers alleging sexual harassment, assault or rape at ARE’s summer camp in years past.
 
It’s UNBELIEVABLE news. That outrageous boundary of violations from harassment to rape could be inflicted onto vulnerable youth at ARE camp. It is so opposite of all of the ARE’s principles, and Cayce’s practices, and wisdom on how to develop spiritually, and his, Gladys, other associates lifelong accomplishment of living high ideals. Thousands and thousands of people worldwide are grateful to have had spiritually transformational uplifting experiences attending ARE programs.
 
ARE’s CEO is working diligently to resolve this issue, both the alleged and unknown. He has hired a private company to investigate this situation. He has asked for others to come forward as well.
 
Let’s pray continuously to hold up ARE and all it’s worldwide centers, departments, schools, seminars and classes with prayers of protection and healing for the highest good. Lets pray God provides aid to any and all people who may have had unwelcome inappropriate sexual contact. Let’s also uplift those accused perpetrators of dark deeds into the presence of omniscient God for their highest good.
 
Five souls did an experiment, many dealt with despicable, very annoying, or burdensome situations in the third experiment. While not actually despicable, it may be time for one soul to stop researching and writing a monthly newsletter, after volunteering 10 hours in the evening monthly for 25 years. A very despicable ten months of neighborhood noise pollution has given one soul the ability to surrender, to cope, to appreciate a retreat space and return to painting. One sensitive soul finds despicable those hardened people who hurt and or take advantage of the disabled, frail elderly, who are cognitively limited. This soul has found here trustworthy people who listen, hold confidences, and don’t gossip. The soul who needed a functioning mechanical part, it was arrived, didn’t work and another had to be ordered. This soul acquired an opportunity to practice constructive qualities of long suffering and patience. With hindsight, one soul expressed regrets of not doing an experiment. Their week would have gone better seeking virtue or understanding,
 
We discussed louder, then more loudly, pros and cons of Covid-19 vaccines; it’s effects, protections, benefits, reports of vaccinated people’s irregular energy fields, with few points of agreement.
 
We talked about authentic Ojebwa tea, compounded or tincture tea, and the Holy Spirit. Tonight our reading asked us if we are aware of the divine flame of the Holy Spirit worthy of our adoration, buried deep within the heart of our brother. Jesus had promised after he ascended that he would empower us and send us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, also described as a divine flame.
 
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, a Feast celebrated 50 days or 7 weeks after Easter or the Passover. It was described as a roaring, storm like wind filling the room they were in. Tongues of fire appeared above twelve disciples heads, as the twelve received the gift of tongues: an immediate ability to speak in the listener’s own language. Others present also received the Holy Spirit at that time.
 
Incidentally, the Torah uses the same terminology for God’s Holy Spirit upon Joshua, Caleb, Bezalel, & Oholiab.
 
Suffering with our fellowman, loving each other despite our failings, having faith in the power of the spirit within until the fallen can see their own strength, being a friend who stands by in time of temptation or need, all of these actions nurtures and strengthens our relationship with the Holy.
 
In Loving oneness,
Sylvia Raye