A.R.E. Meeting for 1/28/19

Leader: Eric

Four frigid wisdom seekers witnessed the polar vortex in the library meeting room. There was even a brief discussion about climate change (it must have been the room). Care giving also was part of the evening discussion. Our thoughts and prayers went to Scott on his wife’s surgery, and to Eric who will be spending some time taking care of his father.

In the SFG book, we read one section: “The Approach to Wisdom.”

The experiments to try for the coming week are:

Experiment: Do the right thing when the timing is right, even if by appearances things may seem to be a bit worse at first. Use wisdom to evaluate and judge fruits at all levels.

Examples: Give up a habit you have been wanting to eliminate even though at first it may make you very uncomfortable; or, communicate an emotion you have been keeping bottled up inside you, even though at first it may seem to weaken your relationship to the person you tell.

Experiment: Eliminate shortcuts to wisdom which employ a misuse of intellect and logic. Select something which your intellect tells you will likely lead to good results in the physical plane (e.g., diet or a certain way of behaving with others). Probably it's something you have been thinking about doing for some time, but you already know how it will turn out. Now try living it.

A.R.E. Meeting for 1/14/19

Leader: Eric

Five regulars convened to grow in Wisdom. We discussed Bible figures (like Enoch) and Eric asked if anyone had Eula Allen’s “The Creation Trilogy.” I notice that the ARE has a circulating file called “Theory of Creation” for $5 for ARE members, but don’t know if Eula Allen had a hand in it.

We read the Introduction to the Wisdom chapter in the SFG book, then covered two experiments in our Experiments book.

The experiments are:

Experiment: Pay attention to the timing of when you say things you know are true or do things which you know are right.

Experiment: With your thoughts bring God and your spiritual ideal into one area which you may have thought was too trivial or too human for His concern. One way to do this is simply to have short periods of prayer while you are involved in that activity.

A.R.E. Meeting for 1/7/19

Leader: John (for Eric)

Five entities met in a chilly room to discuss knowledge. We reviewed the three experiments that we had over the past three weeks, which took a while.

We finished the chapter on Knowledge in both the SFG book and the Experiments book.

Again, we have a choice of three experiments before we move to the Wisdom chapter.

Experiment: Make a list of two or three qualities which you know are in you but others may not know about because you rarely, if ever, expose them. Select ones which you would like to reveal more often (e.g., a sense of humor, a serious side, warmth, a good organizer, a good listener). When you start up a new relationship, try to show two or three of these qualities early in your experiences together.

Experiment: Identify three or four specific groups of which you are a member (e.g., your family, your work group, your study group, your circle of friends). Try to be a leaven to the consciousness and awareness of the group. Through what you say and do help to direct the flow of energies of each group in the most constructive, hopeful way possible.

Experiment: Consider the relationships in your life about which you have the most knowledge. These are probably ones of trust in which the individuals have been able to share with you deep and important things about themselves. It is likely that they are also the relationships in which you can most easily hurt the other person. For a week make a special effort to be kind-in word and action-to one of these people.

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/17/18

Leader: John

Five gods met to discuss the subject of knowledge, among other topics, like near-death experiences, synchronicities, and helping others we meet.

In the Knowledge chapter of the SFG book, we read the section “Interpretation of Self.”

We read through three experiments, and Eric says we can do them all because we won’t be meeting the next two weeks. We are at the middle of page 112 in the Experiments book. The experiments are:

Experiment: Each day try to find a tempo of acting, thinking and feeling which puts you in touch with the tempo your soul wants to get done what it needs. Use that resultant extra energy which becomes available in a creative way.

Experiment: Try to let go of any embarrassment or uncomfortableness you may experience with the spiritual things you believe even though people who are "worldly wise,” may think you foolish, impractical or naive. Be willing earnestly and sincerely to share aspects of the spiritual path you are on. With sensitivity and an eye toward proper timing take the initiative in such sharing.

Experiment: Pick several routine actions in your life. For a period of several days experience your freedom from that patterned way of living your life by finding alternatives to those actions.

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/10/18

Leader: John

Six entities listened to the lesson on knowledge. John had a handout on the significance of some biblical numbers. Cindi’s dream started us on a conversation about visitations. We read two sections in the SFG book: “Knowledge is of God” and “Knowledge is Power.”

In the Experiments book, we read to the middle of page 108. The experiment is:

Make it a discipline to take some time each day to really listen to what is concerning one or two people. You do not have the answer to their questionings. Just express your love through your attention as they open up and share.

A.R.E. Meeting for 12/3/18

Leader: June

Five smart souls met to gain in knowledge. Depending on the direction traveled, you either drove in a blizzard or under clear skies. We meditated and discussed the experiments from last week along with several other topics (like the “Mandela effect” or false memory).

We read the Introduction in the SFG book, and the first experiment in the Experiments book. It reads as follows:

Experiment: Try spending the first five minutes of your daily meditation period in prayer for others. Use it to orient your mind so that your following period of silence will be more in keeping with an ideal of love and service.

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/26/18

Leader: Greg

Four met in fellowship to finish the chapter on Glory. We read from the SFG, and finished the chapter, then we finished that chapter in the Experiments book. Next week we start the chapter on Knowledge.

Here are the experiments from which to choose this week:

Experiment: What is something seemingly "evil" or "bad" in the personality or behavior of one person with whom you interact? What is the essence of good—good misapplied or misconstrued—that is in that apparent flaw? Try reinforcing or reflecting the essential good which is there.

Experiment: What is some seemingly unrewarded effort you have been making for good—something you have recently been considering giving up? Try for one week just "carrying on" even though it may go against common "practicality" to do so, and see what happens.

Experiment: Give of yourself and your resources to others without expectation of something back. Find ways to be of loving service to others without their knowing who has been the source of the aid.