Hello Everyone. I hope by now you are cuddled up by a warm fire sipping hot chocolate in your pajamas and reading your new lessons. Well, that's a nice image, isn't it? As the angels always say, if you are going to use imagination, then you may as well use it for imagining things that make you feel happy and peaceful. So often we use imagination to terrorize ourselves. Notice when you are around other people. Notice what they say. Notice when they are using imagination in terrifying ways....imagining horrible futures and horrible pasts. Just notice and do not allow yourself to be taken in by their negative and frightening images. The more aware you become of the frightening stories other people tell, the more you can be aware of the negative stories in your own mind. So watch the world around you with awareness. Awareness is the magic key that will set you free. (By the way, new students....you have not yet been invited to your Schoolroom....the fairies and elves are still painting your walls and decorating your chairs....so be patient....your will receive your first lesson soon!) All love, your happy teacher.
I was just remembering today that several years back, I had asked for my fantasy addiction to be removed, and it was, instantly. However, it also seems to have dampened my ability to use my imagination in a helpful and appropriate way. So just today, with my friend Michal as my witness, I asked for the return of healthy imaginative faculties!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, before long, I will be able to imagine the beautiful life that Spirit has in mind for me and cooperate more fully with that plan!
I'm surrounded by not so happy, healthy imaginers and I don't know how to deal with that very well. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Love, Debra
Thanks for your thoughtful post, Debra, for making good use of your Open Classroom.
ReplyDeleteAs your progress in your school you will learn that AWARENESS is everything. What we are not aware of controls us. When we become aware of something, it begins to lose control over us.
The thoughts & imaginations that we are aware of are only the "tip of the iceberg." Hidden below these, are many thoughts that secretly direct and control our lives, far below our consciousness.
This is why awareness is so important. The captain of a ship must be aware that the iceberg is larger than it appears in order to avoid disaster. We must be aware that we are being controlled by imaginations beyond our level of conscious awareness.
Your awareness will increase as you diligently apply yourself to your lessons and homework.
I'm certainly interested in what Debra commented about a fantasy addiction. That's an original idea to me. I suppose we have concepts of ourselves that are pure fiction but we go about believing them real. But, as you say Debra, one can go too far the other way as well. Who or what did you ask for the addiction to go away?
ReplyDeleteHi, Jazz
ReplyDeleteI simply prayed to God as I understand God to remove this addiction -- it was a deep and desperate prayer.
Thanks for asking!
Thank you for the honest answer. I understand.
ReplyDeleteWhat you say here, Dick: "I suppose we have concepts of ourselves that are pure fiction but we go about believing them real." is so to-the-point and succinct. A concept is a concept, an idea, a limitation, that keeps us trapped in a time state. The mind does not have the possibility to think beyond its limitations.
ReplyDeleteThose people who are intent upon evolving beyond these limitations set themselves upon another path than that of the mundane world. They see with new eyes, hear with new ears, and experience life with a new richness.
I've always resonated with this passage from Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
A re-new-al of the mind! The old mind and the limited often hurtful imaginations it provides for us must be made new. Reading your lessons and doing your homework is a way to accomplish this. And soon you begin to understand that your School is not limited to this Classroom, but that the entire world is your school. This is exciting...because learning is exciting...especially when it sets us free from what hurts us.
Thank you both, Debra and Dick, for thinking deeply about these ideas and sharing them here, where other students can benefit.
Hi Debra, Yes, that's a tough one...unhappy imaginers! People get addicted to their stories, even when those stories are awful. What I have trouble with is when they want to imagine negative storeis for me too! When that happens, I try to practice getting present in my body, taking a deep breath, and staying calm. Sometimes I make a positive statement in return, to reaffirm for myself that everything is okay. For example, if someone starts sharing tales of doom and gloom with me (about the awful things that "might" happen), I will say something happy and positive and more true in the present moment. Sort of positive reaffirmation.
ReplyDeleteI try to be observant both with my own mind and with my outer world. If something out in the world bothers me, I figure it is something I haven't healed or resolved (into love, as our teacher says). In that way, even the negative outside me becomes positive because I can use it for self-understanding and growth. One thing Indira wrote that made a big impression on me was that angels are positive transformers, and so they see every negative event as an opportunity to serve God. Something like that.
Thanks again for your comments!