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ACFIP
Newsletter
Issue 8 -
March 2006
Quarterly
Newsletter of the Australian
Centre for Inner Peace
Michael Dawson
PO Box 125, Point Lookout
North Stradbroke Island,
Queensland 4183,
Australia
Email: mdawson@acfip.org
Web site: http://www.acfip.org
CONTENTS:
•Article - Opening to Our Inner Wisdom
•Healing Section - Resistance to Healing
•Poems from Salice - Going Back Home
•Workshops
•Books and Audio Materials for Sale
•Links
•Inspirational Quotations
___________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to the EIGHTH issue of the Australian Centre for
Inner Peace Newsletter.
If you wish to read previous issues please go to
http://www.acfip.org/newsletterarchive.html.
If your email address ends with .au I put your address on my
Australian list for
advance warning of workshops I am giving in Australia. If you do
not want to be on
this list please let me know. If you reside in Australia and
want to be on this list,
but you address does not end in .au, please email me and I will
include it.
If you are new to the Course you might find my summary of help.
You can find it at
http://www.acfip.org/sum.html
Regards
Michael Dawson
http://www.acfip.org
___________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE
The following article was written by my late wife Salice Dawson
in 1991, four years
before she died.
In a later section I have included some of poems.
OPENING TO OUR INNER WISDOM
by Salice Dawson
"No-one gladly obeys a guide he does not trust,
but this does not mean the guide is untrustworthy.
In this case, it always means that the follower is.
However this too, is merely a matter of his own belief.
Believing that he can betray, he believes that everything can
betray him.
Yet this is only because he has elected to follow false
guidance.
Unable to follow this guidance without fear, he associates fear
with
guidance and refuses to follow any guidance at all."
From "A Course in Miracles" T-7.X.5:8-13
What is Inner Wisdom?
Inner Wisdom is that part of us which is beyond our rational,
logical and conscious
mind. We are generally brought up to believe the mind is our
primary source of information
with regard to the world and we learn little, if anything, of
our "other"
nature. This "other" nature is our inner wisdom and is reached
through
our deeper intuition, instinct, hunches and the validity of our
feelings. This is
our inner voice, our inner wisdom.
We connect with our inner wisdom in a variety of ways, often
without even knowing
that we do so. Have you ever picked up a book, opened it at
random and read a sentence
that has a powerful effect on you? Or perhaps the whole book
does. Someone may say
something in conversation that strikes a deep cord in you or you
may experience a
profoundness from watching a beautiful sunset or walking in
nature. However, we can
greatly increase our ability to contact our inner wisdom and
this includes our being
aware of some of the obstacles which normally prevent us from
doing so.
1. Be still. Create a space where you can be relaxed.
Turn the telephone off,
lock the door, make yourself comfortable and quieten your mind
as much as possible.
Rituals are not necessary although they may help in settling
you. If you are open,
the answer can come at any time, in any place or situation. It
may help to jot down
what you sense or receive, even if you think its coming from
your conscious mind.
Just look at it and see what insights it has. The mind "loses
control"
when you connect within and can react strongly causing you to
feel disturbed. The
mind will try to distract you and draw your attention away with
excuses of all kinds
from having a sneezing fit, feeling you must do something else
such as one of the
many chores that always need to be done to even getting sudden
aches and pains in
the body. The mind does not want you to listen within. 'A Course
in Miracles' states
"It is only because you think you can run some part or deal with
certain aspects
of your life alone that guidance of the Holy Spirit is limited".
T-14.XI.8:4
2. Have no investments. Let go of any need, desire or
investment to hear or
sense an answer. Sometimes we do not realise we have already
formed an answer and
we simply will not hear anything. Or we may be afraid or feel
too "unsafe"
to hear the truth. What is the price if we "let go"? Does it
mean a breakup
in our relationship, changing our job, moving to a new place? If
you get frustrated
or angry, it is a clear sign you have an investment. Your mind
is in charge and you
need to let go.
3. Open yourself to hearing, feeling, knowing.
Willingness to hear is the
only thing necessary. "A Course in Miracles" states "If you
cannot
hear the Voice for God, it is because you do not choose to
listen." T-4.IV.1:1
Remember, the Voice of God can come in any guise. Guidance is
always there, we just
don't know it is. We do things we don't want to do as we don't
know we don't want
to do them. If we push our mind thoughts away of what we
"should" and "ought"
to do, the truth is there underneath. This can be threatening as
it may mean doing
something which requires us to empower ourselves. This may feel
uncomfortable and
it may upset others around to you. However, if we stop to check
our energy and really
touch in to our inner selves, we may pick up that we feel flat
to our "oughts"
and "shoulds" and that our surface enthusiasm is false.
4. Listen with assurance, acceptance and trust. As the
conscious mind is who
we think we are, an inner voice may be felt or seen as crazy.
Giving up our attempts
to solve problems with our conscious mind is very threatening to
our ego which wants
to remain in control. Trust what you get if it feels right. The
answer may be challenging
and even frighten your mind but go beneath that layer and get a
sense of how it feels
at a deeper level. You will know if it feels right, even if it
is not what you want
to hear. If the guidance does not "make sense" from our mind's
point of
view but still feels right, we may have to trust and go forward
not knowing what
the next step will be.
I once heard a very clear and firm voice as I was going to sleep
one night. I was
working in London at the time and wasn't even trying to connect
with my inner wisdom.
I suddenly heard a voice saying very clearly "You will be living
at Findhorn".
I couldn't comprehend what I heard. Although I had visited the
Findhorn Foundation
in northern Scotland the previous year, I had no intention or
desire whatsoever to
return there. The voice then repeated "You will be living at
Findhorn."
I then felt a deep reaction in my solar plexus - a knowing which
could not be denied
or distorted - but nevertheless, my mind tried to do so! I
remember saying to myself
"No, no I won't" and the voice replying with such gentleness and
patience,
"Yes you will". For 24 hours, I thought of every possible
objection, and
there were many, as to why I shouldn't leave my job, friends,
where I was living
etc. and all the time knowing that I would. It only took 24
hours before my mind
stopped fighting and with this acceptance, came a sense of
peace, delight and anticipation.
It felt right, I knew it was right even though it was a huge
step to take in so many
ways.
5. What other clues can help you to know if your inner wisdom
is right?
Apart from feeling and knowing at a deeper level, you
sometimes feel a warm glow,
a sense of peace or relief. If we truly flow with our inner
wisdom, things will fall
into place easily and gracefully. Our needs will be met and
often the way will be
paved by other people helping you in unexpected ways.
Earlier this year, I was travelling with my partner in Europe.
In between commitments,
we had two free weeks and my partner thought it would be an
excellent idea to go
to Greece where we could relax, read and enjoy some sun.
Normally such an idea would
have enormous appeal to me. Greece has always been a somewhat
'magic' place in my
mind. However, I felt no real desire to go, a definite flatness
and disinterest which
I could not understand. My partner was very keen to go and
although I mentioned my
lack of enthusiasm, I didn't really pursue it because it made
such sense to go there.
We duly visited a travel agent but found we couldn't get a
flight on the day we wanted
nor could we get a return flight when we wanted. Also we
couldn't fly out of Hamburg
but would have to travel hundreds of miles to another airport.
Still, my partner
insisted on going to Greece and it wasn't until some 4 or 5 days
later that I voiced
my concern, my lack of energy and my 'sense' that it just wasn't
right to go there.
My partner then 'checked inside', going beneath the level of his
mind and discovered
that he too didn't feel 'right' about it either. He had been
holding on because he
had planned what he wanted to do in Greece - have time to study,
read and relax.
However, our inner wisdom led us to proceed to Switzerland for
the 2 weeks where
we had an extraordinary time. Everything fell in to place. Some
friends were able
to get us an apartment where they lived and very cheaply. We
were in a superb position
near the alps and overlooking some lakes. And it was here, that
we were truly able
to relax, study and take some very necessary time for ourselves
in perfect surroundings.
We felt we were very 'guided' and we both suspect that if we had
gone to Greece as
planned, it would not have been 'right' for us. Our needs would
not have been met
in the way they were in Switzerland.
6. Which voice do you take notice of?
The wisdom from within is usually soft. We have to stop and
listen to hear it.
It will suggest and advise but never demand surrender of your
free will. It will
not conflict with your personal ethics and never asks you to
attack or hurt others
or force them to do things. It will never be offended if you
ignore what it says
or if you question it. This voice requires our willingness to
want it. It is never
forced upon us. The voice from the mind or ego is usually louder
and more forceful.
It may be confusing or contradictory and you may even hear a
number of voices competing
for attention. This voice or voices may seek to flatter and to
appeal to glamour,
specialness and desire for personal gratification. If you
examine it, it will feel
wrong unless you are attached to the answer in which case, you
will find yourself
trying to convince yourself that it is right. It may be that
this voice will mimic
the inner voice and even make sense. You have to look at the
content.
7. What questions should you ask? It is better to ask
specific questions of
your inner wisdom such as "what should I do about this
particular problem"
rather than wide-ranging questions such as "how can I help heal
the world".
If you are unsure about what you get, or if it feels wrong,
listen again to get a
clearer sense. Often the ego speaks first but if you listen
closely and with patience,
a quieter voice will come. If there are alot of obstacles or
difficulties in response
to the wisdom within, it has probably been distorted by the
mind. If we interpret
something wrongly, it doesn't matter. How many times have we had
a hunch, an instinct
to do something but have not followed it? So we may have lost
some time by taking
a wrong turn but our inner wisdom has infinite patience and is
always there for us.
It will never reject us because we didn't take notice the first
time.
Occasionally we may receive guidance for others but this is very
rare and usually
such guidance comes from the ego.
8. How often should we listen? Whenever we lose our joy
or peace, we need
to check within. Anxiety, fear, anger, pain, irritation or
frustration are all signs
that this has occurred. It is good to ask ourselves "why am I
doing this"?
Will it make me happy"? What is my motive"? However, if you find
yourself
asking within before every move, this speaks more of fear than
of trust and is a
way of avoiding our own responsibility.
Remember, be open to all sources. God's 'Voice' is everywhere.
------------------------------------
For myself (Michael) I have learnt that inner guidance comes
quietly without any
enthusiasm. If I get excited by the guidance I receive I now
know it's from my ego.
It comes as a quiet knowing "Oh, this is what I need to do". The
test of
true guidance is that it will make you feel more peaceful. Not
necessarily straight
away as the guidance might be asking for a change that affects
another (e.g. guidance
to separate), but eventually when you look back on the decision
to follow the guidance
you realise you are now more peaceful because of it.
___________________________________________________________________________
HEALING SECTION
Resistance to Healing
Julie described to me that several years ago she felt a close
connection to Spirit.
This provided an anchor in her life, an inner beacon that she
had lost contact with,
and now wanted to reconnect with it.
Early on in the session she said she felt very stuck and thought
nothing was going
to happen. I asked her where in her body she felt stuck. Julie
felt the blockage
was at the top of her head - it felt rather like a trap door
that was closed. I asked
her if she wanted to open it which she did. To her amazement she
found herself floating
in space with silver looking beings approaching her. They wanted
to talk to her.
"This is a load of nonsense!" exclaimed Julie and promptly
stopped the
session. We chatted for a while and then she decided to try
again. I asked her about
her statement, if it was her voice saying this is all nonsense.
She replied it was
not - it felt like a man's voice.
Julie then told me about an experience when she recalled what
seemed to be a past
life experience. She and her father in that life were male
religious leaders who
had displeased their tribe. As a punishment they were
blindfolded, tied up and left
by themselves to die in the desert. Their death was slow and
painful. She said that
in this life she had a strong allergy to dust. As they were
dying she called out
to the God they served to rescue them. Close to death, with all
hope gone, she had
cried out that there was no God, it was all nonsense. Realising
the connection between
past and current events she felt ready to try again. Entering
once more through the
"trap door" in her head she once again experienced the silver
beings who
wanted to counsel her. She spent about 20 minutes in the silence
conversing with
them. At the end of the session she felt happy that she had left
behind her grievances
on being abandoned and had reconnected again with her source of
love and wisdom.
[reprinted from “The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness” Michael
Dawson - Findhorn Press. ]
See http://www.acfip.org/books_tapes.html
___________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE: The Australian Centre for Inner Peace is not
a counselling or
psychotherapy centre; therefore, we do not offer telephone or
email service or counselling,
therapy, or crisis intervention for personal problems related to
the Course. Please
see the Contacts section at the end of this newsletter.
___________________________________________________________________________
SALICE'S
POEMS
-
going back
home -
Salice
Dawson's
poems chronicle an inner journey of the last eight months of her
life spanning 1994
to 1995. Most of the poems were written preceding the diagnosis
of her breast cancer
on December 8th, 1994.
Salice had always known an inner voice since childhood. She had
never enquired who
or what it was until I once asked her. Her answer from within
was Jesus. Many of
these poems are addressed to him.
I had observed that after we had moved from Findhorn in Scotland
to Australia in
1994 Salice could not really find anything to focus on in life -
nothing much excited
her about this world. The early poems reflect this theme.
After the diagnosis of breast cancer she was at first undecided
on what course of
action to take. Orthodox medical practitioners were keen for a
speedy intervention
- chemotherapy, radiation and a mastectomy. Initially Salice was
tempted but soon
her inner guidance suggested that she should not follow that
road.
From December to early May she remained active and comparatively
well with little
pain that was easily controlled. Shortly after entering hospital
on May 14th she
entered a coma and died peacefully on May 21st.
After Salice's death a friend of mine received a communication
from her which I have
placed at the end of these poems. Salice was a student of A
Course in Miracles
and I feel her poems can help and inspire others to recognise a
greater perspective
at these times of crisis.
Below is a short selection from her poems. The complete set can
be found at http://www.acfip.org/sal.html
RELEASING MY DREAM
I would let this world go,
Gently disappearing from my mind's grasp
Opening to something else
that I do not yet quite know.
But you are there to lead the way
And I would follow.
For what truly is there
but the Home you represent.
I would let this world go
My dreams of time ongoing
With endless goals yet to be reached.
The glitter of gold, the deep glow of rubies
The flash of diamonds in the sun.
All this and more would I release
To walk with you my Lord.
For you are the Light by
which I will find my way,
No more to stumble endlessly
In my dreams of darkness.
Let go, let go, the angel
cries as she beckons me onwards
Pointing the way with arms outstretched.
And so my Lord, I come to you at last.
24th September, 1994
The first poem I wrote, inspired by
a number of poems from The Gifts of God
by Helen Schucman, Foundation for Inner Peace
COME WITH ME
Let go, let go and come with me
Beyond your dreams so dear
The idols of the world you see
Can only lead to fear.
They will keep you
chained and forever caught
In the cavern of your mind
And thus you seek to shut me out
And know not you are blind.
Dear child you do not know you call
In such anguish from your heart
And I am ready waiting here
For never did I depart.
Always you will find me
Behind that veil so dim
Tis nothing you see to push it aside
And let me walk right in.
I see you reaching for another dream
To take away the pain.
I could give you a happy one
To lead you home again.
But no you say, disturb me not
For I would play some more.
All right my child I will watch you play
And await you by the door.
29th September, 1994
IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE
My mind wanders endlessly
Drifting across different worlds
So rapidly my Lord, you
cannot accompany me.
Can it really be true that
this is what I prefer?
To keep you so effectively
barred from my door?
Oh yes, I would keep you away,
You who would disturb my
peace and change my world.
You cannot enter here
where all is dark and hopeless.
I will not let you
I will not let you.
And yet you tarry there
near the door of my heart
So long has it been closed against you.
Do not enter here Lord,
please do not enter
For I am so afraid.
But you will stay there
will you not and wait for me?
Ah, you are so gentle, so accepting.
I will travel in peace now a little longer
And in a while, just a little while,
I will return.
Surely then, I will be ready
to open my door and let you enter.
Just a little while now, a very little while.
29th September, l994
SEPARATION
This world I see so wide and full
Of experiences varied and endless.
Here I can stay and happily search
For treasures, things and possessions.
So much to discover on a thousand shores.
How I love being busy and involved
For it keeps my world
moving and rapidly so
And me out of mischief you see!
No thank you I don't
want a moment's respite,
Unless its a holiday by the sea.
For there I can sunbake, swim and walk
Collect shells and then have tea.
What's this about being quiet and still
And finding another way?
I haven't got any time for that
And its silly anyway.
I must be off, I'm in a rush
A thousand things to do.
Its all good fun to be on the run
With no time for me or you.
2nd October, 1994
THE BUTTERFLY
The butterfly which crosses my path
In beauty ethereal and fragile.
How gently moves its delicate wings
And sweetly kisses the petals of a flower.
Oh my Lord, this is how you come to me
So softly treading near my trembling heart
Stroking my brow
with your love so tender
Accepting my fear with
your soothing words.
Yes I would gladly follow you.
May I slip my hand in yours?
And together we will gladly return
To our home with God and all mankind.
2nd October, 1994
PRAYER TO JESUS
Between us is a wall of fear
Erected by my choice.
My peace is gone and I despair
Of ever hearing your voice.
What can I do dear Lord of Love
To bring you back again
And feel your joyful presence
Instead of this wretched pain?
"Ah child you need do nothing"
I hear you clearly say.
"To struggle, strive and worry
That is not the way.
Just watch the fear and ask for help
For I am always near
And you will find it disappears
And again my voice you'll hear."
3rd October 1994
(This followed a prayer to Jesus around my fear about going to
Tasmania.).
THE PATH AHEAD
Dear Jesus we would
remember our Home in you
Our hearts yearn to join with your love.
We ask you to guide
us as we stumble along
On our journey home to God.
Please take our vision of inner peace
In all the forms we have planned,
And use it to shepherd us closer to you
For your wisdom is deeper than ours.
It flows directly from oneness with God
And this you finally remembered.
You wait so patiently as we dally around
Without judgement or demand.
We trip ourselves up
and cause long delays
As we spin our endless webs
And hastily strengthen our ego defences
To continue our worldly dance.
But time after time we remember to ask
For your presence and your voice
We let you come in so very carefully
As we make another choice.
One day 'ere long we will
join with each other
So deeply we'll forget separation
And there you will be
standing right beside us
In your glory and perfection.
3rd October 1994
(Whilst on the rocks at Dee Why Beach)
JESUS' LOVE
Dear child I came in the instant
You descended to turmoil and fear,
And I remain with you
in all your journeying
Ever watchful over my creation.
For you are so very precious to me
My love for you knows no boundaries.
Your dreams and illusions are nothing
But the briefest diversion in time.
Your world will gently slip away
And time will end for it never began.
My love will be known
as we join once more.
You will rest in eternal peace and joy.
DISSOLVING THE BARRIERS
My ego defences are so strong and secure
Effectively barring the way
But no matter what I
do or how long I take,
You are there, waiting.
The smallest crack, the tiniest chink
Or hole in my walls
And your light will flow in.
What comfort that is and yet what terror.
Confusion reigns supreme.
Dear Jesus, look at this with me.
Such a mess and yet just silly you say.
And we smile together in pure delight.
And my desperation has gone,
Dissolved in your love.
4th October, 1994
THE OVERVIEW
I wander through this imagined existence
Believing I'm master at the helm.
My efforts to contrive, direct and control
Ensure I'm kept busy and involved.
How easy it is to get lost in these forms
That I am so expert in manifesting
And comforting to know
that despite what I do
Something wiser and higher leads me on.
I will forgive my constant meanderings
Allowing them to flow as they will
And gently watch as they pass
through my mind
Without judgement or worry unkind.
6th October, 1994
---------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after Salice died I rang a friend in Scotland to tell
her the news. The following
day I received an email message from her, the first part of
which I have reproduced
below. The message came as a blessing and helped me to put the
last months of Salice's
life in context. Since the death of her body she has
communicated with many friends
and has helped me in many ways.
Scotland
25/5/95
Dear Michael,
I meditated after our phone call and when I asked to link with
Sal, the whole room
filled with a burnt incense smell. Very strong! She said:
"Michael
is
fine. He really is. Just help him get his life started again.
Back on track. Travel
with him now and then. I am wonderfully free and glad of it. He
is right. I'd finished
before we left Findhorn. Not really interested deep down in
beginning new projects.
I just was ready to go home. Community was my last big lesson.
Loving Michael was
icing on the cake. Cancer was necessary to leave. Very perfect
really."
___________________________________________________________________________
2006 Workshops
AUSTRALIA
BRISBANE - 1 day - Sunday April 23, 2006
Healing Ourselves
- from the perspective of A Course in Miracles
“Health is inner peace....
Healing involves an understanding
of what the illusion of sickness is for.
Healing is impossible without this.“
from A Course in Miracles
Using the spiritual path of A Course in Miracles we will
explore what true
healing is - the return to our awareness of our spiritual
identity. Identification
with our body as our home is the origin of all our physical and
psychological suffering.
The cause of all disease lies in the mind and not the body.
Disease is a shadow on
the body, of the guilt in our mind.
This workshop will focus on undoing the blocks we have built to
the presence of God’s
love and joy within us through the understanding and practising
of forgiveness.
We will investigate what the Course means by healing ourselves.
We will use exercises to help understand the ego and to practice
forgiveness and
turning within for guidance.
An overview of the Course's metaphysical, psychological and
spiritual teachings especially
in regard to healing will be covered. No previous knowledge of
the book A Course
in Miracles is required
VENUE:
Relaxation Centre,
cnr Brookes and Wickham Streets,
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane 4006
BOOKINGS:
Relaxation Centre
07 3854 1986
(Please do not book through me)
Times: 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Cost: $55
Bring lunch to share
___________________________________________________________________________
North Stradbroke Island, Queensland - 6 May 2006
Overview of A Course in Miracles
1-Day Workshop with Michael Dawson
at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island, QLD
Date: 6 May 2006
Times: 9.45 for 10.00am to 4.45pm
OUTLINE
In this workshop we will investigate the metaphysical,
spiritual, psychological and
practical teachings of A Course in Miracles.
Introductions will be given on the following topics:
•Heaven and our separation
•The Holy Spirit and guidance
•The nature of the ego
•Forgiveness
•Sickness
•Healing ourselves and others
•Relationships - special and holy
Experiential exercises will be used and handouts will also be
provided.
VENUE
"Carolina"
25, Midjimberry Road
Point Lookout
North Stradbroke Island
Queensland 4183
Australia
For directions and ferry details please go to:
http://www.acfip.org/directions.html
If you require accommodation and tourist information please go
to:
http://www.acfip.org/straddieinfo.html
Morning and afternoon refreshments will be provided.
For lunch - a number of cafes are within 5 minutes walk of the
venue, and overlook
the ocean.
COST
By donation
BOOKINGS
The workshop will be limited to 12 participants.
Places on the workshop must be reserved beforehand. To reserve
your place please
send half your donation as a non-refundable deposit, making
cheques payable to 'Michael
Dawson' to:
Michael Dawson
PO Box 125
Point Lookout
QLD 4183
mdawson@acfip.org
www.acfip.org
___________________________________________________________________________
NEW ZEALAND
A one day workshop on A Course in Miracles near Wellington, New
Zealand
end of November 2006
Cost: Donation
Places on the workshop must be reserved beforehand.
Workshop Contact:
Krissy Dussler
15 Haumia Street
Paekakariki
New Zealand
Tel: 04 2927 228 2004
Email: krissyreadings@paradise.net.nz
___________________________________________________________________________
GERMANY 2006 WORKSHOPS
RAVENSBURG - Saturday 24 June 2006
Opening to the Light
-from the perspective of A Course in Miracles
Forgiveness, on the other hand, is still, and quietly does
nothing.
... It merely looks, and waits, and judges not.
A Course in Miracles W-pII.1.4.
A one day workshop - 23 June 2006
The light, love and joy of God are ever present and wait only
our acceptance. We
need not earn them as they were freely given at our creation.
Nor is sacrifice or
suffering required. So why do we rarely experience the light?
This workshop will
look, firstly, at why we are afraid of the light and the
illusions we fear to let
go. Our illusions and unforgiveness stand as barriers between us
and the light and
the guidance that would lead us home.
The second part of the workshop will focus on overcoming our
fear through forgiveness
- the path of awareness, acceptance and asking for help.
Exercises will be used to help identify our illusions and fear
of sacrifice so they
can be healed through forgiveness. We will practise watching our
minds without judgement
or as the Course puts it ... " (forgiveness) merely looks, and
waits and judges
not."
Location of workshop:
ULEN Centre
Felz - 88212
Ravensburg
Germany
CONTACT
ULEN Centre
Felz - 88212
Ravensburg
Germany
Tel: 49 [0]751-26985 (Sybil)
Fax: 49 [0]751-3527933
Email: uelen@t-online.de
---------------------------------------------------------------
FREIBURG - 1/2 July 2006
The Path Home
from the perspective of A Course in Miracles
Save time for me by only this one preparation, and practice
doing nothing else.
"I need do nothing" is a statement of allegiance, a truly
undivided loyalty.
Believe it for just one instant, and you will accomplish more
than is given to a
century of contemplation, or of struggle against temptation.
from A Course in Miracles T-18.VII.6:6-8
There is a common belief that the path home to God must involve
strenuous effort
and sacrifice. Just as we strive for material goals we believe
we must strive for
our spiritual goals too. We decide the best path home and do not
realise our very
striving may be blocking our awakening.
Jesus tells us in A Course in Miracles that we need do
nothing.
This workshop will explore what it means to "do nothing". What
stops us
standing aside and allowing the help in? What is the part we
must play so that our
lives can be directed gracefully? How can we use our
relationships to take us home?
We will use material from the Course from the chapters on 'I
Need Do Nothing', holy
relationships, receiving guidance and the 'Development of
Trust'. Exercises will
be used to help identify our individual obstacles to guidance so
they can be healed
through forgiveness. This allows the Holy Spirit to enter our
mind and guide our
path home to joy, peace and love
No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required
but attendance at
the Friday night (date) introductory talk would be helpful for
people new to the
Course.
Introductory talk on A Course in Miracles - evening
Fri 30 June
Location of workshop:
Center Margarete Sennekamp
Schauinslandstr. 39
79100 Freiburg-Günterstal
Tram 4, Klosterplatz
Contact:
Sophia-Institut
Margarete Sennekamp
Adalbert-Stifter-Str. 16
79102 Freiburg
Tel/Fax : 0761-73930
<http://www.Sophia-Institut.de>www.Sophia-Institut.de
___________________________________________________________________________
Biography
Michael discovered A Course in Miracles whilst visiting
the Findhorn Foundation
in 1982. He subsequently became a member of the Foundation for
about six years and
involved himself with healing and teaching. In 1994 he published
Healing the Cause
- A Path of Forgiveness which serves as an introduction to
the Course. His second
book, The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness (Findhorn Press)
uses exercises, stories
and case histories to guide the reader to inner peace through
forgiveness. Michael
now lives in Australia and gives workshops on the Course
world-wide.
___________________________________________________________________________
BOOKS AND AUDIO MATERIALS FOR SALE - by Michael Dawson
Books:
Healing the Cause - A Path of Forgiveness. Findhorn
Press. 1994
The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness. Findhorn Press. 2003
For more details and how to purchase please visit:
http://www.acfip.org/books_tapes.html
Audio Tapes and CDs
Since 1986 I have been conducting healing workshops in the
UK and abroad, and
have continually experimented to find healing and forgiveness
exercises that are
effective. I have found that a particular exercise can be
effective for one person
but not another. Accordingly, I was led to develop a series of
exercises. Over the
years workshop participants asked if these exercises could be
put onto audio cassettes
and CDs so they could repeat them. This has resulted in the
Healing the Cause - Exercise
series - Tapes 1 to 4
(2 exercises on each tape) and CD1 and 2 (4 exercises on each
CD)
For more details and how to purchase please visit:
http://www.acfip.org/audio.html
___________________________________________________________________________
CONTACTS
Resources
Foundation
for A Course In Miracles
41397
Buecking Drive, Temecula,
CA 92590
Tel: 909 296 6261 Fax: 909296 9117
Books, videos, CDs and audio tapes by Kenneth and Gloria Wapnick
are available from
their web site http://www.facim.org
Question and Answer Service:
Their electronic outreach section has a question and answer
service http://www.facimoutreach.org/
on the theory and practice of the Course. Their database of
hundreds of questions
and answers is searchable and you can ask your own questions.
Their publications can also be ordered in Australia at:
Adyar
Bookshop
230 Clarence Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Foundation
for
Inner Peace - the publishers
of A Course in Miracles
http://www.acim.org/
ACIM study groups.
Go to The
Miracle Distribution Center
http://www.miraclecenter.org/ for the largest and most
frequently updated list of
A Course in Miracles study groups available anywhere.
Miracles
Studies
Australia http://www.miracle-studies.net.au lists study groups
for Australia and new Zealand
A Course In Miracles Pen Pals
The Miracle
Network
http://www.miracles.org.uk
hosts a A Course in Miracles pen pals group:
To
join this
e-mail discussion group, send your e-mail address to
e.pals@miracles.org.uk. They will send you updated lists of
other e.pals
and inform them of your e-mail address.
A Course In Miracles Chat Groups
http://miraclesalliance.no-ip.org/acim_chat_groups.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTATIONS
About three or four times a week I send a short quotation
from some spiritual
teacher or poet to people who have requested some uplifting
thoughts. I have included
some below. If you wish I can add your name to the email list.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Do understand that you are destined for enlightenment.
Co-operate with your destiny, don't go against it, don't thwart
it.
Allow it to fulfil itself.
All you have to do is to give attention to the obstacles created
by the foolish mind.
Nisargadatta Maharaj
---------------------------------------------------------------
When you listen to the voice in
your head, that
is to say, do not judge. You'll soon realize: there
is the voice, and here I am listening to it, watching
it. This I am realization, this sense of your own
presence, is not a thought. It arises from beyond
the mind.
- Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now
---------------------------------------------------------------
In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do, and that
sign becomes this art.
- Rumi
---------------------------------------------------------------
One is more likely to awaken through surrender than through
seeking to waken. The
effort to awaken is the effort of ego, whereas to surrender is
to give up all efforts
and to place oneself in the hands of a vast force that is more
powerful than any
realization of non duality.
When one finally gives up one's futile attempts to make reality
conform to one's
own wishes, and allows it to unfold on its own terms, all the
energy that was tied
up in foolish attempts to manipulate the universe is freed up.
Mariana Caplan
Halfway Up the Mountain - The Error of Premature Claims to
Enlightenment
---------------------------------------------------------------
Yet searching is inevitable here. For this you came, and you
will surely do the thing
you came for. But the world can not dictate the goal for which
you search, unless
you give it power to do so. Otherwise, you still are free to
choose a goal that lies
beyond the world and every worldly thought, and one that comes
to you from an idea
relinquished yet remembered, old yet new; an echo of a heritage
forgot, yet holding
everything you really want.
A Course in Miracles Lesson 131
---------------------------------------------------------------
There's one great delusion that lies at the core
of all of our suffering: the false belief in the reality
of the separation of life and in the subsequent
true existence of an individual ego.
All fervent attempts to control or to mortify this
illusory ego through penance, rituals and sacrifice,
however, will only serve to intensify the delusion
that this ego is actually very real and that it only
needs to be, somehow, subdued, conquered or
destroyed.
- Chuck Hillig
Seeds for the Soul
Chuck Hillig
Black Dot Publications, 2003