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


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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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."

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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

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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


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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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      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


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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

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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

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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

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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