The Science of Mind and Spirit For Beginners

Ernest Holmes’ classic work The Science of Mind is the reference book for most classes taught at Centers for Spiritual Living, and frankly, it’s not that easy to read.  When people find the Center, often they ask about a good book to read to learn more about the teaching studied at the Center and I find myself hesitating to recommend this text.  In part, it’s because the book was written so long ago in a style that, compared to contemporary texts, is difficult to take in. Also, the text, I am told, consists of compilations of talk Ernest Holmes gave and as a result the chapters don’t fully stick to the subjects suggested by the titles.
So I set about writing a beginner’s guide, reducing complex sentences into manageable ideas.  I built a class around the text The Science of Mind and Spirit for Beginners: Four Chapters in Simplified Prose.  Although you can purchase the eBook from the link above, the text is contained in the

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All About Lavender

In aroma: The International Magazine for Essential Oils, an article about the perpetual popularity of Lavender oil reveals that "Domestic consumption and export of Lavender oil far exceed the amount produced by agricultural methods. It has become profitable to mix less expensive essential oils like Lavandin or Bulgarian Lavender (from clones) with synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate and to offer the resulting "bouquet" as True Lavender."

Apparently the president of the confrerie de la lavande said that although Provence produces about 50 tons of true lavender annually, brokers export 250 tons, and he humorously called this a greater miracle than the ones of Lourdes and Fatima.

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To risk, To release, To follow through, To trust

A long while ago someone introduced me to four ideas to consider when starting a new  year.  They are to risk, to release, to follow through and to trust. I like to review these ideas at New Year to refresh my thinking and to check into my thinking.

1. To Risk:  am I risking or settling? 

I read a lot about online social networking and how non profit orgnaizatoins can take advantage of free social networking services to promote awareness of thier mission.  I recently stumbled upon John Haydon a consultant who works with nonprofits and helps them do what for

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The Importance of Dreaming Big

I was clearing out some old journals that I used up for brainstorming and organizing thoughts when I came across a series of notes from 1996 that seem to be signs of me dreaming big about work. The notes tell the story about a ‘vision’ I had at the time for how our Center for Spiritual Living sanctuary could be. The words I wrote down include: peaceful, welcoming, beauty, simplicity, charm, meditative, soothing, pleasing, home, visible stage, acoustically sound, well lighted, dramatic effect, seats 700-800 comfortably.

Reading the notes caused a happy grin to grow on my face because those brainstorming notes could very well be the current description of our sanctuary. Through community collaboration, and selfless service, a team of creative people have produced a sanctuary

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How To Handle Your Email Inbox and Still Be Happy

Handling a busy email inbox doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  But not everyone can hire a personal assistant to take care of the flurry of emails that flood the inbox of any person who is even remotely passionate about what they are doing.  Your passion is going to generate email and developing good, healthy boundaries with your inbox will lead to a strong relationship of mutual respect!

Once A Day, Dr.’s Orders

I recommend assigning a specific amount of time at as scheduled part of your day to attend to your inbox.  Best for me is first thing in the morning, when I’m bright and cheerful, and that usually means after I’ve had a cup of coffee.  This method doesn’t work for me when I’m tired

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Why You Need To Forgive And How To Do It

Understanding forgiveness and using it in your life to move forward with relationships and career is a daunting task when you're feeling betrayed and hurt. It is well known that exercise is a powerful antidote to depression. However, try exercising when you're depressed. It's not that easy. Similarly, it's pretty well known that forgiveness is good for you and releases pent up creative energy. However, doing the work to forgive is not that easy, even when you understand why you need to forgive. Here are some points to keep in mind when thinking about how to forgive:

Be compassionate with yourself.

Sometimes what stops people from forgiving is the pressure to do so in the first place. Have compassion with yourself when you are having difficulty forgiving. In many faith traditions there is a

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A New Attitude to Social Networking Is What It Might Take!

Social networks provide an excellent environment to promote awareness of your group, events or ministry. However, if you use social networking as a way to advertise rather than to connect, you're not going to have the success you could. Advertisement style posts with urgent language such as "Register Now," or "Get Your Ticket Now," or "We Need Your Help," have, in my experience, less and less effectiveness when it comes to drawing people into the great event I am planning. Also, listing the time, date and location is just not enough. In other words, a shift in thinking is necessary away from newsletter style copy, or church bulletin style announcements and towards something more social, more personal, more connecting. In other words, you have to develop a new attitude towards how you use social networking: make it personal.

Read the Article here.

Learn to "Tell the story," the power of "Word-of-Mouth" over advertising, and some ideas about how much is too much and too little.

I would like to hear what your thoughts are and how you use social networking in your nonprofit organization.

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Easter, A Story I Don’t Want To Pay Attention To

For centuries the story of Easter, to some faiths, has been the account of the literal resurrection of Jesus. To other faiths, it is a metaphor about transformation. For metaphysical communities, it remains up to the individual to decide. Nevertheless, it is one of the three times of the year when churches, metaphorically minded or literally inclined, are better attended; Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter.


It makes an interesting challenge for pastors, priests and spiritual leaders. “What else is there to say?” I’ve heard colleagues wonder. The story in each of these major holy days is essentially the same year-after-year. I have noticed that when I hear a story over and over again that I have the inclination to

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March was amazing, so….

“March was amazing,” the young man said while he scratched his head, wondering what he meant by the utterance.  He hadn’t been the least bit surprised by March, neither awestruck nor amazed.  He used the word amazing in the same way people used catastrophe, and disaster, and horrifying, when they don’t mean any of it.  Thankfully no clarification was asked for, instead he received the usual “that’s awesome,” and they both smiled unconvincingly with the slight head bobbing that goes along with it as if a significant agreement had been reached. The nod-bob, a kind of modified agreeing-nod, one that often goes with these lines.  Nobody had said anything, really, in the conversation, so far.  All the words were part of an elaborate greeting, including the exchanging of updates followed by “yeah'!” and meaningless, trailing, “so..” dangling in the air with nothing and nowhere to point to.

The young man was smiling too big, he thought.  He tried at once, when he noticed the possibility, to smile less big, but the quick course-correction translated into a nervous twitch; or he was already

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My Favorite Spiritual Bookstore

Stepping Stones Books and Gifts

Stepping Stones Books & Gifts has a large inventory of Spiritual, Inspirational, Religious Science, and Ernest Holmes Books, Music, Jewelry, Audio and Video programs and assorted gifts intended to enhance one's spiritual practice and daily life.

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