Fireside II
It is to the Village Square that the townspeople come to exchange views and thoughts on their beloved spiritual philosophy, learning from each other in kindness and wisdom. Then when their minds have been filled, they retire to the tavern on the western side of the square where they share in social discussion, learning of each other’s events and challenges, happinesses and sometimes sadnesses, too. With a mug or glass in hand, they collect in front of the great Fireplace that dominates the long wall. Benches and chairs are often filled on market day with those who have come from farther away, bringing news of events and views the local people delight in hearing.
If you are feeling disoriented by all the philosophical talk by the fountain in the Village Square, then come sit down on the bench here with us for a while just to soothe your mind and share a mug of tea or coffee. Let’s all make sure the conversation is quiet and simple, caring and thougtful, exactly the kind of talk you might have around a warm hearth, the only light filling the room coming from the fireplace.
Well said, Sir Richard !!
Always I love the imagery Sir Richard! The head lock – the playfulness in which you learn your lessons. I noticed I added some additional details to your story; I envisioned you wrestling on a green shag carpet ~ which could only mean my ego is stuck somewhere in the 70’s !
And to that not nice person- non person – software download a* …you always make me smile (: will check out the free Thursday night sessions by Jennifer Hadley.
Jean-I can only imagine this past year in Temecula has just flown by for you. Preparing to leave must bring up all sorts of feelings. Don’t you worry about the notes. You have fully immersed yourself in the Village now and what perfect timing not just for you but for all of us! What was a personal mission can now be shared with so many. Looking forward to witnessing the Love in your heart blessing all of us.
Bernard and Pat-you’re so close yet so far! I can’t believe this week of Mayoral duties is coming to an end. Talk about software downloads! I hope today – your last full day is all about Pat and being regular tourists. It sure is a perfect California Sunshine Day.
Hugs all around the Village.
Annie
What a colorful description Richard! I was there, apparently with Annie, as I too imagined a shag rug.
a* I registered on the Jennifer Hadley website but have not listened in to a call. I hope to hear it tonight.
Hey, Richard, that was great – “fellow puppeteers”! So cool. That was a nice description of what goes on for us. Now, about that shag carpet…
We’re flying off back home tomorrow and leaving this paradise on earth known as Kentown. We are quite sad but delighted at the new chapter we feel we’ve opened up for ourselves. Just one more little step in the right direction. We’re carrying you all in our bags and hope you don’t mind being a little cramped, but the croissants and French coffee on the other side make the discomfort well worth it!
Bernard – have a wonderful flight to France, my first real French friend (:
Am more than happy to travel in your bags !! (:
Annie dear and Bev – Glad that you feel like you want to check out Jennifer Hadley – have no idea how many people are on the teleconference calls, and it’s always just her and her guest doing the talking,
all of us listen in on mute, but i’ve felt a palpable release of energy and softening of my heart every time i’ve listened so far – there’s really, for me, something about the immediacy of dialing in and knowing that so many people are listening in together for that period of time,
in listening, absorbing and trying to reflect and practice ACIM.. let me know if you ever join in live, and I’ll be happy to know that both of you might be on-line too at that same instant !! (:
love,
a
Michele – I miss you – are you OK?
Winnie – I miss you too – are you OK?
Just an update; Bernard and Pat are leaving US air space. Had one last meal with them both.
I tried to stay in present time and just enjoy each moment. For the most part I did but towards the end I could feel the resistance of not wanting it to end.
Bon Voyage
“Try not to shape this day as you believe would benefit you most.
For you can not conceive of all the happiness that comes to you without your planning.”
This is the thought (from Lesson 135 (review)) I’m mulling over as I sit at the computer right now. Annie has just written in, just 18 minutes ago, to say the Bernard and Pat are on their way to France. I share her feeling, of not wanting it to end, of wanting this friendship festival to carry on forever, not in some “mythical” far-away Real World, but in this World. The one I can see and touch.
(:
#859, a* – “For you can not conceive of all the happiness that comes to you without your planning.”
I am a world renown exxxperrt in planning for the worst- visualizing it in its minute detail and then planning what to do and say “when ” it happens. Lately, two persons I have suspected wanting to sabotage appointments and plans we have for our neighbor-community showed me nothing else than kindness and responsibility – and both times, I defied the fear and actively contacted them in a friendly way.
I am wondering why this inner planner still seems to have so much power over my psyche and nervous system – he has no power over these peoples kindness, though. I SO believe the stories my mind pour out – it makes it so vivid. I cannot fathom why something in me still finds this attractive –
and all the time >I plan for disaster, He plans for joy for me
re 860 (I showed emphasis with triple quote marks) “showed me nothing else than kindness and responsibility – and both times, “””I defied the fear””” and actively contacted them in a friendly way.”
This proves the inner planner “””does not””” have the power mistakenly assigned to it.
Thanks for sharing Nina I needed to see this spelled out like that. Hugs
I need to find my notes on how to bold, underline, ect.
a* I’ve been feeling this way also I want to connect on the level of the physical….I wanna go have coffee face to face with someone that knows ACIM for a change. Typing here is good but a bit “stilted” due to the medium sometimes I want a freeflowing conversation once in a while.
Wow, I didn’t realize how deep this one ran till I started writing about it. go back re-read 859,860,861…..look,look,look
Good flight home Pat and Bernard. Hugs
Yes a* its in those last moments that I was very clear which world I still value.
I am humbled and encouraged by heavens patience.
Truly you can sense a fellow warrior by their gentle manner of allowing.
I thank Bernard and Pat for allowing me to indulge in their presence.
The interesting thing for me is that all our deepest conversations were not had when we were physically together but rather here at the Village. The physical distractions of trying to be a decent hostess and uber tourist guide (who apparently doesn’t know East from West) created many moments of forgiveness opportunities. Don’t get me wrong, I had the bestest of times even when I was lost in my own home town.
What I’m trying to say is that as wonderful as it is to get “real” hugs what I know to be true is that the real warmth and connetion is knowing that we share in the only goal that matters; to go home to Our Creator. Fundamentally, there is such a peace knowing that it is here in our Minds where we are truly connected. I mean I knew that but I was still making my Course relationships just a tad more special than any other. Any doubt that any of us aren’t just exactly where we are supposed to be on this planet has vanished.
H.S. has got this whole thing handled.
So if I may borrow Richards sentiments…Onward Comrades and God Speed!
I can so relate to #858 though #862. Yes, it runs deep for me too. Look, look, look….at how invested I am in being a body. Yet *I have realized this for a very long time. I have and continue to look….maybe…..just maybe…..this continuous non stop looking at how much I still want to be a special – individual – body – will cause me to get so sick of it, I’ll choose again for longer than holy instants at a time. Eventually once and for all. Not yet though. As I told Ken in Temecula, I really am sick of it…….I guess just not sick of it enough…….yet.
My only choice is to trust – that in choosing the Teacher of love in my right mind to look with me – that healing is being done. No matter how much more keeps coming up. To fight against it or resist the resistance only makes it worse….I do know that.
Looking – without judgment – is the practice of forgiveness according to ACIM. “Forgiveness is still and quietly does nothing. It merely looks and waits and judges not.”~workbook~ The Course – and Ken – tell me that’s all *I have to do. That, and ask myself “who is the I that is looking…..”
Annie – didn’t see the above post until after I posted mine.
Wow! Thank you! Very very much!
Love and Gratitude, m
So true, Pam – can’t beat the free-flowing conversations over a cup of coffee -this internet medium definitely stilted !! (:
ps. There may be a chance I may come to Omaha this year – we have a big 70th birthday celebration in our family, and one of our closest friends’ son is an MD in Omaha. How far are you from Omaha ? I’m wondering if I can borrow the car for a few hours, and drive out to see you for coffee, while the rest of the family is in Omaha. (because *if* this Omaha thing happens, we’ll likely be in Omaha for a few days at least, meaning I can easily sneak away for a few hours !! (:
Annie !! – you got in while Melody and I were still typing out our posts ! (:
Jean – Sorry haven’t written back to that open one. Will do so asap. Got distracted by some business calls !! (:
oh that would be fun a* and bring momma and baby * too? 150 miles from Omaha about a 2 hour drive. I could meet halfway…. Oh better yet I could stay with my friend in Lincoln that’s only 50 miles from Omaha…..maybe should turn this over to the higher shopping…. er…travel service (-;
Momma and baby wouldn’t probably make it, Pam – it would be just me.
In fact, the only reason I can even think of this potential is that we’ll be having other family members also in Omaha, if this happens – so Momma and baby can have someone to hang out with while I disappear for a while.
No one in my family is in ACIM – some are actively/passively quite revolted by it !! (: — makes planning to attend/be at ACIm-related things much harder – you’re right, I should turn it over to the Higher Travel Service (;
I understand the family thing. Other than Cory only my mom “knows” and that is indirectly, the books and sticky notes all over the house, I have made a few comments like bodies don’t last forever only spirit lasts forever but she heard that from me prior to ACIM also.
As for Omaha it will happen or not as it is supposed to.
Yes, indeed (:
Night night, Pam. Got to call my Mum and time to sleep after that !! (:
Sweet “real world” dreams a*. I just got back from Ken’s youtube channel and the theme was Loneliness. Ahh the woo of the Course. I suppose that is what is behind this discussion; I’ve been feeling bored and lonely. I talked with Laura on skype yesterday and that helped but I suppose I need to “work” on my connection with J/HS if I want any lasting relief huh.
Hello me darlins ! {wonders how everybody is}
Almost from the moment i finished posting the March notes, i have not been able to get online due to a continual series of technical and assorted hitches, but I did receive some pics Annie sent me of our beloved Mayor in “Kenville”, and i have just read your first lot of notes Bernard which was very much appreciated. I hope you and Pat had a lovely time…
I feel like i have been away for ages and just want to give everybody big fat hugs……i hope to gawd i’ve been missed……xoxoxooxoxoxoxo
We’re back!! We got in this evening and haven’t stopped setting things back up again. Athos (our doggy) had to stay last night all alone, though we had someone tuck him in and wake him up this morning. It seemed he got very stressed during the day waiting for us and had a number of ‘accidents’ around the house which were a delight to return to, as you can imagine. So we spent a couple of hours ‘refreshing’ the house, which I guess was good anyway. It’s now 10 to 11 at night and I’m bushed. It’s now 10 to 2 pm Pacific time and so we haven’t slept yesterday morning (we only got 5 hours sleep that night). It’s all great fun – we haven’t been traveling in ages and this has been so good.
I think this has been one of those transforming events in my life. So much went on at deeper levels that it will take some time to really know all that this trip meant to us. Pat, too, was quite affected by it. But we’ll have to talk about all that at another time – now, I’m headin’ in to the sack!
Many, many thanks to Annie again for her generous and warm hospitality. We miss you, too, and are already trying to plan our next trip over! That was a beautiful note you wrote full of truth, about where the real meeting place is. Yes, it is right here, where we communicate through the ethers. That is where we truly learn we are together, knowing quite clearly that it is not our physical presence that joins us at all.
Winnie, oh, Winnie – how you have been missed! We did, indeed, notice your absence, as we do with all those who are drawn to other things (or prevented from visiting). Nice you can connect again.
Thanks, Pam – I think they were OK dreams ?? not sure (:
(but “rudely” (: awoken by someone who’d invited us to dinner last night, and called early in the AM to cancel !! (:
Winnie – you have been away for ages – yesterday feels like a long time ago for me, and you have been gone for months !! Too long (: It feels like at least a year !!
We asked Nina to post about how she missed you, speaking for all of us (:
Bernard (and Pat) — welcome home. How nice to be home again.
love,
a
Hi all, really nice posts, thanks Annie for your thoughts, “Fundamentally, there is such a peace knowing that it is here in our Minds where we are truly connected.” Loved this, no matter if we still need physical hugs, we know that the real hug is there in our Mind and it is available to all.
Winnie!!!!!Welcome, nice that you have internet again.
Bernard, welcome home. I am sure, as you said, that you are not going to forget this trip and also that you will need some time to digest it all. Waiting for your comments.
Lots of hugs to all,
Lisi
Morning everyone. Interesting with us all posting almost at the same time yesterday. I was responding to a*’s post # 859. Apparently, it took me a while to compose that because Nina and Pam had another conversation going so by the time I submitted it looked like I ignorned their comments all together. I just hate when that happens. Then I had to run and had no time left to comment on not commenting and then the same thing happened to Melody and a* apparently and so finding that all this morning well – yes these physical limitations can be frustating to say the least!!!!
Bernard so good of you to at least drop a quick line between poop patrol and your jet lagged psyche. I’m sure this trip did a major number on your DNA and that can only be exciting to see what will manifest from the reprogramming.
It’s Memorial Day here in the States. No work today for most of the Nation. A Day to contemplate and hang with the decision maker (: I like what Ken said to you Melody that’s all we have to do just hang-watch and judge not.
Win Win hello and you’ve been missed!!
Next outing Omaha Nebraska!!!
{{{Annie}}}
Pam: bold: …
….
hehe only the formatting stayed. now i write it again with some spaces, which you of course need to remove:
bold …
…
sh#t:-)
Annie – All is well, even with the chaos of all our cross-postings ! (:
Jean – Finally getting to write back to those thoughts I had brimming about the fabulous highs immediately being followed by being down-in-the-dumps. Today is probably the ideal day for me to write about it, because it has been one heck of a roller-coaster day ! (:
I had forgotten how bad I could feel, or how impossible some situations can get !! (:
Anyway, before I ramble on any further – what I wanted to say was that I feel our experience of every moment is disconnected from the prior moment or the next moment. I think my ego-mind would like me to believe that if I get too happy, then I may well be heading for the dumpster quite soon after – I think by this it wants to take control of my mind, leave me feeling anxious all the time (at some level, either subconciously or even on the fringes of my awareness), even when things are going well, and I’m happy for no reason at all.
So I think it just appears that I feel good right before a fall, actually the feeling good and the fall have nothing to do with each other, perhaps ??
Not sure if I’m making sense – perhaps,as Pam would say, I’ve made that as clear as mud (;
I’m wiped out, my friends – I will take your leave. It’s been one of those days, but have no worries or fear for me – all is well, and perhaps thats a sign of how far i’ve come. A few years ago, this kind of a day would have had me depressed for hours – now it seems to blow away, and most of the angst has already worked itself out in the last hour. And boy, it was a real downer when it was there !!
Onwards and upwards (:
love,
a
Thanks for the try Nina. I do have note on how to do it I was just being lazy yesterday and not going to the other room to find them.
Hey syncronized posting again. (-:
Is that a “sign that our small self is starting to use our big Self One Mind more often? (-:
Hi Winnie! Speaking of long time no hear from; anyone know how Al is doing? I miss her insightful limericks.
Pam, about Al – this is a little from her last email in February this year:
Everyone is reeling here in the wake of the latest big Christchurch quake
– far more devastating than the first one. I have family fleeing the city
and coming to stay with me and we are all just thankful at the moment that
by “luck” and some twists of randomness they have all survived.
hope all is well with you. love Alexandra
Thanks Nina.
oh blessings to our darling Al and all of her loved ones…..
It was so nice to read your ponder a*…..
Dearest Villagers i just love you guys so much and wish i could just be a big cuddle-bear instead of also wanting to have a yak. I don’t need to talk in any other situation with my other friends or family. It’s just here that does it for me.
But how I loong for the day when I don’t want to express myself any more, in typical winnie all-or-nothing style. A part of me is longing to simply not be expressive at all, in any way. I sometimes think of Eliza Doolittle singing “words, words, words, I’m so sick of words”.
I feel bombarded by the myriad of ways and words with which I might choose to express myself – all saying exactly the same crap.
The only one I need to talk to is Jesus and he doesn’t mind how much I rabbit on.
But for some reason I am drawn to the Village and the desire to express myself here. I think it’s because there’s something in me that wants to come out, but I am holding it back because I am afraid…. not consciously.
This morning I asked Jesus yet again why do I, on the one hand, long to express myself at the Village and on the other, long to not express myself at all. This conflict is uncomfortable.
As I lay there watching the last stars fade into first light, it dawned on me that i am trying to manage my expression. I’m getting in the way, instead of letting it just flow. And then I became dimly aware of a smidgeon of bounding joyfullness that wanted to wash through me, and aware too of the fear of that happening, the fear of not being in control.
This may sound like some cocky notion that I may be going to channel or something. It’s not. It is simply my way of expressing how we must all feel. We’re all trying to stage-manage ourselves in a pathetic attempt to censor joy.
Well now that I have had a little ponder and a large pot of lemon and ginger tea, I think i’ll have a grapefruit and then head off for a walk among the trees on the hill. I wish you could all see how lovely the view is from up there. It is such a glorious day.
Big fats hugs to all xoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoox
p.s…… I forgot to say how comforting it was to have that little relevation . I could hear Ken’s words quoting Jesus when He told Helen “you’re trying to manage me”. The first time I heard him say that, I thought it was a very interesting psychological term, and now that I think back to that time, I remember that I had a tiny thought that I don’t do that. I don’t try to manage Jesus’ love.It seemed to be an entirely innocent reflection. It is only now that I realize how caked and cloaked with arrogance that thought was.
Wow Winnie, amazing experience! So close to the Joy.
I’m still reading through the text and these are some of the most meaningful words in the text for me. I feel as if I need to have them tatooed on my forearm to help me remember.
T-14.XI.7 I do not know what anything, including this, means.
8 And so I do not know how to respond to it.
9 And I will not use my own past learning as the light to guide me now.
10 By this refusal to attempt to teach yourself what you do not know, the Guide Whom God has given you will speak to you. 11 He will take His rightful place in your awareness the instant you abandon it, and offer it to Him.
I spent yesterday and today telling myself over and over ” I do not know what ANTTHING means” whenever I “found” my self making a judgement. For some reason I immediately feel lighter.
Peaceful at the moment Bev (:
Bev and Winnie – fabulous!
Stop! 🙂
Love and Gratitude to you all,
melody
So true, Winnie – speaking for myself, I’m definitely trying to “stage”-“manage” myself, and how I appear here (and everywhere). It’s tiring ! (:
Yes what is this drawing force that brings me here to connect and then look angrily at this blank space forcing me to expose my psyche. Like a moth to a flame.
It’s just a reminder that we are not home and yet we intuitively know that we go home together or not at all. So we come. And we make up something to say. One minute its about big physical hugs that validate we are the creators of our reality and the next second we know without a doubt its all an illusion. We love the chase-the tease, well at least until someone gets hurt …then we want nothing to do with it.
You see how I went from me to we. I still battle with the thought that I am insane. I try to slow down my world so I can see where I put my life force. What do I truly value? Some days I feel so confused which can only mean that I’m wanting to control things-“caked and cloaked” now that’s a good visual and yes how could I not be tired.
There is a comfort in knowing that you know I’m insane. And then there is a greater comfort in knowing that you know within me is a completely wholey and perfect fragment of the Kingdom. I need you to see it in me so I can see it for myself. And having said that I know my work here will not be done till I see only your holiness.
This being kind seems so inefficient at times…but the blue book insists it’s the fastest way. And yes Bev, tatooing may be the way to go. (:
Annie, I have been meaning to write this for a long time. In your postings the last 1/2 year or so, I have noticed a new dimension to your communications. I sense a stronger authority, a new depth, new levels of beauty – like finding the inner essence of the beautiful Annie-flower that you are. I feel like bowing a lot when i read you, bowing to that beautiful Place you are writing from. It is not difficult to see your holiness at all.
Love
nina
“I’m ready for my closeup Mr Demille” If I’m going to stage manage, naturally ,I’m going to have a great director. I did miss you Win Win and thanks for asking about me Nina, I’m doing well, really enjoying my time with my ward Don. He’s doing a crossword puzzle while I’ve been catching up at the village. Hmmm, all that everyone shared made sense to me.
We are all so very accepting of each other. I know it’s OK when I haven’t checked in as often as I would like.
Will be so cool a* if you get to visit with Pam in Omaha. Enjoyed your posts and realized that the person you’ve been talking about is someone my monday night study group facillitater emailed us the info to check her out. Now that you’ve recoded her I’m going to check her out this Thurs nite.
Pam I keep sharing your Nouk share with folks who are loving it. I’m lucky to have my course study group and my one friend from high school that shares alot in common with me in all the different era’s we been though, though not together as she lived in various other places. She came to the course the same time
Winnie about your rabbiting enjoyment at the village expressing and then not wanting to and being inner, makes sense to me. Annie the way you watch and look at your ego machinations and the comfort you express in knowing we’re all insane here and share the same thought about our real home.
For me course wise, I’ve been spending many many days with Ken’s Journey Through commentary (12pages)on lessons 134 and 135. I’m not in the review yet and I don’t mind being so far behind in the workbook lessons.
My daughter is super super happy and in love. Great little story I’ll share later. I’ll be meeting up with her and my granddaugher in Lake Tahoe June 19,20,21st. Lasya booked three nights at a campground we’ve never visited together before, but she has. I haven’t had a fun get away trip for quite some time and just hoping we get sunny weather for it.
Quite Exciting Bernard and Pat that you’ve both been in Kenville and Annieville with a dash of Zafu time!
Much Love to all xoxoxox Michele
Michele, what is a ward? are you in jail 🙂
To pickup on Nina’s #896 and the “stage managing” theme; I’ve noticed this in all of us, that’s why I keep coming back, the great support,more sharing of the ups as well as the downs,the recognition of the insights in the downs as well as the ups. Yes, we are all in this together,we all go home together or not. It’s like I can practice here with all of you( the stage rehearsals)and then I can go out and do a “live” performance with the “rest” of the world and then come back here and review how well I listened to the right minded Director or not.
Michele, Glad to know it is helping others. I know for me it gets me to the nitty gritty of stuff real quick.
a*, What would the possible ETA of Omaha be so I can be “normal” and make plans?
I’ve really enjoyed going back and reading all your great posts. And I also want to thank you all for continuing to make this a lovely warm home even when the host is not around much. I said to Pat that it’s like going away from home, entrusting that sacred space to good friends, then peeking in at the window just to see that they’re really having a loving, good chat over a cup of tea in the lounge, filling it with kindness and caring. So nice to see that you’re using this place for the intention I’ve tried to give it.
From Nina: “I SO believe the stories my mind pours out.” I guess we can’t make any truer statement. That is the whole Course, and the whole separation in a nutshell – we just make a silly choice to believe the stories our minds tell us, how simple, how clear.
Pam, about having live conversations with other students, do you think we should maybe try to work on a list of people who want to exchange Skype addresses, and maybe even a schedule for people who want to hook up? I mean, I’ve just not had time to organize our Skype sessions, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done more informally on, for example, a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Set up a time, one person who initiates the call, and then anyone who wants to call in can. Hmm. Sometimes the feeling of loneliness, as you suggest in a later comment, is related to a feeling of distance from the warmth and intimacy of Love. Sometimes it’s good just to draw ourselves back inside, sitting on the couch, and ask to feel Jesus’ presence not through his words of wisdom, but just as a loving feeling of companionship and caring. Then again, perhaps it’s an inner request for you to reach out and start to make contact with others in your local area (as crazy as this sounds, I know). You never know… Maybe you’re at that level of kindness and understanding now where people will just sense something they want to learn about, be closer to, despite their fear and skepticism. Just a thought.
A*, sorry to hear you had a difficult day the other day. Your words caught my eye and I just wanted to share something I’ve been taught that seems to be working for me lately: “I don’t like this experience, but it will help if I realize that something inside me is actively choosing to feel this way and have these perceptions. That ‘something’ is my decision-maker, and it chooses these feelings simply in order to keep the memory of Love away.” And that’s it. We just contemplate this and that already starts to help dissolve the resistance that is the problem. At some point when we’re ready, we feel an inner shift that allows us to feel differently about the same things that are going on, that allows us to perceive them differently, not as a problem but just as a series of circumstances to deal with. It was lovely to hear you say that you feel you’ve made some changes over time and now this kind of thing doesn’t stick for as long.
Winnie, wow, your 891 was fabulous. Thanks for the joy and beauty of that sharing.
These were truly beautiful lines from Annie, many thanks:
“There is a comfort in knowing that you know I’m insane. And then there is a greater comfort in knowing that you know within me is a completely wholey and perfect fragment of the Kingdom. I need you to see it in me so I can see it for myself. And having said that I know my work here will not be done till I see only your holiness.”
General blessings to One and All, have a great day…
Melody, I just loved this line of yours: “I really am sick of it. I guess just not sick of it enough.” Wow, so true. What will it take for us to be sick enough of it??