A Course in Miracles calls to me.
Are you familiar with it? It’s a ginormous blue book with the central theme that the world we perceive is an illusion created by our own minds… and the key to true happiness and spiritual growth lies in recognizing this illusion, shifting our perception to a higher, more spiritual perspective. The course emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, unconditional love, and the transformation of the mind.
The Course is presented as a combination of 1- the text (this is the foundation of the course’s teachings. It talks about the nature of reality, the power of the mind, and the importance of forgiveness), 2- the workbook for students (includes 365 lessons, one for each day of the year. Each lesson includes a brief statement, an affirmation, and instructions for meditation or contemplation. The lessons are intended to shift your perception and thought patterns from fear to love, and from ego-driven thinking to more spiritual awareness) and 3- a manual for teachers (I’ve never even looked at this section. I’m a student, not a teacher of ACIM).
The topics are fascinating to me but the whole thing reads like stereo instructions… so dry, so boring! And I resisted it for many years because of language adopted from Christianity (despite it not being affiliated with any particular religion or dogma). Words like “God”, “atonement”, and “forgiveness” were (are!) a real turn-off. But these things have different meanings in the Course than what what I remember from church. Still, the terminology can be difficult sometimes.
Over the last 5 years, I’ve attempted to make my way through the workbook many times .. and lasted about two weeks tops. Because of my neurodivergent brain. Beacuse of the boring-stereo-instruction factor. Because religious sounding terminology. And yet, it still calls to me.
So I’m going to try again, this time with the help of Pam Grouts book The Course In Miracles Experiment AND putting my own spin on the homework by focusing on money. Because that’s what I do, everything I do comes back to growth in the area of money. Because this is an experiment I don’t know exactly how this will work. And I suspect there are those who would say focusing on the Course in this way is choosing to continue to engage with the illusion of reality. It seems that, in addition to being a long time seeker, I am a rebel as well.
Join me on the journey?
Lesson 1: Nothing I see means anything
The course helps us change how we think about life, teaching us to see things in a new way. It helps us update what we know and transform our lives. Its all starts by challenging the things we think we see and know.
The workbook would have you look around for 1 minute around the room or out the window (whatever happens to be in your sight and say: This lamp doesn’t mean anything, this whatever thing you see doesn’t mean anything…)
See Official Lesson 1
(Source: Foundation for Inner Peace)
Lesson 1
Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.
1. Now look slowly around you, and practice applying this idea very specifically to whatever you see:
²This table does not mean anything.
³This chair does not mean anything.
⁴This hand does not mean anything.
⁵This foot does not mean anything.
⁶This pen does not mean anything.
2. Then look farther away from your immediate area, and apply the idea to a wider range:
²That door does not mean anything.
³That body does not mean anything.
⁴That lamp does not mean anything.
⁵That sign does not mean anything.
⁶That shadow does not mean anything.
3. Notice that these statements are not arranged in any order, and make no allowance for differences in the kinds of things to which they are applied. ²That is the purpose of the exercise. ³The statement should merely be applied to anything you see. ⁴As you practice the idea for the day, use it totally indiscriminately. ⁵Do not attempt to apply it to everything you see, for these exercises should not become ritualistic. ⁶Only be sure that nothing you see is specifically excluded. ⁷One thing is like another as far as the application of the idea is concerned.
4. Each of the first three lessons should not be done more than twice a day each, preferably morning and evening. ²Nor should they be attempted for more than a minute or so, unless that entails a sense of hurry. ³A comfortable sense of leisure is essential.
Note: ACIM says you don’t have to believe it, you don’t have to like it but DO IT.
Since we’re doing this from a money perspective let’s go an extra step and find something financial to do this exercise: I’m opening my wallet and pulling out a couple different denominations of cash. Wanna try this to?
This $1 bill doesn’t mean anything.
This $10 bill doesn’t mean anything.
This $20 bill doesn’t mean anything.
This $100 bill doesn’t mean anything…
….
Wow.
I mean, money is just paper. Paper with writing on it. Sometimes a pretty piece of paper with fancy writing and some pictures… but still just a piece of paper. It should mean no more than any other piece of paper, right? It will tear like any other paper. It will burn like any other paper. Yet, I would not want to tear or burn these particular pieces of pretty printed paper.
I’ve done a lot of inner work to come to a place where money is a positive influence in my life. Yet, it still has as much meaning in my life as when I was lacking money and felt badly about that. I do understand that from a soul perspective money is meaningless. I am a soul. I am a soul that has a human body. I am a soul that has a human body and a … personality (some would call this ego, but I have never liked that word. Words. They have to be right!).
My personality likes money.
Gives money meaning.
So the work to live a more spiritual perspective begins….
This money I see does not meaning anything.