Roman Clarkson

Some of you may know, I am on the CORE Council for the Center for Spiritual Living here in Saint Louis.  Just so I can put this post in context, I just happen to be the current president of the Council.  Let me say this, it is an exciting and busy time of year.  Why?  Well, every January the CORE has a retreat.  It picks a location and spends a Friday evening and entire Saturday day reviewing, planning and getting motivated for the current year. 

What I have noticed over the past few years is that I am usually wondering, “what is it that we are going to experience this next year?”  Right up to the night the retreat begins, we as a council really get ramped up for a lot of leadership training and exercises mixed with spiritual meditations.  At the end of the 24 hours, you are in a state of reflection.  You know that place where you just have to sit and say, “Did that really happen?”

This is my second year as president and I have to say I find planning and executing the retreat is the most challenging task that I am given.  I can deal with people/congregants who are happy and giving compliments to the exact opposite, where people are giving me a tongue lashing for something that was decided and acted upon without knowledge of it.  The lesson learned: When you are involved with peoples spiritual home they get very passionate and animated about it. 

So, the question is “What are we going to do?”  The answer is “great things”.  We are going to hone our goals for the Center’s internal operations and expand our community involvement.  I have termed this year’s theme as a bridge year.  Lot’s of God stuff going.

So, when I recover from the retreat I will let you know how I fared.  I am know I will be the better for it.

Namaste

Check out the Center for Spiritual Living for more information about the organization.

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The first thing that comes to mind is Creation. All three words are embodied in it. Without them there would be no Creation. Now that I am asked to write about these words I wonder what I thought about them in the past. With many of the thought papers I have found that what was has been wholly transformed, through the creation process, into something new. Many times I didn’t even consciously think about the subject before I read the assignment.

First, the word “create” means to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. But in reality it is only being transformed from one or more things into something uniquely new and individualistic.

Second, “creative” is an adjective that describes the power to create. But it really is the innate ability of the cosmos to express itself through some object whether it is reproduction, galaxies forming or just me writing a paper. In Science of Mind terminology that would me that a person has the realization that they can use the power of Creation at anytime in any manner.

Third, “creativity” is the state or quality of being creative. This is where someone is actively transforming something in their life. It could be a job, an idea, a relationship, anything. I think of this as the real destination/realization that many of us want to maintain. That special place where things are and become what you think at every turn.

Now that I looked into the words’ definitions and impact on my thinking I have come to the conclusion that my idea of Creation is far beyond the simple definitions given to us. I think the main difference is that I know that there is a Creation Process that exists and that we are participant in it, either actively or passively. I know my path is to be an active co-creator.

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Things I thought before

When I started Year II I never really thought about my role as a Professional Practitioner. I really was focused more on myself as practitioner learning his spiritual practice. I never really gave much thought about how I was going to impact other people’s lives and the responsibilities required of a Practitioner after licensed. As the Term progressed I began to understand the role of a Practitioner in two lights. The first is the responsibility to oneself and the second is to others. In Term I, I was happy that more class time was focused on the Practitioner/Client role and that the personal development was more in my own personal time. That classroom focus really helped me focus on listening and conversing with people. In my daily life listening and conversing with people is not a main focus. Fortunately, I have the resources available to me to continue to hone those skills.

 

Things I think about now.

During the term my view of Professional Practitioners did begin to change. The change was less about how I view myself as a Professional Practitioner but more about my role as a private practitioner. Really, while I was learning more and more about how to treat for others and the roles of practitioner and client, I was really learning about how to keep my consciousness clear and focused for people and myself. I began to see people saying things that I just simply refuse to believe. Not only that, I intentionally tell myself that that it is not true for me and it is not true for them. It keeps me focused on the cause and not the effect. I spent a lot of time looking at healing as a process in Spirit. I have spent more time treating for Nancy than any other person, perhaps even myself. I think that kind of focus on other people has been the biggest change.

Thinks I need to think about.

There are two particular things I need to focus on in Term II; 1) my word and 2) my works. I think that I need to start focusing more on how I speak around other people. Now that I have begun to realize the impact of people’s words on me, I know how much of an impact my words have on other people, especially, when those words are coming from a soon to be Professional Practitioner. Another thing I need to start focusing on is my works around other people. My main call to practice is to do. Demonstrate all I can and not waiver in my knowing. I think that if I stay focused on my sacred service to others and me it will be my biggest demonstration of all.

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In the pursuit of understanding Intuition in the life of a Practitioner I went straight to Ernest Holmes. “Intuition is God in man, revealing to him the Realities of Being. Just as instinct guides the animal, so would intuition guide man, if he would allow it to operate through him. The ability to know without any process of reasoning. God knows only intuitively”. (603, SOM) Then I tried to figure out a definition for myself and what I came up with was “Intuition is the silent conscious observance between Spirit and Mind. It is like two things staring at each other in the eyes making no sound or physical communication. Just a simple recognition that the other exists.”

Intuition, for me, is a matter of my personal connection with Spirit in the present moment. The more I am focused on the present the more I know and feel my connection with Spirit. It is in each moment that I am able to feel the draw of Intuition. What I find really interesting about Intuition is that it provides me with a source of constant curiosity. When I am in the flow of Spirit and I listen to Intuition, I find that Intuition has a since of curiosity through me as well. When I am really listening to intuition I find it is really a source of untapped “energy” or “power”. It gives me a lot of control of the moment and allows me to manifest what I consciously want. I find that to be a great feeling of personal power. With that power I really feel the control I have over my life. It is as if intuition is living my life for me from Mind. It really is like letting go and letting God. I think Ernest most elegantly describes this feeling when he says “The highest faculty in man is intuition and it comes to a point sometimes where, with no process of reasoning at all, he instantly knows.” (359-1, SOM) Another observation that I have made is that it is completely impersonal but is always working for me. Sometimes, I feel that events are beyond my control when I feel connection with Spirit but I remain focused on the moment. When I allow intuition to guide me most of the things I treated for and want to manifest come to fruition. Even thought it was not in the order or effect I fully expected.

The real lesson that I continue to learn is when do I notice Intuition? There are times when I can just tell that intuition is guiding me. It is a feeling that can come as urgency or patience, subtle whispers or screaming shouts. Other times I think intuition is guiding me and it is just my reasoning mind getting in the way. Disguising the two is the study guide to the lesson. There are times when I know I am really guided by intuition. When I am not absorbed or effected into my surroundings I feel the “push” of intuition guiding me. It is most definitely when I am not buying into stories, mine or others, that are not the Truth. It also occurs I am centered a focused on the moment. I think these guide posts are pointing out the difference between the internal and external, rather form and unformed, experiences. “The spirit of man seems to have an external and an internal perception. Its external perception is by appearance; its internal, through intuition”. (113-2, SOM) This statement summarizes what I am trying to express here.

I am learning to use my intuition by allowing it to guide me without effort and in perfect harmony with my perfection. Brown states that “This is the final step we must take to free ourselves from thinking, from planning, and from our attempts to control this world”. (Brown, p. 296) There are many ways I allow this natural flow to occur. First and foremost is while playing music. There is no time that I feel less control in my life. I allow my talent and training to be guided by intuition. Intuition always seems to know the right note at the right time. I think my next favorite example is when I am writing software. For some unknown reason I am guided by intuition or Spirit. I completely get into a “zone” and let my fingers type by the guidance of Mind. It is so wonderful. I think the most difficult time I have had with intuition is dealing with people. I have studied this one but can only come to a couple of conclusions. One, I perceive myself as separate and second I can enter into judgment. If I avoid either of these perceptions I have no issues communicating with people in almost any circumstance. Generally, I let solutions unfold before me. An example would be building bookshelves in my front room that everyone will see. The unfolding process, when judged, was a little ugly. However, in the end the book shelf turned out great and served every purpose intended.

In my meditation and reflections I have asked myself why I use intuition and how it impacts my life. The answer came pretty readily. It makes the present moment unfold effortlessly and outcomes appear to be better. The reason I get is that Spirit’s suggests an action and that action tends to have better outcomes than my reasoning mind. The impact it has on my life is like searching for answers you will never find. The more I search for it the further away it is. Secondly, it’s rather annoying when it is whispering in my year and not yelling at me. I get reminded in times of annoyances that I need to practice patience and listen. The annoyance, or any other auto-emotion, is becoming a trigger that I am not fully focused on the present.

I had to determine when, as a Practitioner, do I use intuition? I learned that when I cannot make a rational decision or the decision is irrational I turn to intuition. It is in those times that I get refocused and listen. Similar to the rational/irrational decisions, when I cannot determine the answer to a question I turn inward for an answer. Answer does not necessarily manifest itself instantly in my mind. It may send me to an expert in a field, a publication or trial and error. In the end, I tend to get the right answer. I think the most significant moments of using intuition is when I have to size up a situation in times of emergency or expediency. It’s like my mind goes into autopilot and Spirit takes over. All my actions appear before me without my control. It is in my reflection of those times where I am most certain intuition and Spirit are acting through my physical body.

The effect of Intuition on my life has been uncalculatable. It really keeps me on my toes. It operates like a sign post, much like a yield sign on a road. I approach with caution but I can always drive through and expect to make it across the intersection with ease. I just have to pay attention. It’s when I stop paying attention to my Intuition that I am forced to stop at every stop light, I cannot turn right on red, and I inevitable have to deal with traffic cops.

What have I learned from my study and experience with Intuition is echoed in Ernest Holmes words “We give Intelligence outlet in two ways: by pure inspiration or intuition, or the more common way of bitter experience, and with most of us it is through the latter” (273-5, SOM). This was at one time my experience as well. However, I have chosen to experience the Intelligence of Mind as pure inspiration AND intuition. I have chosen to maintain that experience by maintaining constant Spiritual vigilance in a number of ways. Some of my ways have been through meditation, SEVA, and through SOM Practitioner Training. The biggest challenge that I face is that the experience requires constant present moment awareness. I have been treating to change that view know that is my true state and is effortless. In the end I have a lot to learn and teach.

Bibliography

Brown, M. (2005). The Presence Process. New York: Beaufort Books.

Holmes, E. (1996). Science of Mind. Los Angeles, CA, USA: Science of Mind Publishing.

intuition, Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). (n.d.). (Random House, Inc.) Retrieved 12 1, 2008, from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intuition

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I have not mentioned the Center for Spiritual Living but one time on the blog.  I thought I should say something about it here.  It is a great place for those who are looking for alternative options to worship.  I am on the board and participate in many activities and events.  You may even be able to find one near you!  Our associate minister, Larry DeRusha, just published a new book called the Roar Within.

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