Unity Center of Light

Spring 2011

This article is an excerpt from the second lesson of a six-week series called “The Promise of Unlimited Potential.” We spent six weeks exploring the deeper truths of scripture and how these truths impact the abundance we do or do not experience in our lives. However, in the second lesson I explained that when studying esoteric or mystical information we need to realize that until we receive some validation from within our own soul all we study is really just theory.

Synonyms for the word esoteric are: deep . . . profound . . . or, abstruse, meaning difficult to understand. Then there is the synonym arcane, which means known or knowable only to the initiate. Which begs an answer to the question, what does it mean to be an initiate?

The simplest definition is: an initiate is one who has been introduced to esoteric knowledge. So, according to this definition, everyone who attends Unity Center of Light on a regular basis is aninitiate, because you have been introduced to esoteric knowledge. Whether or not you are choosing to live from this knowledge, doesn’t negate the fact that you have been initiated. It is sort-of-like playing a universal game of, tag, you’re it . . . meaning, now that you have been initiated (tagged) you are responsible for doing something meaningful with the knowledge you’ve acquired.

Now . . . additionally . . . it is important that we understand  this esoteric study we have embarked upon is basically, at this point, just theory. And there are two ways I am defining the word theory. One is, a theory is a body of information we use to guide our actions, or that we use to help us comprehend the purpose of our experiences as they relate to the purpose of our life. It is like the idea ofsynchrodestiny . . . which is a state of consciousness in which it becomes possible to achieve the spontaneous fulfillment of your every desire as you begin to understand the purpose or guidance embedded in the coincidences in your life.

Jesus spoke to this in John 8:32, when he said, If you continue in my word . . . you will know the Truth and the Truth will make you free. The Word being referred to here is the channel through which God reveals God-Self to each one of us as an intuitive idea. Quite often the intuitive idea is partnered with a coincidence . . . a chance occurrence that makes you aware of an intuitive idea.

And what is being expressed in Jesus’ statement is the Word . . . that which will show you how to fulfill your desires, often shows up in coincidences. Jesus’ statement alludes to the fact that when a sequence of events is occurring in your life they are cues or lessons that are teaching you the truth that will set you free. So, if you are consciously observing what is occurring (as Deepak Chopra says, developing an awareness of coincidences as they are happening), it will become obvious to you where you are being led. So, this first definition of theory requires honing your observation skills and Power of Understanding, so  you can discover the truth in the theory by way of living it.

The second definition of theory comes out of the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Digital PhotoPro Magazine from an article on Color Theory written by world famous fine art photographer John Paul. He says,Theory is the sum of what we know, but it doesn’t contain what we do not yet know. It can prime the conditions for a break through, but it cannot, in itself, make the break through. It can be used to empower a unique or an authentic keen intellectual perception, but it is not a substitute for one.

Basically this is saying that all these ideas we discuss every Sunday, and in classes, are merely theories that are priming our consciousness for our own individual break through to discovering Truth for ourselves. Again as Jesus said, If you continue in my word . . . you will know the Truth and the Truth will make you free.

So, I said all this to say that we are all initiates on an esoteric journey to discover the Truth for ourselves . . . and more important, everything we are learning is not being presented as fact or absolute Truth. Rather it is merely a primer for stimulating your mind . . . and freeing your mind to discover the Truth for yourself.

The purpose of the esoteric journey, that an initiate finds him/herself on, is to attempt to take a peep behind the veil. The veil of the temple or curtain, as it is referred to in scripture, is the barrier in our consciousness which has us believing that our mind is separate from God-Mind. It is what hinders us from standing in the unlimited potential that God is . . . as opposed to the limited reality of the physical realm.

We explored several “why” theories trying to discover what keeps us seemingly locked in a consciousness that is not able to discover the Truth about ourselves. It seems that the consensus in the mystical writings is that the difficulty lies in our inability or unwillingness to shift from old energy to the new energy. Old energy being the fear-based or pride-based thinking of the ego, versus the new energy that rises up into our consciousness when we learn how to live from our soul. However, in my studies it is expressed that a person operating under old energy, consciously or unconsciously believes change is the worst thing that can happen to him/her. In other words, there is obviously some emotional or psychological mileage we get out plodding along in our old energy thinking.

So . . .  as you can see, this search to discover our true-self is an ever-evolving, lifelong  exploration. If you would like to get a more in-depth look into this process consider coming to the Spring Retreat held in Capon Springs, VA., from April 29 through May 1. The theme of the Retreat is: The Source of Unlimited Potential. Call the Church for more information, or better yet, come to church and sign up in person. Look forward to seeing you there.

• < Prev
• Next >