Since September 10, 2012, I have been studying A COURSE IN MIRACLES published by the Foundation For Inner Peace.  I have experienced so many miracles in my life that I was drawn by the title as well as the fact that two of my teachers that I respect most, Doreen Virtue and Marianne Williamson, speak of it so highly.  You may be aware of the fact that the COURSE is the result of a seven year collaborative journey between Helen Schucman and William Thetford who as Professors of Medical Psychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City were used as ‘instruments’ of the Divine to “record” the COURSE which consists of three books: a 622 page Text, a 478 page Workbook for Students, and a 88 page Manual for Teachers.  As the preface to the COURSE states: ” although Christian in statement, the COURSE deals with universal spiritual themes.  It emphasizes that it is but one version of the universal curriculum.  There are many others, this one differing from them only in form.  They all lead to God in the end.”

In a nutshell, the COURSE’s teachings are explained under the heading called “What It Says” as: ” nothing real can be threatened.  Nothing unreal exists.  Herein lies the peace of God.” (preface)

There are a myriad ways to peace.  I believe that the COURSE is one of them.  Hence, it is the book that I would (currently)  take to that hypothetical desert island if I could only take one book!  I am studying the COURSE on my own (under the guidance of the angels & ascended masters).  It is a personal choice.  There are many study groups and many teachers.  The peace that I experience while studying the COURSE is also attained by contemplative, quiet time in Nature.  You know what I mean.  Whether it is lying in a hammock at the cottage listening to the water lap onto the shore while the sun gently warms your face or whether you are cross-country skiing amidst conifers on a cold, crisp wintery day with the sun reflecting off the snow, there is a sense of quiet and stillness that fills the body, mind and soul with peace.

Howard Falco, in his book I AM says: “A key to a life filled with peace and happiness is to avoid becoming attached to your current identity, while simultaneously enjoying the experience of it.”  This rings true to me.  Does it to you?  When we are attached to who we currently are, it is difficult to feel peaceful because our inner peace is based on an identity that is temporary – subject to change that is, ultimately, inevitable.

Self-love and self-acceptance (some people call self-acceptance an extension of self-love) leads the way to peace on both a personal and global level.  If we are not loving and accepting of ourselves, in every moment, we project our discontent onto others.  The reduction in fear, which comes about through self-love and self-acceptance is what allows us to come into a state of peace.  Through self-love and self-acceptance we identify with our Higher Self rather than our ego (needy) self.  We look inside ourselves for the answers rather than to the world of form and possessions.

A balanced state of mind leads to peace.  The yogis know this in every sinew of their bodies.  Having taught classical hatha yoga for over the past twenty-eight  years I have helped myself and my students to attain the peace that a consistent yoga practice can provide.  These ancient poses, which were created thousands of years ago by watching how animals use their energy, have helped so many of us reduce and/or manage our stress.  Every day we bring ourselves to the mat and dedicate our practice to our Higher Self and Source and in some special moments experience what the bible calls ” peace that passeth understanding.”

Releasing ourselves from the time-warp of our pasts, and handing our worries about the future over to our angels, situates us in the present moment where our point of personal power exists ( remembering personal power means power to, not power over) and results in yoga on and off the mat.  Since our ‘now’ is our point of power to attract our future experience/s – as we experience peace – so too do we attract more of it through our own magnetic resonance.

With compassion and forgiveness, for ourselves as well as others, peace becomes easier to sustain.  As the COURSE so beautifully and succinctly says: “Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.  What need has such a mind for thoughts of  death, attack and murder?  What can it perceive surrounding it but safety, love and joy?  What is there it would choose to be condemned, and what is there it would judge against?  The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself.  No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind, and only kindness does it look upon.”

Wishing you peace,   Monica