Archives for category: Positive Evolution
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Death and Rebirth

April 7, 2012 //
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I have not written an article here on Conscious Bridge in a while.  There’s a reason for that.  All of my creative writing ability has been directed towards finishing the book I’ve been writing.  I finished the first version last December.  I shared it with a few people, received some minor suggestions and then received an intuitive message that I needed to do a major rewrite.  I listened to that internal guidance.

I changed the focus of the book.  I changed the title.  I dropped whole chapters.  I reordered and edited others.  New material was created.  I reedited and reedited.  Every time I reread the book, I felt the need to tweak it a bit more.  This process kept me from writing and posting blogs here. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Featured Article, Positive Evolution

Art Imitating Life Imitating Art

January 7, 2012 //
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Everything is connected – everything – and art and life bob and weave in a wild dance together in that great amalgamation of all that is.  So who influences whom in this interplay?  Over 100 years ago, Oscar Wilde wrote “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life”.  Yet, if you stop to think about it, it’s easy to see how art influences life and then our lives influence our arts – on and on in a continuous circle such that if we try to say “life imitates art” we stop briefly and ask ourselves “is that how that quote goes?”.  Go Google the phrase and some of the top search returns are asking that same very question. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Culture, Entertainment, Positive Evolution

Making Good News in 2012

January 2, 2012 //
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What good news are you bringing to your life and to the world in 2012?  Have you set your vision for the upcoming year?  Are you going to live your life purpose more fully and with passion as we move into this final year of the Mayan calendar?

The world really is full of good news if you set your intentions on seeing it—-here are some life affirming stories that came into my awareness recently: Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Change Agent, Positive Evolution

Metaphysical Maps

August 17, 2011 //
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Today—the metaphor of the map, how we seek their guidance and a very basic metaphysical map of the Science of Mind and Spirit.

I love maps.  When I’m in a new city, one of the first things I do is pull out a map and orient myself to the layout of my new locale.  Online mapping websites and the map app on my iPhone are my frequent friends.  I know I’m not alone in my desire to understand where I am, where I want to go and the best route to get there.

Seems like we humans have always had an innate desire to map our surroundings.  Where we now employ talking GPS’s in our cars, I can still remember back in the day pulling into the gas station to look at the big map they had on the wall or buying the local foldout map that never quite seemed to have the ability to fold back up in its original condition.  I still find it amazing that early settlers of the American west set out in covered wagons with only minimal maps to guide them.  Yet they did have some maps – the rough approximations sketched out by those who first traversed the wilderness.  And what about those early ocean explorers from the middle of the last millennium?  Is it any wonder that one of their main tasks was mapping what they saw Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Conscious Bridge Website, Featured Article, Positive Evolution, Spirituality

Who is in Your Thoughts and Prayers?

May 14, 2011 //
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A few days ago a friend of mine forwarded me a link for a blog he thought I might like.  In it, the author was posing a question regarding the rising trend for people to make statements such as they will “pray for you” or “you are in their thoughts and prayers”.  Her question was – has this language of prayer simply become the generic way in which we show compassion?  Here’s the link to her full article.

I’ve certainly noticed this rising trend of people using references to “prayer” and “holding thoughts” as a means of showing care and concern.  However, I thought it was just my circle of friends.  After all, as a New Thought minister, the philosophy I teach (as well as everyone in my organization) is that thoughts are things which have power.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Consciousness, Featured Article, Positive Evolution, Science and Spirit

Chunk Change

April 10, 2011 //
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We all know change is hard sometimes.  Change is especially hard when were going against a long-held ingrained habit.  We try to make a change and in a few days, we’re right back where we were.  Such is the destiny of many a New Year’s resolutions!

Of course, there is a technique which we all know about which can assist us if we are truly serious about making modifications in our life.  The aid is simply to look at the end result of where we want to go, to break it down into small manageable goals, then to work on the first goal over and over until we master it.  In other words, we create a small “chunk” that moves us in the direction of our ultimate intention and we make a habit out of that chunk.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know!  Yet there are two major obstacles for putting this plan in place.  The first – our goal seems so big and intimidating that we don’t have a clue about how to “chunk it up” into smaller pieces.  Related to this is the fact that even if we can create intermediate milestones, they don’t seem to give us the emotional satisfaction we seek from the end game and therefore don’t really motivate us.  The second obstacle – acting on that first task repeatedly until it becomes a part of what we do.  The best intentions frequently fade away after a few days.

I remember years ago one of my spiritual teachers advising my class that we need to spend some time each day in inner reflection or meditation.  If we truly want to turn our attention away from the outer world and move into an awareness of an inner world, then we have to spend some time each day actually in that inner world!  Of course the Catch-22 was that we are so busy in the outer world, we all wondered where we were going to find time to meditate.  The advice of our teacher – take 5 minutes each day to meditate.  Surely we could carve that much time out of each day.  His suggestion – find a consistent time, then do it until it becomes a habit.  Then expand from that beginning to more and more time each day.  I can assure you this works as it helps me become a habitual meditator.

I read recently where an individual who helps people reduce their clutter and clean their houses teaches people a technique to overcome their paralysis when they are faced with overwhelming messes.  The trick – identify some area of your house that needs cleaning, commit to doing it for 5 minutes, and after that amount of time you can decide whether to quit or continue.  After all, it’s just 5 minutes!  It tricks you into starting and typically you continue on beyond that time.  And – even if you don’t – you have five minutes worth of progress to feel good about.

The point is to find some early success to build upon.  This is the law of attraction in action.  If in our minds we are overwhelmed by a goal in front of us, then all we can attract is more of an unmet goal.  If we see a small success, then our attention is focused upon our progress and we get more of the same.

So here’s your task – where’s the change in your life that you just can’t seem to get started on?  Where are you called to do or be something different and all you seem to notice is that you are not making any progress in that direction?  Once you identify it – break it into chunks and get started working on that first chunk.  Make a commitment to act on that chunk each day until you master it.  Here’s some examples to get you thinking:

You want to eat better?  Set a goal to eat one additional servings of vegetables per day.  Take one unhealthy food you’re eating currently and either eliminate it from your diet or reduce how much you eat.

You want to exercise?  Create a routine you can do in 5 minutes and do it each day as part of getting ready.  Get a pedometer and wear it – try to increase your steps each day.

You want to write a book?  Set a goal to write at least something for certain amount time each day, even if it’s just a paragraph or two.  Create a blog site and write a short blog each day.  If that’s too much, write something once a week.

You want to learn a foreign language?  Find five minutes and practice each day with a foreign language computer program.  Put foreign language CDs in your car and listen to them.

You want more friends in your life?  Set a goal to take a few moments each day to appreciate your own company.  Reach out and connect with someone everyday.

You get the idea.  Chunk it up and make the change!

Peace and blessings!

Mark Gilbert

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Categories Change Agent, Featured Article, Positive Evolution

Moving from Knowledge to Wisdom at Christmas

December 23, 2010 //
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Today we look at how moving from knowledge to wisdom serves our positive evolution.  We also explore the Christmas story and how it points us in this direction.

What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?  For me, knowledge is awareness.  It’s learning the facts.  I wasn’t born with a conscious awareness of mathematics or quantum physics but through the experiences of living life, I have come to have knowledge of them.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is something we gain over time as we apply knowledge.  If I sit on my knowledge of mathematics or quantum physics or whatever and never use it, then it just sits in my head and I never embody it.  As I begin to apply knowledge in my life, I get feedback on both its truth and that intangible something about how the knowledge is best applied.  Over time, the more I apply knowledge and invoke this feedback loop, the more I grow in wisdom.

Here’s a quick example – I often write here about how everything is one, all is interconnected.  I also write about our consciousness and how it is evolving, that evolution taking us to a place of realizing our oneness.  We can read about this evolutionary path from many spiritual teachers, but reading it only gives us knowledge.  It’s only when we apply this knowledge that we move to wisdom.

As I write these words, we are on the cusp of Christmas.  People are scurrying around making their last-minute preparations to celebrate the holiday.  For many there will be food shared, gifts exchanged and love expressed.  Why have we developed this tradition?

Christmas is, of course, the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We all know the story of Joseph and Mary and their trek to Bethlehem.  We know that Mary was a virgin giving birth to a baby.  We know the Joseph and Mary couldn’t find room at the inn, so they sought refuge in a stable for the night when Jesus was born.  We know that at the moment of his birth a bright star appeared above him guiding three wise men to the manger bearing gifts.  These and many other “facts of the story”, we celebrate as having occurred on December 25.

For devout Christians, the celebration of Christmas is about paying homage to the moment “our Savior” first appeared on earth.  For historians and scientists, much has been written the question the validity of “the facts” of the story.  Anyone who wishes to look at “the facts” rationally, could easily see that the story of the birth of Jesus and our celebration on December 25 has both its roots in pagan stories prior to the life of Jesus and that the details were most likely co-opted by early Christians to bring the story of Jesus to a wider pagan audience.

 Yet my point here is not to get stuck on the debate as to whether the story behind Christmas is literally “true”.  What I want us to do is to move beyond this debate and transcend the story to consider how it’s creation and duration through time might offer us the greater meaning.  After all, why would humans craft such a story back in the days before Jesus and then attach that story to Jesus and continue to use this story to create a celebration for humanity for thousands of years?  A lot has been written in an attempt to answer that question, but here’s a short summary of my belief as to one reason why this story and our annual celebration has had such a lasting power for humanity. 

Throughout the universe, everything is embedded with spirit, with consciousness.  Through time and the evolutionary process, that consciousness has evolved to a level of self-awareness in humanity.   Every day planet Earth is gifted with the birth of a new expression of that spirit.  Every human being coming forth into this physical plane is embedded with the light of consciousness, that Christ consciousness.  Every time this occurs it’s another miracle.  Something in early man recognized it and celebrated it.  Something in us today is still called to this celebration.  This celebration is serving and guiding us in the next steps of our path.

As this birth of self aware Christ consciousness appeared in Jesus, a bright light appeared above him.  Throughout our evolution, even before the birth of Jesus, “light” represented the power and goodness of Spirit.  Many believe that the light shining above him marked Jesus’ special nature.  If that is truth for you and it serves you, that’s fine with me – I’m really not trying to change a belief that works for you.  But for me, the bright light of the star above Jesus is pointing to something more.  It is there to remind us that we are all embedded with this divinity, that the moment of birth of each of us is a moment when that light comes forth.  That is why the story has had such a lasting power from before the time of Jesus and continues to this day – it’s everyone’s story.

 But is this is true, then what are we going to do with that knowledge?  It’s only by applying knowledge that we move to wisdom.  The light above Jesus guided the three wise men to him bearing gifts.  Is it a coincidence that it was “light” – the power and goodness of Spirit – that served as an ancient form of MapQuest directing “the wise men” toward its newest expression?  Ah, but as we often say, “there are no coincidences”.  Simply stated, the wise men “acted” on the facts.  They saw the infusion of the light of the consciousness of spirit within their fellow being and moved towards this new expression to bring gifts and celebrate its existence.  And, the “wise men” are still pointing us to the light of Spirit today, calling us to act upon our knowledge….to move us towards the wisdom they embodied.

So on this Christmas, I call on all of us to join in this movement from knowledge to wisdom.  Each of us on our own life’s path have learned our own “facts” about Christmas.  Each of us may carry our own intellectual understanding about the consciousness embedded in every human and the fact that we are all interrelated.  But these are just the facts ma’am.

This Christmas as you share in the joy of celebration with friends and family, as you both give and receive gifts, may all of this experience ignite within you wisdom.  May you look upon and truly experience everyone as the miracle expression of that divine consciousness.  Look deeper,  beyond the past and the history of your story with that person, and truly experience that essence of that special light that shines within them.   And as you move from “knowing” that we are all one to truly living in that place of wisdom where you act and embody oneness in all of your affairs, you and I will evolve to that place where we are all called – where there is forever peace on earth and goodwill towards all humanity.

May everyday be Christmas.  Merry Christmas!

Mark

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Categories Featured Article, Positive Evolution, Spirituality

Consciousness vs Awareness?

December 12, 2010 //
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Someone posed a question the other day on a “list serve” I subscribe to which caused me to do some reflection….The question:  What is the difference between consciousness and awareness?  Although I posted my comments there, I thought I would bring it over here to the Bridge readers as well. I would love to hear your answer to the question as well.   Here’s my take…

Here’s the short answer:  Consciousness is the ground of all being, an essence, power and divine intelligence that is embedded in everything.  Awareness is both our personal perception of the level of consciousness within us and our use of it.

Here’s the commentary on the short answer:

The creator, creative force, God or whatever name you wish to give that which created All embedded Its essence in all of its creation.  That essence includes the power and intelligence of consciousness.  Everything contains consciousness, from the smallest particle on up to those entities with the most complexity such as humans.  Our evolutionary path has been driven by forces (among them love, allurement, and the synergy of being in relationship) that have brought about higher levels complexity.  As more complex entities emerged, they transcended but included the lower levels from which they came, and in that process embedded within themselves higher levels of consciousness.  In integral theory, each level is called a holon.

At each level of the evolutionary process, each entity had an “awareness” appropriate to its level of consciousness.  It may be hard for us to imagine what a rock’s or a plant’s or another animal’s “awareness” is like, but they each have their own personal perception and use of their consciousness appropriate for their level of development.  Humanity crossed an important threshold in its complexity such that its awareness moved into a level of “self-awareness” not available to lower levels.  In other words, we know and know that we know. 

Here’s how Science of Mind creator Ernest Holmes put it so many years ago:   ”Through eons of time life has been slowly climbing up the ladder of unfoldment to the present self-conscious state achieved in man.   Some degree of consciousness exists in everything because everything is some form of Spirit, and Spirit is Intelligence.  However, there are degrees of intelligence, or consciousness.  We often hear the expression, “Consciousness sleeps in mineral life, dreams in plant life, awakens in animal life, and comes to self-consciousness in man.”  Man, then, stands at the very peak of the evolutionary climb.  He is now a self-conscious individual which means that he not only knows, but knows that he knows.  He can think about his own consciousness, and he now has the power of choice – the very summit of life’s upward striving.  Evolution, through infinite ages, has done much for him.”

So here we are at the summit and are becoming aware of the power of our thoughts.  And, the more and more we become aware of this power, we realize that we are a co-creator in the divine evolutionary process.  We can now look forward and upward to the even greater levels of complexity and higher levels of awareness that exist beyond us as individual humans.  With our understanding of the evolutionary process, we can now consciously move humanity towards these higher levels.

These higher levels call to us to release our sense of separation and to embody our sense of unity.  We include our uniqueness and our personalness and carry it with us as we transcend our current level of awareness and move into an awareness of oneness.

Here’s how Rumi put it, ““Originally you were clay.  From being mineral, you became vegetable.  From vegetable, you became animal and from animal, man.  During these periods man did not know where he was going, but he was being taken on a long journey nonetheless.  And you have to go through a hundred different worlds yet.  There are a thousand forms of mind.”

And it gives meaning to these quotes from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: ” Driven by the forces of love, the fragments of the world seek each other so that the world may come into being. Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves.” and ” Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

Blessings,

Rev Mark Gilbert

www.consciousbridge.com

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Categories Consciousness, Featured Article, Positive Evolution

For Love and Money (Part One)

December 3, 2010 //
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We Americans love money.  So many aspects of our culture are set up to reinforce the idea that the most successful person is the one with the most money.

Last night Mary and I went and saw a new movie which truly reinforces this cultural pattern.  The movie was called “Race to Nowhere” and is a commentary on our educational system.  The filmmaker was a mother who had become concerned over her children’s stress caused by excessive school expectations.  I highly recommend the film.

Here’s a quick summary.  Our culture measures success by wealth.  We believe (although the film points out that it’s not quite true) that a college degree from a prestigious school leads to a higher income.  Competition to get into the best colleges has led to these institutions accepting only a fraction of applicants, the ones with the highest GPAs and best portfolios of activities from high school.  This has led to high school students taking more AP classes to raise their GPA and doing more extracurricular activities to build their portfolio.  This competition has cascaded down into the lower grades and even into kindergarten.  Parents, teachers and students have gotten on a treadmill that has led to more homework, less free time and more stress – all to ensure they don’t get left behind in their race for “the good life”.  Coupled with the increased emphasis on only “teaching to the test” which drives school funding, we are creating adults who know how to memorize facts but not how to think or reason.

The movie ends with a bit of hope.  It offers some examples of schools seeking to teach the “whole person”.  It provides a number of suggestions for ways we can retool our educational system so that it will produce well-rounded and happy students.  One idea mentioned was to do away with external grades as a measurement of success.  In their place it asks why not gauge the student’ s achievement by a portfolio of products they produce to show what they have learned or by gauging their happiness?  One telling comment which points out how difficult this will be was made by an author who writes about reforming our schools in this direction – he admitted that even he sometimes stresses over what schools his kids will get into.  It’s tough to buck this cultural trend.

The movie reminded me about what I see as our confusion over what money actually represents.  Most Americans who are chasing wealth see money as this “external thing” which the more they accumulate, the happier they will be.  It is true that a certain level of money allows us to meet basic needs and desires.  But at a certain income level we reach a point where more money is not really needed.  At these higher levels of personal income, more money is only serving to allow us more luxuries and to feed our competitive sense that we are more successful than others.  It doesn’t really make us happier.  In fact there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that an obsession over money can actually make us more unhappy.

We chase stuff outside us.  I want external higher grades so that I can go to external better schools so that I can get a better external job that pays me more external money so I can buy more and more external stuff.  We look “out there” for happiness when the reality is it comes from within.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with money.  I am suggesting we change how we look at it.  Rather than seeing it as this external stuff we are trying to get more of, let’s see it as an energetic flow of life.  It is “currency”, flowing like a river through and around us.  It provides a means for us to enjoy this life experience provided we don’t try to cling to this energetic flow so that it stagnates.  We bless it as it moves through our lives.

I love how Eric Butterworth puts it in his book “Spiritual Economics “.  He says,” money is an enabling symbol.  It is a tangible representation of intangible universal substance… Money is an enabling symbol that gives rise to faith and trust, credit in cooperation, which starts a flow of activity.…  It is a currency or creative flow of divine activity.”

The point is – if we can change our perception of money from this external thing we are chasing to seeing it simply as a tangible representation of the flow of energy in our lives, then we can become less hung up on “having more money so as to have more happiness”.  Must they be linked?  No.  Your happiness is your choice, it’s not dependent on having more money.

Which brings us to “love”.  We’ve all heard the expression “money is the root of all evil”.  Of course, the correct quote is “the love of money is the root of all evil”.  On the surface, this statement implies the more we have this “emotional desire” to accumulate this external thing “money”, then the more we are inclined “to do bad things”.  But if money is not this external thing but rather an energetic flow, maybe we had better stop and consider “what is love?”  and “what is evil?”  We will see some interesting parallels in part two of this article next time.

Mark

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Categories Featured Article, Positive Evolution, Spirituality
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