THE STILLNESS PRACTICE
There is a voice of God living within human consciousness. It is the truth sensor and the conduit for experiencing love. Often, the human mind is active with random and wandering thoughts – concerns for one’s material welfare, as well as thoughts reacting to the environment you find yourself in. When these thoughts and responses hurt, demean, and diminish your sense of self-respect and self-worth, they destabilize your emotional equilibrium, disrupt your physical balance, and catapult you into spiritual disconnection. There is an antidote for this. It is in the stillness of your mind where you find help for your spiritual longing and answers to the questions of your life.
Stillness is any time of meditation spent with the Divine Creator – the Source of all life and love. Many people may wish to have a deep spiritual experience, but they really don't know how or where to begin. Too often the thought of an experience of God-consciousness is shrouded in mists of mysticism or sought through maintaining certain rituals or traditions. In reality Spirit is alive and within you at each moment of the day. Stillness is simply allowing the currents of your thoughts to naturally settle on thinking about God and including your Divine Source in your day-to-day decisions. When your mind is so focused, the voice of Spirit Within begins to impress upon your consciousness the divine information and comfort that you seek.
To help you get started, a meditation is available in an easy to follow seven step process on our Books & Recordings page (CD or MP3). This is especially helpful for the individual new to meditation of if you have trouble quieting your thoughts. This meditation is a process to focus one's thoughts on God so that what Spirit wishes for you to discern can be intuited. Over time, as the mind responds to the alignment that occurs when it is centered on Spirit, thoughts and feelings more readily correspond to truth, love, peace, joy, patience, and other good spiritual fruits.
This meditation is a blend of the eastern and western approaches to spirituality, including both meditation and prayer, to form a unified approach to the Divine Source. Each approach complements the other, together bringing greater fulfillment and enlightenment.
From eastern meditation, Stillness incorporates physical relaxation, mental stillness, and silent listening. Included from western contemplation: talking with God, prayer, and worship. The western approach encompasses a personal relationship with our Divine Father/Mother – experiencing Spirit’s love as well as feeling serene and blissful. The eastern method incorporates listening within, enabling you to become more attuned to the inner spirit of God and to learn to listen to and trust the guidance of the still voice within.
These steps are very helpful to train your thoughts and to build your relationship with your Divine Source and Spiritual Parent, and can easily be incorporated in your daily routine. With regular practice, relaxing and stilling your mind can be easily achieved. As you learn to talk with your Inner Spirit and pray more spontaneously throughout the day, you may not need to include all of these steps when you do your Stillness. Essentially, the heart of Stillness is worship, silent listening, and the embrace. This is where your receptivity to your source of love and guidance is the greatest. Coming to know God will be the most valuable experience you will ever have. Your blessings will be innumerable!
God always wants your highest good—your best self to shine. Spirit forever aligns you in the ways of light, and the stillness is the best place to receive this blessed gift. Once you have become more accustomed being in the Stillness, focusing on your growth takes you into the next level of spiritual communion. Particularly beneficial for self-healing, stillness is a place where you turn your desires over to Spirit and relax in the divine healing embrace. You can let go of your concerns and problems, and know that a higher power is waiting to release you from the patterns of the past. This is also help to receive healing from God. Give yourself time in the Stillness each day. You will be amazed at how beautiful you are becoming!
The Seven Steps of Stillness:
STEP 1: Physical Relaxation
Being physically relaxed is very important so you can remain in the stillness undisturbed by discomfort. Choose a comfortable position whether sitting or reclining that will keep you awake and aware. Now, take several deep breaths and release them slowly. Let your body thoroughly unwind. Close your eyes and let yourself thoroughly relax.
STEP 2: Mental Stillness
The mind is naturally active – thoughts, worries, plans, fears and anxieties can all come rushing in. Tell your mind to "be still!" Pick a centering point: repeat a mantra, listen to instrumental music, visualize a pleasant scene to refocus your thoughts when your mind begins to wander. If you find the other thoughts come into your mind, simply re-focus on your centering point. Then, when you feel relaxed and at peace, direct your thoughts to opening to the relationship you share with your Inner Spirit and begin:
STEP 3: Talk to God
Within your being is the best friend, wisest counselor, and most loving parent you will ever know. Share with your internal source what is on your mind and in your heart. Your Inner Spirit is your direct connection to God--your Divine Source, who knows you intimately and accepts you just the way you are. In the same manner as you would share your day with a spouse or a close companion, share it with God. You do the talking; God is doing the listening.
STEP 4: Ask for Help
This is your time to ask for help, which could also be called prayer. From the previous step, you may ascertain where and what kind of spiritual help you need from your Spirit Parent. Remember, there is always a solution; everything is resolvable with God's help. If you do not know what to ask for, ask your Inner Spirit, “What do I need now to grow spiritually?” Also, spend a few moments praying for others – you say the prayer for them that they cannot say for themselves.
STEP 5: Give Thanks--Gratitude for What You Have
This is the step to simply give thanks and appreciation for everything good in life that has been given as a gift. Offer your appreciation and praise to the Divine Source of everything true, beautiful, and good. What do you have to be thankful for? Everything! Life, love, family, friends, health. Recognize the Divine Hand in your life and simply acknowledge Spirit’s contribution.
STEP 6: Silent Listening
Now is the time to listen within — What does your Inner Voice wish to say to you? Return to your centering point, tune your listening within and wait. You may not hear a booming voice telling you what to do, but you may begin to perceive that God is trying to talk to you from afar; the message may only be subtly and faintly discerned. You may even think you haven’t received anything at this time. But later, tomorrow, or in a few days suddenly an answer will flash into your mind, or someone may say the words you need to hear, or you might find them in a book. It takes a while sometimes for the Spirit Within to pierce through the static layers of consciousness. But rest assured, your Inner Voice will indeed respond.
STEP 7: The Embrace
Receive the love and guidance God has for you. By opening your heart and mind from the previous steps, it is now your time to just relax and receive. Envision and sense yourself in the most beautiful and loving situation you have ever experienced, and ask for Spirit to amplify that feeling in you. You will become refreshed and renewed from within. Your Divine Source is feeding you internally; this is your soul’s nourishment. The more you experience LOVE, the more you accumulate the desire to be in that state. And the more God’s LOVE and wisdom radiates within you, the more you take into the outer world. Life begins to unfold in faith and joy!
Stillness is any time of meditation spent with the Divine Creator – the Source of all life and love. Many people may wish to have a deep spiritual experience, but they really don't know how or where to begin. Too often the thought of an experience of God-consciousness is shrouded in mists of mysticism or sought through maintaining certain rituals or traditions. In reality Spirit is alive and within you at each moment of the day. Stillness is simply allowing the currents of your thoughts to naturally settle on thinking about God and including your Divine Source in your day-to-day decisions. When your mind is so focused, the voice of Spirit Within begins to impress upon your consciousness the divine information and comfort that you seek.
To help you get started, a meditation is available in an easy to follow seven step process on our Books & Recordings page (CD or MP3). This is especially helpful for the individual new to meditation of if you have trouble quieting your thoughts. This meditation is a process to focus one's thoughts on God so that what Spirit wishes for you to discern can be intuited. Over time, as the mind responds to the alignment that occurs when it is centered on Spirit, thoughts and feelings more readily correspond to truth, love, peace, joy, patience, and other good spiritual fruits.
This meditation is a blend of the eastern and western approaches to spirituality, including both meditation and prayer, to form a unified approach to the Divine Source. Each approach complements the other, together bringing greater fulfillment and enlightenment.
From eastern meditation, Stillness incorporates physical relaxation, mental stillness, and silent listening. Included from western contemplation: talking with God, prayer, and worship. The western approach encompasses a personal relationship with our Divine Father/Mother – experiencing Spirit’s love as well as feeling serene and blissful. The eastern method incorporates listening within, enabling you to become more attuned to the inner spirit of God and to learn to listen to and trust the guidance of the still voice within.
These steps are very helpful to train your thoughts and to build your relationship with your Divine Source and Spiritual Parent, and can easily be incorporated in your daily routine. With regular practice, relaxing and stilling your mind can be easily achieved. As you learn to talk with your Inner Spirit and pray more spontaneously throughout the day, you may not need to include all of these steps when you do your Stillness. Essentially, the heart of Stillness is worship, silent listening, and the embrace. This is where your receptivity to your source of love and guidance is the greatest. Coming to know God will be the most valuable experience you will ever have. Your blessings will be innumerable!
God always wants your highest good—your best self to shine. Spirit forever aligns you in the ways of light, and the stillness is the best place to receive this blessed gift. Once you have become more accustomed being in the Stillness, focusing on your growth takes you into the next level of spiritual communion. Particularly beneficial for self-healing, stillness is a place where you turn your desires over to Spirit and relax in the divine healing embrace. You can let go of your concerns and problems, and know that a higher power is waiting to release you from the patterns of the past. This is also help to receive healing from God. Give yourself time in the Stillness each day. You will be amazed at how beautiful you are becoming!
The Seven Steps of Stillness:
STEP 1: Physical Relaxation
Being physically relaxed is very important so you can remain in the stillness undisturbed by discomfort. Choose a comfortable position whether sitting or reclining that will keep you awake and aware. Now, take several deep breaths and release them slowly. Let your body thoroughly unwind. Close your eyes and let yourself thoroughly relax.
STEP 2: Mental Stillness
The mind is naturally active – thoughts, worries, plans, fears and anxieties can all come rushing in. Tell your mind to "be still!" Pick a centering point: repeat a mantra, listen to instrumental music, visualize a pleasant scene to refocus your thoughts when your mind begins to wander. If you find the other thoughts come into your mind, simply re-focus on your centering point. Then, when you feel relaxed and at peace, direct your thoughts to opening to the relationship you share with your Inner Spirit and begin:
STEP 3: Talk to God
Within your being is the best friend, wisest counselor, and most loving parent you will ever know. Share with your internal source what is on your mind and in your heart. Your Inner Spirit is your direct connection to God--your Divine Source, who knows you intimately and accepts you just the way you are. In the same manner as you would share your day with a spouse or a close companion, share it with God. You do the talking; God is doing the listening.
STEP 4: Ask for Help
This is your time to ask for help, which could also be called prayer. From the previous step, you may ascertain where and what kind of spiritual help you need from your Spirit Parent. Remember, there is always a solution; everything is resolvable with God's help. If you do not know what to ask for, ask your Inner Spirit, “What do I need now to grow spiritually?” Also, spend a few moments praying for others – you say the prayer for them that they cannot say for themselves.
STEP 5: Give Thanks--Gratitude for What You Have
This is the step to simply give thanks and appreciation for everything good in life that has been given as a gift. Offer your appreciation and praise to the Divine Source of everything true, beautiful, and good. What do you have to be thankful for? Everything! Life, love, family, friends, health. Recognize the Divine Hand in your life and simply acknowledge Spirit’s contribution.
STEP 6: Silent Listening
Now is the time to listen within — What does your Inner Voice wish to say to you? Return to your centering point, tune your listening within and wait. You may not hear a booming voice telling you what to do, but you may begin to perceive that God is trying to talk to you from afar; the message may only be subtly and faintly discerned. You may even think you haven’t received anything at this time. But later, tomorrow, or in a few days suddenly an answer will flash into your mind, or someone may say the words you need to hear, or you might find them in a book. It takes a while sometimes for the Spirit Within to pierce through the static layers of consciousness. But rest assured, your Inner Voice will indeed respond.
STEP 7: The Embrace
Receive the love and guidance God has for you. By opening your heart and mind from the previous steps, it is now your time to just relax and receive. Envision and sense yourself in the most beautiful and loving situation you have ever experienced, and ask for Spirit to amplify that feeling in you. You will become refreshed and renewed from within. Your Divine Source is feeding you internally; this is your soul’s nourishment. The more you experience LOVE, the more you accumulate the desire to be in that state. And the more God’s LOVE and wisdom radiates within you, the more you take into the outer world. Life begins to unfold in faith and joy!