It seems that it took awhile studying the course before the full value and meaning of following the Holy Spirit came into full clarity. I can remember a lot of questions like “Am I following now?” and “Is this really the Holy Spirit speaking?” arose as the love and trust was built. Yet with each step the benefits revealed are so far beyond what could ever have been imagined.
For a long time following the Holy Spirit felt like the enemy. Now it is recognized that the sense of personal identity does perceive the Holy Spirit as an enemy. This reflects the entire thought system of the ego – God and a brother as “enemy” — all for the desired experience of denying divine nature –Oneness with God.
Yet somehow through forgiveness and seeing things in a new way an entirely different relationship with the Holy Spirit has come into recognition. One of my favorite quotes from the English Translation of the Aramaic Bible (Vic Alexander), John 9:6 is this one:
There is the light of truth that lights everyone who is born.
At first the Holy Spirit seems to be something “outside”. Then it is realized that the Holy Spirit is the symbol of the light within – the internal memory of God nature. At the same time, Jesus is pointing to the Holy Spirit as a reference that is outside of the thought system of the ego. And by looking seemingly “Outside the ego” this is actually looking toward this inner light for guidance- intuition- over and over it is eventually seen that this light is divine nature – the same as the light of totality.
Guided “assignments” bring the mind directly into the ring of fire – all the suppressed fear and hatred- so that these energies that seem to perpetuate the feeling of ‘other’ can be seen to be untrue. And in that repeated seeing and following ultimately this brings the mind into direct recognition/experience of true identity. This is the speed and power of listen and follow the Holy Spirit as described by Jesus in ACIM.
A powerful parable that appeared in experience was a spirit led spontaneous trip to Bali. I only heard the word and felt ‘Bali’, but had no idea what that meant. Though guidance and many surprise adventures I miraculously found my way to Lembogan Island, a small island off the coast of Bali. There were many many miraculous experiences as promised by following. One of many that stands out is that there are few cars on the island thus transportation is mostly by motor bike/scooter.
This body hadn’t really ever “liked” being on a motor bike (it always felt “scary”), yet, I ended up riding on the back of one through quite a few HS guided adventures around and about Bali. The tours were always sitting behind another “person” on the bike. On one particular day I was passing a group of motor scooters and I could hear the guidance to rent a one. Oh and I could also hear the objections rising. “I don’t know how to ride one of those. How can I possibly do that since I don’t know how to ride on of those? They ride on the wrong side of the road here and I don’t know how to do that.” Yet the trust was there so I stopped to inquire.
The interaction with the scooter owner around renting the bike was miraculous. I said, “I don’t know how to ride a motor scooter.” The man said, “Oh why don’t you just take it and practice.” Only the Holy Spirit could be doing something like this… you mean with no name or anything, just TAKE THE BIKE and GO!??? So with a brief introduction I was off, bumping into a few things, motoring slowly down a back road and eventually found my way back. (Ok, and a few thoughts like, “Holy Spirit, are you kidding me? Ok, ok, here we go.”)
When I returned and rented the bike, he said, “We have no insurance.” Ok, now that’s a great start to trust, violating any “rule” I had grown up with about “safety.” I thought, ok, I have HS insurance. I handed over the money, he wrote down my first name on a sheet of paper, and I took off.
It was amazing- who knew? I was puttering along on the “wrong side of the road”, and felt happiness- that was the first surprise when the “I” would never have put the word happiness with motor scooter, yet in that a wonderful recognition arose. The recognition came that this happiness wasn’t because of the ride, this happiness is identity – true nature is happiness. What power of saying “Yes” to the light within!
I scooted happily along, getting “lost” in a remote part of the island, yet miraculously ending up at the most spectacular scenic overlook and having a holy encounter with a woman staying at a mini hotel near the overlook.
Miraculous picture to the right. Then as I peaked over the edge of the cliff, there is a heart shaped out of rocks. Really? Wow. Follow the HS.
What I have learned from this and many HS guided adventures is that:
1. Many times the prompt is not something the “I-me” is going to have a positive affinity to do/follow. The “I-me” likes the idea of a comfort zone and eternal Spirit – infinite love – true identity– has no such limits. This inner intuition is far beyond the “logic” and “what I like to do” of the ego thought system.
2. Jesus always keeps his promises and the landing is miraculous- beyond any idea or planning that can be conceived by a limited thought system of the ego.
3 It is a gradual step by step just as Jesus says in the course. For example it took many miracles and trust – small stepping stones before a “seeming larger stepping stone” i.e. jumping a on a bike and riding around on an island “without insurance.”
4. Just as promised these guided assignments bring the mind into the direct recognition and continual celebration of divinity- seeing that happiness is identity – not the “thing/assignment that seems to be happening”. As Jesus says, though, for most beings purification through forgiveness is needed first.
5. The assignment seems to be about the “thing” or “doing something” in the following, yet the unified purpose of following is denial of limitation and thus acceptance of “What is”, divine nature. The holy purpose is to see and release the denial of divinity and to be shown another way. The experience here is that more and more gets “Turned over” to Spirit as the joy and happiness of True nature blooms brightly. Then there is nothing else other than truth.
Many doubt thoughts seemed to arise – from all sources – seemingly “inside”, and some from “others”. “What are you going to Bali for… it seems far away?”, “You can just meditate as ‘what is'” and “You can just stay here (local) and follow the Spirit, you don’t have to go anywhere.” The learning here is to listen and follow, even when there is no “explanation” as to why. The Holy Spirit does not give reasons- only the ego asks the question “why”. Guidance may or may not include travel; it may be “local” for some beings. For others, travel may be what is most helpful. This is the individual plan. So many miracles have arisen with Jesus arranging time and space, there are no more questions here.
M-29.2 The curriculum is highly individualized, and all aspects are under the Holy Spirit’s particular care and guidance. Ask and He will answer. The responsibility is His, and He alone is fit to assume it. To do so is His function. To refer the questions to Him is yours. Would you want to be responsible for decisions about which you understand so little? Be glad you have a Teacher Who cannot make a mistake. His answers are always right. Would you say that of yours?
The joy and happiness is not of this world. This is Jesus’s promise – any being who follows the Holy Spirit consistently will experience true nature because they are following their inner light – and this is acceptance of divinity.
M-29.3 There is another advantage,– and a very important one,– in referring decisions to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. Perhaps you have not thought of this aspect, but its centrality is obvious. To follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. It is the essence of the Atonement. It is the core of the curriculum.
Thank you, Jesus.
Love and gratitude always,
Cay
