FEBRUARY: Life – A Dream, An Illusion, A Classroom, A Stage?
SO, NOW WHAT?
This is the first of 3 Newsletters in which I will share what it means to me to awaken from the dream—while in the joy and peace to be found in a happy dream.
No matter what we call life . . . a dream or an illusion, as A Course in Miracles calls it, or a classroom, as Gary Zukov has said, or a stage, as William Shakespeare declared centuries ago—we know that something real is going on. This mysterious journey that we all share together in temporary bodies is not an illusion. WE ARE REAL! However, the saving grace of realizing we are in a dream—is to realize our purpose is to awaken from the dream.
Hello dear friends,
Perhaps you are aware that in this century scientists have empirically proven that we’re having a collectively shared dream. Following this scientific conclusion, I’ve noticed that some thought leaders interpret this to mean that we can be the creators of our own dream for the purpose of finding our true vocation in life. However—such a perspective keeps us bound in the dream.
After my life-changing experience of visions bearing images in kaleidoscopic light when I was twenty-two, I was shocked to find myself even considering that life could be a dream. Assumed crazy at the time, I had stepped outside of time into a world of indescribable beauty. Upon returning to the “reality” of a world of fear and limitation, time itself seemed like a trick—a form of imprisonment. Then I dared to trust my first awareness’s of an inner voice.
When my earlier visionary images actually started happening, all of life seemed like my own dream! As I have detailed in Thank God I’m Crazy (click here to see the book’s Amazon page) the ongoing unveiling of visionary images being shown back to me—was almost like seeing a rerun of my own life’s movie. This reenactment helped me to grasp the unreality of the dream. Suddenly—the eternal I that I am—became the observer of my own dream.
Throughout the days of my symbolic reruns, a purpose took form within the dream. Remembering when after my visions I had seen fear and hatred in the dream as pure insanity . . . I decided the dream itself is crazy. But, I also remembered that while within that loving light . . . I had been shown that only love is real.
So, with a deep longing, a blind trust in my inner voice, and the mind training of ACIM, I set out in faltering but growing determination to discipline my mind to daily and hourly to make choices to let everything fall away except for love. I soon recognized that I was on a practical journey to become the love I had briefly tasted in the light.
Whenever I could love without exception, and forgive everything in the dream, including my perceived offenders who had severely abused me, I was amazed to discover that I am the one that is happier. Indeed, it is self-abuse if I don’t forgive. I was also delighted to find that as I do so, the dream becomes a happy dream. (more on this in next editions)
As St. Thomas Aquinas said centuries ago, one only needs to . . . “Love and do what you will.” Because only love is real. Nothing else. Gary Renard, author and international speaker, also recommends, “But do it with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.”
A Course in Miracles’ entire thought system is founded upon the idea that there is no world. The world is a dream in our one collective unconscious mind. Ideas leave not their source. Our source is God and we cannot be apart from God. Yet, do you, as I did, often find that we are resistant to our own light? Who we truly are is an extension of God.
“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift to you, the waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head.”
ACIM L.156,4
But that’s not all! One day I had an amazing epiphany. It came as I stood upon the actual mountain, the image of which had been shown to me decades earlier. I had a vision of God’s Voice coming from a distance, another mountain.
“It’s as if the divine Word of God’s love has been spoken from a sublime regency. And in the delay that is the echo, time was born . . . so that the Word could be heard and digested by the mind of the Son of God.” TGIC p. 380
To accept that literally love is all there really is, is too much for our mortal being to take in all at once. Our need for time will simply fade away when at last we really get it. The Course says, “time is a learning device.”
In that moment on the mountain, I saw the purpose of my visions. I was shown what would happen to me because the script was already written. I was given guidance to awaken to what had already happened. The dream is over! We are in the echo of what seems to be happening when all the while our only task is to choose to awaken to our own holiness. A Course in Miracles tells us that right now we are “. . . safe at home with God, dreaming of exile.”
Halleluiah! Whenever I remember this then fear no longer has any clout! We can laugh at ourselves and each other’s absurdities. And . . . we will wake up when we are ready to choose to no longer let fear make us crazy! The SANITY of love transforms life into a happy dream. Love is the antidote to the INSANITY of fear!
“How willing are you to escape effects of all the dreams the world has ever had?” “. . . in gentle laughter does the Holy Spirit perceive the cause, and looks not to effects . . . He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a little while.” ACIM
Turns out—it’s great to realize that it’s only when I’m caught in the dream, I’m crazy . . . Thank God!
To be continued 😊
So until next time,
When you find yourself staring into the headlights of fear—as I often do, stop and tell yourself, I am insane right now—then laugh 😊and say THANK GOD I’M CRAZY!
***** SEE ONLY LOVE FOR THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE ****
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Thank God I’m Crazy available in paperback and e-book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Thank-God-Im-Crazy- Journey eBook/dp/B074SV56V7 at Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thank-god-im-crazy-grace-avalon/1130994303?ean=9781945390760 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Avalon-1441929822714370/?ref=hl
Thank God I’m Crazy includes pictures of places which took place in Grace’s life, as seen in her visions. Grace Avalon, teacher and intuitive counselor, has taught A Course in Miracles for nine years. She gives presentations, seminars and workshops for anyone whose known abuse, thought they were crazy, or wants to live a joyful life.
*** Marianne Williamson, (NY Times bestselling author, teacher, and internationally renowned speaker) , has said, “Grace Avalon inspires all of us to trust the wisdom of our hearts. Here is spirituality in practice.” ***