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My spiritual orientation has been most
influenced by the New Thought movement,
which originated in the late 1800’s, as I
explain in Chapter Three - New Thought
Positive Spirituality Yesterday and Today,
of my book being incrementally published
on the left hand sidebar of this blog.
New Thought owes its existence to the
American Transcendentalist Movement,
sparked by the genius of Ralph Waldo
Emerson - following the philosophical
lead of Kant, Emerson strived to construct
a fresh and innovative philosophy for
the newly democratic America that was
unfolding: emphasizing the divine in
nature: the value of the individual and
of human intuition; focusing on a spiritual
reality that “transcends” sensory experience,
providing a better moral and life guide
than purely empirical, logical reasoning;
or the existing alternatives - faith based
or otherwise.
Emerson argued that the divine was in
each of us, a soul based connection
expressing divine guidance through our
intuition, and this intuition provided
direction as to how, individually, we
should best live our lives. Not a new
idea, but surely a very radical idea
for the 1800’s in colonial America.
In this effort, Emerson was joined by a
collection of the preeminent thinkers of
his time, who formed the Transcendental
Club; published the most forward thinking
and popular journal in America, The Dial,
as they, individually and as group; fueled
the social change efforts to reform religion;
abolish slavery; push for women’s rights;
provide for more effective education,
and even experiment with new communal
ways of living, such as Fruitland. These
early innovators included Henry David
Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Dr. William
Ellery Channing, Amos Bronson Alcott,
Theodore Parker, Frederick Douglas,
and later, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth
Peabody, and Walt Whitman.
I review all of this to help put in perspective
the guidance I share, to remind readers
why I use an intuitive style of “listening”
for the still small voice based in a practice
of meditation, and to encourage others
to experiment using this technique for
recording their own spiritual experience
and guidance.
I consider my approach intuitive, because
as long as the guidance I receive is positive,
I record it word for word without editing.
Occasionally, I try to direct the topic, as I
did on the day in September when I asked
for a sign that I was still headed in the
right direction.
Below is the response, which I have
titled, The Sign. In this brief passage,
I receive a response to my question,
and although I am not given a sign,
but instead told to look for a sign, by
focusing on the dots rather than the
whole picture, along with looking
into the harmony linking what is.
So you may assume, I have not as
of yet uncovered the sign, since
I am not noting any direct revelation,
but, as is my practice, I will continue
my peering until I do.
Thank you for reading.
THE SIGN
Waiting near is a sign of our commitment,
the source of our enduring partnership
in this existence, look beyond the obvious,
the commonplace, through the expectations,
the tried and true, into the harmony
linking what is, the backdrop providing
the reality screen, the appearance of
tangible existence with your consciousness,
know what is isn’t, it is an appearance, seek
the dots that create the picture, each dot the
basis of all existence, the brick, the building
block of what appears permanent, solid,
impenetrable, a world of dots aligned for
a purpose, with a meaning, a substance,
a mission. Peer deeply within and see
the sign.
NOE G. 9.12.2014
For those who are interested in a
more in-depth discussion of
Transcendentalism than I cover
in Chapter Three of the book, I
suggest an online visit to the “web
of American Transcendentalism,”
linked on the right hand sidebar
under Related And Supportive
Websites.
WITH LOVE, G.