Continued--
With the realization of our Divinity, we no longer give primacy to current appearances of circumstances and conditions. So one of the primary objectives of the support is to turn our focus from the outer to the inner, the place of "first cause". The author / teacher, US Anderson, in his book Three Magic Words, expresses the objective well. (Note: The emphasis is mine - not the original author's)
"He who would use faith must use it to rise above negative circumstance, and he must never fall victim to that which goes on around him. Refuse to be trapped into believing that the cause of anything exists on the physical plane. Have complete confidence in the fact that first cause is mental and first cause once set in motion must inevitably manifest itself in the physical world. Do not deny negative circumstance. Simply have faith in what you believe and refuse to accept negative circumstances as final."
"When the ego goes and God-consciousness comes, thought is immediately followed by the thing, for there remains nothing to overcome. All conceptions of limitation and lack and guilt and pain and shame and remorse are cast out with the ego. Nothing but God remains, and whatever God knows is created."
It's the most common of human experience that we're so afraid to take that leap of faith to give up worry and concern over our problems, isn't it? Fixated upon the appearances, we seem to find it almost impossible to ignore current conditions and circumstances and focus only upon what we desire. This is easy to understand; after all, there is not yet five-sense evidence in support of that which we desire. And as first cause is mental (the focus of our thoughts), we are only giving the circumstances that power of final reality, or more accurately, the appearance of such. The higher Truth is that there is no such thing as fixed reality; it is only an appearance, and appearances are fleeting, constantly changing as convictions change. So CS is about helping people to turn attention away from the appearances of current outer conditions, encouraging them to "remember" that negative circumstances are never final reality. In the CS group, we are always reminded that experience is only effect, that it changes, indeed, must change, by changing the cause. This is law.
This is probably the single most important principle of all. In fact, those of us who understand that all of the sacred teachings are really describing these metaphysical principles, realize that the teachings of the Master known as Jesus, were practically all about this idea of maintaining faith in that not yet seen. And as importantly, that "these things and more you too can do". But it seems that the great challenge for us in this physical experience is to ignore our five sense data and keep "thine eye" single focused upon that which is already done within Divine Mind (though not yet manifest in our lives).
Group Consciousness
What I've discussed to this point serves as background information and provides insights that led to the conception of CS groups. I want to describe in more detail the actual groups. I must begin however, by discussing the phenomenon of collective wisdom. There's been a lot of research and study done in the field of collective (or group) consciousness. What it has shown, amongst other things is that under the right conditions, an intelligence and wisdom that is far more than that of any of the individual members emerges within the group. Group participants often report the feeling of an intelligent presence in which they are all immersed; it almost seems palpable, like the air is thick with this energy. This collective intelligence / wisdom is rather astounding to all of the members of the group for they find themselves expressing things that they can hardly believe they are capable of. Phenomenal insights and solutions to problems begin to flow. This wisdom and intelligence seems to take over and the members experience a remarkable deeper awareness that transcends anything they ever would have achieved individually.
This phenomenon of collective wisdom doesn't occur simply with any group of people sitting around casually yakking. There are some particular conditions that must be present. One is that there should be a focused intention such as a problem that the group is to solve through free and open discussion. Another is that the members must set aside all biases and preconceptions. Also the members must feel totally free to speak authentically, and do so. And there must be a feeling of full equality amongst the participants, which is to say that there is not an authority figure / hierarchical dynamic. Under these parameters, as the group begins to discuss the issue / problem that is the focus, this remarkable transcendent wisdom, far beyond that of any individual member begins to emerge.
You might recognize that most of the prerequisites require in one sense or another, that the participants forego or relinquish their ego. Actually this is magnificently fitting for the overall purpose of CS groups anyway. This is so clear if we go back to the Andersen quote. To wit: "When the ego goes and God-consciousness comes, thought is immediately followed by the thing, for there remains nothing to overcome".
Now, a general overview of the CS group. I should point out that it is beyond the scope of this paper to attempt to present a detailed description of subjects such as the training of facilitators, for example. Also, in order to assure that an upward spiral of energy is maintained from meeting to meeting, there is a prescribed sequence of discussion topics, though the dialogues themselves are allowed to flow as they will, within the guidelines that support collective wisdom.
The CS group incorporates all of the prerequisites of collective intelligence groups. The overall goal of CS groups is to attain a deeper awareness amongst all of the participants of the Infinite Presence and Power that resides within all of us and then to re-identify with that. In order to feel our Divinity and re-identify with it however, requires that we be willing to give up our ego identity. When we transcend the ego, our blocks begin to dissolve. The whole point of the group is that this transformation occurs much more quickly and definitively within this group format than it does individually. In fact, unlike other support groups, participation in CS groups is never meant to be long term. Individuals are to achieve the recognition of the Infinite Presence and Power within them and then go about living this Truth. With the blocks dissolved, those who have "graduated" from the group no longer find any need for continuing in it. It's sort of like having learned how to ride a bicycle. Once you've learned, you've got it. I also see it as having gotten over the wall to the other side. Once you've gotten over, you are sort of freed from the muck. You are manifesting with greater ease because the blocks of resistance have been released. Meanwhile, should graduates ever need an energy upgrade as a result of some new challenges or blocks that have emerged, they always know the group is there.
Prerequisites
for CS Group Participation
To begin, each of the participants must be "awake" and have a desire and an intention to dissolve their blocks and experience their Divinity. More specifically this means that they:
* Want to change / heal
* Are consciously seeking and have made a commitment to allowing answers from within rather than exclusively from the conventional wisdom of the world
* Have a basic understanding and acceptance of generally recognized "metaphysical / Spiritual " Principles and are able to appreciate and receive without objection, confrontation or debate other participants perceptions, insights and expressions of these Principles
* Are willing to give up the fixations of the ego such as prejudice, certainty about "the way it is", drama, resistance, attack, defense mechanisms, etc. This is not to say that candidates have necessarily already succeeded in giving them up; it does mean they have an awareness that they may be carrying some of these things and realize that they need to be released and are willing to release them.
* Are willing to accept that they are responsible for their experiences by way of their convictions and self-assessment and are not victims of fate.
* Are willing to give up blame and forgive other's transgressions
* Have an awareness of specific illusions of limitation and a commitment to experiencing a dissolution of the blocks. The most common areas of blockage involve health and physical body matters, abundance / scarcity issues, love / relationship issues, success / failure in career issues, and difficulties in recognizing talents and abilities and applying them to one's life work and purpose.
* Must be willing to speak authentically and allow each of the other participants to do so as well.
* Finally, and perhaps most critically, participants must make a commitment to frequency of attendance (three times per week). Upon first hearing this, it may sound demanding, but for those who finally want to "get over", the potential payoff is immeasurable -- far beyond the demands. And the fact is that very soon, participants are so eagerly anticipating the next meeting, that frequency is no longer even an issue. This is attributed to the elation and self-power that participants feel, as well as the depth of bonding that occurs between participants.
What Happens
In a CS Group Session
To get a general feel for a CS meeting, it is best to take a look at one that has been ongoing where all of the participants have already been working with each other in this format. It is understood that each of the participants has already stated the areas that they are trying to heal.
The group has a facilitator, whose role and purpose is not as an authority figure but simply to guide the flow of the meeting and assure that it stays on course.
Before any discussion begins, there is a period where some music may be played -- something uplifting and rhythmic -- or some other form of sensory input that serves as an aid to turning the thinking mind activity down and to set the stage for an opening to the emergence of collective consciousness.
The facilitator then opens the meeting with an affirmation statement of the Infinite Powers and Wisdom that resides within each of us, and a calling upon that power to emerge in this group today. The affirmative prayer also states an acknowledgment of the limitations that the group participants are experiencing in their lives but that they are simply appearances and illusion - not Truth. It affirms that the each member is not their experience, that rather each is a channel through which God expresses and that we are here to become more open, free-flowing channels. As channels, each of us provides a target for Infinite Mind to express, and the target that we present is that of our desires. The affirmation states the intention of the group on this day that each attain a higher awareness that only God exists and that each of us is an individualized expression of God. And that with this awareness, each member experiences a healing in their particular areas of dis-ease.
After the intention setting affirmation, there is a go-around in which each participant shares experiences that went on in their lives since the previous meeting. Since the meetings serve as a means of an energy upgrade, members are advised to maintain conscious awareness and be on the look out for matches to their renewed vibrational output between meetings. Most of us aren't used to recognizing how the Universe is always providing us feedback by matching our energy output through the form of the events of our daily experience. So participants are advised to be anticipating and recognizing evidence of matches to their energy. They will begin to see the flow of good experiences increasing as they maintain a higher energy state. But it is also valuable to recognize matches to our "negative" or lower vibrational output. The point is to recognize the matching, regardless. With awareness, we will be keen to change our energy when we realize we have gone into reaction and are not happy with the experience that the focus in lower energy is bringing us.
With relaxation and the allowance of higher energy states, wonderfully surprising synchronicities seem to increase. All of this reinforces the individual's sense of power over his own experience leading to noticeable openings within the particular areas of limitation. Now, with this go-around at the next meeting, where each participant is reporting all of these wonderful experiences and synchronicities recognized since the last meeting, the reinforcement is amplified. This is very powerful. The group energy is escalating as these experiences are being recounted. There is a very dynamic energy interchange whereby the individual participants become faster vibrating beings, and, as parts of the whole, the group itself as a holistic entity begins vibrating at a higher level than the sum of its parts. What this leads to is an even stronger conviction of the power of creation available to us. So now, during the next interval between meetings, the recognition of feedback from the Universe in terms of flow and synchronicities is even further enhanced. Then the go-around at the next meeting is even more enthusiastic. The energy is dramatically increased. And, as you can see, what is taking place with each cycle is a continuing upward spiral of energy and feedback recognition that feeds upon itself. This is one very important reason for the frequency of meetings. We want the energy fueling the upward spiral to remain very strong; and too much time lapse between meetings can invite dissipation of that energy during this critical time.
Next the facilitator may present a short reading that focuses the discussion upon some facet of truth principles that will open the way for discussion of the primary issue on the table - that of dissolving our blocks and attaining an awareness of our Infinite Powers.
Just a reminder here that our areas of dis-ease are related to blocks in our awareness of Truth about that facet of life. Now remember that not all of the participants have dis-ease in the same areas. All of the blocks of each of the participants are out there on the table for resolution. For example, one participant may feel a sense of power and flow in the area of finances and abundance but feel a significant block and lack in terms of love relationships. So later in the meeting when the collective intelligence begins to flow, that particular participant may be guided to express Truth ideas about abundance that are just natural to him as a part of his consciousness. The wisdom and clarity of this expression may be such that it begins to dislodge the blocks of those experiencing that area of dis-ease. Another person who is a picture of physical fitness but with financial problems begins to offer ideas to the participants who are struggling with physical disease or other body related issues.
This might be a good place to emphasize and make very clear a couple of things regarding the dialogue and interchange of ideas. Foremost amongst these is that the meetings are NEVER to be a forum for sharing bitches about life or anger at or criticism of others or in any way focusing upon personal problems. Discussion of problems as problems, only gives them power. But more than that, since seeming problems are only impermanent appearances, we would not discuss them as though they were Truth. Another critically important thing to keep in mind about the dialogue is that the ideas offered by participants of the group are not in the form of "advice. They may be things from personal experience that are relevant to the discussion or new insights that are coming in spontaneously from the source of collective intelligence. But it is definitively not the purpose of CS groups to engage in problem solving of participants specific issues or negative life experiences. These are not encounter groups. The sort of cross talk where participants would give advice or criticism regarding another participants life circumstances are not within the scope of CS groups. We must always keep in mind our intention -- uplifting each other to focus upon the cosmic truth of our Divinity.
The CS group experience wonderfully resolves a dilemma earlier referred to -- that difficulty of getting into a feeling state for which one has had little or no prior experience. This very thing in fact is one of the primary issues that CS was conceived to answer. In this group experience, various participants do have the strong feelings of prior experience (the consciousness of various desirable realities) and those feelings are shared both verbally in the interchange and intuitively as the collective consciousness takes hold. So we are getting together and helping each other get into the "feeling, having place". From its earliest conception, this is what the phrase "consciousness sharing" was meant to convey.
With this interchange, the collective conscious comes into play, and the participants begin to feel this wonderful sense of wholeness and self-power. This additionally enhances the energy upgrade effect, and the participants now go into the world with a new perspective. Until the next meeting, they will be seeing life as good with a corresponding experience of flow of good in their lives. All of this leads to a significant escalation in their sense of self-power. With each meeting, this upward spiral accelerates.
Additional Comments
There are other elements of the group worth mentioning to fill out our description of CS groups.
The whole ambience of the meeting is high, positive energy. This is important. The group is to be a respite from the false thoughts of mass consciousness in which we are immersed in our daily lives. Of course, we understand that we are responsible for our experience and that we are to use our own power of choice whether or not to heed the limiting thoughts of the world, and indeed, that is our intention. As our overall energy is upgraded through participation in the group, we are more and more able to maintain our high energy outside of the group. And it becomes increasingly easier because we always draw experiences to us that are consistent with our energy. And with better experiences, our high energy is reinforced. Therefore, we have fewer and fewer experiences that we would normally judge to be bummers. Clearly, we will find this upward spiral to be a wonderful contrast to the low, bummed out energy of dejection that we may have occasionally struggled with in the past. Overall, in the recognition of our power to determine our experience, we will feel present. We will feel the sense of ease that is joy.
In the group, all members are experiencing support and find comfort in the realization that they are not the Lone Ranger in dealing with the illusions that manifest as problems and bondage. I must remind again however that that does not ever mean that there is commiseration about problems. The point is never about "poor me" or pity or comforting about problems for that is telling the subconscious and the universe that we have problems that are unresolvable, and for which then, the only answer is comforting. The support is always about the Truth of our Divinity and that problems are effect - appearances only. The support also is about maintaining our focus upon that (our desires) for which there is not yet evidence.
The great metaphysician / teacher / author of many books, Joseph Murphy reminded us that we are to be nice to ourselves for our real Self is God. He instructed thus, "Exalt, honor, revere and respect this Divine Presence within yourself; then you are loving and honoring your neighbor". Murphy also wrote:
"The lifter has found God within himself and feels strong and secure in his Presence."
"The lifter knows that he is here to go forth conquering and to conquer, for God or the Infinite cannot fail, and because he is one with God, he has no fear and is no longer frustrated or distrait."
As we are one, in CS groups, we are lifters as we honor that Divine Presence in each of us.
As we release our identity with the illusions and falsehoods of the ego and more and more realize our God-hood, we begin to prefer love and find that we have little time or desire to devote to defense of the ego. We surrender the need for being right or criticizing others for being wrong. We become lighter, more loving beings.
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2004-2006, William Gunderson,
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