Author:Amy Torres

Reasons to Keep Faith Even If You Don’t Hear God

Posted on September 26, 2015

in Awakening, Prayer, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom

The reason people get terribly discouraged when they pray and don’t hear God is because it seems as if God is not answering them. In order to keep faith, we have to open our minds to the idea that just because we believe “God doesn’t care about me” or “God doesn’t exist” doesn’t mean it’s true.

Here are five reasons to keep faith even though, right now, you think you can’t hear God:

1. God hears you even if you don’t hear Him.

In How You Can Talk With God, Paramahansa Yogananda tells us, “The trouble is not with Him, but with us. Our intuitive telephonic system is out of order. God is calling us and speaking to us, but we do not hear Him.” Even if you are convinced that God has not heard you because you specifically asked, and even begged, for something and did not get it, all that proves is that you were directing God to do what you thought best — rather than asking God for His guidance. We have to remain open to the possibility that what we think is best is not necessarily so. Our solutions may not be the Answer. Extend a little willingness to trust that God has heard you, even if you haven’t heard His reply – yet.

2. You have your fingers in your ears.

We don’t realize that we are deliberately plugging up our hearing, which, of course, interferes with receiving God’s messages to us. In order to hear God, whose call is there for us continuously, all day and all night long, we need to open ourselves to Him by releasing our desires, longings, and demands. The way to do this is to give everything to God. When we give God our desires, our wishes, our fears and sorrows, our resentments and jealousies, we are releasing blockages which clear our “ears” and makes it possible to “hear” Him.

3. Your eyes are closed.

A Course in Miracles tells us, “You believe that what your physical eyes cannot see does not exist. This leads to a denial of spiritual sight.” Many spiritual paths speak of a third eye. Located in the space between the eyebrows is the sixth chakra, the energy center of enlightened vision, which brings the body’s eyes together into one single eye — a spiritual eye which gives us God’s Vision. God speaks to us with symbols. It may be an inner voice, or visions, or a coincidence which is more than coincidence. Open your mind and ears and eyes will start to reveal Him to you. You can google “spiritual eye meditation” to find a specific exercise to help you open your spiritual eye.

4. You are asleep.

In the bible, the Adam and Eve story tells us that Adam fell into a deep sleep, but nowhere does it say that he awoke from this sleep. Again, more than one spiritual path tells us that this world is a dream or an illusion. A common reason that we think we can’t hear God is that we are in a deep, hypnotic sleep, utterly convinced that our dream is reality, when actually God is a reality beyond our human comprehension.

A compelling paragraph from A Course in Miracles states, “You are at home in God, dreaming of exile but perfectly capable of awakening to reality. Is it your decision to do so? You recognize from your own experience that what you see in dreams you think is real while you are asleep. Yet the instant you waken you realize that everything that seemed to happen in the dream did not happen at all. You do not think this strange, even though all the laws of what you awaken to were violated while you slept. Is it not possible that you merely shifted from one dream to another, without really waking?”

The question becomes, how can we awaken, and in that awakening hear what God has been whispering in our sleepy ear the entire time? There are many ways. One is to quiet the mind through meditation. Another is to ask God to guide us in His way without setting our own agenda. The main thing is to listen receptively.

5. Your seeds are germinating underground.

God is Love Itself, and you are God’s child. Trust that any time you turn to God that you are developing a relationship with Him. He is aware of you always. You are just learning how to recognize His communication, which comes in many varied forms and symbols. Every time you turn to God you plant a seed of love in the ground. They are germinating. The buds will poke out from the earth and start to rise toward heaven — your seeds will blossom. Let yourself believe this and you will find that God’s Voice was with you all along.

These are five reasons to keep faith even though you can’t hear God in this moment. Open your heart, open your mind, and let God surprise you. When we think too much we block our ability to receive God’s Thoughts. Try to relax, be it meditating, cleaning the house, fishing, or taking a bath – something calming that takes you out of your worried thoughts, and chances are better that God will reveal Himself in the very moment you least expect it.

You may also enjoy Five Steps to Cultivating Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you would like coaching to help you tune in to God, I am available for spiritual guidance. Just email miracles@amytorresacim.com

Wouldn’t You Rather Make Love?

Posted on September 26, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Making love starts in the mind. It is what we’re thinking that turns us on or off. Making love can be using the body sexually to express love, tenderness, and pleasure. Making love can be purely sensual, e.g., giving your partner a massage or a bath that is fragrant with essential oils. Making love can be sharing companionship — doing things together. Most of all, making love is letting our partner know that we see the best in him or her, that we genuinely like who they are, that they inspire us. Love is generous, non-judgmental, appreciative, and brings us closer.

Arguing is oppositional. Arguing is about one person being right and the other wrong. It is about justifying our point of view and making a point. The well-known spiritual book A Course in Miracles asks, “Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy?” Arguing is about getting our way, being opinionated, judgmental, and divisive. Arguing incites angry feelings, hostility, and can result in low self-esteem. Some people say, “We’re not arguing. We’re having a discussion!” or “We’re having a good debate,” but debate is a form of verbal warfare, and discussions with winners and losers are arguments!

It’s okay to feel excited and passionate about what you believe as long as you don’t force your beliefs on another. It’s okay to have varying levels of volume in a conversation as long as your partner doesn’t feel bullied or trapped. And it’s more than okay to have a heated discussion lead to the bedroom — as long as you celebrate your increased understanding, not to sweep an unresolved issue under the rug.

Love is unifying. We can disagree without being oppositional. We can disagree with respect, empathy, and an interest in getting to know each other better. We can learn to agree to disagree. Understanding each other is more important than agreeing on everything.

One of the most loving things we can do for ourselves and our partner is to identify our own needs. If we can be honest with ourselves about what we need, emotionally, physically, sexually, mentally, etc., and learn to express this need without demanding it be met, then we’re onto something that will really transform our relationships.

Many people think that it is unselfish to keep their needs out of their awareness — they may not even know they have certain kinds of needs buried below the surface. This is actually a disservice to themselves and their partners. Your partner doesn’t stand a chance of meeting your needs if you can’t express what they are! And even if you think this is selfless, eventually it will lead to resentments. Making love is choosing to have a conscious relationship — choosing to become more self-aware of our personal agendas.

One aspect of emotional maturity is taking responsibility for our feelings, thoughts, and needs so rather than unconsciously acting them out and testing our partner, we choose to ask for our partner’s help and participation. This draws us closer. Of course, not all our needs can be met by our romantic partner, or perhaps at all. But we always deserve love for how we feel, even if our feelings don’t seem to make sense.

Remember, if you sincerely would rather make love than argue, all you have to do is share your needs rather than prove your point. With a cooperative partner, this will go a long way toward improving your communication, deepening your understanding of each other, and cultivating a more loving relationship.

I’m available for coaching sessions on emotional intelligence and harmonious communication. To set up an appointment, email miracles@amytorresacim.com

8 Ways to Become A Good Listener – and Why You Want To

Posted on September 26, 2015

in Uncategorized, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom

by Amy Torres

Have you ever been talking to someone who is looking around the room while you speak? Or who interrupts you to say something on a completely different subject? Maybe you were confiding in a friend who seemed distracted and when you accused her of not listening, she said indignantly, “I was listening!” To prove it she parroted back the last phrase you had spoken.

There is a difference between listening and technically hearing what is said. Hearing what is said takes short term memory — it only indicates that on a surface level you took in their words but didn’t join emotionally with the person speaking to you. Listening is being receptive to your own inner wisdom, while emotionally attuned to the other person.

Men tend to be better listeners than women because generally they can tolerant silence better. Women are better listeners than men in that they are more comfortable sharing emotions. Men need to learn how to be more emotionally available and responsive. Women need to learn how to be supportive through their presence rather than talking too much.

Becoming a better listener means becoming a better person because it cultivates emotional maturity and generosity. Is it possible to become a great listener? Yes it is. Let’s look at eight ways you can develop great listening skills.

1. Be interested. Many people think listening means keeping quiet until it is their turn to talk. But true listening is a selfless act. Listening means giving your thoughtful attention to another person. This attention is non-judgmental, open-minded, respectful and curious.

2. Listening is receiving. We are receiving the trust and vulnerability of another person. To be a receiver, let yourself be a blank canvas for the other person. Allow your friend to toss out ideas, feelings, contradictory thoughts, and whatever else is coming up. Let her be upset or illogical.

3. Indicate you’re listening with subtle cues. Let the person know that you’re interested by nodding your head, murmuring “mmm hmmm,” and softly echoing a word or short phrase here and there.

4. Attuning and matching. A good listener usually makes eye contact, but might also sit companionably side by side and gaze straight ahead, allowing the talker privacy and intimacy at the same time. Attune yourself to the person talking to you by noticing the degree of eye contact they are making with you and match them. For instance, if the person seems self-conscious and looks down or away a lot, drop your gaze as well from time to time. This way she will feel accepted rather than scrutinized. If she is animated and leaning towards you, lean towards her. Pick up on her rhythm, her body language. Psychological research has found that people feel understood when we use the same gestures they use. This helps them to feel safe and relaxed.

5. Wait for an organic pause. Try not to interrupt — it’s an amazing gift to provide enough space for someone to let it all out. When there is a lull, and the person seems to have unburdened themselves, that will be the time to speak. When I was a student in Gestalt psychotherapy training, I would eagerly jump in while clients were still talking and a fellow student told me that I wasn’t waiting for the “organic pause”– that natural breath between spoken thoughts that opens the door to another voice chiming in. I came from a cultural background where we were used to interrupting each other’s interruptions, and it wasn’t unusual for five conversations to be going on at the same time. Even if this is acceptable socially, it doesn’t work when someone really needs a shoulder to cry on, or in a work situation, if a colleague needs to resolve professional issues.

6. Acknowledge and empathize. Good listening is not complete silence. When the time comes to speak, briefly reiterate to the person what you heard them say. For example, if your friend tells you in a loud, excitable voice, “My boyfriend had lunch with his ex yesterday! He won’t tell me what they talked about. He’s shutting me out. Does he still love her? Should I break up with him before he breaks up with me?” as a good listener, let her vent. Do not say, “Calm down. Relax. Everything will be okay.” That will only escalate her feelings because she will feel, rightfully so, that you cannot tolerate her being upset.

Instead, use some of her words, and say, “Okay, your boyfriend had lunch with his ex yesterday. Now you’re feeling shut out and scared that he may still love her and want to get back with her?” Your friend will feel “heard” because you actually were strong enough to hear her, instead of trying to get her to calm down on your timetable. Chances are she will say, “Yes!” Then she may burst into tears, or talk some more, or quiet down. You are now helping her productively process her feelings, rather than frantically obsessing over them.

“It sounds like you’re really upset with your boyfriend for having lunch with his ex. If I were you I’d feel the same way.” or “I know you really wanted that promotion and I don’t blame you for feeling it was unfair that the new guy got it.” By reflecting back to the person what they said in their own words, you are acknowledging you heard them accurately. And by saying you might feel the same way, you are putting your foot in their shoe and empathizing with them. The emotional tone of what you say should be responsive rather than reactive. In other words, while you’re listening take note of what’s coming up for you and put it on a back shelf. Sort out what is useful for the person who is confiding in you and, for now, keep your own emotions and opinions to yourself.

7. Don’t give unasked for advice. Most of us have not been listened to in the way I’m describing, so we’re not used to listening to someone else this way. We may consider ourselves very nice people and have all kinds of good ideas for the person speaking to us about their problem. What we don’t realize is that offering solutions before a person has expressed their upset feelings doesn’t work. Do you want to be told what to do while you’re venting?

8. Make an offering. After acknowledging and empathizing, you have the option of offering something more. It can be something simple like, “How can I help?” or “Would you like some feedback from me?” Chances are your friend feels relieved and solutions are starting to form within her now that she’s cleared a space inside herself. Don’t be surprised if your good listening facilitates her having a revelation about herself or the situation. She may tell you that you’ve done more than enough already! If she does want feedback, this is your opportunity to share your experience and offer advice. Timing is everything — wait until you’re invited.

What’s in it for you? Great listeners are receivers — they receive trust, they are in an honored position in that way. They help people sort out their thoughts and feelings. Listeners offer solace and consolation. They celebrate and appreciate good news or achievements. And in the process, listeners receive the gratification of being there for someone else. Listeners have cultivated patience to wait until another person has talked themselves out — and have discovered that people often find their own answers to their struggles.

So, listening develops faith in us that people have an inner intelligence. We don’t have to be mini-Gods and fix everyone’s problems by jumping in and talking too much or too soon. Listening requires patience, generosity, and humility. Becoming a great listener is a process of maturing. By developing great listening skills, we provide a mirror that reflects back to the person speaking what is inside of them, and that is powerfully rewarding for both of us.

The Ability to Resolve Conflict Is Key to Healthy Relationships

Posted on September 26, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Can we agree that everybody disagrees with somebody else at one time or another? This is inevitable in a dualistic world, but there is a harmonious way to deal with disagreement.

There are ways to communicate which help us resolve conflict, avoid unnecessary arguments and develop harmonious relationships. Most people who use the techniques offered below report improvements, not just in their love life, but in relationships with other family members, co-workers, friends, and complete strangers. In other words, everybody!

The great conflict negotiator, Marshall Rosenberg, shared that when he taught his non-violent communication skills to young children in elementary schools that they picked up the ability to identify their feelings and share them responsibly far more quickly than did their teachers and the school administrators. Although it is generally true that young minds absorb information more easily than when we’re older and more stuck in our ways, there’s always hope if we’re willing to try. On that note, here are three proven tools for improving communication between you and your partner.

1. Self-awareness. Set aside some time to work on gaining more awareness of what’s going on inside of you when you are upset with your partner. For example, if you are frustrated that your partner has agreed to take out the garbage when it’s full, but doesn’t actually do so, you may feel fully justified in being angry. But let’s break it down. It sounds like it’s more about him keeping his word, and participating in the household chores. Underneath your anger, you may feel you can’t trust him to follow through on what he says, and that you have more than your fair share to do around the house-you may feel a lack of partnership. Gaining self-awareness about the deeper issues empowers you and facilitates better communication. Once you clarify what is going on within you, communicate constructively using “I”-talk, that is, using the word “I” and “me” rather than accusing or blaming.

For example, rather than saying, “You never take out the garbage! I’ve had it!” and angrily doing it yourself, you might say, “It would make me happy if you took out the garbage regularly without me reminding you. I could relax and trust that you’ll follow through and it’s a good feeling when you share the chores with me.” Can you feel the difference in the emotional tone?

2. Acknowledgment. It would go a long way at this point if your partner is willing to acknowledge what you have said. This means he remains open, not defensive, and says something simple, like, “I know I haven’t been consistent taking out the garbage.” When we acknowledge what our partner said without defending, this usually has a soothing effect on the one who is upset. It is also empowering to the one “in the wrong” because s/he finds there are ways to communicate without escalating the situation. Neuro-linguistic programming, a powerful approach to interpersonal communication, found that using the same words as the other person help him/her to feel understood. Harville Hendrix uses a similar technique called mirroring in his Imago Relationship Therapy Work.

Mirroring sounds like, “It would make you happy if I took out the garbage regularly without you reminding me. You could relax and trust that I’ll follow through, and you feel good when I share the chores with you.” When we reflect back accurately what the other person has said to us, the person feels understood and respected. This is a powerful tool in de-escalating conflict and re-establishing cooperation.

3. Accountability. Accountability means taking responsibility for our feelings and actions. This, too, takes some self-searching to become more self-aware. So if I’m the one who hasn’t been taking out the garbage, I would find out what’s going on inside myself. Maybe I’ve been busy at work and too tired to do one more thing. Maybe I’ve been fixing things around the house and feel unappreciated. Maybe I’m getting back at you for something else. Maybe I just don’t like taking out the garbage. Whatever it is, I need to clearly know this for myself in order to communicate well.

When you’re working with a partner, it really helps if you both make a sincere effort to understand and cooperate with each other. Make a statement out loud to each other setting your intention to find more peaceful ways of interacting so that you communicate better, have less arguments, and more constructive discussions. If your partner won’t work with you, state an intention to yourself and use the methods below on your own. They will still prove very useful.

The Challenge of Physical Pain and Disability

Posted on September 24, 2015

in Awakening, Non-duality, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom

by Amy Torres

One of the challenges expressed during the recent Weekend of Freedom Retreat was the issue of pain and physical Skull Fire disabilities. This deserves more attention and clarification than we had time for over the weekend. It is also relevant to many, many people. So let’s look more closely at how the ego consumes us with fear about pain and physical disabilities, and how to douse the flames of this ego fire.

Contemporary mystic Mooji asks, “Are you suffering your experience or experiencing your suffering?”

When you suffer your experience, you are identified with pain and helplessness. Not only is your mind focused on the unpleasantness of what you are feeling, it is also fearing the future and imagining the worst possible outcomes.

When you experience your suffering, there is detachment from pain, helplessness and future outcomes. There is also a knowing that all is well no matter what your circumstances. You rest in God. Having placed yourself in His Hands, the body is now used for His Purpose, as a communication link tuned in to His Channel. Pain may be felt as sensation, in varying intensities, but when unidentified with, it loses its psychological power.

Physical pain may seem different from psychological pain, but it is actually a variation on psychological pain. From A Course in Miracles perspective, all pain boils down to psychological pain. It is the meaning you assign to pain that makes it seem real, important, and a valid distraction from finding out Who you really are. If you use pain as a reminder to turn to God, it can be an accelerated path to awakening! Ego will tell you that the pain is all-consuming and overwhelming, but the clue that this is not true is that unless you are unconscious, no matter how agonizing the pain, it is observed. This Observer is the Holy Spirit, your Inner Teacher, Who is always here for you to choose instead of the ego.

violet light I am not minimizing your physical experience; I am empowering you by inviting you to turn your attention away from righteous immersion in the pain and back to your Source. Again, you may protest that you want to turn your attention away but you cannot. This is why I use the word “righteous.” Righteousness may be disguised as helplessness or self-pity, but it is really a way of maintaining ego identity.

You may also feel ashamed or guilty about no longer being physically healthy and independent. This, too, is the ego talking. There is no greater power than God and when you depend on Him, He will assuage your fears about human dependencies. Many enlightened masters encountered physical pain and suffering as part of their karma. Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj both died of cancer, as did Helen Schucman. Don’t cop out by telling yourself that you are no enlightened master. Jesus tells us in the Course that we are no different than he, “There is nothing about me that you cannot attain.” (T-1.II)

Remember, the most meaningful prayer is to request to recognize what you already are — not a request for physical healing. Use the ACIM forgiveness practice to give all pain to the Holy Spirit. This empties you of false personal identity and restores the connection with your true Self. The natural outcome is Peace and Freedom no matter what the condition of the body.

yogi jc Jesus tells us in Chapter 9, “An individual may ask for physical healing because he is fearful of bodily harm. At the same time, if he were healed physically, the threat to his thought system might be considerably more fearful to him than its physical expression. In this case he is not really asking for release from fear, but for removal of the symptom that he himself selected. This request is, therefore, not for healing at all.” It may be hard to swallow that you selected your symptoms, but Jesus means this in the general sense that we all chose to believe we are separate from God.

He goes on to say, “The Bible emphasizes that all prayer is answered, and this is indeed true. The very fact that the Holy Spirit has been asked for anything will ensure a response. Yet it is equally certain that no response given by Him will ever be one that would increase fear. It is possible that His answer will not be heard. It is impossible, however, that it will be lost. There are many answers you have already received but have not yet heard. I assure you that they are waiting for you.“*

The body has an expiration date. This is inevitable. The pain and dysfunction of the body can go on for many years before that date arrives. The ego uses the time-body to testify that pain is real. The Holy Spirit uses the body for the purpose of awakening. Which do you prefer?

Once you choose the Holy Spirit as your guide, pain is tranformed. It may still be there, but as you give it to your Father, it is used for a healing purpose. The pain in your body is not only yours. It is a human condition shared by many! Be a living demonstration of grace under pressure by surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Not only will you be used as a conduit for miracles, you will awaken to Who You truly are. In this way, you will discover that all is well.

thank you beach Few do it, but it is possible to say “thank you” to pain and physical disabilities. This “thank you” is a grateful surrender to not knowing anything; in the big picture this pain may be seen very differently than you do now. Perhaps it is the motivator that forces you to your knees and helps you complete your awakening. Perhaps it breaks through complacency and personal identity. If good health had motivated you, you wouldn’t be intimidated physical health issues now. Therefore, now is a perfect time to open your mind to hearing the answers to your prayers which are waiting for you to receive them! Let me know how it goes (email miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot com)

* * * * *

For more on illness and the body, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ACIMBodyImage. Also, You may also benefit from reading Ego says, “You need me.” , How to Deal with Your Worst Moments, and Body Health Is Not a Measurement of Spiritual Unfolding

* Emphasis mine.

ACIM Las Vegas Conference 2016

Posted on September 21, 2015

in ACIM in Vegas 2016, Las Vegas 2016

by Amy Torres

It’s a sure bet Just click on the pic for more info.

You may enjoy reading A Course in Miracles and Las Vegas … really?

ACIM Conference 2016

Posted on September 21, 2015

in ACIM in Vegas 2016, Las Vegas 2016

by Amy Torres

Dangling money carrot The 2016 CMC ACIM Conference is being held in Vegas: a spiritual gathering in the gambling capital of the world. “Gambling is a way of buying hope on credit,” says Alan Wykes, author of The Complete Illustrated Guide to Gambling. This is because the ego dangles hope like a carrot to keep humans invested in their false identity.

On the other hand, A Course in Miracles in Vegas is more of a sure-fire jackpot than a gamble! Think about it. There will be so many ego temptations at the casino, and yet this year’s theme, Change Your Mind, Change the World, will offer constant reminders that you can use them all for the Holy Spirit’s purpose. Hope is not necessary when spiritual awakening is guaranteed. “God is inevitable, and you cannot avoid Him any more than He can avoid you.” (ACIM, T-4.I.9:10)

Dice-Jesus * Experience using your desires for the highest good of all
* Clarify your understanding of ACIM concepts
* Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of Truth
* Find teachers who truly inspire you (over 25 presenters, including me)
* Just be … just show up and allow Spirit to guide you all weekend
* Let Spirit use you as a conduit for miracles
* Undo your addiction to ego and trust that Change Your Mind, Change the World is a vehicle for mind-healing and Spirit-revealing
* Meet like-minded people who are supportive of your spiritual life
* Allow the Holy Spirit to provide, even when money seems scarce

As soon as you sign up, you have begun to reap the benefits of the conference! This is because you have put your willingness into action. You have planted the seed of awakening. Your miracles begin here and multiply endlessly through you (even if it seems as though nothing is happening).

In my experience, signing up for conferences,workshops, retreats, intensives and other spiritual events has been a big opening for my healing, unlearning and awakening. There is every reason for Change Your Mind, Change the World to be that opportunity for you. “Ultimately, everyone must remember the Will of God, because ultimately everyone must recognize himself.” (T-9.I.9:1) Why wait?

Rio Hotel Vegas The Las Vegas Conference will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino just off the Las Vegas strip from Friday, April 8th – Sunday, April 10th, 2016. Tickets are $499 if paid in full by Nov 14th, 2015, and include four all-you-can-eat buffet meals (Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday brunch — you are on your own for breakfast).

Rooms are $124 per night for both single or double occupancy (includes high speed internet, access to athletic facilities, and more.)

For more info and to register, click here or call Community Miracles Center at 415-621-2556 or 888-621-2556 (toll free in USA). Much appreciated if you tell them “Amy Torres” inspired you to register.

Listen to this with the Holy Spirit and choose an Ace that you can keep! See ya in Vegas

I look forward to meeting you in person. Please introduce yourself to me and let’s have a hug. Amy crosslegged white

Ego says, “You need me!”

Posted on September 13, 2015

in Awakening, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom

by Amy Torres

Are you ready to be ego-free? It is possible. You must look within, but the ego will tell you this is a very bad idea dont look under the bed

Ego says, “You need me! How will you function without me? Who will you be without me? Without me, you will lose your loved ones, your income, your pleasures, life itself!” Are you still falling for that?

Let’s get something straight:

miracle sparkles You are Life. You are Love. You are Innocence. You are Infinite. You are Timeless. In this recognition, all worldly problems recede and are resolved in the brief interval you remain in the body to Shine on your brothers and accept the reflection beamed back to you. This is your function as the light of the world. (W-61, W-62, W-65 and countless more references throughout the Course.)

Jesus tells us in an early chapter of A Course in Miracles, “Because I am always with you, you are the way, the truth and the life. You did not make this power, any more than I did.” Take this statement to heart! Trust …

He goes on to say that the memory of God is within us and, “It is our function to remember Him on earth, as it is given us to be His Own completion in reality.” Yes, you are God’s Completion. Do not accept the predictable ego tirade about how you are not worthy or capable or maybe someday after countless lifetimes but not now.

Jesus comforts us that we do not have to repeat his extreme experience of crucifixion saying, “The Holy Spirit is glad when Jesus Hand you can learn from mine, and be reawakened by them.” This is bad news for the ego, which does crucify you every single day that you allow it — the crucifixion looks different in the 21st century, but all torment boils down to psychological torment.

Though the body of Jesus was on the cross, Jesus’ God-Mind was not. You, too, live within the Mind of God. It is insanity to think you don’t; the ego self-concept is imagined with the Mind of God so “you” can’t somehow exist outside of God-Mind. Just pay attention to what you think and what your senses show you. As you develop personal self-awareness, little by little you stop taking yourself personally. Eventually, you stop taking others personally. Finally, self-awareness leads to Self-awareness.

In the ACIM Psychotherapy supplement, Jesus asks, “And what more transcendent aim can there be than to recall the way, the truth and the life, and to remember God?” We could say “the way” is willingness to tune in to the Holy Spirit, your Inner Teacher. We could say “the truth” is the empowerment that arises when communication with your Inner Teacher is established. We could say “the life” is the realization that you are Bodiless, Identity-less Being — Unified, Un-conceptual, Image-less, Non-sensory. Perception and projection completely undone reveals That Which You Are.

If you would like to explore an ego-free life more deeply click here for info on private sessions with me or email me at miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot com)

Five Keys to Forgiveness Workshop

Posted on September 8, 2015

in Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Uncategorized, What is A Course in Miracles?

by Amy Torres

A Course in Miracles teaches us a new definition of forgiveness. This new definition offers us an entirely different way of understanding ourselves and our relationships. As the introduction to ACIM states, the Course offers us a forgiveness practice as a way of “removing the blocks to the awareness of Love’s Presence” which naturally leads to giving and receiving miracles.

In the Five Keys to Forgiveness workshop, Amy Torres shares tools and tales for understanding forgiveness in new ways, and ideas for applying these principles in our daily lives. We cover:

* Forgiveness is an undoing process, removing loneliness, fear, blame, anger, guilt and shame

* Forgiveness contains the spiritual law that “giving is receiving” and offers us endless abundance.

* Forgiveness is a natural outcome of the willingness to be undone by following the spiritual guidance of your Inner Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

* Forgiveness brings inner peace, renewed faith, and lasting happiness.

* Forgiveness instills a sense of purpose and life is truly meaningful.

* Forgiveness changes our relationship with time, our understanding of death, and results in miracles.

* Forgiveness teaches us not to take ourselves personally and restores our True Self. Undoing leads to awakening.

* And much more, because forgiveness is a giving practice that just keeps on giving and giving and giving

(These bullet points are material we cover — the five keys are revealed during the workshop itself.)

Bring a notebook and pen. Wear comfortable clothes. Be prepared to remove your shoes.
You do not have to bring your A Course in Miracles book with you for the workshop.

Click here to watch Amy’s video on Five Keys to Forgiveness

If you would like Amy to give this workshop in your area, email miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot com)

Also, you can watch and hear Amy reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. And check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.

4. What Is Sin?

Posted on September 8, 2015

in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

In Part II of the Workbook, every 10 lessons we are given an instruction. It comes in the form of a question. There are 14 of these questions all together, and each one of them corresponds to a set of 10 lessons, and is to be read every day for the next 10 days along with our lesson for the day. “What Is Sin?” is the fourth instruction and goes with Lessons 251 – 260.

4. WHAT IS SIN?

Sin is insanity. It is the means by which the mind is driven mad, and seeks to let illusions take the place of truth. And being mad, it sees illusions where the truth should be, and where it really is. Sin gave the body eyes, for what is there the sinless would behold? What need have they of sights or sounds or touch? What would they hear or reach to grasp? What would they sense at all? To sense is not to know. And truth can be but filled with knowledge, and with nothing else.

The body is the instrument the mind made in its efforts to deceive itself. Its purpose is to strive. Yet can the goal of striving change. And now the body serves a different aim for striving. What it seeks for now is chosen by the aim the mind has taken as replacement for the goal of self-deception. Truth can be its aim as well as lies. The senses then will seek instead for witnesses to what is true.

Sin is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are the “proof” that what has no reality is real. Sin “proves” God’s Son is evil; timelessness must have an end; eternal life must die. And God Himself has lost the Son He loves, with but corruption to complete Himself, His Will forever overcome by death, love slain by hate, and peace to be no more.

A madman’s dreams are frightening, and sin appears indeed to terrify. And yet what sin perceives is but a childish game. The Son of God may play he has become a body, prey to evil and to guilt, with but a little life that ends in death. But all the while his Father shines on him, and loves him with an everlasting Love which his pretenses cannot change at all.

How long, O Son of God, will you maintain the game of sin? Shall we not put away these sharp-edged children’s toys? How soon will you be ready to come home? Perhaps today? There is no sin. Creation is unchanged. Would you still hold return to Heaven back? How long, O holy Son of God, how long?

Remember, in Part II of the Workbook, every 10 lessons we are given an instruction. It comes in the form of a question. There are 14 of these questions all together, and each one of them corresponds to a set of 10 lessons, and is to be read every day for the next 10 days along with our lesson for the day. “What Is Sin?” is the fourth instruction and goes with Lessons 251 – 260.

Let’s practice together! Watch and hear Amy reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.