Co-Creation and Treatment 3-11.1

A commentary on the practice of Spiritual Mind Treatment in relationship to the Principles and Practices of the Co-Creation Process. u Introduction Treatment to some traditional formula that is The term ‘Spiritual Mind Treatment’ is com- familiar to us, is to place a great limitation upon monly used throughout the American ‘New our ability to transform our lives through this Thought’ movement to describe a modern practice. form of ‘scientific .’ For those unfamiliar The relationship of the Co-Creation Process to with Spiritual Mind Treatment, it is a process by Spiritual Mind Treatment is emphasized by which we change the way that we think about ‘Group ourselves in order to improve the quality of our in his essay entitled, lives, and to make the world in which we live a Treatment,’ wherein he encourages us to en- better place to be. gage in this practice, and further states that whenever a group of people come together to One of the greatest teachers and proponents of pray in one accord with a common purpose, a Spiritual Mind Treatment was Ernest Holmes, greater power is always generated. He also the founder of ‘,’ which is points out in this essay the difficulties in orches- based upon the written teachings contained in trating such an activity. He further goes on to his classic volume ‘.’ make the following observation: Throughout his long and successful ministry Dr. Holmes developed and perfected Spiritual “Much of our field is still in the experimental Mind Treatment into both an art and a science stage, and you are likely to work out new tech- that could be taught to others. niques and perhaps better ways than have been discovered so far. If this were not true, Purpose your work would become static and heavy. The purpose of anything is its reason for being. You must depend upon a certain inspiration Consequently, to understand the nature of rising from your own soul, but always keep this anything we must have clarity about its pur- inspiration controlled with a sense of purpose, pose. The purpose of Spiritual Mind Treatment because no matter how great a Power is gen- is to clarify our minds with Spiritual Truth in erated, it will not produce results unless it is tied order to produce a Spiritual Realization. Such to a purpose.” a realization is the felt-sense of the reality of Truth in our souls. Throughout his book ‘How The Co-Creation Process fulfills the spirit of this to Use the Science of Mind,’ Ernest Holmes em- suggestion, and the key to understanding how phasizes over and over again that every mani- the Process fulfills the purpose of Spiritual Mind festation, or ‘demonstration’ of Truth in our Treatment lies in the structure of the Sacred physical experience of life must be preceded by Covenant, and the various practices that sup- a ‘Spiritual Realization’ in our souls. port its creation and implementation. This Covenant is a record of the agreements that With this clear understanding of the purpose of the group has reached concerning an area of Spiritual Mind Treatment, it is important to common interest, and serves as the means by recognize that any spiritual practice that fulfills which they can engage in an effective Group this purpose is actually a form of Treatment. In Treatment that will serve the common good. this sense, the process of Co-Creation is actually The means by which this is accomplishes is de- a form of Spiritual Mind Treatment that simply scribed in the following sections. utilizes new tools and techniques to fulfill the basic Purpose of this highly effective form of u spiritual practice. To limit the practice of

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The essence of Ernest Holmes’ wisdom, and used to practice the principle of Recognition. some of his most concise writings on the subject Consequently, embellishing the environment in of Spiritual Mind Treatment are contained in which a Co-Creation Process is conducted with the final chapters of ‘A New Design for Living,’ ‘forms of remembrance’ can serve as an effec- a book that he co-authored shortly before his tive way to keep the participating group in the passing. Therein, he identified four major prin- mood of Recognition. Such items might include ciples to be incorporated into the practice of candles, pictures, music, flowers, or anything Spiritual Mind Treatment: that personally reminds us of the Divine. The 1-Recognition 3-Declaration important thing to remember is that these ob- 2-Identification 4-Acceptance. jects have no power of their own, except to re- mind us of the only Power in our lives, which is Following is a brief discussion of these principles the within us. in relationship to the activities and practices of the Co-Creation Process. 2-Identification ‘Identification’ is a psychological term which 1-Recognition simply means ‘to become identical to.’ In a The first principle of Spiritual Mind Treatment is practical sense, it means to ‘be like.’ Ironically, ‘Recognition.’ To recognize means to ‘remem- this is also the root meaning of the word ‘be- ber again.’ Consequently, we always begin a lieve.’ Consequently, this particular principle of Treatment by remembering the nature of the Spiritual Mind Treatment is where we ‘become Divine. This nature is thoroughly described like’ what we have remembered about . It throughout the Sacred Scriptures, which have is where we confess that we believe what we withstood the test of time. Consequently, the recognize God to be. Furthermore, the ‘Great reading, or reciting of scripture is an excellent Law of Life’ reveals that we will ‘receive what we way to embrace the principle of Recognition. believe,’ which is what we have identified our- Most importantly, we must remember what selves with. God has promised us, for these promises are the Divine Potentials that are inherent within One thing that is not often understood is that our very own being. the method of Identification is the activity of ‘worship,’ which is to give our full attention to The Principle of Recognition is fulfilled through- something. Furthermore, the universal ‘Law of out the Co-Creation Process by beginning Worship’ declares that ‘we will become what every session with a spoken Invocation, as well we worship.’ Consequently, by giving our full as group chanting exercises, using lyrics that attention to what we have remembered God to describe the nature of the Divine. Furthermore, be, we become like God. It is from this high and the very foundation of the Sacred Covenant lofty state of consciousness that we become a produced by a Co-Creation Process is a single center of expression for the Divine. Word that describes the nature of the Divine. This Word is also supported by a Sacred Scrip- One of the most powerful ways to identify our- ture that further invites us to remember what selves with the nature of the Divine is through God has promised us all. Therein lies the true the use of the term ‘I am,’ which is a confession Power of the Covenant, for through this Sa- of identification. This ‘statement of being’ is cred Scripture we are setting ourselves into used with great effect throughout the Co- agreement with billions of human souls down Creation Process. . By singing “God’s the Love through the ages, who have likewise read and that I Am” at the beginning of each Session, we accepted this Promise from God as the Truth. are identifying ourselves with God as Love. For it is written, “God is love; and those that dwell in Additionally, we should also remain aware love dwell in God, and God in them.” (John 4:16) that anything that reminds us of God can be

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Given that Love is the ‘anointing of agreement,’ often the most glamorous aspect of Spiritual this chanting practice immediately sets the Mind Treatment, and the place where most mood for developing consensus among the beginning students want to start. However, for participants. Additionally, once a ‘Purpose our Treatments to have real power we must Word’ has been selected by the group, this affirm what we have realized to be true about Word can then be inserted into the GodSong the nature of the ‘Word of God within us.’ In Chant lyrics so that the group can begin to other words, we affirm the good intentions of identify with the Word of God that is their Pur- our heart, keeping in mind that our affirma- pose. i.e. “God’s the (Purpose Word) that I am.” tions will activate our intentions to produce the The principle of Identification is further utilized fruit of Spirit in our lives. Consequently, this is within the Co-Creation Process by the devel- where we begin to personalize our Spiritual opment of that identify us with the Mind Treatment so that the Word of God will Intentions that we have created and agreed to uniquely benefit our own expression of life in a in the Sacred Covenant. When utilized in the way that will make the world a better place to ‘Sacred Covenant Easy Prayer,’ these Affirma- be. As we positively affirm what is true about tions are the means by which we activate our God and ourselves, we set this Truth into vibra- Intentions. Furthermore, the structure of the tion in our lives, and into the lives of others. ‘Easy Prayer’ is generally consistent with the u traditional form of a Spiritual Mind Treatment. The materials and practices of the Co-Creation 3-Declaration Process have deeply embraced the principle of As the result of practicing the first two principles Affirmation. For example, every Session begins of Spiritual Mind Treatment, we enter into an with the God Song Chant which is actually the ‘awareness of oneness’ with the nature of the highest affirmation of Truth that we can make Divine. From this exalted state of consciousness about God and ourselves. Additionally, the we now function as a ‘center of expression’ for ‘wisdom worksheets’ which contain the Princi- the indwelling Spirit, that is the Truth of our ples utilized throughout the Process are created being. We do this by declaring our intention to with headings which serve as personal affirma- create or reveal something glorious into our tions of Truth when read aloud. Many of the experience of life, keeping in mind that a ‘heal- and practices taught during the course ing is simply a revealing’ of our spiritual na- of a Co-Creation Process, such as the Releasing ture, which is always whole, perfect and com- Prayer and the Praising Prayer involve the use plete. In this sense, a Declaration is actually a of affirmations. Most importantly, the Sacred ‘gesture of intention.’ Covenant created by the participants in the In his written teachings, Ernest Holmes sug- Process is turned into a ‘Easy Prayer,’ or Spiri- gested that one of the most effective ways to tual Mind Treatment containing a series of Af- firmations based on the Intentions that they engage in the practice of Declaration is by ‘af- firming’ what we intend, and then to ‘deny’ have set for themselves. any doubtful thoughts that would contradict 3b-Denial or Release our affirmations. Each of these two practices One of the most important and subtly complex deserves to be more deeply explored on their aspects of Spiritual Mind Treatment is the prin- own. ciple of Denial, which is an integral part of clas- 3a-Affirmation sical teachings. According to this Most people are usually quick to affirm what principle, we are called to deny the validity of they like, and what they want to get out of life. any ‘error belief’ that would contradict what Consequently, the principle of Affirmation is we have affirmed to be the Spiritual Truth about any given situation. We do this in order

Apr. ‘12 www.SacredDays.org Co-Creation and Treatment 3-11.4 to release the effect of the error from our lives. Another important aspect of Release is re- Consequently, in the Co-Creation Process the vealed when we study the life of Ernest Holmes, term ‘Release’ is used as a more functionally and find that whenever he worked with clients descriptive term to embrace the principle of De- he would often spend long periods in silent nial. This is because an ‘error belief’ is a reality, contemplation prior to actually performing a and we cannot deny a reality, we can only spoken Spiritual Mind Treatment. Certain ‘change it’ by denying the error upon which it is practices included in the Co-Creation Process, based. This subtle distinction is where many such as the ‘Fear to Faith’ process and the lose their way in Spiritual Mind Treatment. ‘Wisdom Tree’ worksheets are actually just the For example, Ernest Holmes once said that the codification of a ‘contemplative process’ which biggest problem he often encountered was reveals the ‘error beliefs’ that must be released that too many people were walking around in order for our spoken Treatments to be effec- affirming what they liked and denying what tive. In fact, it was one of Ernest Holmes early they didn’t like. The point of his comment was teachers, Mary Baker Eddy, who once said to suggest that merely living our lives according that “an error seen, is two thirds destroyed.” to our likes and dislikes will not produce any The remainder of the error is released by our meaningful changes in our circumstances. This spoken words. is because our experience of life is created BY u the emotional activity of our likes and dislikes, One of the most powerful tools for releasing the and the feelings associated with them merely errors within us, is forgiveness. This is because arise into our awareness in response to the we always project the ‘lies inside of us’ onto the people, places and things that our inherent people who are around us. Consequently, by likes and dislikes draw into our lives. forgiving the difficult people in our lives, the u power of Love will automatically release the The essence of Spiritual Mind Treatment is to errors within us that we have projected onto affirm what is spiritually True, and to deny, or others. In this sense, when we forgive others, release whatever errors oppose that Truth. we forgive ourselves as well. Furthermore, we must always keep in mind The Co-Creation Process is especially useful in that an error is not a person, place or thing. An regards to forgiveness, in that it requires us to error is a belief that creates the experience of develop the capacity to forgive other members the people, places and things that we don’t of the group ‘on the spot’ whenever conflicts want in our lives. Whenever we deny the peo- arise in the course of events. Additionally, the ple, places or things that we don’t like, we activity of forgiveness is also incorporated into merely reinforce the ‘error belief’ that drew many of the practices utilized throughout the them to us in the first place. Consequently, Co-Creation Process, such as the ‘Fear to Faith ‘ what must be released is the ‘error belief’ that worksheet. The fruit of forgiveness is great in- created the experience of what we don’t want deed, this is because Humility is a ‘state of con- in our lives. By using the term ‘Release’ instead stant forgiveness,’ and it is written that “God of ‘Denial’ it is easier for many people to avoid resists the proud, and gives grace unto the confusion about the subtle distinctions between humble.” (James 4:6) reality and Truth. We all have many realities, Finally, the importance of forgiveness in re- which are always changing, for ‘what is real is gards to the principle of Release is clearly ad- what we feel.’ However, Truth never changes, dressed by Jesus in the 11th Chapter of Mark, and It’s only reality is Love. where he said that we can have whatever we u pray for if we believe that we have received it,

Apr. ‘12 www.SacredDays.org Co-Creation and Treatment 3-11.5 and as we pray, we must also forgive others so In Conclusion that God can forgive us. (Mark 11:24,25) Throughout the New Thought movement, 4-Acceptance Spiritual Mind Treatment is often taught as a It is often suggested that ‘Acceptance’ is the form of ‘affirmative prayer,’ wherein the prin- most difficult principle of Spiritual Mind Treat- ciples of Treatment are referred to as ‘Steps.’ In ment for many people to put into practice. such a case, the principles of Spiritual Mind However, this is not necessarily so, for accep- Treatment have been relegated to form, and tance is simply an ‘attitude of openness’ to re- the Steps are part of a formula for Treatment. ceive the good that God wants to reveal This practice is an essential convention that is through us. This attitude is the natural out- necessary to teach beginning students how to come of simply practicing the other principles of apply the principles of Spiritual Mind Treat- Spiritual Mind Treatment. ment. However, we should never forget that the principles of Treatment are not bound by In fact, the fastest way to produce the fruit of the form of the formula. Acceptance is to simply be grateful for what God has promised to reveal through us. In this In his classic volume, ‘The Science of Mind,’ sense, acceptance is an ‘attitude of gratitude’ Ernest Holmes makes a very profound state- for the good that comes from ‘inside out of us’ ment that “Principle is not bound by prece- into the world. Consequently, the very best way dent.” Consequently, the principles of Spiritual to accept the fruit of our Treatments is to al- Mind Treatment should never be bound, or ways perform them in a mood of gratitude confined to the precedent of some traditional and thanksgiving for the graciousness of God. form that is familiar to us. Instead, we should always be open to new and more effective It is also important to keep in mind that grati- ways to apply these principles to everything tude is the ‘anointing of increase.’ Conse- that we do. quently, whatever we accept with gratitude, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, it Down through the ages the ‘masters of wis- will find a way to increase in our lives. dom’ have also taught that what will always manifest in our lives is our intention. Therefore, It has been said that the greatest gift that we whenever we consciously intend to bring the can give to another person is to graciously ac- principles of Spiritual Mind Treatment into any cept whatever they want to give us. Fortu- thing that we do, the purpose of Treatment is nately, the only thing that God wants to give us fulfilled by that activity. This purpose is to ‘clarify is something good, for it is written, “It is the Fa- our minds with Spiritual Truth in order to pro- ther’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.” duce a Spiritual Realization that will inevitably (Luke 12:32) Consequently, it becomes important lead to a Revelation of Spirit in our lives.’ In for us to be willing to accept what God has seeing how the Co-Creation Process fulfills the promised us, not just for our own sake, but Purpose and implements the Principles of Spiri- also to please God. tual Mind Treatment, we can better appreciate The principle of Acceptance, infused with grati- the ways in which this Process can transform tude, is an integral part of many of the prac- the lives of all who participate in its activities. tices contained in the Co-Creation Process, such ❦ as the ‘Love Prayer,’ the ‘Releasing Prayer’ and most especially the ‘Gratitude Journal.’ By em- Lloyd Strom 2012 bracing life with an attitude of openness, ac- ceptance and gratitude we abundantly reap the ‘fruits of Spirit’ that God has promised us down through the ages.

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