ACIM Notebook

by Hugh Prather
published in The Holy Encounter

A consistently restful and comforting approach to mental change reflects the same throughout our body, relationships, and in all aspect of our life.

The root meaning of the word forgive is to release, to give back, to let go. Forgiveness heals because it permits all forms of attack and abuse to pass from thought. This process can be quietly pictured as easily as verbalized. The following are several guided meditations that focus on mental release and can also be used for physical healing.

Naturally, changing the body should never become a goal that substitutes for true healing. Healing is merely peace and occurs wholly within our mind.

Make your imagery games as happy and free of conflict as God’s power. Picture what delights and relaxes you, and hear only what lifts you to joy. Sing a quiet song to your mind that transforms each strain of sadness you identify. Dance your thoughts to its music, and let there be dirges no more.

Stillness Imageries
Stillness is not an absence of sound but the presence of peace. Nothing is more substantive than peace and so you can rub this deep hush of God’s presence into every patch of soreness or hate. Feel the balm of peace remove completely what never really touched the Child God made out of Love itself.

Or float a blanket of God’s quiet snow over every form of fear. Watch the areas of trauma relax and heal beneath the soft and luminous mantle of the Divine.

Or pour onto the damaged parts of your body a healing oil. Let it settle there like silence and spread like the gift of grace.

Or see floating down from Heaven a lovely white parachute. It carries a silver container of celestial paint marked “The Glory of God.” You dip the attached brush into the rapturous golden liquid and softly spread it over each area of difficulty, until the entire landscape of your mind and body relaxes in peace.

Blessing Imageries
Giving our blessing heals, for we can always give what we have received in full. We can bless our body, which represents our present concept of ourselves, far more effortlessly than we can curse it.

Both color and music are ancient means of healing. Imagine your wounds and ailments as the sound or color you like the least. Using either the color or sound you like most, change the present tone to one of harmony. For instance, imagine gray turning into blue or honking turning into jazz. As the transformation occurs, see complete healing accompany it.

Or picture an angel of God handing you a holy lantern. Direct the strong light of benediction into any place you see fearful shadows or picture dark images. As Love’s radiance focuses on the troubled spot, notice that there your body is made whole.

Or draw a circle of light around you. Fill in every shadow and all the empty spaces with light of equal brilliance. Now switch yourself on and see that you are the light of this circle. Then draw your circle around the world, and acknowledge that you are also the light of the world. Behold its brilliance arching above you and the splendor of its beauty below and all about. Rest in this vision for a long healing moment. The Truth allows no hurt to remain in anyone.

Entering the Place of Peace
Our home and God’s are one, and in God’s home there is no pain.

Travel to a spot where you would love to be. Any kind of place you wish to picture. Smell its perfumes and hear its gentle sounds. Leave all forms of fear behind and watch for a while only the surroundings you enjoy. Now comes your special Guardian. This happy sight is very familiar. You knew it well when you were a little child. This One is once again answering your call and brings the healing touch you requested. Now the hand of Love is gently placed where you direct. It heals whatever bothers you there. Your relief is all that this One requests, for your wholeness blesses the world.

Because God wants you to be happy, you can present to God no greater gift than one of your sorrows. Picture God waiting patiently for you to ask for help. Each time you notice anything physically or emotionally distressing, wrap it as a present and hold it out to God. Watch as Love takes it and shines it all away. Now feel the deep thanks of the Divine that you have allowed your burden to be lightened.

Or breathe your pains, your misgivings, and all your forebodings into a balloon or into a giant bubble of bubble gum. When it is full and buoyant, release it into the heavens and feel all your upset and distress transported far far away. Now all that surrounds you and fills you is Home.

Or step into the soft flow of a sacred river and allow the healing waters to wash over you and dissolve whatever distresses you within or without. With only what God made of you left behind, see how you sparkle, clean and pure, the object of endless Love.

Or if you prefer a waterfall, it is there before you now, heavenly in its beauty. It pours like love from the Heart of God. Stand for a while in its gentle downpour and allow your worries and fears to wash away. Each tiny aspect of you is cleaned and healed throughout, and now you emerge in total newness, brilliant in your harmlessness toward everyone.

Step 1: Think of someone you are angry at. Anyone you have found difficult at times or who brings to mind a fearful thought is an adequate subject. Take a moment to picture this person in detail. How they stand. How they dress. Remember anything about their body and mannerisms that seem familiar. Now add to this image any memories of insensitivity, conceit, unfairness, cruelty, stupidity or other unforgiving thoughts that come to mind. Notice how tight and small your mind becomes.

Turning your attention away from this person, recall a moment when you or someone else was thoughtful, happy or kind. The incident does not have to involve the person you are focusing on. Just think of a time when any adult, child, or animal extended their love or enjoyment to another, any moment of forbearance, generosity or humor. Notice the soft light and feeling of relaxation that comes into your mind with this thought.

Think of another incident and still another until you have within your mind a palpable sense of light. Using the touch you would use to communicate your tenderness and love, shape this light into a garment. This can be a hat and cape or coat or clothing of any kind. Now gently place this garment of light over the person who is the subject. Allow yourself a moment to see the soft glow that surrounds them.

As you continue to watch, see standing behind this person a brilliant figure of light. You may have a name for this figure-saint, prophet, angel, guide, Jesus, Holy Spirit–or you may have none. But have no doubt that this is the Divine, the One who always comes to heal and make pure. Now watch as this holy figure walks into this person you have not yet forgiven. Pause a moment to see the light of your peace that covers them, and the Light of God that fills them. Notice that they become very still within God’s presence as they feel the release within your mind, and in their own.