FEATURE #4: “The Heart’s Reasons”By Katherine Saux pg 92

Katherine Saux’s article this week. “The Heart’s Reasons” (page 92), begins with this quote from the philosopher Blaise Pascal: “The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing.”

(Q1) Have you ever had such an experience as the one above? Do you listen to your head or do you listen to your heart or maybe both? How do you make decisions? If you are in indecision, what do you do then?

We all listen to our friends, teachers, or whatever helps us decide, but in the long run, does that method work? Good opinions and great books along with loving people are a possible deterrent from our truth. What are we to do? This is this feature’s teaching.

“No one taught me to rely on my own inner wisdom, nor do I remember that approach being modeled. Intuition was not honored: in fact, it was discouraged.”

(Q2) Have you ever received that sort of advice that she is talking about? Was choosing the safe route good advice or taking the safe route not really what you knew to do? Did you follow your heart in your younger years or do what you were told? What was the result? What did you learn now…impact?

The author’s result was she was skeptical about following her heart. She makes this interesting point: “I equated my heart with my emotions, and experience had proved that my emotions weren’t reliable.”

In the SOM text, Holmes shows us a balance: “While we admire the intellect, we must realize that the intellect is not the creative factor in the Universe. Rather, it is feeling that is creative…God does speak to the heart more than the intellect and this is why it is that often you will find a person who apparently can give no reason for what he believes...Of course it is well to combine the intellect and feeling and to use both the head and heart, for the intellect gives a definite form to the feeling. But unless the feeling is there, the intellect will merely have provided the empty mold.”

(Q3) The author talks about her experience with skepticism when she used her feelings and emotions for an unreliable result. Have you had an experience like that? Holmes concept is that God does speak more to the heart: What are your thoughts, do you agree? Do you think that God provides Guidance through both head and heart? How do you then receive Divine Guidance?

Acts of Love and Creativity

Pg 93-94

Here we discover the differences between the characteristics of reason (head) and those of the heart. Of reason, she lists comparison, competition, victory, materiality and notoriety. Of the heart, she considers love, connection, caring and creativity.

She talks about her early formative programming (we all have it) set up a situation that caused her to deny her own joy and creativity.

(Q4) Was there a time or times in your life when you measured your decisions by standards that were not your own? Have you lived from-and made decisions according to…you head or your heart? Here is the biggie…have you made decisions that led you away from your joy or from your creativity? Can you look at your life now and see your creativity flourishing? Here is where I think it is important to realize and answers some questions in order to see the way you think and the way you solve problems. This is the lesson. Share!

Acts of Courage

Pg 94-95

At the beginning of the first chapter, she writes, “Listening to your heart requires a bit of courage because our deepest yearnings for expression and connection often run counter to societal norms or cultural expectations. It’s easier to follow the money than to follow the heart.”

(Q5) Following your heart can also lead away from the money: have you ever taken a financial risk or loss in order to follow your heart? Has listening to your heart required the courage not to follow “sound” or “practical advice? Has it ever seemed that listening to your heart might be pulling you out of your comfort zone too far? Have you ever not listened to your heart and then regretted it?

Saux describes being able to recognize the heart’s call---as opposed to emotional “wants” of the ego. Can you recognize the difference?

Saux shared that for her, emotions of the ego are more intense or acute and that they include some ego-driven fear of consequences.

Saux clarifies on the top of page 95, first paragraph, “On the other hand, when my heart is the instigator, my feelings are deeper slower and gentler-an insistent but patient thrum-hum that I can always articulate right away. All I can tell sometimes is that I’m being called to do or be something that enriches my life, enhances my sense of meaning my ability to contribute something to the world.”

(Q6) Have you ever thought or been aware when you are being Guided by your heart, as the author describes? Is your experience the same or different as it was for her? Do you struggle with decisions, not knowing if you are hearing your heart, your ego, or old programming you learned in the past? Can you recognize Divine Guidance and the different ways you hear it?

SOM teachings lift us out of any dilemma with regard to heart vs. mind because we know that Spirit works through mind and heart. Holmes sometimes uses the terms mind and heart synonymously. From a familiar Bible passage, Holmes writes: “To Be still and know that I am God is to enter the sanctuary of one’s own consciousness. From this center the issues of life proceed. Keep thy heart (mind) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Is Divine Guidance what we hear when we listen to the heart? Is our own inner voice of truth, the Voice of God, within?

Homes instructs, “We are surrounded by Divine Wisdom, Love, and Intelligence, and still lack Divine Guidance. Not that we lack the Principle of Divine Guidance, for that is the gift of God forever made and forever delivered, but that we lack the perception of this Guidance and its operation through us…We are surrounded by a Principle of Mind and Intelligence which will become Divine Guidance to us provided we permit it to do so. Our part is to realize that Divine Guidance is a Principle, and to accept this Principle as operating in our everyday life. …so Divine Guidance is ours for the asking, and …there has always been an answer.”

(Q7 Did you know that Divine Guidance is always there and readily available to you at any time? Have you had your questions or requests (desires) answered in a way that you knew it came from Spirit? Now do you understand how and why you must be ready to receive, to hear or to accept Guidance? It is in the asking that you can receive the highest good!

Holmes explains, “God has answered every request at the level of the mentality from which the request was made. When the scientist listens, the artist imagines, the mathematician calculates, or the poet waits for the muse to guide his fancy into word pictures, all are praying for Divine Guidance. Each in his own sphere of action receives as much guidance as he is capable of perceiving.”

(Q8) Look back on your life and bring with you at our next class one example to share that validates God’s answer given in perfect timing. Use such as a confirmations or messages that you knew was Guidance for you.

Holmes urges us toward a scientific aspect of his teachings with regard to Guidance: “Divine Guidance is just as definite a Principle in the Universe as the Law of Attraction and Repulsion. Your use of Divine Guidance must be just as conscious as an architect drawing a plan: just as a mathematician solving a problem; and the answer is just as definite.”

Holmes is clear about the use of our thought in preparing ourselves to receive Guidance. He recommends words of affirmation: “There is a Divine Inspiration within me that continually guides me and governs every act and thought in certainty, with conviction and in Peace.” Wouldn’t this be a great affirmation to say when you don’t know the answers?

Acts of Connection

The author shares her experience of the decisions of her heart…to become a licensed Practitioner and then a minister. Her decision later proved true and her level of life is now filled with love and purpose giving her great fulfillment.

FYI: CSL offers courses at our Centers or Online to assist you in developing your ability to hear this Divine Voice.

(Q9) Do you think or feel you hear the Voice of God or experience the intuition of your heart when you are seeking Guidance? Here’s one question, too…. have you had Guidance without even asking that you know was Divinely guided?

The author explains that listening to the heart leads to love and also to the oneness of knowing our divine connection with all. At the bottom of page 95, read where she says, “Our hearts know this beyond reason, because we can’t think our way to God; we can only surrender in love.” She also shares this powerful quote from St. Augustine: “Thou has made us, Thine we are, and our hearts are restless until they find repose I Thee.”

Wow, what a great feature study this week. This month has been extraordinary for me. I hope the same for you. The month of June features the theme about Mindfulness. What a great topic especially for right now! I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday at 6:00 op.m. I will be there 15 minutes earlier for any questions or concerns you may have. Until them Spiritual Scientists!!!

Love, light, and laughter to all of you!

Rev Lyssa