Our Declaration of Principles states that “The manifest universe is the body of God; it is the logical and necessary outcome of the infinite self-knowingness of God.”
Normally, when we think of the word body, we are referring to our physical form. Yet, in this spiritual framework, the physical body is understood as the lowest vibration. The emotional body extends beyond and influences the physical body; the mental body extends beyond and influences the emotional and physical bodies; and the soul body extends beyond and influences the mental, emotional, and physical bodies. Encompassing all of these is the spiritual body—the highest vibration—which overlays and permeates the soul, mental, emotional, and physical bodies.
I was taught—though I can’t remember by whom or when—that when something finally shows up in the physical body, it has already moved through all the other bodies first. We just weren’t paying attention yet.
This is not a scientific model, but a spiritual framework used to describe how awareness, emotion, thought, and meaning shape our lived experience.
For me, it is important to remember that I am a living, breathing organism—a compressed energy field connected energetically to everything around me. My physical body is the most tangible expression of that energy, constantly responding to my thoughts, emotions, and environment.
So why is this important? For me, it’s about empowerment. It is the realization that my thoughts—the one thing I truly have dominion over—really do matter. I believe every day is a gift, and because I believe that, how I wake up and show up each day matters.
At a time in history (and this is not the first time) when we are inundated with information designed to keep us separate, it is especially important to remember all that we share:
· Every person on this planet has a heart and red blood.
· Every person knows joy, fear, love, and loss.
· Every person wants to belong, to matter, and to be seen.
Self-awareness reminds us that beneath all appearances, labels, and differences, we are far more alike than we are different.
We often walk around in these “meat suits,” forgetting that we are part of the manifest Universe—the body of God. Perhaps if we remembered this—that we are God in form—we would look out through the eyes of God and see God looking back at us.
When we remember that we are part of the living body of the Universe, how we think, act, and treat one another naturally becomes more loving, conscious, and connected.
In the Science of Mind textbook, Spirit is defined in the Glossary as:
“God, within Whom all spirits exist. The Self-Knowing One. The Conscious Universe. The Absolute. Spirit in people is that part of them which enables them to know themselves—That which they really are. We do not see the spirit of people any more than we see the Spirit of God. We see what people do, but we do not see the doer.”
Our Declaration of Principles echoes this truth:
“We believe in the incarnation of the Spirit in everyone and that all people are incarnations of the One Spirit.”
In the simplest terms, we believe God is in, through, and as everything—everywhere.
I am currently teaching an amazing class based on Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth, where he speaks about faith as the power that releases our “imprisoned splendor.” I love that phrase. It feels so true. We often imprison our own greatness by not fully grasping what it means to be God in form—a unique, individualized expression of Spirit.
Some people call this inner guidance intuition. Others refer to it as the still, small voice within. To me, it doesn’t really matter what we call it. What matters is the practice: learning to recognize and live from that splendor—the deep knowing that I am enough. In fact, I am more than enough.
When I listen to that voice, good things happen. I have experienced profound moments of guidance and grace by paying attention to it. When I ignore it and try to go it alone, I tend to struggle.
Recently—and this is a small but telling example—as I was preparing to travel from Bellingham, WA to Sun Valley, ID, I was packed and ready to go when a thought arose: “How is my luggage going to get from Alaska to Delta when I land in Seattle?” Had I not listened—had I not paid attention—my luggage would still be circling baggage claim, waiting for me to retrieve it.
On a much larger scale, over twenty years ago, if I hadn’t chosen to visit the Center in Kirkland instead of the one in Seattle, I never would have met my husband. I truly have no idea what my life would look like now if I hadn’t followed that inner nudge.
Our founder, Ernest Holmes, is not always an easy read, but he was a profound mystic. His core teaching—Change your thinking, change your life—sounds simple, yet it is not for the faint of heart.
Recognizing yourself as Spirit in form—already whole, complete, and perfect—takes courage. It requires commitment, willingness, and sometimes a healthy dose of moxie.
And the reward?
Freedom.
Alignment.
The release of your imprisoned splendor.
Practice for the Week:
Each morning, pause for one quiet minute. Place a hand on your heart and silently affirm:
“I am Spirit in form. I am guided. I am enough.”
Then ask, “What would Love have me notice today?”
Move through your day paying attention to subtle impulses, gentle reminders, or unexpected clarity. At the end of the day, take a moment to acknowledge where you noticed guidance—even in the smallest ways.
“The important Truth is that you are a spiritual being with the Allness of Infinite Mind within you. Whatever your needs may be, the answer is not to get God to give you more through some divine sleight-of-hand process, but rather to uncover and release your own “imprisoned splendor”. Certainly all things are possible, not because God makes an exception for you by reason of your plea, but because your faith is the key to the kingdom of the power within you to apply the laws that transcend human limitation.” ~Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics
The important Truth, as Eric Butterworth reminds us, is that we are spiritual beings with Infinite Mind within. That doesn’t mean life is easy or that we never need support. It means the deepest Source of strength isn’t outside us. And that’s where the practice comes in.
We live in a time when loneliness, depression, anger, and fear are everywhere. The self-help industry is thriving—not because growth is bad, but because discomfort makes us easy to convince that we’re missing something.
And I’m not saying we shouldn’t seek help. Support can be healing. Wise teachers and tools can guide us. But the best guidance always returns us to our own inner authority.
Because the real work is different: it’s learning to uncover and release our own “imprisoned splendor.”
Not through a divine sleight-of-hand.
Not by begging for exceptions.
But by aligning with what’s already true within us.
Not by begging for exceptions.
But by aligning with what’s already true within us.
And trust me—I am a pro at looking outside myself for fixes. It takes practice and commitment to sit quietly and listen to that still, small voice within… to journal honestly about what I’m feeling and why… and then to look up, as Marcia Mode-Stavros shared last Sunday.
So here’s a simple practice—a way to return to your power:
A Simple Return to Power
- Pause. Take one slow breath. Put a hand on your heart.
- Name the Truth. “Something deeper in me is steady, even now.”
- Choose one true next step. “What is one thing I can do today that honors my wholeness?”
Start where you are. Your power doesn’t require perfection—only practice.
And the more you return to that Truth, the more you remember:
You are not cut off.
You are not empty.
You are not lacking the Source.
You are not empty.
You are not lacking the Source.
Before anything takes shape—before a word is spoken, before an action is taken, before a decision is made—there is Spirit: the First Cause, the Creative Intelligence, the Life Principle from which all is created and continues to be created.
And that means this: every beginning begins in consciousness. Every thought, every idea, every choice, every word is an expression of consciousness—and we get to decide what leads our thinking and living.
So, when I say, “It is important to me…,” I’m naming how I choose to begin.
If God is the beginning, then truth must be my starting place.
My word is powerful, and I am responsible for how I use it. That’s why it matters to me to tell the truth regardless of the situation. That’s why it matters to me not to gossip—because gossip is poison. It harms the soul of the one who speaks it, and it can wound the spirit of the one it’s spoken about. If it’s not true, I won’t say it. If it’s not right, I won’t do it.
If God is First Cause, then my thoughts and my words are not small—they are creative.
“In the beginning” isn’t only a moment long ago; it is the moment before anything becomes real in my life—the moment of intention, the moment of inner choice. That’s why I treasure my thoughts, ideas, and words. That’s why I teach and remember the law of cause and effect, the principle that like attracts like. Not as blame, but as empowerment: I am responsible for my truth, my energy, my focus, and my response.
If God is everywhere, then I can return to God anytime.
When the world gets loud, I don’t have to let the noise lead me. I can shut it off. I can be still. I can pray. I can breathe deeply—taking in fresh new energy and releasing what keeps me feeling separate from the whole. I can sit in silence and listen for the small voice within. I can journal. I can come back to center. I can begin again.
And because God is the beginning, I honor the beginning in how I live with others.
I allow each person to walk their own path, regardless of beliefs. My responsibility is to walk my talk and live by example. If people ask, I can share my practices—but each person must choose their own happiness. I speak clearly and passionately, and I allow others to do the same. I ask questions when I don’t understand. I give my full attention to the people I’m with. I listen more and talk less. I refuse judgment. I am for things and against nothing. I choose to be the change I want to see.
So, “In the Beginning, God” is not only about ancient history. It’s about how I begin right now—how I begin my day, my conversations, my choices, my reactions, my relationships, and my thoughts. I begin with Spirit. I begin with truth. I begin with conscious choice.
And I stay awake and aware, allowing the power and presence within me to work in, through, and as me—because the beginning is not behind me.
The beginning is here.
The beginning is now.
And in this beginning, I choose God!
“The practice of the Science of Mind calls for a positive understanding of the Spirit of Truth; a willingness to let this inner Spirit guide us, with the conscious knowledge that ‘The law of the Lord is perfect’ (Psalms 19:7). And we must believe this to be a fact. INSOFAR AS OUR THOUGHT IS IN ACCORD WITH THIS PERFECT LAW, IT WILL ACCOMPLISH—AND NOTHING CAN HINDER IT. ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away’ (Matthew 24:35), said the beautiful Jesus, as he strove to teach his disciples the immutability of the Law of Righteousness.”
— Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind Textbook
— Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind Textbook
And it is a practice.
There is no wiggle room in the Law. That can be a challenging truth, and at times even a painful one. When prayers seem unanswered, it’s natural to ask, Why wasn’t my prayer heard?The truth is, God doesn’t play favorites, and Spirit isn’t keeping score.
When something doesn’t appear to manifest the way we hoped, it’s always a good idea to go within—for clarity, understanding, and a deeper sense of conviction.
I remember a time when I was praying very sincerely for a specific outcome. I was clear—at least I thought I was—and I was doing all the “right” things. What showed up, however, looked nothing like what I had imagined. At first, I was disappointed. I wondered what I had missed. But as I sat with it, I realized the answer had come at the level of my consciousness, not my expectations. What arrived was exactly what I was ready to receive—and it prepared me for what came next. Spirit always responds to consciousness.
As metaphysicians, we are taught to be clear in our what and then allow the Universe to determine the how. This is where I sometimes catch myself wanting to step in and manage the process. I want to offer Spirit a roadmap. I want to explain how it should all unfold.
But that is not mine to do.
There is a clear delineation of responsibility:
My work: Be crystal clear about what I desire.
Spirit’s work: Bring it forth in perfect form and timing.
So the practice is this: clarify, align, release—and trust.
It is not always easy and sometimes you may feel like you’re swimming upstream. Beloved family, well-meaning friends and the collective consciousness of society will tell you why it won’t work or never happen.
Don’t be swayed. You’re working in the realm of consciousness, not in the court of public opinion.
Back to Basics again and again!
