Every day we need reminders of who we are, why we are here, and what True reality is: LOVE.  That reminder is reflected in A Course in Miracles (ACIM).

I have studied this book for 9 years now, and I owe the vast majority and rapidity of my understanding my Self versus my ego self to ACIM’s contents and lessons. When I received the book as a gift from my parents in April of 2010, they inscribed, “For Jesse – To whom we could not resist saying, ’May the Course be with you!’ We love you, Dad and Mom.  I mention my parents because they are and have been an integral part of my spiritual evolution in this lifetime.

What I released? During my first year of consistent practice it included aspects of victimization, inflated ego, insane thoughts – you name it, I had it.  And though some characteristics were mine from this lifetime, much of this work was and continues to be ancestral.

What I acquired? Forgiveness, gentleness, compassion, healthy boundaries, a completely shifted perspective, to name a few.

It all started with a deep understanding of what a true miracle is, and that there are many different kinds. We see and experience them daily; it’s just a question of recognizing them.

I have a story.  It’s my first real understanding physically, emotionally, mentally and most definitely spiritually of what a miracle is.

When I was about 10 years old, my family and I went to the beach on vacation. I remember, distinctly, playing with my parents in the water. They were tossing me back and forth in between waves and chatting simultaneously.  I overheard them commenting that we were far enough from the undertow that we’d be safe.  I asked what the undertow was and was informed in laymen’s terms that it could easily suck us out to sea.  I felt scared at the thought, but loved and trusted my parents – plus, they were both good swimmers, and I was definitely not. Reveling in this beautiful time with my parents, even today I can feel the coolness of the water contrasting the hot sun from above. I recall reflecting on the sunscreen on my face – did I need to reapply?  (Redheads: Always thinking about the sun and its effectiveness at turning us into lobsters within hours.) I tasted the salt on my lips.  We were giggling as we waved at my brother sun bathing, being goofy as usual, on the shore.

Suddenly, I felt and heard my mom panting and, as she tossed me back to my dad, I looked at her face looking fixedly at my father’s. She was panicked.  They said nothing; all I heard was the sound of the waves hitting the coast in the distance.  I think my mom said, “No lifeguards.”  I sensed from the pit of my belly something was very wrong.  They told me to hang on to them as they started swimming back to shore, but we were making no progress.  In fact, the shore seemed farther away.  They waved at my brother, but he perceived it as a friendly check-in; he wasn’t really paying attention. We were caught in the undertow.  Finally my mom gasped, “Jessie, you have to swim or we are going to drown.”  I felt frightened for just a moment, but then I prayed.  I honestly did not know what else to do – I was literally the worst swimmer on my whole JCC swim team. In my head I said, “Angels, if you’re up there, please help me.”  Almost instantaneously, a wave of calm washed over me; I felt an indescribable strength from within.  My parents gripped on to me, and I swam as hard as I could toward the shore.  Within seconds, my mom and dad both said, “We can touch!” I could viscerally feel their relief.  I smiled and thanked the Angels in my mind.

From that day forth, I understood that miracles do exist, and that they are absolutely possible and probable.  If it weren’t for the miracle that occurred that day, I would not be here to tell the story.

And so it is now my goal and objective to teach what I learned – through that experience, through life experience, through the practice of meditation, Buddhism, ACIM, the 12 Steps (there’s some family history there as well).  I’ll be offering a workshop on Saturday, November 23rd entitled “Manifesting Miracles.”  I hope you can join us and help build a network of loving lightworkers ready to bring peace, forgiveness and Atonement to this world.

I would LOVE to hear about your miracles too… and how they brought about the change in your life!  Email me!

Sending love and miracles,
Jess