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Marin TM Group—Mill Valley, California—U.S.A.

 

Dear Michael and Mother Spirit, We thank you for these last several lessons where you’ve encouraged us to seek deeper into the meaning of the words we use to understand reality, and examine afresh the concepts we’ve been handed. Then we can realize anew our own experiences directly, and not through just a reshuffling of an old deck of perhaps worn-out, no longer useful expressions. To do this we ask for your help in detecting and becoming one with your spirit. Help augment our own creative abilities to continue evolving, reformulating our philosophy of life. Amen.

Dear Michael and Mother Spirit, We thank you for these last several lessons where you’ve encouraged us to seek deeper into the meaning of the words we use to understand reality, and examine afresh the concepts we’ve been handed. Then we can realize anew our own experiences directly, and not through just a reshuffling of an old deck of perhaps worn-out, no longer useful expressions. To do this we ask for your help in detecting and becoming one with your spirit. Help augment our own creative abilities to continue evolving, reformulating our philosophy of life. Amen.

MICHAEL: Good evening, my children, this is Michael, your father, your brother, your dear friend. You are very welcome. Mother Spirit and I appreciate your thanks, and your gratitude, and your faith--your trust in us, so that when we do want to go deeper into a subject to stretch your understanding, you are willing to suspend your disbelief and follow. Because of your ability to ignore us, to disbelieve us--one of the foundations of your free will--you do give us reality within yourselves by a profound act of recognition.

MICHAEL: Good evening, my children, this is Michael, your father, your brother, your dear friend. You are very welcome. Mother Spirit and I appreciate your thanks, and your gratitude, and your faith--your trust in us, so that when we do want to go deeper into a subject to stretch your understanding, you are willing to suspend your disbelief and follow. Because of your ability to ignore us, to disbelieve us--one of the foundations of your free will--you do give us reality within yourselves by a profound act of recognition.

 

(The Trinity within)

* The '''''Trinity''''' (within)

For we are here within you, Mother Spirit’s Mind/Spirit Adjutants helping form your thinking, and my Spirit of Truth helping you sort out and understand what is happening as you go through your days. We are always with you whether you can consciously detect our presence or not, just as your Father Fragment is right within your thoughts making connections, tying those links, sometimes recognizable by the startlingly appropriate thoughts you have, as you say, "out of the blue."

For we are here within you, Mother Spirit’s Mind/Spirit Adjutants helping form your thinking, and my Spirit of Truth helping you sort out and understand what is happening as you go through your days. We are always with you whether you can consciously detect our presence or not, just as your Father Fragment is right within your thoughts making connections, tying those links, sometimes recognizable by the startlingly appropriate thoughts you have, as you say, "out of the blue."

If you have any questions or comments this evening, I certainly do welcome them.

If you have any questions or comments this evening, I certainly do welcome them.

 

Student: I thank you for the information and the talk on courage, Michael. It is something I have asked for, for many years on a daily basis, and I am starting to get it. The courage has to come before self-forgiveness and self love; and it’s time; and I thank you for touching on that. It’s helped me immensely to keep your courage--in the thought of your absolute love--as close to me as possible. Thank you so much.

Student: I thank you for the information and the talk on courage, Michael. It is something I have asked for, for many years on a daily basis, and I am starting to get it. The courage has to come before self-forgiveness and self love; and it’s time; and I thank you for touching on that. It’s helped me immensely to keep your courage--in the thought of your absolute love--as close to me as possible. Thank you so much.

Student: I’m also understanding these anger emotions, as for the last few years I’ve had so much less of them. I think of all the time I wasted being angry, but I’ve forgiven myself--I got to that point--I can honestly say that. But my question is, as we grow in courage and the safety of your love, is it truly possible that we can, I mean, still be frustrated, or wanting? Or is it truly possible to never have to go under those levels with anger again, because I can completely see people know not what they do, so I mean I’m hoping that I never jump in and be the hothead I was--the fearful personality that was so attacked—my ego was so attacked… I hope that I’m approaching a level of my life where I will never have that kind of anger again. It’s not necessary.

Student: I’m also understanding these anger emotions, as for the last few years I’ve had so much less of them. I think of all the time I wasted being angry, but I’ve forgiven myself--I got to that point--I can honestly say that. But my question is, as we grow in courage and the safety of your love, is it truly possible that we can, I mean, still be frustrated, or wanting? Or is it truly possible to never have to go under those levels with anger again, because I can completely see people know not what they do, so I mean I’m hoping that I never jump in and be the hothead I was--the fearful personality that was so attacked—my ego was so attacked… I hope that I’m approaching a level of my life where I will never have that kind of anger again. It’s not necessary.

(Anger)

* '''''Anger'''''

MICHAEL: Yes, My daughter, this is something very devoutly to look forward to, for your courage and your self-confidence will keep growing if you stay on this path. You need to grow your faith in yourself and in us. Anger is a wonderful thing, a marvelous thing--when it is appropriate. Anger is the mobilization of energies, the release of stored energies to meet a threatening situation, and when it is just, when it is appropriate, it fulfills a valuable function. Yet so often, starting very early in life following an example set by one’s parents or associates, one’s anger becomes an indulgence, an inappropriate way of enjoying the sheer energy released. Then this inappropriate, unjust anger becomes hatred when it’s focused on a specific target. This continues until, as you just stated, you simultaneously realize the target is not threatening and the anger is inappropriate. It takes courage to recognize there is no appropriate threat and admit the anger is only a self-indulgence--for which you are righteously correct in forgiving yourself.

MICHAEL: Yes, My daughter, this is something very devoutly to look forward to, for your courage and your self-confidence will keep growing if you stay on this path. You need to grow your faith in yourself and in us. Anger is a wonderful thing, a marvelous thing--when it is appropriate. Anger is the mobilization of energies, the release of stored energies to meet a threatening situation, and when it is just, when it is appropriate, it fulfills a valuable function. Yet so often, starting very early in life following an example set by one’s parents or associates, one’s anger becomes an indulgence, an inappropriate way of enjoying the sheer energy released. Then this inappropriate, unjust anger becomes hatred when it’s focused on a specific target. This continues until, as you just stated, you simultaneously realize the target is not threatening and the anger is inappropriate. It takes courage to recognize there is no appropriate threat and admit the anger is only a self-indulgence--for which you are righteously correct in forgiving yourself.

One thing before you say anything: I don’t want to be celibate! (much laughter) But at the same time, that is a possibility. I want love to be an inspiration, nothing else.

One thing before you say anything: I don’t want to be celibate! (much laughter) But at the same time, that is a possibility. I want love to be an inspiration, nothing else.

(The varieties of love)

* '''''Love''''' (The varieties of love)

MICHAEL: My son, you’ve just told a wonderful story of a person’s need to, first of all, understand himself, to sort through many different ways of loving, and understand each one. At the same time, you are expressing a genuine spiritual ambition to keep growing in your ability to love across this whole spectrum. Within this there is a growing maturity of recognizing the necessity for freedom, both in being free yourself from desires or impulses that might serve to limit your ability to love, shall we say, by indulging in a kind of smarmy, unwelcome sexuality; and at the same time, realizing the need to let other people be free: recognize their freedom—from you. This is because you now want a genuine response, not something coerced or seduced. You now want a wholeness to relationships that involves your whole personality, your whole being. You’re not quite sure how to do this, but you are reaching toward it. It involves meeting, and enjoying another person’s wholeness.

MICHAEL: My son, you’ve just told a wonderful story of a person’s need to, first of all, understand himself, to sort through many different ways of loving, and understand each one. At the same time, you are expressing a genuine spiritual ambition to keep growing in your ability to love across this whole spectrum. Within this there is a growing maturity of recognizing the necessity for freedom, both in being free yourself from desires or impulses that might serve to limit your ability to love, shall we say, by indulging in a kind of smarmy, unwelcome sexuality; and at the same time, realizing the need to let other people be free: recognize their freedom—from you. This is because you now want a genuine response, not something coerced or seduced. You now want a wholeness to relationships that involves your whole personality, your whole being. You’re not quite sure how to do this, but you are reaching toward it. It involves meeting, and enjoying another person’s wholeness.

Student: On that note too, I notice I do get projected on a lot from past relationships, and that gets in the way. From my part, that is something that is in their history, they perceive. And sometimes I’m totally innocent of anything, but because they see me as some mean father, or jilted lover, or…just being a man. Unfortunately there’s a lot of anger toward men these days. So, anyway… But thank you for that, because I do want to become all this love, without giving up sex; but at the same time I want the purity and integrity—for both people.

Student: On that note too, I notice I do get projected on a lot from past relationships, and that gets in the way. From my part, that is something that is in their history, they perceive. And sometimes I’m totally innocent of anything, but because they see me as some mean father, or jilted lover, or…just being a man. Unfortunately there’s a lot of anger toward men these days. So, anyway… But thank you for that, because I do want to become all this love, without giving up sex; but at the same time I want the purity and integrity—for both people.

(Spiritual living and human sexuality)

* '''''Sexuality''''' (Spiritual living and human sexuality)

MICHAEL: There is that wonderful statement in your Urantia book that human sexuality--which was, after all, created by our Father, and Mother Spirit and I--is fully compatible with genuine spiritual living—except in the minds of overly fastidious people.

MICHAEL: There is that wonderful statement in your Urantia book that human sexuality--which was, after all, created by our Father, and Mother Spirit and I--is fully compatible with genuine spiritual living—except in the minds of overly fastidious people.

Student: Father Michael, we thank you for the reminder this life is really an adventure, and that we’re living in exciting times—with the possibility of living forever—eternity—which I really don’t understand yet. I can’t picture eternity. But I can picture one day at a time. And also: thank you for your love, and kindness, and support--both you and Mother Spirit, and all your children—Angels and such--that support us. Thank you very much.

Student: Father Michael, we thank you for the reminder this life is really an adventure, and that we’re living in exciting times—with the possibility of living forever—eternity—which I really don’t understand yet. I can’t picture eternity. But I can picture one day at a time. And also: thank you for your love, and kindness, and support--both you and Mother Spirit, and all your children—Angels and such--that support us. Thank you very much.

(Thoughts on eternity)

* '''''Eternity''''' (Thoughts on eternity)

MICHAEL: You are very welcome, my son. About eternity: you’re closer than you know. (much laughter) Eternity can’t be pictured. And it is always now. It is only: one more day. Be in my peace.

MICHAEL: You are very welcome, my son. About eternity: you’re closer than you know. (much laughter) Eternity can’t be pictured. And it is always now. It is only: one more day. Be in my peace.

Student: Michael, tonight we’ve been discussing a lot about relationships, and that brings to mind mine with my wife. I feel if I were to be truly honest as to how I feel about the relationship, where I think it’s going, I would cause much hurt. And I do not wish to do that. But the dilemma I face is: am I hurting this person more by not expressing what I truly feel? And this problem is causing great distress within me, and has for many, many years. It continues to grow. At some point it is going to have to be faced, and honesty is going to have to surface. But there’s so much involved. There’s children; there’s family; there’s home—things I don’t wish destroyed. Perhaps you can give me some insight on how to bring honesty into a relationship—heart-to-heart honesty, even though it may cause great pain.

Student: Michael, tonight we’ve been discussing a lot about relationships, and that brings to mind mine with my wife. I feel if I were to be truly honest as to how I feel about the relationship, where I think it’s going, I would cause much hurt. And I do not wish to do that. But the dilemma I face is: am I hurting this person more by not expressing what I truly feel? And this problem is causing great distress within me, and has for many, many years. It continues to grow. At some point it is going to have to be faced, and honesty is going to have to surface. But there’s so much involved. There’s children; there’s family; there’s home—things I don’t wish destroyed. Perhaps you can give me some insight on how to bring honesty into a relationship—heart-to-heart honesty, even though it may cause great pain.

(Relationship considerations and choices)

* '''''Relationships''''' (Relationship considerations and choices)

MICHAEL: My son, I do sincerely acknowledge your dilemma, and I salute the courage it takes to acknowledge it to yourself, for you have opened yourself to the complexity involved. One way out of this dilemma is to re-examine your own anticipations, your own expectations about what a certain revelation or expressed need might bring about. I commend your sensitivity, your recognizing the need for tact in expressing what you feel needs to be expressed, but think about the other person in the sense of her creativity, her spontaneity, her ability to rise to the occasion. For in a way you are already evaluating this. It’s part of your tact: if I say this, how will it affect her?

MICHAEL: My son, I do sincerely acknowledge your dilemma, and I salute the courage it takes to acknowledge it to yourself, for you have opened yourself to the complexity involved. One way out of this dilemma is to re-examine your own anticipations, your own expectations about what a certain revelation or expressed need might bring about. I commend your sensitivity, your recognizing the need for tact in expressing what you feel needs to be expressed, but think about the other person in the sense of her creativity, her spontaneity, her ability to rise to the occasion. For in a way you are already evaluating this. It’s part of your tact: if I say this, how will it affect her?

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