KEY 11: CONSCIOUS CONTACT
Step Eleven: “[We] sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
Key Eleven: “Through daily prayer and meditation, I deepen my conscious connection to the Divine and experience the fullness of the Universal Presence as the dynamic reality of my life.”
How It Works
Some spiritual experiences are quiet and subtle. Others come through the “letter of Spirit,” meaning study and contemplation; from an expanded understanding of the nature of the Universe, a spiritual experience happens.
I believe that the act of meditation is simply a tool to connect with the Divine. I believe it’s the most direct tool we have, but a tool nonetheless.
The Work
Set your intention by saying quietly to yourself or out loud:
“I am ready to go home through the path of silence. I am ready to release all desires, needs, opinions and judgments, and allow myself to just be. God does the rest.”
Contemplate
Meditation transforms our “reasoning” mind into the mind of realization—from thinking and figuring things out, to an intuitive knowing.
In the silence, our mental chatter begins to dissipate, and we connect to our higher selves.
Meditation is the bridge from the material to the divine. It connects me to divine order, harmony, peace, joy, love and abundance. It connects me to Reality.
Journal
How do you feel about quieting your mind and completely letting go of all your concerns, judgments, opinions, needs, desires and worries, and just hang out in the silence without thinking about anything?
Does it frighten you?
Why?
Have you ever tried meditation before? What was your experience? Are you willing to release your past experience for a new one?
Are you committed to keep at it until you feel the presence of Spirit within your own heart and mind?
If not, why?
There’s no judgment here, beloved. I know how difficult this key can be when you’ve never experienced the profound joy and bliss of “letting go and letting God” run your life before. If you’re not quite ready for this Key, go back and read Keys #1-3 until you feel safe enough to practice Key #11.
Affirmations
“Through daily prayer and meditation, I deepen my conscious connection to the Divine, and experience the fullness of the Universal Presence as the dynamic reality of my life.”
“Through meditation, I return home to the kingdom of heaven. I celebrate and am celebrated as I touch the realm of reality.”
Action Steps
Spiritual Foreplay: Preparing the Consciousness for Silence
Create a quiet place specifically for your prayer and meditation. I find that sitting consistently in one physical location each time you meditate sets up a high spiritual vibration in that space. (Note: This is only suggested, not necessary. You can meditate anywhere.)
If soft music helps to create an ambiance of meditation, go for it. Candles or incense are a wonderful way to make a space feel sacred.
Take some deep, healing breaths.
Take ten minutes to read something inspirational (which is a great way to prepare your consciousness for silence).
Suggestion: Re-read any one of the Keys or any other book that inspires you. I also have a list of readings in the Resources and References section at the end of this book. For now, here are a few recommendations:
Key #1—“The nature of God”
The Contemplative Life—Joel Goldsmith
Realization of Oneness—Joel Goldsmith
The 30 Day Mental Diet—Willis Kinnear
The Wisdom of No Escape—Pema Chodron
Now focus on your breath, the light of the candle, a mantra (a simple phrase you repeat again and again, i.e., “God I offer myself to thee” or “The Universal Presence and I are One”) for five minutes.
Keep bringing your attention back to the breath, candle or mantra when you find your mind wanders to something else—anything else. Gently.
Meditation acts as the bridge to your consciousness connection to Spirit within.
Once your mind is quiet, it’s time to pray.
Remember, God is praying the prayer through you, as you. You are not praying TO God—you are praying FROM God, AS a unique expression of God.
Affirmative Prayer
Here is an outline of affirmative prayer I have found useful:
Recognition: Speak the nature of God (See Key #1 for support)
Unification: Speak about your oneness with God
Realization: Speak the subject of your prayer, remembering that in the realm of Spirit, your needs are already met, your desires already fulfilled. It is already done.
Thanksgiving: Give thanks in absolute faith that it (your need met or desire fulfilled) is already done, even if it hasn’t shown up yet. You know that your good is on its way.
Release: Let it go. Take your mind entirely off the situation you have prayed about. Release the word just spoken into the divine law, knowing that on time and in perfect time, manifestation will express in tangible form and experience.