Circle News January 30, 2012

Dear subscribers,

In this week's Circle News, Robert addresses the question of whether we should rely more on the Course or more on the Holy Spirit's guidance within us. Plus, Greg shares scientific research that renders more plausible the surprising things the Course says about what is going on in our unconscious minds. Finally, don't miss Robert's March workshop on "The Only Real Relationship: God in A Course in Miracles."

In Peace,
The Circle Staff

Featured article by Robert Perry "Should we be guided by the words of the Course or directly by the Holy Spirit?" Should we try to graduate from studying the Course to getting what we need directly from the Holy Spirit? Or should we focus on the words of the Course and downplay receiving guidance from within? Robert offers his perspective on this pertinent and controversial issue.

Featured article by Greg Mackie "Who's Minding the Mind?" A Course in Miracles claims that underneath our surface beliefs and motivations, we have a deep pit of dark, unconscious beliefs, motivations, and drives that are the real engines running our lives. We believe we murdered the Son of God in ourselves, and that we are so vile we would kill ourselves if our true nature were revealed to us. An underlying motivation in our love relationships is to take vengeance on past partners by extracting "love" from our current ones, who inevitably become targets of vengeance themselves. We have a relentless unconscious drive to accumulate guilt and punish ourselves with pain and death, all to serve the insane goal of keeping God's Love away from us. How can such dark drives be running our lives without our knowing it? It's difficult to imagine. Yet recent scientific studies leave the door open for the Course's account of our lives, for "the new studies reveal a subconscious…that is far more active, purposeful and independent than previously known."

Free Workbook phone class: The Circle is pleased to offer an ongoing Workbook phone class, taught each weekday morning by teachers from the Circle Course Community. New members are welcome to join in at any time. If you are interested, please email us at workbook@circleofa.org.

A New Workshop: The Only Real Relationship: God in A Course in Miracles.
For those of us who are involved with spiritual teachings like A Course in Miracles, God often seems remote and impersonal. This can feel like a welcome relief from the judgmental God we may have grown up with. A Course in Miracles, however, offers a God Who is both deeply personal and purely loving, a God Who can be our greatest source of comfort in this world.

If you are interested in getting clear on the issue of God, and learning how to draw close to a God Who is only loving, please join us for this one-day workshop with Robert Perry, who will be back in Sedona on his annual teaching visit.

When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: Sedona Creative Life Center
Time: 9:30 to 5:30
Price: $90