Our intuition is guidance from the Higher Spirit Self. The mind has two parts/thought systems. Spirit is one and is the voice of love. Spirit knows only our divine Truth that we are perfect love and that only love is real. The other part of the mind, the ego, is illusory. The ego is not an entity nor a thing, but rather just the idea that we are separate from our Source. Its thought system is fear-based and is totally flawed as we are not separate from Source. The ego is the inner critic/false self which judges everyone and everything. Abundance, unity, and wholeness are part of Spirit’s thought system. Lack, separation, and limitation are part of the ego’s thought system.   

Since the part of the mind we choose to follow at any given moment effects how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world, listening to Spirit’s guidance (our intuition) enables us to experience and enjoy life from Spirit’s true vision of peace, love, non-judgement, harmony, and freedom.
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How do you know if specific thoughts and ideas in your mind are guidance from Spirit or the ego? When they are from Spirit, they are loving, gentle, kind, and uplifting in nature. Any guidance that Spirit offers always result in positive outcomes for our well-being and anyone else concerned. Spirit gives us solutions on how to forgive and eliminate fear and judgement, and brings us clarity. We may feel a burst of joy when we receive inspiring ideas. If the thoughts and ideas are unloving, judgemental, or condemn anyone including the self, then they are from the ego.

The guidance received from Spirit may not always necessarily be what one wants to hear at the time. If there are expectations of what it should be, to match what you think you want, this is judgement and a control mechanism of the ego. If Spirit’s guidance is then ignored, it may lead to some confusion and doubt.

If unsure if the guidance is from Spirit or the ego, you can ask for clarification from Spirit and wait awhile. Let go of thinking about it for some time and to clear the mind, trusting that Spirit will bring you the clarification in divine timing. When we spend time being in silence and the mind becomes still, the intuitive guidance comes through clearly. Also, Spirit’s guidance will most likely stay the same a few days later, but that from the ego can change, even often.

We have so many thoughts that arise in the mind each day. Each moment, we always have the choice which inner voice to listen to. When I made the choice to listen to and follow only Spirit and have stayed committed to doing so everyday, the voice of the ego became much weaker. Like a muscle that gets stronger when we exercise it, when we are dedicated to listening to and following our intuition, the stronger our communication with Spirit and it becomes our clear, dominant, guiding light. ​

There is great power in the quiet stillness within. I was recently listening to an audio lecture by Eckhart Tolle, that reminded me that we are truly helpful to others and ourselves when we remain in our place of inner stillness/presence, whenever we have conversations with others. It seems to be human nature, that when one person in a conversation is speaking, the other may be thinking about how to respond rather than letting the mind be still and fully present. The listener brings the mind out of the now moment, and listening with the ego instead of presence/Spirit, becomes focussed on the future response.

When the mind is still, any thoughts/words that arise from the part of the mind where Spirit dwells, rather than our own mind, is always most truly helpful. Sometimes no thoughts/words arise. In any case, there is always an underlying energy of peace, whether the form of Spirit’s response is through words to offer another or simply stillness. Words are but symbols anyway.

In any situation, whether it be for example, having a conversation with a friend, or a more challenging conversation with someone who is triggered by or acting from an internal unhappiness or upset, whatever the other person is communicating, listening with the non-judgement of Spirit is important. There were some challenging conversations I had in the past where I was at a loss for words. Afterwards, I would often be self-critical for not speaking up for myself or knowing what to communicate at the time. I later came to the realization that in such situations, others were just projecting their own unconscious beliefs about themselves and nothing really had to do with me. We are not responsible for the behavior of others, but are for our perception, and our response (be it verbal or just within the mind). And not making the unreal/illusions (the world and what happens in it) real in the mind. With that insight from Spirit, and a change in perception to seeing through the various forms to the true innocence in all, it was liberating to release the self-judgement and not take things personally, and become more the observer, or awareness, in conversations.
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We don’t need to know what to say or do, when we let Spirit take charge. We can let go. I find this very comforting and freeing when I remind myself of this and each morning I ask Spirit to be in charge of my thoughts, actions, and day. We don’t have the best answers, but Spirit always does. When we listen mindfully with Spirit, it changes the way we experience conversations. When we are in our place of inner stillness, Spirit can then fully express through us. There is no attachment to outcomes nor a need to have others understand our views. There is no ego involvement. It is important to see each person that comes into our life experience, as the perfect, whole, innocent, divine light that they truly are. Everyone with the same source of wisdom and tools within. In another type of scenario, if you are in the company of or have a conversation with someone who is going through a difficult time, the best gift you can offer is presence. Spirit may or may not offer words for you to verbalize or ideas to act upon. When you join with Spirit’s peace and you perceive the other in his/her true perfection, the peace and well-being extends to that person. All minds are joined. That may be all that is needed to be a truly helpful support in that moment.

Published in Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman, October issue. 

The following is a beautiful passage from A Course in Miracles. I have a copy of the quote printed and on my fridge, and it is a wonderful reminder that all is taken care of when we let Spirit, our Inner Teacher of Peace, take charge.

"I am here only to be truly helpful.
I am here to represent Him Who sent me.
I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do,
because He Who sent me will direct me.
I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me.
I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal."
~A Course in Miracles​

In Oneness,
Maya Bringas
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~Freedom comes when you remember the magnificence of who you really are~

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Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves and it sets us free. When we choose forgiveness, we release the past, and can enjoy living in the eternal now.

Judgement takes many forms. Blaming others or the self for one’s experiences, believing the self or others to be inadequate, guilty, or undeserving, and making comparisons, are just a few examples of judgement. Love and judgement cannot coexist. Only one of these is active at any given moment. Forgiveness is the means to the relinquishment of judgement.

When we truly forgive, we do so at the level of the mind where it is needed, since all arises from the mind. By forgiving the self, another person, or a situation, we are not indicating that a specific behavior or action is ok, but rather we see through the illusion of the world and its seeming separate identities and stories, to the love that is truly there beyond all form. The non-dualistic spiritual principles of A Course in Miracles teaches that the path to inner peace and love is through this true form of forgiveness. All are innocent, and only the love that we are, is real.

We can always, at any moment, make the choice to love, and abandon judgement. Everyone is doing the best they can based on their state of awareness about who they really are. Those who lack self-love and are unhappy deep down, can extend to others only what they feel for themselves and what they believe to be true. Forgiveness though, does not mean that one should tolerate or be subjected to the unloving nature of a situation or behavior of another.

A very helpful tool that you can use is to bring your conscious awareness outside the illusion/world and to perceive a situation as an observer looking in. This makes it easier to detach from a situation and bring your awareness to the stillness within. Like watching a movie, you observe the characters with relatively no strong attachment. Taking such a perspective when observing the stories happening in your life, results in a greater understanding and compassion for the various characters.

Spirit, our inner teacher of peace, always assists with forgiveness, we just need to ask. Our true essence is light, free, and unconditional love. Forgiveness uplifts your vibration and permanently disconnects you from suffering. Nothing on the level of form, outside of the mind, needs to be done, unless there is specific guidance from Spirit to do so. Forgiveness and commitment to the daily practice of non-judgement accelerates the undoing of the ego, which cannot survive without judgement.

Forgiveness is an act of nurturing unconditional self-love. Forgiving another is really forgiving yourself. When the painful life stories and characters are forgiven, whatever was based on divine, unconditional love, always remains. Those that were not rooted in divine love naturally fall away on their own. This creates an opening for more of that which is based on love to come into your life.

In Oneness,
Maya Bringas

~Freedom comes when you remember the magnificence of who you really are~

PS. The tool I mention in this article in which you bring your mind's awareness outside of the world/illusion is also very helpful in other types of situations. For example, if you are experiencing any discomfort, anxiety, or other forms of distress. It assists with mindfully stepping outside of a situation and bringing your awareness to your true eternal home with Source, where all is well. In this space (outside the level of form and where you are forever One with Source) only perfect peace, love, stillness, and well-being exists. Connecting with your true essence in this manner, and by being the observer of a particular situation, helps to return equilibrium to the physical form. Use the breath at the same time. Breathing slowly, gently, and deeply into the body assists with bringing soothing comfort and calm to the mind, and in turn brings gentle release and tranquility to all aspects of the physical body. This powerful exercise also helps to feel more grounded. If you work with or attuned to any vibrational therapies like Metatronia Therapy®, incorporating it with this exercise when any distress is experienced, can bring additional support for quicker relief, healing, and re-alignment to your true Self.

~Published in the September issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman. As it is a paid subscription magazine, I also share my monthly articles for Sibyl Magazine for 2018, here on this page. To find out more about Sibyl Magazine and to read wonderful, inspirational articles on the topics of spirituality, conscious living, mind/body/spirit, for a low annual subscription fee, you can visit their website here. 

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Everything changed when I began to look within. There comes a point when one realizes that all is found within. The need to seek externally ceases. I began my inner exploration and self-discovery in my early thirties over a decade ago. Spirituality had always been an important aspect in my life, but as I began to delve deeper into my subconscious and began undoing the false beliefs I held about myself, my life transformed completely. Through this awakening and alignment to my true self, which is the same divine self that we all are, everything began to shift in the most wondrous ways. When the realization of who we really are awakens within us, our outer world automatically transforms.

My self-healing began with the practice of daily self-love, forgiveness, and inner child healing. I was fully committed to my healing and raising my consciousness became a priority in my life. Over the years that followed, as my perceptions continued to change, miracles began happening.

Everything that we experience happens in order to teach us something. The situations and people that show up in our lives (the effect) act as a mirror to reflect back the beliefs we hold within the mind (the cause). Many of these beliefs are subconscious. Specific issues are also illuminated in the mirrors (to help one learn self-approval, or how to feel comfortable expressing one’s feelings, or trust etc.) until they are healed. The source of well-being always comes from within. Coming to that understanding brought me a great sense of freedom and self-empowerment and continues to do so as I remember that nothing can disturb my inner peace unless I allow it.

When you acknowledge that everything is simply a projection coming from you and not at you, you take responsibility for your perceptions and life. You see innocence in all including yourself. You end needless suffering. Isn’t it empowering to know that nothing outside of you can effect your alignment to your true self, and that at any given moment, it’s solely your choice on how you want to feel no matter what is happening around you? As I changed my perception of uncomfortable past experiences, using them as opportunities to learn, forgive, and to propel me forward in my awakening, it allowed my transformation and healing to occur. Many mirrors disappeared as well when I learned what I needed.
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We all need to go through the process of undoing the false beliefs of the ego and aligning to our true self at some point, so why delay? Doing all that inner work on myself was not easy, as it isn’t for most who do, but I am so grateful that I did because it has brought me to a place of deep connection to Spirit and to those that cross my path. Life now flows so much easier and there is greater harmony, joy, well-being and synchronicity. Everything becomes a blessing when we perceive it the way Source knows it to be true.

​~The above article was published in the March issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman.

​A Course in Miracles has been the greatest blessing on my path. I have been a dedicated student of the Course since 2008 and it is a unique, universal, self-study, thought system that teaches that the path to inner peace and love is through forgiveness. A Course in Miracles has helped me to completely transform my perception of the world. And in doing so, transform my life.