Blog – Page 29 – Pam Grout

Oopsy! The formula has a glitch

May 12, 2020 14 Comments

“The greatest healing would be to wake up from what we are not.”–Mooji

Here on Planet Earth, we’re taught a formula for success. Get an education, get a guy (or gal), collect some stuff, collect more stuff, keep your eye on “the other” to make sure he (or she) isn’t getting more than you.

This formula has endless reinforcement: non-stop ads (“use this quick-fix to eliminate those problems you didn’t know you had”), social media (wow! Look at your FB friend’s shiny new car or vacation), television news (can you believe what that “other” just did?).

We’re so bombarded with this unspoken “formula” that we never question its validity. Or bother to ask ourselves if we really want those things?

The Course in Miracles says all of it–the whole shebang–is an illusion. An illusion that reinforces separation. Teaches good and bad. Encourages us to blame, to feel guilty, to cast about like victims.

I realize that after generations of following this formula, it’s rather scandalous to learn that it’s all a big scam. That NOTHING we’ve mastered so far is even real.

But it’s also kinda comforting. Kinda cool to know I’m not this limited little body. Kinda exciting to recognize that the learned formula has but one purpose: to protect, defend and maintain this one physical body.

The Course says p’shaw to all of that. It says I am not my body. Rather, I am many forms. Present everywhere. In music. In the stars. In every loving word or act.

Why would I waste all that on a silly little formula?

As many of you know, the You Can Heal your Life Summit is going on now. Hay House is offering LOTS of free movies, interviews, meditations, etc. My interview with fellow Course teacher Robert Holden is coming up later today. If you haven’t already signed up for this free series, you can do it here.

Love you guys to the Big Dipper and back.

Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World).

Insist that love drive the clown car

May 5, 2020 29 Comments

“My mind is filled with myriad competing voices vying for my attention. To get to the promised land of ‘no-thought’ or transcendence, I have to wade through a thousand thickets: confusion, hunger, ache, distraction, restlessness, regret, neediness, neuroses”-–Josh Radnor

My mind, over the past few weeks, frequently doubles as a clown car. You know that circus act where one clown after another emerges from a way-too-tiny car?

There’s the emotional clown that gets really frightened by all the uncertainty. She’s joined by the Bozo-like clown that looks disparagingly at my body and judges that it’s eating way more than it should and exercising way less. And, of course, there’s the clown of self-pity, the one that likes to pop up like a jack-in-the-box every now and again, ruing the reality that, in this lifetime, I’ll never hug Taz again.

Rather than shake my finger at this clown car of wayward emotions, I try to send them love. If I avoid them or judge them or consider them unacceptable, I conjure up a whole NEW clown of self-loathing. And that guy is way more ominous than Pennywise, the clown from Stephen King’s “It.”

It’s really kind of remarkable that right here, in my own little head, such a compelling cast of characters shows up to help me practice. Funny how you make an intention to love bigger and better and suddenly you get all kinds of previously unpermitted, unlovable thoughts to build your love muscle.

Rather than exile these forbidden emotions, I find that when I embrace them, literally say to them, “I love you, scared little Pam” or “Aren’t you precious, you self-loather you,” these emotional clowns slink off to the side of the grandstand. Like everything, they only want love.

When I use those magic two words (“It’s okay!”), I notice the only thing left driving the clown car is love–fully engaged, pulsing through my body, as near as my every breath.

The new, magical way of existing in the world

April 28, 2020 40 Comments

“Let me trust that all of my own needs are always met in amazing ways and it is safe to give freely as my heart guides me.”—Tosha Silver

Unlike most of the world, I’m in no hurry to return to “normal.”

“Normal,” as prescribed by the existing culture, doesn’t always serve our best interests.

“Normal” focuses on the rational sliver of our minds that insists there is one way to solve things, one way to “do life.” It ignores this other body of possibility that, once we open up to, is a gazillion times more life-giving, optimistic and, quite frankly, closer to True Reality.

“Normal” limits what we’re allowed to expect. I’ll give you a couple examples.

“Normal” expects us to find all our answers in science, in history, in books. Those things are all worthy, but hardly a complete list of what we’re entitled to when we open up to the “non-normal” realms of magic and miracles.

Answers often come from nature (George Washington Carver, although a professor and degreed scientist, admitted that the hundreds of inventions he’s credited with were “given” to him by trees and plants on early morning walks) and from dreams (Larry Page first “dreamed” Google).

“Normal” expects us to “make a living” with a job. But I know lots of people (including myself) who make a much better living once they let go of their job. Or their job lets go of them.

I discovered that when I “give freely as my heart guides me,” as the above quote suggests, all my needs are met in truly amazing ways.

Soon after the 2008 recession when the internet more or less murdered traditional publishing, I was tempted to get on board with “normal.” Nobody was buying books—or at least not the books I was offering. Magazines were shrinking, laying off staff.

I even pondered getting one of those things (the three letter word that begins with “J”) that most people think is the only route to security. I decided to stick it out, to expect that I would be taken care of. After all, I was holding up my end of the bargain–pursuing, as Joseph Campbell called it, my bliss.

Soon enough, AAA called, asked to pay me to give a teleseminar on volunteer vacations. They had seen my National Geographic book on the topic and wanted to offer their members a glimpse into overseas volunteering.

And then an author from California, a guy I had never heard of, contacted me “out of the blue.” He practically begged to pay me large sums of money for reading and editing his manuscript on Kansas.

Magic? A miracle? All I know is my book, “Kansas Curiosities,” that he had somehow discovered, is not typically sold in California bookstores.

Something was looking out for me. Something that wants to look out for all of us. IF we let it. If we defy “normal” and EXPECT it to.

So today, as we gaze out upon the new world that’s being created right before our eyes, I suggest we ban “normal.”

Let’s instead:

Expect answers to all questions we might have. Expect these answers to be readily available, easy to access and incredibly loving, tender and gentle for all parties concerned.
Expect perfect, loving solutions for all challenges that might come up.
Expect all our needs to be met.
Expect that the prolific, abundant universe will show us how to thrive in this new world.

“Normal” tells us these things are difficult, impossible.

But “normal,” you are now free to officially kiss my keister.

Sit. Feast on your life.

April 24, 2020 19 Comments

“If we seek beauty, it will spill into our lives.”—Mary Pipher

So the title of this post “Sit. Feast on your life” came, not from a self-help book, but from my daughter Taz’s bedroom wall.

Being an artist myself, I allowed her to decorate her room however she chose. She drew a three-foot, eerily-accurate octopus on one wall, for example, and hung crystals, Korean ornaments and even a dinner fork from her ceiling. Last January, I visited Meow Wolf in Santa Fe and, call me a deluded mom, but their now-famous art installations have nothing on Taz’s bedroom.

On one wall, she penciled inspiring quotations—things like “Live what you love” and “You can see the whole world from here.” Any one of them would make a great blog post. Thank you, Taz, as always for being my inspiration.

I chose “feast on your life” because that’s what I believe we’re here to do. Not to complain about how life should be. Not to fight with reality.

But to look with love and wonder at the life we do have. To say thank you that we got the chance to be here on planet earth, to experience all there is to experience. As Rumi said, “This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. Welcome and entertain them all. Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.”

I notice that when I meet my guests at the door laughing and grateful for whatever comes, I become a happier person, a better friend, a wiser decision maker. That’s enough of a goal for now.

Have the best weekend of your life, my treasured friends! 222 Forever!

My secret weapon

April 21, 2020 15 Comments

“Hate, in the long run, is about as nourishing as cyanide.” — Kurt Vonnegut
taz photo strip

First of all, I’ve got to gush about all the AMAZING visions y’all (yes, I was born in Kentucky) added to our planetary vision board yesterday. Thank you SO MUCH!

That’s why I love possibility posses where all of us join together, play together.

One of my local posse members did me a solid yesterday by reminding me of some of my own words. (Yes, I need to re-read my own words). I find they are particularly useful when dealing with the political situation several of you mentioned yesterday in your visions for the new world.

Therefore, I decided to run the lesson from my new book, The Course in Miracles Experiment, that she said helped her so much. Enjoy!

Lesson 135 (If I defend myself I am attacked) is one of my favorite lessons. I use it ALL the time.

It comes in handy whenever I’m tempted to play victim. It’s the perfect antidote when I notice myself feeling offended by something someone says. It’s particularly useful when I forget the truth about myself.

Because anytime I defend myself, I take on a role that’s not really me.

To defend myself is to pretend I can be hurt. It’s to make believe that my perception, the hologram that proves itself over and over again to be incomplete, is somehow more accurate than the truth I’m learning here in the Course.

If I defend myself in any way, I forget that I am a beloved child of the Universe. I forget that everything is FOR me. Nothing is against me.

I forget that every single thing that happens, every single person who pushes my buttons is a gift.

This lesson doesn’t suggest overlooking something someone did to me. It says it’s impossible for anyone to DO something to me.

If my perception stays fixed (which it will once I start defending myself), nothing—not a miracle, not a sign, not an evidential slap in the face—can allow any other truth to manifest for me. All I can see, all I will ever see, is what the viewfinder of my limited perception shows me.

Instead of attacking back when my viewfinder shows my fellow humanoids spouting inanities, misinformation, and what looks like hate, I use this lesson to remember: they’re simply replaying old tapes and desperately need my love.

Radical actions such as choosing not to attack, to justify, to see the “crime” upsets the going cultural position. It creates a resonant field that goes out into the ethers making our world a little sweeter, a little safer, a little more beautiful.

Also, I’ve been meaning to mention that Hay House is sponsoring another You Can Heal Your Life Summit. I’m one of dozens of authors who will be included in this FREE week-long summit. If you haven’t already signed up (did I mention the Summit is absolutely free?), you can do it here.

Thanks, everybody. 222 Forever!

My vision board for the planet

April 20, 2020 152 Comments

“If we don’t use this time for change, we will have missed an insane opportunity.”–Noah Elias

This may come as a surprise to some of my readers, but I’ve never been big on vision boards. Mainly because the stuff most people paste on them—fancy cars, oversized houses, etc.–don’t interest me all that much. The things I get excited about are invisible, non-material. You can’t exactly paste things like compassion, creativity and joy onto a cardboard poster.

But I do believe 100 percent in the theory behind vision boards. You make an intention, send out a request and voila! it manifests right before your eyes. Intentions, we now know, have causative power. Indeed, consciousness plays a pivotal role in the establishment of physical reality.

For three decades the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) lab studied the interaction of human consciousness on the material world. What they discovered is that individuals working alone to alter random generating machines had modest success, but the true power came when the whole world got involved. The machines literally went crazy during the Indian Ocean tsunami, for example, or after Princess Diana’s car accident. Four hours BEFORE the first plane hit the towers during 9-11 the PEARS machines “knew” something was about to go down.

I can only imagine how the machines (they’ve been duplicated at locations around the world) are reacting to collective consciousness now. So here’s what I’d like to propose:

Knowing that our thoughts create vibrations that determine the unfoldment of our planet and knowing that, if we work together, we can play an important role in the revolutionary changes that are taking place, I propose we create a planetary vision board.

I don’t care about the brand of car I drive or how big my house is, but I would be SO PROUD to create a planet, a society that:

Recognizes the connectedness of all living things.
Values the power of love and uses it to make all decisions at all times.
Governs with principles that embody health, well-being, dignity and prosperity for all.
Loses interest in accumulating wealth and material things. As musician Mikel Jollett recently tweeted, “After you reach $999 million, how about you get a trophy that says “I won capitalism” and we name a dog park after you? And every red cent after that goes to schools and health care.”
Knows true security doesn’t comes from physical things, but from the unseen forces of creativity, spirituality and love. Yes, love–real love is the mightiest power on earth.

In the comments section below, please add your vision and know that your thoughts and consciousness are contributing to the future of humanity.

Love, only love,

Pam

Love or fear? The only decision

April 8, 2020 75 Comments

“Clinging to what you already know is the path to an unlived life.”–Parker Palmer

A Course in Miracles says we all have a mighty purpose. The reason we don’t recognize this is because we’re trained to listen to the ego, the voice of fear. The other voice, the voice of love, the voice that instructs us on exactly what to do, what to say, etc, is always available. But too often we let the ego drown it out.

I heard the coolest story yesterday that illustrates the simple decision we continuously make. Do we listen to the voice of fear or the voice of love?

Elizabeth Gilbert, in a recent Ted Talk Daily interview, talked about meeting Amanda Eller. She’s the hiker who, about a year ago, got lost in Maui’s Makawao Forest Reserve. Her 17-day ordeal made national headlines. Because she had intended an easy three-mile hike through the 2000-acre reserve, she left her phone, water bottle and wallet in the car.

Instead, she got lost in the dense forest of steep ravines, giant ferns and vegetation so thick it requires a machete to cut through. As you can imagine, she was a tad bit FREAKED OUT.

On the third night, after falling off a cliff, losing her shoes in a flash flood and experiencing other assorted terrors, she finally closed her eyes and begged for help. From the universe. From God. From whatever might be big enough to hear her, to help her. Mostly, she told Liz, she asked to be delivered from fear. She said something to the effect of, “When I open my eyes, I want the fear to be gone.”

Well, guess what? When she opened her eyes, the fear was gone. And in it’s place was a gentle voice (call it intuition, call it God, call it the Dude, as I often do) that clearly told her “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” It went on to guide her: “Eat this, not that. Head right, not left.”

The voice came through LOUD and CLEAR once the fear was gone.

Although I have no idea if Amanda is a Course student (as the Course plainly says, there are many different bus drivers to deliver you to your destination), it is a perfect example of what is ours to claim once we eliminate fear. Specific, clear guidance. But we gotta get the bully fear out of the way.

So that’s my bedtime story for today, kids! It has a happy ending–Amanda was rescued and, as she told Liz, the fear has never returned.

Big shoutout to all of you who so clearly urged me to keep sending these posts through email. It appears to be unanimous. So I will continue to send these from time to time, whenever I feel there’s something important to share.

The story about Amanda is one of many fabulous things I picked up from the interview with Elizabeth Gilbert. If you have an hour (and who doesn’t these days?), it is SO WORTH a listen. You can find it here.

Until next time, keep smiling, keep dancing and keep asking to be delivered from that pesky, persistent voice of fear.

The BIG reset

April 6, 2020 566 Comments

“If you’re thinking, ‘but my life is upside down,’ don’t worry. How do you know down is not better than up?—Shams of Tabriz

taz-sunflower2 — This is the beautiful light that inspired the 222 Foundation. Taz Grout! 222 Forever!

We used to have lions and tigers and bears (Oh my!) to frighten us on our journey through life. Now we’ve got a little device no bigger than a deck of cards. As we navigate this new time in our planet’s history, it’s vital that we don’t debilitate our nervous system, that we don’t let thoughts of fear pitch a tent in our minds.

By all means, check in on the latest health and safety recommendations, but right now, while things are going down on the planet, it’s more important than ever to practice spiritual principles.

A Course in Miracles asks me to focus on this: I am complete and healed and whole. I am united with my brothers and sisters, secure in light and joy and peace.

In this week’s lessons, I am asked to remember these Truths for five minutes every hour. Now that sounds like a huge commitment (and in the interest of complete transparency, I’ve never once, in all my years of practicing the Course, remembered every waking hour), but making the intention to put spiritual principles above my addiction to my phone helps me retrain my mind. It makes it more likely that when some fear tries to flag me down, my automatic response is not panic, but a proclamation of the truth the Course is teaching me: That I am safe, that I am in perfect harmony with all there is and all there ever will be. Today’s lesson goes so far as urging me to do my part in bringing happiness to all the world.

While on the subject of happiness, I must tell you I have had SO. MUCH. FUN watching all the Stay-at-Home dances that have been posted throughout webland. So far Taz’s 222 Foundation, thanks to the first 22 dancers, has given money to orphans in Ghana, No Kid Hungry, Trans Lifeline, Reece’s Rainbow, an Emergency Rescue in upstate New York, a House of Hope, Warrior Dogs and a bunch of other amazing organizations. As Mr. Rogers advised us, Look for the Helpers!

Thanks one and all for playing along. It is my belief that our greatest longing is to be of service, to make the world a better place. And why not have fun while doing it!

So I’ll end today’s post with a quick question. How are you spending your mental time? Are you dodging lions and tigers and bears or are you stepping up your spiritual game?

Okay, one more question. I have considered moving these posts to my FB page. They automatically post there anyway, but I’d love to hear in the comments section below if you enjoy getting them as an email in your inbox (like this) or if you’d rather just find them on my FB page when you’re so inclined.

Love you guys! Stay safe! Stay happy! Stay kind!

Uplifting the Planet, One Dance at a Time

April 2, 2020 75 Comments

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance–Martha Graham

Two days ago, I woke up discouraged and lethargic. The crazy uncle in my head was concocting a major soap opera. Act I: Woe is Me, starring Pam Grout. Act II: We’re all going to die.

And then, during the commercial break, I remembered: “Oh yea, you’re a Course in Miracles student. This is the time to ask for a miracle. This is when you ask J.C. and the Holy S to replace the grievance in your head with true perception. I uttered a hesitant, mousy “Help!”

I turned to my phone (not normally recommended for escaping soap operas) and there, awaiting me on Twitter, was Jack Black dancing in his skivvies, cowboy boots and cowboy hat. He called his masterpiece a “Stay-at-Home” dance. It was the exact miracle I needed.

I immediately shared on Facebook, proclaiming his gift to the world a more potent morning pick-me-up than my A.A. 2.0 program.

So thank you, Holy S! Thank you, true perception! And especially thank you, Jack Black, for reminding me that one of the best ways to serve the planet is to get on a higher energetic frequency. Especially right now. Those of us who know about the power of consciousness, who know it’s our energetic vibration that creates the framework for our lives owe it to the world to radiate glee, joy and well, goofiness.

In recognition of this truth, the directors of the 222 Foundation (Taz and me) convened and decided to offer a new challenge for changing the current consciousness of the planet. To reiterate our mission, we believe all people long to be generous and create beautiful things, we believe all humans are interconnected (even when they’re home alone) and we believe tiny actions have great significance.

Right now, for example, I’m enjoying the notes and pictures from the Random Acts of Money project we funded in Snohomish, Washington. The inimitable Kimmy Rhoads, who pitched the project, is turning money into art, adding encouraging notes and changing people’s lives.

Speaking of changing lives, the Taz Grout 222 Foundation is offering $222 to the charity of choice to the first 22 daring dancers who are willing to post a video of their own Stay-at-Home Dance. Maybe you want us to reward your local food bank? Your free health center? Your community art center?

Post your dance here or on FB, Twitter or Instagram. Tag the @TazGrout222Foundation. Just make sure to send a link in the comments below. Weird costumes are encouraged.

For those who are thinking, you want me to do what?$%!!!!, I offer this video interpretation of my own interpretation of Jack Black’s now viral dance. I look forward to seeing your creations!!!

Just another day to love and serve

March 27, 2020 43 Comments

“It’s the best possible time to be alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong.”—Tom Stoppard

Medical peeps are doing their thing. Delivery services, grocery stores and governments are doing theirs.

My “thing” has always been overturning consensus reality. Offering a story that’s different than what we’ve long believed. Some people call these miracles.

At very least, these stories beg the question: Is it really true things are scary now? Is it really true we’re in danger?

Things aren’t always as they appear. A Course in Miracles, in fact, proposes a revolutionary overhaul of ALL our beliefs. It wages an outright challenge to the fundamental nature of reality.

For those who are reading along in my new ACIM book, you probably noticed today’s lesson tells the story of SARK who, after affirming “Miracle find me now,” was walking in San Francisco, where she lives, and six $100 bills floated down to her out of nowhere.

But that’s impossible, consensus reality insists.

But is it really?

In my world, “impossible things” happen all the time. Here are three recent examples:

1. A new friend of mine, also a Course student, knows that nothing real can ever be lost, that nothing that’s truly ours can ever be gone. A few years ago, she seemed to have lost a treasured ring. It had been her grandmother’s ring and, well, she really, really loved it. A few weeks ago, she walked into her apartment and there, lying on the rug by the front door, was her grandmother’s ring. Two years, guys!

2. Just this morning, I was talking to my long-time friend from Florida. She worked part-time for awhile at Whole Foods and couldn’t help but notice the tattoos and many hues of her younger co-workers’ hair. She decided it might be fun to have purple hair. She has always been a manifesting maestro, but even I was surprised when she told me that, out of the blue**, her hair started turning purple. Her powerful thoughts alone turned her hair purple. And, no, she didn’t dye it.

3. Lisa Natoli, my Omega co-leader for the “All Heaven Will Break Loose” workshop, says unexpected money is coming to her like crazy. For example, she just received a several hundred-dollar check from Kohl’s. Out of the blue.** As she said, “I haven’t stepped foot in Kohl’s for five or six years.” If you haven’t read her FB post about “Coronavirus being no different than anything else,” you should definitely check it out here.

I know there’s a lot of messaging out there that makes the world seem less than miraculous. But just remember, my friends, that most of what we hear about the economy, our health, about life in general is a story. It’s a malleable, ever-changing story. And we have the power to change it.

As I often say on Fridays, “Have the very best weekend of your life.” It is, after all, up to you.

**Another synonym for God

The Blog

Oopsy! The formula has a glitch

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Insist that love drive the clown car

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The new, magical way of existing in the world

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Sit. Feast on your life.

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My secret weapon

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My vision board for the planet

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Love or fear? The only decision

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The BIG reset

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Uplifting the Planet, One Dance at a Time

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Just another day to love and serve

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