VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2 JUNE, 2004

by Jim Gordon,President of ILM

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or this article I thought I would sharewith you a question I was asked recentlyabout meditation and The Path of Sound

and Light. “When I am meditating all I seeis darkness, and I do not feel like sitting in thedarkness. What is this about, and is theresomething beyond the darkness? I am consideringinitiation with ILM, and I am not sure if this willchange with initiation.”

Yes, there is something beyond the darkness! The Pathof Sound and Light and the meditation that we teachat initiation is one of an awakening process. Whenwe sit in meditation and hold our attention at thesingle eye, the spiritual eye, and chant the names ofGod in loving, we begin to be aware, to wake-up,and we begin to see Light. This Light is the Light ofour own soul as it begins to be drawn back up into itshome in Spirit. The Light is being drawn upward tothe single eye as we hold our attention there, at theseat of the soul at this physical level.

However, often, especially in the beginning of thisawakening process, we become aware of darknessin our meditation, and we become discouragedbecause there seems to be nothing present but thedarkness. Here is why we may only see darknessat first.

The soul has come down into these levels of thephysical creation so that it could have experiencehere. In order for the soul to have experience inthese lower realms of the physical-material worlds,the soul has turned its focus downward into matterand away from Spirit.

The soul is of the Realms of Spirit and does not havethe means by which to have experience in the (BEYOND continues on page 3)

EYOND THE DARKNESSBphysical. So the soul has taken on the mind at theselevels in order to have the means to experience here.Then with the help of the mind, the soul has placedits awareness into the sensual-physical worlds in adownward and outward attention and focus. The mindis a wonderful tool as long as the soul is in charge ofit. But in this downward focus the mind takes charge,and since the mind identifies itself with the sensualnature rather than the spiritual, the soul loses sight ofits true nature and its true home and begins to identifyitself with the lower realms. And thus the soul findsitself trapped in the mind and the physical realms ofthis creation.

One way that you might envision this is seeing theLight of the soul being placed in the lower creationand being focused and anchored in the mind,emotions, imagination and the physical.

The soul can know itself once again through the actionof focusing inward and upward into the ‘true self’ ofsoul and upward into the Realms of Spirit, the realmsof loving. And it is with the practice of meditationon The Path of Sound and Light that we begin tobring our attention and awareness inward and upwardto the single eye, the seat of the soul. In holding ourattention in this way we begin to draw all that is soulback unto itself at the eye center. The soul over timeand practice in meditation frees itself from itsconnections and entrapment in the physical.

At first in meditation, when this withdrawing processis just beginning, we might see only darkness. Butwith time, holding our focus (as we are taught atinitiation) on chanting the name of God, and doingthis with loving devotion, we begin to see Light inthe darkness. It might first appear as a spark of Lighthere and a spark there. With time and attention wewill begin to see more and more Light inside as thesoul is once again drawn inward and upward to itsown self, at the seat of the soul at the spiritual eye.

question and answer session, and a delightful dinnerparty. But beyond all that, we experienced a pervadingsense of genuine spiritual community. The peoplewho attended were so open to Spirit and felt soconnected with one another, that it was like one big“soul family” celebration all week long. It was justlike I used to imagine heaven would be when I wasa little child: a place where everyone you had everloved and all the things you most enjoyed would allbe together delighting in each other and sharing theirlove in ways that just keep getting better and better.That whole week, each time something wonderfulwould happen I would think, “It can’t get any betterthan this,” and then it would! It was one of the mostjoy-filled weeks of my life. And I thank Jim andBrian and all our ILM friends here for bringing such“life” into our lives. It reminded me of Jesus saying,“I have come that you might have life and have it moreabundantly.” This week was a taste of that abundance.

I believe that many of us are looking for such anexperience of spiritual community. I also believe thatwe can embrace outside of us only that which wewillingly embrace within us. So, spiritual communitydoesn’t start from the outside. It begins within eachone of us, in solitude, doing our inner work of meditation,prayer, and study — of learning to integrate Spirit intoour daily awareness. Then, as we reach out to oneanother, we carry that vibration with us. We touch thatsame Spirit in each other, and its expression in theworld is magnified. Once we have “connected” inside,then we can truly connect with one another. We canspend time together sharing in the loving that is theessence of Spirit. We can talk about our lives, ourhopes, and our dreams. We can have potlucks, movieand discussion nights, music and poetry nights. Wecan attend classes, workshops, and retreats, makingthem a regular part of our lives. We make each othera part of our lives — not just passing acquaintances atan occasional meeting. We can learn to care for oneanother, allowing the love between us to deepen.

It is not complicated to build a community — it issimply a living process of sharing our time and ourhearts.

by Steven McAfee,ILM Minister

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On my spiritual journey, I have sometimesfelt lonely. To be sure, the spiritual path

is an inward one, and to walk it, we needtime alone — in the quiet solitude of our meditations,prayers, and studies. But that is not what I mean. Imean by myself in the world: feeling isolated, lonely,out of place — as though my spiritual experiences andpractice weren’t understood or accepted anywhere. Iwas too “Jewish” to be welcomed in Christian churches,too devoted to Jesus to be welcomed in synagogues,too Western to pretend to be an Easterner, and toomystical (“weird” was the word they used) fortraditionalists to feel comfortable with me. Over theyears, I have found a number of other mysticallyinclined souls, and that has helped. But still, I hungeredfor a sense of spiritual community. Finally, thanks tomy work in ILM, I am experiencing it!

When I first met Jim Gordon (actually before ILMexisted), everyone was talking about how impressedthey were with his psychic abilities. I was impressedby his loving. Everyone wanted Jim to tell them howto live, what to do, and who they used to be in their pastlives. I wanted to be his friend. I wanted the clarity ofknowing and the peace that I felt in him. Over theyears, I have witnessed, over and over again,demonstrations of Jim’s remarkable level ofclairvoyance, but far more meaningful to me, I havefound him to be one of the most gentle and loving soulsI have ever met. He is a man I can trust. He honors mydevotion to God, without trying to manipulate it to hisown ends. He continually teaches me to trust my owninner knowing. His encouragement and support areenabling me to fulfill my longing for a community inwhich to share spiritual teachings, music, and friendship.

This past March, Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey cameto Fort Wayne and spent several days with our ILMgroup here. It was an amazing week! There were lotsof activities — personal counseling appointments,initiations into The Path of Sound and Light, aninsightful workshop on relationships, a dynamic

A OMMUNITY OF SPIRITC

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CALENDAR

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PRESENTED BY BRIAN YEAKEY:PIRITUAL COUNSELINGS:

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These counseling sessions are offered as a service for assisting people in awakening to the Spirit of whothey truly are, in living the day-to-day reality of Spirit in their lives, in bringing their lives into greateralignment with walking the spiritual Path of Sound and Light, and in experiencing all the Loving that Spirithas to offer.

Please allow 60 minutes for your session and come prepared with specific questions. Sessions can be donein person or over the phone. They are tape-recorded and the cassette is given to you at the end of thesession. There is no charge for this service; however, donations are welcome.

PRESENTED BY JIM GORDON:For additional information, call 512-306-1056.

S Brian is available for spiritual counselings.Call 512-306-1056 to schedule an appointment.

CLASSES & PROGRAMS: JUNE – SEPT, 2004

EEKLY CLASSES: Jim’s weekly Austin class is held Tuesdays 7-9 pm,

ILM Center, Franklin Sq. Bldg, 3724 Jefferson, Ste. 100, Austin, Texas No charge.

Each class includes spiritual teaching, practical exercises, group discussion, and meditation.Jim helps participants to become more deeply in touch with the Spirit within.

Please note: During the summer months, while Jim and Brian are away, Bill Stratton will be conducting the Tuesday night classes with recorded ILM tapes and other presentations.

We might also feel this as great loving devotioncoming present inside, and the warmth of true lovingbeginning to hold our attention inward and upward.Greater peace and loving then come present in ourlives.

So, if all you see in meditation is darkness, then inthe darkness sit in loving devotion to God and holdyour attention inward and upward at the spiritual eye.Gradually you will wake up to the knowing ofyourself as soul. You will become aware of the innerLight, the Light of your own soul as it gathers itselfback to itself at the seat of the soul. This is actuallythe first phase of meditation on The Path of Soundand Light — the gathering of the soul inward andupward out of the worlds of matter and the sensual-physical nature and the waking up into the divineknowing of self as soul. This is sometimes referredto as the journey through the inner kingdom.

The second phase begins when the soul has gathereditself out of the sensual-physical nature and unitesitself at the spiritual eye center and then begins tofollow the inward and upward focus of the meditation.We begin to look upward to the spiritual door that isfound at the spiritual eye center. “Knock and the doorshall be opened,” we are told. To knock at this doorwe chant the name of God in loving, and openourselves in the giving and receiving of loving withGod. It is through this spiritual door that the soul, ourtrue self, can leave the physical body consciously andtravel through the outer kingdom — first the lowerrealms, and then into the soul and spiritual realmsabove.

So yes, there is something beyond the darkness!And if we will be patient and sit each day inmeditation and chant God’s name in loving we willbegin to see the Light and hear the Sound of Godcalling us home.

Beyond (continued from page 1) by Jim Gordon

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 9)

(Please print.)

orgiveness WorkshopFF orgiveness Workshopwith ILM Ministers, Jim Gordon & Brian Yeakey

DATE: Sunday, August 1, 2004TIME: 9:30 am-7 pm

WHERE: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, HawaiiMeeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd f loor

For Ohana Hotel reservations: Call Barbara Campbell at 808-921-6679 barbara.campbell@outrigger.com.

Park in the Ohana East garage located at 2375 Kuhio Avenue (all day parking with validation is $3.00).

DONATION

n this workshop we will look at how we can use forgiveness in our livesto assist us in letting go of attachments, judgments, resentments, hurts, pains,

and upsets. In understanding forgiveness we will see how forgivingcan bring us back into the loving essence of who we truly are.

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For further information please contact: Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509.

Brian will be available forspiritual counseling sessions:

INITIATION and SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGS

WHEN: August 2-7, 2004

Jim and Brian will be available for initiationfor those who have been approved.

INITIATION and SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGS

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ILM Q&A with JIM and BRIANILM Q&A with JIM and BRIAN

And on Sunday, August 8th there will be a:

TTTTTIMEIMEIMEIMEIME: : : : : 2:30-6 pmWWWWWHEREHEREHEREHEREHERE::::: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

DDDDDONATIONONATIONONATIONONATIONONATION

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ILM REGISTRATION FORM: Please check the event(s) you will attend, and if you wish to make a donation send a check(payable to ILM) along with this registration form to: Nadine Ferraro, 2703 Terrace Drive, Honolulu, HI.

HAWAII: Forgiveness Workshop ILM Q&A

To schedule counseling appointment with Brian Yeakey or to talk with Jim Gordon concerninginitiation into The Path of Sound and Light please call 512-306-1056 and speak with Laura Doggett.

ILM

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TORIES UNTOLD:S

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365 DAYS OF IVING CONSCIOUSLY:L

STORIES UNTOLD—Michigan: JUNE 13-19 (Intensive, $225 for the week), Martha’s CottageSaugatuck; AUG 6-8, Location TBA; OCT 1-3, Pretty Lake, Mattawan; DEC 3-5, Location TBA

$125 per weekend

STORIES UNTOLD—Texas: JULY 9-11, SEPT 10-12, NOV 12-14, The Hill CountryLighthouse, Dripping Springs, Texas

$100 per weekend

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

Have you heard your “calling” to write? Have you answered it yet? In thisprogram, we attend to our own personal callings to write — to write from the heart about our lifeexperiences —our tragedies, our triumphs, our insights, our wisdom, our awakenings, and our openinghearts. We do this through the healing words of our own untold stories as we write them down on paper,and then share them (optional) with a loving, safe and supportive group. No experience is necessary!

What if you had one year to live? How wouldyou want to live it? Might you want your year-long journey to be about living each day mindfully, livingit authentically, with integrity, and might you have it include forgiveness, acceptance, and loving?What if you could live each day this year consciously and deliberately? Throughout 2004, our “LivingConsciously” group will meet once a month. You can still join us NOW!

JUNE, JULY, AUG, SEPT (dates TBA) 2-4 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas Donation

Join us for a potluck and movie in Dripping Springs. We’ll gatherup at 2:30 pm and eat at 3 pm. The movie begins around 4 pm so we’ll finish up by 6 pm in order fory’all to travel back to your homes and prepare for the week.

SEPT 12 Sunday, 2:30–6 pm Tom and Laura’s, Dripping Springs, Texas No Charge

OVIE AND POTLUCK:M

AFE HOP WRITING DAY:C We’ll meet at a cafe in Austin, order coffee, tea, soda, orwater, maybe a scone or bagel, and write. Then, we’ll hop to another cafe and do it all over again.And, if time permits, we’ll hop to a third. Writing prompts are given to get the pen in motion. Havefun filling empty pages with story. Sharing is optional.

JUNE 5 Saturday, 9 am–3 pm Ruta Maya Cafe, Austin, Texas No Charge

The Iroquois legend of the PeaceMaker, dating back to AD 1200, is historicallydocumented as an influence on the forming of our American nation. We offer this workshop as anopportunity to journey through the rich Iroquois story of the PeaceMaker, reliving its teachings andparticipating in transformational processes, thus bringing us closer to the heart of our own PeaceMakerwithin. Come and experience this very powerful workshop. Participants also receive a copy of JeanHouston’s book: A Manual for the PeaceMaker, two nights lodging, and food. Auditing PeaceMakeris an awesome experience! Call Carolyn Daily at 269-327-6851.

JULY 30 – AUG 1 Friday, 7 pm – Sunday, 3 pm GilChrist, Three Rivers, Mich. $125

EACEMAKER:P

(Note: please be aware that new programs are often scheduled after the newsletter goes to press,and, in rare instances, published schedules may have to be altered. For current information on any event

or series, please call the presenter or contact person listed with the program. Thank you.)

PRESENTED BY LAURA KESTEN:For additional information, call Laura Kesten at 512-894-0992.

In Fort Wayne: EVENT #1

EVENT #2

For further information about these events in Fort Waynecontact Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167 or mcafeesa@aol.com.

Sunday, June 6 from 2:30-6 pm

A DAY WITH JIM & BRIAN

“Brigade of Light” room, YWCA, Fort Wayne — Donation

In Kalamazoo: EVENT #1

EVENT #2

Saturday, June 12 from 1-4:30 pmCountry Inn & Suites, 1912 E. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo

Donation

For further information about these events in Kalamazoocontact Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851.

Sunday, June 13 from 1-4:30 pmCountry Inn & Suites, 1912 E. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo — Donation

Private Appointments in Fort Wayne and in KalamazooBrian will be available for private hour-long counseling sessions in Fort Wayne on June 3, 4,

7, and 8 and in Kalamazoo on June 10 and 11. Jim and Brian together will be schedulinginitiation appointments for those already accepted into The Path of Sound and Light.

To arrange for appointments in Fort Wayne, please contact Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167. Toarrange appointments in Kalamazoo, please contact Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851.

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A DAY WITH JIM & BRIAN

Q & A WITH JIM & BRIANQ & A WITH JIM & BRIAN

A Spiritual SharingA Spiritual Sharing

Q & A SessionQ & A Session

2. Question & Answer Session

Saturday, June 5“Brigade of Light” room, YWCA, Fort Wayne

Donation

This program has two portions: a morning meditationsession, and a question and answer session after lunch.

You may attend either or both.

10 am-12 noon1. Meditation with Jim & Brian

2-5:30 pm

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PRESENTED BY STEVEN R. MCAFEE, MIDWEST COORDINATOR:For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.

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TUESDAY CLASS SERIES: Steven offers a series of weekly ILM classes in Ft. Wayne on Tuesdaynights from 7-8:30 pm at Unity Christ Church. Each series focuses on a specific spiritual topic and runsfrom 4-6 weeks in length. Some of our recent topics have included: meditation (using Jim Gordon’s book,The Knowing of God), mystical teachings from the kabbalah, a study of first century Christianity, and thestories of Jesus. Please call Steven for up-to-date information on the current series.

XPLORING THE KABBALAH RETREAT:E

CILM OMMUNITY NIGHT: Due to popular demand, we are presenting more community musicnights! Bring your voice, guitar, drum, or other musical instrument. Or just come to listen and enjoy!We’ll provide soft drinks and light munchies. Please RSVP a week ahead so we can plan appropriately.

JUNE 9, JULY 14, SEPT 8 7-10 pm Steven & Anita’s home, Ft. Wayne No charge

K“ NOCK” PROGRAM: The following events are open only to those already enrolled in the year-longKNOCK study program. Retreat location and cost will be announced in advance to KNOCK members.

WORKSHOPS (on the fourth Sundays of the month):JUNE 27, AUG 22, SEPT 26 2-5 PM Brigade of Light room, YWCA Ft. Wayne

RETREATS:JULY 23-25 Fri. 7:30 pm-Sun. 3 pm Location and cost TBA

This retreat will introduce the vast field ofJewish mystical literature known collectively as the kabbalah. The Jewish mystics in these texts had muchin common with the early Jesus movement. Their commitment to spiritual life, to an ever-deepeningintimacy with God even in the face of adversity, and to following the direction of their “rebbe” (spiritualteacher) can be a helpful inspiration and encouragement for us today to seek out and commit ourselves toa current, living mystical path. English translations of ancient texts will be available for study. There willbe periods of instruction, chanting, meditation, group sharing, and journal writing.

SEPT 17-19 Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun 2:30 pm GilChrist, Three Rivers, Mich. $150

THE “ INDRED SPIRITS” STUDY GROUP:K

(Steven’s Calendar continues on next page)

(a new year-long study program) Thisprogram is open to anyone interested in deepening their spiritual life through individual prayer andmeditation along with community study and sharing. Participation in any of the previous yearlong studygroups is NOT a pre-requisite.

An introductory luncheon meeting will be held on Saturday, October 2 at the Guesthouse Hotel in FortWayne. The content, requirements, and enrollment procedure will be presented from 11 am-noon, followedby a question and answer session during lunch from noon-1 pm. To attend the luncheon meeting, youmust REGISTER IN ADVANCE by calling Steven at 260-485-2167. Registrations must be received bySeptember 24. There is no cost to attend the luncheon, but donations will be accepted. Attendance willNOT obligate you to enroll in the program. If you are interested in the program, but will be unable toattend the luncheon, please contact Steven to make other arrangements.

INTRODUCTORY LUNCHEON MEETING:OCT 2 11 am-1 pm Guesthouse Hotel, Fort Wayne Donation

Monthly meetings will take place in the Fort Wayne area on the third Sunday of every month from 2-5 pm,from October 2004 through September 2005. Weekend-long retreats will take place in November 2004and March 2005. Complete details will be announced at the luncheon.

KEYS TO INNER COMMUNICATION

THE PATH OF NEUTRALITY

YOU AS A COMMUNICATOR, YOU AS A CREATOR and A MEDITATION

1. A SIMPLE WAY – THE PATH OF ILM 4. ABUNDANCE I and ABUNDANCE II CD SET

2. THE PATH OF SOUND AND LIGHT 5. OUR RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

3. UNDERSTANDING THE ‘INNER’ PATHWAY 6. LORD, MAKE ME WORTHY and THE MASTER IN YOUR HEART

To Order: (Please include $3 per order for shipping and handling.) Checks may bemade payable to Inner Light Ministries and sent to: Inner Light Ministries, P.O. Box164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332. Please include your name, address and phone number.Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

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PRESENTED BY STEVEN MCAFEE: (cont’d) For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.

SUNDAY SERVICES: Steven frequently serves as a guest speaker for various churches andspiritual groups in the Fort Wayne area. If you would like him to speak to your group, please call to makearrangements. The following are presently scheduled:

JUNE 27, JULY 11, AUG 22, SEPT 26 11 am Brigade of LightJULY 4 10:30 am Unity Christ ChurchSEPT 9 7 pm Unity Christ Church

Each CD is $9.00 except for the Abundance I & II CD packet, which is $15.00.

T T T T THEHEHEHEHE K K K K KNOWINGNOWINGNOWINGNOWINGNOWING OFOFOFOFOF G G G G GODODODODOD T T T T THEHEHEHEHE S S S S STAFFTAFFTAFFTAFFTAFF OFOFOFOFOF THETHETHETHETHE S S S S SHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERD

(Due to the recent demand on tapes the following tapes will be available September, 2004.)

TAPES OF JIM GORDON SEMINARS ARE NOW BEING REMASTERED:

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ILM BOOKS by JIM GORDON:

LLLLLOVEOVEOVEOVEOVE ANDANDANDANDAND L L L L LOVINGOVINGOVINGOVINGOVING (now in it’s second printing.)

NEW MEDITATION TAPE AND CD AVAILABLE JULY, 2004:

The Heart of God Meditation

by Brian Yeakey

The Spiritual Path Meditation

by Jim Gordon

CDS OF JIM GORDON SEMINARS ARE NOW AVAILABLE:

SIDE A CD 1

SIDE B CD 2

} }

Each tape is $9.00.

Each book is $6.00.

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES PRODUCTS

ILM REGISTRATION FORM: Please fill out this form, and send a check (payable to ILM)along with this registration form to: Steven McAfee, P.O. Box 5139, Fort Wayne, IN 46895.

S(Please print.)

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WHEN: OCT. 22-24

WHERE: Potawatomi InnPokagon State Park, Angola, Indiana

COST: $150

with ILM MinistersJim Gordon, Brian Yeakey, Laura Kesten and Steven McAfee

Join the fun,

(room and meals included)

TIME: Friday, 7 pm — Sunday, 12 noon

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ome join us in exploringhow to experience more abundance in our lives:

both spiritually in our spiritual practice,and outwardly in a community of Spirit.

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NAME(S): EMAIL:

ADDRESS & ZIP CODE:

DAYTIME PHONE: EVENING PHONE:

piritual bundanceA

piritual bundanceA

and experience the joy,

peace, and loving

Spirit has to offer.

myself, I discovered a valuable lesson. That as I wasof service to myself first, then I could truly be of serviceto others. I realized that as I filled my own cup first, soto speak, that as my cup filled and overflowed, I couldthen give of my overflow. Whereas before, I was tryingto assist or give to people before I was assisting orgiving to myself. I learned that I had to have somethingto give before I could give it! And it just so happenedthat the job that I got was a service-oriented job thattruly helped people improve their lives. So, as I wasbeing of service to myself, I also ended up being ofservice to others. This experience and awareness wasa turning point in my life!

Now I know that I need to give to ‘me’ in order to beable to give to others. The main way I give to myselfis through meditation. In my practice of meditation, Icontinually give loving to myself and God, and I receiveGod’s loving for me. And the more loving I receivethe more I have to give. These days, the main way Ioutwardly give to others is through the services I dothrough ILM — spiritual counselings, workshops,sharings, etc. As I share the loving through these ‘outer’actions of service, I have also learned that the act ofdoing these services actually helps to fill my own ‘cup’!The action of service to others, by its very nature, is aservice to oneself!

Another key regarding being of service to others is:where are we ‘coming from’ inside ourselves whenperforming service. Is it an act of loving from withinourselves? Or are we doing it for some other reasonother than loving? It is up to us to know that forourselves. I simply have come to discover what trulyworks for me through my own experiences. That’s alleach one us has to do for ourselves — learn throughour own experiences. Experience is the true teacher!

So, as I continue to step forward in my life, I look towhere I can be of service — first to myself and then toothers, realizing that this can be one and the same. Andthrough each experience of service, I simply payattention and learn from all that takes place, bothinwardly and outwardly. And as I do, my experiencescontinue to expand and become deeper and moreprofound ... and I am able to serve in ever-greaterways.

by Brian Yeakey,ILM Minister

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ERVICE THROUGH LOVINGS

I n my last newsletter article I wrote about“inner service.” In this newsletter article I

would like to expand upon the subject ofservice. In my previous article I described inner serviceas the movement of loving from within oneself, andthe sharing of that loving with others spiritually. Andnow I would like to share about that inner movement,as I experience it, as it becomes an outer expression ofloving.

As I’ve come to know the movement of loving withinmyself, there are times when I experience that lovingwanting to share itself as an outward action. Whenthat happens I participate with the movement of it inwhatever way I feel directed or inspired. Sometimesit comes as a gentle nudge to share words of lovingwith someone, or to do something helpful for someonethat is going to assist them with whatever is going onin their lives.

As I act upon these inner nudges and inspirations, myown life becomes one of greater fulfillment and joy aswhatever it is that I do for another person helps themcome into a better place for themselves — internallyand/or externally. When I participate with these‘movements’, my life also continues to expand andbecomes easier to handle. The more I participate themore it becomes so. And on the contrary, it is when Ihold back from participating that my life becomes moreof a struggle and things just don’t seem to go the wayI’d like them to. So, I have learned that for me, it istaking these ‘inner’ movements to my ‘outer’ life ofaction that is the key.

For many years I remember having counseling sessionswith Jim Gordon when he would always ask me, “Whatactions are you taking?” In all of my sessions withhim this is what it always came to. Eventually themessage sunk in, and one day I decided to take action.In this case it was an action of service to myself first— I got a job so I could help take care of myselffinancially. And, in this process of being of service to

digging into my boxes. As the date of the sale drewnearer, I knew I had to get over my shyness and sayyes to their offers. My friends loyally showed upthe day before the sale and worked with a fury. Justafter midnight we finished. Collapsing on chairs andon the floor we talked and laughed for the next hourbefore parting for the night.

I have always known the power of getting rid of“stuff.” It meant clearing space for new things. Thisyear, however, I consciously cleared the space justto have space. My thinking was to simplify. Thisbecame a central focus for me as I let go of unwantedand unused items.

Where did all my “stuff” come from? In the past,spending my time being a great consumer was a wayfor me to try filling a void inwardly. At someunconscious level, I believed that if I could just haveenough stuff I would feel like I not only had enough,but that I was enough. I never felt quite full; there wasalways more I wanted. So this year as I filled garagesale boxes, my mantra question was, “If I give this itemup, what do I want to take its place?” The answerusually involved one of three things: meditate more,paint more, write more. As I filled the boxes, moreand more I wanted these three things. A marvelouscycle began: the more I let go, the more I meditated;the more I meditated, the more I let go. I began feelingfull for maybe the first time in my life.

Allowing my friends to participate with me, to helpout, to see all my stuff, I had to, in a way, make spaceinwardly as well. I had to first let go of the fear theywould have judgments against me. As an added bonus,their unconditional presence helped my own heart tomelt away a shield of self-protection and thus open tothe loving at hand.

Clearing space leads to all sorts of wonderful surprises.By letting go of unused things, belief systems whichno longer serve, shields that we hide behind, attitudeswhich keep us from our loving, and so on — energy ismoved, space is cleared, healing of the heart is madepossible, and steps can be taken toward living a moreconscious, loving life in Spirit.

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by Laura Kesten-Beaver, ILM Minister

E very February I embark on a rummagingexpedition through my house — intoclosets, drawers, cupboards, and in my

other catchalls. I go hunting in search of items thatI’m ready to let go of: items I haven’t used forawhile, or things that don’t feel like “me” anymore.And then in the spring of each year my daughter andI have a two-day garage sale.

Whew! Every year, following the sale, as I sit lumpedin a chair, exhausted, I emphatically announce, “This isthe last year I’m going to do this.” Yet — with as muchwork as it is to go through each room of my house,find the things I’m ready to let go of, organize, bagand box, price, advertise, and then hold a sale for aweekend — at the start of each new year, I begin tofeel a rumble inside, an excitement, a desire to beginthe process all over again. And so I do.

This year wasn’t any different, with one exception — Ibegan the rummaging right after last year’s sale. Allyear long, I pulled things from closets and drawers,attics and storage sheds, nooks and crannies, askingmyself, “Do I need this item any more? Does this stillserve me? Am I ready to let it go?” If I felt done withit, I’d give a blessing of gratitude for its service beforeplacing the item in a box. When the box was full I’dstart another, then another and another and another.

Because I had so much stuff, I was reluctant to tellmy friends about the sale. I’d say, “No, I don’t wantyou to come. I’m so embarrassed about how muchI’ve collected.” But my friends all saw the processdifferently, and were overwhelmingly supportive ofmy ‘letting go’. And they were all excited aboutcoming and seeing what treasures I might have thatthey could use. Their encouragement helped me tomove forward into an enthusiastic expression ofreleasing and letting go.

Several of my friends asked if I needed any help. Iknew I could use the help but once again, those feelingsof embarrassment fluttered up. I felt shy about them

LEARING SPACEC

What often prevents us from Loving God isthat we often feel unworthy — not just to offer ourLoving to Him, but even to stand in His presence.We may believe that He is too busy to be botheredwith us, as if we were too “bad,” or evil, or justunimportant. This falls within a long list of faultyand limiting beliefs, which often reflect the reli-gious philosophies we have grown up with or thejudgments we’ve received from others (or placedupon ourselves). But the fact is that it is God’strue joy to be involved in our personal lives. Thereis no activity too small or insignificant for God toshare in. He wants to do it, but in His Loving Henever imposes, and He allows us to freely choosewhether to include Him or not.

—Jim Gordon

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P.O. Box 164332Austin, Texas 78716-4332

Phone: 512-306-1056

ABOUT ILMis a nonprofit

organization dedicated to the development and balancingof the fourfold nature of the individual. Towards thisgoal, it provides education and services concerned withthe integration of the spiritual, mental, emotional, andphysical aspects of the self, and also providespublications and materials that aid in this process.

Among ILM’s fundamental tenets is that wetruly are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” As we seekand express this presence within, we find the peace,love, joy, and wisdom we all so earnestly desire. Themany services of ILM are geared towards this path ofindividual unfoldment—such as meditation, study,and service to humanity on an individual and groupbasis.

ILM also offers initiation into the meditationpractice of “The Path of Sound and Light,” an innerpath of spiritual awakening.

Please write or phone for more informationabout ILM.

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES (ILM)

ILM: Executive Office: Jim Gordon, P.O. Box 164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332; Business Office: Tom Beaver, P.O. Box 1086,Dripping Springs, TX 78620; Midwest Office: Steven McAfee, P.O. Box 5139, Fort Wayne, IN 46895

•• An Excerpt fromLove and Loving (2nd edition)

(See page 8 for information on ordering ILM products)