A Course in Miracles Spiritual Psychotherapy
I began studying and practicing A Course in Miracles (ACIM) in 2003 when a friend gifted me the book.
I felt drawn to the core idea the book presents, which is that living peacefully — by way of truth and forgiveness towards oneself and others — actually allows us to experience our natural state: inner peace.
The Course has since had a profound impact on my own journey, and is something I’m eager to share with others.
What Is A Course in Miracles?
The goal of A Course in Miracles is to attain inner peace.
The Course allows us to experience a profound change in perception by providing a means of “removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence.” This is what the Course defines as a miracle: the shift of perception from fear to love.
The Foundation for Inner Peace further defines ACIM as a “complete self-study spiritual thought system” that “teaches that the way to universal love and peace—or remembering God—is by undoing guilt through forgiving others.”
While the language used in the Course is quite Christian, it is considered a non-denominational universal spiritual teaching, not a religion.
“This Course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:
Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.” — A Course in Miracles
My Journey With A Course in Miracles
Two decades ago when I was gifted A Course in Miracles, I was at the very beginning of a process of rethinking the many ways I had been conditioned to avoid suffering.
Both my friend who gave me the book and I shared traumatic past experiences that left us with the idea that the goal of life was to keep the varying forms of suffering that could occur at bay, by any means possible.
We were living the “big lie” that if only we could accomplish this or that, be in the right relationships, find the right job, acquire the right amount of money, or be “better” versions of ourselves, everything might eventually be OK.
But no matter how well we managed or how hard we tried, these external accomplishments didn’t change what had happened to us or how content we felt in any meaningful way. And trying to numb out our feelings only worked for so long. Maybe you can relate?
We both wanted to experience life in a more peaceful way, but so much seemed to challenge this idea as naive at best, and insane at worst.
When we stumbled upon ACIM, we found ourselves on an unintended path that presented us with the opportunity to consider a different approach to life. It encouraged considering and becoming aware of our own experiences due to having a thought system based on fear and instead, to develop a thought system based on love. It invited us to consider approaches that honor not just ourselves, but others, too.
We could not deny that when ACIM principles were realized, we were experiencing shifts in our perceptions that were allowing us to experience positive life changes. We had found a way to experience the peace we had spent so long seeking through external means.
If you’re curious about how ACIM can help with your own patterns, I’d love to connect.