The Hidden Power

Newt List is proud to announce its latest release, Thomas Troward's The Hidden Power and Other Essays. This is Troward's final book, released after his death, and is a compilation of several previously unpublished essays and articles.

Thomas Troward provides a "missing link" in the study and practice of spirituality. Often, we are inspired by spiritual ideas. They stir something in us that show us what is possible, how life can be. This revelation can be so exciting that we immediately dive in to the practice, only to find that, frequently, our results are not what we imagined. The missing element is our understanding of the basic principles—why and how they work.

Troward uses principles of science, math and theology to explain spiritual ideas. He believed that we need to know why they work, so that we can more effectively use them, understand them, and cause them to work with the fullest power in our lives.

Unfortunately, Troward can be difficult to read because of his use of technical jargon. Newt List goes a long way to solving this issue through intense editorial work on Troward's texts. We have updated the punctuation and idioms of the time in which Troward wrote, making these books easier for contemporary readers, without losing the distinctive voice of the author. We have also incorporated gender-neutral forms, offering greater accessibility. We think you'll find Troward much more accessible with our editions.

If you have not read Troward before, The Hidden Power and Other Essays is the perfect starting point. These essays are easily digestible and offer Troward's ideas in succinct chapters of information.

Newt List has a complete collection of updated and gender-neutral versions of all Thomas Troward's books, including The Dore Lectures on Mental Science, The Creative Process in the Individual, and Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning.

                   

Being a Contented Cat

I want to point you to a valuable blog on facing difficult issues life throws at us. It is Betti Magison Effrig's Contented Cat. Betti (full disclosure: she is my sister-in-law's sister!) writes clearly and thoughtfully about her life with muscular dystrophy. She writes about acceptance versus persistence, a concept that requires an acute sense of balance that actually applies to every one of us, whether we are dealing with large challenges or small.

Betti has taken her increasing inflexibility of body to increase the flexibility of her mind, showing us that we are not only what is "between our head and our boots," as Walt Whitman said, but spiritual, thinking beings as well. We are who we decide to be, who we choose to be, and not what our circumstances dictate.

It is not an easy road that Betti is on, but one can see by reading her blog that she has a grace and empathy that can teach each one of us not only how to appreciate our own existence, but how to thrive when we choose to accept and embody the lessons of the "contented cat" in all of us.

Guest Blog: Antonia Albany on Life After 50

You wake up one morning and all of a sudden you’re in your mid-50s and starting to think about the rest of your life. And you’re afraid it’s going to be all about soft, tasteless food and forgetfulness, hearing aids and trifocals, early-bird specials and multiple trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Try visualizing this instead: it’s the least stressful time of your life where being unburdened of a 60-hour-a-week job, a 30-year mortgage and raising children allows for a freedom never experienced before. Sure, lots of people in their 50s still have jobs and mortgages but there is a shift from the hectic mindset that often accompanies our younger years. We can be more relaxed and happier in our 50s and beyond. It’s possible for everyone, including you.

You’ve been holding in your stomach all your life, let it go. You’ve been covering that ever-widening bald spot for the last 10 years. Go ahead, show us the shine! Be proud that you’ve made it this far in life. Just think, you can let go of trying to keep up with the Jonses. You can sit back and relax and watch the next generation of people jumping through hoops to acquire the latest clothes, cars, jewelry and electronics. There’s no reason to keep up with the latest music (which I find uninspiring at best anyway) and no reason to know what all the current slang terminology means and how to use it.

Making the Most of It
Here are some ideas for insuring your life after 50 is the best it can be:

      Maintain a healthy lifestyle – this is best for ANY age

      Hang out with upbeat people 

      Share your experiences with others – teach or mentor someone

      Let go of worry – meditating works really well for learning to let go

      Make yourself a priority

      If you do feel the urge to complain, keep it to yourself

      Simplify, simplify, simplify – clean out and donate or discard

      Take time to smell the roses

I’m serious. There not only IS life after 50, but it’s a wonderful life. Personally speaking I had a job and financial obligations in my 50s and still do, to a lesser extent, now that I’m 65. But I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I have an abundant life for which I am grateful. It’s a life that isn’t extravagant by any means but it is rich in experiences, including friendships, spirituality and a continuing quest for knowledge. So, be open and embrace all the fun and new experiences of getting older.

Antonia Albany's blog, Antonia's Senior Moments, can be found here.

You may also be interested in the following related Newt List books:

     

Raves for "The Philosophy of Jesus"

Being the first book ever published under the Newt List label, The Philosophy of Jesus definitely holds a special place in my affections. The manner in which Ernest Holmes examines the historical Jesus and applies Jesus' life-affirming philosophy to today's spiritual ideas has always inspired me, so I am thrilled that the book continues to be Newt List's best selling title.

I'm equally pleased that the reviews on Amazon.com have been so favorable—a solid 5 stars! The responses that readers write about The Philosophy of Jesus are a tribute to the powerful ideas in this book and how these ideas influence others.

It frequently surprises me, though, that people seldom if ever mention that they appreciate the gender-neutral language used in all Newt List books. When I worked at Science of Mind Publishing, the most common complaint we heard from readers was Ernest Holmes' use of masculine language, for example when referring to God as "Him" or the idea of people as "man." Holmes' philosophy was so all inclusive, they said, that the use of masculine forms felt antithetical to his ideas.

But I think the reason people don't comment more on the gender-neutral language is because they don't even notice it! Though I take this as a complement to the intensive process of editing we do here at Newt List, I also believe that gender-inclusive language is actually more accurate and, when edited well, more seamless to the reader. Though "man does not live by bread alone," neither does woman! Making language apply accurately allows us the opportunity to move more deeply into the text and ideas therein, which is always a good thing and, I believe, every good author's intention.

If you'd like to see what people are saying about The Philosophy of Jesus, check out the Amazon.com page here. Plus if you scroll further down, you can see the popular passages in the book that readers highlight as they read.

Guest Blog: Edward Viljoen on The Power of Meditation - An Ancient Technique to Access your Inner Power

What is meditation?

The term meditation is as broad in definition as the term ‘art’ is. Both include a wide range of practices, styles and purposes. For instance, art can be engaged in for therapeutic reasons, or for fun and recreation, or for many other reasons. Art has different disciplines, each with its distinct schools of thought, media and tools. Accomplished artists in one discipline, may not exhibit skillfulness in another, and may not even understand the methods of a different media.

In the same way, meditation is different things to different people. There are certain meditative practices that work better for me, practices I respond to and understand better. By “practice” I mean the daily method I use to meditate. If I were a water-color artist, I might say water-color was my preferred medium and I might not care to waste my time chiseling away at a marble block to reveal a hidden statue therein. As a water colorist, when I spoke about my art and the benefits, goals and methods of its practice, I would be talking in a language that other water colorists understood. Although there would be crossover points universal to all artists, I would have found my niche, my way and my art. I may have even dabbled with other forms of art in the journey to discover what fits best, or I might have been one of those duck-to-water artists that pick it up and simply know how to do it.

A Practice the Works for You

Similarly, when I talk about meditation, I’m talking about my best practice and I tend, sometimes, to talk as if it is the only way. I know this isn't the case, and I think what is coming through is my enthusiasm for what I have developed in my understanding of what meditation can be for me. I did dabble with all kinds of practices and a little of everything I encountered along the way has lingered in what has become my practice today. I have developed a multi-faceted approach in which three distinct tools form the meditative practice I use, and that I teach to others:

• Mindfulness practices: in which we become absorbed in a purposefully chosen activity
• Sitting practices: in which we reduce the use of mental and physical resources as much as possible by sitting still and silently
• Creative practices: in which we use some device such as journaling, observing, or focusing on an inspirational passage

Finding a practice that worked for me at first seemed like a battle with an unruly mind.   Every time I sat, I lost the battle.  That is, until I learned to stop fighting.  So, I didn't try to tame my mind, instead I made friends with it.  By that I mean I dropped my mental fight with what I discovered inside.

You can purchase The Power of Meditation

From Amazon

Kindle Edition

From Barnes and Noble

Nook Edition

From Indiebound

Meant To Be

Within each of us is the realm of God. Every human being possesses the essence of all that is holy and vibrantly alive. You are a place where God is, and, despite occasional appearances to the contrary, you are kind, you are compassionate, and you are love. And so is everyone else. This is a universal principle taught by spiritual leaders over ages, and one that can change the way you live your life today.

At your core is peace. It is the place to which you go when discomfort or even disaster strikes. It is an inherent part of you, which may be why we frequently fail to remember it is even there. But it is in this unchanging place inside you where the greater global person begins. It comes from your core and makes itself known in the world, sometimes in surprising places, through the things you do and the relationships you create.

Become aware of just how powerful a force for peace you really are. Today, you can imbue every single action, no matter how minute or grand, with the essence of peace. When someone wrongs you, whether they cut you off in traffic or say untrue things about you, you have the divine choice to respond in kindness, with peace. It is the first stop to something larger, something global.

It can seem hopeless to believe that peace is the way things are meant to be in the world today. Peace seems so unattainable that it often seems easier to give up hope. But even taking one peaceful action in your daily life shifts the word closer to the peace that is meant to be.

*

You may like to read

James Allen's The Way of Peace.

Washington state gets rid of sexist language

Story here.

"Words matter," Liz Watson, a National Women's Law Center senior adviser, told Reuters. "This is important in changing hearts and minds."

Guest Blog: Betti Effrig on "Letting Go of Judgment"

Judge not that you be not judged. 

- Matt. 7:1

Easier said than done! The following Taoist story helped me understand:

An old farmer had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "Maybe," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "Maybe," said the farmer.

So I stopped judging my situation – being in a wheelchair did not have to be good or bad. I understood what my Vietnam Vet friend meant when he told me not to struggle with a cane, but to go for the wheelchair when the time came. We tend to think that not being like everyone else is bad because it is not “normal”, but it is better than struggling to keep walking with a cane, or to try to be something we are not.

One day when I was outside looking at the trees and flowers, I realized that I did not judge them. On that day I decided that when I judged myself or anyone else, I would think of the person as a tree or flower, one of God’s beautiful creations, and just stop with the criticism and negative thinking! It takes practice, and I am far from perfect. On a more challenging day, in my mind’s eye someone who really ticks me off might be an autumn leaf about to drop from the top of an old gnarly tree. . . . .

When we stop thinking in terms of good and bad, we are freed from judgment and guilt and better able to accept what is, be it people or situations. On a practical note, I stopped beating myself mentally when I make mistakes, and I have actually learned not to let aggressive drivers and rude people annoy me. Imagine that!

*

You can read more from Betti Effrig at her blog
"CONTENTEDCAT, finding peace with my Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis."

You may also enjoy reading Christian Larson's Pathway of Roses, from Newt List.

Inspiration Vacation

Summertime offers great opportunities to take breaks from our regularly scheduled lives and see ourselves differently. It is a time when many of us take vacations from work, from school, even from our church, and venture out to explore new places in the world. Whether we travel the planet or we vacation at home, we can take this time to shift our perspective just a bit, altering the regular course of our lives to give us a break from the way things usually are.

Traveling to a different country or region gives you the chance to see the world through the eyes of people different from yourself. New thoughts, new ways of doing the everyday things, new voices all stimulate something inside you, and you see the world expanded.

When you take time off, but remain in your everyday surroundings, you can take a vacation within yourself. When you are not distracted by work or the everyday grind, new ways of doing things can be imagined, and then experienced. This can be as vital and stimulating as a trip around the world, because it is a trip inside yourself.

Taking time off from your regular schedule gives you a unique chance to invest time into your spiritual life. When I travel, I always take my ebooks with me. Sometimes I get new ones, mixes of fiction and non, but mainly I like to have my spiritual stand-bys handy to remind myself of why I believe as I do and how to make every day outstanding.

One of my favorite spiritual books to reread is Christian Larson's The Ideal Made Real, subtitled Applied Metaphysics for Beginners. Ernest Holmes attributed this book to introducing him to New Thought ideas. I find that it brings me back to the basics of a new way of thinking about myself and my place in the universe. Every time I read it, I remember, and I become more excited about the possibilities available to me as a human being in a spiritual world.

Have a great inspiration vacation!

The Gender of God

We don't really know exactly what God is, but it is generally agreed that there is a power or intelligence behind the universe, and this power, or principle of harmony, we commonly call God.

We are aware that this power is not a person and that it has no gender—yet we commonly refer to God as "He." Beyond questions of historical tradition and social mores of the times, the issue of God as "gender-neutral" being is actually part of a full understanding of the divine character of the Supreme Being.

At heart is the accessibility of God's "godness" for all people, regardless of our individual gender. Some people argue that God is historically referred to in the masculine, so they are used to it and naturally "translate" the gender in their heads as they read. Others become actually angry when the idea of God's "masculinity' is challenged, claiming that the Bible uses the masculine, so it is how it must be.

Let's try some examples:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." This sounds "normal" to most of us. It's what we've heard all our lives. In fact, we've heard it so much that we barely question that God is He who gave His life.

But examine how you feel when you read this:

"For God so loved the world that She gave Her only begotten Son." This statement almost sounds comical, as if we were making a joke to prove a point. But in truth, why is it not as valid as the previous male-centric version? If God is beyond gender, than we might just as well refer to God as "She" than as "He!"  (The historical Jesus was a man, so for this example's sake we'll keep him as such!)

Now here's another way of adjusting the language:

"For God so loved the world that It gave Its only begotten Son." Gender-wise, this is probably the most accurate way of pronoun usage for referring to God. "It" is undoubtedly gender-neutral! Yet though most accurate, this version connotes God as something inanimate, without personality, maybe even without "life." In the English language, we mainly use "it" to refer to inanimate objects, so it somehow seems wrong to use this form when referring to the Source of all things!

Finally:

"For God so love the world that God gave God's only begotten Child." Now here's a sentence we can relate to quite well, even though it is a bit awkward in its repetition. It jars our sensibilities a bit because it doesn't flow in the way we know it from our past, but it is not bad, and it is certainly accurate and inclusive.

(Notice also the change of "Son" to "Child." Even though the historical Jesus was male, using the word "Child" suddenly makes the Jesus-as-Child concept more broadly accessible without taking anything away from the historical figure, whom we know from our reading was male, highlighting the love of a parent for that parent's child.)

The Supreme Being—First Cause—is beyond gender, beyond ethnicity, beyond time and anything we can imagine. Using gender-neutral forms, though not perfect, is one of the more effective ways for us to understand the breadth and scope of our Creator.

Newt List is a resource for metaphysical and spiritual ebooks that incorporate gender-neutral forms, for a new way to experience New Thought!

Ernest Holmes Was Here!

The Ernest Holmes Center

Top: 1935; bottom: 1990.

Sixth St. and New Hampshire Ave, Los Angeles

Ernest Holmes, by far the most popular author on Newt List, built his spiritual empire in Southern California, a place he loved for both its geographic sprawl and its spiritual vitality. In 1935, after outgrowing his current office space, he moved his headquarters, the Institute of Religious Science, to 3251 W. Sixth St., in the Wilshire District of Los Angeles.

By the late 1980s, long after Holmes' death, the architectural gem had grown too small for the expansive denomination, so it was torn down and replaced by a modern office building called The Holmes Center, which was the Home Office for United Church of Religious Science (now called Centers for Spiritual Living). The building held administrative offices as well as offices of Science of Mind Publishing and Science of Mind magazine.

In 2011, the organization finally left the building and relocated in Golden, Colorado, thus ending a page in the rich history of New Thought in America.

A Prayer for My Country

by Ernest Holmes

Believing in the divine destiny of the United States of America, and in the preservation of liberty, security and self-expression, I offer this, a prayer for my country.

I know that Divine Intelligence governs the destiny of the United States of America, directing the thought and the activity of all who guide its affairs.

I know that success, prosperity and happiness are the gifts of freedom, and are the divine heritage of everyone in this country.

I know that success, prosperity and happiness are now operating in the affairs of every individual in this country.

I know that divine guidance enlightens the collective mind of the people of this country, causing it to know that economic security may come to all without the loss of either personal freedom or individual self-expression.

I know that no one can believe or be led to believe that freedom must be surrendered in order to insure economic security for all. The all-knowing Mind of God contains the answer to every problem that confronts this country.

I know that every leader in this country is now directed to this all-knowing Mind and has the knowledge of a complete solution to every problem, and each is compelled to act on this knowledge to the end that abundance, security and peace will come to all.

I know that this spiritual democracy will endure, guaranteeing to everyone in this country personal liberty, happiness and self-expression.

And so it is. Amen.

Happy Independence Day, from your friends at Newt List!

Guest Blog: Dr. Margaret Stortz "On More Patience"

On More Patience

In my last book, Essays on Everything, I wrote on Patience. I’m writing on it again. I’m haven’t made enough ground; I’m not at the still place I want to be, at least not often enough, and I’m still making spaces for my own thoughts to come to me. There is no doubt in my mind that patience is not a natural, soul quality. It must be learned and practiced over time, more so these days perhaps because there is so much information that clamors for our attention. It is easy to pull out the iPhone and be inundated by the world at our doorsteps, and perhaps we have really come to like this, to never be shut off from news, messages, entertainment…and irritation.

The Irritated Mind

The irritated mind cannot partake of the clarifying flow of patience; it does not think of one thing at a time and is always hurrying through an army of demands. If things are not occurring as we would wish, we are almost certain to be met with frustration, that quality of mind that fights with itself so that the mind takes to churning. No possibility for patience here. Irritation, frustration and patience simply cannot exist together in the same place at the same time. Let’s not fool ourselves either by thinking that if we do not respond to a frustrating situation, we are being patient. For lack of a better word, I call this “reactive impatience,” a silent appearance…perhaps well learned…that masks buried anger. Many of us just crush a rising inclination to boil into a response so that we can appear in control. It may indeed be some kind of control, but it is not patience. Real patience breeds health; the squelched response eventually breeds illness.

There really are just twenty four hours in a day. Are we pushing to fill them so full of stuff to do that we are grabbing for every breath? If we have come to this place, where the body can barely keep up, I think we’re in trouble. My sainted mother, farm girl that she was, kept a very simple perspective about the situations before her. If undue stress was piling up in her life, she would have another “think” about things. This was her way of backing off from a situation loaded with confusion and sometimes heat. People always felt better being around her because of her calm demeanor. She was not disconnected from what was going on; she was one step away from it mentally so that she could see more clearly what needed attention… and what did not.

The Opportunity to Take Another "Think"

 I think patience is borne of the opportunity to take another “think” about what is in front of us. Mentally we can do this; we can vacate the swirl in our minds and have a space for relief. It is difficult, especially if we are wired for impatience and worry. I cannot always find the patch of grace I need to take another “think,” but I…and my patience…are still a work in progress.


You can read more from Dr. Margaret Stortz at her blog here:
http://margaretstortz.blogspot.com/

You may also enjoy Dr. Edward Viljoen's guest post "A Fresh Look at Ancient Ideas"

You may also be interested in reading "Don't make that expression, your face will stay that way."

"Don't make that expression. Your face will stay that way."

Using Masks

Kids love masks. They relish in painting their faces, wearing costumes, and acting in ways they wouldn't usually. There is comfort in masks. There is freedom and fun, creativity and newness. As adults, many of us have chosen our "mask" and live within its limits. We have forgotten the fun of being someone else. More importantly, we have forgotten that we can be someone else.

You've heard the admonition, "Don't make that expression. Your face will stay that way." Remember the Twilight Zone episode in which the family had to wear masks, only to find when they removed them, their faces had assumed the masks' expression? Taken in a different light, this story becomes a wonderful example of a spiritual principle.

Sometimes we reach a place where we feel stuck, bogged down by the mask we chose years ago. We long to change our lives, to be even more than we presently are. Spiritual principles teache that we inherently possess the power to change. Though it can be as easy simply deciding, there are times we could use some help to make the shift.

Affirmations can sound like lies. We announce ourselves as something that we not yet are. We claim "I am happy," even when we are in depression's grasp. Affirming, though, can be like putting on a mask. The more we wear the mask, the more we claim our truth, and the more our mind is open to becoming that which we desire.

Tammy Faye Messner said once, "People often as me why I wear so much makeup. I tell them my face is a canvas, ready to paint, always there." We are all divine canvases, created by Spirit, with the ability to be happy and fulfilled. Masks are fun, but sometimes they can even be life-changing.

Gender-neutral books about affirmations, metaphysics and affirmative prayer:

How To Use Your Power

Living A Life

These books have been updated to contemporary and gender neutral language.

Life Is What You Make It: A Fresh Look at Ancient Ideas

Guest Post by Edward Viljoen

This e-book, the publisher says, was revised and updated form a series of 24 lessons prepared by Ernest Holmes and Frederick Bailes, titled "An Introductory Course in the Science of Mind," and is in the public domain. At Newt List the focus is on updating the language for modern readers by preferring gender-neutral language, and up-to-date punctuation. With this approach Newt List books provides a fresh look at ideas from great inspirational authors.

Bursting With Powerful Statements
Life is What You Make It is bursting with powerful and bold statements such as, "The world is deluded, blind and shackled. And by what? By its own acceptance of negative thoughts. It lies bound in chains of its own forging." The lessons in Life is What You Make It are designed to un-chain the reader by introducing them to their real nature by means of practical ideas such as "Instead of allowing fear pictures to crowd in on your desires, you are going to bring forth faith pictures," and instructs the reader to sit quietly and think over all the reasons why they should have greater happiness and security for themselves and their family. There is an easy and encouraging tone throughout the book that left me feeling enthusiastic about rolling up my sleeves and imagining a greater future for myself and for the world.

Use Your Imagination
The authors point to the use of nothing more than our natural imagination, a skill that they believe has been downgraded into something that works against us by images of fear that crowd in on us relentlessly. They assert that we can go about the task of seriously, and gradually, flooding our imagination with different kinds of images, of pictures that work for us, and lead our efforts in right directions.

Self-Study Guide Provided
One of the features I loved in the book is the Meditation, Question and Answers provided in each chapter. The meditations are poetic personal devotional style prayers that relate to the content of the chapter. Following each meditation is a series of question that the reader can use to assess how much of the lesson was retained and answers are provided to confirm your understanding.
It is both an inspiring book of powerful ideas and a work book for self-study. The authors are relentless in pulling the reader back to the powerful possibilities that exists in a mind that is determined to be free of the conditioning of society.
Here is a link to the book.

http://www.edblogword.blogspot.com
Edward Viljoen is author of the Bhagavad-Gita for Beginners: The Song of God in Simplified Prose and The Science of Mind and Spirit for Beginners: Four Chapters in Simplified Prose. He co-authored (with Chris Michaels) The Prosperous Life Journal, and Practice the Presence, interactive journals available from Stepping Stones Bookstore. He is co-author (with Joyce Duffala) of Seeing Good At Work also available at http://tinyurl.com/c5w5sk9

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7681301

Reading Emerson was like drinking water to me... Ernest Holmes

Introduction to the new e-book from NewtList:

“Reading Emerson was like drinking water to me,” Ernest Holmes once said. “I have studied him all my life.”

Such endorsement from the originator of the Science of Mind philosophy carries great weight. Not that the work of Emerson has ever required such kudos! Since Emerson began disseminating his ideas through essays and lectures, he has influenced writers, poets and great thinkers around the world.

A Radical Spiritual Thinker

In the nineteenth century when he wrote, Emerson was considered quite radical in his spiritual ideas, believing as he did that all things are divine because everything is connected to God. This caused his detractors to feel that Emerson was removing God from theology as its central figure. Yet nothing, as it turned out, could have been further from the truth.

Emerson believed that every human being is an individualization of God, the sole originating force. He believed that each person is operated on by self-executing spiritual laws. It was his belief that God does not necessarily reveal truth, but that truth could be understood by observing nature and the world around us. Though these were radical ideas for nineteenth century minds, it was just this type of independent thinking that attracted a young Ernest Holmes.

At Age Twenty It  Began

When he was merely twenty years old, Holmes inadvertently pick up his brother Fenwicke’s copy of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays. Later, his brother was quoted as saying, “It was at that moment that life really began for Ernest Holmes.

“Reading Emerson for the first time,” Holmes said, “the first half-dozen lectures or essays gave me a realization that in a certain sense every person has to interpret the universe in terms of their own thinking and personal relationships, and that in order to do it, we have to have faith and confidence in our own interpretation.” It is two of these essays, “History” and “Spiritual Laws,” that seem to have particularly influenced Ernest Holmes.

At some point in his career, Holmes wrote “responses” to Emerson’s essays on History and Spiritual Laws. It is unclear when he wrote this, but it appears to have been in the 1920s, after penning his landmark book The Science of Mind. His notes were transcribed (where legible) and numbered to correspond with the paragraphs of each Emerson essay, though whether due to faulty transcription of the original handwritten text or due to mistakes in the manuscript itself, these numbers did not always accurately correspond to the actual Emerson essay. Additionally, the original version of Holmes’ notes did not contain the original sections of the essay to which Holmes referred, hindering readers from easily correlating Emerson’s text to Holmes’ responses.

Side By Side Texts

This first edition of The Philosophy of Emerson incorporates the Emerson passages, followed directly by the corresponding comments of Ernest Holmes, offering itself as a conversation between these two great thinkers, and more strongly illuminating both the influence of Emerson on Holmes, and manner in which Holmes took Emerson’s ideas to an original place of personal power.

As Holmes once said, “You are an individualization of God. There is a depth and meaning to your own being. If you can discover it, it will answer your own questions.” 

Randall Friesen
www.Newt List.com

To purchase The Philosophy of Emerson click here.

Is Your Language Sexist?

By the mid-eighties the movement toward nonsexist usage had gained so much momentum that researchers who studied its impact by analyzing three recently published American dictionaries of new words were prepared to state, in the cautious phraseology of scholarship, that their results showed "a trend toward nonsexism" in written language.  The data, they said, "provided a judgement of the efficacy of feminists' efforts toward nonsexist vocabulary," and they ventured the opinion that the "importance and justice of the subject have been recognized."

The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing, 2nd Edition,
Casey Miller and Kate Swift, Harper, New York, 1988

Have you noticed a trend toward nonsexist language? 

Perhaps in the increase use of 'their' instead of 'his' as a grammatically flawed, but happily gender inclusive solution? Or perhaps in the appearance of such works as The Inclusive New Testament by Priests for Equality (March 19, 2004), or The New Testament and Psalms: An Inclusive Version  by Victor Roland Gold, Jr. Thomas L. Hoyt, Sharon H. Ringe and Susan Brooks Thistlewaite (September 7, 1995).  Or perhaps in the change from "...boldly goes where no man has gone before..." to "where no one has gone before..."

"Manning the event" is giving way to "staffing the event."  Spokesman, man-overboard, mankind, it's all changing.  And in the awkward moments between then and now language struggles to find elegant solutions.

It's an exciting time for our language and Newt List is about the business of producing updated, gender neutral versions of timeless classics.  Producing these versions takes time and mindfulness to maintain the style and voice of the writer while finding elegant solutions to old, and now outdated, language conventions.

You might also enjoy "Why Gender Neutral?"

Giving Thanks in Rough Times

Yeah, I know, I know--there are no bad things! There are only circumstances we label ‘bad.’ Like my cat dying, or my car registration going up, or a really awful hair-cut. Those all seem bad to me. 

Yet I have seen great things come into my life from bad experiences.

So I change the word ‘bad’ to ‘challenging.’ Immediately my mental state shifts to one in which I am not defeated, but inspired. After all, what is the option? ‘Bad’ things happen on a daily basis. I can choose to let them upset and control me, or I can choose to use them productively and benevolently. Since I desire a life of happiness and productivity, I choose the latter.

So I give thanks for the scary things, the monsters in dark corners. If nothing else, they provide contrast. The light is more dazzling after being in the dark.

Thanks for the tragic headlines in the news. They inspire me to know more about others and to take positive action to do what I can to make the world a better place.

Thanks for the people in my life who don't like me or what I do. I learn valuable lessons from them about myself and how to understand better why I do what I do.

Thanks for the sadness and anxiety I sometimes feel. It leads me to adjust my mental life to one more positive. It opens my eyes to the extremes of human suffering, allowing me to empathize more sincerely with my fellow human beings.

Thanks to rough times with my partner. Through them, I understand how to love more purely and selflessly.

Thanks for the frightening health situations. They instruct me how my body functions and how I operate in the world as a physical being.

Thanks for all the tiny day-to-day aggravations. They teach me skills for coping and being a good person, even when I don't feel like it.

Thanks for the bad things. They show me so clearly how much for which I have to be thankful!

Randall Friesen, Newt List

Living A Life: The Message of New Thought, by Abel Leighton Allen

I read a lot of New Thought writers, but I had not yet come upon Abel Leighton Allen.  I'm glad I did. This little gem sets off right away outlining its goal of setting the record straight.

What is the difference between New Thought and orthodox religions, including Christian Science?

I guess that question is not merely a product of recent times, but has been asked since the beginning of New Thought's young history.

I love these lines from the book "New Thought is the result or creation of perpetually advancing mind.  The growing mind is not content with the past or its achievements."  Wow, what a great reminder to keep expanding and to avoid getting stuck in the rules and dogma of even our own beautiful system.

This is a great little e-book and it's on the 99c special list currently at www.newtlist.com, a good, easy read that I found helped me get back on track with an attitude of exploration, awe and wonder.

Edward Viljoen
www.edblogword.blogspot.com

Thomas Troward: The Missing Link in a Spiritual Life

The more one dives into the work of Thomas Troward, the more one realizes that there is a missing link on the spiritual path, a lapse in logic that Troward addressed unswervingly in each of his books.

Initially, we come to spirituality through inspiration. We aspire for something greater, something beyond ourselves. We want a new life and a new way of living, because we have found something lacking in ourselves. Books of spiritual inspiration abound, and their value lies in revealing to us the possibilities open to us on a spiritual path.


How Do I Acquire A Successful Lifestyle?

From there, the average student moves into the achievement of these goals. They want information on how to acquire this new lifestyle of success, prosperity and deeper relationship with the source of life. Here, we learn the techniques to achieve this, which may include such topics as meditation, prayer, service and worship.

The challenges soon follow when the student, using the techniques offered, finds that life is not changing as expected. One meditates, yet one is not achieving peace; one prays, yet one does not receive.

The Missing Link is Belief

The missing link, and the one that Troward touts in his writings, is belief. One must believe. But how do we believe when we don't REALLY believe? Human beings tend to believe what they see, so when the spiritual student doesn't SEE a result, the student's belief is impeded, thus creating a vicious circle that impairs the achievement of success, leading to failure.

Thomas Troward explains how to believe in spiritual laws by explaining them in highly scientific terms. He dissects the physics of the human life through the use of scientific theories, with the result that the reader understands exactly why belief in spiritual principles is based on ideas of fact and physical reality.

The result is that the reader of Troward discovers the missing link to bridge inspiration with results, hope with facts, which serves to foster the belief necessary to achieve a successful spiritual life.

If you are interested in exploring the works of Troward, Newt List offers the following updated and gender-neutral books:  

Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning,   
The Creative Process in the Individual, 
The Dore Lectures on Mental Science, 
The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science

Why Spiritual Books Make Great E-books

With the rising popularity of e-books comes the discussion of electronic versus paper reading materials. You'll find advocates on both sides—the feel of holding a book and seeing it on your bookshelf, versus the convenience (and cost!) of always having a book available on whatever device you have with you.

I like to read fiction on paper, but I find that I LOVE having my books on spirituality in an e-book format. I appreciate the convenience of having inspiration perpetually at my fingertips, wherever I go, whenever I need it the most.

Instant Peace

Reading spiritual books on my phone or e-book device allows me the opportunity to receive instant peace or inspiration when I unexpectedly find myself needing it. I can open up any number of spiritual texts to suit whatever situation I find myself in and get the extra punch I need to deal with whatever issue is facing me.

Often I find myself out in the world and faced with a stressful situation. At these times, I can open a particular title and transport myself into a way of right thinking. It is as if I have a constant spiritual teacher with me always. I can find comfort or ideas or techniques for improving my situation in an instant.

Take Note!

Another bonus is the ease of taking notes. Whether or not I have (or can find!) a pencil with me, I can highlight passages from the digital text I'm reading and then send myself the these excerpts for later reference. I can also share these passages digitally with friends, as well as read passages that others have found valuable.

The sharing of notes, and the quick access to the Internet while reading, enriches my experience, both inspirationally and educationally. It is easy to launch out of the e-book I'm reading and move effortlessly into the Web to supplement my interest. It's as if the book propels me into the universe and expands my knowledge

Connecting

Reading spiritual texts in e-book format makes me feel I have the support of a community behind me. I can connect to other people reading the same thing as me. We can share ideas, often learning more about the topics that mean so much to me.

For convenience and a broader experience of community and networking, I find that I am more and more buying spiritual books in e-book format. Give it a try with some of Newt List's ninety-nine cent specials here.

Book Review: The Bible Unveiled, by Emmet Fox

Newt List is making a name for itself as a publisher interested in bringing classics of metaphysics to the modern reader by updating, language, punctuation and gender conventions.  The result is a catalog of some 50 titles that are much more accessible than their original public domain versions.  No more stumbling over run on sentences, male specific pronouns and punctuation from a hundred years ago.  The language flows and the ideas leap up from the pages as if intended for today’s reading audience.

Literally or as an Allegory?

The Bible Unveiled address one reason why so many people have abandoned the Bible: taking it literally.  It presents the idea that you and I can find ourselves in the stories of the Bible if we read it as an allegory.   

When we do that, everything in the Bible become significant all characters of the Bible represent certain aspects of our life struggles and our personality.

Reading the stories of the Bible  as representations of the soul’s journey, the Bible become a lamp lighting the way through areas of being stuck and lifting us up to new levels of accomplishment.

Consider this from the beginning of the book:  Every name in the Bible has a meaning.  All of the geography is significant.  Numbers are infused with meaning and definite ideas.  In light of this, Emmet Fox’s book is a thrilling detective story of a hidden treasure obscured from sight by misunderstanding.

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