“A Course in Miracles offers me daily inspiration in my life, work, and relationships. In Holy Shift!, Robert Holden selects an inspiring mix of aphorisms, meditations, and prayers to help us to live the principles of this great work. Thank you, Robert, for this beautiful gift.” — Marianne Williamson, New York Times best-selling author of A Return to Love and A Year of Miracles “As a faithful student of A Course in Miracles, I’m always seeking new ways to experience the text. In Robert Holden’s new book, Holy Shift!, I’ve found a wonderful guide. Holden’s book is infused with his passion and love for the Course. Each handpicked passage offers readers a simple and powerful framework for experiencing miraculous change. I recommend this book to anyone on a spiritual path.” — Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times best-selling ?author of May Cause Miracles “Holy Shift! presents the heart and soul of A Course in Miracles in an easy-to-use daybook. Whether you are new to A Course in Miracles or a long-term student, Holy Shift! is a perfect companion. We recommend that this book sits next to everybody’s copy of the Course.” — Gerald Jampolsky, M.D., and Diane Cirincione, Ph.D., authors of A Mini Course for Life “The gift of a lifetime is contained here! The wisdom, poetry, ?and love imbued in Holy Shift! will bless and heal your life. Robert Holden, a true teacher of the path with heart, presents some of the most inspiring passages of A Course in Miracles in a clear, touching, and easy-to-receive way. Thank you, Robert, for opening the door to a better life for all of us.” — Alan Cohen, author of A Daily Dose of Sanity “Holy Shift! is a wonderful compilation of excerpts from the Course that will keep miracle-minded thinking at the front of your awareness. Robert Holden has done a very impressive job ?of arranging the book in such a way that will encourage more people to practice the essential principles of this spiritual masterpiece. I highly recommend this marvelous book!” — Gary Renard, best-selling author of The Disappearance of the Universe trilogy “I once thought that miracles were reserved for saints and looked something like the stigmata. Holy Shift! reminded me that miracles are far more ordinary. A miracle is an inconspicuous moment, an inner triumph, when we choose to release fear, when we forgive, and when we dare to return again to love. My copy of Holy Shift! will have love-worn traces of how often I have read it. It’s a daily reminder of our most crucial purpose to cultivate our capacity to love.” — Meggan Watterson, author of Reveal “Robert Holden has taken the essence and power of A Course in Miracles and made it beautifully accessible in Holy Shift! This book allows us to practice the core principles of the Course and serves as a great reminder of the power of love in our daily lives.” — Mike Robbins, author of Nothing Changes Until You Do “Whether you are new to A Course in Miracles or a long-time ?student, this book will guide you, day by day, to the very essence and heart of the Course. Robert is a wonderful exponent of ACIM, ?and this is his latest valuable contribution.” — Ian Patrick, Miracle Network, London “In Holy Shift! Robert has done a fabulous job of skillfully distilling and sharing the heart of A Course in Miracles for us in a most beautiful way. Please read, be inspired, and remember who you are and why you are here.” — Nick Williams, author of The Work We Were Born to Do “A Course in Miracles is a wellspring of Truth that never runs dry. Robert Holden’s book, Holy Shift!, is a communion of 365 sips from the chalice of this immaculate living well. Welcome to your Holy Shift!” — Sondra Ray and Markus Ray, www.liberationbreathing.com “Holy Shift! is a wonderful book. Robert Holden takes what I consider the best spiritual, philosophical, and psychological book in the world and makes it easy and accessible for beginners and veterans alike. I love this man! I love this book!” — Chuck Spezzano, author of If It Hurts, It Isn’t Love ALSO BY ROBERT HOLDEN Books Authentic Success (formerly titled Success Intelligence) Be Happy Happiness NOW! Loveability Shift Happens! CDs/DVDs Be Happy Coaching Happiness Follow Your Joy Happiness NOW! Loveability Shift Happens! Success Intelligence Flip Calendars Happiness NOW! Success NOW! All of the above are available at your local bookstore, or may be ordered by visiting: Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com® Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au Hay House South Africa: www.hayhouse.co.za Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.in First published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK Ltd, Astley House, 33 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JQ Tel: +44 (0)20 3675 2450; Fax: +44 (0)20 3675 2451 www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the United States of America by: Hay House Inc., PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100 Tel: (1) 760 431 7695 or (800) 654 5126 Fax: (1) 760 431 6948 or (800) 650 5115 www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Ltd, 18/36 Ralph St, Alexandria NSW 2015 Tel: (61) 2 9669 4299; Fax: (61) 2 9669 4144 www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 990, Witkoppen 2068 Tel/Fax: (27) 11 467 8904 www.hayhouse.co.za Published and distributed in India by: Hay House Publishers India, Muskaan Complex, Plot No.3, B-2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110 070 Tel: (91) 11 4176 1620; Fax: (91) 11 4176 1630 www.hayhouse.co.in Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast Books, 2440 Viking Way, Richmond, B.C. V6V 1N2 Tel: (1) 604 448 7100; Fax: (1) 604 270 7161; www.raincoast.com Copyright © 2014 by Robert Holden Cover design: Michelle Polizzi • Interior design: Riann Bender A Course in Miracles is published by the Foundation for Inner Peace. The moral rights of the author have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use, other than for ‘fair use’ as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews, without prior written permission of the publisher. The information given in this book should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice; always consult a medical practitioner. Any use of information in this book is at the reader’s discretion and risk. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any loss, claim or damage arising out of the use, or misuse, of the suggestions made, the failure to take medical advice or for any material on third party websites. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-78180-344-8 in print ISBN 978-1-78180-462-9 in ePub format ISBN 978-1-78180-463-6 in Mobipocket format To Tom Carpenter. My friend. My mentor. My brother. Thank you for bringing A Course in Miracles to life for me. CONTENTS Introduction January February March April May June July August September October November December Library Resources Acknowledgments About the Author Join the Hay House Family INTRODUCTION A Course in Miracles is one of my favorite books. It sits on a bookshelf in my home reserved for spiritual classics like the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, the Dhammapada, The Imitation of Christ, the Tao Te Ching, The Prophet, the Masnavi, and The Gnostic Gospels. I read something from A Course in Miracles every day. The Course has been part of my daily spiritual practice for the past 20 years. I take it with me when I travel, on my iPhone and computer. Like all great literature, the more I study it, the better it gets. Whichever page I turn to, the words are always relevant and helpful. I still come across passages that seem brand new, as if they’ve been downloaded into an edition especially revised for me. A Course in Miracles is a big book. It’s more than 1,200 pages and 500,000 words long, and its size alone is too imposing for many. Also, it’s written in old-style Christian English and is full of iambic pentameter, which is the meter that William Shakespeare often used. Each page is infused with a mix of rich prose, spiritual poetry, powerful aphorisms, and beautiful prayers. My hope is that in Holy Shift! I give you a taste of this mighty work while still being faithful to its power and grace. The story of how A Course in Miracles was written is a miracle in itself. It involves Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford, both professors of medical psychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Helen described herself as a “psychologist, educator, conservative in theory and atheistic in belief.” Bill was the head of her department. They were anything but spiritual, and their relationship was anything but peaceful. One day, Bill declared he was tired and angry about their antagonism and that “there must be another way.” Bill’s outburst triggered a chain of events that neither would have predicted. Over the next three months, Helen experienced a series of vivid, highly symbolic dreams. Then, one day, she heard an inner Voice that said, “This is a course in miracles.” Helen confided to Bill her most unusual experiences. It made her feel very uncomfortable, but Bill was highly supportive. Over the next seven years, Bill helped Helen to listen to what the Voice had to say. In a short preface to A Course in Miracles, Helen says: It seemed to be a special assignment I had somehow, somewhere agreed to complete. It represented a truly collaborative venture between Bill and myself, and much of its significance, I am sure, lies in that. I would take down what the Voice “said” and read it to him the next day, and he typed it from my dictation. I expect he had his special assignment too. Without his encouragement and support I would never have been able to fulfill mine. (Preface viii) Helen Schucman is described as the scribe of A Course in Miracles. She did not want her name to appear on the book because the Voice that dictated the words was not her own. So “who” is the Voice? The Voice introduced itself to her as Jesus. Helen struggled with this, but she could not deny the truth and beauty of what she heard. Also, Jesus continually encouraged Helen to see that the purpose of the Course was to direct readers to their own Internal Teacher—to the Christ in all of us. Helen made sure that at her funeral no mention of the Course was made. She wanted the Course to stand on its own. What is A Course in Miracles? It consists of three books: a 669-page Text, which explains the philosophy of miracles; a 488-page Workbook for Students, which offers 365 daily lessons for living the philosophy; and a 92-page Manual for Teachers, which includes a Clarification of Terms. It also has two supplements: Psychotherapy and The Song of Prayer. The whole work offers a system of spiritual psychotherapy and an invitation to experience inner peace and freedom. I began my study of the Course by reading the Text. Initially, I found it difficult to understand. I’d get halfway down a page and be so full of poetry and mind-blowing principles that I could barely stay conscious. I even typed out the Text on my PC in an effort to “get my head around it,” so to speak, but that hardly helped. I then switched from the Text to the Manual for Teachers. Here’s where I read that, “a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary.” After that, I decided to focus on the daily lessons in the Workbook, and this has been my main focus ever since. Although the Course is written in Christian language, it is studied by my friends who are Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish, because it offers a spiritual philosophy that reflects perennial wisdom. I found the Course in an old esoteric bookstore at a mind- body-spirit festival held in Central London. I bought it on a whim because I liked the title and also the idea of miracles. The Course describes a miracle as something you experience when you are willing to shift your perception from a psychology of fear to a psychology of love. A Course in Miracles encourages you to look at everything afresh. “Instruction in perception is your great need,” teaches the Course, in a section of the Text entitled “The Problem and the Answer.” The goal of the Course is to help you know yourself. “This is a course on love, because it is about you,” it states. It offers a system of mind-training that helps you undo the blocks to love—conditioning, judgment, and fear—so that you can enjoy and participate fully in the miracle of existence. “There is no conflict that does not entail the single, simple question, ‘What am I?’” states the Course. The Course wants you to see that you are more than just a small, separate ego set apart from creation. “You are not an ego,” and “you are not a body,” says the Course. The body is simply the dress code for the human experience. The holy shift, as I call it, is the recognition that you are a spiritual being having a human experience and not a human being who has occasional spiritual experiences. In other words, you don’t have a soul; you are a soul. Holy are you, eternal, free and whole, at peace forever in the Heart of God. —Manual for Teachers. 15. 1:12. The Course describes the perception of separateness as “a tiny, mad idea” that causes a “great amnesia” that leads you to live “a little life beset with fear.” Albert Einstein described separation as “an optical delusion.” The Course says, “In you there is no separation.” The goal of studying the Text and practicing the lessons in the Workbook is to make an “exchange of separation for salvation.” This exchange is described as an inner shift. The Course is a love letter written from your soul to your ego. In this love letter you are asked to let go of your separate self-image, made of pain and fear, in order to experience your wholeness again. Your self-image is full of unworthiness because it is not worthy of you. “You who are beloved of God are wholly blessed,” says the Course. You are created whole, there is nothing missing in you, and any unworthiness stems from conditioning and a mistaken identity. In a section in the Text called “Seek Not Outside Yourself,” the Course encourages you to stop searching for the happiness, peace, and love you long for. It’s because we believe that happiness is outside of us that we’ve made the world into a giant shopping mall. It’s because we believe that peace is outside that wars are fought every day on this planet. It’s because we are looking for love, instead of being the loving presence we truly are, that we live in a world where love is so hard to find. “There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach.” That’s quite a statement. What does it mean? “Your concept of the world depends upon this concept of the self,” explains the Course. How you see yourself is how you see the world. For example, if you perceive yourself as separate, then everything you want (like happiness, peace, and love) is also perceived as separate from you. You experience life as “a tiny you and an enormous world.” However, when you remember your wholeness, your oneness with everything, the world withholds nothing from you. “There is no sin,” says the Course. Now this really is a holy shift! A Course in Miracles states that nothing you do can ruin or alter your holy innocence. No matter how lost you are in the “detour into fear” and no matter how many wounds you experience in your “personal repertory of horrors,” your holy innocence remains intact, waiting to be witnessed again. The Course says, “Its central theme is always, ‘God’s Son is guiltless, and in his innocence is his salvation.’” “There is no need to suffer,” says the Course. Here is another holy shift in perception. The Course invites you to consider the possibility that because God is unconditional love, God does not punish you, cause you pain, or make you suffer (even for a good cause). “And so your innocence has not been lost. You need no healing to be healed,” says the Course. Any pain you experience is the pain of the ego and not of your soul. Therefore, all pain is a form of mistaken identity, a call for love, and a prompt to remember who you really are. How do we experience a holy shift? How do we undo the illusion of separation? How do we experience a Self without guilt? How do we create a world with no war? The ego is a “poor choice as a teacher,” the Course says, because it never sees the big picture. “Resign now as your own teacher of salvation,” the ego is told. We are called to listen instead to the Holy Spirit, which offers soul guidance directly from our holy self. It’s with the Holy Spirit’s help that we learn about forgiveness. Forgiveness is the great