Bill Thetford's Journal

We are honored to have Lorna Byrne on this episode. Lorna is an Irish mystic who is the author of the bestselling Angels in My Hair*. She is known the world over for her contact with angels, in which she physically sees them at all times. In this episode, Robert and Emily ask Lorna about angels' role in relation to our spiritual progress, free will, fallen angels, angels' help in God's plan, angels and coincidences, angels and the Holy Spirit, and more. They also ask about similarities between how angels have appeared in her life and what A Course in Miracles says about them. We hope you enjoy this special episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles. For more information on Lorna Byrne see www.lornabyrne.comFor retreats or stays at Lorna’s retreat center Sanctuary in Ireland use this link. Lorna’s upcoming dates in the USA: The Light of Hope with Lorna Byrne July 26–28, 2024 Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY Connecting to Hope and the Love within us with Lorna Byrne Aug 2–4, 2024 Art of Living Retreat Centre, Boone, NC   ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

In the spiritual field, we tend to grant enormous authority to those who claim to be directly in touch with true reality and who speak with total certainty. But should we? In this episode, Robert and Emily argue that the very nature of perception is that it’s uncertain. No one on earth really knows in the fullest sense of the word. What do we do, then, when someone steps forward and says they know with utter certainty because they are a direct conduit for ultimate reality? If you’ve ever given a spiritual teacher your total trust, only to withdraw it later, you will want to watch this episode. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

We often keep the subject of Jesus at arm's length due to the baggage that so many of us carry around him. Yet we would benefit by letting go of this baggage, by forgiving Jesus for the fearful images we put on him. This will allow him to help us in all the ways that he is offering to do. He wants to be our teacher. He wants to be our personal guide. And he wants to work through us to carry out his mission in the world. He is already with us, trying to help, yet he says, "you would imprison me behind the obstacles you raise." How can we stop putting up these obstacles? This episode is a sneak preview of our upcoming course, "Jesus in A Course in Miracles."  To learn more and register visit circleofa.org/jesusinacim ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

If the Shroud of Turin is authentic, then it is by far the most direct evidence we have of the historical Jesus. It is a burial cloth that, if genuine, is stained with his blood and contains an image apparently projected from his body. But is it authentic? In this episode, Robert and Emily interview Joe Marino, one of the leading authorities on the Shroud in the world. A Course in Miracles says that the resurrection was "the final demonstration" that all of the other lessons which Jesus taught are true. The Shroud holds out the tantalizing possibility that it is a photograph of that final demonstration. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

Join Circle founder Robert Perry and Jan Holden, President of the International Association for Near Death Studies (IANDS), as they explore the profound realm of near-death experiences (NDEs). Through expert insights and firsthand accounts, Robert and Jan discuss common traits of NDEs, what NDEs can tell us about life after death, what happens after an NDE, why some people who experience NDEs are "sent back," and so much more. Tune in for an enlightening exploration of life, death, and what lies beyond the world we know. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, coach and organizational development expert Holiday Phillips had a post on performative allyship go viral. Her followers jumped from 1,000 to more than 50,000 overnight, and suddenly Holiday found herself as a voice for social justice during the rise of Black Lives Matter. Now, with a sizable audience and "influencer" status, Holiday discovered that her message of love and compassion as a way through righteous anger and division has been a more complex journey than she could ever have imagined. In this honest and important conversation, Holiday and Circle executive director Emily Perry discuss the importance of "holding the pole" of love in a world full of hate, the importance of standing for the principle of love in the face of public criticism, the dangers of harnessing the power of rage, and why violence and oppression can never lead to love and equality. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

The crucifixion is the main event in Christianity. Christians generally view Jesus' death as a payment for our sins so that God will forgive us and we can go to Heaven. Increasingly, however, this is leading to a "crisis of faith" where many who sincerely love Jesus can't reconcile him with a God who enacts revenge and violence. How could a loving God murder His own Son? Not surprisingly, A Course in Miracles has an entirely different view of Jesus' crucifixion. Indeed, rather than seeing the sacrifice and suffering associated with the cross as symbolic of the way OUT of the ego, the Course sees it as symbolic OF the ego—what the ego does to us. And, in the end, the Course offers a completely new reframe of the crucifixion and a way to model the best of Jesus' teaching without getting caught in the worst of religion. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

In this message from our recent Sunday Gathering, Circle executive director Emily Perry discusses how we often use the considerable power of our mind to protect our ego (meaning our illusions, our sense of separation, our specialness, and our superiority) - when we should be using the power of our mind to defend our oneness, our shared holiness, and our equality instead. Sunday Gatherings are free and open to all and take place on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month! Join through our free community at https://community.circleofa.org/. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

A Course in Miracles teaches that each one of us is here to be a savior. This is not about having a “savior complex." This is a healthy and fulfilling understanding of our true purpose on earth. But how does the Course define this term? What does it mean when it says we are each other’s savior? And how does the Course’s view differ from trying to “rescue” or “fix” someone? In this episode, Robert and Emily Perry discuss the teachings on “savior” in A Course in Miracles as a preview for their workshop “How We Save Each Other: The New Concept of Savior in A Course in Miracles.” You can learn more and register for this workshop at circleofa.org/savior, and if you’re catching this after the workshop has been recorded, you can find access to this and all of our workshop replays within our Course Companions program at coursecompanions.com. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links  

Forgiveness is part of the human experience and is the Course’s central teaching. But students are often confused about how to understand forgiveness and how to practice it. We at the Circle just finished a 28-Day Forgiveness Challenge, where we thoroughly explored the teaching and did the practice. We came away with such rich learning from these four weeks, both personally and from the group experience. In this podcast, Robert and Emily share many of the lessons that came out of this unforgettable journey into the very heart of A Course in Miracles. ___________________________ Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the “CE”), which is available as a paperback*, ebook*, and via Audible. Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says,  years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course’s purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world. You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/ Whether you are new to ACIM or you’ve been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/ To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate. *Amazon affiliate links