by Marrianne Williamson: I was in my mid-twenties when, just having moved back to New York from San Francisco, I went to a party with my then boyfriend Jeff.
At one point during the evening I noticed a blue book sitting on the coffee table in front of me. The title of the book was A Course in Miracles.
I opened the book to the first page, where I read the Introduction: “This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum, but only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time.”
“What the heck is this?” I asked myself. “What book describes itself as ‘required reading?’” I turned the book over to see who wrote it, but no author was mentioned on the cover. Still intrigued, I opened the book to read from a few pages on the inside. What I saw was that the book was filled with Christian language, and that was it for me. I’m Jewish, and the book was filled with terms which weren’t my religious tradition. I put it down. At that point, the young man whose apartment we visiting told me that the books were sold out of an apartment at the Beresford Apartment Building at the corner of W. 79th and Central Park West.
And that was it. I didn’t think much more about the incident, and Jeff and I didn’t discuss it.
During the year that followed, I would often ride the bus up and down Central Park West. One day several months after seeing the book at the party, I was riding on the bus and saw a man across from me reading A Course in Miracles. Looking more closely, I saw it was someone who had lived in the same apartment building as me when I had lived in New York several years before; someone who had had a difficult relationship with my roommate. I felt that was significant somehow but I let it go.
Then, several months after that and about a year going to the party where I first saw the Course, I was riding that bus on my way to the doctor. As would happen every year during the winter months when I lived in New York, I was dealing with a bout of bronchitis. I knew I needed to deal with that on some deeper level. As we passed the Beresford Apartments at 79th and CPW, I told myself it was time. I was going to get A Course in Miracles.
A couple of hours later, after going to the doctor, I returned to our apartment. What I saw as soon as I opened the door was something unexpected sitting on our dining room table: a copy of A Course in Miracles.
Startled, I looked at Jeff. He said, “I thought it was time.” We had not talked about the Course that entire year.
And so, our journey began. Now the Christian language didn’t bother me one way or the other. All it takes is reading a couple of pages of the book to recognize that this is not a Christian tome. Yes, it uses traditional Christian language but in decidedly non-Christian psychotherapeutic ways.
Jeff and I were devoted students of the Course. One night, not long after we’d begun studying the material, I had a significant experience. I remember it like it was yesterday. Jeff was sitting on the bed and I was standing in the middle of the room. I got what today we’d call a “download,” just a very clear flash of knowing. I looked at him and said very simply, but sort of in awe, “I could explain this to my generation.”
Eventually I moved back to Houston and began a bookstore, where among other things I hosted study groups for A Course in Miracles. A couple of years later I moved again, this time to Los Angeles, where I began working at The Philosophical Research Society. Within a year, the President of The PRS asked me to give a lecture there on A Course in Miracles.
And that was it. My life’s professional journey was set in that moment. I don’t remember what month that was, but I remember my talk that Saturday was in October of l983. It was several months from the day I was asked to lecture until the day of the lecture, and during that time I would go home from work every day and reread the Course with as with a fine toothed comb. I was so determined to try to do well. There was no Internet at that time, but as the day of the lecture approached I wrote notices on index cards that I posted on bulletin boards at various coffee shops around the city.
The day of my talk came, and in a way I marvel at given that I’ve given literally thousands of talks since and couldn’t tell you what I wore even to the last one, I remember everything about what I wore that day. Red wool skirt. White cable knit sweater. Nude panty hose, thank you! Red stilettos. A necklace my mother had given me from Afghanistan. And cubic zirconia studs.
I was 31 years old. Later that day, Pat Ervin called me at home and asked me if I’d like to give a talk on the Course at the PRS every Saturday morning. I was totally in love with the task and used to bring ginger ale to every class to serve my students! The small group grew too large for the classroom, at which point we began to meet in the auditorium. Most of the people who attended the class were much older than me, people who had been reading the metaphysical work of the Society’s founder, Manley P. Hall, for years.
And then something happened. That something was dark and painful and sudden, not unlike the pandemic today. Everyone began talking about a new disease. No one knew where it came from, it seemed mainly gay men got it, and there was no cure. Anyone who contracted the HIV AIDS virus would almost assuredly die.
The medical community tried hard, just as they are trying now, but a cure eluded them. Religious institutions were oddly silent, I assume because of their need to work through homophobic prejudices. Yet there was a young woman in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, who talked every week about a God who loves us no matter what and through whom love worked miracles.
All of a sudden, my lectures exploded. Every week, more people came. And they were definitely a gathering place for gay men. We moved from the PRS to a church in Hollywood, adding Tuesday nights as well as Saturday mornings to my schedule and eventually Sunday nights in Santa Monica as well. I started AIDS support groups. I began lecturing twice a month in New York. After about a year, my work as a temporary secretary gave way to full time work as a teacher of A Course in Miracles. I had the career I had dreamed about at the Beresford apartments that day. I was spending my life talking to people about A Course in Miracles.
One night after one of my lectures in New York City, I met a literary agent who asked if I’d considered writing a book about the Course. I did, and it was called A RETURN TO LOVE: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. The book was published in l992, and I had the great good fortune of being on the Oprah Winfrey show to discuss it. Oprah didn’t yet have a Book Club, but she told her audience that A RETURN TO LOVE was the best book she had ever read, and she’d bought a thousand copies to give to her audience. Needless to say, the book became an overnight sensation and remained at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for the next 35 weeks. Oprah changed my life that day, for which I will always be extremely grateful.
As the years have gone by, I have written more books – most of them in some way or another about A Course in Miracles. I have remained, as I am now, a devoted student of the material. And now, at the age of 68, I’m interested in doing as much sharing as I can of whatever knowledge I have gained from it. It is life-transforming, but it is not always simple to practice. It is a course in love and forgiveness, but love and forgiveness are not always easy. I have succeeded at times and I have failed at time in applying the principles to my daily life, but I have learned a lot from both. And whatever I have learned, I am eager to pass on to others.
So next year, I’ve decided I’ll be starting the workbook again on Lesson 1 on January 1 – and I thought you might want to do it with me. We will deliver into your inbox every morning a video of my reading the lesson for the day, and I’ll give you my reflections of what it means as applied to our everyday lives. I recently did a live preview call of the program, if you would like to know more.
I hope you will join me.
Source: AWAKEN
FAQs
What is Marianne Williamson's connection to A Course in Miracles? ›
In 1976, Williamson (who was experiencing confusion about God and wondering about the problem of evil) was at a party in New York and picked up a copy of Helen Schucman's book A Course in Miracles from a coffee table.
How many books are in the Course in Miracles? ›Happiness, peace, joy, and love are the natural outcomes of the Course's teaching. A Course in Miracles consists of three separate volumes: Text, Workbook for Students and Manual for Teachers.
What is the main point of A Course in Miracles? ›A goal of A Course in Miracles is to train us to listen to God's voice, the Holy Spirit. This extension of God's mind serves as our inner guide, who will direct our thoughts, telling us exactly what to do, and directing all our efforts.
Does Marianne Williamson have a child? › What is the criticism of A Course in Miracles? ›Other Christian critics say that ACIM is "intensely anti-biblical" and incompatible with Christianity, blurring the distinction between creator and created and forcefully supporting the occult and New Age worldview.
Who is Marianne who ran for president? ›The 2020 presidential campaign of Marianne Williamson, an author, activist, and spiritual leader, was announced on January 28, 2019, after the initial formation of an exploratory committee on November 15, 2018.
Is A Course in Miracles based on the Bible? ›The modern spiritual teaching and path, A Course in Miracles, contains hundreds of reference to the Bible, and both the New Testament and the Course claim to present Jesus' teachings. There is an obvious and important relationship between the Course and the Bible, and how the two relate is a natural question.
What does ACIM stand for? ›An AC induction motor. Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
How many books are in the children of the gods paranormal romance series? ›All titles of this series are included with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. There are 70 books in this series.
What are the 4 types of miracles? ›The majority are faith healings, exorcisms, resurrections, and control over nature.
Did Marianne go to New York? ›
Normal People—both the 2018 novel and the just-released Hulu adaptation—end in a fairly ambiguous way. Marianne convinces Connell to accept the opportunity to study creative writing in New York City. She, however, chooses to stay in Dublin.
How old is Marianne Williamson? › Who is Marianne's boyfriend? ›Jamie. A wealthy and entitled student at Trinity College and one of Marianne's college boyfriends.
What are three common objections to miracles? ›- The will of God is identical with the laws of nature.
- A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature.
- Necessarily, God's will is inviolable.
He was often portrayed as a dull-witted, ill-tempered brute who performed evil deeds. He killed people without justification or for some personal gain. Herakles does not exert emotional restraint. He seems to be emotionally unstable.
Is miracles based on a true story? ›In The Girl Who Believes in Miracles movie, young Sara discovers her prayers have the power to heal, but learns the cost may be too much - can her family save her before it's too late? Is The Girl Who Believes in Miracles based on a true story? No.
Who ran for president with Dan Quayle? ›In 1980, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1988, vice president and Republican presidential nominee George H. W. Bush chose Quayle as his running mate.
Who voted for James Buchanan? ›| Presidential candidate | Party | Electoral vote |
|---|---|---|
| James Buchanan Jr. | Democratic | 174 |
| John Charles Frémont | Republican | 114 |
| Millard Fillmore | American |
| Nominee | Jimmy Carter | Gerald Ford |
| Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Home state | Georgia | Michigan |
| Running mate | Walter Mondale | Bob Dole |
| Electoral vote | 297 | 240 |
There have been numerous claims of miracles by people of most Christian denominations, including but not limited to faith healings and casting out demons. Miracle reports are especially prevalent in Roman Catholicism and Pentecostal or Charismatic churches.
Why do Christians believe in miracles? ›
Faith is always necessary for healing in the gospels - we can see this every time Jesus healed someone. Miracles strengthen faith. Therefore the miracle has to happen first and then a person will trust and have faith. People today require proof in order to have faith.
Do miracles still happen Christianity? ›Healing and other miracles are still found in the Church today, though they aren't always dramatic and aren't always spoken of publicly because those who experience them hold them sacred. You may want to look for miracles in your life or the lives of your family members or ancestors.
Who is Jesus Acim? ›In ACIM, The person Jesus symbolizes the Love that is the essence of Jesus' teachings. Love, or God, is the moon. Jesus and his teachings are the finger. The word 'Jesus' is a symbol of his teachings.
What does the course in miracles say about guilt? ›Based on a verse from A Course in Miracles, “I seek to remove all guilt from my mind so I can know God's peace,” this meditation helps you allow innocence to enter your heart. Seek to be only where you are right now. Let the guilty voice or whatever you feel bad about be forgiven and released.
What is salvation in A Course in Miracles? ›Salvation in the Course is a "life preserver," but not in the same sense. It does not save us from death; it preserves us in life. It is a guarantee that death will never touch us: "Salvation is a promise, made by God, that you would find your way to Him at last" (1:1).
In what order should I read Kami Garcia books? ›- A Gatlin Wedding.
- Beautiful Chaos.
- Beautiful Creatures.
- Beautiful Creatures: The Manga.
- Beautiful Darkness.
- Beautiful Redemption.
- Before the Claiming.
- Broken Beautiful Hearts.
It is part of a series but as far as I know, they can be read as stand alone works.
How many books are in the children of the gods? ›Lucas does it; 56 books into this fantastic series and every single one is worth a 5 star rating. The world is wonderful, each character arc is superbly crafted, making it easy to believe that they are real people.
What are the 7 miracles in order? ›- Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1–11 – "the first of the signs"
- Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46–54.
- Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1–15.
- Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5–14.
- Jesus walking on water in John 6:16–24.
- Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1–7.
John records only seven miracles, considerably less than the number reported in the Synoptic Gospels. But John's use of the miracle stories is different from that of his predecessors.
What are the five healing miracles? ›
- The raising of the widow's son.
- The feeding of the 5,000.
- The healing of a paralysed man.
- The stilling of the storm.
- The resurrection.
She's neurodivergent – specifically, she is autistic with ADHD. In Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking, Eloise invites us with her on a deep-dive into her life, interests and fears, all through the lens of her neurodivergent mind.
Was Marianne depressed? ›Marianne's depression expresses her sense of annihilation by Willoughby's betrayal; she is humiliated, silenced, and reduced to nonexistence in psychological terms, in that she feels she had been living a life that didn't really exist, a reality that was a reflection of her own desires.
Why was Marianne canceled? ›Marianne went very, very well at the international level, and I am so happy that Marianne was so watched and seen, but the number of French people who finished the show in France was not big enough to justify a second season. So they cancelled the second season.”
Who discovered Marianne? ›She soon began taking part in London's exploding social scene. In early 1964 she attended a Rolling Stones launch party with artist John Dunbar and met Andrew Loog Oldham, who 'discovered' her.
Is Marianne based on a book? ›...
Marianne (TV series)
| Marianne | |
|---|---|
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | 13 September 2019 |
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,” Williamson writes in A Return to Love. “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
What is Marianne's mental illness? ›For instance, Connell has panic attacks and is prone to anxiety. His condition aggravates when he learns that someone he once considered close to him has passed away. Marianne, on the other hand, has issues of self-esteem.
What mental illness does Marianne have? ›For instance, Connell has panic attacks and is prone to anxiety. His condition aggravates when he learns that someone he once considered close to him has passed away. Marianne, on the other hand, has issues of self-esteem.
Was Marianne abused by her father? ›The Sheridan Family
Marianne's difficult (read: abusive) home life figures heavily into the novel. Her deceased father used to beat both Marianne and her mother; for her part, Marianne's mother is cruel and neglectful, frequently belittling her.
What is the girl who believes in miracles based on? ›
Is The Girl Who Believes in Miracles based on a true story? No. The Girl Who Believes in Miracles is not based on a true story.
Who created the argument from miracles? ›David Hume (ed.
Who dictated A Course in Miracles? ›A Course in Miracles (ACIM) was "scribed" by Schucman between 1965 and 1972 through a process of inner dictation. She experienced the process as one of a distinct and clear dictation from an inner voice, which earlier had identified itself to her as Jesus.
Who is the narrator of A Course in Miracles? ›These volumes were scribed by Helen Schucman with the help of William Thetford, as she listened to an inner voice that identified Itself as Jesus. The narrator Martin Weber, [maz], is a longtime friend and member of CIMS Europe, a musician, and, of course, a student of A Course in Miracles.
What disease does Anna have in Miracles from Heaven? ›The Miracles from Heaven true story reveals that when Annabel Beam was five years old she was diagnosed with two rare life-threatening digestive disorders, pseudo-obstruction motility disorder and antral hypomotility disorder, which resulted in frequent hospital stays (FoxNews.com).
Is there a movie about a girl who performs miracles? ›The film stars Mira Sorvino, Peter Coyote, Austyn Johnson, and Kevin Sorbo. The Girl Who Believes in Miracles was released on April 2, 2021, produced by 120 dB Films, Gerson Productions, The Mustard Seed Production, and Trailmaker Productions. It was distributed by Atlas Distribution Company.
Why did the Miracles break up? ›The group failed to have a hit during their short Columbia run and in 1978, Pete Moore decided to retire from the road while Billy Griffin wanted to return to his solo career, leading to the group to disband.
Does Hume believe in God? ›I offer a reading of Hume's writings on religion which preserves the many criticisms of established religion that he voiced, but also reveals that Hume believed in a genuine theism and a true religion. At the heart of this belief system is Hume's affirmation that there is a god, although not a morally good.
Why did Hume not believe in miracles? ›According to Swinburne, Hume thinks of miracles as non-repeatable counter-instances to laws of nature. generalizations (as I have assumed), and miracles as violations of laws of nature, then Hume's view entails that miracles are logically impossible (see Everitt 347–9; McKinnon 308–14).
Who wrote the original A Course in Miracles? ›A Course in Miracles (also referred to as ACIM or the Course) is a 1976 book by Helen Schucman. The underlying premise is that the greatest "miracle" is the act of simply gaining a full "awareness of love's presence" in one's own life.
Who is the main character in finding miracles? ›
MILLY KAUFMAN IS an ordinary American teenager living in Vermont—until she meets Pablo, a new student at her high school. His exotic accent, strange fashion sense, and intense interest in Milly force her to confront her identity as an adopted child from Pablo's native country.
Who is the main character in the age of miracles? ›The story begins with Julia, an eleven-year-old girl, who lives in California. A few months before her birthday, the world undergoes an unexplained phenomenon known only as "slowing", in which the completion of each revolution of the Earth on its axis takes drastically longer.