All that is, everything you see, touch, taste, smell, hear, all of it is real. In your mind, this is a fact and no one can tell you that what you are seeing is an illusion. Doesn't it bother you when someone talks about everything being an illusion? It is because you are here, now, in this present moment a physical being in a physical world with objects that appear as solid and stable as the earth itself. Your mind does not like it very much when someone tells it that what it is experiencing is an illusion. People begin to take offence to this kind of concept and they refuse to listen to other points of view. But here is where the mind can let you down. When you shut off your ability to question your own reality, then you have locked yourself into what we call a "holding pattern". This is where you are for the moment held in a state of non-movement. Being held by what you perceive to be the real world or the truth. Yet, spiritual teachers speak of being able to change all of this reality with your thoughts. I too struggled in the beginning of my practice with understanding what all this talk of illusion and creating my own reality really meant. I found it extremely difficult to imagine that I had a bank full of money when paying my bills and seeing that I'd have to skip a bill one month in order to get the car fixed. It was a constant battle between what my eyes have seen and what my heart wanted to believe was true. Just saying the words, "I have lots of money in the bank to pay my bills and more!" didn't seem to be working. However, it dawned on me that without a true belief in the affirmation, it could not possibly come into being. I had to give myself over to the belief totally. And when I did, there was the money in the bank, there was the security I wanted. This may not be the wittiest way to describe an awakening, but it is plain and honest. By working with angels to clear fear and doubt from my body and mind, I was able finally to hold the very real belief in the abundance and love of the Universe, of God, and to trust completely that all my needs are being met. The "Kingdom of God" is a state of mind and heart. It is available now, to everyone, and it translates into seeing the world with new eyes and experiencing the oneness of all life. Being in that state of mind/heart allows you to flow into and out of each day with peace, not judging anything as good or bad, but just being with whatever is happening at the moment. More on this later, but for now, spend some time thinking about who you really are: a divine being, limitless, beautiful, powerful, perfect, wise and loving. Let yourself accept this and watch your outer reality shift to accomodate this new understanding. love and peace Rita