Alchemist of the Month: Marianne Williamson
Globally renowned spiritual teacher and presidential candidate for 2024, Marianne, shares her wisdom on 'mining the gold within'… By Alexandra Wenman
She’s one of the world’s best-loved spiritual teachers and now Marianne Williamson is running for president of the USA for the second time.
Back in 2013, I had the honour of meeting with Marianne at her London workshop on ‘work, money and miracles’ and ‘mining the gold within’ by harnessing the law of divine compensation.
It’s been almost 11 years since I attended that event, but the wisdom Marianne gifted us with that day is as true as ever and still so needed today.
As she walks her talk and, quite literally, puts her money where her mouth is, I am passing on the nuggets of gold she shared with me in the hopes that it will inspire you to continue to follow your dreams and honour your own inner value…
“It's a gloriously sunny July weekend when I arrive at Regents College in London's Regents Park to attend Marianne Williamson' s two-day workshop on Work, Money and Miracles. Marianne welcomes us with a prayer and tells us that we are all 'here to mine a gold that is already within us.' She also says that most of us think we have many problems, but, in truth, we only have one: The belief in our 'separation from God.'
“Most of Marianne's work is based on A Course in Miracles – the 1960s channelled text by Helen Schucman and William Thetford, which takes students on a journey towards enlightenment. And at the heart of all of her books is one simple idea – that love is all there is and everything else is just an illusion.
“'In truth, there are only two emotions: love and fear,' Marianne explains. 'All of the lesser emotions actually stem from fear, but fear cannot exist in the presence of love, anymore than darkness cannot exist in the presence of light,' she says. So, in short, anywhere in our lives where we are experiencing blocks, it is simply down to a lack of love in that situation.
“So why, when things aren't going our way, do we tend to get even more frustrated, even more angry, even more fearful? Acting in other ways apart from out of love isn't constructive at all. As Marianne explains: 'You don't get rid of fear by hitting it with a baseball bat! You get rid of fear by bringing in love.'
“Marianne also teaches that the universe is self-correcting. For example, an acorn has within it the potential to become an oak tree, in the same way that, when a sperm and egg come together, human life is created – it's natural intelligence. We are programmed to become the highest version of ourselves. So the law of Divine compensation teaches that the universe is pre-programmed to bring us perfection. It's only when we act out of fear, and not love, that we block this natural intelligence – and, therefore, we deflect the miracle.
“So how does this relate to money and work? Over the course of the weekend, we take an in-depth look specifically at the areas of lives involving money, career and finances, where we feel we are experiencing blocks. And by applying this very simple principle, we start to see and understand how these blocks are created when have been acting out of fear instead of love.
“'When things go wrong, our attitude to it really counts,' Marianne says. 'We usually meet limited circumstances with limited thought.' But when we are able to look at a situation differently and, instead of looking at what is wrong with what's going, start to look for the hidden blessings within it, we begin to open up to the miracle. And that, Marianne says, is when we start to attract our rewards.
“'If the universe is pre-programmed to lift you up to the career which is the highest use of your talents and gifts for the greatest joy of all the world, then it is pre-programmed to provide you with the money you need to do this as well.'
“She definitely has a point. Towards the end of the first day of this workshop, I have a major breakthrough. Marianne asks us to do an exercise in atonement, where we acknowledge all the areas in our lives where we haven't been downloading that self-correcting file – where we haven't been allowing ourselves to receive. And, as I look at all the areas of my life, from my career to my relationships, I suddenly see very clearly how, for most of my life, I haven't allowed myself to feel important. I haven't admitted to myself that 'I matter'. And at the heart of this issue is a big fear of being judged. This sudden clarity of understanding moves me so much that I feel compelled to share it with the group, and it turns out there are many others who feel the same way about themselves.
“Marianne says, 'The ego mind says this is humility, but it is actually very arrogant to think that you are less than you are.' She tells us that by not steeping into our power and allowing ourselves to be divinely rewarded and compensated, we do a disservice to the rest of the planet. 'Each one of us is like a cell in the body of humanity and we are all connected, like the waves of the ocean. When we reach our highest potential, we do it on behalf of all.'
“The best thing I take away with me from my two days with Marianne is the advice that 'Who you are is more important than what you do.' Even if you are doing a job you don't enjoy, if you do it from the mindset that you are exactly where you need to be at this time and do the job with a loving mindset, you open up to a miracle. 'Being precedes doing,' She tells us. 'On any given day, be the best person you are capable of being. Every morning when you wake up, you have one job to do. You might change someone's with the kind words you say to them…'
“She leaves us with a thought: 'Don't wait until you have your life "together' before you say: "God, use me. Do it now!’”
Marianne shares her 10 most fundamental beliefs
1 I am responsible for my effect on others. If I am not kind, then I cannot expect to have a positive effect on those around me. Love, and love only, creates the miracle of connection and healing.
2 I am on the Earth to bless other people, not blame them. When I bless others, I am blessing myself. And when I attack others, I am attacking myself. I can either hold a grudge or experience a miracle; I can’t have both. A grievance blocks miracles the way a shadow blocks the Sun.
3 I have learnt that it doesn’t matter what your resumé is, or how many degrees you have. It doesn’t matter what mistakes you have made or how the economy is doing. It only matters where you place your consciousness now.
4 Life supports me in experiencing peace and love, as long as I’m using my mind in such a way as to wish that for others. Every thought we think creates form on some level. Loving thought creates miracles; non-loving thoughts create chaos.
5 No matter what problems or mistakes have occurred, the Universe is programmed to provide a solution. Only my non-loving thoughts can obstruct it. Regardless of what problems or lack occur on the material plane, spiritual substance is infinitely creative and programmed to compensate for any error on the mortal plane.
6 Every relationship is a gift exchange. Everyone we meet is bringing a gift of some sort. The spirit looks to discover the gift within others; the ego mind looks only to discover the guilt within others. It is not just the relationships with people, but also our relationship with other things in our life, like money. If I feel I am providing an honourable service, for an equitable and fair pay in return, then I can feel good about the exchange because I am increasing abundance for both of us. Fair exchange is a spiritual – not just an economic – principle. And as long as we are making money righteously, we are not only receiving a blessing, but also extending one to others.
7 Every situation is an invitation to rise to my higher self. Only I can determine who I will be
within any circumstance, and what choice I make will determine how the circumstance unfolds. No matter what our problem is, the Universe is on it.
8 The nature of creativity is that creativity is natural. The Universe is an endless opportunity machine, always creating new possibilities for life and love. I have learnt that we never know where the miracle is going to come.
9 Forgiveness is the key to happiness. As long as I am willing to forgive, then my life will eternally renew itself. Until then, my world will seem stuck no matter what I do.
10 Don’t just love others, or be grateful to others. Tell them that you love them, and tell them you are grateful. Don’t be too cool to care. Don’t just feel like you love someone; say you love them. Don’t just feel grateful to someone; tell them “thank you”. This issue might seem small, but it’s huge.
Alexandra Wenman is the author of 'Archangel Fire Oracle', ‘Archangel Alchemy Healing – The Celestial Science in the Vibration of the Universe' and ‘Water Alchemy Oracle’ (all Findhorn Press). For more information or to book a course or session, visit alexandrawenman.com
For more on Marianne Williamson and to follow her campaign, visit marianne2024.com
Thank you - very empowering
What an enjoyable read. Thank you for sharing.