uniTY in port townsend

I just had the honor and pleasure to visit the Unity Church of Port Townsend, Washington, where I was a guest speaker at the Sunday service and then facilitated a Deep Creativity play circle in the afternoon. 

Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith sets the tone for this remarkable, thriving spiritual community with her light touch and openness to new ideas and possibilities. I feel very strongly that leaders like Rev. Pam represent the future of spirituality.

In this century, spiritual life will undergo a radical transformation. The change is already happening. There is no longer room for religious differences and sectarianism. We cannot afford any more "holy" wars. 

In place of existing religious institutions, which are rapidly losing momentum, we will see an unfolding of a universal spirituality--one that focuses on unity as opposed to divisiveness. It's hard to imagine that humanity can find this type of common ground, but make no mistake about it: We can and will do it. There is no other choice.

But what exactly will that spirituality look like? In The Chanter's Guide, I describe the Seven Keys, a set of basic human qualities that we can all embrace, regardless of our spiritual beliefs or cultural background. These are: serenity. humility, forgiveness, detachment, compassion, unconditional love, and selfless service. The idea is simply that spirituality begins with behavior. What we believe matters far less than how we act, especially in a rapidly-shrinking world.

In The Pledge, we have a simple creed built around the Seven Keys. These nine statements comprise a new way of living in the world--one that promotes, peace, sustainability, and balance.

​Then there is the question of a universal spiritual icon. For me, the Mandelbrot set is a logical first choice. It reminds us of the core wisdom underlying all genuine spirituality, which has to do with the unitary nature of consciousness. A single essence or I AM permeates all of creation. The same consciousness that is experiencing the universe through your eyes is doing the same through mine. And that consciousness can be found at every layer of this fractal universe, from the microscopic to the expansive.

To learn more about the significance of the Mandelbrot set, please watch this video:
​

---

I am so grateful to Rev. Pam and her entire congregation for welcoming me with open arms and open hearts. As I travel the United States talking about the basic spiritual truths that link Deep Creativity with the great wisdom traditions of the world, I have the great joy of discovering the places where true wisdom is being nurtured and developed. There is no doubt in my mind that Port Townsend is one of those places, thanks in large part to the work of Rev. Pam and others like her.