Part 1 of a series exploring the practice of Spiritual Mind Treatment—the art and science of changing consciousness.

The Last Gasp of a Dying Fear

“It’s the last gasp of a dying fear.”

When I heard these words from Rev. Donna Michaels, I was immediately struck by the truth contained in that simple statement.

If our brains are wiring and firing and chemicals are being released into our bodies that propel repeated emotions—and therefore repeated experiences—it makes sense that when we try to change, it can feel incredibly difficult. Our bodies may actually scream for us to stay the same.

I remember Dr. Joe Dispenza speaking about “crossing the bridge of change.” It is challenging. But the truth is that for all of us it ultimately comes down to practice and the desire to change.

When the pain of remaining the same becomes too great, something has to give. We either drop into despair, or we rise up to the challenge and make the changes our lives are asking of us.

In many ways, I feel that our world is also in the last gasp of a dying fear. Everything seems to be surfacing at once, creating the feeling that despair is inevitable and that change is impossible. Yet as we move through what feels like the birth canal of transformation, we must remember that birth is always messy. It is often painful. But it is also how something entirely new enters the world. How we respond to this moment will make all the difference in the evolution of our lives.

I am beginning this series of blogs to share a spiritual practice that has supported me for more than twenty years. It is called “Spiritual Mind Treatment.” In my experience, it is both one of the best-kept secrets and one of the most misunderstood healing modalities within the New Thought movement.

Spiritual Mind Treatment is not about using flowery or poetic language. In truth, it is not about the words at all. It is about the feeling behind the words. It is about the passion, conviction, and embodiment that shift consciousness within us as we speak them.

When I was studying to become a Spiritual Practitioner, I remember struggling to “do it right.” I wanted my treatments to sound beautiful and to be accepted by my teacher. But eventually I realized something profound: I wasn’t actually giving the treatment. It wasn’t until I let go of trying to find the perfect words and instead allowed myself to feel the power and presence of Divine Energy flowing through me that everything changed. Only then could I finally let go and, as the saying goes, “Let God.”

Through this series of blogs, I hope to present Spiritual Mind Treatment in a simple, nonsectarian way. My intention is to show that every one of us has the ability to become our own practitioner—to gently rewire the compulsive and repetitive thoughts that so often govern our lives.

Ernest Holmes, the founder of the process of Spiritual Mind Treatment, described it as both “an art and a science.” If you think about those two words together, they tell us something important.

Art must be practiced. It flows from within the individual. Artists are deeply connected to inspiration and to the Infinite Mind. Science, on the other hand, is something that can be tested and demonstrated. If something is scientific, there is a process that can be practiced repeatedly with consistent results.

Spiritual Mind Treatment is both. The repeated practice of treating ourselves becomes a living expression of art and science working together.

Stay tuned for the next blog in this series, where we will explore the first step of Spiritual Mind Treatment—the most essential step of all. In truth, if we practiced only this step and nothing else, it could change our lives completely.

Pace, Gioia, Amore per sempre, (Peace, Joy and Love Always)
Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren