Midweek Faith Lift
April 2, 2025
The Power of Imagination-The Big Idea!
Susan Wolfe, Guest Speaker
Over the last several weeks we have been studying the twelve spiritual powers, based on this book, Divine Audacity by Reverend Linda Martella-Whitsett.
Today we will begin a three part look at the power of imagination.
We will begin with an overview of the imagination and its conception or Bere’shiyt, (Bier Shet) which is Hebrew for “the beginning”, and we will go into this more later.
Next week, Su Podraza-Nagle will be walking us through the visioning power of imagination or “our ability to dream of what has not yet manifest”. And the third week, the week of April 14, Rev Deb will be back to wrap up the power of imagination with, the “Embodiment” of imagination or “how we assume and claim our Divine Identity”, within the power of imagination.
The imagination is integral to our cognitive toolkit. Shaping our approach to challenges, personal goals and our understanding of the world. The significance of imagination lies in its power to spark creativity, drive personal evolution and cultivate a more empathetic and innovative society.
Philippians 4:8 says “Finally beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, what ever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
James Dillet Freeman states, “Imagination is the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before fully perceived in reality...a power that frees us from the limitations of our senses...the power of conception.
To me, imagination has to be the most magical power of the human mind. And definitely the most fun and fascinating!
Conception or perception takes root in our capacity to picture “what can be”. And by holding that idea and developing it until we feel it’s effects while it is yet unmanifest, to live into the idea until it essentially becomes our reality. This is the “fleshing out” of thoughts to a tangible reality. Disney’s Magic Kingdom springs to mind here. Walt Disney said “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.
Imagination is not lost on children! Try telling a child that there is no such thing as a Unicorn. Children are very attuned to this power. As adults we recognize that connection and when seeing through the eyes of a child, we want a piece of this fun also! I’ll have what they’re having. Often we hear a child ask, “Can I play too”? Sure you can! Come on. It’s free. That is until you start buying supplies. One look at my sewing supplies and jewelry making stash proves this! I am a natural born member of the “conception” team.
JK Rowling said “Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not and therefore, the foundation of all inventions and innovations.
Mark Twain said “Logic will get you from A to B. But imagination will take you anywhere.
And Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “You can create the life you desire by concentrating on what you wish to attract.
Imagination is natural to us. By age two, children are able to imagine objects that are not materially present. Imaginative play becomes a primary way children learn about life and process complicated emotions. We use our power of imagination all the time. With imagination we can travel around the world instantly. With imagination, we can unite our fractured families. We can bring peace to the Middle East. We can assert wholeness for an ill friend. We can celebrate success before we have begun. We can recreate our past. We can accomplish the impossible.
Our ability to imagine is paramount. It is of such prime importance that the 20th century metaphysical author Neville Goddard regarded Jesus Christ as the exemplification of the power of imagination.
Jesus did not let social morays or laws of the time get in the way of his imagination! In Goddard’s view, imagination is our redeeming ability. By the power of imagination we can revise our past and create our ideal future.
We can imagine ourselves into our true nature and assert our greatest spiritual capacities. Charles Fillmore taught: The highest and best work of the imagination is the marvelous transformation that it works in character.
Imagine that you are one with the principle of good, and you will become truly good. To imagine oneself perfect fixes the idea of perfection in the invisible mind substance. And the mind “forces” at once begin the work of bringing forth perfection.
Imagination is our power of conception, vision and embodiment. The first part of imagination is Conception. Any constructive idea that you or I could ever conceive of comes from the One Mind. The first three words the English language Bible reveal this truth: "In the beginning". Good. God/Good was in the beginning-the origin of every vision, of every hope and dream. In the beginning. One mind.
More revealing is the etymology of the Hebrew word bere’shiyt (Bier shet) translated into English as “the beginning”. Bere’shiyt is derived from it’s root word ro’sh, which appears in the King James version of the Bible 598 times. Fourteen times ro’sh is translated as “beginning”. More that 400 times however, ro’sh is translated as “head”, “chief” or “top”. The headwaters of a river are the starting point or source, just as the source of all ideas is One Mind, out of which all ideas flow. A chief is a principal. One Mind is the principal or leading intelligence informing all ideas. The top of the summit is the crown. One mind is the highest possible source. These shades of meaning lead to the truth that all I could conceive of/ stems from One Mind, the origin of all that is. The beginning.
Consider the value of understanding that everything you could ever conceive of, every new and fresh idea originates in One Mind. If you can conceive it, it already exists in One Mind. The book of Ecclesiastes 1:9 reads: “What has been will be again, What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Whether it seems possible or impossible, it must be possible because it is derived from the unified field of intelligence. Do all ideas stem from One Mind, including harmful or negative ideas? Yes.
We filter ideas through our human consciousness. The character of the consciousness determines the quality of it’s imaging. Recessions, epidemics, and acts of mass violence are a few of the terrible consequences of fearful imaginings. A fearful consciousness can bring about actual physical symptoms as well. Migraine headaches and stomach ulcer are exacerbated by fear and worry.
My mother is a chronic worrier. She visualizes the worse outcome and then lives in fear of it. A good example of this was once, quite a few years ago, I shared with my Mom that I was considering going on a scenic bus tour. I told her the delightful details and expressed how much fun I thought it would be, but I wasn’t getting the positive enthusiastic response I was expecting. So I asked her, “What’s the matter”? As it turns out there had been report in the news about a tour bus going off the road and landing in the ditch and she was sure that would be my fate as well. I said, “Mom, I haven’t even left town and you have me upside down in a ditch”! We both laughed at that.
We are equally capable of imagining the best and the worst. Imagining the best is an innate evolutionary drive that becomes easier with practice. We can practice conceiving harmony in our relationships. We can conceive of a loved ones wholeness of being during illness. We can redirect an obsessive image of a disaster by conceiving a safe positive outcome. Our conceiving power is unlimited. And the more we use this power the more we recognize ideas. Desire leads to conception.
From the time my daughter, Micah was in Jr. High, I made all of her gowns for school dances except for one homecoming and her Senior Prom. (I had a degree in apparel design and pattern making.) A couple of months before an event we would sit down for a planning session and she would describe for me, in great detail, this perfect dress she had her heart set on. The color, style, design details etc. etc. etc.
So then it was my job to make this mythical creature come to life! And fit perfectly of course! No pressure there! But we always came through with her perfectly imagined gown! She was the conception and vision piece. I swung into action with visioning and embodiment, which we will get to in more detail over the next couple of weeks.
So, a need for a solution leads to ideas and ultimately, to a solution. And on the spiritual level. Imagination is a means by which spirit communicates, conveying the infinite powers and possibilities that are yours as a child of God. You are able to release limiting thoughts and feelings by perceiving something greater, your divine potential.
Blessings on the Path,
With gratitude to Susan Wolfe