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Chapter 3

Laws of Increase

The laws that are the topic of this chapter deal with greatly multiplying a particular condition. For that reason I have termed these the laws of increase. They are extremely important and basic to our lives. The first law is:

… AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP.

(1529-1)AR (cf. Galatians 6:7)

This is one of the most understandable of the laws because we have clear examples of it in nature. Each time we plant a garden or see new growth from what were barren fields, we see this law in operation. More important, as we work with nature through this law by planting and harvesting, we experience—in the physical realm—the contributions of the Creative Force that enable us to accomplish our goals. As we study and observe what takes place in this growth process, we gain a deeper understanding of how the law works in our lives and how we can best work in accord with it and with the Creative Forces.

THE INCREASE

My wife has a greenhouse and a green thumb.

She plants several tiny seeds.

In a few months we are eating huge, delicious, fresh ripe tomatoes.

She sowed only several tiny seeds.

She was patient.

She gave love, care, consideration, food, water.

She reaps not just a few seeds—but wonderful, nourishing, beautiful fruit and hundreds of new seeds.

The miracle in this law is one of abundance and joy and beauty, wherein you reap not only what you sow, but far, far more—multiplied many times—when the right kind of seed is nurtured with the spirit of love and cooperation. The harvest is abundance.¹

We reap abundantly in our gardens and in our lives according to the seed we sow. The prosperity comes through the operation of the law of increase. The operative power behind that law is not just our efforts but is explained by the readings as: “God alone gives the increase.” (3660-2)AR

THE LAW IN OUR LIVES

We all know or have experienced the pleasure of planting a seed and waiting to see the first green shoots. We have marveled at the growth of the plant, cared for it, and eventually reaped the harvest in the beauty of a flower or food from our garden. We, therefore, can conclude that “as you sow so shall you reap” is a basic, organic law which works in nature. We know that a large part of our food supply is dependent on the operation of this law. We can also conclude that it must indeed be a Universal Law because, under the proper conditions, it works for anyone, anywhere, all the time, and has apparently been an inherent part of our world since the beginning of time.

Equally important, however, is the fact—recognized in ancient literature and teachings—that this law applies in our lives as well as in nature. We, through our words and acts, sow seeds which will grow, and we will reap the results in our lives. Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way: “Let a man learn that everything in nature goes by law and not by luck and what he sows he reaps.”

As with the farmer, it can take some time for those seeds to grow and mature, but they inevitably seem to do so. The Bible speaks of the law in this manner:

Make no mistake about this: God is not to be fooled; a man reaps what he sows. If he sows in the field of his lower nature, he will reap from it a harvest of corruption, but if he sows in the field of the Spirit, the Spirit will bring him a harvest of eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8, NEB)

Another important point is that we sow these seeds not only by spoken words or acts toward others, but also by thoughts. Our thoughts are basic to our creative power; we use them to direct our energy. We can consider a thought as the seed that carries all the potential of that thought, just as a wheat seed carries all the potential of the plant it will produce. Cayce’s source defined thoughts as deeds that may become crimes or miracles!²

Frank Laubach, in his book Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World, writes:

If you shout, your voice carries barely fifty yards. But when you think, your thoughts go around the world, as far and as fast as the radio … Every thought tends to become true in proportion as it is intense and as it is long dwelt upon. Thoughts result in deeds and deeds make history. Our thoughts leap across space and appear again in other minds, in proportion as they are intense and long dwelt upon. Thoughts are contagious. “What you whisper in secret,” said Jesus, “shall be shouted from the housetops.” Yes, even your thoughts shout though others may not know it is you who are shouting … Our thoughts are the threads weaving the garment which the world tomorrow will wear. You and I created a piece of tomorrow in our thoughts today.³

So, you and I with our thoughts are gardeners of the world; we are continually planting seeds. What happens in our lives are the fruits springing from those seeds.

THE NATURE OF THE SEEDS

The character of the seed within the thought is determined by the spirit which we put into it. That spirit determines the fruits that will be produced in our lives, just as the apple seed contains the spirit or nature of apples.⁴

When in the spirit of love you think a loving thought about someone, such as, “She is a wonderful person,” you plant a seed of love by the energy of your thought. That seed, planted in the realm of thought, will grow until another person is moved to think a loving thought about you. You will pick up that feeling of love, and it will make your day brighter—all of this without a word being spoken. In fact, many such loving thoughts of you may be generated and come back to you from different persons because, as in the case of planting a physical seed, it is multiplied many times.⁵

LAW OPERATES ON ALL LEVELS

In addition to your original loving thought, let us suppose that you act in a loving way toward the person mentioned above. Perhaps you call or send a gift. You have now planted the seed in both the world of thought and in the world of action. It will grow and come back to you in both forms, as someone is moved to think and to act with a loving nature toward you. Remember:

What we do in the physical we meet in the physical, what we do in the mental we meet in the mental, what we do in the spirit we meet in spirit. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”⁶

The readings tell an intriguing tale of both deceit and bravery for one individual who, in a previous life, was a member of a tribe about to be driven out of its country. He made an agreement with the opposition leader by which his people could stay, but he did it in a deceitful manner. This, he was told in the reading, was gnawing at his own soul, for “What a fatal net we weave when we first practice to deceive.” (3084-1) Deceit, even in an attempt to help others, brings disturbance to one’s soul. For the purpose with which we sow is the purpose that we reap.⁷

If we can understand that our purpose is often father or mother to our spirit, then we are helped in determining the kind of seed we are sowing. If we ask ourselves, “What is my true purpose?” and honestly answer the question, we will know what kind of seed we have created. We must, however, be careful not to deceive ourselves! Had the tribe’s leader asked himself that question, he might have answered, “My purpose is to save my people,” and thus ignored his purpose to deceive. Be skeptical of your own answers; look for any additional, hidden agendas. Your true purpose determines the nature of the seed and of the harvest you will reap.

MEANS AND ENDS

The above example of the tribe member also illustrates the error in thinking that the end justifies the means. It does not. By this law the means (what we sow) determines the end (what we reap).

The reason most of us are not clearly aware of the direct relationship among our thoughts, words, and acts and what is happening to us is because we don’t realize that these things carry that seed of spirit and purpose in them. Furthermore, there is usually a delay—just as in nature—between sowing and reaping. In human affairs we don’t connect the two, so it seems that many things happen to us without reason.

Also, because the law operates on all three levels, what you hold on the spiritual or the mental level will eventually manifest in the physical. Since we are often not conscious of what we are carrying on those levels, we do not realize that we are the cause of what is happening to us. For example, the deep unconscious beliefs we hold often contribute to our thoughts and actions in ways of which we are not aware.

Not understanding these factors tends to obscure the relationship between the seeds we plant and the harvest we reap. Being aware that there are such factors enables us to more clearly observe the working of the law in our lives.

MANIPULATING THE LAW

We may be tempted to try to manipulate the law for personal advantage by planting seeds of “nice” thoughts and actions for others so that others would do nice deeds for us. That is the right idea, but the wrong purpose. The spirit of that “nice” deed is a selfish desire to receive, rather than to love. The result will be selfish acts toward you by others. The readings warn us that God is not mocked—the true motivation or spirit is always known and the laws operate accordingly.⁸

If you “use,” “work,” or “manipulate” the Universal Laws for selfish purposes, that spirit, that purpose, will come through and you will reap detrimental results.

THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE ACT

Since the key to this law is the spirit (seed) with which we sow, let’s look at a practical example:

Two people can perform the same act with opposite results. Each could bake a cake to surprise a friend, each one feeling it would be a nice action to do. Their basic spirit (purpose), however, might be quite different. One might act in the spirit of love, wanting to bring the friend joy and happiness. The other might act in the spirit of self, hoping to impress the friend or to gain attention for self.

In each case the same act occurred, but two different seeds were planted. One will return a loving fruit; the other selfish acts. The law is impartial. It works equally to multiply negative or positive seeds. Witness the abundance of weeds in our gardens. If we express (plant) in a spirit of hatred, envy, doubt, or fear, we eventually will have to face these things—in abundance! Seeds of discord and malice will eventually return a harvest of contention and despair.⁹ On the other hand, as we feel or express in a spirit of gratitude, kindness, joy, or other positives, we are sowing seeds in that spirit, which—by law—will bring even more of it to us. The law does not judge what should or should not be done. It produces from the seeds sown, just as in your garden the weeds and flowers grow without partiality. The words “as you sow” are simple, clear, and deeply significant without any qualifications and without ifs, ands, or buts. The law will reproduce exactly as you sow.

WHERE DO WE SOW THE SEEDS?

Are we, by the spirit of our thoughts, words, and deeds, sowing the seeds in the other person? That is possible, depending on their interest and perception of us. More important is the fact that the seed—the spirit—in which we think or speak or act is sown in our own inner self; there it grows. The more often we think or act in a particular spirit, the greater the energy given to that seed, and the stronger it becomes in us. Eventually, that energy creates in us the results of that particular seed. There is one point we need to recognize, to repeat, and to emphasize: It is through our attitudes toward others that we sow the seed in ourselves. Consider this example:

Assume that you lack self-confidence and wish to develop it. The way to create it in yourself is to find and have confidence in others. As you think and act in that spirit and with that purpose toward others, the seed will gradually grow in you. As it does, by the operation of the law “like begets like,” others will come to have confidence in you. This, in turn, will add to your self-confidence.¹⁰

This procedure works for the development of any attitude. It offers great potential for developing positive, constructive attitudes in ourselves. But be careful; it will also build negative and destructive attitudes when we hold those same attitudes toward others.

TIME AND PATIENCE

Let’s assume you have planted a loving spiritual seed. You do something for someone—maybe it’s a prayer or a loving thought or you look for and praise the good you see in the other person. Once you’ve planted the good seed, like a farmer, you wait. Don’t dig it up to see if it’s growing. These readings explain why:

… man may only sow the seed of life—God alone can give it life! He gives the increase! (1152-4)AR

For it is the law that as you sow, so shall you reap. And you are the sower; but leave what may be the results to your Father! (1529-1)AR

These readings set out a requirement for patience. It is during this time—as you are patient—that the Creative Forces do their work. We need to acknowledge that it is not up to us alone, but that we are co-workers with the Creator. Once we have done our part in planting the seeds, the Creative Forces do their part in providing the growth. In whatever we do, there is both a time for action (the sowing) and a time for nonaction (patience or rest and waiting), while the Creator carries out the growth. This, too, can be a time for our own growth in spirit through prayer and meditation, to attune ourselves to the coming changes which we have initiated.

Our only requirement during the time of growth is to be sure that our spirit, our purpose, is right, that it does not change, and to check it each day or each hour, if necessary. If we have planted seeds of love, keep loving; if seeds of peace, stay peaceful. Beyond that, it is up to the Creator. Our worry or anxiety only causes difficulties for us. Knowing that we have put the Creative Forces to work, there is no need for worry or anxiety, and we can wait patiently for the results.

Charles Fillmore, a contemporary of Cayce’s, was a prolific writer, a modern mystic, a great spiritual teacher, and a co-founder of Unity. He expresses similar concepts:

Thoughts are seeds that, when dropped or planted in the subconscious mind, germinate, grow, and bring forth their fruit in due season. The more clearly we understand this truth the greater will be our ability to plant the seeds that bring forth desirable fruits. After sowing, the plants must be tended. After using the law, we must hold to its fulfillment. This is our part. God gives the increase. You must work in divine order and not expect the harvest before the soil has been prepared or the seed sown. You have now the fruits of previous sowings. Change your thought seeds and reap what you desire. Some bring forth very quickly, others more slowly, but all in divine order.¹¹

We have planted seeds, and we patiently wait. When the plants appear—possibly some weeds also—the farmer goes to work again to cultivate and care for the plants and to pull the weeds. So should we. Weeds come from the seeds planted with negative thoughts—like “It won’t grow,” ”I didn’t do it right,” “It wasn’t the right seed,” or “I should have done more.”

Every negative word, such as one of criticism or of doubt, is a weed seed. In some way it is based on fear or distrust or other destructive attitude. Pull those weeds and throw them out! Better still, don’t plant those seeds!

THE SECOND LAW OF INCREASE

There is another reason why the spirit in which you plant the seeds is so important. It is expressed in this second law of increase:

THE SPIRIT OF YOUR ACTIONS MULTIPLIES THE RESULT.

This is a sublaw of “as you sow so shall you reap” as shown in Figure 3.

FIGURE 3

That may need some explanation:

The Universal Laws, in many instances, seem similar; yet each contributes uniquely to our life. Some of them, master laws, define an overall principle. Others are subsets of the master and define specific aspects of that principle. For example, the master law we are studying is “like begets like,” which deals with a like condition begetting a like condition. The first law of increase—“as you sow so shall you reap”—defines a specific aspect of “like begets like” and is, therefore, a sublaw of it.

The law we will study in the next chapter—the law of attraction—defines another aspect of “like begets like,” so it, too, is a sublaw.

The second law of increase—“the spirit of your actions multiplies the result”—defines a specific aspect of the first law of increase and is, therefore, a sublaw of it.

THE AMOUNT OF INCREASE

The following reading gives the keys that determine the “spirit of your actions.” These set the amount of increase that occurs after you plant the seed.

Use then that you have in hand [plant the seed]. For He will multiply it, some to ten, some to twenty, to some sixty, to some an hundredfold; dependent upon that purpose and that sincerity to which you may use that in hand. (1397-2)AR

Thus, there are three areas on which you need to check yourself to insure multiplication by the law of increase. They are:

1) Your purpose. How clear is your purpose? How definite? Is it in accord with the Creative Forces?

2) Your sincerity. Are you lukewarm or really intent and committed to your purpose? Are you free of hypocrisy, deceit, or duplicity regarding your purpose? Is your dedication to it as pure as you can make it?

3) Your willingness. Are you using that which you now have available to you? If you are not willing to use what you have (your talents, gifts, ideas, mind, materials), your purpose and sincerity are questionable. Pie-in-the-sky predictions of what you would do “if” are just that.

Reviewing these requirements, we can see why results are so varied for different individuals. For gardeners this may explain the “green thumb.” Those who are clear about their purpose and who work in sincerity with plant life appear to have a “green thumb.” Of course, the implications of reading 1397-2 go far beyond gardening and into all of life, as we plant seeds in one way or another. The Creative Forces are aware of our purpose and the sincerity and willingness with which we are doing our sowing. The results vary accordingly. In fact, they vary greatly—some get ten or a hundred times as much as others. As always, the results depend entirely upon us.

SEEDS OF FEAR

If you have a great fear of being robbed or having your house burglarized, you’re planting seeds of fear. You’re planting the seeds of “I am going to be robbed.” You may buy numerous devices, such as alarms and locks to prevent a burglary or to warn you and protect you. These devices are of no value unless they enable you to overcome your fears. If so, then you have destroyed the seeds of fear. If you are still fearful, then the seeds are still present and will bring their fruits: a robbery. The greater your fear, the greater the chance it will happen. The reason you fear is because you have faith it will happen. Your increased fear, in effect, gives the negative seeds increased energy. This is implicit in the biblical commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3, KJV) You can make “little gods” of fears and unwittingly pray to them.¹²

Denise, a member of our study group, lived in a high crime-rate section of the city. Her car, even though locked, had been broken into several times. Finally, she decided she would not lock her car but would leave it to God to protect her and her possessions, and she would no longer concern herself about it. For several years after that decision, she had no thefts. Then one day a friend from New York, who was staying with her overnight, insisted that she lock her car since she wished to leave some items in the trunk. Denise reluctantly locked it. It was broken into that night. The seeds of fear introduced by a friend brought an immediate response.

The ideal would be to develop and maintain a positive attitude of complete faith in the Creator as our protector in all circumstances. Then we would never need to lock our doors. By planting the seed “I am protected,” we can reap that result: we are protected.¹³

I have known people who have not locked their doors for years, even though they live in heavily populated areas. They have had no problems. To do what they do, you must be sure of your faith, certain that your consciousness harbors no hidden fears or doubts about such a course.

My approach is different, but also adheres to the law. I feel that I, as a co-worker, must do my part with what I have. I lock my door, but I do so knowing that with that act I am planting the seed of protection. But I also plant the seed of knowing that the Universe will give the increase to whatever degree of protection is required. The spirit that I sow and that the Creative Forces multiply is protection, even in case the lock is not enough or I forget to lock it. By using the law of increase this way, I am completely protected regardless of circumstances.

COOPERATION

My approach is one of cooperation. It is based on the knowledge that the farmer must not only plant the seeds, but also do what he knows to do—such as cultivating the crop—to cooperate with the Creative Forces in producing the harvest. Cooperation is necessary for us as co-workers. It is all a part of “as you sow.”

We must recognize that we can only do so much; we do what we can with what we have. Our powers as humans are limited—but as we cooperate as co-workers with the Divine, there is no limit to the power available to us. The Higher Power has no limits and is totally dependable because its nature is to love and care for us. By turning to that source and away from our fears, we substitute truth for illusion or true power for imagined power. As a result, we can be “in the world,” seeing and hearing all its troubles and woes, but “not of it.” In recognizing the higher power of our Creator and using the Universal Laws in that spirit, we are freed from our fears and those of the world because we then recognize we have nothing to fear.¹⁴

APPLYING THE LAWS IN THE BEST WAY

Some of us can make that switch in consciousness in a moment. For others the change comes slowly. All of us have been programmed and trained for many, many years to put our faith in others or in materiality rather than in the Creative Forces and in ourselves as creators of what happens in our lives. We need to change those limiting beliefs.

We can begin to move toward faith in the Creative Forces and in ourselves by applying the law in the highest ways through planting positive seeds. There are many wonderful seeds which the readings recommend we sow: faith, hope, patience, gentleness, kindness, and love. These and others—forgiveness, trust, peace, joy, and mercy—are occasionally referred to in the readings as seeds of the spirit of truth. We are assured that “as we sow” them, they will return to us in abundance as fruits of the Spirit and will create harmony in our lives. Obviously, as this law operates through time, such results must come. How wonderful it is to realize such joyous results can be a part of our lives; that it is not up to fate or chance, but is our choice, and as we apply the law the results will, must come!¹⁵

MISAPPLYING THE LAWS

The law, “as you sow so shall you reap,” is cited many times in the readings because it applies to so much that we do. Here are two examples of how we can misapply it. A 79-year-old man asked:

(Q) Have personal vices as tobacco and whiskey any influence on one’s health or longevity?

(A) … you are suffering from the use of some of these in the present; but it is overindulgence. In moderation these are not too bad, but man so seldom will be moderate. Or, as most say, those who even indulge will make themselves pigs, but we naturally are pigs when there is overindulgence. This, of course, makes for conditions which are to be met. For what one sows that must one reap. This is unchangeable law.

(5233-1)

The answer was just a polite way of saying: Yes, it adversely affects your health and decreases your life span, and you will have to meet those conditions.

A woman asked this intriguing question:

(Q) Do you see that it is possible for me to straighten out this tangled affair?

(A) All things are possible with God. Though it may bring some heartaches, though there are already many regrets, begin with the spiritual activity. Do not expect results in one day, nor one week. Individuals do not sow one day and reap the next. They reap what they have sown in the periods when that sown has come to fruitage. For what you sow, so shall you reap. Indiscretions, and the sentiments that are based wholly upon material satisfactions, must bring the tares and the weeds in the experience of the body. Those things sown in mercy, truth, justice, will bring their rewards in the same realm, in the same coin as sown. (971-1)AR

The key to straightening out the affair was to “begin with the spiritual activity”—to sow the right seeds of mercy, truth, and justice—no doubt far different than those previously sown.

This reading offers an extremely important precaution to us: “Do not expect results in one day, nor one week. Individuals do not sow one day and reap the next. They reap what they have sown in the periods when that sown has come to fruitage.” The woman, though she planted new seeds, would still have to face—maybe in her next lifetime—what she had created in the past. The change would come later, when the new seeds would begin to mature. However, her change in consciousness represented by the attitudes of mercy, truth, and justice would enable her to deal with whatever came and prevent planting seeds of less desirable nature as she dealt with it. As we make changes in our lives, we need to have patience to allow the new seeds to grow and mature. We also need to acknowledge at the same time that we will still have to deal with that which we have created in the past. How we do this is an important part of the law.

SEEDS I HAVE ALREADY SOWN

If you have sown some seeds in the past which you now wish you hadn’t or you are concerned about their possible manifestations, you can do something about them. There are several possibilities:

1. You may not have to meet them in this lifetime.

2. You are never presented with more than you can handle at any time as long as you put your trust in your Creator.

3. Know that whatever seed you have sown is for a purpose, for your benefit, for your growth, and that you can get help from the Creative Forces in meeting the results. You, of course, need to ask for that help.

4. There are higher laws—such as the law of grace, the law of forgiveness, and others—that enable us to meet the conditions we have created without going through all the chaos and trauma that we ordinarily would.¹⁶

You are not alone. Every one of us faces difficulties which we created in this or previous lifetimes. Consider these as opportunities and as lessons to be learned. The earth plane is our school of law. Whatever the condition that you are reaping or whatever the seed that you have sown, there is always a way available to you to meet it.

Suppose, for example, you have been resentful and bitter toward others over some situation, and you know that your attitude will only bring more of the same to you. What can you do to change? We often resent others because we have doubts and fears regarding ourselves and others. Turn over that doubt and fear to your Creator by simply saying, “Here are my doubts and fears about this situation. Help me to cast this resentment and bitterness out of my life. I don’t want it!” Toss it out of your life and put in something better. Let the love and peace of the Higher Power so fill your mind and your body that there is no place for resentment, doubt, or fear. Whenever you feel resentment, replace it with a constructive thought or affirmation, such as, “The love of God now fills my mind and my body.” Repeat it until you feel it or sense it in you. Then manifest it by being of help to others.

JESUS AND THE LAW

The source of the readings points out that our purpose when we were created as souls “in the beginning” was to be companions with the Father-God. They further explain that we, of our own choice, took paths which separated us from our Creator. The reason we are here on this earth plane is to find our way back to the Father. Jesus found the way. The readings explain that when He entered the earth plane nearly 2,000 years ago, He came in as you and I did—with temptations, problems, and difficulties. But He discovered that the Father was within Him, that He and the Father were one: “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father in me …” (John 14:11, NEB)

Jesus attuned Himself so completely to the Father within that He became perfectly spiritualized in body, mind, and spirit and thus eventually became the Christ. The readings express it as Jesus (the man) who became the Christ (christed).

This reading gives us a clue as to His transformation: “… whatsoever a man soweth, that must he also reap. This was truly exemplified in the life of the man of Galilee.” (5749-12)

The law is the key. Jesus sowed spiritual seeds which spiritualized His spirit, mind, and body, for the law works on all three levels! So, as Jesus sowed the seeds of the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and others, He began to reap these as spiritual fruits.¹⁷ He thus became as the Father within, the spirit of love, of joy, of peace, of patience, and all the others. So, in this way, He became spiritualized. The wonderful part about this is that He said we could do it, too:

In truth, in very truth I tell you, he who has faith in me will do what I am doing; and he will do greater things still …

John 14:12, NEB

Jesus was applying the law “as you sow so shall you reap.” We can do it in a similar way as He did by sowing the same seeds.

Indeed, His life exemplifies this law. He stands as our guide on this path of Universal Law because He has passed this way before and has shown us the way—not the only way, but the highest way to use the Universal Laws.

WHAT SEEDS SHOULD I SOW?

We need to ask this question of ourselves and we need to ask it from the consciousness of “What would I like to do for or give to others?” Possible answers to this can be found in the following list of “seeds of the Spirit” given in the readings plus other “joy” seeds from which you might wish to choose. These seeds are attitudes that express our spirit. We sow them by making that seed our attitude toward self and others. We “be” that attitude, so that then becomes our “Be” Attitude!

Look at this list of wonderful attitudes that you can give first to others and eventually have in your own life:

“Be” Attitudes	The Fruits
Sow these seeds of the Spirit in the hearts, in the minds, in the lives of others*	And harvest this in your life
be loving	love
be gentle	gentleness
be kind	kindness
be patient	patience
be friendly	friends (fellowship)
be merciful	mercy
be truthful	truth
be hopeful	hope
be faithful	faith
be good	goodness
be joyful	joy
be peaceful	peace
be humble	humbleness
be harmonious	harmony
be understanding	understanding
be consistent in acts and speech	consistency
Other Constructive Attitudes
be content	contentment
be honest	honesty
be appreciative	appreciation
be generous	abundance
be cooperative	cooperation
be just	justice
be forgiving	forgiveness

HOW MAY I SOW THE SEEDS?

Pick one or two of the “Be” Attitudes as a start. Work diligently to apply them by thinking, acting, and speaking in that manner in all your dealings with others. Use your ideas, imagination, and creativity. It takes conscious effort and patience. The key is to apply the law: Whatever you want in your life, sow that in your thoughts, words, and acts toward yourself and others. It will grow and return to you. Think what that means to each of us: we can be or have anything in our lives we want by applying this law, provided we are not doing it for a selfish purpose, but to share and to give the same to others.¹⁸

To sow any one of these seeds, you need to make that attitude a part of your life, make it the spirit in which you act. Believe it, live it, do it, express it, be it—become that attitude—”be” that attitude.

For example, you may choose to “be joyful” in order to bring more joy into the lives of others. The Cayce readings, which spoke frequently about joy, suggested being joyful in all you do. Express that joy with smiles and “Smile often, for smiling is catching—but sadness drives away.” (518-1) As we bring any of the seeds of the spirit to our associates, we are expressing a portion of the Christ Consciousness. Whenever we do that, we bring joy to others. This is further emphasized in this reading:

Your body is indeed the temple of the living God. There He has promised to meet you often. Meet Him, in joy, in song, in prayer. Thus you will find your life blossoming—physically, mentally and spiritually—even as the rose. And the very fragrance of your life, the beauty of your life, will make and bring joy to many. (3440-2)AR

To a young man, Cayce offered important advice on sowing seeds and also gave him a unique and meaningful purpose:

Find each day where you may help someone less fortunate in some way, whether in body, in mind, in opportunity, in circumstance. Help not for pay, not just because you want to help, but because he is your brother, because he is yourself, for as you do unto others you do to your Maker …

In that manner, then, may you … find that which will bring the greater help, the greater joy, the greater experiences of life. (5250-1)AR

We can summarize the steps to becoming a channel for joy in our world:

1. Be joyful in all that you do.

2. Smile often.

3. Manifest to others the seeds of the Spirit, such as peace, love, joy, and patience.

4. Pray and sing joyfully.

5. Help someone each day.

You can create a similar program for any one of the seeds of the Spirit you choose to manifest. “As you sow—so shall you reap!”

Whenever we start such a program, our actions are understandably a bit mechanical—like a child first practicing the piano. Practice, however, will make perfect. We should be kind, gentle, and supportive of ourselves while we are learning. I often write notes to myself to remind me of what I’m trying to do. Then I put them in many places so that I will find them as I go through my day. Or I use a timer to jog my memory. I even give myself a reward when I remember without the notes. Such aids can be helpful when we are working to change our consciousness.