Florence
Has anyone ever read any books by Florence Scovel Schinn? She was an artist and a metaphysician, born in 1871 who wrote four small books which, in today's world, would be seen as one of those books about affirmations, positive thinking, etc. Only I can't recall Florence using the word 'affirmation' much, if at all. She more talks about 'treating', about using our 'intuitive leads' and speaking our 'word', because our word is a 'magic wand' which can be waved over any situation.
She uses some Biblical quotes, but not in a 'religious' way which, I admit, would have turned me off if so. She translates those messages into down-to-earth, usable applications that are understood by anyone whether they are Christian/religious or not.
I much prefer those old time writers of metaphysics and such topics ... as opposed to the Deepak Chopras of the modern age. I know many people like them and have been tarnsformed by their words, but many of them strike me as being commercial, marketed commodities. Florence (I get the feeling she is posthumously more 'famous' than she was when she was alive) just seemed like a down to earth person who went around 'treating' people, writing her books and doing her illustrations of children's books. Her books are peppered with examples of people's lives that she helped to transform - remarkable little stories written in a humble, straightforward way. Quick and easy-to-read.
Recently, as a gift for my youngest sister's birthday, I bought "The Wisdom of Florence Scovell Schinn" - her four books in one (The Game of Life and How to Play It; The Power of the Spoken Word; Your Word is Your Wand; The Secret of Success). Admittedly it's one of those gifts that I ended up reading before she managed to get past a few pages.
Not sure why I'm talking up Florence today. Maybe someone new will come across her and find her 'delightful' (an old-time sounding word which she may even have used). I think the 'treatment' which stuck with me most from my reading of the series is this one:
She uses some Biblical quotes, but not in a 'religious' way which, I admit, would have turned me off if so. She translates those messages into down-to-earth, usable applications that are understood by anyone whether they are Christian/religious or not.
I much prefer those old time writers of metaphysics and such topics ... as opposed to the Deepak Chopras of the modern age. I know many people like them and have been tarnsformed by their words, but many of them strike me as being commercial, marketed commodities. Florence (I get the feeling she is posthumously more 'famous' than she was when she was alive) just seemed like a down to earth person who went around 'treating' people, writing her books and doing her illustrations of children's books. Her books are peppered with examples of people's lives that she helped to transform - remarkable little stories written in a humble, straightforward way. Quick and easy-to-read.
Recently, as a gift for my youngest sister's birthday, I bought "The Wisdom of Florence Scovell Schinn" - her four books in one (The Game of Life and How to Play It; The Power of the Spoken Word; Your Word is Your Wand; The Secret of Success). Admittedly it's one of those gifts that I ended up reading before she managed to get past a few pages.
Not sure why I'm talking up Florence today. Maybe someone new will come across her and find her 'delightful' (an old-time sounding word which she may even have used). I think the 'treatment' which stuck with me most from my reading of the series is this one:
IF IT IS MINE, I CANNOT LOSE IT. IF IT IS NOT MINE, I DO NOT WANT IT.
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Interesting. I just opened the book at random to select a 'treatment' for someone who may be reading and got something similar: There is no loss in Divine Mind, therefore, I cannot lose anything which belongs to me. It will be restored or I receive its equivalent.
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Elspeth
posted by Elspeth at Wednesday, August 02, 2006
7 Comments:
Thanks for the lead Elspeth. Will look out for her works. I've just been re-reading Krishnamurti's "Think on these things." I don't know if he'd be lumped with the Deepak Chopra's but I've never read Chopra so I can't tell. Anyway, I read something that made me think about you and it was Krishnamurti's answer to the question, " What is destiny?" He illustrates using the example of children who go along with what their parents expect of them:-
"After all, if you are born as the son of a lawyer who insists that you also become a lawyer, and if you comply with his wishes even though you would prefer to do something else, then your destiny is obviously to become a lawyer. But if you refuse to become a lawyer, if you insist on doing that which you feel to be the true thing for you, which is what you really love to do - it may be writing, painting or having no money and begging - then you have stepped out of the stream, you have broken away from the destiny which your father intended for you. It is the same with a culture or civilization.
That is why it is very important that we should be rightly educated - educated not to be smothered by tradition, not to fall into the destiny of a particular racial, cultural or family group, educated not to become mechanical beings moving towards a predetermined end. The man who understands this whole process, who breaks away from it and stands alone, creates his own momentum; and if his action is breaking away from the false towards the truth, then that momentum itself becomes the truth. Such men are free of destiny."
I had never thought of it this way before I read this explanation, and for me, the explanation itself is liberating.
can you inform us about previous posting you did..eg the puppies
Which puppies? I've found so many. If you mean Bongo, I hear he's happy in his new home and is best friends (inseparable) with the large, vicious Alsatian they were afraid would attack him. His siblings who were at TSPCA - I know the white one was adopted and I'm sure the others were as well as puppies are adopted faster than big dogs. If you mean 'Lovely', she is happy in her new home, following her new owner everywhere. I think you were asking about those cases because I can't remember mentioning any others.
Interesting and true quote, Guanaguanare.
"There is no loss in Divine Mind, therefore, I cannot lose anything which belongs to me. It will be restored or I receive its equivalent."
This lines up perfectly with what u told me yesterday - which is what i needed to hear. Thank you for my 'treatment'
How interesting to see my own thoughts expressed by someone else. I think that Florence was 'the real thing' and that the many other writers today, including Chopra, take up and run with her thoughts of long ago. Even though I have not read the Chopra book "Life after Death" I am far from happy with that title as I feel that it could have dire consequences for the depressed amongst us. Perhaps I ought to let him know what I think!
All four books that Florence wrote are amazing and well worth getting up in the middle of the night to re-read.
I recently came across a quote by Og Mandino and looked up the name on Google. I have never read any of his books, but from what I see online, I would like to. He reminds me of Florence.
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