 Sitting in meditation this morning, (Friday 13 Feb) with our wonderful Daily Word family, the thought that ‘no man is an island’ came to mind and heart.
It was very quickly followed by, no man, woman, non-binary, or however we describe ourselves, is an island. All of us are connected to each other, to all of life. Take a moment, not just to read these words, but allow them to be true for you. Breathe in fully and know, ‘I am not alone. I am loved. I am love.’ Breathe out and let that love flow. When we meet in person, and in our online Zoom meetings, whether they are for prayer, meditation, conversation or study, we deeply feel that connection with each other, which comes through our connection with Source, God, Divine Mind and Heart. For me, it is a beautiful and deep feeling of love; this is what I felt this morning. Feeling safe, feeling loved, belonging, is a primal human need that can only be truly fulfilled through our connection with Source, which manifests through our shared connection. The more we meet and spend time together, without prejudice, but with open minds and hearts, the more the love that we truly are, grows. We are born as love – every other feeling is learnt behaviour, and what has been learned, can be unlearned and released. Let us come back to love. Let us meet without prejudice but with open minds and hearts, and see what happens. Only good can come from this – for ourselves, each other and our world. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK
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 In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the five elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether—are the sacred building blocks of life, shaping our physical health, emotional balance, and spiritual vitality. Since ancient times, they have been honoured as expressions of the life force, reflecting our inner world and guiding us back into harmony.
In Ayurveda, these elements form the foundation of healing through the three doshas—Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (earth and water) —supporting balance of body, mind, and spirit. Likewise, Traditional Chinese Medicine works with the Five Elements to restore harmony within the body through energetic healing and herbal wisdom. Spiritually, the elements mirror our lived experience: Air governs breath and mind, Fire brings transformation, Water carries emotion and intuition, and Earth offers grounding and stability. Beyond them lies Ether—the subtle divine essence, the field of consciousness from which all arises. Through stillness, meditation, and presence, we reconnect with Ether and awaken the divinity within. Working with the elements helps us recognise what we need—more fire for direction, more air for clarity, more earth for steadiness, more water for emotional flow. This invites us into deeper alignment and peace. Through stillness, meditation, and mindful presence, we reconnect with Ether and the divinity within. As Psalm 46:10 reminds us: “Be still and know that I am God.” In stillness, the storms within us quieten, and we return to unity with the Divine. Winniefred Carneiro Unity South London  Trusting God often sounds simple, but living it can feel anything but. At the heart of our struggle is fear — not fear of God, but fear of letting go. We hold tightly to what we know, even when it weighs us down, because at least it feels familiar. Control gives us the illusion of safety. Letting go asks something deeper of us. It asks us to loosen our grip on outcomes, explanations, and timelines. And that can be frightening. We worry: What if I fall? What if nothing catches me? What if God doesn’t show up the way I hope? But here is the quiet truth: letting go is not giving up — it is leaning in. When we “let go and let God,” we are not stepping into emptiness; we are stepping into trust. We are choosing to believe that we are held, even when we can’t see the hands holding us. Faith is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to move forward with fear, trusting that God walks with us through it. Often, God waits patiently while we cling. Not because He withholds help, but because love never forces release. And when we finally loosen our grasp — even just a little — we discover something surprising: peace begins to flow where tension once lived. Trust grows slowly. It starts with small surrenders:
Over time, we learn that God is faithful — not always in the ways we expect, but always in the ways we need. So if today you feel afraid to let go, be gentle with yourself. God is not asking for perfection, only openness. Even a trembling hand can still release — and when it does, it often finds rest. Let go. Let God. You are not alone. 🌿 Angus Irons Unity Student
Over time, we learn that God is faithful — not always in the ways we expect, but always in the ways we need. So if today you feel afraid to let go, be gentle with yourself. God is not asking for perfection, only openness. Even a trembling hand can still release — and when it does, it often finds rest. Let go. Let God. You are not alone. 🌿 Angus Irons Unity Student Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, our Unity co-founders, often spoke of faith as being the most important power we have to build a conscious awareness of the Divine within us. Without any doubt, if we do not have faith, even the size of a mustard seed, in our oneness within the God-energy, as a life-force that is greater than us yet which we abide within, then nothing of any meaning changes in our lives. Jesus epitomised this for me. His faith, even in the midst of his trials and challenges, saw him through. He could say, with faith, “I and the Father I are one.” John 10:30. My focus, therefore, is to continue to practice my faith in this oneness, especially when the world challenges me. This takes strength. As I reflect on my life, I recognise the power of strength that has supported me through my Unity years of service and practice. It takes strength of mind and heart to show up every day, even when we do not feel like it. It takes perseverance, patience and commitment, to do our practices of prayer, meditation and silence. It takes strength to stop the blame/shame game our minds get drawn into. However, when we do, we know at the depth of our being that we are all beloved of God, no matter what mistakes we or others make. It takes strength of mind and heart to put God, as love and wisdom, first, for we are practising our faith in living the idea that we are one with all that God is, which is good, limitless, free and without opposite. The rewards are bountiful. As I show up in this way, as I follow Jesus as our way-shower and guide, I am changed; we are changed. Not through my will but by holding the space for change to occur. As we witness all that is happening in the world, we are being asked to show up with faith and strength. We are being asked to remember we are one with each other and all of life. To show up with integrity; act with strength and compassion; speak our truth and respond from love and wisdom. The world is going through a time of transformation – the old way of life (one of power, greed and my needs are to be met instead of yours) must pass. We, too, are being asked to transform how we live. Instead of resisting change, we can use the powers of faith and strength to support and guide us through this time. We can use the season of Lent, starting 18 February, to aid our transformation. I invite you to use the powers of focus (will) and strength to commit to a daily time of prayer and meditation, enabling you to release the aspects of your life you know do not serve you and make space for the God-energy to do its transforming work through you. This is the gift of Lent leading to Easter. To help you, you can order our 2026 Lent booklet and join us at our morning Daily Word meetings when we will read the Lenten message for the day, alongside our Daily Word message, and let the meanings be known and fulfilled through us in the silence we share. Together, we don’t just allow, we invite this transformative process to free us and lead us into the lives we want for everyone and everything on our planet. Experience the support of spiritual community and find your freedom to be. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity & Daily Word UK  Charles Filmore wrote “In Unity we say ‘Heaven can wait’, too many people are putting off heaven until sometime in the future. But, it can’t wait. It is around and about us here and now, pressing in upon us, waiting for us to acknowledge and accept it” How hard it is for me to look at the world, the divides, the threat of war. How hard it is to discern exactly what is heavenly about where we find ourselves. Then I remember my power. I co-create with God. I must continue to hold the light. As I practise contributing love, without fear. As I continue to tune in my spiritual radio. As I keep turning on that tap and allowing God to move through me. Then I understand why I am here. And how I have an opportunity every day to make a difference. To bring light to where it is needed. Charles’ words ask us to make a choice between Heaven and Hell, now, right in this moment. We are the doors. We are the keys. We are the vibration that shapes the future. Release limitations. Create potential. And let the light in. Stefanie Bridges Unity Administrator  How I Work with Collective Consciousness
In our metaphysical studies class last year, we looked at human consciousness, recognising it is not isolated; it exists within a vast, interconnected field. In Heart-Centered Metaphysics, Paul Hasselbeck, Unity minister, describes the collective consciousness as the shared field of thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and energies held by humanity. Just as my personal consciousness shapes my reality, this collective field subtly shapes me—often beneath awareness. I notice it most in how cultural norms and group beliefs filter into my thinking. Growing up, I absorbed collective ideas about what “success” meant—achievement, productivity, and even class expectations. Though I questioned those ideals as an adult, I sometimes still felt “behind” if my life didn’t match them. Moving to the USA in my mid-twenties brought unexpected freedom, helping me release many of those inherited standards. The subconscious is porous; it absorbs not only personal experiences but also collective patterns. News cycles, social media, and cultural emotions can all affect my inner state. During times of global unrest, I often feel unsettled without a clear personal reason—my inner atmosphere resonating with the collective mood. Recognizing this helps me stay mindful. I no longer start my mornings with CNN or BBC updates, giving myself space to tune inward first. To balance collective influence, I practice discernment. When I feel anxious or doubtful, I ask, “Is this mine—or something I’ve absorbed?” That simple question helps me return to my own truth. Grounding practices—meditation, affirmations, time in nature—clear my energy and remind me I’m part of the collective but not defined by it. I also consciously contribute to the collective. Through my Voice Dialogue coaching group, we hold a shared vision of peace, trusting our intentions ripple outward. Each choice to think or act with compassion uplifts the shared field. By staying aware of this ongoing exchange between personal and collective consciousness, I feel more centred, free, and aligned with the world I help create. Unity’s prayer ministry and Daily Word booklet are also powerful, positive additions to our collective unconscious. Jane Morgan Unity student  Life lately has been filled with growing experiences and joyful highlights.
Never dull. Never ceasing. It's just constant change. Discovering new parts of myself and laying other parts to rest hasn't been easy. However, there is a unique kind of peace and revelation that arises from within when I let the layers of myself fall away. Life sometimes seems overwhelming yet doable. It can be all-consuming whilst feeling like I am floating on a cloud of wonder. Never dull. Never ceasing. Now, I am learning to ride the waves, embracing their rise and fall, their ebb and flow, without fear of drowning— even when I cannot see the edge of the shore. Lately, life has been spent in listening for the whispers of affirming assurance and compassionate instruction. Never dull. Never ceasing. My faith is being stretched, remoulded and refined. It comes with new hope, new authority, new purpose and new promise. Life lately... Never dull. Never ceasing. But always mine. “Don’t worry about anything… Then, you will experience … peace, which surpasses all understanding. (This) peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live.” Philippians 4:6-7 Beverley Thomas Unity enthusiast  I have found that when I take the time to ‘be still and know that I am God’, (Psalm 46:10) and abide in Pure Presence, even if for just a few moments, a natural peace and joy arises within me.
It is not something I can force or make myself feel. It is not a mind-activity or affirmation. If I am not feeling it, I cannot force it. Instead, it is like a well-spring of water that has no choice but to spring up to the surface to be tasted and enjoyed. Joy arises naturally as it is God being God in us and as us. This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child in heart and mind, let us give ourselves some time to be still and ‘wait upon the Lord’ (Isaiah 40:31) with a faith-filled, peaceful mind and heart. As you do, I believe a natural joy will arise in you. A beautiful, radiant force that is God with you. With joy and love, we connect with Jesus’ birth story. It brings something gentle yet becomes powerfully alive in us. Let the power of peace, love and joy be yours this Christmas. I wish you and your loved ones a very blessed and joy-filled Christmas. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK (Photograph : Rosie's Tree)  As I think about the Christmas story, of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, angels and Wise Men, it is all about love. The love of a mother and father. The simplicity of a stable. The palpable energy that must have been felt by all those present, which some of our carols beautifully express. Plus, the curiosity of the shepherds, the courage and faith everyone portrayed. And the Wise Men who journeyed afar, listened to their inner guidance and returned home another route. All these qualities, for me, are aspects of love. Love that opens the heart. Love that brings vulnerability. Love that honours and respects. Love that changes us. Without doubt, everyone in the story was changed through the power of love. As we know that for them, we can know the same for ourselves. Love changes us. This Christmas, let Love change you. Perhaps there is someone you have not spoken to for a while. Perhaps there is disharmony in some relationships. Perhaps you can give yourself the gift of unconditional love, allowing healing of trauma from the past. Let Love soften your heart. Let Love in. For it is Love that changes us; Love that heals us; Love that exceeds all demands and expectations. Love that brings strength, compassion and understanding. If you have any stories of how love changed you or another, please share them. You would bless us all. I honour the Love that you are and the beautiful ways Love expresses through you and as you, this Christmas season. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK  Recently in Zimbabwe, Paul and I were blessed to spend time at Victoria Falls, (locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya) truly a place of power, beauty, majesty and peace.
While there, I discovered it was dedicated to peace, and share the dedication here, as we focus on peace in this, the second week of Advent. Here is the dedication: A Sri Chinmoy Peace Falls Soul-stirring power Breath-taking beauty Life-elevating majesty As this thundering cascade descends from the heights, rainbow visions delight our eyes and uplift our spirit. Victoria Falls is dedicated on this day, January 2nd 1996 as a Sri Chinmoy Peace Falls. It thus joins a family of over 800 significant landmarks around the globe that have been dedicated to peace. The Peace-Blossoms family takes its name from Sri Chinmoy, an international ambassador of peace who has dedicated his life to fostering peace within the aspiring heart of humanity. May this stupendous grandeur and wonder of nature forever inundate each and every human heart with a fruitful and fulfilling sea of oneness - peace. Do not stop dreaming! One day your world - peace - dream will inundate the entire word. Sri Chinmoy Where is your place of peace? Do send a picture and we will share it. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK |