The Unity movement has certainly travelled many steps, far and wide, branching out to hundreds of different places all around the world. From its first affiliate Silent Unity prayer ministry in England in 1946, building to the first Unity World conference in Birmingham, UK, in 1995 which was attended by 700 people from 38 countries, Unity’s message continues to expand. We can see that Charles and Myrtle’s first steps in America soon grew exponentially to the worldwide organisation Unity is today. At present Silent Unity is available in English, French, German, and Spanish, and has affiliates in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Trinidad.

​Myrtle Fillmore’s discovery of spiritual growth and healing in the late 19th C. came from a lecture within the New Thought movement, which led her to affirmative prayer. She discovered, read and wrote about Christian Science and practical Christianity. Her healing experiences were so profound, that along with her husband Charles, they founded Unity and in 1897 Myrtle wrote the article “How I found health” in the Unity magazine. An article still reprinted today. I love the way she writes.
 
 “I told the life in my liver that it was not torpid or inert, but full of vigor and energy. I told the life in my stomach that it was not weak or inefficient, but energetic, strong, and intelligent. I told the life in my abdomen that it was no longer infested with ignorant ideas of disease, put there by myself and by doctors, but that it was all alive with the sweet, pure, wholesome energy of God.”
 
Listen to the article here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=perTZng1ubc
Read the whole article here:
https://www.unityuk.org/uploads/1/3/6/7/136768850/how_i_found_health.pdf
 
Today, as we go about our business in the world, let us remind ourselves of what great things can come from the smallest steps. Let us be mindful of the goals we wish to reach, and of the energy we wish to create. Let us invoke the power of imagination. Let us be brave enough to take the first step out in to the unknown, ready to live our dreams, ready to be receptive to the beauty and wonder of this awesome, magical, sacred world. 
 
Stefanie Bridges
Unity administrator

I agree with Steve. I must admit, repeating an affirmation 50 times to make me believe something, is a struggle for me. I believe it is not about forcing a new idea down into me to change me – I believe it is about allowing the divine flow to rise up within me and pour forth from me. For we are now and always one with God-energy, Source, substance – it is already here and now. We are simply tuning into the energy, as we tune into a radio station to hear clearly.
 
Eric Butterworth in the introduction to his book, Spiritual Economics, writes that wealth is not about pounds and dollars; it is about well-being, which is such a beautiful, feeling-full word. Prosperity is not about having lots of stuff! Prosperity is about moving forward hopefully. To this, I would add positively and with faith.
 
For us in Unity, prosperity, abundance, is about spiritual well-being – it incorporates a wholeness approach: A whole experience of life and healing, loving relationships, harmony, peace, fulfilment.
 
Therefore, we talk about shifting our thinking, our consciousness, to align with the divine flow. Instead of focusing on getting more money, more things, better people into our lives, we practice lifting our awareness, our thinking, so that we know we abide within the divine flow. This is when we really experience, as Jesus knew and taught, that we live in an abundant universe, where every need and more is met.
 
The thing about this last point, of course, is that this is not about just my need. It is about knowing, and thereby living, within the understanding that there is more than enough for everyone. When we start to live with each other in a way where every person is honoured, respected and valued, every person is then free to share their wisdom, creativity, skills and knowledge and we are all blessed. Moreover, not just human beings, but also all of life is honoured, respected, valued, enriched and blessed.
 
What a prosperous way to live! Let us value and respect ourselves, each other and our planet. Let us shift our awareness, our consciousness, into the divine flow. For as we do, we will all experience greater abundance, prosperity and wealth, through the true meaning of these words.

It was also good to discover how people came to Unity. After I shared a little about how Paul and I discovered Unity, we divided everyone into small groups of 2 or 3 people, to share their own unique stories of how they came to Unity. Some stories were similar, and others very different. Such is life of course. We wanted the time to be informal and friendly, sharing ideas and personal experiences, and it was definitely that! Already in this short time we have begun to learn more about each other and ourselves.

Then the discussion went a little deeper, as I spoke about how Unity is described as Practical Christianity. It has to be something that is real, something we can do in our lives, to find deeper meaning, fulfilment, joy and peace. I had intended the second breakout room to be general – what did they think about the idea of practical Christianity, connected with the idea that Jesus is our example and guided, not an exception to worship from afar.  However the discussion ended up being more about sharing what practical things they did in their lives to support and enable themselves. A good discussion to have of course.

I have noticed that meetings often do change when we are open to what wants to be experienced in that moment. We have an idea when we begin, but the meeting demands something different and the discussion goes another way. The lovely people who showed up all seemed to get something out of the meeting. For sure, the hour went by really quickly.  I look forward to meeting more folk this way and exploring how Unity ideas bless our lives.

As far as I can explain it, we are all One, abiding within one energy field, which we can call God, substance, Divine Mind: whatever term works best for you. Because we are connected within this subtle energy field, we notice or feel each other’s energy. Sometimes this feels good and sometimes it really doesn’t! I am sure you have experienced this for yourself.
 
Because there is only love in this blessing of release, it releases any negative pull or expectation I may have on the other person. This enables them to feel free and make a loving and wise decision for themselves. It also frees me to make wise and loving decisions as well. Some people are in our lives for a long time and others are not.
 
Do you have a situation or relationship in your life that is causing tension? You may like to you use this blessing for 21 days. Speak it from your heart. Really let them go with love. Then see what happens. Truly, this is a gift you give to the world.
 
Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

Join us in the comfort of your own home; take a few moments in your day wherever you are; to connect in silent prayer. Join us on Zoom and share the energy of united prayer in a very real way.
 
We will hold a vigil of prayer from 9am-9pm, holding the silence and sharing meditations throughout the day.
 
Send us names to hold in prayer with you. It is our honour and privilege to connect with you in this powerful way.

I trust in the evolutionary impulse of loving goodness
 
In Unity, we describe faith as more than believing: It is an inner knowing. Charles Fillmore, our co-founder, taught that faith is our foundation, from which we experience our lives.
 
Today, if we listen to all the news we may have faith in a declining economy, struggle, debt and lack. Not very inspiring or helpful, is it.
 
How do we turn this around? Our practice in Unity is to spend time each day in prayer, meditation and silence. It is here we come to know God in a real and personal way, yet also active as a constant, unchanging and limitless energy. We ‘persevere in faith’ and practice.
 
Why? Because as we make space for God-awareness and experience, we are changed and our lives change. It is a powerful process and one that blesses all of life. Truthfully – we have to start somewhere!

I’d like to share something that happened the day after a Unity meditation on ‘Beauty’.

I went out into the garden and lay down on the grass. I like to do this…I feel connected.
I looked up at the sky. It was blue with big white clouds drifting slowly by.
I noticed what looked like a ribbon of wispy cloud further up from the big clouds. It wasn’t moving….it was coloured, as if a piece had broken off from a rainbow.
I watched it for about 5mins, entranced. Was I the only one to notice it? How many others were looking up at the sky at this moment. The colours started to fade. I felt wonder, gratitude but also sadness that this world which has so many beautiful gifts, is so often taken for granted and so often unseen.
I closed my eyes for a second or two and it was gone.

​Rosie, online

Myrtle Fillmore, Unity co-founder who experienced self-healing through affirmative prayer and an awakened mind used to say, ‘what about the children?’ She herself was a teacher and recognised the importance of educating our young ones with positive thoughts about themselves, their lives and the potential within them.

To help our children, we begin with ourselves. Both Charles and Myrtle Fillmore realised that when we change our thinking we are changed. In my words, when we allow ourselves to be changed by the infinite power of Divine Grace, Love and Wisdom, we awaken to who we are and live from our awakened potential.

This is why Unity was originally called, ‘Unity School of Practical Christianity’. Using the practice of affirmations, prayer, silence and meditation, as Jesus did, we are all encouraged to practice going within to discover our experience of God and how this energy works through us to serve us and our world. Charles and Myrtle knew the importance of education in the original way it was intended: to drawout of the student the innate wisdom and understanding that lies within.

With all of this in mind, we are offering a new way of engaging with Unity in the UK through our Friends membership scheme. We have put together a package that offers a yearly subscription to the digital Daily Word for those who want it, classic talks, free downloads, monthly Zoom live meetings and meditations, all for just £5 a month.

Of course, we continue to share our FREE daily prayer and meditation meetings, book club, Thursday evening meditation and monthly Sunday service, all on Zoom, details here, honoured and blessed to do so. For as we build our spiritual community, we are all blessed.

September is also the month when we hold Unity’s annual World Day of Prayer. This profound and potentially life-changing day offers you the opportunity to connect with us in silent prayer and shared meditations, from 9am-9pm, Thursday 14th September 2023.

Through our personal experience of prayer, the ‘drawing out’ of our innate wisdom and sharing Unity’s practices and teachings, we learn, grow and bless our world.

Join us – be part of something greater than your human self. Allow yourself to be changed. Claim the energy of God as a power and presence working through you. As you do, know that together, we support and encourage our inner child, the children around us and our world.

​The truth is, relationships cannot always meet our lofty expectations and sometimes this causes us to feel hurt. When we encounter this, we may start to doubt love and our relationship to it.
 
Perhaps the belief that love is a feeling, an emotional state to be achieved, that we either “have it” or are “in it” needs a radical rethink. Let’s try this instead.
 
Love is action. Not a feeling. A choice that we make when we care not just about the outcome for ourselves but for the whole. It is complex connection, not just to any one person, but to the all attributes that make us both human and divine. It is empathy. It is the ability to commit to radical emotional responsibility and to keep trying, even when things get tough. It is embracing the idea that there are always two sides and to strive for the happiness of all parties. When we start to see love as a set of actions we can release ourselves from it needing to feel perfect every second of every day. Embracing what is truly real.
 
Forget the master plan on how to get love. Go out there people and “do” love. 
 
Stefanie Bridges
Unity administrator and student