Heaven has not lost you. You have lost sight of Heaven.
- A Course in Miracles

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED what it would be like to have a glimpse of the Heaven we have heard so much about?

...The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matthew 3:2 (AKJV)

What I share is an expression of what it might be like to live what A Course in Miracles calls The Happy Dream. Nothing changes - just a shift of perception occurs. As it does, "what was" stands still and perception re-configures reality... all that was glistens in a new way for The Light of Love Shines upon it.

God willed you Heaven, and will always will you nothing else.
- A Course in Miracles

In this article I would like to give you the reader a glimpse of what I have come to realize through my study of A Course in Miracles and its idea of Heaven. Here I offer what heaven might look like while here on earth and the sensory exploration available to one who awakens to this awareness within. I invite you to join me as I venture now where few choose to go... Rest your mind and allow me to take you as I enter an idea in the mind I will call Heaven here and now.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away...
- Revelation 21:1 (AKJV)

What would Heaven look like?

The Bible speaks of a new Heaven and a new earth,
yet this cannot be literally true,for the eternal are not re-created.
- A Course in Miracles

On www.GotQuestions.org in response to a question: What are the New Heavens and the New Earth? it says that many people have a misconception of what heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 give us a detailed picture of the new heavens and the new earth. After the events of the end times, the current heavens and earth will be done away with and replaced by the new heavens and new earth. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the new earth. The new earth is the "heaven" on which we will spend eternity. It is the new earth where the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, will reside. It is on the new earth that the pearly gates and streets of gold will be.

Heaven - the new earth - is a physical place where we will dwell with glorified physical bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). The concept that heaven is "in the clouds" is not biblical. The concept that we will be "spirits floating around in heaven" is also not biblical. The heaven that believers will experience will be a new and perfect planet on which we will dwell. The new earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. It will likely be very similar to our current earth, or perhaps even a re-creation of our current earth, but without the curse of sin.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away"
means that they will not continue to exist as separate states.
- A Course in Miracles

What about the new heavens?

It is important to remember that in the ancient mind, "heavens" referred to the skies and outer space, as well as the realm in which God dwells. So when Revelation 21:1 refers to the new heavens, it is likely indicating that the entire universe will be created, a new earth, new skies, a new outer space. It seems as if God's heaven will be recreated as well, to give everything in the universe a "fresh start" whether physical or spiritual.

In A Course in Miracles we are told that there are no levels of difficulty in miracles and that if miracles aren't happening perpetually, then something has gone wrong. In Heaven all is miraculous; we see all as a reflection of the One Love we are. We think a thought and - as if we strummed a chord on an instrument - the Universe responds in accordance to what we have requested. The Miracle becomes us. Our thought is made known where only seconds before it was hidden from our view.

Heaven is perfectly unambiguous. Everything is clear and bright, and calls forth ONE response. There is no darkness, and there is no contrast. There is no variation. There is no interruption. There is a sense of peace so deep, that no dream in this world has ever brought even a dim imagining of what it is.
- A Course in Miracles

How would it feel to live The Happy Dream (a Heaven while here on Earth)?

Colors appear brighter. Sounds sing merrily through us as if we are the very instrument that blows wistfully in our ears. Our senses are on high alert as they are tastefully experiencing joy in a way not known before this moment of Divine intoxication. In this Holy Instant, Heaven is born through us. The limited world we knew before - based on separation - is replaced with a world of infinite wonder and Unity in Love.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." And he that sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new..."
- Revelation 21:3-5 (AKJV)

Would those you Love still be around to share in your Rapture - "The Holy Instant"?

Nothing changes in The Holy Instant; all is the same. Our perception re-organizes reality. We take our mind off of "what was" and put it on The Love of God. All that seemed un-loving becomes Love-generated again. Love's expression becomes all we experience.

In the parable of The Prodigal Son we are told that there is no judgment that befalls the son that returns home to his Father. The Kingdom is open to the son and all is given him on his return. Heaven is and always was the son's home.

We are told that The Kingdom of Heaven is within and in A Course in Miracles we are reminded that the only reason Heaven isn't known is because we have taken our eyes off of it.

In Brent Haskil's Journey Beyond Words Joshua says:

So I will speak to you today of the end of time. How is it that the end of time will come? The end of time is the end of your judgment and your valuing. The Real World (Heaven) is of Spirit and only Spirit and the fastest way for you to become aware of the experience of The Real World (Heaven) here on this Earth is for you to come to the Realization first in your thinking then beyond the thinking with feelings, then awareness, Then certainty that everything is Spirit. You are Spirit, not a body. Spirit is totally free...nothing can bind you.

Then, in Revelation 21:22-26, we read:

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

Love is the progenitor that propelled me into the arms of my beloved. Ananda "Eternal Bliss" unlocked the gate to the Happy Dream. The Happy Dream is the experience of Heaven while here on Earth...

It comes clearly to me now that everything of this perceived world is an outward-manifestation of my mind - a mind based on old programming. What I AM seeing is an effect of an old mind set (for the most part). Truly we have no thoughts in the Now, just memories revealed to my mind and then manifested in my world.

My natural state of mind is the Kingdom of Heaven: a place where all the wishes of the world reside. My mind - indeed, all minds - are filled with our every need. When we consciously begin to accept this, we can focus on the aspects of mind that we wish to inhabit. We can begin to access the programs that will ultimately bring forth our personal will - the will that most appeals to us.

We are told that God is no respecter of persons; so, all that we ask He certainly releases to us. We have the Power within to access anything we desire, including the perceived good, bad and horrid. All live within our minds. By consciously choosing a desired outcome, I can trigger it to become part of my world. In fact, I do this all the time, but mostly I AM not aware that I AM doing it. The Law of attraction IS absolute! What I assume or ask to come to me will come - like a magnet to steel. My world brings me what I ask it to.

As we change the channel on our 'MIND' radio station, we can be certain to hear many tunes that reflect the station we have chosen. Sometimes the channel isn't clear; sometimes it has static. This is when our choice hasn't been clearly made. The channel cannot be accessed because there is too much residual feedback occurring in our wave frequencies.

This is what Neville means when he says, "So you set your heart fully upon this gift, and then you can endure the temporary ills of the world."

As minds that still depend on the old programming to get us what we desire, we will continue to see the ills of the world. We will not see the connection they have to us because we think we have risen above them.

And I, John, saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Revelation 21:2 (AKJV)

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like to a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal...
- Revelation 21:10-11 (AKJV)

Let us be vigilant for the Kingdom of Heaven, knowing that this focus is the only Truth in our mind. All else are only memories of fear and loss, appearing as they always have. As we see, so the Kingdom appears in our world. For some the Kingdom is sparse; for others the Kingdom is grand. Let us not judge another's course... Let us all simply focus on the Highest we can imagine and watch as it appears in our world.

Today, I sat in contemplation on my favorite beach here on The Treasure Coast of Florida, a place that resonates close to my heart's fulfillment...

Today, I had a glimpse of Heaven while here on earth...

The water was brilliant as it glistened like crystals cascading through blue hues. The sun shone brighter than I could imagine. Yet, its glow couldn't keep me from its magnetic pull. Birds of the sea flew by as if choreographed, performing feats of majestic wonder...

I turned and I looked into the eyes of my Beloved. His blue eyes dazzled me as he kissed me on my lips and held me in his arms awakening me as I had dreamed he would. The Prince has come - the One I have dreamed of. One Love has awakened in me and I will never be lost in a world of limited being. Today I am one with all I see... This part of my world - my sanctuary, in which I have always found respite - is new to me for I now see with new eyes. Sight comes from the Heart of all Being.

The sand embraced my feet as I walked along the shoreline with my Love - my dream now realized. Alone in Love's expression we were and are... Heaven has become me as I bask in Love's Glory.

Your foot has reached the lawns that welcome you to Heaven's gate;
the quiet place of peace, where you await with certainty the final step of God.
- A Course in Miracles

Today Heaven has become me.

I stand before the gate of Heaven,
wondering if I should enter in and be at home.
- A Course in Miracles

And then you hold the key that opens Heaven's gate,
and brings the Love of God the Father down to earth at last,
to raise it up to Heaven.
- A Course in Miracles

One Love awaits all that step through the gates of Heaven. If we follow the heart, there is no effort required. As is said in A Course in Miracles, "There is no need for help to enter Heaven for you have never left."

The mind, conscious of its True Self, will take you back into Heaven... if you follow Love's Calling. Love is the answer. Let your heart take you home to the Heaven you never left.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- Matthew 6:10 (AKJV)

© Ananda of Love, 2009

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ananda of Love is an All-Faith minister, author, and teacher of A Course in Miracles. Her Spiritual dedication opened the intuitive healer within her which has inspired the spiritual counselor assisting others to reach for their full potential, this is one of her primary passions. She is also a spiritual channel for beautiful prose and art. She is a natural photographer and graphic designer. She feels that creating is the way to keep her focus on the Love within.

She possesses a variety of skills associated with bringing One to their highest potential. Ananda is always creating, she feels Art is the natural expression to her Life Line with Spirit.

Visit Ananda at:
www.QuantumMiracles.com,
www.CourseinMiraclesForum.com,
www.TheAttunementProject.com.

Write Ananda at: AnandaofLove@aol.com.