The Path of Ascension: Love, Praise, and Gratitude
The concept of "ascension" resonates deeply across spiritual traditions, often evoking images of transcendence, enlightenment, and a return to a higher state of being. But what exactly is ascension, and how do we embark on this significant journey in our daily lives? Far from being a distant, mystical event reserved for a select few, ascension is a process of conscious evolution—a raising of our awareness, vibration, and understanding to align more fully with our inherent divine essence. It's a path illuminated and accelerated by three powerful, interconnected attitudes: love, praise, and gratitude. These are not merely fleeting emotions, but deep states of being that actively transform our inner and outer worlds.
What is Ascension?
At its heart, ascension is fundamentally a shift in consciousness. It's about transcending the limitations, illusions, and lower vibrations of fear, judgment, and separation that often dominate human experience, moving instead into an expansive state of unity, deep peace, and unconditional love. This process doesn't necessarily imply leaving the physical body or abandoning earthly responsibilities; rather, it's about elevating our experience within the physical form, recognizing and embodying our true spiritual identity here and now. It's a journey from the confines of ego perception to the boundless freedom of spiritual awareness.
A Course in Miracles (ACIM) places immense emphasis on the mind's pivotal role in this process, highlighting how our perception directly creates our reality. It teaches that "the world you see is what you gave it, nothing more than that." (ACIM T-21.In.1:1). Ascension, from this perspective, is the systematic undoing of false perceptions and misinterpretations, allowing us to see the world through the eyes of Christ—a vision of perfect love, inherent innocence, and deep unity. This means actively choosing to forgive, to see beyond grievances, and to recognize the shared light within all beings. It's a continuous journey from illusion to truth, from the fragmented egoic mind to the integrated awareness of Spirit.
Similarly, the insightful teachings of the Ascended Master St. Germain, particularly within the "I AM" Discourses, speak of ascension as the ultimate goal of human embodiment—the conscious return to and full embodiment of the "Mighty I AM Presence," our individualized God-Self. This grand achievement is realized through the purification of consciousness, the conscious direction of energy, and the consistent invocation of divine qualities. As St. Germain teaches, "The 'I AM' is the God within you. It is the Source of all Life, all Perfection, all Power, and all Supply." This understanding empowers us to consciously invoke and embody our divine nature, raising our personal vibration through focused attention and practice until we become a living expression of the Light, transcending all limitations.
From a biblical perspective, while the term "ascension" is most notably associated with Jesus' physical ascent into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), this event serves as a powerful symbol and prototype for humanity's spiritual potential. It signifies a complete triumph over worldly limitations, death, and the illusion of separation, representing a full return to the divine realm. This provides both hope and a clear blueprint for our own spiritual elevation. The Bible speaks extensively of significant transformation, the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2), and being "seated with Christ in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 2:6, ESV). These passages can be understood not just as a future promise, but as a present possibility—a state of ascended consciousness that can be cultivated and experienced even while living in the physical world, through our alignment with Christ consciousness.
The Three Ascension Attitudes
The journey of ascension is far from passive; it requires active participation through our attitudes, intentions, and daily choices. Love, praise, and gratitude are not merely fleeting emotions or pleasant sentiments; they are potent vibrational states that actively raise our consciousness, purify our energy fields, and align us ever more deeply with the divine flow of life. They are the keys that unlock higher dimensions of experience.
1. Love: The Foundation of All Being
Love is the very fabric of creation, the omnipresent essence of God, and our own true, immutable nature. Unconditional love, extended without judgment or expectation, possesses an unparalleled power to dissolve fear, heal the illusion of separation, and infinitely expand our awareness. To ascend is to embody this love in every thought, every word, and every deed, recognizing it as the ultimate reality.
A Course in Miracles beautifully articulates this deep connection: "Love is the way I walk in gratitude." (ACIM Workbook Lesson 195). This simple yet significant statement links love directly to the very path of our spiritual journey and the essential attitude of gratitude. When we consciously choose love as our guiding principle, we are choosing to see the Christ in everyone and everything, thus healing our perception, releasing grievances, and automatically raising our vibrational frequency to match the frequency of truth. This means extending forgiveness not just to others, but to ourselves, understanding that all perceived errors stem from a call for love.
The Bible consistently emphasizes love as the supreme virtue, the fulfillment of the law, and the defining characteristic of God. As 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV) declares with timeless wisdom:
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
This comprehensive description of love is not merely an emotion but a holistic way of being—a conscious, active choice to extend compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and unity to all beings, regardless of their outward appearance or actions. The I AM teachings also stress the paramount importance of divine love, stating unequivocally that "Divine Love is the greatest healing and harmonizing power in the Universe." By consciously radiating this all-encompassing love from our hearts, we become powerful conduits for its transformative power, not only for our own personal healing and growth but for the collective upliftment of the world around us.
2. Praise: Recognizing Divine Perfection
Praise is far more than mere commendation; it is the active acknowledgment, celebration, and adoration of the divine presence and inherent perfection in all things, seen and unseen. It's a powerful act of recognition that fundamentally shifts our focus from perceived lack, limitation, or problems to the omnipresent abundance, inherent solutions, and from ego-driven, fear-based perception to Spirit-led, truth-based vision. When we engage in genuine praise, we align ourselves with the highest truth of creation.
The Psalms in the Bible are replete with fervent calls to praise, demonstrating its central role in spiritual practice. Psalm 103:1-2 (ESV) exhorts us with great simplicity:
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Praise, in this context, is an act of blessing God and, by extension, blessing the inherent good, beauty, and perfection we perceive in the world, in others, and even within ourselves. It elevates our spirit, expands our capacity for joy, and opens us to receive even more blessings and divine grace. The I AM teachings powerfully reinforce this, emphasizing that "Praise is a mighty magnet for good." By consciously praising the "Mighty I AM Presence" within ourselves and recognizing it in others, we activate the divine power to manifest perfection, harmony, and abundance in our lives and surroundings. ACIM, while not using the word "praise" in the conventional religious sense, consistently encourages us to "bless" and "honor" truth, to see the holiness in every Son of God and every aspect of creation—which is, in essence, a significant form of spiritual praise that transcends egoic judgment.
3. Gratitude: The Gateway to Abundance
Gratitude is much more than simply saying "thank you"; it's an all-encompassing state of deep appreciation for all that is, acknowledging the ceaseless flow of grace, blessings, and abundance that constantly pours into our lives. It's a recognition that everything serves a higher purpose, even challenges and perceived difficulties, and that we are always, without exception, supported by a loving, benevolent universe.
A Course in Miracles teaches with crystalline clarity that "Gratitude is an aspect of love." (ACIM Workbook Lesson 195). When we are truly grateful, our hearts are open and expanded; we are in a state of love, and therefore, in perfect alignment with our true Self, which is love. Gratitude powerfully shifts our perception from what might be perceived as missing or lacking to the abundant blessings that are already present, thereby opening the floodgates to receive even more. This shift in focus is a powerful act of co-creation.
The Bible consistently encourages a spirit of thanksgiving as a cornerstone of faith and well-being. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) advises with timeless wisdom:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Here, gratitude is presented not just as a polite gesture, but as a dynamic pathway to deep inner peace, a powerful release from anxiety, and an active means of connecting with divine provision and guidance. It transforms our worries into opportunities for trust and connection. The I AM teachings also highlight gratitude's immense transformative power, asserting that "Gratitude is the open door through which the blessings of the Universe pour into your world." By cultivating a constant, heartfelt attitude of gratitude, we create a powerful magnetic field that attracts more of what we appreciate, thereby accelerating our personal and collective ascension journey.
Embracing the Ascension Journey
The path of ascension is not a destination to be reached once, but an ongoing, dynamic journey of conscious choice and continuous evolution. By consistently choosing love over fear, praise over complaint, and gratitude over lack, we steadily raise our vibrational frequency, purify our consciousness, and align ourselves more fully with the divine flow of life. These three attitudes—love, praise, and gratitude—are not separate, isolated practices but intricately interwoven threads that form the rich and vibrant tapestry of an ascended life. They are powerful, divinely given tools that enable us to remember, reclaim, and embody who we truly are—magnificent divine beings capable of boundless love, infinite joy, great wisdom, and eternal peace.
Embrace these transformative attitudes in your daily life, and watch with wonder as your inner and outer worlds transform, beautifully reflecting the higher consciousness you are actively becoming.
