Cleaning the Filters of Perception

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with Chris Netto, RScP, Chris Johnson, RScP, & musician Marsh Brodeur

Video Chapter Index

0:00	Taizé	Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner: To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button: . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:
30:13	Guided Meditation
53:35	Conscious Conversation

Taizé

Call to Awareness – 3 Bells

Chris N – Opening Prayer

Rev. Diana – Welcome…if you’re new with us here this morning, my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director for Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, following the Common Threads of Truth that run through the world’s traditions. Let our time this morning lead you inward to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.

We settle into the flow of Taizé by joining our voices in musical prayer.

Rev. Diana, Chris J, & Marsh – Taizé Chants

Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
Namaste, written by Eric Hansen

Rev. Diana – The Divine within me sees and knows the Divine in you, for we are One…taking a long, slow, deep breath in…and then releasing, feeling our Oneness, sensing our Connection…allowing your body to relax…settling into the deep Peace that is forever available within you…allowing that Peace to move out from you, into the space around you…creating an atmosphere of calm, of stillness, that ripples out forever, and changes everything it touches.

We take a moment now to deepen our sense of connection with the Global Community…see with me now a huge web of life that encircles and infuses the planet…each of us a point of Light in that web, each one connected to all others…every human, shining with God’s Radiant Light…my Light melding into yours…and now acknowledging all of the more-than-human creatures, each one glowing with its own Light…every plant, rock, mineral, and drop of water, sending forth its own glow, sharing in the One Light…all of Creation, all that the eye can see and beyond to what will never be known…

As we feel our Oneness, we breathe in the Peace and Presence of Spirit, we sense the Grace that fills, surrounds, and sustains us right now…knowing that these qualities Guide and Govern all that unfolds.

As one human family, we acknowledge our personal responsibility and our role as caretakers…in Sacred Service to one another…to all life forms…and to the planet that sustains us all. This is our time of Celebration and Communion. In consciously establishing our connection with one another, and with all beings, we empower our work here. Our prayer, meditation, and communion ripple out and touch lives in ways we may never know. Just breathe that in for a moment.

Grounded in our Oneness, we call to mind the theme for October…See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil…and today’s contemplation, Cleaning the Filters of Perception.

Seeing No Evil, Hearing No Evil, and Speaking No Evil…these are choices that we make.

First, See No Evil…in the purely physical sense, we begin our reflections by asking ourselves, “What visual stimulation do I expose myself to? Do I spend time in the beauty of nature? Is my home visually appealing to me? Are the books I read uplifting? Are the movies I watch inspiring? How much time do I spend engaging with the real life that is before me? Do I limit the amount of screen time I expose myself to? Allow your heart to speak to you now in the silence.

(Pause)

For further contemplation, and going deeper, “As I move through my days, what am I expecting to see? Am I looking for what is wrong, or what is right in my life? Do I give my attention to what I perceive as wrong or right in the world? Am I noticing and counting my blessings or cursing my challenges? Looking for silver linings or dark clouds?”

There is a spiritual Truth passed down through the ages, running as a Common Thread of Truth through the world’s great traditions…what I expect to see is what I am likely to experience. What is my default setting? Do I look for the Beauty…the Divine…in the people who cross my path? Allow your heart to speak….

(Pause)

Evil, from a Universalist perspective, is not a force in the world…is not an independent power working against us. Rather, I’ve heard it said that where we call something evil, there are human fingerprints all over it. Evil is simply anything that is not life-giving…anything that does not uplift and inspire us to become the best possible versions of ourselves…anything that creates roadblocks to our happiness, ruffles our Peace of mind…anything that does harm to another…tears down, rather than lifting up.

See No Evil is an invitation to self-reflection and inquiry…to getting real with ourselves, and making adjustments to our thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions, as well as to our environments and habits. It’s an invitation to Look for the Good, no matter the circumstance. It does not come all at once…it is a life-long Practice.

(Pause)
Hear No Evil… we begin again with self-reflection… “What audio stimulation do I expose myself to? Do I spend time listening to the sounds of the birds, or the wind in the trees? Is my home quiet, tranquil? Do I listen to music that is uplifting and inspiring? How much time do I spend engaging in authentic conversation with others? Do I limit the amount of negative news I expose myself to? What is one thing that I can do to improve my capacity to Hear No Evil? Allow your heart to speak….

(Pause)

And following the line of thought from Seeing No Evil, “What am I expecting to hear? Am I expecting people to speak kindly to me? Do I speak kindly to myself? Do I assume highest intent with others, even when their words sound harsh or hurtful?

Do I practice true compassion by asking myself what burdens the one before me may be carrying? Am I listening deeply and without judgement? Or am I forming my reply, even as words are still flowing? Do I pause to reflect on what I think I heard before responding? And do I seek first to hear and understand another, or to be heard?”

The same spiritual Truth applies here…what I expect to hear is what I am likely to perceive. My own beliefs and biases, strengths and weaknesses, opinions and life experiences, serve as filters through which I hear what is being spoken. Again, what is my default setting? And how might I cleanse my filters of perception, so that I hear more clearly? Allow your heart to speak to you now in the silence.

(1 minute of silence)

Musical Meditation – Beauty in You, by Karen Drucker

Silence – one minute, then bell

Chris J – Guided Meditation

Whenever we experience something… whether through sight, sound, or feeling… our minds assign meaning to it… we need to make sense of it… to define it … to understand it… and this happens immediately… so much so that we cannot separate the experience from the meaning we have assigned it…

We see a gorgeous sunset… we hear beautiful music… we feel loved… and this sparks a warm sensation in us… we feel good… or someone speaks angrily to us… we notice a pile of trash by the road… or a loud noise intrudes on our meditation… and we react negatively… we don’t like it… we feel bad…

Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet told his friends, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so…” what happens is just what happens… what is simply is… our experience of it… the meaning we assign to it… is what makes it good or bad… pleasant or disagreeable… beautiful or ugly…

These are the filters of our perception… how we interpret our Life… But what if we could disengage a little… suspend judgment… hold our preferences more loosely… and just let it be?… What if we allow ourselves to not know the meaning of this experience?… Perhaps if we look at it differently, we might see it differently…

Often with hindsight we find the blessing that was hidden in a past unpleasant experience… we see how it helped us grow… or set us free… As we share our three minutes of Sacred Silence this morning, I invite you to contemplate an experience you may have considered negative… past or present… and see if you can detach from it slightly… let the emotion drain away from it… and look for the good that might result from it… with genuine curiosity, ask Spirit to reveal the blessing…

Silence – 3:00

Great Spirit… Divine Mystery… thank you for all of my experiences… for the promise that there is a blessing in each one… that they help me grow in wisdom… love… character… and resilience… May we always look for the good in every situation… with faith that, even if we can’t see it, there is a blessing…

Prayer… meditation… and self-inquiry are powerful tools… They can move us out of reactivity… and into responsiveness… They strengthen our inner witness… that part of our consciousness that observes our experiences… without judgment… and encourages us forward on our spiritual journey…

As Rev. Diana continues our Taizé meditation this morning, we listen with great expectation… knowing that we will be inspired… anticipating a great blessing… knowing that this expectancy Cleans the Filters of our Perception…

Rev. Diana

Last week Sherri spoke of equanimity…maintaining a strong, peaceful, poised presence…as a path to more peaceful living. Seeing no evil and hearing no evil…in other words, expecting to see, hear, and experience the Goodness of life…is another way of maintaining equanimity. Consciously placing our faith in the sweetness of life, the Goodness of humanity, and the Abundance that is forever present, moves us toward a more harmonious existence, both individually and as a global community.

Let’s close in prayer…know this as the Truth for yourself as I know it for all of us…

There is One Presence, One Power, One Infinite Intelligence that is the Source of all life…that is expressing and experiencing Itself as all that is…that is Guiding all that is unfolding by Its Divine Process. As human beings, we have no way of understanding the magnitude, the constancy, or the Intelligence of the One Source. It is a mystery beyond mysteries. What I can do to help build my faith is to bring my awareness to the perfection of nature…to a physical body’s tendency toward healing and Wholeness when nothing gets in its way…to the way an acorn always grows into an oak tree…to the way the trees in a forest communicate with and help one another…to the way a storm ultimately settles into calm…silently, powerfully, almost magically…and without my intervention. Divine Process is forever unfolding in its own Perfect Timing. I can count on this Truth…if something is before me, it is for me…it is for my Good. My job is to ask to be shown how, and to watch and listen.

As I move into my week, I choose to See No Evil and Hear No Evil. I know this means adjusting my expectations…slowing down…really tuning in to what is before me…and counting my blessings. Conscious Gratitude is a powerful Practice.

I count on the Spirit of Love to lead the way…I trust the Spirit of Peace to fill my heart and mind…and I know that the Spirit of Kindness softens my every thought, word, and action.

I Am grateful for my deep faith…grateful for the equanimity that dwells within me… grateful for the constancy of Spirit, for the power of prayer, and for this sacred community in which we grow together.

I give thanks for the countless blessings that shower our lives every day and know that as we open our hearts and minds more and more often to the One, the blessings are multiplied again and again. Feeling absolutely full in this moment, I release this prayer to the Loving and Lawful Presence, knowing that a prayer powerfully spoken and deeply felt, is a prayer answered.

I stand in humble expectation, trusting that everything that follows this moment is answered prayer. I let it be… And so it is. Amen.

Bringing our awareness back into this space, we open our eyes. Take a look at who is here celebrating with you this morning. This is your Spiritual Family…one of your support systems. These are some of the people who care about you, who are there for you if you need anything.

Love Offering

As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do should you choose to do so.

If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org.

We are an independent, self-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.

As we support our Mystic Heart Gathering Place by joining in the sacred Practice of Circulation, help me welcome Marsh to the front to share Oceans.

Marsh – Offertory Music

Oceans, written by Joel Houston, Matt Crocker, &Salomon Lighthelm

Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering

Rev. Diana, Chris J, & Marsh – Taizé Closing Song

A Soul’s Blessing

Conscious Conversation

Chris N –Opening Prayer

Rev. Diana – Good morning and welcome, or welcome back…if you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director for Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, following the Common Threads of Truth that run through the world’s traditions. I pray that this morning you are discovering the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.

Rev. Diana, Chris J, & Marsh – Opening Music

Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
Wholly Holy Way

One way we can serve in a Wholly Holy Way is to join in the Sacred Practice of envisioning a Love-Soaked World.

And so we enter the imaginal realm together…that space of Infinite Potential, where Spirit and matter are working together, turning all things to Good. Go with me now to find yourself in a world where all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom and Generosity…their most Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, on the community, and on the planet…

This is a world without greed…where there is abundance in having enough…where all needs are met gracefully and easily…where nutritious food, clean water and air are readily available to all, no matter where you live, the color of your skin, or which family you’re born into…where warm, comfortable, and affordable housing is a given…where all beings feel a sense of safety, belonging, and contribution…

Ours is a world where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity, honesty, and Wholeness…where all beings work and play at whatever feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…are valued and respected for their inherent Goodness.

Authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcomed, but celebrated. The Peace we cultivate within ourselves shows up as a world free of violence, hatred, or indifference. The Love that we are here to share is given freely to whomever our hearts are called to love. We have moved beyond all lines of separation, and live as one human family, caring for one beautiful planet with the reverence she deserves.

By the Power of our collective intention, imagining, and inspired action, we have undergone an amazing transformation…we are living in a world that works for all beings. Giving no power to appearances, we live according to our highest aspirations…we do not lower our Vision no matter what the world may say. We are at Peace with our families, friends, neighbors, and other nations.

As we Gracefully step into a new story for humanity and the planet, this Community stands as an open and welcoming space for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family…it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Radical Inclusion, and Love.

Giving thanks for the Beauty of our world, and trusting that a prayer powerfully spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered, my Word is acted upon here and now. In full Acceptance and great Joy, and with the deepest humility, I release this Prayer to the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!

Bringing awareness back to the body, to the room, to this beautiful life, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…

Welcome back. Doesn’t that feel good? We just shifted the energy for the entire planet. Our prayer is rippling out into the race consciousness, doing its Good Work. And there’s nothing that anyone can do about it. Isn’t that great? It feels like a loving act of defiance. Kind of sneaky…Isn’t that fun? Look at us go 😊Yes, if you didn’t know…that’s who I am…who I’ve always been. See?

Okay, enough silliness…Today we continue our theme in Conscious Conversation: See No Evil, Hear No Evil. If you were here at Taizé, you’ll remember what we spent time contemplating…thar there is a spiritual Truth that has been passed down through the ages, running as a Common Thread of Truth through the world’s great traditions. It says that what I expect to see and to hear is what I am likely to experience. And we spent time in contemplation of a series of questions. Now I’d like us to bring these questions into Conscious Conversation. Are you ready?

Let’s begin with seeing no evil. This can be really challenging with all that is going on in our world, and maybe even in our personal lives. But we said during Taizé that seeing and hearing no evil is a choice. So let’s begin with the more surface and obvious aspects of seeing no evil. The question was, “What visual stimulation do I expose myself to? Do I spend time in the beauty of nature? Is my home visually appealing to me? Are the books I read uplifting? Are the movies I watch inspiring? How much time do I spend engaging with the real life that is before me? Do I limit the amount of screen time I expose myself to?

What arises for you as you hear these questions?

Okay, let’s go a little deeper.

“As I move through my days, what am I expecting to see? Am I looking for what is wrong, or what is right in my life? Do I give my attention to what I perceive as wrong or right in the world?

Let’s make this even more personal…

Do I tend to count my blessings or curse my challenges? Look for silver linings or dark clouds? What’s your default setting?

Let’s shift now to hearing no evil. Again, we’ll start with the most mundane and obvious.

What audio stimulation do I expose myself to? Do I spend time listening to the sounds of the birds, or the wind in the trees? Is my home quiet, tranquil? Do I listen to music that is uplifting and inspiring?

What about this: How much time do I spend engaging in authentic conversation with others?

Do I limit the amount of negative news I expose myself to?

Let’s follow the line of thought from Seeing No Evil.

What am I expecting to hear? Am I expecting people to speak kindly to me? Do I speak kindly to myself?

Here’s a good one: Do I assume highest intent with others, even when their words sound harsh or hurtful? What does it mean to assume highest intent?

Another good set of questions. Listen to the whole sequence before responding.

How can we cleanse my filters of perception, so that I hear more clearly?

Is there anything else that needs to be spoken right now?

Let’s close in prayer…I’ll share the prayer that came through while I was writing the Taizé, because that’s what Guidance told me to do…it felt Powerful. So feel free to close your eyes and allow the Words to wash over you.

I count on the Spirit of Love to lead the way…I trust the Spirit of Peace to fill my heart and mind…and I know that the Spirit of Kindness softens my every thought, word, and action.

I stand in humble expectation, trusting that everything that follows this moment is answered prayer. I let it be… And so it is. Amen.

I invite you to bring your awareness back to your body, to your senses, to the atmosphere in the room. And when you are ready, open your eyes to re-enter the space. Welcome back.

Love Offering

As we close our time in Conversation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do. If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.

We are an independent, self-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.

We also have a Gracious Giving Program for those who would like to make a heartfelt monthly commitment of support so that we can more effectively plan for our growth.

As we support our Mystic Heart Gathering Place by joining in the sacred Practice of Circulation, we honor the life of Jane Goodall, who made her transition on October 1^st of this year. She was 91 years old.

Offertory Video – Dr. Jane Goodall’s Final Message To The World

https://youtu.be/lfLKHY52ERc

Chris N – Blessing for the Offering

Chris N – Invitations

The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 We are currently reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
This Wednesday, from 11am – 1pm, Chris continues his study of the Bhagavad Gita; The Gita is an on-going drop-in book study.
Fast Track to Wellness meets every Thursday from 11:30 to 1:30 pm.
October 18 from 11am – 1pm, April Jimenez will present Dancing the Medicine Wheel, part three (Fall)…Harvest of the Heart.

Looking Ahead…

Just a reminder…Reservations and deposits for the Spring Retreat are due by October 15^th, this coming Wednesday. Rev. Diana will secure our reservation once all deposits are in.
November 1, there will be a Mystic OAKS trip to McCloud Falls, 9:00am to 3:00ish. More information to come.
This just in…there will be a Gratitude Dinner and State of the Heart Gathering on Friday, November 14^th from 6-8 pm. This is a time for Rev. Diana and Chris to serve the community dinner as a Thank You for all the ways we contribute to the growth and success of Mystic Heart. It is a time to share where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It is also a time for us to share our feedback. There is more information in the new October Bulletin. Please RSVP to Rev. Diana if you plan to attend.

Looking Way Ahead… If Rev. Cat is here, invite her to announce this one.

Cat Cox will be presenting a Dream Workshop on Saturday, December 6^th from 10am – 12:30 pm. Again, there are more details in the Bulletin, and online.

There is more information available in the new October Bulletin. Remember to take one home with you. Or check online at MysticHeart.org.

Information Cards ONLY if new people

Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, in the Practitioner Prayer room or if you like, fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer.

Rev. Diana, Chris J, & Marsh – Closing Song

Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP, & Gary Lynn Floyd

©2025 Mystic Heart Spiritual Center, All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.

Hear No Evil, Law of Expectation, See No Evil, Self-Inquiry, Self-Reflection, Speak No Evil

Sunday Gathering