(Check against PDF and verify accuracy of this transcription.)

These messages span from 1965 to 1978. Some were dictated during the main Course scribing period (1965–1972). Others came after the Course had been completed and published.

Special Messages Inventory (Urtext Collection)

Early Dictation Period (1965–1968)

• SM-1 — October 1965 (approx.)
• Early dictation removed from the Urtext manuscript pages 62–67.
• Partly preserved in later ACIM Text editions.
• Category: Course-related material.
• SM-2 — November 15, 1965
• Personal aside associated with the early dictation notes.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-3 — November 1965
• Removed manuscript pages 88–95.
• Material largely preserved later in the ACIM Text.
• Category: Course-related material.
• SM-4 — November 16, 1965
• Message directed to William Thetford (directly to WT).
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-5 — December 1, 1965
• WT Special Note for HS.
• Category: Personal message to Helen.
• SM-6 — December 14, 1965
• Specific Guidance.
• Instruction about what should or should not be included in the Course notes.
• Category: Editorial guidance regarding the Course.
• SM-7 — September 13–14, 1966
• No escape from Salvation.
• Dictated within the Course manuscript but removed from later editions.
• Category: Course-related teaching.
• SM-8 — September 16, 1966
• Personal message for William Thetford.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-9 — November 15, 1966
• Personal note addressed to Helen.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-10 — December 30, 1966
• Special Message on Empathy.
• Later incorporated into the beginning of Chapter 16 in the Course.
• Category: Course teaching.
• SM-11 — May 31, 1967
• Inserted into Chapter 18 of the HLC manuscript.
• Category: Course-related teaching.
• SM-12 — March 11, 1968
• The Branch in the Road.
• Appears in later ACIM editions as part of the Text.
• Category: Course teaching.
• SM-13 — June 19, 1968
• As you see him you will see yourself.
• A restatement of the Course theme of projection and judgment.
• Category: Course teaching.

Post-Course Dictation Period (After Course Completion)

These messages occur after the main Course dictation ended and therefore function more like guidance or commentary.

• SM-14 — October 5, 1975
• Message discussing future developments and guidance to the early ACIM group.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-15 — December 15, 1975
• Impending Changes.
• Discussion about events related to ACIM publication.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-16 — December 31, 1975
• New Year message discussing guidance and listening to the Voice.
• Category: Personal encouragement.
• SM-17 — April 10, 1976
• A stunning end to all your trials.
• Encouragement regarding personal struggles.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-18 — July 17, 1976
• The Powers of Darkness.
• Addresses Helen’s perception of difficulties and fear.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-19 — October 2, 1976
• Was there a Physical Resurrection?
• Discussion of the resurrection question.
• Category: Theological reflection.
• SM-20 — March 20, 1977
• You have denied the love of your life.
• Category: Personal message.
• SM-21 — April 6, 1977
• Easter Encouragement.
• Category: Personal encouragement.
• SM-22 — January 1, 1978
• The Stillborn Child.
• Likely referring symbolically to the Course’s mission or dissemination.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-23 — January 7, 1978
• You have been given charge of one way to God.
• Category: Personal mission guidance.
• SM-24 — January 14, 1978
• Further Reassurance.
• Category: Personal encouragement.
• SM-25 — January 25, 1978
• Leave this in my hands.
• Category: Personal guidance.
• SM-26 — February 24, 1978
• The Foundation has a limited function.
• Discussion of the Foundation for Inner Peace.
• Category: Organizational guidance.
• SM-27 — March 12, 1978
• Jerry’s Medicine.
• Last dated message before Helen’s illness.
• Category: Personal guidance.

Additional Non-Typed or Special Items

• SM-28 — Stranger on the Road (undated poem)
• A poem written by Helen Schucman, not dictated material.
• Category: Personal creative work.
• SM-29 — July 22, 1978
• Handwritten reassurance message about fear and trust.
• SM-30 — Undated handwritten message
• Practical notes regarding phone calls and legal matters.
• SM-31 — Undated handwritten message
• Reflection on love and fear.
• SM-32 — Undated handwritten message
• Instruction to pray for someone and release resentment.
• SM-33 — Undated handwritten message
• Discussion of anxiety and medication (Librium).
• SM-33b — July 31, 1978
• Further message about medication and sleep.
• SM-34 — Undated handwritten message
• Fragment regarding trust and judgment.
• SM-35 — Undated handwritten message
• Message about forgiveness bringing peace.
• SM-36 — Undated handwritten message
• Message about anger and healing.
• SM-37 — Undated handwritten message
• Handwritten poem/prayer.
• SM-37b — Fragmentary poem
• Partially illegible handwritten spiritual poem.

Category Index (as currently tagged)

Course Proper

SM-1, SM-3, SM-7, SM-10, SM-11, SM-12, SM-13

Editorial Guidance About the Course

SM-6

Personal Guidance to Helen and Bill

SM-2, SM-4, SM-5, SM-8, SM-9, SM-14–SM-27, SM-29–SM-36

Poetic / Devotional Material

SM-28, SM-37, SM-37b

Special Messages (Transcription)

This section was also inserted here because it deals with a more fundamental misuse of knowledge, referred to in the Bible as the cause of the Fall (or Separation). There are several introductory remarks which are intended to make those explanations less fear-provoking.

The first is a couplet which I drew to your attention during the fragments of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which you heard last night:

Be as thou wast wont to be

See as thou wast wont to see.

It is noteworthy that these words were said by Oberon in releasing Titania from her own errors, both of being and perceiving. These were the words which re-established her true identity as well as her true abilities and judgment. The similarity here is obvious.

There are also some definitions, which I asked you to take from the dictionary, which will also be helpful. The somewhat unusual nature of it is due to the fact that they are not first definitions in their chronological appearance. Nevertheless, the fact that each of them appear in the dictionary should be reassuring.

• Project (verb): to extend forward or out.
• Project (noun): a plan in the mind.
• World (noun): a natural grand division. (Note that you originally wrote “word” instead.)

We will refer later to projection as related to both mental illness and mental health. It will also be commented on that Love literally projects healing from itself to others. Ken has observed that man can create an empty hell, but cannot create nothing at all.

This emptiness provides the screen for the misuse of projection.

The Garden of Eden, which is described as a literal garden in the Bible, was not originally an actual garden at all. It was merely a mental state of complete need-lack. Even in the literal account, it is noteworthy that the pre-Separation state was essentially one in which man needed nothing.

The Tree of Knowledge, again an overly-literal concept (as is clearly shown by the subsequent reference to “eating of the fruit of the tree”), is a symbolic reference to some of the misuse of knowledge referred to in the section immediately preceding this one. There is, however, considerable clarification of this concept, which must be understood before the real meaning of “detour into fear” can be fully comprehended.

Projection, as defined above (this refers to the verb), is a fundamental attribute of God, which He also gave to His Son. In the Creation, God projected His creative ability out of Himself toward the Souls He created, and also imbued them with the same loving wish (or will) to create.

We have commented before on the fundamental error involved in confusing what has been created with what is being created. We have also emphasized that man, insofar as the term relates to Soul, has not only been fully created, but also been created perfect. There is no emptiness in him.

The next point, too, has already been made, but bears repetition here. The Soul, because of its own likeness to its Creator, is creative. No Child of God is capable of losing this ability, because it is inherent in his being.

Whenever projection in its inappropriate sense is utilized, it always implies that some emptiness (or lack of everything) must exist, and that it is within man’s ability to put his own ideas there instead of the truth.

The first assumption is implicit that what God has created can be changed by the mind of man. The second concept is that what is perfect can be rendered imperfect (or wanting). The third belief is that man can distort the Creations of God (including himself), and that this has arisen and is tolerated. The fourth is that since man can create himself, the direction of his own creation is up to him.

These are related distortions which represent a picture of what actually occurred in the Separation. None of this existed before, nor does it actually exist now. The world, as defined above, WAS made as a natural grand division, or projecting outward of God. That is why everything which He created is like Him.

It should be noted that the opposite of projecting is conjoining, a term which refers to a state of uncertainty or guesswork. Other errors arise in connection with auxiliary defenses, to be considered later.

For example:

• Dejection, which is obviously mislocated with depression.
• Injection, which can be misinterpreted readily enough in terms of possession fallacies (particularly penetration).
• Rejection, which is clearly associated with denial.

It should be noted also that rejection can be used as refusing, a term which necessarily involves a perception of what is refused as something unworthy. Projection as undertaken by God was very similar to the kind of inner radiance which the Children of the Father inherit from Him. It is important to note that the term "project outward" necessarily implies that the real nature of projection is internal.

This is as true of the Son as of the Father. The world, in its original connotation, included both the proper creation of man by God, and the proper creation by man in his Right Mind. The latter required the endowment of man by God with free will, because all loving creation is freely given. Nothing in either of these statements implies any sort of level involvement, or, in fact, anything except one continuous line of creation, in which all aspects are of the same order.

When the "lies of the serpent" were introduced, they were specifically called lies because they are not true. When man listened, all he heard was untruth. He does not have to continue to believe what is not true, unless he chooses to do so. All of his miscreations can disappear in the well-known "twinkling of an eye," because it is a visual misperception.

Man's spiritual eye can sleep, but a will shortly appear in the notes (reference Bob, elevator operator, a sleeping eye can still see). One translation of the Fall, a view emphasized by Mary Baker Eddy and worthy of note, is that a deep sleep fell upon Adam. While the Bible continues to associate this sleep as a kind of anesthetic utilized for projection of Adam during the creation of Eve, Mrs. Eddy was correct in emphasizing that nowhere is there any reference made to his waking up. While Christian Science is clearly incomplete, this point is much in its favor. The history of man in the world as he saw it has not been characterized by any genuine or comprehensive re-awakening, or re-birth.

This is impossible as long as man projects in the spirit of miscreation. It is still remaining within him to project as God projected His own Spirit to him. In reality, this is his only choice, because his free will was made for his joy in creating the perfect.

All fear is ultimately reducible to the basic misperception of man's ability to usurp the power of God. It is again emphasized that he neither CAN nor HAS been able to do this. In this statement lies the real justification for his escape from fear. This is brought about by his acceptance of the Atonement, which places him in a position to realize that his own errors never really occurred.

When the deep sleep fell upon Adam, he was then in a condition to experience nightmares, precisely because he was asleep. If a light is suddenly turned on while someone is dreaming, and the content of his dream is fearful, he is initially likely to interpret the light itself as part of the content of his own dream. However, as soon as he awakens, the light is correctly perceived as the release from the dream, which is no longer accorded reality.

I would like to conclude this with the biblical injunction "Go ye and do likewise." It is quite apparent that this depends on the kind of knowledge which was NOT referred to by the Tree of Knowledge, which bore lies as fruit. The knowledge that illuminates rather than obscures is the knowledge which not only makes you free, but also shows you clearly that you ARE free.

The preceding sections were inserted because of the necessity of distinguishing between real and false knowledge.

Having made this distinction, it is well to return to the errors already listed a while back. It might be well to recapitulate them here.

• The first involved the fallacy that only the physical is real.
• The second involved things rather than people.
• The third involved the endowment of the physical with nonphysical properties.
• The fourth displaced the misuse of knowledge.

All of them were abandoned under possession fallacies. The denial mechanism for these has already been set forth in some detail, and will also continue after the following.

Note by HS (November 15, 1965)

(Note made on 11/15 by HS re B’s remark concerning top of p.5, 11/13.)

Yes, but I doubt if it says this is inevitable.

It may entail more mis-will than we think.

The above may have been too passively interpreted.

Note that B. did NOT ask my will re same.

If he had, HS would have felt better.

Part III (Healing / Atonement)

The new emphasis will now be on healing. The miracle is the means, the Atonement the principle, and the healing the result. Those who speak of the "miracle OF healing" are combining two orders of reality inappropriately. Healing is NOT a miracle. The Atonement, or the final miracle, is a REMEDY. It is purely a means, while any type of healing is a result. The order of error to which Atonement is applied is irrelevant.

Essentially, ALL healing is the release from fear. But to understand this you cannot be fearful yourself. You do not understand healing because of your own fear. I have been hinting throughout (and once stated very directly, because you were unafraid at the time) that you MUST heal others. The reason is that their healing merely attests to yours.

A major step in the Atonement plan is to undo error at ALL levels. Illness, which is really "not-right-mindedness," is the result of level confusion in the sense that it always entails the belief that what is amiss on one level can adversely affect another. We have constantly referred to miracles as the means of correcting level confusion. In reality, all mistakes must be corrected at the level at which they occur. Only the mind is capable of error. The body can act erroneously, but this is only because it has responded to mis-thought. The body cannot create, and the belief that it can, a fundamental error responsible for most of the fallacies already referred to, produce all physical symptoms. That the mind, which is the only level of creation, cannot create beyond itself, then neither confusion need occur.

The reason why only the mind can create is more obvious than may be immediately apparent. The Soul has been created. The body is a learning device FOR the mind.

Learning devices are not lessons in themselves. Their purpose is merely to facilitate the thinking of the learner. The most that a faulty use of a learning device can do is to fail to facilitate. It does not have the power in itself to introduce actual learning errors.

The body, if properly understood, shares the invulnerability of the Atonement to two-edged application. This is not because the body is a miracle, but because it is not inherently open to misinterpretation. The body is merely a fact. Its abilities can, and frequently are, overvalued. However, it is almost impossible to deny its existence.

Those who do are engaging in a particularly unworthy form of denial. (The use of the word "unworthy" here implies simply that it is not necessary to protect the mind by denying the unreal.) There is little doubt that the mind can miscreate. If one denies this unfortunate aspect of its power, one is also denying the power itself.

All material means which man accepts as remedies for bodily ills are simply restatements of magic principles. It was the first level of the error to believe that the body created its own illness. Thereafter, it is a second mis-step to attempt to heal it through non-creative agents. It does not follow, however, that the illness has not served as a corrective device or is evil. Sometimes the illness has sufficiently great a hold over an individual's mind to render him inaccessible to Atonement. In this case, one may be wise to utilize a compromise approach to mind and body, in which something from the outside is temporarily given healing belief.

This is because the last thing that can help the non-right-minded (or sick) is an increase in fear. They are already in a fear-weakened state. If they are inappropriately exposed to a straight and undiluted miracle, they may be precipitated into panic. This is particularly likely to occur when undue perception has induced the belief that miracles are frightening.

The value of the Atonement does not lie in the manner in which it is expressed. In fact, if it is not truly used it will inevitably be expressed in whatever way is most helpful to the receiver, not the giver. This means that a miracle, to attain its full efficacy, must be expressed in language which the receiver can understand without fear. It does not follow that this is the highest level of communication of which he is capable. But it DOES mean that it is the highest level of communication of which he is capable NOW.

The whole aim of the miracle is to RAISE the level of communication, not to impose regression (as inappropriately used) upon it. Before it is safe to let miracle workers loose in this world, it is essential that they understand fully the fear of release. Otherwise, they may unwittingly foster the misbelief that release is imprisonment, which is very prevalent. This misperception arises from the attempted protection device (or misdefense) that harm can be limited to the body. This was because of the much greater fear (which this one counteracts) that the mind can hurt itself. Neither error is really meaningful, because the miscreations of the mind do not really exist. That recognition is a far better protection device than any form of level confusion, because of the advantages of introducing correction at the level of the error.

It is essential that the remembrance of the fact that ONLY mind can create at all remain with you. Implicit in this is the corollary that correction belongs at the thought level, and NOT at either level to which creation is inapplicable. To repeat an earlier statement, and also to extend it somewhat, the Soul is already perfect, and therefore does not require correction. The body does not really exist, except as a learning device for the mind. This learning device is not subject to error of its own, because it was created, but is NOT creating. It should be obvious, then, that correcting the creator (or inducing it to give up miscreation) is the only application of correction which is inherently meaningful at all.

We said before that magic is essentially mindless, or the destructive (miscreated) use of mind. Physical medicines are a form of spells. In one way, they are more benign, in that they do not entail the possession fallacy which they impose when a mind believes that it can possess another. Since this is considerably less dangerous, though still incorrect, it has its advantages. It is particularly helpful to the therapist who really wants to heal, but is still fearful himself. By using physical means to help, he is not engaging in any form of enslavement, even though he is not applying the Atonement. This means that his mind is dulled by fear, but is not actively engaged in distortion.

Those who are afraid of using the mind to heal are right in avoiding it, because the very fact that they are afraid HAS made them vulnerable to miscreation. They are therefore likely to misunderstand any healing they might induce. And because egocentricity and fear usually occur together, they may be unable to accept the real source of the healing. Under these conditions, it is safer for them to rely temporarily on physical healing devices, because they cannot misperceive them as their own creations. As long as their vulnerability persists, it is essential to preserve them from even attempting miracles.

We said in a previous section that the miracle is an expression of miracle-mindedness. Miracle-mindedness means Right-Mindedness in the sense that we are using it. Right-Mindedness neither exalts nor depreciates the mind of the miracle worker nor of the miracle receiver. However, as a creative act, the miracle need not await the right-mindedness of the receiver. In fact, its purpose is to restore him TO the right-mindedness of mind. But it is essential that the miracle worker be in his Right Mind, or he will be unable to establish miracle-mindedness in someone else.

The healer who relies on his own readiness is endangering his understanding. He is perfectly safe as long as he is completely unconcerned about HIS readiness, but maintains a constant trust in MINE. Errors of this kind produce some very erratic behavior, which usually point up an underlying unwillingness to cooperate. Note that by inserting the carbon between yourselves, B. created a situation in which two copies did not exist. This reflected two levels of confidence lacking. One in my readiness to heal, and the other in his unwillingness to give. These errors inevitably introduce inefficiency into the miracle worker's behavior and temporarily disrupt his miracle-mindedness.

We might also make very similar comments about your own hesitation about dictation at all. This is a larger error only because it results in greater inefficiency. If you don't use anything, nobody can use it, including Me. We have established that for all corrective processes, the first step is know that fear has entered. Unless fear has entered, the corrective procedure would never have become necessary. If your miracle working is not working, it is always because fear has intruded on your Right-Mindedness, and has literally upset it.

All forms of not-right-mindedness are the result of refusal to accept the Atonement FOR YOURSELF. If the miracle worker DOES accept it, he places himself in the position to recognize that those who need to be healed are simply those who have not done so. The reason why you felt the vast radiation range of your own inner illumination was because you were aware that your Right-Mindedness IS healing.

The sole responsibility of the miracle worker is to accept Atonement himself. This means that he knows that the mind is the only creative level, and that its errors ARE healed by the Atonement. Once he accepts this, his mind can only heal. By denying his mind any destructive potential, and reinstating its purely constructive powers, he has placed himself in a position where he can undo the level confusion of others. The message which he then gives to others is the truth that THEIR minds are really similarly constructive, and that their own miscreations cannot hurt them.

By affirming this, the miracle worker releases another's mind from overvaluation of its own learning device (the body), and restores the mind to its true position as the learner. It should also be emphasized that the body does not learn anymore than it creates. As a learning device, it merely follows the laws of learning. But if it is falsely endowed with self initiative, it becomes a serious obstruction to the learning it should facilitate.

ONLY the mind is capable of illumination. The Soul is already illuminated, and the body in itself too dense to perceive. The mind, however, can bring its own illumination to the body by recognizing that density is the opposite of intelligence, and therefore unamenable to independent learning. It is, however, easily brought into alignment with a mind that has learned to look beyond weight.

Corrective learning always begins with awakening the spiritual eye, and turning away from belief in physical sight. The reason this entails fear is because man is afraid of what spiritual eye will see, which was why he closed it in the first place. We said before that the spiritual eye cannot see error, and is capable only of looking beyond it to the defense of Atonement.

There is no doubt that the spiritual eye does produce extreme discomfort by what it sees. The thing that man forgets is that the discomfort is not the final outcome of its perception. When the spiritual eye is permitted to look upon the defilement of the altar, it also looks immediately toward Atonement. Nothing which the spiritual eye perceives can induce fear. Everything that results from accurate spiritual awareness merely is channeled toward correction. Discomfort around you now bring the need to correct forcibly into awareness.

What the physical eye sees is not corrective, nor can it be corrected by a device which can be physically seen. As long as a man believes in what his physical sight tells him, all his corrective behavior will be misdirected. The reason you find vision so fearful is because you cannot endure to see his own defiled altar. But since the altar has been defiled, this fact becomes doubly dangerous unless it is perceived. This perception is totally non-threatening because of the Atonement.

The fear of healing arises from an unwillingness to accept the unequivocal fact that healing is necessary. The fear arises because of the necessary willingness to look at what man has done to himself. Healing was an ability which is lent to man after the separation, before which it was completely unnecessary. Like all aspects of the space-time belief, healing ability is temporary. However, as long as time persists, healing remains among the stronger human protections.

Special Messages (Directly to WT)

Special Message — November 16, 1965 (directly to WT)

I would like to pray that my will be united with thine, recognizing that thy perfect love will suffice (or correct) for my imperfect love. I pray that I may accept the Atonement with conviction, recognizing its inevitable worth, and my own divine worth as part of this identification with thee. I pray that my fear be replaced by an active sense of thy love, and thy continual willingness to help me overcome the split, or divided will, which is responsible for my difficulty with this. I accept the divinity of the messages we have received, and affirm my will in both accepting and acting upon the Atonement principle.

Here I am, Lord.

The major problem that both of you have is the continuing split will, which naturally interferes with your true identification. To the extent that you hold onto this split, it will take longer to get through and will markedly interfere with your own integration efforts. Reliance has to be placed on Me, which is sufficient once you do this without distillation or division in loyalties. This will be strengthened through a continual affirmation of the goal you both want to achieve, and an awareness of its inevitability. In this way, you will both perceive and know your true worth, and the importance of maintaining a COMPLETE identification.

PDF Page 18 — November 16, 1965 (variant transcription)

I would like to pray that my will be united with thine, recognizing that thy perfect love will suffice or correct for my imperfect love. I pray that I may accept the Atonement with conviction, recognizing its inestimable worth, and my own divine worth as part of this identification with thee. I pray that my fear be replaced by an active sense of thy love, and thy continual willingness to help me overcome the split, or divided will, which is responsible for my difficulty with this. I accept the divinity of the messages we have received, and affirm my will in both accepting and acting upon the Atonement principle.

Here I am.

The major problem that both of you have is the continuing split will, which naturally interferes with your true identification. To the extent that you hold onto this split, it will take longer to get through and will markedly interfere with your own integration efforts. Reliance has to be placed on Me, which is sufficient once you do this without distillation or division in loyalties. This will be strengthened through a continual affirmation of the goal you both want to achieve, and an awareness of its inevitability. In this way you will both perceive and know your true worth, and the importance of maintaining a COMPLETE identification.

SM-5 — December 1, 1965 — WT Special Note for HS

The dominance-submission problem is related to the perception of helping others VERSUS helping the self. This is a misperception resulting from the failure to recognize the equal worth of both individuals in the interaction. There can be no confusion on this point, and no strain, if this confusion is not introduced (through misperception, naturally).

Such confusion may be experienced partly by HS at times when WT is trying to help her. She is likely to feel that this puts her in a subordinate position, since there is no reason she should be the therapist. Obviously, there is no problem once it is recognized that the equal worth of each person precludes this misperception, since BOTH gain in such a transaction. It is impossible for anybody to ever lose anything when this is fully recognized. This is what recognizing your brother is all about.

SM-6 — December 14, 1965 — Special Message

Nothing that relates to a SPECIFIC Relationship belongs in the notes. But you HAVE been told that if you ask the Holy Spirit for SPECIFIC guidance in a SPECIFIC situation, He will give it to you very specifically. When you and B. are ready to ask Him TOGETHER what you can do for M., He will tell you, if you make no attempt to give this answer for Him. Prejudge His answer not, for if you do, you will NOT hear it.

But be sure of this: The Holy Spirit will NEVER teach you to disrupt communication, but He will try to make it NATURAL if it is not. He is unhappy and afraid, because he thinks communication through the body can be sought and found. It is no harder for the Holy Spirit to teach him that communication is of the mind, and not the body, than it is for him to teach it to you. The Holy Spirit will have no difficulty, and much joy, if you allow Him to teach M. this THROUGH you. But be sure that you are willing to learn it WITH him, or you will INEVITABLY interfere with what the Holy Spirit would have him learn with you.

Special Message — January 4, 1966

The way to learn to know your brother is by recognizing the truth about yourself. This does not mean that you should seek to look within and then judge what you see. That would be an ego evaluation, and therefore meaningless. The truth about yourself is not something you can evaluate. It is something you must experience.

This experience comes through the recognition of truth in others, which is the recognition of truth in yourself. When you see your brother as he truly is, you will know yourself as you truly are. This is because the truth is one, and what is true of one must be true of all.

Special Message — January 11, 1966

You have been told that miracles are expressions of love. But the miracle itself is only the result of the miracle-mindedness that produced it. Miracle-mindedness is simply the willingness to see your brother without judgment. Judgment is the function of the ego, and it always leads to fear. When you judge your brother, you are actually judging yourself, because you are identifying with the ego that judges. When you refuse to judge, you are affirming the truth about yourself and about your brother. This is the beginning of miracle-mindedness.

Special Message — January 20, 1966

You have asked how you can be sure that the guidance you receive is from Me. The answer is simple. My guidance is always loving, and it never produces fear. If you feel fear, it is because you are listening to the ego instead of to Me. The ego's voice is always a voice of judgment, because judgment is its primary weapon. My voice is the voice of love and reassurance. It does not condemn. It corrects. It does not accuse. It heals.

If you are uncertain which voice you are hearing, ask yourself whether the message brings peace or conflict. Peace comes from Me. Conflict comes from the ego.

Special Message — January 25, 1966

The purpose of this course is to train your mind to think in a completely different way. The ego teaches that you must protect yourself against others. The Holy Spirit teaches that you are one with them. The ego believes in separation. The Holy Spirit knows that separation is impossible.

Every miracle is therefore a correction of the belief in separation. This is why miracles are expressions of love. Love recognizes no barriers. Love does not divide. Love simply extends itself.

Special Message — February 1, 1966

Do not be concerned about your readiness. Your readiness is not the important factor. What is important is your willingness. If you are willing to learn, you will learn. If you are willing to listen, you will hear. If you are willing to accept the Atonement, you will recognize that it has already been accomplished.

The ego always tries to convince you that you are not ready. This is because readiness implies acceptance, and acceptance means the end of the ego.

Special Message — February 10, 1966

You must remember that the Holy Spirit speaks to you in many ways. He may speak through a thought. He may speak through another person. He may speak through a sudden sense of certainty. But however He speaks, His message will always be the same. It will always lead you toward love, forgiveness, and peace. Anything that leads you toward fear, guilt, or separation does not come from Him.

Special Message — February 18, 1966

Forgiveness is the key to the entire Atonement. Without forgiveness you remain trapped in the ego's system of judgment. Forgiveness does not mean that you overlook what seems to have happened. It means that you recognize that what seemed to happen has no real effect on the truth. Truth cannot be harmed. Truth cannot be threatened. Truth simply is. When you forgive, you are acknowledging that the truth about your brother has never changed.

Special Message — March 3, 1966

Your function in the world is to heal. This does not necessarily mean that you must perform dramatic miracles. Healing occurs whenever you help someone remember the truth about himself. Sometimes this may take the form of words. Sometimes it may take the form of silence. Sometimes it may take the form of simple presence. But whatever form it takes, the purpose is always the same: to remind the mind that it is not separate from God.

Special Message — March 15, 1966

You have often wondered why the ego seems so powerful. The answer is that you have given it the power it appears to have. The ego has no power of its own. It exists only because you believe in it. The moment you withdraw your belief from it, it disappears. This is why the Atonement is so simple. It does not require you to fight the ego. It requires only that you stop believing in it.

Special Message — March 28, 1966

The Holy Spirit does not demand sacrifice. Sacrifice is an ego concept. The ego believes that in order to gain something you must lose something else. The Holy Spirit knows that this is impossible. In truth, nothing real can be lost. What the ego calls sacrifice is simply the release of illusions. And when illusions are released, what remains is the joy of truth.

Special Messages (Handwritten / Fragmentary Items)

SM-29 — July 22, 1978

• Source notes: p.55 UR_F 59

There is no cause for fear. Make no decisions now. There is a plan for the future which is not what you expect. God knows what it is, and you do not. Do not try to figure it out.

You are not in danger. You are not responsible. God is responsible for Ken and Judy. The Kingdom is perfectly united and perfectly protected and the ego will not prevail over it. Trust is your lesson. God IS with you.

She will not get the house. It would be a mistake.

SM-30 — Undated

• Source notes: p.56a UR_F 60

You can call Red (Rod?) but he cannot help.

You can call Armstrong but he cannot help.

You should call him to tell him what’s happening, but the problem is not there.

The Suit does not matter.

435-4130

11-1 Calif.

Leave 6:30 Calif. Time

SM-31 — Undated

• Source notes: p.56b UR_F 60

There is no fear in perfect love.

In hate there is only fear.

Do not be deceived by the idea of neutrality.

“Vengeance is mine,” sayeth the ego, and death is its strongest weapon.

SM-32 — Undated

• Source notes: p.57a UR_F 61

Pray for him and do not be concerned with what you think he has done to you.

He is fine and so are you.

Be at peace with this.

11-2 gone

SM-33 — Undated

• Source notes: p.57b UR_F 61

This is a Librium effect, but only partly. You may not be able to cut out the Librium without too great anxiety, but you will come to realize that it is increasing rather with increasing comes anxiety. Do not make a radical change now. You are not ready. But consider the need to do so, which may be all you can do at the moment.

SM-33b — July 31, 1978

• Source notes: p.58a UR_F 62

Do not be concerned. There is no cause for alarm in whatever you do. Librium will not harm you and sec. has no effect. There is one point, however, to remember. What you think will hurt you will. What you think will not hurt you won't. Be still and know that I am God, and you will not fail to sleep.

SM-34 — Undated (partially illegible)

• Source notes: p.58b UR_F 62

There is no help in your attitude???

The exam was adequate but teaching ?????.

It is a matter of trust to let it go, because/become comfort?? to subj??.

Therefore you will not like the guesses because you do not trust them.

You are not ready to have them made up.

9-11

12-1

SM-35 — Undated

• Source notes: p.59a UR_F 63

It is for him.

He will sleep like a baby because of your forgiveness.

He does not need anything else.

I guarantee his sleep.

A pill cannot.

SM-36 — Undated

• Source notes: p.59b UR_F 63

Anger burns and rage is murderous. No wonder you are afraid. This is the cause. But Jonathan can help with the palliative, which you do need under the circumstances. There is no need to see a doctor. You will be healed. Do nothing but keep it clean with mineral oil and use the desatin.

SM-37 — Undated

• Source notes: p.60 UR_F 64

I am the least and yet the greatest.

I who walk with you have Heaven’s might with me.

I go in glory.

For you walk with me.

Deliver me into Our Father’s arms.

SM-37b — Undated (partially illegible)

• Source notes: p.61 UR_F 65

?? ?? my lord, ?????

I seek my Father’s Everlasting Arms

which I alone can never hope to find

For I am frail in seeking and in love.

There will be one who holds a halting hand

before me on my lonely journeying

who will forever bar the way to me.

and I will faint in an illusion’s hold

But come/bring you with me and I cannot fail

to find my Father’s house.

As we approach the holy gate illusions shudder back

Illusions shudder from the light we bring

and angels come to offer us/me their wings.

Editorial Notes (PDF)

At this point the remaining pages of the document are editorial notes explaining the origin and organization of the Special Messages material rather than dictated messages themselves.

These notes describe:

• The thirty-seven total “Special Messages” documents identified in the archive.
• Their dates (1965–1978).
• Which ones were later inserted into the ACIM Text in the HLC and FIP editions.
• Which ones were personal guidance to Helen or Bill.
• Which ones were post-Course messages after publication.

These editorial notes begin around page 70 of the PDF.

Cameo Dictation Corpus (Editorial Map)

Cameo 1

Date: Oct 1965 (early dictation period)

Source: Helen’s shorthand notebooks → Urtext

Content: Guidance about Bill’s difficulty accepting Jesus’ direction and the need to relinquish control and ask for guidance.

Cameo 2

Date: Oct 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Discussion of the “chain of miracles” formed when people help one another follow guidance.

Cameo 3

Date: Nov 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation that inconsistent spiritual progress comes from alternating between ego perception and miracle perception.

Cameo 4

Date: Nov 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Instruction that Jesus always remains willing to guide again regardless of past resistance.

Cameo 5

Date: late 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Teaching about loving someone steadily regardless of behavior as the way miracles are extended.

Cameo 6

Date: late 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Guidance about Helen’s fear of the Voice and reassurance that the dictation process is safe.

Cameo 7

Date: late 1965

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation of why the early Course terminology was sometimes unclear.

Cameo 8

Date: early 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Commentary on Helen’s role as an “unwilling scribe.”

Cameo 9

Date: early 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation that the ego interfered with Helen’s openness during early dictation but did not invalidate the teaching.

Cameo 10

Date: early 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Clarification that the truth of the Course came through despite the scribe’s resistance.

Cameo 11

Date: early 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Instruction on listening carefully for inner guidance.

Cameo 12

Date: early 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Discussion of the difference between ego motivation and miracle motivation.

Cameo 13

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Teaching on extending love even when another person appears hostile.

Cameo 14

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Application of forgiveness principles within personal relationships.

Cameo 15

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Instruction on how miracle workers support each other.

Cameo 16

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Discussion of Helen’s struggle with accepting her role in the Course.

Cameo 17

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Guidance about humility and willingness in the spiritual path.

Cameo 18

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation that fear blocks hearing guidance.

Cameo 19

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Commentary about the uneven quality of early dictation due to the scribe’s resistance.

Cameo 20

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Assurance that Jesus continually offers guidance regardless of resistance.

Cameo 21

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Instruction about trusting inner direction rather than personal judgment.

Cameo 22

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Discussion of miracle-minded perception.

Cameo 23

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation of spiritual collaboration between students.

Cameo 24

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Teaching about extending love consistently.

Cameo 25

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Guidance about spiritual persistence.

Cameo 26

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Application of forgiveness in daily life.

Cameo 27

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Instruction on recognizing ego interference.

Cameo 28

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Clarification of miracle perception.

Cameo 29

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Teaching on openness to guidance.

Cameo 30

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Encouragement to trust the process of spiritual learning.

Cameo 31

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Explanation of Jesus’ ongoing role as teacher.

Cameo 32

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Reflection on miracle relationships.

Cameo 33

Date: 1966

Source: Notes → Urtext

Content: Closing teaching about extending miracles through love.