Just as the lessons of the Spirit come to us again and again, so too do the solutions—offered gently, in countless forms, through different voices, across the ages. The message is timeless: we are not bodies, we are not victims, and we are not bound by the illusions of this world. Whether spoken from a stage in Elizabethan England or whispered in the quiet of your heart today, the Voice for God sings the same refrain: “Love is the way I walk in gratitude” (W-195), and “There is no order of difficulty in miracles” (T-1.I.1:1).
This upcoming series of essays explores how the voice of the Spirit echoes across time and cultures, revealing itself in the works of William Shakespeare and A Course in Miracles alike. Though centuries apart, these two sources seem to weave a single tapestry—a universal curriculum that calls us to forgiveness, love, and the recognition of the world as a dream.
Shakespeare, the bard of Stratford-upon-Avon, told stories of kings and fools, lovers and villains, yet beneath the drama lies a message as old as time: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists” (T-in.2:2-3). Each play offers a glimpse into the dance of ego and Spirit, the temptation of specialness, the cost of guilt, and the promise of redemption.
As A Course in Miracles reminds us, “Time is a trick, a sleight of hand, a vast illusion” (W-158.4:1)—and so it is that Shakespeare’s words remain as relevant now as they were then, for the lessons they convey are eternal. The characters may change, the costumes may differ, but the call to awaken is the same. “The past is over. It can touch me not” (W-289.1:5).
Let us journey together through the following ten plays, uncovering the timeless wisdom they share:
- King Lear – Forgiveness and Defenselessness
- Hamlet – Death Leaves Not Its Source
- Macbeth – The Murderous World of Guilt
- Othello – The Tragedy of Specialness
- The Tempest – Illusion, Control, and Forgiveness
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Dreams and the Nature of Reality
- The Merchant of Venice – Mercy and Justice
- As You Like It – Transformation and Inner Peace
- Twelfth Night – Identity and Perception
- Pericles – Redemption and Divine Providence
In each essay, we will uncover how these classic works mirror the call of the Spirit: to see the world anew, to relinquish fear, and to embrace the eternal now. The message is unchanged, the invitation ever-present: “You are as God created you” (W-93.7:1).
Will you accept the call to remember? For more information or to be certain you do not miss any part of this exciting series, send me a direct message or email me at robert@dinojamesbooks.com.