Marianne Williamson’s “Return to Love” Platform.

I’m re-reading Democrat POTUS candidate Marianne Williamson’s 1992 bestseller A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A COURSE IN MIRACLES. Because, why not? It’s on my bookshelf and I’m a believer in first principles, or rewarded behaviors being foundational for a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

The Platform

I’m surmising from declarations from the book that launched her successful career as spiritual healer and guru. This was her first book. In 2019 she authored A Politics of Love: A Handbook for a New American Revolution. That book was part of her 2020 presidential quest. She’s authored nine books. All non-fiction and in the self-help genre.

As I said, I believe people continue on a path if they are rewarded. [That’s our reptilian brain (or Id).] at work. Here is Williamson’s platform. [I’ve numbered them for easy reference. ;-)]

Introduction

1. When we were born, we were programed perfectly.
2. Love is what we were born with.
3. The meaning of life … is Love.
4. Love isn’t seen with the physical eyes or heard with the physical ears.
5. It has nothing to do with the physical world.
6. The truth doesn’t stops being the truth because we’re not looking at it.

Hell

1. The problem is we’re terrified.
2. A miracle is just a shift in perception.

Principles

God

1. Love is God.
2. Love is energy.
3. Fear is the root of evil.
4. Fear is an illusion.
5. Thought is Cause; experience is Effect.
6. Freud defined neurosis as separation from Self.

You

1. We get in life, that which we focus on.
2. Fear makes us neurotic.
3. We’re precious because of what we are, not what we do.
4. The ego is our mental power turned against ourselves.
5. God comes to us in many forms.
6. The purpose of life is to grow into our perfection.
7. Our species is in trouble because we fight too much.
8. Prince Charming is the Holy Spirit.

Surrender

1. Faith is a psychological awareness of an unfolding force for good …
2. Love one another. Because if we don’t, we will all die.
3. We’re always fighting for something. [Masculine force.]
4. The feminine process is a quieting of the mind.
5. Feminine consciousness exerts power through attraction rather than activity.
6. We don’t have to be struggling all the time.

Miracles

1. Behavior is a world of illusion.
2. The laws of scarcity and death rule this world.
3. Our self-perception determines our behavior.
4. We have a mission–to save the world through the power of love.
5. Brilliance is the capacity to forget the past and forget the future.
6. The world of time is not the real world.
7. Our creativity makes us hysterical, it drives us insane.
8. If we’re peaceful, life will be peaceful.
9. When things look the worst, God does tend to appear.
10. All we have to do is ask for His help.

Practice

Relationships

1. Do you prefer that you be right or happy?
2. All thought is thought about ourselves.
3. Projection makes perception.
4. There are only two emotions: love and fear.
5. All minds are continuous.
6. Denial or suppression of emotions is unsound.
7. No meetings are accidental.
8. People are energy, not physical substance.
9. There is no such thing as objectively attractive or unattractive.

The End.

Just kidding. Because the above declarations covers only to page 112. However, that’s enough!

My Thoughts

are that Marianne Williamson is a grifter, snake-oil salesperson, or charlatan. Take your pick. But, what does that make me?

I read A Return to Love, when it first came out, in 1992. Thought it was great and highlighted many passages. At forty-two, I was just two years older than Marianne. I was adrift – psychologically and emotionally – having just been divorced. I didn’t know who I was. In other words, I was separated from my Self.

However, I didn’t return to love. What I did return to was college; and got a degree in Psychology. That launched a “second life” (?) for me.

I do agree with some of the declarations. Still. There is truth in some of what she says. Some overlap with the Law of Attraction, which I do think has merit and aligns with both history and psychological theory.

In Conclusion

I think Williamson is blind to her own delusion. She has a Messiah Complex. After all, her beliefs have worked out very well for her. She’s wealthy and successful – running for president of the United States. She’s polling now around 10% and has the support of Krystal Ball and other progressives. Ten percent is where Trump started in 2015. But there’s a big difference.

Donald Trump worked/works in the real world. In addition, because of that he was the 45th president of the United States. I think this Slate article nails what’s up with Williamson.

Williamson’s support is coming mostly from young people and a few older idealists like Ball. Young people are desperate – things are looking bleak. I get it. I fell for her spiel when I was desperate and alone. That’s who charlatans target. But in her defense – she believes what’s she’s selling. It worked for her. Rewarded behavior will be repeated.

What do you think? Have you read A Return To Love? Can a spiritual guru lead the most powerful/forceful country in the real world? Let me know in the comments.