Absence from Felicity; The Story of Helen Schucman and Her Scribing of "A Course in Miracles"

This biography of Helen Schucman focuses on the lifetime conflict between her spiritual nature and her ego, and includes excerpts from her recollections, dreams, letters, and personal messages from Jesus -- all never before in print. The book gives a detailed account of Helen's personal experiences of Jesus, her relationship with William Thetford, and her scribing of the Course. The last part contains reminiscences of Helen by Kenneth Wapnick, which draw upon their intimate relationship that spanned the last eight years of her life. Dedication NOTE TO SECOND EDITION PREFACE Introduction—“A Middle-Aged Lawyer” Part I—The Early Years Introduction to Part I Chapter 1—Heaven and Helen: Introduction Chapter 2—Heaven and Helen: The Early Years Part II—The Scribing of A Course in Miracles Introduction to Part II Chapter 3—Leading to A Course in Miracles—A (from ca. 1938) Preparing for Graduate School The Subway Experience Dreams Chapter 4—Leading to A Course in Miracles—B (ca. 1950–1964) Psychology—Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Chapter 5—Leading to A Course in Miracles—C (1965) “There Must Be Another Way” Chapter 6—Helen’s Letters to Bill (Summer, 1965) Chapter 7—The Beginning of A Course in Miracles (1965) Chapter 8—The Scribing of A Course in Miracles—A (1965) The Early Weeks: The Miracle Principles Chapter 9—THE SCRIBING OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES—B (1965) Specific Teachings Bill’s Class More Specific Teachings Chapter 10—THE SCRIBING OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES—C (1965–1972) Special Messages Bill’s Journal Continuation and Conclusion of the Course Part III—The Years Following A Course in Miracles Introduction to Part III Chapter 11—Summer, 1973: The Cave Chapter 12—The Editing (1973–1975) Chapter 13—Helen and Bill: The Special and Holy Relationship, and Their Later Life with A Course in Miracles Helen, Bill, and I Judith Skutch and the Post-Publication Years Helen’s Relationship with A Course in Miracles Chapter 14—Other Scribings—A: “Notes on Sound”; Psychotherapy; “Clarification of Terms”; The Song of Prayer; Special Messages “Notes on Sound” (1972, 1977) Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice (1973, 1975) “Clarification of Terms” (1975) The Song of Prayer (1977) Special Messages (1975–1978) Chapter 15—Other Scribings—B: The Gifts of God: Helen’s Poetry The Writing of the Poems The Poems “The Gifts of God” Chapter 16—Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life Catholicism—Mary Helen’s Ambivalence Towards Jesus 1. The Journey Home to Jesus 2. Resistance and Shame 3. Doubt and Inconsistency 4. Shopping Defenses Against Jesus and Against Love: Special Hate (Judgment) and Special Love The Jesus Poems Chapter 17—The Reality of Jesus: Into Christ’s Presence The Song of Prayer: Special Message The Song of Prayer: The Pamphlet Helen and Jesus: The Illusion and the Reality The Unconscious Priestess Chapter 18—Helen’s Final Months and Requiem Epilogue—Beyond Heaven and Helen: The Priestess APPENDIX—A Course in Miracles – What It Says Index of References to A Course in Miracles text workbook for students manual for teachers clarification of terms Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice The Song of Prayer The Gifts of God Related Material on A Course in Miracles