Newly-formed Metaphysical Society exploring all things ‘beyond the physical'

By Kathryn Lucariello, Carroll County News Thursday, February 23, 2006
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EUREKA SPRINGS - In its simplest sense, the term “metaphysics,” coined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, means “beyond the physical,” and that is the core subject matter of a new group that recently formed in Eureka Springs: the Arkansas Metaphysical Society.

Started by three members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, otherwise known in Eureka Springs as the Christian Science Society and Reading Room, the metaphysical society is a separate, non-related group that meets weekly to discuss whatever metaphysical topics come up.

Jim Young, Marsha Havens and Carol Peacock said they were sitting around one evening talking about spiritual subjects and realized they “wished for opportunities to talk more and with others,” Carol said.

Thus the idea for the Arkansas Metaphysical Society was born.

Carol said the purpose of the group is to “further explore consciousness, the opportunity for a group of individuals to enlighten each other with their own ideas and results of explorations.”

“Getting together with people is inspiring, individually and collectively,” said Marsha. “It's exciting, delving into areas we haven't thought about.”

“It's inspiration, insight and enlightenment,” Jim said.

The three said metaphysics informs everything they do, from Marsha's starting her Eureka Thyme gallery with 100 inspired artists who magnify the sense of divinely inspired love, to Carol's inspired paintings, to Jim's photography and writing.

Topics in the group arise spontaneously and range from the meaning of evil, to how thoughts create reality, to spiritual healing. Group members have suggested future topics such as soul retrieval, metaphysical healing and the Akashic Records.

A fundamental principle of the discussions, however, is that a person's experience is a matter of perception.

“Metaphysics is a very simple shift in perspective,” Jim said. “Someone hollers at you, and you can say, ‘They abused me,' or you can say, ‘That person is crying for help.'”

“Metaphysics is how we interpret actions, also,” Marsha said. “One person can think a roller coaster is fun and exciting; another can think it's stressful and bad.”

Participants come from all walks of life and a variety of healing and spiritual backgrounds, among them chiropractic, massage therapy, Eastern mysticism, Reiki healing, inspired art and those from traditional religious backgrounds.

“Those in the group have an insatiable curiosity, an openness, a thirst for understanding, and maturity of great magnitude,” Jim said.

“There's an openness and trust among all these people and they're letting out their true feelings with no fear of doing that,” Carol said.

“We are all each other's teachers,” said Marsha.

The group meets every Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the basement of the Christian Science Society at 68 West Mountain in Eureka Springs. All are welcome.

For more information, call Ronnie Young at 479-253-5065.