Pieces of Light
How New Thought’s History Unites Us All
The first light of dawn crept over the mesas as I woke up in Gallup, New Mexico, my body still carrying the excitement of days spent witnessing history in motion. The room smelled faintly of desert dust, and for a moment, I lay still, letting the significance of the past week settle over me.
I had left the International New Thought Alliance (INTA) headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, the afternoon before, after watching a semi-truck pull away with the contents of the Addington Archives and Research Center. This wasn’t just any move—it was a pivotal moment for the New Thought movement.
At breakfast, I thought about the stunning stained glass window that would soon find its new home in Unity Village. More than just a piece of art, this window symbolized the diversity and beauty of New Thought itself. Each fragment of glass, with its own distinct color and shape, was like the many voices and philosophies that make up our movement. Alone, each piece is striking, but together, they form a masterpiece—an intricate dance of light and meaning that transcends any one tradition. This move was more than a relocation of archives; it was a declaration of inclusion, a testament to how varied beliefs and perspectives can unite to create something breathtaking.
As I made my way back home to Denver, I knew the journey was far from over. Soon, I would travel to Unity Village to document the arrival and unloading of the same semi-truck I had watched pull away from Mesa just the day before. With every mile, I reflected on how that truck was transporting—more than a century of New Thought wisdom, stories, and spiritual insights—and among them, the breathtaking stained glass window, destined to become the centerpiece of its new home.
This window was more than just a work of art. In many ways, it mirrored the essence of the New Thought movement itself—a collection of diverse perspectives, philosophies, and teachings, unified by a shared commitment to spiritual awakening. As the window would soon cast its luminous hues into its new space, so too would the wisdom housed in these archives illuminate the seekers who would come to study them.
The International New Thought Alliance Addington Archives and Research Center had long served as a sacred repository of wisdom, safeguarding a rich legacy of literature, historical documents, and transformative teachings. Now, after years of standing as a beacon of spiritual scholarship in Arizona, it was embarking on a new chapter—joining the Unity Archives and the Science of Mind Archives and Library at Unity Village. For the first time, these three pillars of New Thought history would stand together, forming a unified repository of knowledge and inspiration, ensuring that the movement's past, present, and future remained interconnected
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The logistics of moving an archive of this magnitude were staggering. J.T. Thurman and his dedicated team had undertaken the monumental task of carefully packing and transporting these invaluable artifacts. It wasn’t just about boxing up books and papers; it was about preserving the essence of a movement, ensuring that fragile pages filled with spiritual insight remained intact for future generations. As I stood among the hundreds of boxes, of all shapes and sizes, packed and ready for the moving company to load onto a tractor-trailer, I couldn’t help but feel the presence of those who had come before us. Every book held a story, every paper a whisper of inspiration from leaders, teachers, and seekers who had shaped this movement. Ernest Holmes, Charles Fillmore, Emma Curtis Hopkins—voices of New Thought that had once been scattered were now converging in a single, powerful center of wisdom.
And yet, as I stood among these archives, I realized how many voices I did not yet know—countless contributors to this movement whose writings, lectures, and ideas were just now coming into my awareness. Their work, preserved in these archives, was a testament to the vast and intricate tapestry of New Thought, a legacy still unfolding. It struck me that while the past was being carefully preserved, this moment was also about the future—about ensuring that the wisdom of today would one day be archived for generations yet to come.
New Thought has always been a movement of visionaries, of individuals who dared to dream beyond their circumstances and articulate a spiritual philosophy rooted in empowerment, love, and transformation. The archives represent more than history; they are the living embodiment of that vision, a reminder that the work of consciousness evolution never ceases. What was once radical thought is now the foundation for new generations of seekers who continue to explore the limitless possibilities of mind and spirit.
Standing in the cool morning air outside the hotel, I held my cup of hot tea and watched the sun rise over the vast landscape of the Southwest. Gallup, with its rich Indigenous history and deep spiritual roots, felt like an appropriate place to pause and reflect. The journey of New Thought has always been one of movement—of expansion, of growth, of carrying wisdom forward. And here we were, doing just that.
New Thought Media Network has been honored to document this historic transition, conscious that we, too, are contributing to the future archives of New Thought. The stories we capture today will one day serve as historical records for the seekers of tomorrow. We stand as both witnesses and storytellers, ensuring that this sacred work is not only preserved but continues to inspire generations to come. This work is not just about looking back—it is about recognizing the significance of the present and its role in shaping what is yet to unfold
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As I prepare for the next phase of this journey, I reflect on the role of documentation in shaping history. What we record today becomes the evidence of our movement’s vitality, a touchstone for those who will follow. Through video, audio, and written accounts, we are creating a living archive—one that does not merely catalog the past but breathes life into the ever-evolving present.
The road ahead would take me to Unity Village, where these archives would find a new home. I imagined the semi-truck pulling into its final destination, the doors swinging open to reveal the carefully packed treasures within. The unloading would be a sacred act, each box placed with reverence, each artifact finding its place in this new sanctuary of wisdom. And that magnificent stained glass window—soon it would catch the light once more, casting its kaleidoscope of colors onto a new generation of seekers. It would stand as a luminous metaphor for the unity we seek, a daily reminder that though we may come from different paths, together we form something greater than the sum of our parts.
In those quiet moments in Gallup, I felt the weight and wonder of history in motion. And as I packed up my bags and prepared to continue the journey, I knew that this move was not just about preserving the past—it was about ensuring that these teachings remain alive, evolving, and reaching new horizons. The spirit of New Thought is not confined to pages and artifacts; it lives within us, in the stories we tell, the connections we foster, and the vision we hold for a world transformed by consciousness. Together, as one movement, we honor the past, celebrate the present, and step boldly into the future.
This is so profound and beautiful, I am moved to tears. Thank you for sharing this deeply thoughtful insight and the inspiration for New Thought to grow and shine in new ways.