Mary Morrissey (born 1949) is an American New Thought writer and an activist for international peace. She is the writer of Building Your Field of Dreams, which tells of her life story. She is also the writer of No Less Than Greatness, a book about making peace. In 2002 she wrote the book New Thought: A Practical Spirituality. American writer Wayne Dyer called her "one of the most thoughtful teachers of our time."
Active from young age in international activism, Morrissey started the Association for Global New Thought in 1995 and was its first president. In 1997 she worked with Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi, in starting the international Season for Nonviolence organization. As of January 2019, Season for Nonviolence was celebrated around the world.
Early life
Mary Morrissey was born in Beaverton, Oregon in May, 1949. She was the vice president in her class when she was 16, but then she fell in love with a college student, got pregnant and was sent out of high school because teen pregnancy was not accepted. After having her baby, Morrissey got very sick with kidney disease and was told she only had six months to live. She believed it was because she had a baby at a young age.
Humanitarian work and activism
Morrissey became a teacher, and in 1975 became a pastor. She started speaking publicly in the fields of New Thought, spiritual growth, and peace. She became a leader for the New Thought group and helped in starting of spiritual centers across the USA. According to Wayne Dyer, it was her humanity that "touched" people.
A feminist in the American Second-wave feminism of the 1970s, Morrissey worked with Barbara Marx Hubbard and Jean Houston to start The Society for the Universal Human. She was later invited to become a member of the Leadership Council, started by Jack Canfield.
Morrissey worked with the Dalai Lama on issues relating the global peace group. She met Nelson Mandela in South Africa and later used his teachings of peace in her work.
As an activist for international peace, she and Arun Gandhi, started Season for Nonviolence. As part of her work at Season for Nonviolence, Morrissey was asked to give speeches for the United Nations, first on ending violence, and later about the need for an international peace agenda. Season for Nonviolence has grown to be taught globally. It was taught in schools and universities. As of January 2019, Season for Nonviolence was in education systems around the world
The Living Enrichment Center issues
Morrissey was the creator of the Living Enrichment Center in Oregon. In 2004 she and her ex-husband made it public that they were in debt. This made the news and Mary asked for forgiveness for leading her followers to take risks with their money. She agreed to pay the government over 10 million dollars to settle the debt issue. Morrissey later divorced her husband and, for the next 14 years, worked hard to pay her debt. She paid all of it in 2018.
Books
Building Your Field of Dreams (1996) Building Your Field of Dreams tells of Morrissey's difficulties as a teenage mother. Publishers Weekly called the book "sincere"(kind) The book was accepted by the self-development community, with Wayne Dyer writing that the book "sparkles"(shines brightly) and author Gay Hendricks calling the book a "wellspring of spiritual wisdom."(a place to gain knowledge) The Peninsula Daily News magazine called the book "a metaphysical classic."(a wonderful book) In his book The Art of Being, writer Dennis Merritt Jones writes that Building Your Field of Dreams was among the recommended reading for readers interested in self-development. Writer Tess Keehn, in Alchemical Inheritance writes that Building Your Field of Dreams was important in helping her create "vision boards."(dreams) Writer Sage Bennet in Wisdom Walk wrote that Morrissey's book can help learn about New Thought. Its Spanish version is known in the field of spirituality.
No Less Than Greatness (2001)couple 👫
Relationships were important in Morrissey's teachings, speaking of male and female characters. Over the years Morrissey wrote articles for newspapers and magazines, writing on relationships. In her book, No Less Than Greatness: Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships, Morrissey wrote about "relationship-building."(making friends) The book was taught worldwide. Writer Gary Zukav called the book "practical and inspiring," and writer Marianne Williamson wrote that the book "should be every couple's" friend(a guide for couples). Robert LaCrosse wrote that No Less Than Greatness was a recommended resource in his book Learning From Divorce. Writer Dennis Jones recommended the book in his 2008 book The Art of Being.