The Twelve Powers of Man (OVERVIEW)

The Twelve Powers of Man 
By Charles Fillmore 

It seems appropriate to launch Unity’s 12 Powers Club Book Review series by going back to the source:  The Twelve Powers of Man, by Charles Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity Movement.   

The concept of the Twelve Powers is primarily associated with Fillmore, who first wrote about them in a 1912 issue of Weekly Unity. In 1920 he published a series of twelve powers articles, and in 1930, he published the classic, Twelve Powers of Man.  

Fillmore was not the first to contemplate the twelve powers.  In the late nineteenth century, there was a zesty enclave of New Thought pioneers, of whom Charles and his wife Myrtle were an active part, experimenting, discussing and documenting their metaphysical ideas and breakthroughs. 

In his own words, Fillmore explained the foundation of the concept, The Twelve Powers of Man:   

“The subconscious realm in man has twelve great centers of action, with twelve presiding egos or identities.  When Jesus had attained a certain soul development, He called His twelve apostles (disciples) to Him.  This means that when man is developing out of mere personal consciousness into spiritual consciousness, he begins to train deeper and larger powers; he sends his thought down into the inner centers of his organism, and through his word, quickens them to life….” 

The qualities of the powers correlate with the twelve aspects of discipline (disciples) and the expanded twelve energy chakras. The study of the twelve powers is a universally appealing dive into the mind/body/spirit relationship, making the study of the twelve powers a rich adjunct for any spiritual seeker. 

The 12 Powers Club will be taking a multi-media approach to each of these powers.  As a Club Member, your exploration will be greatly enriched by acquiring a copy of The Twelve Powers of Man.  Different publications are available through your spiritual center, Unity House Publishing, DeVorss Publications, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or at a metaphysical bookstore near you. 

From my heart to yours,  Rev. Mary Beth Speer