Unity Principle Two: Our Divine Nature

Our Divine Nature: The Light Within Us All

"You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14)

There is something within each of us that has never been broken, diminished, or lost.

In Unity, the Second Principle reminds us of this essential truth: we are created in the image and likeness of God/Spirit/Highest Energy/Whatever Name or No Name You Choose. This is not a distant theological idea or something to strive toward—it is a present reality to remember. And yet, many of us have learned to see ourselves differently.

We have been shaped by experiences, expectations, and moments where we forgot who we truly are. We may have come to believe that we are defined by our mistakes, our limitations, or the opinions of others. Over time, these beliefs can feel more real than the Truth itself. But Unity gently invites us to look deeper.

Beneath the layers of conditioning…beneath the stories we tell ourselves…there is a Light; A True Self. This Light is not something we earn. It is not something we achieve. It is not something that comes and goes. It is the Divine within us—steady, present, and whole.

When Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), He was not speaking to a select few. He was pointing to a Universal Truth: that each of us carries within us the same divine essence.

To recognize our divine nature is not to deny our humanity, but to deepen our understanding of it. We begin to see that even in moments of struggle, there is something within us that remains untouched—something that continues to express Love, Wisdom, and possibility.

 This awareness changes how we see ourselves.

And it changes how we see one another. When we remember that the same Divine Presence lives in every person, it becomes more natural to meet others with compassion. We begin to look beyond appearances and behaviors, and instead recognize the Light that is always there, even when it is not fully expressed.

This is not always easy.

There are times when we forget. Times when we judge ourselves harshly. Times when we struggle to see the good in others.

But the practice is not perfection. The practice is remembrance. Again and again, we return to this quiet knowing:

There is something of God in me

that cannot be diminished.

And there is something of God in you

that cannot be diminished.

As we continue to explore the Five Unity Principles together, may we gently reclaim this Truth—not as an idea, but as a lived experience. Not something we believe only on our best days,

but something we begin to trust more deeply each day.

The Light is already within you.

Perhaps all that is needed is to remember.

Please join us as we explore this Unity Principle at the April Spiritual Cafe's Monthly Gathering on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 on Zoom at 6:00pm ET. Register at www.unityofsjs.org for the special Zoom link.

Namaste,

Stephanie Bush Mann