Order According to Unity Teachings
By Rev. Shirley Knight
These teachings from Unity’s metaphysical perspective offer a profound understanding of order as a divine principle that governs the universe, influences personal well-being, and facilitates spiritual evolution.
Divine Order as the First Law of the Universe
“Order is the first law of the universe. Indeed, there could be no universe unless its various parts were kept in perfect order.” — Metaphysical Bible Dictionary
This foundational principle emphasizes that order is inherent in the very fabric of creation, reflecting the divine intelligence that sustains life.
The Role of Order in Spiritual Law and Personal Transformation
“The Spirit of the Lord…evolving in the subconsciousness, incarnation after incarnation… is a mighty inner assurance of spiritual law and order.” — Spiritual Law and Order truthunity.net
The spiritual journey proceeds with divine order, leading to inner peace and transformation.
Order’s Influence on Prosperity and Emotional Stability
“It is strength and order that enables us to not panic when trouble occurs… that releases our power for health, happiness, prosperity and peace.” — Prosperity and the Twelve Powers truthunity.net
When we realize the foundation of order at work in our experience, we can maintain composure and attract prosperity. Spiritual alignment leads to practical outcomes.
Order’s Body Location
Inspired by other energy systems, such as the Eastern chakra system, Fillmore associated each of the Twelve Powers with specific locations in the body. He identified the navel center around the solar plexus as the energy location for order. This is also our center of balance.
Fillmore wrote: “It is through the navel that the unborn babe receives its sustenance from the mother; so it is through this order center that the soul, spiritually quickened, receives the divine manna direct from the Father-Mother God.” — Christ Enthroned in Man
Nourishment flows through the center of our being, allowing growth through orderly systems. Order is central to our ability to balance, organize, sequence, and adjust our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Cultivating the power of order involves aligning with spiritual law and foundational principles and enables us to bring harmony into our lives.
Order and Color
The color associated with the power of order is olive green.
- Symbolizes balance and harmony – Green is the midpoint in the color spectrum; therefore, it is the color of equilibrium in nature and represents a steady center in spiritual and physical life.
- Connection to growth and life – In nature, green signifies living, thriving systems. When we live in divine order, our life energy flows freely, supporting personal growth and collective well-being.
- Groundedness – The olive tone conveys maturity, wisdom, and stability reminding us that order is not rigid control but wise, steady guidance.
Disciple Associated with the Power of Order
James, son of Alphaeus is listed in the Bible as one of the twelve apostles; however he is not mentioned in any stories about key events as James, son of Zebedee is. Here are some reasons why this James is associated with the power of order:
- Quiet and reliable – James, son of Alphaeus, is neither impulsive nor dramatic. His low profile reflects the stable, organizing quality of order working silently but powerfully in the background.
- Alphaeus meaning – In The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, Alphaeus means spiritual father, the “Christ in us who is our spiritual parent.” Parenting is associated with providing order for learning and development.
- Organizing spiritual law – Order is the harmonizing faculty that adjusts and coordinates our thoughts, words, and actions with Divine Law. James’s presence among the apostles, though understated, symbolizes the necessary but often unseen work of keeping life’s spiritual and mental patterns aligned.
- Placement at the navel – The faculty of order, located in the area of the solar plexus, is a central organizing point for the body and soul, paralleling James’s role as a quiet but centering figure among the disciples.
Order in Practice
Order is the divine principle that undergirds both the cosmos and our daily lives. Without this organizing principle, stars would not hold their orbits, seasons would not arrive in rhythm, and our own bodies would not function in harmony.
When we focus on divine order, we align ourselves with the structure and flow of spiritual law and put first things first. We are most effective when we allow order to arise from Spirit’s ongoing work within us. Recognizing order gives us a deep sense of stability, even when the surface of life seems chaotic. By following inner guidance, we make decisions that are both timely and wise, acting in alignment with conscience.
When we allow divine order to be revealed, we are freed from the exhausting need to control things. Instead, we set helpful priorities, establish healthy boundaries, and maintain patterns that nurture body, mind, and spirit. When we keep our inner world ordered through prayer, meditation, and non-attachment, we meet challenges with calmness and clarity, rather than with fear and upset.
In interactions with others, divine order allows communities to flourish. It honors the unique gifts of each individual while ensuring that those gifts work together for the common good. In respectful, orderly environments, decisions are made wisely, resources are managed effectively, and differences are held with understanding.
Through divine order we balance structures while maintaining flexibility. We honor stability while also proceeding with openness and curiosity, and we participate in the ongoing harmony of God’s creation. This is how order becomes not merely a principle we study, but a living power that transforms both our lives and the world around us.
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Rev. Shirley Knight graduated from Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute in 2018 with a master’s degree in divinity and was subsequently licensed as a Unity minister. While in school, Shirley was a founding member of the Unity Ministers Student Association (UMSA) and served on the board. She is currently on the board of Conflict to Connection in Unity, a group that promotes empathy and insight for growth. Prior to ministerial school, Shirley had a 27-year-career in information management where she progressed from training specialist to quality assurance lead to program manager. As a volunteer Shirley founded a community arts organization called the Athena Art Project. For 16 years that organization produced an annual music and art festival and other community events such as concerts, art shows and literary readings. For this effort Shirley was honored with a Certificate of Special Recognition from the City of Houston in 2004 and an Extra Mile Award from Uncommon Legacy in 2005. Prior to founding the Athena Art Project, Shirley produced a show on community access television in which she interviewed accomplished women such as musicians, authors, artists and directors of national organizations. The program won two Access Awards for Programming Excellence. Shirley is a part-time associate minister at Unity of Houston where she primarily focuses on special projects.
