Venice Bloodworth
Outstanding Spiritual Teacher
Although the book, Key to Yourself was no doubt the greatest single accomplishment of her career, Dr. Venice J. Bloodworth was also known through her works, to many people within and around the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia, as teacher, counselor, and friend.
Venice Bloodworth received her doctorate in psychology from Northwestern University, Chicago. The content of her teaching, and the practice of her chosen profession reflect both the findings of modem psychologists, and the principles taught hundreds of years ago by Jesus of Nazareth. In describing her work she has said this: "The method is always the same, regardless of what is to be accomplished. First, the idea. Second, visualizing the idea. Third, manifesting the idea. First we make a decision; then, we use the marvelous function of the mind, the imagination, which I call the workshop of the mind, to visualize this change. Since it is a law that energy follows thought, then when the thoughts are flowing in a positive manner, we get positive results."
She shared her formula for health, beauty, joy, harmony, and richer living through several avenues: writing, private consultations, public lectures, and class work. Dr. Bloodworth referred to her subject matter as Spiritual Psychology, and set for her purpose in teaching the goal of helping humanity, by explaining to people that they can THINK themselves into actually being well, happy, prosperous, and beautiful. In addition she provided helpful suggestions as to how her students might nurture this belief, and thus stay with it, until the desired changes appeared either in form or experience.
The personal affirmation she used to begin her day's activities was this: "I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, and happy." Standing before her mirror, she repeated these words for about ten minutes each day. Evidence of the effectiveness of her belief came to her in many ways. For instance, she discarded her glasses after realizing that her eyes were "whole and perfect, and continually rebuild themselves."
Her interests extended to many areas of helpfulness, including lectures to PTA groups on child psychology, and work with the Atlanta Council of Church Women at the Atlanta Prison Farm, and the Georgia Training School for Girls. KEY TO YOURSELF was written over a period of several years, along with the demands of her professional practice, which she carried on in her farm home near Kenesaw Mountain.
On January 17, 1956, Venice Bloodworth embarked on another journey; one which took her beyond the frontiers of human experience into an unfamiliar realm of spiritual unfoldment. Those who knew her personally, or have found strength, courage, and inspiration in her work realize how well she must have known her way. The joy of her belief, or the peace of her understanding surely cannot be lost to her, even as they have not gone from those who have been blessed by them.