By Gonny 
Long, long ago, before there was reality TV or political debates on every screen, the ancient Hebrews had a ritual.
Once a year, they would choose a goat. Not a special goat. Not a goat with a criminal record. Just one that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And what did they do with it?
They symbolically placed all their sins, mistakes, regrets, and fears onto this poor goat. Then they sent it out into the desert, far away from the community, as if the goat could carry away everything they didn’t want to feel anymore.
And honestly? It gave them a sense of relief. Once the “bad stuff” was out of sight, it felt like the burden was gone.
Now here’s the question:
Are we still doing this today?
Take a look around. Or better yet… take a kind look within.
Because the modern scapegoat doesn’t need horns anymore.
Today we use anyone and anything as a projection screen:
– The co-worker who always “messes things up.”
– The politician who’s “ruining the country.”
– The group of people who are “a threat to society.”
– The neighbor who knows too much… or not enough.
– Or…let’s be real…even our partner, children, or parents when they press those familiar buttons.
As long as we believe that someone out there is responsible for our inner discomfort, the scapegoat stays alive and well. We may not send it into the desert anymore, but we push it into the corners of our mind, where we don’t have to face what we feel.
And then A Course in Miracles steps in with a loving, disarming reminder:
“Nothing outside yourself can save you or bring you peace.”
(And …with a wink…nothing outside you is to blame either.)
The Course explains that what we project onto others, guilt, fear, anger, always began in the mind.
The scapegoat is just a shadow, a trick of the ego, whispering:
“It’s not me. Look over there!”
But here comes the freedom:
The moment we’re willing to look inward, gently, without judgment, we see there was never anything to project.
The “sins” we thought were real… were never real at all.
And then? We don’t need a scapegoat anymore.
We stop sending anyone into exile.
We stop blaming, accusing, avoiding.
Instead, we welcome everything home…into the light of our own mind, where forgiveness is quietly waiting, ready to wrap every fear and every mistake in Love.
No struggle.
No guilt.
No goat.
Just you,
with an open heart.
With love and light,
G.