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.”
When Dr. Bloodworth was around thirty years of age, she decided that this was “such a nice age to be” that she resolved to retain her youthful appearance, by remaining as she was then. This she did most successfully. In fact, when she was beyond fifty she was continually taken for a woman as young as the age she had named for herself.
Upon three different occasions this petite, lovely, and gracious lady was offered roles in motion pictures, which she did not accept. She preferred to help the sick and frustrated regain health and happiness, and those who had lost their way to become rehabilitated and useful citizens.
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.
Although Dr. Venice Bloodworth was devoted to the service of humanity, she found time also for a normal, well-balanced personal life. As a homemaker and wife, she spent many happy years with her husband, James A. Bloodworth, a railroad official. Together they enjoyed the comfort of their farm home, along with the collection of animals they took with them back into their wooded mountain retreat. There was Mike, the dog, a mare named Honey, and a pair of cats called Ike and Mamie. The cat family grew, as cat families will, to include three kittens: Napoleon, the proud one, Rastus Densenberry, who was by nature “sort of slow,” and Loving Sam, whose name was well suited to his personality.
In acknowledgment of help received, the Bloodworth home was richly showered by tokens of gratitude from patrons, from many points around the world. Their library too was representative of many interests, containing a wide variety of reading matter, from the purely inspirational to mystery novel; books to inform, to live by, and for entertainment and relaxation.
The tenor of Dr. Bloodworth’s life was a harmonious reflection of the philosophy she taught.
IN MEMORIUM
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.
To her many friends and pupils Venice Bloodworth left a rich legacy; one that emerged through the love that impelled her to record her innermost thoughts, and the conviction of her heart. It is a legacy which enriches you first by the attention given to her written words. Its value is enhanced as the ideas gleaned are employed in daily living. In due time it is wondrously expanded as you share your legacy through the radiance of Truth and Beauty which expresses within and around you.
Memory lives, then, not as a person departed, but as the achievements of a lifetime that continue to fill an ever widening Circle of Love.