Break Out*

Life is full of challenges, but most of all life is over whenever it wants to be.  Enjoy it NOW!  As the new year is upon us find your joy in every day, beyond all boarders, beyond all reason.  Be happy TODAY!  Don't stop to think and wonder, LIVE TODAY! Break out of your mold and be YOU.  LOVE YOU and BE YOU!!!! Have a FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!!!

LOVE YOU ALL and most of all LOVE YOURSELF!  :)  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheerleaders

This past year I have done a lot of conscious, personal work. Though I know that I have "evolved" it is affirming and reassuring to get feedback from people who haven't seen me in a year and who've noticed the positive changes.

On our paths we all face challenges.  Having cheerleaders and supporters along the way gives you courage and strength toward taking another step. It is much more challenging without them.  So today, take a moment to thank those people in your life, thank them for taking the time to notice and care.  :)

Be Open To Gifts

Today, as I was walking along the Lago Maggiore in Italy, I was astounded by the vegetation that was still plentiful along the shores...  Most of the trees still had all of their foliage and some were even in bloom, though most of the mountain peaks were already covered in snow and the temperatures are hovering around the low 30s (Fahrenheit). I even saw some some pansies!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day full of unexpected wonders and beauty. We also ate lunch on the terrace and enjoyed the view until the sun went down very quickly at 3:50pm.  The suddenness of the sun disappearing behind the mountain and the drop in temperature were also astonishing.

It made me realize the importance of living the moment when it happens. One moment it here, the next it is gone. This day also emphasized how you can be surprised by the unexpected.  Though it is winter, you can still encounter blooms, palm trees and pansies, as well as beautiful, almost blindingly clear, sunny, warm days. These are all gifts if you choose to accept them.

Be open to gifts that surround you and invite them in wholeheartedly.  :)

Seizures

Below is a previous post of mine.  As I was watching a DVD of Donna Eden today she said that this technique helps with seizures and can be used when you feel one coming on or when a person is having a seizure. "Hooking" up the energy flow with this technique shortens and/or prevents seizures! I recopied the technique for your convenience below.  :)

Here is a simple energy clearing technique, as described by Donna Eden, you can use whenever you feel like you are dragging, not thinking clearly and/or feel like you are not connected:

Put one finger, preferably the middle finger into your belly button and pull your belly button up high. At the same time put your other middle finger at the third eye (the middle of your forehead) and pull them both up. Take deep breaths while doing this (at least 3 deep breaths).

This will "hook" you back up energetically and you will feel better. It is quickly and easily done and can be done as many times as you like.  :)

Focus

Giving focus to your intentions is the key to manifesting quickly, efficiently and most of all in a VERY targeted manner.  Be completely clear on what you want when you pray for help or ask for answers/guidance.  If you are not clear on what you are asking for, then how is the Universe/God/etc.  to answer?

If your thoughts and intentions are foggy so will be the answers you receive.  The clearer you are, the clearer the answers and your path will be. Practice this everyday until it becomes second nature.  It is not as easy as it may seem at first to be that focused.  As always, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Helping Navigate Emotions

How can you help others to navigate the sea of emotions?
1. Know first of all that the other person has to be the swimmer.
2. If the person is open to support you can share the tools you have acquired while swimming through your own sea of emotions.
3. Whether the tools are used or not is up to the receiver. They may or may not be useful to that person,  even if they were lifesavers for you. Give the tools with love and then let go completely.  You have done your part. :)

Travel Assurance

When you are travelling, you may want to ask your angels to keep you safe and protected during your travels. Every time I do, I feel a sense of peace come over me as well as a sense of reassurance, and you can move on with your life. Try it and see how it works for you!

Safe travels to everyone during this holiday season!

Mind vs. Heart Based Decisions

Is it better to follow your heart or your head?  I am not sure I have the answer.  However I do know that being an analytical person, my primary focus has been to follow my head.  In recent years I have started wondering more and more what it would be like to follow the heart.  And even more recently I have been letting my heart lead once in a while.

I find that when you let yourself be led by your heart, a lot more faith comes into play, and of course your action does not necessarily follow logic.  The results however seem to be more solid and peaceful, no matter what the outcome is. Your heart is closer to your essence than you mind seems to be and thus you are doing what your soul needs for its growth.

This doesn't mean that you should discredit your mind completely though.  Without it you couldn't make these types of observations after all...  :)

The Power Of You

In past blogs I have talked about the benefits of writing down insights, positive thoughts, keeping a gratitude journal, etc. The one benefit I did not mention before is the fact that you can go back to these writings when you might have an uninspired day (or for that matter anytime!) to seek inspiration.

Your personal creations have a double positive effect for you: 1) they will inspire you and 2)YOU were the creator!  This makes it even more meaningful and fulfilling for you. YOU can be as inspiring to yourself as any enlightened Master. YOU have the power within.

Healing Relationships

Healing relationships, whether it means making them stronger or letting them go, feels like swimming upstream (i.e. it is "hard" work). Nevertheless the key word and focus should be on healing and the willingness to do what it takes to heal.  Emotions will be all over the map. The more you familiarize yourself with your emotions the clearer you will see what you need and what/who will help you heal. Then, take a deep breath and follow through on your insights/instinct.

Thank you mom, for being my mom and for being my healer today.  I love you.

Positive Thought

"Write it on your heart that everyday is the best day in the year." by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Short, simple, and sweet... Start your day with this thought and set yourself up for a bright new day, everyday.  :)

Take Action

Do you have a tendency to over think, meaning that your mind is constantly analyzing, working, churning, etc.? When you dealing with personal challenges, that often times are deeply steeped in emotions, it is almost agonizing work to try and rationalize these challenges and to find a logical solution.  Though it is important to go through the mental exercise, over thinking becomes counterproductive.

When you are over thinking remember that you can channel this excess energy into work/staying busy/being active. Over thinking is stagnant and a great way to rebalance this imbalance is to actively engage in life. Action is also empowering, which leads to increased self confidence, etc.  Next time you find yourself stuck in though remember to shift by taking action.  :)

Little Problems

Freezing rain and then snow swept through Ogden today. On my hike, a lot of trees were laden with ice and snow blocking the path. Though it looked beautiful and it was amazing how flexible these trees are, they were very strained. So I helped them (and many trees in my yard) shed some of that weight.

It made me think about human nature too and how resilient humans are. Hardships and bad experiences can weigh you down. Nevertheless you have the opportunity to shed the weight and bounce back, which we all do to survive. 

Snow seems to be so light, but if there is enough of it, it gets very heavy. So are little problems: They may not seem like a big deal, but if enough of them accumulate, they become heavy too. Thus make sure to avoid the accumulation of little problems.  Work them too and stay light!  :)

I Don't Know

For a lot of people it is hard to say: "I don't know" when they are asked something, for fear to show weakness or lack of knowledge.  Though you may be able to fake your way through it, energetically the 'deceit' can still be picked up.

Admitting that you don't know on the other hand, shows integrity and strength. Though you don't know, you can find out and voice that. It is not about what you know or don't know, but about how you handle the situation. Nobody can know everything and resourcefulness can go a long way in supplementing any lack of knowledge.  :)

Honor Those Who Have Passed On

Honoring/acknowledging people who have passed on is a wonderful thing to do, especially on days that they keep crossing your mind. Whether they were loved ones, friends or mere acquaintances doesn't matter. Whatever the circumstances were, whether positive or negative, is irrelevant too.

Whether here or on the other side, light and love is always needed. For one reason or another you are thinking of that person(s), so take the opportunity to remember her. You can do something as simple as sending a blessing her way, or a prayer, or light and love.  If that doesn't feel like it is enough, light a candle for her as a physical representation of the light. Add love to it every time you look at the flame. This process is beneficial for you as well as for the recipient.  :)

Oats

Here is some information about Oats that I enjoyed learning about today...what a great medicinal plant!

Dried oat seeds & fresh oat plant tonic are known to:

• Benefit the health of the nervous system
• Lift depressed mood, where lowered mood is associated with anxiety and nervous exhaustion, especially during menopause
• Improve sleep duration and quality
• Aid with withdrawal from tobacco and drug addiction

Cold Prevention

You know what it feels like when a cold is coming on... So what can you do? Here are a few suggestions you can apply right away.

1. Increase your intake of Vitamin C.  I like the chewable kind, especially when your throat is acting up. Sucking it slowly soothes the throat.
2. Echinacea enhances immune resistance and works against colds, flu, viral and bacterial infections. I like to drink it in tea form when I feel I need the extra boost.
3. Get plenty of rest! Listen to your body and take it easy.
4. Eat fresh food. Give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
5. Work on yourself energetically through visualization. Close your eyes and scan your body in your mind's eye.  Feel where you are off balance. Sometimes you feel pressure on the chest, or your throat is sore, or you feel pressure in your sinuses, etc. Visualize the pressure in your chest, for example, as a ball weighing down on your chest.  With every breath and your intent, gently push that ball out and/or away from your body. When you intake air, visualize pure, clean healing energy that replaces the pressure ball that is being pushed out. You will feel the energy change and you will feel better.

Please share any of your favorite preventative methods! There are so many different things one can do.  :)

What Goes Around Comes Around

Today, as I was being hard on myself, I was sweetly reminded by a friend to be good to and to take it easy on myself (thank you!).  It is the first time I was handed my own tool back to me by another person when I needed that tool.

It instantly made me smile and agree that yes, I could take it easy on myself. Mistakes happen and life goes on. I was able to shift that quickly.

It also goes to show you that when you help others you help yourself too. I started this blog with the intent of sharing insights and in the hope that it will help others.  Now it ended up helping me directly too, completely validating the saying "What goes around, comes around.".  :)

Trust Your Inner Compass

While listening to some mantras today on YouTube, I was struck by the comments and how they ranged from total acceptance to total rejection for the same mantra.  It reminded me, how the same thing strikes everyone differently, how what is good for me may not be good for you and vice versa.

It reminded me of the importance of following your own compass.  No matter what others say, only you know what is best for you. If it feels right to you, pursue it and integrate it.  If it doesn't honor that too and let it go.  Even if it worked for someone else, it doesn't mean that it will for you.

Remember you are in the driver's seat and you can choose where you go. Trust your compass. It will steer you right.  :)

Spread Love

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." by Mother Teresa

If each of us took these words to heart, the world would be a different place. Take these words to heart and live them consciously today.  Be that shining light for others.

Anonymous Gifting

Anonymous gifting is such a beautiful thing. Doing something for the sake of being nice and not needing the credit is a facet of unconditional love.  In addition too, anytime you give unconditionally you automatically also receive ("For it is in giving that you receive." by St. Francis of Assisi).

This fall, for example, someone strung Tibetan prayer flags to a couple of trees. For centuries, Tibetan Buddhists have planted these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice for the wind to carry the beneficent vibrations across the countryside.  Prayer flags are said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity. Anyone who hiked the Indian trail walked under these flags, thus being blessed.

My hiking buddy and I loved seeing the flags and felt blessed.  It definitely brightened my day. Though I don't know who the donor was, I was grateful and inspired to give to others from the heart.

Take a little time today to look inside and see how you can be an anonymous donor. Gifting can take so many shapes, it doesn't have to be monetary. Touch another person's life, even if just with thought and intention. Bless others, light a candle for a loved one, say a prayer for someone, etc.. It all counts and it all makes our world a better place.

Treat Yourself

Celebrating your journey as you go is essential to your development. Learning to give to yourself and enjoying it, is an art form in itself, especially when you aren't used to doing so. Whether it is taking five minutes to listen to your current favorite song, treating yourself to a special meal, wearing a new clothing item, reading a book, do it consciously and bask in it. You earned it and you deserve it! 

Every step counts on your journey.  Remember to make it fun too!   :)

Off Day

There are days where everything seems off, things don't quite flow right, you are not feeling anywhere close to your best. It is like you are continually given little challenges that don't fit into your day.

Instead of getting irritated/flustered/mad/etc., make room to breathe and center often throughout your day. If you have difficulty being positive, you can choose to stay neutral. Not everything always has to have a reason - sometimes you just have an off day. Let all criticism go.  Be good to yourself, breathe, center.  Give yourself permission to find this time to center. Tomorrow is a new day.

Mantras Follow Up

A little over a week ago, I committed to choosing a couple of mantras and repeating them daily once (108 repetitions). I do them every night before going to sleep.

I found myself repeating them during the day too, though silently vs. out loud as I do at night. Saying them out loud is important. The singsong vibration you create is soothing and resonates through your whole body. It feels like you are speaking to all your cells as well as your subtle bodies.

They are soothing. Today I decided to add another one that I feel is very powerful and thus wanted to share with you:

"I am love and I always am loved."

Say it out loud to yourself.  If it feels right to you join me in this "experiment" to heighten your vibration.  :)

Slow Down

Today Mother Nature blessed us with a snow storm. I love snow, but it did make driving very treacherous and dangerous. Even at 25mph you were slipping and sliding, which forced you to really drive very slowly.

When I allowed myself to be okay with slowing down and not worrying about how long it would take me, I actually started enjoying my drive. The Winter wonderland around me was amazing. There is something so peaceful about a white landscape and the snow gently coming down.

I came to realize too that this easily translates to life in general...slow down and enjoy the ride. I plan to apply this insight more often to my life from now on.  :)

Finding Peace Within

What are things you can do to find peace within?

1. See your inner Drama Queen/King and release him/her gently from the great job it has done so far. She/he was protecting you and now that you are taking charge she/he can finally take a well deserved hiatus.
2. Stop judging others and more importantly yourself.
3. Ease up on having to control everything in your life.
4. Make friends with all your emotions. It is okay to cry, for example. Feeling and expressing your emotions shows strength, NOT weakness.
5. Shower yourself with love everyday. Be good to yourself.
6. Share unconditional love with others.
7. Take care of your physical body. Get plenty of nutritious food, exercise, and sleep!
8. Spend time in Nature. Nothing compares to a walk through fresh snow, a breath of fresh air, a hike through a blooming forest, walking barefoot in the grass, gazing at the moon & stars, etc.
9.Breathe lots, consciously and deeply. Do it often throughout the day!
10. Be grateful and remember you are blessed at all times.

Patience

Taking action and wanting to move things forward is a good thing. Usually. At times though, when you have done what you can do, you also need to be patient and let things take their course. It is like eating and then your body needs to digest the food. It takes time but the ball has been set into motion.

When you are working on moving something forward, pay attention to when you have done enough and when it is time for you to take a backseat for a while.  Though you may be itching to push the issue, there are usually subtle signs that the Universe is giving you to take a breather and be patient.

You will know when it is time to step back into it again.

Time Heals Everything?

Does time heal everything?  What do you think?

I believe time lessens the pain, but it never really goes away unless you work through and look at the cause of your pain. Unless you do your part and take responsibility, the memory of the pain may fade but never truly go away. I also believe that it will manifest in another form so that you have the opportunity to work through it. It won't just go away.

Only when you do the actual work will you be able to truly heal, move on, and reach new heights.

Paths

Life is never black and white.  There are many, many shades of grey all created by us. Any time more than one person is involved in a situation, the complexities of each person are brought forth into the situation making interesting amalgams of beliefs, standards, ideals, etc. 

There are times where you can see and relate to many different points of view. So how do you decide what the best course of action is, when there are so many paths you could take that are all part of who you are and that resonate with you?

Sometimes there just isn't a straightforward answer to that question. In the end probably the best course is to follow your heart and do what feels most right to you and to who you are. No matter what others think you need to find peace within you first and foremost.

Repetition

One of the big factors that influence change is repetition. After all, practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. If you want to become a peaceful person, for example, you will want to focus on how to live your present life in a more peace filled manner.

Every time you abandon your peace throughout the day, the repeated process of 1. realizing that you are not at peace anymore and 2. gently bringing yourself consciously back to a peaceful state, is necessary for your long term success.

As always, be kind to yourself through these processes. Even if you have to repeat them a million times, every time is a success, every time is one more moment in your life time that you are at peace.  :)

Mantras

Mantras can change what you believe about yourself when worked correctly. A mantra is any positive word, sound or statement that is repeated. You want to repeat the mantra you pick 108 times in a row at least once a day. Here are three mantras from the book "Live Your Bliss" written by Terri Cole-Whittaker that I liked:

1. God is my constant, opulent source, and supply.

2. My nature is eternity, consciousness, and bliss.

3. I am enough, and I always have enough.

Commit to one mantra that resonates with you and do this simple exercise of saying it 108 times in a row at least once a day. See what it does for you. I am starting today.  Join me and let me know what you find. I will do the same.  :)

You Got The Power

"Other people can be the greatest obstacle in our being true to ourselves and living our bliss, but only if we allow this by giving them the power to control our lives. Believing that our happiness, financial status, enjoyment, and our piece of mind depend on anyone other than God and ourselves is misdirected faith and trust." by Terry Cole-Whittaker excerpt from the book "Live Your Bliss"

This paragraph caught my attention today.  It made me ask the following questions: How much of your life is being directed by the outside world/others vs. your internal compass? How much do you trust and know yourself? I wonder how many people realize that your well-being is your responsibility and choice! The more people start realizing and embracing this, the better off our world will be.

Expectations

Have you ever gone into a situation with low expectations to then be pleasantly surprised because your expectations were surpassed? And on the flip side, have you gone into a situation with high expectations only to be disappointed because the reality fell short of your expectations?

Imagine not having any expectations when you go into a situation. Anything you receive then is a bonus. And if you don't receive anything, you won't be disappointed. Makes you wonder how much of your happiness or lack of happiness is created by your expectations.  Food for thought...

Happy Thanksgiving

Today, in the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a great time to think about all that you are thankful for in your life. It is also a good time to express that gratitude to whomever you wish. Blessings are all around you. Notice them, acknowledge them, cherish them.

Wishing everyone a blessed, safe, bountiful and healthy Thanksgiving full of love, laughter and joy.

Unconditional Love Space

How can you create a space of unconditional love for another person, a place where they can be who they are and say/explore what they need to say/explore?  Here are a few things you can do:

1. Visualize yourself creating a safe bubble around the both of you that is filled with love and light, where only healing energy resides.
2. Set your life and any personal agendas aside.  You are creating a safe haven for the other person.
3. Listen! Really hear what the other person is saying. Give that person room to talk freely. 
4. Do NOT judge anything. Leave comments, thoughts, reactions unspoken.  Simply be there for the other person. Focus only on them.
5. Ask the person questions about how they feel, what they believe should be done, how they see themselves moving on, etc.  Feel your way through their world.  They have the answers within them. All you need to do is help them find their own answers, the ones that will work for them. You are empowering them.
6. Make sure to honor the information shared and to keep it to yourself unless you have permission from the person to share it outside of this unconditional love space.  

Inner Child

How do you heal your inner child?  On your path to self healing, at some point you will find your inner child hurting from a wound that you have tried to ignore, bury, disregard, etc. You may even have seen it before, but again didn't take the time to let it heal and/or help it heal.

Often times, issues can be resolved through simple acknowledgement, by seeing them instead of hiding from them.  When it comes to your inner child though, those wounds, more than likely, have been around for a considerable amount of time and have been shoved to side or underground for just as long, especially if it feels very vulnerable and tender.

The best thing you can do is to live it.  This is your real life internal state of being.  Give your wounded inner child as much light and love as it needs to heal for as long as it takes to heal.  You cannot rush this process. Keep it in the forefront of your beingness.  Have your adult self step in and take care of your inner child and its wound.

Make sure not to bury or put your wounded inner self aside again.  Give your inner child all the love, respect, attention, compassion, understanding, caring, etc. that you have always wanted. Do it for as long as needed.  Heal the gap between you and your inner child. It will change your life.

Accomplishment

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." by Vince Lombardi

Roadblocks, or what I like to call 'learning opportunities', cross our paths to help us learn and grow. While they may make us stumble and fall, rising again, which can be equated to learning, is your ticket to moving ahead. Getting up is already a huge win/a great accomplishment, because it means that you are willing to go on and aren't giving up, you are embracing change.  :)

Creativity

Creativity is an expression of spirituality.  Creativity requires inspiration which as the word says comes from Spirit. Another reason why it is so important to nurture creativity. It is a spiritual element that helps you gain balance in addition to the physical and mental aspects.  :)

Winter

"In the depth of winter, I finally found that within me there lay an invincible summer." by Albert Camus

No matter how cold the outside world, there is always warmth to be found inside of you. :)

Ironically winter warms my heart too...I love winter hikes, snow and skiing!

Let's Pretend...

A great way to encourage right brain activity to increase living a spirit guided life and/or becoming more intuitive is playing the 'Pretend' game.  When your feel yourself becoming significant and overly analytical, switch your thinking and say to yourself and/or others: "Let's pretend...".

This simple sentence starter immediately shifts your brain activity, exercises your right brain, encourages your imagination, and opened up your intuitive channels.  Have fun with it.  :)

Emotional Flares

Emotions can flare when you least expect it. What can you do?  When it does happen, do your best to get some time alone.  Take a pen and paper and start giving words to your feelings.  Do not analyze them, do not structure anything, just let it flow.  I find just words, adjectives or short descriptions work best.  Keep feeling what you are feeling.  The more words you jut down, the closer you get to feeling and/or seeing in your minds eye the source of the emotional flare.

You will know that you are at the source when you start feeling calm again.  More often than not it will be something in your distant past unrelated to the actual event in the present that caused the flare. Once the source is identified, change it using your current tools.  If it is your inner child feeling sad and abandoned, for example, have your adult self take him/her by the hand and reassure him/her that you will take care of him/her and that he/she is not alone anymore or ever again.  :)

How To Achieve The Impossible

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." by Walt Disney

Everything is possible if you believe you can it make happen and then do it.

This is the simple recipe:

1. dream it,
2. believe it,
3. and do it.  :)

Plant A Seed Of Love

Young adults are very impressionable and it is not easy for them to find their way (nor is it for adults for that matter). While you do the best you can with your kids, there are so many other kids out there that may not be as fortunate to have loving parents, or who have simply lost their way, despite the parents' best intention, or who don't believe in themselves/anyone around them, etc.

Sometimes, especially in the teenage years, the influence of another caring adult (vs. a parent) can be of great impact.  Make it a point today to reach out to one young adult that you think might benefit from an interaction with you.  Whether it makes a difference or not, you may never know, but it should never stop you from reaching out and giving it a shot. Unconditional love given will always be just that: Unconditional love. Planting seeds of love will make this planet a better place in the long run.

Reactions

Shining your light and standing in your center causes varied reactions in the people around you. Some are drawn to it and inspired by it. In others it brings out insecurities and fears, such as jealousy, resentment, & judgement.  This, again, depicts the duality of life.

The interesting thing is that the more you embrace who you are for everyone to see, the less either reaction affects you. Whatever the reaction, it is irrelevant to your essence.  You start observing these reactions with compassion and understanding, as well as forgiveness and love.

Intertwined

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." by Khalil Gibran

I love the perspective of this quote.  Not only is it good for you to walk barefoot and bond with nature, but earth/nature wants you the be a part of her too. We are intertwined and a part of each other. We need her as she needs us, as we all need each other.

Personal Space

Just as you want others to value & respect your personal space, you need to value and respect it too. Odds are everyone wants something from you all day long (including your inner drive). Find a physical space you can go to to give yourself room to breathe.

It is not only about the time.  It is more effective if you have a designated physical space where you can find peace and you are not disturbed.  Make it happen. It will nourish you deeply.

Cat & Stones

Today I was setting up a booth at a nearby nursery that had a resident cat.  The cat was completely aloof and skitty at first.  By the time I had laid out my minerals and balanced chakra stones, the cat kept coming closer and closer.

The mineral starter set is what caught her attention first and she went back to it several times.  Then she went to the chakra crystals and finally fully stepped into my box full of Martite crystals!  It seemed to be drawn to their energy and seemed to be soaking it all in.  There was no doubt she liked being there.  After that she became super affectionate toward me and started purring.  Amazing.

Animals are so in tune with and sensitive towards nature.  It was really neat to see this animal's behavior and "transformation", as well as the attraction she felt towards my 'rocks'.  :)

Colors

Colors have an amazing effect on your mood.  As I was cleaning off some of the minerals I collected during my last trip, the colors of the conichalcite (intense medium green) and chrysocolla (turquoise blue) were simply stunning, calming and uplifting. While, of course, the crystals itself have a lot to do with it too (these are both heart chakra crystals), it reminded me of the power of color alone.

Take a look in your life: For example take a look at what you are wearing right now.  Do the colors feel right to you? What colors do you like to wear?  Do you wear colors according to your mood?  What colors do you surround yourself with?  What is your favorite color?  What is your favorite food and what color does it have?  Are you seeing a pattern? Do you like what you are finding out or would you like to change it?

Colors can help you balance your subtle energy body too. Surround yourself with colors that make you feel good.  :)

Do You Have Fun?

What do you do for fun?  Do you have a hobby or something you enjoy doing that you actually do on a regular basis? Can you name something specific, that you have done in the last week for your entertainment, just for the fun of it?

It is easy to loose yourself in work, duties, responsibilities and forget what your heart and soul want/need.  As you get older your duties and responsibilities will change and then what?  If you loose your connection to yourself the transitions may turn out to be very hard. Also, you are living your life unconsciously.  You have surrendered to a routine and have lost touch with yourself.

Make time to dream, make time to play. Today is all there is and why not have fun living it? It is all in your perception, in your thoughts and in your heart.  Melt them together and have fun!

Nothing Lasts But Change

This quote caught my attention today: "Nothing Lasts But Change.".  It was on a picture in a house at Bodie State Historic Park in California that showed four pictures at different time intervals of the town of Bodie.

Many people, if not most of us, work hard to avoid change and yet change is the one constant in our lives.  Ironic, isn't it?  These four words so clearly show the importance of accepting change instead of fighting and opposing it.

Change is the one thing you can always count on.  Make friends with it and your life will become more than you imagined it could be.  :)

Love Your Pet

Pets often take a backseat when you are busy.  It is easy to just worry about their "essential" needs, such as food, water, potty breaks and then go on with your day.

My dogs reminded me today that it isn't enough for them, nor is it enough for me.  The hugs, the kisses and the snuggles are just as important for them as they are for you! They don't only heal your aura, but also open your heart and feed your soul.

Give your pet love today and everyday.  You will receive it back in abundance.  :)

Intuitiion Game

Today I spent the day searching for minerals in Mother Nature.  We went to an area that has limonite crystals which have a cubic crystalline form.  It was quite easy to find an abundance of 1/4-1/2 inch limonite cubes.  I was told though that you can find much larger ones.

I decided to let my intuition guide me and make a game of it.  I opened my heart and focused on finding a large crystal.  Then I felt with my heart, scanning the area in a 360 degree fashion.  When I would feel an energy increase I would go into that direction.

Low and behold, the crystals I found got bigger - I found 3 cubes that were 1 x 1 inches.  Encouraged I kept focusing on larger.  I did end up finding one cube that was 2 x 2 inches.  I was thrilled!!!

Coincidence?  Maybe, though I believe in manifesting thoughts.  Either way I had a great time and loved the game.  Try it sometime or make up your own variation.  :)

Take A Backseat

Taking the lead, being in control at all times is a tough role that takes a lot of energy.  The interesting thing is that there are probably more times than not where you are so used to taking on that responsibility that you might forget that you don't have to, that is is optional and maybe even not productive at all.

This week take time to take a backseat!  Choose not to be in control at all times and see what happens. Pass on to others their responsibility and encourage them to step up to the plate.  See what it feels like on the other side. See what this different perspective does for you.

One More Way To Heal The Aura

I would like to share one more way to heal any holes in your aura as shared by Robert Friedenstein in 2012 at the Intrinsic Data Field Conference in Albuquerque.

For this method you need a member of the opposite gender to assist you.  Both people face each other and clasp each other's bared forearms for a couple of minutes or whatever feels right to you.  Note that this will not work with a person of the same gender.  This healing works with the Yin Yang/Male-Female energies balancing each other.

It is very easy to do!  Do this with someone you care about and someone who cares about you too. That includes your children, spouse, friend, etc.  It is also important that they are open to this type of energy exchange and that they are not critical and/or skeptical of the process.

Ways To Heal Your Aura

In my last post I talked about factors that can cause fissures in the Aura and suggested some ways to heal and/or prevent such fissures.  Here is a more extensive list of remedies and modalities you can use to heal the Aura based on James Tyberonn's November 3rd, 2013 teleseminar (for more information on James Tyberonn visit www.earth-keeper.com):

* Sage the auric field
* Visualize the Aura encapsulated in Golden Light
* Prayer
* Salt water baths
* Natural thermal pools
* Flowing waters (living waters)
* Phi crystals (Vogel Phi and Dreams)
* Appropriate gemstone and noble metal application (metatronic shield)
* Acupuncture
* Massage
* Exercise
* Sounds - Tuning forks and crystal bowls
* Toning
* Practicing centeredness and in the process avoid sinking into negative thinking or extreme emotional outbursts
* Pets
* True friendships
* Support groups

Use and/or combine as many as you want. :)

Factors That Cause Auric Fissures

Your Aura needs maintenance, just like your physical body does. There are certain factors that can disrupt your auric field and create fissures cracks in the aura.  These fissures leak your energy (energetic bleed). Here is a list of such factors:

* Stress
* Conflicts
* Negative thoughforms
* Emotional lows, such as depression
* Anger
* Energy Differentials
* Air travel
* Excessive use of cell phones
* Computers/Microwaves


Knowledge is power. Be aware that these factors do influence and affect your auric field. Most of my posts so far have dealt with how to deal with the first six points. For the other three points, know that they do affect your auric field and thus take extra measures to seal/repair cracks that may form in your aura.  Gems, crystals and minerals project beneficial vibrations AND also assist in protecting the auric field by deflecting 'harmful' vibrations.  For example a small piece of pyrite and malachite can help deflect the electromagnetic field of computers.

Friends

"A true friend is one that knows you and loves you just the same." by Elbert Hubbard

Where would you be without a friend?  Without someone to confide and trust in?  Someone you know loves you no matter what?  Life would be quite empty and lonely.

So why not take some time and reach out to that special person(s) today that has been a blessing in your life.  Thank him/her/them for knowing you and loving you just the way you are.  :)

Thank you friend!

Time To Rest

Big changes take a lot of energy. When you feel drained, do yourself a favor a listen to your tiredness and rest.  Even if you think you don't have the time, the hour or two you might need just to lay down will save you a lot of sick time.

This type of tiredness is not always physical, but emotional and mental. I find that prayer really works well at this point too when you are resting.  Ask for a cleansing of your field and recharging of your batteries. Ask for whatever you think you need.  And again, rest!  Let everything go.

Center Interactions

"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." by Lao Tzu

In any discussion or conversation, when you are in your center you are operating from state that diffuses conflict. You are operating on a soul level that other souls recognize on a subconscious and sometimes conscious level. It is a unselfish interaction.  It just is. It doesn't mean that it is liked, but the sincerity of it resonates with all involved. It goes beyond emotions and beyond the mind. It is ethereal.

Emotional Pain

What do you do when you are in emotional pain? Do you fight it? Ignore it? Bury it and act like nothing is the matter? Or do you let it be?  Do you acknowledge it?  Do you give yourself space to feel the pain?

I find that when you let the pain in, feel it and take time to "look" at it, it looses strength and intensity. Part of the human experience and growth process is to work and deal with various emotions.  It is okay to be sad and to hurt sometimes too. Giving yourself permission to feel this once in a while is not only okay, but necessary to work through it. 

When you explore your emotions, you will find that the pain is not as bad as you thought it was while you were fighting it. You will also feel good about acknowledging to yourself that you are not okay and that you are willing to take care of yourself.  Self love at this point is invaluable and very healing.  Be good and true to yourself.

Walk Your Talk

One of the more challenging aspects of living a heart centered life/following your path is the implementation of your learnings and/or teachings.  It is so easy to slip back into old habits and to do what you have always done.

Take heart though... and: practice, practice, practice.  Sooner or later the learnings will become your default and as natural as breathing air.  The more you consciously apply and practice what you teach/learn, the better things will flow for you.

Creating A Safe Haven

Your environment, the place you live in, ideally is filled with with things/items you love.  Today, take a few moments to look at the physical objects you surround yourself with.  Pick just one room to start with and look around.  How do the various pieces in that room feel to you?  Do they increase or decrease your energy?  Do you feel peaceful, joyful, nervous, uneasy, happy, etc. around each piece?

Your home is your haven.  Make sure that only things that serve you are in your surroundings.  If anything doesn't feel right, remove it.  If you can't part with it yet, at least take it out of that room.  It will make a huge difference to physically remove what doesn't serve you.  You are creating a space you can draw peace, love and a general sense of well being from.

Silence

Do you take time to simply be in silence?  When you sit in silence with no distractions, take a deep breath and openly listen to what your body and your emotions are telling you.  Tell your mind to take a break and move aside for a bit to hear what else is going on with you.

These moments are so rare anymore for most of us and yet, they are so important and powerful for our wellbeing.  Part of you may be reluctant to do this - there is usually some fear based reason behind it.  That is why you take a deep breath, to reassure your fear that all is fine.  You are finding out more about you and there is nothing you can't face when you are whole and accepting of all of you.

Happiness

"The purpose of our lives is to be happy." by the Dalai Lama

So how do you achieve this?

"If you want to be happy, practice compassion." by the Dalai Lama

There is not much more to say, is there?  ;)

Holding A Positive Thought

Try holding one positive thought for 15 seconds.  Do it now, before reading on...

How easy or hard was it?  What did you notice?  Did you do it for a few seconds and then went on with your life?  Did you get sidetracked?  Were you asking yourself why you were doing this?

It is not easy holding one positive thought.  Our mind is so used to being all over the place that we have a hard time focusing and really controlling what is going on in there.

A good way to start training your mind to be focused is to pick a positive thought and re-live it in detail. That means how did it feel to you, what did you see, smell, touch, taste, etc.  

Now you may be wondering: why do I need to focus my mind? The thoughts you are sending out is what you are attracting.  The clearer and focused your thoughts, the easier it will be to attract what you wish.

Vacuums & Energy

Why is it important to clear your physical, emotional and mental space?  When there is a vacuum, energy flows into it.  So when you are creating physical, emotional and/or mental space with a specific intent, you are creating a vacuum into which specific energy can flow, thus aiding the manifestation process.  :)

Hang In There

When you are working on manifesting your dreams, take heart when you are presented with challenges.  The challenges don't mean that you are not manifesting properly.  All it means is that there is some facet/aspect on your way that needs to be improved and you are given the opportunity to do just that.

The key is to persevere and not to give up! As long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible. Learn from what the Universe is offering and apply it toward your manifestation. :)

Feel Your Manifestation

When you are working on attracting something or someone into your life, one very important aspect is to take time, everyday, to really feel what it is like when you have already manifested your outcome. So if, for example, you are wanting to attract a soulmate, you need to spend time feeling right now the way you would as if the person is already in your life.

Make a commitment, like twice a day, to consciously focus on that feeling as if you already achieved the manifestation.  The more you can hold that space the stronger the draw for manifestation.  In the process you are also increasing your heart vibration.  You become a magnet for that energy.

Passion

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." by Nelson Mandela

Are you settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living?  This is a tough question. It is tough because admitting that you are settling is then followed by another question: Why are you settling and is that what you want?  Settling is never fulfilling and simply cannot be passionate.

You are born with passion inside of you, passion for something that plays to your strengths, to your personal energy.  When you follow it, it completely fills you and fulfills you.  Wouldn't you rather be living your life full of passion?

Play!

As I was playing fetch the ball with the dogs today, they kept running through dried leaves one of the maple trees had shed in the garden.  The crunching sound caught my attention and suddenly I had this urge to go up to the leaves and throw them high up in the air over my head.  And so I did!

It was absolutely silly and fun! I laughed heartily and it made me feel like a kid again.  Though it was short lived, I am still smiling with the memory of it.

So I encourage you to embrace your inner child today.  Do something non-adult, let the child in you play.  Even if it is just for a minute with something as silly as picking up a bunch of leaves and throwing them high up in the air.  It is very freeing and also another memory that nourishes you.  Have fun!  Play!

Physical Energy Clearing Technique

Here is a simple energy clearing technique, as described by Donna Eden, you can use whenever you feel like you are dragging, not thinking clearly and/or feel like you are not connected:

Put one finger, preferably the middle finger into your belly button and pull your belly button up high. At the same time put your other middle finger at the third eye (the middle of your forehead) and pull them both up. Take deep breaths while doing this (at least 3 deep breaths).

This will "hook" you back up energetically and you will feel better. It is quickly and easily done and can be done as many times as you like.  :)

Allow Energy

As I was listening to a teleseminar with Donna Eden the following statement caught my attention:  "Energy is not about effort.  It is about allowing."

We are so used to thinking that if you work hard and you do all the right things that you will be rewarded.  As many of us know this does work sometimes and then other times it just doesn't at all.

Energy wants to flow and serve.  When you work against it, it won't matter how hard you try, you won't be able to succeed.  You are working against your Higher Self, your highest good and potential.

Instead of seeing it as a barrier when you are not getting what you think you want, accept it and look where energy flows naturally. Allow energy into your life and let it work for you.

Seeing

What you see with your eyes is not always what you think it is.  Sometimes it takes faith to be able to see.

JUST DO IT

All my life I have loved minerals.  One of my wishes/dreams has been to go mineral collecting in nature, but I never actively pursued it.  A few weeks ago I found out that I friend of mine was part of a mineral collecting group here in Utah that do field trips once a month to collect minerals.

Though I really wanted to do it, I was still reluctant, because of fears like what do I need to take, how do I do this, will I be the only female and thus will I be accepted, etc.  With my friend's gentle guidance and help, I finally went on my first mineral collecting trip.  It was a fabulous trip, truly a dream come true.  I got to do something I really, really love for a whole day.  I was in nature, collecting shiny crystals, touching mother earth continually, hiking and the weather was perfect.  I feel so grounded, through and through happy & recharged.  Being around Martite (the mineral we collected) helped too since it is a grounding, first chakra crystal.

The big lesson or daily insight I would like to share with you is:  When you know that you want to do something, JUST DO IT.  Forget all the what ifs and excuses and JUST DO IT.  If you don't do it today, when will you?  Collecting minerals is hard physical work.  I am glad I did not wait another 30 years before I got up the courage to go on a mineral hunting trip... :)

So what is it you have always wanted to do but haven't yet?  Is it playing the piano, flying a kite, going para sailing, learning how to swim, seeing the Grand Canyon, hiking Mount Ogden...  What is it?  Ask your heart - it knows!  And then JUST DO IT. Do yourself the favor, take a leap and have the time of your life!  :)

Teaching

What is the best way to integrate teachings and learnings for your personal growth on your heart centered path?  It is teaching!  Through teaching you are constantly conscious of what you can do and how you can improve.  Thus you are more likely to apply it to your everyday life and thus become more proficient at it until it becomes second nature.

Teaching can be done in so many ways.  Whether formally in a classroom, or informally by sharing verbally or in written with another person or persons, all serves the same purpose to you and your development.

We are all students and teachers.  Embrace both equally!  It is all part of who we are.  :)

Nature & Silence

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...  We need silence to be able to touch souls." by Mother Teresa

Silence can be very powerful - in silence you can get in touch with yourself and through that process touch others too.

I love looking at the moon and the stars as well as at the trees, flowers and grass.  Any time you open your senses to Mother Nature you are rewarded with beauty and energy.  There is strength and comfort it its steadfastness and predictable cycles.  Mother Nature is true to herself and in her silent consistency a perfect role model for us all.

You Are Not Your Circumstance

Today I read Alan Seale's newletter which was entitled: "You are not your circumstance".  What he went on to describe in short was that life happens, things happen, but they are not who you are and that you can choose who you are.  You have the choice to make them personal/identify with them or to stay true to your core and respond from that balanced position.

While you do attract situations and circumstances, you do so to grow from them.  The more you learn to respond from your center, the less you will attract such situations, because you are growing into being true to yourself.  Choose to be you, not your circumstance.  :)

Brighten Someone Else's Day

It doesn't take much to make someone else's day a little brighter and a little lighter.  Tonight I went outside in the dark to harvest the last grapes because there is a hard frost warning for tonight.  I couldn't do it during the daytime because the wasps were all over them.

While I was out there with a flashlight, a container and scissors, trying to figure out how to do this, my youngest walks out to help me.  It made the job a lot easier, that's for sure!  I was very grateful and it didn't take a lot of time.

Take time today to make someone else's day a better day.  Remember, it doesn't need to be a huge thing.  The littlest things or even gestures can shift another person's day completely.  Today, be that positive influence.  :)

Variables

Life is unpredictable and yet, we like to think we can control it.  Thus you can find yourself trying to control too many variables at once which only leads to you being drained of energy in no time.

Should you find yourself energyless and with too many variables, take a step back and simplify.  What can you control?  Where can you make a difference right now?  Push everything else aside and make it very simple. Focus on the one immediate thing you can make a difference in.  When your head is so full of question marks and dead ends, doing something that is more routine and methodical might be the best choice.

In time you will regain energy as well as perspective, which will put you back on track.  Remember, when your head is too full, empty it.

How Old Are You?

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Do you find that your actual age doesn't match how old or young you feel?

Your thoughts and feelings about your age have a real impact on your physical manifestation.  The younger you feel and think you are, the younger you will be and vice versa. :)

Milestone Birthday

Milestone birthdays, such as your oldest son turning 18, give you cause to pause and ponder what life has brought you in these 18 years.  It is such a blessing to be able to witness and partake in the unfolding of another human being's life, especially one you love so much.

As a parent you are given such an extraordinary gift from the moment of conception.  Their life is their own and yet, you remember more of that person's life than they do themselves...like when they were born, their first smile, their first step, the many trips to the zoo, the reading of books, etc.  And after what seems to be the blink of an eye they turn 18 and officially become adults.

Each memory is priceless and highly cherished, as will all the memories yet to come.  And today, I celebrate the wonderful being he is with a heart full of love and gratitude, wishing him all the best life has to offer now and always.  Happy Birthday Wesley!

Music

Music transcends age.  Through music you can bond with any generation as long as you are open to something new.  It can even make you a "cool" mom to your children's friends...

As my kids have grown up we have gone from Barney the purple dinosaur songs to all kinds of alternative, international, out in the left field music they can find nowadays.  It has been a joy to see them expand and find their own tastes and I have been exposed to music I love, that I would have (most likely) never found on my own.  Most of all these songs always remind me of my kids and all the memories associated with those songs.  In a way music can be like a photo album, packed full of great memories.

Taking A Leap Of Faith

Have you ever just taken a plunge purely on faith? Just like in the Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade movie, where Indiana has to cross a deep canyon and there is no bridge.  He has to believe and trust without seeing and take that first step that looks like it will plunge him into the abyss.  Only when he takes that first step on faith does the bridge materialize.

There are situations you cannot figure out in advance, no matter how hard you try.  Those are the times where you need to dig deep within yourself and simply believe, trust, have faith that will help you take that unknown step.  You will "know" what to do and when to do it, not from a mind standpoint but from a "higher power" standpoint.

Focus

"When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance." by Joel Osteen

This is the beauty of the law of attraction...  Be what you want to attract.  :)

Wasp Stings and Onions

Yesterday my finger swelled up to twice its normal size due to a wasp bite.  From personal experience I knew that on day two my body would react to the stinger venom with what is known as a 'large local reaction', where the sting site becomes very swollen, itchy, red, painful and hot to the touch.  The last time it took two weeks for the symptoms to go away!

So when I developed the symptoms on my middle finger I was worried.  Based on information on onions and their healing properties that my mom had shared with me I decided to wrap my finger with a layer of raw onion for a couple of hours in hopes that the onion would draw out the venom (or do something...anything...).

In less than 12 hrs all redness, pain and itching was completely gone.  After only 24 hrs the swelling is almost completely gone too (90%).  I am thrilled with the results!  Nature is amazing!!!

Sending Light & Love To The World

Our world always benefits from more love and positive energy.  When you feel inspired, or when you simply want to do something good for your fellow human beings and/or the earth, go into a meditative state, where you clear you mind and settle into a comfortable breathing pattern.  Then visualize white light and love going through you and from you out into the world and to your fellow human beings.

In your minds eye see the white light and love bathe and infuse everyone and everything.  Keep this visual as long as feels comfortable for you.  Anyone can do it.  You will see how it benefits you too.  :)

Win Or Loose

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." by Arnold Schwarzeneger

Win or loose remember what you learned along the way rather than solely focusing on the outcome.  In some instances only one person can win, but that doesn't mean that all efforts were for nothing.  If it makes you stronger, you are a winner too.

Self Acceptance

How easy is it for you to accept a compliment?  Do you qualify it or even belittle it?  Do you doubt it or can you fully accept it without self-judgement?

What about a 'thank you'? Do you answer with: "No, thank you!" or "Not a big deal." or "No problem." Look closely at these answers - none of them accept the given 'thank you', which means that you, yourself, don't believe in the value of what you are being thanked for.

Accepting a compliment, positive statement, or a thank you is an art form too.  Pay attention and look at them, let them in.  Being able to receive them is a reflection of your self acceptance.

Fake It Until You Become It

"Fake it until you make it." is a common saying nowadays.  What if instead, as someone shared with me today, you would say: "Fake it until you become it."?

The simple change of one word made the whole sentence more personal and empowering.  You are owning your change.  It is personal to you and your development.

So instead of "making" it, "become" it.  Become the change.  :)

Following Your Internal Compass

The more you are in touch with who you are the less importance you give to what others might think or say.  You follow an internal compass that shows you the right way for you.  And that is ultimately what you are here for - to learn your lessons.

No two paths are the same.  Thus while you can learn from others, you will need to make your own decisions, and while you can give advice to others, they will need to find their own path too.  Judgment has no place in this give and take process.  The giving has to be given freely and lovingly as does the taking with no hidden agendas nor strings attached.

Expand Your World

Sometimes you get so lost in your own world and your own problems that you loose sight of what is going on around you.  Take time to stop and experience everything around you too.  Though it doesn't change what is going on for you, it does give you perspective and it can foster gratitude for all the blessing you do have in your life.

Life goes on all around you and everyone experiences their challenges and joys. When you are deep in your own world and getting nowhere, open your senses to those around you as well as to nature (something simple as a gentle rain can make you feel peaceful).  Choose to feel and think something else.  Consciously expand your world.

Carve Out Time For Yourself

When you are having a physically and emotionally draining time you will find, if you listen closely, the call to find quiet time, a time to regroup possibly through meditation.  Ironically when you are experiencing this busy, draining time, the last thing you seem to be willing to do is carve out that precious time to give to yourself.

So when you are in this situation, be kind to yourself and give yourself this quiet time.  Your soul is crying out for a moment of peace, for the chance to regroup, rebalance and recharge.  The time needed is never long, but the results are vastly positive.  Give yourself this gift.

Stress Eating Release

When your find yourself stress eating, after you are fully conscious that that is indeed what you are doing, give yourself permission to do so but add the following twist:  With each bite release whatever it is that is making you want to stress eat.  With each crunch or each sweet tasting morsel send the tension out of you and release it to the Universe, ask the angels to take it away.  Keep the visual alive with each bite until you feel better.

I tried this for the first time today and it was interesting...The need to finish the whole bag of pita chips faded quickly.  I had about a handful of chips and then was ready to put them back in the pantry, satisfied and feeling lighter.  Loved it!  Try it and see how it works for you.  :)

Take Time To Process Events

When unexpected situations happen, especially if they seem wrong and/or unfair and most of all trigger you emotionally, take time to process what has happened before responding.  Start by pushing it off of you (which means don't obsess on it) and then sleep on it.  Your mind and emotions will be a lot clearer after some sleep.

Then work on not getting caught up in the emotion/drama of it all, and focus on what is most important for the good of all and how it can be achieved.  Set your course of action and pursue it.

Keep checking your emotions.  If you are still emotionally unbalanced about it step back and reevaluate the situation in relation to the greater good.  Reassess your goal and go for it.

Allow The Unexpected To Happen

"You have to take risks.  We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."  by Paulo Coelho

Allowing the unexpected to happen does not feel natural to most people anymore.  We are too used to attempting to control everyone and everything around us in a desperate attempt to achieve a fictitious state of stagnant balance, a utopia our mind fabricates.

When you allow the unexpected to happen, you are trusting and have faith in something bigger than you.  You give up control and most of all allow energy to flow through you, instead of blocking it. This allows you to be in the flow of life again, letting you experience all of its wonders.

One simple way to check if you are blocking energy from flowing is to pay attention to your breathing. You'll be amazed how often you do not let your breath energy flow through your whole body. Be mindful of your energy flow today.  Find the blocks and imagine them being softened and removed through your breath.  Give yourself the gift of letting energy flow freely through you and see what happens.  :)

Everything Is Relative

Everything is relative.  Your worst experience might look mild compared to someone else's experience. While you are living it, it is the worst.  When you get past it and/or see how your worst still looks like a piece of cake compared to another situation, it immediately lightens your situation.

What has happened to you is is still unchanged.  The only thing that has changed is your perspective. It goes to show how nothing really matters as much as you think it does and that "this too shall pass".

The more often you experience this consciously the less important dramatic events become and the easier it will be to stay in balance and in your center.

Imagination

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." by Albert Einstein

Interesting thought, isn't it?  Our society is so focused on knowledge.  Imagination seems to be a frivolous activity. What would our lives be like if imagination was the more important factor, if you were able to land a job based on your imagination, if you were valued and compensated by your creativity and not your knowledge?

What would that be like?  Just imagine...  :)

Reach Out

If you need help, reach out to those who love you. Just like you can only help someone else if they want to be helped, you need to speak up when you need help too. Put your pride and prejudices aside and give it a shot.  You just might be positively surprised and helped too.  :)

Integrating Fun

When you are working toward a goal it is easy to get significant and too serious about what you are trying to achieve (especially if you are an overachiever!).  When you loose your playfulness, creativity goes down and the task becomes harder to achieve.  Once only the head/mind is engaged you may still get the job done, but you will not have enjoyed the journey and odds are that the results won't be as great as they could have been.

Whatever your goal is make sure you have fun along the way.  Enjoy what you do.  Even if it is not apparent sometimes, find the silver lining on the journey and make it a part of your goal.

Blank

What do you do when you find yourself in a situation where you draw a blank as to what/how to advise someone else?

Accept the blank!  It is OK to do/say nothing.  Sometimes that is the appropriate thing to do.  It can well be that the other person needs to figure things out on their own.  Let the situation play out without your input.  That too is a solution and one that is warranted at that point too.

Age

Every age has its ups and downs.  The trick to life is to embrace all ages with an open heart, an open mind and make the best of it all.  Love all each age has to give.  One thing you can always count on is that with age comes change.

To Fix Or Not To Fix

When you see your children going though a tough time it is a natural instinct to want to help them and/or fix it for them.  There is a fine line as to when it is appropriate to do so and when it is better to let them resolve their own situation.  The truth is you cannot always be there for them and they have their lessons to learn too.

Remove yourself emotionally as best as possible when the situation arises and evaluate from a neutral standpoint what makes the most sense.  Sometimes you may just want to ask if help is needed.  Other times you may choose not to interfere and then again you may find it better to do something.  Either way it is most imperative to respond rather than react.

Shifting Focus

Sometimes it is ok to make someone else angry on purpose or at least try to get under their skin. Never thought this to be true, but my daughter was so stuck in her head during a tennis match that nothing seemed to penetrate it.  She was in a self induced funk and unable to break out of it.

I finally suggested to her coach to make her angry, since she had tried every other possible positive approach. I theorized that a distraction, even if "negative", would stop her from playing the same self distructive tape she was playing in her head and shift her focus. And it worked!  She got out of her funk and won the match.

So the insight is when you see someone else not being able to let go of a thought pattern, see if you can get under their skin or do something to shift their focus.  Once you break their self-induced spell you can start working with them again.  :)

Enhancing Crystal Healing

Since the beginning of recorded history, almost every culture has placed an extraordinary amount of value on precious gems.  Crystals and gems were highly respected for their remarkable, even magical powers and vibrational healing properties, which is still true nowadays too.

If you do wear jewelry one way to enhance the healing properties is to put your consciousness toward it.  You do that by simply touching and/or looking at the stone(s) and accepting its energy as needed by you.  The more you do this the better your results.

By making the process conscious on your end you co create your healing.

Self-Nourishment Exercise

Today take time to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself at least five times each:

I believe in you!
I love you!
I forgive you!
I accept all of you!
I cherish you!
I adore you!

Really look at yourself and put your heart into it.  See what happens for you.  Go with the flow.

Pressuring Yourself

Do you ever pressure yourself beyond reason?  Do you ever get so caught up in your standards that you loose sight of the situation at hand?  When you find yourself in this stressful situation, stop and breathe!  Step out of it and reassess not just your goal, but your standards and how they apply to the situation at hand.

It is very possible that at this point you are living out an old pattern of yours that is bringing up long standing fears.  Instead of letting the fears get the better of you, choose to face them in context of the current situation (this is very important).  It will give you a "real" perspective and dissolve the fear.

ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT

ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT.

I saw these three words printed in bold today. Though I have blogged about this before, I found this format very powerful.  It is short, to the point and easy to burn visually into your brain.

Keep these three words close today and see them in your minds eye.  Feel that energy follow your thoughts and more importantly pay attention to your thoughts! You are in charge.  You create your reality.

Regenerative Time

Often times, when I get super busy, I feel the need to cut out things I enjoy in order to "gain" time and "focus" on what needs to get done.

Though technically you are gaining time, depriving yourself of time off/regenerative time costs you more time in the end.  You need this time to reenergize.

Thus, especially when you are busy, make time for brief regenerative breaks.  Though it may feel counter intuitive, it does help you in the long run.

Clearing The Air

As the outside temperatures are finally starting to drop, it is good to be able to open the windows and let the fresh air in again.

Take time to breathe in that fresh air and let it air out not just your home but also your body.  Think: "In with the good" as you are breathing in and "out with the bad" as you are breathing out. Just as you are clearing the air in your home, clear the air too in your inner home.  :)

Puzzle Pieces

If everything happens in your life for a reason then all those events are like puzzle pieces.  It is up to you to put your puzzle together and see how all the pieces fit.

When you are younger it is harder to see the big picture, because some pieces may still missing.  As you get older the picture becomes clearer.  If you look close enough you can often see why certain things/events happened to you and how they fit in on a larger scale, though at the time it didn't make sense or didn't seem to matter.

Take some time today and think about your life to date on a large scale.  Why were you born where you were born?  Why did you choose the parents that you did? Why did you live where you lived? Etc. What do you see?  If your life is a puzzle, how is it coming together for you?

Accepting Your Strengths

Do you know what your strengths are?  Do you fully accept your strengths?  This may sound like an odd question, but do you? 

Accepting your strengths and living them to their fullest potential can be scary too.  Take time today to see where you might be holding back, where you are reluctant to shine "because you don't want to outshine others for fear of hurting their feelings".  Feel your strengths and know that by using & showing them you are giving everyone else around you permission to do the same.  You can be an inspiration to others to be the best they can be too by taking a chance and being all that you can be yourself.

Peace And Inspiration

There is peace to be found when you stop looking for answers, when you stop waiting for something to happen/for your expectations to come true, when you find acceptance in what is and whatever may happen.  Peace is yours for the choosing.

Inspiration can be found everywhere.  It is all around you in nature, in people, in animals, etc.  When you put all judgement and beliefs aside and truly open to what is around you, you will start seeing with different eyes.  Your heart will be open to what is and you will see courage, beauty, bravery, goodness, possibilities, etc, in short inspiration everywhere.

Life is happening now.  Choose your peace and  let yourself be inspired.  That is where happiness and joy are.

Reminder

Once in a while we all need a reminder that we are bigger and better than we believe ourselves to be. Thus know that you are!

As you read this blog know your greatness, feel your power and trust your instincts. You are all you want to be and more. Believe in yourself.  I believe in you!  :)

The Family Test

If you want to see how far you have come in your personal development, spend time with your family and observe yourself and how you interact with them.  Our deepest patterns and behaviours are linked to our early interaction with family members.

Thus if you start noticing changes in your interactions with family members you can rest assured that you are moving forward significantly. Congratulations! If not, be kind to yourself and give it more time.  It has taken a long time to develop your patterns and it will take some time to alter them.  Trust your baby steps and keep at it!

Daily Existance

Take a look at the following scale while thinking of your daily life.  Are you:

Surviving, getting by, making it, having enough, having plenty, living in abundance?

How does it feel to you?  Are you comfortable with it?  Is this where you want to be?  Is there a difference when you think about your external reality vs. your internal reality while looking at this scale?  Where is your comfort zone?

Become aware of your perception.  There is no right or wrong here.  What is important is for you to be conscious of your beliefs when it comes to how you live and if they match where you want to be.  If they do - great!  If they don't, start consciously changing your old beliefs on your way to realizing your new reality.

Predicting Others

To predict how other people will react to changes in your life is a fruitless exercise.  Based on their preferences, biases and fears that are not always known to you, their reaction will be unique to their life and what you are mirroring to them.

You can save yourself a lot of time and headaches by letting go of predicting other people's reactions to your life. Spend that energy on your own growth and trust that all will be well in the end. 

Respect

Respect needs to be earned.  It is not a given, just because you are older or because you are the parent. If you don't respect the person you are dealing with why should that person respect you in return? Age is irrelevant. Respect is a two way street.

If you treat others the way you want to be treated from a heart centered space, without hidden agendas, then trust and respect automatically grow from this continued action.

Writing

When you are following your inner path, a great tool to help you along the way is actually writing. Whether it is daily journaling, blogging, writing letters or some other form of writing, it is important to not only spend time in your head and heart, but to actually "make it physical".

When you write you need to organize your thoughts and give them form.  Reading back what you wrote also gives you the chance to gain some distance and a new perspective.  It also makes whatever you are writing about more real and, if they are insights or learnings, easier to remember.  You will be more likely to ground changes in you through the process of writing because of its tangible aspect.

Give it a shot and make the time to write in whatever format works for you.  It will enrich your life.  :)

Saying Yes In Your Life

In today's busy lifestyle it is easy to forget that you are in charge of your life, that you have the option to choose.  Take some time every day this week and see what you say "yes" to in your everyday life.

Then start making conscious choices as to what you want to say "yes" to. It may take some getting used to but the rewards are big.  

Sometimes there are things you don't want to do that are however necessary.  When you make a conscious choice to do it anyway, the resistance to it dissipates making it all flow easier, which helps you and those involved.

On the flip side, when you do what you love, energy flows naturally, so everyone is a winner in this scenario too. Being mindful of your time from a heart centered space will facilitate your flow of life as well as that of those around you.

Abundance

"Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into." by Wayne Dyer

Many people think of abundance as material possessions, when in truth it is a state of being. When you feel abundant, when you feel whole and complete, that is when you mirror abundance in the material world too.

Spend more time tuning into abundance vs. focusing on acquiring it.  :)

Thinking And Believing

What happens when you can't out think a situation?  When no matter how much you try to rationalize your way through it there is no clear cut answer you can figure out?  What do you do then?

Believe!  Believe that the solution will come to you.  Believe that you will know what to do and when to do it when the time comes.  Believe in yourself, your intuition, your heart.  Believe in the non-logical. When you get to this point you have already done all the possible thinking you could have ever done.  It is time to have faith, trust and to believe.

Internal Peace

"One cannot reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others." by Lao Tzu

When you have internal peace you can mirror that peace to others.  The trick to have internal peace is to:

1. Find that inner peace.

2. Be that inner peace.

Easier said than done, but the truth is still that simple. Once you experience that inner peace, you know what you are looking for and where to find it.  Being that inner peace then takes practice. One day at a time, one experience at a time, one baby step at a time.  :)  All worth it and all part of the journey.

Wondering What If?

Do you ever wonder what life would have been like if you had made a different choice at some point in your life?  Or do you accept all the choices you have made?

These are two opposing points of view.  Is there a right or wrong one?  Who knows.

Personally, I find it hard to regret choices I have made because any choice I made led to experiences that made me who I am today.  Regretting what could have been only leads to making you feel bad, disempowered, and helpless.  It also keeps you stuck in that moment in time when the decision was made.

If there is something you wish had happened, there is no moment like the now.  If it is something you really want, it is never to late to get it, do it, and/or make peace with it.  Instead of reminiscing, put that energy towards creating today's reality and making your dreams come true.

Asking For Forgiveness

Just as important as giving forgiveness is asking for it.  We are all human, we make mistakes.  Instead of ignoring knowing you did/were wrong, make it right and apologize.

Similar to showing vulnerability, asking for forgiveness is also a strength and something you do for your well being as much as for the other person.  Find your strength and face what you didn't do so well.  If you ignore it then it becomes one more layer you will need to work on some other time.  It is like trying to hide dirt under the rug.  Soon the rug will be floating on dirt.

Saying you are sorry and asking for forgiveness starts the healing process, maybe not always for both parties, but as long as it is heartfelt it will be for you.

Inner & Outer Balance

When you are focused on looking inward, sometimes you forget to also look outward and be aware of those around you, especially those you love.  As always, balance is key...though the inner journey is very important, life does go on.  Find the balance between both.  Your loved ones will give you ample opportunity to help you stay balanced as long as you keep an open line to them and you remember to listen and see them.  When the opportunity arises be open to it and be there for the other person.

In a way you are putting your inner learnings into practice by interacting with someone in the now, thus recreating your personal balance as well as gaining a new perspective.

Express Thankfulness

Whenever I do subtle energy work, I ask for 'my highest support system' to join me and assist me.  I can feel their presence and support.  While I am always thankful for it, I have been neglecting to take the extra moment to thank them for their help.

Today I added thanks and gratitude when I asked for their assistance.  Their response was an immediate shower of gratitude and love in return for the recognition.  It made me smile and of course it felt great.  It was a sweet reminder to be thankful for their presence, love and support.

Whether you can feel, see or hear them, or even if you can't, know they are there at your service, ready to assist you anytime you ask them to (you do need to ask!) and know that they like to be acknowledged too.  Thank them for all they do.  :)

Commitment To Change

Tired of your same old story?  Tired of always trying to please everyone?  Tired of over analyzing everything in your life? Etc.

Make a change today!  Make the commitment to change your story:  Only say things that make you feel good.  Make the commitment to be true to yourself first before you cater to everyone else.  Make the commitment to give your brain a rest and feel with your heart.  See where it takes you.

Know that these 'habits' have taken a lifetime to form and won't be changed overnight.  Implement baby steps: Every time you catch yourself back in your old habit, remember your commitment.  Write it down on a piece of paper or many pieces of paper and keep them handy.  Reread your statement(s) as many times as you need until it becomes second nature.

Remember to praise yourself too when you start noticing changes in you!  Every time is a great accomplishment!!!

Unknowns

What do you believe you deserve in your life?  Truly, deep down, what do you believe you are worthy of?  Do you believe you deserve a miracle in your life?  Or maybe even many miracles?  Or no miracle at all?  Have you ever stopped to wonder why you do or don't?

Many people believe they are not worthy of a miracle or are even scared to experience one.  Choosing to close one's eyes and turn away is 'easier' to handle.  Fear of the unknown and "supernatural" is very common.  Science and logical thinking rules our world.  Coming into balance with the unknown is crucial though to embracing all of who we are.

Intuition, faith, trust, and spirituality are all "unknowns" which have the potential to enrich our lives beyond our expectations and stretch us way beyond our current limits and limitations.  Explore these unknowns and make them a part of your reality.

Seize The Moment

Seizing the moment and being spontaneous can be very invigorating and always enriching.  Be open to opportunities and adventures when they come along.  Be willing to shift gears when the unexpected comes knocking on your door.

Sometimes it is easier to turn your back on them because they might seem like work, or you feel tired, etc.  Everyone deserves a change in pace, everyone can benefit from an adventure once in a while. Make sure you do when it comes your way.  :)

I Choose...

Can you be going through a really tough time and still be happy?  Absolutely!

Your center, your Higher Self, that peaceful inner sanctum that is in all of us, is not affected by external ‘realities’.  It is a constant, accessible at any time you choose.  Remember that it is your choice.

When you find yourself being sucked into the drama of life, know that you can choose to step out of it and into the balance of your center.

For example, competitive situations can be nerve wrecking.  Let’s say you are getting anxious as you are watching a match one of your kids is playing.  Though that anxiety serves absolutely no purpose and does not aid the child in any possible way, it is something protective parents seem to do.  Instead of giving in to the emotions you can become conscious and center yourself.   For example, a quick way to do so is to tell yourself: “I choose to be at peace while watching this game and send my child love & light.” or “I choose to think positive thoughts”.  Of course choose whatever positive affirmation works for you.  I find the first two words (I choose…) very powerful and empowering in that type of a situation. Repeat whatever expression you come up with as many times as you need to until you feel the change in yourself.

Next time you are in an emotionally laden situation, apply this conscious thought and see how it works for you.

Totality Of Possibilities

"The gateways to wisdom and learning are always open, and more and more I am choosing to walk through them.  Barriers, blocks, obstacles, and problems are personal teachers giving me the opportunity to move out of the past and into the Totality Of Possibilities."  by Louise L. Hay

I have chosen to walk through them too, as have you, if you have been following these Daily Insights. Congratulations!!! Enjoy the Totality Of Possibilities!  :)

Taking A Big Step

Sometimes you know what you need to do but are afraid to take the one big step that will completely change your life.  The trick/challenge is to keep working on the fears and peel them away one layer at a time.  It takes courage and perseverance to keep looking, admitting and accepting the various facets involved to peel away each layer.  Each little step though brings you closer to the final big step you know you will take.

As you get closer to taking that step you also get closer to your truth and to yourself.  Though turmoil might be on the horizon, peace is also within you, as is hope, trust and faith.  With that type of backing everything and anything is possible.

Miracles Happen

"Miracles seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes see and our ears can hear what there is about us always."  by Willa Carther as quoted in the book 'The Miracle Chase' by Joan Luise Hill, Katie Mahon, and Mary Beth Phillips, PhD

Loved this quote.  Miracles do happen all around us everyday.  Each of the authors experienced a miracle and that started their quest, the miracle chase.  It reminded me of something I experienced when my oldest had both his arm bones badly broken.  He needed to be anesthetized and the bones reset.  The doctor told us flat out that it was a very bad break and that he didn't think the bones would reset.  He was preparing us for metal plates, screws, complicated surgery, etc.  I was stunned.

As soon as our son was wheeled off to surgery I started praying to Mother Mary.  I felt so incredibly helpless and hopeless after that blunt prognosis that that was the only thing I could think of to do. Somewhere in the middle of praying (and crying a lot) I had a "vision" of two praying hands that were glowing and the words 'magic hands' came to my mind. I somehow knew that that was what I needed to focus on - praying for the doctor's hands to be magic. It sounds silly, but I just knew that it was what I needed to do and so I did.

When the doctor came out of surgery, he had a broad grin on his face and gave us the news that the bones miraculously (yes he did use that word) reset.  I have no doubt in my mind that we were witness to a miracle that day.  Somehow it all came together.  Somehow we were blessed.

I do believe that miracles are all around us and happen all the time.  It is about becoming more aware and opening your perceptions more to be able to experience them more consciously.

Beliefs And Standards

Everyone has a set of beliefs and standards that they have built for themselves over the years based on their individual experiences.  So does one person's view apply to another?  Whose beliefs are right and whose are wrong?  Or neither?

Being experience based, beliefs and standards are very individual.  The more fear based they are the stricter and narrower they will be.  They will also be harder to change because they are linked to survival and in some form or another have been successfully used for that purpose at some point in time.

What does happen, however, is that because of possibly a single occurrence, standards get set in place that may not be useful as the person evolves, but because of previous successful application are strictly enforced.

In order to grow, it is important to "relax" these standards and beliefs once in a while and see what happens if you make room for alternative views/rules/standards.  It doesn't mean you have to change everything, but what if something new applies to you?  What if a shift in perspective opens up a whole new side of life that you never knew existed? What if, by seeing someone else's point of view, your pain is lessened?  What if you start seeing the duality of life and how you can be on both sides?

Give it a try.  Pick any standard or rule in your life and give it space to grow.  Be open to something new and see what happens.  You might be pleasantly surprised.  :)

One Way Of Navigating Situations

When you are in a situation that doesn't feel right, but you can't quite put your finger on what is wrong, do what you can to give yourself time before responding.  These steps may be helpful:

1. Remove yourself physically from the situation and detach from it mentally.  Don't suppress it.  Give it and yourself more room.  Let it float by, like a cloud, when it comes back.
2. After some time and distance, when it feels right, start musing on what about the situation didn't sit right with you.  Use your intuition as well as your mind!
3. Once you have the key point or points figured out, look & feel for alternate solutions that will serve the big picture as you sense it, not only individual needs.  You will know it is the right one by the way you feel at peace.  The uneasy feeling will dissipate and be replaced by a feeling of balance.

Mirroring Lesson Vs. Actual Situation

As discussed earlier, people and situations mirror your internal state of affairs.  Note that figuring out the lesson that is in it for you is different from how to handle the actual person and/or situations.

Knowing what your part is in it gives you perspective and the distance you need to respond instead of react to the situation.  Be clear on what your personal goals are, where your limits are and what your values are.  Based on these, respond to the situation. You will not be able to change what happened nor the person that is in front of you.  Remember true change can only happen when you change first.

The mirroring learnings will apply to a different part of your life, a deeper aspect of yourself, that you will work on separately if you so choose.  It will usually take longer to resolve than the situation/person that mirrored for you, because it has been in place a lot longer.

Love, Prayer, And Forgiveness

"Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness." by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (author)

These are all definitely in you and thus always within your grasp.  Use of any one of these three will always make you feel good.  The key is to remember they are there anytime ready to shift and lift your energy.

Recognition

Recognizing others for their achievements is an important part of the journey. When you honor someone else's success, their joy brings you joy.  It also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your journey to see how far you have come as well.

The process is dynamic. You give and you receive at the same time.  Take the time to recognize someone's achievements today. Make their day and yours at the same time.  :)