Living Life Fully with Passion and Purpose – Learning to take Action!

Posted on August 12, 2009 by bridget

 

My Mom always used to say as I left for school in the morning; “Remember to make the very most of your day!” Now at age 37, I see the value and the wisdom in what she was sharing with me. Each day we have here on earth is an opportunity to bring our true self forward and to discover who we are just below the surface. One of my favorite quotes by Mavis Leyrer reminds us of living a full, abundant and action-filled life, she says: “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well-preserved body, but to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting “Wow, what a ride!”

Last month I participated in The Taking Action Program run by the ToDo Institute located near Middlebury in Vermont. Gregg Krech and Linda Anderson Krech are the founders of the ToDo Institute and pioneers in the field of blending the wisdom of Eastern Psychology with the demands of contemporary western lifestyles.  The Taking Action program was just what I needed to help me move forward on an unfinished project. While dedicating a certain amount of time daily to working on my project, I came to realize that this was not just about accomplishing a certain task at the end of the 30 days, but rather to change a habit, from procrastinating to learning how to take small daily steps in the direction of bringing my best-self forward. It was time to leave the dirty laundry and dirty dishes for a while, and set aside time during the day to connect with my unique heartsong. It taught me to set aside the feelings of guilt and to allow myself to explore and create that which I longed to share with the world. It became about giving myself permission to fully be me!

Participating in the Taking Action program really stirred some important questions within me; am I living my life fully? With purpose? Am I spending enough time doing what’s important to me?  Am I using the time I have sensibly? Am I benefiting others or are my actions self-serving?   During the month I discovered just how difficult it could be to stick to my new habit. Although I knew that this was a positive new practice, the old way of rushing around and trying to keep up with the demands of everyday life easily got in the way. So if you have an unfinished project that you long to complete or a personal project that you have not made the time for, I hope that you will set aside a certain amount of time each day to begin writing that book, to clean out your closet, to spend some relaxing time scrap booking or time doing yoga or tai chi. Remember to make an appointment with yourself and then honor your special time! So here are 10 simple, although not always easy, steps I learnt that helped me to take action and to move forward on my project:

  1. Set some time aside for daily self-reflection: This helped me to quiet my mind and to get in touch with my true essence away from all the mind-chatter. In this quiet time I was able to identify what important tasks I have left undone or what new creative projects I had procrastinated on. It was a time for me to connect fully with what I wanted to do, and to become aware of the feelings that arose around the task.
  2. Set a clear Intention: Deciding clearly on a project. Over the years I have learnt the value of setting clear intentions and learning to define one single project or task. With focus and attention and setting a clear intention, I often find that synchronicities occur that pull me towards my goal.
  3. Decide to Take Action: this is of course the essence of the program; I needed to constantly choose to take action. To identify what I needed to do, to just do it, and then to decide on what my next step would be. I realized that deliberate action required me to be present in the moment so that I was sure that the actions I was taking supported the choices I had made. I also realized that I cannot think my way to success; essentially I had to take action towards accomplishing my goal
  4. Make an Appointment with Myself: This I found to be very helpful, even if it was just 20 minutes set aside during the day. I found that it was vital to honor my time, and with this conscious choice came a deeper feeling of respect for my project and myself. I started to look forward to this time in the day where I could be free to express myself. It was important to decide on when I was going to work on my project and to honor my appointment with myself the same way that I would honor a dentist appointment or an appointment at the vet.
  5. Remain Flexible and Open: Life happens and some things are beyond my control. I learnt to be gentle with myself and not to expect perfection from life or from myself. Some days where definitely more challenging than others. There were some days that I made substantial improvement and other days were I did not. I also learnt that it was ok to make mistakes, and that making mistakes is just part of the journey of being human.
  6. Take Small Consistent Steps: This was an exciting discovery to me half way through the project. I found this very helpful when I felt outside my comfort Zone. A small step in the right direction proves to be far more beneficial in the long run, as opposed to taking no steps at all due to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety or confusion. This seems to be a very effective way to handle stress.
  7. Learn to Co-exist with Uncomfortable feelings:  When I was feeling drained, frustrated or weighed down, I found it was important to just show up. Taking a small step, even just sitting at my desk for 5 minutes and browsing through my paperwork, would often spur me into taking action. Once I got started, the uncomfortable feelings often disappeared and instead I was left with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.
  8. Create Community: Connecting with like-minded people who share a similar vision and working together in harmony, offering encouragement, insights and ideas in a non-competitive way, is a very positive and uplifting experience. It is very helpful to learn and grow from other people’s input and experiences. A sense of community helped me to recognize that I was not alone in experiencing struggles, failures, accomplishments and victory along the way.
  9. Show Up:  Just Show up! Repetition is very powerful, and with continually showing up for the appointments I set for myself, I truly feel as if I formed a new habit. I understand that in the future I will have many more challenges to overcome in regard to avoiding certain tasks that I find unpleasant, but learning to go ahead and deal with my fears and frustrations while at the same time taking constructive action, is ultimately a very liberating experience.
  10. Have Fun: I have found it important not to take myself or life too seriously! To remember to enjoy the journey and not to get so focused on the destination that I forget to have fun, to laugh, to remain supple and flexible to life and to live with an open heart.

We cannot live a happy, abundant or fulfilling life without taking the necessary action that is required of us. We are indeed each one strand in the web of life, and by showing up and stepping up we can help ourselves and thereby help others in this beautiful, intricate dance of life.

   “Don’t think of results, just do.”

– Gurdjieff

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How to Stop the Churning Mind – The Practice of Mindfulness

Posted on July 30, 2009 by bridget

If we look honestly at most of our lives, it is easy to see how truly difficult it is to stop ingrained behaviors and responses. It is so natural to be at the mercy of automatic, repetitive, responses. Most of our lives are lived racing from one activity to another, one relationship to the next. We seldom see the person or situation we are facing. Instead we are run by old patterns, repetitive thoughts, persistent desires, fierce appetites and exhausting obsessions.

One-pointed mindfulness, which brings us into the present moment, is a powerful medicine for this disorder. As we stop, we become aware that past activities are over, that we are in a completely new moment in time. It is rare to find a way to stop, settle down and see what it is we truly have now and what we are really needing. The practice of stopping is another name for the practice of mindfulness, a wonderful way to eliminate stress and become fully present and awake to where we are and what is happening right now. Paying attention wakes you up from the fog, fantasies, slumber you usually live in. In mindfulness practice, you place your precious attention fully on the present moment, whatever it may be right now. You pull your attention away from hopes and longing, plans, memories and persistent dreams.

In order to do this it is necessary to stop trying to change, fight with, control, judge or use the world you live in. Instead, you greet whatever comes, with attention, acknowledging it as it is right now. You simply become present to the world before you, to the incredible gift and wonder before your eyes. But what is this mindfulness exactly, what does it take to really pay attention to a person, a tree, a step we take? What gets in the way? Our attention is our life force. That which we attend to increases, our attention feeds it energy. That which we withdraw our attention from inevitably fades.

Attention is equated with love. When someone pays real attention, we feel as though we are loved. When attention is withdrawn, we may feel insignificant or rejected. It’s easy to develop an addiction to receiving attention from others in order to sustain our sense of self. In mindfulness practice we turn this around. Rather than seeking attention, we give it, not only to the world around, but to ourselves. The practice of mindfulness, or of attending, can therefore also be called the practice of giving and receiving love.

The Practice of Mindfulness In mindfulness practice when you cook, you pay total attention to each vegetable you chop for the soup. When you sweep, your full attention goes to the broom, the floor and the sweeping. You place your attention to where you are standing, what you are doing, feeling, thinking, and also completely upon whoever may appear in front of your eyes.

When you love, you love completely. You pay attention in a unique manner, you do not ask for things to behave in a way that suits you, or to fulfill some fantasy you may have. There are no hidden expectations or demands. You just fully attend to, and thus value, whatever appears. When you are able to do this, you will not perceive a problem with anything. And, as that happens, everything will fall into perfect place. This kind of attention is like sunshine that warms whatever it may touch.

Written by Dr Brenda Shoshanna

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Japanese Psychology and Purposeful Living

Posted on June 14, 2009 by bridget

30 000 days is the average number of days a person living a western life-style can expect to live, although none of us know for sure how long we have here on earth.  Saying, for a moment, that you have an average life expectancy, you can calculate just how many days you have left to live by working out how many days you have lived already and then subtracting that figure from 30 000. This can bring to realization that time does go by quickly and that each day is indeed precious and deserves to be lived fully.

I hope that you will take a quiet moment to reflect on your life and appreciate all that you have become, all the experiences that have enriched your life, all the people who have supported you along the way, and all the unlived dreams you have that are patiently waiting to be expressed. It is important that you take a small step each day in the direction of creating and maintaining what is most significant to you.

Below please find some more information regarding Morita Therapy and Naikan graciously supplied by the ToDo Institute.

Japanese Psychology and Purposeful Living

Morita Therapy represents the action element of Japanese psychology; Naikan represents the element of self-reflection. Together, they offer an alternative approach based on values such as mindfulness, purposeful living, gratitude and responsible action. Morita psychotherapy was developed by Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita in the early part of the twentieth century. He was chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Jikei University School of Medicine and was influenced by the psychological principles of Zen Buddhism. His method was initially developed as a treatment for a type of anxiety neurosis called shinkeishitsu. In the latter part of this century the applications of Morita therapy have broadened, both in Japan and North America.

If we find out that we have just won the lottery, we may be excited and happy. But if we find out about the death of a loved one, we may feel sadness and grief. Such feelings are natural responses to our life circumstances and we need not try to fix or change them. Arugamama (acceptance of reality as it is) involves accepting our feelings and thoughts without trying to change them or work through them. This means that if we feel depressed, we accept our feelings of depression. If we feel anxious, we accept our feelings of anxiety. Rather than direct our attention and energy to our feeling state, we instead direct our efforts toward living our life well. We set goals and take steps to accomplish what is important even as we co-exist with unpleasant feelings from time to time.

Morita therapy is not about figuring out why you are the way you are.  It’s about helping you to do the things in your life which are meaningful and important.

Naikan is a Japanese word which means inside looking or introspection. A more poetic translation is seeing oneself with the mind’s eye. It is a structured method of self-reflection that helps us to understand ourselves, our relationships and the fundamental nature of human existence.

Naikan was developed by Yoshimoto Ishin, a devout Buddhist of the Jodo Shinshu sect in Japan. His strong religious spirit led him to practice mishirabe, an arduous and difficult method of meditation. Wishing to make such introspection available to others, he developed Naikan as a method that could be more widely practiced. Naikan has been widely recognized as one of the most effective tools in helping people cultivate an authentic sense of gratitude.  Most of the time our attention is focused on problems that we have to overcome or how others are irritating us or causing us to be unhappy.  Naikan uses self-reflection as a method of helping us retrain our attention to see a more accurate and balanced picture of our life.  It touches on themes of relationships, appreciation, grace and faith. The profound impact Naikan had on many individuals resulted in its use in other areas of Japanese society.

Today, there are about 40 Naikan centers in Japan and Naikan is used in mental health counseling, addiction treatment, rehabilitation of prisoners, schools, and business. It has also taken root in Europe, with Naikan centers now established in Austria and Germany. The ToDo Institute is the main center for Naikan in the U.S. and has been offering Naikan programs and retreats since 1989.

Naikan and Morita provide a refreshing approach to psychology and self-development and an alternative to traditional forms of psychotherapy in the West.  For more information, see the resources available from the ToDo Institute (www.todoinstitute.org)

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Finding Tranquility with Spiritual Meditation

Posted on May 31, 2009 by bridget

 "Meditation helps you to grow your own intuitive faculty. It becomes very clear what is going to fulfill you, what is going to help you flower."  ~ Osho

Everything will seem right with the world when your mind, body and spirit are in harmony. However, it’s difficult to find inner peace through spiritual meditation if we do not have enough time for it. That is why we should reach back to the wisdom of traditional cultures and indigenous peoples. This way we can find beauty, cure our ills and ease our minds from restless anxiety in an era filled with the promises of high technology and modern medicine. The philosophy of ancient times focuses on a holistic and interconnectedness approach. This ancient approach involves the practice of spiritual meditation and promoting long-term good health, rather than merely trying to correct health problems as they arise. This approach is not aimed at a single problem but is aimed at treating the whole person. This method has been an evolving idea that is gaining popularity now in the West.

The vital concept of balancing a healthy mind and spirit with a healthy body is now gaining acceptance in the medical establishment. Those who practice ancient forms of spiritual meditation emphasize the importance of awareness of the breath. The repetition of a word or phrase and the visualization of an object or a deity are also ancient forms of meditation. Many people find these different approaches of spiritual meditation more or less appropriate to their own needs. However, they may need to try several forms before they can adopt the form with which they feel most comfortable with. However, many people also have fears or misconceptions about spiritual meditation. They are afraid that they may not have control of the situation and some also feel that meditation is some kind of odd religious practice. Nevertheless, it is perfectly possible to practice meditation outside of any religious context, although meditation forms a central part of some of the world religions.

A person can achieve balance if he or she obtains the ability to discover and draw from inner resources of health, strength and tranquility. It is important for people to tap into more sustainable practices of lasting energy, such as spiritual meditation in a modern culture dominated by unrealistic ideals of physical beauty and twenty-four hour positivism. Discovering clarity of mind, sense of purpose, physical well-being, and spiritual fulfillment within ourselves that truly defines peace has become increasingly difficult, and more important than ever in out present day and age.

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The Magic of Intuition

Posted on April 8, 2009 by bridget

“Faith is an oasis in the heart   which will never be reached   by the caravan of thinking”     ~ Kahlil Gibran

What is intuition? Intuition is a wonderful ability we all are gifted with as human beings. It is often called our Inner Guide, since it secretly reveals to us what we should do or pay attention to in many important situations. Intuition has nothing to do with our rational thinking, it does, in fact, replace it or complement it, since it works much more precisely, quicker and in tandem with reality.

Rational thinking, on the other hand, works step-by-step in a process over time while our intuition works for us in real time. This means that our intuition communicates with us at that critical and particular moment – just when we need it the most. Intuition can appear like a clear and powerful message from deep inside us, telling us what to do in important situations when our rational thought processes can`t help us anymore. It can, for example, give us that sudden, life-changing clear conclusion in a critical situation – a decisive conclusion given to us, without our having given it any logical or rational thought. It can also be that sense of just ”knowing” which decision is the right one to make, especially in critical and time-pressing situations. Intuition will sometimes come as a distinct feeling that warns us away from situations that just don’t ”feel” right. For example, danger – many people have described how an intuitive ”feeling” has saved them from tragic accidents. And much more. Our intuition communicates with us in a wonderful way during many important situations in life.

We all have this amazing ability but many of us may not know how to get in touch with it, or even how to use it. But – intuitive thinking is something we can all do! In fact, it’s an ability that can be developed in an easy way and it always improves with use! Why is it important? Our intuition is important because we need it in order to handle our lives successfully. The more we are in touch with our intuitive mind, the more we improve our ability to make the right decisions in life, to solve problems, to find and discover great possibilities, to create well-being and happiness, and much more.

Our brain consists of a right part (where the main part of our intuitive thinking has its source) and of a left part (where our rational thinking comes from). The reason why we have these two parts of the brain is, of course, because we need them and therefore should use them in balance. Why have so many of us lost our intuitive ability – or at least our confidence in using it?

The two main reasons are:

A. Our western society, unfortunately, is focused almost exclusively on rational thinking as a “rational” means of conducting our lives and solving our problems. This process starts in our childhood when our natural intuition is still very keen. More precisely, somewhere between 4 and 5 years of age we often start to learn through our upbringing that our intuitive thinking needs to be controlled and adapted. We learn this by noting a growing increase the attention and praise we receive for excising our rational thinking as we grow older, simultaneous with a decided decrease in the attention and praise we receive for the sponta-neous, intuitive things we say and do. Instead, we might have been taught to accept, even welcome intuition and encouraged to understand how we can use in balance with rational thinking, but, unfortunately, this rarely happens. As a result we lose confidence in our spontaneous intuitive abilities and use them less and less the older we get, until finally, we’re all but completely cut off from them.

B. The other main reason our intuition gets cut off has to do with two emotional mind-states, namely, fear and various kinds of stress – two states many of us will come to have even more difficulty with in our lives if we don’t take care of our self-esteem and personal development.

What can someone do to improve their intuitive ability right now? There are many things we can do– here are two examples:

A. Make room in your daily life for a period of calm and stillness. Intuition is suffocated by stress and by a tempo in our lives that is far too high and far too constant.You need to find an inner-peace, divorced from all planning and analysis. Until you do, you cannot perceive intuition’s subtle messages. You can meditate – do relaxation exercises – take walks in nature – or perhaps take a long warm bath. The particular method is not all that important – consistency is the key. Be prepared that in the beginning suppressed tiredness, sorrow or anger may bubble up. It can feel uncomfortable, even frightening, but when you dare to meet them, these feelings gradually die away, and you’ll have increased you self-esteem at the same time you’ve been creating an opening for your intuition to communicate with you.

B. Make the most of your dreams. The traditional common-sense advice, “Sleep on it,” reveals an age-old wisdom. Intuition doesn’t sleep simply because you do. Pay attention to your dreams. Try to remember them and see if you can discover something new about yourself

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How to Maintain Your Spiritual Health during Stressful Times

Posted on February 23, 2009 by bridget

 

When you encounter stressful times in life, it is important that you take care of your spiritual wellbeing the same way you attend to your physical health. Spiritual health is a vital ingredient in maintaining a happy, healthy, energized and vibrant life. With so many economic challenges and negative, fear-based media coverage, it is imperative to take some quality time for yourself and ensure that you are giving yourself the care your body, mind and soul require. Just 10 minutes in the morning and evening spend in meditation can drastically reduce stress, eating healthy food, yoga and Reiki can assist you in combating stress and helping you to stay grounded, focused and aware.

The following postis a wonderful, quick read and provides a check-list for you to access your spiritual well-being. Once you are conscious of limiting patterns it is easier to correct them. The fist step towards wellness and freedom is awareness. Once you are aware of your energy blocks, you can take action towards creating and maintaining a harmonious and healthy life.

Spiritual Health Checklist

Most of us are unaware of the health of our spirit or life energy. We go about our daily business without ever giving a second thought to this very vital part of our lives. For the majority of people, spiritual health is intangible, invisible the notion of the spirit is purely an idea or abstract concept, not a thing that can be monitored and measured easily like blood pressure or insulin levels. Yet our spiritual health is just as real and important as any other measurement of our well being. Lacking the modern devices and technology used to track physical illness, we must rely upon a routine of self examination and introspection in order to gauge the health level of our spiritual selves.

The following checklist has been designed to help determine whether your spiritual health is in need of attention.

1. You find yourself more in agreement with negative points of view

2. You are easily irritated or agitated, small things annoy you.

3. Beliefs that once seemed impeccable seem to have let you down.

4. You feel drained or tired most of the time.

5. Hobbies and interests seem less enjoyable.

6. You relive past events trying to determine when things went wrong

7. Migraines and other ailments occur more frequently

8. When you should be relaxing, you feel uncomfortable and nervous.

9. There always seems to be a void in your life which must be filled.

Any or all of these issues may point to a serious need to address your spiritual health and well being. Considering the important role which spiritual health plays in our overall sense of happiness and fulfillment as well as the direct connection between spiritual wellness and physical health it is unfortunate that more attention is not paid to this vital area.

When the spiritual self is injured, the mind and body suffer. Take some time to examine your life path, your beliefs and expectations. Consider practicing meditation or other relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Make a point of self evaluating the strength of your spirituality and take steps to connect or reconnect with the sense of wonder and mystery of life. Examine your beliefs. Are your beliefs working for you? Is it possible that the beliefs that you have held for so long are actually damaging your spirit? 

We often inherit the beliefs of our ancestors, community and cultures. Many times these beliefs simply are not compatible with we intrinsically know to be true. The resulting inner conflict can result in a sort of spiritual flu, an illness which we carry often for a lifetime and we can never seem to shake. No matter how good things may seem to be going, we always feel a certain kind of emptiness. Examine your beliefs and your entire belief system, do not be afraid to throw out any beliefs which feel at all uncomfortable. Your spirit will thank you.

Written by Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D.

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Saint Germain and the Violet Flame

Posted on February 14, 2009 by bridget

I hope you will enjoy reading the article that follows. It is written by Diana Cooper, the well known Angel Lady. I first met Diana Cooper about 13 years ago when she was running Angel workshops in South Africa. She presented one of the most moving, heart-opening and exquisite workshops I have attended. So I am very excited to share some of her work with you.

The article gives a great insight into the history of the Gold and Silver and Violet Flame, how to use it for protection and healing and how to connect with the Ascended Master, St.Germain and the Angels of the seventh ray. St Germain was an alchemist and healer who taught that human negative energy could be transformed and healed using the Gold of divine energy. He teaches this process through the connection of the Violet Flame. Enjoy the article and remember to call on St.Germain for healing, transformation, alchemy, literature, philosophy and education.

Gold and Silver Violet Flame – A Healing and Transformational Tool

~ By Diana Cooper

The Gold and Silver Violet Flame is one of the most powerful healing and transformational tools that we have been given. It is a divine gift and blessing and each time another ray is added it becomes more refined and gracious. In Golden Atlantis the Violet Flame was one of the powers that people could access because of its ability to transmute negativity, especially in relationships.

So, whenever a disagreement of any sort took place, the people involved invoked the Violet Flame and all the negativity was dissolved. As Atlantis devolved, the Violet Flame was misused, so it was withdrawn. Only a few esoteric groups retained the understanding of it. One was Elizabeth Clare Prophet who wrote her lovely little book Violet Flame to Heal Body, Mind and Soul to keep the knowledge of it alive.   The Violet Flame of Transmutation In 1987 the Earth started a twenty five year period of purification in preparation for 2012. In August of that year at the Harmonic Convergence so many light workers prayed for help for our planet that St Germain petitioned Source for the return of the Violet Flame for use by the whole of humanity.

The Silver Ray of Grace and Harmony: In 1988 the Silver Ray of Grace and Harmony merged with the Violet Flame. When this is invoked negative energy is transmuted, then replaced with something beautiful and harmonious.

The Gold and Silver Violet Flame: In the last year we have been offered the ultimate blessing, the merging of the fifth dimensional Gold Ray of Wisdom with the Silver Violet Flame. Wherever you focus the Gold Silver and Violet Flame, it transmutes the old, harmonizes it, then raises the situation, place or relationship to the fifth dimension and holds it there.

How you can invoke it? You can invoke the Gold and Silver Violet Flame by calling it in aloud or mentally or you can visualize it, imagine or sense it surrounding the place, person or situation in question.

What you can use it for? You can visualize it burning up negativity in part of your body or send it to someone who is sick. You can send it to dissolve anything that is holding you or a friend back. Where there is disharmony in relationships or between cultures, invoke its transmuting, healing power. Ask it to blaze a trail in front of you purifying and harmonizing your pathway. Use it to transmute your own or other people’s anger, fear or negativity. Send it to clear the energy of war and disruption. Picture it blazing wherever there is need of cleansing.

Archangel Zadkiel: Archangel Zadkiel works with St Germain as guardian of the Violet Flame. With Archangel Zadkiel he looks after your Soul Star chakra, which is about eighteen centimeters above your crown and opens as you expand your consciousness. Visualizing the Gold and Silver Violet Flame within your Soul Star will accelerate your ascension.

Diana Cooper is well known for her spiritual books and workshops about Angels, Archangels, Ascension, Orbs and Spiritual Laws. Her books include Angel Answers, Angel Cards, Wisdom Cards, A little light on Ascension, A little light on Spiritual Laws and many others. She works with her guide Kumeka and has inspired thousands of people to connect with their own angels and guides for healing and transformation.

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A Great Start to 2009!

Posted on January 8, 2009 by bridget

With the beginning of a New Year comes the longing to make positive, constructive and lasting changes. January is a great month to focus on your goals and desires and set a positive intention to create the bliss you deserve.

In Numerology, 2009 is a year of commitment, truth and mastery. The challenges that may be presented to you will force you to examine your life closely and honestly. Relationships, careers, finances or any area of your life which may no longer be filling your personal life purpose may be questioned and/or released. The cosmic energies will support those who wish to make big changes. It is important that you make a solid commitment to your personal goals and that you follow through with integrity. With commitment, honesty and love all things are possible!

I hope you will find the DIY New Year’s Blessing Ceremony  that follows helpful and inspiring. May it help you to let go of old, restricting patterns from the past and let more love, light and laughter flow into your life. The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. 

New Year's Blessing Ceremony

Materials: candle, an object that would create a beautiful sound i.e. bell, singing bowl, crystal glass with knife, Rose bud and your favorite music.

Select your favorite spot in your home, yard or any special location for your New Year's Blessing Ceremony. This is for you to feel anew.  

Opening Put your favorite music on and allow the music to center and ground you. When you are ready create a single sound to declare the opening of the ceremony.  

Candle Lighting Light your candle. The lighting of the candle reminds us of our light within. Close your eyes and focus on the beautiful, strong light that you are. Feel the love within and when you are ready, state the New Year's Blessing Prayer.  

New Year's Blessing Prayer of Growth and Gratitude For the New Year: I center myself knowing that I am a child of God. I am peace, love and joy. This year I begin anew, and blossom into the child I am, expanding God's love to all I meet. I release all judgments and restrictions to the love I am and share. I thank you Father for the love you share with me in my brothers. From this day forward of 2009 I begin my new journey in love. I bless my brothers before me. Amen  

Rose Ceremony The Rose signifies our expanding love, as we open to the love within we are able to share with our brothers. Place Rose in vase. For each day the Rose blossoms repeat this prayer as a reminder to expand in love. I am opening to the love I am. Love flows through me out to the world in gratitude and Oneness. Close your eyes repeat the prayer as many times as you like and feel the power of these words.

When you are ready open your eyes for the closing.  

Closing Blow out your candle with these words I choose to remember my love and light; I bless this New Year and go forth in Love knowing I am Love. Amen.  

DIY New Year Blessing contributed by: Nancy Miiller

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Creating Miracle’s

Posted on January 2, 2009 by bridget

 

How would you like every moment of every day to feel like one miracle happening after another? How would you like to accomplish your goals and realize your dreams without undue struggle or strain? It’s possible. It’s called living life in the divine flow.

Whether you are consciously aware of it or not, there is a divine flow in your life that is continually guiding you toward the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires. The trick is learning how to recognize and cooperate with that flow, instead of blocking or restricting your experience of it. Fortunately, that’s not a very difficult thing to learn how to do. In fact, there are two fundamental steps that you can take right now to begin living life in the divine flow.

Step one is to simply pay attention. The divine flow is continually guiding you toward the effortless fulfillment of your heart’s desires . . . continually! But to take advantage of that guidance, you must be aware of the subtle ways that the flow is attempting to guide you. Here are three ways that you receive guidance from the divine flow: First, you are continually receiving direction from your own intuition. Your intuition is the most valuable and reliable source of guidance you have. It is the spirit of the divine within you. It is the spirit of the divine that is you! Your divine spirit always knows the next right step to take. And it is continually trying to tell you what that step is. So take the time to slow down, get quiet, and listen to that still, small voice. Honor it. Respect it. Follow it.

A second form of guidance comes to you through the wisdom of others. The divine flow often speaks to you through the people who cross your path. It is through their wisdom—their intuitive guidance—that you are often led to your next right step. That doesn’t mean that you have to accept and act on everything that everybody says to you. But you should at least be open and receptive to others, and willing to consider what they have to say.

 A third way that the divine flow communicates with you is through signs, coincidences, and synchronicities. These occurrences are not mere chance or happenstance. They are meaningful. They are divinely designed to open doors for you and create opportunities for you in direct response to your desire. But you have to pay attention to those signs and synchronicities. And you have to act on them. You have to go through those doors and take advantage of those opportunities.

Which brings us to the second step for living life in the divine flow: You must let go of what you think you know. The divine flow often guides you to your good in a way that is far different—and far better—than anything you would ever come up with on your own. But to take advantage of that guidance, you must be careful not to hastily dismiss it or overrule it because “you know better.” That doesn’t mean that you have to forget everything you have been taught, or ignore the conclusions you have drawn based upon your experience. It simply means that you must keep an open mind—and realize that there is always more to know than you currently know.

As certain as you are about something, if you are willing to admit that there could still be something that you just haven’t considered, you will leave an opening in your mind that is wide enough for divine direction to get through. So there you have it. Let go of what you think you know. And pay attention to the flow. Stop trying to force things to go they way you think they should go, and be willing to move in a direction that is different from what you planned on or expected.

Do those two things, and you will begin to live a life that is dramatically more fulfilling, immensely more joyful, and, on top of it all, remarkably effortless!  

Written by Steven Lane Taylor 

Posted in Soul Coaching | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Your Pets and Your Guardian Angel

Posted on November 12, 2008 by bridget

I often get requests for Reiki sessions for pets. Since I am an avid animal lover, I always enjoy giving Reiki to animals. I love the way they respond to the energy. In just a short session your beloved pet can feel calm, relaxed and peaceful. I hope you will enjoy the article that follows. It is a reminder of our connection to all of life and to constantly be grateful for the unconditional love we receive from our pets. Remember we are All One!

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep. ~John Milton, Paradise Lost

If you are like most people, you consider your pets to be part of your family. You love them and receive much love in return, and you distress when they become ill or lost for even a short time. Below I’m going to give you some unique suggestions on lowering your stress level when events seem to be worrisome or even in crises situations with those lovable family members.

About ten years ago, in reading spiritual articles and books, I kept noticing the word “benevolent” used in stories about Guardian Angels and their relationship to us. One day I read a suggestion to request benevolent outcomes for events in your life. I decided to try it out, and was amazed how PERFECTLY it worked for everything, from small requests such as a parking spot next to a busy restaurant or a seat on the subway to the really important situations in my business and personal life. After having made these requests between 10,000 and 15,000 times over the years, I am firmly convinced that our Guardian Angels are there to assist us in living more gentle lives. We just have to ask.

So how do we utilize these requests with our pets? As an example, one of my dogs, Sandy, will roam the neighborhood if we accidentally leave the gate open, which certainly at the very least could mean the permanent loss of a sweet, lovable dog. When this happens, I have immediately requested out loud, “I request a Most Benevolent Outcome for finding Sandy safe and sound. Thank you.” You always thank your Guardian Angel and make these requests with emotion, as that works best. Requesting a Benevolent Outcome always takes the stress and worry away, as I KNOW that I’m going to find her.

When it’s time to add a pet into your family, you say, “I request a Most Benevolent Outcome for finding the perfect pet for our family. Thank you.” When you go to an animal shelter, possibly one of the attendants points out a pet that just arrived that morning, even just a few minutes before you arrived. Or you will just be drawn to one particular animal that in your heart you know is the perfect companion for your family. Even before you go, one of your friends calls to tell you about a new litter.

Your Guardian Angel works in amazing ways, and I can assure you it’s FUN to sit back and see how the pieces of the puzzle come together when you make requests for MBO’s (as I call them). Just remember that requesting Benevolent Outcomes has to be benevolent for all concerned.

Next, you can request a Benevolent Outcome for choosing the right food and vitamins for your pet. And you can request a Benevolent Outcome for visits to the veterinarian. When your pet is sick, that can really cause you to be concerned and worry for their welfare. One lady told me how her cat was recently in distress, so she took her cat to the veterinarian and requested a MBO that the cat would be fine. She was greatly relieved to be told by the vet that it was an easy problem to treat. One of our previous female dogs had a parvo type disease that is fatal 99 out of 100 times. We requested a Benevolent Outcome for her recovery, and then had the “inspiration” to start feeding her large amounts of the same vitamin E we took for our health. Her blood count slowly increased to the point where she completely recovered.   I’m going to give you something else that works when you see an animal on TV that has been injured, tortured, or trapped. You can feel quite frustrated that you can’t help that animal in person. But you can say out loud, “I ask that any and all beings come to the aid of this animal and comfort, aid, and assist this animal in any and all ways. Thank you.”

These requests are not acted upon by your Guardian Angel, but by other Angelic beings, and INSTANTLY. You do not limit the request to humans, as it could be other animals or Angelic beings that actually physically assist that animal in distress. Then you will feel better that at least you did what you could to aid that animal. This confidence will be higher if you have been requesting Benevolent Outcomes in your life, so you know from direct experience and knowledge that making these requests really work!

Your life with your pet companions will be much less stressful and worry-free when you request Benevolent Outcomes from the time that you decide to add them to your family and all through their lives with you.

Written by Tom Moore

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