Underlying Commitments

Our recommended reading this week.....

 
In order to become the magnets for love, money and opportunities that we want to be, we have to de-magnetize ourselves first. It is what is in our unconscious mind that has the power -- all the stuff that you wish wasn't there, that you want to get rid of, that you're still pissed off about or ashamed of, all the beliefs you're still limited by. Our unconscious is holding 80% of our power to magnetize our life experiences to us. So if our conscious mind has only 20% of the power, this is the time to get to work on uncovering, owning and embracing our unconscious by truly understanding and transforming what's no longer wanted or needed.

One fruitful place to start this exploration is to look at what I call underlying commitments. These are commitments that exist at an unconscious level that, if not made conscious, will override any other desires we have. Our underlying commitments drive our thoughts, our beliefs and -- most importantly -- our choices. They are the unseen forces that shape our realities. They are responsible for the discrepancy between what we say we want and what we're actually experiencing.

These underlying commitments are formed by unconscious decisions we've made in the past. In the dark recesses of your unconscious, for example, you may have decided that you can't trust anyone and that it's easier to be alone. So even though you want love and intimacy in your life, you always choose the wrong mate because your first commitment is to being by yourself. You become a magnet, but instead of attracting what you think you desire, you are a magnet for failure, for missed opportunities, for being less of a success than you strive for. You continually make choices that are in direct conflict with what you say you want and you find yourself baffled by the choices you are making. Sound familiar?

Underlying commitments keep us stuck in the same place year after year. When we carry the wounds, hurts or outdated beliefs that created these underlying commitments in the first place, we will unfortunately keep attracting the same circumstances over and over again so that we can be right about these early decisions lurking in our unconscious. Our underlying commitments become self-fulfilling prophecies. And our unconscious becomes the driver of our lives.

Transformational Action Step

We must expose our underlying commitments before we have the power to shift them. By exposing these unconscious commitments, we gain the freedom to stand in the truth. Then we can begin the process of transformation.

1. Write down a goal or desire that you've been unable to attain.

2. Make a list of the actions you have taken or not taken in the past year that are in direct opposition to this goal.

3. Now take your list and imagine that these choices that have taken you away from your desired goal and not brought you any closer to it are an expression of a deeper commitment, your first commitment.

4. Close your eyes and ask yourself "What commitment are these choices in direct alignment with?" There you will discover your underlying commitment.

When you reveal the underlying commitments that prevent you from achieving your goals, you are beginning to turn your life around. You can now replace your old commitments with new, powerful commitments that are in alignment with your highest vision for the future.

5. Write down a new commitment you can make this week that will move you toward the future you desire.

(Source:  Debbie Ford)

the gift of gratitude

The beautiful gifts of gratitude begin at home
so today, invite a healing to happen
in your own body,
in your own consciousness,
in your own loving heart
that feels blessed to be alive.

Notice all the riches you've been given:
the feet that allow you to stand,
the legs that allow you to walk,
the stomach that allows you to eat,
the lungs that allow you to breathe,
the throat that allows you to speak,
the mouth that allow you to taste,
the nose that allows you to smell,
the eyes that allow you to see,
and your beating heart
that allows you to love.

Honor them all.

Become present to the treasures of your life:
the opportunities that you have been given,
the ones that have effortlessly opened up for you this year.
Reflect on your family, your kids, your partner, your friends.
Look through appreciative eyes,
the eyes of what's right,
the eyes of the divine.

Give thanks in a way that you never have before.

Allow fear, doubt, struggle and pain
to melt away in the presence of this all-loving appreciation.
Thank God that you have a consciousness
that is able to shift and transform in just a moment.

Thank God that you are courageous enough
to take a moment to bless yourself,
to bless the universe,
to bless all those who love and guide you,
and then to bless all of the world,

Send your tears of love and gratitude
to those who are in pain,
to those who are alone,
to those who are confused.

Allow the heavenly vibration of gratitude
to puncture their fearful illusions
and open up their hearts to what is truly divine.

Today, take this vow of deep self-love and gratitude,
knowing that when you are in the presence of this kind of love,
you - as well as all of those around you - will flourish.

Take five slow deep breaths, breathing in
love, appreciation, gratitude and joy.
Know that you are never alone and you will never be alone.

We are all here surrounding you with love.

(Debbie Ford) 

the fear voice

Over the years, I’ve watched many creative women not share their voices, not embrace their passions, not ask for what they deserve, not take the risks involved in creating their “hit the home run ball out of the park” life because of the fear voice.

We’ve all heard it at one time or another – the voice that whispers in our ear and tells us we aren’t smart enough, or creative enough – or that we’ll fail, or worst of all, that we don’t deserve the something we know we want.

Having been intimate with the “fear voice” myself, I came up with some ways to help myself (and hopefully you) fight back……

1.)   Create a character that illustrates how the voice of fear feels in you. And when you hear the voice of fear, greet it: “Oh, hello Cruella, it’s you again. What’s up?”  Creating a character helps you separate the creative part of yourself from the part of you that’s afraid. Fears come from an instinctual part of the brain that seeks to avoid risk at any cost. That’s why it’s important to separate it from the place of creativity, dreams and inner wisdom.)

2.)   After hearing the voice of fear say something like: “you’re going to fall flat on your face” or “no one will like your ideas”, ask your rational self: “Can I be absolutely sure that this thought is true?” (Because in most cases, what the voice of fear is saying isn’t true. The voice of fear is irrational and overprotective.

3.)   Stay focused and continue to think it through to the end. Fear holds us hostage, making threats that if you do “X”, a disastrous outcome will occur. So take it one step ahead of the fear. Using your creativity, imagine how you’d handle fear’s projected outcome, and evaluate just how bad it would really be.

Keep shrugging your shoulders and ask “so what?” again and again. For example, the voice of fear tells you that your request for a raise will be turned down. This is when you ask yourself, “So if I was turned down, so what? Then what?”

You’ll probably hear yourself thinking something like, “Well, I’d be disappointed, and I’d think about whether that means I need to change jobs.” You’ve just taken a great deal of power away from your fear.

Or, if that outcome still feels super scary, and your next answer to “so what?” is “I’d feel horribly embarrassed around my boss every time I saw her!” Then ask the question again: “So I’d feel embarrassed and awkward, then what?” Keep following the fear through to the end. You’ll find your resiliency and sense of perspective as you keep asking, “So what?”

Having done the preliminary footwork, it’s time to take affirmative action!

(4.) Compliment the fear. That’s right – stroke it’s ego before you prepare to kick its butt to the curb. “Wow, Cruella – THAT was good! In fact one of your best – you put a lot of work into that one! You almost had me believing you there with that one.”

(5.) Prove your competency and capability to be the bigger voice and take charge person. “Thanks for bringing that to my attention Cruella, but you don’t need to worry. I’ve thought about it and think I’ve got it handled. What you’re so concerned about probably won’t happen, but if it does, I’m strong enough to deal with it. Trust me.”

(6.) Trust yourself. Trust your heart, your inner wisdom, your intuition. You cannot be in a state of fear and trust at the same time. They can’t co-exist – one will always blot out the other. So decide which you will feed and nurture. Your trusting self or your fearful self?

And if all else fails, just accept that fear is nothing more than a cautionary voice in your life right now. Let it be there, but don’t let it be in control. Let it be there, listen to it even, but don’t take direction from it or stop moving forward because of it.

As I read somewhere, “Courage is nothing more than fear that has said its prayers.”  

desires, wants and needs....



Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.  - Harold Whitman

Many years ago, I attended a workshop on “connecting with your hearts desire.” The facilitator instructed us (when faced with a choice of what to do) to sit down with a piece of paper and write out all our options.

“Make a two column list with all the pros and cons for each potential choice” she said, “and when you are done with your list, tear up the paper and do what your heart calls you to do!”

In other words, the most important question we needed to be asking ourselves was "What is my heart calling me to do?"

This little interchange got me thinking about the whole issue of needs. And wanting. And how do we think and feel and respond to our longings and spontaneous wishes.

How many of us play devil’s advocate with ourselves, second guessing the inner voice that whispers in our ear. How many of us don’t have confidence in our desires, and will (sadly) push them back underground where they can't threaten us with their hungry insistence?

But why? Why is it so hard to just joyfully accept our desires? To feel excited and not so skeptical when they appear?

“BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT!!”

One of the big stumbling blocks around embracing our desires is feeling blank or blocked when confronted with the question "What do I want?" You might get so far as knowing that you want something, but you convince yourself that you really have no ideas regarding what that something might be.

This is a lie. You always, always, always know what it is that you want.

It's just that sometimes the thing that you are yearning for is really scary because getting it means you will be changing the status quo in your life in a big way. So you unconsciously block the true awareness of what your heart is yearning for.

When you are feeling totally baffled around your desires and are caught up in believing the fiction that you really and truly just don't have a clue, try asking yourself this question:

"What is it that I am too afraid to want right now?" and see what shows up. And then ask yourself “Why am I so afraid?”

Having needs is not a bad thing or something to be ashamed of, but it often makes people very uncomfortable because it goes against the grain of a lot of internalized messages that advocate NOT expressing our needs or desires.

We talk ourselves out of what we want by telling ourselves that our needs are petty or unimportant. We convince ourselves that we can do without it because under no circumstances do we want anyone to know that we are dissatisfied, or that we want more. We don't want to be seen as selfish or demanding.

Most of the time what we are really doing is protecting ourselves. If we keep our desires invisible we won't risk being disappointed or heartbroken if we try for something that we're not sure we can actually have.

OK. OK. I'LL ASK. BUT ONLY IF I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE ANSWER IS YES

Of course, there is no guarantee that you will get something just because you want it. But you for SURE won't even come close to it if you never even try.

The real secret around the whole issue of longing is that getting what we want isn't really the most important thing. The empowerment is in the longing itself. We are already feeding our deepest sense of aliveness by simply allowing ourselves to FEEL the wanting. To HAVE the wanting. To make space for it to even exist.

Our longing and our wanting gets us in the door - it propels us forward - it gets us engaged with our lives. When we follow our desires we are saying a big old YES to the journey, not necessarily to the destination.

We get ourselves in trouble when we hold back our desires because we are afraid we will be disappointed. We want some kind of guarantee that if we want something we will get it exactly the way we see it all worked out in our minds.

And we miss out on getting things that we could have never even possibly dreamed up.

BUT WHAT I WANT IS REALLY WEIRD!!

Another way that we shut down our desire capability is by thinking that everything we want has to make some kind of sense. Or be socially redeemable. It has to be acceptable in one way or another. And to fit in with who we think we are or are supposed to be.

There is a level of desire that is by its very nature just goofy and wacky and fun. If we are really paying attention to what makes us happy, there are things that we want that can be kind of quirky and offbeat. It's related to the childlike part of who we are that is coming out to play.

The part of us that can love and trust the whimsical & magical self is more than willing to accomodate the other part of ourselves because it knows that doing so is feeding something deeply important and essential.

Which is the point to all of our longings ... whether they be serious or silly they are always leading us in one direction. They are always taking us closer and closer to our core authentic self, to our inner point of greatest aliveness and to our felt sense of being at home in our own skin.

Which is the only thing that we ever really want when you get right down to it.

HOLIDAY GIFTS & RECIPES: Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils

Who knew that the ginger in those gingerbread cookies had the potential to soothe upset stomachs, stimulate sluggish elimination, strengthen our hearts, and relieve head congestion!

This Saturday 12:30-1:30pm (Oct 30), stop by Three Sisters’ Spirit after the Farmer’s Market. Kim Tedford will be here sharing a FREE presentation on the therapeutic aid essential oils can provide, along with ideas on how to incorporate healing in your gift-giving this year.

Sample Kim’s favorite, gingersnaps made with ginger essential oil. The therapeutic qualities of nutmeg, peppermint, frankincense, and myrrh will also be shared!

Then, check out our essential oil kits in the store; Relaxation, Creativity, and Fertile Myrtle. Or call Kim for a private essential oil consultation, 414.476.9335.

Finding Stillness

Find Stillness to Cure the Illness
by Leo Babauta

“Silence is a source of great strength.” ~Lao Tzu

It’s a busy day, and you’re inundated by non-stop emails, text messages, phone calls, instant message requests, notifications, interruptions of all kinds.

The noise of the world is a dull roar that pervades every second of your life. It’s a rush of activity, a drain on your energy, a pull on your attention, until you no longer have the energy to pay attention or take action.

It’s an illness, this noise, this rush. It can literally make us sick. We become stressed, depressed, fat, burnt out, slain by the slings and arrows of technology.

The cure is simple: it’s stillness.

Pause

Take a minute out of your busy day to do this little exercise: pause in the middle of all you have to do, all that’s going on around you. Close your eyes, and sit still. Breathe in, and breathe out, and pay attention to your breath as it comes in and goes out. Just sit still, for about a minute.

This stillness might seem like inaction, which we’re taught is a bad thing. It’s lazy, it’s passive, it’s against our Puritan work ethic. And yet, this simple inaction can change our world.

Stillness calms us. It gives us a small oasis of quiet that allows us to hear our thoughts, that allows us to catch our breath, that gives us room to breathe at all. It is the antibody to the stress and rush we feel daily.

“Activity conquers cold, but stillness conquers heat.” ~Lao Tzu

The Strength of Stillness

Stillness has a calming effect on the world around us as well. By becoming still, we cause others to pause, to pay attention. Our quiet also quiets others. We set the mood for those who work and otherwise interact with us.

When we rush and set a frenetic pace, it stresses others and inspires them to rush frenetically too. Stillness has the opposite effect. It slows the world down, allows us to focus, gives us time for contemplation, for what matters most.

It takes strength to be still when others rush. It takes courage to be different, to go against the stream. But while others might think us weird at first, that’s OK. Sometimes it’s the weird ones that make the most difference. And soon, as our stillness inspires others to find stillness of their own, we won’t be the weird ones — we’ll be the ones with wisdom.

It takes strength to find stillness when the world around us is a chaos of activity, but it’s a strength that’s in us, and we need only to find it. Paradoxically, it’s stillness that will allow us to find that strength. Be still, look within, and it’ll be there.

Finding Stillness

It’s pretty simple, really, and you don’t need me to tell you to do this: to find stillness, you just need to take the time to sit still, every day that you can.

Find a time in the morning, when the world is still fairly quiet, to sit still. Don’t do anything, don’t plan your day, don’t check email, don’t eat. Just sit, and learn to be comfortable being still.

In practice, we’ll gradually find that comfort, and we’ll become good at it. If mornings are no good, find time during your lunch break, or after work, or just before you go to bed.

Find a place to be still. It can be a chair in your house, or a front porch, or the roof. It can be a park bench, or the beach, or a path in the woods. Let this be a ritual that you come to look forward to.

From this small place of stillness, calm will carry to the rest of your day, radiating like a soothing force. You’ll be calmer throughout the day, and learn to find little pockets of stillness everywhere: when you first start your workday, when you are ready to sit down and create, when you’re about to eat, when you are ready to exercise, during a meeting, even.

Practice, regularly. Practice, and learn. Practice stillness, and the stillness becomes a canvas upon which you can paint the masterpiece of your life.

“Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

© Copyright Leo Babauta. All rights reserved.

Leo Babauta is the owner of Zen Habits, one of the top 100 blogs in the world, featuring three powerful articles a week on: simplicity, health & fitness, motivation and inspiration, frugality, family life, happiness, goals, getting great things done, and living in the moment.

Woman

Embracing Womanhood

When one woman honors who she is, all women collectively move closer to becoming what they are capable of being.
There are many ways and myriad reasons for women to honor and embrace all that they are. And when any individual woman chooses to do so, all women collectively move closer to becoming what they are truly capable of being. By honoring her experience and being willing to share it with others—both male and female—she teaches as she learns. When she can trust herself and her inner voice, she teaches those around her to trust her as well. Clasping hands with family members and friends, coworkers and strangers in a shared walk through the journey of life, she allows all to see the self-respect she possesses and accepts their respect, too, that is offered through look, word, and deed. 

When a woman can look back into her past, doing so without regret and instead seeing only lessons that brought her to her current strength and wisdom, she embraces the fullness of her experience. She helps those around her to build upon the past as she does. And when she chooses to create her desires, she places her power in the present and moves forward with life into the future. 

Seeing her own divinity, a woman learns to recognize the divinity in all women. She then can see her body as a temple, appreciating its feminine form and function, regardless of what age or stage of life she finds herself. She can enjoy all that it brings to her experience and appreciate other women and their experiences as well. Rather than seeing other women as competition, she can look around her to see the cycle of life reflected in the beauty of her sisters, reminding her of her own radiance should she ever forget. She can then celebrate all the many aspects that make her a being worthy of praise, dancing to express the physical, speaking proudly to express her intellect, sharing her emotions, and leading the way with her spiritual guidance. Embracing her womanhood, she reveals the facets that allow her to shine with the beauty and strength of a diamond to illuminate her world. 


(Source: DailyOm)

heART and Soul Video

Martina made this video of our first heART & soul class.  To say how awesome and incredible it was in words doesn't do it justice - the video does a much better job of capturing the essence and spirit of our gathering.  Watch and (we hope) enjoy!!

simple and difficult

A fabulous new book!!

"Love one another and you will be happy.  It's as simple and difficult as that."  (Michael Leunig)

What if we simply walked into the world in a more loving way?  What if we learned the difference between loneliness and solitude?  What if we approacbed each situation with one four word question in our minds and hearts; "what would love do?"

mercury retrograde

Mercury, the planet of communication, turns retrograde in Virgo from August 20 to September 12.


Three or four times a year, Mercury appears to move backwards in the sky for approximately three weeks. This is an optical illusion since no planet actually moves backwards or even slows down in their orbits around the Sun. However, it appears to move backwards from our perspective on planet Earth, since the planet may be orbiting at a different speed than the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Mercury retrograde periods introduce a certain level of confusion for us earthlings. As the planet of communication, Mercury rules speech, our listening abilities, negotiations, buying, selling, travel formal contracts and documents amongst other things -- all of which are affected when Mercury seems to slow down. Mercury rules how we perceive and interpret information and how we in turn act and react to that information as we interact with others.

The Leo Sun also opposes Neptune on August 20, which can have a lackluster, low energy, and marginally disappointing influence leading to muddled thinking and lack of motivation as we start this retrograde period. However, Neptune can be healing and very spiritual, and this can be an excellent time to chill out. August 20 can also have the thrill and flavor of romance about it and definitely a time to make your feelings known since we have a delightfully passionate and enthusiastic meeting of Venus and Mars in an exactly aligned conjunction in Libra.

Mercury retrograde periods affect each one of us differently depending on the placement of this planet in our individual birth charts. The effect on Gemini and Virgo signs, ruled by Mercury, will be stronger, but for other signs it is a time of trivial irritations. Being forced to slow down and develop patience can, however, be a blessing in disguise. It gives us all time to stop, go inward and reflect. Mercury retrograde periods can be times of heightened awareness and creativity, and an excellent time for out of the box thinking, which can sometimes lead to startling revelations.

Use the energies of this Mercury Retrograde period wisely and productively. Take an inward look at your strengths and potential and keep focused on the dreams and goals most important to you. 

Although Mercury retrograde is not the time to start any NEW projects, it is a great time to tie up loose ends and complete projects that are unfinished.

(Source:  http://www.astrology.com/)

Embracing Grief

Grief is Important

Giving ourselves permission to be with sadness actually creates space for us to begin the healing process.

Change is something that happens each and every moment in our lives. Since nothing is constant, it may sometimes seem as if we are losing something whenever things do change. Understanding that this is part of our daily existence and that there will not only be gains but also losses in our lives can help us more readily accept and deal with whatever happens. 

Whenever we lose something or somebody we love, it is important for us to take time out for ourselves and truly feel the weight of what we are experiencing. Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of t! he moment. In so doing, we become more open to our natural ability to heal ourselves. 

Grieving doesn’t have to be a process that keeps us rooted in our thoughts of fear and sadness. For the moment we might feel despondent, but by expressing and coping with our true feelings, we face the sadness head-on. When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass. 


(Source: DailyOm)

Mindfulness Moment Monday

The importance of ritual and how to bring ritual into everyday life...........

All the great religions teach that food is a blessing from the Divine and should be treated with immense respect and gratitude. No Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist family would dream of scoffing down a meal without saying a blessing and giving thanks. In China food is considered to be a physical link between humans and the Gods: beautifully prepared meals are given as a sacred offering on the family altars. In the Ayurvedic tradition of India, food is a spiritual science with precise prescriptions of how to prepare and eat food for physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Start by considering the following:

• How do you eat? At table with family or friends? While working? On the run?
• What do you eat? Do you prepare your own food or do you buy ready-prepared processed food?
• Do you ever really taste your food?
• Are you mindful when you eat?

The simplest of rituals can turn even the humble sandwich into a feast for the spirit. The principles of making mealtime sacred are very straightforward - and can easily be adapted to fit your circumstances and preferences.

Preparing "soul" food need not involve new recipes or expensive ingredients. Follow these simple principles to transform the food you eat.

• Say a prayer or blessing before you start. Hold your hands over your ingredients and thank them for giving their life for you. Visualize the journey of your ingredients - how they grew, who tended them, how they came to be on your table. Ask them to help nourish you and your family with love.

• Prepare your food with love and attention. Concentrate on the task at hand - look on it as sacred meditation. Try not to distract yourself by watching television or listening to the radio as you cook. Take time to notice the textures, scents and feel of the food you cooking. Avoid gadgets and processors where possible - hand-chopping brings you closer into contact with the food.

• Think of your cooking as sacred alchemy. Remember you are using all the elements in your cookery - the earth of your raw ingredients; water to cook in; as you stir or beat you are adding in air; and there’s the fire of your stove.

• Pour your hopes and wishes for the people who will eat your food as you cook. Focus your intention as you chop, stir, mix, blend. Cookery is a kind of spell-making. If you add herbs and spices with their magical properties, you can increase the power.

• Lay your table with care - even the simplest meals can be made special by adding a small vase of flowers (a posy of wild flowers, buds or leaves are cheap but lovely); perhaps add a candle. More ideas for table-decoration in the pages which follow.

• Serve your meal so it looks inviting and appetizing. Choose colors which complement each other.

• Say grace or a blessing before eating.

• Eat your food mindfully. Smell the different fragrances before you start to eat. Notice how you choose your food - be aware of putting it on your fork and in your mouth. Don’t just swallow - really taste the food, feel its texture. Make each mouthful mindful.

• Allow time in your meal for conversation and a sense of community. Don’t race up afterwards - sit and talk.

• Clean up with mindfulness and gratitude too. Try adding a few drops of mandarin oil to your washing up liquid to cheer up your senses.

Source:  Jane Alexander;
SACRED RITUALS AT HOME: An easy to follow, highly illustrated book packed with everyday rituals which offer the chance to stop and take stock; to be in the moment; to make us feel more positive, more energised, more relaxed or more confident. This book gives clear instructions on how to create your own rituals: honouring the body; motivating the psyche; boosting relationships; soothing the soul and honouring the seasons. It also gives ideas for a host of rituals – for personal private use or to include family and friends.

Weekly Horoscope - What's in the stars for you?

Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, August 15, 2010

All Signs

The planet Mercury rules all forms of communications and transportation. To be more precise, it a rules all things that go "forward." (Ideas, packages, mail, and items with a destination.) When Mercury goes retrograde, we suffer from increased inefficiency, errors and delays. But it's not so simple as "today Mercury goes retrograde," or "today the retrograde is over." That is too simplistic. For example, this month, Mercury started to slow down by Aug. 8, even though it does not go retrograde until Aug. 20. And when the retrograde is over, on Sept. 12, Mercury doesn't catch up to where it was initially, until September 27. Very tricky! And kinda confusing. It's wise to use that outside window to guide a major purchase of computers, cars, and trucks. (This is my inside track on Mercury's outside track.)



Aries (March 21-April 19)
Every Mercury retrograde is different. And there are generally three Mercury retrogrades each year. This particular Mercury retrograde hits you where you work! It makes your job, and your day to day tasks, frustrating because of errors, delays, lost paperwork, confused communications, computer difficulties, canceled appointments, and just a nightmare of glitches that makes your life tough! Some of these might even impact your health. Possibly, old health issues will resurface. ("My rash is back!") Difficulties with partners and close friends could aggravate your frustration. Fortunately, parties, vacations, romance, sports, and fun stuff are blessed! You win some -- you lose some. (You'll be fine.)



Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This particular Mercury retrograde might resurrect old issues with children -- perhaps the care of children, the maintenance of children, the education of children -- something. Life is really stirring the pot here! Another aspect of your life that might be jiggled is old romance! Old flames and ex-lovers are popping up out of the woodwork. This could be exciting or horrific -- depending on how these relationships ended. Some people stay friends with old flames, and some people don't. (You know who you are.) The upside is you have a chance now to finish creative projects or discover solutions to artistic problems or anything related to sports. Work with what you've got!



Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Because Mercury is the planet that rules Gemini, you suffer from Mercury retrogrades more than most. No question. This particular Mercury retrograde time will bring family and relatives to your doorstep. Family reunions are likely. People crashing on your couch and eating everything in your fridge are also likely. This is certainly a chance to discuss old family business or to bring closure to some issues. It's an excellent time to finish projects at home -- renovating, redecorating or even building. Real estate deals that were initiated more than a week ago, can go forward to completion quite easily now. (Meanwhile, you might want to hide some of your booze.)



Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This is a vicious Mercury retrograde for your sign. Why? Because for the sign of Cancer (this means you) this Mercury retrograde occurs where Mercury lives. In other words, it's at "home" going crazy! This really affects your day to day efforts to do things and talk to people. Therefore, pay your phone bill. Recharge your cell phone. Take care of car repairs. You will encounter transportation delays, missed buses, car breakdowns, confused communications, misunderstandings, lost items, along with cheques that are late in the mail plus increased confusion with siblings, relatives and neighbours. This sounds pretty maddening, doesn't it? Hang in there.



Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You're the last of the big-time spenders! If you've got the coin, you're lavish. In part, this is because you're very generous, and in part, it's because you're theatrical, dramatic, and you love a good time. Regrettably, this month, you feel financially squeezed. (Ouch.) What happened to all the money? Your credit card debt is rising so fast, it's almost a mystery. (Until you scan the purchases.) Basically, your cash flow has slowed to a dribble. However, this is a good time to take stock and figure out what your assets are, and what you owe. In other words, get a clear picture of your finances. It only feels like it's better "not knowing." In truth, information is power.



Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Good luck, my dear friend. This particular Mercury retrograde is retrograde in your sign! All kinds of people, information, and events from the past are swirling around you now. Ex-partners might be on the scene. But on a day-to-day basis, so many details in your life seem to be piling up, you feel like you're losing control. You forget things, misplace things, or lose things. You might be blowing appointments, or held up with delays, or just feel generally overwhelmed by life. Don't worry! We all have of these times when we are up to our armpits in alligators. Remind yourself that this will pass. (Especially if you drink a lot of water.) A month from now - all this is a memory.



Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This particular Mercury retrograde is not so bad for your sign. In fact, it will allow you to do a lot of research very quickly and very effectively. You'll find it easy to reach into the past, or come up with solutions and answers to old problems. However, nobody gets off completely with any Mercury retrograde. No doubt, you will feel vaguely unsettled or dissatisfied or mildly worried about something. You might know what it is; you might not. Quite likely, old issues that you repress or shut out or don't want to think about are clamouring for attention in your mind. It's such a drag having to take a look at something you don't want to see -- isn't it? Maybe you could try using two mirrors?



Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Old friends are definitely impacting your world again because of this particular Mercury retrograde. You might run into friendly old faces or unfriendly old faces! (Horrors.) Possibly, you will meet people you once knew through clubs, groups, and organizations. Actually, it's good to have history with people. These encounters might be thought provoking and beneficial. It does appear that something is going to cause you to reassess your goals and dreams for the future. Or you might think about your future in an entirely new way, especially when you see how the years are rushing by. (Time flies when you're unconscious.)



Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is a pretty tricky time for your sign. Many of you want to travel now and explore any kind of opportunity that broadens your horizons. You're hungry for adventure because you want more out of life! Nevertheless, this particular Mercury retrograde, which is certainly hovering around you for the next month, is taking place at the very top of your chart. In one way, this means all the little glitches and foolish inefficiency that you experience will probably be rather public! (Major groan.) This could be anything from a flat tire in rush-hour to misplaced important papers during a public speech. Or maybe the microphone won't work? Try to stay on top of things so you don't end up with egg on your face. (If you do -- ketchup helps.)



Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Travel delays, plus delays in publishing, the media, and anything related to higher education, the law, or medicine will definitely dog your steps. It's so frustrating! You are a perfectionist. And now these delays make you look ridiculous and inept. (Is there no justice?) Be comforted by the knowledge that every sign is feeling frustrated by delays for some reason or other. It's the nature of the beast. (Mercury retrograde.) Instead, use this time to do research, or finish anything related to higher education, medicine, the media, publishing, and the law. Despite these snafus, you will finish things quite quickly.



Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Many of you will be dealing with old issues related to taxes, debt, insurance matters, or anything to do with inheritances and jointly held property. Another issue that could be on the table is the challenge of dealing with other people's values, especially when you completely don't agree with them! ("What can they be thinking?") You have a modern, egalitarian view of the world. Sometimes you're amazed and even horrified to see how stuck in the mud other people are. (Whaat?) I suggest you use this time to your advantage to clear up loose details with shared property, inheritances, taxes, and debt. Instead of being stalled in the water, rev that Mercury engine, and go places!



Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
The last time Mercury was retrograde directly opposite your sign was in September 2009. This is always an indication that you have to face old issues with partners, especially ex-partners. It could mean you are similarly dealing with old issues with close friends as well. Whatever the case, all this stuff is back on your plate again. Oy! The downside of Mercury is feeling frustrated with delays. But the upside of Mercury (and incredibly, there is an upside) is that you can quite easily expedite things or finish things or bring them to a conclusion now. Wouldn't it be nice to get rid of this once and for all? Some of you, however, are not dealing with old issues. You're just running into ex-partners -- and all that that implies. (Yikes!)

Copyright © 2003-2010 Georgia Nicols. All Rights Reserved.

Tonight's Reiki Share

Whew!! I feel like a brand new gal! Thanks to Donna, Annette, and Karen who attended Reiki Share tonight.


I so enjoyed sharing the meditation experience with you, and our discussion about the prayerfulness of Reiki. It is so important for us to gather this way, as practitioners (those who practice) of Reiki, to talk about the realities of walking the Reiki path – the struggles and the joys.

Namaste, sisters. It was truly an honor to meet with you this evening!

Yours,

Carolyn

Dr. Mom’s Essential Oils Class: A Holistic Self-Care Option

Everyday we’re hearing about some toxin that is effortlessly invading our home and bodies. Sometimes it is from our food supply. Other times, we are attacking a symptom with OTC synthetic treatments rather than addressing underlying causes to our health decline.

A holistic self-care plan includes nutrition, movement, rest, a beneficial environment, supportive relationships, community work, and spirituality. Tomorrow evening, we will be sampling nine essential oils to support our self care in a holistic way.

• Nutrition: Learn how to naturally clean your fruits. Supplement your food and water with beneficial and flavorful oils. Lavender tea cake will be served. Recipes will be shared.
• Movement: Need a pick-me-up to get you to your exercise class? There are many oils to uplift, circulate, stimulate, and motivate!
• Rest: Nothing like an aromatic bath to soothe your skin. Trouble sleeping? Kids challenged by quiet time? Need to reduce your stress levels? We have great ideas for all of this!!
• Environment: Does the air in your home need purification? Ready to get rid of that problematic mold? Does your home, office, laundry, or bathroom need refreshing?
• Relationships: Looking for romance? Ready to invite touch? Want to add more “mommy magic” to your medicine cabinet? Need some emotional support just for you? We have oils for that, too.
• Community: Share your anti-stress potions with friends and family. Educate others on non-toxic ways to address pathogens and invigorate health.
• Spirituality: Support your practice with meditation, ceremonial oils, and open heart.

Come play with us tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Doors open at 6:15pm. Sample nine essential oils. Go home with your personalized kit of 3-5 oils along with tons of ideas on how to use the oils. Let’s get going with more holistic self-care options!

Dr. Mom's Essential Oils Class
Led by Kim Tedford and Leann Larsson.
Thursday 6:30pm, AUG 5. Doors open at 6:15pm.
Three Sisters' Spirit, 308 W. Broadway, Downtown Waukesha, WI.
Call 262.446.6752 to register.
We want to have enough oils on-hand to fulfill your kit.
Call Kim, 414.476.9335, with questions about class.

Fee: $25.

Return and Reclaim

Returning to Creative Dreams


Our creativity is an important part of being a well-rounded human being. For many of us, this has been shut down.

As children, many of us entertained fantasies or even goals of being an actor, singer, dancer, artist, or musician. In some cases, we received enough encouragement to develop our abilities in those creative arenas, but somewhere along the way we stopped. This stopping may have been due to circumstances beyond our control or to our own unconscious acts of self-sabotage. Being creative can be scary in a world that seems to value logic over imagination and practicality over dreaming. We can forgive ourselves for shutting down or turning our attention away from our inner artist, but perhaps we can also take steps to reclaim our dreams.

In certain times and places, developing a creative ability was considered an important part of being a well-rounded human being. It was not necessary to be a professional or a masterly genius, because the act of creativity was valued in and of itself. It gifts are manifold—from the sheer pleasure of allowing our imaginations free reign to sharing and enjoying the fruits of our labor. Children share drawings and songs freely, without self-consciousness, and there is no reason why we cannot do the same thing. You may already be remembering some lost form of expression, such as making jewelry or writing songs. Your soul may be responding with an energetic lift as it feels its way back to a time when it was allowed to express itself freely. Your brain, on the other hand, may be throwing up obstacles, like the idea that you are too old or do not have the time.

The truth is, you are not too old, and if you have time to pick up a pen, you have time to make a doodle or write a haiku. Recognize that the obstacles you find before you have arisen from a place of fear and that they will wane in power every time you do something creative. Each creative act takes you deeper into a realm of beauty and magic, a realm that you have every right to return to and reclaim.

(Source: DailyOm)

Want to embrace your creative self? Check out the HeART and Soul art group we're offering!

this is the time - we are the ones

Maintaining the Flow

Maintain the flow of your energy -- creative, spiritual, physical, mental, emotional -- by attending some of the classes and groups we offer, or ask us about our wellness services!

A Clear Current

A strong and fluid energy field is the key that unlocks the doors of self-healing and peace of mind.

The essence of all being is energy. Our physical and ethereal selves depend on the unrestricted flow of life energy that is the source of wholeness and wellness. Though the channels through which this energy flows are open systems and influenced by factors outside of our control, we ultimately choose what impact these will have in our lives. It is up to us to identify and clear blockages in the energy field to ensure that flow is maintained. A healthy, grounded individual absorbs some portion of the energy emitted by other people and the environment, but this does not interrupt the continuous stream of balanced energy sustaining them. The same individual copes constructively with stress and upset, and they are not subject to the stagnation that frequently goes hand in hand with negativity. When we keep the energy in and around our bodies flowing harmoniously, we are naturally healthy, vibrant, and peaceful.

Life energy flows through us like a swift stream when there is nothing to obstruct it, but various forces such as trauma, downbeat vibrations, and disappointments act like stones that impede the current. If we allow these to pile up, our life energy is thrown off its course or blocked entirely, causing illness, restlessness, and a lack of vigor. If, however, we take the time to clear these forces away, we rob them of the power to impact our lives. When we cultivate simple yet affirmative habits such as taking regular cleansing baths, practicing meditation and breathing exercises, smudging, and self-shielding, we protect ourselves from outside influences that might otherwise impede our energy flow. Likewise, we lessen the impact of inner influences when we clear our auras of unwanted attachments and divest ourselves of blocked emotions.

A strong and fluid energy field is the key that unlocks the doors of self-healing and peace of mind. Your awareness of the flow of energy sustaining you empowers you to take charge of your own well-being by taking steps to unblock, correct, and enhance that flow. Fear will likely be the culprit when you cannot identify the source of stagnation—you may simply be afraid to let go of what is obstructing the flow. Letting go can be challenging, but the exuberance you will feel when the flow is restored will be a welcome and blessed reward.

(Source: DailyOm)

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our newest Reiki I graduate, Connie T. I am so pleased to have been able to have been a part of your journey, and so grateful that despite the truly inclement weather, we were able to complete your training!

Welcome to the Reiki path.

Namaste,
Carolyn

Secrets of Achievement & Change

Do you have something you want to change or achieve in your life? Maybe you'd like to...
=> start a business
=> strengthen a relationship
=> have more money
=> feel comfortable in your own skin
=> organize your house
=> or something else

No matter what you'd like to change or achieve, the secrets to success are the same...

#1: Get clear. As specifically as possible, decide what you want. The more clear you are on what you want in your life, the more likely you are to achieve it.

#2: Get perspective. Most people don't tell anyone what they want or about their struggle. Because they don't share, they don’t have an outside perspective.

#3: Get support. Very few people (if any) achieve anything great alone. Sports stars have teammates and coaches. Be willing to ask someone to support you.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TUESDAYS: Life Coaching Sessions
with Kim Tedford, M.A., 30-minutes/$30
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you have something SPECIAL, something important for you to change? If you want to speed up your success rate, then I'd like to help you do it with a 1-on-1 personal coaching session where we'll work together to...



=> Create a crystal clear vision for ‘ultimate success’ so you know exactly what you want, where you're headed, and what you need to do to make it happen.

=> Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your ability to make changes that last or that are slowing down your progress

=> Leave your session renewed, re-energized, and inspired to finally achieve the change you seek - once and for all

If you’d like to take advantage of this results-oriented 30-minute coaching session, email me your answers to these questions…

1. What do you most want to change today?
2. Have you tried to change this before?
3. What have you attempted in the past that didn't work?
4. Why do you think it didn't work?
5. On a 0-10 scale, how important is it for you to achieve change today?
6. What other areas of your life do you want to change (if any)?
7. Full Name
8. Email Address
9. Phone #

Check off the areas you’d most like to work on…
__ Career
__ Health
__ Intimate Relationship
__ Finances
__ Home
__ Family & Friends
__ Personal Growth
__ Physical Environment
__ Other

Since I’m only at Three Sisters’ Spirit on Tuesdays, I can’t guarantee a coaching session for everyone. I’ll take as many people as I can and then start a waiting list. You can expect to be contacted to schedule your session within the next 2 business days. If you don’t hear from me, it means I’ve received more requests than I can handle right now and if something opens up I’ll get in touch with you at a later time.

Again, to take advantage of this offer, simply click reply and send your answers to the questions listed above.

Warmest Regards,

Kim Tedford
http://www.integralembrace.com/

PS: The sooner you send your answers, the more likely you are to get a session. Click reply now.

"heART & soul"

As women, we are all naturally & intuitively creative, and we all have a creative gift that is authentically ours, wanting to be expressed.

That’s where “heART and soul” comes in!

Coming in August of 2010!!

Facilitators:
Dani Sutliff, MS, RMT
Rev. Martina Schmidt
Carolyn Gaar, BA, RMT

A heart-opening, soul enriching creative experience where we will:

• Play with juicy collage images, textures and technique to discover and express our “heART & soul” in a journal (book) form.
• Embrace our intuition and soul’s voice to express and record ourselves out onto our pages.
• Explore ways of using words, text, quotes, and poetry in our creative journals to express what our heart needs to say.
• Discover ways to incorporate artful expression and creativity into everyday life.
• Deeply, richly and soulfully connect with other women in an inspiring, creative, nurturing environment.

What if I’m not creative or have never done art journaling before?

First off, let us assure you that if you are woman, you are creative! Inherently, intrinsically, intuitively creative! You don’t need experience of any kind to attend this group – everyone (and we mean everyone) is welcome to come play and explore with us! The only thing you need is a blank book, (your choice) an open heart and the willingness to explore your vast, limitless, and for some, untapped creative potential.

“heART & soul” isn’t about artistic perfection or pretty pages, or even creating great works of art, (although that often naturally happens) either. “heArt and soul” is about learning and exploring who you are, and from that discovery, creating pages of texture, color, image and text that say, “This is who I am and how I saw and lived in the world.” Our journals will be a living, breathing, expression of as many facets of our lives that we choose to not just create but also record.

What can I expect from this group?

• self discovery and exploration
• opening up to new possibilities
• accessing intuition
• expressing and processing feelings
• setting goals
• increasing self love
• healing and transformation
• being more present in our lives

“heART and soul” is an on-going group that will meet monthly, and each month’s page will have a focused theme. As facilitators, we’ll offer interactive, “hands on” instruction, share our own personal pages and projects for ideas and inspiration, and (most important to us) offer gobs of time to play, experiment and get messy as you dive in and create your own unique and juicy pages!

What do I need to bring?

Participants will be given a basic supply list of what to bring - all other supplies & materials for each month’s initial page will be provided.

from our heARTs to yours….

Our commitment is to provide you with equal parts of support, nurturing and challenge so you may begin the journey back to your inherent creative self. We believe that creative expression is a powerful tool in walking the path of spiritual growth and self empowerment.

We bring you “heART and soul” from our own practice and belief in the importance of creative expression. In other words, we “walk our talk”. In the busyness of this all too often harried and hectic world and the stresses and demands of our everyday lives, we have each made a commitment to enriching ourselves mind, body and spirit by making and taking time for our intrinsic and intuitive need for creativity. This (and more) is what we now offer to share with you – from our “heART and soul” to yours.

Making the time to connect with your creative pool renews your soul, heals your spirit, keeps your inner spark alive and allows you greater intimacy with the full depths of your being. You will discover a deeper sense of meaning and purpose for yourself and your life; reconnect to your childlike joy and imagination; find a voice for what has been silent, and find a community of women to journey with you every step of the way!

Time for Wellness

A Self-Healing Day


Set aside a day for focus on yourself. Start the day by setting the intention that you are dedicating this time to healing yourself.

Human beings carry within themselves the seed of healing. Our choices affect us more than we realize, and it is because of this that we tend to place responsibility for our wellness in the hands of others. As beneficial as regular visits to a healer can be, we have the power to heal ourselves at will. When we dedicate a day to the pursuit of wellness, we can relax and renew ourselves in a nourishing and comfortable environment. A sincere desire to open ourselves to the highest realities of our physical and spiritual selves is the key to self-healing so that healing energy can flow into us unimpeded.

A self-healing day should address the vital needs of the self as a whole while directing healing energy where it is needed most. Solitude is an important part of the process as is the ability to take refuge in a space that is both beautiful and peaceful. Start your healing day by setting the intention that you are dedicating this time to healing yourself. Flowers, candlelight, incense, and music can guide our focus toward a more tranquil state. For a more intense session, try listening to music through headphones since tuning out can help you tune in. It is up to us to decide what we need to do to cultivate wellness in our lives. For some, it may be time spent in reflection. Others will turn to calming activities that help them remember their purpose, such as journal writing, being in nature, or studying. Our healing may even take a more direct form as we use color, sound, or crystals to balance and ground ourselves.

Ultimately, your wholesome intentions transform what might otherwise be a simple day of rest into a day of healing. Grant yourself permission to relax and savor the stillness. If you attune yourself to the calm around you, worldly distractions will be minimized and the unadulterated flow of your consciousness will reestablish itself in the forefront of your mind. The needs of the body, the heart, and the soul will then be revealed to you, empowering you to tap into the essential healing energy of the universe. The mechanism you use to channel this energy will be dependent on your shifting requirements, so each day of healing you enjoy will be unique. All will replenish you, however, allowing you to recreate yourself in a perfect image of health.

(Source: DailyOm)

Tonight's Reiki Share

Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is. (Gary Zukav)


Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls. (Melody Beattie)

Thank you to Annette, Donna, Alida, Cathy, and Joyce for another wonderful Reiki Share this evening! Facilitating this group each month is one of my greatest pleasures. I so enjoy the opportunity to discuss with all of you all the things that come up as we walk the Reiki path.

Reiki share is our opportunity to come together and to offer one another healing and to sit in a circle of support to discuss our experiences, our questions, and our hopes. Thank you to all who’ve come, and to all who will come.

In gratitude,

Namaste,

Carolyn

Underneath the Noise

Hearing the Whisper


The whisper that reassures us everything is okay delivers its message with quiet confidence. Once we hear it, we know it speaks the truth.

You may have noticed that if you want to speak to someone in a noisy, crowded room, the best thing to do is lean close and whisper. Yelling in an attempt to be louder than the room’s noise generally only hurts your throat and adds to the chaos. Similarly, that still, small voice within each of us does not try to compete with the mental chatter on the surface of our minds, nor does it attempt to overpower the volume of the raucous world outside. If we want to hear it, no matter what is going on around us or even inside us, we can always tune in to that soft voice underneath the surrounding noise.

It is generally true that the more insistent voices in our heads delivering messages that make us feel panicky or afraid are of questionable authority. They may be voices we internalized from childhood or from the culture, and as such they possess only half-truths. Their urgency stems from their disconnectedness from the center of our being, and their urgency is what catches our attention. This The other voice that whispers reassurances that everything is fundamentally okay simply delivers its message with quiet confidence. , and oOnce we hear it, we know it speaks the truth. Generally, once we have heard what it has to say, a powerful sense of calm settles over our entire being, and the other voices and sounds, once so dominant, fade into the background, suddenly seeming small and far away.

We may find that our own communications in the world begin to be influenced by the quiet certainty of this voice. We may be less inclined to indulge in idle chatter as we become more interested in maintaining our connection to the whisper of truth that broadcasts its message like the sound of the wind shaking the leaves of a tree. As we align ourselves more with this quiet confidence, we become an extension of the whisper, penetrating the noise of the world and creating more peace, trust, and confidence.

(Source: DailyOm)

The Vow of Emotional Independence

When you have emotional independence, you want for nothing because you have everything. Just take a deep breath and think about this. Imagine feeling so full and so completely at peace inside yourself that you have the freedom to love and be loved, to give freely and to receive abundantly, to expand rather than contract, to move forward rather than stay stuck, to live in joy rather than suffer in misery. Emotional independence allows you to be in control rather than to be controlled by the unhealed emotions of your past and will support you in being nourished and filled with faith rather than diminished and weakened by fear.

Today is the day that we can stand together and take The Vow of Emotional Independence. So close your eyes and have the intention that you can be free, that you can be loved, that you can be abundant, that you can be healed, that you can be inspired, that you can be passionate, and that you can help change the world. And then open your eyes and please join me in taking the vow:

The Vow of Emotional Independence

I, ______ ________, am committed to living free of the strangulating grip of fear, shame, doubt, worry, anger, and sadness.

I promise to give my power to the force greater than myself rather than some food, substance, bad habit, or disempowering craving.

I will stand for my highest expression rather than allowing others' judgments to define who I am.

I will always make sure to please and take care of myself instead of succumbing to any people-pleasing habits.

I will listen to the voice of my soul rather than listening to the voice of my critical internal judge.

I will find joy in each and every day of my existence rather than get caught up in the insanity of my world.

I will take care of my planet and let my voice be heard instead of waiting for someone else to do it for me.

I will choose powerfully each and every moment to make choices that leave me feeling inspired by myself and will graciously let go of my self-defeating behaviors.

I take this vow NOW as a positive stand for my soul's highest expression and for every man, woman, and child on this planet today.

As I set myself free, I am freeing myself and others from the violence of my darkest thoughts, my negative projections, and my limiting self-image.

And now I ask all the powers that be to support me in living this vow each and every moment of each and every day.

As I surrender my will for the higher will, I know that I will be guided from my darkest thought to my greatest dream, from my head to my heart.

Today, I commit to living in full accordance with this vow.

And so it is.

Live as if this is your birthright and your destiny - because it is.

Take a deep breath. Read this vow to yourself and allow it to nourish you. See yourself filled with all the light of the world. And if your heart desires to share it, send it on to others.

With love and blessings,
Debbie Ford

Nourishing and Cleansing

Performing Daily Ceremony


We can engage in daily practices that include ritual and ceremony, reminding ourselves throughout the day of the sacredness of this life.

When we perform or participate in rituals and ceremonies, we enter into a state of mind that is different from mundane consciousness. Ranging in significance from bedtime stories to weddings, ceremonies and rituals are acknowledgments that an event or period of time has special meaning. As a result, they can have the effect of drawing us into the moment, inviting us to pay closer attention and tune into the subtle energies that are always present but that often go unrecognized. In addition, as we perform the same actions we have performed before and will perform again, we immerse ourselves in a river of continuity that extends back into the past and forward into the future.

Many of us have distanced ourselves from rituals that may have seemed too constricting or too attached to an organized religion we have chosen not to follow. However, we can reclaim the practices of ceremony and ritual to good effect, imbuing them with our new consciousness, and we do not have to wait for a big event to do it. We can engage in daily practices that include ritual and ceremony, reminding ourselves throughout the day of the sacredness of this life. In fact, if we look closely, we will see that our days are already made up of rituals, from the time we wake up to the time we retire. So we do not need to change anything except our perspective to imbue our day with an air of ceremony.

Most of our daily rituals revolve around nourishing and cleansing, both of which have always been sacred acts. With this in mind, we may pause before each meal, close our eyes, and say a silent thank you to the universe that provides. If we want to get more elaborate, we can light candles or bless our food. Similarly, as we wash ourselves in the morning and evening, we can choose to see the grace in this act of cleansing and purification as we release what has past and prepare ourselves for the new. We can be as simple or as complex as we like, so long as our attitude is one of reverence for this sacred moment in this sacred life.

(Source: DailyOm)

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our newest Reiki Level II Practitioner graduates, Alida, Mary, and Karen! It was a joy to have you as students and to be a part of your Reiki path. We’re excited to hear about the way that things continue to unfold for you!


Namaste!

Dani & Carolyn


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Reiki Level II?

Okuden – The Inner Teachings
Reiki Level II – Second Degree Reiki Practitioner

Reiki Level II is considered the “Practitioner’s Level” and offers students advanced Reiki healing techniques. In Level II students are given complete tools for working with Reiki energy both in person and through “absentee” techniques. Level II Reiki produces a grounding or solidifying of the healing energy. At this level, students are given the first three Reiki symbols which allow the Reiki energy to perform powerful functions, such as specific mental, emotional, and spiritual healing, as well as long distance healing.

The Dwelling Pulse

Energy Of A Home


Our homes and your belongings within them all contain energy. Tend to the energy of your home as you would tend to anything you love.

Our homes are filled with energy that we create and allow to flourish. In many cases, our relationship with the pulse of our homes is passive rather than active because we do not pay particular heed to the energy that has been established. It is only when we regard these spaces as unique entities that we begin to understand why it is necessary to take charge of the energy that fills our homes. Stagnant, inharmonious energy can find its way into our dwellings through many avenues. Previous occupants, builders, visitors, and the individuals who maintain a home leave a strong energy imprint behind. Objects and symbols can also have an effect on the energy of a residence. When we are aware of all that can influence the energy of our spaces, we are empowered to create harmonious homes that do more than meet our need for shelter.

Exercising care with regard to who and what we invite into our homes is one of the easiest ways we can ensure that the energy within remains loving and supportive. It is not always possible to keep potentially harmful people and possessions from entering our homes, but we can take precautions. Individuals can be kept from private spaces like bedrooms and meditation areas, while property can be purified through cleansing or smudging. During periods of remodeling or construction, Reiki symbols and other positive imagery can be printed on surfaces that will later be covered by walls or flooring. Though hidden, these will continue to attract good energy and cleanse the existent energy. Blessings can also be drawn in plain sight, where they remind us of how potently our home's energy can affect our own.

A home can appear beautiful, comfortable, and stable while still serving as a dwelling place for negative or otherwise offensive energy. If you care for your home conscientiously and with great care, you will instinctively look beyond the surface qualities of your home when assessing how it feels. Since you actively guard your home against the intrusion of unwelcome energy, you will have the time and vigor necessary to cope with it constructively when should it appear in your midst. The spirit of your spaces will respond to your thoughtful ministrations, nurturing and supporting you for as long as you choose to reside within her walls.

(Source: DailyOm)

what do you like?

Thanks to our wonderful friend MerryME for this video!!  It's now one of our favorites!!

lost generation

Be Here Now

Caretake this moment.

Immerse yourself in its particulars.

Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed.

Quit the evasions.

Stop giving yourself needless trouble.

It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.

You are not some disinterested bystander.

Exert yourself.

Respect your partnership with providence.

Ask yourself often, How may I perform this particular deed

such that it would be consistent with and acceptable to the divine will?

Heed the answer and get to work.

When your doors are shut and your room is dark you are not alone.

The will of nature is within you as your natural genius is within.

Listen to its importunings.

Follow its directives.

As concerns the art of living, the material is your own life.

No great thing is created suddenly.

There must be time.

Give your best and always be kind.

Epictetus

A Magical Potion

Morning Dew

The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass.

The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass, on flower petals and leaves, on cars and car windows. These glistening droplets last only a little while, an integral part of what imbues the early morning with its aura of magic. If we sleep too late, we miss the magnificent display of sunlight playing upon an infinite amount of tiny crystal balls. To step onto the dew-covered grass is to anoint our feet with a form of water that comes only once a day for a short time, a rarefied gift of the night air that will soon evaporate in the full light of the sun. If we inhale slowly and consciously enough, it is almost as if we are drinking in this magical elixir formed in the boundary between darkness and light.

In one myth, morning dew is believed to be tears from heaven, and in another, the droplets are poured from the vessel of the goddess of dawn. When we see the earth draped with these shimmering drops, it is easy to imagine fairies bathing in the water, or a sky god weeping from a longing to be closer to his beloved earth goddess. Seeing the sparkling beauty of the earth emerging from darkness, we may understand this longing in terms of our own gratitude; how blessed we are to be here.

Perhaps heaven really does long to be here on earth, and perhaps that is why we are here—as conduits between the divine and the earthbound. As we drink the morning dew in with our eyes, our skin, our breath, it is easy to imagine that it really is a magical potion, a gift from heaven, a reminder of our true purpose, and a daily opportunity to be transformed.

 
(Source: DailyOm)