Taking Stock

It may seem cliche to count our blessings or look at all of the accomplishments we have made in the past year, but we need to consider the milestones of achievements in order to chart a new course for the coming year.  If you are in a position where all you can do is to take one day at a time, that is all right, but for many of us, having a direction to go in is most helpful.

I saw a project on Facebook which could be very helpful in allowing us to see our accomplishments or major life events over the course of a year.  It was a jar in which we put little notes every time we had some significant event happen.  I’m not sure if one would only put the positive things or both positive and negative.  I think that would be up to you.

In any case, on New Year’s Eve, then, you can review the notes to see what you have accomplished in the past year.  You can also do this with a journal, but I’ll bet the jar is more fun.

So taking stock of your life, year by year, has benefits that help you see that you are going somewhere.  You then have the choice to see if you wish to remain in the same direction, or if there are changes that you need to make.  The important thing here is to note that you have a choice.  You have a choice in where your life is going.  Circumstances around you may or may not be optimal, but think about what your heart wants. 

Practicality aside, when you are old and gray you do not want to think about having been in a boardroom all your life, do you?  Of course, we all measure happiness and success differently, but much of our satisfaction in life depends on how many lives we touched, how we helped others, brought joy into their lives, made life better for them.  We may or may not be successful with that, but so long as we try and don’t give up, we are doing our part.

Most importantly, you are the one who judges your own life path, whether you are going to where you want to be, doing what you want to do.  If you are doing your best to be the best you, you can be, then you are going in the right direction, and you can keep on keeping on.

May you be richly blessed!

Holidays

There is always a flurry of activity around the holidays to display one’s religious affiliation, it seems.  Everyone wants to have statements of their faith in the town square.  And why not?  That is, so long as everyone has the opportunity to display their decor, so that the governmental body involved is not charged with having preference for one over another.  Truth be told, perhaps not everyone wants to have their faith spread out for the town to see.

In any case, it seems to become a bone of contention, and people are asked to stand up for their faith, to prove themselves as not being ashamed of what they believe in.  It’s something that is even popular on Facebook, to declare your trust in the Savior.  But, my friends, the Holy Bible says that God will try the hearts and reins, not Facebook and our peers. God, being omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, knows whatever goes on in our hearts and minds, that we have no need of these outward declarations.  These things become a matter of our peers judging our faith, and that is something that we have been warned against doing.

So when someone tells you to say, “Merry Christmas” as opposed to “Happy Holidays,” what do you say?  I like to honor all the beliefs of all people.  While not everyone celebrates a holiday this time of year, many do, and it is not only polite to acknowledge them, it is appropriate to recognize that we have freedom of religion in this country, and because we do, we should act like it in an honorable way. 

For those who prefer to declare their own beliefs, and say, “Merry Christmas,” because in their hearts, Christ is superior to everything else, I say, very well.  But I also request that in so doing, that you don’t condemn others in their beliefs.

May you be richly blessed.

Coming Out of the Tangles

When life sends us confusion and loss, we may go through a period of isolation, feeling as if we are alone, even when we’re in a crowd of people.  That loneliness may be due to the loss of a loved one, a job that was central to our identity, or any change in routine that leaves us feeling, for whatever reason, like a fish out of water.  Coping with that depth of loneliness and, disintegration of identity that comes with it, can be a tremendous challenge.

The first step in coping requires that we give ourselves the opportunity to feel the emotions.  Really sit with the painful consciousness that you have lost something of importance.  Don’t worry about putting on a happy face for the people around you.  Indulge the pain.  Cry, scream, shout, punch a pillow (not something hard) and let the anger with the world for taking something away from you pour out of you.  This is something that may one time to purge, or it may take days, weeks or months.  It will take less time once you acknowledge the feelings, truly feel them, and then, let it all out.

The second step is in knowing that life continues, that there are things you are meant to do, which is what you did before, just a little differently.  You may continue to purge some of the negative emotions during this time, but you are probably ready to adapt to your new circumstances.   I have always been a big fan of keeping a journal, a daily record of thoughts and feelings, plans and goals and the progress toward reaching them.  This way, as you progress toward healing, you have a record of where you’ve been, what you did to heal, and a road map to where you want to go. 

Finally, you will want to fill the time that exists due to your loss.  If it was a job, then, certainly, you will want to get a new job.  If it was a loved one, he or she cannot be replaced, but you can make plans to socialize with friends, perhaps others in the same circumstances.  Taking the opportunity to widen your circle of friends and the interests that you have will help you heal and bless your life in ways that are worthwhile and wonderful.

May you be richly blessed.

Why We Give Thanks

We are taught early on that it is correct to say, “Thank you,” when we are given something, whether it is something that we have asked for, or whether it is a gift.  It’s just good manners, right? 

On the metaphysical level, however, there is also a good reason to give thanks, and that is because the Universe responds in kind to what we send out into it.  Therefore, the more you give thanks for what you receive, the more likely you are to get things to receive.

This is why our affirmations often begin with, “I give thanks for....” or “With thanks, I have...”  The purpose is not necessarily to be polite to the Universe, or to a deity, rather, it is to keep the positive energy that brought good to us, going.  We build positive momentum that supersedes karma, in some respects, assuming we have negative to balance out. 

Giving thanks for every little thing that you get, including the gas you buy for your car, the food on your table, your job—whether you like it or not, the relationships in your life, your home, your bed, your family and pets, a warm day, sunlight, fresh air to breathe, a cozy sweater, your dreams, including the sleep that you are able to get, and so on.  Every little thing in our lives is worthy of our thanks.  The more you say, “Thank you,” the more good will come your way, and continue to come.

What You Say

We all know the importance of choosing words wisely when we speak with children, yet sometimes when speaking with our peers, family and friends, we get rather loose with our tongues and snipe angrily.  All too often, we feel guilty after the fact, but we can never take back our words. A well-placed apology helps remedy the situation, and sometimes those around us will be understanding, especially if they know we have been under a great deal of stress, but avoiding bitter words in the first place is the best route.

How do we contain or restrain ourselves, especially when we feel we are the injured party?  The first thing is not to go there in the first place.  If you are feeling hurt by someone else’s words, if you are inclined to be angry, back away.  Take a walk or go to a quiet place where you can reflect and think about what has been said.  Perhaps you need to do a reality check, in case you are misinterpreting what you heard from another.  It won’t do you or the other person any good to trade insults, and those words can’t be taken back.  Spending a moment trying to clarify your emotions and deciding the best way to respond without causing more confusion and hurt feelings will help to resolve conflict and ease the way back into each other’s good graces.

Once you have established how you feel about an interaction, resolve to confront the situation calmly.  Face the person and explain what your feelings are and why you are upset.  This will earn you more respect in the long run, but you will have the benefit of having sorted things out and planned a response ahead of time.  Hopefully, the other person will have thought things through, as well, and will negotiate a resolution that heals the relationship rather than adding more strain.

May you be richly blessed!

Your Dreams

We all have dreams, places that we wish with our heart of hearts we could go.  Perhaps your dreams involve travel, or meeting someone important.  Perhaps you have a particular kind of work that would mean a great deal to you.  Perhaps you want to perfect marriage.  It doesn’t matter what you want in life, there is a path in which you can travel to make your desires come into being.

Affirmations are one way to establish the good that you want, but first, you must set goals for yourself.  If your dream is to have the perfect job, you want to affirm something like, “I have the perfect job (say what that it) for perfect pay (specify).”  Affirmations for other things, like the perfect home, might be, “I live in a beautiful home that is paid for and brings me endless satisfaction and comfort,” for example.  Your affirmations should always be spoken in the first person, present tense.   That is, you are going to say that you have whatever it is that you want in your life. 

To be effective and bring your desires into reality, affirmations should be placed on little notes that you affix around your environment.  When you see the notes, whisper the affirmation on it three times, as many as 36 times a day.  What this does, is create the metaphysical, the unseen energy, to get the ball rolling in your favor. 

What else can you do?  You can create images of what you want.  You can draw or paint your desire, you can cut pictures out of magazines or print pictures from the internet, but the important thing is that you surround yourself with images that keep you focused on your desire.  If you want a particular house or car, get pictures and keep them where you will see them each day, as many times a day as it takes to keep you focused on your desire.

The third part of the equation is your own willpower.  You have to believe that you can get what you want, and you have to will it into being.  Start small if you need proof that you can achieve your dreams.  But continue to work on the things that matter the most to you.  Where will your dreams take you?  Wherever you want to be, wherever you have the will to take yourself.

May you be richly blessed!

Footprints

When you go to some natural monuments in this country, you may notice that there are signs telling you to leave nothing behind.  They are very careful that the footprints left are gentle upon the earth.  This is particularly the case in ecologically-sensitive places. 

I am reminded of the wheel ruts left by Conestoga wagons on a bit of the Oregon Trail in Wyoming.  The ruts are about four feet deep in spots, but if you assume that there has been some erosion over the years, chances are they went deeper than that at one time.  This is a fragile place where the interaction with the monument could erase a significant event in our history.

But walking gently upon the earth doesn’t just intend that we do no harm to the planet.  It means that we interact with each other in a sensitive and caring manner, as well.  It means that the words we speak to each other, the tone we take, should reflect respect and kindness.

I recently purchased a wooden item at a thrift store.  It was bare wood and I intend to finish it.  As I stood in line, the lady ahead of me turned to sneer, “That’s cute,” regarding the item.  I smiled and said, “It will be.”  Was it necessary for her to imply superiority by making her negative remark?  Not at all.  But even those who trade in thrift stores will have to bolster their egos by putting others down.  It’s shameful and unnecessary.

We don’t know how much damage we can do when we make hurtful remarks to others.  Different doesn’t require that we condemn.  We are meant to show our love to all people.  Our petty jealousy is something that we must learn to keep in check.  We need to ask ourselves what it is within us that is lacking, that we must concern ourselves with the choices and attributes of others.  If we encourage others at all times, we display confidence and security of our own well-being.  Make a conscious decision to love others, to make their lives better as we walk gently upon the earth.

May you be richly blessed!

Career Choices and the Life Path

Perhaps this article is a little late in offering support to those who have had tremendous upheavals in life due to health reasons, economic downfalls, and job instability, but there are new chances out there that can help turn life around and truly make things better for you than you may have previously imagined.

We are trained early on to set career goals for ourselves.  Children are often asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  Often, they consider the jobs that their parents have.  Sometimes they fantasize what might be a glamorous job, like acting or modeling.  Rarely do they get in touch with just what they would like life to look like when they have reached adulthood.  So many people end up in careers that they don’t like, that don’t really fit who they are as a person, or just seem tedious and stressful.  How can we avoid this or how can a course correction be made if we find ourselves in the wrong place lifestyle-wise?

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be able to visualize exactly what you want from life.  The trouble comes in when you just don’t know what you want from life.  Part of that is the trouble with our society and the ways we expect success to look like.  We think in terms of the home we live in, the recreational options at our disposal, the children we have, the vehicles we drive, and so forth.  When we think about how we look from the perspective of other people, rather than what we want as individuals, we are treading a path of failure.  We are failing ourselves.

Perhaps one way to get back to who we are as a person is to consider what we thought we would be when we were young.  Ask yourself that question:  “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  You have an answer.  Think about it.  Don’t allow yourself to dismiss any possibility, just because it is nowhere near what you have done in the past, or would require retraining, or seems simplistic compared to where you are now.  This is your starting point.  All you have to do is to make a conscious choice to turn it into a reality.  If you need to go to school to get a degree or some type of training, take the steps necessary to make that happen.  You can do whatever you set your mind on. 

Something that happens to artistically-gifted individuals with regularity, is that they have found deep dissatisfaction with their jobs.  They get stressed, depressed, and while they are on this downward spiral of emotion, they find themselves failing at their careers.  They may just stop going to work, whether by choice or out of emotional necessity.  It is so very important that artistic individuals have that creative outlet, so they may require a day job to pay the bills, but they also require the time to express themselves in a creative way.

Some individuals need to be their own boss.  This is not just because they can’t follow the instruction or supervision of another person, rather, it is because they have such a unique perspective on the manner of applying work tasks that they become anxious or irritated when what they see as an inferior manner of doing things is presented.  These people need to be given their own reins and allowed freedom to go as far and as fast as they can.  More than anything else, they need to learn how to pace themselves so they don’t burnout from pure exhaustion.

The last group I would like to address are the people pleasers.  Some individuals are willing to work as hard as they can, doing as much as they can, just to get an attaboy. They want so much to gain the approval of the boss that they are willing to go above and beyond the expectations put on them, and these are the ones who eventually cause themselves emotional and sometimes physical injury in so doing.  It’s great to do a good job, but going to extremes can be harmful. 

You may have heard that the best key to career success is, “Do what you love and the money will follow.”  We would like this to be true, but it isn’t always the case.  Do what you love and you will be happy with what you are doing, unless you expect to get rich doing it.  Certainly there is money to be made.  But you need to be reasonable in your expectations.  You know your ability to work.  You know how much energy you have, what skill set you have, what your best skills are.  When you can apply these to what you are doing, you are going to be better off, career-wise, but there may be additional skills that you need to make yourself a success in your chosen field.  Once you write a book, you have to sell it, for example.  There are many variables that affect the success of that book.  You must take all of those variables into consideration.

Changing jobs, because you feel that you have a higher calling, and then expecting that you should make more money doing the latter, just because it is a higher calling, in your perspective, is not realistic.  Again, greater job satisfaction must be taken into account.  All in all, when you go from a trade that pays you great sums of money, but puts you in a bad place emotionally, spiritually, or physically, suggests that you are not fulfilled.  It is the low road.  Choosing to make the change, visualizing and affirming what you want, will help you to create a career and lifestyle that you can live with.

May you be richly blessed.

To See the End in the Beginning

There is a Kabbalistic expression that says that you can see the end of a situation in the beginning.  We all know the feeling of going around in circles, but it takes a special insight to actually know what is going to happen in the long run, before we have barely begun a connection with another person, a new job, a project, or any other kind of endeavor. 

The key to this is to be prepared.  If you are only going into a situation with minimal feelings, you aren’t going to accomplish much, and the fault is on you.  But if you are all in, your goal is a worthy one, your feelings are aligned with your focus, you have all of the particulars that you need, then you are going to accomplish something that really and truly stands the test of time and you can rest easily at last.

But how does this help you to see the end in the beginning?  The major player is the kind of focus that you have.  Is it totally about you?  Perhaps not if you are thinking in terms of relationship, for you have to take the other party into consideration.  But the focus that you have on one person, how to bring happiness into the relationship, how to maintain lifetime communication, how to support each other’s goals, cheer each other on in tasks that only one can participate in....it’s all wound up in a ball of responsibility.  If you share yourself with the other person, and they are likewise dedicated, the relationship can be a success.  You can tell within a short time if the other person has the same strength of focus that you do, and if not, well, perhaps it is time to move on. 

This kind of focus relates to all other forms of objectives that you may have.  You need to be single-minded in what you are pursuing.  Throw in completely.  If you are half-assing a project, it is bound to fail.  The more you are split in your focus, the less you have to give to any said project, and the less likely you will get from it what you want.  Again, you see the end in the beginning. 

These concepts stem from the planning phase of any project.  You have be aware of what your goal is, what you want to accomplish and whether you have the skill set, the resources, the time, and so forth, to dedicate to the given situation.  If you are lacking in any of these areas, then you have a problem.  Take the time to see where you are on these things.  Give it some forethought, and you will save yourself a great deal of difficulty. 

May you be richly blessed.

Continuity of Family

Our families are part of what defines us.  We recognize that family doesn’t just include blood relatives, rather our family can be friends that are with us, through the good times and the bad.  They are people that we adopt into our hearts because they have earned our trust, respect, and love. 

Over the years, the ties that hold us together involve various traditions, rituals, perhaps, that collect our family members together and have meaning to those members that wave a flag over our heads and say, “This is what we stand for.  This is what makes us who we are.”  These are the special things that draw us together, keep us together, and allow us to hand down from generation to generation the things that are special and meaningful.

Our society has gotten away from the practice of traditions, but these are certainly the reason behind gang initiations, and the breakdown of the family unit.  When family has lost its meaning, young people will seek out other sources for identity, meaning in life, and cohesion with like-minded individuals.  Each generation needs that reason to be special, and traditions are what make each of us special.

It doesn’t matter what your tradition is.  It may be a particular way of celebrating birthdays;  a trip to some memorable location each year;  the collection of a new, dated ornament for a holiday tree each year, or any special day set aside to do something special with family members that can be looked forward to all year long.  Some traditions are associated with holidays, some are random, but all are special and when they are approached with reverence and sincerity, they bring young family members into the fold, rather than leaving them without a solid foundation to stand on.

May you be richly blessed.

Giving and Accepting Love

Most of us believe we are very good at helping others, caring about the sick, doing what we can for those who are unable to do for themselves.  In the Bible, Jesus tells us that “...whatever we do to the least of these, ye do also unto me.”  Whether or not we are Christian, we try to live up to that standard in our own ways, as we give love and charity to others.  But how are we when it comes to accepting love?

Accepting the love that others want to give to us may be a hard thing to do.  If we have been independent for a very long time, taken care of our own needs, allowing others to do things for us can be a challenge.  As we grow older and have things going wrong with our bodies or minds, it becomes a necessity to allow others to show their love, often responding in kind to the love we have given to them during our lifetimes.

Whether we have a choice to accept the love of others, or it is a necessity because we have lost some of our abilities, it is good to accept that others should do things for us.  It is honorable.  My mother recently had surgery to replace her shoulder and needed to have help with daily living skills and therapy.  It was such an honor that she would allow me to help her with these things.  She would never have let me do things for her unless it was a necessity, because she has always been independent and strong, but now it is my turn to help her, and it makes me grateful that I am able to do something for her.

Doing things for others is not something that we should consider to get something out of it.  We should never have ulterior motives for doing a good deed or showing our love for someone else.  Likewise, when someone does a loving thing for us, we should not feel that we have to repay the act.  Love should always be given and accepted freely.  Perhaps Paying it Forward is something that we should consider when we receive the love of others.  In any case, an ongoing expression and acceptance of love, whether from family, friends, or complete strangers in need, creates harmony and positive energy in our world.

May you be richly blessed.

Let It Be Kindness

We all know aggressive, pushy or rude individuals.  One trip to  a busy supermarket may expose several.  They may push through a line, make inappropriate comments, or attempt to make it clear they deserve special treatment.  In any case, these people seem to take joy in getting theirs before anyone else and making the rest uncomfortable in the process.

The hallmark of inconsiderate people is their uncanny ability to feel superior to others while being resentful, condescending, or perhaps, downright insulting to others.  The reactions of shock, hurt feelings, embarrassment or even shame on the faces of the victims of these people only causes them to be even more disdainful toward those gullible enough to take their assaults personally.

Unless these individuals are sociopaths, and occasionally, they are, their own self-image may be poor.  They may have come from a large family where their objectionable antics were all that set them apart from siblings and got them some attention.  The last possibility is that they were never taught proper social manners and lack impulse control.

The point of all this is to explain the origins and possible causes of what the rest of us would consider objectionable behaviour.  Why should we care?  Because people who are rude and insulting tend to draw our wrath and after repeated offenses, generally generate sufficient animosity to cause retaliation, either verbally or physically.

We like to practice random acts of kindness, now and then, but we tend to draw the line at being kind when faced with the bad behaviour of our peers.  We may not consider that a woman who pushes her way to the front of the line at the quick mart to pay for a gallon of milk, when there are six others waiting, may be bullied by an abusive husband if she takes too long at the store.

I was in a bookstore one fine, but rainy, day.  A woman noted, rather loudly, that my hair was curling from the humidity.  I wanted to ask her if she was born rude or if it was a habit she had cultivated, but I bit my tongue and said nothing.  By rights, such behaviour should totally be ignored.  Did she sneer that she was able to embarrass me?  Probably.  Did I give her the satisfaction of responding?  No.

But being kind when others are rude or inappropriate or cruel asks us to walk our talk.  Whatever the reason someone is lacking in social graces, at least we can take the high road and extend what we believe—kindness to others—thereby not being knocked off our center or losing our own composure for something demeaning.  The sociopaths will feel superior, but the others will appreciate the kindness and perhaps remember to be a little nicer in the future themselves.

May you be richly blessed!

Reverence for Nature

As we engulf ourselves in peace, maintaining harmony with our fellow inhabitants of the planet, it behooves us to learn to walk in oneness with the planet as well.

We may be accustomed to taking from the multitude of resources that Mother Earth offers, but it is important to leave as small a footprint as possible as we go forth on our life’s journey. 

We are aware that many resources are becoming depleted.  Oil, minerals, our sources of food and the natural helpers who make our food sources possible, are all at risk of depletion.  We need to make serious efforts toward using renewable sources of power.  It may take some adjustment, for example, to the noise and vibration of wind turbines.  It may take time to build solar collection stations.  We may need to adjust to vehicles that use clean energy.  And we need to expand gardening methods that don’t use chemical pesticides that also kill our pollinators.  All of these will take some sacrifice, but the alternative is an inhospitable planet and a legacy of lack for our grandchildren.

In understanding the small sacrifices we must make at present, we can reward ourselves with time spent in the natural world.  Visit a city park, one of the glorious national parks, or spend some time in the country, if land is accessible to you.

I am blessed to have access to land in the Manistee National Forest, a beautiful wooded area in Michigan.  It has an abundance of forests, streams, lakes, deer and other wildlife.  A walk on the trails energizes the soul and heals the conscious mind with enough distraction from the ills of daily living.

Whatever part of nature you have access to, take some time to reconnect with the earth.  Sit near a place where all four elements combine, as this is the most healing to the body, both the physical and energy bodies.  Try to feel the pulse of the earth and connect your own heart to the heart of the planet.  Imagine yourself as a piece of Mother Earth, melding into her, absorbing her energy, then taking in the light through the crown chakra and giving back to Mother Earth through roots you visualize at your feet. 

As you come back to awareness of yourself, try to maintain the connection and reverence for the gifts you receive from Mother Earth.

May you be richly blessed!

Autonomy

When we try to help others, sometimes we go beyond what they would like us to do, thinking that we know what they need.  This becomes a problem if what we want to do for them is not what they want.  It may breed resentment and ill will.  So how do we avoid going the extra mile, when we want what is best for our loved ones?  We must employ good listening skills. 

Asking the person what we can do to help, then listening to what they want will reveal the best course of action.  When we listen to their needs and desires, if we mirror back to them what we believe they want, so they can validate what we thought we heard, it leaves little room for error.

Not everyone who needs help is able to draw a blueprint to resolve their own problems, however.  Sometimes it becomes a matter of having to offer alternatives and allowing the person to select from a set of options, what they would like best.  This happens with young people or those who are not in touch with their feelings for whatever reason.  This is still a good option, and our well-intentioned help is wonderful to resolve this type of problem, but keep in mind that most people who need help have a pretty good idea of what it takes to get them where they need to be.

If you are going to help others, it is important to do it for the right reason:  because you want to help.  Don’t do it if you feel that you want a favor in return, or you want something back from the individual.  Do it because you wish to help.  Don’t expect anything in return.  If you are able to help anonymously, it is even better.  You may get a thank you or you may not.  You will know you have helped someone and this is good.

Remember to ask what the person needs, listen carefully to make sure you are fulfilling what they need, and do so without expecting a return on your investment.

May you be richly blessed.

Caring for Others

In this day and age when we know people on the other side of the world, yet have not met our own next-door neighbors, the idea of helping each other in times of difficulty is a challenge.  Our families, often broken into pieces given the stresses of life in general, are often not there to help when necessity comes.  The ties that we have with those who are closest to us are the most important, and we need to cement those ties by being there for our loved ones, whether they are blood family, dear friends, or those we see daily for other reasons.

Recently, I had a series of difficulties that made me dependent on others: my car died, my father died, my mother is planning on surgery....life has been a little hectic to say the least.  It was a blessing to me that my mother was able to provide me with a loan to replace my vehicle. In the interim, my daughters made certain that I was able to get to the places I needed to go.  Not all families are so closely knit as ours, but whomever you call family, it is important to realize that they are there for you when you need them.

It is unusual for me to be on the receiving end of this kind of care, and it gives me a feeling of security that my family is there for me.  Of course, I was told that I am there for them when they need me, and I am honored that they trust me enough to say so.  I feel blessed that I can step in when I am needed, having the health and well-being to be of service to my family or friends, when the time comes.

It is the availing of ourselves to those who need help that bridges the gap between people.  It strengthens the bonds and brings us closer when life throws us curve balls.  We think in terms of paying it forward and doing random acts of kindness, but the key is to give of ourselves without asking anything in return.  In this way, we bless others and also bless ourselves.

May you be richly blessed!

Life Transitions

We all know that life eventually comes to an end.  Facing the final moments takes courage, not only for the one who is moving on into the afterlife, but even more so, perhaps, for those who are left behind.  How will the empty hours, previously filled by the one who has moved on, be spent?  Who will we share our deepest thoughts and secret feelings with now?  There are many questions, beyond the loss, that will need to be considered and answered for life to move forward. 

I recently lost my stepfather, affectionately called, Pa, after 22 years as my mother’s great love.  His calm acceptance of his passing, and the brevity of the final moment, reflected his deep, spiritual understanding of the passage into new life.  While we did not share some perspectives and beliefs, we came to respect each other’s points of view and this provided a bond between us that allowed love to grow.  We used to talk about world events and from our differing perspectives, were able to give comfort where otherwise there was fear.  This, then, is the true meaning of transition:  to move away from fear and move forward, comfortably and confidently.

Any kind of transition in our lives, whether it is the loss of someone or something: a habit, a practice, a residence, a phase of life such as ongoing study, a relationship, etc., asks the same thing of us, that we appreciate what has gone before, and comfortably and confidently step into the future.  It requires that we adapt to the new way of life by setting new patterns of energy.  It asks that we learn to rely on those around us not only for comfort as we mourn the loss of the past, but to smooth the way into a new lifestyle.  Allowing others in, accepting their presence and their love, helps heal us, helps us to become courageous in exploring what life is going to be like over time.

Time.  Healing does take time. Adapting does take time.  One should never judge oneself for not getting with the program, as it were, quickly enough.  Being accepting of the journey, the process of the transition, however long it may take, acknowledging the feelings that one experiences during the process, is important to the healing, important to the arrival of the new stage of life.  The process and the period of time that process takes is different for each person.

The key is to allow the experience to come, allow others in to help smooth the way for the transition, and not feel that you have to force any part of what comes to suit others.  This is the way to move comfortably and confidently into a joyous future.

May you be richly blessed.

Women's Issues

Women’s issues are in the news today, much more than necessary.  The concepts of equal pay for equal work, ownership of one’s body, and protection from violence and the results of violence are all on the tongues of the politicians.  This is one place where the Golden Rule--“Do unto others what you would have done to you.”—needs to be called upon to apply to all people.

There is a reason that the Golden Rule is meant to be the mainstay of virtually all faiths.  It calls for harmony, peace, and the simplest, most straightforward way for all people to get along.

The problem with The Golden Rule is that those in power, wherever and whoever they are, think they have a right to determine who the others should be.  Men of power want to retain that power, and thereby, determine that the rule does not apply to anyone in their households, or anyone other than their kind in society.

Why can’t people just be people?  There will always be outgroups, individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of the power structure, and therefore, they are limited by those who are, as to what they can do with their lives, their money and so forth.  This is not right, but it is, unfortunately, how it is.  But if we accept that every person has the right to equal compensation for a job, equal protection under the law, the sanctity of the body and protection thereof, and the right to make decisions for oneself, we go a long way toward actually honoring what our spiritual beliefs tell us we should do.

May you be richly blessed.

Choices

There are times in our lives when circumstances are beyond our control, and the things that we want to do are not within the realm of possibility.  This can be very frustrating and can take a toll on our self-esteem.  It is difficult to do what must be done, rather than what we want to do. 

Many people are full of advice for us when our choices are limited.  They tend to push us toward the right thing in their estimation, as opposed to the best thing.  No one else can know, however, what is right for us.  When it comes down to brass tacks, the only one who can make choices for us is us.

So how do we know we are making the right choices?  If we experience anxiety, we should really look to see if the choice we are considering is best.  Usually, the choice has to do with moving toward something or leaving something behind.  It can be scary to take on a new job or start a new path, and this kind of anxiety is all right.  But if we are heading toward something with substantial risk, maybe the best thing is to do is wait and see if the risk outweighs the benefits. 

The choices may have to do with our work, our friends, our habits, our loved ones and so forth.  There is always the knowing that something better is on the other side of the best choice that we can make.  Pushing forward, giving it our all, this is what good choices say for us.  But if we have that pain in the pit of the stomach, or if the choice comes with too many worries, then it is not something that we should try to force.

May you be richly blessed.

Looking Into Another's Eyes

When we look into the eyes of another person, what do we see?  We tend to look for similarities, when we are attracted to that person in friendship or love.  But when we feel fear, we look for the differences.  This is what happens when prejudices abound.  This is what is capitalized upon by those who benefit from the bounty of war.

Think about it for a moment.  Why do we tend to dislike people from foreign countries?  Is it because we have personally had a negative experience with them?  If some individual has done us wrong and they are from another country, do we assume that all of the people from that place are the same way?  For example, if a person from country “X” stole my wallet, does it mean that everyone from country “X” is a thief?  In such simple terms, we can probably agree that this is not the case.  However, politicians and some religious leaders who benefit financially from our hate of other nationals would have us believe that this is so.

I am telling you, this has to stop.  We know that one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole barrel.  It is the widespread communications we all hear that turns our thoughts toward an “us versus them” mentality, implying that all of “them” are bad.

We need to recognize the similarities between people.  We need to accept that they feel the same as we do.  We want to be safe and secure in our beds at night, want our children to have a better world to grow up in, to provide for ourselves and our families and enjoy our lives without worrying that the world outside our doors are dangerous to our health and wellbeing. I assure you, everyone in the world wants these things for their families.  That makes us alike.

Are there people who are dangerous to the security and peace in the world?  Absolutely, but it is important that we not let them ruin our views that there can be love, peace and harmony in the world.
May you be richly blessed!

Perfect World

In a perfect world, all beings would live in harmony, allowing everyone to have their own space, think their own thoughts, pursue their dreams without interference and go where they will.  Surprise of surprises, we don’t live in such a world.  There are members of government who would tell a woman what she can or can’t do with her body.  There are religious factions across the globe that impose regulations upon their members and non-members alike, causing violent acts to enforce their will.  Globally, the freedom to choose our own lifestyle and path is a rare thing.

What, then, is the answer?  How do we get large groups to respect the rights of individuals when they are often taught that to oppose certain beliefs is dangerous?  Their belief is that their own power over the people would dwindle dramatically and cause chaos if they allowed everyone to make their own choices.

The greatest detriment to the harmony between groups that we seek, however, is lack of education.  Much of what we learn about other people does not come from unbiased news, rather from our own social group, whether that is a religious group, the NRA, our political party or just our group of friends.  Our impressions of other groups to which we do not belong, tends to stem from reactions, and generally speaking, emotional ones, to little bits of information that comes from someone else’s beliefs about a particular group.  The emotional reaction that we are encouraged to feel is fear.  If we are fearful of these other groups, these other people, then we become motivated to guard against them, against their beliefs.  The outcome, then, is generally some form of violence.

What if we actually took the time to learn about groups that we oppose, through the study of their own works, not just the opinions of people within our belief system?  If we see them as they see themselves, we might recognize that, although they believe differently from us, they have a wish for a harmonious life, one in which their needs are met, the needs of their people are met, and they can go about their lives in a positive way.  If we truly take the time to understand what others stand for, what they want, and what they have to contribute to the world, I believe that we can grasp greater harmony and the blessings of living in peace.

Educating ourselves about the beliefs and habits of other cultures is tantamount to bringing peace to our world.  Respect of those differences, and accepting that we are not necessarily right just because we believe a certain way, is the glue that will seal this promise for tomorrow.

May you be richly blessed.

Coping With Anger

What value does anger serve?  In the past, anger was part of the Fight or Flight mechanism that protected us from real, physical threats.  But today, things we don’t like tend to get us in an uproar.  Perhaps we cannot discriminate between things that can actually do us harm and things that, for example, hurt our feelings.  Rather than feeling the hurt, because the other person is important to us, we tend to allow ourselves to become angry, which then lengthens the time before we acknowledge what is truly going on with us.

When anger becomes the modus operendi of our lives, we end up with a perpetual chip on our shoulders.  We burn up our emotional energy, raise our anxiety levels, and increase our fears of most situations.  It makes it difficult to connect with others.  We may become suspicious, jealous, fearful and so on, as we try to deal with the overwhelming levels of anger that we feel.  In this respect, anger is a symptom.

Overcoming the anger is not an easy thing.  It tends to cover up what we are really experiencing so that we don’t have to acknowledge what we may feel are weaknesses in our protective armor.  Having a safe place to share feelings, whether with a close friend or family member, can help reduce the anger and keep us from acting out.  We can acknowledge that we are angry, without having to act on it.

From a spiritual perspective, anger is never a way to resolve matters.  Loving those with whom we come into contact is important. While that love is not intended to put us on a pedestal, it does allow us to provide a positive example for others and helps us to resolve matters with a level head.  In this case, love provides the basis for listening to others with compassion.  It allows us to give of ourselves to help raise others up in the world.  It allows us to see the good in others, perhaps to allow them to see it, as well.  Where there is love, anger doesn’t have much of a chance.

May you be richly blessed!

Which Way to Go?

Which Way to Go?

Many individuals are in a kind of transition right now.  They have set goals of some kind to accomplish things in a more natural line of work, often, some kind of healing work, whether it is Reiki, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, any of a variety of therapies or New Age teaching, and so on.  They take the classes, get certified, look for professional space to perform their work, and then....nothing.  They are confused because they believed they were following the will of the Universe to make this change, but when the Universe doesn’t make good on the promise of allowing them to make a living wage, or the time involved in supporting their labors is excessive, there is disappointment and a feeling of being betrayed.  Why does this happen?

The problem with following the dictates of the Universe is that the “how” is often left up to us.  If we feel we are following our dreams, that we truly want to go into some form of healing work, the time it takes to set up a new business and the personal investment that it requires, we don’t get as upset as we otherwise might.  The problem comes in when we feel that the Universe has directed us into this new line of work.  We may have the expectation that our lives should move forward as they normally did.  We want to be the high rollers of the healing world.  If we feel we have been directed to write a book, we expect to be at the top of the New York Times Best-Seller List.  So it is our expectations that are causing the difficulty. 

When we expect that we will be highly-paid for what is a gift-related, giving field, as healing is, no matter what area we actually practice, we are not being realistic.  Yes, there will be some practitioners who have a great deal of business savvy, and can sell their abilities, books, treatments, classes for others, and so on.  But most of us don’t have the kind of know-how or energy to reach out and broaden our scope of expertise and sales in this way.  Does this mean that the Universe sucker-punched you?  No.

Often, those of us who choose to make the change from a lifetime career to something that fills the bill of our duty, what we’re supposed to do, are stressed, tired of the grind, and looking to move on to something better, more natural and more emotionally fulfilling.  When we put this kind of energy out there for the Universe to play with, it sends back the message to do something more natural, something that serves others.   Maybe the next step is to get a reading, to narrow down the field.  A reader may pick up on your desires for something that is less stressful than, say, a corporate job.  So you get sent in the direction of writing a book or studying Reiki.  That doesn’t make it a mandate, just because a reader said so.  You still have to consider your aptitude, your wishes, your own personal inclinations.  Without that, you are heading toward a great deal more stress. So how do you know what life and the Universe really want from you?  What are you destined to do, fated to become?

First, take off the rose-colored glasses and recognize that you are probably not destined for greatness.  Be real.  Next, think back to your childhood, when you first had a notion that you were meant to do something with your life.  What did you want to be when you grew up?  Some of us knew early on what we would do with our lives.  Often, some form of the Arts was on the agenda. 

As I speak with people about their lives and careers, it amazes me that the majority of people who are dissatisfied with their jobs and their lives are often gifted artists in some form, whether that is painting, singing, making jewelry, taking photographs, writing poetry, playing a musical instrument.....you get the idea.  And perhaps we come back to the same old problem of money, because unless you are so talented that the world cannot help but put you on a pedestal, you are not going to be rich and famous.  But you can still practice your craft and you can still get by.  Once again, it all comes down to expectations.  And that brings us to Life Lessons.

This is something that we all need to be aware of in this lifetime, because our society values success to such a great degree, and we have believed that a large, attractive home, a boat, nice vehicles, and all the other trappings of wealth are the things that make life worthwhile.  Yet our service to our fellow travelers is not valued.  So it becomes a matter of perspective, that we must learn to value helping others: enriching life with Art, and growing spiritually by focusing outside of ourselves rather than inside.  Does it limit the experiences that we may have, for example, travel, gambling, parties?  Perhaps, but think about the ways that you can still accomplish these things without having to have a great deal of money.  A simple life can be just as rich as an opulent one.

Understanding that it is probably the high expectations that you have which may be causing the blockage toward you accomplishing the goals that you seek, will help to relieve some of the stress that you feel, that feeling that you are not successful in your spiritual progress, and that you are getting mixed signals from the Universe.  Cleanse all of that away, empty yourself of expectations and past failures, and start anew with fresh goals based upon what you want, what you can reasonably accomplish, and go from there. 

May you be richly blessed.

Politics

The political arena is one hotbed of name-calling, false accusations, intentionally misleading the public, and attempting to destroy the People’s trust in their governing bodies.  Why does this become a spiritual issue?  This, in part, is because so many people who are spiritually-inclined, thus, leaders, are vocalizing the evils that incite people’s fears.  I find this irresponsible.  So much of the rhetoric is based upon the fear that these leaders have regarding other religions, other races, and their own attempts to widen their pocketbooks by creating fear in others, thus getting greater attention and financial support to broaden their loudspeakers full of hate.

 

Politics do not belong in the spiritual arena.  However, hate we should talk about.  And it is hate that we must fight against.  It is hate, envy, greed and feelings of superiority that need to be sent down the tubes and banished from our world.  Is it appropriate to point fingers at others, what a terrorist does, and for this reason, hate an entire group of believers of another faith?  Think about it.  Really. Think. About it.  If your child does something wrong, do you hold it against him for life?  Do you punish all your children?  Of course not. 

Virtually every religion claims to love and support the poor.  Yet, our political views of the day are based on selfishness and greed and hate. If someone is not like me, they are undeserving of the good of the land.  What faith believes this?  It is only a faith that upholds one person being better than another.  If this is what you believe, perhaps you may want to seek out that faith, because none of the religions around the world support this kind of thinking.  And this needs to be attacked from our pulpits.

Kindness, decency, caring for others, making sure that each person’s needs are fulfilled, whether those needs are for food, clothing, shelter, healing, companionship, or spirituality, these are the domain of faith. This is what we should be talking about when it comes to our spirituality.  Not politics.  Not fear.  Love.

May you be richly blessed.

 

Enjoying Nature

We have had some very changeable weather the last couple of years and we can expect that it will continue for some time.  This makes it all the more wonderful to take advantage of the temperate days, and the days that provide sunshine.  Not only are these days healthy for us, as we are able to absorb the extra vitamin D, but the fresh air helps to revitalize all of our systems.

If you are able to take a bike ride, go for a hike, sit at the beach, or have a picnic, you are helping to recharge your internal batteries and will feel much better for it.  There is no greater place to be in touch with the Universal Divine than when you are out of doors in the lap of nature.  There are so many things that you can do outdoors and nothing, no disability, no negative frame of mind, should keep you from this type of healing. 

I have recently been ill and feeling paralyzed, but even an hour outdoors helps me to feel so much more alive and gives me a positive mind set.  It is a wonderful way to stave off depression and accept that whatever negativity you are going through is not the fault of your mind, rather there is something physiological which can respond to nature, if you let it.

Perhaps you feel that rainy days are wasteful and troublesome, emotionally.  There is nothing like meditating to the sound of gentle rain tapping on the windowsill.  You can turn even the difficult days around if you will accept that there is much change with regard to the weather, and therefore, life in general.  Going with the flow and deciding to have an activity chosen no matter what the weather, will bring you peace within.

May you be richly blessed!

Belief

What do you believe in?  I am not talking about ghosts, or the financial system, or even politics, rather I am talking about the “something more” or lack thereof which makes our lives better overall.  If you don’t believe in anything beyond this life, in my estimation, you are missing out on something grand and supportive.  If you do, what is it that makes this “something more” special for you?

Whatever you believe in, consider that it should make your world larger, open your mind to greater possibilities, support you with stronger confidence, and inspire peace of mind during times of difficulties.  What you believe in should allow you to live in harmony with others, rather than cause conflict or worse yet, incite violence.  It should provide you with a secure place in the world, and help you see ways in which to make the world a better place for all its inhabitants, rather than having the feeling of being out for number one.

It doesn’t matter what you call your “something more,” rather that you have a connection to it, and that you practice that connection in a way that makes sense to you.  Whether you pray, meditate, connect with nature, breathe in natural light, or sit in a pew at church, you are improving your life and the lives of people around you.  Doing so with regularity will strengthen the bond you have with this energy, improve the results of what you do, and give you a path to follow in your relationships, your work, and your life.

May you be richly blessed.

Dealing with Loss

From time to time, we have to deal with the loss of loved ones, jobs, pets, homes, our health and fitness, and many other things that hold meaning to our hearts.  It is difficult, and we can expect to go through a period of mourning the loss, regardless of what it may be.  There is little we can say except to understand that this is a part of life and that it will happen.
All too often we feel as if we are in control of our lives.  The most difficult thing, then, when we feel loss, is that we have no control over the loss: when it will happen, where, and how it affects our lives and the people we love.  It is the loss of control that may seem the most disturbing to us, aside from having something or someone taken from us who makes our lives better.
What happens, then, is important.  It is greatly necessary that we allow ourselves to mourn.  Mourning allows our hearts to heal, allows us to go through the various stages that Psychology tells us to expect.  These take us from denial of the loss, or sometimes the importance of the loss; through anger, sometimes anger with God for allowing this to happen; bargaining to bring back what has been lost; and finally, resolution of the loss and acceptance of having to live our lives and move on.  While everyone experiences mourning in different ways, it is important to allow the process so that healing can occur.
The rituals of our society help us to heal and remember the people we have lost.  Funerals allow us to pay our respects and memorialize our lost loved ones.  Some people set up shrines with pictures, mementos and journals that remind them of the person who has been so special in their lives.  Most faiths dedicate ways in which our lost loved ones are honored and direct our belief in their continued existence on another level or plane.  All of these things are comforting.
If you find yourself having difficulty with some kind of loss, perhaps gathering pictures, objects, papers, and anything else that may be related to the loss into a special box that you have decorated to remind you of whom or what you have lost, then put the box aside, taking it out once a week to review your feelings.  You may want to keep a journal of what you feel over time.  You may find that you take the box out less frequently.  That is all right.  It is a sign of healing.  In time, you may find you don’t need to look in the box at all, except for special occasions, such as the anniversary of the loss.  This, too, is a sign of healing. 
May you be richly blessed.

Laughter Makes the Heart Grow Lighter

We live in tremulous times.  Every day, there is some new horror unleashed upon the public, whether it is related to war, the environment, society or agriculture.  People speak of the End Times, observing and hoping that life cannot get worse.  How do we cope with these events?  We can’t simply rely on ignoring them; they aren’t going away.
What we must do is focus on the positive things in our lives.  Do you have a job?  Hurrah!  Is your family fed?  Superb!  Can you celebrate the weekend in some way?  Laugh at something that is silly and joyful?  You are well on your way to coping not only with the difficulties of the world, but healing your heart.
These times are especially difficult for empathic people, who feel the emotions and energies of others.  While spending time isolated from the energy of others is helpful, doing things that allow expression of energy, such as laughter, is the single most healing activity for an empath.  That means it is also healing to the general public as we try to shed some of the nervous anxiety that these times are bringing.
If you can play silly board games, listen to light-hearted comedians, tell jokes or puns that create an atmosphere of joy, you should be able to laugh to your heart’s benefit.  In these times, as they have said for years, laughter IS the best medicine.  Find it and be healed.
May you be richly blessed!

Harmony Now

Harmony Now42913


We hear so much about bullying these days. It is frightening to read about young people being assaulted because they are not a party to an in-group. It doesn’t require that they have done anything wrong. It only requires that they are not like someone else or a group of someones. It is more frightening to think that group bullying results in attacks on an individual.

We need to look at each person, how they feel about themselves. A bully doesn’t have personal power and so, takes it out on others. This makes him feel powerful by having the ability to intimidate or physically harm another. In truth, the bully relates to the feeling of powerlessness that the victim has, and thereby, is causing the weakness within himself to suffer. It’s a case of, “I feel bad, you’re weaker than me, so I’m going to assault you so I can feel powerful.”
It would be nice if we lived in a world where each child was loved and valued for the individual blessing that he or she is. It would be nice if all parents loved and valued their children. But the truth is, we don’t and they don’t. Schools do the best they can to give children a positive self-image, but they can’t monitor all children at all times. Home for many children is a war zone. The bully himself is often responding to the environment in which he lives.
There is no easy solution. So long as parents ridicule children, use violence in the home, create an atmosphere of shame and abuse, and voice prejudices which set up their children to take hostilities out on others they see as less powerful, there is going to be bullying. Acceptance of the differences of others, no matter what those differences are, is the first step in a long line of creating harmony.
We need to set aside the mentality of good people versus bad people. Ok, we can agree that Darth Vader was a bad guy. But we need to recognize that it is the actions of people in harming others that are bad, and that is what we need to work at ending: no more assault, no rape, no verbal abuse, no more lack of tolerance just because someone is different in his or her beliefs, behaviour, appearance, lifestyle, or choices. We need harmony now.
May you be richly blessed.

Personalities

It is often said that we dislike in others that which we cannot see in ourselves. Also, when you point a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you. Yes, it is true that it is hard to see ourselves, except when the mirror is on those near us.

There are many parts to our personalities. Some parts we may like, other parts we may not like. But it is very difficult to look in the mirror and say to ourselves, “I want to stop doing such and such.” It takes someone of great emotional depth, maturity and courage.
As with anything else, we begin by identifying that there is a problem. An example would be the current political discussions that are ongoing so long after the election. Both sides accuse the other of lies and misinformation. We are all victims of our news sources, but we tend to believe that we are victims of the opposite political activity. This is not about having a victim mentality, but we really do need to consider whether or not the opposing side is as “stupid” or as “unfeeling” as we see them as being represented. Are there really people out there who would like to see a weak, elderly, disabled person kicked off Social Security? Really?

The point is, we each need to look at our humanity and decide whether our cynicism and sarcastic natures are contributing to our higher good and the higher good of everyone. We like to think we live in a majority rules society, so the bottom line is that we should have to follow the dictates of what is best for the majority without intentionally injuring the minority.
If you can look into the mirror each day and say that what you do contributes to the betterment of the whole, then the darkness in your personality is sure to grow shades lighter.
May you be richly blessed.

Sisters

Throughout our lives there are things that are very important to us. For some, this yearning comes early in life, and may reflect something that we want in the full depths of our hearts. It may show something that is missing, some dark void that needs to be filled.
For me, this was my desire to have a sister. I had three older brothers who were never neglectful of picking on me and making my life sad and tormented. I was aware, early on, that my mother had given birth to a daughter four years before me, but that the child had died at birth. In addition, she had hydrocephalus and could not have survived.

I so longed to have a sister with whom to share secrets, learn from, get hand-me-downs, and just play. But alas, it was not to be.
It wasn’t until I was a grown woman that sisters began to appear in my life. I learned upon the death of my father, a man I hadn’t known, that I had a half-sister who was older. It was a pleasant connection. We became briefly acquainted and we had some things in common. Unfortunately, distance and events, and the fact that she had a large family of sisters on her own, prevented the cementing of a close relationship between us.
As I grew older, in fact, reaching retirement, I found that I had two more sisters. One of whom was welcoming and friendly and good-natured, and the other of whom had no interest in connecting at all. These relationships filled me with confusion. I wondered why God would send whom I felt I needed for my life to be fulfilled when I no longer felt the need. Yes, my prayers were answered, but it seemed too late.
The moral of the story is that God will answer your prayers. God will also make things happen in His time, not yours. But the key here is not that I didn’t want and need my sisters, rather I needed to develop that part of myself which was capable of standing on its own, speaking with my own voice, becoming who I was meant to be, rather than being a tin-type of another woman.
Would life have been different if my sisters had been known to me earlier? Certainly. But if there had been rejection early on, I may not have been able to deal with it. My brothers were brutal at an early age, perhaps even abusive, but on my own, I withstood it, I learned to fight back, and now I can enjoy my sisters as people with independent choices and lifestyles, without feeling unduly pressured to be something other than who I am.
May you be richly blessed.

Accepting Responsibility

Life is hard at times. There may seem that there is no end to the challenges that come across our life paths. All we need do is read the headlines in the newspaper to know just how trying these times are. Coping takes a little extra work.
Putting our own lives in order may be even more of a challenge under the circumstances. But it is by accepting responsibility for ourselves and our relationships with others that we manage to cope. If you have an itch, wouldn’t you scratch it? Of course you would. If you break something in a store, generally you have to pay for it. Life is that same way. When something in life goes awry, you take steps to deal with it. To do anything less only results in more and more problems.

What is the first thing to do to accept responsibility? We must acknowledge that we are the ones who made the choices that created the situation that we are in. Whether this has to do with problems with others, problems with substances, or even a lack of work, telling yourself that you are the one who made the choices, acted a certain way, did or did not do something, it all boils down to you. Excuses aside, you have to face the choices that you have made which have created where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going.
Once you can fully accept responsibility for your problems, you can create a plan of action to get yourself into a better space. You may need help to guide you through this difficult course of action. But think of where you want to be, write an affirmation about what you want, for example: I have a job that will pay all of my bills and allow me to enjoy life. With affirmations, writing them on little slips of paper and posting them around your home or office where you will see them throughout your day, then whispering the affirmation three times when you see the paper, you will create energy on a metaphysical level which will initiate energy to bring what you want into being. It will also help you have a positive mindset to face your problems in a responsible manner.
Next, it’s time to take action. If you’re looking for work, spend your day on the road going from business to business. Sure, there are a limited number of employers actually looking for employees, but the more you show up, the more likely they are to believe you really want a job, and will actually work once there.
Maybe your goal has to do with stopping some kind of behaviour, like substances. Get with a support group and follow the steps. You can do it.

Whatever your problems, accepting that it’s all about you and taking responsibility, then acting on the goals you set will put you on the path to positive reform.

Differences

There are differences between all the persons of the world. Some differences are very minor, such as the difference in handedness and the direction of whorls of hair in identical twins. Some differences are greater, as the differences among race, gender, body type and size. We have, after long struggles, pretty much overcome our negative feelings with regard to such differences, but still, there are some who hold even these differences in low regard.
The most pointed disagreements, however, are based more upon the differences in beliefs, whether these are beliefs that a person holds about himself or whether these are beliefs having to do with the order of the Universe or God. These differences, especially where the above intersect with these beliefs, are enough to cause great discord, not only in our minds, but in the entire world.
We may have it in our minds that certain people deserve good things to happen to them based on the right appearance, the right behaviour, and the right beliefs. We may also understand that others don’t deserve those good things if they are different from us in any appreciable way. But I would say to you that there is no hierarchy of good. One person is not better than another. Different, yes, but not better. And it is time that we in the world came to understand that one person equals another equals another equals another. We are all people. And all people deserve good things.
We can’t expect things to just be handed to us, in spite of whether we deserve the same things as everyone else. There is a catch. We have to be willing to take on a certain amount of responsibility in order to claim our just deserts. Even those of us who are disabled in one way or another have certain obligations and requirements, hoops to jump through, if you will, before we can get our food, clothing, shelter, the necessities of life.
What is insidious is that some people believe themselves to be better than others for no more reason than that they are different. I would encourage these people to take a long look in the mirror and see if they, too, are different in some way, because at some point in their lives, someone may point to them and incriminate them as being undeserving.
If you are willing to take away the rights from someone else, think for a moment. Something as small as a car accident can take away the perfect you and replace it with someone who, according to your own standard, is undeserving. Think for a moment before you throw down a narrow look at someone who is handicapped or obese, or gay, or has a different faith, or has no faith at all, or any number of differences that are out there. As the beautiful Native American prayer states, “Great Spirit, grant that I may not judge my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccassins.”

Finding Your Courage

Sometimes we come to a point in our lives when we say, “enough is enough,” and we determine that it is time for a change. We may not know what that looks like, feels like, or sounds like, but we do know that our lives can be better than they are right now. The missing element, then, is courage: courage to imagine the new path, courage to take the first step, and courage to see where we would like to end up. If we are sincere in our desire for that change, we can muster the courage to stop making excuses and start to get on our feet.

The first step is the desire to make the change. We have to know what we’re changing for it to be effective. We have to identify what’s wrong, what the problem is, to see it clearly, to accept that we got ourselves into it, and to understand that we are the only ones who can get ourselves out of it. This is the biggest, and often the hardest, step. Even understanding and facing this problem requires courage.

The next step is to eliminate the power that the past has over us. Depending upon what we have done, where we have been and where we want to go, the change required may involve cutting ties to people who are a bad influence, eliminating substances that take away our dreams, changing jobs, residence, and basically everything that we thought we knew about the world. We may need the support of others who have walked the path of change before us to help us make good decisions and start our life anew. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. This is how we build courage.

Setting goals is the next step. Make one or two big goals, then list the steps that you have to take to fulfill those goals. Write them down on some nice paper. Add drawings or magazine pictures to turn this paper into an attractive reminder that will help motivate you as you envision your way to where you want to be. Look at it every day, close your eyes and then recall the image in your mind’s eye. When you clearly see yourself doing, being, living the goal, you become motivated and that motivation in itself will be rewarding.

Work. Work hard. Don’t take “no” for an answer. You are remodeling yourself from the inside out. You can do it. Find your courage. Don’t fight with other people because your life isn’t different. Fight with yourself and prove to yourself, first of all that you are worth the change, and secondly, that you have the courage to make the change.
May you be richly blessed!

Passing Time

We have recently come through the end of the Mayan Calendar. It speaks well to the Spiritual Growth of humankind; that Love is gaining a foothold as we go up the ladder to wellbeing and the balancing of Karma. Negative events are coming to a slow end, those who contribute to unrest and violent destruction on the planet are being isolated and their horrible deeds and threats are being sanctioned out of existence. Does this mean we can rest? Well, no, there is still much work to be done.

Some of you may know the story of The Mysticenter for Healing and Spirituality, which was presented to me in 2002, during meditation. The healing aspect was given to me to pray for others, to visualize them in wellness and contribute to the positive energy in the world. What has puzzled me for a long time, is how it was intended to manifest the grand design of the actual Center, a huge building which is to house healing modalities, an herb garden containing all healing herbs on the planet, various forms of physical therapy, music therapy, a cafeteria, dormitories, a solarium, a biosphere, spiritual study spaces, and many other things. The grounds are to be home to a filtration plant, a wind farm, a solar energy plant, cabins, orchards, and cottage industries.

When I first had the vision, I believed that the entire process was meant to rest on my shoulders. However, I have kept this to myself far too long. I have recently been shown that the facility is meant to be a rehabilitative facility for veterans and others who suffer disabilities or long term illness. This breaks my heart, as I feel that so many would benefit from this vision. The problem, unfortunately, is that I am not a wealthy person. I am not a business person. I am not a salesperson. But what I see could heal and restore life to those who have lost so much.

It is my wish that this vision be shared with as many people as possible, so that people who have the skills and funds which I lack will come to share in this vision and be motivated to help in any way that they can. Our veterans are coming home with so many needs. I ask that you help me to help them.

May you be richly blessed.

Release

The call comes from dark memory


Only whispers of time gone by

That direct the curiosity, the reason,

And implore action, wisdom, sincerity

To lift the spirit in a wider circle

Than has before gone out from the mind

For such magic to bring into balance

To hold fast resistance to destruction

Will indeed hold humanity on the brink

Of its own fate, where the majority begins

To open its eyes and see a new reality

Not of fear, not of annihilation, but of love,

Where even the skeptical who cling to doubt

Must give the assent and acknowledge

That the enemy is not our fellow man

But our own hatred, our own insecurity,

And this is from whence evil stems.

But can we let go of these distresses,

Our delight in the ego, demand to be right

Perhaps we will see the Light

In all our fellow beings to exist in harmony.

Change

The statement that you shouldn’t expect different results when you do things the same way is something that helps us on our Life Path. If we are going over the same old ground, we cannot expect different and positive outcomes with the things we do. Change must happen for us to succeed where we have failed in the past.
Change is not always easy. We must look at what we have done in the past and decide with intention to do better, to do differently. It may not be obvious to us at the moment what that change will have to be. We may have to look at any given situation critically, even to ask others for their opinions, but once we have identified what our stumbling block is, we can consciously go forth changing our actions.

We may have to try more than one thing before we find what will work for us. We may have to dig into our own past, identify what has hurt us and what our limitations have been in order to see what we really need to do. We may have to say, “this is the problem,” before we can actually act on making things better. Once we do, it may be easier to see what changes we need to make and easier to actually make them.
May you be richly blessed.