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!