A Great New Year's/Resolution Message from Daily Om

Your Wellspring of Energy
A Stress-Free Home

No matter where you live or what type of home you live in, taking care of your dwelling is also caring for your soul.

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we treat our homes as if they were impersonal places that we merely pass through. But we can make certain that our homes truly feel like our sanctuaries by taking the time to tend to them like gardens, which need care in order to offer us the beauty of their blooms. When we take the time to treat our homes like beloved treasures, we can shift their energy from being merely places to being wellsprings for the replenishment of our energy.

Consider that homes are the outer reflections of those who live within. If we feel that the current appearance clashes with how we'd like to see ourselves, it can keep us from fully allowing our light to shine. Updating our homes to reflect our inner landscape need not involve massive redecorating or a large outlay of money. Small things can make a big difference, like simply moving items so that we constantly gaze upon the things we love the most, liberating the treasures we've hidden in our closets, using our best dishes and making small repairs. Organizing and cleaning is a no-cost way to remove chaos from our homes and introduce more calm. Lovingly rejuvenating our personal space can become a creative project that increases the flow of good throughout all aspects of our lives and increases our feeling of connection. We can give old things new life by donating them to charity, opening space for newness to enter. Removing stress from our homes can be as simple as putting our bills into pretty boxes and choosing a specific time to deal with them, or removing clutter so that we and our energy can move freely throughout our space.

Simplifying our space lets our imagination and energy roam free. We can choose to prioritize our homes, making them the true heart of our family's activities. Then we are free to focus on what really matters—time to ourselves, to share with loved ones, and to replenish our energy so that we have more to share with each other and with the world.

From Daily Om

The Gift of This Journey
Why We Don't Remember

Most of us come into this life without memory of our prior life so that we focus on the life we are living now.

Many of us wonder why we do not remember who we were before we were born. We wonder what it was like to be a soul without a body and what it will be like to be one again. Many of us have a strange sense that we do remember, as if we did experience a bodiless existence, but we can't quite recall the details. We may remember feeling as if we were flying, or as if we were just incredibly light and unrestricted in our movements. Still, most of us do not recall anything in detail about the time before we incarnated into a human body.

There are many possible reasons for this deep forgetting, one of which is that remembering would probably impinge upon our ability to fully commit to this life. Experiencing life on earth without any memory of an alternative existence allows us to be here completely, and that is what is required in order for us to learn much of what we must learn here. Most of us are not meant to spend our time here preoccupied with concerns beyond the realm of this lifetime. Instead, it is our job to occupy our bodies and our planet with a fullness that would not be possible if we were constantly aware of another, and extremely different, realm of existence.

There is no doubt that life on earth is difficult in ways that life outside of a body is not. As we modulate our energy to move into a body, our consciousness changes, and this is a necessary change. Forgetting other levels of being protects us from a confused and divided experience. Soon enough, we will be back where we started, so thinking too much about it now is a bit like being on a fascinating journey and spending the whole time thinking about going home. It is more in alignment with our purpose here to be fully present in the gift of this journey, unreservedly offering our energy to the experience we are having right now.

Just Funny

Normally, I'm not into cats as much as I'm into dogs; but this video is hilarious. A friend of mine on Facebook posted it. This is my Christmas present to you!

To Ponder

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking."
-Proverb

My Favorite Christmas Songs

I actually don't have any CD's of Christmas songs. Well, except for Mariah Carey's Christmas CD which I bought in 1995 or something and is rattling around in my parents' house somewhere.

Anyway . . .

So I thought I'd share my Christmas song favorites. Depending on the year, I might be pining for Christmas as early as November 2nd and as late as December 10th (this year). I should also point out that the version of the song is just as important to me as what the song is. Not all versions are created equal! Who wants to hear 98 Degrees sing Silent Night? Not moi.

Here are my favorites, in no particular order:


"The Little Drummer Boy"
I really, really like the classic version. I looked high and low for it on YouTube but couldn't track it down. I love this song because I remember as a little girl really loving the story in the song. I imagined myself as the drummer boy playing for Jesus and thought about how amazing that would really be. I also to this day imagine that when it says "I played my best for him" that is a metaphor for my life. I do my best to make God proud. Yeah, that usually makes me cry. But what doesn't make me cry, right?

The Crosby/Bowie version is acceptable. I also like the Bob Seger version. This video is particularly fun because this house has their Christmas lights synched to the music. You'll just have to see it to see what I mean.




"O Holy Night"
Oh, man. This song can bring the crocodile tears out of me depending on my mood. Especially if it's Christmas Eve, maybe driving back from midnight mass or something. Whew. The key to a good version (for me) is the strength of the following lines:

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices

If the singer has a powerful voice at that point, that's usually when I lose it.

I couldn't find a version I really liked, but this version is pretty good.



"Gabriel's Message"
This song is haunting. They used to play it on the radio all the time when I was a kid, but now I pretty much never hear it. Give it up for YouTube! And Sting! I particularly really appreciate songs like this that actually take the written word and put it into music.




"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Andy Williams version. Is there any other version anyway?




"The Christmas Song"
Nat King Cole. This song is Christmas.



"White Christmas"
Bing Crosby.


"Baby It's Cold Outside"
I wish this version could be embedded! This is a clip from the movie "Elf." Super cute.


"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"


"Oh Santa!"
Dare I admit that I like this song? Oh, the embarrassment. Mariah, you got me again. The lyrics are so vapid, but I can't help it. It's so damn catchy.

The Thinning Veil

When we experience heightened spiritual times, such as the month of December with Christmas, this really does seem to shift things on Earth. One noticeable difference seems to be a higher number of people passing to the other side. Both of my maternal grandparents passed in early December. Celebrities deaths on Christmas day include Dean Martin, James Brown, and Charlie Chaplin, to name a few.

Some people refer to the line between heaven and Earth as a veil. This visual makes sense to me in some ways; it's a good visual way to communicate the idea that while they may be separate states, you can see into each one no matter what side you are on.

When we on the planet make a concerted effort to raise our spiritual consciousness, it helps our collective vibrational energy lift higher and higher. It seems like this heightened spirituality gives an extra boost to those who are ready to move on. In some ways, it is like a reminder that this place is our temporary home until we return to our purest form. It seems to be a bittersweet time of year, doesn't it?

From Daily Om

Living for Ourselves
Trying to Please Others
We don't need to live seeking approval from our parents or others; this can be overcome no matter what your age.

Most of us come to a point in our lives when we question why we are doing what we are doing, and many of us come to realize that we may be living our lives in an effort to make our parents happy. This realization can dawn when we are in our 20s, our 40s, or even later, depending upon how tight a hold our family of origin has on our psyche. We may feel shocked or depressed by this information, but we can trust that it is coming to us at this time because we are ready to find out what it would mean to live our lives for ourselves, following the call of our own soul, and refusing any longer to be beholden to someone else’s expectations.

One of the most common reasons we are so tied into making our parents, or others, happy, is that we were not properly mirrored when we were children. We were not honored as individuals in our own right, with a will and purpose of our own, to be determined by our own unfolding. As a result, we learned to look outside of ourselves for approval, support, and direction rather than look within. The good news is that the part of us that was not adequately nurtured is still there, inside us, like a seed that has not yet received the sunlight and moisture it needs to open and to allow its inner contents to unfurl. It is never too late to provide ourselves with what we need to awaken this inner being.

There are many ways to create a safe container for ourselves so that we can turn within and shine the light of awareness there. We may join a support group, go to therapy, or start a practice of journaling every day for half an hour. This experience of becoming is well worth the difficult work that may be required of us to get there. In whatever process we choose, we may feel worse before we feel better, but we will ultimately find out how to live our lives for ourselves and how to make ourselves happy.

From Daily Om

Nothing Big Required
You Are Enough

You are enough the way you are. It isn't everyone's path to do something big for the world, all is important.

Most of us have the feeling that we are here to accomplish something big in our lives, and if we haven't done something that fits the bill we may feel as if we are waiting. We may feel incomplete, or empty, as if our lives don't yet make sense to us, because they don't line up with our idea of major accomplishment. In some cases, this may be because we really are meant to do something that we haven’t yet done. But in most cases, we can let ourselves off the hook with the realization that just being here, being ourselves, is enough.

As we live our lives in this world, we share our energy and our spirit with the people around us in numerous ways. Our influence touches their lives and, through them, touches the lives of many more people. When we strive to live our lives to the fullest and to become our true selves, we are doing something big on an inner level, and that is more than enough to make sense of our being here on this planet at this time. There is no need to hold ourselves to an old idea in the back of our minds that we need to make headlines or single-handedly save the world in order to validate our existence.

We can each look within our hearts to discover what is true for us, what gives our lives meaning, and what excites us. We can release ourselves from any pressure to perform that comes from outside of our inner sense of purpose. Staying in tune with our own values and living our lives in tune with our own vision is all we need in order to fulfill our time here. Our lives are a process of becoming so that we cannot help but cocreate; being who we are, responding to each moment as it comes, we can trust that this is enough.

To Ponder

"He is the wisest who seeks God. He is the most successful who has found God."
~Paramahansa Yogananda

Does it get any better than this?

This is Joni Mitchell singing "Both Sides Now." She first came out with this song in 1970 and then revisited it in 2000. It's fascinating to compare the two. I find it so interesting that she had the wisdom to write/comprehend the ideas in 1970, yet it seems that by 2000 she's actually lived what she is talking about and you can hear the weight of wisdom in her voice. It's gorgeous.

I'm really not surprised that her middle name is Joan. She is fierce. I bet she could teach me a thing or two about unapologetically being who I am.

If you're too busy to listen to both versions, get a grip. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Haha! No, but seriously, I hope you don't feel too busy to listen to both. But if you do, listen to the 2000 version.

1970


2000

God Speaks via Katy Perry

So, as you know, I love music. As you also know, I spend a whole lotta time in my car. Correlation?

So as I was driving back to my hometown for a family funeral (more on that later), I was having one of those great moments where life just hits me and I have a nice good happy sad cry. I actually have some of my best meditations in the car.

So anyway, I was asking God to guide me, and the next thing you know this little diddy comes on the radio. I was reading a Buddhist philosophy book, and there was an excerpt about the Dalai Lama. He was talking with some western yogis, and they asked the D.L. what to do with students who had trouble loving themselves. The D.L. was surprised. Westerners don't love themselves? What? Why? A lack of self-love seems to be a problem unique to the Western world. And being a Westerner I suppose, I struggle with self-love, too.

So who cries at Katy Perry? This girl. Who gets messages from God via Katy Perry? This one right here. But seriously, if God could write us all a love letter, it would go something like this.

"Firework"
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

What Really Matters on Judgment Day

So first, let me say that I really don't believe in the traditional concept of judgment. From my experience, when we die we are not ushered in front of God and given a judgment decree. In fact, the only judgment seems to come from ourselves! It appears as though we go through our own lives with the careful watching of Angels and helpers, seeing what we did well and what could have been different or better.

Furthermore, it seems that what matters most is our intentions, not necessarily the results. Let me give some examples.

Let's say that after a lifetime of working in homeless shelters and hospitals, Peter passes on and greets the angels in heaven. As they sit down and examine his life, Peter realizes that the only reason he worked at the homeless shelters was to get some free food and flirt with some of the staff. He will be forced to examine his conscience and be honest with his intentions.

Similarly, let's say that after a long life Molly passes on and is looking at her life with her angels and friends. At the age of 25, she had hit a little boy with her car and killed him, and she feared this very moment would haunt her forever and send her to hell. But once she gets to heaven, she is surprised and relieved to hear that since it was not her intention to kill the young boy, she deserves no kind of punishment. In fact, the only punishment she will endure is the punishment that she decides to put upon herself. Surprised that the only one berating her is herself, not God, she can release her sadness and grief.

So I try to use this same principle with myself every day. Do I want to help someone for purely altruistic reasons? Is there anything I am trying to gain from it? This should be our only critique of ourselves. If our hearts are in the right place, we can't punish or celebrate ourselves for the results.

Spotlight/Gift Idea

As you may know, I love all things Indian. Indian food, Indian music, Indian design . . .

So when I ran across these, imagine my excitement! Punjammies are handmade in India by women who are safe (recused, escaped, released) after a period of forced prostitution. The company helps by providing a job with a fair trade wage, financial support for holistic care, and deposits into a savings account.

Plus, hello, these are gorgeous! I think they would make a great pair of sleep pants or just lounge-around-the-house pants.

To Ponder

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
-Sydney J. Harris

An Actual 3am Epiphany

A few nights ago, I was meditating on my own fears. I was practicing mindfulness, where the objective is to observe our thoughts. In its purest form, after observing the presence of a thought, you're supposed to let it go. But being my analytical self, I couldn't help it; I just had to figure out what was up with my crazy monkey brain.

So first what I noticed is that I have a fairly strong concern with getting consumed by other people's feelings. I think this has come from years of being an energetic sponge, taking in the emotions of my environment. It's only increased over time, and now that I'm aware of it and how devastating it can be when negative emotions take hold, I am always conscious of my environment. In some situations, my internal chant is something like, "God shield me; God protect me."

I was thinking about what an exhausting process this is and that something doesn't seem quite right with it. I also believe that God is a loving energy that flows through every person, and therefore we are all connected and all the same. Our physical separation may make us believe that we are all separate, but in fact we are all one; this makes sense with the idea that I can be easily affected by the emotions in others.

Then I realized that maybe protection isn't needed; instead, I must work to see the God in every person I meet. Rather than putting up my energetic shield the moment I meet someone, praying for protection and shielding, I should instead hold the intention to see God in the person I meet. So now I'm trying this. With every soul I meet, out in the world, or through a meditation, or through a visualization, I practice "seeing" the God inside them with my third eye. Then, I visualize their God energy getting stronger and stronger until it fills their entire body; I do the same with myself. And in the final piece, I visualize that our energies meet.

So instead of every meeting with a person being a "clash of the energies" and a fretful prayer for protection, it is a union of the God energy. Fear, neutralized. God, realized. This process allows me to silence the fearful voice of my ego that is terrified at an energetic takeover. And once again, this whole process proves that love (ie God) wins out over fear all the time, every time.

How to Meditate by Jyotish Novak

This book was assigned to me in preparation for my meditation teacher training in March, and I'm really glad that it was. Not only is it written clearly and is an extremely useful guide, I am always telling people to meditate, but I haven't had many great resources to recommend. This book explains the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical benefits of meditation, and also gives some techniques to use. Very solid read.

Let God Do the Talking

This is a really fun game; maybe you've tried it before. Perhaps I should back up and not use the word "game." What I'm referring to is a method to get in contact with God so that he/she/it can be more fully present in your everyday mind. Since we're referring to talking to God, I guess calling it a "game" seems almost sacrilegious.

Aaaaanyway. Yawn Brittany, get on with already.

So the "game" is pretty simple. Ask God a question, and then flip through the book of your choice to see what God says. Here are a few applications:

• Take out your Bible. Ask God, "How can I improve myself as a person today?" Take a few passes at the book, letting the pages run through your hands. Then, when it feels right to stop, stop. Read what's on the page and see what God wants you to know.
• Take out any of your favorite spiritual books. For example, I have a book that I love-- Archangels and Ascended Masters by Doreen Virtue. Just yesterday, I asked, "Who has a message for me that can help me today?" It was totally enlightening.

Here are some other questions to ask:
"What do I need to know?"
"How can I lead a more spiritual life?"
"How can I better serve others?"
"What is my purpose?"

To Ponder

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.”
~Paramahansa Yogananda

Spotlights

I have had the blessed experience of meeting so many people who live bravely, with integrity, living a life with the purpose of making this world a better place. Teachers, mediums, artists, doctors . . . they are all great people. I also feel it's my duty to help others who are trying to do good in the world. With that said, I plan on trying to put a spotlight on others from time to time, hoping to bring attention to their causes.

If you know someone who is trying to make this world a better place, send their website/information my way. I believe we should all do what we can to help each other accomplish these goals, and simply sharing what we know with others is sometimes the best way to make this happen.

I'll also start featuring companies/non-profits that are doing it right.

On Atheism

In my experiences meeting people all over the Midwest, I sometimes have people timidly ask me what I think of atheists. Since my work is very spiritual and is fundamentally based on a belief in God, saints, angels, and the whole lot, people often wonder what I think of nonbelievers.

Well, my first response is that I don't feel threatened by it at all. I think people are afraid to ask me about it as if it challenges me or what I do. I certainly don't feel that way, and I always welcome atheists and non believers to ask any questions they like. My faith is not dependent on everyone else feeling the same way I do, so it's really not a concern. In fact, I truly love talking about spiritual concepts with people no matter what they believe. I like sharing ideas and I always learn something from the process.

My only observation so far is that most atheists I meet are not actually in opposition to God, although they may see it that way; my experience has been that they reject a concept of God that has been preached or taught to them by parents, school, culture, or a religion.

For example, someone might say, "I don't believe in God because it just sounds ridiculous to me that a some big man in the sky with a long white beard is controlling everything." So, somewhere along the line, this idea was taught to them, and since they didn't agree and also had no other references or ways of getting to know God, it stopped right there. In fact, many people don't think of God this way! But if God as a concept is presented to you in a fixed way, then your only option is to accept what is given or reject it completely.

Or someone else might say, "There's no way there's a God because evolution has been scientifically proven." Unfortunately, God and science have been put in a boxing ring together. What is that all about?! But since this person's only concept of God is the 7 days creation guy, they're given the option to believe either in God or science and never the two shall meet. It's sad, actually.

Another common misconception that I run into is that some have been taught that God holds our fate and everything is pre-written, and so they must either accept the idea of a destiny, or uphold the idea that they are atheist instead.

It's natural as humans to want to categorize everything. God is this, God is that, Got is not this, God is not that. It would be comforting if we could wrap our heads around something so powerful and literally larger than life. But unfortunately some of our ideas have tried to squashed others, leaving little room for dialogue.

Why Your Life Sucks by Alan Cohen

First, let me say to not judge a book by its title. I first came across this book in college, and admittedly was not excited about buying a book with a title that is just so, well, bad. Buying the book made me feel like I was whining out in open and being negative at the same time. But it is seriously worth the read.

Cohen's argument is that we give our power away to people all the time, and this is the key to our self worth. No matter how happy or unhappy you are with your life, you are sure to learn something about yourself by reading this book.

From Daily Om

Part of the Process
Feeling Stuck

If you are feeling stuck in your life, it is possible you are clinging to an old reality or thoughts.
When we feel stuck in our lives it's important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what's keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear.

If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can't see ourselves, it's because we don't want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.

In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn't be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what's going on.

This Song Gives Me Chills

I cry like a baby when I watch this. The kids? Adorable. Ellen? Awesome. Josh Groban? Breathtaking.

To Ponder

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
~Eden Ahbez

Watch out, because a 14 year old girl may argue with you over this, but this song existed long before Moulin Rouge.

My Christmas List

So today is black Friday. Gross. Er, wait. I mean go out and spend people! Spend spend spend! Let's get this economy afloat! No really. Gross. So a lot of the commercialism and spendy-ism of Christmas just makes my stomach churn, but there's ways to do Christmas gift-giving right. I hope you have yourself on your list this year. Here's a list of really lovely things that I have for myself and might inspire you to give to yourself or others. And the best part is that you don't need to get up at 3am or have a fight in the K Mart aisle to do it.

1. A Library Card
No, seriously! I love love love my library card. I go to the library multiple times a week. And you know what's great about it? No risk. If I don't like something, I just take it back. No biggie. They've got books, movies, CD's . . . just about anything you can ask for. And if you're lucky you'll be a part of a super awesome library system like mine where everything is online and they'll even have your books waiting for you when you show up. Technology, huh?

My current checked out books include topics ranging from the psychic senses, to color therapy, to the lives of St. Bernadette and St. Francis, to some good old fiction bestsellers. I just love it. You really really must get a library card. And if you already have one, get to using it!

2. Reusable Bags
I do like this planet we've got here, and so that means I like to do Earth-friendly things. What's one step better than recycling? Never using the product in the first place. You've got to get reusable bags if you haven't gotten them already! For the grocery store, Whole Foods are my personal favorites just because they are really large and really durable. We just leave ours in the trunk, and when it's time to go grocery shopping, voila, we are ready to go.

For the day to day stuff, my favorite bags are the kind that can fold in on themselves and fit really easily into your purse or glove compartment. I got one from Bed Bath and Beyond for only $4! It folds up really small, and then when you're at the front checkout at Walgreen's/the library/whatevs you just whip out this puppy and you are good to go. I also like these really cute ones from Target. They're a little pricier at $13, but they're really durable and can hold a lot of stuff; they're also slightly more fashionable than the plain green look. Also, I just saw them on clearance this week for only $3.50, so check it out.

If I was Oprah, I would buy every one in America one of these bags. And you know what would make you an awesome human being? If you tacked one of these bags onto the gift list of every person you are buying for this year. Can you imagine how many plastic bags would be put out of a job if you did that?!?!?! OMG.

3. A Face Lotion for Even Skin Tone
Hear me out on this. I really love to like how I look in the mirror without makeup. I pretty much don't wear any, or I wear very little, and it's important to me to just have healthy, natural skin. Even skin toning lotions are amazing. I have to admit that before this past year, I had the skin regimen of a teenager: wash, rinse, moisturizer if I happen to remember it. But then I started getting serious about moisturizer with SPF (I will thank myself when I'm 50 I'm sure) and finally I got this amazing L'Oreal Complexion Equalizer. After a week, I felt like I looked 5 years younger. Now I use it every other night before bed. It is so totally worth it, and it lasts a long time. It's a small luxury that I'm glad to splurge a bit.

4. Angel Cards
Watch out. These can be addictive. If you're wanting to start a conversation with Saints, Angels, Guides, and the like, cards are a great place to start. I really like the Ascended Masters, Saints and Angels, and Archangel Michael cards, but you can look around on Hay House and see what's calling your name. Amazon has a good selection as well.

These aren't Tarot cards! And you don't need any special classes to understand how to read them. Their meanings are written on the cards.

5. Super Comfy Pajamas
I love getting into my pajamas around 7pm and schlepping around the house all night. There's nothing like a really luxurious pajama set. Do I sound like I'm 70 years old or what? I don't care! My personal favorites are the ones that look like men's pajamas from the 50's and 60's. You know, like the ones Dick Van Dyke wore on his show, like these or these.

6. Yummy Tea
I am a total tea connoisseur. I love hot tea. But I'm also pretty picky, and the real gourmet stuff is where it's at. I'm no Lipton girl! Tea is really healthy for you, and definitely better than a hot chocolate or a soda. In particular, I really like Harney & Sons (Hot Cinnamon Spice is great) and The Republic of Tea (lots of flavors sold at World Market).

7. Mrs. Meyer's Soap
Until I met this dish washing soap, I had no idea that I could fall in love with a soap. Mrs. Meyer's Products smell delicious, and I honestly don't mind washing pots and pans now. Not only does it smell great, but it actually does a good cleaning job. My personal favorite is the Lemon Verbera scented dish washing soap. I know they sell this stuff at World Market, Whole Foods, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and Wal Mart.

8. Burt's Bees Anything
They have great lotions, creams, lip balm, you name it. I really like their hand repair creme and the Radiance facial cleanser.

9. A Personal Retreat Day (or even half day)
Take the day off work, make sure the kids are with the babysitter and just enjoy being out by yourself. Get a special coffee or tea. Window shop. Try out a new yoga or meditation class. Just make it a day about exploring your little corner of the world all by yourself. Head to some new stores you've been meaning to check out, or get a pedicure.

10. A Prayer and Meditation Regimen
There are no rules on this. For you, it might mean 10 minutes of silence in a little cubby hole of a space in your bedroom each morning. Maybe you'll make a nightly ritual of the rosary and Reiki before bed. Or maybe you need the consistency of meetings, and you can take up weekly meditations at a local spot for free. Start somewhere and watch your life change.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

May this Thanksgiving holiday find you happy, healthy, and loved.

Fear of Transformation

So for a part of November, I have been suffering from a fear of transformation. In my meditations, I realized it was time for me to take my meditations to the next level and I began researching meditation retreats and teacher training as well.

At first, I imagined myself in a beautiful, quiet place in nature reaching new heights of bliss in meditation. Floating on a cloud, surrounded by like-minded people, having revelatory conversations late at night, exploring some new part of the country--gee that sounds beautiful.

Then I began to realize the whole tougher part of a meditation retreat. They are typically in silence, or at least 80% in silence. Long days of meditation, yoga, chants, classes. Early rising. Late nights. 9 days away from my sweet puppy dog and loving, supportive husband. Pushing myself to new levels.

And then I (accidentally) saw an image of myself on one of these retreats, sobbing profusely. Through clairsentience, I could feel my waves of sadness and despair at some profound self-discoveries.

Holy. Crap.

Before I could talk myself out of anything at all, I signed up. I know this is what I need to grow as a person. A healer. A teacher. Have you ever been afraid of your own mind? It's what I simultaneously love and fear about meditation. It takes you all the way inside yourself, and what you find is both miraculous and ridiculous all at once.

I am praying for strength and an open mind. I am praying for God to help me rise to the challenge of the retreat and soak up every inch of it to take with me. I am saying okay fear, I see you, I am aware of you, and now I'm moving past you. I guess step one to meditation is accepting the challenge of meditation. The retreat has already begun.

To Ponder

"God knows the best ways to accomplish your goals. Worry is not only fruitless, but it is disobedience in regards to trusting God's ultimate plan."
~Elisabeth Elliot

A Place for Peace

We all need a place that we can go to collect ourselves. It's a place where relaxation comes naturally, and whatever is going on with us, we find a way to calm inner peace. I have a few places:

1. Walking out in nature in general, in particular a park by my house
I go to the park nearly every day with my loyal dog Rocky. We sit on the bench together and I just sit and enjoy being among God's nature. Being in nature seems to have a way of speeding up my emotions. If I'm upset about something but haven't fully expressed it out loud or in my heart, being in nature brings it to the surface. I often have many personal revelations while sitting in the park. In fact, I've repeatedly said that I need to bring a pen and notebook out there.

2. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville, Illinois)
This shrine is near my hometown, about 40 minutes away from my parent's house. It is a beautiful piece of land with a gift shop, walking paths, an outdoor pavilion where they occasionally hold mass, and my favorite part, the grotto, which is a reproduction of the area where St. Bernadette met with Mother Mary in Lourdes, France.

I first came here as a young girl for Catholic events, and once I was older and could drive myself, I would come to the grotto when I felt like I needed some Blessed Mother intervention. Some days I wish it was still a short drive away, and whenever I'm home I try to swing by for a rosary session.

3. My Living Room Couch
Even though I have this nice little healing room space upstairs, I've ended up making my living room couch my main hub for prayers and meditation. Scattered around the couch, I have my rosary, cards, and books. My heat blanket is always draped over the couch, ready for another session. What can I say? It works.

Going back to these same places to collect my thoughts, meditate, and pray helps so much. The ritual of being in these places of peace help me relax more fully and connect with God. If you don't have one or two go-to spots, make an effort to pick some out and get your own ritual going.

Mother Mary's Kick-Butt School of Tough Love

From my days as a Catholic school student, I always had Mary on my Rolodex of numbers to call. I remember celebrating her in May. I remember lots of flowers in the church, and a beautiful flower wreath was put on her statue. I've only had 2 rosaries in my life, my first rosary were these beautiful blue crystal beads, and my second rosary was for my birthstone (garnet in January). Since then, I have just one more, a lavender rosary from the Vatican. And who doesn't love Ave Maria?

It's clear that many people (Catholic, Christian, Muslim) feel a connection to the blessed mother. I cannot speak for all Catholics, but as I was growing up, my understanding of Mary is that she represented a gentle female spirit, full of kindness, peace, and calm. Her representations always showed a peaceful expression, looking down kindly with the most placid expression you can imagine.

So imagine my surprise when as a medium I picked up my relationship with her again and holy cow there is a lot more going on with her than this genteel mother-figure. I feel like I need to help people understand her better.



Make no mistake; Mother Mary is a force. She is fierce when she wants to be. She's not afraid to be stern, and I know from personal experience that she's not afraid to give a lecture if it's necessary. She also seems to take on the personality that we need at the moment. When we are lost and need comforting, she is comfort; when we are dragging our feet, being stubborn (*cough* ME *cough*) she's ready to do some butt-kicking.



And once I had this personal experience with her, I mean, come on, it makes sense. She had to watch her own son die. She was given the task of raising a boy to be a controversial man that many people would fear and hate. She appeared to many people through time (ie Saint Bernadette) with strong messages to deliver to the world. She has the heart of a lion.

First, I encourage you to develop your own relationship with Mary. It is a blessing to have her in your corner; she is truly an amazing, powerful energy. Second, I encourage you to let your relationship with the blessed mother be whatever it is: a stern teacher/willing student, a friend, a mother, etc.

Praying the Rosary or saying the Hail Mary is really the best way to invoke her in my own personal experience. I've been saying the Rosary daily for a while now, calling on her help with a few personal issues. While I can't say she fixes all my problems, I can say that I am stronger because of these daily prayers, and I believe her assistance helps me move forward.

If I was any kind of artist at all, I would make a rendition of Mary that is some kind of hybrid of the traditional images of Mary and Rosie the Riveter. She really is that strong.

St. Francis of Assisi

During one of my meditations, I felt the urge to walk over to the computer and go to YouTube. After listening to some of my favorite calming music, somehow I wandered into the Catholic music on YouTube. It took me back to my grade school and high school days, going to mass during the week and on Sundays. Some of those songs can still make me cry.

And then I happened upon this beautiful version of "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" by Sinead O'Connor. It's just gorgeous and heartfelt.



Ever since I first listened to this song, I find myself humming or singing it to myself while I'm out walking, meditating, or going about my day. And St. Francis seemed to want to join the party, as he offered to teach me about the meaning of peace. So I checked my calendar and asked him if next Thursday would work for him.

I kid I kid! When St. Francis offers to help, you say yes.

Ever since then, I find him making his presence known quite a bit. I also think he's responsible for my sudden urge to explore a new healing modality or other kind of personal growth.

If you would like to pray today but are a loss for words, here's some good ones to direct towards the heavens:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Mother Divine-Kurt Van Sickle

I first heard this music when I was going through my hypnotherapy training. Overall, I would recommend this CD with one caution--it's an hour-long loop of a 45 second refrain. After about 20 minutes, you'll probably have had enough for the day. But it's so beautiful.

If you feel a connection to Mother Mary, your own mother, you are a mother, you feel you need the loving comfort of a mother, or all of the above, you will enjoy this.

Today

One of the things that I am trying to improve in myself is an appreciation for the present. I struggle with dwelling on the past and scheming for the future, all the while missing the joy of the present. With that said, winter can sometimes be a trying time for me. I very much love to connect to nature, and well, winter in Chicago is nothing short of ugly.

There's that beautiful time between Thanksgiving and Christmas where the frost is charming, the snow is pretty, and the twinkling lights make everything glow. But after January 1st, all bets are off. The snow is dirty and frozen over and the chapped butt isn't so charming anymore!

But I will not dwell on the beauty of autumn or wish for a flying calendar this year. I'm going to work on seeing the beauty of winter.

And without further ado, here is my list of 5 things that I can love from January to April:

• A mug of hot chocolate (using almond milk to be vegan of course) or hot tea
• Electric heated blankets!
  
• Candlelight in the early evening hours
• Wearing comfy booties around the house
• Making comfort foods like chili, cornbread and apple pie

That wasn't so hard! Now let's see if this list holds up to the butt-chapping weather of February in Chicago. I get cold just thinking about it . . .

To Ponder

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
-Plato

Michael

Archangel Michael is so awesome. Have I mentioned this movie before? It is so good. The basic story is that Michael comes to Earth to do some stuff, and since you're only allowed so many visits in physical form, this one is his last. It it such a beautiful movie. It also has a kind of innocence and simplicity that you just don't see in movies anymore. Times they are a changin', ya know?

John Travolta is so endearing in this movie. And there's an awesome scene where he's dancing in a bar . . . okay so I'm really, really bad at summarizing movies. This is a great time of year to be watching it though. It's got that whole heart-warming vibe going on. Just check it out from the library already!

Walking Through Illusion

I read this book this fall, which I think is a wonderful time of year to take an introspective look at ourselves; and this book really helps you accomplish that goal.

Walking Through Illusion is a channeled conversation between author Betsy Otter Thompson and Jesus Christ. In a question-and-answer format, Thompson asks Jesus questions about those who he knew while he was human on this Earth. It's a good format to be able to see what Jesus might say about each of us in our lives today. Those who might have the most difficulty might be those who are not familiar with the Bible. I was able to rely on my Catholic teachings to recall the lives of Peter, Mark, Paul, and others; but without that background, I might have struggled with making the connections between Jesus' messages and the people who he is referring to in his conversation with Thompson.

There are several poignant lessons, such as the point that if pain is in our hearts, we are the ones keeping it alive, not the ones who we feel may have wronged us (p.94).

My favorite section of the book is the worksheet section at the end of each chapter. It was easy to engage with this part of the book, and you're sure to learn something about yourself if you participate.

Holy Cow I Needed to Hear This

Growing Pains
Difficult Times
From DailyOm.com

It can be very challenging to maintain a positive attitude and a measure of faith when you are in the midst of difficult times. This is partly because we tend to think that if the universe loves us we will experience that love in the form of positive circumstances. However, we are like children, and the universe is our wise mother who knows what our souls need to thrive better than we do. Just as a young child does not benefit from getting everything she wants, we also benefit from times of constriction and difficulty to help us grow and learn. If we keep this in mind, and continue to trust that we are loved even when things are hard, it helps us bear the difficult time with grace.

This period of time in history is full of difficulty for a lot of human beings, and you may feel less alone knowing you are not being singled out. There are extreme energy changes pulsing through the universe at every level and, of course, we are all part of the growing process and the growing pains. It helps if we remember that life is one phase after another and that this difficult time will inevitably give way to something new and different. When we feel overwhelmed we can comfort ourselves with the wise saying: This too shall pass.

At the same time, if you truly feel that nothing is going right for you, it’s never a bad idea to examine your life and see if there are some changes you can make to alleviate some of the difficulty. Gently and compassionately exploring the areas giving you the most trouble may reveal things you are holding onto and need to release: unprocessed emotions, unresolved transitions, or negative ways of looking at yourself or reality. As you take responsibility for the things you can change, you can more easily surrender to the things you can’t, remembering all the while that this phase will, without doubt, give way to another.

The Distraction Game

So on my daily walk yesterday, I took the rosary with me. I decided to multitask because it seems like sometimes when I let my mind wander, I may gravitate towards fears or worries that I have. I decided that if I was focused on prayer instead, then my mind wouldn't be able to focus on fear.

But of course, once I decided that, I was kind of mad at myself. Talking to myself, I said, "What's my problem? I meditate and pray for about 45 minutes a day, yet my mind is still easily taken over by fear or worry. Now I have to pray while I walk too? I'm such a failure."

I wasn't talking to anyone but myself, but all of the sudden Archangel Michael appeared and said, "Well, then it sounds like you need to pray some more." He had the most mischievous smile, too!

We seem to spend a lot of time beating ourselves up about our shortcomings, and it was so nice to have Michael say, "just pray more." It's really not bad advice. Rather than focusing on how hard it is to knock me off of my zen pedestal, I should just focus on what keeps me there--meditation and prayer.

To Ponder

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."
~Raymond Hull

Free Distance Reiki for the Holidays

During the last holiday season, I raised money for Save the Children. This season, I meditated and asked God what charitable act I could offer this year, and so I'm offering the gift of Reiki.

If you don't know much about Reiki, please read about Reiki on my website under both "Reiki" and "Resources." In short, Reiki is benevolent energy that can be sent from a Reiki practitioner to a recepient. It heals on mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

For this holiday, here's all you have to do to receive loving Reiki energy for yourself or a loved one:

• Send me an email or give me a phone call.
• Let me know the name and location of the recipient (i.e. Jane Smith in Los Angeles, California).
  
• A sentence or two will help direct the Reiki energy (i.e. Jane is looking for a job in advertising and isn't having much luck, or Jane is having chronic back pain).

That's all you need to do! The Reiki will do the rest of the work. Every day I do devotional meditations, prayers, and Reiki, and I will simply incorporate your Reiki request into my Reiki session. If someone does not want to receive Reiki, don't worry, they won't. Just like everything else, our free will dictates whether or not we will receive it. The Reiki works from a distance, so I don't need to see the person face to face.

New Classes!

These classes will take place in December and January in the Chicagoland area. The classes will take place on either a Saturday or Sunday. When you sign up, I'll ask for your availability for weekends in December and January, and the students' availability will determine when we will have the class. To sign up, just send me an email or phone call. 50% of the class cost is due at sign-up to reserve your space.

If you live outside the Chicagoland area, but have a group of friends who are interested in one or more of the classes, let me know. I can offer these classes on the road as well! Prices may vary depending on class size and location.


Accessing Your Own Intuition for Healing, Direction, and Connection
You've probably already heard me say it--"Everyone is intuitive." Everyone can access this information! There is nothing exceptional about psychics and mediums; we are tapping into what is already there for all of this. In this class, you'll learn how your own unique gifts work and the way you've probably already been receiving information but just haven't been aware. We'll practice with the psychic senses and also experiment with psychometry, the ability to read the information of an object.

Materials Needed: You might want to bring a pillow and/or blanket to get comfortable while working. Wear comfortable clothes. For psychometry, bring an object you'd like to read.


Reiki Level One
Learning Level One Reiki allows you to use the nourishing energy of Reiki to help yourself and others maintain a higher level of balance and health. The one-day session will consist of three basic parts:
1)Introduction to Reiki, understanding biofield energy, and the principles of Reiki.
2)Attunement, or energy transfer, that allows Reiki energy to flow naturally from your hands for giving life-enhancing energy to yourself, other people, animals and plants.
3)Learning the hand positions for treating yourself as well as the hand positions for treating others. You will practice giving and receiving treatments so that you are a confident Reiki healer by the end of the day.

Tuition includes the one-day session and textbook. Call or email to find out more details or to sign up.


Group Past Life Regression
If you've ever wanted to explore past lives, this is the class for you. Everyone can undergo regression; no special skills are needed. In this class, we'll talk about what hypnotherapy is (and isn't). You'll have two different opportunities to explore your past lives, with question and answer sessions following. This is a great low-cost way to give regression a try.

Parent/Teacher Conferences Slash Confessional

I feel the need to give a status report on my veganism slash atone for my sins. So here's how its been going.

For those who didn't see the post, around October 1st, after 14ish years of the vegetarian lifestyle, I decided its time to be a vegan. Let me explain.

My becoming a vegetarian was a very natural occurence for me and has always made sense. It began with a compassion for animals and not being able to stomach their gruesome deaths. Over time, my reasons because more educated (although the emotional appeals have always been there).

Gradually, I began to adopt a "cruelty free" lifestyle. I began to make sure that my purses and coats were not made out of any animal products. I began to check labels for that "not tested on animals" sign. I started drinking soy, rice, and almond milk instead of cow's milk.

And now it seems that the transition is almost complete. But here's where the confession part comes in--

I am a convenience vegan.

What I mean by that is when I am home, cooking food I've bought, eating meals I've thoughtfully put together, the vegan thing is a cinch. But when I'm on the road, on vacation, visiting family . . . it seems to go out the window. I gravitate towards my vegetarian stand-bys (i.e. Jimmy John's #6), telling myself it's just "too difficult" to make it work on the road.

Is it really too difficult? Naw. I just need to put in the bit of extra planning to find options that are vegan.

Whew! I feel better. Confession over.

So maybe you are a meat eater for life, but maybe there are some parts of the vegan lifestyle that you could do. How about only buying products that are not tested on animals? Or saying no to fur? Or volunteering at a local animal shelter? Just some ideas for ya. Trust me, I'm working on my own!

To Ponder

"A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart."
-Johann Von Goethe

How to Clear Your Energy

All of us are made of energy. We have our dense physical body, and then we have our etheral energy body. The physical body and the energy body are connected, so the health or illness of one affects the other.

Every once in a while I seem to have a bit of an energy meltdown, and I think we all do. For me, an energy meltdown results in restlessness, irritability, general weepiness, and discontent. Oh yeah, I'm a real peach.

An energy meltdown just means that it's time for a breath of fresh air. We get stuck every once in a while, and we need to be cleared out.

Here are my favorite ways to clear and clean my energy:

1. Reiki--This is the motherload of energy clearing. You will get all the clearing you need, and maybe some you didn't even know was necessary. If you don't know much about Reiki, click the Reiki tags on the left to read any posts related to Reiki.

2. Meditation--Meditation means different things for different people. What I mean when I use the word is quiet time alone with yourself and working towards a still, peaceful mind. For some, this means chanting. For others, this is prayer. Some might like to have peaceful music in the background to help their mind relax. Just take some time to see what works for you.

3. Crystals--This might seem a bit daunting, because there are literally thousands of crystals with many purposes. My suggestion is don't overthink it. Head over your local metaphysical shop and just see what you are drawn to hold and admire. I can certainly recommend some for you depending on what you'd like some help with, but I'm sure when you go you will know just what you need. What's also fun is to pick out a stone and look up its purpose when you get home. The answer might surprise you, or it might be exactly what you thought you needed anyway. As for how to use them, you can just allow them to rest on your body and different chakra points to help absorb any negative or stagnant energy.

4. Chimes--Chimes are so underrated! And I'm guilty of it as well. Chimes work really fast in clearing your energy body or a space such as your bedroom or office. Their clear resonating tones force more dense, negative energies to lessen and go elsewhere. I like to do a sequence of 7 rings at each of my 7 chakras. It only takes maybe 5 minutes, and it feels like an energy shower.

5. A walk in Nature--Let me emphasize "nature" here. A walk in the grocery store won't cut it. Neither will a walk in the mall, or even a walk in the neighborhood if you're a chatty Cathy and you stop and talk to everyone you see. The point of this walk is solitude, silence, and the freshest air possible. You'll be amazed at the energy that wells up and then dissipates during a therapeutic walk.

The Faces of God

Sometimes when I meet someone who has had a very strong religious (not spiritual, necessarily, but religious) background, they are uncertain of what to think about talking to angels or Jesus or Buddha. In a world where black and white understanding seems to make people feel safe, I think many people have a hard time imagining that the messages and lives of Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Muhammed, or any other great spiritual teacher can all be valid and correct at the same time.

But they are.

The best way I can explain it is to imagine that God is a large box. Each side of the box is a facet of God: one side is Buddha, another Jesus, another Muhammed, and so on. Yet the contents of the box is the same, although the outward appearance may seem different on each side. And so Jesus, Buddha, and other Godly figures are all the same.

Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but I think of each face of God as having a particular specialty. For me, Jesus is the greatest teacher of love and compassion, and when I need help understanding love, I call on Him. Buddha's mastery seems to be with the mind, and when I need help conquering the deceptive nature of our fearful and small-minded consciousness, I call upon Buddha. All of these messages are valid and important, and they've seemed to arrive in a "package" that reaches a particular group of people at a particular time when that message is needed.

Archangel Gabrielle/Gabriel

Archangel Gabrielle is extremely powerful. She is a fearless kick butt angel, more like an Archangel Michael or Ariel than a Raphael. Her particular specialties lie with communication. She is very helpful in giving us the strength to speak truthfully about how we feel and what we believe. Anyone who has a job that involves leadership and communication can call upon her for help, or anyone who feels they have trouble speaking openly and honestly about what they feel could also benefit from her help.

There's no mistaking that Gabrielle has a distinctly feminine energy, yet many know her as Gabriel. In a time when the Catholic Church favored the patriarchy, they didn't seem to like idea of powerful beings being of feminine energy. In some ways, though, it really doesn't matter, because an angel (and all of us really) have an existence beyond sex or gender identification. But for what it's worth, when I communicate with her, she looks like a female and seems to identify with female strength--think Xena Warrior Princess.

This is same Gabrielle who appeared to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a son she would name Jesus. This makes perfect sense to me, since this is a message to give Mary strength in her purpose. From my days as a little girl at Catholic school, I imagined this nice angel being loving and kind to Mary, talking gently; but now that I've had my own interactions with Gabrielle, I really don't think it went that way at all! I imagine it was more like being summoned by a great, powerful voice to gather strength, courage, and resolve, because a monumental task is going to be bestowed upon Mary. I imagine it to be much more like a call to arms than a gentle talk with a friend.

Now here's an angel with a story of strength. In fact, Gabrielle means, "God is my strength." I have been using this as my mantra lately. When we take on our problems as if we are alone in fixing them, we've forgotten God in the equation. Our problems don't have to be our burdens alone, and when God is our strength, we are never defeated.

Enya

I was introduced to Enya by my roommate Vija in my freshmen year of college. She also introduced me to my husband. I should drop that girl a line, huh?

I'm very familiar with "A Day Without Rain," the album that was out when I was a freshmen, but I haven't kept up much with the woman otherwise. So I was looking for some meditation music and came across this great playlist on YouTube (my apologies that I can't embed it). I also recommend this playlist which has 40 songs on it! I really love the first song, "Amarantine":

You know when you give your love away
It opens your heart,
everything is new.
And you know time will always find a way
to let your heart believe it's true.

You know love is everything you say;
a whisper, a word,
promises you give.
You feel it in the heartbeat of the day.
You know this is the way love is.

Amarantine...
Amarantine...
Amarantine...
Love is LOVE IS LOVE love

You know love may sometimes make you cry,
so let the tears go,
they will flow away,
for you know love will always let you fly
-how far a heart can fly away!

You know when love's
shining in your eyes
it may be the stars
falling from above.
And you know love
is with you when you rise,
for night and day belong to love.

To Ponder

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

The Prince of Egypt

I love this movie, especially when I'm feeling burdened, lost, confused, and heavy-hearted. Don't worry, you didn't miss its release. It came out in the late 90's. It's the story of Moses, and there are so many pertinent messages about our relationship with God in this movie. As someone who struggles to have faith in what can't be seen or proven, this story touches my heart. I actually like to watch this movie alone with a box of tissues and a hot chocolate.

"When You Believe"--I dare you to watch and not cry. For the children's singing part, this is the translation:
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has triumphed gloriously
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has triumphed gloriously
Who is like You, oh Lord,
among the celestial Who is like You,
majestic in holiness In Your love,
You lead the people You redeemed In Your love,
You lead the people You redeemed
I will sing, I will sing, I will sing




"Through Heaven's Eyes"--Truer words could not be spoken. Here are some of my favorite lyrics:
A single thread in a tapestry
Through its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes

So how do you measure the worth of a man
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes

Reincarnation

Have I shared this before? I love this video, and I came across it in 2009, but I thought I would just share it again. For anyone who's interested in past lives, you must watch this video. I think skeptics will be especially impressed.

In the second video, I'm a little disappointed in the reporting. There's an argument that this is a "faith vs. science" issue, and I really can't agree with that. Many, many religions believe in reincarnation, as do people of traditionally non-believing faiths (ie Christians). Faith and science really aren't in conflict, but I think that's a post for another day.

What Does it Mean?!

So I hope you don't get your latest up-to-the-minute news here, because this post is no exception to the evidence that my posts are a bit behind the times. Double rainbow guy was a big hit this summer. But whatever.

So for anyone who didn't see this video getting around the interwebs this summer, "double rainbow guy" is Paul Vazquez, who lives in a remote area new Yosemite National Park. The video speaks for itself, so if you haven't seen it, then watch it.

My question is, what's the big deal people? So many comments conclude that "he must be high" or insinuate that there's something wrong with him. While I admit that the former is possible, I truly hope not. He maintains that it was just "full rainbow power" that compelled him to laugh and cry at the site. And I am totally jealous.

I have moments like this during my meditations where I really feel one with God and everything is just as it should be, and usually it makes me laugh, cry, and smile. How wonderful to be captured on camera! I just love it, and I wish we had less cynicism and more honest searching for the beauty in all things. This guy obviously knows how to appreciate life and love the gifts of each moment.

I feel like meditating right now and trying to have my own double rainbow moment . . .

Blissful Journey-Marina Raye

This music is beautiful Native American-style music. Marina Raye actually has a few CD's, but the others are distracting to me because I get agitated with sounds of water and birds and such coming out of my speakers. The flute on this CD is just lovely.

From Daily Om

Keeping Things in Perspective
Mountains

Mountains have always captured our imaginations, calling us to scale their heights, to circle and worship at their feet, and to pay homage to their greatness. Mountains can be seen from thousands of miles away, and if we are lucky enough to be on top of one, we can see great stretches of the surrounding earth. As a result, mountains symbolize vision, the ability to rise above the adjacent lowlands and see beyond our immediate vicinity. From the top of the mountain, we are able to witness life from a new perspective—cities and towns that seem so large when we are in them look tiny. We can take the whole thing in with a single glance, regaining our composure and our sense of proportion as we realize how much bigger this world is than we sometimes remember it to be.

Mountains are almost always considered holy and spiritual places, and the energy at the top of a mountain is undeniably unique. When we are on top of a mountain, it is as if we have ascended to an alternate realm, one in which the air is purer and the energy lighter. Many a human being has climbed to the top of a mountain in order to connect with a higher source of understanding, and many have come back down feeling stronger and wiser. Whenever we are feeling trapped or limited in our vision, a trip to our nearest mountain may be just the cure we need.

There’s a reason that mountain views are so highly prized in this world, and it is because, even from a distance, mountains remind us of how small we are, which often comes as a wonderful relief. In addition, they illustrate our ability to connect with higher energy. As they rise up from the earth, sometimes disappearing in the clouds that gather around them, they are a visual symbol of earth reaching up into the heavens. Whether we have a mountain view out of our window or just a photograph of a mountain where we see it every day, we can rely on these earthly giants to provide inspiration, vision, and a daily reminder of our humble place in the grand scheme of life.

The Waiting Game

Isn't it interesting that sometimes one person consistently gives you the messages that you need to hear so badly? Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) always does that to me. Whether it's an interview, a book, a blurb in a magazine, I always finish an excerpt from her thinking, "Damn woman, you are right on."

Here's her two cents from Oprah magazine.

"People often underestimate the power of . . .
waiting a situation out. As I've gotten older, I've noticed there's a great deal of power in a pause. Sometimes we make problems worse by rushing to fix them."

Oh how I hate to wait! Whether it's waiting to finally book a trip, or waiting to hear news on a job, or just waiting to figure out what's next, the waiting makes my skin crawl. All of my concerns about whether or not I'm doing the right thing come out of the shadows when I'm standing still. I've incorrectly internalized the idea that waiting means something is wrong. And even though I've had experience to the contrary, I still hate to wait.

In 2007, I was convinced it was time to move back to my hometown near St. Louis, Missouri. I applied vigorously to teaching jobs, had a few interviews, and nothing worked out. I cried so much that spring, not understanding why I couldn't have this one little thing. What's wrong with wanting to be closer to family? What's wrong with wanting to help out my parents? What's wrong with going back to the place that I came from?

I didn't understand God's logic, and it didn't matter how hard I pushed; I was not getting a job.

It took me about 2 years to realize why that move would have charted a completely different course for me. In St. Louis, I would have quickly bought a house, probably had children relatively soon, and both of those decisions would have locked me in as a high school English teacher. I wouldn't have discovered Reiki, hypnotherapy, or met a truly powerful medium who helped me realize my own healing and psychic abilities.

But I didn't know this at the time.

So for all of you who are in a waiting game like I am right now, have the faith to wait it out. And then remind me of the same thing!

God the DJ

It's been my experience that God, our angels, and our loving guides use every avenue they can to speak to us. Pay attention to repetitive signs and messages and ask yourself, What is God trying to say here?

I've been having my own experience with this lately. "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield is following me wherever I go. Car trips, doctor's offices, Pandora, I am hearing this song everywhere. I'm not sure what they want me to do with it. I have two thoughts. Either:

1. They are telling me to write.
I am unwritten . . .
The pen's in my hand . . .
Staring at the blank page before you . . .
No one else can speak the words on your lips . . .
Today is where your book begins . . .

2. They are telling me to be open to the possibilities of the future.
I'm undefined . . .
I'm just beginning . . .
Ending unplanned . . .
Reaching for something in the distance . . .
Release your inhibitions . . .
Live your life with arms wide open . . .
The rest is still unwritten . . .

I think both messages are important for me to hear right now, but I'm not sure which one they really want me to hear. What do you think?