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YOU- The Greatest Miracle

Written by on July 20, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Excerpts from the timeless writing of  Og Mandino

YOU Are the Greatest Miracle
Let me share with you, again, the secret you heard at your birth and forgot:

“You are my greatest miracle.
You are the greatest miracle in the world.”
Those are the first words you ever heard.
Then you cried.

[Y] ou did not believe me then… and nothing has happened in the intervening years to correct your disbelief. For how could you be a miracle when you consider yourself a failure at the most menial of tasks? How can you be a miracle when you have little confidence in dealing with the most trivial of responsibilities? How can you be a miracle when you are shackled by debt and lie awake in torment over whence will come tomorrow’s bread?

You arrived, bringing with you, as does every child, the message that I was not yet discouraged of man. Why have you valued yourself in pennies when you are worth a king’s ransom? Why did you listen to those who demeaned you – and far worse, why did you believe them?

Take counsel. No longer hide your rarity in the dark. Bring it forth. Show the world. Strive not to walk as your brother walks, nor talk as your leader talks, nor labor as do the mediocre. Never do as another. Never imitate. For how do you know that you may not imitate evil; and he who imitates evil always goes beyond the example set, while he who imitates good always falls short. Imitate no one. Be yourself. Show your rarity to the world. You are not mediocre. I gave you the power to choose, and thus you have complete control over your destiny.

Choose to love …………….rather than hate

Choose to laugh……………rather than cry

Choose to create …………rather than destroy

Choose to persevere ……rather than quit

Choose to praise…………..rather than gossip

Choose to heal……………..rather than wound

Choose to give……………..rather than steal

Choose to act……………….rather than procrastinate

Choose to grow …………… rather than rot

Choose to pray……………..rather than curse

Choose to live……………….rather than die

You weep for all your childhood dreams that have vanished with the years. You weep for all your self-esteem that has been corrupted by failure. You weep for all your potential that has been bartered for security. You weep for all your individuality that has been trampled by the mobs. You weep for all your talen that has been wasted through misuse.

[W] here is the grace of your manner, the beauty of your figure, the quickness of your movement, the clarity or your mind, the brilliance of your tongue?

Once you placed your head in a pillow of grass in your father’s field and looked up at a cathedral of clouds and knew that all the gold of Babylon would be yours in time. Once you read many books and wrote on many tablets, convinced beyond any doubt that all the wisdom of Solomon would be equaled and surpassed by you. And the seasons would flow into years until lo, you would reign supreme in your garden of Eden.

Do you remember who implanted those plans and dreams and seeds of hope within you? You cannot. You have no memory of that moment when first you emerged from your mother’s womb and I placed my hand on your soft brow. And the secret I whispered in you small ear when I bestowed my blessings upon you. Remember our secret?

The passing years have destroyed your recollection, for they have filled your mind with fear, doubt, anxiety, remorse and hate, and there is no room for joyful memories where these beasts habitate.

[W] eep no more. I am with you – and this moment is the dividing line of your life. All that has gone before is like unto no more than the time you spent in your mother’s womb. What is past is dead.

Be proud. You are not the momentary whim of a careless creator experimenting in the laboratory of life. You are more than a human being; you are a human becoming. We have a world to rebuild… and if it requires a miracle, what is that to us? We are both miracles and now we have each other.  With nothing but the greatest love and respect, God.

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Create the Peace You Deserve – The Power is Within YOU

Written by on July 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment

 

By Marisa Russo
As life moves forward it seems to provide less security, peace and certainty. Peace is obtainable in your life; you just need to look within yourself first.  You are the creator of your life. You can harness and manage the powers within.

When you reach that peaceful and centered place within yourself; your life will flow and your intuitive instincts will be heightened.  You will feel and experience a cloak of protection and guidance to keep your mind at peace. You will feel your life flow in a path that protects, heals and enhances you.
You will have stretched, challenged and pushed your beliefs so that you know you can surrender and trust that all will be well. You will learn that the vibration within you will mold your surroundings and experiences to match it.

Addressing your fears is where you begin your journey to creating this powerful self.  Your fears may consist of; the unknown, natural disasters, other people, death and suffering; health and safety; loss of income, food, and possessions. Each person in this world is unique, finding your own individual fears and their causes will help you on this journey.
You may fear what is and the potential of what may come. Understanding that your vibration attracts what you focus on, reminds you that you are the creator and designer of your life, so you are creating every minute of the day.

Releasing Fear…..
Andrea, a client, lived in fear her whole life. When a stressful situation would arise in her life, it would overwhelm her. Andrea pursued many avenues to find relief, such as traveling to India to live amongst the Buddhists, spending hours meditating and attending spiritual workshops, etc.. All these experience still left her void of peace.  When Andrea finally realized that her low self worth was keeping her stuck and that she deserved more, her life began to change. When I removed the unwanted negative connections with people and situations from Andrea’s past, it gave her the internal peace she had been longing for. This peace came from within and not from an external source.

Remember When…..
Remember a time in your life when you felt connected to the feeling of peace and joy.  Was it the moment your child was born, or holding a baby and feeling their pure essence?  Was it a moment when you locked eyes with an animal and you sensed they knew you?  Or a moment when you received a life changing message that brought tears of joy to your eyes? A time when you loved so much that nothing else existed in your world?  What was the moment that has forever imprinted on your heart, a moment that you will always cherish when you recall it?

Let Go ….
There is a mistaken belief that controlling your life and others keeps you safe and reduces stress.  This only increases stress as life is forever reminding you that you cannot control it. Analyze all your fears from your past, receive healing and let them go. Trusting and surrendering to life allows you to connect and influence the direction life can take you. Life will always prove you to be correct.

Details are also important in life; it is in the small details that influences final outcomes.  It is similar to asking someone to paint a picture for you.  The more details you give to them, the more likely they will create the picture you want.

Connect ….
To find the power within you; visualise and imagine becoming the strength of a large oak tree.  The roots are deeply planted in the ground, immoveable in any storm.  You are strong and centered and connected to heaven and earth. This connects you to all that is. Allow these energies to surge up through your feet, your legs, your torso, your chest, your arms, and then your head. Let this power release all the negative feelings and experiences that have impacted you and allow the strong and powerful energies over take you. Anchor this feeling inside you. This energy is now surging into your entire being.

My Journey ….
I have come to a realization that life has a natural flow.  My negative upbringing kept a negative energy around me that produced negative results. I had accumulated fears from my childhood which would attract many fearful situations in my life. When I started cleaning up my life in every direction including mental, spiritual, and physical aspects, I began attracting more appealing and positive experiences in my life.  When I did attract a fearful situation I would access a source of power within me to change the situation. One of these situations occurred when I was visiting in Honolulu in the middle of the peak holiday season. I missed my departing flight to Australia.  The airport was full of stranded people and the service desk person politely informed me that the next available flight was in two weeks time. My initial reaction was one of fear so I changed my emotional state to be more empowered. I had overheard the word “New Zealand” mentioned in a passing conversation only minutes prior and found myself walking over to the flight desk for flights travelling to New Zealand. When I arrived at the service desk, I handed over my ticket and the attendant instructed me to board the flight quickly as the gates were closing. As I boarded, I found the last available seat. On arrival to New Zealand I was able to catch a connecting flight, direct to Australia.

On reflection, I thought it was miraculous that I was permitted to board a flight for a different flight route! So  many  similar   occurrences   happen in my life,  I no longer fear as I believe that everything will always work out.

Blessings To You ……..
I send blessings for angels to be with you always, for you to have your hearts longings and desires; for health and happiness to overflow in your life; that angels may always guide and protect you and lead you on a path of empowerment; to lift you to a higher place to experience pure joy; a place where time stands still and where you will discover there is so much more. Immerse yourself in abundant blessings.

Marisa Russo is  founder of the Forensic Advance Healing system.  She is offering comprehensive training in California and Florida.
Visit www.MarisaRusso.com for more information.

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Yoga for YOUR Body Type

Written by on July 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment

By Juliet Jivanti

Defining Ayurveda
Many people have heard the word “ayurveda,” but may have only a nebulous understanding of what it involves. A sister science to yoga, ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of medicine that first evolved in India but is becoming increasingly popular in America.  Ayurveda is referred to as the knowledge or science of life and is a conjunction of two Sanskrit words: ayur “life” and veda “knowledge.”

The roots of ayurveda stem from the Vedic culture of ancient India. Handed down through teachers and writings, ayurveda influenced Hippocrates and the Greek system of medicine and is believed to be the only complete medical system still in existence that has been continually practiced since its inception. It encompasses diet, medicine, astrology, lifestyle, herbology, yoga, meditation, breathing techniques and home design concepts based on sacred geometry that preceded and hugely influenced the Chinese practice of feng shui.

Ayurveda offers a path to optimal health and development for each individual through its profound understanding of natural laws. Living with the cycles of nature maintains health and a disconnection from those natural cycles leads to disease. Going beyond symptoms to the root cause of the disease is where true healing begins. Balancing the body, mind and spirit allows us to understand the language of nature so that we can live harmoniously. Ayurvedic practices restore holistic health, resulting in self-healing, vitality and longevity.

The Three Doshas
According to Ayurveda, everything in the universe, including the human body, is composed of five elements: ether (or space), air, fire, water and earth. These elements come together in three dynamic biological forces known as the doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Each person is a unique combination of all doshas, although some elements are more predominant. Therefore, each person must be treated individually according to their dosha or unique constitution.

Ayurveda believes that by balancing the various mind-body functions the natural intelligence of the body will respond by rebalancing itself. When we understand our one-of-a-kind, genetic make-up we can make adjustments in our daily practices and diet which will return us to our natural state of wellness.

Take a fun, informative questionnaire to determine your dosha, or what combination of doshas you are, at www.AyurvedicHealthCenter.com.

Characteristics of the vata dosha
Sanskrit root of vata is “vah,” which means vehicle, to carry or to move. Vata is a combination primarily of ether and air elements. The classic description of vata individuals is that they tend to have dry thinner skin, a light frame, cold hands and feet, rough nails, coarse kinky hair, talkative, quick movements, hyperactive or variable stamina and tend toward darker skin and eyes. Keep in mind that these are only general tendencies and are expressed differently for each person.Vata governs all movement. Functions of vata include movement of thoughts, ingestion, circulation, respiration, peristalsis, elimination.
The gunas, or qualities, of vata are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile. Imbalanced vata exhibits worry, fear, anxiety, dryness, gas, bloating, constipation, muscle cramps, joint pain, insomnia.
Balanced vata exhibits creativity, enthusiasm, flexibility.

Characteristics of the pitta dosha
Sanskrit root of pitta is “tapa,” which means heat. Pitta is a combination primarily of fire and water elements. The classic description of pitta individuals is that they tend to have higher body temperature, strong appetite, sharp mind, light colored, light sensitive eyes (often hazel, green or blue), frequently thirsty, have oily skin and hair (usually straight and blond), are focused, organized, driven and athletic. Keep in mind that these are only general tendencies and are expressed differently for each person. Pitta governs transformation.
Functions of pitta include metabolism, digestion, body temperature, appetite, thirst, color. The gunas, or qualities, of pitta are oily, sharp, hot, light, spreading, liquid. Imbalanced pitta exhibits anger, criticism, judgment, indigestion, heartburn, inflammation, diarrhea, rashes.
Balanced pitta exhibits understanding, intelligence, courage.

Characteristics of the kapha dosha
Sanskrit roots of kapha are “ka,” which means water, and “pha,” to flourish.Kapha is a combination primarily of earth and water elements. The classic description of kapha individuals notes they tend toward roundness and softness in the body and facial features, with cool, thick, soft skin. There may be a tendency toward fluid retention or excess mucus, slow digestion and movements with thick hair and large soft eyes. Keep in mind that these are only general tendencies and are expressed differently for each person.
Kapha governs structure. Functions of kapha include lubrication, nourishment, support, stability, growth, strength, repair, retention, taste. The gunas, or qualities, of kapha are heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable.
Imbalanced kapha exhibits attachment, greed, possessiveness, slow digestion, colds, cough, congestion, mucus, weight gain.
Balanced kapha exhibits love, compassion, forgiveness.

Personalize Your Practice
Ayurvedic yoga is personalized for each individual. Practicing yoga tailored specifically for your constitution brings you back to your natural balance. According to the principles of ayurveda, like increases like. Therefore, you may be drawn to a yoga practice that will increase the gunas, or qualities, that are already predominant in your nature. This is contrary to what is naturally balancing. For example, a pitta person may be drawn to intense, fast power yoga, when what he or she really needs to balance their constitution is a more peaceful, tranquil approach.

Ayurvedic yoga provides the means to modify your yoga practice based on your individual prakruti (innate constitution), vikruti (current constitution) and the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). Ayurvedic yoga is an all-encompassing practice which is equally applicable for beginners and seasoned practitioners of yoga.

Complimentary Approaches
The sister sciences of yoga and ayurveda are have complemented and enhanced each other since their inceptions thousands of years ago. While practicing one without the other is beneficial, it is similar to eating a nutritious diet without exercising – an incomplete approach to health. The synergistic union of yoga and ayurveda brings a holistic approach. The ancient practices of ayurveda support a foundation of strength, vitality and longevity of body and mind. Yoga, then takes us onward toward the path of self-realization. Yoga provides the key to spiritual development, which is the knowledge of our true nature.

Together, ayurveda and yoga provide the insight for each person to create a way of life in harmony both with the world of nature and our higher self.

Juliet Jivanti is a graduate of the Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, a Certified Ayurvedic Consultant, Registered Yoga Teacher and Touch for Health Certified practitioner. For more information  and to sample and  order her DVD ‘Ayurvedic Yoga – Yoga for Your Body Type’ call 360.734.2396, see AyurvedicHealthCenter.com, Facebook or e-mail Juliet@AyurvedicHealthCenter.com.

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The Awesome Power of Fear

Written by on July 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment

By Peter Shankman
I like to think I know a little something about using your fear to create awesomeness. Back in the times of the caveman, fear was the one instinct that kept our species moving forward. When you were hungry, you had to kill something to eat. You didn’t have a choice. You went out and tried to kill dinner. If you didn’t, you’d starve.

History ….. Our Story
Of course you were scared. Saber-toothed tigers and giant wooly mammoths weren’t really looked upon as “friendly,” but you didn’t have a choice. So you went out and attacked. And if you were victorious, you got a kick-ass meal. If you weren’t, well, it didn’t matter. We used our fear to push us forward – to allow us to survive. And the chemical responses to fear – dopamine, adrenalin, they are just as strong now as they were then. In essence, fear gets us high. That “high” kept us alive, and helped push the species forward. You think it’s a coincidence that when we’re walking down a dark alley, our brains automatically dilate our pupils so we can see better? It’s built in. Back in the day, fear was considered a good thing.

However, as we moved from the era of the Mammoth to the McDLT, our concept of fear as a good thing changed, and today, has radically shifted. The majority of us don’t see fear as a good thing, we see it as something to be avoided at all costs.

Safe?
Examples of this abound – We take “safe jobs for the paycheck,” instead of striking out on our own. We quash our big ideas because we’re afraid they might fail. And probably more than ever before, we don’t follow our dreams because we’re “afraid what others might say.”

Sadly, we’ve become a society that’s crippled by the thought that someone, somewhere, (usually of much lesser mind) will call us out on what a bad idea we have, before we ever get the chance to prove it. As such, most of our great ideas die while still embryonic in our brains, killed by fear. The next airplane, the next space vehicle, the next life-saving device, or even the next brilliant marketing idea, all murdered by an unjust fear.

I came up with a name for this syndrome a few days ago, after reading an oddly vitriolic rant against me by a PR guy named Richard Laermer. He’d written a scathing piece against a new idea I’d come up with, an idea which had already been embraced by several high-profile, multi-million dollar companies around the globe. Because the idea was announced and hadn’t been implemented yet, he chose fear, sprinkled with inaccurate facts and slipshod reporting.
I call it “Getting Laermered.” (Rhymes with “hammered.”) Imagine coming up with a new great idea, and little ankle-biter mosquitos buzz all around you, shouting “this is bad. You’re stupid.” They’re nothing more than an annoyance, but an annoyance is still annoying.

You’ve gotten Laermered.
I believe that the fear we have of getting Laermered, whether by an angry old man, or even a real media outlet, holds us back from achieving the greatness that’s ingrained inside most all of us. I believe that the fear of getting Laermered holds us back as a people, as a country, and even as the human race. It’s time to change that.
With your permission, I’d like to offer some suggestions on how to get over the fear of getting Laermered.

Embrace Fear.
First and foremost, this is probably the most important piece of advice anyone’s ever offered. Note that I said “embrace,” and not “ignore.” As I said above, fear is with us for a reason. It’s built in to warn us against taking uncalculated risks. Mind you, not calculated risks. Calculated risks push us forward. Calculated risks are meant to be taken. The fear that our body involuntarily produces is designed to make us sharper, to make sure we’ve dotted all our “i’s,” and crossed all our “t’s.” Without fear, we wouldn’t exist. Calculated risks are the rocket fuel of our society.

Don’t ignore the fear.
 When you get that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, listen to it. It’s there for a reason. It’s telling you that you’re on the edge of something great, and you need to make sure all your ducks are in a row. You need to listen to your fear when you try something new. It’s not telling you not to do something, rather, it’s telling you to push forward, carefully, and without reckless abandon. Fear tells us to be aware, alert, and more cunning than our opponent. Embrace your fear, absorb its strength, and be stronger from it. Ignoring your fear is like being starving, and not eating the nutrient-rich meal placed in front of you. Eat your fear. It tastes good, and will make you stronger.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” -Albert Einstein. I can’t even begin to list how many times this rule has played out in my life, and in the world. “You’re starting a company and naming it The Geek Factory? What’s wrong with you? “You’re taking on PR News wire with something called HARO? You must be insane!” “You’re jumping out of a perfectly good airplane? Why would you do that?” “You’re training for an Ironman? What the hell is wrong with you?”

In the NOW
Remember – We no longer live in prehistoric times, and the general
consensus has become “play it safe.” This isn’t necessarily always good. When people don’t have the need to change, they usually don’t. It’s not until a fire is lit under most people’s butts that they ever consider abandoning their comfort zone. Want an example? When do you look hardest for a new job? When you’re unhappy with your current one, but still making a kick-ass salary, or when you’ve just been laid off, and you only have six months of savings?

If you want to achieve greatness, you can’t spend your whole life playing it safe. You need to take calculated risks, knowing that you might fail, but remembering that the upside to the possibility of failing is the possibility of succeeding beyond your wildest dreams. If the the options are risking getting Laermered, or not trying at all, I’ll take the risk of getting Laermered every single time.

If playing it safe works for you, if the steady paycheck and the cubicle suits your lifestyle, by all means, do it – I’d never have the temerity to tell you not to, as long as you’re happy. But if it doesn’t, if you believe you’re destined for more, then I can’t imagine anything sadder than not pursuing your dreams because of a fear of being ridiculed by a whiner.

Believe In YOURSELF
If you don’t first believe in yourself, don’t expect anyone else to believe in you, either. “As a composer, he is hopeless.” – A music teacher referring to Beethoven. After being cut from the Basketball team in high school, Michael Jordan locked himself in the locker room and cried. Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade. It goes on and on and on. The only voice you have to listen to without fail is the one inside. That voice silences doubt, it mutes the opposition, and it forces you to stand up and take action on your ideas. But only if you listen to it. All the examples above got Laermered, and they all rose way, way above it. You can too, but only if you listen to yourself first.

Pain is just weakness leaving the body. Jack Walston, a former Navy SEAL, and a man I’m proud to count as a friend, said that to me. It’s a quote from the Navy SEALs, and it’s so very true. A secret benefit to getting Laermered is the strength you can draw from it when it happens. Keep in mind, I’m not saying you should ignore everyone who offers advice. Some of that advice, that which comes from a trusted mentor, for example, is invaluable. But when it comes from someone who wants to keep you                  Continued bottom next page down for no reason, it’s up to you to draw strength from it. The intrinsic value you can gain from getting Laermered is worth a million times more than the person who Laermered you. But you need to be willing to draw out the value, and ignore the banal. Nothing upsets  a whiner more than finding out that you turned around the whine and became stronger from it.

Living a public life is more dangerous than staying private, but much, much more rewarding. I’ve always lived my life in public, to an extent. I talk about my ideas, I mention them for the world to see, because the reaction drives me. Good or bad, the reactions you get from announcing an idea can push you to a higher level of greatness.

As much as it pains me to reference any Tom Cruise movie, the fact is, Jerry McGuire didn’t achieve greatness until he announced that he had a better way of doing things. And the people who initially took great joy in mocking him? They wound up as roadkill. Great ideas always tend to prove the Tortoise and the Hare theory. In the beginning, the whiners are riding past you, shouting their insults. In the end? It’s you leaving them sucking wind on the side of the road.

Reaching Your Full Potential
Finally, If you weren’t doing something that could shake things up to begin with, you’d never be getting Laermered in the first place. Remember – thanks to the complacency we’ve created as a society, we’ve become ok with complacency. People fear change. That is wrong. Complacency leads to stagnation, which leads to failure. You must always keep moving forward. Use getting Laermered as a barometer. If you’re not getting Laermered every once in a while, perhaps you’re not reaching your full potential.

Visit Peter Shankman’s website at www.PeterShankman.com

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Grounding – Finding Safety in the Moment

Written by on July 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

By Pietro Abela

Looking into the eyes of a newborn baby, there is a profound sense of the child “not-yet-being-here”, of having not come into the full realization that they are in a place different from where they have come. In the first few weeks of a baby’s life there is the feeling that the child seems to be still coming in to “land,” that he or she doesn’t actually see the world in a purely physical way, but sees the colors around you. It is as if there is an acclimatization process taking place.

The Why of Out-of-Body
If trauma occurs at an early age before the child can walk, talk, and begin the process of taking care of his or her own needs, and has no other way of protection from the effects of the trauma, the child will make attempts to return to Spirit from whence he or she came. In so doing the child will lose his grounding in an attempt to leave his body, and return to the place where “this” didn’t happen — to “what was.” In the attempt to return to the past, the child is unable to be in the present. By not being in the present the child is attempting to avoid the trauma and its full impact.

 

Coping
Leaving the body is the first unconscious attempt to cope. It is numbing, distracting and disorienting. There can even be a sense of ecstasy from being out of the body, similar to the exhilaration experienced from drug and alcohol use. Most addictions are updated attempts to leave the body, and the ecstatic state of the “high” is often a mirroring of the childhood attempt to escape through out-of-the-body experience. If this pattern of coping is successful – meaning that it lessens or temporarily dulls the effects of the trauma — it often becomes the choice of coping, and will be used and re-used in later years as the first reaction throughout the person’s life. It is a reaction, or an automatic choice of coping that works similarly to the sympathetic nervous system response that stimulates a fight/flight response if danger approaches.

So losing grounding is an energetic “let’s-get-out-of-here” response that is an automatic behavior, one that we will most likely use in crisis as people tend to respond in ways that are habitual rather than conscious.

 

Standing Your Ground
Many wise sages of ancient times have stated in their own vernacular “if you need change do the opposite to what you are doing.” In this case, the opposite to losing your grounding would be to stand your ground. Most often as adults we would cope very well with the same traumas we suffered in childhood. We have more experience, greater self-reliance and other developed resources available to us that children don’t have in their early years. If we were to somehow go beyond this first “let’s-get-out-of-here” reaction and consciously choose a second response to stand our ground, we may, to our surprise, discover we are now bigger and stronger than the trauma.

To be grounded is to have full awareness of all that is occurring in the present. When someone is grounded, it means being present to you and to the situation at hand. Having this level of awareness allows relevant choices to be made for the current time and situation. Being grounded and in the moment can be an experience of ecstasy. A feeling of time standing still. Of being aware of everything there is and being conscious of your connection and relationship to all there is, of emanating from one and the same Source.

To be ungrounded then is being somewhere other than the present. When not present it is difficult to make choices for the current situation.

 

The Reality of it All
In reality we all lose our grounding many times every day. There are many situations that occur in our day that can remind us of events that took place in our past without us ever realizing it. The person walking toward you may remind you of someone who scared you when you were a child. Even though he is not that person he may resemble the scary man. He has the same black moustache, he combs his hair in a similar fashion and happens to wear a suit like the person from the past. Thus the extent of the similarities, but enough to cause a temporary internal confusion that stimulates the nervous system for flight, causing an energetic loss of grounding so that you are no longer present.

If we don’t become aware of losing our grounding, it will continue occurring for us as the first reaction. Becoming aware of this leads to conscious behavior, which entails conscious choices to be enacted rather than reactive coping behaviors. The key to this is coming to know yourself. What do you experience when you stand your ground and are grounded? You may feel solid, a tree-like sense of your feet being firmly rooted to the ground, a feeling of connection and balance inside.

Discover What is Balance For YOU
It is strongly recommended that you come to intimately know what balance is for you. To know this allows you to be able to identify when you are not in balance. To be ungrounded is to experience being too much in your head, of having mind-chatter, of disorientation, of being to preoccupied with the outside world, of having little body awareness, even of bumping into things.

There are as many examples of ungrounding as there are ungrounded people. As it is important to know our own personal balance, it is equally important to come to recognize what ungroundedness feels like for us. With this comparative knowledge there is the opportunity to address it.

Finding the Way for YOU
How do we address our ungroundedness? This is very individual. It is important to find ways that work for you personally. Becoming aware of your body in that moment is key. Awareness may be achieved through moving your body; dancing, touching yourself, stamping your feet — any means to remind you of your physicality. You could come into remembrance of your breathing and do breathing exercises. Meditation might work for you.

You could also address the source of the problem and locate the area within you that is traumatized and chooses to escape from the situation. This comes down to helping this part of yourself to feel safe. If you detect something unsafe in the stomach, maybe rubbing the stomach can help calm that part of yourself, giving verbal self-assurance, saying to that part, “Right now, I’m in charge and all is well, and if we ever need help we can call on all of the resources we know to help you feel safe.” The real question is, if you knew a child who was traumatized how would you help him or her feel safe? Now apply that to yourself, and watch as you begin to regain your grounding.

Checking In – Knowing Yourself
Prevention is worth more than the cure. Becoming intimate with yourself is the key. To know your sense of balance and to consistently check that within yourself gives us less potential of being triggered and greater possibility of retaining ourselves. In doing so, we become in tune with ourselves, self-observant and therefore present to our needs and the needs of others. If there are times that you notice yourself “losing it”, so to speak, rather than being present, you can make the necessary choice to do something alternative to the first reaction, and that may be to stand your ground, rather than “choosing” to lose your grounding.

When you learn to be present for yourself in this way you are creating a place of safety, for both yourself and for others too. In so doing you are demonstrating an alternative means of coping. Others will feel the safety of being in your presence. So the grounded person becomes the model for safety, functional ways of coping, and an example for others to emulate.

Pietro Abela is the founder of The ARC Institute. www.thearcinstitute.com
The ARC Institute teaches physical, emotional and spiritual care for self and others.

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The Power of Love

Written by on July 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

The Power of Love
Click on the cover image to open the .pdf file of full issue.
The Cover Artist for this issue is Francene Hart. You can visit her website at www.FranceneHart.com to explore and purchase her beautiful work.

7 Surrendering to Love
8 What’s Love Got to Do With It?
9 Sacred Drum – Sacred Circle
9 Journey of Love
10 How Much Did the Ancients Know?
11 Changing Thoughts – Changing Our Lives
13 Imbolc – Let There Be Light
17 Heart to Heart
17 Be Gentle With Yourself
19 Dance a Sacred Song
20 You ARE Psychic
6 Blessings From the Publisher
14 February Astrological Influences
16 Mother Nature’s Cupboard – Lady’s Mantle

Categories: February2006, Library - Archives - Tags: , , ,

Blessings -Voice of Choices’ Story

Written by on July 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

I’m often asked about the history of Voice of Choices. How did it get started? What is my background/training? What have I done to encourage and steward the magazine’s growth?

The answers are simple and reflect a willingness to continue living in acknowledgement of the ‘Power of Love’.  Almost 5 years ago, while looking for a personal definition of my purpose in life and offering a weekly Reiki Circle, I created a flyer to give to those attending,.  In high school I had been editor of the school newspaper so it was easy enough to put together a little fold-over peice of paper with some nice pictures and relevant information that could go home with the participants at the Reiki Circle.

While I was satisfied with assisting others on their personal healing journeys, I knew there was a wealth of information available which could offer so many more choices than what I was able to teach.  The flyer became a newsletter.

As I continued to refine the definition of ‘my purpose’ I discovered how much I truly enjoyed sharing information.With a   core belief that life is filled with endless possibilities and a myriad of choices, it became my passion to publish a sampling of articles which offer glimpses into alternatives in self-development, personal empowerment and spirituality without the boundaries often accompanying organized religion.

I have watched as thousands of lives are touched by the power of love  expressed in the articles featured each month. For me it has been an incredible journey. Beginning  with little more than an idea, it hasn’t always been easy to trust  that employing my interests, talents and intuition  and following  my passion could or would be enough.  Without formal training   ‘society’ could easily have convinced me to get another ‘regular’ job.  Yet, with a resume’ including the variety mine does, I had never found employment which truly inspired me. There was always something missing and I would often try to convince my employer to let me create promotional materials (ads, business cards, and even a website) as an oulet for my desire to be creative.
What I am learning through Voice of Choices is the amazing results possible when we tap into the Power of Love.  This month’s articles provide
inspiration and information you may find useful as you choose Love. Surrendering to Love, Being Gentle With Yourself, Honoring who you are and what you feel you have to offer the world  blesses humanity with your unique and individual talents in a way which empowers you and others. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Simple enough, Right? Sure.

In everyday life, no matter what direction our path takes, we constantly have the choice to remember the Power of Love. A little story illustrates the point.

A few weeks ago  I responded to an email about an upcoming workshop. Impressed by the content and intention of the group’s website,  I contacted them about  running an article. Easy enough? But the process became a little more complicated when I realized the information I had provided was not clearly understood.

Complications increased as this month’s deadling/lifeline rapidly approached and the details necessary for best representing their work became another set of  ‘tasks’ that had to be done at the last minute.  Throw into the mix a complete difference in communication styles, and the energy of a double gemini trying to get everything done. Or should I say, trying to get everything done perfectly and on time.

Thankfully a third party stepped in and we were all able to appreciate each other’s place in the overall picture. I was made aware that my frustration, which had manifested  as an energy beyond some people’s comfort zone,  was matched by that felt by the author. For a moment in time it seems we were both feeling inadequate – yet the expression of our  frustration was very different for each of us and it was only by returning to the Power of Love that resolution was reached.

In times of challenge, when we may revert to past patterns or hear old tapes playing in our mind, it is most important to find our connection to Love.  When details and specifics almost seem to  dictate a necessity for fear, that is the time to use The Power of Love and hold onto faith.

Each opportunity to expand and improve our response to challenge brings us a step closer to balance, a breath closer to peace. I am grateful that my purpose continues to allow expansion of  my interpersonal and business skills. I am grateful for my own increasing patience, tolerance and love  towards myself and others as I continue to solidify new and more effective attitudes and behaviors – based in and empowered by the most creative force in our world…… Love.

Categories: Archives, Blessings, February2006, Library - Archives, Love Notes - Tags: , , ,

Heart to Heart – Listening Within

Written by on July 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

By Barbara Davies

What’s on your mind today? Is it the mortgage payment, your child’s dental appointment, or the other 101 tasks that need to be accomplished before you can finally call it a day? Is your mind constantly barking orders at you — Do this! Do that! — until you want to tell it to shut the (bleep) up? Who’s running the show here, your mind or your heart? Because if it’s your mind, you’re in deep yogurt!

But, I hear you shout, who else do I listen to? Who else can keep me on track?  Who else can keep me from screwing up? I can’t ignore my brain, for Pete’s sake! Everything will fall apart. Are you mad?

No, I’m not totally bonkers; I’ve just learned the hard way. And the hard way involves letting the mind make all of the decisions. Because the mind, while very useful, can’t see the big picture, can’t know all of the variables, can’t know what’s best for you at any given moment. That’s the heart’s job.

Your Truth – In Your Heart
I used to share your disbelief. Bear with me while I explain what I’ve learned. While, on one level, it seems that the heart simply pumps blood and keeps everything running, on a deep spiritual level the heart is where the soul resides. Your energy field (your soul-essence) surrounds you and permeates every cell in your body. You are your soul. But the “home base” of your soul is in your heart. That’s where your truth lies. That’s where you’re most deeply connected to your highest self. Therefore, that’s who should be in charge.

Some believe that God exists outside of us, somewhere out in the ethers. But everything—everything—in the universe bears the stamp of Divinity, is a part of the Divine. Is Divine.

Your soul carries that “God-ness,” and that God-ness exists in every part of you—even in the spaces in between: in between cells, in between breaths, in between heartbeats. But that Divinity is condensed, focused, in your heart.

Follow Your Heart
So, when people tell you to “follow your heart,” they are often unaware that what they’re really saying is to follow your Divinity. Follow the instructions of your heart, because they are from God. From the part of God that is you.

If you get quiet, and ask your heart what it wants in any given situation, it will tell you. Don’t worry — you probably won’t hear a voice speaking to you. (Although you could!) Most likely you will be given a picture, or experience a feeling, or even have a word or two pop into your mind, seemingly from nowhere.

If you don’t trust this “answer,” then wait a bit and try again. Maybe rephrase the question, or open yourself to more options, because the mind, while extremely important and helpful in many situations, also can be limiting and fear-based. Ask your mind to step back for a minute and let your heart lead you.

The Mind Assists in Other Ways
If your mind won’t cooperate, won’t give up control, reassure it that it will always have important jobs to do. Somebody still has to help you balance the checkbook and keep track of your appointments! Let the mind know you want it to work with the heart, with your soul’s purpose, not against it. Give the mind specific tasks to do and let it know that you intend to keep it “in the loop” regarding what your goals are. What your dreams are. What you intend to do with your life.

If you do this one simple thing, if you listen to your heart on a daily basis (perhaps many times a day), decisions made with your heart will be much easier to implement and much more joyful and fulfilling than the endless tasks set forth for you by your brain. Let the mind do its job, but at the behest of the heart, not in conflict with it.

Life will be so much better.

But, don’t take my word for it. Try it and see for yourself. Tune in to your own heart and see what transpires. You’ll be amazed at the wonders the universe has in store for you.

Barbara Davies is a Naturopath and writer whose focus is on working with Spirit to heal the emotional/spiritual body along with the physical. She can be reached at www. barbaralight.com

Categories: February2006, Healing, Library - Archives, Relationship Dynamics - Tags: ,

Sacred Drum – Sacred Circle

Written by on July 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

www.DreamingShaman.Com www.ChurchofTheEarth.orgBy Rev. Robin Tekwelus Youngblood – www.DreamingShaman.com

It is said that when Creator was creating a place for all the spirits to dwell who would inhabit Mother Earth, there came a sound, a loud BOOM-WOMB, from off in the distance.

As Creator listened, the sound kept coming closer and closer until it finally it was right in front Him. “Who are you?” asked Creator. “I am the Spirit of the drum,” came the reply. “I have come here to ask you to allow me to take part in this wonderful thing.” “How will you take part?” Creator questioned.  “I would like to accompany the singing of the people. When they sing from their hearts, I will make a sound as though I am the heartbeat of Mother Earth. In that way, all creation will sing in harmony.” Creator granted the request, and from then on, the drum accompanied the people’s voices.

Throughout all of the indigenous peoples of the world, the drum is the center of all songs. It is the catalyst for the spirit of the songs to rise up to the Creator so that the prayers in those songs reach where they were meant to go. At all times, the sound of the drum brings completeness, awe, excitement, solemnity, strength, courage, and the fulfillment to the songs. It is Mother’s heartbeat giving her approval to those living upon her. It draws the eagle to it, and the eagle carries the message to Creator.  It changes people’s lives!      -    Abenaki Legend

POWER – In the Drum
There is Power in the drum. It is a living being. For the original peoples, each drum was created from Mystery. Mother Drums are dreamed into existence – the shape, the size, where to cut the tree that will provide the hollowed (and hallowed) circular ring upon which the drum’s head is stretched. Paintings and decorations each symbolize some facet of the drum’s meaning and purpose. Each drum is born with it’s own songs already instilled, and those who gather around the drum ‘catch’ it’s songs.

Each culture – be it African, Hawaiian, Native American, Tibetan – has its own teachings about the drum, the rhythms, the chants and dances that belong to the ceremonies that surround their drums. When ceremony is called for, the drum holds the center, contains the energy, sends our prayers soaring to the ethers. A Mother Drum is the heart of ritual.

The Heartbeat of the Drum
The drums’ heartbeats take us to the center of our beings, carrying us and connecting us to Mother Earth through the “womb, womb” song of their rich, deep tones. The easiest way to enter trance states is through the drum. In the Siberian “Kamlanya”, an eight-day ceremony of Soul Retrieval which restores balance to the individual and community, the shaman drums to journey to the underworld. In our NW Indian “Winter Dances”, we dance from three to twelve nights to the beat of the drum, while the Medicine Men/Women perform chants, dances and healings.

A Friend  In Ceremony – Personal and Shared
A personal drum, a hand drum, becomes a life-long companion. I carry mine all over the planet. It is as much friend as supporter. When I need to release, I take my drum to the ocean and send my salt-laden tears to the heart of the sea, along the sound-waves of the drum and chants. When I want to celebrate, I call the circle, and we take our drums to the woods and the meadows. In the center of the circle, we light the fire, dance our wildness, chant our joy – and Mother Drum hears and reverberates the echoing passion of our delight. When I need to pray, I light the candles in my sacred space, hold the heartbeat with my drum, and raise my voice to the Great Mysterious Union of Mother Earth and Father Sky, calling for peace and healing for All Our Relations.

“And the Word (Sound) was made flesh” through the heartbeat rhythms of the drum. Travel with me on the sound/light wave currents that energize the web of creation.  “Weya- hey, Ya-wey-ya-hey . . . .”

Robin lives on Maui and hosts a weekly women’s drum circle in addition to mentoring apprentices and assisting in creating and facilitating a variety of events.

Categories: February2006, Healing, Library - Archives, Traditions - Tags: , , , , ,