My Soul Slippers

Light a Candle...or Two

2011-10-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

Tonight on my walk through the neighborhood I encountered, through an open window, a magnificent view of a table set in all of its glory. The table was adorned with two lighted candles. The table was primed for a gathering of hearts to feast around its borders. I thought to myself, “Someone’s birthday perhaps?”

But my heart wanted more…it carried me away to envision a nightly ritual of lighting candles, to celebrate the breaking of bread with the people I love.

What sent me in such reverie was the picture below, from yesteryear, posted by my sister on Facebook. (I wasn’t in the picture, as I was away to college…but it reminded me of the many meals that we shared around my family table.)

My heart so easily went back to those ordinary moments... those moments strung together with love that created me.

Those moments... that so easily slipped by without a wince of recognition of the beauty that they held.

Those moments... in my daily walk that elude me, because of my drive to move forward, forward into my future, forward into my dreams, when all along my dreams are surrounding me, right here, in this glorious moment of now.

Playing in my head was the scene from the play, “Our Town” when Emily came back to earth after her death to once again experience her 12th birthday. “I can’t! I can’t go on!” She sobbed, “It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another.”

Join me, will you, and light a candle… or two and take a moment to celebrate the people, the moments, and the experiences that surround you.

Light a candle…or two to remind yourself to take a moment to really “see” those closest to you.

Light a candle… or two to remind yourself how easily the winds of change can extinguish a flame.

Light a candle… or two to celebrate the glorious light that shines within you, the glorious light that shines within all, and the glorious light that created us all.

Yes indeed, light a candle… or two.

Making Friends with the Hungry Bear of Fear

2011-06-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

When we take a stand to break free of our limiting behaviors and live the life our heart longs for, we must pass through the belly of transformation where the sleepy parts of our soul awaken in the same cave as the hungry bears of fear.

It is here, in the belly of transformation, that we must choose allegiance with the dream of our heart, or by default relinquish our dreams to the monarchy of fear.

The ruling powers of fear keep us small and subdue our dreams. When they have us in their grasp they feast upon our dreams and intimidate us to offer them up as a living sacrifice on their altar of darkness.

Chosing the dream of our heart is a choice that we are required to make again and again until we are living our hearts longing.

Pledging allegiance to our hearts desire leads us into the womb of creation, where our awakening desires merge with the fire of our soul. It is here, deep within the womb of darkness that we nurture our dreams into fulfillment. Dreams that surf the waves of our desires will never have the power to transform into reality.

It takes great tenacity to keep moving forward through the darkened corridors within, especially when we face obstacles and delays and our dreams are not manifesting overnight. This can cause us to lose heart and obstruct us from taking our next step.

So how do we tame the ferocious bears of fear and bolster our hearts so we can move forward into the life we desire?

Well we don’t do it alone. We give up our superhero cape (I can do it myself) and we surrender to Grace not to hungry bears of fear. And then we keep surrendering, and we do it again, and then we do it again. We do it as long as it takes and we don’t give up. We keep moving forward armed with Grace and our hearts aligned with our dreams.

And we find that Grace always meets us right where we are, even in the very belly of fear itself.

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” Anne Lamott

Grace transports us to the "void" that transcends experience, a place of complete surrender where our fears give way to a tender embrace. A place where you know you are never alone, a place where all the sleepy parts of your soul can come forth and meet you and embolden you to stand face to face with fear and transform it with love.

From this place you realize that your fears, as intimidating as they seem, are your friends, nothing more then your thoughts awakening you to what you are feeding.

Become aware to what you are feeding. The dark energies of fear? Or the light energies of your heart?

Don't be afraid of the dark, see it as the womb of creation and keep moving forward with love knowing that your dreams have not been lost in the abyss of darkness, they are just being nurtured in the depth of your being and will rise to meet you when you walk in the same energy as you dream in.

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplacable spark. In the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all, do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration for the life you deserved, but never have been able to reach. The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours." ~Ayn Rand

Wow! Can you say AMEN sista?

4 Tools of Engagement in Feeding the Life Your Heart Longs For:

1. ALIGNMENT - Live an aligned life, align with the vision of your dreams fulfilled and align with the support of Grace.
2. TRUST - Trust your dreams are being birthed in your womb of creation.
3. AWARENESS - Realize your fear thoughts are your friends, awakening you to what you are feeding. Ask yourself “What am I feeding?”
4. TENACITY - Stand and keep on walking, taking inspired action, again and again and again, etc, until you are living the life your heart longs for.

Oh, an added bonus…

5. COMPASSION - Be compassionate with yourself…YOU are unfolding perfectly and all is in Divine order.

How do you deal with the Hungry Bear of Fear?

The Three Fold Process of Mastering Miracles

2010-11-22T08:46:00.001-08:00

In a quiet moment of meditation I was asked, “Who are you?” I found myself replying out loud “I am a miracle.” The question was asked again, “Who are you?”, and again I gave the same answer, “I am a miracle”. Undaunted the question was poised again with more force, WHO ARE YOU? "I AM A MIRACLE!” I replied with great passion, tears streamed down my face, as I embraced the lesson being learned….

I had just finished listening to the audio version of The Three Laws of Performance, by Steve Zaffron. He told a story of a great physicist and professor at Caltech, Richard Feynman’s frustration with his students. His frustration stemmed from his students trying to solve the problems of physics by learning about the laws of physics and not coming from the laws of physics.

It was a powerful moment of awakening for me. I “know” this stuff. The “stuff” that it takes to create a miracle. I know all “about” it. But until I come from it, it will continually be hit or miss for me.

Come from what you ask? For me it is coming from the laws of God and not just knowing about them. Coming from the place of “I am a miracle!” Coming from the place that “I already got it!” Coming from the place that “I am the stuff that miracles are made of!” Miracles are not something we find, miracles are something that we are! From this place of empowerment, miracles are second nature.

Do you not know that “The Kingdom of God is within you?” If you really know it, then you will live it. It won’t be mental chatter or conversations over tea. It will be in your very sinews, your bones and your tissues, it will direct your path and light your way, It will come from the very core of who you are.

With this I've created: The Three Fold Process of Mastering Miracles

1. Declare it! ~Declare who you are! Stand in your power as a heir to the kindgom of God!

2. Feel it! ~Allow this declaration to invade every cell of your body until you are nothing but the power of God. Feel it in your fingers, feel it your toes. Feel it to the depths of your being. You ARE the power of God!

3. Do it! Take inspired action from this place of empowerment. With every step that you take, FEEL the power of God flowing in you, through you, and as you!

From this place the Universe has no choice but to bless you. The Universe is a lover and not a fighter. It will not fight to be part of your knowing. Come from the laws of God’s power and from there will be God’s power, come from the laws of love and there you will be in love, come from the laws of success and from there you will experience success.

YOU ARE A MIRACLE! It is your time, take your seat at the table of God and feast from the abundance of God’s grace, God’s power and God’s love. The Universe is waiting for you and needs just what you are made of!

Are you ready to BE a miracle?

It is Your Time...Are You Ready?

2010-11-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

How much would you pay for a chance to look into a mirror that allowed you to see who you really are?

How would your life be different if the image of your MAGNIFICENCE was blazed upon your consciousness and that is how you always saw yourself?

What would shift in your life?

Well the answer to that question for Deuce Lutui, the Offensive Lineman of the Arizona Cardinals, is everything!

Steve Hardison, his personal coach, reflected back to him who he really was and Deuce went from the “Lindsey Lohan” of football to The Best Offensive Lineman In The NFL! ~ Read his story here: TBOLITNFL

This could be your story too. It will require…well… nothing short of all of you…. Your mind, your body and your soul will be needed on this most heroic adventure of you.

Focus your energy, dive in and find your Personal Internal Commitment “PIC” and get ready to take some kick butt action, because it is your time and …You are so worth it!

3 Keys to fulfill your “PIC”:

1. FOCUS ~ Focus on Your Magnificence, not your faults. Look into the mirror of love, it will reveal to you who you really are. Love drops all masks and reveals the beautiful jewel of you!

2. COMMITMENT ~ Make a Personal Internal Commitment to be the BEST at your craft, your mission, your life! You deserve not only to have the best but also to BE the BEST!

3. ACTION ~ As you take inspired action, the Universe will meet you half way and place you in the right place at the right time to meet the right people and bring you the resources and tools you need to fulfill your commitment.

Are you ready to be you personified? Then start by allowing yourself to be blessed. See yourself as worthy to be the best. See yourself as a holy chalice, an infinite cup that is filled more and more everyday.

The more you are blessed the more you can bless. Do you get that? The more you are blessed the more you can bless. Say it over and over to yourself, “The more I am blessed the more I can bless.”

Allow, allow, allow all the love in the universe to flood your cells and renew your being. Sit in love, breath in love and visualize a radiant stream of light washing through you and bringing to life all your sleeping cells. Be alive, awake ready to take your place in the dance of life.

Let love pour through you and into all your undertakings. Be kind and gracious to yourself and others. See all with eyes of love, especially yourself. With this practice not only will you free yourself and open your voice, your life and your mission you will help to heal the world!

It does not serve anyone to play small! Run with the big dogs, fly with the eagles and keep moving forward in the power of your Personal Internal Commitment and know that as you do, you will reach the summit of your choosing!

I've Been Smitten by the Spirit of TBOLITNFL

2010-10-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt the rush of greatness flowing through your spine after hearing a story? It was another’s story but somehow you just knew it was your story too? That’s what happened to me as I heard Deuce’s story.

That evening I was unable to sleep as I tossed and turned in my bed. I knew that I was being called by a force, an energy if you would, that was singeing my ties to mediocrity and inviting me to break free. I finally had to “turn on the lights” and write until I found my core of truth…my “PIC” Personal Internal Commitment. I would love to stand and declare...

“I am committed to being stillness in action and feeling the beauty of who I am in all that I do. I am committed to share that beauty with all and see that beauty in all, transforming the world one heart at a time, beginning with my own.”

This story isn’t about “football”. It is about me and you tackling the giant of self-doubt that drafts us into the halls of mediocrity. It is about no longer sitting on the sidelines of who we really are, but turning within and finding our head coach in the form of our Personal Internal Commitment.

Are you ready to join the TBOLITNFL revolution? Are you ready to re-arrange your atoms into a new pattern by turning up the heat and going deep within to mine your treasure and create your diamond self?

Each of us will find our unique patterning that is calling to us. Our uniqueness, our diamond self, is exactly what the world needs at this moment. The world is waiting for YOU… so what are you waiting for? Share with us your PIC!

7 Steps to Easy Street

2010-09-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

We’ve all heard the saying, “God never said life is supposed to be easy, He just promised it would be worth it”. I don’t believe for a minute that God ever meant for life to be a struggle or a dreary wasteland to only be rewarded in the afterlife. I am not denying the challenges that life can afford each of us. It can be dizzying to contemplate, much less experience. But did God really tell us that life isn’t supposed to be easy?

When I looked up the word “easy” in the dictionary I found among its meanings, “Free from worry, anxiety & trouble; Relaxed in attitude; Not hurried or forced; Light; gentle.”

Can life hurt? Absolutely. Can we experience loss? You betcha. Is change knocking on our door? Undoubtedly.

The way I look at it is, with each experience, each moment of our life we are at a crossroad and have two choices. Do we choose “Easy Street” or that other street that becomes the name of our choosing?

Does Easy Street save us from hurt, loss or change? No, of course not. A big part of the human experience is to feel and there are times that life doesn’t feel good.

But through it all can we go with flow of the moment? Can we release the fear and worry related to change? Can we relax and give ourselves permission to feel the pain of loss without telling ourselves that it isn’t suppose to hurt? Can we be gentle with ourselves through all the ups and downs of life and feel whatever is coming up? That is an “Easy” life.

Now I am not saying that we should marinate in our sorrows and grief and losses, but truly do feel them. Feeling the so-called “bad”, truly does carve a deeper well to be filled with the so-called “good”. As we become rich with the varying textures of life by being sensitive to our feelings we are granted the wisdom to know, the humility to see, and the compassion to share.

Open your heart to the entirety of life. Have the courage to feel deeply and explore all of its corners. Walk with your head held high down the street named “Easy” where the gentle breeze of Grace is always flowing and you “feel” its presence lighting your way.

Now that is the Easy Life. And Yes! Life is supposed to be EASY!

I would like to share my 7 Steps to Easy Street:

1. Follow Your Heart – Trust that your heart is connected to the Universal Heart beat and can see the bigger picture your mind cannot.
2. Go with the Flow – Drop the struggle and let go of your hold on yesterday.
3. Trust the Process – Trust the flow of your life to renew, restore and replenish.
4. Be Real – Don’t deny what you are feeling. Feel your way to wholeness and aliveness!
5. Embrace the Gifts – Each experience comes bearing profound gifts if we accept them.
6. Smile – Smiling lifts your vibration and all those who see it.
7. Laugh – Laughter is a great defuser and healer.

Welcome to Easy Street!

Pass The Passion Please

2010-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Passion is like butter; it adds richness to the staples of life.
Passion is a fire that dances in the soul allowing you to feel alive as it’s powerful elixir burns away the dross of survival. Survival is for Gilligan and his gang…not for you…not for a soul sister!

Are you stuck in survival mode? Are your dreams stuck in a secret corner of your heart and you don't know how to unstick them?

~Try some Passion...

Passion is the “yummy quotient” waiting for you to smear it on your slice of life and unstick the stuck.

If you listen closely you can hear your still small voice as it whispers in your heart, “Pass the Passion Please.”

Our dreams never die, they might be hibernating momentarily, but there they are, waiting for us to stir the dwindling embers that we have allowed the years to diminish.

Did you leave your passions in your Cinderellas lunch box of yesterday? Are you feeling too old?

Did you know?

· That the oldest woman to graduate from college, Nola Ochs graduated at age 95?

· That Susan Boyle’s musical talent wasn’t discovered until she was 47 years old.

· That Julia Child’s first cookbook was published at the age of 49?

· That Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first novel the Little House series at age 65?

Passion is not a youth entitled liberty. Passion spans the ages and comes in all shapes and sizes.

I’m sure, by now you have seen Susan Boyle on YouTube as she stood before the snickering audience and judges of Britain’s Got Talent and sang, “I Dreamed a Dream”. This magical maven was willing to pass the 4 most challenging hurdles on the passion test to have her dreams fulfilled, which are:

1. Believe in yourself even when no one else around you does.
2. Don’t be afraid to be laughed at.
3. Follow the dreams that come from your soul. They will never lead you astray.
4. And finally, Do it with all your heart.

Speaking of Magical Mavens…

I just finished listening to the audio book, Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg, by Kathie Lee Gifford.

I happened to see it on the way out of the library and for whatever reason (I know, I know…there are no accidents!) I picked it up and decided to bring it home with me. I figured I would end up listening to a portion of it and eventually bringing it back before the fines started accruing.

It obviously wasn’t an impassioned choice from my conscious mind. But as we all know…our souls are always effortlessly bringing to us the perfect conversation, or person, or book to spur us on and keep us blazing our trails of glory.

As I began listening to her 4 cd’s I wasn’t expecting any “fireworks”, maybe at best a glint of entertainment. But the embers of her life glimmered with such authenticity, that much to my surprise, she was igniting the inner workings of my soul.

She has walked the heroes journey and experienced the depths of grief and the transcendence of grace. She has learned to forgive and to soften the blows with humor.

I felt my heart expanding exponentially into the land of limitless possibilities and bursting with the desire to create beyond my present borders. (Who said I was too old?)

She spoke to all of us 40+ women reminding us it is never too late and we are never too old. Her stories did entertain me and had me laughing out loud but also looking for a Kleenex as she shared from her heart.

As I reached the last story, as all good story tellers do, she left me wanting more….Yes, something more, more of life, more of connection, more of love, more of living from my very core at all moments…YES! Pass the Passion Please!Yes we are never too old and it is never too late to create the life that we desire.

Keep on reaching and never, never, never give up until you are living a soul-fully delicious life. And in the words of Kathie Lee Gifford, “May your day dreams turn into your dream days.”

And last of all remember to “grow old with me (with passion)! The best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning

Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun

2010-08-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

(Warning after watching the video below you will spontaneously kick off your heels and start having F.U.N.)

Hey Soul Sistas! It is time we all kick off our heels and have some fun...would you agree?

This fun that I am referring to goes so far beyond exotic vacations and pina coladas (though we all could use some of that) but this fun, is the fun that comes from truly being who we are, exploring the edges and turning up the volume!

Another words, allowing our lives to flow from the very core of who we are...our soul. Allowing our passions to lead us down paths unexplored right into the arms of our intrinsic purpose.

Could there be anything more fun than that? Waking up each day excited about life and who we are and sharing that irresistible love of life with the world? It gives me the "fun" bumps and makes me want to dance down the isles and hug my neighbors and laugh at recession and break all those silly outdated rules that no longer apply.

Let's start a revolution of F.U.N. ~ Freely Undoing Nonsense...you know the nonsense that I'm talking about, "I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm not pretty enough, I'm not smart enough, I'm too big, I'm too small...oh golly, Miss Molly the list can go on forever can't it! Who made that nonsense up anyway???

I found this delightful video that outlines Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun
Which I fully endorse and champion its message of goodness.

1. Stop hiding who you are
2. Be intensely selfish
3. Stop following the rules
4. Start scaring yourself
5. Stop taking it all so damn seriously
6. Start getting rid of the crap
7. Stop being busy
8. Start something

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Come on girls, lets have some F.U.N.! Let's bust down the barriers and live a Soul-fully Delicious Life!

What nonsense are you ready to bust through?

The Lucky Charm of Now!

2010-08-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

This morning at the park I noticed the abundance of clover dancing beneath my fingers and toes as I was stretching into a Downward Dog yoga position. I briefly scanned the field of green in hopes to find my lucky charm. Not immediately seeing one, my mind wandered to the many times that I have searched for the symbol of good fortune, in the form of a four leaf clover, only to come up empty handed.

I smiled at my propensity to rummage through life on a quest for the elusive, when all along; blooming under my toes is a garden of delight. So I picked a three-leaf clover and called it good…very, very good that is. I smiled at its power to remind me of the profusion of delights to be found in this holy moment of now.
But the treasures of this moment can become clouded by our fascination with the future, causing us to miss the nectar of now.

So how do we keep our hearts and minds in the now while reaching for the stars?

Life, so rich with opportunities, can leave us feeling like we are running on a machine, a taffy-pulling machine that is. And we are the glistening piece of taffy being pushed and pulled in opposing directions.

I have found a way that works for me and I would love to share it with you.

Whenever I am feeling S-T-R-E-S-S and S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D and A-N-X-I-O-U-S…you know that feeling. The feeling that if you take one more step you might step off the edge of sanity into the great abyss never to be found again.

Well next time you are feeling and acting all SSA like, that is, for those with eyes to see “ASS” spelled backwards! LOL!

Put your hand on your heart and take a deep, conscious, loving belly breath, and say to yourself, “I have all the time in the world” (AAAH!...Take a moment to let that phrase sink in). Say it again, "I have all the time in the world" and allow the peace of God to fill your being.

Now I can hear your response, “but I don’t have all the time in the world!” I have to __________ and __________ and__________ and _________ and etc. Fill in the blanks as desired. Possibly you could fill a whole page with responsibilities resting on your shoulders. But I would like to remind you, that you, as we all have, have been gifted with the same 24 hours in each day. But the spirit of peace is optional. And peace is the gateway to the now.

Another tip that I learned from Steve Chandler, a master coach, is taking only one item at a time on your mighty to-do list and move it over to a new piece of paper entitled, “THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO DO TODAY IS”…_______________. Once this item is done you can cross it off and create another sheet entitled, THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO DO TODAY IS”…_______________. You get the picture. You are creating the space for you to feel peace and yet still accomplish your goals and reach for your star.

There was a study that I read recently showing the power of thought on our bodies. A group of psychologist took a group of people with casts on their limbs and asked them to visualize that limb being exercised on a daily basis. To their astonishment, when the cast came off, the tightly bound limb looked as healthy and strong as their other limb. It did not display the typical symptoms of atrophy that it normally does.

So let’s return to our peace of mind and our nectar of now and remember that our thoughts have the power to create peace. Remember you DO have all the time in the world. And as you recite the mantra of peace, “I have all the time in the world”, allow the feeling of peace to penetrate every cell in your body, washing away SSA and restoring your residency in the now.

I would love to hear what methods you use to bring you into this glorious moment of now. Please share! The more tools we have to enjoy and cultivate peace the faster we will collectively create heaven on earth!

Kundalini Yoga is My "Drug of Choice"

2010-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was so inspired with Corrinne's, Thankful Tuesday at Everyday Gyaan that I chose to start a Thank-Full Tuesday on My Soul Slippers!

I have found the fastest way out of "the pits" is by being Full of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving reminds us that today our lives are brimming with abundance. Thanksgiving waters the seeds of joy stored within our heart and sows new blossoms that fill our cup of life to overflowing.

Today I am so Thank-Full for Kundalini Yoga and how it serendipitously entered my life. I affectionately call it my “drug of choice” because it makes me feel sooooo good.

About seven years ago I found a videotape at the library and since that fateful day, I have never looked back. I remember the first time I did Kundalini yoga, tears ran down my cheeks as I felt a deep releasing of stagnant emotions that were stored in my body. The combination of breath work (breath of fire) with movement and mediation/chanting helped me to unite more fully with all my parts and pieces. After a yoga session I felt lighter somehow and energized and noticed that my countenance and my mood started brightening.

I believe the real magic to Kundalini Yoga is in the power of the breath. Deep yogic breathing oxygenates our blood, calms our nervous system and stirs up the gift of God within us. And this is something this soul sista needed desperately!

If I had to describe myself seven years ago, I would envision a “rubber band ball”, snappy and bouncing all over the place. Kundalini yoga worked like a charm to calm me, and helped me to feel peaceful, centered and whole.

Kundalini means “coiled power”. It is the spiritual energy within all of us, waiting for us to ignite it and utilize its transforming force to bring us into union within ourselves and ultimately with the Divine.

Maya Fiennes (the video below) is one of my “suppliers” to keep the good times rolling! Give it a try…you won’t regret it!

The Magic Elixir of Youthful Beauty

2010-08-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Monday is my self proclaimed "Marvelous Me Day" A day to explore all the wonder and magic of ME...A day dedicated to remembering that, "I, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve my love and affection." ~Buddha

Today I had to share a video that made me smile and reminded me the secret of longevity..."TLC".

Tender Loving Care directed to yourself cleanses you with grace and allows you to see your beauty, beauty that soars beyond societal standards and comes from the soul.

If we could love and value ourselves with as much care and tenderness as this woman does her car we could find the magic elixir of youthful beauty. This beauty is ageless and comes from within, it shines from our eyes, and gives us a youthful glow no cosmetics or surgery can touch!

True self-love is the opposite of narcissism, where one can’t take their eyes off themselves and feels superior to another. Self-love is wholeness. It allows one to say, “I am perfect just the way I am and so are you.”

Watch the video with the intent to remind yourself how to give yourself a little TLC today!

Glorious, Wonderful Magical Me!

2010-08-04T00:17:00.000-07:00

Corinne, at Everyday Gyaan has a wonderful blog and inspires me everyday by sharing her wisdom and insights about everyday matters so we can make everyday matter!

Her Thankful Tuesday has inspired me... O.K. so it is really Wednesday, but as I see it, we are still in it's rosy afterglow, and so..

Today I am thankful for me. Glorious, wonderful, magical me! (Gasp! Did she just say that?) Yes siree I am thankful for ME! I am thankful for my optimistic spirit and my ability to see the good in all people and today, I am especially thankful that I can finally see that good in me.

My road to self-love has been a bumpy ride as I have allowed myself to be buffeted about by the desire to please, the desire to fit in, my desire to be acknowledged, etc….

But today I stand in my own skin and say, “I am thankful for me!”

Stepping into my own stride, moving through life at my own pace, in my own way and with my own style! I am so thankful for me!

I am open and joyful, trusting and free! A lover of life, God and all humanity! “I am so thankful for me!”

But I can be…

Impatient, and short and so fall short from perfection, my temper can flare and I can sit in despair…but still, “I am so thankful for me!”

The glorious package called “Me” resembled a brown paper package tied up with string and now is one of my favorite things!

I found that I am full of surprises but just needed to be untied from the worries and judgments of me.

No longer will my packaging describe who I AM, for with the freedom to BE, my insecurities end, and I find that I am more than my body explains, for my soul is the ruler and I AM the flame!

Claim YOUR Glory! Tell us what you love about YOU and feel it deeply in your bones and in your sinews, in your cells and in your tissues...Glorious, Wonderful and Magical YOU!

Sticky Note Guidance

2010-08-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

Whenever I read a borrowed book I plaster it with sticky notes to guide me to the quotes and stories I want to remember. Today I had a stack of books to return to the library and was pulling off sticky notes as I recorded the wisdom of the authors that touched my heart.

As I was darting out the door to return the books, I glanced in the mirror and saw that I had a sticky note stuck to my heart center. It made me laugh out loud. So often I look to the wisdom of others and put them on a spiritual pedestal, forgetting that all the wisdom that I need is right here inside my heart.

Trusting Love

2010-08-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

As I was leaving my house to go to the mall yesterday afternoon, I thought of a friend that I have not seen in three years. I imagined our paths crossing in the mall, but then quickly dismissed the thought by thinking, “What are the chances, I am only going to be in the mall for a few minutes.”

This friend was actually more than a friend; he was a man that I had a beautiful romance of heart expanding adventure with. When it ended, I had to really work on keeping my heart open to love. It wasn't because I was devastated over the breakup, because it came to an inevitable end, but it was trusting that I would once again find deep satisfying love.

When I saw him, I literally stopped and stared in astonishment. There he was, the man that I was just thinking about and once loved so deeply, there with another woman. I quickly turned around to go the other way but realized that our meeting was not an accident, (truly there are not accidents) so I bravely turned myself around to say hi.

He introduced me to his… wife! She was so gracious and as our conversation unfolded, I could see how perfectly they fit together. I felt true joy for him. He looked peaceful and softer around the edges. Our conversation soon enough ended and we hugged and said our goodbyes.

My heart was stirred and full of complex emotions. When we were together, we were planning a future and now he was sharing that beautiful future with another. I was flooded with the joy of their love and a sweet remembrance of what it feels like to be so in love, yet there was a tinge of sadness that I was still alone.

When I arrived home I sat and pondered the encounter. What were the odds? He lived way on the other side of the city that boasts the larger mall and I was only in the mall for 10 minutes. Why did I run into him today? What were these emotions trying to teach me?

I gave myself the space and the grace to sit in all the emotions and feel deeply. Tears ran down my face interlaced with joy and sadness. I felt a deep tenderness for myself as I was being called to emptiness by:

Releasing the thought that my life should be different in this very moment. “I should be in a relationship.” But I am not and the thought that, “I should” creates hell for me. RELEASE.

Allowing myself to see the gifts that my past relationships have granted me and how divinely orchestrated each one has been for my soul's evolution. ALLOW.

Awareness of the abundance of love that surrounds me at this very moment and how I can give it freely to all I encounter. AWARENESS.

And finally Receiving the love that is about to enter my life with an open and trusting heart because as I remember, love feels so good! RECEIVING.

I am experiencing that trusting the Divine unfolding of my life is the greatest single factor for peace. Emptying myself of the desire to have this moment any different stills the turbulent seas within and allows me to see the reflection of goodness that is all around.

Will you join me in that peaceful place of acceptance, knowing that all is well, and you are being guided and your life is unfolding in Divine perfection?

The Gift of the Years

2010-07-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me!…

I lit another candle yesterday as the calendar reminded me that I was a year older. Additional candles are not necessarily a woman’s friend. And I will be the first to admit that my pale skin is taking a beating with each passing year, my muscle tone is not what it used to be AND I found my FIRST GREY Hair, on my birthday no less!! Once again…Happy Birthday to me!!

It would be great to have the skin and the body of my youth, but time marches on and I have come to a deeper appreciation of the gift of the years and it has allowed my mind to mellow and my heart to open into the multiple moments called my life.

Each year on our birthday another candle is lit, inspiring us to open the gift of the years by being more fully illumined by the light of God’s grace, more fully alive with the flame of our wholeness and more radiant with the love of the Divine.

Are we opening the gift of our 365 days? Let us not be satisfied with the bobbles of time wrapped in colored tissue paper. Let’s reach for the gifts that transcend ribbon and bows and unwrap today by developing our soul muscles.

Cheers to a year full of Soul…Now that is a reason to celebrate!

What do you enjoy about getting older?

My Unconquerable Soul

2010-07-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

After viewing the powerful movie Invictus, showcasing the unconquerable soul of Nelson Mandela , I immediately looked up the poem the movie was titled after. The poem so stirred my soul that I committed it to memory. I’ve been reciting the last stanza over and over and over again. It is a powerful mantra of soul empowerment.

“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”

It just so happens that my powerful new mantra and the pictures of the total solar eclipse surfaced on the same day. As I watched the videos of the eclipse and gazed at the pictures online, I was struck by how they seemed to mirror each other.

Our soul is unconquerable and is so much more powerful than our circumstances. Our soul could be compared to the sun, which could easily swallow 72 million moons or negative circumstances in one bite. But if we look at our circumstances from the wrong angle (such as doubt, fear, self-pity) it can plunge us into darkness. Just as to experience the darkness of the total solar eclipse you had to be looking at it from the angle of Easter Island or the close vicinity. Everyone else on the planet continued to experience the radiant light of the sun.

Nelson Mandela is the perfect example of someone who refused to allow his soul to be blotted out by darkness, despite his 27 years of imprisonment. His illumined soul lit the way to unite South Africa in the aftermath of the apartheid.

William Ernest Henley, the author of the poem Invictus (Latin for unconquered) penned his famous poem at 26 years old in the wake of amputation, losing his leg directly below the knee. His legacy of strength lives on through his poetry, reminding us not to bow to circumstances and allow fear to rule, for “we are the masters of our fate and the captains of our soul!”

Invictus

“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”

~William Ernest Henley

Summer Breeze...Makes Me Feel Fine!

2010-07-11T13:08:00.001-07:00

Since the Summer Solstice, the warm embrace of summer has been inviting me to shed my winter woolies and dance naked in the sunlight. (Metaphorically speaking that is.) As I accepted the intriguing invitation the heat of the summer sun melted the icy clothing of anxiousness that wrapped around my heart. My newfound “nakedness” allowed me to merge with the flowing energy of summer and become pregnant with life.

Summer pulsates with life and is calling us all to enjoy its fragrant beauty and come out of our caves. The wisdom of the Tao teaches us that it is the perfect time to move our bodies in the sunshine and release the stagnant energy that has accumulated through the winter months.

The other day I woke up and the mountains called my name and invited me to come play. Salt Lake City is a Mecca for summer enthusiasts and its majestic peaks offer an abundance of hiking trails.

When I am surrounded with trees and water and lush green trails, I feel like Nellie from South Pacific as she sings as only someone in the throws of love could:

“I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
High as a flag on the Fourth of July!
If you'll excuse an expression I use,
I'm in love, I'm in love,
I'm in love, I'm in love
I’m in love with a wonderful (Life)!” (I replaced "guy" with life)

Nature is a lover...a lover of life and is inviting us to join with her in a life-long love affair!

There is a lightness of being that nature gifts us with. It expands our hearts and opens us to the joy that surrounds us. Nature is the ultimate cathedral and a portal to the Divine. If you listen closely you can hear nature singing its hymns of praise. John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem, The Worship of Nature starts, “The harp at Nature’s advent strung, Has never ceased to play…”

Take some time each day to be outside, even if you can’t go hiking spend a few moments allowing nature to flow through you and clear out the cobwebs. Even fifteen minutes sitting on your patio, or relaxing on a blanket in your backyard by reading a book or, watching the clouds go by, or star gazing at night can raise your vibration.

So how do you enjoy the easy breezy energy of summer?

You Are Free To Fly

2010-07-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was almost home when I was stopped by a gaggle of geese parading across a busy intersection. The geese waddled across the hot pavement in no particular hurry. As I relaxed into the moment, I observed how indecisive the geese seemed to be. As each webbed foot took another step forward, their long necks would turn to gaze at the pond behind them. “Do you think this is a good decision?” they appeared to be asking the other geese to validate their journey.

After the parading geese safely passed my vehicle, I continued my drive home, full of wonder and questioning, “ Why didn’t these adult geese fly? Why did they put themselves in mortal danger when they could have easily flown above the traffic to reach the other side?”

I smiled at the many times that I, like the geese, have forgotten to trust my heart and rise above the bustling streets of confusion and soar on the wings of grace.

Leaving the “old pond” and venturing into the new requires us to trust our hearts. Our ”internal GPS unit”, is always aligned with our highest good and whispering the messages of the Divine.

During times of transition if we listen closely to our hearts, we will hear, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, trust the leadings of your heart, for I am guiding you, you are safe and all is well.”

Our heart’s messages always bring peace and give us the confidence to move forward. Messages from the head keep us in survival mode, which keeps us in fear, and dodging the truth of our hearts by seeking validation from others.

Are you ready to trust your heart and allow the currents of love to carry you through? Are you ready to trust that everything is unfolding in divine perfection?

When fear has clipped your wings, put your hands on your heart and triumphantly say, “I AM Divinely guided and I trust my heart!” And then expect guidance, it will come. Your heart will guide you. Once you hear the whisperings of your heart, take inspired action with extreme confidence, profound peace and with crystal clarity.

Be heart-strong…remember you are free to fly!

Need Help? Who Me?

2010-07-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

In my quest to be a strong, independent woman I have found that I have needlessly turned my back on offers for help. I have had the mistaken idea that accepting or especially asking for assistance would expose my Achilles heel of feeling incapable. My twisted perception of, I AM Woman Hear Me Roar, was gently brought to my awareness on a quick trip to the grocery store.

I had spent the day writing and by evening I was craving dinner. The only thing I was missing to complete my dinner menu was butter. I didn’t feel like going to the store but a baked potato without butter isn’t worth eating.

I quickly ran a brush through my hair and darted for the store. I figured I could be in and out in minutes and soon be eating a delicious meal. Of course the butter is located in the far back corner of the store so by the time I found myself heading for the cash register my arms were overflowing with abundance.

As I approached the register a handsome gentlemen asked me if I could use some help. I immediately gave him my conditioned response, “No, thank-you.” Now mind you I had a gallon of milk dangling precariously from my blood drained pinky, but I said, “No!” As I placed my treasures down, I had a moment of reflection. “Why did I say no?’ “Why is it so hard for me to allow others to help me?”

I recalled the many times I have helped others and how good it made me feel. I have found that random acts of kindness momentarily connect my soul to the soul of another. It is a genuine high for me. Helping others takes my focus off my self and actually lightens my burdens by bringing me into presence, allowing me to feel the love that I am.

I realized that my saying “No” to this genuine offer of assistance robbed this kind man of feeling like a hero and touching more deeply the love that he is. It was actually a selfish act on my part.

I am ready to give up my “roar” and admit that I am a vulnerable woman, who could use help now and again. Truly I no longer choose to be an island, disconnected from this world by icy waters of self-sufficiency. I crave more than “butter” itself, to be connected with others, to be open to receive as abundantly, as I am willing to give.

Do you know what I am talking about? Will you join me in making the world a softer and more present place by being vulnerable? This week say, “YES! I would love some help, thank-you so much!” As we practice receiving, our ability to receive increases and our joys expand. Are you ready?

Say What You Need to Say

2010-06-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

I was driving to the store this morning when the song by John Mayer, Say What You Need to Say, came on the radio. I’ve heard the song before and never paid much attention to it, but today was different. I was listening to the world around me. At first I thought, “how redundant” and as I continued listening I pictured all the people this song was inspiring and I thought, “brilliant lyrics, simple but profound!”

I was still singing the song softly as I walked into the grocery and greeted an older woman dressed in pink. I thought to myself, “My she looks pretty!” and the lyrics spoke to my heart, “Say what you need to say.” So I spoke up and told her how pretty she looked in pink this morning. Her face brightened and we had a genuine moment of connection. It felt so yummy! Reminding me how easy it is to use my words to encourage others.We were both examining the oranges and I saw her struggling to find the perfect orange to fill her sack. The lyrics played softly in my head, “Say what you need to say.” So I shared my knowledge of picking the perfect citrus by looking for the heavier pieces that indicate a juicy piece of fruit. She was pleased with her new found knowledge and I was reminded that life has gifted me with knowledge and wisdom and I am expected to share it freely with others, and that holding back my wisdom is being selfish.

When I arrived home I heard from a friend in the midst of a challenging divorce and she was questioning me how she was going to move out of her house without stress, with her soon to be ex-husband still at home. The song lyrics still fresh in my memory spoke loudly “Say what you need to say”, and gave me an answer. I reminded her that her thoughts about this situation where overwhelming her with fear and causing the anxiousness she was feeling. I suggested she replace the negative self talk and say, “In a relaxed and easy manner and with God’s Divine Grace I peacefully move into my new home.” She asked me to repeat it again so she could write it down. The words were like balm to her troubled heart, reminding me that the way we talk about a situation will not only effect our moods but our outcome.

A few hours later I was meeting with a friend and she was editing some of my work and made a comment about my poetic writing and it threw water on my flame. As I was driving home the lyrics came to my rescue, “say what you need to say” and I immediately smiled at myself for allowing doubt to enter my heart and stated with great fervor for the Universe to hear, “I am an original and I am following my heart and it is stirred by a noble theme. My pen has been anointed with grace and I will ride forth victorious for God has blessed me forever!” (Psalm 45:1) amen, amen and amen!!! (a big happy sigh!) My smile broadened as I said what I needed to say to calm my fears and put me back in the flow of grace. Thank you John Mayer for inspiring me today by saying what you need to say!

The Ego's Art of Timing

2010-06-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

The ego asked me today its standard question of, "Who do you think You are?"

The ego has perfected its art of timing over the years and comes in with its zingers at the cusp of creation, knowing if it can squelch the seedlings at just the right time, the status quo will continue.

Before I answered the question, I took a deep breath and made sure that I was home in the heart of who I am.

I took the ego's question and turned it around and asked myself, "Yes, who do I think I am?"

The sensitivity and awareness from my Soul Slippers alerted me to the fact, that how I answered the question would have a bearing on the outcome of my new creation.

I thanked my ego for the question and smiled at the gift it had granted me.

Crowning my soul with the scepter of authority, my words flowed and I answered,

"I AM so much more than I can even imagine or begin to express. My understanding of my value grows daily and I stand in breathless wonder at the beauty, wisdom and courage that resides within my being. My feet are shod with glory, as I walk in my Soul Slippers, comfortably home in the heart of who I am. I am a co-creator with God and his power flows through me blessing each project that I begin. I have the ability to create anything my heart inspires. I am a powerful force for good and I bless all who may enter my life with the gift of God's Grace."....thank you for asking! :)