A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

A Fresh Look At Coincidences

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Fotolia_56955943_Subscription_Monthly_MPerhaps you have heard the term “There are no coincidences.” It is usually said when there is a
“chance” meeting or phone call that almost seems orchestrated. For example, you think about an old friend, and within five minutes they call you. You go to a new kind of gathering and find many friends there that you know from completely different circumstances. You reach for a book in a bookstore, and there is someone you know reaching for the same book at the same moment.

Pure coincidence?

I pay attention to these seemingly random events and wonder at their meaning. I don’t always know right away but wait to see how things unfold. Years ago I used to run into a woman I worked with at the local farmers market every Saturday. I went at different times each week, and walked a different ‘course,’ but yet there she would be. Many of my friends also went

to this market, but I always just ran into this one woman. I decided to make an effort to get to know her better and found we had many things in common outside work. It was like our souls GPS monitors were directing us to the same

spot at the same time.

And yet this could be called coincidence.

I recently went on a trip to Costa Rica with a tour group, and the first night as a ‘get acquainted’

that was so much like me it was like we had known each other forever. Judith lives in the Yucatan in Mexico and leads spiritual gatherings at her Bed and Breakfast. During our conversations, she shared with me the word “Dios-idencia” … a combination of Dios, which means God, and coincidencia, which means coincidence in Spanish.

For me, my English version is “God-incidence,” a combination of God and coincidence. Now it isn’t likely that we can all agree on who or what God is, but if we can agree that it is an invisible force for good in our lives, then we can accept that

recognize these events as special and worth trying to understand the meaning they have for us.

Why is it important to start to recognize these Godincidences? Because they are just another way of paying attention to our divine guidance system. I do know people who take this to an extreme and try to find meaning in EVERY small event in their lives. I myself just pay attention to the big ones and am in awe when they happen … like meeting Judith. We may never meet again, but I will carry her lovely energy with me the rest of this lifetime … her faith in the divine order of

connection for your career … or finding a resource for your home that makes your life easier. They can be small or really big, but when they happen, and you know when they do, try to get a sense of how you feel at that moment. Let that “feeling” be your guide. Let it tell you if something that happens is just a random event or truly “guided.”

This is a very subtle skill but one that we can all develop. So be on the lookout for these miraculous meetings when you least expect them. Be open to them and acknowledge them for what they are … Godincidences!

The Brink Of Revelation

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Fotolia_28591994_Subscription_Monthly_MThe New Year, as we call it, is one of many man-made conventions for keeping time in order. It’s one of those things we invented so that everyone is able to speak a common language about time and, therefore, set appointments, make plans and stay organized in order to get things done. But is January 1st the best time to set a resolution of change for yourself?

There are other “New Year” celebrations throughout the year. The first day of Spring in mid-March is the start of nature’s New Year. It is when the energy of the planet in the Northern Hemisphere is ready to pop open new and fresh. Then there is the monthly New Moon which nurtures the ‘seed,’ which can represent our consciousness, or simply a new project. The seed starts the journey from the depths of the soil to emerge into the light of day. Or perhaps Samhain/Halloween, called Witch’s or Pagan New Year because the top part of the planet is going dormant to rest and gather strength for the next cycle of growth and expansion. Everything needs to gather strength before it can grow in a new and healthy way.

There are also other “New Year” demarcations throughout most religions and spiritualities that have nothing to do with January 1.

I believe every day is an opportunity for a new start, a new perspective, a step on a fresh path. Every day we are on the brink of revelation. But we have to go inside and listen to the silence. Many of us are afraid of the silence inside. But within the silence, we open ourselves up to hear the voice of our own inner guide. In Sanskrit it is called Atman, the inner guru, who knows us and guides us on our path of fulfillment and meaning. It guides us to find our purpose.

Any or every morning, when we wake up from our nighttime slumber, is an opportunity to ‘wake up’ from the slumber we are in during our waking hours. It is then, in that moment of awakening, we can make resolutions not only for our life but also for the present moment. We can open ourselves up to trying something different. The opportunity is there for us EVERY DAY and Every Moment.

I love January. It’s my birth month, and maybe for some of us, it is the best time to start a new resolve towards a path to be a better US. But it’s not the only time.

Most of us are searching for meaning and purpose in our lives, so we make resolutions to be a better person – whatever our concept of that may be. Have you ever thought “Who I am right now and what I am doing right now is exactly what I need to be doing for my growth?” “But,” you might say, “I am not happy as I am right now.” “I don’t feel good.” “I am over weight.” “I don’t like how I react to or judge people, etc, etc … ”

The thought that you want something better for yourself is “being at the point of revelation.” When your awareness lets you know or guides you to look at your life and shift your perspective, you are on the road to authentic change.

At that point of awareness, you might want to find ways to nurture this pathway of thinking by reading Simple Steps, Real Change daily; meditating or exercising regularly; hiring a life coach or someone to keep you accountable on your new journey. Or simply take steps such as practicing kindness, saying thank you and being grateful.

Our resolutions need to be about deepening our love for ourselves, not about doing what we think we are “supposed” to do.

The mind can sometimes be like an adolescent that is out of control.

Starting a daily habit of sitting quietly to tame the adolescent mind which rules our life can be a way to affect all the other changes we might want to see for ourselves. Many times it is our mind that talks us out of staying resolute. Look to see what is keeping you from truly being the incredible human being you want to be and resolve to work on that issue.

There is no greater journey than the journey to KNOWING your True Self.

DECIDE: “This is the year and the time for me to know myself to the core of my being, and from this point, I invite courage and strength to be my guides.”

Every day we are on the Brink of Revelation. Breathe fully into knowing each day can be your New Year’s Day. Be spacious inside and fly high and free.

4 Simple Steps To Balance Your Chi Energy

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Fotolia_63103632_Subscription_Monthly_MEach one of us is an extension of the universal mastermind I AM, only varying by one degree, and therefore we each possess the energy and power to experience miracles, if we are willing to apply our mind, heart and energy, with intention and purpose, toward the desired outcome.

We are powerful beyond measure, and with a little bit of knowledge, we can create miracles in our cherished lives. Here are a few simple steps to promote optimal healing within by immediately balancing your chi energy and enabling you to become a brand new you!

Connect with your chi energy: Rub your palms together very quickly for a few seconds to increase the energetic flow into your hands.  You will feel the increased heat of energy there.  Now, separate your hands slightly while in a prayer position and hold them there for a count of 3; gently pull them apart 2-3 inches and then immediately back together while leaving a space between to your palms.  As you repeat this exercise you will feel the energy build between your palms.  Begin to widen the distance between your palms while continually moving them back and forth several times.

With practice you will begin to strengthen your energy and promote healing as you place your hands on any area of your body.  This is what a Reiki practitioner does when doing energy work.

Increase your chi energy flow:   On both the front and the back of your wrists there are many meridians, also known as acupuncture points, where you can see the skin lines.  Place your wrists in a crisscross position with both anterior (front) wrists facing each other about one inch apart and hold that position for several seconds.  Then do the same with both posterior (back) wrists facing each other about one inch apart in a crisscross position or several seconds.  With practice, you will begin to feel your energy. Practice doing this several times a day.

This exercise connects the full circuit of your chi energy and clears away blockage along the main meridians throughout your body. It also increases the chi flow by balancing the yin and yang energy within.

To complete your energetic circuit, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth in the dip behind the center of your teeth.  Hold it there for several seconds – minutes if possible – as this fully completes the chi energy circuit flow from your brain to your toes and everything else in-between throughout your body.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing: Most people breathe backwards by breathing in through the nose while pulling in the stomach, and exhaling through the mouth while extending the belly.  This is backwards!  To correctly breathe, take a deep breath in through your nose while simultaneously extending or pushing out your abdomen.  This enables the diaphragm to drop down and expand the lower lobes of your lungs which will clear, cleanse and circulate any stagnate energy there.  You then want to exhale by pulling in your tummy which will raise the diaphragm up by compressing on the lower lungs to move the stale stagnate energy up and out of your mouth.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is essential in maintaining your life force energy at an optimal level.

My Judgment Is My Teacher

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Fotolia_52686024_Subscription_Monthly_MThere are moments when we judge ourselves. There is no right or wrong, good or bad in this experience unless we judge judgment to be bad and wrong. Making peace with our judgment moves us closer to living our oneness. Our judgment defines who we are, and it shapes the beliefs and values we represent in this lifetime – it is an inseparable part of our journey. As we grow to understand the natural function of judgment, we may release our guilt about it.

Some teachers disguise judgment as discernment; they teach us that it is wrong to judge but wise to use discernment. Discernment is simply a synonym for judgment, nothing more. In my judgment, teaching us to frown upon judgment is a religious tenet that promotes our habits of separation and internal conflict. Disguising judgment in the cloak of the gentler, more “spiritually” correct words such as discernment is manipulative. It does not support our growth, our awareness, and our awakening.

Using another word for judgment allows us to continue believing that judgment is bad while discernment has good intentions. What if we allow the word judgment to have equally good intentions? By treating our natural inclination to judge as a bad thing, we continue to promote the idea that there’s something wrong with human nature. Shameful judgment about judgment has been handed to us, without question, through religion and spirituality.

As an example, in the Christian community, issuing a judgment is considered wrong. Certain scriptures admonish Christians not to judge. There is wisdom in this teaching when the aim of the followers is to love one another unconditionally. Yet, included in the Christian faith there are many rules by which devotees judge each other as well as non-believers. Christians say that it is wrong to judge, while they engage in judgment. Teaching people that it is bad to judge is confusing. This is the moment, right now, for us to grow beyond the guilt and shame of our nature to judge and cultivate our awareness of oneness.

Yet judgment can become an obstacle on our path. When I forget that ALL of my judgment is an expression of who I am, I have fallen asleep and imagine that we are separate. Living our oneness, I remember that I cannot judge you, nor can you judge me. Every judgment made reveals only who I am; it’s not about you. My judgment tells me what is right or wrong for me – not for you. Your judgment is not about me, either.

Moreover, falling into a habit of pretending that I am judging you creates energy blockages in my expression of life energy. Pretending that I’m judging others blinds me to my whole self. Do I judge myself to be better than or lesser than another? Do my judgments block my compassion and empathy for myself and others? Do I permit my judgment to create “us versus them” energy in our society? Is my attention present or have I fallen asleep? When I am awake, my judgment is a teacher that I heed. I am grateful to my judgment for revealing my core beliefs.

Further, if I judge myself harshly, I invite feelings of guilt and shame into my expression of life energy. Feelings of shame and guilt are not good or bad either, yet if they become stuck in the energy body, these feelings begin to manifest as ailments in the physical body. All feeling energy is meant to be felt in the moment and released. Upon judging ourselves as guilty, we feel ashamed and tend to punish ourselves repeatedly. We attach to our judgment of guilt rather than accept the message within it and let it go. The path to letting go of my guilt is to forgive myself completely. Forgiveness is not about forgetting the lesson; forgiveness is about love.

There is value in remembering that just as I cannot actually judge another, I cannot be judged by another. Outwardly directed judgment is an illusion. I have discovered the humor in observing the judgment issued regarding the judgment of others. If someone points out that I am judging them, I own it. Also, if they are a student of oneness, I ask, who is judging you? I cannot feel judged by another unless I allow myself to adopt a feeling of guilt. I cannot judge another, and no one judges me but me. If I have forgotten this, I am grateful to be reminded. I understand that ALL judgment is self-judgment. Embracing our nature to judge frees us from imagined separation. All judgment is spoken into the mirror of reality. Do I listen to the voice of my judgment? What am I learning about who I am? How do my beliefs serve me?

I set the intention to let my judgment be my teacher. Judgment is a natural part of life, and I embrace the function of judgment without fear or shame. I notice when I am judging, and I let go of feeling guilty about my judgment so that I may listen closely to my inner guidance. I remember that my judgment is teaching me about beliefs held within my authentic self. In each moment, I have the freedom to decide if the beliefs I hold serve my well-being. I thank my judgment for bringing my core beliefs to my conscious awareness. I release feelings of guilt for thinking or speaking my judgment. I hear my judgment telling me who I am. Then, I gracefully let go of my judgment as I live my life true to who I am.

In summary, my judgment is my teacher, and I listen attentively. I look in the mirror of my judgment to see my whole self. I stop judging myself harshly for judging. I forgive myself completely. This is loving self-care. This is the journey into living oneness.

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