A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

Every Soul Is Whole…

by

Banner for SSRC

No matter how wounded the human being…

When I was 21 I was briefly locked up in a psychiatric hospital. I had become severely depressed. At least that is what I was told I was. Deep inside I knew my depression was the result of no longer being able to outrun the personal issues I had struggled with all of my life. Without anyone to confide in and nowhere to turn for help, I retreated inward as an act of desperate self-preservation.

At the time I considered life too unbearable to continue. So the answer as “professionals” saw it was to medicate me and slap a variety of labels on my condition. That only served to further distance me from a real solution to my underlying problem – self-acceptance and self-love.

While I cannot speak for everyone, I have learned many things about the variety of reasons we get lost in the limitations of our mind. With our lives moving at ever faster speeds we are often too quick to reach for a drug, or to give up on ourselves, or to isolate ourselves in an attempt to cope, or to want someone else to fix our broken lives.

For me, healing began in earnest when I stopped looking for answers to heal myself from someone or something outside me. As long as I continued to give my power to other people to fix my life, my life remained broken. Their support and advice was good, but in the end, to truly heal, I had to take the actions necessary to move myself past the pain, loneliness, and lack of self-respect. That required letting go, and letting that part of me I cannot see and cannot touch, take over.

While one size does not fit all when we speak about moving past depression and traumatic issues, I feel it is important to remember that our soul (the spirit/heart that we are) is the motivating power behind self-change. Soul houses self-love, self-respect, and determination, all of which are necessary to successfully get us through life’s hard spots. So while physical and emotional trials are very real, the same is true of our soul’s willpower to move us past them. Our soul is the higher, wiser part of us with the strength of character to overcome any challenge or change any negative habit.

For me, and countless others who have taken our power back from abuse, addiction, bad relationships, and other negative life situations, we want to be of encouragement. You are truly powerful to overcome anything in your life because your soul is whole, no matter how wounded your human being.

350px_Ad for SSRC

You are Your Own Greatest Cheerleader

by

Fotolia_54239935_Subscription_XXLRecently I participated in a women’s expo. Vendors converged from far and wide to share their goods – cosmetics, perfumes, hair products, clothing, self-defense items, protein powders, energy bars, and anything else you can imagine that serve women. In addition, there were speakers and workshops and do-it-yourself instructional areas. And, I was there with my books.

I decided beforehand that I would focus on sharing information I felt could brighten someone’s day. So I spent both days standing in front of my booth passing out my Heal For Real!™ bookmarks. I offered a bookmark to the women (and the few men) who walked by. While handing it to them, I shared one message from the bookmark, a phrase at the very top of it – “I am my own greatest cheerleader.”

I reminded them that they are their own greatest cheerleader, so talk nicely to themselves, and be kind to themselves because they deserve it. It was fun to see so many beautiful faces light up when they accepted the bookmark. When I shared this idea with young girls, they beamed. For me it was a completely gratifying experience

It occurred to me that loving and cheering for people is easy because we are naturally loving beings. We thrive on encouragement and support, just as children do. Even though we soak it up like a sponge, we have learned to survive without healthy doses of encouragement and support. Why is that? Why do we ration self-encouragement like we are at war with ourselves?

It may be very challenging to be self-encouraging. Perhaps we didn’t receive it growing up, and we didn’t witness others’ self-encouragement because we typically nurture ourselves through inner dialogue.

At any rate, be open to the idea of self-encouragement. Now be willing live the idea by practicing it. It is always possible to turn over a new leaf. It is always possible to learn a new habit. And the time to start is right now.

You are your own greatest cheerleader, so talk nicely to yourself. Remember that your thoughts are like clouds in the sky.   They are always changing and moving. Give yourself a break about how you think. Acknowledge yourself. Tell yourself, “I hear you” and keep things moving. You will be on to the next thought before you know it anyway!

You are your own greatest cheerleader, so be kind to yourself. You would be kind to an innocent child, wouldn’t you? In what ways would you show kindness to a little one? Apply those same words and acts of kindness to yourself.

You are your own greatest cheerleader. Talk nicely to yourself and be kind to yourself because you deserve it. So often we believe we are not valuable because we experienced non-preferred situations while growing up. We believe that if we were good, those things wouldn’t have happened. But, we experience heartbreak in many forms to show us that we have the strength to recover from them and open our hearts even more. And that takes courage, which we learn by being encouraging.

Just today, be kind to yourself in some way and you will begin to lighten up. When you transform on the inside, you transform your world. We need your light. We need your gifts. We need you to be happy and encouraged!

Janet D. Thomas

Dancing With The Angels

by

One thing I really like about maturity is the amount of experience you have to pull from. La Ricoeta 045Pull what, you may ask? Well, a treasure of happenings, memories and the opportunity for current happenings to garner a deeper meaning. Let me explain.

Recently, my partner Steve and I were visiting our friends Paul Boynton and his partner Mike Wynne, who live in New Hampshire. The first night we were there I had the most incredible dream. I was standing in front of an old wooden table and on the table was a book stand or lectern that held an ancient manuscript. It must have been 36” by 48 “ and it was old. The paper was yellowed crisp parchment. The script was old English from about the 1400 or 1500’s.

(I know this because I studied Old English script in graduate school so I could actually read it. Coincidence or subconscious bleed through?)

On the pages there were prayers to the 9 levels or choirs of angels— the seraphim, cherubim…………..( I grew up Catholic and have a Catholic education through College.)

In the dream I recited each of the these series of prayers to each level of the angelic hierarchy. It was almost as if I were a magician or alchemist calling on the powers of the angels to assist me with a special intention of service I felt compelled to carry out. I knew in my heart that I needed help. Whatever it was I was trying to accomplish required that I surrender to a higher power or powers to bring about the results needed. Whatever I was doing was not about me. I felt like a conduit of some kind and that I was supposed to call on the benevolent assistance of all the angels but especially Michael and Gabriel.

I woke up and laid there with my eyes closed. I was full of this dream and wondered what it meant. This is not my usual type of dream for sure. I tried to meditate to see if I could gather any meaning from the dream before moving into the world that day. My mind and body were so full of the dream and the crisp details of it that it was difficult for me to empty my mind to just be.

When I opened my eyes there on the wall was a beautiful, ornate Russian Icon of Michael, the archangel, also known as The Protector and the Prince of the Seraphim. I had not noticed it the night before because it was behind the door. So we closed the door and turned off the lights and went to bed.

Wow—- there was one of my archangel friends looking down on me. Had I caught a glimpse of him before sleeping and I just didn’t remember? My mind was trying to make sense of the whole experience. But my spirit was not having it. It spoke to me and said breathe. Sit with what you saw and just be with it

I mentioned the dream to my partner Steve and to Mike that morning. We commented on the uniqueness of it and the fact that the icon was hanging there and watching over us all night.

A few days later, and once back home in Cincinnati, I decided to combine my meditation practice and yoga into one. So I sat in the side yard and enjoyed the beautiful summer breeze as it caressed my skin and I lost my self in the stillness and the delicious void of the space between my eyes. I kept getting the image of wings. Was it because I could hear birds all around me? Hmmm…..

I started my yoga practice and each time I did a swan dive forward into a forward bend, I felt as if I had wings. It was all very cool but I was still not sure what was happening with this.

Then I went into savasana, also known as corpse pose- where you lie still and just let everything go. Almost as soon as I closed my eyes I was in a vision of a memory. It was 1993 or 1994. I was in our retail store, LeftHanded Moon on Court Street in Cincinnati OH. Steve was helping a customer who had come in to shop. She brought her one year old twins—- who were getting a little restless. I offered to hold them while she shopped. I had one boy in each arm and bounced them around a bit. As I always do with small children I danced with them in my arms and I asked them to tell me any secrets they might remember from the time before they were born. I remember distinctly both boys looking right at me and just going on and on in unintelligible baby gibberish. They were telling me!! And I had forgotten the language they were using to tell me. I was so excited and wished with all my heart I could understand.

WOW. That memory was brought back so vividly today. And the meaning was not lost on me.

The babies names were Gabriel and Micheal and born on my birthday— some thirty years later but the three of us share January 13 as our nativity.

Let me say it again WOW!! I am still not sure what all this means but I can tell you that I am paying attention. And you can see why I am appreciating my maturity. However it all comes together— my old english studies, catholic background, the experience with the twins in the 1990’s, it all came together last Monday in a house I had never been to, nestled in the woods of New Hampshire where an image of an archangel hangs on a

wall and as I see it, took the opportunity to speak with me through the symbols of a dream.

What does it all mean? I am not sure. but as I finish this article the words- “in my soul I believe I can change the world” are being recited. So how does the Universe talk to us? In so many ways. We just have to have to have our eyes, our ears, our conscious and our subconscious and our Heart open to all possibilities. So in those moments when you feel less than connected to The Universe or Creation or whatever term you use, close your eyes, take a deep breath and ask to be connected and to feel a part of the experience of being alive. Then sit back and pay attention.

The definition of an angel is “a pure spirit created by God”. That is each and every one of us.

I am grateful for all the experiences of my life. I invite you to be also.

Here’s to the mystery and power of love that will have us all change the world.

A Supportive Self-Love Plan For The End of 2014

by

CindyTNAutumn is my favorite time of year in northern Michigan. The air is cool and crisp. Lake Michigan’s black water and the colorful forest canopy are sure signs of the seasonal shift. Swimsuits and shorts have been replaced by blue jeans and sweatshirts. My senses are heightened by the rustic smell of campfires, crisp clean air on my cheeks and the crunchy goodness of Honeycrisp apples. This is also the time when I give thanks for all of abundance in my life, celebrate my accomplishments for the year and set intentions for the remainder of the year.

Right now is the perfect moment to honor yourself. You deserve to sit with all you’ve accomplished personally, professionally and spiritually this year. Give yourself credit for where you are right now.



Breathe. Pause. Smile.

Tips to help you celebrate, switch things up, and set intentions for the rest of 2014.


Celebrate Your Wins

All too often we focus on what needs to be done vs. what we’ve already brought to fruition. One of the best ways to celebrate your great work and personal accomplishments is to write them down in a journal. You’ll be blown away by all you’ve accomplished in the last 10 months. I know I was. Celebrate your wins and give thanks for the what you’ve learned and how far you’ve come in your life this year.

Change Things up in Your Environment

Is your environment in need of some warmth and tender loving care? Often the simple act of rearranging your office space or living space will provide an energetic pick-me-up. It’s fun to move pictures, furniture and prized possessions to new locations. Perhaps it’s time to let some things go as well. Invigorate your senses with fragrant flowers or a new candle. I love simmering mulling spices on the stove top this time of year.

Allow for Rich and Meaningful Alone Time

How much time do you allow for quiet contemplation, reading and meditation? Perhaps soaking up the sweetness of an afternoon nap feels like a supportive choice. I know you’re busy and life moves pretty fast, but your mind, body and soul deserve stillness and spaciousness. As you move toward the winter months in the northern hemisphere, allow for peaceful moments and precious time to yourself.

Set An Intention For How You Want the Rest of the Year to Unfold

With a little over 60 days left in 2014, it’s time to set your intentions for how you’d like things to unfold before the holidays. Update your calendar. Get clear about which projects, experiences and ideas plan to you explore. Do your best to define how you wish the rest of the year to play out. A bit of planning now will alleviate stress last minute decision making.



Celebration, environmental shifts, alone time and clearly defined intentions will help you flow beautifully into the new year.

  • What do you love about this time of year?
  • What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2014?
  • How will you care for yourself before the holidays?
  • What is your intention for the next couple of months?

Feedback