: : my black feather blog : :

Inner Peace Tool ~ Self Love's Power

2010-08-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

An ongoing relationship we will always have is with our higher Self. Some people call our higher Self The Buddha Within or God as in 'The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.' Whether it's The Universe or Lord Shiva, relate this entry with whatever Higher Power you believe in while reading.

Enlightenment and Peace comes when we learn Self-love. The mind can be trained into Self-love by being shown, over and over, that the higher Self is a safe haven of love and protection. It is kind of a circular process:

The higher Self cannot protect you until you seek its security; this process begins when you devote time and energy to Self-love. Self-love grows when you refuse to follow the impulses of anger and fear, trust that The Universe is on your side, form your desires from the heart and watch the higher Self carry them out, believe that you are enough in and of yourself, heed the tenderness and sweetness of your love for others, put your attention on positive energies in every situation, honor your own needs without having to seek outside approval, and cultivate the peace of inner silence.

It’s normal to notice a difference between the equanimity and silence of your Self when you are alone, and your Self when you are in the rough and tumble of interpersonal relationships. When we are interacting with others, our emotions and beliefs are activated. This triggers our old patterns that are in sympathy with those feelings. Instead of bringing present awareness to the situation we may find that we are thinking and acting based on our past conditioning. We may see a former spouse or a parent, and instantly our feelings, Self-esteem and Self-talk reverts back to that former time and relationship.

The first step toward freedom from the tyranny of past conditioning is exactly what you have stated—a recognition that your Self-love diminishes when you are with others. Just being aware that it is occurring helps awaken your silent witness and that presence of pure consciousness is what will eventually overwrite these old thinking patterns. As you notice doubts and Self-sabotaging thoughts come up, you don’t need to try to stop them or resist them. Don’t pile additional blame on yourself for going through the same feelings of powerlessness again and again either. This isn’t the past, this is Now. If you need to, observe and go into those feelings as well, to break the emotional grip.

Bringing an easy sense of nonjudgmental watchfulness to the situation will correct these pathogenic patterns over time. You don’t need to try to conjure up a sense of Self-love in the midst of the situation either. Be neutral and natural and allow the real character of Self-love to unfold like the petals of a blooming rose. The Self is your essential nature, you don’t need to do anything for it to express its quality of love except get your old thinking out of the way. When you do, it will naturally shine forth.

Portions have been adapted from The Path to Love, by Deepak Chopra, (Three Rivers Press, 1997)

Inner Peace Tool ~ The World As A Mirror

2010-06-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

One of the ways to deal with the unease and disappointments of Life is to observe it with "different eyes" ...look at events, people and experiences as a Mirror. This can be difficult at first, but if you do it without judgement, without discrimination, you may be surprised how easy it is to bring Peace back to you. We can be so hard on ourselves as well as blame the rest of the World for making us unhappy. It doesn't need to be this way.

“The good you find in others, is in you too. The faults you find in others, are your faults as well. After all, to recognize something, you must know it. The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well. The beauty you see around you, is your beauty. The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are. To change your world, you must change yourself. See the best in others, and you will be your best. Give to others and you give to yourself. Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful. Admire creativity, and you will be creative. Love, and you will be loved. See to understand, and you will be understood. Listen, and your voice will be heard. Teach, and you will learn.”
~ Author Unknown

Right now, take a person or experience that bothers you and transform it. Try it for a bit, maybe a few minutes, and see it as a way to bring Peace back to you. We are here to learn lessons, to gain Wisdom. It doesn't need to involve suffering.

Come back to Love.

2010-05-04T01:06:00.000-07:00

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
~ Buddha

Inner Peace Tool ~ Gratitude

2010-05-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get so caught up in the little things that we become overwhelmed. There's always "not enough" of something: time, money, love, appreciation...the list goes on. But what if we could change that, easily and without effort? What if this easy "fix" also acts as a catalyst to attract more positive things in our lives?

Count your Blessings with Gratitude.

Anywhere, anytime. On your way to work stressing that you're 10 minutes behind? Take one minute to focus on something you are grateful for, I can think of 5 very easily for you:

1. The car you're driving
2. The gas in the tank
3. Your hands with all your fingers to steer the car
4. Your healthy eyes to be able to see the road
5. The fact that you're almost to work, without an accident!

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.”
~ Buddha

I promise this will have an amazing effect. An "Attitude of Gratitude" will show you how much you DO have, and because of the Law of Attraction, you will attract more and better Blessings to you. Going through your Gratitude Checklist, you will quiet your thoughts and become more focused on the Now. Your mental dialogue will slow down, letting Peace drift in. It will prevent your Mind from "making up" stories to fill in the gaps of worry and negative thinking.

“What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.”
~ Oprah Winfrey

Simple Tools to Remember Gratitude
I read about a woman who used her mala beads to count her blessings. There are 108 beads on a mala so it gave her time to focus on each blessing – one bead at a time. She got to the point that even if she saw the mala beads, they would act as a visual reminder to say "Thank you."

In the movie "The Secret," there was a story of a "Gratitude Stone." It was simply a stone that a man carried around with him. According to the movie, this man put the stone in his pocket every morning, and while doing so, he thought of all the things he was grateful about. Every night, he would take the stone out of his pocket again, and again he would feel gratitude for events in his life.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”
~ Margaret Cousins

The more you focus on what is GOOD in your Life and feel grateful for your reality, the more YOU will become a positive force in your own Life. Gratitude grows when we become aware of how it brings comfort and perspective about what is important in our Life. Get to know Gratitude. You may be surprised at how quickly it can transform your daily Life. As your gratitude grows, so will your capacity to feel Love and find Peace.

2010-04-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

2010-04-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

“Every passing moment is another chance
to turn it all around.”
~ Sophia, from the movie Vanilla Sky

Inner Peace Tool ~ Simple Science

2010-04-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Having come back to the world of full time work, deadlines, traffic and less time for myself, I have found that my commitment to Inner Peace has been challenged. Suddenly I am brought back to what my clients have asked me, "how do you find Peace in this very real, very stressful World that we live in?"

Mental focus is a huge part of Peace. What we focus on will dictate how our Body feels, and it's easy to get bogged down with lots of other seemingly important 'responsibilities.' We forget that WE are responsible for our Inner Peace. How we can get it back in the 3 precious 'waiting-for-the-coffee-to-brew' minutes that we have for ourselves? Maybe it's the 15 minute drive to work. Here is a foolproof, quick-fix method to bring your Mind & Body back to a centered and grounded state. It will leave you in a better frame of mind to re-start from a Peaceful Place.

“Peace of mind is really as easy as riding a bike, once you know how you just do it.”
~ Oystein Henriksen

You can try yoga, martial arts, paying for herbs and anti-depressants, but Inner Peace all boils down to one thing: the Mind and Body connection. Knowing this simple fact will make it easier to 'nip in the bud' stressful thoughts that lead to shallow breathing and toxic chemistry in the blood from stress hormones.

It doesn't matter what faith, job or status One has, this truth applies to All. Don't be intimidated by the image below, if you try to understand this and apply it to your daily life: you will have FULL control of your emotions...ALWAYS!

There are 4 brainwave groups listed below: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta.

When you see the correlation between your brainwaves and the activities that are associated with them, you will understand that we are better off 'choosing' the frequency. In earlier times, techniques and spiritual practices, you would be led to believe that you need to sit for hours, fast or become masters of our physical bodies before we could discover Peace. This is true, but we are not all made of money or have oodles of time to devote to these methods. You can create Inner Peace for free: just by regulating your breathing patterns.

In the Beta brainwave state, all of our daily stresses exist here. Driving to work, finding a job, relationship issues, there are endless little stresses that take place during Beta. Knowing this, it seems logical that to go into our Alpha and Theta states is to enter into relaxation. We need to be in the right brainwave state to create Inner Peace in our Self.

The #1 most effective and lasting way to leave an undesirable emotional state is as simple as this: BREATHING. Once you discover that rhythmic breathing and brainwaves are connected, Inner Peace is suddenly available to you.

Our society teaches us to breathe with our chests which creates shallow breathing, leading to a chemical reaction in our system. This affects our health. By breathing properly, we can bring our Minds from Beta to a more relaxed, calm state: Alpha, Theta or Delta. These states do not allow emotional turmoil to exist.

Proper Breathing Technique:
   1. Breathe OUT through mouth
   2. Breathe IN via nose
   3. HOLD the breath
      (expanding the breath downwards using diaphragm)
   4. Breathe OUT through mouth and repeat sequence...

The following Breathing Rhythms below have numbers which equal a count of one second. Focus only on the counts.
4 = 4 second count.
8 = 8 second count, and so on.
You will feel your brain actually shift into a different frequency and the side effect of that shift: Peace.

• BETA FREQUENCY: 14Hz – 30Hz
     Awake, Normal Alert Consciousness
   Breathing Rhythm:
   Inhale 1
   Hold 0
     Exhale 1
   Hold Out 0

• ALPHA FREQUENCY: 8Hz – 14Hz
     Relaxed Consciousness
   Breathing Rhythm:
   Inhale 4
   Hold 8
     Exhale 8
   Hold Out 4

• ALPHA-THETA FREQUENCY
     Going Down...
   Breathing Rhythm:
   Inhale 8
   Hold 8
     Exhale 8
   Hold Out 4

• THETA FREQUENCY: 4Hz – 8Hz
     Deep Relaxation

   Breathing Rhythm:
   Inhale 4
   Hold 8
     Exhale 16
   Hold Out 4

• DELTA FREQUENCY: 0.5Hz – 4Hz
     Deep, Dreamless Sleep
   Breathing Rhythm:
   Inhale 4
   Hold 8
     Exhale 32
   Hold Out 4

It can be this easy, it just takes a little practice. Peace be with you, my Friends.

2010-04-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

"You are now in control of your life. You see, the Ego is never in control. The Ego is controlled by wishes for comfort and convenience on the part of the body, by demands of the mind, and by outbursts of the emotions. But the Higher Nature controls the Body and the Mind and the Emotions. I can say to my Body, "Lie down there on that cement floor and go to sleep," and it obeys. I can say to my Mind, "Shut out everything else and concentrate on this job before you," and it's obedient. I can say to my Emotions, "Be still, even in the face of this terrible situation," and they are still. It's a different way of living. The philosopher Thoreau wrote: If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer. And now you are following a different drummer – the Higher Nature instead of the Lower."
~ Peace Pilgrim

2010-04-09T14:50:00.002-07:00

"Everyone who got to where they are had to begin where they were."
~ Richard Paul Evans

2010-04-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

"I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."
~ Martha Washington

2010-04-07T10:45:00.001-07:00

“See if you can catch yourself complaining in either speech or thought, about a situation you find yourself in, what other people do or say, your surroundings, your life situation, even the weather. To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself a victim. Leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

2010-04-07T10:37:00.001-07:00

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
~ Anais Nin

2010-04-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

“You are all geniuses, and you are all beautiful. You don't need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get Peace, think Peace, live Peace, and breathe Peace, and you'll get it as soon as you like.”
~ John Lennon

Inner Peace Tool ~ Walking Into Peace

2010-04-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

While walking to his car, a friend of mine was telling me what a bad day he was having. As he sped through the details of why he felt so bad, he was walking almost 2 paces ahead of me, not realizing the "rush" that he was in. His mind was moving so fast, processing details of the past and the future, that he didn't realize where he was, and we had to turn around to go find his car (2 blocks behind us). Instead of trying to console him, I decided to distract him with a Walking Meditation, to become more Mindful and In The Now.

When we're on automatic pilot, we sometimes fall into habits of unhealthy thinking that lead to stress. Walking Meditation brings us back to our Center, back to Living In The Now. You don't need to 'make' time to do this, it can be done on a hike or simply walking to your car. You become more aware – moment to moment – of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Being more aware of the world around you, you give yourself the possibility of greater freedom and more choice. This is something you can do right now.

Have you wondered how those old monks could walk for weeks or years through forests and over mountains? I know they were practicing Walking Meditation. When being mindful during your walk, you will find that you become less stressed and more relaxed, able to cover more distance with less effort.

“Mindfulness is a way of paying attention, on purpose and non-judgmentally, to what goes on in the present moment in your body, mind and the world around you.”
~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

It's really quite simple. If you are a total beginner, take note of your steps while walking. Think silently to yourself "stepping, stepping, stepping" or "left, right, left, right." You will find more Peace at a slower speed than normal during this Meditation. Think of it like driving down the freeway. You need to slow down to read the signs...This will immediately bring you into the Now, the present moment.

As you progress through Walking Meditation, begin to become mindful of each footfall: (1) lifting the foot; (2) moving it forward; (3) pressing your heel to the ground; (4) rolling forward onto your toes; (5) pushing off the ground. After you get the hang of noting the steps of each footfall, you will begin to 'roll with it.' You begin to walk with Nature and not through Nature. You will become so Centered that you will connect with everything around you: sounds, smells, wind, gravity. You will sense the Life around you before you see it with your physical eyes. On the city streets and country trails, Nature is all around us.

When you have completed your Walking Meditation, you will find a greater Peace inside yourself. You will be able to concentrate more clearly on the issues you had before your walk. If you are a Spiritual person, this will help you quiet the mind to hear what Spirit has to say.

Pay gentle attention.
Let go of judgment.
Become present.
This will let Peace catch up with you =)

2010-04-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
~ Albert Einstein

Inner Peace Tool ~ Taming the Inner Critic

2010-03-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

(The following is a portion of an article that appeared in The Healing Point Newsletter. I just received this article from my Laughter Yoga Teacher. It was profound and I had to blog it!)

Most of us are familiar with the Inner Critic. You know, that pesky individual living inside our heads telling us we're stupid, worthless and/or ugly. Yes, that's the one. Very few of us having an Inner Cheerleader telling us that we're super, fabulous and magnificent, so the Inner Critic usually gets a significant amount of air time.

The Inner Critic has a considerable impact on our bodies as well. It deceives us by disguising itself as anxiety, depression or stress. This is how it occurs: When we grow emotionally, it's normal for us to experience an expansion. In exceeding our previous state of being, we become more of ourselves. Thanks to growth, we feel more competent, knowledgeable, powerful and at peace. Then after this, a contraction usually takes place. We need time to integrate our new experiences and to rest after the strides we've just made. This is a natural cycle.

Enter the Inner Critic. It witnesses this cycle and seeks a perfect opportunity to wreck havoc on our growth. Catching us in the contraction when we're usually a little vulnerable, it feeds on minor setbacks and taunts us about our expansion: "Who do you think you are getting that promotion? You're sure to fail!" "Who do you think you are taking some times off? You're not being productive!" "Who do you think you are starting your own business? You won't make it financially!"

And, if there are any little set backs occurring, the Critic latches onto those as well. "See, you can't make it on your own – not enough money is coming in!" "See, you're not going to get that book published. The agent just rejected your query letter!" ...And on and on it goes.

When this happens, our growth can become severally sabotaged if we listen to what the Critic tells us. Not only that, our bodies become at risk for collapse. This is because every time we believe what the Critic says, our energy becomes constricted. Instead of letting our energy flow with delight at our growth, we block our energy in fear or defeat. We suck in our breath, our muscles become tight and the migraines start. We label this as stress but in reality, it's the inner Critic telling us we're worthless, our lives are a mess and we're not allowed to be happy.

We must learn to tame the Inner Critic or we'll experience chronic stress. We do this by being gentle with ourselves, by encouraging ourselves and by accepting ourselves for simply being.

Feel deep within yourself that you are okay regardless of what's going on, how you feel or what your mind is telling you. When we feel this way deep within ourselves, our bodies relax, energy flows and ironically, things really do turn out okay. We have to teach the Inner Critic this because it hasn't learned it yet.

By: Lise Porter, Licensed Therapist ~ www.liseporter.com

2010-03-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of The Universe. Your playing small does not serve to world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of The Universe that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
~ Marianne Williamson

Inner Peace Tool ~ Write It Down!

2010-03-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

I've owned and given this book away a few times already, and I just purchased another. It's a genuine "GUARANTEE" that it will work for you, just as it has for me. The entire title is: Write It Down, Make It Happen. Knowing What You Want - And Getting It! by Henriette Anne Klauser.

It's a simple notion that what you want can happen to you if you simply write it down. Goals, aspirations, never-gonna-happen-but-I'll-write-it-down-anyways, pretty much anything you want. I would not endorse this book if I didn't KNOW that it works. I've recently begun a new list!

Shortly before I moved to California (and after I had read this book), I made a list of things I wanted once I arrived in California. My list started to come true, starting the first week I was here. The last of the list was completed 3 months later. From wanting to live next to the water to the type of job I wanted. Upon moving into my new apartment, a koi fish pond with a waterfall was outside my bedroom window [instead of the ocean, which I should have clarified when originally writing 'water!']. I wasn't complaining. It was perfect....but don't forget your own important details!

“You can "make it happen" purely by believing in the possibility. There is no 'right way' to write a goal down – a single line jotted on a scrap of paper is as valuable as a full-blown description of the goal that goes on for several pages. Once you state your goals in writing, the rest of the world can cooperate with your ambition – from grand career goals and major moves to having a better relationship with a teenage son, or simply waking up in the morning happy."
~ Henriette Anne Klauser, excerpt from her book.

This is possible because of the brain's filtering system called the 'reticular activating system' (RAS). This filtering system can sort out important things. Imagine you're in a room full of talkative people. Though you can't hear everyone's conversation, you can hear your name spoken by someone across the room. What makes us hear our name and not everything else? That nifty RAS, that's what! Once we write something down, it creates a 'filter' for the RAS to use. Things start to appear – though they've been there all along – your RAS filtering system is linking you to signals and signs seeing that you make it to your goals.

Try it! I love hearing the success stories from my clients who've read this book. (a special thanks to my client M.K., who inspired me to share this on my blog...I can't wait to hear your future success story!)

Copyright © 2000 by Henriette Anne Klauser, Ph.D.

2010-03-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

“Tension is who you think you should be.
Relaxation is who you are."
~ Chinese Proverb

Inner Peace Tool ~ Reiki Healing Photo

2010-03-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

While you look at the picture, know that the Intention is for the healing of any ill you may have, be it physical, mental or Spiritual. Yes...this is for You and only You, that is my Intention. As this photo was taken, I was sending out Reiki Healing Energy to anyone who sees it. You have found your way to this Healing picture, and since I don't believe in coincidences or accidents, I am glad you are here, in the Now with me.

Take a deep breath and exhale out your nose. One more, in through your nose then out through your nose. Uncross your arms, legs and ankles. You may place your hands on your legs, palms facing up.

Now relax your forehead...relax your shoulders...feel your weight supported in the chair.

Relax your eyebrows, let them be heavy over your eyes....loosen your jaw....and finally, relax your tongue inside your mouth. (This relaxes your nervous system and can be done anywhere, anytime).

Visualize yourself in perfect health, your body in perfect glowing health...see your mind centered and at peace. See the most perfect version of yourself. Make it your Intention to receive Healing now.

And so it is.

Inner Peace Tool ~ Healing With Music

2010-03-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Never underestimate the healing power of music. We all may know a song that uplifts our spirits, makes us dance or gets us in the mood. Sound waves are energy and have resonance...you know when you hear noises or sounds that "don't jive" or make you uncomfortable. It's the same with pleasing sounds. Resonance affects everyone and everything, all the time. Sound has a frequency, and that frequency can remind the body's energy field of it's original blueprint, resonating at the same vibration. This in turn brings us into harmony.

“Music has charms to soothe a savage beast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."
~ William Congreve

Don't underestimate the power of Sound. What would most movies be without a powerful musical score? Try watching memorable scenes in your favorite movies with the sound muted. It's just not the same.

“Music washes away from the Soul the dust
of everyday life."
~ Red Auerbach

I've attached a song here for you. It is one that brings me immediate peace every time I listen to it. It is my intention for it to bring you Peace, too. Settle yourself, take a deep breath and relax into your chair. Click the link below and just...Listen.

~ Click Here To Play Streaming Music ~

2010-03-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

“Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.”
~ Robert Collier

“The person you call an enemy is an exaggerated aspect of your own shadow self."
~ Deepak Chopra

Energy Painting ~ Ten Fingers and Toes

2010-02-23T16:28:00.001-08:00

When I first knew that I was starting my Spiritual Journey, I had different animal totems appear to me in meditation. The one in particular that I had numerous coincidences and impressions with was the Crow. Though scary in movies & certain lore, to the American Indians, it taught them to "keep open to the magic of the Universe." The Crow has led me to see so much of the magic in my own Life...

This piece came to be through an awake meditation, an experience I had after I first had moved here. As I looked at my hands and feet, I saw black feathers coming out of each finger, each toe. The impression floated in and let me know that all I needed to fly...to expand, create, become...was already in me. All I had to do was spread my arms and fly. The magic of the Universe would carry me along...and to this day, it has.

“Be the change you want to see in the world."
~ Mahatma Ghandi

I named my business after my Crow totem, to honor the many signs [what some may call coincidences] I've had finding Crow & Raven feathers throughout my years walking this Path I've chosen to follow...it has taught me to let go of stereotypes and be brave walking my path.

What animals do you seem to attract? What has your favorite animal always been? This animal could be your Animal Totem, full of symbolism & magic...just for you. A great book to check out is Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. It is full of many different animals and their meanings. This has been the best book I've found to give an accurate guide of the ever present communication we have with the Animal Kingdom.

Animal-Speak. Copyright © 1993 by Ted Andrews. All rights reserved.

2010-02-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

“Have no fear of failure. You cannot fail. You can only produce results. Failure is a judgment. Success is a judgment. There is only a process of learning. True learning is shown by what you do with your results."
~ A Cherished Friend

Inner Peace Tool ~ Letting Go

2010-02-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

"There's an important difference between giving up and letting go."
~ Jessica Hatchigan

Even as I gathered quotes to put into this entry, I realized how much Letting Go is a constant practice of Inner Peace. Life is a journey, not a destination...and all along our Paths are opportunities to Let Go of something.

"You don't need strength to let go of something.
What you really need is understanding."
~ Guy Finley

We are all on our Path. Think of it, we are born alone, we die alone, and in between is our Path. Sometimes we have other people to help us on our Path: please think of me writing this blog entry for YOU...that I came along to write these words specifically to invite you to Peace.

Since we are on our own Path, that means that others are on their own Paths. And at times, it can feel like we are walking on 2, 3, 4 or even 10 other people's Paths. Here is where we get to make a choice: It is a blessing to someone, to let them walk on their own Path. We sacrifice of ourselves when we don't focus on our own journey, and this cannot lead to Peace. Only by being true to ourselves, can we be true to other people.

"Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head."
~ Ann Landers

I have found that the quickest way to "Let Go" of something, of anything, is with Forgiveness. It can be easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves...but when we DO, we are giving ourselves a second chance. An opportunity to learn from something that has affected us deeply, to let go of the regret & sorrow, and to find Peace as someone a little bit smarter, a little bit braver.

"Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions."
~ Gerald Jampolsky

I invite you to make that choice. Today, this minute, is an opportunity to Let Go of something. Don't try to figure out 'what,' it will most likely present itself to you now. Difficult? Perhaps. Overwhelming? Welcome to the club. But I have faith in YOU. We are more powerful than even WE can imagine. Step 1...Forgive: whomever, whatever, ourselves. Do it honestly and willingly. Step 2...(and smile as you do this) Let Go. See the thoughts leave your body through your head, through your tears, through your Heart...and let Peace immediately replace that space. It is your Peace, you have earned it.

"Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, Life itself reveals again and again the opposite: that letting go is the path to real freedom."
~ Excerpt from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Energy Painting ~ You Are Being Healed Right Now

2009-07-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

The title of this piece comes from a favorite quote of mine. It's from the book "Conversations With God" by Neale Donald Walsh. What it's sharing with us is that whenever you think of it, you are being Healed, right now.

In the painting, I have used stones called Black Tourmaline. Their particular function is to repel negative energy, to relieve stress. The stones are arranged to align with the viewer's chakras. As one studies this piece, the stones repel negativity away, "Healing" the viewer. The red color melting through the black is symbolic of the Love that is always, ALWAYS, just on the other side of negativity and pain.

I have energized this piece with Reiki to send peace to the viewer as they observe it. It's function is to Heal. So even if someone doesn't know or understand it's symbolism, perhaps they will feel a stillness and a calm feeling overcome them.

2009-05-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

“Be the change you want to see in the world."
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Inner Peace Tool ~ One Smile At A Time

2009-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

I smile. A lot. People ask me how I can "be so happy" or "smile at complete strangers" ....but they don't know the Peace I feel while doing it. I take the risk of looking like a complete idiot to some people, and looking like the only person in the world who's smiled at them. It has added to my Inner Peace every single day. There have been times I've left the house in such a funk, only to be turned completely around by giving out a smile at a gas station, supermarket or stoplight. Smiling is the Universal Language of Friendship and Peace.

"In ancient China, the Taoists taught that a constant inner smile, a smile to oneself, insured health, happiness and longevity. Why? Smiling to yourself is like basking in love: you become your own best friend. Living with an inner smile is to live in harmony with yourself."
~ Mantak Chia

I've been told that a smile makes people wonder what you're up to =) Some people may be skeptical, some may be confused...but the smile is always noticed. This world is full of people in a rush, some too busy to even breathe...I've seen vacationers on beautiful sunny California days trying so hard to "be" on vacation that they forget to smile!

"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give."
~ Author Unknown

It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown. It actually boosts your immune system! Why not save energy AND spread health & positivity at the same time? It also releases natural pain killers (endorphins) and serotonin. Smiling can make things seem easier...I find myself smiling during the difficult parts of my yoga classes. It's delightfully distracting =)

Sometimes the challenge is to not grimace when your smile is returned with a smirk, or a frown [see 2nd Agreement in earlier blog post]...but this is part of the path towards Inner Peace. There is discipline of the mind by smiling at them anyway. By not expecting anything in return, by selflessly giving away such a simple act, it reflects back to your Heart...resulting in Peace. It's the Gift you give both to others and to yourself!

"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day."
~ From P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Energy Painting ~ This Lifetime

2009-05-18T16:44:00.001-07:00

I like to use objects from nature to symbolize larger ideas. This painting was created with a sea fan and two starfish. Trees to me symbolize our Soul's Lifetimes, every branch a single Life. I believe we all travel in "Spirit Bands" where a group of Souls will come down together during a lifetime and appear at different stages to help our own Soul's growth. The two starfish represent Souls returning to the same Lifetime to encourage, inspire and guide each other. These two starfish can be anything: friends, lovers, enemies...perhaps a stranger on the street who with one simple act, transformed the other Life's path.

Some people say you can recognize a familiar Soulmate through their eyes... My feeling is that we don't have just one Soulmate. I believe we have many!

2009-05-14T16:14:00.001-07:00

“You are a living magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts."
~ Brian Tracy

Inner Peace Tool ~ The Four Agreements™

2009-04-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

The path to Inner Peace can be a rocky one, full of frustrations and doubts. We give fear the most power over us, sometimes without even realizing that it is programmed into our everyday blueprint for living. It is easy to fall back into the reliable gossip and pain conversations that connect us with others.

There are many tools that one can use on the Inner Peace journey. I have added these Four Agreements because they help me on my Path, every day...and in return to the author of them don Miguel Ruiz, I am "sharing with others what I have learned and how to live your life so they can be happy as well."

Adopting these agreements into your Life can be easy for some and extremely difficult for others. But it will change your life. I promise. Remember to be gentle with yourself. That is different than disciplined. We can all have goals, and a tenacity to follow those goals, but when it comes down to it: be gentle with yourself. More than any family member, close friend or lover, it is the relationship we have with OUR SELF that is the most important.

It is not selfish.

It is being True to Oneself.

The Four Agreements
by don Miguel Ruiz

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.

The Four Agreements © don Miguel Ruiz http://www.miguelruiz.com/