Sedona ... You Always Come Through

When I was presented with an opportunity to visit Sedona after having just been there 6 months ago, I couldn't pass it up.  I took the opportunity as a sign from the Universe in accepting and allowing. 

My first experience with Sedona was very deep and meaningful.  Around the time that I went, I was involved in a business venture that was becoming too heavy and twisted for me.  In my gut I knew it was time to walk away, but I struggled with that knowing because I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.  The magic of Sedona allowed for a natural and easy departure from that venture.  This time around was no different...

A big difference this time around was the company I was with.  In my first visit to Sedona, it definitely helped to be with a healer who has similar ethics to my own.  In my healing work, I feel it is very important to allow the person experiencing healing and transformation the necessary space to do so.  It's important to accept everyone for where they are at on their journey and not try to project my experiences, feeling, or expectations onto them.  As a healer, I must always remain neutral and not pass judgment, even if I don't agree with the other person is saying or doing.   

I also realized something while writing this blog - that I am still in the energy of not wanting to hurt anyone else's feelings.  I truly live by the number one ethic of "Do no harm," but that shouldn't be at the detriment of myself.  There IS a way to speak my truth, without any intention of hurting someone else.  I don't have to get involved in a mud-slinging contest (and I won't). 

You see, Sedona has this amazing ability to provide space for growth, transition, healing and release (a LOT of release through tears).  I find it no coincidence that both times I visited this year were during a full moon AND eclipse!  (I don't believe in coincidence anyway)  I learned many lessons during this second trip and I'm extremely grateful for every one of them. 

I learned that I'm stronger than I ever realized. 
I've always thought of  myself as a strong person, but the strength I found came on a whole new level.  This strength was energetic, physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional.  I truly feel that I can do anything now, without fear.  I removed myself from a situation that was unhealthy for me, even though the circumstances weren't ideal.  You see, it was 11:30 at night in Roswell, NM (5 states away from my home state of Illinois), when I made this decision.  This meant me finding a hotel room, finding a rental car, and driving myself home over the next 2 days.  In the past I may have crumbled, unsure of how to proceed.  However, this time around, I was confident and strong in knowing that everything was happening exactly as it was meant to (and I was beyond delighted when everything magically fell into place). 

I learned to fully honor myself. 
Again, honoring myself is something I thought I was good at doing.  And again, the Universe magically continues to present me with opportunities to see where I am lacking in this department.  When something isn't feeling right, I start to distance myself while trying to figure out the best exit strategy that doesn't hurt other people's feelings.  What I forget in that process is that I'm hurting myself while sticking around, trying to 'figure it all out'.  Again, the first rule in healing is "Do no harm" and that should always include "to yourself" as well.  Could I have continued on the originally planned journey home?  Sure.  But, a close friend very accurately described the situation as "soul sucking" and even looking back, it feels heavy to have stayed on course.  My soul and energy feels much freer having made the decision to honor what I knew to be right.   

Courage, Confidence, Trust, Faith. 
Shortly before leaving for this trip, I had a very deep and life-changing past-life regression.  During this regression, I had angels impressing the above four words into every part of my being, as if to deeply instill these virtues into me.  It was during my drive home that I realized how much these words came into play in my life.  I had the courage to walk away from a situation that wasn't serving my highest purpose.  I had the confidence to know that I could do anything by myself.  I trusted that everything was happening exactly as it was meant to.  And I had the faith that I would be Divinely guided the entire way. 

I learned how much I've matured. 
Those that really know me, know that I have a temper.  A hot temper with a short fuse.  Not my proudest trait, but I own it.  For me, maturity is learning from past mistakes and that includes handling things in a better fashion (read: not letting my temper take over).  In the past, if I felt attacked, accused, or judged wrongly I would be quick to react from an angry place.  It was so refreshing to know that I can just as easily let things roll right off of my back.  Because, the truth of the matter is - I was attacked, accused, and judged wrongly (I have the text messages and voice recordings that show this - which is also a sign of maturity for me, because I didn't share them with the world), yet I didn't let it affect me because I know the truth about myself and the incorrect opinions of others hold no bearing in my life.  

I learned that I am much better at handling change. 
Change is usually a word that gives me immediate anxiety.  But, here I sit thinking about the word, typing it out, and it doesn't invoke a heavy, negative feeling within.  Who saw that coming?!?!  (I sure didn't!)  Sedona brought out a huge change, both outside of myself and deep within myself and I handled it all gracefully and with ease.  (Affirmations really do work people!  I've been using affirmations for months now to help me better deal with change.) 

I was reminded of who my true friends are. 
I can't say this was a lesson learned, because this was something that I already knew.  But, it was so touching to be reminded of who truly does love and care about me.  People get busy and schedules conflict, but at the end of the day I have some amazingly supportive souls in my life.  I know I've expressed it many times over the past few days, but I truly hope these people know how much I appreciate and love them!

I learned that old wounds CAN be healed. 
It's no secret that my mom and I have had a rocky relationship.  I've gone through a lot of transformation over the past two years, and one of the most valuable nuggets of insight I've received is that everyone does the best they can with the awareness that they have.  I've also learned that instead of harboring resentment toward my mom for not being who I felt she should be, I could thank her for loving me inadequately (HUGE thanks to KC Miller for that!).  Had she been MY idea of who she should be, I would not have experienced the necessary life lessons that I needed to become who I am today.    Because I had time to myself, I was able to have a very healing conversation with my mom regarding all of this. 

I learned it's OK to be vulnerable. 
This is a lesson that's been gnawing at me for some time now.  Expressing my emotions hasn't always been easy for me, especially if they are tender emotions.  In the past, I've felt that I had to be in a 'safe' environment to open up and be vulnerable - meaning that I had to trust the people around me to be gentle with my tender side.  And even when that gentleness wasn't shown, I still expressed my tender emotions without shame or fear.  I feel it's important to allow others the necessary space to work through and process their emotions.  It was time I provided myself the same privilege.  If someone else is uncomfortable with my tears (or any other tender emotion I display), that is their issue not mine.   

At the end of the day, loving and honoring myself are more important than not doing so.  I've visited Sedona twice and both times I've emerged a stronger, more loving, more confident, and happier version of myself.  I've also been able to easily release what isn't serving my highest purpose.  Thank you Sedona, for not disappointing. 

Make 2014 Special!

A new year is upon us and for most, this means resolutions and new ways of living.  Some of us resolve to be better people, to lose weight, to quit smoking, or to save money, amongst other things.  But, the basis of each resolution is change.  Change is required to fully succeed at any resolution we make, and let's be honest - change isn't always easy (take it from someone who isn't fond of change). 

In order to successfully effect change, we must get down to the nitty-gritty and find the core of the problem.  Most often, this core is seated very comfortably in a deep, emotional place that we may not even be aware of.  Would you connect your lack of parental love/support as a child to your current weight or food issues?  Would you connect your inability to find happiness to your negative self-talk?  (Are you even aware of your negative self-talk?!?!)  Would you connect any jealous or envious feelings to your own lack of self-worth?  These examples are not always the cause of each 'issue', but 99% of the time there is an emotional tie to our physical and mental ailments.  We spend a lot of time tending to the 'issue' and not enough time figuring out the trigger, or cause. 

I've been trying to push myself out of my own comfort zone into making necessary changes, and spending a lot of time trying to identify the emotional source of anything I have going on in my own life.  This led me to a great idea - since change is most effective on a deeper level, every service on my "Coaching and Hypnotherapy" page will be listed at a special price for the months of January and February.  All single sessions will have a 25% discount, package pricing and past-life regressions will have a 10% discount.  (The prices listed on my website reflect this discount)

Why not let this year be the year that you finally [insert desired change here] by making the changes from the inside out?  I'm here, when you are ready... 

 

Living Life According to the Universe

The universe works in a very structured, yet giving, manner.  There are rules and laws that govern the universe and our lives and the more we live in accordance to those laws, the more harmonious our lives are, the more in touch we are with our true selves.  For about ten years or so, I’ve naturally been living my life according to Universal laws and my life has been drastically different since. 

It’s like a natural system of checks and balances.  Where our minds go, our energy follows.  So, if we think about and harbor on negative aspects of life then that is what we find ourselves surrounded by.  If we wish harm on others, we find ourselves in harm’s way quite often.  If we want something, we must act upon it – in both thought and physicality.  Everything always comes full circle – what goes around comes around, so if you ‘go around’ in a positive fashion, that positivity also ‘comes around’ your life.  Everything in the world must have balance, what goes up must also come down.  There is a rhythm to the universe and as long as we are living in accordance to that rhythm, we ourselves, our lives are also in rhythm.  To me, it truly is the simplest thing in the world, yet so many people are not dialed into this concept and awareness. 

We are the only ones who can control what we think, how we act, and how we react.  Keeping our thoughts focused on the things we want, instead of the things we do not want heightens our ability to manifest things in our lives. 

Actively appreciating what we DO have instead of what we do not have keeps our lives in perspective.  Being aware of the things we have that others do not, helps us to keep it relative.  This can be our mental health, our physical health, our spiritual connection, our physical surroundings, our physical assets, our zest for life, etc. 

Understanding that we create our realities, through our thoughts, words, and actions helps us to not become victims of our lives and helps us to hold ourselves responsible for what we do, think, and say. 

Knowing that we must have balance in life, being able to take the good with the bad, understanding that the sun sets and the moon rises, that tides go in and out, that people are good and people are bad.  It IS what we choose to focus on, so why not focus on the good?  Even if we experience a down time or a “bad” situation, we will get through it – we always do.  Everything is happening as it is meant to and we are never given more than we can handle. 

Having an awareness that our thoughts are like silent wishes, so should we ‘think’ about wanting a new house, we have planted that seed, as a wish to grow in our world.  The more we feed energy to that thought (wish) the more of a reality it becomes.  It may not happen overnight, but it will happen – again, when it is meant to. 

While Universal laws seem to focus on the mental reality of our thoughts shaping our worlds, there is a strong spiritual connection.  We must connect to and understand the Universe at large and Divine timing.  We must be fully aware of our physical beings, as homes for our souls and treat our physical bodies as such.  Taking care of and tending to our needs, wants, and desires.  We must recognize this in others as well.  If we, as a “world” recognized each other on a soul level, can you imagine how different the world would be?  We wouldn’t have the jealousy, the envy, the competition, the greed … we would see so much more love, acceptance, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding.  I’d much rather live in the positive aspects of the world.  Wouldn't you?   

 

 

 

Healing Through the Mind-Body Connection

A healthy soul is a happy soul.  This, of course, doesn’t mean that souls with physical, mental, or emotional ailments are not happy.  It does, however, imply that souls suffering from physical, mental, or emotional ailments or illnesses may have some underlying distress or unhappiness that deserves some attention.   

Louise Hay talks of this very thing in her book, Heal Your Body A-Z.  She talks about her own experience with cancer of the vagina, how her background of rape and physical abuse at a young age could have been the causing factor of the manifestation of the cancer, and also how she healed herself through a process, starting with clearing old patterns.   

Old patterns, thoughts, and behaviors that are so deeply a part of one’s soul may be the root cause of many mental and physical ailments that  manifest.  Anger, resentment, and fear are all emotions that do a great job of festering and eventually erupting, both physically and mentally.   

There are many ways to recognize and overcome these thought patterns that create so much disruption.  The following guideline is simply that – a guideline to be able to recognize patterns.  Always consult a trusted medical physician with any ailments and illnesses, and with the recent surge in holistic healthcare, there may even be a holistic specialist that can be consulted.   

• Trust your gut.  If your body is telling you that something just isn’t right, trust that feeling.
• Check-in with yourself on a regular basis.  This could be daily, weekly, or monthly (although the more often and consistent, the better).  When a negative emotion arises, stop and allow that emotion to be FELT.  Holding it back or stuffing it down is what leads to the patterns and behaviors, and often-times illness.  Acknowledge the feeling.  Spend some time with it.  Get to know it.  Understand why it is surfacing and from where.  If it is anger – Is the anger really directed toward the person or situation?  Or is the person or situation reminding you of something from the past and THAT is what is triggering it?  Recognize the source.  
• Self-Care.  There are many ways to practice self-care (a whole other list could be started for this topic alone).  A few very easy ways to care for oneself are sea salt baths, meditation, yoga, massage, dancing (even if people are watching, but way more fun if done while home alone), sufficient rest, and healthy eating habits. 
• Enlist help.  Find a trusted friend to talk regularly with.  Hire a life coach.  Go to counseling.  Find healthy outlets that give the repressed emotions and feelings a way out, without hurting anyone, including yourself. 
•  LOVE yourself.  Love.  Yourself.  For every perfection and imperfection. 

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  ~World Health Organization, 1948

 

*published in inSpirit magazine June 2013

Intuition Development Classes Online!!

Hi everyone!  I am so excited because I've had people express interest in attending my Intuition Development classes at Witchy Wearables, but are too far away or even in a different state.  So, I'm excited to announce that I finally(!!) have the online version ready to go, starting in January.  Yea!!! 

So, here is all the info you need to know:

• The classes will take place via video conferencing with Google Plus Hangouts.  You must have a Google (gmail) account and download Google Plus, if you don't already have it.  Be sure to include your gmail email address in the notes of your payment for the classes, if it is not your primary PayPal email, so that I can add you to my circles on Google Plus.   
• I am limiting the class size to 9 people only.  This keeps things intimate enough and adheres to Google's rules. 
• The classes span over 4 months, taking place every second Thursday of the month at 8 PM, Central time.  The classes may last up to 2 hours.  Specific dates are: 1-9-14; 2-13-14; 3-13-14; 4-10-14.   
• You must be able to commit to attending every class.  We create a shared energy during the classes and in an effort to keep this energy calm and comfortable, we all must take part in it.  Having people attend one class and not the next shakes up the energy and isn't very comfortable.  Plus, you won't want to miss out on the fun and interactive exercises and information! 
• The first 3 classes will come with handouts that I will email to you the day of the class. 
• You have options to pay for the classes.  The cost per class is $20.  Your initial $20 payment secures your spot.  After that, I will send you a PayPal invoice for the remaining three classes, about 2 weeks prior to the class date.  Payments are due 1 week prior to the class date.  --OR--  You can also pay for all 4 classes at once, which offers a slight discount.  There is a drop-down menu for the payment options in the Classes/Workshops section of my website. 
• You'll want to set aside this class time, to be a quiet, uninterrupted time for you.  This allows you to be fully present and connected to the group and gives respect to the rest of the group (and myself). 
• You will need ear buds or headphones, with a mic, for the class.  The ear buds/headphones cut out any feedback and echo that may occur. 

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me!!  I can't wait to start this journey with you!! 
 

Fitting In

All too often, all we really want in life is to fit in.  To fit in somewhere, whether it be a certain clique at school or work, with certain family members, or a group of friends.  We want to feel a sense of belonging. 

But, what if we took some time to look within and find that sense of belonging from inside ourselves?  What if we realized that what we are seeking really has nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of ourselves and has EVERYTHING to do with what we are truly seeking from withing?!?!

What is the true source of that feeling of belonging or fitting in? 

Is it acceptance?  If so, what is it about yourself that you are not accepting? 

Is it the need for attention?  If so, where are you not giving yourself attention?  Are you too focused on your family, school, or work and not being mindful of your time for self-care? 

Is it a need to feel loved?  If so, how are you not loving yourself? 

At the end of the day, everything starts within. 

We have to love ourselves ...
We have to be honest with ourselves ...
We have to trust within ourselves ...
We have to accept ourselves (And all of our faults.  Remember, no one is perfect!) ...
We have to take time to pamper ourselves ...
We have to be true to ourselves ...
We have to make peace with ourselves ...

Before we can give these out to anyone else and before we can allow them from someone else.  If we don't make things right within ourselves, first and foremost, we truly never make them right ...

"Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have." - Doris Mortman