New Leaf Mentoring … new thought. new health. new life.

Archive for the ‘Healing’ Category

Joyfully Counting Forgotten Blessings


I’ve been reviewing the past year as I believe most people have been doing. It’s what we tend to do at the beginning of each new year. I’ve been counting my blessings as well as taking stock of all the pros and cons of my life as it stands today. Then my thinking made a radical shift.

I was thinking of the changes I would like to make in my life, which had begun to sound eerily much the same as last year when I spontaneously remembered an event that had happened in my life this year which had had a profound affect on me. I realized in that moment that there were many such events that had come dangerously close to being put on the back burner; out of sight and out of mind. I quickly flipped to a fresh clean page in my journal and began listing all the new things, events and relationships I have experienced this past year. I was amazed to witness right there in black and white written in my own hand, how much new had actually happened! This was exciting! Turns out that 2010 wasn’t at all the same as any other year after all.

I attended meetings, gatherings and symposiums that were important to my personal and business development, I have met a ton of brilliant kind-hearted people who stimulate my heart and my brain, I have rekindled a very lovely dear friendship after too much time had passed, I’ve re-connected in a meaningful way to each of my siblings, I have developed new adult relationships with all 5 of our kids, I have written countless articles and have been published by some of the best e-zines out there on the web, I have had the extreme pleasure of caring for 20 cats this year – (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!) I opened a Facebook account, I started this blog, I did my website – MYSELF!, and it goes on and on…

These were all things that I hadn’t planned, that I didn’t list in my intentional goals for 2010, but they were far and away the most important. No my kitchen isn’t renovated yet, and I don’t have new living room furniture, my book isn’t published – but I’m getting closer, and I haven’t found homes for all my cats but in light of all that has happened, well, it’s all good!

I am excited now about the many unknown, unplanned for things that I will encounter this year. I did remember too, making a promise to myself to seize new opportunities and to embrace fresh starts  – to say YES to more, and because it worked  I will promise this to myself again this year!

Before I stumbled on my almost forgotten blessing I was sitting in my left brain, being very serious, planning strategy for the year to come. Although my brain was fully engage my heart wasn’t. My heart jumped to attention when I began remembering the spontaneous accomplishments of the last year.   Rest assured of the bounty that sits within our grasp when we give ourselves enough slack to reach out and grab it! The new opportunities, of which you are not yet aware, may well offer you the missing links to your dreams come true. It would be a shame to miss them because you were busy focused on a plan!

Before you focus on creating a new plan review the old year, list the new opportunities you enjoyed, the new people you met, the new books and authors you discovered, the accomplishments you forgot about – did they come by good planning or by good fortune? We tend to forget about the things we didn’t organize through our ego mind.

The synchronicity, the coincidences, the out of the blue opportunities and the random wrong turns are where the real magic of life happens so rather than creating an iron clad plan of attack for 2011 try following your heart and see what the meandering garden path has to offer.

Wishing you all a happy, wondrous New Year filled with joy, health and peace. And by the way, if you are reading this, YOU are one of my many blessings – Thank You!

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Healing

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Becoming Butterflies of a Different Kind


I know that you’re probably already familiar with butterfly analogies. I realize that butterfly references flit and flutter rampantly throughout the new age movement of thought. And I get that you get that butterfly is symbolic of transformation and metamorphosis. But I’m going to go through it again all the same; in detail, slowly, because although people talk the talk there is hardly a more potent set of images available to us mere humans than through the magical  synergy of the butterfly story. The real magic however lies in what is not often talked about. We usually talk about the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly; from humble beginnings to exquisite soaring potential. As humans we tend to like happy endings and butterfly wings are just plain happy making! But the real message of hope lies in the frenetic, arduous, and determined journey of the lowly Caterpillar.

4 Stages of Development:

1. The Egg (Conception): You are conceived, from fertilized egg you come into being. You enter into this life’s experience with a bevy of information that will all contribute to the path you must walk in this lifetime. From the moment of your conception you are immersed in this matrix of information that will metabolize into your own being, forming your own unique life’s expression. You grow, develop, and become the miniature form that will execute your life’s journey this time around. The concept of you is created out of karmic lessons, genetic opportunity, parental influence, environmental conditioning, and knowledge. When you are ready you will emerge through a  challenging experience of birth. Your first real experience of fighting for your life,  you break through the barrier that has kept you safely protected, to move toward an independent expression of your self. And this is where the real fun starts!

2. The Caterpillar: From the moment he breaks away from his egg, the caterpillar begins to hunt for and devour huge amounts of food. His physical rate of growth is fantastic. Four separate times he literally grows out of his skin. 4 times he must shed his old skin and live into his new potential.  4 times his skin splits, dries up and 4 times he must wriggle free of it, leaving it behind if he intends to survive; which is of course, all that motivates him.

Likewise there are four times in a human life that we change our skin, dramatically yet without realizing it from a daily perspective; infancy, adolescence, adulthood, seniority. But at each stage, before we can rightfully embody the next stage of life we must learn the value of letting go of the ideas, dependencies, perspectives and belief systems that have been relevant to life to date. Some of these experiences are emotionally devastating, earth shattering, heartbreaking. Although we think that we would be happy to leave these behind us, often these times of life are the ones we allow to define us and to influence how we move forward in life. Our ultimate success will be determined by how well we let go of our most challenging attachments, forgive and move forward toward the next stage. The caterpillar grows larger and expands with each stage right up until his ‘death’ time as the pupa. Human tendency, however is to slow down our growth once we move into middle age. Half way through our life span we tend to stop taking in new ideas, we indulge in routine, cultivate patterns of sameness, and reject thoughts of new possibility. We approach our death time with low energy, little creativity, and resignation to the inevitable.

As human beings we also have 4 aspects that must be simultaneously developed as we grow; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It seems an immutable fact that we are destined to grow, our choices in reference to each of these aspects will determine how well and gracefully we progress. Each aspect supports the others and encourages the others to stretch and reach for a higher opportunity at all times.

3. The Pupa (Transformation): When the caterpillar enters the pupa stage a profound cellular transformation occurs that will eventually allow the caterpillar to experience life from an entirely different, more lofty perspective than he had previously known. It is during this stage of human development that many of us choose to rest, believing that life has reached its climax and now there is nothing but a steady decline in vitality ahead. Transitioning from mature adult into senior is an enormously difficult shift in physicality, mentality, emotionality and spirituality for most people. Many people choose to spend this part of their development being ill, tired, listless, lifeless, uninspired and mournful. As fully mature adults we too begin to change chemically. The pharmaceutical companies must love this stage of development as they seem to provide more and more prescription drugs that cater to aging bodies and metabolisms to say nothing of hormonal deficiencies  and other chemical imbalances that happen with aging. It’s an all out effort to keep the population from believing what they see happening in the mirror. There is a time of retreat, isolation, and reconstitution that has to happen to allow the shift forward into a beautiful seniority. Mankind must learn to surrender to his maturity and allow the alchemical transformation to happen so that he too may emerge in a splendid possibility and symbol for hope.

4. The Butterfly(Seniority): The caterpillar instinctively follows his biological clock and surrenders himself willingly to the pupa stage of growth; man not so much. We fight it every step of the way. Every where we look we see seniors trying to recapture their youth. It is not however, the seniors that are trying to look and act young that capture our hearts, it’s the ones that joyfully and exuberantly embrace their age, their knowledge and their wisdom. The seniors that we adore and respect are the ones who have gracefully allowed themselves to embody the fullest culmination of their lives. When our elders joyously express their enthusiasm for life with flair and panache we see the human butterfly emerging. They have surrendered to their transition and have gratefully, with humility and profound wisdom accepted and embodied the journey of the butterfly. They have miraculously surrendered to the divine order of life to experience without fear or worry the fullest expression possible. The human butterfly has learned to leave the worries of growing, building and survival behind him and lives out the remainder of his life dancing with the breezes, enjoying the nectar of the beauty of life and living for the moments that remain. Butterfly nurtures the spirit of others around him, giving hope and inspiring the next generation to live their fullest life possible.

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Healing, Metaphysics

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Healing: Reconnecting to Your Sacred Geometry


The human being is a divine construction of geometrical shapes and patterns that resonate with all natural expressions of life. Each human-being holds within their DNA a signature coding and subsequent frequency that is in perfect alignment with his universe and potential. His hopes and dreams for his life will automatically manifest if he stays true to his original hologram. Life however, is full of contrived hopes and illusions that stymie our growth and potential expression, which if we believe in them will create fear, limitation and dysfunction.

In order to manifest the life of your dreams you have to become still, patient, and willing to heal whatever has come into your life that separates you from your potential. Only when you reconnect to the sacred geometry that presides over all life, to the order that governs your life, and to the order with which you have already co-creatively predetermined your place will you know yourself to be healthy and filled with a sense of well-being. That quiet, hidden divine order set the dream of your Self into your unconscious mind and it’s in the quiet hidden order of your sacred geometry that you will find the right path to follow to realize your dream. Your individual sacred geometry determines the building blocks of the stable, non-corruptible expression of your perfect dream.

This is a magical understanding, supported in esoteric wisdom. You may not want to hear it. That is to say that your left brain, goal setting side may not want to surrender to your inner inherent truth. We each have an inborn desire to be great and we have an outer fear that we aren’t good enough. We also though, have a deep knowing that we are profoundly powerful in our own right and yet feel that overwhelming fear of  vulnerability and weakness created by our environment, our karma and our life’s lessons. In a judgmental, critical, materialistic, media controlled world we too often see ourselves longing for everything we are told we should want if we want to be considered successful and powerful and yet at the same time we feel the niggling despair of not being able to achieve those prescribed goals.

Finding the Magic

Your dream lies in your truth. Your happiness lies in living your truth. Your truth is aligned in perfect wisdom with the Divine order of which you are an inseparable part. Your inborn desire to be great grows out of the perfection of your inherent construction; your sacred geometry. We intuitively understand the impenetrable strength that is divinely engineered into our most primitive unconscious being. A sense of personal weakness is created and experienced only when we witness ourselves as a product and reflection of the outside world. We lose our faith in our perfection when we start to identify with the crumbling impermanent world that has been built around us devoid of sacred heart and intelligence.

The magic happens when we allow our consciousness to reflect the magnificent ecological harmony of a forest, or the structure of a tiny sea shell, for in their reflection we know ourselves truly. In that moment we intuitively recognize the godliness locked within our own cellular being. Even looking upon ancient structures like the Parthenon, or magnificent cathedrals or the Sydney Opera House for example will fill us with a sense of awesome innate power because they too have been constructed using the same geometrical shapes, patterns and principles that we ourselves are built of. We naturally harmoniously resonate with all sacred constructions, and in the breath of a moment can be reawakened to our natural perfection.

Alchemy, Transformation & Perfect Manifestation

You are a magical, alchemical human being but you may not know it yet. You are as a butterfly wanting to become it’s full glorious self even when all you can feel is the sluggishness of the caterpillar. And just like the caterpillar, it will take an alchemical transformation to shift into a new way of being. Alchemy is based in understanding the laws that govern our universe and then stepping into the role of designer. By learning the necessary skills we can become the alchemist that seems to magically create the life of dreams and inspirations, from straw to gold.

Trust in the knowledge that there is an order in our Universe that is mathematically precise. All growth happens through the expansion of patterns.  The patterns are created by a sacred geometry that manifests throughout all natural expressions of form. We are part of those same expressions. The helix and swirling logarithmic spirals map out the basic structures that govern our physical universe. Simple geometric shapes and immutable patterns shape our physical reality. You, yourself are a mass of DNA helix on a cellular level, and swirling energy spirals that all operate with logical precision in resonance with universal patterns.

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Healing, Metaphysics

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Reiki, Camping & Healing; A Natural Connection


From 2002 to 2012 I lived in a truly magical place. Our one acre lot sat nestled amongst 30 acres of rolling hills and forest, perennial gardens and open space. We had more than a dozen ancient spruce sentinels majestically standing on guard over our property, wildlife – from squirrels to deer- roamed freely in broad daylight, birds chirped, sang and warbled all day long and yet my home was on the edge of town within walking distance to all amenities. My husband even put in a golf green and tee deck for a 60 yard practice hole. It was perfect. A Slice of Eden. I wasn’t the only one who thought so either.

I had worked from my home for about 8 years when it dawned on me quite unexpectedly that it was possible to add a new dimension to my work with my students. My property suited me well. Clients and friends had always enjoyed the gardens and property waiting for appointments or for meditation circles but it was that one particular morning after my meditations that I considered the possibility of my home becoming a healing/educational retreat place. It was rustic, it was natural, it was peaceful and it was time to share it!

There was a feeling on those grounds of being held. Of being supported. Of being hugged by the trees. I thought at first I was the only one who felt it and then I started noticing the melting that happened in people’s faces and posture as they sat on the patios. Despite their issues, despite their pain, there is a space here where it can be let go – even if only temporarily. Healing ground! Sacred space!

Focusing on What’s Right and Sacred

My property, my work, my family, and my life are sacred to me. The quality of our lives is determined by understanding what we hold sacred and how whatever that is holds presence in our lives. In the end it’s all about how we stimulate and encourage the sacred to be ambient and radiant throughout our lives. In a sacred attitude we are generous, mindful, respectful, honest and compassionate. When you add Reiki or any other powerful healing intention to the mix you create a magical opportunity for transformation.

There is a tendency among energy workers/healers to hunt out and heal issues. But after all these years working with clients in all sorts of difficult health situations I know of another way that is infinitely less painful and more successful than focusing on the issues. In focusing on the health of the body, on the vitality in life, and on the inherent light that resides in all manifestations of life we empower our potential and right to health, and in turn dispel the darkness. When we embrace peace, joy, life force energy we displace and transmute stagnant energies of pain. When we surrender to the health in us and forgive ourselves for believing that we are defined by our pain and losses, we heal. When we enter deep rest we initiate deep healing. Like begets like.

Immersed in nature we learned to experience the unlimited vibration of health. We experienced first hand the indomitable spirit of never-ending growth and potential. The vibration of nature is celebratory, exultant, and pervasive. There is a well-spring of health within us that is in perfect attunement with the vitality of nature. Nature is all about surrender and acceptance of what is, when we allow ourselves to be engulfed we learn to give over our ego and meet our true spirit. And so a weekend for Reiki practitioners was born; a weekend of being supported by nature to fully experience our own innate potential to be whole and to be healed in peace.

All things in life change and eventually we left our beloved home for new adventures and other places but the Reiki Camp continues to this day on the second weekend of September. Join us to experience healing with other like-minded individuals in the presence of Nature.

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Healing

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Freeing the Soul into your Life


I am a high-achiever and I am ambitious. It’s my nature. When I was younger I was strongly motivated by praise and approval from others, today I strive for excellence regardless of the praise or approval I receive from others. Over time I began to see that my path differed uniquely from the path of others and began to understand that my happiness depended on me owning my own authority. I began to learn to listen to my own soul to guide me towards my right path.

In the beginning listening to my soul was tricky because I didn’t know how to do it – we weren’t in a good relationship. I had never considered that my soul would have a different story than my ego self did. My mind, my emotions and my soul coexisted within this physical body of mine but no-body was communicating with the other bodies. Until I discovered the presence of each body with in my whole expression the channels of communication went something like this: my mind working in cahoots with my ego self would make executive decisions on behalf of the whole, the emotions would react accordingly and the physical body would act out with strength or with pain as it could to support the whole body consensus. As you can imagine, and probably identify with, there was considerable unrest in the house at all times. Pain in my body made me stop ‘doing’ and start ‘being’. In the physical stillness that followed my thoughts initially became manic, unconscious thought began to rise through the fog to be heard, conscious thoughts vied for attention, the ego stubbornly struggled to stay engaged and in control,  emotions stirred and made themselves felt, some for the first time. Underneath it all the quiet voice of the soul could be heard whispering direction and advice. Mental, emotional, spiritual turmoil ensued. Life seemed out of control and very challenging without the normal strategy of ‘doing’ something to shut everything up. Intrigued (and frightened) by the madness  flowing through my life I vowed to keep listening and determined not to fall back into my old coping mechanisms. I knew I couldn’t go back but I also didn’t know how to move forward. If you don’t know what to do  – do nothing…so I became very, very still and I learned to observe, listen and learn.

Emotions need only to be acknowledged honestly for them to be satisfied, but the mind needs to be heard. Excuses, contradictions, logical arguments, insane belief systems, all guide and camouflage the truth of spirit trying to express itself. Patiently, like trying to coax a shy kitten out of a hiding place you have to convince the soul that you mean no harm, that you will listen, that you are finally willing to act in its best interest. Slowly the relationship with my soul started to mend. I came to know myself in new ways; my triggers, my fears, my true pleasures, my motivations and my capacity to live a soulful, heart centered life. My intuitions grew stronger and more dependable, my knee jerk instinct to react lessened, I could breathe and wait, I didn’t take everything personally, my ego began to disengage from every exchange allowing my spirit the room to emerge. I began to feel peace. I began to feel creative as never before.

I have often wondered how my life would be if I could have brought this knowledge of life into my life in architecture and construction. Or into my life as the organic herb farmer. But it is what it is. All in good time. All exactly as it played out was important for the revealing of my soul in my life. I like the idea that we are Spiritual beings living a physical experience – but we also need to strive to empower our spiritual self otherwise we will find ourselves living soul-less materialistic physical lives burdened with the struggle and pain of trying to maintain an impermanent reality.

So how can you recognize when your soul is freely engaging in the process of your life? You feel purposeful, engaged, patient and satisfied. You realize you risk nothing by being fully present. You feel anywhere from a vague to a strong sense of connectedness, a remembering of a promise. You feel really big, unlimited, and optimistic. Limitations are part of a language you no longer speak. You are not overwhelmed by the physicality of your life. You feel nourished, nurtured and loved.

And with this awareness coursing through your life you feel the impulse to nourish, nurture and love others.

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Healing

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Banding Together – A Naturally Balanced Harmony


I’ve been involved in a project as a collaborator for the past several weeks. What that means really is that while I have tried to do my part as well and as actively as I could I am just a cog in the wheel. The wheel is the brain child of others. They launched their project on the internet for all the world to see this morning after months and months of developing, organizing, preparing, visualizing, recruiting, and formatting. It has been a formidable task I’m sure, but their vision was clear and they were determined. It was my privilege to assist them in realizing their goal. Their project is called ‘Feng SHe’ and its purpose is to provide solutions for heart and mind to generate and promote balance between the masculine and feminine energies that create our world and our thought. Through the combined efforts of like-minded individuals – yours truly included – we have provided a bevy of articles, information, and new thought that address the concerns of imbalance that perpetuate in our society. Please check out their new site

The thing is folks that the time of me, me, me is over. As we start living in the Aquarian vibrations of our current era our greatest efforts will be rewarded when we combine them with the efforts of others. This is an age of oneness, working together. Competition will gradually become a thing of the past as we learn to develop a consciousness of co-operation and oneness. As we learn to band together we will learn to understand fully that what affects me affects you, what benefits me benefits you and as I conquer you I simultaneously sabotage myself.

One principle, One mind, One direction. We will not become clones of each other, never fear. Within each one beats a different drum, to a different creative tune. We each have our voice and we will all be heard. The beauty lies in the natural harmony that is created when we all band together and each do what we do best.

So I urge you to get together with like-minded people and create something harmonious, for business or pleasure the outcome will be spectacular – a naturally balanced harmony.

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Healing

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Stand Up and Be Heard


Every day I encounter people who speak vaguely, never really coming to the point of what they believe yet agreeing with you as if that was what they meant all along. I see people not committing to their words and thus their opinions, allowing themselves to be swayed by popular belief rather than formulate their own thoughts. They don’t want to make waves, they want the approval of others, they want to fit in and not draw attention to themselves. It’s very sad. They know not to what degree they are hurting themselves and indeed humanity in their attempt to be easy-going, inoffensive and agreeable.

In my work I see many people suffering with dis-ease socially, mentally, emotionally. Eventually this general unresolved dis-ease will lead to disease in the physical body. It is inevitable. You don’t have to be psychic to see this, it comes down to simple math. Where attention goes energy flows. Even when people are wobbly and non-committal in their intentions, their foundational intention is based in avoidance which is based in insecurity and fear. Their beliefs need to be reexamined before their lack of clarity gradually erodes the integrity of their innate physical intelligence and begins to create their demise.

Dr. Bruce Lipton stated that the body is composed of 50 trillion cells,which he likened to tiny individuals needing to be led into health. Without clarity in leadership or direction – which we otherwise refer to as  intention –  these cells are open to attack by any number of invasive illnesses. Cancer for instance, in the body behaves as though it ‘knows’ the best way. Cancer cells ‘believe’ in their health and power and they go about aggressively growing and gaining power over the body, draining valuable resources of usable energy. They thrive in the energetic environment created by fear and will continue to grow invasively until they dominate the entire organism. These mutant invaders will rob the body of every last bit of energy resource until there is nothing left to use unless they are stopped in their tracks. Chemo, radiation and surgery may be partially corrective but without the strong leadership of positive, healthy and committed mindfulness, the body will continue to struggle to heal.

The genetic coding that is locked in the DNA of our cells dictates to us how we will understand things, and then further how to act and react in any situation. This in turn kick-starts the chain of communication in the body that determines the distribution of chemicals, hormones and natural antibodies. It’s not that the DNA holds the cells that are cancerous from our ancestral heritage, it more like our DNA holds the intelligence that allows the body to believe it can be attacked by cancer. The good news is that intelligence can be destroyed or created. We can learn new things with dedication and commitment.

Come to know your own mind; what do you think, what do you believe, whose voice has a place of power in your head? What is important to you, what is your value system? It matters less what is right or wrong than it does of how important certain issues are to you. When you consistently compromise your inner belief, value and moral systems you compromise your integrity and hence your well-being. Learn to function without the approval of others. Rather learn to align yourself with others that hold the same value systems as you do. Don’t be afraid to stand up and be heard, every voice needs to be heard, no matter what the message. Our diversity stimulates growth and new possibility. While no one man may have all the answers for the best way forward, together we can forge a new path that honours us all. Healing happens in the light, secrets kept hidden in the dark grow confused and distorted. Bring your thoughts out into the open, into the light. Allow yourself to stand up for what you feel is true and join together with your peer groups to hammer out a new way forward.

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Healing

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The Future In the Direction of Your Dreams


Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. – Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862

This has been one of my favorite quotes for as long as I can remember. I’ve used it to raise my children, to inspire change in myself and in others and to spur me to action when I feel stagnant.

There is something about the word ‘dream’ that fills us with hope. In a dream we can believe the seemingly impossible. We slay the most fearsome of dragons, we freely entertain the craziest visions of ourselves and our world, and we win. In a dream we become aware of our vast potential and unfettered promise. In the dream we know ourselves as we can be and we valiantly, demurely and joyfully become our best selves. Yes, in a dream we win, loss and failure are concepts not remotely relevant to the dream.

We can experience a dream in our sleep, quietly sanction one in our imagination, covet one in a silent selfish manner and never bring it to the light of day or to the criticisms of others if we like. But the power of a dream is ignited when we say the word ‘dream’ to others. Suddenly what we hold becomes visionary and prophetic. While people may critically assess another’s goals and ambitions they can accept another’s dream for the future. In the sharing of a dream we become united. We dare to dream the same dream. We are willing to entertain the possibility of another’s dream because we understand that world to exist beyond this one that we are obliged to walk everyday. In the dream everything is possible; my dreams and your dreams.

In the sharing of a dream we become hopeful and inspired. The conflicts of the ‘real’ world fade and give way to a world where the rules are simple, good prevails and the universe becomes eagerly complicit.

Dream; a magical word that bridges the abyss between realities. Even in waking a vivid dream will linger in this realm, inviting us to manifest it. Our actions, thoughts and words are directed and governed by the dream as long as we succeed at holding it in our front mind consciousness. Through this our dream moves closer to our living reality. A dream of yourself can be made manifest if you hold it in mind and heart, govern yourself appropriately to the dream, releasing what doesn’t serve the dream, and breathing it through your soul with mindful intention, thereby grounding it into this realm.

A dream does not manifest over night. The nebulous realm of no time dream time has to find a resonant symbiotic groove of energy in this realm of linear structured ‘real’ time before it can materialize. Our physical world of action and opposites and tension is governed by laws of universal understanding that must be allowed if we are to manifest within it. But as Thoreau suggested the Laws will become simpler, bending to your needs as you hold your dream with confidence.

So go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined! And before you know it you’ll have crossed the bridge and will find yourself waking up in your dream!

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Healing

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How Beautiful Are The Feet


My daughter is studying classical music. She’s a budding gifted soprano following her bliss. Her bliss has opened many doors and windows to my own bliss. This spring she had to learn an oratorio by Handel called “How Beautiful are the Feet” for one of her many auditions. The piece was produced for “Messiah” and was to celebrate the peacemakers.

The words – like in most important messages are very simple:

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and
bring glad tidings of good things. (Isaiah 52:7)

This message is as potent for us today in our time as it was in the time it was written. It teaches us the value of the spoken word and to be mindful that those words further the attitudes of peace and positive intentions.

Walk today with beautiful feet and if you get a chance find Handel’s music and listen to it, just for a little musical reminder.

Have a blessedly peaceful day!

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Healing

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Tiny Drops – Giant Ripples


Whenever I start talking about environmental sustainability I have found that many people immediately hit the immensity of the problem with their smallness. We hate feeling small and ineffectual. When we feel we can’t make a difference we tend to avoid the issue. We turn back to our moderate lifestyles and try not to be part of the problem. We might not actively be part of the solution but we try to minimize our role in creating more problems. At least for a time, eventually old habits slip back in. Unfortunately, once we know something we can’t un-know it. We can try to forget it, stuff our new knowledge back into the furthest darkest corners of our consciousness, drowned it in consumer based habits, or turn to other indulgences. It seems that people hate rocking boats and that they resist any change that may upset their comfy cozy existence. This may be true on some obvious superficial level but underneath I choose to hopefully believe that people are boggled over the immensity of their problems and a pervasive societal based low self-esteem prevents them from believing that they can do anything worthwhile anyway so why bother. We need to ‘bother’ because tiny drops create giant ripples!

I live in a beautiful little town in south-eastern Ontario. Our town is divided by a notable water canal system and there is a pretty bridge with iron railings, ornate lamp posts, we have a ban on pesticide and herbicide use, tons of green space and trees, we even have a white gazebos in the park where we have local musicians perform every Wednesday. Many of our stores have window boxes, there are flowering hanging baskets, even trees have been planted down the main streets.  You see the pride of the residents and store owners as you drive through town. People are generally friendly and courteous when you meet on the street. We have had a couple of homeless people here – we knew them by name. Sounds very Norman Rockwall-ish doesn’t it? And sure we have crap, every community does, we just don’t seem to spread it around. It is strikingly orderly and clean here. We have the same community resource as other towns, but we also have another secret asset that perhaps other towns don’t have.

A Secret Asset

Over the years that I’ve lived here we have had 3 individuals that walk with garbage bags. You’ll see them if you get up early enough. They walk the streets and pick up litter. They are self-appointed volunteers that have taken it upon themselves to keep our town tidy. I’m not talking about big garbage, I’m talking about cigarette butts, gum wrappers, occasional coffee cups and water bottles, stray scrap paper and plastic that blew out of the garbage truck. Stuff that you would never even notice as you drove through town. But you notice the effect of their blessed work. They don’t do this for praise, they do it because they care.

This summer, if you were paying attention you would have noticed a small little miracle happen.

We have in our town a character who would customarily hang around the main intersections of town (we have 3 with lights) day after day, staggering around with obviously too much alcohol in his system and seemingly no other direction or purpose for his life. He would try to stay out of people’s way and was fairly quiet but still, as you came in over the bridge you would notice this fellow invariably staggering about, holding himself up on building or railings, or slouched over in the park in a stupor. It seems though that one day early this spring he must have noticed the other gentleman who walked the streets around the canal with his recyclable bag and garbage picker-upper-thingy because ‘our character’ started walking with him. For a few days they walked together, you never saw them talk much, but what do I know, they may have been solving all the problems of the world. Then one day ‘our character’ brought along a white pail and walked down the other side of the street. Together these two have been wandering around town now all spring and summer tidying up. If he drinks anymore, he does it privately, and I never see him just hanging around anymore, he walks with purpose, interest and liveliness, head held high.

The miracle part is that a small (perhaps even huge) though clear expansion of personal self-esteem happened through the tiniest measure of service to a greater whole. In service to our community, in picking up tiny scraps of garbage he found a purpose and ‘our character’ found – maybe re-found – his truest character. I appreciate him for his effort. I am grateful for his daily routine. I hope it continues to satisfy him for the good of us all and if it doesn’t I hope he finds something else that nurtures his self-esteem and makes him feel his worthiness. He has made me more self-aware! I am grateful for that too.

A Ripple Effect of  Service

There is nothing that can take away from a soul that feels dedicated and worthy in his purpose no matter how insignificant it may initially seem to be. When we have found a way to serve others we establish value, self-esteem and purpose. When we find our own value, self-esteem and purpose we feel empowered. In that empowerment we know that even the tiniest actions can make huge differences to the whole. In empowerment we know when to join others for greater and greater effect. All of a sudden we stop being small. The ripple effect is incredible. Mind you if you do anything for praise and accolades of approval I fear you will be sorely disappointed. If your motivation comes from outside approval you will stay forever vulnerable to the loss of it. You will exhaust yourself trying to maintain it and you will not feel the intense satisfaction of knowing your own true ego less value.

I’ve been accused of not giving enough praise, of not satisfying others ego with effusive approval. It’s true. It’s not my way. It’s not that I don’t appreciate talent, excellence and effort, I sure do, it’s that I’m very aware that talent, excellence and effort has to be self-generating. I don’t want anyone seeking my approval to do anything. I want them to do their thing for themselves not me.

Empowerment must come from within. Empowerment comes from knowing your self-worth and being able to make choices that benefit yourself, your loved ones and your community just because your know in your heart it is the right thing to do.

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Healing

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