Imagine

"Imagine all the people living life in peace"... (John Lennon). Today's blog article is inspired by the song Imagine, by John Lennon. Of course I had heard the song many times before, but around a year ago, it was played at a funeral and the words really struck me. I don't think I had really listened to the words before. The words to Imagine are as meaningful and profound today in 2009 as they were in 1971, when the song was written. The song transcends all time. The funeral was for a very special man and his favorite song was Imagine. He died much too young from cancer. He had an enormous heart connection, was unpretentious and helped everyone around him. He taught everyone he came in contact with, to never judge a book by its cover. He appeared pretty gruff on the outside but was the biggest teddy bear on the inside. Before he died, he hoped and imagined that people would be more caring and humane. He never understood how selfish and judgemental people could be. I imagine too, a world with more compassion and love. A world where neighbors, friends and family help each other out and kindness is the rule, not the exception. My nine year son imagines a world where people honor the planet earth by recycling, conserving energy and reducing pollution. The children need the world to be one of hope, promise and unity. John Lennon imagined some wonderful things for us and the world we live in. Let's always imagine for the world to be a better place.......Like Martin Luther King Jr, so famously said, "I have a dream." Imagine the best in yourself and dream it into reality. It starts with each one of us and we all make a difference. Begin by imagining that anything is possible.......


Imagine lyrics: By John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

(Imagine all the people sharing all the world)

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

2012

The new movie, 2012 opens today. As much as I love a good movie, this will be one that I skip. The whole idea of movies like this one is to stir up fear. I have read quite a few books on the subject and the consensus seems to be that 2012 is about change, shifting and transformation. If you do a search on Google for 2012, there are over 207 million sites that come up. Obviously, there are a lot of theories and discussion on this issue. No matter what, going into fear based thinking on this will not serve any purpose. The Mayan Calendar shows an ending....but an ending can be a transformation and a new beginning. I don't need to get into all of the numerous theories about 2012. Obviously with so many web sites out there, you can do your own research. Here is a summary of some of the theories. Leading Astrologists have analyzed the year 2012 and it does show a unique configuration of the planets, called the finger of god or yod, which signals a new energy or a turning point. The media will certainly over play the doomsday theory and perpetuate fear based ideas. When does the media ever try to calm the masses? They do the exact opposite, so be wary of any shows that try to get you to start building bunkers or assume that the world will end in 2012. Think about all of the fear generated by the media regarding Y2K or the Cold War. Fear will get you nowhere...except more afraid. "2012 is an astronomical, astrological shift in the consciousness of planet Earth which began at the Harmonic Convergence of August 1987. It is an rare evolutionary opportunity for us all to create a new paradigm, not the single cataclysmic event which the media seems fixated on. MANY Light workers and shamans on Earth as well as in Spirit are holding space for a smooth labor for the rebirth of humanity from the carbon based beings we are to crystalline beings we are becoming..." (Gail Gorelick November 13,2009). In the book, 2012 Awakening, by Sri Ram Kaa and Kira Raa, they ask, "Are you ready to fully awaken from the dream? Ready or not, you are waking up!" They contend that we have a choice, choosing spiritual awakening over Armageddon. The other choices, love over judgement and authenticity over fear. Seems more assuring than doom and gloom. "You have the societal self and the spiritual self, and you must decide which one is sacred. Let your intuitive self become your authority (Bringers of The Dawn, Barbara Marcinak)." The challenge, to stay calm in the center of the storm. Fear based theories will probably start to inundate us up until December 31, 2012. Again, each and every day we all have a choice, to remain centered, follow our hearts and avoid the pitfalls of fear, worry and doubt. "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path (Buddha)." It is our journey....each one of us can choose the path we desire. If fear is what you gravitate towards, that is your choice. Be aware of your choices however and understand that we are all here to grow and learn. In the book, The Great Shift, The Hathors' message is that, "It is so simple, it is forgotten....Find a way to live your life in joy and happiness." In the book, 2013, Jay Allen suggests, "I believe our future is in our own hands as we are all co-creators in the game of life, not only for our own futures, but the future of the world." Remember, children are going to be hearing about 2012 on television and in school. It is up to all of us to calm their fears. A new energy is upon us, so embrace the changes, try not to fear and continue to explore who you are and why you are here.

Adapt and Adjust

One year ago, my sister moved in with us with her black lab, Dudley. We have no pets, so it was an adjustment suddenly having a dog living with us. Two of my kids took some time warming up to Dudley, but my youngest took immediately to him. Dudley, being from California was getting use to the Connecticut weather and surroundings. He had woods to run around in and had to adjust to the wild turkeys and deer roaming freely across our property. It really was an adjustment for everyone. One night, I was having dreams of skunks. At one point I woke up and wondered if a skunk had sprayed right outside the master bedroom. In the morning, I went downstairs and wow the smell of skunk seemed to be getting stronger. I called out to my sister and she and Dudley came upstairs from the finished basement. The smell of skunk almost knocked me over at that point! I looked at my sister and said, "why does Dudley and our entire house smell like skunk?" Her eyes grew wide and she realized that when she had taken Dudley out for his midnight potty break, that he must have been sprayed at that time. She said that he had seemed spooked when he ran back to her. You see, she has such bad sinus problems, that she can't smell anything!! She had spent the entire night cuddling Dudley to calm him down, not realizing that he was reeking of skunk. My dreams had been correct, our house had been skunked. Over night while Dudley was in the basement, the smell of skunk went up through the ventilation system, penetrating every area of our three story home. When my husband ran out to get coffee that morning, the waitresses looked around and said, "what is that smell?" "That's me," my husband responded. We all smelled of skunk for days. My kids lunch boxes were banned from the school and had to sit outside the classrooms. Luckily, they were still allowed in school, even though their friends said they smelled. My kids were pretty resilient and did not take it too personally. It was quite an ordeal and it took weeks to get the skunk smell down to a minimum. According to Ted Andrews in the book Animal Wise, "When the skunk appears, opportunities will open to bring self-esteem and respect." I love the book Animal-Speak. It is a great resource regarding messages, signs and symbols from animals. The overall message was clear enough. We all had to adjust to the changes in our lives. The line in the movie Forest Gump says it best, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." We eventually all had a good laugh over the experience and Dudley will hopefully steer clear of skunks. Poor Dudley had a lot to adjust to as well. He had to cope with numerous tic bites, Lyme disease and my then three year old trying to ride him like a horsey. All changes in life come with adjustments and stresses, that's just part of new experiences. The lesson in Dudley and the skunk.........when changes occur in your life, expect the unexpected and learn to adapt and adjust.

The Simple Things

It is amazing how good it feels to wash my car.....or should I say more clearly, my mini-van. With three kids, you can only imagine how disgusting it can begin to look after a few days. On a side note, I never imagined that I would be driving a mini-van! It is one of those things you rarely aspire to in life. I went very begrudgingly into the mini-van arena. It was only after my third child was born that I quickly realized I was fighting a losing battle. Once I gave in however.....I was a changed woman. You have no idea how heavenly it is when your kids are screaming and you can just load em up quickly, when you have automatic doors. In addition, that DVD player is an absolute life saver!! That is one of the simple things I cannot live without. It assures me for the most part that I will have peaceful driving. I do not know how parents from the past survived without mini-vans and DVD players. Oh sure, kids will be kids and there will still be fighting over what movie to put on and which headphones are best. Another simple thing is cleaning. Clearing clutter and cleaning our spaces can help us feel lighter, brighter and just elevate our mood quicker than anything. When life feels crazy and out of control, cleaning can immediately help restore some sense of order in our lives. In Feng Shui, clearing clutter and cleaning is considered to be an energy "cure," meant to positively shift the chi considerably. When you want a quick pick me up, clean your car, desk or kitchen counter. It's a simple thing, but can help a lot! A nice cup of iced coffee, one pump chocolate-skim-cafe mocha (I am high maintenance sometimes), or skim cappuccino can really make my day. Of course a nice piece of dark chocolate (Sees candy is my favorite, but sadly, there are no Sees in CT), can put a smile on my face. Other simple things, a hug or kiss from my kids. Those kisses and hugs are the best!! Music can absolutely make my day. I love my inspirational music, but a good dance song like Miley Cyrus, Party in the USA will do the trick too. I especially love watching my four year old dance and sing to, Still Not a Player, by Big Pun. You haven't lived until you've heard the words rapped by a little guy (who sounds like Elmer Fudd), "I'm not a player, I just crush a lot....for my thugs." Going to a good movie is a simple thing that I have enjoyed since my childhood. It is a wonderful escape from the world, and a great way to laugh, cry, be inspired, feel suspense and overall great entertainment. Journalling is a simple thing I always recommend to clients and I do almost every day. It is a great way to get your feelings out, have some clarity and overall help you vent. It's the easiest and cheapest form of therapy available. Enjoying nature is a simple thing that can calm the spirit. Sometimes, when you have no time to go to a park, just sitting in a grassy area, looking at or buying flowers, or staring at the night sky can give you a bit of nature. Kindness is a simple thing that can elevate your mood. As a friend of mine wrote on Facebook, sometimes being kind to yourself can be the best gift of all. She is right, be nice to yourself each and every day, it's that simple. A good book is a simple thing too. I just started reading, "The Shack," after many people recommended it. There are so many simple things in life to enjoy. Each and every day pay attention to smallest things that give you joy or make you smile and allow life to be enhanced by all of the simple things.

The Communication Dance

Communication is a dance of sorts. Sometimes, the communication flows nicely like a waltz or two-step, when both people are in sync. Other times, communication can be off balance and out of sync. It's sort of like when one person is dancing to the beat of a Jay-Z song and the other one is dancing to Celine Dion. One type of communication between people that signals trouble, passive aggressiveness. Okay, we've all done it......been somewhat passive aggressive. Since most everyone is guilty of it, let's understand it a bit more. It's really a form of communication and is about acting out, passively. A client of mine complained recently, how her husband says he'll be home at 8, but ends up home at 10. He doesn't call or respond to calls or texts. That is passive aggressive. A friend asks you to help her move. You really want to say no, but you say yes. When she keeps calling to remind you of the moving date, you avoid the calls. That's passive aggressive. A client does not want to tell his wife how angry he is at her. When holidays and birthdays come, he conveniently forgets to get her something. That's passive aggressive. It is communication through avoidance, trying to not rock the boat or cause conflict. When you act out passively, you are still sending a message loud and clear. Many times you are conscious of it and other times you are not. People have a tough time communicating or owning how they really feel. Sometimes, they are aware of what they are doing and just want to retaliate, plain and simple. If you are not completely aware of your anger, then denial is in operation. Either way, the result is anger. if you ever find yourself getting frustrated at someones actions, when they have acted passive aggressively toward you, they will often minimize the situation saying, "You are blowing this way out of proportion." I have witnessed spouses going at it with each other full steam, when one has been behaving passive aggressively. It sometimes produces more damage, mistrust and resentment than active, aggressive anger. Why do so many people communicate this way? It starts in childhood. As children, we watch parents act passive aggressively. You hear, "Don't tell your dad I went shopping," or you witness adults avoiding telling each other how they really feel, always skirting the issues. Even children start acting that way. They figure out real quickly how to avoid getting into trouble, if they just tell you what you want to hear. Thus, the dynamic is born and they are off and running. Many adults are not communicating......or should I say, they are communicating via avoidance and passive aggressiveness. To improve the dance of communication, one has to stop their part in passive aggressiveness and avoidance. First step, communicate clearly. Even if you fear the other persons reaction....at least take responsibility for how you are feeling. If someone acts passive aggressively toward you, don't take it personally and again, direct communication is best. Let the other person know you are aware of their passive aggressiveness and don't be surprised when they deny it or try reverse tactics. Communication can be tricky at times, but be true to yourself, try to dance verbally with integrity and respect.....and know that there are always two perspectives and the truth often lies somewhere in the middle. "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him (Buddha)." Once in awhile, you will still step on each others toes, but be aware of your part in any type of communication and the dance will go much more smoothly.

Scrooge

I went to see the new movie, A Christmas Carol, tonight with my kids. My daughter was a little confused with the whole, ghost from the past, present and future thing, but we all enjoyed it nonetheless. The story is a classic and I never tire of it. I have seen just about every version ever made and the timelessness of the tale is inspiring. We have all come across Scrooges in our lives and perhaps, even in our darkest moments, we have all acted a bit like Scrooge. He is bitter, angry, jaded by life and completely closed off. He had a rough childhood, jilted the girl for greed and lost connection with himself and humanity. He pushes everyone away and is imprisoned by his pain. His darkness causes him to lack compassion and laugh in the face of generosity and kindness. He lives in his head and without a heart connection, he is cold, detached, and just plain mean. I know a few people who might match that description. I would say that Scrooge could use a little therapy. Then the spirits of the night take him by surprise and give him the quickest version of psychotherapy possible. I wish it was so easy and just one night of visions about the past, present and future would completely do the trick! I'd be out of a job, but who cares. If we could transform bitter people into compassionate, loving human beings over night, I would be fine with switching professions. I guess in some ways I am the ghost of the past, present and future, rolled into one. I guide people to reflect on how the past affected them. In the present, I urge them to analyze how to improve current relationships and be more aware of the moment. I also help people shift gears and bring illumination into their lives, which consequently, improves their futures and what they attract. So, if the overnight vision thing became the new therapeutic technique, I could just sign on to be one of the ghosts, working while I sleep. Scrooge is so clearly jolted back into his heart, with all of the emotions he is forced to feel. He transforms back into the man he was always meant to be. Those ghosts are pretty powerful and what great lessons for every one of us. The spirit of the past is about reflection, regret and awareness. It is so important to just become aware of who we are and how we got here. In the story, one visit to the past does the job, but the idea is for just enough reflection to learn the lesson and move on. Reflect back to something in your past you wish you could change. You cannot change the past, but honoring that you would if you could, acknowledges the truth beneath the defenses. Scrooge looks back and is horrified by what he sees. With new eyes, his realization is that he had been so fear driven and guarded, that he lost everything that he ever loved. When he views the present, he is equally horrified, because his selfishness had blinded him to the people in need all around him. His bitterness blocked him from really seeing the loving souls, trying to get his attention. Compassion flooded him when the blinders were taken off and he saw beyond his pain. His future terrified him, because he was shown that what you put out there truly comes back to you. If you are not feeling and expressing kindness, love, compassion and joy to the world around you, then eventually you get nothing back, because nothing is what you have been offering. That old saying, do unto others as you would have them unto you, could not be more true. I always cry at the moment he wakes up on Christmas morning a changed man, full of life and hope. He realizes that it is not too late and he is offered a second chance. He embraces the moment and mankind becomes his mission. He discovers instantly how gratifying it is to be kind and giving. It is an amazing story of redemption. I suppose that is why, no matter how many times we see or read the story, the impact is always profound. The lesson for all of us....that it is never too late. Let's learn from the tale of Scrooge. Live in the moment, offer love and kindness to everyone around you and know that change is always attainable. If Scrooge can do it then anything is possible!

Alchemy of the Spirit

Alchemy is about transformation, literally translated as medieval chemistry concerned with turning metal into gold. The idea of alchemy in ones life is to transform your heart and soul into gold. In the book, The Alchemist, the character sets out on a journey to find a treasure....but the journey turns out to be the treasure and the pot of gold is within him. We are all on our journey to transform, become present, conscious and fulfill each of our own destinies. As Eckart Tolle writes in, The New Earth, "A reversal of your priorities comes about when the main purpose for doing what you do becomes the doing itself, or rather, the current of consciousness that flows into what you do." He states that, "The modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm." The idea of acceptance is simple, that we begin to take responsibility for everything in our lives. When we take responsibility for what we are doing and for each moment we have, we become empowered. That is not to say that you may not want to stay in the current situation you are in, but it is accepting that you are there in the present moment until you can shift the situation fully. There is no "victim" energy or "poor me" or any type of suffering if you enter into a state of acceptance. The idea is to release ego from dictating your state of being and again, allowing a state of empowerment. Enjoyment is all about channeling joy into everything you do. Yes, there can be a state of enjoyment in vacuuming as well as going for a hike. Enjoyment is also a state of being, when you are in a conscious state of being in the present moment and bringing the energy of joy into life. It is not seeking out activities that bring you joy. Then the state of being is outside of you, not in you. If joy is in you, then you bring it to everything that you do! "Enthusiasm means there is a deep enjoyment in what you do plus the added element of a goal or a vision that you work toward (Eckhart Tolle)." Everything in your life should be able to enter one of the three categories, acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm. If you cannot stand something in your life and you truly cannot accept it, then you might want to stop that dynamic or activity because it is clearly not helpful to your journey. I notice that being in the moment allows me to notice the gorgeous clouds, while I may be sitting in traffic. I don't mind running errands, because I enjoy the music I listen to in the car and feel satisfied at completing things that needed to be done. I was able to enjoy a five hour detour on my drive to Vermont, because I allowed myself to embrace the moment. I also have things in my life that I want to shift, but am in a state of acceptance as I sort out all of the changes that need to be made. We all have things we need to accept until the time comes to shift the situation or circumstances. Evaluate your life and shift your perception to being more conscious and aware. What can you accept, rather than resist or complain about? Surrender to acceptance and take responsibility for your life. By being more conscious you can also bring enjoyment to everything that you do. What simple activities can you allow yourself to enjoy? Life is so much more fulfilling when you can consciously, accept and enjoy each and every moment. With that said, the more fully present you are, then you make room for enthusiasm to enter your life which brings you to an even higher state of being. Allow alchemy in your life.........shift your awareness into the present moment and allow the transformation of your spirit to begin.