You Are More - December 2010

You are more than the problems you create. You are more than your decisions and choices. You are more than your regrets. You are more than your joys. You are more than you think you are. You are more than you believe you are. The intensity and aliveness that which you are is incomprehensible to the mind.

You are a divine being capable of so much more than your mind tells you. Release the resistance of your mind and emotions. The more you release resistance the more you open up to the higher vibrational being that you are. Just know that you are more.

"Beloved ones, you are the power of the future. You are the ones envisioning the future, and the future does not exist except as you will mold it and shape it and envision it. You are the power of the future, and it will be as you decree it. The future has not been made yet." Jeshua Online, www.Oakbridge.org

All the experiences of our lives and most of what we can be aware of is just surface stuff! Go deeper. Feel more. Be more. Each moment holds more divine power than the surface awareness that we usually see. Each and every moment is holy. Each and every moment.

So come as you are. The full aliveness that which you are. Everyday starts new. Everyday starts fresh within you - the powerful being that you are. You are more than you think you are. Start anew. A clean slate. More than this, you can dive down deep and cultivate even more than you think you can. You can do this in every moment, just upon waking for the day. And you can do this right now! Don't wait for tomorrow. Start fresh right now. Breathe slow and deep. Feel refreshed.

Say you have a past regret. A mistake you might have made. Let's put aside the fact that this "mistake" helped you grow into the person you are now and assisted you in appreciating what you didn't back then to now. You are wiser. However, even this regret you hold too close to you now is not who you really are. You are forgiven because you are so much more than this. You can decide to remake yourself today. Live anew.

It's not about what you've done or what's been done to you. It's about your core essence and what you share of your true self now. It's about what you realize within yourself. Our first and primary goal in life is to realize our Divine True Selves. In that awareness we are FREE. In that awareness we can truly live. In that awareness we can truly give of ourselves as we are pulled to do so. In that awareness we can Be. Bliss is at our reach. It's up to us to realize we are more. We are light. We are Love.

Please check out the video by Tenth Avenue North, called "You Are More", that truly drives home the emotion of the essence of this message. And also, Firework by Katy Perry, an amazing song and uplifting video!!

Matt Kahn of TrueDivineNature.com asks, in his most recent video, this profound question: "When there is nothing to be aware of, is awareness still there?" Does awareness still exist. YES! And when you feel that answer from deep within an amazing connection occurs. A divine presence awakens. Always there, never not there.

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Live An Authentic Life ~ November 2010

Like I said above, what better way to give thanks this Thanksgiving than to live your authentic self and true essence. That which you are is a gift to this world. The gift given to you is the ability to share yourself with everyone you meet.

Living authentically is sometimes very easy and other times a challenge. There is a fine line between telling it how it is and be utterly cruel. There is a kind way to speak your truth when the call to do so occurs. There are times when you should listen to your gut and share your heart felt feelings and there are times when it is best to remain silent. Still. And allow what will be to be. Allow others their experience as you sit blissfully silent in your own unique experience.

Being authentic is becoming aware of your truest self to the core. A natural progression can get you to your true self. My heart tells me what I need to do. I share with you that we must stop listening to what others think about us. Stop only receiving validation from the outside and look within. Every time I look within, I truly feel more validation from Self…mmm... even beyond validation to truth and bliss and surrender. And things I don’t like are there, but I am doing my best to be truthful to that mirror. I know I ignore and resist at times. And as I get these reminders over and over I resist less and less and become more aware, more mindful. Even now I wonder of what you, who are reading this, might think of my inner process and writings. Will it be felt as my truth? It feels like truth at this moment. More surrendering, breathing and being reminds me that it’s all divine. No matter what. And so, I breathe.

It’s time to live in your truth, integrity and bliss. Be your authentic self. Not what anyone else wants you to be. It’s all about your bliss barometer! What makes you feel good is your path to your authentic blissful self. Just because social conditionings have said certain actions or ways of living aren’t “normal” doesn’t mean it’s not a part of YOUR path. You could be one of the few that brings out a better way of living simply by following your bliss barometer. Be open to new possibilities that truly awaken your path to live life to your fullest! Shine your inner light now!

I desire living a life that is spiritual, meaningful, authentic and blissful. One that brings me to the depths of the divine soul itself; a deep spiritual connection. So even in writing my book (that is now in its editing stages) I have been constantly tested to be authentic and truthful in my writing. These articles and the book I am writing are my learning ground. I have caught myself many times writing what I thought people would like to hear rather than writing from MY HEART and MY AUTHENTIC SELF. So I have deleted a lot of text throughout the writing process of my book, simply because I realized it wasn’t me. Being authentic means no more artificial smiles or self-centered purposes. Pay attention to inner qualities. That is being authentic.

Now being authentic will not make everyone happy. Those people are feeling uncomfortable in their own skin watching your authentic self. This is their issue. They will get angry and mean or spiteful. Again, stay within your true divine self. It’s time. You do not need another’s approval in order to follow your dreams and live in your truth.

Likewise, be aware of what is pushing your buttons. As others live their true divine self this holiday season there may be many times where you want to blow a gasget and scream or cry. This is the mirror they are showing you. It's within you to learn the lessons of another's Divine expression. Our relatives may get on our last nerve, but sit back in the witness state instead. Ask yourself why. Really ponder and witness. Surrender to the emotion rather than run wild with it or resist it. Allow it to be there so you can find the truth that comes from it.

Living your truth is also allowing you to go deeper within your soul, one beautiful step at a time. Denise Linn says it best here, “I'm examining ways, within myself, to speak straight from the heart as much as possible in every situation (but in a way that is kind). I have found that when I communicate my truth with joy, clarity and focus (and the willingness to allow folks the opportunity to respond in whatever way feels right to them without judging them for their reaction) my relationships flourish.”

Feel the truth of your soul that lies within. Express it as you are called. Share your Divine expression as that is your gift of giving to the world. Give thanks for who *you* are because you *are* a gift. Blessings.

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

November 2010 Yoga Pose - Shoulder Stand

Shoulder Stand
Sanskrit: Salamba Sarvangasana
Image courtesy of Yoga Journal.com.

Should Stand is one of my favorite poses. It's a pose great for shifting the gravity within your body and circulating the blood flow in a new that our body doesn't always receive. This allows for many health benefits. To name a few:

* Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
* Stimulates the thyroid and prostate glands and abdominal organs
* Stretches the shoulders and neck
* Tones the legs and buttocks
* Improves digestion
* Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
* Reduces fatigue and alleviates insomnia
* Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, and sinusitis

I find an inner peace while in this pose. The excellent counterpose (Fish Pose) is also my favorite (that we will discuss next month). I think this is a great pose this Thanksgiving as it triggers your Thyroid into action that will therefor then work on your metabolism and digestion (especially if you move into Plow pose from this pose). Play with works best for you and your body and never go further than what works for your body today. You do not want to injur you neck to please take care and listen to the directions below. Honor the wisdom of your body always.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
(This can also be started against a wall for beginners.) Set yourself up with a blanket thick enough to allow for your neck to have no pressure. So your head and neck are aligned and the top of your shoulders are at the very edge of the blanket. Fold a firm blanket into rectangles measuring about 1 foot by 2 feet, and stack them. You may need more than one. If you do not have a blanket, use your mat and even place a mat over the blanket. This will help your elbows from slipping while in the pose. From here, lay down on the blanket so that shoulders are parallel to each other on the blanket and/or mat with your head on the floor.

Bend your knees and begin to raise your legs up in the air. As you do this you will begin to curl your body, pelvis first and raise them legs up in the air. All while fully supporting your body with your hands on your lower back. The weight is in the shoulders and arms, not the neck or head. If you notice the weight in the neck or head, come out of the pose and readjust yourself. As you raise up, straighten your legs as much as possible and notice if your legs are angled or straight up. The goal is to get them straight up. Bring your shoulder blades in towards the center of the back. Allow the weight to fall into the hands only.

As you progress you can move the sternum closer to chin. Eventually your upper back will be in alignment with the torso and legs. Go slow. Take your time getting into this pose. Listen to your body always. Hold this pose for 30 seconds to even up to five minutes.

Then slowly begin to lower down bending your knees and then rounding your back, one vertebrae at a time roll on out flat on the floor. Nice and easy. Immediately go into a counter pose such as the Fish pose that we will discuss next month.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
Keep in mind this pose is considered an intermediate pose. So please take it slow and go one step at a time. Try Plow pose first to see how that feels on your body. Other things to consider to not practice this pose is if you have Diarrhea, a Headache, High blood pressure, Menstruation (a controversial idea, so use your intuition and listen to your body during menstruation), Neck injury, Pregnancy (If you are experienced with this pose, you can continue to practice it late into pregnancy. However, it's not recommended you start this for the first time after you become pregnant. Your body is not ready or prepared.)

December 2010 Yoga Pose - Fish Pose

Fish Pose
Sanskrit: Matsyasana
Image courtesy of Yoga Journal.com.

Fish pose is commonly followed by the Should Stand pose we discussed in last month newsletter. It's a great counterpose. This is an amazing pose that seems to tap into your entire chakra system. A great opener. And a funny sychronisticity occurred when I was describing this pose. I went to yahoo for a moment and right there was a photo of a fish and its story about really not being extinct (as they thought for 70 years!) So do this pose, it's a great pose and don't allow *it* to become extinct in your practice. It holds such tremendous value physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
To come into Fish pose, lay flat on your back on the mat. Bring your hands under your buttocks palms facing the mat. Rest your buttocks on the back of your hands and do your best not to lift your rear end off the hands or mat during this pose. Legs are straight and activated. Feet pointed. From here the weight will fall into your elbows and forearms. You will be arching and lifting your back up while allowing your head to fall back and the crown of your head rests lightly on the mat. There is no weight in the head, only the forearms. Drop your shoulders back and down. If tilting your head back is uncomfortable take it where it is comfortable for your neck. Modify where you need to and always honor the wisdom of your body. Tilt your pelvis to assist the back into its arch and if you like take a gentle lift and hold in the pelvis. Remember to breathe. Hold for a minute or two and come out fully refreshed. Bring your knees into your chest and give them a nice hug.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
Any neck, head or back issues. This is also not a great pose if you have a migraine or insomnia. Listen to your body and it will tell you if it's able. If you feel strain or pain, come out. Sweet discomfort is all we look for is most poses. And for this particular pose even that is a bit much because this is more of a stretch and hold allowing for an opening in the chest and neck.

Yoga Pose for October: Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend

Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend
Sanskrit: Upavistha Konasana
Image courtesy of Yoga Journal.com.

Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend is one of my challenge poses. It's very simple and yet one that words more on me mentally than physically. In the past I have not been able to bend forward very far if at all once my legs are wide. For this I had to work on mental thoughts and the ego instead. I may not ever get to the low bend that the flexible woman to the right is doing. And that's okay. We each have unique anatomy. It's how we're put together. However, I also know that the more you practice the pose and the more you surrender to where you *are* rather than pushing or giving up, the more your body will simply extend or bend further into the pose. You just simply follow your breath and surrender to wherever you are naturally and allow your body to be where it may. As you breathe you will notice yourself moving further into the pose.

After doing this pose for six years and more diligently once a week for over a year now, I am finally able to place my forearms comfortably in front of me on the mat. My bend is a little further while still maintaining a straight back and surrendering to wherever I fall. It just happened that one day I was diligently flowing into this pose as usual and then it hit me that I could lower down further than I had been before and without much effort. So now I am comfortable resting on my forearms. I know that as I practice this more and more that maybe in another year or two I may be able to come even further into this pose. We'll see! But I am happy to keep the lesson and surrender to where I am at, focus on my breath and be.

This pose is fantastic for the groin, hips, calves, thighs, knees, hamstrings and spine. This is a fantastic grounding pose that also assists you in going inwards during the forward bend portion of the pose.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Come into a seated position. Extend your legs out in front of you. Then open your legs wide to either side (about 90 angle or as wide as you can go to make a partial triangle). You might feel like you are falling forward, so take a moment and place your hands behind you and inhaling lengthen your spine. We want good posture here. If you can't sit comfortably on the floor, you may want to roll a blanket or mat to go under your sits bones. From here, be mindful of the knees. Be sure the knee caps are pointing upward toward the ceiling and especially as we bend. Use the thighs to reach outwards to assist with the knee caps. Flex your feet and press through the ball of your feet.

While pressings your thighbones into the mat and your spine elongated, begin to walk your hands straight forward between your legs. Maintain the length in the arms as you reach. Walk as far forward as you can. Remember we are hinging from the hips here. Good posture in the back and tilt the pelvis to assist with this forward bend. As you inhale, extend the spine and as you exhale surrender further into the pose. Inhale, extend. Exhale, surrender. Inhale, extend. Exhale, surrender. Gaze slightly forward for your head to be in line with your spine. If you are like the woman in the image above and would like to go further in this stretch, take your two peace fingers (index finger and middle finger) and wrap them around the big toe as you lower down even further to the floor, again while maintaining good posture in the spine. Hold and breathe. Hold for about one minute and then slowly come up with a straight back. Bend your knees and slide your legs in for a good counter pose, such as Baddha Konasana.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
If you have lower back injury be sure to sit up high on a blanket. It's best not to bend forward too much with lower back injury so keep your torso relatively upright.

Taking Care of Our Temple: Before and After

Taking Care of Our Temple: Before and After
Image courtesy of The NewYorker, Oct. 4, 2010 p. 63

"The body is only a temporary vessel for awareness for undying consciousness. Trust the space of awareness. Wisdom, conscience knowing. The one who knows in you. Buddha nature." ~ Guided Meditations for Difficult
Time by Jack Kornfield

Isn’t this photo so perfect for the message this month! It came after I wrote this article. Divine timing! Last months newsletter seemed to get a little bit of attention. In the September newsletter I posted my before and after photo of my over 90 pound weight loss. After receiving a few comments I was drawn to express the needs our temple for this months newsletter.

Being physically fit is a part of an overall best practice for our Energy and Aura Hygiene. You can’t have one without the other. They spill into each other. Our energy relies on our physical health as well as our physical health relies on our energies being in optimum highest vibration. So they spill into each other. In order for our energies to be at our unique peek highest vibration we must maintain excellent physical health. And it’s easier to maintain our best physical health when our energies are at their highest and best.

I feel it is imperative to take care of the body, our temple, as a part of our enlightenment. We might ask why do I need to take care of my body to be evolved? Why can’t I just eat what I want when I want and do whatever I want when I want to do it? Since we’re all truly divine already why bother? Right? Wrong. We have been given the gift of this body we inhabit. We are Spiritual beings having Human experience. We must take care of the temple we are inhabiting. There is something there inside of most of us, even if very deep that says, "I'd feel really great if my body were healthier. Physically fit, not necessarily thin or stylish, but healthy and feeling good. There is something that draws you in to move; to move the body everyday; to do something for wellness; to eat the right foods; to provide whatever the body needs.

This act of taking care of the temple and moving the body has the effects of not only feeling good but it also prepares the body for enlightenment - Kundalini awakening. If you don't prep body you might be heading towards a catastrophic awakening, like Gopi Krishna in Living with Kundalini. We must do the work on the Self on all levels. Doing the work isn't just working on emotional issues and working towards becoming more spiritual but also working towards being more physically uplifted. That is the whole: Mind, body *and* soul together. So it is just as important to take care of the body. We are, after all, awakening the body while still alive in the body rather than through physically dying.

For me, in order to bring myself into more balance I found faith. I found faith in the Divine. And most importantly myself. I found self-Love. I found my spirituality and my true self and only then I was ready to take care of all the rest of me. This, of course, led me to shedding those pounds and healthily releasing mental and emotional issues and blocks.

Seems like I started backwards by working on spiritual stuff first. I’m sharing how it all played out for me. If this resonates with you and assists you on your path, great! I opened up spiritually first, while slowly working on emotional and mental issues. The physical awareness came last. There was something that finally came to me and I shifted. The awareness came to me that said: “I'm not happy. Something needs to change. I’m not happy with my body. The way I feel.” I was lazy and complacent back then in the unconscious me. When I opened up spiritually there was a connection to Source that I never had before. My faith was instilled in a higher power that nothing else can compare to. This faith in Spirit gave me drive and passion. A passion I never felt before. So I finally worked on my body physically (exercising, yoga, eating right) and expanding because of my physical efforts. Everyone has a different karmic cycle, different blueprint to live in this life. Take note, that there is some reason synchronistically that you've made it here and are reading this article. It's serendipity. A seed is being planted. Work on those issues.

Before my physical weight release, I WAS unconscious and trapped with stagnant energy and emotions. And after, I am more free and live more in the present moment. I am happy and filled with a passion for life and love. There is a greater purpose, you have a greater purpose and that purpose is getting to know yourself. So it seems the question is, how can you get to know yourself if you don't know your own body? So the awareness of the physical body as well as other bodies (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) is very important.

During physical activity you will have epiphanies, because you've created the space to stop thinking. Sometimes you are in a workout and eventually you'll come to a space where you are thinking and if you are thinking you are processing in a better state maybe even a meditative state. Things will come up; epiphanies will come; awareness of things. Things will come to you that you wouldn't necessarily think about because you were in negative thinking or fear mode, or you were busy in your own head or busy doing something else rather than creating this space for yourself in this workout. A deeper meaning suddenly flashes in your mind. An awareness of a higher meaning of things, things that come up, things you've gone through, and you may say, “Oh wow! Now I know why that happened. I get the lesson.” You see the forest for the trees all because you went through a workout, a walk, yoga or whatever, because you are honoring your temple.

It's important to note that as we move our body we are also releasing not only physical toxins and tensions but releasing emotional and stagnant energies from the body!! We tend to stuff down our emotions and not face our fears. When this happens it builds up in the body, as aches and pains to even a physical manifestation of illness or injury! Our physical body is not separate from our emotions nor is it separate from our soul. They are linked together working as a unit. We must work with all levels in a balanced fashion. We mustn’t ignore our physical bodies anymore. As we do this on ALL levels we move more naturally through the world and I dare say process and release challenges and emotions at a faster rate (or rather at a rate that is "normal" if working on all levels - mind, body and soul - rather than only one or two).

“Fitness to me isn't about a crunch or a push-up. It's about taking your power back. Physical fitness is transcendent because it forces you to finally face your issues.”
~ Jillian Michaels

Sometimes you need to have a physical exhaustion or fall apart completely in order to finally see what you need to see! This can happen physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. It's up to you. Can hear the whispers of your body? Do the work.

Challenge: It’s Your Choice

Take this challenge today. Find something that you enjoy and move your body. Do this at least 20-30 minutes five days a week. Extra credit it doing it every day. Please try this challenge for 30 days. See how you feel. Please send me your experience in moving your body. I really would love to know and share!

Now we also know that Yoga is extremely medicinal as well as therapeutic for the mind body and soul. Each pose offers us unique benefits through the body physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So it is on the top of my list of recommendations for a routine to practice several times a week or even daily, even a few minutes a day. But do something else that makes you happy and moves your body. If it's walking, then walk. Running, then run! Aerobics, bicycling, skiing, roller skating, ice skating, tai chi, dancing! Whatever it is, do it. Decide you can do it and you will do it! It’s all up to you. It’s your choice. Jump up and give yourself the boost of energy and motivation you need to keep going. Once you output one seed of energy a giant mountain load of energy comes your way. The more energy you produce the more comes your way. All you have to do is take the first step. Then the Universal law of attraction is on your side keeping you going. I might sound like a broken record but for me Denise Austin's cheerleader attitude is really what motivated me to get the weight off and keep it off. I've kept off the weight for over 6 1/2 years! And I had a pregnancy in the middle of that. I still worked out every day and even on the day of my delivery. Because I loved it so much and knew that it would only help boost my immune system, ready my body for labor and also assist in a faster recovery after labor as well as shedding the 25 pounds I did gain during pregnancy. Of which I did shed in less than six weeks because I stuck with my workouts and eating plan as well as my faith in the Divine. It was the combination of the mind, body and soul connection that allowed me to finally keep off the weight for good.

So let’s take care of our temples. You find a strength that you didn't know was there. You open up and remove the petals of the flower to show more of yourself. You true Self. You also find an awakening, an awareness that you didn't realize you had and was always there waiting for you. We are all awakening in our own time. It is all a part of the process.

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Yoga Pose for September - Mountain Pose

Yoga Pose of the Month

Mountain Pose
Sanskrit: Tadasana
Image courtesy of Yoga Journal.com.

Tadasana is a great pose for grounding and opening up to our Root Chakra (found at the base of our spine). Our Root or Muladhara Chakra is red in color. This chakra is our Kundalini and Grounding chakra; our sense of safety, survival and security (i.e. financial stability). This is the chakra where our Kundalini rests. The Serpents that are coiled 3 and ½ times around. The Kundalini rises from here through our entire chakra system as we ascend to enlightenment.

In Tadasana, most commonly known as the Mountain Pose, you are aligning your body with good posture connected as you stand activated and grounding through the feet. You are really feeling the aliveness that you are, the energy in your body as you stand in this pose. There is a lot more going on than meets the eye in this asana. It's an amazing pose to do between poses. You really integrate and come back to the present moment. If you are worrying about the past or the future, you are not grounded. Getting back in Mountain pose assists you in getting back to the present moment by breathing and aligning and witnessing. This pose is also great for Sciatica.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Simply come to the top of your mat (you can do this anywhere even standing in line at the grocery store!). Feet walking distance apart to improve your balance or if you prefer keep your feet close together. Stand upright. Really feel all corners of your feet grounding into the mat or floor. You can even take the action of lifting all of your toes up and slowly extend and lower your toes down to the ground. Good posture here. Drawn the navel in towards the spine. Shoulders back and down. To assist your shoulders you can also have your palms facing front rather than in towards your body. Close your eyes. Gaze can be straight forward or eyes closed. Challenge your balance as well as allow yourself to go inward with eyes closed. Reach your fingers down to the mat. Arms and legs are activated. Lower your tailbone down to the ground and lift up from the crown of your head to the sky. Center and lengthen. Hold and breathe. To lower your shoulders even more so you may open your palms facing forward. You'll feel the difference. You can see the action and the inaction in this pose. Feel this polarity and enjoy the alignment of your body, mind and spirit.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
If you have a headache, insomnia or low blood pressure it is said this pose may not be the best for you. Wait for these symptoms to subside by resting and doing whatever it is that assists you, then come into this pose when the timing is right.

Give It Your All

Give It Your All

There are times when stillness is where we are called to be. And we must always remember that we are perfect just as we are. But there is also something that is pulling us, driving us forward, pushing us to evolve. Our internal Divine guidance system calling us to take Divinely Inspired Action. Very cool, huh!

But we can ignore it. We have free will right. We can stuff it down with food, drugs, TV...just about anything if we so choose, whether consciously or unconsciously. But I'm here to say that once you take that leap it's much harder to be the "stuffer-downer" (that's my official name for it) than to be that person who listens to divine action when it calls and takes that leap when necessary.

Remember last month when I said "Forget everything. Come as you are." That's more true now than ever. COME AS YOU ARE. You *are* a Divine being with a unique expression to shine forth. You *are* Love living. So Live out loud! Give it your ALL! Don't just go through the motions and live unconsciously. See, feel and BE the life your are living. You *are* Powerful, beautiful, kind, graceful, sexy, sensual, alluring, mysterious, innocent, a leader, loving and Divine. You are this and more! Show us what you've got. We are hear to see and feel and love your expression as you are here to see and feel and love our expression as we do this together we are One. Namaste.

Don't lose that drive for life. For that connection. It's that drive, that excitement that holds your expansion. It's our Divine essence screaming to be heard. I see myself doing it. I see myself losing that connection by becoming conscious of the shift in my focus. For example, I see myself overeating and I even know it when I'm doing it. Then I know I am slightly unconscious again. I have to wake up and analyze why this is occurring. What is going on inside of me. What parts of my life are making me unhappy, anxious, worried or stressed out. What part am I drowning with food so that I don't have to face it. What part is food comforting me to replace that divine Connection with source. Where did I fall from grace and lose that connection? Then take the steps to come back. Live again. See what needs to be done and do it. Take action.

"Fitness to me isn't about a crunch or a push-up. It's about taking your power back. Physical fitness is transcendent because it forces you to finally face your issues."
~ Jillian Michaels

The Biggest Loser is one of my favorite shows. I watch these people go from an unconscious life to living life to their fullest and finding themselves under all that weight! And I can intimately relate because I did that too. (Before and after pictures above.) I shed over 90 pounds and found someone I didn't know was there and she was there all along. A powerful Goddess waiting to finally be seen. As I dropped layers of fat from my body I uncovered layers of myself emerging. And that is still occurring today. I found a mind, body and soul connection that I never had all the other times I yo-yo'd with my weight. I realized that it wasn't just physical or mental but spiritual as well. I found my connection to the Divine and that completed the puzzle for me. I had and have to do the work physically, mentally AND spiritually.

As I uncovered myself, I found out there was so much within me that not only needed to be expressed but that I actually desired to express it. I had to find my own self-esteem again and honor myself as a Divine being with my own unique expression that can be shared with anyone who is so drawn to me and my essence. I had to do the work. Every day we must do the work within ourselves consciously. And even still today, I see myself shying away from that powerful leader in me and occassionally growing unconscious. But now I am mostly conscious of it. So I must wake up and take action now. I work at living consciously every moment I can. I find myself coaching myself: "Talk about what really matters! Not the surface stuff. Don't hide." It's not just embracing your power but embracing love. It's opening up your heart and allowing others in as well as the self-love and acceptance that is so huge for this to even happen. And it's facing those challenges along the way and not allowing them to bring you back down to the low point but to work through them and be your unique Divine expression along the way.

"Be Yourself. Or else you'll miss your life." ~ Author Unknown

Drive *Your* Life

Steer your train of thought. This inevitably steers your way of BEING. You can steer it in a good positive fashion or a negative one; and better still a neutral witness state. It is your choice where you steer it. Your expression is needed. The One makes up the Whole. Find the power within. It's always there, always waiting for you to tap into it. It's an endless supply of power/love/energy. And it's not just finding the power within but finding the heart center. It's an opening up of your heart to love and be loved. This is powerful! It's self-acceptance.

"Take back the power of knowing Love." ~ Unknown

See that powerful person inside of you. You see it in others. It's there in YOU! Do the work within the Self. Honor all that comes up in the present moment. Surrender to yourself. Ask yourself:

* What part of you is not facing issues when they come up?
* What part of you is not expressing itself?
* What part is not having that conversation with whomever to face and solve an issue?
* What part of you is not living consciously?
* What part of you is resisting your feelings and not feeling them to the fullest when they occur?

It's time to get out your feelings to heal. Come fully into your Power! This is your road to realization. You admire powerful Leaders, Parents, Partners, Angels and Guides right?! This admiration for others and what you see in them IS IN YOU! Come into the full realization of this! Come into the light. Shine/share YOUR light! Enjoy life again. You can. You deserve it too! You are Divine expressing itself and that is what you are tapping into when you feel the full essence of your own energy. You are deserving and you are ready. You are a Powerful Warrior, Leader, Listener, Coach, Organizer, Assistant, Healer, Meditator, Writer, Musician, Caretaker, Teacher, Master, Soul and so much more. You are All That Is and it is the part of you that we are waiting for as a part of a complete expression of the Divine. If you are feeling less than or not worthy, that is an incorrect hypothesis. Because: You are. You always have been and you always will be. You are Divine. Feel the aliveness that you are and that exists in every moment. Reach for it and allow it to expand within you.

"Beloved one, you take your power by understanding who you are. You take your power by saying, “I am the deep breath of peace. I love mySelf—capital “S”—I love mySelf because I am the extension of all divinity, come forth to experience and to express, to play." ~ Jeshua Online Message of the Day, www.oakbridge.org

Find Balance

So to summarize. Yes, just be. Be the true essence of you whether you are sitting watching the beautiful sunset or driving forth into a passionate writing session or whatever is driving you into expression. Find the balance between ease and effort. Challenge yourself to the edge, your edge. But honor the wisdom of your mind, body and Soul. Allow for rest if your body is screaming for it and listen for when your mind or body can go beyond it's previous limit. Reach for it. It's all up here in our minds. It's all in the mind and you can decide where you will go with your mind and body. In yoga we look for that balance and we take this awareness of the body, mind and soul off the mat and into our daily lives. As we listen we can hear where we need to relax and where we can give ourselves that extra challenge we are ready for. It's in our bodies and intuition. We know and the more we come into that awareness the more we can follow that guidance. The more we follow that guidance the more it will be present for us. It's a shift in awareness. A new level in conscious awareness.

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Yoga Pose for August - Eagle Pose

Eagle Pose
Sanskrit: Garudasana
Image courtesy of my Husband, Don Anderson.
Taken in the beautiful WWI Park in Plainville, MA.

Eagle pose is great for opening up the back, working with the shoulders and really strengthening the legs, knees and ankles. Can relieve cramps of the legs. Many benefits are held in this balance pose. As you hold you feel your strength. Find peace and quiet the mind. Everything is inside and your power is expanded upon while you maintain this pose.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Stand in the powerful Mountain Pose. Feet walking distance apart. Straight, activated arms and legs, good posture. From here begin to bend your left knee and bring your right thigh over right left knee. From here you can keep it modified as you sit back and place your foot on the floor or you can bind your right foot around the lower left calf as you see here in the image to the right. Balancing on the left foot. Then while sitting back in this position, you can wrap your right arm under the left arm and bind your wrists so palms are touching. If binding is a challenge and for those with wrist issues you may simple allow your forearms to come together with palms facing each other. Now from here take your bound arms and allow the elbows to stretch out away from your body and lift up. Shoulders are over your hips here. Hold here and breathe. Challenge yourself by sitting lower. Challenge yourself even more by coming into a bound foward fold, nice and slow and gracefully rising back up in this position. Another challenge is to simply close eyes and maintain good balance. Come out and switch sides after a few breaths. Do this a few times on each side. The more you practice this you will be able to maintain good balance in this pose for a good few minutes or longer. :)

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
Those with knee issues may find this pose challenging. To start use the modification I've offered above. The more you practice this and other yoga poses you will strengthen your knees again and be able to eventually come into this full pose. Don't rush yourself. Just honor the wisdom of your body always.

Come As You Are

Come As You Are

Forget everything. Come as you are.

"The roses bloom so beautifully because they are not trying to become lotuses. All effort is futile. You have to be just yourself." ~Osho

Reading the above quote gets me raw and real and allows me to relax into myself. I can take a deep cleansing breath. There is no out there. There is only in here. In here is where the "out there" comes from. All our thoughts, decisions, beliefs, limiting beliefs, etc. are from the inside first and then as we choose to think them or believe in them, we resonate that vibration out to the world and that attracts to us our circumstances and experiences. It's time to let go of it all. Let go and surrender to just coming to the table as you are.

Forget everything. Come as you are. In yoga, there is a saying that yoga meets you where you are. Wherever you are at, there you are. Even in yoga one will strive too far in the future for something that their body is not ready for or reach too far in the past for something they regretfully gave up or experienced and limit themselves in a pose where they can strive to evolve. But we always come back to the present. In yoga it is about living now, breathing now and Being now. Come as you are. All the other stuff in your life is just that. Stuff. A blip on the manifesting radar and then it's gone. But your divine essence is still there, always there, never changing or leaving. It is your true self.

Sit back and listen. Your still small voice within, that essence is always ready to expand out to you. Dive into yourself and hear the blissful peace. Nothing that has even happened to you or that may ever happen to you will ever take this away from you. Because it IS you. Just know and breathe.

So as in yoga, it is in life. Life takes you as you are. Wherever you are on your path that is what you bring. You bring your true essence to everything. So let's do our best to not allow our ego and limiting beliefs dictate our truest selves anymore. Let's do our best not to be fake anymore with people. Let's do our best to be our authentic selves. We can be loud about our authenticity and we can also be graceful in its intensity or soft soothing way. We are complex and yet very simple beings. We exist and therefore we are expressing the divine through us. Allow what IS to come out. We do not need to stuff down our authentic beautiful selves anymore. It's time to simply come as we are, say what we say and be whatever we be. Relax.

Eckhart Tolle quotes a Zen master in his July 2010 newsletter as saying, “'Don’t seek for the truth – just cease cherishing opinions'. And that’s enough."

As you relax into yourself you will rejuvenate your soul. The air is easier to breathe. Your body will feel the surrender into yourself. Your life will feel more blessed because it is. You will transform who you have always been. Allow yourself to be you. Come as you are.

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader

Yoga Pose for July - Modified Tripod :)

Image courtesy of my son. I couldn't find this pose as I wanted to show it, so I had my Husband take a few pictures. I didn't like the way the clothes I wore portrayed the pose so my son was happy to take this photo of me this morning after my work out. Thanks handsome! :)

This pose is a preparatory pose for Headstand. Although I don't mind if I end up staying in this pose and never reaching headstand. It's that surrender I'm sure that will eventually allow me to reach the Headstand pose someday. We must always be where we are and not where we think we should be. Honor the wisdom of the body always. This pose is oh so filled with alertness. Blood rushing to the head but so good. A great inversion. And great if you just haven't gotten there for a headstand, you can still feel the benefits within this modified version.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Come to child's pose. Allowing your hips to come back to your heels, forehead resting on the mat. Arms stretched out in front of you. Then bring your hands under your shoulders, elbows bent close to your sides. Roll onto the top of your head, your crown. Using only full pressure on your arms, lift your buttocks up in the air and with knees bent left them over your elbows. Hold here. Never press down on the head and never hold the weight in your neck. Rather use your arms and hold in the belly for extra balance. Listen to the stillness within this inversion. Come out when ready. You can also do this pose up against a wall as a great modification.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
If you have back or neck injury or pain. I highly recommend only doing this pose in the guidance of a yoga teacher. They are able to best see that you are in the position properly and safely. They will assist you and allow you to go further as you progress in your own perfect divine timing.

Enjoy!!!

Surrendering to Faith

Surrendering to Faith
with a Zen Parable

"There is not a stream of badness and a stream of goodness, or sickness or wellness. There is only a Stream of Well-being. The question that you're wanting to ask yourself is, "In this moment, am I letting it in or not? Am I allowing it or am I not?"
~ Abraham-Hicks.com

There is a Zen parable I would like to share in this month's Inspirations article. It is a story that has assisted me during a recent challenging occurrence. Someone close to me told a lie that I was saying unkind things about another person they love. Of which I never did or said anything of the sort. What's worse is, this someone is someone I love dearly. And because there is a case of a mental disability here, the most hurtful thing is that it's possible he believes what he has shared as true. So even though I know it's not true and others have accounted to my character and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would never be true, there isn't much we can do but wait, hope and assist this person in working through their issue.

We don't know why or what brought on this fable or false reality story. It could be misconstruing a dream for reality. It could be a story to get attention. It could be that it did happen with someone else and because it's hard to see it from that person they put the blame on someone who can "take it" and know they will still love them. Or he is pushing that very person away for whatever reason. It could be that a totally unrelated stressful change or experience occurred and something was triggered in this person's brain to come up with some kind of coping mechanism through a story? Who knows. The possibilities are endless. And it could be that as my Husband said he kept hearing this phrase today, "There is no why. There only Is."

My heart breaks none-the-less. I know those that know me and my beliefs as well as my character know it's not true. It's one thing if I actually thought those untrue things this person said I said, but I don't even think those things. Anyone who knows me knows I strive to see the light in everyone and it's only more challenging with folks who are truly evil. Obviously this person is not even close to what was said about her and cares about her loved ones. The person who said these untrue things, I love dearly and that I want only the best for. I would never say or do anything to harm this person or anyone they love (or anyone for that matter). And even if, in the twisted reality where this came from, they still believe it, talking about it is a beginning for this to question and bring into their awareness that this story isn't real. And ultimately, the hope is there is a healing for this person. That those in authority will take note of this with him and work with this person and these occasional realities and see if this is stemming just from the stress of a new change (or changes) in their life. Either way, for this person to begin to figure out what they are really feeling and from where this came from is hopeful.

"The standard of success in life isn't the things. It isn't the money or the stuff. It is absolutely the amount of joy that you feel." ~ Abraham.Hicks.com

The above quote is where I am at. I know everything happens for a reason. So it is up to me to discern any lessons I gain from every experience as best I can. I know that things will happen. Waiting for the other shoe to drop when in a happy moment is a recipe for disaster. Worry is manifesting what you are worrying about. History of prior patterns if looked at as something that will occur again, will make it occur again if you believe it will. Life *will* happen. Challenges will occur. We must must must vent our frustrations/anger/worry/fear, etc. (by talking about it, writing about it, etc.) and then release it to the ether. Let go and shift towards light. There is light even in challenging moments. I see that and I recognize this. I see it even yesterday in the person these untrue comments were aimed at and in those around them. I see it in the person who spoke the lies. I see it in our neighbor's. It's always there. It never leaves. And I know that we can come at any challenge with this view, with this peace, this stillness and still feel the joy and peace that life brings us.

The gratitude I hold is something I work at consciously feeling every day. It's easy during good happy times. It's a bit harder during challenging moments like today. But I get there. I do my best to be in the moment of highest vibration to allow my body to continue its conscious ascension even during harder times as best I can. But I never ignore an issue. I process it, I vent, I feel, I release it, I see the light in the situation and even when I don't know the good "ending" or solution of it, I know it's there. It's always there and sometimes presents itself at a later time as well. Either way, for me, it is not about not feeling the happy moments to the fullest because you're too busy waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's about riding the waves and remaining in the peaceful center. Shining my light as best I can in every moment. I am not perfect and am truly growing and working at doing this consciously more each day in every moment. I'm not there yet but I am doing the best I can as consciously as I can.

For me, today the story I come to is of a Zen Master. This Zen Master lived in a Zen center within a community. There was a teenage girl who lived next door who ended up pregnant. Her parents were livid. They demanded she tell them who the father is. In fear of their wrath and for whatever reason she pointed her finger at the Zen Master. The family believed their upset daughter. The Zen Master was confronted. He did not deny or confirm their accusations. When they told him what their daughter said, he simply stated, "Is that so?" The parents left in a huff and told anyone they could to stay away from the Zen Master and his center. The Zen Master received ridicule and poor treatment from his neighbors after this. When the baby was born the parents went to the Zen Master and handed the baby over to him. They said, "You did this. You take care of him." So the Zen Master cared for and loved the baby as if he were his own for a full year. That baby received the best treatment any baby could. Around this time the daughter finally gave in to her guilt as it tore at her. She knew the truth. So she finally told her parents the truth, that this man was not the father of her baby. That it was, in fact, another teenage boy in her school. Her parents went to the Zen Master and apologized profusely for their mistake and they took the baby back for their daughter to raise.

One positive thing to take from this is that baby had beautiful divine care during his first year of life. Another positive, the daughter now knows the internal strength of truth and integrity on a deeper level. I'm sure she will instill something of this learning with her child. Another for the parents and judgmental neighbors of the town, they now know that judging when you truly don't have all the facts isn't wise. And that even when you think you know all the facts, you don't. You never will. Judging anyone based on any information just isn't wise. Even and especially judging oneself. Now there is discernment of situations that is required for living. But judging is not recommended. Judge not, lest ye be judged. I always come back to my favorite phrase: "It's not good. It's not bad. It just is."

Now, I know I might not have relayed this story in exactly how it was told to me, but the essence is there. And I also know that for me, I would have at least said that this was not true and maybe then simply accepted whatever it is they believed after that. Just as I did yesterday. For me, I had to say that this story was a lie, whether they believed it or not. So for me, this story is assisting me in having some faith. In knowing that, "this too shall pass". And in knowing that even if every one else may not know or, for some, may not believe me... I know. I know the truth and I know within myself the good person I am and try to emulate out to the world. I know that God knows, as God is within me and everyone. And in that knowing faith is cultivated and strong. I am also so very lucky and blessed to know that I have the support of my Husband and several others and their faith in me too. With my Husband we can hold this faith together and ride those waves. Where possible having another does help.

But I also know this is an internal process as well that I alone must come to peace with. There is a sense of a loss of power over this situation. I can only share my truth and pray that others will see the light. Even then I must surrender that wish. As I surrender it all to the Divine, a faith is instilled and although only slightly there yet, I feel it even now. The faith inside me is building.

Update: Recently, this person has confessed to lying about me. So they knew during the event and after that they were lying. There might have been some reason at the time that they decided to lie but they can't remember now that so much time has passed. Either way it is nice to know that they know they were lying and that they finally came forward with the truth. Whether this came forward or not, I held my faith and surrendered and that's where my inner peace continued. Though I am very happy to hear that they told the truth as well. :)

So my advice to all those out there dealing with situations of powerlessness or any challenging situation, do what you can within your power in truth and light and simply surrender. Cultivate faith that all is Divine. Everything is always as it should be. See the light in all people and situations. We are ascending through these challenges. So be the witness and see it and release it. Allow your inner stillness to come forth stronger in all situations. Have presence. This awareness is natural within us. It is always there and no one and nothing can take it away. It's is untouched by the outside world. It is your true essence. Embrace the stillness within and meet your true Self. :)

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader

Open to Options

June 2010


There is always a way out or through. You might feel backed into a corner some time in your life or several times in your life. It's here that surrender is totally key. There is always another option. Something we might not see. Forest for the trees, right. When we step into fear and logical thinking alone it makes it hard to see what's there in its entirety. There are several levels and layers to options that allow for something new to open up within you and whatever challenge you are going through.

" If a roadblock to my plans appeared, I found a way under, over, or straight through." ~ Sadie Nardini, www.yogajournal.com

Recently, we moved into our new place of living. Upon moving in we weren't so sure if we wanted to stay afterall. I will leave the details out here. But suffice it to say, the energies just did not mesh well. We have a one year lease. We saw no options here. So a feeling of being boxed in can ensue if you allow it. For a time I was allowing the energies to run me. I thought I was doing good, I had saged the house twice and have a daily energy practice of clearing the energies in the home. Still the sage seemed to only last about a day and I would need to go back and do it again. I had a phone call with my older wise sister and she reminded me that, "there is always a way out". There are always options if we can only step back and see them. We never have to feel like there is no way out. There is always peace in a situation if we can sit still and witness. Witness the situation, the answers may come, the options may arise or simply a peaceful awareness of sticking it out for a little while in a new revived kind of way.

Finally, I took my power back and claimed the space as ours. I stated that any residual energy needs to leave and I then filled it with Divine loving energies. After doing this, the effects were immediate: my baby slept through the night, it felt more peaceful and our colds (that seemed to last far too long) finally started to dissipate. Still what was needed was more of what I just did until the energies got used to me.

Because of the energies of the space it was hard for me to find my center, something I had grown to appreciate and treasure. Something I cultivated over time and suddenly was very hard for me to maintain. Instead of giving up, I called in another Feng Shui expert, Beth. I studied Black Hat Feng Shui and Beth studies Compass. This was very intriguing because what I had done (at least partially) in the space intuitively naturally aligned with what she stated was a great method for those areas of the home. There were many things that needed corrections and aligning. So after she left I immediately went to work. She reminded me that the space will need to adjust to our energies and will take time. Since our energies are radically different than what resided here before, it's a total shake up and things need time to settle. A daily clearing should happen, especially at night when it's time to go to sleep. She suggested, and I loved, to make it a nightly ritual with my baby to go around the space with my bells (Tingse Bells or Bali Bell) and to still sage often. The bells are great sound healing vibrations that immediately clear the space with their vibrations. I've started this with my lovely Bali Bell (from my Soul Coaching training with Denise Linn) and after only a few days the place felt soo much more...ours...better....sacred. I am now also saging daily at night. It is something I chose to do in order to cleanse our space. I also fill it the space with energy and light while I sage. (For those of you that don't know what Sage is: Sage is an ancient Shaman ritual that Native Americans used to do in order to clear negative and stagnant energies from spaces.) There are still things we need to work on but we are getting there and the space feels so much more "ours". We can feel good while we are here.

And now, I have (beginning on Saturday, June 26th: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse day) placed my home on an Energy Machine. It has been highly recommended to me from a trusted source who has seen definitive results. What this person said was that her 2-year-old grandson was waking up at night with possibly ghosts interruptions. And once the machine was placed on his house, he stopped waking up in the middle of the night. What the website describes this machine as is: "The Energy Machine is a Bio-resonance machine that has been powerfully adapted and enhanced. It is a "souped-up" version, conceived and created by alchemical chemist, Bill Kirkland." So I want to give this new strongly potent option of energy healing a go. If you'd like to find out more about this Energy Machine, please go here: www. bio-etherics.com. In a month I will let you know what I have witnessed, felt or been made aware of through this process and of how this has worked for the space we are residing in. Since I am already writing next month's article, you will find this feedback under my "What's New" section in July's edition.

So the lesson for me in this situation was that even though I couldn't have my way and do my first reaction to this situation (which was to leave) there was a way to make it so that we enjoy our little stay here in this space. Not to mention that there are many reason why we are there and one of the several reasons are to clear this space of old past patterns and residue. In the meant time, we *can* survive and thrive here. I had to let go for a while and step back. Then, for me, calling in a Feng Shui specialist and also an Energy expert to assist me to see the forest for the trees truly helped. Not only that, each of them assisted me in seeing the pattern I've creating by being in this space and giving me some resources to release it. The Feng Shui specialist also reminded me that I need to get back to my roots again with my book and Kundalini. I am making it a priority again as my Yoga Teacher Training winds down. A few things I never expected from this appointment. So I am truly grateful. Everything is always Divine.

By meditating, grounding, centering and surrendering the options available to us will naturally present themselves. Something will either occur to alleviate you of your challenge just by the mere act of letting go, or you will suddenly receive an intuition about another way to go about things. Something you never thought of and suddenly it's right there. And the option you see is pretty amazing and you wonder why you never thought of it before. And sometimes it's just simply shifting your point of view and although nothing externally has changed, everything has changed. Your perspective is more understand, peaceful and open.

Of course sometimes our beliefs get in the way sometimes and we didn't think something was an option for us, when really it was. Anything is possible. So don't discount all options. We do not have to let our beliefs and judgments get in the way of the Universe providing what we need or desire.

"Time spent doing what you want to do is never wasted because it generates energy that can fuel the rest of your life." ~ Daily Om

"Hey,... It's OK. Everything is fine. You've always been guided. Even now you are watched, and held, and adored. You've made great stuff happen, and you will make more great stuff happen. You've changed lives. You've changed your own. You've moved mountains and done the impossible. You've been scared and you overcame. You've been knocked down and you rose. And you've been lost, or so you thought, only to discover it was just the calm before another storm of creativity, love, and fun.
Humbled like the rest of 'em,
The Universe" ~ tut.com

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader

What Does Alive Mean?

May 2010

PART ONE

Death is seen in two ways; physical death of the body and a metaphoric death of a situation or experience that changes to offer something new. We already know that when one door closes another opens. We know that if we lose our job, our home, a relationship or career, that these are examples of a death of sorts for our life. Death in the terms of change. We also go through mini-deaths while alive during a Kundalini awakening and/or the Ascension process. We evolve as we live in this physical life.

However, I do not want to talk at length about the symbolic death in this particular article. What I want to talk about is physical death. Death has been a huge synchronicity for me lately. It's not that people around me are dying as of late, but just that the concept, thought and talk of death has been around most recently. So I chose this to be the topic of discussion.

This is a hot topic for me. I feel very close to death. It seems to be a passion of mine. I am not sure if this is something everyone feels or maybe I'm one of a few. The Angel of Death fascinates me and really makes me feel connected. Isn't that a twist! I love to walk in most cemeteries. They are beautiful and peaceful. And just to note, the dead aren't usually there! There may be a few stragglers but for the most part the cemetery is the last place you will find the dead. They are living! Some are in the in-between and working on their stuff to cross over to the next dimension or their next evolution and most have crossed over and continue on living, creating and evolving.

Death reminds us to ask the question, "What are we?" And "What are we doing or being here?" From there profound realizations and conscious spiritual awareness can ensure. And it's definitely also near and dear to my heart because Death is the ultimate for all of us (here in this physical reality). It's the ultimate fear for many or the ultimate for this experience where we then move on to the "Other Side" or higher dimension and live some more. (Let's put aside the fact that I also believe that our minds are our creator's and we can manifest ourselves into ultimate health and become immortal. This could be for a select few who choose it. Though, however, life and death have a course to lead for us as well and the limited lifespan we have allow us to really live to the fullest till we can reach a higher way of being and living and evolving. My Husband and I hosted a radio show a few months back with someone who talks about just that. Go here for a listen. So back to our regularly scheduled article. :) )

To me, death is not the opposite of life. Living unconsciously is the opposite of life. When our physical bodies die, we still go on and live. I've had too many experiences and connections to know anything else but that this is fact for me. Knowing this allows me to go on and live even more fully. When I slip back into "unconscious" land, as will happen from time to time, I will get my reminders or I will force myself to remember and then I am back to living again!

Just the other day my 3-year-old daughter was asking some pretty profound questions that were hard for me to answer in a context she would understand. She asked me, "What does Alive mean?" And I said, "wow! that one is hard for me to explain to you." I did ramble on a bit about energy and how everything is always alive but am unsure how I could help her understand with her limited understanding and vocabulary.

So what does Alive mean? Before I dive into that beautiful question, I want to answer what death is (to me at this point in my evolution). We go through mini-deaths all the time. For those of us with four seasons, we watch the trees and flowers bloom and die every year. So this is a great way to explain how I view death. We do go on. We do not die. We are energy first and always. Our bodies make up our energy while we are living on this planet in this dimensional reality. Then there comes a time when we shed our physical bodies ( "die" ) and our energy leaves our body, expanding into the full soul's capacity that we are and we continue to evolve and live in a new way. Ascend if you will.

Most of us have experienced profound grief to the depths of our soul's at least once in our lives. If you haven't, you may wonder if you are the lucky one or not. That is a debate unto itself. Moving on. :) I've experienced a few deaths of loved ones in my life. The very first was the hardest on me and forever changed me and how I viewed the world. Isn't that always the way.

It took me ten years to realize he was contacting me from the Other Side. Or maybe he was finally ready to contact me because I was ready to hear him. Either way, when we are grieving it is often times very hard to see the signs our loved ones send from beyond the "grave". They are there. It's not usually wishful thinking, but we will tell ourselves that because we are deep in our grief.

And many others will try to downplay our signs because of their own limiting beliefs. You will know in your heart. There is no need for confirmation from another when your heart feels it rings true. When we get quiet we can finally listen.

Death can be hard whether you have all the faith in the world that life does go on after this one (and I do). We are human and we are going to miss those people that have moved on and our day-to-day contact with them. They've lived with us and shined their light on our lives for even a brief time. They are so honored on our paths and they remain in our hearts forever. But we must go through our grieving stages, no matter how fast or slow and allow the pain to recede naturally. No burying any emotions that come up, but rather allowing them to be there and allowing them to float up and out of us like a blossoming flower. The experience is always divine and always honored. We bless them as they have blessed us with their presence. You grieve...and you move on. They are still living and expanding where they are and we must do the same here till we meet again. We must go on. But it does take time. The pain does diminish in intensity, I promise you. But it will always be there...a part of the new you and your new expression. You will take this person or persons in your life and in your heart always and the wisdom from the entire experience makes up who you are now.

So allow for that time to heal. Really and truly be with it and allow the time to pass you by. But know, too, they are there. They are seeing you from their place of living now. And they always always send their love. Always a message from the deceased is that they are okay and they love you. That is always the first and last message they leave with. It's a message that would always come through for the times I have connected with the deceased.

PART TWO

So back to the question, what does Alive mean? Even when our physical bodies die, we are still alive! As I said, we are energy first and always. We are alive when we truly LIVE. We are really dead when we've given up and remain unconscious to really existing, really feeling and being life for whatever that Divine unique expression is to each and every one of us. When we are truly fully awake we are alive.

Many experiences occur to us and our bodies when we are not living. Our body is wise, we must listen to the wisdom of our bodies. It will send you signs every day. If you ignore the signs in your life, it manifests in the body. When we've given up or stopped hearing the signs our bodies are sending, our bodies will produce sickness to get us to wake up. One might say, if you aren't going to live, you might as well die (physically at least). But if the experience of being sick does it's job to wake us up to our truest passions, then the experience truly had it's divine effect! Experiences such as someone getting cancer and while laid up in bed realized they were living in anxiety and fear while working too hard at a job they really hated every day! That is not living, that is dying. That is being in a forever state of negativity. Now, this doesn't discount doing a job that is "okay" and also pursuing our passion on the side so that we are still expressing our truest selves. If we can't do what we love all the time, we can love what we are doing while we do it. So in this example, this person will begin to see their passions again and really wonder why they stopped pursuing them or living in them a bit; you know playing! So they may finally start to see the light again, receive signs that get them into their passion and make the positive changes in their life that life required of them when the sickness occurred. And after making these changes, they will notice the sickness dissipate, medicine will finally work or a miraculous healing and recovery commences! It's about living, not dying.

Now, again, there are other examples of those receiving illness that are divine supposed to receive it and possibly die from in, in order for them and those around them to learn lessons of death. Each experience is unique. But I've read about many experiences of those that when they begin to die, they finally begin to live. Every moment becomes sacred. Merely going to the bathroom is a sacred moment to enjoy if only one last time. As I read these "dying" experience I begin to bring myself back to those moments. Living those little moments to the fullest. Even taking a moment to breathe and relax is vital and necessary and so beautifully honored. What a blessing it is. As you enjoy each precious moment right in the present moment you live, you become most fully who you are, the Divine Being you've always been.

I feel. It's that simple. Our feelings are our compass in life. Many times there are good feeling of happiness and joy and love. So it is easy to sit with these feelings and allow them to inspire you to new heights. And other times there are the tough emotions that require more dedication in being with them and processing them healthily. Repressed emotions manifest into our physical body as ailments, stress, and anxiety. So it is prudent to be with these not-so-pleasant emotions as much as you are with the pleasant emotions.

We are not here to live in our comfort zone all of the time but to expand beyond that point. To feel everything we desire. We are also not hear to shun our feelings. Our emotions are guides for our well being. We must feel them to the fullest in order to release them and move into something even better and higher in resonance. Repressing our feelings if they are uncomfortable only buries them deep to come up later in a much louder format that is even more challenging to release. Living in the now means feeling your feelings as they come up. Really live it and feel it. Sometimes our bodies defense mechanisms require us to go into a numb state of mind in order to make it through a tough period. And that is normal. That is perfectly fine. But then over time we will start to feel again and the feelings must come up for release. The processing that happens is amazing as we allow whatever it is we feel to simply be there. Be present with it. No need to go off on a tangent or a rage fit (though sometimes that's fun if alone and if safe methods are used) but to simply sit with the feeling and allow it to be there. Then step into that witness state and take interest in this feeling you are feeling. Think "oh that's interesting, I wonder what that means." Simply neutral though. Only allowing it to exist and then amazingly without seemingly much effort much of the time it will dissipate. Of course in terms of grief, as I have mentioned, may take time. It's all a part of the process. Ponderings of insights will come up and you will have a new higher way of being from simply allowing the feeling to move through you instead of getting stuck inside of you. Does that

"Listening to a Feeling, hearing what it has to say without thought, without judgment or avoidance, will lead it to naturally dissipate, it's job done. It's just you trying to talk to yourself, after all. Listen, and you'll gain a very enlightening heads up about what's really going on. :)" ~ Dawn, AwakeningwithDawn.com

And sometimes the best part of feeling is just being with it. Being in the beautiful stillness of life. We are not always called to act but to simple enjoy the space between; love; stillness. This connection to stillness is always there in every moment for our grasping. Every moment. The good and the not-so-good. It is here we are in our truest essence. There is action in non-action. Bask in the glow of the Divine. I gain strength from this Divine connection. It is this connection that assists us in going forth and truly what we *are* afterall. And as I wrote in my January 2010 newsletter I am so grateful to feel. I feel. I am so grateful for feeling the Divine connection within me. It is this connection that allows me to go forth in this life as it is now. It is the driving force for my entire beingness. It is amazing. It is you and it is me. It is all of us and to feel that connection is a blessed gift.

My Husband, Don, had this to say for our baby, Bella's, inquiry: "Perhaps the best anology is to say that being alive is being as awake as you can possibly be and knowing that everyone around you loves you so much."

Overall, this saying is so true: They may not remember what you did but they will remember how you made them feel. So live!

Maybe I am writing this article now for a future experience to come. Maybe I will need to come back to these words I write and reread them from a new perspective in the future. It is my intention that I can be in a state of graceful gratitude as I move through life, living and death.

CHALLENGE FOR THE MONTH
What would it take to make you happy?

This question will often go unanswered or occasionally addressed as if a wild dream never to be had. But if we simply take the time to really sit down with this question every day, at least once, you will see and entertain a reality that can be yours. As you do this you are placing your vibration in a frequency of pure happiness. What comes true to you is what will come to you as pure happiness. I'm not talking about money or things. But after you name off those obvious things that assist us in living comfortably, what is it that makes you happy. Really entertain this question. Really take the moments to answer it. Some won't even do this while reading this. Some will have too much to do, and think about all the mundane tasks that are in their day and take off running on those items. Before they know it, their day is gone and they are exhausted and heading off to bed. Take a moment. Take stock. Breathe. Allow yourself time to breathe and really listen to that voice inside you that shows you what makes you happy and peaceful every day. Listen and start to take some action steps. It's always there. So answer the question. What would it take to make you happy?

If I knew I were to die today, I would:

….Breathe more
Look at the sky more
Walk more Live more
Spend more time with kids
Do Yoga more
(...oh and quit my day job)
Worry less
Regret less
Forgive more
Love more
Be present with the divine beings in my life more–really see them and their divine essence more
Express my true self more
Be Still more
Become more fully Alive!
Be grateful for the blessings in my life more
So this is what I am trying to do, now! What would you do?

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader

The 2012 Shift: Galactic Alignment and Our Ascension

February 2010

Although we can never really know at the highest level what is occurring during this major shift, I can tell you that we all are feeling a shift at some level. A part of us knows changes are coming. We can feel it deep within us. We are awakening now, not later. Maybe by a certain timeframe we will all be awakening or awakened. Maybe that timeframe is 2012 and maybe it is not. But some of us are already awakening or are already awakened and some are in the process of awakening and some are about to embark on the journey. We will all get there in our own beautiful time. However, it is also fascinating to note what is happening on a galactic level to Mother Earth right now. To best explain, here is an excerpt from Simone Matthews of Universal Life Tools, Waves of Love:

“On the solstice of 21 December 2012 (Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere), our entire solar system will be in the Photon Band of Light, receiving direct energetic transmissions from Alcyone and from our Galactic Core of the Milky Way – The Waves of Love. “In addition, we are also coming to the end of the Grand Cycle of time, the end of another 225 million year cycle, 26,000 year cycle and 365 day cycle. Thus on this December solstice there is a grand alignment in our stellar skies of the Galactic Core of the Milky Way, with Alcyone, with our Sun and with Earth – marking the end of some significant cycles of time (or frequency’s of consciousness).

“The Greater Central Sun (Galactic Core) is directly pulsing electo-magnetic Wave of Love vibrations though our Central Sun (Alycone), through our Sun and into Earth…..bringing through very high pulsations or frequencies of light energy to Earth. “What this electo-magnetic energy is facilitating is a shift in consciousness, a divine shift of the level of awareness of humanity from an egoic 3D state of fear, to a consciousness …an 5D state of being.

"So how can you prepare for 2012 and the entrance into a 5th Dimensional existence? My advice is to slow down and begin to ‘feel’ again as spirit will provide us all with the answers. All too often we get caught up in such a physical existence of ‘hurriedness’ and ‘no-time’ that we have forgotten how to trust and allow. If we refuse to listen to spirit it is a kin to swimming up stream - life just gets harder and harder.” ~ Simone Matthews, UniversalLifeTools.com

The energies have been building for some time and I’m sure will continue to do so! It feels as if the awakening is happening now, not 2012. It feels that by 2012 a major shift will have already occurred because we are getting there now in order to be in a new energy space by that timeframe. It takes time to make that leap. it’s not an overnight process. It seems as if the shift is occurring more and more, and in more people than ever before. The time is only now.

I have been feeling that the shift truly *is* only within. That, possibly, for those that are called to shift the land are those by karma or free will choice that may be clearing something within *themselves* tied to the land. So therefore assisting themselves more to elevate their vibrations or consciousness to this new reality. I feel that whenever we are clearing (often called healing) someone else we are assisting them (selfless service/karma) and clearing more of ourselves and again raising our vibrations to that higher reality. This speaks to the ancient Hawaiian clearing method, Ho’oponopono. You can find out more about Ho’oponopono on my website under the articles section. I feel the only thing that truly changes *is* ourselves to the higher vibration. And Mother Earth is raising Her frequency as well. So as a collective we are planning to raise our vibrations along with the planet. As a collective it works as the land and ourselves are cleared together. Or at least I feel this way today!

We know the strongest vibration wins. When thinking of men versus woman in regards to strong vibration, we know most men think they are strong because they are men so tend to have overbearing energy. This is due to their own upbringing and conditions of years past. And we, as women, were also taught our energy is to be "meek" and "submissive" throughout the ages. We are coming back from these stereotypical beliefs one step at a time. So it's not about being forceful. It's about being in our peaceful vibration and keeping *that* vibration strong. Sometimes action speaks and sometimes stillness speaks. Whether action is speaking to you or stillness it is a call within that will tell you in every moment which one feels right. With either one, the stillness remains. It is our ever constant connection as the Divine recognized. Did I just rant on and get off the subject or did you follow that!? :)

So much to ponder! Do we have parallel lives to transmute as well? Do we just merge with our other parallel selves? Is this what 2012 is all about? Are we actually transmuting all our parallel selves into the one highest vibration, rather than shifting one of ourselves into another higher vibration? Each could be right possibilities depending upon who you are talking to. Several experts will say we are transmuting all "lower" selves into the one as a part of our clearing out. This rings true to me. However, these questions can’t really be answered with 100% authenticity yet. It’s an individual answer that you may come to one day and switch back the next. It is of my belief right now that we are all choosing to move into a higher dimension or reality as a collective with Mother Earth. This is what feels right to me.

You know, in yoga it is said that when you focus on one item or subject in study, contemplation and meditation you will eventually merge with it and become one with it. Thereby, all knowledge of that item or subject will be known by you. It speaks to taking your time and not allowing distractions from your focus but to breathe into it. This is something that you can practice when it comes to finding the truth of this subject. You will feel it and know it within your entire being. Not only that, you will see the Universe answering your questions with synchronicities, people and places that will pop up to answer your questions about such a subject. This is a good practice to implement here. We are all One with the Universe after all. So it makes sense that all knowing is within us for the taking.

We are all One. That bridge of conscious realization of the Self, the Self as One. I like what a friend of mine said to me about how she is simply doing what feels good and following that guidance system. Following ones truth is at the core of our essence and what feels good is our core. What feels good to me is practicing feeling the energy within daily or several times a day and sometimes that happens when we study a subject such as this (becoming one with a subject and merging with it for the truth of it to emerge from that Oneness) and other times actually practicing the art of healing the self, others and the land. I know every time I've done a clearing of the land or body it feels wonderful and we do come away feeling lighter and freer; a higher resonance to our Source energy. Even more connected to what we truly are. Amazing!

It seems that we are having a collective experience with Mother Earth in order to (or rather the conclusion naturally being to) ascend to a new vibration. Like we are always evolving and expanding and contracting and expanding. As she ascends so do we, as we ascend so does she. A natural progression. Of course I won't know 100% for sure till I "get there". And really we never get anywhere, as we are already there. We are already one and just need to remove the blinders and blockages to see that. Become aware of it...a natural shift in “reality”.

And so with my soon-to-be-published book and matching workshop Divine EmbraceTM (yes I swear it's getting closer now!) it is my hope that you receive the Energy Awakening process that works best for you. Divine Embrace can assist you with the Ascension that is occurring for all of humanity to raise our vibrations and connect more fully. (Exercises are found in the book to assist you.) You can connect and open up more fully to the person that you already are.

It is a heart connection; a melding of one and all together. In this you raise your vibrations powerfully with the conscious decision to open up. You connect more clearly to All That Is. A very powerful connection. It is called Divine Embrace because you are embracing the Divine. Since you *are* the Divine, you are embracing and opening up to the Divine in you! We ignite that fire and watch each other soar!

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Peace and Bliss be with you ,
~Spiritual Cheerleader

Flow Like the River

April 2010


Go at your own pace. Like the river, or like the rapids. We'll all get there in our own time at our own pace. And when we get there we realize we were already there. It's the journey as much as it is the destination. Not to mention there is never a "destination" because we never "get there" as we are always there, here and now.

While out walking today during another gorgeous spring day here in Rhode Island, I became aware of an analogy for this space that we are all in, in our unique and divine selves at any given moment in time. I become aware of others on the path literally and as an analogy for the path we walk in life. Some folks are out there running, some are take a nice stroll and others are walking at a nice steady pace. But all of us are where we are. One is not better than the other. We are simply doing and honoring our bodies with whatever it needs whenever it needs it. For some it is a fast jog and others a nice balanced healing walk. All are beautifully healing and rejuvenating for the body, mind and spirit. None are better than the other. Each are honored methods for wellness and being. Whether we're going slow or fast, matters not. Walk, run, walk fast, or sitting in stillness matters not. And when you are sitting still, there is so much going on inside that may not be recognized by the passerby. Much work is processed when allowing your body to be in stillness. Doing any of these brings well-being to our body, mind and spirit anyway. Doing anything out in nature is extremely healing. Honor the space you are in wherever you are. Come to balance and well-being.

This same analogy work with in having a beginners stance in yoga, an advanced stand in yoga, or applying a gentle practice to yoga no matter your "level". We simply are where we are.

We can allow others their own pace and enjoy ours. Don't worry about what someone else is doing. They'll go at their own pace and you can go at your pace.

Remember to see people as divine. We'll all get there, and when you get there you'll know you already were/are there. Enjoy the flow. It's enjoying the ride, being in the divine connection during our journey that truly is our path.

When you see someone else doing something or being something that you desire to be or do. Don't let your low self-esteem get you in a bad place, or assist you in becoming more self-conscious or jealous or filled with hate and ego.

Honor them for their place and your for yours. Know that you are in the awareness of where they are. And when you are in the awareness of where they are, you are in that like-vibrational space. When you are aware of another's situation, you are noticing this vibrational experience, so you too are in that vibrational space and can bring yourself to that experience as well (if you so desire), rather than getting in a negative vibration with jealousy, hate or ego.

Know also that sometimes what you see others as doing or "Being" is not necessarily their truth. It is *your* truth. It is the mirror flashing back at you to listen in and hear what you are hearing. Say for example you feel another person is acting better than others. The other person in their space may not actually be feeling smug or better than another, but it may be something you are seeing. And that is not necessarily the real truth. If you are seeing it, it is for you to look at and work through.

If you are seeing a good thing in someone but suddenly low self-esteem kicks in so your ego translates the good thing in that someone to a not-so-true negative thing that you see so that you can feel better about yourself, then that is not true. You must look deep within yourself and hear your truest wisdom from within. Stop listening to the ego's lies and start hearing the truth from your heart. Your heart knows we are all on a divine path together and will all meet each other wherever we are.

Don't get stuck in the same negative thoughts and patterns. By listening to the ego traps, falling into the depths of negative thoughts and aiming venomous energy at another we are disconnecting from Source. Our Source is honest, forgiving and loving. Stern but gentle. Never lingering in disgust, unforgiveness or negativity. I'm not saying don't see what "is" and ignore the battle of a challenge that has come your way. I'm saying see the message for what it is and what it is that YOU need to work through and not to aim bitter, endless negative energy towards another. Allow your awareness to shine a light on the negative emotions and hear the messages they have for you. That is why the experience has come up for you! So you receive the message and take the action to process the issues within you. See that shadow inside yourself, honor its existence and process what you need to process. Then allow those emotions to flow out of you. When you become present with an emotion, it is honored and can more speedily process its way through you. Then you can move on to your next evolution. You can be in the witness state and simply come into the awareness of what the issues are as you watch from afar. Processing can occur naturally and the messages become clear. So breathe in slowly and deeply and allow the space to exist for what IS and let it flow through you like the river.

So instead of tapping into jealousy, low self-esteem or negativity. Check out of those negative emotions and check in to love, awareness, knowing that you are in that place and you are getting "there" in your own time, in your own place, at your own pace. Our paths are not in levels. Our paths are parallell. We walk together in the journey of life, no matter where we are in our lives.

We are each unique beings expressing that unique part of ourselves to make up the whole. So we will not always be the same but that is what makes life fun and interesting. Each of our own unique expressions *are* what makes up the whole. Together we are all One. Honor your truth and be your truest expression always. No one is above or below me or you. We are all on unique paths together, no matter where we are on the path. We are at the very core of ourselves Divine beings.

So here I am taking it easy when life calls for me to take it easy. And taking action when life calls for action. I'm living my yoga on and off the mat, honoring the polarities of action and stillness. Like Honey Roasted Cashews, the best of both worlds blended together. It's time to be our truth and flow like the river. Will you join me?

"May the sun bring you energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world, and know it's beauty all the days of your life."
~ Apache blessing

Enjoy, live, laugh and love always!

Brightest blessings and sparkly energy to you,
~Spiritual Cheerleader