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