Journal

Relationships are an important part of life. Our families, friends, co-workers, intimates: our relationships are woven through the fabric of our lives. My guides stress that a key to happy and healthy relationships is to feel one’s individual wholeness. From wholeness we can share, learn, love and create.

However, if we feel dependent on our relationships to make us feel happy, whole, or safe, then if the people we are involved with are not behaving the way we want them to, it becomes easy to react in hurt or anger.

My guides say, “If you are afraid to lose your job, lose a relationship, or afraid that you won’t be loved, you can’t have the quality of relationship you desire.” Because fear blocks our ability to feel free to be ourselves and bring our best self to a given situation.

Affirm your wholeness and stay engaged.

Here is my little write up about mediation – so you can get started.

I use an X to symbolize the process of learning to meditate. The bottom part of the X is everyday thought or brain chatter. The point in the center is stillness. The upper part of the X is revelation, connection to the Spirit within and without.

There are three steps to achieving a sustained meditation. The first is to produce the open airy feeling at the top the head, associated with an open crown chakra. Inspiration is an obvious tool to bring this about. Reading a poem, or envisioning an uplifting image or event are possibilities. Devotion and trust can also be used to open the crown chakra. Whatever works to produce the open, airy feeling at the top of your head should be focused upon before meditating.

The next step is using an affirmation or the verbal affirming of a universal truth. I suggest, “I am Spirit, infinite Spirit” to focus and recondition the mind to feel one’s infinite identity as a spiritual being. The affirmation should be repeated until an expansive feeling grows.

The third step is to discontinue the use of the affirmation and work to hold your mind still. If brain chatter returns, go back to the affirmation. A rocking sensation can be very effective. Saying the affirmation, then pause – holding your mind still, then the affirmation again, then a pause. Gradually maintain the pause and stillness for longer periods of time.

Why is it that one person stands out in a crowd? Why is it when we meet someone for the first time, we feel we already know them? Or why do we get stuck in a relationship that isn’t working, but somehow we can’t quite extricate ourselves from it? These are all likely karmic connections. People we have had relationships with in former lives.

Our past life relationship history has an enormous impact on our attractions and conflicts. Plus we tend to incarnate with the same group of people. This is our soul family; the people that we reconnect with in order to resolve old issues, learn lessons not yet learned, or receive support and love because of a bond long ago formed.

If you want to understand your relationship history, you might want to try past life regression, meditate on the meaning and purpose of a relationship, or have a past life reading. Understanding relationships from a past life perspective can be more interesting than going to the movies.

We live in a culture that is enamored with identity. It’s not uncommon for someone who has become famous for one reason, then to become popular for another, even if their talent is lacking.

When I first started to communicate with my guides, I asked them to identity themselves. They said we would rather remain anonymous, because we want the ideas we express to stand on their own merit, instead of being received because of their origin.

In other words, listen to the substance of a message, rather than becoming infatuated with the messenger.

If you walk into a gathering, it is very easy to absorb the mood and emotional state of the crowd. But if you remember that the not so visible spiritual realm is part of your environment as well, you will feel protected and supported by the positivity of guides and helpers in all situations.

Don’t underestimate the power of focus. What you focus on will determine the quality of your experience. Expend your focus and you will feel expansion. Keep in mind that expansion feels happy and contraction doesn’t.

When I lived in Mexico, a very Catholic country, almost 40 years ago, I was surprised to learn that Mother Mary was worshiped more intensely than Jesus. This I discovered was because of The Virgin of Guadalupe.

In 1531 Mother Mary appeared to an Indian peasant, at Guadalupe, telling him to ask the Bishop to build a church on that spot. The Bishop did not believe the peasant until he saw a painting of Virgin Mary on the inside of the peasant’s cloak. This painting can still be seen in Guadalupe, Mexico.

I want to share a photograph of Mary’s eye – so you can feel the compassion and healing that still emanates from the image. I believe that Mary is one of the many masters.

Many people have heard the frog story – you put a frog in boiling water and it jumps out, but if you put a frog in cold water and turn up the heat slowly it doesn’t jump out of the water. This is a cautionary tale and a good analogy for our current situation.

I believe that we are all slowly being poisoned by environmental toxins, harming the mental and physical health of everyone and causing a lot of suffering. A number of websites, like the Environmental Protection Agency, estimate that we use around 1 billion pounds of pesticides each year in this country alone. This might not be exact, but does it really matter whether the actual number is 800 million pounds instead of a billion?

Rather the point is that we need to stay aware of this phenomenon, even if the negative effect is gradual. I take three steps to help with this dilemma. First, I do my best to stay clear of toxic exposure, work on detoxing accumulated poisons in my body, and support organizations working on this problem.

We are all responsible for our own lives. A guide once said to me, “No matter whether you get a message from a drunk in the street or a master in etheric form that appears before you – take what they say into yourself for final confirmation. For this is your life and you are responsible for your choices.”

There are many decisions that we make everyday, and at times we may want an “expert” to guide our way. Perhaps a doctor, a lawyer, a financial adviser, or a spiritual guide. But the fact is we are the ones who must deal with the consequences of any of our choices – no matter whose guidance we follow.

So listen deeply and learn from many, but take all advice into yourself for final confirmation and personal responsibility.

A positive byproduct of being a meditator is the skill of becoming a good listener. When we learn to turn off our brain chatter at will, then when we are having a conversation with another person we can really listen deeply to what they have to say.

Too often in a conversation the person who should be listening is actually thinking. Perhaps excited about expressing their point of view, or ready to argue their point to prove that they are right. Only when the mind is still can we genuinely listen deeply to another person.

Life is over and under and up and down. No matter how hard we try we can’t hammer it flat, we can’t control what goes on around us, or make others behave the way we want them to. However, if we bring our best selves to the moment we can experience an internal satisfaction in the midst of challenge and then we offer a positive influence to our circumstance and to others.

Let’s all change the definition of happiness from getting what we want to actualizing our best.

It can be hard to describe to a non-meditator how powerful and astonishing meditation can be. Words just don’t do it justice. Last night when I meditated I experienced bliss. The best I can do to describe bliss with words is to say it is the experience of oneness, the emotional experience of all the spiritual principles rolled into one – peace, compassion, clarity, interconnection, acceptance, trust, confidence, wholeness, love, and on and on…

Feeling connected to these intense emotions which reside in the essence of us all, makes life feel worth living as we experience this endlessly interesting adventure. Meditate, there is nothing quite like it. Join me for my on-line meditation on the third Thursday of each month.

Some people in spiritually oriented circles say that time does not exist, that it is an illusion. My perspective on time is that it definitely is a part of our day to day life here on earth, but there are realms in the spiritual world where there is no time.

My guides say that here on earth it is like living on a conveyor belt that is always moving forward. And yet when someone dies they come off the conveyor belt into realms where everything happens in the eternal moment.

While we are on earth understanding cosmic timing is one of our major lessons. When should we wait and when should we act. If you think of every individual as an instrument in the orchestra of life – just like in a musical orchestra timing is essential.

My guides say that learning is a lot like filling a glass with water. One experience fills the glass with a little water. The next experience brings the water level up some more. Gradually the glass becomes full – when it reaches the top, that is when we have the aha moment. That is when the learning from all the experiences sustains and truly gets integrated in our consciousness.

In other words, repetition is how we learn. Through the years I have found this image very comforting. We tend to make the same mistakes over and over – understanding the nature of learning can help us be patient and compassionate with ourselves.

I recently purchased a new bed and was amazed how one simple change can be so significant. Comfort and a good nights sleep makes everything easier and more enjoyable. This inspired me to meditate on the power of our home environment to support our well being or the converse, pull us down.

Simple details, like comfortable kitchen chairs, art on the walls that bring pleasure, good lighting, soothing colors, a lack of clutter, music, and on and on.

We are all environmentally sensitive and therefore we should be proactive to improve the aspects of our environment that we can control. Set up your home to support, inspire, and rejuvenate – a sanctuary that can help you bring your best self into the world.

Many years ago I had a clairvoyant experience that lasted two weeks. During that period I was able to see colored light coming out of people’s mouths whenever they spoke. My guides explained that this experience was to teach me that the words people use do not tell the whole story. The feeling behind the words is a significant part of any communication. Someone can say, “I love you” and the color of the emotions can be red with passion, pink with tenderness or greenish-brown with anxiety. Actually, the words don’t tell you as much as the undercurrents.

I learned that every thought, word, and action has a color and that every color has qualities that are linked to its energetic vibration. One day in the parking lot of our local food market, I noticed a couple intensely arguing with each other. Red light flashed back and forth between them. There was no doubt in my mind that the red color was the energetic manifestation of their anger.

My guides say, “Attitudes create color, and color creates attitudes.”

Many years ago, I remember putting my fist toward the sky in anger, and saying to my guides “The human experience is full of just too much suffering.” I was told don’t be angry at us – every single individual is a part of the god-force and is collectively responsible for the state of your world. At the most fundamental level we are all creators. Our thoughts, words, and actions all add up to our circumstance.

However, it is also important to understand that karma means that aspects of our collective situation, as well as our personal lives, were set in motion long ago in previous lives through the principle of cause and effect. Which is why there is both destiny and choice and our world is a school to learn how to set positivity into motion – rather than selfishness, destruction, and suffering.

Let’s all learn and take responsibility for our very powerful thoughts, words, and actions.

Twice a year, in the Fall and in the Spring, I play a game called “Moving.” I pretend that I will be moving, and then go through all my stuff to decide what to keep, give away, recycle, or put in the trash. I figure if I wouldn’t take certain things to my next location, why keep them. This silly little game keeps me living in simplicity, while avoiding the common habit of accumulating clutter.

I aspire to have few quality things – things that inspire and add pleasure to being alive. The spiritual teacher Paramahansa Yoganandya said, “Have few things, wash frequently.”

Faulty cultural conditioning is one of our great challenges in the process of learning to actualize our spiritual nature. We all get affected by the bombardment of messages that we receive through media and the current popular ideas or aspirations.

This is one of the reasons mediation is so important. Meditation is like going into the closet and closing the door. When we are deeply alone with ourselves and clearing away all the external influences – What do we know? What do we want? What do we do?

Not all cultural messages are destructive to our well being, but many are. I think it is important to do a conscious sorting out process. Embrace the helpful attitudes and discard the ones that just don’t serve us and others.

People can be taught to feel inspired by experiences that facilitate positive feelings and memories. Like sharing a wonderful day at the beach or delicious smells from the oven at dinner time. However, this process can be a healthy encouragement or an unhealthy indoctrination.

Advertising agencies often try to manipulate our feelings and open our crown chakras to inspiration to get us to buy products. Or politicians will give lip service to ideas that inspire and make us feel hopeful for positive change.

Children can be taught to be inspired by doing their best and learning to work well with others, or finding inspiration in winning, and being better than others. Inspiration can come from many places.

Think about the power of inspiration and linking it with wisdom and consideration of others.

Generosity is not a spiritual principle. How do we know what a spiritual principle is and isn’t? My guides say that we can’t have too much of a spiritual principle. We can’t have too much balance, or too much clarity, or too much love. This is the test of a spiritual principle. It is always universal, always appropriate, and you can’t have too much of it.

But we can have too much generosity.

There are some principles that are all about balance. Alone they would create imbalance and therefore they need to be coupled. Generosity is one of them. Generosity is linked to giving and giving is one side of the balance scale, while receiving is the other side.

Tolerance is another example of a balance principle. Alone tolerance can turn into a problem. Tolerance needs to be coupled with intolerance for the balance to be discovered.

I am in the San Francisco bay area at an airport hotel. Last night I was woken up at 3:20am by an 6.0 earthquake. What actually woke me was the noise of everything in my room and the building itself moving. I turned on the light and then watched my room shift back and forth, the walls, the bed, the television and on and on. The power of the experience and the powerlessness I felt to influence the situation motivated me to let go, stay in my third eye, and observe.

In my third eye I asked, Should I leave the building? Should I get under a table? What should I do? While in my third eye it was clear that I should just stay in bed and stay calm.

I share this story, because at any moment any number of unexpected events can happen and as my guides state, “Clarity is our greatest protection.” Third eye focus promotes clarity. Strengthen your focus skill, you never know when this ability will be extremely important.

Depression is not a disease in the typical sense of the word, but it is dis – ease. I believe it is perfectly logical for any sensitive, smart person without a spiritual perspective in our world to be depressed. Depression and discouragement are really the same thing. If people are not avoiding or repressing the facts about our world environment – discouragement makes sense.

A spiritual perspective is an alternative. From a spiritual perspective there is the remembrance that we are all spirit temporarily on earth. Whether our earth survives, whether people are greedy, ignorant, or selfish is not the point. What is most important is that we learn not to react to negativity and problems, but instead focus on learning the lesson of bringing our best self to life.

Life is a school. Every situation or event contains a lesson for each of us. This is a powerful lesson in itself; for when we approach experience from the perspective that there’s something to be learned, then everything that occurs—however painful, puzzling, or bleak—contains a hidden benefit and useful meaning. This principle was summarized eloquently in Desmond Tutu’s observation about Nelson Mandela that “prison made the man.” From an expanded perspective—which includes an understanding of reincarnation—we can begin to discern an order and purpose behind situations and events. Once we begin to perceive that order and that purpose, it becomes easier to respond to situations in ways that foster our own growth while simultaneously contributing to the development of others.

When we walk into a darkened room, all the furniture, books, lamps, all the details in the room exist, we just can’t see them.

When the light is turned on everything becomes clear. Consciousness is the light switch on the wall. The details of life exist, we just can’t see them clearly until our consciousness is illuminated.

In my spiritual work and classes, I don’t ask people to have faith. Instead I teach tools for direct spiritual experiences. Having faith in something that you have not experienced or perceived can be confusing or dangerous. Just think of religious wars throughout history.

Our perceptions are greatly influenced by our society and our upbringing. When we meditate our perceptions go deeper than our preconceived notions. There are many tools that my guides have taught me, so I can teach others to feel and to know that we are multi-dimensional beings. We are both Spirit and human navigating the school of life.

I think of technology as neutral, just like money. It can be used well or used poorly. With both technology and money, discernment is the key to a wise and appropriate relationship.

Pay attention to your relationship with technology – are you in your Solar Plexus when you feel compelled to check your email one more time before bed? Or are you focused from the Third Eye of discernment? Feel the difference. When we are compelled from the solar plexus it feels like a craving – an emotional pull that comes from a feeling of lack of wholeness.

When we use technology while being focused from the Third Eye it is marvelous tool for creativity, connection, and learning. The big difference is from the Third Eye we feel whole, and make good choices, rather than feeling pulled, overwhelmed, or needy from the Solar Plexus.

Observe your relationship with technology – it can be very interesting and insightful.

I will be starting my beginning and on-going classes soon, mid-September. As I start the process of setting them up, I am reflecting on why I have chosen the format of on-going classes, instead of workshops.

My guides have said, the two challenges we face that need resolution to actualize our spiritual nature and bring us to fulfillment – are past life fears, and confusing conditioning from this life. They have also said, that if our cultural conditioning supported our spiritual nature we would naturally unravel to enlightenment, healing our wounds. Our culture does not support our spiritual growth, but rather adds insult to injury.

All this said, the format of the on-going classes provides the time necessary to practice and transform fundamental attitudes through direct experience that we are all Spirit and human. Gradually faulty attitudes from childhood and our culture get replaced with a more universal perspective. The experiential nature of the classes is why some people take them for 20 years. We are so much more than what we have been led to believe, and in class we remember as a group what it means to be Spirit temporarily on earth.

In my meditation this morning I heard, “Let go and know.” This phrase reminded me how we are taught to try to figure things out with our minds alone. Going over details again and again, trying to make sense of a situation, conversation, or rejection.

This culturally common approach to gaining understanding is limited by our preconceived notions. When we let go, we allow and make room for unexpected insights to flow to us, the idea we never thought of, the insight that could only come without fear, and a larger perspective then our attached view.

The other great advantage in letting go is the release of stress. Which is good for our body, our mind, and all the people in our environment.

Decisions, decisions – Sometimes when I need to make a decision and look out of my third eye or meditate for insight, there just isn’t clarity. As I have observed this experience through the years I’ve become aware that the clarity can’t come, because all the data isn’t in yet and therefore it isn’t time to know.

Next I ask, “Do I wait and be patient or do I start gathering more information?” Sometimes we need to give a situation time for the details to be revealed and sometimes we need to be proactive on our search for more knowledge to inform our choices. Deep listening and deep focus can help us discern.

So if you are using your third eye and meditation to bring clarity, don’t get discouraged if insights don’t come right away. Keep asking and listening.

What is success? My guides define success as the ability to actualize our spiritual nature. This is easy to say, but not so easy to do in a world where there is a very different definition.

Our worldly definition of success focuses on getting ahead of others: more money, more fame, and more power. This conditioning starts when we are very young and like photographic negatives we get imprinted with this perspective contributing to the forgetting of who we are and why we have come to the earth.

If true success, self-actualization, is the key to personal fulfillment, then it becomes necessary to put on our horse blinders and walk our path whether it is popular or not. Let’s be the ones who listen fully to the Spirit, our deepest nature.

I recently had a vision of walking on a winding path through thick woods. I couldn’t see very far ahead: only the next few steps on the path seemed clear. Eventually in my vision I came to a clearing in the woods where I had an expansive view of fields and mountains–this change coincided with a feeling of “now I know where I am” and now I can make a plan.

This vision felt perfect for a time of great change. In a time of change it can be difficult to plan very far ahead. This uncertainty can create anxiety and worry about the future, but if we remember that the life path is like winding through the woods, then it is natural to only know the next few steps.

My guides say it this way, “Do what’s obvious and let the rest unfold.”

Unconditional love does not mean unconditional giving. My guides say that unconditional love is always feeling we want the best for others no matter what. This means wanting spiritual growth for everyone, but it does not mean tolerating inappropriate behavior.

Balance is a spiritual principle that includes giving and receiving, so when we feel unconditional love we strive toward giving and receiving in our relationships.

My guides make a distinction between gratitude and appreciation. They say that appreciation is a spiritual principle while gratitude is not. Gratitude is linked to acquiring, while appreciation is a state of being.

When I have expressed this to people, it often difficult to grasp, but when people meditate on the difference it becomes quite clear. Appreciation feels much more expansive then gratitude. Appreciation feels whole and connected, while gratitude is more focused on I like this, or I like that, I’m glad to have this, I’m glad to have that.

Try it: meditate on appreciation and on gratitude and feel the difference. I have found that appreciation is one of the fundamental principles for a quality life and good relationships.

My guides say, “Problems are puzzles begging to be solved.” When I think of a problem as a puzzle my creativity kicks into gear. I become curious and active in what feels like a scavenger hunt. One step brings more knowledge and then the next step presents itself. How things unfold is always interesting, even if challenging.

We all have problems individually and collectively. Eliminating negative reactions and fear will support the process of finding solutions. Good problem solving demands the ability to listen deeply and proactive confidence.

Where is the line between self-denial and self-indulgence? This is a very interesting question to me. What behavior is selfish and what behavior isn’t considerate enough of our own needs? The answers to these questions are always situational.

My guides say, “When you act on an attuned choice you don’t serve yourself or serve others, but rather you serve the oneness.” An attuned choice is best for all concerned. When we live in attunement we step out of dichotomy and into a oneness perspective. This takes deep listening and focus to achieve.

Be like an iceberg: majority under the water, minority above the water. When we cultivate a strong inner life, we are not so thrown when our external situation is not to our liking.

How do we cultivate a strong inner life? By remembering we are Spirit temporarily on the earth learning. And through using meditation and the third eye to strengthen confidence in our deepest identity in the midst of the ups and downs of our human experience. Meditation and the third eye will also make it easier to know what the specific lessons are in our spiritual growth process.

I once asked a Guide, “How can feelings of inadequacy be healed?” The response was, “through humility.” This answer was such a surprise. Before I heard this message, I thought when someone is feeling inadequate the best approach to helping would be to build them up, and let them know that they are really great. But that approach wasn’t working.

When I meditated on humility, I discovered and experienced that each of us are Spirit, but human too. We are each one small significant part of life. Getting in touch with humility helps us to relax, to be comfortable with our individual stage of growth, and to be open to learning as we go. We don’t need to be perfect to be good.

In the past, a guide once told me, “Whether the earth survives or not is not the most important thing. Earth is your school – the evolution of consciousness is the most important aspect of life on your planet.”

What does the evolution of consciousness mean? I’ve learned that it means to mature toward the ability to feel, express, and manifest our spiritual natures in everyday life. This personal development is not in isolation, because interconnection is part of our spiritual nature.

We are all here to learn to experience spiritual oneness and our human individuality at the same time. Without attunement to oneness, individual selfishness dominates, which ultimately is not sustainable on this planet.

Curiosity is an invigorating and powerful spiritual principle. It can motivate us to discover what is true and it turns life into an adventure stimulated by the desire to learn and experience. Learning transforms adversity from just plain difficult to having valuable meaning.

Little children are naturally curious, so of course we all know that feeling. But all too often as adults daily concerns crowd out the experience of curiosity. How can we cultivate curiosity and rekindle that childlike emotion?

One approach is to train our minds to ask questions of ourselves and others. Rather then telling others what you think, ask them about their ideas. Be inquisitive about your day, your outer environment, your inner life, and others. Notice how rich your life becomes when curiosity propels you through your day.

Many years ago on a beautiful summer day, I was alone enjoying weeding my flower garden, when a guide gently whispered to me: “The joy you are feeling is touching all of life.” This experience reinforced my understanding that we are all one. Our feelings, thoughts, and actions are not in isolation, but rather interconnected.

I believe our worldʼs environmental challenges are begging us to pay attention and learn the essential spiritual lesson of interconnection. Nature is communicating that if we continue to focus on our individual desires without considering interconnection and the common good – we will all suffer.

When the crown chakra located at the top of the head is healthy and functioning well, we feel glad to be alive, inspired by many things, and a sense of connection whether we are alone or with others.

However, the crown chakra can become diminished or dominant within the interconnected system of the seven chakra centers. When diminished, it is common to feel discouraged, depressed, closed minded, a sense of isolation – simply put – not having a good time.

When the crown is dominant, feelings of fun and excitement can be linked to an avoidance of responsibility and cause a lack of attention to detail or a carefree invincible feeling that can become dangerous.

For any chakra to be fully healthy it must function in accord with all the centers. My book “The Wisdom of the Chakras” explains the interconnection and tools to achieve this healthy state.

So many people struggle with weight issues. I have found that eating fresh, whole foods that are nutritionally dense for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is the key to maintaining a healthy weight. This means giving up processed foods and mostly cooking at home.

When we cook our own food we can keep the ingredients simple and pure. Our tastes can change. Many years ago, I could not imagine eating broccoli without cheese sauce. Over time I have grown to enjoy foods for their own flavor without having to dress them up or camouflage their natural tastes.

We are creatures of habit, but new habits can be formed and enjoyed.

Today I was thinking about why my guides say, “Pain is the wrecking crew that destroys the old so the new can be built.” It seems to me that when we are suffering we often go deeper and deeper into ourselves getting to the essence of what is important and the essence of what we fear.

This process can be transformative even while it is difficult. This greater depth can bring us in contact with feeling spiritual principles such as compassion for others, love rather than competition, courage to problem solve, and a willingness to change.

When you are suffering it can be helpful to ask, “How is this experience meant to transform me?”

Many people use the phrase “stay in the moment.” The idea of focusing on the moment is not a favorite concept of mine. I think there is a lot of confusion about what it means to be present versus being in the moment.

To me being present is a state of being alert, focused, and aligned within our selves, while being in the moment can be about not investigating the past or consciously developing the future. Many people have anxiety about past memories and fear the uncertainty of the future. But this is not a reason to avoid them.

We are meant to review and learn from our past and hold a vision of a positive future to work toward. What is most important is working through fears.

I was recently tuning into someone who was on morphine after surgery and was surprised to feel that their drug experience felt similar to a fabulous meditation. Both expansive, a feeling of ecstasy, pure positivity with no fear. On reflection, I felt there were a few lessons to be gleaned from the comparison of drugs and meditation, although I do believe that morphine can be a godsend in the right situation.

Becoming a quality meditator takes practice and work, while taking a drug is easy with little effort required. Choosing a short cut can come with a very big price – drugs ultimately harm the body, while meditation helps heal the body.

However, meditation can be used as a drug, a way of feeling good while avoiding lifeʼs challenges. The open crown chakra in meditation can give us the experience of heaven while on earth. There are two approaches that I emphasize for integrating spiritual awareness into everyday living. One is using meditation in an asking and listening process to receive insight about the profound and the mundane. Two, to use the third eye of discernment in tandem with deep listening as way of navigating life wisely without avoidance.

Many books contradict each other about what constitutes a healthy diet. One says, eat only raw food, another, eat like a hunter and gatherer, vegan is best, eat for your blood type and on and on. What are we to do if we want to be healthy?

My perspective is that not every body needs the same diet for a variety of reasons, which is why I donʼt make broad sweeping generalizations. My approach is muscle testing, applied kinesiology. This is a very simple technique that can be used by family and friends to check one another to see which food weaken muscles and which do not.

I have found through muscle testing that there are foods that always make me strong, foods that sometimes make me strong, and foods that never make me strong. So it is helpful to muscle test foods periodically, for the results can change.

Google muscle testing and learn how to do it. It is a fun, informative, and accurate way to arrive at the diet which is best for you.

Itʼs not uncommon for people to be afraid to make a judgment call for fear of being judgmental. However, the ability to make a clear judgement is really synonymous with wisdom, while being judgmental is based in the comparison of being better than or less than, inferior or superior.

Being judgmental breeds loneliness, a separation from the feeling of interconnection or spiritual oneness. My guides say that happiness comes from the feeling of connection, connection with our inner core, connection with others, and connection with the oneness.

I like to envision a little me over my shoulder who watches to see if I am being judgmental or firmly anchored in the stability of clear judgements as I move through my day. You might want to watch yourself too.

How do you know when you know? We have so many voices attempting to influence our decisions and direction. Perhaps good intentioned family and friends and some not so good intentioned corporations or individuals with vested interests.

Not only do we have a huge number of outside influences, but the fear of making a mistake can generate a number of contradictory internal voices. What are we to do?

It is impossible to make intellectual rules about decisions and direction when life situations are not stagnant but always changing and nuanced. As my guides say, “Be the one who listens fully to self.” Not the superficial self, the influenced self, or the frightened self, but the core of our being, our inner spirit.

I love hearing the perspective of others, because the process of being open helps me to refine the questions that I ask myself. Then I take the important questions deep within my being and feel, listen, and look for the knowing that is in harmony with my core and of course my core is in harmony with the oneness.

I often feel that life in the material world is a “clean, dirty, rot, rust existence.” Life demands a great deal of maintenance from us. We clean our house only to have it get dirty again, we clean our bodies but the clean feeling doesn’t last very long, we organize our paper work or computer only to have to do it again and again. We paint our house – it peels, gardens need to be weeded often and on and on.

Often people desire ease – to hire someone to do the chores, to go out to dinner so there wonʼt be the need to make the effort or take the time to shop, cook, and clean. Maintenance work is not very valued and is often seen as a waste of time that could be better spent on progress, creativity, or innovation, the things that are more important and lucrative.

However, there are many lessons to be learned from the mundane tasks of daily life. I do my best creative thinking while I clean the house, plus this is a time that my guides talk to me. Making dinner for a family or loved ones is an opportunity to express love. Embracing maintenance can slow us down to smell the flowers, bring the peace of humility, and help us to discover that living a fulfilling life is linked to enthusiasm for humble tasks and great adventures.

Imagine accepting everything. Accepting what you like, what you donʼt like, accepting yourself and others. Accepting chemicals in a river, financial injustices, diseases in small children, even our worst regrets.

My guides say that acceptance is not complacency, but simply an acknowledgement of what is. When we deeply acknowledge what is – we stop fighting and or we stop avoiding – we can find peace. From peace, turbulent emotions stop, we become strong and calm. With deep looking and an absence of nervousness and anger insights naturally emerge and then appropriate actions become apparent.

The word “spirituality” means different things to different people. I define a person involved with spirituality as someone concerned with the spiritual side of life and how knowledge from these other realms affect life in our world.

We must develop sensitivities to experience the non-physical side of life. As children we came into the world with these sensitivities and gradually they get conditioned out of us, but they can be regained.

Understanding the meaning of spirituality is best when coming from direct experience. The conditioning of our educational system is all about the analytical mind, and yet to have direct spiritual experiences we need to turn off our analytical mind and listen.

Think about how long it took you to learn to read and what an incredible tool it is for enjoyment, survival, a basic for life. Take some time to learn to meditate or practice meditation. It too is a tool for enjoyment, survival, a basic for life, and a key for understanding spirituality.

Newness is a concept with many benefits. Newness is seeing situations and circumstances anew. This way of perception puts us in the moment – we then see something as if for the first time. A stance that lifts us out of the ordinary and allows for growth and change and development.

Newness brings clarity and appreciation of what is and frees us from the conditioning and the attitudes that limit awareness.

Take time this new year to see your life anew, with fresh eyes. Remember that perception informs feelings and our feelings will inform our actions.

I love the Jesus story. From my perspective Jesus was a remarkable man. He was able to remember who he was as spirit and stay emotionally connected to spiritual principles in the midst of being rejected and tortured. In the story, he didn’t stay in hurt when he wasn’t appreciated and compensated for his love and effort, but instead he accepted the limitations of others not yet enlightened. Wow: what an attainment.

My guides say that true fulfillment is the actualization of our spiritual nature with consistency and not necessarily getting what we want. I believe that Jesus achieved this self-actualization, which is why he is one of the many masters.

His birth which is celebrated at Christmas time is a reminder that rebirth, renewal, and opportunities for growth and change are available to us all. It is never too late to bring our best self to life.

Our fundamental attitudes form the foundation of our approach to life, individually and collectively. As a culture we have been greatly influenced by Darwinʼs view of the survival of the fittest, a philosophy that places an emphasis on competition as a way of measuring our value and achieving excellence.

When I meditate on competition as a way of measuring our value I experience how incredibly isolating that mode of operating can be. A competitive approach to life turns everyone into a potential rival, threatening to oneʼs well being and success. How is it possible to want the best for everyone when we are in competition?

From a oneness perspective or a spiritual view of life, everyone is part of an interconnected whole, with each individual having purpose and a part to play. From a spiritually attuned place the internal questions change from “How can I get ahead?” to “Who am I and why am I here?”

My guides define materialism as valuing material things above spiritual principles. I love beautiful things, quality fabrics, houses with nooks and crannies, enough money to feel generous and free to make choices. Enjoying the material world isnʼt materialism, but rather part of our purpose in coming to an earthly realm.

But when the desire for money and things becomes a justification to turn a blind eye to the ramification of our actions that harm others and our environment then the line is crossed into materialism. It isnʼt easy to discern what is life supportive and what isnʼt in a complex world where the parts for one product are made in many different locations.

Two favorite affirmations that I use surrounding my relationship to things is first a quote from Paramahansa Yogananda, “Have few things, wash frequently.” and a quote from my former mother-in-law, “When youʼre poor you can only afford the best.” My interpretation of the last quote is when you buy quality things you keep them for a long time and often pass them down to others, saving money, not wasting, and with more enjoyment.

Emotional repression can be very sneaky. Repression can be used consciously or unconsciously as a self protective mechanism to avoid looking at mistakes or because of not wanting to confront the feelings that come up from honest self examination.

My guides say that people often perceive through the lens of their own issues, coloring clarity and creating confusion. When focused from the solar plexus our individual lens of perception is clouded over by unresolved emotional problems from this life and others.

This is why it is so important to scrutinize our feelings and motivations with the lucidity of meditation. My guides say, “Stay current in addressing personal concerns from the clarity of deep listening and perception from the third eye.” This approach breaks the karmic pattern of reactions from fear and moves us into the actualization of our spiritual potential.

A spiritually attuned life is a circuitous route, rather than a bee-line to a goal. When we listen deeply and focus deeply in our decision making process the choices we make are not always logical in the short term. This approach I sometimes refer to as following the bouncing ball or the crumbs on the path.

Deep listening and deep looking are the fundamental skills that allow us to know our spiritʼs desire and our personal path of purpose, fulfillment, and learning.

Personally I have found this approach to life is an adventure which fosters remarkable outcomes that go beyond the capacity of my logical mind.

Today I reflected on the innumerable times my guides have corrected my thoughts and words, reprimanded me for inappropriate actions, and given me constructive criticisms for the purpose of making me sharply aware and loving, rather then self-sabotaging or energetically destructive.

Their criticisms have greatly outweighed their compliments and yet I have always felt their unswerving belief in my ultimate goodness and their desire for my best interest at heart. They have been truly loving.

When I approach relationships this way, people are often defensive and canʼt believe that pointing out weaknesses is kind and an appropriate thing to do. Yet if we donʼt give each other honest feedback our blind spots can stay blind.

What would it be like to not get emotionally hurt, when people are not being the way we would like them to be? How would we relate differently if we weren’t wishing others to be just how we want them to be?

My guides say, “Emotional hurt is self-imposed, because we are attached to how we want things to be.” From a spiritual perspective everyone has choice. We can influence, but we canʼt control.

There is a great sadness that engulfs our world. It is possible to step out of this sadness into a universal perspective. Embrace that which is given to you for it is your process of evolution. Enter into acceptance and with it will comes a deeper understanding. Remember acceptance is not complacency, but simply an acknowledgment of what is. From this allowing comes peace and the clarity of appropriate action. So in fact, deep acceptance dissipates fear and brings us into greater involvement with life.

When we meditate and get in touch with our inner essence, our spirit, it becomes easy to love ourselves. Our spirit is always good by its very definition and part of the power of meditation is that we can have direct connection to our core. When we make contact with our spirit the feeling of inadequacy falls away.

If on the other hand, we try to antidote not feeling good about ourselves through our behavior alone, it always falls short. We are human, we make mistakes, we are moody, some people like us and some donʼt. Chasing the feeling of consistent self-esteem from the human condition alone is quite demanding and disappointing.

When we feel our core essence—self-esteem just is. And remarkably with this awareness our behavior becomes a reflection of our positive attitude.

I always say there are three fundamental questions to ask about a relationship. It doesn’t matter whether the relationship is a spouse, a sibling, or a person at work. These questions apply to all relationships. The questions are: What do I want if this relationship were ideal? What am I willing to work with if the relationship is not ideal? And what is unacceptable?

If we continue in a relationship when the circumstance feels unacceptable then we start to become bitter, hurt, angry, and unhealthy. It is important to define what we want while recognizing that relationships give us opportunities for growth, individually and collectively.

If you are in a relationship that is not ideal, but has positive potential for growth and improvement – What do you do? This is where attunement come in, because every situation is different. Use deep listening and deep focus to guide you wisely in your relationships.

We are a culture that values action above waiting, speaking above listening, and striving above acceptance. All of the preferred qualities are directive or often refereed to as the masculine principles. While nurturing, allowing, and supporting, as well as the feminine receptive principles mentioned, are often seen as weakness.

Ideally each of us should experience and express the synthesis of the active and receptive principles. We all have male and female qualities within. When we are able to act or wait, speak or listen, strive and accept, we then have an inner core of balance, an ability to discern appropriateness without being pushy or passive. In this state of being there is neither neediness nor the desire to control. Wholeness and being a positive influence are the byproducts of this attainment.

One of my favorite phrases from a guide is, “Do whatʼs obvious and let the rest unfold.” Life is a complex interconnected evolution. When we rush to make something happen we can miss the fullness of possibility. The process of rushing and not paying attention to the interconnected cosmic timing of events can diminish potential, learning, and spiritual attainment.

I was once told, “Donʼt you want to wait until all the dominoes are lined up – so only one push will be needed for a big impact.” Work with spirit through deep listening and deep looking rather than trying to take control. If you work with spirit life events will grow in meaning and significance.

If happiness is an open crown chakra, what does that actually mean? The crown chakra at the top of the head becomes closed when we feel discouraged, worried, or afraid. To me depression is an extreme state of discouragement. So happiness is actually an absence of these emotions.

We have three options when it comes to dissipating discouragement, worry, and fear. We can change our attitude, change our situation, or both. Even though every situation is different and deep listening and deep focus are needed to discern – the general rule is to ask what am I to learn from my situation and given what is what am I to do?

In the midst of discouragement, worry, and fear it is important not too become too tolerant of the status quo, but rather be a proactive problem solver. Life becomes an adventure when we meet our challenges.

I turned on my kitchen radio to listen to NPR while making dinner last night and heard a novelist being interviewed. She recounted the story that had inspired her novel about a situation where she had been unkind and insensitive to the feelings of a girl with a facial deformity. The novelist commented that she had learned, “If you need to make a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”

This comment made me think about my guide’s distinction between what is universal and what is unique. And how often people take personal experiences or insights and then make broad sweeping generalizations. My guides say, “Be like a zephyr, be like a hurricane, steady like an oak, and bend like a willow.” Appropriate behavior stems from the understanding that there is not one right way to be, every response needs to be seen within the context of the circumstance.

Remember to take time to bask in the force of spirit that is always around us. If we pause throughout the day to connect with the consciousness of oneness – so many concerns will fade away – so many confusions will cease. Feel the emersion of spirit for peace, clarity, and comfort.

One of our modern challenges is the tendency to rush and to feel that there is more to do then we can possibly accomplish at a proper pace. But if you allow yourself to move within an appropriate rhythm and not rush, you shall find that your access to spiritual insight and the feeling of connectedness will grow.

Truth is a spiritual principle. The truth is not always pretty, plus it is not always easy to know what the real truth is. If the truth shall make us free, but the truth isnʼt pretty and it is hard to know–what do we do?

We must be willing to deal with the inner and outer conflict that arises with the examination of truth and simultaneously know that our version of the truth is really our convictions, and that convictions evolve. Therefore, be expressive and honest about your convictions while maintaining a willingness to have those convictions change. This means letting go of being right and instead making growth and liberation through greater connection to truth the priority.

Many years ago I was bit by a dog, quite badly, in my right leg. It took a few weeks before I could walk normally and I needed to take an antibiotic. The most interesting part of the experience was that many months after the event my right leg would shake when around a strange dog. Even when my mind was quite clear that the dog posed no threat, my leg still seemed to be afraid. It was from this experience that I started to think about cellular memory and the complexity of trauma.

What I decided to do was to talk to the cells in my leg, reassuring them that I would take care of them and they could now relax, while holding the attitude that cells have consciousness too. Each time I was near a dog I would talk to my leg and gradually my leg stopped shaking around canines.

Repetition is how we heal. It is through the repetition of clear and appropriate attitudes that our fearful attitudes transform. Whatever emotional traumas you sustain can be transformed through the repetition of clear thoughts and feelings based in a broad spiritual understanding.

All craves and addictions are a solar plexus problem: in other words, all craves and addictions have an imbalanced emotional underpinning. Through the years I have been able to energetically pull craves and addictions out of peopleʼs solar plexus chakras in order to help them change negative habits. This healing technique has taught me that certain craves and addictions are associated with specific emotional patterns. For example, salt craves are linked to feeling overly responsible, and sugar craves are linked to the desire to feel more loved. Excessive drinking comes from emotional overwhelm and not knowing how to deal with emotions in a healthy way, and therefore choosing avoidance and numbness.

It can be helpful to think of a crave as an emotional message. Ask yourself, “What do I really want?” Deep listening, meditation and deep looking, the third eye will help you discern. Then the next question becomes, “What do I need to accept and what can I manifest with will and drive?” We can not always get what we want, but we can always manifest our spiritʼs desire. Finding inner peace and emotional balance is within reach.

One way to bring more spontaneity into life is through variety. Variety is the spice of life, because it can be fun and inspiring. Whether it is a vacation, a new kind of food, or a new sweater. However, if we have variety without any repetition or repeated structure then we become unstable. Like traveling without a home or wanting new things all the time to such a degree that we become financially at risk.

The synthesis of a repeated structure and variety creates a feeling of being secure and expansive. Another way of talking about this is the synthesis of discipline and spontaneity. So create systems and exceptions to the rules. The systems create ease and security and the exceptions bring the variety that is the spice.

Examine your life. Do you have a nice balance of structure and variety?

Who will hold the emotional standard? I so often observe people who are kind and good intentioned but disappointed and in reaction to the environment and the behavior of others. If we are balanced and then react to others who are not, we lose our balance and become victims of circumstance.

Mastership is about sustaining the actualization of our spiritual nature in the midst of the ups and downs of life. Obviously this is not easy to achieve. How many masters do we see walking around? But regardless, this is the key to personal fulfillment and the direction that life pushes us whether we like it or not.

We are never alone. Guides and spiritual helpers are around all of us or can get to us at the speed of thought. Therefore we can ask for help in the midst of our human challenges and lessons. Sometimes help will come in a direct form, invisible hands on our shoulders to protect us, a voice of clarity, or a vision of the future. Sometimes help from guides comes in an indirect form, a book that falls off a shelf opened to the exact page with an important message, or a supportive friend who gets the impulse to reach out after years of separation, or hearing just the right phrase that brings insight spoken by a stranger as they walk past you on the sidewalk.

All of these examples can be orchestrated help from guides. So remember you are never alone, reach out in your mind when you need help, and pay attention to the fact that help comes in many forms.

My guides say that the three causes of disease are attitudes, our inner and outer environment, which includes genetics, and past life karmic patterns. With effort we ultimately have control over our attitudes, but only partial control over the environmental influences, while karmic patterns are established and are being brought to the surface through personal life events to be worked on and worked through.

Our environmental challenges are a reminder to all of us that we are interconnected and a collective effort is necessary for healthy changes to occur. I do want to encourage everyone to detox environmental poisons and to become proactive in helping to stop the poisoning of our planet and everyone on it.

The images of both the front side and the reverse side of the Great Seal that Americaʼs founding fathers designed in 1782 can be found on the back of our dollar bill. The reverse side contains the all seeing eye, or what I would call the third eye, and is the Masonic representation of the great architect of the universe.

It is very appropriate that the third eye is on our dollar bill, because the third eye is the center of wisdom and discernment and money is neutral–it needs wisdom to guide its proper use. Money can be used constructively or destructively. When the wisdom of our third eye guides how we spend money and what we do to earn money then its power is used in balance, not falling into self-indulgence or self-denial.

We can feel wonderful or terrible and nothing has changed but the frame of our mind.

Everyday we have an enormous number of thoughts, conscious and unconscious, constructive and destructive. Each of these thoughts affects our well being and the quality of our relationships and our environment. We do not need to be victims or passive before these powerful influences. With vigilance we can learn to cultivate constructive attitudes and direct them in ways that benefit ourselves and others.

How do we discern what is appropriate to manifest and what is not? When we listen deeply in meditation, without preconceived notions, we can access the spirit and so gain clarity. Also when we focus deeply we can access the spirit, the consciousness of the life force, where clarity in conjunction with oneness resides. More broadly, our individual lives will give us feedback to hone our skill of discernment.

Taking time to listen can be difficult in modern life. We live in a very fast-paced world. When we move too fast, our experiences and interactions become superficial. Taking the time to listen moves us into a depth of understanding and a clarification of what is and isn’t important.

However, it is possible to move quickly and still be in a listening state. Pay attention to the difference between rushing and rhythm, flowing and pushing. It is possible to move quickly, but not be tense and be in a listening state – “make haste slowly.”

My guides say, “The pause between events is where most people get into trouble.” In general, we can handle event A and then event B and so on maybe through the alphabet. But what do you do with the space between events? What do you do with your thoughts? What do you do with your focus? What do you do with your attitudes? We have a lot of pauses between events. Often our conditioning is to spend the time between events worrying about future events and being anxious about past experiences. The tools of inspiration and affirmation can work like a battery charger to prepare us for the next event. Use the pauses as preparation time mentally, physically, and spiritually.

We can receive guidance from the spirit within, the spirit without, and our individual guides. What is the difference? The spirit without is the god force, the oneness, the omnipresent conscious force that is in all things. When we connect with this force through meditation or a powerful moment of inspiration, we get in touch with pure power and even ecstasy. This is the force that healers tap into, this is the force that brings us contact with the feeling of deep spiritual principles.

The spirit within is our little individual part of this god force, our pure essential nature. Even if we were each enlightened, we would still be unique. Itʼs always wise to take an idea, suggestion, or experience into our spirit for final confirmation. This way we donʼt give our power away and we take full responsibility for our thoughts and actions.

The beauty of having connection with our individual guides is that they can be very specific about worldly details, while at the same time they have an overview, a birdʼs eye view that can protect us and guide us through complexity.

In some situations, focus on the oneness, at other times the individual spirit, and know that our guides are available to help too.

Recently I read an article about Sylvia Brown, the famous psychic, which focused on the inaccuracy of many of her predictions and some examples of the negative impact. This commentary reminded me of an interaction with a personal spiritual guide many years ago, when I was advised not to focus on prediction, but rather growth and development. I was told that most people want predictions because they are afraid they are not going to get what they want and that it would be preferable to help people through their fears instead of trying to appease them. We are here on earth to work through fears and learn the interconnection between spiritual principles and worldly application.

Sometimes knowing the future can be helpful. This knowledge may help us be patient, or accepting, or even trusting. Sometimes it is not helpful to know the future, which could activate fear, impatience, or a desire to always control outcomes.

In life there is both destiny and free will choice, some things can be known, while others are yet to be revealed. Also, there are times to know and times where it is best to be veiled.

How do we maintain inner stillness? To really know that whatever has transpired is another opportunity to learn and to look at the situation objectively, to feel the stillness as our identity. Then we can look at an interaction, and say “Ah ha, an opportunity to maintain stillness and to know that if we are not still inside, no matter what we are doing, there is something amiss.” Too often thereʼs a tendency when we have turmoil to blame other people for their actions or their words, but if our stillness is lost, then there is a need to reconnect within ourself.

“Why is it popular to follow the gut?” As a culture we have a tendency to swing from one extreme to the next. When one solution doesnʼt work, we often try the polar opposite. A good example of this can be found in schools, like teaching to the test, and then eliminating tests all together so creativity can flourish.

Staying in the intellect alone does cut us off from our feelings, turning us into insensitive machines. However, if we live from the gut we become feeling individuals in a human experience, often becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of our individual and world circumstance.

I am a proponent of living focused from the third eye in the middle of the forehead. This is the center of wisdom and integrates our intellect and our emotions in the context of a spiritual perspective. We are both Spirit and human!

As I trace people through their incarnations, watching them move back and forth between the material and spiritual realms, I see that there is a tremendous amount of repetition. I observe people making the same errors over and over again, due to focus on attitudes and actions that are not based in spiritual qualities. This creates enormous suffering. However, not at any time do my guides get discouraged or waiver from their belief that all of us shall be successful in the actualization of our spiritual nature, and that all souls eventually will be drawn into light.

I once had a vision of angelic beings in the sky heralding all of humanity into the light. The image reminded me of a medieval painting. In it, masses of people formed a spiral of interconnectedness. As each person moved into light and positivity, they drew all of humanity with them, for they were all linked. No one was separate or isolated. I realized in that moment that when any of us actualizes spiritual qualities, all people are helped and supported in their spiritual journey.

What is universal and what is unique? I often hear about or read about a person who has a personal event and then goes on to make broad generalizations about life and others based on their experience. This can be an imbalanced projection.

When I first started working with my guides they would ask me to compare the difference between conclusions, attitudes, and experiences that where universal and those that were not. They stressed that when people try to turn that which is specific and individual into universal ideas or concepts many problems arise.

Our attitudes form the foundation of our lives and when they are confused we build on shaky ground. One way at discern which attitudes will bring us stability is to recognize attitudes that are universal and apply to all people. These are the building blocks of life.

Unique experiences can be fabulous, but they are ours to enjoy, learn from, and share without projection. We don’t need to make a one size fits all approach to life to find security.

If Spirit, the life force, is omnipresent then it exists in the world of inanimate objects we call things. This means that things have consciousness, which in turn means that we can communicate with them. We can ask and listen to rocks, to our favorite hat, to the teakettle we use every morning to heat water. The presence of Spirit in all things means that each thing is itself and also serves. A chair can be a master. To know that things have Spirit and consciousness brings us appreciation and a gentler way of living. Would you slam a door if you knew it had consciousness?

When we are in the Spiritual realm, we communicate in thought, travel with thought, and manifest with thought. While here on earth we need to make a bigger effort. Without telepathy we need to form our words in voice or in writing. Traveling happens on foot, in a car, a boat, train or plane. Time and money are needed. Manifesting desires takes work and perseverance.

It is important to remember that our learning on earth is linked to strengthening our individual will in alignment with spiritual principles – while putting one foot in front of the other. In other words, working hard to actualize pure desires and potential. This is the realm of work.

Stress is the strain of not being able to accomplish what we want to accomplish. Acceptance can eliminate stress. Ask the question, What can I do given the limitations? Ease comes in when we allow the acceptance of what is. Our culture doesn’t
emphasize this process.

A few attitudes that help with cultivating acceptance. “I am the helper and Spirit does the work.” “Everyone is learning.” “There is cosmic timing.”

Attunement is key. Attunement is the ability to bring into accord our conscious mind and our spiritual nature. Which is why meditation is fundamental. We can’t make hard and fast rules about how to be, or how to respond, or even what is right or wrong. What may be wrong in one situation is extremely appropriate in the next.

Here are two phrases that are opposite and yet both can be true. “Good things happen to those who wait.” and “Those who hesitate are lost.” When we take the time to attune to our inner core we are able to discern and respond with the enlightenment of our spirit’s consciousness to each specific situation, rather than from our cultural conditioning.

The fact is that every aspect of human life is always in newness, even if our negative habits block our experience and recognition of this. No day really is ever the same as any other day. No person is ever the same from day to day. No view of nature is ever exactly the same. This is the point of the famous pronouncement attributed to the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus: “We never step into the same river twice.” By focusing on the nuances of change, which are all around us, we can experience as adults the wonder and curiosity of a child and bring newness into our lives.

I love the story of Jesus. A story of a man who healed the sick, taught wisdom, and lived an example of a spiritual life. He was not rewarded on earth for his talent, compassion, or hard work, but rather tortured, rejected, and not supported by the very people he served.

Yet in the story, he didnʼt become resentful, blaming, or entitled, but probed inside for deeper meaning and learned to attain and sustain spiritual principles and qualities in the midst of great adversity – the ability to rise above the imbalances, ignorance, and injustice, in order to claim the achievement of his personal enlightenment.

At Christmas, may we all be inspired by this drama and move a little closer toward our personal enlightenment.

What is a spiritual principle? It is a constant. A principle that holds life together. It is always appropriate to be compassionate, wise, loving etc….what we are learning as human beings is the integration of spiritual principles into everyday living.

Recognizing what is constant and what is situational is a key to integration. For example, it is always a good idea to be wise, but it is not always a good idea to talk. Wisdom is a constant, talking or not talking is situational. Our first error is taking something that is situational and trying to make it into a constant, creating imbalance.

If you look carefully at nature, you will see that it is not always kind. If you get stuck in thinking that the spiritual way is always kind and gentle you will be misguided.

My guides say, “Be like nature, gentle like a zephyr, powerful like a hurricane, steady like an oak, bending like a willow.” There is not one right way to be in all circumstance. Every appropriate behavior is situational. Wisdom and attunement are needed to discern the right way to be.

We so often are taught to be fair and listen to others, but instead be the one who listens to Spirit. To our own deepest essence and the life force that is omnipresent and communicating all around us. If others are confused and afraid then blending will make us confused too.

It is not that you should turn a deaf ear to thoughts and feeling expressed around you, but always listen to your own Spirit for final confirmation. Otherwise you give your power away and make the mistakes of others. Meditation is a fabulous tool — use it.

Being human is high maintenance. We have to clean our house, our body, our car, shop, cook, eat, pay bills and manage innumerable challenges, traffic, health, different view points and on and on. Not to mention pesticides, mercury toxicity, wars, financial stress, and confused social messages that bombard us on TV, the internet, and from our environment, as well as work related conflicts. Living life from the solar plexus, or from the human perspective alone can feel like a tragedy.

Living life from the third eye adds the spiritual perspective. We are all spirit temporarily on earth, learning to bring a positive influence rather than being in reaction to things not being the way we want. I define happiness as the actualization of our spiritual nature rather then getting everything we want. From this perspective we are not a victim of circumstance.

Gold light is a color that enlightened individuals emanate, while white light is the light of pure spirit. When I experience white light I feel oneness without any individual qualities. When I experience gold light I feel oneness and individual expressions of that state–such as compassion, clarity, balance, connection, and personality differences, etc.

When we visualize and send gold light to ourselves or another we are sending all the spiritual qualities of an en-lighted state. Visualizing and sending gold light is a tool we can use creatively, to help quiet a crying baby, stimulate open mindedness in a meeting, season a soup with love and positivity– there are infinite uses for this free and powerful substance. Experiment for yourself.

I cannot stress enough the importance of the realization of the power that lies within us. For within each of us there is a generator and just as a generator can create electricity to move things, to bring light, to bring about a multitude of changes, we also have this capacity. Together and united we have the ability to generate a brilliance which can impact many.

Here on the earth many struggle and feel tremendous despair: offer your optimism, offer your insight, and your abilities. For within each of you there is a longing, there is a longing to give where help is needed, to your friends, to those who are only acquaintances, and those who you do not yet know.

When we are sympathetic, good intentions are often present but we become vulnerable to emotional entanglements and sensitive to absorbing other peopleʼs pain and symptoms. These reactions can make us ineffective and confused. In comparison, when we are in a compassionate state we are more objective. This breeds wiser perception and an ability to know that even the most difficult situation has important learning. This objectivity makes it easier to know our appropriate role in the midst of complexity, which ultimately is the most helpful for all concerned.