Shift is happening

I’m honestly a little saddened by the shifts in interactions between people. We are in this stage of growth where you are not a child anymore but not an adult either. Let me explain what I mean.

As I experience the whirlwind we are currently wrapped into, I realize that we are heading to an incredible era. We are becoming more aware of the capacity we have to communicate instantaneously and, who knows, we might reach telepathy at a large scale very soon.

My sadness comes from trying to adjust to it, I guess. I notice how people’s attention span is getting shorter. We are no longer satisfied with fast information; we want it faster, more variety, and in a constant influx. Not that this is bad; in some way we are expanding the capacity of the brain to absorb more information; however the quality of information is not necessarily all that good for our brain development and the speed is teaching us a different way of connecting with others.

I watch people shifting from task to task within seconds. This could be called multi-tasking, ADHD or just simply short attention span. By the way, none of these adjectives are meant in a negative way. I know of many highly successful business people who fit these characteristics perfectly and I believe that the mastering of these qualities is what contributed to their success.

What I see developing is a way of communication that requires shorter, faster, more exciting and engaging messages that keep the audiences hooked for at least six seconds. Then shift to another message or task. Squirrel! Then shift again.

I’m saddened because I noticed that this is transferring to the way we talk to each other in our daily lives and I’m not used to it. I can see it on TV, Internet and the way people talk to each other; we interrupt, we don’t completely listen to each other’s arguments or opinions, we shift to the next, more exciting topic and we lose track of what the other person was saying.

I’m trying to adjust to all of these and see the positive side because there is no going back, we are already well on our way. Perhaps we’ll start connecting less through words and more through wavelengths, instinctual feelings, or telepathically. I hope to be alive to witness it if that’s the case.

What I wish is more of a heart connection.

I can see how the social networks and other mediums of communication are allowing people to connect to more people, even strangers, or perhaps is encouraging more isolation since people are glued to their electronics, I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that people are reaching out further, expressing themselves more openly, and opening their minds and hearts to others around the planet.

I believe that if we get to connect to our hearts through whatever way it works, art, music, blogs, laughter, social networks, etc, then we are evolving towards a more fulfilling and integrative lifestyle that might benefit us all.

Those are my thoughts. I intent to continuously adapt, evolve, accept and grow from every experience and enjoy the miracle of life.

Until the next blog.

I'm invisible today

As I'm driving around I'm noticing people not noticing me. And I'm not talking about the narcissistic-need-to-be-seen point of view but the driving-towards-me-and-almost-hitting-me point of view. It happened so many times that I thought I must be invisible today.
Then I noticed that it's not just me who is invisible, we are all invisible to each other.
It saddens me to see people living life mindlessly, going about without really noticing what's around them, not slowing down enough to smell the roses.
Our minds are so filled with worry and incessant chatter that we walk around like zombies, missing life entirely.
Flowers blooming, birds chirping, children laughing, wind blowing, and people passing are all completely ignored as we go about our lives mindlessly.
When did we become so disconnected? Is this how we learned to cope with life challenges?
I think sometimes we get so used to worrying that it becomes a way of living and we forget to do something else.
When we worry we don't allow room for anything else in our minds and lives. There is no room even for solutions or opportunities because we are closed up, we are not present, we are not connected.

I invite you to look around and notice, without judgment, just notice. Maybe an opportunity will present itself or maybe you'll just enjoy the moment for what it is.
Noticing you,
Nancy

Lessons I learned from a surfer

Many times problems arise like huge waves in the ocean.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, drowning and with no life vest, surf board or anything to hold us up. Problems keep coming like waves, crashing and sinking us further down, while the sharks lurk around waiting for the opportunity to attack. It can seem hopeless to try to stay afloat and the thought of giving up might come to mind.
Some might self-medicate, which is like finding a board floating nearby and holding on to it to stay above water, yet these temporary solutions do not get us anywhere near the shore nor teach us how to handle problems effectively.
Some are satisfied with  just holding on to the board as long as the waves don't get big. Some hope that life doesn't change so they don't have to change.
But it is impossible to live life without facing challenges. An ocean without waves is not an ocean.
The way to live life is not holding on to a little board hoping it'll be enough to keep us afloat. The way to live life is by learning how to face those challenges and see them as opportunities instead, learn to surf them.

The following are some lessons I learned from a surfer:

• Surfers never give their backs to the ocean. We face our problems, not ignore them. Surfers show the ocean respect and reasonable caution as we should when we are facing a problem needed to be resolved. 
• Surfers learn to read the waves, predict their patterns. We need to learn our own patterns of behaviors, our common reactions to events and situations and change the ones that don't serve us.
• Surfers avoid surfing after a storm. We have to get to know ourselves and our own vulnerabilities. If we are tired, hungry or with little sleep we are not going to be as effective managing situations as if we were in balance and taking care of ourselves.  
• Surfers learn which waves to ride and which ones to go under and let pass. Problems can be seen as opportunities for growth and expansion, or they can teach us humility and compassion. 
• Surfers get back up if they are thrown off. It's not about setting unattainable expectations and think that we can master every issue but maintaining hope and perseverance.
• Surfers want the big waves because they give them the best chances to go through the tube. Problems that seem big can be excellent opportunities to look within and explore our inner strengths as well as our limiting beliefs. When we go within, we can find that peace surfers experience when they are in the tube.
• Surfers wait patiently and enjoy their communion with nature. We need to take time for ourselves, to recharge our batteries and be around nature.
• Real surfers respect each other and respect the environment. We must do the same, starting with respecting and honoring ourselves, saying no when we mean no and yes when we mean yes. Resting when we are tired and eating when we are hungry. Respecting ourselves and each other.
• Surfers are in the present moment, being aware and trusting their instincts. There is not point on dwelling in the past or worrying about the future that we cannot be changed. The only time is the present and is the best time to be in, experiencing life just as it is, accepting it radically. 

I am grateful for all the simple lessons I learned from a surfer. It made so much sense to me how their approach to the ocean can related to life in general.

Next big wave comes, let's paddle into it and come out saying, "that was some gnarly swell, dude!".

Why should I go to counseling?

Have you ever felt like you need someone to talk to; someone impartial who can understand your point of view and support you? Someone who can give you objective and helpful feedback to help you grow and get unstuck? 

Sure, a friend can do that yet your friend might not be able to be as objective as you need or might side with you just to try to make you feel better. 

Your friend might not know how to give you honest feedback that will help you identify the pattern that keeps you stuck.

A counselor is someone you can talk to without feeling like you have to be careful about what you say. 
A good counselor is someone who won’t judge you or make you feel bad; someone who you don’t have to see everyday or hang out with. 
A counselor is like a webpage you consult for information but is personalized and tailored to your specific issue. 
Sure, you can read a magazine or a blog about people with similar problems and what they did to resolve it but everybody is different and their solution might not work for you. 
The beauty of seeing a counselor is that you can go to him or her for a few sessions until the issue is resolved and not go back until you are facing another challenge or need a “tune-up”.  You can find one in every city and you can choose the one that fits your values and preferences best. 


Can you go through life without a counselor? Sure, a lot of people do. 
Some people’s lives are simpler than others. However, some people prefer to have a guide that can show them the shortcuts, make life easier and more joyful, and coach them through the challenges. 
A counselor can give you perspective and help you see the entire picture. 
Everybody needs a counselor. 
Imagine that you are going through some tough times and can't seem to find your way out. You go see someone that cares for you and who helps you put it all in perspective and shows you how to fix it. Someone who will be there if you need to get a new tool or encounter a roadblock; who really knows you, not the face you show the world but the real you. Someone who will give you tools so you can figure out on your own next time and keep on growing; who is not trying to change you but accepts you for who you are and works with you in making your life happier.


And best of all, a counselor won't tell the world about your fears or insecurities but will create a safe space where you can be yourself. 

I think I turned into an alien

It was Tuesday morning.
I woke up around 6:15am as usual (not my choice) and got ready. It seemed like it was going to be another cold day as the fog darkened the skies.
Keys, purse, agenda and myself ready, I walked to my car and set off to my daily routine.
I hadn't driven much when all of the sudden something changed.

My attention shifted from the speedometer and the road to something beyond that. My eyes began capturing the beauty of the sunlight shining through the fog as the trees glistened and sparkled from the morning dew. The leaves were painted golden and brown and the air smelled fresh and moist. A smile grew on my face as I admired the majestic beauty of this earth. My curiosity grew every mile I drove.
Have I not seen this before? Have I not driven this way every day for at least 6 months? Why did everything seem so new and fresh?

I think I turned into an alien.

I could not recognize the planet I was seeing. It was as if everything was new and I was seeing the earth for the first time. The simplest things caught my attention as I marveled at the perfection of creation. Was my car really moving or was my car still and the other cars moving around me? When did we begin building roads?
How beautiful are the drops of water at the tips of the trees! How lucky we are to be alive!

More and more I'm experiencing life as if I was from another planet. It is a beautiful thing. It's hard to explain but the feeling is like this is going to be my last time in this earth and I have the chance to experience it fully and take with me amazing memories.

I extend an invitation to turn into an alien too. Let me know how it feels. Perhaps it might not be the trees or the freeway you admire but perhaps the food you eat or the people you encounter. Enjoy it like a brand-new experience without judgments or labels. It's amazing.

I'm so grateful to be in this planet...

Nancy

A day in silence

Spending an entire day in silence is not as easy as it seems yet is the easiest way to stay in the present and be mindful. I know for many people being in silence is not something out of the ordinary, but this is not just about being quiet or not talking to people, it's about being completely aware.
My day was spent like any normal day, even though I wished I was in a remote area where I could hear only the birds and and the wind sing. I decided to carry a little piece of paper with the words "I'm taking a day for silence" for the people that I would inevitably encounter along the way. The funny thing was, every time I showed someone that piece of paper, they began whispering or they would stop talking too as if to wanting to match my silence. I hope I inspired them to take sometime in silence too.
So many times I caught myself about to speak without really thinking. Like when we greet someone and ask automatically, "How are you?" I realized that I'm not taking the time to wait for the answer, not because I don't care but because I imagine there will be a time in the future when I'll be able to sit down and really get to know the person. If only...
I also realized that my smile and non-verbal words can communicate more than simple words. When I did not carry that piece of paper with me, I resorted to nodding and smiling. It seemed to do the trick.
Many times I felt like I cheated when I used other forms of communication such as texting or signs to speak what I was thinking. What was the purpose of this day of silence then?
I wanted to become more aware of my thoughts (hence the blog) and I wanted to find that inner peace in the midst of chaos. Perhaps I needed to go to a remote area away from interruptions and noise so I'm not distracted. Or perhaps I just needed to go within.
It is so useful to communicate through words yet it is so easy to say things we don't mean, say things without thinking. I learned a few things along the way.
I learned that I can be more patient and less attached when I cannot say what I think as easily.
I learned how easy it is to forget to be mindful and how easy it is to react to things.
I learned that it takes a lot of focus and energy to be constantly aware of thoughts and actions.
I learned how much words can connect us or disconnect us from people.
Next time I'll try it for a longer period of time. It was interesting to watch people's reactions and it was fascinating how much more I was able to learn from the silence.
In silence and presence,
Nancy

It's easy to have hope when things are going well...

When things are going smoothly is easy to trust and have hope. The challenge comes when there is struggle.
It is difficult to feel hope, peace and trust when we are faced with problems, losses and pain. Fear may take over and paralyze us. Or we may go into despair or anger and not see the light at the end of the tunnel.
What to do in these situations?
Ideally we should stay calm and centered in the middle of a tornado. No matter what happens outside of us, we should be able to remain calm on the inside.
Easier said than done, right? 
How can we remain calm when our world in crumbling around us and we see no way out? How can we be centered when we have no way to change the situation or feeling?
One word:     HOPE
Hope is what keeps us going, what keeps us fighting despite the losses, what keeps us moving when we feel exhausted.

Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual teacher and poet, wrote:

"Life without hope

Is no life at all.

 

Hope passes beyond,

Far beyond,

The abyss of despair.

Our hopes

Should be as deep

As the Pacific Ocean.

Hope    

Is not just a word.   

Hope    

Is today's beautiful plant.    

Hope    

Is tomorrow's fruitful tree.

 

Hope is not a momentary flicker.  

Hope is Eternity's slow, steady,

Illumining and fulfilling height.

 

O hope, you are my treasure dear 

Of a long century.    

Because of you I see not the fear    

Of stark penury."

When we turn to hope, we can remove ourselves momentarily from the painful situation and become an observant. When we feel hope, we analyze the reason for the struggle, the meaning of the pain and the patterns of unconscious reactions. When we feel hope, we find the light at the end of the tunnel and walk towards it, knowing that there must be a reason for this challenge, a lesson to be learned or a skill to be gained. When we feel hope, we strengthen our faith and override negativity and helplessness.

Hope allows us to be conscious and aware as we explore the roots of our discomfort and try to find a way out. And sometimes there is no way out but through. Sometimes there is no way out but surrender.

Hope allows us to stop resisting and fighting so we can become more mindful of the present moment and what we are creating for ourselves. Is it possible to feel hope in the midsts of struggle and pain? I have seen it happen. It takes commitment to one self to observe curiously what is happening inside of us and to allow it to be. It takes courage to go inside and find the light. It takes strength to bring out the hope and light and not become overwhelmed by the chaos around us.

It is easy to be hopeful and excited about life when things go well, but it makes us grow as humans and as spiritual beings when we learn from our challenges, find our inner strength and cultivate hope for ourselves and the world.

In hope and love for all,

Nancy

Ok, Ok, I believe!

I don't know how many times I have received validation for my hunches and intuitions and I still doubt.
The good thing is that I made my soul in charge of guiding me and no matter what I try to do, my soul makes sure I go back to my path.
Let me give you an example. I made a commitment to follow my spirituality, to be more in my heart and soul than in my mind. Hard task for someone who has been in school for a long time and just finished a PhD. My soul path has led me to pursue things that are related to consciousness, awareness, soul searching and the like.
Not long ago I was notified of a training to review the new Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a long test that defines people's personalities. Not the most spiritual tool to use in therapy but I thought it would help me expand what I had to offer to my clients (like I don't do enough!). I decided to go to the training, even though my soul had said no when I asked if it was in my highest interest.
The morning of the training I woke up to my daughter having a high fever and feeling sick to her stomach... Needless to say, I missed the training.
I set the intention to believe and trust more, thanking my daughter for her sacrifice so I could learn from this experience.

When I'm aligned and trust, things flow effortlessly. After all of the years of inner work, I don't need to bang my head against the wall; all I need to do is believe and trust.
I asked my soul today (I pendulum tested) if I needed to go to the library or to the internet coffee shop to do some inspirational writing (such as this one). I was guided to go to the library. I wanted to get a cup of coffee so I decided to go to the coffee shop instead and do my writing there (despite getting a clear answer not to...). After buying a coffee and pastry the lady on the counter informed me that the internet connection wasn't working!
Ok, Ok, I believe!
I'm glad I don't need a big slap in the face, an accident or an serious illness to learn to follow my inner guidance. I'm glad to have done (and continue to do) internal work so I can learn my lessons effortlessly and gently.
If you notice that your lessons are coming in through harsh, difficult events, perhaps is time to stop and listen and realize that perhaps some internal work needs to be done.
I'm here if you need my support and guidance.
In trust,
Nancy

Things happen for a reason

There are times we find ourselves wanting certain things to happen, so we try time after time to get the results we want to the point of almost forcing them to happen. We have the illusion in our heads that we know how things should be and we keep trying to make them be that. When things don't go as planned we keep resisting and blame others, including God for it. We don't understand why these things are happening and why they are not going as we thought they should. We resist the flow and forget to see the lesson.

It takes a lot of patience and faith to let go and let the lessons and opportunities reveal themselves, since they don't show up right away.

When we release the need to control everything, we live in peace, we live in trust. That is not to say that we don't have free will to do as we please, but when we make a soul commitment to learn our life lessons, everything is arranged with that purpose in mind, including the obstacles in the way. It could be months or years later when we learn why it wasn't supposed to go a certain way or why certain things didn't happen. We notice and give thanks for those obstacles that "forced" us to go a different way. Things happen for a reason.

It's like an internal GPS, you input the address and no matter what route you take or what mode of transportation you use, it'll always point to that destination. Some routes are easier than others as some experiences are. In the end we need to trust that we are guided in the right direction and perhaps that detour on the road was there to help us gain better knowledge of the path ahead.

Earth Shaking Meditation

Things shift rapidly when we are aligned.
In order to experience what is truly there for us, we must release attachments and flow with the change.

I've been doing internal work on my beliefs and my role in this earth/time. I've been avoiding fully embracing my spirituality for one reason or another. Fear of being rejected, fear of not knowing enough, of making mistakes, and so on. I also found it difficult to manage the mainstream world combined with the spiritual world. I felt like I had to chose. In the past I have chosen following the mainstream but now it was different.

I chose spirituality. 

I made the decision to connect with my spirituality fully. I decided to let go of the mainstream requirements and just follow my spiritual path. 

Things began changing rapidly. 
Things that were not possible before, became doable. Places where there were obstacles before, opportunities came to the surface. The strangest thing was that the mainstream world was opening up for me. 

What was the Universe trying to tell me?
Was it that I needed to make a conscious decision to follow my spiritual path and release expectations as to how that was going to work? 
The truth is I probably wouldn't have made the decision to fully embrace my spirituality have I fought against the obstacles to force an outcome; have I succumbed to the mainstream without achieving balance. 

I can see now that it is possible for me to live in both worlds, I just had to give it equal value and release expectations, release control.

Perhaps this change came after an interesting event that happened yesterday. I was meditating mid afternoon in regards to my decision and its implications. I visualized a red cord coming through my body and into the core of the earth, attaching itself and connecting with the earth's force and vibration. 

Not long after I connected the cord the earth started shaking! A 5.9 earthquake developed! I opened my energy up to receive the change and transformation and allowed myself to be in this space without fear (in previous earthquakes I've been the first one to run out the door!). What perfect timing! 

Did the movement of the earth shake my limiting beliefs and stagnant energy away? I wish to believe so. Perhaps we all need to be shaken once in a while to remember to trust and be in peace in the midst of change. We need to be reminded that change is good and that we are loved and cared for. 

I hope you find what you need to make things work for you too. 
You are in my thoughts and blessings.
Thanks for sharing your journey with me.

With much love, appreciation and respect,

Nancy

Guidance

I read back my journal which I have not touched for three months and I recall the words that I wrote then. I had told myself that I needed to be more connected to spirit, to meditate more and receive more guidance. And I’m sure I wrote about the same thing six months ago too. Why is it so hard to stay spiritually connected and so easy to get distracted? I know how great it feels to meditate and receive guidance. When I meditate frequently and then stop, it’s like I stopped charging the batteries. I can feel the difference. But then, why is it so hard to commit to a continuous practice? Perhaps it’s the whole thing of feeling guilty for not doing “anything”. Perhaps it seems better to occupy ourselves with mundane things in order to seem busy and productive.

When my mind is full of worries, it doesn’t let me meditate. It doesn’t want me to do anything but waste time doing things that are not guided and do not take me anywhere. But to the ordinary world, that seems more productive than taking 30 minutes a day to really listen to guidance.

Let’s define some terms first before we continue talking about this topic. When I talk about meditation, you must understand that it is not just the kind that you see the monks do. Meditation can be walking, exercising, dancing, love-making, sitting in silence, journaling, or emptying your mind. The goal of meditation is to be able to still your mind enough that you can hear beyond your thoughts. It is not about stopping your thoughts completely, because that is definitely an almost-impossible task, in my opinion. It is about acknowledging your thoughts and letting them pass quietly, so that you can access the gap between them, the silent part.

The body is also a great way of connecting with guidance. By following your body, you can receive loads of information. The body expresses itself through movements, spasms, pains, diseases, etc. If we pay attention to our body and try to understand its language, we can discover that it is always trying to communicate information. For example, I may be experiencing a headache. I could choose to take an aspirin to numb the feeling, to make it go away. Or I can choose to sit with the pain for a moment and explore what is trying to tell me. Perhaps I’m invalidating myself, perhaps I’m trying to receive information but it’s being blocked. It is crucial that we listen to what our body tells us.

Guidance can be defined in many ways, God, Guardian Angel, Spirit, Universe, Ascended Master, Spirit Guide, Jehovah, or any being from the light coming to help. Many people connect with the Buddha, with Jesus, with Sai Baba, Krishna, Archangel Michael, and others. These are what I call guidance yet I might switch between that name and Universe. Everyone has a special guide or guides. They are here to help, protect and of course, guide us. We can have access to them 24/7 and they will always be there to assist us.

How do we connect with our guides? Let’s say that you are sitting at the beach one quiet afternoon, meditating, being in silence. But you don’t seem to get any guidance at the moment. Time passes by and nothing. What do you do? Strike up a conversation! You can do it without talking out loud, if you are afraid of being sent to the psychiatric hospital. Start a conversation and listen for the answer. In the beginning it may seem as if you are imagining the answers and you are making them up. Keep going. Keep talking and listening to the answers. Do not judge it, just play with it.  Talk about anything and listen to the answer, ask questions and just receive the answers, without judgment, even if you think that you are making up the answers. Have fun with it and keep talking until you are satisfied.

I’m starting a group where I can keep practicing and I can stay connected with like-minded people. I want to be a part of a community where we can support each other and share what we have and know.  I would like to meet in person and online as well. It is important that we find support in our journey and we don't isolate ourselves. We have a very important mission to fulfill and the best way to do that is with friends.

If you would like to join me, please send me an email and let me know. I'll email you the dates and location of the meetings.

In prayer and meditation for all of us to remain connected to the Universe, as one,

Nancy

Manifesting and connecting with your inner wisdom.

In Quantum Physics, scientists talk about the power of thoughts and intentions to manifest whatever we desire. Movies like What the Bleep Do We Know, or the Secret talk about this; research studies like Messages of the Water, or The Intention Experiment prove it; and books like You Can Heal your Life or the Spiritual Warrior have shared this amazing gift we all possess.

It is easy to connect with this gift and easy to forget it too. Many things can distract us from connecting with the gift of manifesting positive things, especially when the majority of people around us is struggling in this economy. Many of us are feeling the stress and anxiety that lingers in the air and unknowingly take part of it, forgetting our ability to create what we desire. Perhaps we believe that we can't, that we are not capable enough, not young enough, not good enough, not smart enough, not beautiful enough, not whatever enough. And those beliefs turn into manifestation of what we carry inside.

But how to manifest positive things in the midsts of all this chaos?

By staying true to yourself and your purpose. In other words, do what you love with passion and fun.
At times we need to release what we've been holding on for so long in order to make room for the new. That includes our thoughts, limiting beliefs, attachments to material things, and expectations of what life should be like.

How many times have we heard about living in the present moment? This is also called releasing expectations and worries about the past or the future. It is called trusting. The present moment may be stripping us from all the comfort we thought we needed, it may be leaving us without a job, or may make us have a hard time paying the bills. However, the present moment is trying to show us that we need to change, that something inside us needs reworking and that we need to stop for a moment and be present in our lives.

Being without a job may lead us to rediscover our passion and have time to follow it. Not having enough money may help us appreciate the things we took for granted before and may push us to be resourceful and creative. Losing material things may help us release our attachments and connect deeper with our spirituality. All of these things can help us realize that perhaps we were living in fear and that we need to love ourselves more. These tough lessons move us to change our limiting beliefs and expand, reach out for help, learn to receive and give, and love deeper.

We can connect with the gift of manifesting by working on our limiting beliefs, being in the present moment, following our intuition, love more, following our passion, and taking the time to connect with your inner wisdom.

A Shift in Consciousness

I'm not sure when or how it happened but it's as if manifesting just became easier. And it's not just manifesting, it's also predicting events, seeing things clearly, and getting messages clearer. Maybe something in the Universe opened up, everything is in alignment, or simply we are more conscious and aware.

For me is simple things like, I want to make new business cards, and I get an offer in the mail for free ones; or not feeling ready to attend an event and the event gets cancelled; or thinking about opening another office in another city and a friend asks me to share one. Perhaps I'm much more aware or perhaps it's getting easier. Either way I feel we are fully supported.

Lately, in my practice, I've been able to perceive much more clearly and accurately what a person is experiencing (thoughts, feelings, pains, concerns) even without knowing the person. I tune in into their energy and I can pick up feelings, sensations, images, words, people in their lives and other things. When I describe what I perceive to them, it matches almost 100%. I was able to do this before, but now it's enhanced and even more accurate. I also have been noticing more how I know when things are going to happen, for example, in a game, when a team is going to score an unexpected goal, or what a person is about to tell me.

In manifesting, we have to be careful with what we ask, even if it's unconscious. For example, one day a friend was coming over to visit and I had no energy left to share. Even though I did not ask for anything, I was imagining something holding her back from coming so I could rest. Not long after, I get a call from her saying that one of her children was sick and she needed to reschedule. I'll be more aware next time to ask for a harmonious outcome.

What shifted? Was it our consciousness? Was it something that was always there but we never noticed it fully?

I am definitely grateful for the opportunity to explore these gifts and to be aware of them.

Do you notice the gifts in you? Do you recognize and give voice to your intuition? Have you noticed a shift in your consciousness too?


Happy Mother's day to all the mothers in the world, including Mother Earth.

The story of bottled water

The story of bottled water

Acceptance -More on signs

Signs are everywhere. They present themselves when we least expect them, lighting the way, telling us something, giving us inspiration. When we are on the right track, signs validates us and encourages us. When we are open, signs support us and help us be more connected.

Today I received a gift from a dear friend and colleague of mine. I set it aside before opening it so I could get ready for a session. Most times, in preparation for a session, I pick a label to place on the glass of water I provide for the person I'm seeing. The label or labels I pick are based on what I intuitively perceive as needed at the moment, be it clarity, love, breakthrough, etc. For this specific session I picked Acceptance. No other label seemed to stand out but this one, so I trusted it was the one needed.

Acceptance goes many ways, acceptance of other people, acceptance of ourselves, and acceptance of the lessons life presents to us. I work with many women which main issue is accepting their womanhood, their power. Accepting our womanhood may go against what we are taught, what our beliefs are or our sense of protection and preservation.

It was not after all my sessions were done when I was able to open my present. I opened the box, and inside, wrapped in delicate purple paper I find a pouch with a small ivory sculpture of a woman, a form of the feminine spirit, called Acceptance!  The artist of this sculpture, Maya Hill, creates representations of womanhood with inspirational quotes to help us awaken femininity and guides us in our path of discovery. For this sculpture she wrote: We need the strength to hold our whole humanity together.

This remined me of Christine Northrup's words in an interview in the movie You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay:
"Whenever a woman gets healthier and happier, she heals the Earth. The woman’s body is a reflection of the Earth; and everything we do to take care of ourselves, to feel pleasure, to be joyous heals the entire planet"


Through this and other signs I recognize that Acceptance was not just for the people I was helping, it was for me too, for all of us, for humanity. Women have a significant role in helping and holding the world together and we need to recognize our value now more than ever.
 
I invite all women to explore and honor their divinity, to respect and love themselves deeply and continue exploring their power in womanhood.

Signs

It seems like sometimes I can't get the right answer when I ask my soul what my next steps should be. 
At times it's because I'm not in alignment with my purpose, other times is because I'm not supposed to do anything, yet other times I'm way too scattered. That usually happens when I let stress rule my life, my brain feels scattered and none of the things that I want come to me easily. I can't think straight, therefore I go around in circles unable to manifest anything. But once I relax and refocus, then things seem to fall into place and the signs become very clear. 


It is easy to get distracted and forget that, in order to manifest what we want, we need to do some of the work too. I'm not saying that we always have to work sooo hard in order to accomplish anything. Things can come easily. What I'm saying is that we need to remember to look for signs to guide us, we need to keep our goal in our mind, we need to experience this goal as if it's happening now, and we need to be proactive.


Getting signs means that the Universe is leaving us constant clues everywhere to guide us in the right direction. At times we don't see them because we are continuously rushing, but they are there.They show in the simplest things, like coincidences, for example, different people talking about the same subject in different occasions, or something making you change directions unexpectedly.  


One time I was walking to the store when my little credit card wallet fell off. Among the many things I had in it, only two things fell from inside when it hit the ground; a credit card and one of my  business cards. I took a moment to think why this had happened and why those two things. Do I need to get rid of them? I had just printed my business card and the credit card was relatively new as well.  Later that week I received two news; one was a notice from the credit card company that they were not going to continue providing services, and two, my dissertation was approved and I need to do my oral defense. What were the signs telling me? "Get rid of the credit card cause you won't be needing it", and "update your business cards because your degree is complete." How cool is that? It's not that I would have been able to prevent anything, it was just informing me of future events because I was open.


And like that, may more signs appear into our lives, subtle, gentle ones for us to recognize and be aware of. Certain signs just inform us about the future, others help us solve mysteries, and some put the pieces together. 
When I'm focused, I can pay attention to the signs better and they guide me as to what my next steps should be. I either get emails from people I haven't spoken to in a while, or a workshop to attend that will benefit me, or a book that I need to read to gain more information about a particular subject.


Signs help us. They are like gentle messages from the angels helping our human life.
I have so much more to say about signs. I'll dedicate future blogs to explain better. 
In the meantime, see how signs are present in your life as well, even if you don't understand their meaning at the moment, just notice...
    

Trusting

I was talking to someone about how we need to trust that everything has a reason. Even though at times I'm challenged by this whole "trusting" concept, it is a belief that has improved my life. Since I've been able to relax and not feel like I have to control everything, my life has become much more peaceful and happy. My old patterns pop in once in a while but only to remind me to re-center and take time to nurture this remembered ability.

This trust is what people sometimes call "gut feeling", others call it intuition, positive thinking, believing or just plain luck. Trusting is knowing that something better will come, that everything has a reason, that we are meant to have the best. This is not something easy to do, especially when painful things happen, when there are tragedies in the world, when things don't go our way. We have no idea how these events will help us in the future and that uncertainty can create fear. Fear is the opposite of trust. Fear is the opposite of love.

So many times I have resisted the events in my life, only to find out later that there was a very important reason for having experienced them. At the moment I didn't understand why those things happened to me. I was sad, mad, dissapointed. I resisted. Later in my life, I realized that without those events I would not be the person that I am now, and I could not be as compassionate and understanding in my sessions as I can be now. I was able to take those events and turned them into valuable lessons.

Trusting only works if we truly release attachments to the way things should be and we welcome the lesson of the moment. Without a preconceived idea of how the world should look like, we can be more open to what it brings, without judgement, without negativity, but with curiosity, acceptance and love.  

Remembrance

I want to keep this feeling forever. It is pure bliss. My heart feels so full and happy right now. I look around and get teary eyed about the simple acts of kindness that I'm witnessing around me. I feel hopeful and encouraged. I am sensing the energy of the world changing and is making me feel high.
 
It is a bit hard to describe with words, but this feeling fills my entire being. It starts in my heart and, like an explosion, it extends to everything inside and outside of me. It is a feeling of hope, a feeling of love for humanity, a feeling of positive change.

How did it happen?

As I was walking to my car after a very powerful and transformative session with a client, I felt as if I was walking next to someone who had his/her hand on my back. It felt comforting and supportive. I was instantly filled with so many emotions and hopes for the future, it was hard not to smile and cry and the same time.

I don't know exactly how it started, but the feeling of love for the world was so intense that I could, once again, remember the wisdom of the ages, that we are all connected.

I want to stay in a permanent state of remembrance yet I know routine will set in and the mundane will catch up with me. However, it is up to me to keep this flame alive, to stay connected, to continue experiencing these blessed moments and remembering that we are all one.

The gift of this economy

A lot of people are feeling the financial hardship this economy is bringing us. For some, nothing has changed, for others, this cannot be a better time to invest, yet for most, this is a very difficult time. When our basic needs are not being met or we find ourselves under a lot of stress, especially financial, we lose focus of what's important. We walk around like zombies, with glassy eyes, tight stomach, scrambling, fearful, hearing but not listening, a millions thoughts racing in our mind, and simply not present. This pressure is more intense when other people depend on us.

And the worst part is that it doesn't seem like there is anything we can do to fix it or improve it. There is apparently nowhere to run to. We are driven by fear. Fear drives us to doubt ourselves, to experience lack of trust, to neglect or hurt our selves and our loved ones, to create more fear and stress, to create chaos and confusion, to live in the darkness.

What can the Universe be trying to teach us? Why are we going through this? Why all this fear?
My sense is that these obstacles are making us stronger. These situations are teaching us about the value of family, friendships, simplicity and community. We are forced to reach out for help, to count on one another, to share more, to build a conscious community. We are forced to simplify our lives and appreciate the little things that count, appreciate the things money can't buy. This economy is teaching us to believe in ourselves and rely on the love within.

For so long we've depended on material things or things outside ourselves to define us, to give us the appreciation we needed, the status, the honor, the love. We've experienced life through buying more and more things, filling up our garages with things we forgot we had. We've experience life without real joy because we had to work hard and had no time to stop and have fun. The Universe has given us such magnificent gifts -the sun, the sky, the ocean, the mountains, the seasons- and we are so busy building our material world that we don't take the time to enjoy what is right in front of our eyes. When was the last time we stopped to listen to the birds chirp in the morning, welcoming the new day? When was the last time we stopped to feel the energy of the earth beneath our naked feet?

I know many people who got laid off from their 9 to 5 jobs. They were devastated. They were not able to find comparable jobs that gave them the life style they were accustomed to. They were forced to look for alternatives and in their search, they found what they truly loved doing. They have simplified their lives, have accepted help from other people, and they are living life fully, enjoying the time they didn't have before because of their jobs. They are now doing things they've put aside or exploring their passions that were dormant inside themselves. They are exploring what is like to love themselves without judgement and to count on that love to keep them strong and positive.

Being forced to simplify, change, love, pursue our passions, and take time to enjoy life, is a gift this economy has brought for many. I know some are still resisting it, but with time they too will understand that things happen for a reason, and that an optimist always sees the glass half full and looks for opportunities in the midsts of chaos. I invite you to see the gift in your challenges and join me in appreciation and gratefulness for our gift of life.

Self-awaken

Lately I've been practicing waking up without an alarm. I don't know exactly how it works but when I tell myself that I need to wake up at a specific time, my mind, body -or my unconscious- make it happen. It could be that I just wake up naturally, rested, yet I've tested this on different ocassions at different times. It doesn't work if I have only slept very few hours, though. One time I tried to wake up without an alarm to go to the airport at 3am. Having gone to bed at 12pm, the only thing that could have woken me up after three hours of sleep was a startling alarm. 


When I have more time to rest, I can experiment with waking up on my own. One time I woke up at 7am and told myself I wanted to sleep a bit more till 8:30am. I went back to sleep without setting up the alarm. Right at 8:29am I woke up, feeling rested and wide awake. Another time I told myself to wake up at 5:00am and one minute before 5:00am, I woke up. It's not always a pleasant awakening. Sometimes I have bad dreams that wake me up right at the time I set, other times I need to go to the bathroom, and at times I dream I'm stepping on something and trip and wake myself up with the jerk of my leg. Yet most of the times is just feeling rested and awake. 


How does it work? It's not like I'm constantly looking at the clock checking the time. I sleep soundly and wake up one minute before the set time. My eyes cannot see the time, first because I have to raise myself from my bed a bit to see the clock in my nightstand and second because my eyes are closed when I'm sleeping! :) This is what I do: before I go to sleep I tell myself a few times, "I want to wake up at 6:30am" I imagine the time in my clock and go to sleep confident that I will wake up at that time. If I have something I cannot be late for, I set up my alarm as a back up, but most of the time I turn it off before it sounds. I wake up in such a good mood when I wake up on my own!


I wonder if this a symbol of what I'm trying to accomplish in my life, to be awaken, or in my case, self-awaken. I'm trying to find within myself ways to awaken to spirituality without looking for things outside of me (validation, degrees, material things). One of the ways to experience awakening is by listening to my body's wisdom. Our bodies posses immense information about what is beneficial for us and what is not. We tend to ignore it or mask it by neglecting ourselves, over-working, over-indulging, over-everything. My intention is to listen more to my inner wisdom and trust that I will wake up without stress when the time is right.