An acquaintance of mine says the only sin is 'compari-sin.' There is also a definition of low self esteem: When you compare your insides to someone else's outsides.
To compare yourself to anyone else is to deny your unique divinity. And you never know what is going on in someone else's insides, no matter how flashy or together the outsides appear.
As we travel through life, we each have unique experiences which expands the uniqueness that we are. There is really no benefit in comparing yourself to anyone else because no matter how close they are to you and how much your love them, they are unique and explicitly different to you.
If we use quantum theory to know that we are all vibrating bundles of the creative energy of the world, we know that the stuff we are made from is identical, but the way we express that energy through our life and our experience in utterly unique to us. We have to be present as our unique self in order to complete the creation.
When we compare ourselves to another we are also making a judgement, either that we are more than or less than the other, we are right and they are wrong. Either way we are creating separation, separation from each other and separation from the creative source. It is through the expansion of this separation that conflict, disagreement and war is born.
I invite you to release comparison, judgement and separation. In each moment cultivate a deep inner knowing that you are enough, with every breath you are a perfect, complete, whole and unique expression of the creative source and you are deserving of all good just because you are here now.
Just for today I honour who I am, I honour others and allow them to be who they have come here to be. I walk my path and trust the process of life. I am safe to be who I am.
A place to talk about the metaphysical world where thoughts are creative and anything is possible. If you like The Secret, You Can Heal Your Life, Ernest Holmes, Troward, Emerson, Wayne Dyer, Abraham Hicks, New Thought or What the Bleep Do We Know then this is the place for you. Please come and play.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Saturday, 26 February 2011
God Is?
I'm just finally getting to read 'The Shack' by Wm Paul Young. In it God is presented as a middle age black woman and it got me thinking about how I see God and what I would say to an alien with no concept of gods in the way the various tribes of humans view their respective God or Creator.
Right now I am sharing a sofa with a beautiful dachshund called Sally, and as I look in her eyes I can see God in there. When I connect to the divine essence I usually perceive it as a number of different entities that have been great masters who walked this earth in a different time.
I believe that God is in everything and everyone, but that as I express God I am not the whole of God, like a wave on the ocean, I have all of the God stuff in me, but I am only one part of the all that is God.
I was raised by a Christian mother who was notionally Church of England (C of E) Protestant and a father who rebelled from the Dutch Reformed Church of his South African childhood and always described himself as a student of Zen Buddhism. I went to a C of E primary school, was christened, attended Sunday school but was never confirmed in the Christian tradition. I was a seeker from an early age, I tried out many different faiths and experienced a range of cultures in my early years. I always had an inner knowing that I was much more that the physical self, I had a sense that I was God, it was many years later that my study of a variety of religious and philosophical teachings led me to discover that many traditions teach the inner divinity of all.
A friend of mine has the license plate "I C GOD N U." What would our world look like if we each accepted that what ever path to God a person chose, they were still an expression of the divine creative source of the universe? What if every conversation we had, we started by knowing that we were talking to a face of God, and that face was simply a reflection of our own? I invite you to practice this. Become the observer of yourself and notice when, and with whom, you find it easy to do and when you find it more difficult. You are an expression of source energy, you are loved regardless of anything you ever did, said, thought or failed to do. In each and every moment you are expressing the divine. Know it, own it and live it.
Today I live the life I am here to live, I release doubt and fear and I embrace my divine essence fully. There is nothing I can not be, do or have.
Right now I am sharing a sofa with a beautiful dachshund called Sally, and as I look in her eyes I can see God in there. When I connect to the divine essence I usually perceive it as a number of different entities that have been great masters who walked this earth in a different time.
I believe that God is in everything and everyone, but that as I express God I am not the whole of God, like a wave on the ocean, I have all of the God stuff in me, but I am only one part of the all that is God.
I was raised by a Christian mother who was notionally Church of England (C of E) Protestant and a father who rebelled from the Dutch Reformed Church of his South African childhood and always described himself as a student of Zen Buddhism. I went to a C of E primary school, was christened, attended Sunday school but was never confirmed in the Christian tradition. I was a seeker from an early age, I tried out many different faiths and experienced a range of cultures in my early years. I always had an inner knowing that I was much more that the physical self, I had a sense that I was God, it was many years later that my study of a variety of religious and philosophical teachings led me to discover that many traditions teach the inner divinity of all.
A friend of mine has the license plate "I C GOD N U." What would our world look like if we each accepted that what ever path to God a person chose, they were still an expression of the divine creative source of the universe? What if every conversation we had, we started by knowing that we were talking to a face of God, and that face was simply a reflection of our own? I invite you to practice this. Become the observer of yourself and notice when, and with whom, you find it easy to do and when you find it more difficult. You are an expression of source energy, you are loved regardless of anything you ever did, said, thought or failed to do. In each and every moment you are expressing the divine. Know it, own it and live it.
Today I live the life I am here to live, I release doubt and fear and I embrace my divine essence fully. There is nothing I can not be, do or have.
Friday, 25 February 2011
How do you see?
We see our life and the world through our individual filters. The experiences we have had create those filters and therefor affect our perceptions.
Have you ever been in a situation with someone, both of you heard the same words spoken and were in exactly the same situation, and yet when you later talked about it you had a completely different recollection of what happened and what was said? This is what our filters do. Everything we experience is unique to us, even if we are sat beside a person hearing the same information. They will hear it through the filter of their previous experience and you through yours.
In understanding this we can see that there is no 'truth'. There is only 'my truth' or 'your truth'. Yet how often to conflicts arise between people, towns or countries that are about 'truth'? Religious truth, political truth or medical truth.
These filters are always at work. Everything we experience comes through the filters. The only way to get past this filtered world is to systematically bring them to the conscious mind and evaluate how they serve us today.
Most often these filters have been created when we were very small, they may have been perfectly valid at the time, but as adults their usefulness has long since passed.
Here is an example:
A young child may be told not to talk to strangers. This is a great instruction for a young child. However if that child continues into adult life following that instruction it will result in a very disconnected young person.
This is any easy and simple example. Many of our filters are somewhat more complex and less obvious, but they are there and if you are not achieving all that you want in life, you probably have old filters still working you.
I invite you to look at an area in your life that is not bringing you all that you hoped for and spend some time journalling about what you believe. You may be surprised by what you find.
Today I seek the filters that no longer serve me through quiet contemplation. I release them easily and effortlessly and create a new, expanding vision for my life.
Have you ever been in a situation with someone, both of you heard the same words spoken and were in exactly the same situation, and yet when you later talked about it you had a completely different recollection of what happened and what was said? This is what our filters do. Everything we experience is unique to us, even if we are sat beside a person hearing the same information. They will hear it through the filter of their previous experience and you through yours.
In understanding this we can see that there is no 'truth'. There is only 'my truth' or 'your truth'. Yet how often to conflicts arise between people, towns or countries that are about 'truth'? Religious truth, political truth or medical truth.
These filters are always at work. Everything we experience comes through the filters. The only way to get past this filtered world is to systematically bring them to the conscious mind and evaluate how they serve us today.
Most often these filters have been created when we were very small, they may have been perfectly valid at the time, but as adults their usefulness has long since passed.
Here is an example:
A young child may be told not to talk to strangers. This is a great instruction for a young child. However if that child continues into adult life following that instruction it will result in a very disconnected young person.
This is any easy and simple example. Many of our filters are somewhat more complex and less obvious, but they are there and if you are not achieving all that you want in life, you probably have old filters still working you.
I invite you to look at an area in your life that is not bringing you all that you hoped for and spend some time journalling about what you believe. You may be surprised by what you find.
Today I seek the filters that no longer serve me through quiet contemplation. I release them easily and effortlessly and create a new, expanding vision for my life.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
It come from mind
There is a universal intelligence that is always at work. It, like the universe, is constantly expanding. We are part of that universal mind, tapped into a universal network of consciousness and thought. Always expanding to bring forth new ideas.
Everything has to start with thought, it cannot possibly be otherwise. The Wright brothers had a thought that something heavier than air could fly and consequently the aeroplane was invented. People got fed-up washing dishes so the dish washer was invented. The human race has constantly been seeking to improve it's world and the life of individuals in that world. All that development has come from mind first. A thought was thunk and from there the universal conspiracy moved to bring forth a creation.
There is an ancient hermetic axiom, written on a emerald tablet 4000 years ago:
If you want a great relationship with your perfect mate, you must first think it. If you want to have an abundant life, you must have abundant thoughts. If you wish to be vibrantly healthy, you must think thoughts of vibrant health. Any condition in the world can be cured with the right level of conscious thought.
If you could hold your attention only on the thing that you desire to bring forth, if you could focus only on that thing with total belief and not allow contrary thoughts into your mind then you can manifest that thing with speed.
The challenge with the human mind is that it will vacillate between what it wants and what it doesn't have. Every time the attention goes to the absence of that thing, then all the good work is cancelled out in a instant. Thus manifestation takes much long than it would necessarily need to take.
I invite you to get really clear on what you want, know that it is already yours, release any thoughts of its absence and spend time daily visualising yourself in that situation or with that thing you desire.
Today I let go of any thoughts of absence and lack and concentrate all my efforts on that which I desire, knowing that it is already complete in universal mind. There is a good for me and I deserve to have it.
In Love. J x
Everything has to start with thought, it cannot possibly be otherwise. The Wright brothers had a thought that something heavier than air could fly and consequently the aeroplane was invented. People got fed-up washing dishes so the dish washer was invented. The human race has constantly been seeking to improve it's world and the life of individuals in that world. All that development has come from mind first. A thought was thunk and from there the universal conspiracy moved to bring forth a creation.
There is an ancient hermetic axiom, written on a emerald tablet 4000 years ago:
As above, so below. As within, so withoutAccepting this to be true we must know that anything and everything we wish to create in our lives must also come from mind first. This doesn't just mean 'stuff', this means everything you could ever desire.
If you want a great relationship with your perfect mate, you must first think it. If you want to have an abundant life, you must have abundant thoughts. If you wish to be vibrantly healthy, you must think thoughts of vibrant health. Any condition in the world can be cured with the right level of conscious thought.
If you could hold your attention only on the thing that you desire to bring forth, if you could focus only on that thing with total belief and not allow contrary thoughts into your mind then you can manifest that thing with speed.
The challenge with the human mind is that it will vacillate between what it wants and what it doesn't have. Every time the attention goes to the absence of that thing, then all the good work is cancelled out in a instant. Thus manifestation takes much long than it would necessarily need to take.
I invite you to get really clear on what you want, know that it is already yours, release any thoughts of its absence and spend time daily visualising yourself in that situation or with that thing you desire.
Today I let go of any thoughts of absence and lack and concentrate all my efforts on that which I desire, knowing that it is already complete in universal mind. There is a good for me and I deserve to have it.
In Love. J x
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Reaction and response
It's not what you've got, but what you do with what you've got that will get you what you want.
We are all born into this world with the same stuff within us. We are the most magnificent beings we can be and everything we need for a spectacular life is within. You only need to look at a new born child to know the truth of this.
So what happens then? If we all start out with the same stuff, why do some people have a charmed life and others seem to suffer endlessly?
When I ran my printing company, took holidays a couple of times a year and had a great looking life people would often say how lucky I was. My answer was always the same: "You know it's just amazing, the harder I work, the luckier I get." That was at the very beginning of my spiritual journey when I believed that I had to work hard to get what I wanted in life and that luck played a big part in my fortune.
Now I know that I make my luck and hard work is entirely subjective and not particularly necessary.
These days instead of hard work I apply regular practice, its way more fun. I regularly practice my spiritual exercises to help me expand my spiritual intelligence. Like IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional intelligence), SQ (spiritual intelligence) is something that can be honed and expanded through regular practice, such as meditation, visualisation, prayer, gratitude, spiritual giving and love.
Through these practices I become more anchored in the truth of my being, I stay focussed and centred in the face of other peoples drama and I remain consistent in my emanation of unconditional love. It is from this place that I cause my life to get better and better because I am at choice as to how I react when life happens to me.
Let me introduce you to a different Juliet, one before the spirit guided my life. I would turn to alcohol if life was happening in a way I didn't like, or I would turn to food if a lover left me, as well as that I would moan and tell everyone that would listen how hard done by I was and what a bunch of crap life was. I'm sure there are parts of this that resonate. Life still happens in the same way, bosses complain, lovers leave, people die. The difference now is that I remain harmonious with life, I do not get bent out of shape because of other peoples behaviour and words. I empathise if that's what is called for, I grieve if sorrow is in me, but I allow these things to pass through me and I remain anchored in my centred place within the universal intelligence that guides me.
This was not some miraculous transformation, this is the result of a lifetimes journey and around 18 years of growing awareness and practice. So no matter where you are on your spiritual journey and no matter which path you are taking, you will get better at allowing life to be life and remaining steadfast in your harmony with the world. I invite you take take a breath when something gets in your face that would usually draw out some fast reaction. Breathe and ask yourself, "how do I want to be in relation to this?" You may be surprised by the answer you get.
Today I practice my practice and live in gratitude and love knowing that I am at choice on how I react to the world as it happens around me. I am safe, all is well.
In Love. J x
We are all born into this world with the same stuff within us. We are the most magnificent beings we can be and everything we need for a spectacular life is within. You only need to look at a new born child to know the truth of this.
So what happens then? If we all start out with the same stuff, why do some people have a charmed life and others seem to suffer endlessly?
When I ran my printing company, took holidays a couple of times a year and had a great looking life people would often say how lucky I was. My answer was always the same: "You know it's just amazing, the harder I work, the luckier I get." That was at the very beginning of my spiritual journey when I believed that I had to work hard to get what I wanted in life and that luck played a big part in my fortune.
Now I know that I make my luck and hard work is entirely subjective and not particularly necessary.
These days instead of hard work I apply regular practice, its way more fun. I regularly practice my spiritual exercises to help me expand my spiritual intelligence. Like IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional intelligence), SQ (spiritual intelligence) is something that can be honed and expanded through regular practice, such as meditation, visualisation, prayer, gratitude, spiritual giving and love.
Through these practices I become more anchored in the truth of my being, I stay focussed and centred in the face of other peoples drama and I remain consistent in my emanation of unconditional love. It is from this place that I cause my life to get better and better because I am at choice as to how I react when life happens to me.
Let me introduce you to a different Juliet, one before the spirit guided my life. I would turn to alcohol if life was happening in a way I didn't like, or I would turn to food if a lover left me, as well as that I would moan and tell everyone that would listen how hard done by I was and what a bunch of crap life was. I'm sure there are parts of this that resonate. Life still happens in the same way, bosses complain, lovers leave, people die. The difference now is that I remain harmonious with life, I do not get bent out of shape because of other peoples behaviour and words. I empathise if that's what is called for, I grieve if sorrow is in me, but I allow these things to pass through me and I remain anchored in my centred place within the universal intelligence that guides me.
This was not some miraculous transformation, this is the result of a lifetimes journey and around 18 years of growing awareness and practice. So no matter where you are on your spiritual journey and no matter which path you are taking, you will get better at allowing life to be life and remaining steadfast in your harmony with the world. I invite you take take a breath when something gets in your face that would usually draw out some fast reaction. Breathe and ask yourself, "how do I want to be in relation to this?" You may be surprised by the answer you get.
Today I practice my practice and live in gratitude and love knowing that I am at choice on how I react to the world as it happens around me. I am safe, all is well.
In Love. J x
Monday, 21 February 2011
Your personal department store
Imagine you are walking in a high street and you come up to a huge department store with your name above it. This is your store, everything inside it is yours. There are many windows on the store front and every one is beautifully dressed with symbols of things that you would love to have in your life: Loving relationships, vibrant health; a meaningful career; a heart filled with joy and love. All these things are there for you, as well as the mundane such as a fabulous home, great holidays, a personal chef (oh sorry that's in my store, but if you'd love to have one it can be in yours too).
The only challenge is that you can see all the great stuff, but you can't find a door into the store. You walk along the street, searching for the door, looking in all the different windows at the wonderful life that is being reflected back to you. Until you come to a window that is all blacked out. In the middle of the window right at your eye level is a small, face size, mirror. Above it hangs a sign: "Enter Here."
You go up to the mirror and as you look into your reflection all you can think about is the wrinkles or the tiredness in your eyes, the spots or freckles that make you look ugly. And in that moment the shop becomes translucent and shimmering it disappears before your eyes, leaving behind a building site filled with rubble.
Your outer world is a reflection of your inner landscape, your consciousness. Everything you could ever wish for in a magnificent, inspired life is sitting in that store with your name on it. There is no limit to good in this life other than how you limit yourself.
Your mind is part of the powerful creative force in the universe, you are an individualised expression of the creative intelligent energy of the cosmos. Quantum science tells us there is nothing else, so you must be a part of it. You are always creating, no matter what, your mind is at work on a conscious and sub-conscious level projecting thoughts, feelings and emotions into the creative energy. And being energy it always creates from those thoughts, feelings and emotions. There is no filter system so that even if you are thinking, "I don't want this lack of money", the universal intelligence gets, "lack of money" and says, "Yes, here you go." You may have heard the following phrase:
You are an expression of the creative intelligence of the universe. You can have anything you want. BUT... you must create it first in your mind, you must clear the land, till the soil, plant the seeds, feed and water them, be patient as they grow and eventually when you look in the mirror to gain access to your department store you are able to look deeply into your eyes and know that you already have everything you will ever need right inside of you.
Today I seek the kingdom, knowing that it is within. I take time to weed my field and remove any thought that does not serve my highest good. I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
The only challenge is that you can see all the great stuff, but you can't find a door into the store. You walk along the street, searching for the door, looking in all the different windows at the wonderful life that is being reflected back to you. Until you come to a window that is all blacked out. In the middle of the window right at your eye level is a small, face size, mirror. Above it hangs a sign: "Enter Here."
You go up to the mirror and as you look into your reflection all you can think about is the wrinkles or the tiredness in your eyes, the spots or freckles that make you look ugly. And in that moment the shop becomes translucent and shimmering it disappears before your eyes, leaving behind a building site filled with rubble.
Your outer world is a reflection of your inner landscape, your consciousness. Everything you could ever wish for in a magnificent, inspired life is sitting in that store with your name on it. There is no limit to good in this life other than how you limit yourself.
Your mind is part of the powerful creative force in the universe, you are an individualised expression of the creative intelligent energy of the cosmos. Quantum science tells us there is nothing else, so you must be a part of it. You are always creating, no matter what, your mind is at work on a conscious and sub-conscious level projecting thoughts, feelings and emotions into the creative energy. And being energy it always creates from those thoughts, feelings and emotions. There is no filter system so that even if you are thinking, "I don't want this lack of money", the universal intelligence gets, "lack of money" and says, "Yes, here you go." You may have heard the following phrase:
What you resist persists
The more you rail against something, the more attention, energy and focus you are putting on it so the more the universal intelligence gives you what you ask for. When you judge yourself as ugly, unworthy, not good enough, the universe says, "YES", and brings to you more experiences that support that belief.
You are an expression of the creative intelligence of the universe. You can have anything you want. BUT... you must create it first in your mind, you must clear the land, till the soil, plant the seeds, feed and water them, be patient as they grow and eventually when you look in the mirror to gain access to your department store you are able to look deeply into your eyes and know that you already have everything you will ever need right inside of you.
Today I seek the kingdom, knowing that it is within. I take time to weed my field and remove any thought that does not serve my highest good. I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Death is part of life
On Valentines Day the father of a dear friend made his transition. It is less than two years since my own father left his body and went home and in praying for my friend and her family I have had another opportunity for growth and learning in my own life.
I know, with absolute certainty, that life is eternal. We continue to exist after our journey in the physical suitcase comes to an end. Yet even with this knowing the departure of a loved one from this realm has been incredibly challenging to me over the years. for me it has always been interpreted as another demonstration of abandonment, which is one of my soul journeys this time around.
In many traditional cultures around the world there is time dedicated to the grieving process when someone dies. Generally in the West death, dying and grieving have become something that is hidden away and not handled well. Grieving is a natural part of the process of death. It is important that we allow all the emotions that come up when someone dies to be in us and to travel through us. It does not serve us to hang on to them, but it is beneficial to look at them, to feel them, and then, in our perfect time, to let them go.
In my own experience I was very aware that I had a range of emotions. Guilt, anger and frustration all mixed with the deep sorrow to create a volatile cocktail within me. And that's okay. I didn't wallow overly in any of them, but I did feel them, I let them be with me and I did the things I know to do to allow them to journey through my experience and then go on their way. From time to time something comes along that makes me sad that my Dad isn't still here in his physical body to share things with my family and I. When that happens I shed the tears, or shout the frustration and then let those feelings go. I know that Dad was ready to go when he did and that he is everywhere present around me.
In speaking to my friend I was able to share these things, to know that nothing I could say would take away her pain, and nor should I try, but that like all things in life, this too shall pass.
Our journey in this physical experience is short, even if we life to more than one hundred. I invite you to allow sorrow to pass through you and not to hang on to it like a comforter. To keep putting one foot in front of the other through the pain of grief and to know that the sun is always shining no matter how dark the clouds appear.
Today I know it is safe for me to feel, express and release all my emotions. I embrace the flow of life in all it's physical forms and know I am safe and loved.
In Love. J x
I know, with absolute certainty, that life is eternal. We continue to exist after our journey in the physical suitcase comes to an end. Yet even with this knowing the departure of a loved one from this realm has been incredibly challenging to me over the years. for me it has always been interpreted as another demonstration of abandonment, which is one of my soul journeys this time around.
In many traditional cultures around the world there is time dedicated to the grieving process when someone dies. Generally in the West death, dying and grieving have become something that is hidden away and not handled well. Grieving is a natural part of the process of death. It is important that we allow all the emotions that come up when someone dies to be in us and to travel through us. It does not serve us to hang on to them, but it is beneficial to look at them, to feel them, and then, in our perfect time, to let them go.
In my own experience I was very aware that I had a range of emotions. Guilt, anger and frustration all mixed with the deep sorrow to create a volatile cocktail within me. And that's okay. I didn't wallow overly in any of them, but I did feel them, I let them be with me and I did the things I know to do to allow them to journey through my experience and then go on their way. From time to time something comes along that makes me sad that my Dad isn't still here in his physical body to share things with my family and I. When that happens I shed the tears, or shout the frustration and then let those feelings go. I know that Dad was ready to go when he did and that he is everywhere present around me.
In speaking to my friend I was able to share these things, to know that nothing I could say would take away her pain, and nor should I try, but that like all things in life, this too shall pass.
Our journey in this physical experience is short, even if we life to more than one hundred. I invite you to allow sorrow to pass through you and not to hang on to it like a comforter. To keep putting one foot in front of the other through the pain of grief and to know that the sun is always shining no matter how dark the clouds appear.
Today I know it is safe for me to feel, express and release all my emotions. I embrace the flow of life in all it's physical forms and know I am safe and loved.
In Love. J x
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Body-mind connection
Yesterday I heard about a friend of a friend having a double mastectomy to ensure that she doesn't get breast cancer and it touched a place deep in my heart, I was really sad and upset.
Even though we know that we have a body, we are not our body, in this physical world we need the suitcase to carry us about.
For me the thought of a woman having her breasts removed because medical wisdom is still preaching that your genes will create your experience of disease is deeply saddening. In the books 'Biology of Belief' and 'Molecules of Emotion' it is clearly proven that our genes are less than 30% of the contributor towards disease and our physical experience. If I know that, as someone with very little medical knowledge and experience, I am frustrated that the people we trust in the medical profession don't.
I absolutely respect this womans choice. For her it was the best thing she could do given her experience and knowledge. However it impels me forth with even greater motivation to speak to the world about how our thoughts, feelings and emotions are effecting our physiology, regardless of what our genes may have implanted in our DNA.
To me this option is the same as saying, "I have a chance that I may get gangrene in my knee so I'm going to cut off my leg just in case." I'm sure if more of the surgeons and senior doctors were women this would not still be something that is a recommended procedure.
Dr Christiane Northrup, a well known expert on womens health issues, encourages all women to listen to their bodies and treat them as a far more sacred thing. If we were to really remember that our body is a precious temple for the transportation of our spirit on this journey, I am sure it would motivate us to take better care of it both mentally and emotionally. In the West we live in a period of history where the image of the body has created so much self loathing and judgement in many people, particularly women. This manifests illness and disease in so many different ways. There is a clip in the movie 'What the Bleep do we know' that has the main character coming to this realisation. She has been hating her body when she comes across Dr Emoto's work about the power of words on water, this gives her a whole new perspective and the next scene has her drawing love hearts and flowers all over her body in appreciation.
I invite you with every part of my being to get educated on the leading edge of science and scientific research so that you can make the best decision for you if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. You are a sacred, beautiful, perfect human creation, made of the God stuff in all regards. How will you love and appreciate your precious body temple today?
Today I give great thanks for my beautiful, fabulous, wonderful body. I feed it nourishing, healthy food. I take exercise that is joyous to my heart. I gift it the perfect amount of rest for me. I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
In Love. J x
Even though we know that we have a body, we are not our body, in this physical world we need the suitcase to carry us about.
For me the thought of a woman having her breasts removed because medical wisdom is still preaching that your genes will create your experience of disease is deeply saddening. In the books 'Biology of Belief' and 'Molecules of Emotion' it is clearly proven that our genes are less than 30% of the contributor towards disease and our physical experience. If I know that, as someone with very little medical knowledge and experience, I am frustrated that the people we trust in the medical profession don't.
I absolutely respect this womans choice. For her it was the best thing she could do given her experience and knowledge. However it impels me forth with even greater motivation to speak to the world about how our thoughts, feelings and emotions are effecting our physiology, regardless of what our genes may have implanted in our DNA.
To me this option is the same as saying, "I have a chance that I may get gangrene in my knee so I'm going to cut off my leg just in case." I'm sure if more of the surgeons and senior doctors were women this would not still be something that is a recommended procedure.
Dr Christiane Northrup, a well known expert on womens health issues, encourages all women to listen to their bodies and treat them as a far more sacred thing. If we were to really remember that our body is a precious temple for the transportation of our spirit on this journey, I am sure it would motivate us to take better care of it both mentally and emotionally. In the West we live in a period of history where the image of the body has created so much self loathing and judgement in many people, particularly women. This manifests illness and disease in so many different ways. There is a clip in the movie 'What the Bleep do we know' that has the main character coming to this realisation. She has been hating her body when she comes across Dr Emoto's work about the power of words on water, this gives her a whole new perspective and the next scene has her drawing love hearts and flowers all over her body in appreciation.
I invite you with every part of my being to get educated on the leading edge of science and scientific research so that you can make the best decision for you if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. You are a sacred, beautiful, perfect human creation, made of the God stuff in all regards. How will you love and appreciate your precious body temple today?
Today I give great thanks for my beautiful, fabulous, wonderful body. I feed it nourishing, healthy food. I take exercise that is joyous to my heart. I gift it the perfect amount of rest for me. I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
In Love. J x
Friday, 18 February 2011
Busy doing nothing - the art of being
I have a body, I am not my body. I have a job, I am not my job. I have a diagnosis, I am not my diagnosis. I have an mind, I am not my mind.
We, as humans, tend to identify and attach to 'things' like our body or job, illness or intelligence. We look outside of our selves to identify who we are and what our position is in the world.
In Buddhism and Taoism the great teaching is non-attachment, the letting go of everything in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In the beginning of the Tao de Ching it is written, "The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." As soon as we identify something and name it, we attach to it some relevance. To live in the great mystery without the need to give it or any part of it a name is where the path to awakening truly lies.
Which takes us to the concept of being and not doing. What if, just for one hour a week, we stopped 'doing' anything? It's not quite possible because even if you sat down in a chair for an hour and only breathed, by definition you are doing those things. However in only doing those things you have stopped all the other 'doing' that is keeping you separated from the great mystery or the Tao or God (find a word you like).
Sit somewhere comfortable, not too comfortable we don't want you snoring, and stay there for one hour. No music, no books, no people or pets, only you and you. Not with any intention other than to sit still and do nothing for 1 hour. I can feel the discomfort in your mind as you think about the possibility of this. The thoughts of how busy you are and how you couldn't just 'waste' an hour sitting doing nothing. I invite you to think, if this is your story, who told you sitting doing nothing was a waste of time? Maybe your Mother or Father, maybe a school teacher. Is that something you want to make true for you today? It's your choice, but if you have never tried sitting still and doing nothing for an hour how do you know what value lies in it?
I do know, having practised this for many years, that to start with the ego mind will feel like it is shouting in your head about what a fool you are and how pointless an exercise this is. My answer? "Thank you for sharing, I know this is different but this body is not going to move until the hour is up so you can say what you like."
Once the ego quiets down, which it will, your mind will drift here and there, it is the nature of the mind to think. Allow it to go where ere it goes. You don't have any intention other than to be, remember, so BE. No judgement, no direction, no where to get to. JUST BE.
Like all things in life, it's a practice, if you made an hour a week to practice being you will find you become more focussed in the rest of your life. This is different to meditation, it is not the intention to clear the mind and get to a Zen like place of peace. It is simply about not doing and only being.
Gradually you will find that inspiration starts to take over when your body knows it's time to sit still for an hour and you will discover many new things you could do and many new ways of doing things. This is a great way to practice the art of allowing, of letting go of attachment and living the inspired life.
Today I take time to be. I sit still and allow the world to drift by. I know that I have all that I need within me and I allow that to reveal itself in the perfect way.
In Love. J xx
We, as humans, tend to identify and attach to 'things' like our body or job, illness or intelligence. We look outside of our selves to identify who we are and what our position is in the world.
In Buddhism and Taoism the great teaching is non-attachment, the letting go of everything in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In the beginning of the Tao de Ching it is written, "The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." As soon as we identify something and name it, we attach to it some relevance. To live in the great mystery without the need to give it or any part of it a name is where the path to awakening truly lies.
Which takes us to the concept of being and not doing. What if, just for one hour a week, we stopped 'doing' anything? It's not quite possible because even if you sat down in a chair for an hour and only breathed, by definition you are doing those things. However in only doing those things you have stopped all the other 'doing' that is keeping you separated from the great mystery or the Tao or God (find a word you like).
Sit somewhere comfortable, not too comfortable we don't want you snoring, and stay there for one hour. No music, no books, no people or pets, only you and you. Not with any intention other than to sit still and do nothing for 1 hour. I can feel the discomfort in your mind as you think about the possibility of this. The thoughts of how busy you are and how you couldn't just 'waste' an hour sitting doing nothing. I invite you to think, if this is your story, who told you sitting doing nothing was a waste of time? Maybe your Mother or Father, maybe a school teacher. Is that something you want to make true for you today? It's your choice, but if you have never tried sitting still and doing nothing for an hour how do you know what value lies in it?
I do know, having practised this for many years, that to start with the ego mind will feel like it is shouting in your head about what a fool you are and how pointless an exercise this is. My answer? "Thank you for sharing, I know this is different but this body is not going to move until the hour is up so you can say what you like."
Once the ego quiets down, which it will, your mind will drift here and there, it is the nature of the mind to think. Allow it to go where ere it goes. You don't have any intention other than to be, remember, so BE. No judgement, no direction, no where to get to. JUST BE.
Like all things in life, it's a practice, if you made an hour a week to practice being you will find you become more focussed in the rest of your life. This is different to meditation, it is not the intention to clear the mind and get to a Zen like place of peace. It is simply about not doing and only being.
Gradually you will find that inspiration starts to take over when your body knows it's time to sit still for an hour and you will discover many new things you could do and many new ways of doing things. This is a great way to practice the art of allowing, of letting go of attachment and living the inspired life.
Today I take time to be. I sit still and allow the world to drift by. I know that I have all that I need within me and I allow that to reveal itself in the perfect way.
In Love. J xx
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Let the music lead you
One of the great joys in my life is music. In recent years I discovered the job title 'spiritual entertainer' (no one mentioned that to me in the careers office at high school). There are a huge number of people who make their living through music and song all with a spiritual flavour. The wonderful thing for me is within that are a group of metaphysical artists, many of whom I have yet to discover, whose songs underpin and support all that I know and teach.
Music touches a different part of our brain and our spirit. Music adds rhythm to our life and connects to our physical heart beat in a visceral way. If I am struggling to get connected to the infinite intelligence within me I know I can turn to a piece of music or a particular song to bridge the gap.
In our personal journey to inner knowing there are no rules about doing things a certain way. We are each unique expressions of life, and even if you have a long line of people who think they know what's best for you, in truth you are the only expert on you. If you already enjoy music of all different types and have a sense that spiritual or metaphysical music would support your journey I invite you to investigate what might work for you.
I'll add in some links at the bottom of the page to my favourite artists, many of the web sites allow you to sample music before you buy tracks or albums. Allow your inner wisdom to guide you into the perfect musical support.
On the journey home to your self there can be many challenges, for me music brings a lightness and an unconscious connection to the good and God in all things. I invite you to discover the music that speaks to your spirit.
Today I look for lightness and joy in my connection to God. I am so grateful for the clear hearing I have to enjoy beautiful music in all its forms. I am always guided to the perfect song in every situation.
In Love. J x
Music touches a different part of our brain and our spirit. Music adds rhythm to our life and connects to our physical heart beat in a visceral way. If I am struggling to get connected to the infinite intelligence within me I know I can turn to a piece of music or a particular song to bridge the gap.
In our personal journey to inner knowing there are no rules about doing things a certain way. We are each unique expressions of life, and even if you have a long line of people who think they know what's best for you, in truth you are the only expert on you. If you already enjoy music of all different types and have a sense that spiritual or metaphysical music would support your journey I invite you to investigate what might work for you.
I'll add in some links at the bottom of the page to my favourite artists, many of the web sites allow you to sample music before you buy tracks or albums. Allow your inner wisdom to guide you into the perfect musical support.
On the journey home to your self there can be many challenges, for me music brings a lightness and an unconscious connection to the good and God in all things. I invite you to discover the music that speaks to your spirit.
Today I look for lightness and joy in my connection to God. I am so grateful for the clear hearing I have to enjoy beautiful music in all its forms. I am always guided to the perfect song in every situation.
In Love. J x
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
We're OK
Mostly I write about change and transformation, about us becoming more, being the best we can be, and all that is, for me at least, a worthy goal.
But, as my friend Juan once pointed out, we are divine magnificence and as such we are perfect, whole and complete already, there is no need for change. Also true.
So what's the story here?
We are all made of the God stuff, the same creative energy that is the fundamental building block of absolutely everything. Therefore it is true to say that we are already all that we are meant to be, we really are the most perfect, adored (for me a synonym for God is Love) creations.
The question for us to answer here is are we living a life that reflects that truth? Do we have the life of our dreams, are we in the flow of all good? The chances are, assuming you are reading this with physical eyes, that you like me are not yet living life from the God realised place within. That place may also be called the Golden Buddha, the Christ consciousness or the Tao, it's all the same.
There are as many reasons for us not living life from the highest part of ourselves as there are individual expressions of life. We blame our parents or our former lover or our work colleagues or society or blah, blah, blah ad infinitum. The life of our dreams is waiting for us to claim it, we are meant to live from that deep inner knowing of our divine magnificence. And it is for this reason that I write, talk and teach personal development, spiritual growth and love.
A Course in Miracles says at the beginning that it is not a compulsory course but that eventually everyone will have to take it. I believe that to be true about our individual journey towards God realisation. I think this is what the ancients in all traditions have talked about in the attainment of Nirvana or Oneness. We will keep reincarnating in this or some other physical realm until such time as we reach enlightenment. So it's up to us. We can allow the subconscious experiences we have collected to keep working us like the hand in the glove puppet, or we can take personal responsibility like Pinocchio and decide to embrace all that we are and become fully alive in life.
We have free will, so it's up to us. Our journey of transformation is somewhat similar to the caterpillar, we often have to be broken down into our component parts before we can be rebuilt again into the divine magnificence we are here to be. And it is a journey, but in every step there is a gift, perhaps one that may take years to reveal itself, to be unwrapped, but the gift remains regardless of when you discover it.
There is a perfect blue print for your life, with all that you think you want and so much more besides, is today the day you will start the journey?
Today I keep taking one step knowing that I am on the path to remembering my divine magnificence. Everyone and everything I meet on the path is a gift for my journey that I unwrap in the perfect time. I give thanks and love for every gift I receive.
But, as my friend Juan once pointed out, we are divine magnificence and as such we are perfect, whole and complete already, there is no need for change. Also true.
So what's the story here?
We are all made of the God stuff, the same creative energy that is the fundamental building block of absolutely everything. Therefore it is true to say that we are already all that we are meant to be, we really are the most perfect, adored (for me a synonym for God is Love) creations.
The question for us to answer here is are we living a life that reflects that truth? Do we have the life of our dreams, are we in the flow of all good? The chances are, assuming you are reading this with physical eyes, that you like me are not yet living life from the God realised place within. That place may also be called the Golden Buddha, the Christ consciousness or the Tao, it's all the same.
There are as many reasons for us not living life from the highest part of ourselves as there are individual expressions of life. We blame our parents or our former lover or our work colleagues or society or blah, blah, blah ad infinitum. The life of our dreams is waiting for us to claim it, we are meant to live from that deep inner knowing of our divine magnificence. And it is for this reason that I write, talk and teach personal development, spiritual growth and love.
A Course in Miracles says at the beginning that it is not a compulsory course but that eventually everyone will have to take it. I believe that to be true about our individual journey towards God realisation. I think this is what the ancients in all traditions have talked about in the attainment of Nirvana or Oneness. We will keep reincarnating in this or some other physical realm until such time as we reach enlightenment. So it's up to us. We can allow the subconscious experiences we have collected to keep working us like the hand in the glove puppet, or we can take personal responsibility like Pinocchio and decide to embrace all that we are and become fully alive in life.
We have free will, so it's up to us. Our journey of transformation is somewhat similar to the caterpillar, we often have to be broken down into our component parts before we can be rebuilt again into the divine magnificence we are here to be. And it is a journey, but in every step there is a gift, perhaps one that may take years to reveal itself, to be unwrapped, but the gift remains regardless of when you discover it.
There is a perfect blue print for your life, with all that you think you want and so much more besides, is today the day you will start the journey?
Today I keep taking one step knowing that I am on the path to remembering my divine magnificence. Everyone and everything I meet on the path is a gift for my journey that I unwrap in the perfect time. I give thanks and love for every gift I receive.
The gift of giving
Okay people, exciting news. Last night I read a little book with a little story, and it is one of the most powerful stories I have read in a long time. It only took a couple of hours to read the entire book and it was a great, no spectacular, investment in my time. I didn't learn much new stuff, but it was an awesome reminder of some of the great things that I know already.
Oh, yes, the book is called 'The Go-Giver,' the strap line is "A little story about a powerful business idea" and it is written by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I sincerely invite you to invest a couple of hours of your time in reading this great story. Read and then apply in your life for great results.
As the title hints, the book is about giving. You'll have to read the story for yourselves, but the principles are ageless and timeless.
We live in a reciprocal universe. We have all heard the phrase 'what goes around comes around', this is the principle of circulation or reciprocity.
Giving and receiving are one and the same thing. You have to be willing to receive just as much as you have to be willing to give, for if there were no one to receive you could not give. How often have you not received a compliment graciously? Have you ever received a gift and said to the giver, "Oh you shouldn't have?" I'm sure you, like me, have experienced the bliss of giving a gift, be sure that you allow someone to feel that bliss when they give to you.
Imagine yourself in the flow of life, allowing yourself to give without thought to keeping score and receiving in equal measure. When we find our self in this place life feels so magnificent.
Today I give for the pure bliss of giving. I approach every situation with the question, "How may I serve?" I let go of keeping score and I embrace all my gifts with gratitude.
Oh, yes, the book is called 'The Go-Giver,' the strap line is "A little story about a powerful business idea" and it is written by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I sincerely invite you to invest a couple of hours of your time in reading this great story. Read and then apply in your life for great results.
As the title hints, the book is about giving. You'll have to read the story for yourselves, but the principles are ageless and timeless.
In the Christian scripture it is written, "give and you shall receive." The old testament refers to giving 10% of your crops, a practice called 'tithing', which many traditions still encourage.The tricky thing here is that if you are only giving in order to receive, it won't work. The giving needs to come from your heart, from a genuine passion to help people, to provide service and to improve things for others. When we make our desire for others happiness our motivation, yet do that, not because we seek approval, but because we know how fabulous it feels to be happy and we want to support others to feel the same thing, then we find universal intelligence lining things up in what I call divine synchronicity.
Life just gets better and better as you come from a place of, "How may I serve?" and not, "What's in it for me?"This story comes from the Native American tradition. Once a year each member of the tribe would go to the great river. They would walk out into the flowing water and turn to face down stream. Standing with their arms open they would release everything from the previous year that no longer served them. With the feelings and their mind they would let go and allow the constant rush of the water to cleanse them and take away all the old stuff. When empty, they would give thanks and then turn about, to face upstream. Opening their arms again, they would then allow the flowing water to fill them up, refresh them and recharge their energy for the year ahead. When full they would give thanks once again and return to the land.
We live in a reciprocal universe. We have all heard the phrase 'what goes around comes around', this is the principle of circulation or reciprocity.
Giving and receiving are one and the same thing. You have to be willing to receive just as much as you have to be willing to give, for if there were no one to receive you could not give. How often have you not received a compliment graciously? Have you ever received a gift and said to the giver, "Oh you shouldn't have?" I'm sure you, like me, have experienced the bliss of giving a gift, be sure that you allow someone to feel that bliss when they give to you.
Imagine yourself in the flow of life, allowing yourself to give without thought to keeping score and receiving in equal measure. When we find our self in this place life feels so magnificent.
Today I give for the pure bliss of giving. I approach every situation with the question, "How may I serve?" I let go of keeping score and I embrace all my gifts with gratitude.
Monday, 14 February 2011
Who am I?
Who am I? Am I my job, am I my physical body, am I the money I have in the bank? NO.
I could have jumped into a suitcase that is living in the South American rain forest within a tribe that has never been contacted by the modern world. I could have selected a body that lives in the remote tundra of Kazakhstan. I didn't, I'm in the modern age, living in the West experiencing all the challenges and joys of a modern life.
Here then lies the challenge. How do I be in the world but not of it? How do I bring harmony to the elements of my true spiritual nature and remain sufficiently grounded to recognise that money has to flow, my precious body temple needs looking after and I need a certain amount of 'stuff' in order to support my spirit in its growth and expansion?
In music, harmony is the coming together of several different sounds that resonate sympathetically with each other to make a beautiful melody. We have all experienced hearing something where the sounds do not harmonise, the resulting cacophony is an affront to our ears.
Our journey is to bring the different elements of life together. To be in harmony with each area and bring them together in such a way that our life becomes a Mozart concerto or a Brubeck time out.
Often as we start our journey along a path of self discovery and growth our life begins to sound like a 10 year old learning to play the violin. Things become uncomfortable, any harmony we had feels like it disappeared over a distant hill with it's tail between its legs. It is at this point we are called to keep walking, putting one foot in front of the other. Keep taking the classes, reading the books and doing our deep inner work.
Within us is that eternal, infinite spiritual being. Regardless of how much worldly life we have covered it over with, it is there, it is shining and it is waiting for us to rediscover it and connect with it on the very deepest level.
With practice and love our life comes back into harmony, the 10 year old with the violin has done enough practice to make it to the orchestra in high school and the beautiful music of our magnificent life plays for all to hear.
Today I practice my harmonies. I give attention, energy and motion to all areas of my being and I play my music with love and grace.
In Love. J x
I am an eternal infinite spiritual being, having a temporary experience in a human suitcase.Great, but I am currently residing in a human suitcase and that human experience, as I live it now, requires money, requires some way of generating that money and requires a reasonably fit and healthy physical body to have the maximum capability to achieve the former.
I could have jumped into a suitcase that is living in the South American rain forest within a tribe that has never been contacted by the modern world. I could have selected a body that lives in the remote tundra of Kazakhstan. I didn't, I'm in the modern age, living in the West experiencing all the challenges and joys of a modern life.
Here then lies the challenge. How do I be in the world but not of it? How do I bring harmony to the elements of my true spiritual nature and remain sufficiently grounded to recognise that money has to flow, my precious body temple needs looking after and I need a certain amount of 'stuff' in order to support my spirit in its growth and expansion?
In music, harmony is the coming together of several different sounds that resonate sympathetically with each other to make a beautiful melody. We have all experienced hearing something where the sounds do not harmonise, the resulting cacophony is an affront to our ears.
Our journey is to bring the different elements of life together. To be in harmony with each area and bring them together in such a way that our life becomes a Mozart concerto or a Brubeck time out.
Often as we start our journey along a path of self discovery and growth our life begins to sound like a 10 year old learning to play the violin. Things become uncomfortable, any harmony we had feels like it disappeared over a distant hill with it's tail between its legs. It is at this point we are called to keep walking, putting one foot in front of the other. Keep taking the classes, reading the books and doing our deep inner work.
Within us is that eternal, infinite spiritual being. Regardless of how much worldly life we have covered it over with, it is there, it is shining and it is waiting for us to rediscover it and connect with it on the very deepest level.
With practice and love our life comes back into harmony, the 10 year old with the violin has done enough practice to make it to the orchestra in high school and the beautiful music of our magnificent life plays for all to hear.
Today I practice my harmonies. I give attention, energy and motion to all areas of my being and I play my music with love and grace.
In Love. J x
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Love is the drug
As I write this in the early hours of February 14, I feel automatically guided to write on the subject of love. In our modern age there is much scientific investigation toward the power of the heart and the emotion of love.
Let us, just for a moment, divert our attention to the word emotion. E MOTION - energy in motion. How often do we judge ourselves or beat ourselves up for not being in control of our emotions? Well, hello, the very nature of them, all of them, is that they move and flow, like a river they are not supposed to dammed up. Emotions are an essential part of our guidance system, they let us know if we are on or off track. So next time you kick-off giving yourself a hard time because you are not 'in control' of your emotions, STOP, take a breath, and say thank you. Next, ask your emotions what they are wanting you to see, to take a closer look at, or to appreciate.
OK, back to the very specific emotion of love. In the US the Institute of Heart Math, www.heartmath.org, is doing some amazing research into the power of the heart and the emotion of love. Our hearts create the strongest electromagnetic energy in our body, far bigger than the brain.
Interestingly, the Chinese word for heart and mind is the same - Hsin and in his book, 'Who Dies', Stephen Levine goes on to say, "For when the heart and the mind is clear they are of one substance, of one essence.
Science has proven that every cell has its own brain, its own intelligence. As I think about the number of cells in a human heart I think perhaps the intelligence naturally existing there is equal to anything found in the brain, perhaps it just operates in a slightly different way.
When you tune in to your heart and allow yourself to operate from that place it is amazing how life opens up before you. A Course in Miracles says there are only two emotions, Love and Fear. I know from personal experience that when I focus only on love, there is no space left over for fear to take hold. It is only as I forget to be heart centred that I feel the choking grip of fear snake its way into my body.
My friend Karen Fry is the CEO of a fantastic organisation inviting people to answer the question, "What does it mean for you to Be Love in the world?" Find out more and give your support at: www.belove-passiton.com. I invite you to ponder this question and then imagine what the world would be like if each one of us took 100% personal responsibility to only 'Be Love'.
Unconditional love is a state of being, it is not a place where 'I' or 'You' exist. It is like being in the field that Rumi speaks of, "Beyond right and wrong, there is a field, I will meet you there."
Generally in our world the love that is expressed is conditional. If you eat your dinner, do your home work, abide by my rules, then I will love you. It is no wonder that as adults we have no reference point on how to express unconditional love. We take these same conditions into our intimate relationships and are baffled that they don't work.
Being Love is like everything else, a practice and a choice. On this St Valentines Day, I invite you to practice and choose, knowing that each one of us has the power to change the world as we change the inner landscape of our heart.
Today I choose to be love in all that I think, all that I speak and all that I do. In this place of love I cease to exist and become one with all that is.
In Love. J x
Let us, just for a moment, divert our attention to the word emotion. E MOTION - energy in motion. How often do we judge ourselves or beat ourselves up for not being in control of our emotions? Well, hello, the very nature of them, all of them, is that they move and flow, like a river they are not supposed to dammed up. Emotions are an essential part of our guidance system, they let us know if we are on or off track. So next time you kick-off giving yourself a hard time because you are not 'in control' of your emotions, STOP, take a breath, and say thank you. Next, ask your emotions what they are wanting you to see, to take a closer look at, or to appreciate.
OK, back to the very specific emotion of love. In the US the Institute of Heart Math, www.heartmath.org, is doing some amazing research into the power of the heart and the emotion of love. Our hearts create the strongest electromagnetic energy in our body, far bigger than the brain.
Interestingly, the Chinese word for heart and mind is the same - Hsin and in his book, 'Who Dies', Stephen Levine goes on to say, "For when the heart and the mind is clear they are of one substance, of one essence.
Science has proven that every cell has its own brain, its own intelligence. As I think about the number of cells in a human heart I think perhaps the intelligence naturally existing there is equal to anything found in the brain, perhaps it just operates in a slightly different way.
When you tune in to your heart and allow yourself to operate from that place it is amazing how life opens up before you. A Course in Miracles says there are only two emotions, Love and Fear. I know from personal experience that when I focus only on love, there is no space left over for fear to take hold. It is only as I forget to be heart centred that I feel the choking grip of fear snake its way into my body.
My friend Karen Fry is the CEO of a fantastic organisation inviting people to answer the question, "What does it mean for you to Be Love in the world?" Find out more and give your support at: www.belove-passiton.com. I invite you to ponder this question and then imagine what the world would be like if each one of us took 100% personal responsibility to only 'Be Love'.
Unconditional love is a state of being, it is not a place where 'I' or 'You' exist. It is like being in the field that Rumi speaks of, "Beyond right and wrong, there is a field, I will meet you there."
Generally in our world the love that is expressed is conditional. If you eat your dinner, do your home work, abide by my rules, then I will love you. It is no wonder that as adults we have no reference point on how to express unconditional love. We take these same conditions into our intimate relationships and are baffled that they don't work.
Being Love is like everything else, a practice and a choice. On this St Valentines Day, I invite you to practice and choose, knowing that each one of us has the power to change the world as we change the inner landscape of our heart.
Today I choose to be love in all that I think, all that I speak and all that I do. In this place of love I cease to exist and become one with all that is.
In Love. J x
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Forgotten Pleasure
I was blessed to be teaching a Reiki I class yesterday, which is something I haven't done for quite some time. My journey with Reiki started about 15 years ago and it is something that has dropped away from my main focus over the past few years as my deeper metaphysical studies have taken over. In preparing for the class I was reinvigorated with the joy of teaching and pure pleasure of playing with the energy.
This experience got me pondering what other things I have done in my life that brought me pleasure but that I haven't had time or made time for in my more recent life. We are put on this earth to have a good time, it is not meant to be struggle or misery and although I have a fabulous life full of joy and allowing I am totally open to more of the good stuff.
So here are a few things that I haven't done recently that at another time in my life were regular practices which brought me great pleasure:
• Walking on the beach at sunrise
• Swimming with my nieces
• Dancing
• Receiving a massage
• Walking in the bluebell woods (currently the snowdrop woods)
In looking at this list, I noticed that they are all very linked to my physical body. I have become so busy writing, speaking, planning and meditating (all of which I love doing) that I have forgotten to take pleasure from the sensations and feelings that my body suitcase can bring me.
What would your list look like? Is there a particular area of your life that is not being honoured and loved in the highest and best way? Radical self care is all about you, you are deserving of a harmonious life in which all areas are nurtured and fulfilled. I invite you to take the time to do this little exercise, recognise where your gaps are and then take action to fill yourself up in the perfect way.
Today I ask my body what it would most love to do and I let it lead me to more joy. I know I am deserving of fun, pleasure and new experiences and I embrace them now.
In Love. J x
This experience got me pondering what other things I have done in my life that brought me pleasure but that I haven't had time or made time for in my more recent life. We are put on this earth to have a good time, it is not meant to be struggle or misery and although I have a fabulous life full of joy and allowing I am totally open to more of the good stuff.
So here are a few things that I haven't done recently that at another time in my life were regular practices which brought me great pleasure:
• Walking on the beach at sunrise
• Swimming with my nieces
• Dancing
• Receiving a massage
• Walking in the bluebell woods (currently the snowdrop woods)
In looking at this list, I noticed that they are all very linked to my physical body. I have become so busy writing, speaking, planning and meditating (all of which I love doing) that I have forgotten to take pleasure from the sensations and feelings that my body suitcase can bring me.
What would your list look like? Is there a particular area of your life that is not being honoured and loved in the highest and best way? Radical self care is all about you, you are deserving of a harmonious life in which all areas are nurtured and fulfilled. I invite you to take the time to do this little exercise, recognise where your gaps are and then take action to fill yourself up in the perfect way.
Today I ask my body what it would most love to do and I let it lead me to more joy. I know I am deserving of fun, pleasure and new experiences and I embrace them now.
In Love. J x
Grow More
Once on the journey of personal and spiritual growth it is easy to get into the ego trip of having done lots of work on yourself and to think that it's done. The job is finished.
Unless you are about to leap out of your body and transcend to the next realm, trust me, you still have many more opportunities for growth and learning.
So if that it the case, how do you figure where to go next? What area of my sub-conscious mind could I look at to reveal hidden beliefs and emotions that are still active in my experience?
My discovery on this is really easy. There are two ways to know what more I can be working on:
1. When my emotional guidance systems kicks in and I feel tension or pain in my body. You know when you get that feeling in your gut, or your heart rate increases or you want to snap a smart answer back at someone for what they did or didn't say.
2. When an area of my life isn't going the way I want it to. Perhaps I get a run of bills that weren't expected, or appliances start to break down or I find myself constantly having little bickering arguments with people, in my head or out loud.
Our outer world is an absolute reflection of the inner landscape. If we have issues about money, judgement, openness and expression, trust, health or relationships, a quick look around at our life will tell us what is working and what isn't. The feelings your body creates are often subtle. For many of us we don't listen to our body with the little things and then they grow into far bigger issues.
Like all things this is a practice. The more you take a moment to check in with your body and listen to the things it is telling you, the better you'll get at hearing.
Turn within and get in touch with what you are feeling when something triggers you. Perhaps you are in a conversation and you intuitively sense that the other person doesn't like what you just told them, but for their reasons they don't express that fully back to you. Your guidance system will tell you something is off and you may go into reaction about that, start making up stories in your head about what they are thinking and not saying. Equally you can think about what it is about this situation that you are reacting to. Are you feeling insecure, do you have self doubt on the subject matter, do you think or feel that you may have done something wrong, in which case guilt may play a part.
As soon as you feel disharmony in the body, you know there is something for you to learn. The better you get at recognising this and taking 100% responsibility for what you are feeling, the quicker you will be able to surface the hidden thoughts and beliefs and start work on healing them.
No one 'makes' us do, think or feel anything. We always have choice in how we react and respond to others and to situations. To the level we can accept this and make it the way we live will be the level of continuous growth we will experience in all areas of our life.
Today I listen to my bodies guidance system and turn within. I choose not to blame others, instead I give thanks for the gift of growth that they bring me. I trust universal intelligence to bring me the perfect opportunities for my continued growth and learning.
Unless you are about to leap out of your body and transcend to the next realm, trust me, you still have many more opportunities for growth and learning.
So if that it the case, how do you figure where to go next? What area of my sub-conscious mind could I look at to reveal hidden beliefs and emotions that are still active in my experience?
My discovery on this is really easy. There are two ways to know what more I can be working on:
1. When my emotional guidance systems kicks in and I feel tension or pain in my body. You know when you get that feeling in your gut, or your heart rate increases or you want to snap a smart answer back at someone for what they did or didn't say.
2. When an area of my life isn't going the way I want it to. Perhaps I get a run of bills that weren't expected, or appliances start to break down or I find myself constantly having little bickering arguments with people, in my head or out loud.
Our outer world is an absolute reflection of the inner landscape. If we have issues about money, judgement, openness and expression, trust, health or relationships, a quick look around at our life will tell us what is working and what isn't. The feelings your body creates are often subtle. For many of us we don't listen to our body with the little things and then they grow into far bigger issues.
Like all things this is a practice. The more you take a moment to check in with your body and listen to the things it is telling you, the better you'll get at hearing.
Turn within and get in touch with what you are feeling when something triggers you. Perhaps you are in a conversation and you intuitively sense that the other person doesn't like what you just told them, but for their reasons they don't express that fully back to you. Your guidance system will tell you something is off and you may go into reaction about that, start making up stories in your head about what they are thinking and not saying. Equally you can think about what it is about this situation that you are reacting to. Are you feeling insecure, do you have self doubt on the subject matter, do you think or feel that you may have done something wrong, in which case guilt may play a part.
As soon as you feel disharmony in the body, you know there is something for you to learn. The better you get at recognising this and taking 100% responsibility for what you are feeling, the quicker you will be able to surface the hidden thoughts and beliefs and start work on healing them.
No one 'makes' us do, think or feel anything. We always have choice in how we react and respond to others and to situations. To the level we can accept this and make it the way we live will be the level of continuous growth we will experience in all areas of our life.
Today I listen to my bodies guidance system and turn within. I choose not to blame others, instead I give thanks for the gift of growth that they bring me. I trust universal intelligence to bring me the perfect opportunities for my continued growth and learning.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
The Tipping Point
We live in a universe that is expanding faster than ever before. Is it not right and proper then, that we would be expanding faster than ever before?
Many people I know are experiencing the same thing, their personal spiritual journey seems to have leaped forward. Although quantum leaps in self awareness do happen, they are considered to be rare. The more accepted path is that taught by Abraham through Esther Hicks, one of steps up the emotional scale. That said, I believe that as we approach 2012 more and more people are making quantum leaps and are moving much faster towards what might be called a 'God realised consciousness'.
Why would that be? There are many thoughts, opinions and beliefs about what could happen at the winter solstice of 2012. Personally I believe as we enter the next great age when the earth comes to it's farthest point from the sun and starts to cycle back again, we will experience a global shift in consciousness. There is a tipping point that we are so close to, it feels almost palpable. The point at which enough people in the world return to the ancients understanding of our Oneness. Not just with each other, but with everything in the cosmos.
How did the world go from having a few heretics who thought the world was round and orbited around the sun to almost the entire planet knowing it as an absolute truth? The tipping point! There is a critical mass number which, once achieved, means that the seesaw of belief tips to the new belief. I can't remember the exact percentage, but I do know that is far lower than I would naturally expect it to be. 6% is in my head, its something around that. This means if 6% of the global population believe and know that we are all one, all of a sudden everyone knows it. Wow - it must be a quantum effect of Law of Attraction, I'm not sure how or why it works, but apparently it does.
I do believe that the cycle of life will see more natural and man-made disasters over the next couple of years, and that brings up a whole other conversation about the nature of death (another day), but within that I believe that the global shift in consciousness is what 2012 is about. We are ushering in a world that works for everyone, where poverty, conflict, fear and hate are things of the past. A world where every belly is full, every creation is safe from harm, all things and people are accepted for the unique and perfect expression that they have come here to be and that the natural order of things is based from compassion and love. "The greatest of these is love."
What will you do today to practice this place within you. This is where global change happens, in your mind and your heart. The degree to which you open yourself to the ever greater expansion and good of the universal intelligence is the degree to which you will be one of the 6% creating the tipping point in global consciousness. You are the key, you have the power, you are the love energy of the universe.
Today I know that the only work I can do is my own. I turn within whenever I see, hear or feel something that creates any disharmony in me and I return to my inner garden of harmony and love.
Many people I know are experiencing the same thing, their personal spiritual journey seems to have leaped forward. Although quantum leaps in self awareness do happen, they are considered to be rare. The more accepted path is that taught by Abraham through Esther Hicks, one of steps up the emotional scale. That said, I believe that as we approach 2012 more and more people are making quantum leaps and are moving much faster towards what might be called a 'God realised consciousness'.
Why would that be? There are many thoughts, opinions and beliefs about what could happen at the winter solstice of 2012. Personally I believe as we enter the next great age when the earth comes to it's farthest point from the sun and starts to cycle back again, we will experience a global shift in consciousness. There is a tipping point that we are so close to, it feels almost palpable. The point at which enough people in the world return to the ancients understanding of our Oneness. Not just with each other, but with everything in the cosmos.
How did the world go from having a few heretics who thought the world was round and orbited around the sun to almost the entire planet knowing it as an absolute truth? The tipping point! There is a critical mass number which, once achieved, means that the seesaw of belief tips to the new belief. I can't remember the exact percentage, but I do know that is far lower than I would naturally expect it to be. 6% is in my head, its something around that. This means if 6% of the global population believe and know that we are all one, all of a sudden everyone knows it. Wow - it must be a quantum effect of Law of Attraction, I'm not sure how or why it works, but apparently it does.
I do believe that the cycle of life will see more natural and man-made disasters over the next couple of years, and that brings up a whole other conversation about the nature of death (another day), but within that I believe that the global shift in consciousness is what 2012 is about. We are ushering in a world that works for everyone, where poverty, conflict, fear and hate are things of the past. A world where every belly is full, every creation is safe from harm, all things and people are accepted for the unique and perfect expression that they have come here to be and that the natural order of things is based from compassion and love. "The greatest of these is love."
What will you do today to practice this place within you. This is where global change happens, in your mind and your heart. The degree to which you open yourself to the ever greater expansion and good of the universal intelligence is the degree to which you will be one of the 6% creating the tipping point in global consciousness. You are the key, you have the power, you are the love energy of the universe.
Today I know that the only work I can do is my own. I turn within whenever I see, hear or feel something that creates any disharmony in me and I return to my inner garden of harmony and love.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Practice the Presence
For those of us on a 'Spiritual' journey we sometimes get lost in a strange world of beliefs around what it is to 'be' spiritual. Our ego mind convinces us that lighting lots of candles and burning sage or Nag Champa is the way forward and ensures our place in the spiritual hierarchy. We have done some training, we have been sitting in development circles, we know how to clear our chakras, therefore we MUST be spiritual.
In the 17th century there lived a man named Brother Lawrence. He was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris and was known for his intimate relationship with God. (For God use any word for the universal intelligence that sits well with you).
After his death a book was compiled of his writings entitled, 'The Practice of the Presence of God.'
So what was so special about this guy? He applied his connection to source in everything that he did. Brother Lawrence worked in the monastery kitchen and he presenced the universal love in everything he did. Washing the dishes, stirring the stew, peeling potatoes, scrubbing the floor, what Brother Lawrence knew at the very core of his being was that he was never separate from that love.
The following paragraph, taken from the modern fount of all knowledge, Wikipedia, expresses eloquently this concept.
We are the expression of that love, that spiritual essence and I invite you to remember, in all your daily actions, the truth of your being.
Today I remember that I am made of the God stuff, I am unconditional love. In all my activities I presence that love and as I forget I go back to my heart so that I can remember.
In Love. J x
In the 17th century there lived a man named Brother Lawrence. He was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris and was known for his intimate relationship with God. (For God use any word for the universal intelligence that sits well with you).
After his death a book was compiled of his writings entitled, 'The Practice of the Presence of God.'
So what was so special about this guy? He applied his connection to source in everything that he did. Brother Lawrence worked in the monastery kitchen and he presenced the universal love in everything he did. Washing the dishes, stirring the stew, peeling potatoes, scrubbing the floor, what Brother Lawrence knew at the very core of his being was that he was never separate from that love.
The following paragraph, taken from the modern fount of all knowledge, Wikipedia, expresses eloquently this concept.
In his Maxims, Lawrence writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?"What if we did everything, no matter how mundane or 'spiritual' from that same place of unconditional love? Would you really flip the finger to someone who cuts you off on the highway? Would you get cross because your significant other hadn't taken out the rubbish? Would you worry about the money you'll have in your pocket when you retire?
We are the expression of that love, that spiritual essence and I invite you to remember, in all your daily actions, the truth of your being.
Today I remember that I am made of the God stuff, I am unconditional love. In all my activities I presence that love and as I forget I go back to my heart so that I can remember.
In Love. J x
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
What is real?
I don't have a TV, but I do selectively watch programs via the BBC iplayer. Yesterday I watched a show investigating temperature and the definition of 'One Degree'. The most amazing thing they showed was what happens to liquid nitrogen when you make it so cold that its particles stop moving. At about 2º above absolute zero, which is minus a lot in centigrade or Fahrenheit, the liquid nitrogen got real still, and when the presenter lifted out the container with the liquid in, it poured through the bottom of the container. The particles of the liquid travelled through a solid glass container.
This is a quantum effect, I can't give you chapter and verse on the science, but the little I know says that at our core this is who we are. Our belief in the solidness of our bodies is just an illusion. We are bundles of vibrating energy and it is the frequency at which we resonate that creates the appearance of our solid body.
In one of Gregg Braden's books, sorry can't remember which one right now, but I'll check it out, Gregg tells of a visit he made to a cave somewhere in Asia. Where an ancient sage had once lived, whose practice had been to get to a place of being where he was able to hold his consciousness at this level of energy. In this cave is a hand hold in solid rock where the sage had finally brought his mind into alignment with his body as pure energy and had moved his hand into and through the rock. He was practising this long before quantum science had been invented, but all the ancient spiritual wisdom had been telling him it was so.
When I read this my first thought was, "I want to be able to do that." However upon reflection I don't really have the time to go live in a cave, eat nettles and meditate all day.
That said, there is every opportunity for us to practice the concept that any appearance we see, no matter how real, is just our projection in the quantum realm. In science at the quantum level there is no drama, no pain, no sickness, no lack or limitation of any form. If you can think it you can create it. What would you love to create today?
Today I see no thing as outside of me. I take complete responsibility for all my experiences and seek the gift in every one of them. I embrace the truth of my being as pure light and I shine.
In love. J x
This is a quantum effect, I can't give you chapter and verse on the science, but the little I know says that at our core this is who we are. Our belief in the solidness of our bodies is just an illusion. We are bundles of vibrating energy and it is the frequency at which we resonate that creates the appearance of our solid body.
In one of Gregg Braden's books, sorry can't remember which one right now, but I'll check it out, Gregg tells of a visit he made to a cave somewhere in Asia. Where an ancient sage had once lived, whose practice had been to get to a place of being where he was able to hold his consciousness at this level of energy. In this cave is a hand hold in solid rock where the sage had finally brought his mind into alignment with his body as pure energy and had moved his hand into and through the rock. He was practising this long before quantum science had been invented, but all the ancient spiritual wisdom had been telling him it was so.
When I read this my first thought was, "I want to be able to do that." However upon reflection I don't really have the time to go live in a cave, eat nettles and meditate all day.
That said, there is every opportunity for us to practice the concept that any appearance we see, no matter how real, is just our projection in the quantum realm. In science at the quantum level there is no drama, no pain, no sickness, no lack or limitation of any form. If you can think it you can create it. What would you love to create today?
Today I see no thing as outside of me. I take complete responsibility for all my experiences and seek the gift in every one of them. I embrace the truth of my being as pure light and I shine.
In love. J x
Monday, 7 February 2011
The most important choice you make
This experiment of morning pages is working well and I am definitely seeing the expansion of my creative consciousness when it comes to writing. This is manifest in all the class work for my Spiritual Counsellors course as well as in the ongoing writing for my first book.
It guides me to think about another one of my favourite sayings, "The most important choice you make is what you choose to make important." I heard this first from a great coach, author and wonderful human being, Michael Neill.
What would you love to be, do or have in your life, but which is on a notional 'wish' list, but has never quite made it to the 'will' list.
When I teach meditation I often hear people say, "I can't meditate, I don't have time." My answer is always the same. "If I gave you £1,000,000 for you to make time to meditate every day, would you do it?" The answer is pretty much a resounding, "YES." So we now know that time is not the issue, priority is the issue.
For me meditation is a part of my core spiritual practice. If I have a morning where I don't meditate for any reason I feel out of balance, not quite centred. I imagine some people feel like this if they don't get their morning coffee fix. For me meditation is like caffein for the soul.
This is an easy example for me. On the journey I had to take some radical action to come into integrity with the practice. I would tell people I meditated everyday, but I was really half-assing it. Sitting in the chair and allowing my mind to race, or drifting off in a long car journey, but in truth not really clearing my mind and journeying into the silence. Not making it a priority to connect with the highest part of my being. For ages every time I did meditate in a way that I really made the connection, I would always be guided that I needed to meditate more.
At this point, for some time, my inner teenager would kick-in. "I'm not doing what 'they' say." You may be familiar with this, but there is a definition of maturity:
Don't get me wrong, there were moments during that month when an hour seemed like an entire day. The thing I told my monkey mind was that we were sitting in the chair, we were not going to move and regardless of what story I had running I was not going to any place until the alarm bleeped after one hour.
Eventually there were days when the hour seemed like five minutes. Now I meditate for at least 20 minutes every day, depending on my schedule. When time allows I love to sit for as long as my inner wisdom wants.
If you have something on your 'wish' list and you really want it, the only way to have it manifest is to move it to the 'will' list. Once on the 'will' list, you can prioritise it, decide on the actions you can take to achieve it, and move into those actions.
Today I boldly choose my priorities. I take the next natural action toward achieving my dreams. I trust that the process of life fully supports and guides me as I express my uniqueness in the world.
It guides me to think about another one of my favourite sayings, "The most important choice you make is what you choose to make important." I heard this first from a great coach, author and wonderful human being, Michael Neill.
What would you love to be, do or have in your life, but which is on a notional 'wish' list, but has never quite made it to the 'will' list.
When I teach meditation I often hear people say, "I can't meditate, I don't have time." My answer is always the same. "If I gave you £1,000,000 for you to make time to meditate every day, would you do it?" The answer is pretty much a resounding, "YES." So we now know that time is not the issue, priority is the issue.
For me meditation is a part of my core spiritual practice. If I have a morning where I don't meditate for any reason I feel out of balance, not quite centred. I imagine some people feel like this if they don't get their morning coffee fix. For me meditation is like caffein for the soul.
This is an easy example for me. On the journey I had to take some radical action to come into integrity with the practice. I would tell people I meditated everyday, but I was really half-assing it. Sitting in the chair and allowing my mind to race, or drifting off in a long car journey, but in truth not really clearing my mind and journeying into the silence. Not making it a priority to connect with the highest part of my being. For ages every time I did meditate in a way that I really made the connection, I would always be guided that I needed to meditate more.
At this point, for some time, my inner teenager would kick-in. "I'm not doing what 'they' say." You may be familiar with this, but there is a definition of maturity:
Doing something you want to do even if your parents want you to do it too.Eventually the calling to meditate daily became too strong to deny, I re-scheduled my day and I spent 30 days meditating for an hour every morning. That was what I felt I needed to do to really anchor it in me, to create the habit. Psychologists say that it takes around 19-21 days to create a habit, well I can be a slow learner on occasions and I really wanted to get this down, so I took a month and I sat for an hour.
Don't get me wrong, there were moments during that month when an hour seemed like an entire day. The thing I told my monkey mind was that we were sitting in the chair, we were not going to move and regardless of what story I had running I was not going to any place until the alarm bleeped after one hour.
Eventually there were days when the hour seemed like five minutes. Now I meditate for at least 20 minutes every day, depending on my schedule. When time allows I love to sit for as long as my inner wisdom wants.
If you have something on your 'wish' list and you really want it, the only way to have it manifest is to move it to the 'will' list. Once on the 'will' list, you can prioritise it, decide on the actions you can take to achieve it, and move into those actions.
No amount of sitting in meditation at the bottom of a mountain will get you to the top.I invite you to make those important choices today, there is something calling to express through you that only you can bring to the world. Your unique gifts and talents are required by the universe, if not then you wouldn't be here. So leap, the chasm is not as wide as you think.
Today I boldly choose my priorities. I take the next natural action toward achieving my dreams. I trust that the process of life fully supports and guides me as I express my uniqueness in the world.
Attitude of Gratitude
Law of Attraction doesn't only work from your thoughts, it works from the feelings and emotions behind the thoughts.
We know that like attracts like and what we focus on expands. My favourite saying on this subject is this:
The expansion of consciousness in any area of our lives is something the spiritual seeker is often endeavouring to achieve. To expand your consciousness of gratitude one of the best practices I have found is to keep a gratitude journal. Make time to write what you are grateful for every day. This can be done at any time of the day. I know some people who prefer to start their day embodying the attitude of gratitude, personally I prefer to take that energy into dream time, so I write up my gratitude journal before I go to sleep. If you are someone who likes to watch the news headlines before going to bed, I seriously invite you to swap that habit for this one. You will sleep more peacefully and have more empowering dreams.
If this is new to you start by recording five things that you are grateful for in your day, or the previous day. As you practice and play with this, you will find many more things that you are thankful for. If you have a significant other, play together, compare and share your gratitude. This is not meant to be a chore. If you find it becoming a 'should' then stop and evaluate what's going on for you. This is supposed to fun.
Depending where you are in life right now, you may feel that you have plenty to be grateful for and are ready to write it all down. However I have worked with many clients who are in a place where it doesn't feel like there is anything to appreciate. That's okay, don't make this into another excuse to beat yourself up.
Take a moment to breathe, connect with your heart and think of someone you love, that loves you. Breathe into that feeling and allow it to spread through your body.
Spread the feeling through your body and start to think of a place in your body that works well. Perhaps it's your eyes, or perhaps you really like your little finger, or how about the big toe on your left foot. Somewhere in your body there is something, no matter how small, that you can appreciate. Let us take the example of the little finger.
I am so grateful for my little finger because it allows me to have normal looking hands. I love my hands because they allow me to experience sensations, I can stroke my cat and feel his soft fur in my hand and the vibration of his purr through my fingertips. I am so grateful for my cat because he helps me to remember what it looks like to be peaceful and calm. I am so grateful for my memory as it allows me to function in the world and to play games with my nieces. - You get the idea. Find one thing, no matter how tiny it might be. It can be in you or outside of you. Perhaps you are currently sitting in a comfortable chair, or are drinking a tasty coffee. Start as small as you need to start and build as slowly as you need to build, but do start, always remembering that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Today I see opportunities for gratitude in every situation of my life. I express my gratitude to others easily and effortlessly. I turn within and feel gratitude in every cell of my body. My embodiment of gratitude is contagious and I infect all I meet with their own attitude of gratitude.
We know that like attracts like and what we focus on expands. My favourite saying on this subject is this:
Where attention goes, energy flows.When energy flows into other energy there is expansion. In any area where we want expansion we need to place our attention, energy and focus in order for it happen. If we want more good stuff in our life then it behoves us to be grateful for what we have already. When we embody gratitude, not just by saying thank you, but by thinking, feeling and being thankful for everything we experience. It is then that our vibration sets up resonance in the unified field or universal intelligence or God energy (pick the phrase that suits you) and brings to us more good, more health, more abundance, more joy, more peace or what ever more is looking to express through you.
The expansion of consciousness in any area of our lives is something the spiritual seeker is often endeavouring to achieve. To expand your consciousness of gratitude one of the best practices I have found is to keep a gratitude journal. Make time to write what you are grateful for every day. This can be done at any time of the day. I know some people who prefer to start their day embodying the attitude of gratitude, personally I prefer to take that energy into dream time, so I write up my gratitude journal before I go to sleep. If you are someone who likes to watch the news headlines before going to bed, I seriously invite you to swap that habit for this one. You will sleep more peacefully and have more empowering dreams.
If this is new to you start by recording five things that you are grateful for in your day, or the previous day. As you practice and play with this, you will find many more things that you are thankful for. If you have a significant other, play together, compare and share your gratitude. This is not meant to be a chore. If you find it becoming a 'should' then stop and evaluate what's going on for you. This is supposed to fun.
Depending where you are in life right now, you may feel that you have plenty to be grateful for and are ready to write it all down. However I have worked with many clients who are in a place where it doesn't feel like there is anything to appreciate. That's okay, don't make this into another excuse to beat yourself up.
Take a moment to breathe, connect with your heart and think of someone you love, that loves you. Breathe into that feeling and allow it to spread through your body.
Spread the feeling through your body and start to think of a place in your body that works well. Perhaps it's your eyes, or perhaps you really like your little finger, or how about the big toe on your left foot. Somewhere in your body there is something, no matter how small, that you can appreciate. Let us take the example of the little finger.
I am so grateful for my little finger because it allows me to have normal looking hands. I love my hands because they allow me to experience sensations, I can stroke my cat and feel his soft fur in my hand and the vibration of his purr through my fingertips. I am so grateful for my cat because he helps me to remember what it looks like to be peaceful and calm. I am so grateful for my memory as it allows me to function in the world and to play games with my nieces. - You get the idea. Find one thing, no matter how tiny it might be. It can be in you or outside of you. Perhaps you are currently sitting in a comfortable chair, or are drinking a tasty coffee. Start as small as you need to start and build as slowly as you need to build, but do start, always remembering that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Today I see opportunities for gratitude in every situation of my life. I express my gratitude to others easily and effortlessly. I turn within and feel gratitude in every cell of my body. My embodiment of gratitude is contagious and I infect all I meet with their own attitude of gratitude.
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Free yourself with forgiveness
Forgiveness is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving and it is a gift that you can only give to yourself.
I had a great lesson in forgiveness, but it took many years for me to see and appreciate it for what it was.
When I was 13 my Dad said something to me that hurt me deeply. It became a treasured stone in the rucksack of life. One which I would take out regularly, polish and replay over and over again, every time re-creating all the hurt and sadness. I held it as a hard bitterness in my life. When I was introduced to this concept of forgiveness I found this the hardest one to handle, but I got there eventually and was able to drop the stone and finally set myself free.
Almost 27 years after the event I finally asked my father about it. Much to my astonishment he didn't even remember saying the words. I had created a story about what it meant about me and what a bad person he was and how that 'made' me as an adult, it was all in my head. It had no effect in my Dad's life. For him it was a moments frustration with a teenager he couldn't control.
I know that many people have much bigger and more traumatic events in their lives. I have worked with many adults who have experienced abuse as children or have been raped in their younger lives. It may seem like this is a step too far. That forgiving the other person would somehow make their actions okay. It's not about the perpetrator, no matter how heinous the crime. Just like me and my Father, the only person who is suffering from the thoughts, feelings and beliefs in your mind is you. You have the choice about setting down the stone or continuing to carry it like a mill stone around your neck.
I have found that willingness goes a long way when it come to forgiveness.
Think of a small unforgiveness you may have. Don't go straight in for the big one, you want to mark up some victories in the process before you go head to head. Get a clear picture of the person or situation in your head and then say, "I forgive you and I set myself free."You'll know if this feels genuine when you say it or not. If you can't get to the place where you can be authentic in your forgiveness, add in 'willing'. "I am willing to forgive you and set myself free." If it feels like it still may be a stretch, add in enough willings to bring it into alignment. "I am willing to be willing to be willing to forgive you and set myself free." You get the idea. Being willing gives the universal intelligent the tiny gap it needs to go to work on your behalf. This will open the door and providing you stick with the practice you will start to see and feel shifts happening in your life.
Today I forgive first. I release any hurts or anguish easily and free myself in the process. I am always at choice about how I react and respond to every word, deed or perceived misdemeanour. I choose to be free.
In Love J x
I had a great lesson in forgiveness, but it took many years for me to see and appreciate it for what it was.
When I was 13 my Dad said something to me that hurt me deeply. It became a treasured stone in the rucksack of life. One which I would take out regularly, polish and replay over and over again, every time re-creating all the hurt and sadness. I held it as a hard bitterness in my life. When I was introduced to this concept of forgiveness I found this the hardest one to handle, but I got there eventually and was able to drop the stone and finally set myself free.
Almost 27 years after the event I finally asked my father about it. Much to my astonishment he didn't even remember saying the words. I had created a story about what it meant about me and what a bad person he was and how that 'made' me as an adult, it was all in my head. It had no effect in my Dad's life. For him it was a moments frustration with a teenager he couldn't control.
I know that many people have much bigger and more traumatic events in their lives. I have worked with many adults who have experienced abuse as children or have been raped in their younger lives. It may seem like this is a step too far. That forgiving the other person would somehow make their actions okay. It's not about the perpetrator, no matter how heinous the crime. Just like me and my Father, the only person who is suffering from the thoughts, feelings and beliefs in your mind is you. You have the choice about setting down the stone or continuing to carry it like a mill stone around your neck.
I have found that willingness goes a long way when it come to forgiveness.
Think of a small unforgiveness you may have. Don't go straight in for the big one, you want to mark up some victories in the process before you go head to head. Get a clear picture of the person or situation in your head and then say, "I forgive you and I set myself free."You'll know if this feels genuine when you say it or not. If you can't get to the place where you can be authentic in your forgiveness, add in 'willing'. "I am willing to forgive you and set myself free." If it feels like it still may be a stretch, add in enough willings to bring it into alignment. "I am willing to be willing to be willing to forgive you and set myself free." You get the idea. Being willing gives the universal intelligent the tiny gap it needs to go to work on your behalf. This will open the door and providing you stick with the practice you will start to see and feel shifts happening in your life.
Today I forgive first. I release any hurts or anguish easily and free myself in the process. I am always at choice about how I react and respond to every word, deed or perceived misdemeanour. I choose to be free.
In Love J x
Friday, 4 February 2011
The universe always says "Yes"
I am dedicating this weekend to writing more of my book. No phones, no out, no spiritual centre on Sunday, just me, the cat and the computer. This is a great plan, but I have a secret. I play We Rule on my iPhone and I'm a bit of an addict. I planted my crops on Friday so that I didn't have to check on my realms over the weekend, but there was a part of me thinking, "how much harm would it be to check in occasionally to reap all my rewards?"
Why am I troubling you with this detail? I know that the universal intelligence always supports our highest intention. I went out last night to visit with a friend who lives about half an hours drive from my house. When I was almost back home I realised that I didn't have my phone. Where could it be? Once indoors I checked my rucksack, nothing. So I rang Leanne to find that the phone had slid out of my pocket and down the side of the sofa, to such an extent that I didn't see it when I got up, even though I primped the cushions and tidied the space.
Here's the point, if you open to taking an action or making some change and you get into a state of willingness or allowing, the universe will absolutely support you. I had stated loudly my intention to spend the entire weekend writing and the universe helped me by 'accidentally' leaving my phone sufficiently far away that I don't want to make the hours round trip to collect it.
I believe there are no accidents in the universe. Everything is by Divine orchestration, even the stuff we judge as bad. Instead of bemoaning your fate, why not seek the gift that remains wrapped in the situation. There will be one and ultimately it is always for your highest good.
Today I embrace the abundant flow of life. Source Energy is surrounding me with love and support as I connect with universal intelligence and allow the creative process through me for the highest good of all.
Why am I troubling you with this detail? I know that the universal intelligence always supports our highest intention. I went out last night to visit with a friend who lives about half an hours drive from my house. When I was almost back home I realised that I didn't have my phone. Where could it be? Once indoors I checked my rucksack, nothing. So I rang Leanne to find that the phone had slid out of my pocket and down the side of the sofa, to such an extent that I didn't see it when I got up, even though I primped the cushions and tidied the space.
Here's the point, if you open to taking an action or making some change and you get into a state of willingness or allowing, the universe will absolutely support you. I had stated loudly my intention to spend the entire weekend writing and the universe helped me by 'accidentally' leaving my phone sufficiently far away that I don't want to make the hours round trip to collect it.
I believe there are no accidents in the universe. Everything is by Divine orchestration, even the stuff we judge as bad. Instead of bemoaning your fate, why not seek the gift that remains wrapped in the situation. There will be one and ultimately it is always for your highest good.
Today I embrace the abundant flow of life. Source Energy is surrounding me with love and support as I connect with universal intelligence and allow the creative process through me for the highest good of all.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
A love letter
Regardless of what God means to you or what other words you use for your connection to the creative consciousness of the universe, imagine you got a letter from that universal intelligence in a moment that you were in struggle and resistance about your worldly life. What would that say?
Today I act from that most high place within me. I know only Love and I stand in the divine flow of all my good. In every eye I meet I speak to that same place within them, in the sure knowledge that I speak to my own reflection of God.
Dear Juliet,
When I look at you, I look in a mirror. I know that you have, as part of your being, all that I am. You are magnificent in every regard and regardless of what you sometimes think when you forget that we are one, I know that you are good enough, you are beautiful beyond any comparison, you have all the knowledge and understanding of the universe within you and around you as you tap into the one mind and most importantly, I love you with all my heart.
To me you are an essential part of me. Just like the wave is to the ocean, you have within you all that I am and I need you and all the other perfect expressions of existence to fully be me. Without your expression of me I would not be complete. You are just as essential to me as I am to you.
My dearest Juliet, always remember who you really are and who you have come here to be. You really are more powerful, magical, beautiful and loved than your human mind allows you to conceive, yet it is no less true. In all your moments of challenge and struggle I hold you up, knowing that the free will that you are works with the universal intelligence that you are moving you in the perfect way at all times. Even the times you judge as bad. Let go of the judgement and just accept these as greater opportunities for growth and learning.
I adore you, I am so grateful that you are the magnificence that you are.
In Love Always
God xxTake some time today to think about what your letter would say. Spirit never judges, never puts conditions on us, never withholds anything from us. We truly are the beloveds of Divine Love.
Today I act from that most high place within me. I know only Love and I stand in the divine flow of all my good. In every eye I meet I speak to that same place within them, in the sure knowledge that I speak to my own reflection of God.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
The only constant is change
Regardless of our willingness to change the title quote remains true. You only need to look out the window to see the trees changing throughout the seasons and (where I live) the daffodils starting to ease their first tentative shoots through the half frozen earth.
In her book 'You Can Heal Your Life', Louise Hay talks about the transformation process. Using the analogy of the roasting pan after a Sunday roast. When you have finished cooking it looks quite bad, but when you put it in the washing up water and start scrubbing, it gets real messy. The thing at this point is to keep scrubbing, eventually you have a clean pan, all shiny and looking good as new. Sometimes when we start cleaning ourselves it can get a little messy, but I can assure you, it is well worth the journey.
If you think about the journey a caterpillar makes to become a butterfly - they literally return to quantum gloop (a well known technical term) before re-configuring their cells into a light and beautiful butterfly. Our journey of transformation will never be that challenging or require quite that degree of trust in the process of life. Although when I first introduced the roasting pan concept to a friend of mine, she said, "to hell with washing up, I'll throw it out an buy a new one." She just wasn't ready :)
Regardless of where your life is now, you are enough and you already have everything you need to have a fabulous life. You are at choice as to if or when you take a step towards transformation.
Sometimes we get stuck in the ego trap of 'having to change' to be deserving. This is not true. At the core of your being you are universal intelligence, those vibrating bundles of energy that are the basic substance of all things. That is who you are, regardless of how disconnected you may be from that knowing.
I know that I am an eternal spiritual being having a temporary human experience, and still I want to grow, to learn and to become a better me. It is the natural order of things, just like the daffodils.
Today I am willing to change. I welcome my growth and expansion with ease and grace. I embrace the fertile soil of my life, allowing it to nurture, feed and support me in all that I do.
"I am willing to change"This is often the first affirmation I will give to new clients. It opens up a chink of light for universal intelligence to start working. By stating that willingness, we are saying "YES" to something more, something better, something new.
In her book 'You Can Heal Your Life', Louise Hay talks about the transformation process. Using the analogy of the roasting pan after a Sunday roast. When you have finished cooking it looks quite bad, but when you put it in the washing up water and start scrubbing, it gets real messy. The thing at this point is to keep scrubbing, eventually you have a clean pan, all shiny and looking good as new. Sometimes when we start cleaning ourselves it can get a little messy, but I can assure you, it is well worth the journey.
If you think about the journey a caterpillar makes to become a butterfly - they literally return to quantum gloop (a well known technical term) before re-configuring their cells into a light and beautiful butterfly. Our journey of transformation will never be that challenging or require quite that degree of trust in the process of life. Although when I first introduced the roasting pan concept to a friend of mine, she said, "to hell with washing up, I'll throw it out an buy a new one." She just wasn't ready :)
Regardless of where your life is now, you are enough and you already have everything you need to have a fabulous life. You are at choice as to if or when you take a step towards transformation.
Sometimes we get stuck in the ego trap of 'having to change' to be deserving. This is not true. At the core of your being you are universal intelligence, those vibrating bundles of energy that are the basic substance of all things. That is who you are, regardless of how disconnected you may be from that knowing.
I know that I am an eternal spiritual being having a temporary human experience, and still I want to grow, to learn and to become a better me. It is the natural order of things, just like the daffodils.
Today I am willing to change. I welcome my growth and expansion with ease and grace. I embrace the fertile soil of my life, allowing it to nurture, feed and support me in all that I do.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Sitting in my office writing this blog I find a sense of peace and purpose. The very process of writing, even when my conscious brain tells me I have nothing to say, allows my higher self to tap into universal intelligence and bring forth the words from somewhere outside or deep inside of me. In a holographic universe it doesn't really matter if it's inside or out, it kind of the same.
What creates peace in you? What gives you a sense of purpose?
I believe that we have all come here with certain things to do, that we have a purpose, beyond simply having a spectacular time. Oh and by the way, we are here to have a spectacular time. It is only the conditioning and beliefs of others that infect their way into our mind like the viruses that they are that suggest otherwise.
It may be that as you read this your life is not bringing you joy or peace or purpose. However in metaphysics and mental science what we know is that today is a product of everything that happened up until now. The magical thing here is that we can change that, by changing out thoughts and beliefs and feelings. I know this always sounds really simple, and in principle it is. However as always there is a difference between theory and practice.
Now ask your self, "Am I willing to change?"
"Am I willing to change?"
Give yourself some time, don't worry about the chatter voice that may give you all sorts of reasons why it's not possible. Just ask the question and allow that innate inner wisdom that is yours to bring forth the answer.
Tomorrow we'll look at the next step.
Today I allow my inner guidance to lead me to my next step in growth, expansion and learning. I know that I am always guided by universal intelligence and I trust that guidance is for my highest good.
In Love. J x
What creates peace in you? What gives you a sense of purpose?
I believe that we have all come here with certain things to do, that we have a purpose, beyond simply having a spectacular time. Oh and by the way, we are here to have a spectacular time. It is only the conditioning and beliefs of others that infect their way into our mind like the viruses that they are that suggest otherwise.
It may be that as you read this your life is not bringing you joy or peace or purpose. However in metaphysics and mental science what we know is that today is a product of everything that happened up until now. The magical thing here is that we can change that, by changing out thoughts and beliefs and feelings. I know this always sounds really simple, and in principle it is. However as always there is a difference between theory and practice.
The difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference between theory and practice but in practice there inevitable always is.So where to start with this change? Right now, yes, you, now, put your hands over you physical heart. Breathe. Feel the beat of hear heart and the rhythm of your body. Think a happy thought, think of someone you love or that loves you. Allow that good feeling to spread throughout your body.
Now ask your self, "Am I willing to change?"
"Am I willing to change?"
Give yourself some time, don't worry about the chatter voice that may give you all sorts of reasons why it's not possible. Just ask the question and allow that innate inner wisdom that is yours to bring forth the answer.
Tomorrow we'll look at the next step.
Today I allow my inner guidance to lead me to my next step in growth, expansion and learning. I know that I am always guided by universal intelligence and I trust that guidance is for my highest good.
In Love. J x
The Magical Money Mind
I am currently receiving lots of marketing information from some great teachers in the world all about how to understand money and how to create more of it and what you 'must' do if you have some. I am quite certain that all of these programs have really valuable information and will be a great help for those who take them.
What I know about money is what I know about everything in the universe. It is energy. The currency of coins and notes are energy resonating at a particular level to create the appearance of something solid. Sitting behind that is the energy of abundance, which is driven by our thoughts and beliefs around money.
I once heard that there is enough money in the world for every man, woman and child to have $1m. The view was that even if this was distributed in that way, within 6 weeks it would all be back where it started from. Why would that be, surely everyone could use $1m? I'm sure you have heard about lottery winners who were broke in a matter of months or years, it's the same thing. If you have underlying beliefs in not deserving, money being the root of all evil, people with money are this or that, then you will struggle to get, keep or enjoy money.
Abundance is not the same as having money. Abundance and wealth are attitudes of mind. I consider myself to be abundant and wealthy beyond measure. Not because I have several million in the bank, but because I have vibrant health, great joy, friends and family who love and support me and I have a sufficient flow of money to meet all my basic needs and give me a pleasant standard of living.
In the same moment I am working towards creating more of all those things, but I am not attached to the outcome. I have also spent that last 18 years cleaning out my mental cupboard and gradually letting go of old thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve me.
A great coach by the name of Michael Neill asks this question, "What would you love to have if you didn't have to be upset about not getting it?"
Read that again. "What would you love to have if you didn't have to be upset about not getting it?"
We are conditioned, particularly in the western world, that we must go out hard to get stuff, and that we then identify with our stuff. Therefore the concept of not getting more stuff creates stress. What if you could just want what you want, but not have to get your knickers in a twist about achieving it?
When I was younger, about when the movie 'Pretty Woman' came out, I wanted to marry Richard Gere. It didn't mean that I was going to turn into a stalker, get stressed about it not happening, or actually even do anything about it. That was just what I wanted at that time. I know that is an easy one to dismiss (sorry Richard!), but take it up a level, what are you striving for that you could release the stress about? How could you change your thoughts about money, abundance and wealth.
Today I move into allowing. I let go of struggle and stress. I know that there is a good for me and that I deserve to have it. I am at peace and my life is great.
What I know about money is what I know about everything in the universe. It is energy. The currency of coins and notes are energy resonating at a particular level to create the appearance of something solid. Sitting behind that is the energy of abundance, which is driven by our thoughts and beliefs around money.
I once heard that there is enough money in the world for every man, woman and child to have $1m. The view was that even if this was distributed in that way, within 6 weeks it would all be back where it started from. Why would that be, surely everyone could use $1m? I'm sure you have heard about lottery winners who were broke in a matter of months or years, it's the same thing. If you have underlying beliefs in not deserving, money being the root of all evil, people with money are this or that, then you will struggle to get, keep or enjoy money.
Abundance is not the same as having money. Abundance and wealth are attitudes of mind. I consider myself to be abundant and wealthy beyond measure. Not because I have several million in the bank, but because I have vibrant health, great joy, friends and family who love and support me and I have a sufficient flow of money to meet all my basic needs and give me a pleasant standard of living.
In the same moment I am working towards creating more of all those things, but I am not attached to the outcome. I have also spent that last 18 years cleaning out my mental cupboard and gradually letting go of old thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve me.
A great coach by the name of Michael Neill asks this question, "What would you love to have if you didn't have to be upset about not getting it?"
Read that again. "What would you love to have if you didn't have to be upset about not getting it?"
We are conditioned, particularly in the western world, that we must go out hard to get stuff, and that we then identify with our stuff. Therefore the concept of not getting more stuff creates stress. What if you could just want what you want, but not have to get your knickers in a twist about achieving it?
When I was younger, about when the movie 'Pretty Woman' came out, I wanted to marry Richard Gere. It didn't mean that I was going to turn into a stalker, get stressed about it not happening, or actually even do anything about it. That was just what I wanted at that time. I know that is an easy one to dismiss (sorry Richard!), but take it up a level, what are you striving for that you could release the stress about? How could you change your thoughts about money, abundance and wealth.
Today I move into allowing. I let go of struggle and stress. I know that there is a good for me and that I deserve to have it. I am at peace and my life is great.
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