It's a quiet morning, 4:30 a.m., and I'm staring at the lights on my mini Christmas tree, reflecting on the sacredness of this time of year.
Long before people were celebrating the birth of the Christ child, they were celebrating the ideals of Christ Consciousness by honoring the Light that always shines, even in the deepest darkness. And often it is in the deepest darkness of our lives that we are called to return to the Light -- the Presence of Infinite Love and Wisdom within us -- to renew and gather strength for our human journey.
When I turned on my computer a while ago the following message was waiting for me. It's the perfect expression of what I want to say to any of you reading this.
My beloved friend.
Your amazing heart is the shining star of this blessed night.
Allow the spacious Magic of the returning Light
to flow through your whole Being.
May you Shine with the Power of Love and
may you Shine with the sacredness of new beginnings.
Blessings to you dear One
on this magical Winter solstice .
With immense Love,
Your sister in Spirit,
Tamara
Winter Solstice 2010
Tamara is a beautiful crone, a woman who has lived in harmony with the seasons, a woman who has found the love of the ancient paths to peace and love.
There are many paths, many names for the Presence and Power in which we live, move and have our being. Actually, most of our Christian holidays were superimposed on pagan celebrations. This morning I honor the returning physical light as a powerful symbol for the Light of Love and Peace.
In the stillness of winter may you find a deeper connection with your own Sacred Self.
Blessed Be!
Kathryn
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Realization Therapy
When we first experience a desire for something -- whether it's a healing, a new home, a business, or whatever -- in that moment what we're seeking exists in Mind. It's a done deal.
So the challenge is not to keep affirming that something exists over and over. It's simply to be still and know that it does exist in mind. As we realize that it exists in Mind, we create an energy that allows it to appear in our manifest world.
So what's the difference between an affirmation and a realization statement?
The wording may be identical. The difference is in the feeling with which it is expressed.
An affirmation is said from a place of trying to make yourself believe that it's true. Many people recite affirmations over and over with little feeling or emphasis. If said enough it may eventually lead to a realization but usually the person reciting affirmations gives up after a while and says, "This doesn't work."
A realization statement is said from a sense of wonder and gratitude that it already exists. Realization statements tap into the feeling nature. They're said slowly, deliberately with emphasis on feeling the reality of the thing being realized.
God, the Creative Principle of Life, understands feelings much better than words. In the Biblical sense "The Word" isn't an English or Spanish word. It's not a noun or verb. It's a vibration, a wave of energy that resonates out and connects with what Ernest Holmes, author of The Science of Mind called Cosmic Stuff, the primal building blocks of matter, Divine Substance. As contact is made a new creation begins to take physical form.
Visualization is an important part of the creative process. Confucius is credited with saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A strong visual image held in an individual's mind automatically moves one into feelings.
The steps to the realization process are:
1. State your desire in a clear, concise way.
2. Be still and consciously and slowly focus on the desire fulfilled.
3. Picture it.
4, Feel it as complete.
5, Give thanks for the fulfillment of your desire.
6. Release it to the Universal Creative Power, relax and go about your daily activities.
Repeat at least once and preferably three times a day until it is accomplished.
So the challenge is not to keep affirming that something exists over and over. It's simply to be still and know that it does exist in mind. As we realize that it exists in Mind, we create an energy that allows it to appear in our manifest world.
So what's the difference between an affirmation and a realization statement?
The wording may be identical. The difference is in the feeling with which it is expressed.
An affirmation is said from a place of trying to make yourself believe that it's true. Many people recite affirmations over and over with little feeling or emphasis. If said enough it may eventually lead to a realization but usually the person reciting affirmations gives up after a while and says, "This doesn't work."
A realization statement is said from a sense of wonder and gratitude that it already exists. Realization statements tap into the feeling nature. They're said slowly, deliberately with emphasis on feeling the reality of the thing being realized.
God, the Creative Principle of Life, understands feelings much better than words. In the Biblical sense "The Word" isn't an English or Spanish word. It's not a noun or verb. It's a vibration, a wave of energy that resonates out and connects with what Ernest Holmes, author of The Science of Mind called Cosmic Stuff, the primal building blocks of matter, Divine Substance. As contact is made a new creation begins to take physical form.
Visualization is an important part of the creative process. Confucius is credited with saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A strong visual image held in an individual's mind automatically moves one into feelings.
The steps to the realization process are:
1. State your desire in a clear, concise way.
2. Be still and consciously and slowly focus on the desire fulfilled.
3. Picture it.
4, Feel it as complete.
5, Give thanks for the fulfillment of your desire.
6. Release it to the Universal Creative Power, relax and go about your daily activities.
Repeat at least once and preferably three times a day until it is accomplished.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Whose Business Is It?
Many years ago Terry Cole Whittaker wrote a book entitled "What You Think of Me is None of My Business." The main point being that we need to be true to ourselves and not be overly concerned with how others are viewing our choices.
Most of us spend way too much time worrying about what the proverbial "they says" say.
Who are the "they says" anyway?
For the most part they only exist in our heads, in our belief systems. Depending on how you were raised you might have an inner "they say" voice that repeatedly informs you it's a sin to eat meat on Friday or some other nonsensical man-made idea.
Learning to question and reject erroneous belief systems is the major key to creating the life experiences we desire.
Several years ago there was a popular bumper sticker that said, "Question Authority." The authority that most needs to be questioned is the inner voice that pontificates on what's appropriate for you and others. It's simply your belief system.
If your inner belief system is not in alignment with what you desire to create in your life, there's only one solution. You must change the belief system.
Changing a long-held, entrenched belief system usually doesn't happen overnight. It takes commitment and perseverance, but any belief can be changed.
When you hear an inner voice telling you that you can't be, do or have something, question it.
See if it actually makes any sense. A few might, but most of them are as ridiculous as thinking you'll burn in a man-made hell for eternity if you eat meat on Friday.
Identify the erroneous belief.
Say "NO!" to it.
Affirm what you do want. Affirm it over and over and over until the old belief gives up and the voice stops playing it.
You deserve all the good you desire, and the only person's business it is is yours. You must consciously take command and evict a "they say" voice that isn't in alignment with the good you seek to experience.
Most of us spend way too much time worrying about what the proverbial "they says" say.
Who are the "they says" anyway?
For the most part they only exist in our heads, in our belief systems. Depending on how you were raised you might have an inner "they say" voice that repeatedly informs you it's a sin to eat meat on Friday or some other nonsensical man-made idea.
Learning to question and reject erroneous belief systems is the major key to creating the life experiences we desire.
Several years ago there was a popular bumper sticker that said, "Question Authority." The authority that most needs to be questioned is the inner voice that pontificates on what's appropriate for you and others. It's simply your belief system.
If your inner belief system is not in alignment with what you desire to create in your life, there's only one solution. You must change the belief system.
Changing a long-held, entrenched belief system usually doesn't happen overnight. It takes commitment and perseverance, but any belief can be changed.
When you hear an inner voice telling you that you can't be, do or have something, question it.
See if it actually makes any sense. A few might, but most of them are as ridiculous as thinking you'll burn in a man-made hell for eternity if you eat meat on Friday.
Identify the erroneous belief.
Say "NO!" to it.
Affirm what you do want. Affirm it over and over and over until the old belief gives up and the voice stops playing it.
You deserve all the good you desire, and the only person's business it is is yours. You must consciously take command and evict a "they say" voice that isn't in alignment with the good you seek to experience.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Core Addiction
There are still occasions when I behave in an addictive fashion around my drug of choice - food.
I've come a long way, and I still need to be mindful and take charge of my addiction process.
I've joked that my final addiction is my addiction to negative thinking. In truth, it's really not a joke. It's real. And it's an addiction we all have to a lesser or greater degree.
It's not something we need to be hard on ourselves about because it comes with the territory of being human. We were trained as children to think both positively and negatively. And for most of us it's been a life-long process of learning to overcome negative, ingrained thought patterns.
One of the most effective ways I've found to deal with the negative thoughts once I become conscious of them is by using a mantra. Don Miguel Ruiz, Toltec Shaman and author of The Four Agreements and other books, says that he overcame what he calls his inner parasite (negative voice) by singing Beatles' songs. At the time he didn't speak English so he didn't know what the words meant, he just sang them over and over to drown out his negative thoughts.
A mantra doesn't need to be religious in nature. It's simply a phrase that helps us focus. And a mantra doesn't have to be done in a meditative or altered state of consciousness. One of my favorites is: All God, All Good, All Ways, Always.
It should be something you relate to personally. A string of positive words can be an excellent choice: Peace, Presence, Positive, Power.
The main point is to shift your focus from the negative to something more positive or, at least, neutral.
A mantra can be used to program our minds with something we truly want. In the case of my food addiction using "Vibrant Health, Ideal Weight" has been useful. It isn't a magic formula but when I allow myself to use it, it does at least temporarily prevent inappropriate behavior.
Step-by-step I'm making progress, and I trust you are also.
I've come a long way, and I still need to be mindful and take charge of my addiction process.
I've joked that my final addiction is my addiction to negative thinking. In truth, it's really not a joke. It's real. And it's an addiction we all have to a lesser or greater degree.
It's not something we need to be hard on ourselves about because it comes with the territory of being human. We were trained as children to think both positively and negatively. And for most of us it's been a life-long process of learning to overcome negative, ingrained thought patterns.
One of the most effective ways I've found to deal with the negative thoughts once I become conscious of them is by using a mantra. Don Miguel Ruiz, Toltec Shaman and author of The Four Agreements and other books, says that he overcame what he calls his inner parasite (negative voice) by singing Beatles' songs. At the time he didn't speak English so he didn't know what the words meant, he just sang them over and over to drown out his negative thoughts.
A mantra doesn't need to be religious in nature. It's simply a phrase that helps us focus. And a mantra doesn't have to be done in a meditative or altered state of consciousness. One of my favorites is: All God, All Good, All Ways, Always.
It should be something you relate to personally. A string of positive words can be an excellent choice: Peace, Presence, Positive, Power.
The main point is to shift your focus from the negative to something more positive or, at least, neutral.
A mantra can be used to program our minds with something we truly want. In the case of my food addiction using "Vibrant Health, Ideal Weight" has been useful. It isn't a magic formula but when I allow myself to use it, it does at least temporarily prevent inappropriate behavior.
Step-by-step I'm making progress, and I trust you are also.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Emotional Fire
"Passion" is emotional fire. "Passion" goes beyond "desire" or "enthusiasm." We often think of "passion" in terms of romantic love. We speak of people being passionately in love.
Love is an attractive force pulling to us the object of our desire. When we fuel that love with passion things often happen very quickly and often quite easily.
If there's something in your life that you feel the Law of Attraction is not delivering, you might ask yourself: "How passionate am I about being, doing, having this?"
When I look back on the demonstrations I've experienced by consciously asking and believing, I'm aware that the level of passion I felt about being, doing, or having the thing had a direct bearing on whether I got it or how quickly and easily it happened.
Passion is a key ingredient in commitment. When we're committed to something it's like saying, "There is no other option. This is the way it will be." We don't commit to something unless we feel passionate about it.
Can you fall in love with the idea of having your desire fulfilled? Can you add emotional fire to your desire and become passionate and then channel that passion into commitment?
What would it feel like if you were passionately in love with what you want?
Passion ignites a new level of energy within our attraction mechanism.
What I like about the idea of blogging is that I'm talking to myself and sharing my thoughts with others. I know I need more passion in my life in many areas.
Yesterday when I wrote about my moonlight drive through the mountains, I was writing about a passion of mine.
I need the same type of passion about getting a website created.
How to create more passion? The emotional fire is always available within, it's just letting go of old beliefs that block the flow into new creative endeavors.
I can consciously choose to be passionate about website design. It's simply a choice. Will I make it? I'm still struggling with that. Maybe tomorrow.
Love is an attractive force pulling to us the object of our desire. When we fuel that love with passion things often happen very quickly and often quite easily.
If there's something in your life that you feel the Law of Attraction is not delivering, you might ask yourself: "How passionate am I about being, doing, having this?"
When I look back on the demonstrations I've experienced by consciously asking and believing, I'm aware that the level of passion I felt about being, doing, or having the thing had a direct bearing on whether I got it or how quickly and easily it happened.
Passion is a key ingredient in commitment. When we're committed to something it's like saying, "There is no other option. This is the way it will be." We don't commit to something unless we feel passionate about it.
Can you fall in love with the idea of having your desire fulfilled? Can you add emotional fire to your desire and become passionate and then channel that passion into commitment?
What would it feel like if you were passionately in love with what you want?
Passion ignites a new level of energy within our attraction mechanism.
What I like about the idea of blogging is that I'm talking to myself and sharing my thoughts with others. I know I need more passion in my life in many areas.
Yesterday when I wrote about my moonlight drive through the mountains, I was writing about a passion of mine.
I need the same type of passion about getting a website created.
How to create more passion? The emotional fire is always available within, it's just letting go of old beliefs that block the flow into new creative endeavors.
I can consciously choose to be passionate about website design. It's simply a choice. Will I make it? I'm still struggling with that. Maybe tomorrow.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Harvest Moon Ritual
Last night the full moon rose and shortly thereafter the fall equinox occurred. The full moon hasn't shone at the time of equinox since 1991. The full moon that rose last night was also the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is defined as the full moon closest to the fall equinox. It would be hard for it to get much closer. It was within two hours.
A few years ago I created a Harvest Moon Ritual. There's a lake in Western Nevada called Pyramid Lake. It's the most lunar-looking place I've ever seen. I discovered it accidentally -- or was I "led" to it -- when I was on one of my three-day silent driving retreats. I was awestruck with the barrenness and the incredible beauty of it. It's located on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation, and the Native American energy may add to the mystery and magic I feel when I'm there.
My ritual is to drive up there and sit in the silence while the moon shines on the lake and give thanks for the harvest of blessings I've received this year. It's about a three-hour drive from where I live in Northern California. While driving I listened to Carlos Nakai's "Canyon Suite."
Driving through the Sierra Nevada mountains in the moonlight is magical and mystical in itself.
I found myself wishing everyone in the world could experience the connection I feel with our beautiful planet and her awesome and diverse beauty. Mountains, rivers, pine trees, lakes, oceans, deserts -- each has it's own unique brand of beauty. While I honor, practice and have practiced various spiritual traditions, in my human heart I am a nature worshipper. It's where I most feel my union with Source, God, whatever you choose to call the Infinite IS.
I had a bountiful harvest of gifts to be thankful for this year including the glorious freedom to get in a car at 8 p.m. and drive most of the night. A wonderful way to enjoy three of my favorite things: nature, driving and beautiful music.
May your harvest be bountiful and may more good things come to you every day.
A few years ago I created a Harvest Moon Ritual. There's a lake in Western Nevada called Pyramid Lake. It's the most lunar-looking place I've ever seen. I discovered it accidentally -- or was I "led" to it -- when I was on one of my three-day silent driving retreats. I was awestruck with the barrenness and the incredible beauty of it. It's located on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation, and the Native American energy may add to the mystery and magic I feel when I'm there.
My ritual is to drive up there and sit in the silence while the moon shines on the lake and give thanks for the harvest of blessings I've received this year. It's about a three-hour drive from where I live in Northern California. While driving I listened to Carlos Nakai's "Canyon Suite."
Driving through the Sierra Nevada mountains in the moonlight is magical and mystical in itself.
I found myself wishing everyone in the world could experience the connection I feel with our beautiful planet and her awesome and diverse beauty. Mountains, rivers, pine trees, lakes, oceans, deserts -- each has it's own unique brand of beauty. While I honor, practice and have practiced various spiritual traditions, in my human heart I am a nature worshipper. It's where I most feel my union with Source, God, whatever you choose to call the Infinite IS.
I had a bountiful harvest of gifts to be thankful for this year including the glorious freedom to get in a car at 8 p.m. and drive most of the night. A wonderful way to enjoy three of my favorite things: nature, driving and beautiful music.
May your harvest be bountiful and may more good things come to you every day.
Monday, September 20, 2010
As Within So Without
It's an ancient adage that what is going on within our consciousness, our inner belief system, is reflected as experiences in our outer world.
Sometimes it's hard to accept that what's going on without in our experience is a reflection of what's going on within our consciousness. This feels especially true when we're dealing with people who aren't treating us the way we feel they should.
Yet once we accept this as true -- not just sometimes but all the time -- we become empowered to make massive changes in our outer experience because while we can't manipulate what's going on without, we can take charge of what's going on within. And when we do that the outer automatically changes.
We bring about this change in consciousness through the tools of affirmation and visualization.
However, these affirmations and visualizations can't be casual or simply perfunctory. They must be done with a deep intention to fully realize the truth of what you're affirming or visualizing. The affirmations and visualizations must be done until you experience an inner click, an inner knowing that this is no longer an affirmation but an absolute truth about you and your experience.
Many years ago I had an experience that I call to mind when I want to remind myself that this process of inner transformation works and changes the outer automatically.
There was a person in my life who constantly put me down. Every time I was in his presence within a few minutes he'd start recounting the sins of my life and making derogatory statements about me, my beliefs and my lifestyle.
I made a firm decision that this was not going to continue to happen and that if it did I would not be spending any time with him. So I did the inner work. I visualized him starting to put me down and saw that he stopped and switched to a different subject. I didn't attempt to get him to say positive things about me -- now I wonder why I didn't -- but just that put-downs were no longer allowed. I did this inner work for several days until I felt an inner realization that the programming was done. Then I went to visit to test whether it had worked.
I'd been there about ten minutes when he started to say something that was headed in a derogatory direction. Without saying a work I simply raised my hand sending a silent message of "stop." And just as I'd seen it in my visualization, his voice trailed off and started up again on an entirely different subject. An interesting aside is that he didn't seem to realize what had happened. One second he was talking about one thing and then he simply switched.
One of my most powerful Truth teachers said that no one can hit you over the head unless at some level you've given them permission. I'm not sure "permission" is the most appropriate word, but I do truly realize that no one can put me down or keep my good from me if my consciousness is firmly aligned with the good I desire.
Sometimes it's hard to accept that what's going on without in our experience is a reflection of what's going on within our consciousness. This feels especially true when we're dealing with people who aren't treating us the way we feel they should.
Yet once we accept this as true -- not just sometimes but all the time -- we become empowered to make massive changes in our outer experience because while we can't manipulate what's going on without, we can take charge of what's going on within. And when we do that the outer automatically changes.
We bring about this change in consciousness through the tools of affirmation and visualization.
However, these affirmations and visualizations can't be casual or simply perfunctory. They must be done with a deep intention to fully realize the truth of what you're affirming or visualizing. The affirmations and visualizations must be done until you experience an inner click, an inner knowing that this is no longer an affirmation but an absolute truth about you and your experience.
Many years ago I had an experience that I call to mind when I want to remind myself that this process of inner transformation works and changes the outer automatically.
There was a person in my life who constantly put me down. Every time I was in his presence within a few minutes he'd start recounting the sins of my life and making derogatory statements about me, my beliefs and my lifestyle.
I made a firm decision that this was not going to continue to happen and that if it did I would not be spending any time with him. So I did the inner work. I visualized him starting to put me down and saw that he stopped and switched to a different subject. I didn't attempt to get him to say positive things about me -- now I wonder why I didn't -- but just that put-downs were no longer allowed. I did this inner work for several days until I felt an inner realization that the programming was done. Then I went to visit to test whether it had worked.
I'd been there about ten minutes when he started to say something that was headed in a derogatory direction. Without saying a work I simply raised my hand sending a silent message of "stop." And just as I'd seen it in my visualization, his voice trailed off and started up again on an entirely different subject. An interesting aside is that he didn't seem to realize what had happened. One second he was talking about one thing and then he simply switched.
One of my most powerful Truth teachers said that no one can hit you over the head unless at some level you've given them permission. I'm not sure "permission" is the most appropriate word, but I do truly realize that no one can put me down or keep my good from me if my consciousness is firmly aligned with the good I desire.
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