Lori Morrison's Blog, page 11

How my literary agent showed up on my front porch.

As I was furiously writing my memoir at times it would cross my mind as to what I would do with it when I finished it. What were the next steps in birthing a book? My first editor told me not to worry about those details, just get it all on paper. I was obedient and wrote and wrote and wrote until I had reached 100,000 words and then I stopped. I had gone as far as I could.

So, it was “done”. I now had a full-blown project and it was time to go to the place where I find all the answers and next steps. I know it may sound like a mystical place, but what it really is, is a white day bed full of pillows with paisley, fake fur and brown and gold sparkles. Here is my throne where I sit in front of a large picture window in my bedroom. Looking out the window you will see Cathedral Rock. This is my temple, my altar my place where I launch everything. My dreams, my plans, my hopes all begin here.

I held the only printed version of my manuscript in my hands. I closed my eyes and went to this very efficient place called the universe. Here, everything is possible. I asked the universe to bring me the right person to help me get my story out in the world, then I waited. The universe showed me a teddy bear. My rational mind popped in and said “what the hell, you do not need a teddy bear, you need an agent. I swatted the thought away and cleared the spectrum of space to allow for whatever is was that I was about to receive.  See, I have learned to trust the universe, when the universe gets my message I know it is working on it if I do not doubt. The request was in the energetic pipeline of my life and synchronicity, I had rubbed the lamp and it was now time for the Genie to appear.

Okay, I will admit that I had no version of how a New York Literary Agent and Book Designer would show up in Sedona and walk right into my life, but I “trusted the universe” to make it happen. Weeks passed and with my universal confidence still high I opened my front door and Joost walked in to my life. He had an aristocratic feel about him but I could sense a child inside desperate to burst out. He was well traveled and curious. I liked that. As I looked down at his shoes that were obviously handmade I knew he had not come to Sedona to go hiking. In fact, he was the first person I met that felt odd to be here. He was Dutch and it was as if he had stepped out of a time machine and was simply walking the world for an unintended adventure.

I watched his bushy eyebrows as he told me about his books and his life and how he spends his time creating things. I realized that he was and is a master of imagination. He had certainly peaked my imagination as he listened to me describe my memoir. Although his purpose of coming to Sedona was to meet some people about business, he left knowing that the reason for the visit was to meet me and to take my book through the next steps.

He read the book, it wasn’t ready for prime time. It needed the eyes of a seasoned editor he said. I winced, while I was realizing that I had not finished the book. After nine months of rewriting the final version it emerged. Joost in the meantime was working on capturing the essence of the story on the cover of the book. This was done brilliantly as I let go and allowed it to happen.

So, by letting go of the outcome a brilliant editor appeared, then a  well-connected publicist, a social marketing genius and a stylist. All of them arrived at just the perfect time because I was willing to trust beyond the ordinary way of doing things. If you are reading this article, welcome to my world, I guess I created you too.

Almost six months after meeting Joost, I remembered the teddy bear that the universe showed me.  I quickly googled joost teddy bear and there it was, the book Teddy’s World that Joost had co-authored. I then read his quote about the book, “A powerful icon, the teddy bear is a magical object indeed”.

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Meditating away the pounds

I have found meditation to be my most powerful tool for living a life of fullness and joy. Since I have used meditation for transforming my mind, I thought why not use it to transform the body too? As I continue on my 100 pound weight loss adventure, my secret weapon is meditation. A few years ago I conducted a personal experiment to see if I could lose weight just meditating. The plan was to link my mind and body and start a conversation with my fat cells. Everything has a consciousness right?  I began to chat with the issues in my tissues to see if by addressing the emotions that were being held captive in my fat, I would be able to negotiate their release. By doing this, I would then give my fat the opportunity to leave my body since there was nothing to hold on to. It worked, in two weeks I had lost 5 pounds just meditating.

This new weight loss hack uses the power of my mind and body connection to remove stored emotions. My fat now had the freedom to leave my body the more I convinced it that no more negative emotions would be arriving. By letting go of my fears, thoughts and the emotions that did not serve me, the fat that was holding on to them was dissipating. After I was in the flow, I added gratitude for my fat cells for holding and protecting me from toxic thoughts and emotions but asked for cooperation now in their removal. To maintain the effort, I kept my emotions in a state of safety without generating fears that would raise my level of cortisol and thus affect the sensitivity of my response to insulin, throwing off my metabolism.

Day after day I convinced my fat that everything was fine, I had plenty to eat, I had water and I had shelter.  I was slowly and deliberately convincing my fat cells that there was no need for survival mode and to let go. This had the added bonus of lowering my stress levels which were previously diminished with a donut for comfort. Through this process I developed an awareness that any worries would create cravings for food or alcohol that became unyielding tools for survival.

I searched for some scientific evidence that would validate my success.  I found Eric Loucks, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown University. In a recent study he discovered that people who live in the moment tend to have less body fat. Loucks believes that because humans had to hunt and gather their food, our brains are designed to eat as much as we can and that thinking comes from a concern that we don’t know where our next meal is coming from. His study suggests that the human brain has not had enough evolution to change the response. People with low levels of mindfulness were 34 percent more likely to be obese. I had tapped into a huge resource, I could think myself thin. I was training my mind to notice but not automatically react like old habits, for example not reaching for a glass of wine or a Butterfinger as a response to anger or frustration. By recognizing what I was feeling I could intervene before acting on a thought and end up with a better decision. Every day that I could get my mind to tune in with my body, the outcome when sensations of hunger and cravings arrived, had me making a healthier choice.

At the end of my meditations, I pictured myself in the future at the perfect body weight and healthy form that I desired.  Through these visualization techniques I found myself standing in my driveway in my future, pulling into the garage with bags of organic food. I was patient as I waited to see my new self emerge from the car. I saw the door open and there was my upper arm, completely reduced in size. I then saw my thigh emerge and the same thing, thin and appropriate for my frame. I realized then that my mind and my body were on board, they were working to create the future me, the whole me was conspiring to get me to my future self. I was now into the sensory part of my manifestation as I was seeing it and feeling it. All was aligning with purpose and cause.

I have found great potential in this and I am now taking my lessons beyond my meditation time and on to the dining table. This awareness and focusing on the moment of consumption has me actually paying attention to what I am going to eat instead of thoughtlessly cramming down a bag of salty chips. I also find myself more separated from food than having it as a part of me. My list of must eats is diminishing by the day as I no longer have an intimate relationship and connection to certain foods as I did before. The power of connecting the mind and body can move mountains of emotion and get you to a place of clearing and paving the way to health and happiness.

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What does the Tree of Life symbol teach us about life?

The tree of life is one of the most well-known symbols of our journey on the planet. It is expressed in almost every culture. Most recently in the archelogicical discovery of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, lo and behold they have found the Tree of Life again, a constant message to humanity for twelve thousand years!

Tree of Life found at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey.

Although it would be overwhelming to explain all meanings of the Tree of Life in every culture there are common themes that we can take from its significance.

The Roots:

This is the place where we are born and begin our first connection with  Earth. No wonder that before we can walk we must crawl, building our attachment to the foundation of the planet and realizing the stability that this connection will provide. Here we are nourished by our family and those who love us. We receive the nutrients of our tribe. We develop a trust and our sense of place and safety. We bond, we attach and we have a sense of life and living. Like the roots we receive warmth and comfort from our parents and family. Whether we succeed as infants and children depends on the support system we have available to us here. Have we built a firm foundation for our life, do we feel safe and are we ready to move forward with being alive? This is probably the most important place on our human journey. If we have built a life on a flimsy root system, life can be a struggle. Our family determines how we form the territory around us. If we have not been nurtured we may never be sure of ourselves emotionally. Our fear of falling can disconnect us from the sense of security in the world, unable to weather the storms. Many of us need a new structure, a new root system to enable us to unfold into an infinite trust that does not threaten and create a lifetime of anxiety.

The Trunk:

This is the place of our formation. With every year, we are expanding our knowledge of the outside world. As we move into the growth patterns of the trunk we start to feel the flow of our feelings through the body. We gather the sensations and emotions that form us. We realize the energies of our sexuality as it penetrates our nervous system. As we continue up the tree trunk we realize who we are, we become an individual and start to express our will and develop a sense of self. We take this energy and create our power. If we are unfortunate to have experienced trauma, and abuses we can end up in fear, rigidity with poor social skills, excess and a lack of balance. We will suffer being ruled by our emotions, poor boundries, obessions and moods. We will fear change making it difficult to move about the branches and realize our full potential.

The Branches:

By now we have left our nourishing roots and arrived at a place hopefully with balance and love. We are ready to reach out and fully develop our personality. If we have traveled the trunk with sufficient nutrients from our family and friends we will be whole, accepting ourselves and others. We are now in a place of  harmony with the rest of the trees in the forest, in a natural place sharing the nutrients of the earth and wind with those who have grown along side of us. This is the person that will walk in the world and navigate the branches that are spread our prepared for our learning. As we step out we will have now our social identity and have the formation to begin to express ourselves and create our hopes and dreams. Each intersection of the branches is a choice on our karmic map. Teachers arrive and we are ready to learn the lessons along the way. As the branches grow wider and thicker the wisdom evolves and give us a clearer and more stable picture of our journey. We interact with our presence and begin to know the way as our intuition sparkles through our navigation. If we are reluctant we have not learned to feel safe, our emotional security has been compromised through neglect. We will lack the energy because we have a limited self-esteem and authority over the natural expression of self. We will struggle with being who we are. We may need to go back to the trunk, find ourselves and our unique destiny and overcome internalized aspects we have wrongly inherited from the smaller space and embrace the larger world of personal responsibility.

Leaves: Each leaf is a lesson in life. With the right resonance and inner guidance we jump from branch to branch and leaf to leaf with our intuition guiding us along along the way. Each leaf is an adventure beyond the boundaries of our trunk. As we grow into our self-expression and creativity we see a world waiting to experience. The leaves are not mistakes but lessons. We emerge into the sunshine with the essence of who we are. We realize the beauty and expression of our deepest being. We transcend our connection to the outside world yet remain strong in our foundation of the natural world. If we are navigating the world through suffering, we have grown up in a weak structure and it will be a tumultuous journey to where the universe and the individual meet, because it is here there is balance. If we have not accepted our uniqueness and sense of self we can be overwhelmed with the choices and never get to the heart. The embracing of ourselves for who we are is part of the mystery of our transformation and is the secret to the tree of life which will lead us into being re-born again in and ever renewing cycle.

So how can we unlock this secret, get better results and arrive at a deeper place and meaning on our journey.

The solution to much of our confusion and suffering is that we need to go back and restructure our root system to transgress the boundaries into a boundless potential of who we are and raise our potential. Going into the roots and the trunk and unifying our personal dynamics can change the outcome of our life’s path. Digging deep into what we think is impossible we are able to extract hope and invest in possibility. Here we can produce a new field and re-program ourselves. This may require a re-birth, back to the roots and starting over.

The way we are brought up in the world we pay a lot of attention to what is around us. But going inside we can remove egoic consciousness that separates us from vibrant growth. Accessing this awareness you can influence through your inner self a graceful way in which to interact with the world. You will have more and more of an influence as you come from a deeper place to find the answers you seek. There is great value in discovering what “programming” is limiting you.

With full awareness we can now build our nest knowing that with a healthy root system we can rely on all of the protective layers and boundaries. We can live in a place of grace, secure from the winds and the disease of the toxic thoughts and influence of others. From this place we can reestablish ourselves in the coherency of the natural world and fly into the infinity of the tree of life and it’s natural symbol of life and death. Through the significance of our human experience we can live now with multiple hopes and possibilities in a life of learning. Leaf by leaf we stop, we learn, we listen, we accept and we trust as we reach the state of fulfillment on our journey.

The post What does the Tree of Life symbol teach us about life? appeared first on Lori Morrison.

Spirituality Attracts a New Generation of Latinos

In Latin America, the tightly-held grip of the Catholic Church’s belief systems are crumbling; as the Latin youth clamor for substance and real-life potentials. There are yoga studios, qi gong classes, and weekend meditation retreats sprouting up all over, as  “gurus” are finding a captive market of new thinkers ready to invest in new ideas. According to a Pew Research Survey, the population of Latinos who identify as Catholic has declined from 90 percent to now 60 percent. Even though a Latin Cardinal was named Pope, it appears that there has not been any significant swing of Loyalists. In the United States, twenty-four percent of Hispanic adults, raised Catholic, have left the faith. Nearly one-in-four Hispanic adults are now former Catholics. The reason most Catholics left the church was because they were seeking a more personal connection with God. Although many have flocked to the Protestant Church, many others have no religious affiliation. In the same study, those between the ages of 19-29 have had the highest percentage vacating the church with no affiliation.  

According to the Survey, the top two reasons Latinos left the church were that they simply drifted away from the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic religion and they now reject the veneration of saints and no longer trust priests. Other reasons: they no longer accept the doctrine of the church, they now hold a different view of the Bible, they found God’s love on their own and decided for themselves what to believe in. They also cited hypocrisy, corruption, deception and contradictions with religion in general. There is much disagreement with the church’s teachings on divorce and contraception. Most favor allowing priests to marry and allowing women to become priests. More than half of Latinos support changing the church’s positions.

There is also a re-emergence of the indigenous practices of their original Latin ancestors as they seek help from healers and make offerings to spiritual beings. The majority of Latinos say they believe that people can be possessed by spirits, while 3 in 10 say they make offerings to spiritual beings. Forty-four percent believe it is possible to communicate with the spirit world, and forty percent of Hispanics believe in curses or spells. Three out of ten Latinos also believe in astrology and reincarnation and  1 in 7 have visited a shaman with special powers. The interest that North American’s have in the Mayan and Incan cultures has spurred an emergence of seekers and piqued curiosity about their ancestral beliefs. Costa Rica is catering to a large expansion of growth for young millennials who want a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their children creating jobs they can perform anywhere and living in exotic locations much sooner than their retiring parents could have. In addition, the Indian culture, with its share of Eastern practices such as yoga and meditation, is gaining interest as well and has positively impacted  the resort communities that cater to balance and mindfulness.  

Even more telling is that Deepak Chopra, a well-known author and spiritual leader, recently presented a meditation class in Spanish and admitted selling more books in Spanish than English.  

So why the exodus? I recently stumbled on an interesting book written by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit who questioned the difference between spirituality and religion. After reading his views, which were unorthodox in the 1940’s, there was no doubt in my mind as to why Rome forbade him to write or teach on philosophical themes. Over the next few decades, however, there was a more approving view of his writings. Cardinal Casaroli, on behalf of Pope John Paul II, wrote on the front page of the Vatican newspaper about Chardin: “Be not afraid, open, open wide to Christ the doors of the immense domains of culture, civilization and progress”. These powerful and relevant words indicate that for now it may be time for religions to give up the manipulation of ideas and instead embrace a world of views.  

Here is a snapshot of Chardin’s view of the differences between religion and spirituality.  

Religion                                                                    Spirituality

There is no one religion, there are hundreds.    ▪                   Spirituality is one.

Religion is for those who are asleep.                        Spirituality is for those who are awake.

Religion is for those who need someone to tell.       Spirituality is for those who pay attention to their*  

them what to say and do and to be guided.                inner voice.   

Religion has a set of dogmatic rules.                        Spirituality invites us to reason about everything,

                                                                                 to question everything.

Religion threatens and frightens.                              Spirituality encourages inner peace.

 

Religion speaks of sin and guilt.                               Spirituality says, “learn from error”.

Religion represses everything and in some              Spirituality transcends everything, bringing you

cases is false.                                                            closer to your truth!

Religion speaks of a god; It is not God.                    Spirituality is everything and, therefore, it is in

       God.

Religion invents.                                                       Spirituality finds.

 

Religion does not tolerate any questions.                 Spirituality questions everything.

Religion is human, it is an organization with             Spirituality is Divine, without human rules.

rules of men.  

 

Religion is the cause of divisions.                             Spirituality unites.

Religion seeks you to believe.                                 Spirituality you seek to believe.

Religion follows the precepts of a sacred book.      Spirituality seeks the sacred in all books.

 

Religion feeds on fear.                                             Spirituality is nourished by trust and faith.

Religion lives in thought.                                          Spirituality lives in Consciousness.

Religion deals with doing.                                        Spirituality has to do with Being.

Religion feeds the ego.                                            Spirituality drives to transcend the ego.

 

Religion makes us renounce the world to follow      Spirituality makes us live in God, without

a god.                                                                       renouncing ourselves.

Religion is a cult.                                                      Spirituality is meditation.

 

Religion fills us with dreams of glory in paradise.    Spirituality makes us experience glory and  

                                                                                              paradise in the here and now.

Religion lives in the past and in the future.              Spirituality lives in the present.

                   

Religion creates cloisters in our memory.                Spirituality frees our Consciousness.

Religion makes us believe in eternal life.                Spirituality makes us aware of Eternal Life.

Religion promises life after death.                           Spirituality is to find God within us during life and      

         death.

 

We are not human beings who go through a spiritual experience.

 

We are spiritual beings that go through a human experience.

I feel encouraged that spirituality is appealing more and more to people who are ready to take a different leap of faith, the leap into the inner self. This is the place of peace and presence and can contribute to bridging the gap that religion has created in loving ourselves and others.

▪

 

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Spiritual Weight Loss – Back from Candy Land

I am on a mission to lose 100 pounds and have lost 30 lbs so far. All was going great, I was feeling the best that I have felt in years. My discipline was at an all time high skipping to the scale every Friday watching the pounds disappear.

I headed out on my summer vacation with a well-designed plan for staying on track, three weeks went by without a hitch until I arrived at the food and wine capital of the United States, Napa Valley. With all of my determination I walked into a great restaurant and after wrangling with the waiter about the specifics of my food requirements, my order was placed. My long time friend Pam had joined me, and all she had to say was, “Lori, you are in Napa Valley, you should have a glass of wine”. From the back of my neck crept up the voice that I had ignored for three months. I call the voice the couch potato. The couch potato loves carbs, alcohol, sugar and blowing off exercise.  He had been patiently lurking, ready for this moment to go in for the kill. “Lori, come on, you deserve it, celebrate, enjoy yourself for once, why suffer, you are on vacation, what is the big deal, one glass,” he was in full swing. The waiter passed by and my hand shockingly went up and with the swoop of a pen, I had ordered a glass of Napa Valley Pinot Noir.

I savored every sip and enjoyed it so much that the couch potato had convinced me to order another one. The waiter then told us about their ice cream sundae and how it was the best in the Napa Valley. The couch potato piped in “you have come all the way to Napa Valley and you are not going to get the best sundae in the world?” It had now turned it into the world’s best sundae. I compromised and said I would have a bite of Pam’s. Of course, the waiter brought two spoons. The next morning I awoke with the beginnings of a sugar coma. The sugar was taking me over inch by inch. I could not walk by the hotel’s pastry tray without the couch potato’s voice in my head screaming at me to pick up a croissant. My tongue was on the verge of an orgasm at the moment my eyes landed on anything sweet. I walked into a chocolate shop and again the couch potato told me I needed to indulge because the sign on the door said that Oprah liked their chocolates, how could I miss out on that in my lifetime? On and on it went, I was in a vortex of sugar plums dancing in my head and I could feel the yeast beasts in my stomach begging for more. I had been seized and kidnapped and there was no way to escape, the couch potato was in charge.

On to a friend’s birthday, I then finished off a third of her left over chocolate birthday cake. I had hit the tilt button and was in a full coma. For survival, I stopped at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard, an appropriate name for how I was feeling. By now the couch potato did not even have to chime in. I arrived home desperately seeking sweets which I do not have in my house. Before I could jump in the car and head to the candy counter, reason arrived with a pile of guilt and shame for what I had just done to myself. I had abandoned me. I had been led to a place where I was not safe, where I was out of control and where I would never find happiness. I had taken the plunge into not loving myself and giving in to mediocrity.

I shook off the pain of what I had done and kicked the couch potato, who was now scratching his belly, off of my couch and threw my last jar of peanut butter in the garbage can as he left. I was ready to fall in love with myself again. I chose freedom. With freedom, I can choose what is good for me and fill myself up with vibrant plants and healthy choices. I want to get high on life, not on sugar.

So here is what I did to get back from my sugar binge:

1.) Loaded up with protein at all meals and ate absolutely no carbs. If I had an uncontrollable craving I grabbed a slice of turkey, some beans or an egg.

2.) I drank a gallon of water to clear out my system of all the toxic sugar.

3.) I ate raw vegetables to keep me chewing my food and absorbing the nutrients and flavors.

4.) I worked out so that I could move the toxins out of my body faster and I would feel better overall.

5.) I had an apple for lunch which helped to satisfy the cravings that normally come after a sugar binge.

I am back on track now, it has taken two weeks to eliminate the sugar and the lingering voice in my head, however, I have learned about my vulnerabilities and turned my weaknesses into strengths. I stepped on the scale yesterday and I lost a few more pounds. I am back from Candy Land and safely sipping my organic, hand picked lemon grass, ginger infused iced green tea. I matter to me.

The post Spiritual Weight Loss – Back from Candy Land appeared first on Lori Morrison.

Back from Candy Land

I am on a mission to lose 100 pounds and have lost 30 lbs so far. All was going great, I was feeling the best that I have felt in years. My discipline was at an all time high and I was at the top of the mountain, skipping to the scale every Friday watching the pounds disappear.

I headed out on my summer vacation with a well-designed plan for staying on track, and three weeks went by without a hitch, until I arrived at the food and wine capital of the United States, Napa Valley. With all of my determination I walked into a great restaurant and after wrangling with the waiter about the specifics of my food requirements, my order was placed. My long time friend Pam had joined me, and all she had to say was, “Lori, you are in Napa Valley, you should have a glass of wine”. From the back of my neck crept up the voice that I had ignored for three months. I call that voice the couch potato. The couch potato loves carbs, alcohol, sugar and blowing off exercise.  He had been patiently lurking, ready for this moment to go in for the kill. “Lori, come on, you deserve it, celebrate, enjoy yourself for once, why suffer, you are on vacation, what is the big deal, one glass,” he was in full swing. The waiter passed by and my hand shockingly went up and with the swoop of a pen I had ordered a glass of Napa Valley Pinot Noir.

I savored every sip and enjoyed it so much that the couch potato had convinced me to order another one. The waiter then told us about their ice cream sundae and how it was the best in the Napa Valley. The couch potato piped in “you have come all the way to Napa Valley and you are not going to get the best sundae in the world?” It had now turned it into the world’s best sundae. I compromised and said I would have a bite of Pams. Of course the waiter brought two spoons. The next morning I awoke with the beginnings of a sugar coma. The sugar was taking me over inch by inch. I could not walk by the hotel’s pastry tray without a voice in my head screaming at me to pick up a croissant. My tongue was on the verge of an orgasm at the moment my eyes landed on anything sweet. I walked into a chocolate shop and of course the couch potato told me I needed to indulge because the sign on the door said that Oprah liked their chocolates, how could I miss out on that in my lifetime? On and on it went, I was in a vortex of sugar plums dancing in my head and I could feel the yeast beasts in my stomach begging for more. I had been seized and kidnapped and there was no way to escape, the couch potato was in charge.

After finishing off a third of my friend’s chocolate birthday cake I had hit the tilt button and was in a full coma. For survival, I stopped at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard, an appropriate name for how I was feeling. By now the couch potato did not even have to chime in. I arrived home desperately seeking sweets which I do not have in my house. Before I could jump in the car and head to the candy counter, reason arrived with a pile of guilt and shame for what I had just done to myself. I had abandoned me. I had been led to a place where I was not safe, where I was out of control and where I would never find happiness. I had taken the plunge into not loving myself and giving in to mediocrity.

I shook off the pain of what I had done and kicked the couch potato, who was now scratching his belly, off of my couch and threw my last jar of peanut butter in the garbage can as he left. I was ready to fall in love with myself again. I chose freedom. With freedom I can choose what is good for me and fill myself up with vibrant plants and healthy choices. I want to get high on life, not on sugar.

I am back on track now, it has taken two weeks to eliminate the sugar and the lingering voice in my head however I have learned about my vulnerabilities and turned my weaknesses into strengths. I stepped on the scale yesterday and I lost a few more pounds. I am back from playing Candy Land and safely sipping my organic, hand picked, lemon grass, ginger infused iced green tea. I matter to me.

The post Back from Candy Land appeared first on Lori Morrison.

The Magical Mystical Book Launch Road Trip

I can get real comfortable sitting in front of my computer day after day, trying to manage the literary empire that I am in the process of creating. Social media, email lists, Amazon rankings, Facebook posts, tweets, every day I show up to play in a virtual market evolving on my screen. With the launch of my memoir, I decided it was time to get out from behind my desk and go out in the world. I planned a summer road trip.

I packed up the car with five cases of my newly printed memoir Lori: The Disintegration of my Ordinary Reality, a snazzy summer wardrobe, a cooler to hold the ingredients to maintain my healthy diet, a good supply of books downloaded from Audible to listen to and Gracie my three-year-old King Charles Cavalier. We were now ready to launch my book into the world.

Gracie had a well-designed dog perch so that she could see out of the window and take in the scenery. When we stopped along the way, people approached me to meet Gracie. I struck up many conversations with perfect strangers thanks to Gracie and her hot pink visor which got a lot of attention. On a desolate lookout in Idaho, we met two guys who had driven all the way from Mississippi who were on their way to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time and another couple from Kansas whose destination was Hollywood.  We were now a part of a unique club of roadies, a special breed of explorers and gypsies.

Arriving at our hotel in Sun Valley on the second day, we were greeted by the receptionist with doggie biscuits, the offer of a special dog bed, a dog tag and a stuffed baby reindeer that Gracie quickly grabbed and chewed on while I checked in. A walk around the town spurred more conversations with strangers and stories about where people were from and where they were going.

Being on the road, I had hours upon hours of reflecting on me, my life, my past, my present and my future and the wonders of being on this planet. Many miles passed while dreaming and connecting to my true desires.  The GPS lady became the only human voice I was communicating with. I had to keep reminding myself that it was really about the journey, not the getting there. I finally became convinced through negotiations with myself that it was okay to travel with a sense of never arriving.

I reflected on my emerging writing career and my ego’s attempt to get me into the grind of best-seller lists and I made the decision on a curvy road in southern Utah to stay in a place of meaning. I would need to trust myself, trust others and trust the divine source that supports the guidance of my earthly journey. I had an intimate conversation with my intuition too and decided to trust it and live my experience through a spiritual orientation.

All of this was a shift, a U-turn away from a past that was all about controlling outcomes and the fueling of the ambitions of my ego that would capitalize on everything to build layers of influence. I was fulfilled as I realized the power to change direction and avoid being led into a dead end by my ego and now travel a road of discovery.  I had to accept that taking the journey this way may not take me to where I wanted to go, but I held firm in the knowing that it would take me to where I am meant to be. Believing in a divine intelligence would give me all the direction I would need.

My publicist had lined up five events along the way. For me, the book tour/road trip was a big success because I made it about meaning. If it had been about how many showed up, how many books I sold or the amount of influence I gained, it would have never been enough for the ego and its insatiable appetite for fame.

Now home, I celebrate a successful tour and give thanks to the spirit world for the inspirational messages that flowed through me to others.  I cherish my moment with the single mother who is now taking her first steps out of a life of scarcity, the 7-year-old who wanted a message from his dead uncle and his moment of delight when he felt him tapping on his shoulder, the deceased mother who had things left to say to those she left behind and the moving of old energies to make room for the flow of love into a new relationship. These experiences and more were all about living my dreams. These were moments of the extraordinary and the satisfying way of giving to others.

I realized that as individuals, we are all capable of spiritual awakening, just by changing the way we think and see the world.  I remain an apprentice in life and a gypsy to the human experience. My real purpose through my books, articles and sessions is to spread spiritual pixy dust one by one so that others can see the power of the invisible world too.

Arriving home, Gracie was jumping for joy as she felt the familiar and knew exactly where to find her dog dish. But Gracie and I are more than we were now. We are different for the journey.  We built a stronger connection through trust, we are richer for everyone we met, our lives have been graced with the experience and we appreciate even more the place that we call home.

Sometimes the best lessons are found on the road.

 

 

 

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A Spirit Concierge

A concierge to the spiritual world

For most of my life I was a skeptic of the unordinary world, which closed my mind to a world of possibilities. If it did not fit into my tidy box of reality, it was trashed. I always questioned the motive of someone who claimed they were “gifted” or could “see” into my past, present or future. The image of a woman with a turban and a crystal ball behind a velvet curtain came to mind.

All my skepticism came to a grinding halt when I realized that I could communicate with the spirit world after a dramatic transformational experience that catapulted me into the unseen world. My mentor, a psychic medium for three generations said that I possessed extraordinary gifts that are typical of shamans. At the time, I was honestly more relieved knowing that instead of being delusional I was gifted yet another part of me was desperate to be “normal”. I did my best to hide my realization so as not to tinge my precious reputation as a successful socialite and entrepreneur. I believed that people like what I was becoming could not possibly belong in a left brained, socially graced setting. Grateful now, there is no going back to the person I had been. Day after day I was amazed at my ability to tap into an energetic blueprint of others and help them through their life journey.

There are usually three avenues to becoming a concierge to the spirit world

1.) Many have skilled their craft through a generational inheritance. This occurs because a child is taught that they live in an – universe and grow up with a perception of the world with an expanded view. With the fine tuning of senses and proper guidance from other “intuitives” in the family they can embrace these talents throughout their lifetime. Many children who are sensitive will have these gifts as it is an essential ingredient of the craft.

2.) Another person may walk into this path through a dramatic spiritual awakening. This normally occurs when a child has not been able to realize its true potential due to the lack of awareness of their family members. Years later an event or experience catapults them into the unseen world. This is normally because cultural conditioning has limited them. Most never intend to walk in the world this way but when it occurs it can cause chaos. Having a good mentor and framework of understanding can make the difference of organizing themselves into a practice to work with others. This is the way that I received my gifts.

3.) Lastly, there are others who feel that they have certain skills and they choose to study with other psychics or teachers. There are now a multitude of courses one can take to fine tune your intuitive skills.

To share information from the spirit world with another person is not for the faint at heart. It requires you to feel and hear all the senses surrounding the life of the person you are reading. The art is to channel the information through your own senses from a non-ordinary reality and express the meaning accurately and appropriately so that the person receives it in the way in which it was intended by the spirit world. It requires someone with unshakeable integrity and who works the craft daily with efficiency and skill. It is kind of like golf, you really need to play several rounds a week and take lessons regularly to have a good game. Not every shot you take is perfect, it can veer right or left but if someone is a good intuitive they are accurate most of the time.

Although spiritual counselors are not licensed they can be extremely helpful. Many times, they can pinpoint through laser intuition where problems are stored and what past issues in someone’s life may be detrimental and energetically lingering around them. Another area they are helpful is through grief counseling.  Bridging the gap with loved ones who are now on the “other side” can be very healing by reaching closure for those who are still here.

Many wonder where the information comes from and my experience is that everyone who comes to earth, comes with a matrix or template of their consciousness. This survives our many lifetimes and we simply take on a different personality in each new life which is based on the influence of the world around us. What an intuitive does is access a field of possibilities that is stored on a record of the journey of our soul. This insight can find ways to break barriers to our next steps and pinpoint areas where our energetic body is feeling stuck and not on track.

As our culture opens more to conversations about death and day by day miracles of after life experiences abound it is a topic that is gaining interest and insight. Reading the stories of people who walk on both sides of the veil are intriguing and will certainly have you jumping out of your box of beliefs and expanding your mind and your own journey as well. The best way to know if the person you are going to consult with has taken the deep and engaging steps into a connection with the spirit world is to read their book. Here is the link to my recently released memoir Lori: The Disintegration of my Ordinary Reality. 

 

 

 

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Spiritual Weight Loss – The secret to losing even more pounds.

I honestly had no idea how important it was to consume the accurate amount of water for my body weight. I have realized that the key to successful weight loss is not just about the food but about the water too. The key is knowing how much water to drink and then gulping it all down in a day. You will probably be very surprised as I was when I realized the amount of water I should be drinking since the majority of people actually drink far less than their body requires. A 250 pound person requires a lot more water than a 100 pound person. There is a simple calculation so that you can fine tune your water intake goals.  To calculate your water requirements, take your weight and multiply it by 67% to arrive at the total ounces that you need every day. If you are working out then you need to add an additional 12 ounces for every 30 minutes you are working out.

The benefits of having a water plan in addition to your nutritional plan contributes to successful weight loss. I have a few tips that have helped me to jump on the water wagon of health:

1.) Choose the best water available. I cannot say enough about the benefits of structured water, you can find out more about it here.

2.) Buy a one gallon, non BPA container and fill it up every morning. I carry it around with me all day long, to the office, on the patio so that I am reminded of my mission to drink a whole gallon!

3.) Do not put anything in the water, flavors and fillers are a disaster as they stimulate the taste buds and pop you into cravings. Just plain ordinary delicious water from a great filter system or natural source is your best choice.

4.) Don’t forget your pets, they deserve the best water possible too and plenty of it so keep changing their bowl so that it is fresh and healthy.

5.) Drink two cups of water before you eat, it will dramatically change the amount of food you will consume. A recent study shows that people who drank water before a meal lost more weight that those who didn’t.

6.) I “program” my water by saying a prayer over it and ask that it cleanse my system and carry away all the fat in my body that does not contribute to balance. Water is a major part of who we are as beings. You can read about the programming of water for better mental and physical health here.

Here is a helpful chart that shows how much water a person should be drinking per day.

 

Weight
Ounces of Water Daily


100 pounds
67 ounces


110 pounds
74 ounces


120 pounds
80 ounces


130 pounds
87 ounces


140 pounds
94 ounces


150 pounds
100 ounces


160 pounds
107 ounces


170 pounds
114 ounces


180 pounds
121 ounces


190 pounds
127 ounces


200 pounds
134 ounces


210 pounds
141 ounces


220 pounds
148 ounces


230 pounds
154 ounces


240 pounds
161 ounces


250 pounds
168 ounces

The post Spiritual Weight Loss – The secret to losing even more pounds. appeared first on Lori Morrison.

Finding Your Ruby Red Slippers

In the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” the ruby slippers were an elusive obsession of the wicked witch. For Dorothy they were the key to her power. Glinda, the good witch of the north told Dorothy “and remember, never let those ruby slippers off your feet for a moment or you’ll be at the mercy of the wicked witch of the west.” She then kissed her on her third eye as a seal of protection. Dorothy’s journey in her ruby slippers was beloved by millions of people because we all felt the possibilities of being powerful on the yellow brick road of life. The shoes gave us hope.

The story gushes with lessons of change, inner power, courage and embracing the possibilities. There is intrigue but also inspiration as we watch a simple farm girl take a journey into a world of her own conscious. It was a magical place to go after suffering. A place to go to leave fears behind and walk boldly into inner strength after the tragedy of losing everything.

For me, the slippers wrap us in the knowledge of walking through life without fear or worry about a misstep or misfortune. They symbolize our foundation, our “home” where we have a clear view of our personal and emotional wealth and this helps us to diminish and remove negative thoughts.

Dorothy’s journey, after waking up in a field of poppies was a complete mystery, a lesson that looking ahead in a world of possibilities is futile. She simply kept walking and as always when the student is ready the teachers appear. First the scarecrow who is a reminder that the mind is a trickster between truth and illusion, then the lion who provokes a lesson in courage and ego and lastly the tin man with the most profound message of all, that with the energy of the heart you can overcome any obstacle.

Things went well on her journey because as she went into the future, she knew she was powerful in her ruby shoes. Embracing the wonderful you and walking in the world knowing you are a bad ass full of good energy can change the outcome, with or without flying monkeys.

The ultimate destination for Dorothy was OZ, this is the most important journey we will take, to the green and glowing energy of the heart center. This is also the gateway to yourself and where you will find that you are worthy and enough. Like Glinda says in her final message “the truth and power is within you, and it was there all along, but you wouldn’t have believed it if I told you. You had to experience the journey to claim it”.

This is a reminder that the secrets to our purpose are within us.  There’s no place like home”, whispered Dorothy as she clicked her ruby slippers three times and was then magically whisked away to the comfort of her farmhouse. The magic of the ruby is all about power for those in love with life, themselves and others, holding space with this vital life force of vigor, passion and courage is home.

My new book is a modern day version of the journey to the heart so pick up a copy of Lori: The Disintegration of my Ordinary Reality, some great summer reading you can find on my website at www.lorimorrison.com 

I would love to get some feedback on what spiritual metaphors you discovered while watching the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. Leave your comments below.

 

Musings from the other side of life.

 

 

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