Heidi DuPree's Blog, page 8
May 16, 2016
What Does a Coincidence Really Mean?
I recently watched the movie The Danish Girl. The film is based on the true story of Danish painter Einar Wegener. Below is one of Wegener's landscapes.
In the film, Wegener's wife asks him why he always paints the same thing - a row of trees. What we now know is that Wegener was hiding a secret - even from himself. Although born biologically a male, Wegener felt like a female inside. The rigid row of trees in his paintings were a reflection of how he had to keep himself in line -- blocking his feelings to prevent his authentic self from emerging. Because it didn't feel safe for him to be his authentic female self. Although its no secret, I have also been "hiding" something in my body. I've been carrying the pain of being an abused child. Decades of holding myself in line have taken a toll on my body. My muscles and tendons are full of scar tissue and adhesions from unconsciously and habitually restricting my physical movements. Our bodies were meant to move 3-dimensionally. But when we have been traumatized, we can restrict our movement, voice, thinking and beliefs to "the straight and narrow" to protect ourselves and keep us safe. This prevents our authentic self from emerging. Because it doesn't feel safe to be authentic.
I've been getting physical therapy to break down the adhesions and scar tissue in my body. As the physical restrictions are released, the trauma of the past is released with it. The day after I saw The Danish Girl, I had one of these PT sessions. As I got off the table at the end of the session, I noticed this print on the wall:
I was immediately struck by the similarities to Wegener's landscapes. It may seem that seeing two landscapes with a similar pattern within 24 hours is a "coincidence." But what does a coincidence really mean?It means to pay attention. It means this is significant. It means a connection has just been made It means an opportunity to become more conscious has presented itself. It means you've just been provided with a clue to more information about your circumstances. If we are afraid to look at what has been hidden, we will dismiss these occurrences. When we have the courage and willingness to look at these patterns, we grow.
The Choice
When I noticed the pattern of similarity, I could have dismissed it. But I made a choice to meditate and write about the experience in my journal. It helped me to become more conscious of what had been hidden, and to pay more attention to how I move my body.
When a coincidence happens, you too have a choice. You can dismiss, or find the courage and willingness to look at what you may be hiding. We restrict ourselves in thought, belief, voice and movement to protect ourselves. But that protection can become a prison. It blocks joy, freedom and the fulfillment of your heart's desires. If you have the courage and willingness to expand beyond self-imposed limitations:
Take note of any coincidences, synchronicity, serendipity or repeating patterns in your dreams and life in an observing state of mind, free of judgment.Write them down in your journalMeditate on these patterns, asking what is yours to learn from them and see what insights emerge.If you don't understand the message, ask for another sign that will clarify. For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit, subscribe to this blog and go to my website to subscribe to my newsletter and receive a FREE recording in "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle! While you are there, check out my award-winning books that contain everything you need to know to live a healing way of life and awaken your greater health.
May 12, 2016
What Does Wellness Really Mean?
Wellness is defined as a state of being in good health. But what exactly does it mean to be well and to be healthy? What I have discovered about wellness and health in my 35 years of experience in Western medicine and energy medicine may surprise you.
Health is Dynamic
I rarely use the word "wellness." But sometimes I have to use certain words or the public won't recognize what I'm talking about! And here's the reason why I don't use it. Because people think wellness is the opposite of illness.They think wellness is a state of "non-illness." But health is not stagnant. Health is a naturally dynamic state that includes both wellness and illness! Read more about that here.
The natural variability of or mood, health and bodily rhythms is healthy. For example, research shows that the greater the variability of the heart rate, the healthier the heart and the more stable and healthy the body. And what governs those bodily rhythms is the state of your energy.
Health is Energetic
Everything is energy, including your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and bodily rhythms. And the state of your energy determines everything about you - your health, your happiness... even the shape of your body and the sound of your voice. The state of your energy is determined by two factors -- frequency and flow.
Wellness isn't just eating healthy, raw foods, using "wellness" products, and thinking positive thoughts. Its so much more than that. All these will raise your vibrational frequency, and I recommend them. But you have to look at what's causing your frequencies to be low in the first place, as well as what is obstructing your flow. Any kind of block in your life is energetic -- whether that is writer's block, athletic performance, libido, passion for life, or just plain feeling stuck.
Western medicine treats disease symptoms, and that can be important, especially if those symptoms are life-threatening. But to restore energetic flow and raise frequency, you need energy medicine.
Health is Inclusive
Health at its highest expression is physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being that includes fulfillment in your relationships, your career and your life. It includes fulfillment of your unique life purpose.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit, subscribe to this blog and go to my website to subscribe to my newsletter and receive a FREE recording in "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle! While you are there, check out my award-winning books that contain everything you need to know to live a healing way of life and awaken your greater health.
Health is Dynamic
I rarely use the word "wellness." But sometimes I have to use certain words or the public won't recognize what I'm talking about! And here's the reason why I don't use it. Because people think wellness is the opposite of illness.They think wellness is a state of "non-illness." But health is not stagnant. Health is a naturally dynamic state that includes both wellness and illness! Read more about that here.
The natural variability of or mood, health and bodily rhythms is healthy. For example, research shows that the greater the variability of the heart rate, the healthier the heart and the more stable and healthy the body. And what governs those bodily rhythms is the state of your energy.
Health is Energetic
Everything is energy, including your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and bodily rhythms. And the state of your energy determines everything about you - your health, your happiness... even the shape of your body and the sound of your voice. The state of your energy is determined by two factors -- frequency and flow.
Wellness isn't just eating healthy, raw foods, using "wellness" products, and thinking positive thoughts. Its so much more than that. All these will raise your vibrational frequency, and I recommend them. But you have to look at what's causing your frequencies to be low in the first place, as well as what is obstructing your flow. Any kind of block in your life is energetic -- whether that is writer's block, athletic performance, libido, passion for life, or just plain feeling stuck.
Western medicine treats disease symptoms, and that can be important, especially if those symptoms are life-threatening. But to restore energetic flow and raise frequency, you need energy medicine.
Health is Inclusive
Health at its highest expression is physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being that includes fulfillment in your relationships, your career and your life. It includes fulfillment of your unique life purpose.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit, subscribe to this blog and go to my website to subscribe to my newsletter and receive a FREE recording in "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle! While you are there, check out my award-winning books that contain everything you need to know to live a healing way of life and awaken your greater health.
May 9, 2016
How to Overcome Victim Mentality
I had a dream recently that I'd like to share with you. It involved a character who was in victim consciousness, or victim mentality. Wikipedia defines victim mentality as "... an acquired (learned) personality trait in which a person tends to regard him or herself as a victim of the negative actions of others, and to behave like it were the case—even in the absence of clear evidence." This would include seeing yourself as the victim of the negative actions of the universe, God or a higher power.
In the dream, the character became lost. Even though an elevator was right in front of her, she remained stuck, unable to move because she couldn't find the person who was supposed to tell her what floor to go to. Indeed, when we are in victim consciousness we feel powerless and dependent on others to tell us what to do.
Dream themes are metaphors. In this dream the elevator is a metaphor for moving or ascending from one level of consciousness to another. The dream elevator is a symbol of personal growth. The message of the dream is this: When we are living as a victim, we lose our way on our path of personal evolution and become stuck, even though the path is right in front of us. Even if we think we are hopelessly lost, the solution to the issues of our lives are within us. We just have to take off the victim glasses to see it.
Most people have been victimized in some form or another. But being victimized doesn't make you a victim. It conditions you to believe you are a victim. And as long as you believe you are a victim, and think like a victim, your life circumstances are not going to change. Change comes through changing your beliefs about yourself.
You Are a Creator
The first thing to realize is that you are not a victim, you are a creator. This may be hard to believe if you are repeatedly experiencing mistreatment and misfortune in your life. This is because you create from your energy patterns and your beliefs shape your frequencies. In other words, if you believe you are a victim, you put out a "victim vibe." You haven't done anything "bad" or "wrong"! It is unconscious. But once you become aware of it, you bring it to consciousness and can do something about it.
Here's the tricky part. What I have observed in my energy healing practice is that people tend to judge and attack themselves once they realize they have been unconsciously creating victim experiences in their life. Or they will feel embarrassed or guilty. But this is more victim mentality! In order to shift out of victim consciousness, choose compassion for yourself. Have compassion for the part of you that is wounded and has been conditioned to feel like a victim. And focus on what you are willing to change.
The Magic of Willingness
I know the title of this post is to "overcome" victim mentality, but I only used that word because it's the word people usually use when searching on this subject. But its not about overcoming. Its about healing, and that involves shifting from disempowered to empowered.
What you need to move forward in life is willingness. In order to get on the elevator in the dream, you need to be willing. Because willingness empowers you. Willingness shifts your energy out of victim vibe! All you need to do is to complete this sentence with what you are willing to do:
Even though I've been conditioned to believe I am a victim, I am now willing to..
....change how I look at my life circumstances.
...let go of my need to know exactly where I'm going.
...consider that I am a creator, not a victim.
...have compassion for the wounded part of me.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
In the dream, the character became lost. Even though an elevator was right in front of her, she remained stuck, unable to move because she couldn't find the person who was supposed to tell her what floor to go to. Indeed, when we are in victim consciousness we feel powerless and dependent on others to tell us what to do.
Dream themes are metaphors. In this dream the elevator is a metaphor for moving or ascending from one level of consciousness to another. The dream elevator is a symbol of personal growth. The message of the dream is this: When we are living as a victim, we lose our way on our path of personal evolution and become stuck, even though the path is right in front of us. Even if we think we are hopelessly lost, the solution to the issues of our lives are within us. We just have to take off the victim glasses to see it.
Most people have been victimized in some form or another. But being victimized doesn't make you a victim. It conditions you to believe you are a victim. And as long as you believe you are a victim, and think like a victim, your life circumstances are not going to change. Change comes through changing your beliefs about yourself.
You Are a Creator
The first thing to realize is that you are not a victim, you are a creator. This may be hard to believe if you are repeatedly experiencing mistreatment and misfortune in your life. This is because you create from your energy patterns and your beliefs shape your frequencies. In other words, if you believe you are a victim, you put out a "victim vibe." You haven't done anything "bad" or "wrong"! It is unconscious. But once you become aware of it, you bring it to consciousness and can do something about it.
Here's the tricky part. What I have observed in my energy healing practice is that people tend to judge and attack themselves once they realize they have been unconsciously creating victim experiences in their life. Or they will feel embarrassed or guilty. But this is more victim mentality! In order to shift out of victim consciousness, choose compassion for yourself. Have compassion for the part of you that is wounded and has been conditioned to feel like a victim. And focus on what you are willing to change.
The Magic of Willingness
I know the title of this post is to "overcome" victim mentality, but I only used that word because it's the word people usually use when searching on this subject. But its not about overcoming. Its about healing, and that involves shifting from disempowered to empowered.
What you need to move forward in life is willingness. In order to get on the elevator in the dream, you need to be willing. Because willingness empowers you. Willingness shifts your energy out of victim vibe! All you need to do is to complete this sentence with what you are willing to do:
Even though I've been conditioned to believe I am a victim, I am now willing to..
....change how I look at my life circumstances.
...let go of my need to know exactly where I'm going.
...consider that I am a creator, not a victim.
...have compassion for the wounded part of me.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
May 5, 2016
How Sunlight is Good For Health
April showers may bring May flowers, but rain clouds make me SAD! SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) is a depressive disorder that usually strikes in the winter when sunlight levels are at their lowest. But as an intuitive empath, the more I evolve and grow the more sensitive I become. A string of cloudy days any time of year can now significantly affect my mood. The fact that so many people suffer from SAD is a testament to how important sunlight is to our health.
We’ve all seen pet cats and dogs pick the sunniest spots in our homes to lie in the sun. They instinctively know what people have known for eons; sunlight is vital for restoring and maintaining good health. Historically, sunlight therapy, or heliotherapy, has been effectively used in the prevention of tetanus and gangrene in war wounds, as well as the treatment of tuberculosis, smallpox, and other serious health conditions.
However, due to fears about skin cancer, cataracts and the shrinking ozone layer, current guidelines recommend severely limiting sun exposure and protecting the skin with broad spectrum sunscreens. We now live our lives almost entirely indoors in buildings that are no longer designed to maximize sunlight. But the truth is there is no evidence that depletion of the ozone layer has caused an increased incidence of skin cancer. Nor is there any evidence that avoiding sunlight, using sunscreen, or wearing sunglasses prevents skin cancer or cataracts!
It is sunburns that increase the risk of skin cancer. And it is a lack of sunlight, as well as a diet deficient in antioxidants and exposure of the skin to toxic chemicals from products such as cosmetics and many sunscreens that pose a risk to our health.
How Does It Work?
The healing action of sunlight is energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. These waves of ultraviolet radiation irradiate blood in capillaries near the surface of the skin, increasing the formation of white blood cells called lymphocytes that are necessary for a healthy immune system. This energetic action also increases the oxygen content of the blood and accelerates elimination of toxic chemicals from the body - detoxification.
Not only does sunlight energy detoxify and strengthen the immune system, it also synthesizes vitamin D production in the skin, essential for healthy teeth and bones and in prevention of the serious diseases and cancers associated with vitamin D deficiency. Such a deficiency is linked with depressive illnesses such as SAD; cancer of the skin, breast, colon, ovaries, and prostate; diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rickets, osteoporosis, and tuberculosis. Heliotherapy can prevent and treat these disease conditions due to the ability of sunlight to: lower blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels; regulate hormonal processes; balance our internal biological rhythms; and kill bacteria. In particular, it has become imperative to recover lost knowledge of sunlight’s natural antibacterial effect, given the escalating issue of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Getting Sunlight Energy Safely
The key to safely receiving the benefits of sunbathing is through brief, regular, and gradually increasing sun exposure. Such practices prevent sunburn by properly preparing the skin. It is especially important for individuals with pale skin to follow these guidelines, as research indicates that it is only among the fair-skinned segment of the population that the incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing. That increase is attributed to sun avoidance, which leaves the skin ill-prepared for exposure and contributes to burning.
Safe sunbathing practices are done without sunscreen in the cooler temperatures of early spring mornings, continuing into the early summer. This can begin with five minutes of sun exposure to the feet and ankles. Those with darker skin can begin with longer exposure. Sun exposure is gradually increased up to 30 minutes. The amount of skin exposed is also gradually increased to include the full leg, exposing the torso last and wearing a hat to protect sensitive facial, neck, and upper chest skin.
You can read more about these guidelines established by pioneers of heliotherapy in Richard Hobday’s The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century. By using these guidelines, our bodies can synthesize and store enough vitamin D in body fat and skeletal muscle to maintain levels during low-light winter months, while avoiding a skin-damaging sunburn.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
We’ve all seen pet cats and dogs pick the sunniest spots in our homes to lie in the sun. They instinctively know what people have known for eons; sunlight is vital for restoring and maintaining good health. Historically, sunlight therapy, or heliotherapy, has been effectively used in the prevention of tetanus and gangrene in war wounds, as well as the treatment of tuberculosis, smallpox, and other serious health conditions.
However, due to fears about skin cancer, cataracts and the shrinking ozone layer, current guidelines recommend severely limiting sun exposure and protecting the skin with broad spectrum sunscreens. We now live our lives almost entirely indoors in buildings that are no longer designed to maximize sunlight. But the truth is there is no evidence that depletion of the ozone layer has caused an increased incidence of skin cancer. Nor is there any evidence that avoiding sunlight, using sunscreen, or wearing sunglasses prevents skin cancer or cataracts!
It is sunburns that increase the risk of skin cancer. And it is a lack of sunlight, as well as a diet deficient in antioxidants and exposure of the skin to toxic chemicals from products such as cosmetics and many sunscreens that pose a risk to our health.
How Does It Work?
The healing action of sunlight is energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. These waves of ultraviolet radiation irradiate blood in capillaries near the surface of the skin, increasing the formation of white blood cells called lymphocytes that are necessary for a healthy immune system. This energetic action also increases the oxygen content of the blood and accelerates elimination of toxic chemicals from the body - detoxification.
Not only does sunlight energy detoxify and strengthen the immune system, it also synthesizes vitamin D production in the skin, essential for healthy teeth and bones and in prevention of the serious diseases and cancers associated with vitamin D deficiency. Such a deficiency is linked with depressive illnesses such as SAD; cancer of the skin, breast, colon, ovaries, and prostate; diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rickets, osteoporosis, and tuberculosis. Heliotherapy can prevent and treat these disease conditions due to the ability of sunlight to: lower blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels; regulate hormonal processes; balance our internal biological rhythms; and kill bacteria. In particular, it has become imperative to recover lost knowledge of sunlight’s natural antibacterial effect, given the escalating issue of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Getting Sunlight Energy Safely
The key to safely receiving the benefits of sunbathing is through brief, regular, and gradually increasing sun exposure. Such practices prevent sunburn by properly preparing the skin. It is especially important for individuals with pale skin to follow these guidelines, as research indicates that it is only among the fair-skinned segment of the population that the incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing. That increase is attributed to sun avoidance, which leaves the skin ill-prepared for exposure and contributes to burning.
Safe sunbathing practices are done without sunscreen in the cooler temperatures of early spring mornings, continuing into the early summer. This can begin with five minutes of sun exposure to the feet and ankles. Those with darker skin can begin with longer exposure. Sun exposure is gradually increased up to 30 minutes. The amount of skin exposed is also gradually increased to include the full leg, exposing the torso last and wearing a hat to protect sensitive facial, neck, and upper chest skin.
You can read more about these guidelines established by pioneers of heliotherapy in Richard Hobday’s The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century. By using these guidelines, our bodies can synthesize and store enough vitamin D in body fat and skeletal muscle to maintain levels during low-light winter months, while avoiding a skin-damaging sunburn.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
May 2, 2016
Harry Potter and The Law of Attraction!
I was watching a biography of J.K. Rowling on YouTube the other night. She is the billionaire author of the Harry Potter novels. Rowling was a single mother living on public assistance when the inspiration for the Harry Potter series struck. In the interview I watched, she said "I spent five years immersed in a character who went from complete obscurity to fame overnight. And then the same thing happened to me." This is perhaps the most stunning example of the law of attraction at work that I have ever seen. But I got the sense that Rowling was not aware that one had anything to with the other, beyond "coincidence."
When Rowling completed the first Harry Potter novel, she sought a publisher - which everyone told her would be difficult. The publisher who did buy her book loved it, but advised her not to quit her day job, because "authors of children's books don't make much money." How often are we told by well-meaning friends, family and consulting professionals what the "story" is about our situation? But we don't have to accept the stories given to us about our situations. We can create our own story.
For the first five years that Rowling wrote, she did so in obscurity and near poverty. But despite the stories that she was being told about how hard it would be to become an author, her focus was with the magical world she was creating through her writing. She saw this world in her mind's eye, experienced every aspect of it and felt what her characters felt. Because this is how writers write. Our descriptions come from living through our characters. By focusing on Harry Potter's rags to riches story, she created her own rags to riches story in a spectacular way. Because our minds cannot tell the difference between what is happening in front of us, and what is happening in our minds. What we focus on creates our reality. And that is the law of attraction.
Unfortunately, usually friends, family and consulting professionals will tell you their story, or the story of those they know rather than supporting the creation of your story. It does not matter if 999 out of 1,000 children's book authors can't make a living writing. It does not matter what the statistics say about your situation. You do not have to "beat the odds." In physics the outcome of an event cannot be predicted no matter how many times a particular outcome has occurred in the past. You create the outcome of an event by what you focus on. If you focus on a picture of success and abundance, that is what you create.
Be the Wizard of Your Own Life
Rowling did not expect to become famous or a millionaire (or a billionaire!). She just wanted to share the world she created with others and become a published author. Visualize the outcome you want, without expectation or attachment to when and how it happens. Visualize it as if it is so. Create your own magical life. Feel what it feels like in this life of your creation, as if it is reality and it will become reality.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
When Rowling completed the first Harry Potter novel, she sought a publisher - which everyone told her would be difficult. The publisher who did buy her book loved it, but advised her not to quit her day job, because "authors of children's books don't make much money." How often are we told by well-meaning friends, family and consulting professionals what the "story" is about our situation? But we don't have to accept the stories given to us about our situations. We can create our own story.
For the first five years that Rowling wrote, she did so in obscurity and near poverty. But despite the stories that she was being told about how hard it would be to become an author, her focus was with the magical world she was creating through her writing. She saw this world in her mind's eye, experienced every aspect of it and felt what her characters felt. Because this is how writers write. Our descriptions come from living through our characters. By focusing on Harry Potter's rags to riches story, she created her own rags to riches story in a spectacular way. Because our minds cannot tell the difference between what is happening in front of us, and what is happening in our minds. What we focus on creates our reality. And that is the law of attraction.
Unfortunately, usually friends, family and consulting professionals will tell you their story, or the story of those they know rather than supporting the creation of your story. It does not matter if 999 out of 1,000 children's book authors can't make a living writing. It does not matter what the statistics say about your situation. You do not have to "beat the odds." In physics the outcome of an event cannot be predicted no matter how many times a particular outcome has occurred in the past. You create the outcome of an event by what you focus on. If you focus on a picture of success and abundance, that is what you create.
Be the Wizard of Your Own Life
Rowling did not expect to become famous or a millionaire (or a billionaire!). She just wanted to share the world she created with others and become a published author. Visualize the outcome you want, without expectation or attachment to when and how it happens. Visualize it as if it is so. Create your own magical life. Feel what it feels like in this life of your creation, as if it is reality and it will become reality.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit subscribe to this blog (put your email address in the sign up form on the right side of this page. If you are on a mobile device, click "view web version" at the bottom to see the right side bar). And go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
April 28, 2016
How to do a White Stone Ceremony
Earlier this week I wrote about how to do a Burning Bowl Ceremony to release what no longer serves you and honor endings in your life. You can read more about that here. In Unity communities, this ceremony is typically done at the end of the calendar year in December, followed by a White Stone Ceremony at the beginning of the calendar year in January. But you can do a White Stone Ceremony to honor any new beginning:
The new astrological year, which occurs on the spring equinoxYour birthdayAny new moonAny new beginning in your life such as a new program of study, new relationship, new baby, new home, new belief system, new thought pattern, etc. Any time you are ready to begin a new phase of your life. You will need:
a sharpie markera small white stoneyour journal and a pen to write in it To begin, meditate on this new beginning in your life. Visualize this new beginning and write in your journal about the thoughts and feelings you have regarding this new beginning. Allow a word or phrase to emerge that represents the highest expression of this new beginning. If you are having difficulty with this step, try taking a walk and see if the word comes to you. You can also take a walk to find a white stone if you don't already have one.
Once you have your word or phrase, mark in on the stone with a sharpie. Now put the stone where you see it every day, or carry it in your pocket until you are ready to begin anew in a month, a season, or a year. I like to write the date on the back of my stone. I have kept all my yearly stones on my personal altar which serve as a testament to my growth over time.
You can also create affirmations and vision boards to honor new beginnings. More about that here.
Another Use
I have on occasion used a stone ceremony to mark an ending. Sometimes it may feel more appropriate to process an ending or loss by marking it on a stone and putting it to rest by burying it, rather than releasing it through burning it on a piece of paper as in a Burning Bowl Ceremony. I did this to help process pregnancy losses. I wrote down my thoughts and feelings in a journal, and meditated until a word or name that represented the child I had lost became clear. I selected a black stone to represent grief. After marking the name or word for the child and the date of the loss on the stone, I said some prayers and buried it in a special place under a tree near a garden statue.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
The new astrological year, which occurs on the spring equinoxYour birthdayAny new moonAny new beginning in your life such as a new program of study, new relationship, new baby, new home, new belief system, new thought pattern, etc. Any time you are ready to begin a new phase of your life. You will need:
a sharpie markera small white stoneyour journal and a pen to write in it To begin, meditate on this new beginning in your life. Visualize this new beginning and write in your journal about the thoughts and feelings you have regarding this new beginning. Allow a word or phrase to emerge that represents the highest expression of this new beginning. If you are having difficulty with this step, try taking a walk and see if the word comes to you. You can also take a walk to find a white stone if you don't already have one.
Once you have your word or phrase, mark in on the stone with a sharpie. Now put the stone where you see it every day, or carry it in your pocket until you are ready to begin anew in a month, a season, or a year. I like to write the date on the back of my stone. I have kept all my yearly stones on my personal altar which serve as a testament to my growth over time.
You can also create affirmations and vision boards to honor new beginnings. More about that here.
Another UseI have on occasion used a stone ceremony to mark an ending. Sometimes it may feel more appropriate to process an ending or loss by marking it on a stone and putting it to rest by burying it, rather than releasing it through burning it on a piece of paper as in a Burning Bowl Ceremony. I did this to help process pregnancy losses. I wrote down my thoughts and feelings in a journal, and meditated until a word or name that represented the child I had lost became clear. I selected a black stone to represent grief. After marking the name or word for the child and the date of the loss on the stone, I said some prayers and buried it in a special place under a tree near a garden statue.
For more energy healing solutions for your body, mind and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
April 26, 2016
How to do a Burning Bowl Ceremony
Ritual and ceremony are ancient practices that enhance spirituality and help us transition through endings and beginnings in our lives. We are all familiar with ceremonies such as a wedding, christening of a new baby, a funeral, graduation or religious coming-of-age rituals. But ceremony does not have to be limited to only major life events. You can experience the health-enhancing effects of incorporating more ritual and ceremony into your life as the ancients did.
One of my favorite ceremonies is the Burning Bowl Ceremony. It's a wonderful ritual that honors any intention to let go - in a concrete way. The burning bowl ceremony is used in Unity communities at the end of the calendar year in December. But it can have much wider applications:
The night before the new astrological year, which occurs on the spring equinoxThe night before your birthdayThe night before any new moonAny ending or loss in your life such as a pregnancy loss, the ending of a relationship, moving from your home, the end of a a program of study, etc. Any time you are ready to release belief systems that are impeding your growth. You will need:
a metal bowl or large seashellpiece of paper cut or torn into narrow stripsa pen or pencilyour journal loose white sage (optional) Find a quiet place to meditate. Write in your journal all your thoughts and feelings about this ending. What are you ready to release? You may be ready to release an emotion, thought or belief about your situation. Write these down on the strips of paper. One at a time, place the paper into the metal bowl or large seashell and light them. Be sure you ensure your safety as you do this. I like to put some loose sage in the bowl or shell to enhance the clearing action.
As the papers burn, imagine that you are being released and are now free. You can also say an affirmation either out loud or to yourself. "Even though this issue has caused me angst, I accept myself, and I am now ready to release it."
When the ashes have cooled, scatter them or bury them with the intention that you have put this issue to rest.
After you have released what no longer serves you through the burning bowl ceremony, you can do a white stone ceremony to start anew. I will be posting about that shortly, so check back.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
One of my favorite ceremonies is the Burning Bowl Ceremony. It's a wonderful ritual that honors any intention to let go - in a concrete way. The burning bowl ceremony is used in Unity communities at the end of the calendar year in December. But it can have much wider applications:
The night before the new astrological year, which occurs on the spring equinoxThe night before your birthdayThe night before any new moonAny ending or loss in your life such as a pregnancy loss, the ending of a relationship, moving from your home, the end of a a program of study, etc. Any time you are ready to release belief systems that are impeding your growth. You will need:
a metal bowl or large seashellpiece of paper cut or torn into narrow stripsa pen or pencilyour journal loose white sage (optional) Find a quiet place to meditate. Write in your journal all your thoughts and feelings about this ending. What are you ready to release? You may be ready to release an emotion, thought or belief about your situation. Write these down on the strips of paper. One at a time, place the paper into the metal bowl or large seashell and light them. Be sure you ensure your safety as you do this. I like to put some loose sage in the bowl or shell to enhance the clearing action.
As the papers burn, imagine that you are being released and are now free. You can also say an affirmation either out loud or to yourself. "Even though this issue has caused me angst, I accept myself, and I am now ready to release it."
When the ashes have cooled, scatter them or bury them with the intention that you have put this issue to rest.
After you have released what no longer serves you through the burning bowl ceremony, you can do a white stone ceremony to start anew. I will be posting about that shortly, so check back. For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
April 21, 2016
How to Heal Your Inner Wounds
As a clinical nurse, I treated wounds and injuries on a regular basis. But it wasn't until I became a holistic nurse and worked with clients in an energy healing practice that I learned how we effectively heal inner wounds.
Outer Injuries vs Inner Injuries
Inner wounds happen from life situations that injure us. You won't see any skin abrasions or broken bones from inner wounds, but that doesn't mean they hurt any less! Interestingly, our outer, visible wounds tend to heal much more quickly than our inner, invisible wounds. Why? Because we treat our visible wounds. Most inner wounds are left untreated, and worse yes we throw salt in them.
I'm sure you wouldn't dream of putting a caustic substance into an open skin wound. But I hear people every day direct caustic words and thoughts into their inner wounds. And before I awakened, I did so as well. It's what we were conditioned to do because we see emotional pain as weakness and something to be suppressed, hidden or ridiculed.
Most people don't even realize they have invisible inner wounds much less know how to treat them. Once you become aware of your inner wounds, you have the power to make a choice in how you treat them. You can continue to throw salt in your wounds with caustic thought-energy, or you can choose to treat them in a way that heals.
The Signs of an Inner Wound:
The symptoms of an inner wound are the "triggers." That sudden feeling of anger, sadness, fear, guilt or shame that happens in response to something you hear, see or experience is a symptom of an inner wound. Triggers happen when you are reminded of a painful wound that you carry from the past. Here are a few examples:
Someone makes a disparaging remark about an organization you used to belong to and you feel a wave of anger because it touches into a wound you have of not feeling good enough.You see pictures on Facebook of someone experiencing a milestone in life and you feel a wave of sadness because it touches into a wound you have from not getting to achieve that milestone yourself.You go to say something in front of a group and you become tongue-tied, which produces a wave of embarrassment because it touches into a wound you have from a past public speaking experience that was humiliating. What Heals vs What Creates Further Injury
When we feel a strong wave of anger, sadness, fear, embarrassment or guilt it is very uncomfortable. Usually people want that overwhelming feeling to stop as quickly as possible. What do you do to make it stop? Do you "attack" the feeling by calling yourself stupid, dumb, ridiculous, silly...or worse? Doing so is like throwing salt into the wound. These caustic thoughts actually prevent the wound from healing. In which case, the next time you are triggered, the same overwhelming negative emotions will come up. And you may attack the feeling again.
This repeating cycle will continue unhealed until the approach is changed. Just as outer injuries may not heal properly without proper treatment, inner wounds can't heal without appropriate treatment either. What heals is loving kindness. Each time you respond to your triggers with loving kindness, it is like applying a healing salve to your inner wounds.
Here is an affirmation to use to help your inner wounds heal. Fill in the first blank with the emotion you are feeling:
Even though I don't like feeling this ______, I accept myself and I choose to treat myself with loving kindness.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit, subscribe to this blog! Go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
Outer Injuries vs Inner Injuries
Inner wounds happen from life situations that injure us. You won't see any skin abrasions or broken bones from inner wounds, but that doesn't mean they hurt any less! Interestingly, our outer, visible wounds tend to heal much more quickly than our inner, invisible wounds. Why? Because we treat our visible wounds. Most inner wounds are left untreated, and worse yes we throw salt in them.
I'm sure you wouldn't dream of putting a caustic substance into an open skin wound. But I hear people every day direct caustic words and thoughts into their inner wounds. And before I awakened, I did so as well. It's what we were conditioned to do because we see emotional pain as weakness and something to be suppressed, hidden or ridiculed.
Most people don't even realize they have invisible inner wounds much less know how to treat them. Once you become aware of your inner wounds, you have the power to make a choice in how you treat them. You can continue to throw salt in your wounds with caustic thought-energy, or you can choose to treat them in a way that heals.
The Signs of an Inner Wound:
The symptoms of an inner wound are the "triggers." That sudden feeling of anger, sadness, fear, guilt or shame that happens in response to something you hear, see or experience is a symptom of an inner wound. Triggers happen when you are reminded of a painful wound that you carry from the past. Here are a few examples:
Someone makes a disparaging remark about an organization you used to belong to and you feel a wave of anger because it touches into a wound you have of not feeling good enough.You see pictures on Facebook of someone experiencing a milestone in life and you feel a wave of sadness because it touches into a wound you have from not getting to achieve that milestone yourself.You go to say something in front of a group and you become tongue-tied, which produces a wave of embarrassment because it touches into a wound you have from a past public speaking experience that was humiliating. What Heals vs What Creates Further Injury
When we feel a strong wave of anger, sadness, fear, embarrassment or guilt it is very uncomfortable. Usually people want that overwhelming feeling to stop as quickly as possible. What do you do to make it stop? Do you "attack" the feeling by calling yourself stupid, dumb, ridiculous, silly...or worse? Doing so is like throwing salt into the wound. These caustic thoughts actually prevent the wound from healing. In which case, the next time you are triggered, the same overwhelming negative emotions will come up. And you may attack the feeling again.
This repeating cycle will continue unhealed until the approach is changed. Just as outer injuries may not heal properly without proper treatment, inner wounds can't heal without appropriate treatment either. What heals is loving kindness. Each time you respond to your triggers with loving kindness, it is like applying a healing salve to your inner wounds.
Here is an affirmation to use to help your inner wounds heal. Fill in the first blank with the emotion you are feeling:Even though I don't like feeling this ______, I accept myself and I choose to treat myself with loving kindness.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit, subscribe to this blog! Go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
April 18, 2016
How to Overcome Your Fear of Failure
I recently received notice that my second self-published book,
Awaken Your Greater Health
, won a Nautilus Book Award. More about that here. After the initial shock and awe, the next feeling I had was an overwhelming fear of failure!
Although this is a major book award, its not my first time at the rodeo. Both my books have won many awards. But none of them has made much of a difference in helping to connect the books to the people who can be helped by them. I was afraid that even though this is a major award, it also won't make a difference. Because I have a fear of failure. Its an old pattern emerging.
My husband and I went through 70 treatment cycles for infertility. Yes, you read that right -- seventy. And that doesn't even count the year-plus that we tried on our own before beginning treatment. Our family-building attempts were spread out over 16 years. And during that time, 67 of those 70 treatment cycles failed. I sometimes wonder if we hold some kind of record for fertility treatment failure!
Although we have three wonderful, amazing adult children and their equally wonderful significant others, the impact of those 67 failures doesn't just go away. I've worked through it on many fronts with lots of professional help. I also got it all out in an unpublished memoir. And I worked through it by helping other infertile women in my energy healing practice and in hosting an infertility support group for several years. I've been at peace for years. But the process of healing unfolds in a spiral pattern. We all spiral around and encounter deeper layers of old issues from time to time.
It isn't easy sharing these "failures" in life. In our society, failure is seen as a weakness, something to be ashamed of and kept hidden. But having the courage to be open and vulnerable is actually a sign of strength! I don't share these things for you to feel sorry for me, for I am not a victim. I am a creator, as are you. We create from our state of energy. And its clear that my state of energy needs some healing.
Turning it Around
Although the title of this post is about "overcoming" the fear of failure, I only used that word because it is a popular search term! Healing is not actually about overcoming. Healing is about getting to the root of an issue. Healing is devoid of any force or suppression. Healing is love.
The root of current fear of failure are the pain of failures in the past. We've all experienced situations in the past that felt like failures -- in our relationships, careers, school and life. Healing happens through compassionate acknowledgement of our perceived failures coupled with an affirmative statement. Here's mine:
Even though I have this history of failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive the blessings of this award.
Every time the thought comes up of something painful from the past, compassionately acknowledge it and then turn it around with what you are willing to do now to heal. Here are some general examples:
Even though I have this history of relationship failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive love.Even though I have this history of career failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive success.Even though I have this history of financial failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive the abundance that is my birthright. Fill in the blanks of the sentence below, being very specific about your situation. Then use this healing affirmation every time the thought of failure comes up, by saying it out loud or to yourself:
Even though I have this history of failing at _______, I accept myself and I am now willing to ________.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit subscribe to this blog! Go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
Although this is a major book award, its not my first time at the rodeo. Both my books have won many awards. But none of them has made much of a difference in helping to connect the books to the people who can be helped by them. I was afraid that even though this is a major award, it also won't make a difference. Because I have a fear of failure. Its an old pattern emerging.
My husband and I went through 70 treatment cycles for infertility. Yes, you read that right -- seventy. And that doesn't even count the year-plus that we tried on our own before beginning treatment. Our family-building attempts were spread out over 16 years. And during that time, 67 of those 70 treatment cycles failed. I sometimes wonder if we hold some kind of record for fertility treatment failure!
Although we have three wonderful, amazing adult children and their equally wonderful significant others, the impact of those 67 failures doesn't just go away. I've worked through it on many fronts with lots of professional help. I also got it all out in an unpublished memoir. And I worked through it by helping other infertile women in my energy healing practice and in hosting an infertility support group for several years. I've been at peace for years. But the process of healing unfolds in a spiral pattern. We all spiral around and encounter deeper layers of old issues from time to time.
It isn't easy sharing these "failures" in life. In our society, failure is seen as a weakness, something to be ashamed of and kept hidden. But having the courage to be open and vulnerable is actually a sign of strength! I don't share these things for you to feel sorry for me, for I am not a victim. I am a creator, as are you. We create from our state of energy. And its clear that my state of energy needs some healing.
Turning it Around
Although the title of this post is about "overcoming" the fear of failure, I only used that word because it is a popular search term! Healing is not actually about overcoming. Healing is about getting to the root of an issue. Healing is devoid of any force or suppression. Healing is love.
The root of current fear of failure are the pain of failures in the past. We've all experienced situations in the past that felt like failures -- in our relationships, careers, school and life. Healing happens through compassionate acknowledgement of our perceived failures coupled with an affirmative statement. Here's mine:
Even though I have this history of failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive the blessings of this award.
Every time the thought comes up of something painful from the past, compassionately acknowledge it and then turn it around with what you are willing to do now to heal. Here are some general examples:
Even though I have this history of relationship failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive love.Even though I have this history of career failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive success.Even though I have this history of financial failure, I accept myself and I am now willing to receive the abundance that is my birthright. Fill in the blanks of the sentence below, being very specific about your situation. Then use this healing affirmation every time the thought of failure comes up, by saying it out loud or to yourself:
Even though I have this history of failing at _______, I accept myself and I am now willing to ________.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit subscribe to this blog! Go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
April 14, 2016
Energy Ethics: How to Create and Maintain Healthy Boundaries
Do you feel called to work with social and environmental problems, bring healing and knowledge to others, or make a difference in the world - but are having difficulty realizing your greater aspirations? Then you are an empath! To learn more about how to tell if you are an empath, you can read what I wrote about that here.
Empathic people have a life purpose of helping others and making a difference in the world, but because they are a sponge for negative energy, this can disrupt their ability to actualize their purpose. I have written about Energy Hygiene, or how to clear your energy here. But to prevent yourself from taking on negative energy in the first place, I'd like to share about how to create and maintain healthy boundaries. I call this Energy Ethics.
Energetic Push and Pull
Energetic boundaries become violated by the push and pull reaction people have with each other. If you are feeling sorry for someone and have a "poor you" reaction when you think of them, your energy pushes forward beyond their boundaries. Due to the non-local nature of energy, this happens no matter how much geographic distance separates you from the person you are worrying about. If you are feeling sorry for yourself and thinking "poor me," you will have a pull reaction to those around you, pulling their energy toward you past your energetic boundaries. Likewise, if you tell someone about your problems in a "poor me" energy state, they may push past your boundaries in a "poor you" energetic response.
Now I want to make an important point: There is nothing wrong with feeling sorry for yourself. Your anger, sadness, fear, guilt and shame are all valid emotions. Its just not best for your health and well-being to be stuck in those states of being. You can learn more about how to let go of worrying here. To help you shift your energetic vibrations to prevent the push or pull reaction of others, I've written this article. To help prevent you from absorbing the negativity of others, read on!
Being a Mirror vs a Sponge
Taking on other people's stuff like a sponge doesn't help them or you. It violates our own boundaries and negatively affects our health and well-being. And the person who we took the negative energy from will just make more! Likewise, trying to "fix" someone by making them see themselves violates their boundaries and doesn't help them either.
Instead of absorbing the negative energy of others like a sponge, imagine you are holding up a mirror. This is done completely free of judgement or any agenda. Visualize placing a mirror in front of you and facing away from you - with no expectation of what will happen when you do. This can be an intention that you set each morning. Simply say out loud to yourself, "Even though I have been absorbing the negative energy of others, I love and accept myself and I now choose to be like a mirror, reflecting back rather than taking on."
A number of the clients in my energy healing practice have reported a shift in their relationships after doing this.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
Empathic people have a life purpose of helping others and making a difference in the world, but because they are a sponge for negative energy, this can disrupt their ability to actualize their purpose. I have written about Energy Hygiene, or how to clear your energy here. But to prevent yourself from taking on negative energy in the first place, I'd like to share about how to create and maintain healthy boundaries. I call this Energy Ethics.
Energetic Push and Pull
Energetic boundaries become violated by the push and pull reaction people have with each other. If you are feeling sorry for someone and have a "poor you" reaction when you think of them, your energy pushes forward beyond their boundaries. Due to the non-local nature of energy, this happens no matter how much geographic distance separates you from the person you are worrying about. If you are feeling sorry for yourself and thinking "poor me," you will have a pull reaction to those around you, pulling their energy toward you past your energetic boundaries. Likewise, if you tell someone about your problems in a "poor me" energy state, they may push past your boundaries in a "poor you" energetic response.
Now I want to make an important point: There is nothing wrong with feeling sorry for yourself. Your anger, sadness, fear, guilt and shame are all valid emotions. Its just not best for your health and well-being to be stuck in those states of being. You can learn more about how to let go of worrying here. To help you shift your energetic vibrations to prevent the push or pull reaction of others, I've written this article. To help prevent you from absorbing the negativity of others, read on!
Being a Mirror vs a Sponge
Taking on other people's stuff like a sponge doesn't help them or you. It violates our own boundaries and negatively affects our health and well-being. And the person who we took the negative energy from will just make more! Likewise, trying to "fix" someone by making them see themselves violates their boundaries and doesn't help them either.
Instead of absorbing the negative energy of others like a sponge, imagine you are holding up a mirror. This is done completely free of judgement or any agenda. Visualize placing a mirror in front of you and facing away from you - with no expectation of what will happen when you do. This can be an intention that you set each morning. Simply say out loud to yourself, "Even though I have been absorbing the negative energy of others, I love and accept myself and I now choose to be like a mirror, reflecting back rather than taking on."
A number of the clients in my energy healing practice have reported a shift in their relationships after doing this.
For more energy healing solutions for your mind, body and spirit go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter for a FREE recording "3 Keys to Getting What You Want in Life" and a power-packed Energy Medicine Resource Bundle!
