with Julianne Kulosa

I remember as a teenager having the aha moment, “We create our reality!”  As I went through life, magical moments occurred, as well as the understanding that my interpretation of my experiences were simply that: a personal interpretation and story about myself, others, the world and reality itself.  We also share a collective story, a collective reality.  Supported by the universe, this story is now crumbling away into a new paradigm, a New Earth.
 
New Earth is based in unity consciousness, and reality is shared in our co-creation: with our multi-dimensional self, others, Gaia, our Galactic Family, the Universe and Source.  This sense of unity, all connected, is quite different than our current state of duality, the systems in place (educational, economic, political etc.) that support the continued sense of separation, lack, survival of the fittest, fear and “not enough”.  Isn’t it exciting that these systems are crumbling away?! 

I’ve noticed an escalation in this sense of duality, have you?  It’s a “you’re with me or you’re against: there’s no in between” conversation.  I’m right and you’re wrong. You’re for Trump or you’re against him, you’re for guns or you’re against them, you’re for equal rights or you’re against them, you’re for animal rights or you’re against them…the list goes on. 
 
The question is, do you want to live in that reality?  Where the split grows larger and larger?  Things are coming to extremes because they need to, it’s a part of that clinging to the old as it begins to fall away, our attachment to the comfort of the familiar and what the “collective” agrees is the “correct” reality.
 
As the energy supporting our collective Ascension process accelerates, more and more of us are awakening to a higher reality.  This reality is based in unity, where each of us is unique yet embraced as a part of the whole.  In our Awakening process, some are called to begin boldy co-creating with others, while others are called to go within, retreating from the bombardment of the old 3rd dimensional reality.  That dense energy tends to pull you down, draw you in, so honor your desire to spend more time alone and in nature.  Know that you are NEVER alone, letting your time of transformation inside give you solace.
 
CREATING REALITY
You actually do this all the time, and now you are choosing to be a CONSCIOUS creator.  You came here to do so, and you have inside of you the ability, the God-given power, the inner technology, to do this NOW.  In 5th Dimensional consciousness, all time exists Here and all space exists Now, as compared to your 3rd Dimensional experience of time and space.  Creating in “5D” means you do so from your heart, from your authentic divine self, driven by the desire to contribute to a better world for all.  Rather than seeking to fix anything, you choose to powerfully focus on a future you see for the world, that you are destined to step into, because you are experiencing it NOW.
 
Because you are a unique one-of-a-kind piece of the puzzle, you will find your unique way to create.  I break down the simplest basics for you below, but trust yourself above all else.  Trust what practices you are drawn to, that light you up, bring you freedom, peace, calm, trust, gratitude and joy.
 
1. COME INTO A HEART-CENTERED SPACE
This means bringing your attention to your heart, placing your hands on your chest above your heart center and breathing into your heart to bring your focus there.  Now cultivate a heart-centered emotion, bringing to mind something or someone you feel deep care or gratitude for.  Allow that sensation to move throughout your body.
 
2. IMAGINE WHAT YOU ARE WANTING
You have it NOW, right now.  It is done. Let yourself have the experience of how your life is in this new reality you’ve created.  Has your environment changed?  What sensations are you experiencing, sight, smell, touch, taste, sounds?  How are you relating with people and/or your environment?
 
3. FEELING 
This is the most important aspect in your ability to create.  When thought combines and aligns with emotion, anything is possible.  For example, if you want a new car, see yourself with that car, and also what that car brings you.  Do feel you more freedom, such as of time?  More ease and peace of mind?  The ability to have more adventures or more easily get to a location such as visiting friends or working at a job that you love?
 
4. UNIFY
Let this be bigger than you alone. New Earth is about unity consciousness, so all you do is for and a part of the collective.  Be specific, yes, and also grander. Imagine all people everywhere having that freedom and ease you felt with your car.  How does that feel? Honestly, manifesting a car is pretty 3D.  You’re so beyond that.  I purposefully used that as an example so that you can feel into the difference between creating something for yourself and creating something that serves and contributes to the collective.  In a world of infinite possibility and abundance for all, where we are all united and connected, serving the collective always takes care of you, your family and your loved ones. 
 
5. IT IS SO! 
Deliberately shifting into a new future, a new timeline, is a co-creative adventure.  Let this new reality you just created in this HERE and NOW spin out and align with the universe, with Source, with a greater energy than just you.  You can do this in many different ways.  For this moment, I will say to simply imagine it being sent out into the web of creation, aligning with that now-future reality.  Then state, “It is so!” (or another present moment creation term you’ve like to use). For example, “So it is, Amen, or So mote it be.”
 
5. GRATITUDE
You are now aligned with the future you want to create.  There is no waiting game: you have it now.  Gratitude may well naturally wash over you. Milk it!  In a world of abundance and connection, there is much heart-opening gratitude to have at any moment!
 
6. ACTION  
Continued focus and alignment with what you have created is key to creating in 5D.  Because you are awakening to your responsibility as a conscious co-creator, it takes dedication to continually being aware of where your attention is at any given time.  This is never reason to beat yourself up, only to notice and choose to shift your focus.  With that car: if you notice others with a new car and resent that you don’t have one, or feel frustrated by your situation, or that you don’t have the money for a car, etc., that focus only serves to align you with that reality you’ve decided you want to shift.  So you breathe and notice where your thoughts and attention went and say, coming back into your heart and knowing that you have that car. Trust that life and the universe completely supports and is taking care of you. 
 
You don’t have to “make it happen”.  Life will naturally show you any actions to be taken. 
 
Yes, in 5D manifestation, miracles occur, and you also are guided to any work or action to take.  It doesn’t necessarily mean sitting on the couch waiting for your car to be delivered to your door.  Awake and aware, you will be guided, nudged, directed to any actions that forward the future that is already awaiting your arrival.  Action comes in the forms of thought, emotion, word and deed. Act NOW as if your future is created, living in a reality where It Is Done.  Be gentle on yourself as you practice being the change you wish to see in the world.  
 
Blessings to you, my beloved brother or sister.  May we deepen evermore into our connection, our unity, and the power of co-creating New Earth now!
 
Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash

The collective energy has been building, and now we feel it even more intensely from the U.S. Presidential election.  Feelings like anger, rage, despair, betrayal and depression all are intensifying.  There’s a storm afoot, that’s for certain.
 
Your power does not come from the storm, from any leader, or from anyone outside of you. 
 
It’s easy to get caught up in the drama swirling around you, for you really are quite helpless to any person, thing or event that occurs in your world. 
 
We all want peace, joy, happiness and love.  Some may not just be going about the best way to achieve those states of being. 
 
It’s important, imperative for your and the world’s well being, that in these intense times you take time out for yourself.  Put away your phone or computer and turn off the television. Within you is the eye of the storm, a calm, centered and peaceful space.
 
As you honor whatever arises within you, whatever fears, judgments or feelings, you have within you the greatest power of all.  You get to choose, moment by moment, what you want to believe, feel, think and do.  This includes choosing to know and trust that everything that is arising collectively, politically, and within yourself is purposefully coming up to be released from the collective. 
 
Think of it like cleaning a very dirty pot that has lots of muck stuck to the bottom of it.  When you start cleaning, the dirt rises up, turning the soapy water black at first.  Do you then give up cleaning the pot?  Do you think, “Oh, gosh, I thought things were going well.  I got the soap and hot water, the sponge, but now it’s dirtier than ever.  Forget it.”  No, of course you don’t give up!  As all the muck arises from within you and that of the collective consciousness, the dirty yucky stuff, the stuff that’s been there for who knows how many lifetimes or blood and family lines, know and trust that it is coming up to be cleaned out.  We don’t clean it with more mucky fear or hate.  We clean it with the divine light-infused soap and golden sponge of pure love and compassion.
 
The world is waiting for YOU to step up and claim your power.  No more do we need to give it away to any person or situation that is happening globally.  If we do, we get caught up in the drama and find ourselves experiencing that drama on a very personal level in our own lives, be it our health, relationships or otherwise.
 
Claiming your power is a very action-oriented directive, taken moment by moment throughout your day.
 
Words, as powerful as they are, only do so much when it comes to truly shifting your state of being.  Surely you’ve seen the truth in the written in spoken word since it began to be recorded.  Statements like, “Peace begins within,” “Love is the answer,” or “Only love is real,” have been heard time and again.
 
Only through your personal experience of vibrational states of being like peace, love, hope, joy or trust can you truly embody sage words and be the change you wish to see in the world.
 
It is who you BE, that then reflects and empowers what you DO and how you experience your world.  Let’s be honest: how others experience their world is none of your business, for only they have the power to change their own mind and perspective.  Shifting your own state of being is more powerful than any action taken from a place of fear, outrage, frustration or determination to destroy, fix or change what is so terribly wrong.
 
SIMPLE WAYS TO CLAIM YOUR POWER AND PEACE NOW
 
Ground
Take a walk, a bath (better yet with Epsom salts), stand with a tree or barefoot on the earth, exercise.
Center
Place your hand on your heart and breathe.  Stop what you’re doing and simply take 3 breaths with your attention in your heart.
Ask For Help
Call on your higher self, God, your angels or divine guides to assist you in seeing a higher perspective about the situation.  Ask for divine will and intelligence to guide your way. Listen. Be open to the answer in any form it takes.
Be Grateful
Find something, anything, you can appreciate and are grateful for right this moment, no matter how small.  If you can’t find anything, create it!  Put on a song that you love, connect with a loved one, give your pet some attention, gaze at the clouds, listen to the birds, or watch an inspiring or funny movie.
Be of Service 
Give someone what you are wanting more of.  This could be as simple as a smile, holding the door open, or a kind word.  Send blessings to all with the simple words of, "May all be blessed with...(love, peace, freedom...)"
 
This is a short list, for often simple is the most powerful.  You’ve heard all these before, because they work!
 
Be gentle on yourself, beloved.  You are not alone, nor are you powerless.  You were born to express your unique spark of divinity to this world in chaos.  Rise up!  Lift up!  Allow all the muck to arise, the storm to swirl around you, and let the light of who you really are contribute to a world in great need of YOU.

How often do you notice the rules and regulations you’ve set for yourself – or others - in order to be a good and right person, a person who deserves to enjoy their life right now?  There are so many different paths you could follow and practices you could do.  Should you focus on your health and diet?  On taking action externally in a world in chaos, be it environmentally, socially, politically or economically?  On your communication, kindness and relationships?  On your spiritual life, meditation and self-awareness?  On your home, career, service to the world and finances?  On getting rid of “bad habits” or adding all those practices you should be doing or new things you should be learning?  I’m sure you have your own list.  Will the day come that you ever actually get it all done? 
 
Today is the day to choose freedom.  How would it feel to be free to be the very unique gift that you are to the world, including that list of all those things you want to fix, change, complete, get rid of or add? 
 
Freedom to laugh, relax, enjoy, sing, dance, sleep, feel pleasure, feel pain, say yes, say no, make mistakes, allow all your emotions to be there, and know you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, as you’re supposed to be.
 
This freedom isn’t earned.  It is your birthright. 
 
What if you not only signed up for this adventure, all its ups and downs, but even wrote out your own contract of all the experiences, challenges and adventures you wanted to have?  Your job is to love yourself through every experience, knowing that as you do so, your light shines out even greater and contributes to the love that is transforming the world, making every person’s path to remembering easier.
 
Particularly this month, we are being pulled in two directions that are both seductive.  One creates fear, doubt, insecurity, poverty, powerlessness, despair, separation, depression and anxiety.  Read or listen to the media or news and it is easy to understand this energy.  Listen to your own thoughts that don’t feel good, and there is that downward pull.  The other direction is a pull from the heart.  It creates love, trust, faith, pleasure, joy, empowerment and peace.  It shows you a bigger picture, one that isn’t personal to you or about you.  It gives you relief in the knowing that what you are feeling and expressing is the collective energy of ALL beings. 
 
You have the power to choose to bring love and compassion to it all, starting with yourself.
 
You have a choice, here and now, to claim your freedom.  You are free to choose what direction you want to go in.  This does not mean that you have to fight against anything, but that’s part of the experience too. 
 
Freedom means choosing to see life as a journey, with all of your experiences as key aspects of that journey.  Once those rules come in, the strict dogma someone has fed you of how you are supposed to live your live, the joyful freedom to be yourself dissipates.  Even the things that bring out your passion and creativity feel like chores and reasons to find that you are not measuring up. 
 
Now is the time to question everything.  Question what you think, what you believe, and everything every expert out there says. 
 
The expert in your life is YOU, and others guide you in remembering, reflecting your inner knowing.  I get much of my intuitive guidance from external sources, such as through written words, spoken words, animals, clouds, sounds, or the wind.  Ask yourself, “Does this expert leave me feeling empowered, relieved, inspired, joyful, peaceful, and more free?  Or does this expert have me feel less than, not enough, uncertain, disempowered or fearful?”  It doesn’t matter how pretty the package is or how right it seems.  Is it right for YOU?
 
Even in your darkest times, those times you are overwhelmed by anxiety, doubt, negative thoughts, worry or anger, you have a choice.  You have a FREEDOM to choose to interpret what is happening in anyway you choose.  Is it the “right” interpretation?  Only you can say, and, of course, everyone else will have an opinion too.
 
First, you can begin by simply noticing you’re hung up in thoughts and feelings that don’t feel good.  I’m not talking about base emotions that arise like anger, depression, anxiety or sorrow.  Those are neutral emotions that come forth to be felt, honored and released, yet we often add our thoughts and judgments about them, making up stories that feed our “not good” feelings.  From a more divine authentic perspective, no emotion is bad or wrong.  It is all information, and especially important when wanting to live by intuitive guidance.  When you find yourself noticing those pesky negative thoughts or feelings, take a few slow breaths and call in your higher self and your divine guides and angels and ask, “What is a higher perspective I could take on this situation right now?”   Listen up!
 
You’ll find that the truth always feels good, even amid pain. 
 
Recently I have been aware of my grief and sorrow.   It often arises suddenly.  One day, calling on my higher self for better perspective, first I was immediately drawn to a lone perfect and lovely smelling rose on my walk.  I then became aware of how the heart, a place I am committed to living in as my foundation, contains love, joy, sorrow and grief.  As my open my heart more and more, the depths of all these emotions arise, and they are all beautiful.  Have you noticed that tears come not just from sorrow, but from deep felt love, gratitude and joy?
 
Sometimes we might think that being “ourselves”, going in the direction of our own joy, will mean that we lose a handle on things like kindness, generosity, caring for others, etiquette or responsibility.  Forget about everyone else and look at yourself in this moment.  You’re a good-hearted person.  That’s a given.  You’re going to make mistakes, offend people, and really blow it even with your best of intentions sometimes. 
 
It’s actually nice to take time to reflect on a situation that you went into with good intention, only to get triggered, reactive, or just blow the whole goal you had.  You get to know yourself with more compassion, and also get to see that there is a bigger game afoot than just “winning”, living up to others demands or expectations, or getting it right every time. 
 
Recently I was selling some items on Craigslist for a neighbor.  A woman was interested in buying a table.  We conversed by email, setting a time for pick up, giving her the address of my neighbor, and exchanging phone numbers.  As I hung out in my own backyard with my neighbor, I was prepared for the woman to come between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, as she would be driving in traffic from about 45 minutes away.  I didn’t have my phone or computer with me in my backyard.  As it turns out, we agreed to 3:00 PM pick up, not 5:00 PM.  I also gave her the wrong address of my neighbor.  She proceeded to call me, email me and knock on neighbor’s doors to try to find an address that didn’t exist.  I called her upon realizing my major mistake, and she hung up on me.  This was such a mess up (could it have been any worse?), that I couldn’t help but realize that sometimes we are set up to be the villain, the bad guy.  It’s the job we’re given in that moment for the highest good.  We don’t have to, and may not ever, know “how” or “why” the mess or mistake we have made could possibly be part of the divine plan.  
 
This is also true regarding the good you put into the world.  It is so much more far reaching than you realize.  Consider that the smallest acts you do ripple out in positive contribution to all.  You most likely only catch glimpses of the effect you have, the “how” your presence on this planet is of equal yet unique contribution compared to others.
 
Although you may never personally witness the full outcome of your contribution, focusing your goal-oriented mind on your freedom to choose feeling good here and now, be it more calm, loving, grateful or light-hearted, gives the mind a job to do.
 
It is the least selfish thing you can do, for once you focus your attention on a higher perspective for yourself, you lift yourself, your energy, your vibration or frequency, to a place that opens the space to connect more deeply in your relationships.  You can better understand others with compassion and loving presence.
 
Being YOU means being it all.  Yes, it means being free to live by your personal values, shining out your love, playfulness, joy and gratitude.  It also means that when you connect to your authentic self, your true divine nature that is more than just “human”, you give yourself freedom to be the messy, disorganized, frustrated, victimized, sad, lazy, “insert something you think is wrong about you or others” part of you as well.  Phew!  What a relief! 
 
You’re always doing your best.  Really!  Try that one on.  If you were in a different state of consciousness, you would be doing things differently.  When you get reactive or act on automatic, you’re doing your best given the state of consciousness you are in. 
 
Commit to be FREE TO BE YOU!  There’s no written manual for it, no rules, no getting it wrong.  Even losing yourself, living in a way that is not true to your hearts desire, is part of the path to returning to YOU!  It’s the game we are all playing and you are not alone!
 
What would your life look like if you were truly free to be you?  In this freedom, there is no need to control others, to control anything, because with this freedom comes a great desire for all beings to be free. 

What does your personal freedom look like?  Write it down!  Be honest with yourself.  For example, I’ve played with freedom around food – the, “I can eat whatever I want!” attitude.  Ok, that is true, and for me, results in weight gain.  Instead, I get to know my body today.  What worked yesterday may be different from today.  I am honest about why I’m choosing to eat what I do, and notice the foods I know I will want more and more of that don’t have my body feel its best (say “cheese”!).  If I’m free in my food choices, I want my food to express in my body, mind and soul the most vibrant, healthy, caring and loving ME!  As a 95% vegan (dropping the strict dogma of it), food reflects a freedom to live my values as opposed to making a statement to others or hiding out for fear of offending others.  Instead, I think, “I do this because I believe it important, and you are free to eat in a way that reflects what you believe is important.”  Go in the direction of freedom, and you’ll be surprised by what shows up, since anything goes.  Freedom to be yourself gives a freedom for others to be themselves, like to eat meat or not.
 
The world needs your freedom.  It needs new ideas, new perspectives, new possibilities and the true heart-based joyful self-expression that freedom brings.  It leaves room for your humanity, for all of you.  The world needs courageous you, in each tiny choice you make to be free to express your heart and soul’s authentic desires.  Take a step in getting to know yourself, your hopes, fears, challenges, abilities, likes and dislikes.  Gift the world with your uniqueness!

There are two ways that change occurs in our lives.  We either deliberately choose change, or change happens to us.  Often the changes that happen “to us” are the most challenging to take responsibility for.  Why would I make that happen?  I remember learning in undergrad psychology how happy people tend to blame bad things that happen on something, or someone, outside themselves and take responsibility for good things that happen.  It messed with my head, because I tended toward doing the opposite.  Today, I am empowered by taking responsibility for all my experiences, for each one offers growth, adventure and transformation.
 
Right now reality is crumbling, both personally in your own house and collectively in our home called Earth.  You might be running around your house frantically trying to fix every crack, the leaky plumbing, or the broken window, only to find more and more of your house is falling apart.   Maybe you’re glued to your television or phone, holding an umbrella over your head as you try to ignore the rain coming through your leaky roof.  Or, maybe it’s the electricians fault you’re having trouble with your appliance and lighting, or you find your peace of mind is shattered by your annoying neighbor’s barking dog.  Being the caring person you are, maybe you’re busy trying to put out every fire you see as the smoke rises from more and more of your neighbor’s homes.
 
We are all having our unique breakdowns, and each one is necessary on our quest to awaken to the truth of who we are and to a shift that is happening, with or without us.   Are you deliberately choosing to change or is change happening to you?   The perspective you choose to take is what influences the quality of your life at this moment.  You are awakening from the illusion that you are a powerless, unworthy, broken victim who needs to please and be approved of by some outside authority figure, being punished for your past or present bad deeds, and tossed around by other people’s actions.  You a powerful creator who chose to be here at this amazing time on the planet and set up your life’s experiences for your and the world’s highest and greatest evolution. 
 
Lately I’m feeling more and more like an observer of my life’s experiences, thoughts and actions.  I watch myself going through the motions, catching myself over and over doing, thinking and acting in ways that I find just don’t work anymore.  It’s not that I’m wrong or bad, just that I’m outdated and need to update my software.  I’m noticing this in most every area of my life, and it’s quite a trip. 
 
I, like you, was programmed about what reality is and how to be and act in the world so that I am successful, look good, and gain the approval of others (including “God”).  Remember Encyclopedia Britannica?  We had a set when I grew up.  Well, I’ve got a house filled to the brim with encyclopedias filled with rules about how reality is.  With my keen intellect, educational background, and desire to be self-aware, I can dissect any situation, second guessing my actions, thoughts or desires as subconscious habits or beliefs, addictions, escapism, laziness, insecurity, fear, blocks, selfishness, self-sabotoge, wishful thinking, ego, trauma, and the list goes on.  I’m sure your house is full too!
 
For me, I am amid a healing crisis in beliefs and automatic ways of operating in the world.  It shows up as NOT FEELING GOOD, meaning heightened anxiety, worry or stress, when I think about my present and future in the normal, responsible and scientifically sound ways I’ve been taught to operate around relationships, business, home, work, money, eating and more.  What great news!   I am releasing the old and opening to the new and unknown more deeply than ever before.
 
What is a healing crisis?  This is most well known around our health and bodies.  For example, when you do a detox of any sort for the body, you’ll often have symptoms such as nausea or other digestive upset, fever, aches and pains, or a bad headache.  Sometimes the very symptoms you are tying to alleviate flare up even stronger during a detox.  At this point you have a choice:  either you can decide that there is something wrong with what you’re doing and go back to your “normal” way of eating and what you ingest into your body, or you can know that the symptoms you are experiencing are a sign of your body releasing toxicity. 
 
The world is toxic right now, effecting not just humans, but animals and the earth itself, for the world is in a healing crisis.  This is good news!  Instead of seeing what is happening as “something wrong” and choosing to go back to doing things and understanding things in the way you did in the past, you can choose to know and trust that any painful or uncomfortable feelings, emotions or experiences are simply a sign that those toxic thoughts, beliefs, relationships, environments, behaviors and emotions are bubbling to the surface, seeming to intensify, as they are being released and cleansed from your being. 
 
In our desperate need to control and understand our reality, it seems it would be easiest to throw in the towel and go back to operating in the world as we’ve understood what worked best in the past.  With the birth of a new reality, we are being asked to step into an unknown future.  You know the Boy Scouts motto, “Always be prepared.”  How do you prepare for an unknown future?  Typically, we prepare by basing it on tried and true methods from the past.  However, we also know that what much of what we’ve done in the past is not working for our planet or humanity anymore.  
 
The first half of August calls us to trust in our process, know that any discomfort is a result of us deliberately choosing to release toxicity, and to claim a future that is filled with greater love, creativity, joy and peacefulness than we’ve ever experienced.  We don’t have to know the “how” or the details, for our future is new, different and unknown. 
 
Claim the Leo energy available now, the power of the lion’s roar and the lion’s heart.  “I am a powerful being, exactly where and as I’m supposed to be!  I say yes to what I want, and enough is enough to what no longer serves or supports me.  All that I do contributes to the well-being of the planet and all people everywhere!”
 
By mid-August, things will seem to normalize a bit.  Enjoy the summer sun and the cool water.  Play and celebrate!  Drink more water and immerse in water, as it will aid your process and integration of the shifts happening inside you.  September energies will intensify, so use this last half of August ground into your true nature easily - to love, to laugh, and to fill your days with sincere gratitude for your life right now.  Breathe into your heart and look around you, finding what sparks your love, gratitude and peace.  Bring your compassionate heart to your challenges and the challenges of those around you.

You probably have heard the saying, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”  Some say this statement came about in the 1960’s.  So how are you feeling these days?  Are you frustrated, angry, outraged, apathetic, confused, depressed, grieving or just coping by occupying your time with important things like shopping, videos and social media updates?
 
When it comes to mainstream news, I’m more interested in how people react to it than the news itself.  This is because I’ve come to a point where I know there is always an agenda, and I’d rather be aware of it and live by my own than get sucked into another’s agenda unaware. 
 
The latest buzz seems to be around black men getting shot by police, and police getting shot by black men.  I’m sure you probably have a strong opinion about this.  The question is, does your opinion come with strong emotions, like outrage?
 
After starting to write this blog, this particular buzz came up in a  conversation with my 20-year old son.  His anger and sorrow was palpable, specifically regarding racism and his lack of ability to ever really experience how greatly it effects black men, given he’s a white male.  I flashed back to the days that I became acutely aware of the insidious nature of racism, including my own (still there in writing this – my fear of offending – dare I say “black”?  Is that PC?).  I realized that outrage is a natural part of the experience of waking up to any unnecessary injustice or suffering that has been happening on this planet for centuries in one way or another.
 
I’m not here to tell you not to react to any crisis occurring.  However, in order for true change to occur in a world in crisis, it is clear that new ways of thinking, being, perceiving and acting are necessary now.  There’s no going back to the “good old days” or  “normal” if you’ve chosen a path of spiritual awakening. 
 
While the issues and shift in reality at hand has been talked about for decades, more and more are waking up to seeing and admitting this shift afoot.  How are you to thrive amid the breakdown of reality and all the upsurge of intensity, for good or for bad, occurring around you?
 
It’s important to understand the power of our hearts.  In the 1990’s, the HeartMath Institute discovered that the heart is a “second brain”, containing its own intelligence.  Accessing the intelligence of the heart answers the deepest questions, such as “Why am I here,” and “Who am I?”
 
The heart also emits the most powerful electromagnetic field in the body.  Furthermore, the magnetic field of the heart affects and is affected by the magnetic field of the earth as well as other humans.
 
We’ll come back to the heart in a moment.  In the 1980’s, with the key works of scientists like David Bohm and Stanislov Grof, science began to support the theory of a holographic universe. 
 
The idea of a holographic universe means basically that our reality is a projected illusion, existing only in our perception.  Grof compared the mind to a holodeck, like the one you saw in Star Trek.  You can also think of it like a movie projector.  Light is sent out from the projector, meaning nothing to us if we look back in the movie theater toward the projector room.  Without a screen for the light to go onto, the light would simply extend out into space.  Instead, it goes onto a movie screen, where we experience the movie. 
 
We are the projector, the light, the screen, and the theater where we sit.  The movie changes depending on the use of our senses, the choice of light used, and our expectations of the movie we are watching based on our past experiences.
 
Depending on our choice of perception and state of consciousness at any given time, we will have a very different experience.  For example, you could go to a serene and beautiful lake, basking in the beauty and relaxation of nature.  The lake could feel calming and refreshing, whisking away all your cares.  You might even see the fairies and water sprites fluttering about.  If you have a fear around lakes, such as of drowning, stepping on that mucky stuff below, or from scary movies with evil things lurking beneath the surface (ok, maybe you don’t have that crazy fear – but I do, ha!), then you’ll have a very different experience. 
 
It doesn’t matter if your experience matches anyone else’s, whether in response to something happening in the greater world or your personal life.  What matters is that you know you have the power to not only shift your experience, but influence others and the world itself.
 
The power of the heart holds the key to shifting, and thriving, through anything occurring in our reality.  Furthermore, we can step up our positive contribution to a world in chaos.  Do you want to add your outrage, helplessness or anxiety to the world, or add peacefulness, cooperation and unconditional love? 
 
The research, such as from HeartMath and Lynn McTaggart, shows us that we can and do affect the world at large.  In fact, when we get together with others and come into the space of the heart, a synergy occurs, meaning that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  We affect the magnetics of the earth more as a group than we can as individuals.  McTaggart’s intention experiments show the power of group intention, such as decreasing violence in a specific geographic location.  These experiments utilized heart-based emotions and intentions.
 
Coming into the heart and creating a state of heart coherence, meaning balanced and smooth heart-rhythm patterns, is an easy and quick practice that you can do anytime.
 
Creating Heart Connection and Coherence
1. Physically touch your heart with your hand or fingers.  When you touch your heart, the brain’s attention goes to that area.
 
2.  Slow your breathing down.  This signals a relaxation response, as breathing is slower in situations where you feel safe and relaxed.
 
3.  Think about something that you feel appreciative for, grateful for, or deeply love and care about. 
 
From this space, you are now sending this vibration, electromagnetic frequency, and holographic perception of reality out to your loved ones, the global community, and the earth itself.  
 
From the space of the heart, intuition is heightened and you can find new understanding regarding any situation.  Following the guidance and intelligence of the heart provides new insights and solutions. 
 
Instead of remaining outraged when we pay attention, we can choose to take powerful action that transforms our world by being honest about our feelings, and then access the compassion, unconditional love, neutrality and true care that resides in our hearts.  By being willing to harness the power of the heart, we can thrive even amid life’s greatest challenges.

On vacation with my family this past weekend, we stopped into a thrift store just for fun.  Casually looking at clothing, I came upon a 1980’s down hunting jacket.  I knew I had to have it.  My husband loved it of course, with its two NRA patches.  My 20-year old son hated it, as he has the opposite view about hunting and guns as my husband. 
 
As for me, I know have strong viewpoints around hunting, animal rights, and meat eating.  It was around 7 years ago that my husband’s brother was talking about deer hunting and I could barely listen and began to cry.  I felt great pain in my heart.  Today, after years of seeking to truly understand the viewpoints and values of those who hunt and eat meat, my husband will soon be going on another hunting trip, and I admit that I’m happy he has yet to actually kill an animal.
 
While I’ve been vegetarian on and off since my teenage years, and a strong animal rights activist into my late twenties, today my values around animals are more grounded than ever.
 
It was just this past January that I decided to come out of the closet fully in regards to my values.  What this means for me is to live by my values, without strict rules or dogma (yes, boy do they still come up), and without fighting against others opposing viewpoints. 
 
Let’s be honest: we are all paradoxical beings, doing the best we can in any moment.
 
For me, being a whole foods plant-based vegan isn’t a statement, judgment or stance against the environmental, spiritual, ethical or health issues regarding the treatment and use of animals.  It is a natural choice given my personal values regarding all of the above.  Meanwhile, I still wear my Ugg boots.  I put cream in my coffee about once a week when I’m out of the house.  I go out to eat, and you never know what’s in your food if someone else is cooking it.   I’ll wear a used animal item, such as a down jacket, because the animal already gave its life for it, and/or to be eaten.  Should that leather be thrown away, or utilized until it is completely unwearable?
 
If someone is interested in my perspective, I’ll tell them.  I know that my intentions, thoughts, feelings and actions speak more loudly than any lecture I could give. 
 
So why did I get that hunting jacket?  The one I plan to add PETA and vegan patches to?  It’s for me and my head, not to mess with others heads.  It’s a statement to remind me to confront my own prejudices, limitations and beliefs.  It puts me in an external situation to stand confidently yet neutrally in my values amid others reactions or judgments.
 
As I perused the web for my new patches, I came upon a “coexist” patch.  Some of you know the term.  It became popular because of the non-profit organization, Coexist.  They address the hate, prejudice and violence that arise due to conflicting social and cultural identities. 
 
What would it look like if people with opposing viewpoints sought to truly understand and respect each other, and work together to build a better world?
 
When the passion and beliefs around your values and ethics come into play, it is a prime opportunity to grow and expand.  Are we here to eliminate anything that does not match our viewpoint, or are we here to lift all viewpoints into the light and love of the divine?  Is the universe an intricate web, all connected and weaved together, or are things separate? 
 
If everything is here to serve us, to say, “Hey, look at me!  You still have judgment, fear or doubt around this,” how do we discern when to take action?  Do you jump in and educate, stop the abuse, say, “No more!” or do you ignore and walk away?  
 
The path of the spiritual warrior is not an easy one, for we don’t want to add to the hate and violence, yet we want to create a world of connection, love, compassion and care. 
 
On the “self-help” path, you’ve heard the idea of noticing when you are upset, angry or judgmental with someone and then looking in the mirror, knowing they are reflecting the things in you, your shadow side, that you judge so harshly.
 
While this practice is potent, it’s not so black and white.   Do I hate the part of me that has eaten meat in the past?  I would say, no, I don’t.  When my judgment arises, it calls me to look my core beliefs about reality and how I think the world should be.  When my anger arises around the unnecessary harmful treatment of animals, I’m called to be neutral and compassionate, to trust that what others are doing is a call for me to bring in even more love and light to a planet in darkness.  When I watch people hurting themselves or others, I am called to remember that they are powerful beings just as we all are, and their path is theirs to walk, not mine.  When I feel sorrow and pain in my heart at the harmful treatment of animals and nature, I’m called to live by my values even more consciously.
 
You might think that the world will remain the same if we take no overt action.  I’m not saying not to take action when necessary.  However, activism begins with our internal actions, doing the work within.  By unraveling our own judgments, our automatic responses based on deep-seated beliefs about reality, confronting our fears and doubts, we do this for all of mankind. 
 
Every thought we think, every feeling we experience, every intention we set, is a powerful frequency that is added to and affects the collective. 
 
You can sit at home and stew about the horrible things happening in the world, filled with anger, hate, helplessness or frustration, and add to the anger, hate, helplessness and frustration of the world.  You can sit at home and confront your thoughts and feelings, releasing the anger and hate into the light of source, of unconditional love, and add divine light and love to the world.  We think we are in a bubble, that our internal world doesn’t affect others, but this is an outdated viewpoint. 
 
From a standpoint that whatever is happening is purposeful and a tool for the evolution of your consciousness, you can then discern what next action step to take in the world.  The struggle and fight is over, and yes, the hard work begins. 
 
We are used to dissecting our lives and the world by seeing what is good and what is bad.  Striving to be a “good person”, we often look at what is bad and must be eliminated.  From a different perspective, what is happening is that as you reach up, as you grow spiritually, everything comes up to be seen, loved, and released into the light of the divine.  Habits, beliefs and automatic ways of being are called to be noticed and replaced with ways of being and acting that align with your values and soul purpose.
 
It’s all unfolding quite purposefully, and with each conscious choice we make in thought, word and deed, we get to make our experiences mean whatever we want to. 

Notice what comes up for you if you saw me wearing that down hunting jacket.  Does it mean that I hunt?  That I eat meat?  That I advocate hunting?  That I’m cool and “part of the club”?  That I am uneducated?  A redneck?  “Outdoorsy”?  A true-blooded American?  A Republican?  Part of the problem?  An idiot?  Adding to the bad stuff – or the good stuff?  Trying to upset people, given I’m a vegan yet wearing it?  You get to say.

When we think about energy updates, it’s a bit like fortune telling, and we’re always asking, “When it will get better?”  Well, this is it my beautiful tribe.  The “get better” is all up to your own interpretation about your path and reality.
 
The peaks and valleys, the blasts of energy and gateways here and there in the past, are now happening so closely together that it’s all a blur of opportunity and intensity.  It’s a moment-by-moment opportunity to expand and lift up, or to drop into the chaos and fear more deeply.
 
Already started in this month of June, we are in a time where love is the priority.  Yes, this is always the case, but this particular aspect of love calls us to dig deeper into the cave with the 5th dimensional light of unconditional love. 
 
There are two ways this is showing up for more and more of us, and they both involve breaking the bonds of illusion and stepping into our sovereignty.
 
We do this not just for our own empowerment, but for the entire collective, one individual at a time.   Your awakening lights the way for all others.
 
First, we must look at ourselves more deeply.  What core beliefs do you have that are limiting your highest good, empowerment and joy?  An awareness, releasing by simply declaring it so, and re-framing is called for. 
 
Re-frame: What if all your most challenging hardships and limitations were your most powerful tools for awakening?
 
As the energy spins faster and more powerfully, you’ll see more chaos, insanity and destruction in the world.  In your own life, your limits are tested.  You might want to give up.  What’s the point?  Feelings might occur such as depression, anxiety, emptiness, frustration, boredom, apathy, or just a feeling of not knowing what to do or what you want. 
 
It’s time to commit and live by your commitment, to walk your talk.  When you do, those feelings will be called to be re-framed.  They call you to slow down, breathe and be present, and give those feelings attention rather than trying to get away from them as quickly as possible. 
 
Whatever comes up is a part of your process.  The energy of this time brings up all those old beliefs, limitations and stories that want to be released and put to rest.  You’ll be surprised by their intensity and maybe that they are still around, and this is why it’s so important to trust your process and the power of love. 
 
Personal power arises when you no longer operate on automatic.  All those automatic reactions, thoughts and beliefs are coming up to assist you to choose and commit to something new.  Remember that one of those automatic thoughts sounds like, "There's something wrong - with me, with others, with the world."
 
The second way love is showing up for us is through the disillusionment of the world as we know it.  This takes a commitment to seeing truth through using your discernment. 
 
Along the yellow brick road, it’s not easy to wake yourself up from the sweet sleep state of the magical field of poppy flowers.  Furthermore, once you get to Oz, you find that the wizard himself is a fraud, a master of illusion.  Remember, Dorothy was the one who had the power all along to bring herself home.
 
It may feel like a fight and “us against them” when you start to see the truth about what has been going on in our world for many thousands of years.  Notice when you get angry and want to fight the system you trusted for so long.  It’s ok if you feel outraged (of course you do!), and breaking the bonds of oppression without adding to it through anger, judgment, powerlessness and fear is the path of the brave love light warrior. 
 
When you do turn off the news, stop automatically believing whatever you are told by the authorities you were raised to trust, and for the love of God stop drinking fluoridated water, you might wonder who you can trust.  Look into what your source’s agenda is.  No, not the superficial mission statement they’ll give.  What are they getting out of it, and are they actually fulfilling their mission?  Are they doing no harm?  Do they seek power over (sometimes you just need follow the money trail) or to connect with and empower you? 

Notice when you think something is a “conspiracy” and how you react to that thought.  Why were we trained that anything that goes against what we were taught by experts and written in history or science books should be dismissed immediately?  Discerning truth from illusion takes a willingness to give up, for a moment, what you thought reality to be.  (Honestly - the old reality is coming to an end, so you might as well mourn it and move on, or, you can keep repeating an old record.  Denial is powerful.)
 
More and more people are seeing that the rat race they were brainwashed into running, the dogma they were following, benefits the few, and certainly not really they themselves.  The scientific perspectives that we (consciousness) are separate from the physical world and that nature operates by survival of the fittest were theories, not the facts about reality that we’ve been living by. 
 
Whatever you begin to awaken from out of that poppy field, take it slow and easy.  There’s no rush right now to take action, unless you are deeply called to do so.  Your action of discernment, from a place of wanting pure unconditional love for yourself, others and our beloved Gaia, is more of a contribution than you can fathom. 
 
Ask yourself, “What am I committed to?  What am I contributing to the world through my consciousness, though my frequency of thought, action and feeling?”
 
Amid these energies, remember that it is easy to get sucked down and spin out.  It’s easy to think there is something wrong, whether with you, others, the system or life itself.  Once you notice you’re in the density of fear, doubt and lack, you can be gentle on yourself.  It’s ok that you feel that way and you don’t need to “force yourself” to be somewhere you’re not.  Bring that love and attention to yourself.  You are not lacking!  You are a brilliant soul here to be a part of a grand transformation!  It is happening, now, and it is a call to love.

You may have felt the energy intensifying as today’s solstice has approached.  The summer solstice is a time in which the most light is available.  With the full moon in Sagittarius, we are given an opportunity to find truth and see our own limiting beliefs.
 
This potent combination gives us an opportunity to release outdated beliefs and open to a new bigger picture about reality and a higher truth.
 
Our intuition is heightened, and we are better able to access our deepest dreams and unique path. 
 
The path of awakening involves waking up from and releasing old patterns of beliefs, habits and actions.  The sun calls us to allow in its light, not just 3rd dimensional light, but the light of consciousness, the light of truth.  This light, this frequency, is that of unconditional love. 
 
Love always is the answer.
 
This is such a powerful time, even the days after today’s summer solstice. 
 
Breathe in the light of the sun, allowing it to fill your entire being.  This light contains the truth that you seek, and expands your intuition.  The more you awaken to truth, the more powerful you’ll find your intuition is. 
 
Allow yourself time to see any outdated beliefs or behaviors you might have that are limiting.  These are all the ones that say, “No, you can’t. That’s just not how reality is, who I am, how it goes.”  You don’t need to be tricked by any beliefs that seem to keep you safe and “responsible”.  Does that belief have you feel safe, loved, expanded, connected, abundant, joyful or peaceful?  If not, you might consider it is time to release that belief under the full moon.  Write it down, knowing it served you in the past but no longer does, and release it by burning the piece of paper in a fireproof container.
 
Take time to reflect on how your beliefs around money, relationships, work and health might have changed over the past few months.  What actions can you take that support these, without need to force or change anyone else’s beliefs?
 
Trust your powerful intuition, following each step that goes in the direction of loving yourself, loving others, loving the earth and infusing your life with joy and appreciation.

Trusting the guidance of your angels, guides and true authentic self is simpler that you think.  The only thing in the way is YOU. 
 
While there are basic ways people experience guidance from their angels, guides, and their own authentic divine nature, each person is unique in their experience.  Know that if an experience contains any fear-based emotions or thoughts, they are not to be trusted as divine guidance.  Even if your intuition alerts you to not trust a situation or person, such as a scam artist or where your safety is involved such as to not get on a plane, the alert itself is just a clear jolt of information given to take immediate action on as opposed to the worry, doubt or anxiety that comes with fearful thoughts.  No matter how pretty or professional a package of  information comes in, even if labeled as “spiritual”, if it doesn’t feel right to you, it is most important to trust your own higher guidance.
 
Signs You Can Trust
 
1. Synchronicity
Some define synchronicity as a “meaningful coincidence”.  When you are following your intuition and divine guidance, life begins to flow and align with your heart’s desire and soul’s mission.  You are in the right place at the right time, and things occur with greater ease and grace. 
 
2. Repetitive Signs
Your intuition and angels are persistent.  Messages and guidance often aren’t given just once.  They will repeat until you receive them, accept them, and take action if necessary.  Watch those calm repetitive thoughts that guide you toward an action for your well-being, and those signs in your environment and dreams such as number sequences, feathers, coins, birds, animals, songs and what you hear or read from others.
 
3. Feel-good Emotions
When you’re connected into your higher knowing and divine guidance, you can’t help but feel good.  Even the greatest crisis can bring with it a sense of peace or calm.  The truth of who you are is filled with states of being and experiencing unconditional love, joy, gratitude, trust, compassion and peace.  As hard as your situation might be, when you tap into the divine, you know that all is truly well.
 
4. Calm Inner Knowing
Your intuition and divine guidance bring with them a calm inner knowing, even amid intense circumstances.  You might feel a relaxation throughout your body, a calm grounded feeling in your belly or gut, a sense of peacefulness, or of certainty (the “I just know” – without rhyme or reason - sensation).  Even if the message is alerting you to a danger, instead of fear, you are calmly guided to take important immediate action that will bring you to safety. 
 
5. Lack of Judgment
Divine guidance and your intuition are neutral.  Even with our own judgment of “good” or “bad” feelings about a situation, the actual guidance comes as information, plain and simple.  This is why there is a sense of calmness, that everything will be ok, and you can feel free to accept and be at peace with any situation.  This is the energy of unconditional love.  Everything becomes simply an experience, a lesson, an opportunity for growth and expansion.  There are no “shoulds” present, no doomed feelings such as “If I don’t do this, then something bad will happen.”  That interpretation comes from our minds.  Start to notice the initial guidance you received.  It will come simply as information, whether a thought, feeling, sensation, sound, smell, or visual cue.
 
6. Sudden Ideas or Flashes
Often when we ask for guidance, a sudden thought will cross our minds.  Pay attention to those flashes of inspiration, no matter how seemingly insignificant, irrelevant or trivial.  Take action!
 
7. A Simple and Direct Action Step
Divine guidance is given one step at a time.  You might want more prosperity, overwhelmed by debt and bills, and are guided to clear out the clutter in your closet.  You might want vibrant health, and are guided to simply drink more water.  While your goals, challenges or problems might feel huge, you can trust that each small step, taken one at a time, will have you reach your larger goals.
 
8. Something Out of the Ordinary
You’re going along with your day, kind of operating on automatic, and you notice something different.  This could look like a thought, “Get off at this exit now,” and you avoid an accident.  You might see an animal acting out of the norm, or a bird where you might not usually see it.  You walk into a room, feeling fine, and suddenly you feel angry, nervous or sad.  You feel a breeze when all the windows and doors are closed.  Notice when something is out of place or suddenly different.  Your inner and outer divine guidance is speaking to you! 
 
There are usually more than one of these signs happening at any given time.  If you doubt, breathe and ask, “Is this my intuition?” or “Is this my angels?”  Trust the immediate answer when it brings with it that calm knowing without judgment.  Call on your angels and divine guides and ask for even clearer messages.

Look around and you see bad things happening to good people, and good things happening to bad people.  It’s madness! 
 
We know you’re one of the good peeps.  So why would you be having a hard day?  Did the universe punish you yet again for your bad deeds?  Well, you know, what comes around goes around.  “What you sow, so shall you reap.”  It’s as simple as the law of causality (cause and effect) in physics, or the law of attraction, right?  Of course, karma isn’t just from this lifetime.  Those past lives are coming back to get you, too.  And, worst of all, did I mention that it looks like it’s gonna be coal again for you this Christmas?
 
Those of you who want to look to blame your troubles on your past naughty deeds will be sorely disappointed by this blog.  Please put down your phone or leave your computer now and proceed to do 10 Hail Mary’s and 20 Our Father’s, and God might consider only punishing you for your original sin.
 
If you still believe in karma, I am certain the universe is happily obliging you by giving you evidence of it.  You are looking for that evidence after all, yes?  I’m honestly not here to take that away from you and try to make you change your mind.  Karma goes both ways, so if the idea of it encourages you to be a kinder and more loving person, go for it, seriously! 
 
I am here to offer you a way off the “karmic wheel” for good, should you be interested.
 
New Earth is a dimension we can access through our state of consciousness at any time.  In New Earth, karma no longer exists.  Karma only exists in the old ways of thinking about reality and spirituality that we continue to re-live. 
 
Those of you that might at least ponder the possibility that you have reincarnated many times on this planet need to understand that the way we’ve thought about the cycle of death and rebirth, that karmic wheel, can come to an end now, if you choose.
 
What is available to experience consciously now is a multi-dimensional state of being in which reward and punishment don’t come out to play. 
 
So what’s changed?
 
Karma is a viewpoint about the nature of reality.  It served us in the past.  It called us to be kinder, gentler and more caring.  “Do unto others…” The lessons learned from our karmic past can now be cleared through the power of divine light and love.  We have an opportunity now to choose to embody divine consciousness as humans walking the earth.
 
We now have a new call, and many of us are experiencing this.  There’s got to be a better way.  The call is to love, to express love from our hearts outward, letting love guide our decisions and actions.  This isn’t so that we can finally judge ourselves as good and right humans.  This call is given to us so that we may step into and embody the love that we naturally are.  No longer are there separate compartments for our heads and our hearts, or for the good and the bad.  Love, the energy that creates worlds, asks us to trust that all is unfolding perfectly.  Even when we are frustrated, worried, angry or fearful, we declare that this, too, is a part of our unfolding.
 
Let’s get to the bottom line question:  How can I apply this in my everyday life?
 
1.  Simply being open to the possibility that the universe, God or physical/spiritual laws do not seek to reward nor punish will begin to change the quality of your experiences.
 
2.  Act as if everything is your ally, teacher and is here for your growth and highest good.  Whatever is occurring, whatever you have done or don’t do, whatever someone is doing to you, is not your fault.  Instead, you can take full responsibility for creating a reality in which you are having all different kinds of experiences that are ultimately bringing you more in touch with your true divine nature, or showing you ways you blind yourself from your true divine nature.
 
3.  Become aware of ways you habitually blame yourself or others for negative outcomes.  With blame comes judgment.  If you’re good, you are rewarded.  If you’re bad, you must be punished.  Notice when others blame you – and remember that they, too, are simply stuck in the old ways of operating in the world.  Responsibility is different than blame.
 
4.  Re-frame the LAW OF ATTRACTION.  If things aren’t going your way, it doesn’t mean you did something to create that.  You weren’t in a “lower vibration” or being a “match” for the bad stuff.  The law of attraction is a reflection not just of the vibration or call of your “lower self”, your ego, but also of your higher self, your soul’s calling.  You might intend, feel with all your being, and have your complete attention on the manifestation of your desires here and now, and still – shit hits the fan. 
 
Why?  Because your soul knows the best way to manifest your highest, purest desires, and this yucky smelly crap around is actually the best way to propel you into that direction.  That doesn’t mean you have to like it.  It does mean you can re-frame your experiences here and now and give yourself space to breathe, be gentler on yourself, and trust yourself.  Take heart that all is unfolding in the direction you need to go right now, leading the way to the next step to take.
 
5.  Being a divine human does not mean being free from pain.  Pain and pleasure, love and fear, doubt and trust, are all a part of the experience of being human.  Our divine nature reminds us that the chaos and suffering of humanity is a call to love and embrace all that we are in this moment.  This is why loving the self, choosing actions, thoughts and deeds that are an expression of your authentic self and desires, is the focus now.  By loving from within, confronting our own suffering, we become the light that assists and guides others, rather than getting tossed about by the pain and suffering occurring in our loved ones and the world.
 
6.  Try on that there’s nowhere to get to.  You are not some day, one day, going to arrive.  Rather than taking this idea and making it reason to “give up”, make it reason for you to be more loving and compassionate today, right now.  You made it!  You’re here!  Every time you choose to go in the direction of trusting your process, of giving yourself gentle attention, of assisting others with your loving presence and actions, you more deeply arrive to the magic and miracles possible right now. 
 
You break the ties to karma by declaring that you do not need reward or punishment in order to be guided toward the direction of acting in a way that is the most loving, authentic, and joy-filled expression of awesomely Divine YOU.

Many of my clients share their challenges, burdens and suffering with me, be it external or internal, from the experiences life throws at them, the internal chattering mind, physical pain, or overwhelming emotions. 
 
Despite the situation, the question is often the same: “When will this end?!!”  This might also lead to the question, “It will end right?  Things will get better?”
 
While all our challenges are unique, the nature of them is completely different than in the past.  We have an opening now, a new reality to step into.  In this reality, anything that we do for ourselves, we do for the entire collective on the planet, not just now, but throughout all timelines, past, present and future.   How amazing is that?  Can you even wrap your mind around it? 
 
Taking a traditional perspective on our pain, suffering and challenges works as well as it does.  We think, “One day, when I’ve overcome or gotten rid of this problem, then I’ll be happy.”  In this day and age, the problems of the world require solutions outside of our traditional thinking. 
 
I know you want reassurance that it will get better, and soon.  I know it not only can, but will.  However, it is you and you alone that has the choice and power to have the experience that it will, and can, get better.
 
Yes, sure, if you’re reading this you’re looking for me to give you the answer.  My answer is that YOU have the answer, the power, the strength, the courage, trust, love, breath, the soul and spirit, to have anything that you want.  It is your destiny, like it or not!
 
Why wouldn’t you like it?  Because your “get better” lies in the present moment of your experience.  It’s not one day – some day, when my finances are handled, I have the perfect relationship, vibrant health, ideal weight, unending positive thoughts, everlasting joy, unbridled passion, cool spiritual experiences, superpower intuition, complete freedom to be, clarity of life purpose, or “add your own here.”
 
You were born to thrive, and born to grow, expand and learn from any experience you are having.  Can you imagine a world crumbling around you, pain and suffering all around you, death, destruction, even fire and brimstone, and there you stand, in the center of it all, in peace, in trust, with an open heart and truly knowing all is well?
 
It’s time to let go of, or at least soften our grip, on the reins of what we think reality is supposed to be, feel and look like.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, is the boss of you.  YOU are the master of your reality.  You hold the magic wand and elixir of everlasting life.  It’s YOU! 
 
How do you get to the space of remembering that? By absolutely being committed to remembering and living the truth of who you are.  You are not your circumstances, your pain, or your suffering.  They call you to remember, just as a nightmare screams at you to get your attention so it can share an important message.
 
If your circumstances don’t equate to your quality of life, what does? 
 
It is your consciousness, your state of being, that determines the quality of your life.  It’s each choice in action that is aligned with your soul’s calling.  Oh, don’t worry, you know your soul’s calling.  It calls you to love, enjoy, bless, and appreciate.
 
The other morning, I noticed I felt anxious upon waking.  I did my simple practices, such as breathing in peace and breathing out blessings of peace for all.  It took just a minute, and there I was, in peace at that moment.
 
Know that things really are intensifying.  It’s not just you.  Whatever is personally happening for you, you can choose to breathe and know that there is a rapidly increasing intensity of the shift happening.  Fighting against it, waiting for the challenge to be over, will not speed up your personal process. 
 
Changing the way you view yourself and your life is what is called for in this moment.  This is the moment you’ve been waiting for.  It calls to you again and again to choose a new way of being that transforms any circumstance in your life.  That way of being is one of connection, love, abundance, peace and joy. 
 
In any moment, you can choose to say, “I am committed to this shift happening inside and around me.  I choose to see myself and my life as a gift, as a game, as a opportunity to cultivate a new way of being.” 
 
I know, I know, you might be thinking, “How could you possibly see your pain, frustration, financial challenges, illness, anxiety, loss, confusion, or upset in your relationships as a gift?”
 
There are some gifts that we want, and some gifts that we need.  Anything that is occurring in this moment is a gift. 
 
How can you access the gift in your situation?  By ACCEPTING it. 
 
Say, “Yes, thank you for this gift!”  It doesn’t mean that you have to like it, or that you’re not disappointed, or that you wouldn’t prefer to have a gift you’ve been really wanting. 
 
It does mean that you say, “I accept this gift.  I know that this is what serves me most right now, as crazy as I think that may be.   I trust that this gift is one that serves my absolute highest good and growth, and is more powerful than I could ever imagine.”
 
Once the gift is accepted, it can unfold its magic and miracles.  It will call you to take actions that are for your highest good and well being, and the highest good of all people everywhere.  The best gifts don’t always come in pretty packages. 
 
It is your conscious choosing to see all of your experiences as a gift, with thankfulness and gratitude, with trust, that can have you stand at the center of absolute chaos and destruction and feel centered and peaceful. 
 
It’s ok that you find yourself wanting things to be different, to be better.  Please take heart that you have the power to do this right now, despite any circumstance. 
 
Accepting that this moment is your greatest gift, without trying to get rid of, fix or change it, allows movement in your life.  Change occurs most easily when we surrender to what is occurring right now, when we choose to believe that right now is exactly where we are supposed to, how we’re supposed to be, and are divinely destined to be.  It allows us to breathe and lighten up! 
 
May you be blessed with the joy, laughter, peace, relief and love that is accessible to you at any moment.

As you grow spiritually, returning to and remembering your true divine nature, you might be finding that you are becoming more sensitive to the energy, emotions and feelings of your loved ones, those around you and the world as a whole.
 
We are naturally very intuitive, psychic and connected with the world around us.  As we step into this New Earth, choosing to consciously be a part of the shift in consciousness occurring on the planet, our intuition and sensitivity are increasing.  This is something to celebrate!
 
It can also be quite challenging.  Years ago, I was getting the house ready for a party.  I was in a great mood, but one of my housemates was very upset.  I thought, “How can I have a good time when one of my friends is suffering?”  I felt guilty at the thought.  Isn’t that funny? 
 
We’ve been trained somehow that if others are suffering, we either need to suffer with them (disguised as “compassion”), or we need to save them or help them.  I still have a strong pull towards this direction, especially with my husband.  How can I feel and be aware of my loved ones upset and not get upset along with them or try to make them feel better?
 
Taking this to a larger worldview, it is a challenge to feel the suffering of others, the anger or upset of others (such as around the presidential primary election), and to know the environmental issues at hand that are impacting our earth itself. 
 
The shift that is occurring is unprecedented because it is a shift in the consciousness of the entire planet.  It is such an exciting time, and also a very intense time, as in many ways masses of people are experiencing a “dark night of the soul.”
 
As a sensitive soul wanting to contribute to the well being of others, your job isn’t to try to help, fix, change or even uplift others.  That might be a hard pill to swallow, yes? 
 
Believe it or not, your job is to be in joy and live in the integrity of your values.  Whatever it is you think you can help others be, feel or think, your job is to live your truth.

If your loved ones are suffering financially, you stand in the abundance that you are, feeling gratitude for all that you have right now.  If they are angry or frustrated, you cultivate peace and forgiveness for yourself.  If they are doubting themselves and their future, you trust yourself more than ever before.  If you see your friend is unhappy with a situation, you choose to do what brings you the most joy.  If you want to empower others, stand in your power.
 
I know this is challenging, believe me.  My intuition expresses itself most often in feeling, empathically.  When my housemate walks into the room and is upset, I can easily find myself upset, agitated, angry or frustrated immediately.  With no words exchanged, my energy has completely shifted.  From that state, where I feel victim to my emotions, I am unable to be a loving peaceful presence for her, much less myself. 
 
My job in that moment is to acknowledge that I am noticing the shift in myself, and to cultivate love and compassion for my experience in that moment.  We are not the parents of others, tending to the wounds of our children.  Each person has their unique path, filled with the challenges and experiences that they were born to handle and move through.  We are here to empower and support each other, not be the authority figure for another person's experience.  They are going to suffer and make mistakes only they can grow, learn, heal and transform from.  Gift them their path!  See them as the amazing powerful souls that they are!
 
How do you change the world?  By adding what you are wanting to it.  This is very different than fighting against or trying to change what you do not want.  Add love.  Add abundance.  Add joy.  Add vibrant well-being.  Add passion.  The truth is, these are all aspects of your true divine nature.  Instead of looking for things to fight, fix or change, why not look for things that express your authentic nature?
 
This is a different way of problem solving.  The condition of the earth and all its inhabitants calls for a new way to solve problems, and this solution lies in our own consciousness. 
 
What are you wanting more of today?  If you are wanting more peace, be peace.  Bless all those you see with peace.  Say to the cars that pass you by, “May you be blessed with peace.”  Expand your light of peace and say to the check-out clerk, the mailman, your loved one, the politicians, the ones suffering, “May you be blessed with peace.”
 
Let your sensitivity to the suffering of others be a reason to celebrate your own spiritual growth.  Know that being the light that you are, the joy that you are, living your life in a way that expresses your greatest values, is your divine gift to a planet undergoing rapid transformation.

We humans, with our big brains, sure do like to make things more complicated than they need to be.  That’s ok, as long as you know you things can get complicated out of the desire to have an adventurous and interesting life!
 
Once you remember that you get to choose how complicated anything in your life is, you can then choose to simplify any situation.  Simplicity brings with it a peacefulness, a satisfaction with your present moment, and a natural state of gratitude for all the “little things” life offers you to enjoy and appreciate right now.
 
This simplicity is important in our spiritual practices.  We do need to choose to be awake and live our lives consciously as souls having a human experience.  Without this conscious choice, most of us operate on automatic about 90% of the time, caught in a whirlwind of tasks that don’t bring us joy and unending mental chatter that pushes us to worry, doubt, stress and think we need to work harder.
 
Instead of making our spiritual practices yet another responsible task we should be doing, our challenge is to live in a space of remembering and embodying who we authentically are.  Any practice that truly supports this is the practice for you!  Admit it: you actually know who you are.  Anytime you feel stress, anxiety, doubt, frustration, anger or fear, it is reminding you that you have forgotten your true nature.  Not to worry, that’s the deal we made when we chose to play this game of forgetting our eternal divine nature and then remembering!
 
So, what’s this 3-step process to living a life that you love?  It’s one I highly recommend trying, even if just one day a week.
 
1. WASH CYCLE
When it comes to washing clothes or dishes, we don’t try to “get rid of” the dirt.  Within our own lives, we tend to think of things we need to get rid of, such as certain behaviors, thoughts or situations.  When you wash your clothes, you simply put those dirty clothes in some water and detergent.  Then you let the process occur naturally, as the water and soap clears away any dirt on the clothing.  So, in our spiritual practice, we simply immerse ourselves in that cleanser and water. 
 
Choose your detergent
When you wake in the morning, set your intention.  Before you even get out of bed, ask yourself, “How would I like to feel today?  What would I like to cultivate and embody?”  These are high vibrational states of being that resonate with and exist in your true authentic nature.  Declare that the intentions you make are in service to the highest and best good of yourself, the universe and all of humanity. 
 
Here are some examples:
I intend I am abundant.
I intend I am vibrantly healthy.
I intend I am joy.
I intend I am grateful.
I intend all that I do is in the highest service to All.
I intend I trust myself.
I intend I am peace.
I intend I am more loving and compassionate than ever before.
I intend I am open to receive.
I intend I am divinely guided.
 
Add the detergent to the water
Now that you’ve stated your intention, preferably out loud, it’s time to add that to the water, to the space of your heart.  By doing so, you infuse that intention with the pure essence of your divine nature.
 
Your job in this moment of the process is to cultivate that intention in your heart.  It’s easier than you think, as natural as mixing cleanser in water.  Because you ARE your intention, you can consciously BE that intention within your heart at any moment.
 
Still in your bed in the morning, begin with the breath.  Your breath is the movement of the wash cycle.  Take a few natural conscious breaths and place your hands on your heart.  Breathe into your heart for a few breaths.  Now state your intention.  Breathe in that intention.  Breathe in peace.  Breathe in trust.  Breathe in surrender.
 
You are unique, so how you get to that experience of embodying your intention might take some experimentation beyond the breath.  For example, is there something in your space that sparks that intention, like the peacefulness of the quiet morning or the abundant possibility that a new day holds?  Is there something physically in your room that you feel grateful for?  Gratitude can bring you immediately to the space where all your intentions live.  Is there a memory you have in which you were in the space of love, trust or vibrant well-being?  Again, remember that this process is easier than you think. It can literally take just one minute.
 
Add Your Clothing
You’re in the space now of being your intention, so now any experience, thought or feeling
- any clothing - can easily be added to and cleansed in the wash.  Now that you are living, breathing and being the intention you’ve set in this moment, in your bed, you are ready for your day with clean clothes on. 
 
2. RINSE CYCLE
The rinse cycle is a such a magical cycle, really!  You’ve infused yourself with your intention and breathing into your heart-space, and now you get to bask in the watery life-affirming flow-state of your heart, filled not just with your specific intention you’ve set, but all those yummy juicy states of being that you were born to experience.  Living the life you love, loving yourself and bringing that love to all that arises! 
 
Being in your heart creates a natural clearing and cleansing of the dirt and stains, without the forced need to scrub and stress about what you want to get rid of.  All you need do is allow your heart-based intention to expand its light throughout your body.  There’s nothing to do.  Just imagine, breathe and trust this is so.
 
3. REPEAT
Your day contains lots of clothing that will be added to the wash again and again.  Notice there is no dry cycle in this process.  That’s because all there is for you to do is to put those clothes into the wash cycle.  The Repeat part of the process is your most powerful spiritual practice. 
 
Throughout the day, you’ll want to check in on any dirty laundry that might be piling up.  If you’re new to this, you could even set an alarm on your phone to remind you, such as once an hour or a few times throughout the day.  When that alarm goes off, it’s time to check in to see if there’s a new load of laundry to do. 
 
Check-in
What is my intention today and am I experiencing it now?

Cultivate Your Intention
Take some breaths and state your intention again.  Remember, it’s just dirty laundry.  The angst, problems, frustration or doubt is just a little dirty laundry that can be washed easily.  Cultivate that intention in your heart just like you did in the morning, taking just a minute or so of your time.  Then imagine your whole being is filled with the ever-expanding light of your heart.  Remember that gratitude is one of the most powerful ingredients in your detergent.

Take Action
Intentions begin in ways of being in the world, in the feminine.  Once we are in a state of being our intention, we then are open to seeing any actions that express that intention.  This is the masculine, the “doing” part of our intention, so that we can experience the manifestation of our desires.  It’s the choosing what outfit to buy, wear and what event you’re going to wear it at.  Trust your heart and your intention itself to guide you easily to the actions that express that intention.  If you’re finding yourself uncertain or doubting your next action, ask yourself, “Is this action an expression of my highest authentic  intention?”  Then return to cultivating that intention in your heart.
 
Wash, rinse, repeat.  Keep it simple, and miracles will unfold.  Yep, that’s right, not only do you not need to dry your laundry, as the light of your heart will naturally do this, but you don’t need to fold it either! 
 
Bonus Cycle for that Fresh Luxurious Feel
At the end of the day, when you’re relaxing and ready for bed, you might want to review the day and look for all the times your experienced the manifestation of your intention.  It’s human nature to see the one stain left on that shirt after the wash.  But hey, what about the sparkly clean shirt overall?  Each time you wash, rinse and repeat, that shirt will get cleaner and cleaner.  Your job is to notice and appreciate the clean clothes, not stress over the still-dirty ones.  That’ll have you look forward to cleaning out your closet and even give your whole house a love-light wash and makeover!