The Moon spoke to me this morning.  The dreamscape sky was streaked with clouds, as the Moon emanated white light tipped in gold.  Two days before its upcoming peak, it felt and looked like a complete full moon, and spoke in symbols of creation, birth, and deep rest.  She reminds me to be quiet, to receive, to open, to Be.  I noticed the time as I began to journal: 4:44 AM.
 
We are all working so hard, trying so hard, being so busy, and never quite making the grade as we keep thinking if we just do more, then things will get better.  The old thinking that if we just fix all the problems, force ourselves or others to change what’s wrong, then we’ll get some respite.
 
The Moon herself, pregnant with Light, knows she is going to take a respite, even at the peak of her birth.  The peak of the lunar eclipse, 4:02 AM EST, is just minutes after the peak of the full moon at 3:58 AM EST.  The Moon sings a lullaby, asking us to rest the mind, the restlessness, the doing and struggle, even as we birth the new.   We can learn from her, as she reflects what is happening within each willing heart.  She is about to give birth, yet is open to the Void, surrendering to the darkness as births the Light of creation into form.  After all, it is from the Void that all is created.
 
What is happening collectively is already in motion.  Birth is imminent.  The question is, what are you choosing?  If you could detach from the river that just goes with the flow of what the majority is up to, what the people around you find acceptable, reasonable or normal, what do you, YOU, authentically want to contribute into the world that expresses your best and brightest self?  How would you like to experience your birth?  
 
The Moon reflects to us that even at the moment of birth, we can slow down, detach from the doing, and rest.  It is calling us to remember that even now, as we so clearly see all the changes that need to occur within ourselves and the world in order to sustain life on this planet and have a world that works for all, there is space to rest, reflect, and BE.
 
This space is the eternal Void, where ALL possibility resides.  If you allow yourself to slow down and just BE, even just a bit, you open yourself to new possibilities and solutions.  AND, you find more of the peace and trust you are wanting.
  
You already ARE giving birth, always in the cycle of creation, so why not cut yourself some slack?  Natural birth cannot be rushed, and great trust and surrender are called for in the process.
 
The call now is to relax a bit, even in the middle of creating and doing.  This means relaxing the mind, caring for your body, and choosing more deliberately where you put your attention.  It’s less about doing things differently and more about being aware of your own judgments or doubts about how you are doing, how others are doing, or how the planet herself is doing.  This frees the flow of creating from the space of abundance and trust in each step of the process.
 
I woke from a dream this morning where I was teaching someone about manifestation.  The image in the dream was of an evening landscape of a forest.  Then, placed over part of this forest was a blank white sheet, like a piece of paper.  This was creation, the blank slate, the artist’s canvas.  You could put anything you want on that piece of paper and create anew.
 
As the Moon shines in brilliant white light this Friday, and is then partially covered in darkness, it feels like the mirror opposite of that dream of creation.  
 
Creation is natural, as we came here to put into form and experience the Divine in all ways. Instead of getting hung up on the doing, the Moon asks us to relax into the trusting of our ability to tap into the infinite, all possibility, and then to create from that empty space.  
 
The act of birthing anew is natural, a cycle that repeats again and again, and does not need to be learned or mastered.  What we master is our ability to rest in the knowing that All Is Well and in the responsibility that we are ARE creators, that we ARE ourselves birthed from that Void, and create from that Void.  The “how” and the “doing” of creating and manifesting is as natural as breathing.  It is time to awaken more to this truth, and to relax the minds’ desire to focus on controlling our creations.  Instead, we are being called to reside more in the BEING, where we flow through each contraction of the birthing process.  As we do, there is great peace available, and trust in each step, each breath.  
 
Let this full moon partial lunar eclipse remind you to relax and trust more.  The more you slow down, the faster it all gets done.  
 
As the longest near-total eclipse of this century and the longest in the past 580 years, lasting 3-1/2 hours, the Moon is showing us we have plenty of time to rest, even when it feels like time is running out.  
 
When we’re stressed, we think moving faster and doing more will alleviate that stress and make it all better.   The truth is, your heart knows the way, and by slowing down and being kinder, gentler, and more compassionate with yourself and others, not only do you get things done, but the space of miracles, ease and a universe that supplies all your needs comes to the forefront.
 
This upcoming eclipse could also be calling you to empty out, to release some of those things that are cluttering your space.  Just notice if you are being called, be it to clean out or get rid of things in your home that don’t support the greater birthing of your best and brightest self, or to clean out your body with lighter foods or a bath, or to release any judgments or interpretations about yourself or reality that have created limitations or doubts.  Make space for the new that is birthing!
 
Whether we believe it or not, we are constantly creating, be it from judgment, fear, doubt and forcing outcomes, or creating from joy, trust and service to All.  We ARE All creator beings, and it is time to choose how you experience this truth and to claim back the truth that YOU are the creator, the co-creator, and no other human has greater power to create than you.  Do you want to expand from the limits of your own fears?  You always have a choice of how you interpret reality and how you personally experience any circumstance.  I choose for you to choose to BE YOU, to see that you are a miracle, beautiful and perfect as you are, and that the best you can do for this world is to shine out unique YOU, even if others disagree.  Of course some will disagree, but you can choose to agree that we are all here to be unique, free to choose what we want to think, feel, believe or create.  
 
The Moon is showing us the balance of the darkness and the light, how they are not separate and can support each other, teach each other, and can both be healing.

There’s a saying in the community I lived in, “Fun is the goal, Love is the Way”.  Fun could also be called joy or happiness.  While there are things that might reliably be fun in the moment, happiness and joy are not dependent upon what’s happening in the external.  When they are, we predictably swing in and out of joy.  And hey, that’s okay too, if you let yourself enjoy the ride!
 
Lately I’ve noticed myself getting a little too serious.  Like, “I’ve got a mission to fulfill and things to do, and I don’t see joy and fun in this equation.”  This can be especially true in “spiritual practices”, starting from the traditional seriousness I experienced during Sunday Mass in my Catholic upbringing.  
 
That’s just mistaking sacred experience with dogma.  Recently, we were at the Grand Canyon for sunrise.  At a lookout point, everyone was quiet and kind to each other.  As someone moved out of my way so I could take a photo, I noticed we whispered to each other.  I wondered aloud, “Why are we all whispering?”  and we laughed.  We whispered because this was a sacred moment.  It was also fun, especially with our doggie with us who just loves to be pet by strangers.  I thought about how serious we can get when it comes to spirituality, be it church, meditation, yoga or other sacred rituals.  Honoring the sacred doesn’t have to be serious business. It can be sweet, fun, and filled with smiles and laughter.
 
When spiritual practices, self-awareness and growth become a serious task, maybe it’s time to switch gears.   Even “fun” creative endeavors like making art or music can become a “should”.   As a fitness instructor, I found people wanted to know the best types of exercises for their goals.  The answer: the one you’ll actually do, AKA, actually enjoy.
 
Going toward fun isn’t really the norm in our society unless it’s a reward for working hard.  If you’re not suffering in order to earn that fun “time off”, it’s irresponsible to just spend your time having fun.  You have more important things to do.
 
Luckily, the universe is always on our side, and if we notice that, we’ll see all the resources and support around us to go for fun and happiness if that’s something we want more of.
 
What do you want more of?

You get to say, and your form of happiness, fun, joy or whatever you are wanting, is unique to you.  If you see someone else with something you’d like more of, you can celebrate that you are seeing that in your reality and say, as Rev Ike would, “That’s for me!”
 
As I noticed my own seriousness, and the broken record pushing me to do “more, better, different”, I followed little nudges from the Universe in a different direction.
 
Two main things showed up for me:  to say, “Today, I choose to be happy,” and then to focus my attention on the good that day, and all the things I am grateful for.
 
Here’s the cool thing: in focusing on the good, the challenges also become good.  They become guides, teachers, reminders and growth opportunities.  Pretty cool!
 
I got to see that doing anything because I think I should isn’t reason enough to do it, or at least not reason enough to enjoy it.  Instead, I looked for things that I could say yes to, like putting on Holiday music.  I love Christmas!  I love Christmas because it is a time that is magical, adorable, sweet, fun, love and joy filled.  Sure, we have our reasons for choosing this time of year for this, be it Christian, Jewish, Pagan, etc., but really, for those of us that love this time of year, we just say, “Yes!  I choose fun and love and joy!”   
 
Saying yes to MY style of fun, to what uplifts ME, is most important.  AND, this is subject to change!
 
You might have something you do habitually as your form of upliftment.  Maybe it’s journaling, a gratitude practice, a service or volunteer work, yoga, drawing, watching comedies, or meditation.  These are all truly awesome, AND, are they uplifting you RIGHT NOW?  It’s okay to change!  It’s okay to try something different!  Today you might thrive with something different or new, even if it’s uncomfortable at first to drop the habit you’ve built for now and go for the new and unknown.
 
I love to dance, walk the dog and connect with nature, journal, and do a lot of various spiritual practices.  Sometimes, I’ll force myself to dance, or think I should always love walking the dog.  What I’ve notice is that I don’t have to force anything!  Sure, I walk the dog regardless, even if it’s a shorter walk.  AND, it’s okay to move my body in other ways and throw the ball for the dog to get his exercise in.  

​I know that there are plenty of sayings out there like, “Do what you love,” or “Follow your heart.”  I also know that going in the direction of fun and joy can look like the most irresponsible and even dangerous thing you could choose to do.
 
Here’s the thing:  this is a consciousness game, not dependent on outer circumstances.  It’s the awakening to the fact that you are a spirit in this physical body and have complete choice in how you experience and interpret your reality.   
 
Again I ask you, “What do you want more of?”
 
This begins by letting yourself be totally honest about what you want, your dreams and visions.  Just because you have a dream and look around and see “I’m not there, and can’t see how to get there,” doesn’t mean you stop dreaming.  You start where you are.
 
If it is a physical external thing, get to the root of the actual quality of that item or experience.  This could be something like: freedom, trust, love, joy, fun, connection, intimacy, community, love, abundance, prosperity, peace, magic, clarity, happiness or flow.  
 
Then say, “Yes!” to it by declaring when you wake up, “Today I choose to be….!”  No matter what occurs, no matter what you need to do that day, look for the good.  Look for that quality and bask in the gratitude of seeing it!  Because you ARE those qualities, those states of being.  YOU are the creator.   AND, are the co-creator, this entire reality and universe conspiring with you to put into physical form ANYTHING you choose to believe is possible.   
 
It’s time to put into practice what you WANT and look for it all around you and inside you.  
 
This includes EVERYTHING that you choose to do.  You might have a list of the things you “have” to do.  The question is, “Why are you doing this?”  What is motivating you to do this, be it washing the dishes, paying the bills, or driving in traffic to work.  There IS something you are getting out of your choices that is important to you, and you can choose to look for that positive quality.  Even in the “bad” choices, like eating something you know isn’t healthiest for your body, there IS something you are seeking and getting from that experience.  If you can say YES to what you are wanting from that experience (such as comfort, peace, relaxation, pleasure), then you are now focusing on having more of that experience instead of making yourself wrong for the way in which you were choosing to experience it (like through food).  What a sweeter, nicer way to treat yourself and what you need and want, yes? 
 
What you focus on you truly get more of, so as you focus on seeing what you really want or need in the moment, instead of judging yourself or your actions, the universe will provide you the inspiration, clarity, little actions steps, resources, and opportunities for more of what you are focusing on and looking for.
 
You already are an expert at seeing all the things that are bad and wrong about yourself and reality.  We’ve got that one down, check.  Time to get out of the comfort and predictability of the habit of the pain and go for saying YES to delicious, light-filled true Divine YOU and your heart’s desire, exactly as you are and are not RIGHT NOW!

​Facing your fears is not an easy feat, as I’m sure you well know.  Fears are always based in the past and future.  Even if a tiger is chasing you, fear kicks in at the future possibility of death.
 
Speaking of death, is this not the greatest fear?   This is why the ego seeks to control, well, just about everything.  This is also why many spiritual traditions have used confronting your own death as a spiritual initiation.
 
Death is inevitable, in all ways.  This is because we live in a reality of cycles of change.  We “hang on for dear life” to whatever tangible thing we can, be it material possessions, our beliefs, our daily habits, or our relationships. 
 
Unfortunately, fear makes us vulnerable.  It has us willing to give our power away to an outside source that promises life, or even everlasting life after death (such as Heaven).  We don’t think too clearly or trust ourselves and the universe when enveloped by fear.
 
It’s easiest to just not confront those demons, and that little kid inside that is hiding to protect itself.  
 
As the changes on this planet accelerate, we are awakening to the truth of the Void, the space that from the lens of fear seems to be an empty black abyss.  This Void, sometimes called “Zero Point” contains ALL possibility.  This includes fear, which is asking to be confronted when we go toward creating new possibilities.  Over the past couple of weeks, I have been feeling an increased intensity of this “Void” energy.  As November approaches, we have an opportunity to uplevel, meaning come into even greater harmony and alignment with the highest and best good and outcomes for all.  This is NEW, meaning unknown and being created from the Void. So be compassionate with yourself as you may be experiencing some fear around the new and unknown, and also as you release the comfort of the old.
 
We start slowly and gently facing our fears.  There’s nothing to rush toward or force, and more to be gentle and loving with.  The loss, the grief, the trauma is not something to judge but also not something to ignore.
 
There is freedom available when we simply allow space to notice our fears.  We hold the loving space to be honest about any fear that may arise.  This comes from a detached perspective, you as the divine witness of it all, even as you notice the palpable experience of the fear.  You notice yourself swimming in fear, yet also as the witness of that swimming.
 
One step at a time, our loving attention opens us to more freedom to go in the direction of our greatest dreams, not without fear, but despite the fear.   We are aware of the fear, yet choose love and trust more powerfully than the fear.  This means going in the direction of what we want MORE of, not less.
 
Recently, I had the gift of facing one of my own fears.  I have been historically quite afraid of heights.  About a month ago, I was in Moab, Utah with our off-road club.  We were heading up a trail to a spot known as “Top of the World”.  The picture on this post is one of the brave souls at this spot, not me of course. As the four-wheel drive vehicles made their way to the top, I decided to walk the last part up with our dog.  I arrived about 10 minutes before everyone else.  There I was, just Bailey the dog and me, as I stood about 10 feet from the edge of a cliff.  I don’t remember ever being so high up on a cliff before.  From cliff to ground is about 3000 feet.   My body shook with fear, and I imagined the dog getting off the leash and running straight off the cliff.  I breathed and noticed more.  I noticed images of me falling off the cliff, and the pull to jump.  I flashed on many dreams I’ve had of falling off a cliff.  I breathed and noticed more.  
 
I noticed this thought: 
This is all an illusion.  It is temporary.  If I fell off this cliff, I would wake, just as from a dream, to a new place.  This was no ordinary thought, but a knowing inside me without doubt, of my eternal nature. 
 
Since this experience, I have been at some places I would normally experience fear of heights.  In Arches National Park, I walked along a narrow path aside a drop off that might have normally illicited my fear of heights but did not.  My husband began to notice that I wasn’t as afraid of heights.  Just last week, we were at Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona.  From cliff to the Colorado River is a mere 1100 feet.  There I was, easily (and mindfully) walking up to the edge, just a couple feet from it.  Wow!  Right??  Next thing you know I’ll be able to sit and dangle my feet over the edge, as a friend did when we were on that 3000 foot high overhanging cliff in Moab!
 
So what happened that had me have such a shift, after a lifetime of fear?  I actually confronted my fear.  I didn’t try to make it go away, I just breathed and noticed.  Most often, we will do anything to avoid experiencing our fears.  Sometimes that is the most appropriate thing to do.  Other times, you have the safe space, be it by yourself or with a loving witness, to actually go there.  
 
I brought up fear of death because it is the most powerful universal fear we all have.  You don’t need to go straight to that one.  You go where you feel safest to begin.  Fear of death has many layers, beyond this lifetime, to the universal experience of feeling separate from Source as we are sent out as Light for the Divine to experience itself, to have something to love.  That’s the ultimate one, that we are separate.  What did we do so wrong to be so rejected?  Forward that to this lifetime, to those core wounds that say we are not enough, we don’t belong, or that we are broken.  Hey, I’m just laying it out for you straight up, no pussy-footing around on this one. 
 
Because when is enough enough?  We are so comfortable in our illusion of protection, in living the lie that we ARE separate, and that we live on a dead planet to be used to fill ourselves up with material comforts that give us the illusion of stability and permanence when we know deep inside that we can’t take that with us when we die.  Death takes on a different meaning when we face our fears and be honest with ourselves that we ARE eternal beings, that we ARE all Divine, each unique yet totally a part of a unified reality where EVERYTHING is GOD in its unending possibilities of expression.
 
There’s so much fear, I promise you you’ll never be in lack of getting to face it.  Your loving attention heals.   It is why you are here.  All the fear, all the challenges, are here to have you evolve and grow!  It’s okay to be honest with yourself and take a look, and also honor where you are ready to do so.  You could start by looking at your negative judgments and anger, as they are quite a good indication of fear.   Sometimes that’s an easier place to start than fear of death, of losing loved ones, of aging and disease, of grief and sorrow.  
 
Being open to change can be scary!  And boy is the world changing fast.  Yippee!  Who would have thought we’d be so AFRAID of the possibility that life can be fun, joyful, abundant, that we actually CAN create a planet where all beings thrive and are loved, respected and cared for?  We are so accustomed to living in fear and looking for what’s bad and wrong that surely this kind of viewpoint is Pollyanna thinking.  I think not.  This post is about facing fears, not avoiding them and focusing only on positive thinking. Our loving attention, our trust in ourselves and the Divine, gives us the courage to be honest with ourselves and our fears.  This attention heals, opening the space for our ability to create from an abundance of possibility instead of from the limits of our fears.  It takes commitment and bravery to step outside the fear-based socially agreed upon limitations and go into a knowingness, a Field of possibility, that is beyond the mind, beyond show-me-the-proof, and beyond the scientific method and logic.   
 
Be gentle on yourself, and on the people in your life that you see are in fear.  We all cycle through fears.  The choice is to notice more when those fears and reactions come up, and to lovingly be there for whatever we are experiencing.  Then we are free to choose to trust even more, to open to the new, to go in the direction of seeing all there is to be grateful for and enjoy in this now moment.  Maybe the Star Trek phrase, “…to boldly go where no man has gone before” is really about boldly loving and trusting more than anyone has loved and trusted before.  All is healed, harmonized, unified and transformed with our loving compassion and  attention.

When it comes to creating your future, I’ve noticed lately that a lot of people in my life aren’t quite sure what they want.
 
We move around the country and I am the planner.  How do I choose where to go next?  I start by trusting myself.  It’s been an AMAZING ride so far, almost 2 years!  I have noticed that our adventure is about enjoying where we are, not about where we go.  It’s a big country, and I could go crazy with where to go, what to see, where to stay.  I research from a place of joy, trust and detachment.  If I notice I am stressed, doubtful, or overwhelmed, I take a break from planning.  With more people RVing than ever before, 2021 is a crazy year for full time RV living, and if you can believe it, I’m already planning 2022.  My mind says, “But I want to be free, to flow from place to place, not plan everything out so specifically.”  That’s nice, AND, I Am Open.  So be it if I book places a year in advance, and it will unfold as it does (e.g. in comes COVID last year).  I could doubt myself, I could say we’re missing out on xyz things we could be doing or experiencing somewhere else.  I could worry that my husband won’t enjoy my choices.  I could worry there’s “not enough” for us, that we won’t find good places to stay since there are so many people RVing now.  There’s a pull toward that worry and doubt, and I catch it and say, “No, thank you.” 
 
I also see worry and doubt with the people in my life who are unsure of what they want.  What if I make the wrong choice?  What if I made the wrong choices already?  What if my loved one is upset with my choice?  What if I’m missing out because I didn’t make that other choice instead? 
 
Abundance is our natural state, and there are an abundance of choices!  Being without limitations can be scary, can feel “unsafe”, so it can be easier to put limitations on what we can have. (I can’t do that because I don’t have the money, time, resources, so and so wouldn’t like it, someone else says it’s not a good thing to do/have/be, the news or experts say there aren’t enough jobs/housing etc.)
 
There are a lot of voices in our head, so it can be challenging to discern what we really want.
 
The truth is, your true divine self came here with a very clear intention of what it wanted.  This intention expresses in you being your best and brightest self, in service to all beings everywhere.  Making choices from your heart means you want the best for everyone, starting with you, and trust how things unfold.
 
Then there’s the other voices, the ones that seek to understand for the sake of pontificating, or to be logical, scientific, be accepted, do it right, or be a responsible adult. 
 
To add to the challenge (and opportunity!), in this transitional time on the planet, the new is being created in a new way.  This is unknown territory we are creating together, outside of what we already know.  Is it no wonder that so many are uncertain of their futures and what they want?  From a denser perspective, the world is falling apart.  From a larger perspective, the world is transforming, the old giving way to the new.  Your soul knows the way, and your mind wants predictability.  Creating a new world is anything but predictable.
 
Instead of wondering if your choice is the wrong one, or you just don’t want things to be worse than they are now, what if you asked, “What if this will be even better than I can imagine?”
 
How can you go in the direction of what you want, even if you’re not certain?
 
First, there is no wrong choice.  Your soul knows the way.  This means that no matter your choice, which includes not making one, you are offered an experience that will serve your growth and expansion, if you choose to view any challenges from that perspective.
 
Second, you can choose to take responsibility for all your experiences.  When things happen, you choose to interpret them for better or for worse, or you choose to let someone else’s interpretation (friends, family, experts) to be more valid than your own.
 
Third, you can choose to trust yourself.   You may not know exactly what you want consciously, but you DO know how you want to experience yourself and your life. 
 
Get out that pen and paper and write down states of being you would like to have more of.  This doesn’t mean fleeting emotions based on if you have an experience or not. 
 
By getting to the core of how you want to experience your life, you also get to the core of your soul’s intention for being here.  Every experience you have, the good, the bad and the ugly, is in the name of fulfilling that mission.   
 
Breathe. 
 
Here are a few states of being you might consider:
Peace
Abundance
Compassion
Gratitude
Love
Joy
Clarity
Trust
Divine Intelligence
Radiance
Healing
Oneness / Unity
 
These are ways of being present for yourself, for others, for the world.  They influence your perception, and magnetize actions, experiences, people, inspiration, all you need to BE more of those energies.
 
Be aware that above listed states can be conditional.  I feel joy when something happens, but then not after it’s over or taken away.  I love you when/if…   I say “thank you” because it is a nice thing to do but don’t actually experience gratitude. 
 
These states of being I am talking about are unconditional, not contingent upon anything that occurs in this temporary illusion of the physical world. 
 
After you make your list, look to see how you already have actions in your life that bring you into these states of being. Add those to each item on your list.
 
For example:
Joy – I experience joy when….  I garden, I walk in nature, I hear birds sing, I dance, I assist someone, I look at the clouds
Abundance – I experience abundance when…  I notice my breath, I do artwork, in the Spring as flowers bloom, I look at the stars
Trust – I experience trust when…  I put my hand on my heart and say, “In this moment, I trust myself.  I trust my life.”, I notice my body able to walk and move, I share my truth with someone I feel safe with
 
Simply begin with “I experience ___ when…”, and write whatever comes to mind, without editing. 
 
These are your resources to cultivate more of!
 
The more attention and inspired action you put on what you want more of, the more you will have.  These states of being are also miracle makers, opening the space for all you could ever want.
 
Make this fun and easy by starting with one state of being, and just one action.  This might be authentically thanking your water, infusing it with your loving gratitude, before you drink it.  It might be a memory of something that brought you joy years ago that sparks you now to start doing again.
 
This will lead you to more, and more, and more…and then there you are, creating and living your vision (that was there all along!).  One step at a time. TODAY.
 
It’s time to more purposefully choose the direction you want to go in, even if you don’t have any idea “how” that will look.  Start with how you want to feel, experience and BE – in your body, in your mind, in your perception of life and the world.  Nothing can take away your free will of how you experience and interpret your reality.
 
All is unfolding perfectly in your life, and All Is Truly Well. 

With Summer Solstice approaching in just a few days, I sense it’s important to get clearer on what’s working and what isn’t in supporting being our best and brightest selves.  What vision are you birthing now, and what is supporting that vision?
 
As things open up after months of incubation, of going within by choice or by state orders, let’s remember what this whole “ascension process” is about.  This is a free will choice to consciously choose to allow our soul to lead, to take its place IN the physical body.  Every challenge we experience can be fuel to propel us to choose to acknowledge we are more than our personality, life experiences and this physical body.  As we continue to focus on the Divine, this means cultivating states of being such as compassion, care, forgiveness, openness and peace. 
 
It also means to choose to actually BE in our bodies.  What behaviors, in thought, word, action or intent, do you use to escape the challenges in your life, the uncomfortable pain, be it physical, mental or emotional?  This is good to look at, from a gentle and compassionate view.  You are ALL-WAYS doing the best you can in the moment.  AND, taking an honest look at yourself in this way gives you freedom to choose something new, or be compassionate with yourself when you choose something you feel isn’t ultimately in your most uplifted interest.
 
New ways of being are out of our comfort zone, and, frankly, still out of the norm.  
 
Know that it’s all baby steps, and right now you can ask simply, “What would assist me in feeling safer in my body, to allow my soul to lead even more?”
 
This is deep work, and gathering resources that support you is an important first step.  The second is to USE those resources!
 
I’m drawn to offer a short list, not a to-do list or as “shoulds”, but rather a list of resources that you most likely have already done before.  Let this be a reminder that you already know what supports you.  Maybe it's time to choose one thing you do today that you can say “Yes!” to, right now.  Adding in your loving attention to these actions, your intention to notice even more as you do these things, the sensations, what you see, how you feel, and to add in gratitude and appreciation, will uplevel the benefits of them.
 

1. GET OUTSIDE!  I don’t need to list why this is good for you.  Costco’s monthly magazine just did an article on the benefits of being outside in nature, and you’re a smart cookie.  Even it’s your front porch, your garden or backyard, or your neighborhood, nature is a place that is healing, inspiring, and comforting.  The earth is also physical being that needs your loving attention and appreciation as much as you do. 
2. MOVE YOUR BODY!  Seriously, move!  The nature of the universe, of God Source Light, is a constant stream of movement and flow.  You can move from a chair or your bed, move your legs, move your arms, dance, stretch, walk – move that energy inside you so you can flow through life more easily.
3. DRINK MORE WATER!  Your body is about 60% water, and you can up this (or lower it) by your choosing.  The earth’s surface is about 71% water, and by caring for our own bodies water, we care for the earth’s.  How can you add in more water to your day?  Being in or near water is also powerful, be it a bath, a foot soak, or being in or near a lake, stream or ocean.  Is it time to get that water filter, water bottle, or up your game by intentionally saying “thank you” to your water as you hold it and drink it?
   
4. TOUCH!  Physical touch has been sorely lacking this past year, yes?  Touch starts with noticing what you’re touching.  Start with you.  Place your hands on your heart and just notice and breathe.  If there’s a painful place in your body, a touch that is filled with love IS healing.  Touch anywhere with appreciation, “Thank you feet, for allowing me to walk, dance, run, skip, get from place to place through life!”  As you touch others, be it an animal or a person, let yourself notice how that feels, and ramp up the joy of connecting and sharing your love with others through touch.
   
5. SHIFT YOUR EATING – Again, you’re a smart cookie.  You know what’s good for you.  Is it time to add in more whole foods, straight from the earth herself and unprocessed, or to eat less of something?  Just one tiny shift is on the table.
6. DEEP DIVE INTO BEING HONEST -  Hey, we see what we see – we all have our blind spots.  Most of us aren’t deceptive on purpose, and if so, it’s for our own protection.  Maybe it’s time to be a little more honest, starting with yourself.  We all want to be SEEN!  To shine out and be free to be ourselves!  You gotta go to those places that are afraid to be seen to be FREE.  What is ready inside you to take an honest look at or share with someone else?  With an intention to give voice to something you might have been shamed for (including being “too” happy, joyful, positive), or are ashamed of (I’m not supposed to be so angry, resentful, petty…), releases that energy to flow and allows that natural Divine Source energy to flow through you more gracefully.  It really is healing, in a surprisingly powerful way, to give voice to something you’ve held inside.  So journal, scream, sing, or talk to someone you feel safe with – it’s time to let your voice be heard.  This allows the body to free up any energy that’s been held from those past experiences that were painful (and maybe now painful in your physical body!).
   

 
So there it is, deceptively simple (well, except maybe the last one, but you are brave and strong!).  Don’t underestimate the benefits, like even adding in an extra glass of water each day.  Remember, it’s all the little things in your day-to-day life that create your experience of yourself and your life.  Your soul knows the way, so let’s support the body in feeling safe enough to allow the soul to come on in!

by Julianne Kulosa

One of our greatest challenges can show up when our loved ones are suffering.  In our deep care, love and desire to be of service, feelings of helplessness, sorrow, frustration, blame or even anger can arise.  You might notice you want to fix them, lecture them, match their energetic state because you think it will make it better for them somehow, save them or just wrap your hands around their neck and say, “Wake up! Can’t you see how you can feel better?”
 
It’s often easier when a loved one is suffering due to an “external” circumstance: a car accident, a death of a loved one, illness, a job loss, unexpected financial burdens or some sort of stress caused in their external environment.  Personally, I know that suffering is not caused from any situation or experience.  Crappy things happen that don’t feel good, yes.  However, the suffering I am speaking of is not caused from situations, rather from our misinterpretations of the nature of reality and ourselves.  You’ve surely heard many stories of people thriving, loving, laughing, connecting and feeling gratitude and peace in the most painful of situations, such as in concentration camps.  Also, it is also in times of crisis that people shine out most, connecting with their community and families to love and support each other. 
 
Some things to consider when a loved one is suffering:
 
1. Your Loved One is a Master of Their Life.
No one knows better then your loved one how to traverse their own unique path.  You can support them in remembering their own mastery.  You can empower them by gifting them with their own path.  They’ll take your offer of support, help or advice, or they won’t.   It matters not, because it’s not about you, it’s about them.  Your loving attention, your compassion, your belief in their ability to come through their suffering, is the most powerful support you can give them.  If you reflect on your own life, you might notice that it was your greatest challenges that propelled you to rise up, grow, expand and learn.  Don’t you want the same for them?  It’s not easy to watch them suffer, especially when you can see the way out of suffering for them, yet this is the path they’ve chosen, and only they can walk it.
 
2. Forgive Them, They Know Not What They Do.
Forgiveness is a powerful tool.  This means you are willing to acknowledge that someone is absolutely doing the best they know how, given their state of consciousness at any given time.  If you were in their mindset, you too, would behave and experience reality exactly as they are.  This forgiveness is not about their actions, but about authentically feeling compassion for them, even if you completely disagree with their choices.
 
3. Give Your Full Attention.
Put away all distractions and just be present with your loved one.  This means not only external distractions like your phone, but internal as well.  With each passing year of our busy information age, focused attention is becoming more of a commodity.  Listen more.  Talk less.  Your loved one may or may not want to feel better in the moment.  Maybe they just want to vent and complain, and that outlet for their thoughts and feelings might be exactly what they need in the moment.  Did they actually ask you for your advice or opinion?  Notice your own thoughts while listening: are you analyzing, thinking how to fix their situation or judging them?  Take a breath, drop into your heart, and simply give them your full loving attention.  Often what someone needs when they’re in a great challenge or crisis is to be comforted and loved.
 
4. Take Care of Yourself.
Sometimes your own biggest stressor can be in response to a loved one in pain.  While taking care of yourself isn’t “number one” in this list, it may well be your most important move when it comes to supporting your loved one. Take time to notice your own response to the suffering of others.  This could be a loved one, or something occurring locally or globally.   Be honest with your own reactions, thoughts and feelings.   Bring compassion and forgiveness to yourself as the witness of others suffering.  When you feel stressed, you can only contribute so much to your loved ones.  Do whatever you need to shine brightly.  Your calm, peaceful and loving energy will be felt by others without you needing to do or say anything.   Your heart-centered care gives you a clearer ability to use intelligent concern rather than feel reactive or stressed.
 
5. Trust Yourself.
In trying to assist a loved one, it can be challenging to know what your best move is that will support them.  Should you walk away, be positive and optimistic, agree with them, disagree with them, be gentle or a little rougher, help them, or have them do it on their own?  There’s no right answer, for each person needs support in different ways at different times.  Not trusting your own choices certainly won’t support them.  Know that you are a loving, caring, powerful person and you, too, are doing the best that you can.  That is more than enough!
 
Trusting yourself also means standing in your own truth.  Your loved one doesn’t have to agree with you, and you can be radically authentic in your own truth while being loving and compassionate at the same time.  You don’t need to compromise your beliefs in order to help others.  If you know in you bones and heart that they can heal their bodies, find the perfect job or home, thrive and have their dreams come true, you can stay solid in your knowing despite their disagreement or proof that says otherwise.  You don’t need to argue your point or necessarily even say it aloud, but you also don’t need to give it up.  Holding your authentic vision is transformative and of great contribution.
 
6. Envision Their Success.
There are many ways to energetically support a loved one, such as prayer, sending blessings, or using visualization techniques.  Remember that they have their own free will, and your support is not forced upon them, taken only if their souls truly want it. 
 
In a relaxed and calm state, imagine that your loved one has come through the other side of their challenge.  Use your senses, sight, sound, feeling, to envision in the present moment their success and happiness.  Notice, in the present moment, how they are feeling, talking and acting from this accomplishment.  Notice how you feel witnessing their triumph and things working out for them.  In alignment with their free will and the highest good of all, let that now go out into the universe to manifest, maybe even better than you could imagine on your own.
 
If you’re the type of person (and most of us are!) who wants to fix other people’s problems, this is a great way to use that desire without disempowering your loved one or feeling upset if they don’t take your advice.  We really are all connected, and your powerful ability to create can be used to shift the experience of others if this is truly what their own soul desires.
 
Know that your love is the greatest support you can give to your loved ones.  Your unwavering love, the true greeting of Namaste, that love that sees the beauty and divine perfection of your beloved in all their moods, thoughts and reactions, contributes and transforms their suffering, whether you see evidence of that in the moment or not.

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

by Julianne Kulosa

by Julianne Kulosa

Affirmations became popular in the late 1980’s with Louise Hay’s book, “You Can Heal Your Life”.   Over time, they, and the New Age Movement, have gotten a pretty bad rap. 
 
Affirmations are often considered wishful thinking at best, or at worst, a lazy person’s way to try to create what they want while sitting on the couch and taking no action out in the world.
 
What are Affirmations?
They are repeated thoughts, statements and proclamations.  Often defined as “positive”, the truth is, any repeated thought, word, or mantra is an affirmation.
 
Your Subconscious
There’s a reason things might not seem to go the way you want them too, despite your best efforts.  It’s called your subconscious programming, aka The Matrix.  Operating out of your conscious awareness, this programming was created when you were a child.  You learned, by watching others, how to think, feel, behave and understand your world. 
 
The brain waves of children are in a lower frequency of consciousness, meaning the electrical activity patterns recorded in the EEG.  From about age two to six, children are predominantly in a Theta brain wave state, which can be likened to hypnosis.  This means children, with wide open imaginations, are in a superior learning state and highly open to suggestion.
 
As adults, we spend a vast majority of our days (some say up to 98%) operating from subconscious patterns. 
 
These deeply engrained habits and beliefs about ourselves and the world can easily trump a positive thought here and there.
 
HOWEVER, there are ways we can shift these automatic ways of being, one being through creating new conscious habits. 
 
How do you know your subconscious is running the show?  Take a look at any area of your life where you feel stuck or powerless, where despite your best efforts, you keep seeming to do the same thing, experiencing the same things, over and over.
 
The Power of Conscious Choice
Affirmations are like any new habit or learning experience.  With repetition, the brain is re-wired.  How long will it take?  Well, you might want to create an affirmation around that, such as, “All is unfolding at the perfect time for my highest good,” or “I trust the process of life,” because if you’ve found yourself often feeling you need to hurry up and get somewhere, and there’s something wrong with you if you’re not there yet, there’s a good chance that’s some of your subconscious programming.   Good to notice!
 
Have faith and patience with your affirmations.  Ideally, set aside specific time every day to repeat those affirmations.  There are plenty to go around if you’re looking for inspiration, and any words can be used as a mantra during meditation. 
 
Shirts, plaques around the house and sticky notes are awesome, but how often do you actually see and say the words aloud or silently?  Purposefully repeating those affirmations daily will benefit you most.
 
While you might choose a general affirmation to repeat silently, aloud, to yourself in the mirror or to write in journal such as, “I love you,” “All is Well,” or “I am grateful for…,” consider starting to pay more attention to those areas you are feeling stuck.  What are most common statements and viewpoints that keep repeating in that area when you notice your thoughts?  You can counter those with their opposite, even if at first you might just state, “It’s possible…”
 
No, you don’t have to believe it at first.  You might start with just being open to the possibility.  Just repeat, repeat and repeat again.  We learn through practice and repetition.  Would it be so horrible to repeat consciously for the rest of your life, “I am abundant,” “I am safe and loved,” or “I trust life and the universe”?  The worst that could happen is that you notice all the thoughts and beliefs that insist the opposite is true.  That noticing gives you power to choose again. What world do you want to live in?
 
Any positive affirmation is great.  A change in one area shifts the whole, so you don’t have to choose 20 affirmations to do a day or feel overwhelmed.  An affirmation is not a lazy way to produce change.  It is an assertion or declaration about something, and it will affect your choices, actions and responses in the world.  Your choosing to habitually state, imagine and feel in present moment terms (“I am” as compared to “I will”) really can assist you in waking up out of the illusion and limitations of the Matrix.
 
Affirmations are a powerful tool to use in your spiritual awakening process.  They aren’t “shoulds” or “have to’s”, but rather a great option, should you be drawn to use them, as you awaken in your unique and perfect way.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

by Julianne Kulosa

Depression is one of the most common experiences in spiritual awakening, yet has many interpretations or definitions.  It’s a catch-all phrase, “depression”.  What does it mean exactly?
 
It’s different than grief, which is also a part of your process.  Depression tends to include low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, powerlessness and helplessness.
 
Things to Consider:
 
1. You are Confronting Your Deepest Core Wounds and Awakening 
You chose to become more conscious and aware, and with that comes all the patterns, beliefs, trauma and pain that you previously more easily suppressed.  Depression can come in waves, without apparent reason, as things bubble up. 
 
A shift in perspective can give you great relief.  Instead of thinking something is wrong with you, that you are broken or not enough, or that these old patterns or reactions to life should already be gone, you can look at each unexpected feeling, thought or reaction as another part of you that is finally coming up to your awareness to be seen.  Those hidden away dark parts of you are saying, “Thank you!  I’m ready to be seen and loved and released back to Source, into Oneness, into the Light!” 
 
Those very thoughts that often have you feel depressed or intensify your depression are actually the core wounds, the buried, hurt, scared and alone parts of yourself that need to come up to be released with your loving attention. 
 
When such fears or negative self-talk arises, don’t believe everything you think!
 
The ancient Essenes noticed 2500 years ago that our experiences, internally and externally are neutral.  They don’t become good or bad until we judge those experiences, until we perceive those experiences through the lens our past experiences and our beliefs.  So know that just because you believe something, it doesn’t make it true.  It is your free will choice to decide what’s true for you in any moment, or not.
 
It is so important to practice being gentle with yourself at these times, for if you fight or judge what you are feeling, it only serves to have that part of yourself want to retreat back into the darkness. 
 
I’m adding in this video because it is important to know that you are not alone in your feelings and thoughts.  This is the human condition, regardless of what others may be hiding from your view (or unaware of inside themselves).  Your process is about waking up from the illusion of the ego.

Warning: this video is a re-enactment of the ego and is pretty intense.  Know that all those thoughts that seem so true are coming into your awareness to give you freedom from them running your life on automatic.

2. Powerful Feelings of Doubt
As you are adjusting to your higher self and true nature, there can be a feeling of great doubt.  Part of you knows all is well, connected to a bigger picture and higher truth, yet a powerful doubt is also present, that doubt in yourself and what you are experiencing. 
 
Doubt, spiraling downward into helplessness, self-loathing, guilt and meaninglessness, can feel very out of control.  This is the time to be extremely gentle with yourself.  Again, remember you are not alone, and many others are going through and have gone through what you are experiencing.
 
Your doubt can seem much more real and truthful than your “positive” attitudes.  Acknowledge that you feel the way you do and are having the experience you are having.  Giving yourself space to authentically have those waves of doubt move through, open your heart into the Truth of reality, and then choose that reality more powerfully. 
 
3. A Desire to Isolate Yourself
Solitude is an important aspect of your spiritual awakening.  You need time with yourself to connect into your true nature.  As your sensitivity raises, you also need space to center, ground and integrate.  There is no right or wrong amount of time that you’ll feel a need for solitude, be it hours, days, months or years.
 
However, this can be sometimes leave you feeling lonely and separate, with a sense of longing for connection with others. 
 
In your solitude, you are connecting.  You are remembering and connecting to your true divine nature and your higher self.  You are connecting to Source, to the Earth, to your guides, angels and Star Family.  At some point, even feeling a connection to nature or divine guides may drop out.  This is because you are called to connect to divine YOU within, not because you are alone.  The path of awakening truly is about loving yourself.
 
When you feel alone, you can call upon guides and angels to surround you more closely.   You can hold crystals and connect with them for support.  You can read others experiences to know you are not alone.  
 
You are never alone.  This is the truth.
 
The collective, meaning the major percentage of people on the planet right now, are not interested in “awakening” and are solidly living in the old paradigm.  This split can feel huge and separating.  If you can, connect with others such as in group meditations in person, or even on-line.
 
Solitude is a beautiful and necessary thing, having you get to know yourself in all your many aspects with loving compassion.  As you do, you will have a felt experience that you are truly connected to everyone and everything, able to open to that unity, merging and connection more and more.
 
In the meantime, choose to do things you enjoy.  Get some connection with others in a way that lifts you up, be it with friends, in a class, Meetup, church, dog park, or at the grocery store.  Find anything that brings you joy in the moment, for as much as you are waking up from the illusion, this planet, is an amazing and fun place to live, and is meant to be a playground for your enjoyment as you take care of it and yourself!
 
4. Feeling the Collective 
Every human is feeling the shift occurring, and the energies that support this shift.  Every human is doing their job perfectly, be it the first wave, the second wave (those recently awakening to a greater truth about reality), or the third wave of those grounding the process by holding the density of 3rd dimensional consciousness so that we may more gracefully embody light in the physical. 
 
Simply acknowledging that you are feeling the global collective consciousness can ease your personal challenges.  It gives space for you to lighten up on yourself, the stories you tell yourself about why you feel the way you do, or that you should be feeling differently. It is not just you, and you are a compassionate sensitive soul.  Give yourself space to take care of yourself and to feel into your ability to sense the collective and then step away from it.  The collective viewpoint right now is deep in density, in fear, separation and anger.  Knowing this, you can choose to not play in that energy.  You always have choice.
 
Here, in the awareness of the collective, is a great opportunity for relief.  Not only can you acknowledge your great intuitive ability and connection to others, you can acknowledge that because of that connection, all that you do, all the inner work, effects the collective.  You are being of great contribution to the planet by dealing with your personal stuff.  Your willingness to be aware of and release your own inner wounds does this for all people everywhere, making their journeys easier.  Just as if you want a world of peace, you be the peace inside of you.  Thank you!
 
5. Feeling Intense Energy Surges
The energy and light assisting you is random and unpredictable.  One moment you’re feeling really high, meaning spiritually.  You feel that union and connection, sometimes so much that tears flow freely from such love in your heart.  The next moment you feel depressed and very low.  You’ve just got to know, have faith, that this will pass. 
 
Will it always be like this?  No.  But there is no need to try to rush the process or think you should be more centered in a peaceful state at all times.  Trust your process of awakening.  Take care of yourself along the way, doing whatever you can to support where you are in any moment.  Trying to make your depression go away because you don’t think you should feel that way isn’t going to assist you.  Life is supporting you always.   There is a divine plan.  This is when trust and faith will assist you most, that this too shall pass and it is an important part of your spiritual awakening, even if you don’t like it or understand it. 
 
It’s time to get used to these random changes in your feelings and prepare for these shifts.  Instead of looking for the “why” am I feeling this way, which can lead to the rabbit hole of what’s wrong with you and your life,  each time that “depressed” feeling arises, you can trust that it’s just energy you are experiencing.  You get to choose how to use that energy, moment by moment.  Will it propel you up into more awakening or down into deeper density?
 
What is there to do about it?  Energy is creative, so you might want to use that energy to do something that expresses your creativity.  Draw, paint, dance, sing, cook, garden, write a poem, play an instrument.  Try something new.  Creativity isn’t just in the “art” arena – it is in business, in the sciences, in the day-to-day organization and new solutions you find.  Set your intention in the morning: what are you creating today? 
 
Take care of yourself and do whatever you need to uplift you, even if it’s “socially unacceptable”, be it sleep, rest, shorter work hours or a day off, bathe, take a walk, be in nature, meditate, drink more water, or eat cleaner food.
 
6. Feeling Empty: The Eternal Now Moment and the Void 
You asked for it: living in your heart, committed to the path of awakening and to pure divine Love, brings in a feeling of emptiness.  It can feel blissful, or stressful, or like depression.  Some would say that depression is depressed creativity.  This can be challenging when your creative slate feels blank.  Life can feel pointless, with no direction, and with little passion, enthusiasm or drive.  We are so used to being driven, busy and productive. 
 
That feeling of emptiness is actually a neutral energy of pure potential, pure creativity.  It holds all possibilities in this moment.  Zero point. Is it no wonder it feels empty?  Could you really handle experiencing all dimensions, insights, timelines, and knowledge all at once?  Our awakening isn’t in one big burst. We integrate more light and love at a pace our bodies can handle.  And yes, sometimes it can just feel empty and meaningless. 
 
Know you are tapping into pure love and light, all and nothing.  Peace.  There is a peace available here, and that depression has the potential to shift into peacefulness.  It is only your interpretation and judgment of what you are experiencing that says otherwise, as you also confront those fears and doubts of your ego and core wounds.
 
7.  You are Shifting, and Thus is Who You Think You Are and What You are Doing With Your Life 
As your true divine self comes to the forefront, you know you are here for a reason, a mission, yet may have no idea what that is.  Having a meaning, a purpose in life, is so important, and the uncertainty can be extremely challenging.  Waking up into New You can be scary and fearful, as anything new and mysterious often is.
 
Without the “what’s next” in sight, letting go of the outdated, the familiar, the comfortable, can be painful.  It’s similar to #4, in that feeling of meaninglessness. 
 
What’s asked of you is to have faith.  Trust that as you open to releasing the security of who you thought you were, you are totally supported and taken care of by life.  It’s okay that you’re no longer interested in some things, that your path is at a standstill, or that those things you were attached to, be it people, career, interests, might abruptly fall away.   You are not your interests, your hobbies, your career or knowledge base, your personality or your past.  You certainly are not your physical possessions or your money in the bank. 
 
Ask for support and clarity, from your higher self, your heart, Source, your divine support like your angels and Galactic Family.  Your next steps will come, and with greater ease when you trust that this cycle of emptying out is an important part of your path.  Again, have faith: New Earth, New You. You are so loved and supported, always!  Take this time to listen.  Then listen more.  Let guidance take as much time as it needs to, and find anyway possible to enjoy your life right now.
 
8. Dark Night of the Soul and Suicidal Thoughts
Spiritual crisis is a normal part of the spiritual awakening process.  It can show up in different and scary ways.  This includes suicidal thoughts, and in these moments it’s imperative to find support and know you are not alone.
 
There may seem no end in sight to the confronting thoughts and feelings that are coming up.  Your deepest core wounds arise, traumatic experiences that equate to feeling you are not enough, don’t belong, aren’t important, are bad, broken, alone and separate from everything.  This is the illusion you are waking up from, as challenging as it is to experience those thoughts and feelings so strongly.  You ARE waking up!  The light is coming, and to be able to perceive and accept the light, all of the darkest night, fear, needs to come to your consciousness – to have the light inside of you shined upon it.   
 
Waking up also can be likened to death.  You are dying from the personality, the you that says you ARE your personality, and can literally feel like dying.  It can also literally feel like going through hell.
 
The most important thing is to find support. 

You are not alone and you are not crazy.  You can search the web about spiritual crisis or dark night of the soul.  Reach out to loved ones and friends.  Pray.  Call on your guides and angels.  Call a crisis hotline.  There is so much support out there, and while you might feel at odds with the traditional psychological model of support, being labeled with various psychological disorders, you might even find support from that perspective too.  Your soul knows the way and the universe is here to completely support your process.  Be open to however that relief and support shows up for you.
 
Make a Game Plan
These waves of energy, sometimes feeling like depression, will come again. And that’s okay!  If you know this, you can have a plan in place that supports your process.   What is happening to you is your process of going from the darkness into the light, or conversely, you could think of it as shining light into the darkness.
 
Take note of what has you feel centered, grounded, calm, at ease, peaceful and happy. Write it down!  This is easiest notice when you are feeling in those states of consciousness, so also reach out for reminders through others, such as loved ones, books, and the web.
 
There is nothing too small or insignificant that could shift your experience in any moment.  A song, a good deed for someone else, a bath, a nap, fresh air and nature, smelling a flower, drinking more water, a massage, a light-hearted video or movie (laughter!), breathing (yes, just noticing your breathing!), a meditation app for your phone, an act of kindness toward another, smiling (just try curling your lips up!), cooking, a phone call, painting or drawing, or simple completed tasks like the laundry.
 
Take note of any practices you have that you know shift your experience.  This could be exercise, be it outdoors, at the gym or in a group class.  Note any simple spiritual practices you’ve done that assist you quickly, be it mindfulness meditation, heart-centered practices, group gatherings, or re-framing situations such as asking what would be the most loving positive way to see the situation. 
 
In terms of re-framing, it can be really helpful to look at yourself as if you were looking at a friend, to disengage from your personal experience.  If your friend or child, were thinking this way, feeling this way, acting this way, what would you say to them?  How would you support them?  How would you re-frame their experience in a way that uplifts them, empowers them, or gives them hope and faith?

Here is a wonderful little booklet by Sri Ram Kaa and Kira Raa on a 7-day spiritual cleanse of forgiveness.  Forgiveness comes from the heart, knowing truly that others, and YOU, are always doing the best that they or you can given their or your state of consciousness at any given time. 

Forgiveness: A Self-Guided Journey of Freedom

You are so divine, so amazing and so brave to be here at this time on Earth!  Please take heart that this, too, shall pass, all waves and cycles, spiraling upwards into higher light and vibration more and more.  Thank you for your contribution to the planet, for coming here on a very important, wonderful yet challenging mission at this unprecedented time.  You deserve to enjoy your life, even during these challenges!

Photo by Will Turner on Unsplash

by Julianne Kulosa

Anxiety is a common symptom along the ascension path.  It’s particularly easy to find “real world” reasons for feeling anxious, both personally and globally.  The first step to easing anxiety, is to become aware of those thoughts that create the feeling.  Fears, insecurities and doubts that may be habitual or may be focused toward a particular situation (your finances, relationships, health or state of the world problems) do need to come to light and be seen for what they are: an interpretation or story about yourself and the world.  The ego is sly: it can always find proof of something if it is looking for it.  At the same time, depending on your state of consciousness at any given time, the world, both inner and outer, shift.  One moment you feel like you can’t be with that feeling of anxiety inside, your mind reeling, and after a meditation, exercise, being out in nature, or connecting with a loved one, you feel at ease.  
 
Things To Consider When You Feel Anxiety
 
1. Everything is Energy
The solar flashes and energy that are supporting the transition into New Earth are becoming stronger and more consistent.  Everyone is feeling it, and how they interpret that energy is up to them.  Furthermore, as your body shifts to hold more light, it can be a pretty intense ride.  It’s natural to feel that energy and want to put a reason to it, to find the problem and solution.  It’s also easy to interpret more intense energies, ones that might have you feel buzzy or jittery inside, as nervousness or anxiety.  Even excitement can be easily be interpreted as anxiety instead of passion or enthusiasm.
 
It can be a relief just to remind yourself, “It’s just energy.” 
 
Next, find a way to ground that energy.  Stand barefoot on the grass, hug a tree, take a walk in nature, garden, clean, or exercise in any way you enjoy.
 
I’m reminded of a story from Jack Kornfield.  During lunch at a week-long silent meditation retreat, a participant went, well, crazy.  He began talking and yelling, jumping on the tables and just being pretty nuts.  Jack realized what was happening: this participant was having a lot of energy rise up inside, also known as “kundalini”.  He immediately put the man on a different course of rigorous exercise and shifted his diet to denser foods such as meat.  This assisted the man in grounding the energy that was rising up in his body a bit more quickly than he could handle.
 
Instead of pushing through that anxiety or nervous energy, your body might also be asking for rest and sleep.  A big part of the ascension process occurs while you are sleeping, giving you time to integrate your growth and increased light.  Let yourself rest! 
 
Give yourself space to to play, laugh, dance, sing, make love and have hobbies you enjoy!  Or take that action you are being called to do even if you’re feeling anxious, doubtful or insecure about it.
 
2. You Are a Part of Collective Consciousness
It’s helpful to remind yourself that it’s not just you.  Spiritual growth opens your intuitive awareness, that ability to feel outside your own shell.  We’ve been trained that we are separate, and as those walls begin to crumble, our innate connection to people and the Earth is experienced more strongly. 
 
It’s important to acknowledge your ability to feel others.  We’ve been doing it already, but have built a wall that has given that illusion of separateness.  Suddenly being able to more greatly intuit the pulse of the collective, the feelings or thoughts of your loved ones, can be confusing or overwhelming. 
 
It’s easy to think “it’s just you”, as your loved ones may be quite unaware of what they are thinking or feeling.
 
Acknowledge your growing ability to connect with others, plants, animals and Gaia.  You are opening the to the compassion, care and unconditional love inside of you.  We all affect each other, quite measurably actually, such as seen in entrainment experiments.
 
Setting boundaries will assist you in differentiating “you” from others.  Spending time alone can give you space to get to know you and you.  As you do practices that expand your heart and bring in more light and have you feel centered, you strengthen your ability to know the difference between “your energy” and others.  Yes, we are all connected, yet it is in embracing our uniqueness that unity can occur.  New Earth isn’t about some kind of intense “group mind” where we are all floating around as One without anything to interact with. 
 
It can be very helpful to set your intention and focus for your day, especially if you are in a service or healing position.  If you walk into work without intention, you are open to the twists and turns that the energy of any person coming your way puts out.  On the other hand, if you set your energy in the morning with that intention, such as to be of loving service or to be calm and at ease, this keeps you centered, without need to give away your energy or take on the energy of others.
 
3. Bouncing Back and Forth from 3D to 5D Perspectives
As you try to be a good and right person, you might be finding that what you were taught about reality just isn’t matching to what you’re sensing inside.  Yet, you still need and want to function in the traditional world, drive your car, interact with those who aren’t interested in “spiritual awakening”, or pay the bills.  Part of you thinks you should be focusing on getting a traditional education or career, make good money, be of service in a way that puts others first and you last, and act a certain way so that others expectations of you are met and so that they feel good when they’re around you.  At the same time, you are committed to your spiritual awakening and might be having profound and strange heart-opening and dimensional shifting experiences.  You might be drawn to be more authentic, to take care of yourself inside first so that you can shine out your light to the world in service, set boundaries, or take an unconventional heart-inspired path that has no known outcome like success in career or finances.
 
When challenges around money, health or relationships arise, important decisions need to be made, it’s easy to wonder if the traditional perspective is the correct one to take.  You read articles and ask for advice, often solidifying the old reality you are waking up from.  This doesn’t have to be an either/or choice.  The collective is still primarily in this old reality, and therefore grounded choices do need to be made.  Do you need to go to the doctor or is this just an ascension symptom?  It’s okay to take both perspectives – if you’re called to go to the doctor, go!  You might know you’re done with your current job and are being called to something new, but it’s okay to keep going to that job to be able to pay your bills right now. 
 
Ease up on your process and awakening – it can be a little rocky, up and down, and life paces your process in a way that you can best handle holding more light.  Open to the possibility that you are multi-dimensional.  This means that you have the ability to shift your consciousness in any moment.  One moment you could be communing with nature and talking with the trees, and the next moment be very grounded as you traverse a rocky trail carefully.  One moment you are in absolute presence of the bliss of the Now and the next, you need to take care of a time-sensitive task like going to an appointment. 
 
It’s okay to feel tossed around a bit.  You’re learning about centering into and opening to your authentic nature!  Return to breathing into your heart and know that as your untapped potential is awakening, you’re learning how to navigate it.  Your process is about integration.  Sometimes it will be sudden changes, endings, shifts, forgetfulness, fogginess and lack of focus or sharp memory recall.  Trust that when you really need that focus or memory, like to do your job, it will be there.  Have faith that life and the universe, have your back and are supporting you fully, even if it doesn’t look or feel the way you think it should.
 
4. Opening to New You
Things are changing, inside you and globally, and they’re changing fast. We naturally seek stability and comfort.  We are trained to set goals into a future we are creating.  During your awakening, you are being asked to let go of what you thought was “you”, and opening to a greater Truth of who you are.  Life has a way of assisting you if you resist, as external shifts (in work, home, relationships, health) may force a new perspective for you.  
 
A lot of anxiety can come with the change in your consciousness occurring that is actually such a higher Love Light vibration and a deeper truth about reality.  Letting go of who your think you are and your understanding of the world, especially as much of the collective, especially family or friends, still operate in the old density of 3D, can cause a lot of turmoil inside.  Do you know what’s true, right or real anymore?
 
You may be finding yourself at a loss, with old interests falling away yet nothing new showing up.  You’re supposed to be active and busy, aren’t you?  That active busy feel at odds with an unknown next step could definitely have you feel anxious.
 
With your new perspective, you might wonder if your loved ones will come with you.  If you change, will they still want to hang around with you?  The truth is, we never know how long relationships will last or change over time, and this is no different.
 
Be open, just willing, to acknowledge and experience death.  It is part of the great cycle of change, and one most of us don’t want to confront.   It’s uncomfortable and the great unknown.  Be compassionate about your natural inclination to want to hold onto those things and relationships that you love, and for your desire for stability and things to “get back to normal”.  Relax into the knowing that with death always comes the promise of new life.
 
Study the stages of butterfly, as the caterpillar spends its time wrapped in the darkness of the cocoon.
 
5. Trauma, Programming and Emotions Bubbling Up
There are few people that get enthusiastic about the idea of their shit coming up.  I’m certainly still practicing embracing it.  “Woo hoo! There’s another fear, victimization, attachment, insecurity, expectation, belief, automatic reaction, or unresolved experience I get to feel and look at!  Ooh, and isn’t it awesome to see how I treat others or myself when I get triggered!”  Yeah, a tough one to look forward to, but there it is, asking for your loving attention.  It’s been hidden away in the darkness, wanting to return to the One with your loving awareness, your gratitude for its lessons, and your compassion.
 
This is where setting time aside can really assist you.  Once you are going about your day, interacting with others, it can be challenging to give the kind of attention and space that these feelings and memories are asking for.  Furthermore, often when things bubble up, you’re in a space where you forgot that what you’re feeling or thinking may not actually be true.  A dark cloud can come over you, and as you try to unravel those reactions or feelings, it only serves to solidify them and increase your anxiety.  This might be a time to take a break, to put your attention on raising your vibration through any means possible, such as connecting with a friend, watching silly cat videos, taking a walk in nature, getting a massage, drinking more water, completing a needed task like housecleaning or paying bills, doing volunteer work or assisting a friend – anything that feels calming, brings you peace of mind, has you feel good about yourself and life.  Yes, it could look like deep breaths or your “spiritual practices”, but sometimes it just means shifting your attention to the good in life and the service that you are to the world, which is plentiful.
 
By setting aside time to “go there,” you are practicing being able to be aware and loving throughout your day.  Setting time aside means starting by doing your practice you are most drawn to right now.  Maybe it’s noticing the breath, doing mantras, visualizing, prayer, connecting to your heart, bringing in light and merging with Source and Gaia, calling on divine support, doing yoga, or a myriad of other practices and methods available.   You’ve now set the space to be able to address those things that are coming up to be seen and released, not just for yourself but also for the collective.  You can now take that loving perspective, hold the space for those things to come up, and see more clearly.  Personally, I like to journal.  You might like to share with a friend, share with your guides or angels, or use some kind of healing technique on your own or through a practitioner.  All you need for your journey is in you and around you, and as you give space to “go there”, the support you need will be right in front of you in that moment.
 
6. Feeling the Acceleration of the Shift Occurring
It’s just the Shift speeding up, and the Universe is asking you to slow down and center. It’s just energy, and you have choice in how you interpret what it means. 
 
Notice that sped up energy, the thoughts that say you should be doing more, that say you have no time.  Notice the habit of pushing through when your call is actually to rest or sleep. 
 
Or, you may want to allow yourself to have this be a challenge you can live up to!  The opportunities when the energy and changes are accelerated is an time you can lift up quickly.  You can rise to the challenge while you keep your practices in place that keep you centered, grounded and trusting your intuitive guidance.    
 
You have a time-shifting ability you may not be aware of.  The ancient Egyptians had a temple devoted to the study of time, from the perspective of how man moves through time.  Things can go slower or faster depending on your state of consciousness.  You know the “in the zone” feeling when things are flowing and you’re doing what you love – that can make time fly like when you’re doing some artwork. Or when you really want something, enthusiastically but calmly and without attachment – space opens up, time opens up, traffic lights are all green.  When you’re feeling anxious, that can make things move quickly yet have things take longer than necessary.  I’ve learned that too many times! 

Modern science has added another layer to time called “vertical time”.  In any given moment, all possibilities exist.  Tap into your ability to open to the present moment of vertical time, as compared to the stress and anxiety of living only in horizontal time, always rushing impatiently toward a future or looking back toward what has past.  Use your inner natural ability to do so by using your intention, focus in when you slow down into each moment, and choose the possibility of ease, peace, flow and trust in the universe and Divine Plan.
 
7. Information Overload
This can be both internal and external.  As waves of energy and higher frequency come in, you might have insights, guidance, creative ideas and new perspectives appear one after the other.  It might feel like there’s so much to remember and do.  Creativity is the nature of the universe, and one of the ways to know how creative you actually are is to see all those “unfinished” projects you have – a sign of all those creative ideas! 
 
You are co-creating this New Earth with others.  If you have an idea, know that someone else does to.  You don’t have to be the one to implement it.  Maybe you just plant the seed, or support others in their projects energetically or physically.
 
Also, know that you don’t need to do everything at once.  You can write down your insights, and then just breathe into the moment and do what’s next to be done in this moment, which might be integration through rest and sleep, making dinner, meditating, connecting with others, or being of service out in the world.  One step at a time, with cultivating feeling peaceful and centered a priority.
 
Externally, there is also so much information available more than ever before.  You may want to deliberately turn off your phone, stop reading or watching the news, or just take a break from all electronics all together.  Getting out into nature is one of the greatest ways to relax into the present moment.
 
If you have the thought to do something such as stretch, take a walk, meditate, or make that phone call, and think, “I don’t have time!” this might actually be exactly the time to do so.
 
8. Opening to All Viewpoints and The Void
As your heart opens more and more, you’ll find a desire to respect and honor all viewpoints.  It's not that you take them on as your own, but you allow others to have their unique perspectives.  Being so open to the new, to change, to different possibilities, might have you feeling like – what the heck do I know anyway?  When the dependability of who you thought you were and what you thought reality was starts to break apart, you might wonder what you even have to offer to the world.  Furthermore, it can be challenging when you need to make an important decision yet see the validity of different viewpoints.
 
When your knowledge isn’t fact but merely one possibility, when you know there are so many ways to look at any situation, it can really trigger the insecurity of how you fit in and belong.  Someone asks for you advice, and what comes to mind are dozens of ways you could answer their question.  There’s not just one correct answer anymore, so what “expertise” do you have to offer anyone?  Here’s the cool thing:  knowledge really is power, just in a different sense. Being open to so many viewpoints allows you to trust that your mind has taken them all into account and you can now more easily drop into the intuitive, tapped in, higher vibrational intelligence of your heart.  Being open might feel empty, yet it is in that emptiness where all pure potential exists. 
 
Being in the present moment in the space of pure love can also feel like a nothingness, an emptiness.  It is a sublime space of pure potential, yet with that drive to understand what you’re supposed to be doing, to be productive and responsible, it can be a very uncomfortable space to feel.  This is zero point, and just know that each time you experience the present moment fully, you are opening to all possibilities and learning about the true nature of reality and your divine human potential to co-create the world you wish to live in.
 
Opening to new viewpoints is a wonderful thing! You are embracing diversity and opening your compassionate heart. 
 
In your heart is also your ability to take that mental knowledge, all those perspectives into account, and then use the intelligence of your heart to choose your next step, big or small.  You can place your hands on your heart and breathe into your heart, breathing in ease, centering back into the wisdom and intelligence of your heart.  This allows better coherence between your heart and your brain, giving you clearer love-based directives. 

When you're opening to all viewpoints, let it empower you to most importantly honor your own, to live by your values and trust your choices.
 
9. Higher Guidance Delivered Through the Ego
I love this one, thanks to Matt Khan.  Your soul, your higher self, your guides and angels, all connected to the guidance of Source, are always guiding you toward your highest good, in returning to love, joy and peace.
 
Let’s say your higher self is supporting you by nudging you to care for your body more.  It whispers incessantly, “Eat more vegetables,” or “go for a walk”.  What you hear instead it, “Your diet is terrible and you need to lose weight.  You have no willpower.” or “You’re so lazy. You really need to get more exercise, loser.” 
 
So each time you have the thought about something that is actually loving guidance to assist you, it only stresses you out and has that anxiety come up that says, “You should be doing more, better, different…” This is because the message from higher guidance is actually being delivered from your ego.  Your ego can be kind of harsh and controlling, speaking in rough and bossy tones that just don’t feel good.  You might be used to that kind of rough communication, since your parents used it on you as a child to get you into action.  As an adult, surely you don’t appreciate being spoken to that way anymore, from a boss, spouse or otherwise.
 
While your ego really does have your best interest at heart, its controlling nature isn’t serving to motivate you on your spiritual path so much.  You can thank your ego, and ask it to be gentler in its communication.  When you get that guidance to do something and notice you feel anxious, you can wonder, “If this were a communication from someone who loved me unconditionally just as I am, wasn’t trying to fix me, punish me, or make me feel bad or wrong, what would that communication be?”
 
Final Words
You always have choice in how you interpret your feelings and experiences.  Just know that you are truly expanding and a part of the shift occurring, and the process you are going through is natural and not always easy.  Take care of yourself along your journey.  When you feel that anxiety, know it will pass.  It’s time to be brave, to take new actions that may seem scary, but do them anyway, for the world needs and is ready for New You!

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

by Julianne Kulosa

Along the spiritual path of Awakening, you are asked to allow uncomfortable painful emotions, beliefs, thoughts and memories to come into your consciousness.  This is a part of the healing journey, with many ways to accomplish this task.  Furthermore, this path is about authenticity and being awake and aware, choosing your interpretations and responses about reality as opposed to operating from those automatic viewpoints and reactions.  Clearing out the old makes way for more Light to come into the body.  You may feel like you’ve been doing this for so long – enough already!  You might have moments us deep connection, bliss, love, peace or joy, only to find yourself reacting to your life in an automatic way, with impatience, frustration, grief, anxiety or anger. 
 
I’ve spent so many years trying to be “ultra” self-aware, noticing when I’d rather escape than confront my feelings (and then choosing to do so!), or when I react to a situation or loved one in a defensive or offensive way.  Then these reactions or automatic behaviors would give me more reason to say, “See, you’re not there yet.  You’re not doing it right or good enough.”
 
Boy, do we take this life so dang seriously!  Spirituality is often taken as serious business, set with rules and regulations just like at work, in religion or in proper social etiquette.  Give me some room to breathe please!   We all want freedom.  Freedom to be spontaneously ourselves, doing the best we can, making mistakes along the way, knowing that we are a contribution to this planet and can have fun all along our journey here.
 
Recently I’ve noticed how, in the journey to let all that stuff come up, to follow a path of love and light, it’s easy to make mountains out of molehills.  Simplicity is the call, yet we like to make things quite complicated, going on a search for how deeply our thoughts, feelings or actions, our programming, stories and trauma affect our day-to-day experience. 
 
For me, the call now is to lighten up even more.  I know what I’m committed to, and I see myself, everyday, veering from that commitment.  Then I’ll want to self-analyze, which can often bring me more deeply into that programming that is “in the way” of my commitment.  Why?  Because I’m still coming into my power, that power within that is intimately connected with everything.  Humility isn’t about saying, “Oh, little old me, I can’t possibility do or be that.  I don’t deserve it.  I’m not good enough.  I don’t want to be egotistical.”  Humility is admitting that yes, the separate you that you think you are (aka the ego) is powerless, but inside you is the power of the Divine, of the One that you are always connected to.  It’s a willingness to give up that separation and merge with a power greater than just little old separate you.  You know, the one that thinks they need to do whatever it takes to make it happen, to work hard and be in control at all times.
 
So in the name of clearing, it’s easy to “work hard”, to go on a harangue about those things that come up that have us continue habits we know no longer support us or reactions that are based in fear, lack and separation.  Don’t get me wrong, it can be very fun, enlightening and entertaining to do so, the best choice in the moment, and it’s okay when you choose to!  It can remind you and point you back to that trajectory of where you want to go.
 
Once you’ve shined the light on those things that have been running you, had the willingness to bring unconditional love to those things, feelings, thoughts and memories that have you feel alone, treated unjustly, traumatized, angry, insignificant, not enough, broken or weak, you can send them back into the Light of Source where they belong, into wholeness and peace.
 
So you’ve done that, and yet there’s more, more reactions, more programming of how reality is even though you know better, more automatic responses and habits.  Why are they still there?  Am I doing it wrong?  I’d better work harder!
 
You don’t need to keep going there, thinking, “Oh gosh, I have so much more to do, to confront, to clear, to be aware of, to grow…I’m not “there” yet.” That just is keeping you in a loop of exactly what you’re wanting to “clear” – those fears that keep you separated from your divine spark inside, the one that is free to be empowered and enjoy the ride. 
 
Here’s the thing: you are a creator, totally empowered.  You are a Master who came here in this time to be a part of creating New Earth.  Therefore, you’ve got what it takes, baby!  You’ve got this, whether you believe it or not.  You’re doing it exactly as you need to, and it’s all unfolding just right.
 
I noticed the other day a friend talking about his challenges around making money and having financial abundance.   He went on about his focus of thought, where his attention was and how he was interpreting reality, his family dynamics and money conversation within his family, etc.  It was funny, because he talked like those things were “running” him in his subconscious, yet he was clearly actually consciously aware of it.  I saw how I do that too, think that things are running me unconsciously even as I’m very aware of them!
 
This is all wonderful stuff, to bring things into your awareness.  Yet I realized there comes a point when it’s time to let it go.  Yeah, yeah, there it is again, and I don’t need to go there!  In the past, I would have almost said that blasphemy – if it is presenting in your reality, you need to go there.  But do you?  And if so, how?
 
I’ve taken on a simple practice that you might want to try.  If you find yourself going on a harangue about something, you could just Lighten Up!  You can use that God-given power of yours, the one that isn’t trying to fix anything or obliterate the “bad” from your reality, but the one that is unconditionally loving and is choosing what reality they are living in. 
 
It’s simple:
You notice that thought, interpretation of what’s happening, and say, “Thank you, but no.”
 
That’s it, “Thank you, but no.” You’re not pushing down or escaping from the thought or feeling that has arisen – you’ve already just noticed it with a commitment to loving whatever arises, even when it doesn't feel good.  It’s not a heart-breaking rejection or emotionally charged judgment.  It’s choosing, like when the waiter asks, “Would you like dessert?” and you respond, “Thank you, but no.” (Sure you could go on a run with that one, as you might notice the idea of dessert sounds yummy, and in come the thoughts about your diet, health, ideal weight, social standards of beauty, your values around eating and your commitment….but in that restaurant in that moment, you are clear about what you want and don’t want, and you simply say to the waiter, “Thank you, but no.”) 
 
Recently, I noticed I felt anxious in my tummy, that solar plexus area.  I went there, realizing it was because I was about to teach a cardio kickboxing class, something I hadn’t done in over a decade.  Will I be good enough? Will they like it, me, the workout, the music?  Will they have fun and enjoy it?  Will it be too easy, too hard, to fast, to slow? I noticed I do that with another type of workout I teach, Nia Technique.  I noticed that feeling of not good enough, of never enough, in my teaching, and then my thoughts starting to trickle out into other aspects of me and my life, like how my clothing is never quite right, cute enough, fit just right, etc.

I saw how there it was yet again: never good enough, I’m not enough, that feeling of separation and not enough. That deepest darkest core wound, “I’m not enough.” Here’s the thing: that awareness alone, something I’ve been delving into for a long time, wasn’t actually serving to alleviate that anxiety, to align me with a greater Truth. 
 
So, instead of my usual, “You need to go there, with loving attention. This wants your loving attention,” I said, “Thank you, but no.”  I like to add a little wave with my right hand near my head (real or imaginary), waving that out and away, back to the Light of Source.  You can do this for anything – when you notice even deeper programming, trauma, or timeloops.
 
What happened next was so natural and easy.  Present, here and now, space opened up.  I thought and wrote spontaneously, (and I quote from my journal), “I choose unity.  Thank you for pointing out that I still have feelings of scarcity and separation, and no, I don’t need that anymore. I choose connection. So when I go out into the world, through teaching, writing or whatever, I CONNECT with others, I share authentically my experience and self-expression, knowing our hearts touch because we are all connected. I choose to unify and merge with Mother Earth and Source God, the Divine in me, One with All.  I am safe to allow this connection.  In my trust and safety, I allow others to confront their fear and separation, and to open their hearts to connecting and merging.  Yes!  All as an expression of the One Divine Source Love!”
 
Gratitude washed over me, in so many specific ways, and the goal of teaching became to have FUN!  And then I noticed: that anxiety in my solar plexus was completely gone.
 
Here’s what I want you to get: Yes, that self-awareness was there, that ability to notice thoughts and feelings, but the shift in my perspective didn’t come from working hard to put all those high vibe practices and perspectives into place.  Thank you to those thoughts and feelings for coming up of course, a perfect part of the process as they release out, returning to the Light. My shift came from the willingness to stand in my power and make the simple command: “Thank you, but no.”  Our souls already know the way, we just need to admit it can be easier than we think and relax a little.
 
Photo by Stephen Leonardi 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.

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.