YOU Are Magical!
Below are a few items in your magic toolbox. You don't need to add them, for they've been inside you all the time. YOU are the toolbox, YOU are the magic! What makes these tools more powerful is you believing that they, and you, are indeed truly magical. While all of these tools can be used separately, the world of magic and miracles resides in allowing all of these to work together, like a synergistic alchemical process. You no longer need magic spells or incantations, rituals or more training - unless it's fun for you and brings you joy! YOU are a master, a high priestess, a wizard, a guru! May shining out your light and love in service to All be your highest intention. May you be blessed with the wonder, fun and joy of being alive in this moment. All is well. And so it is!
Magical Tool #1: INTENTION
Magical Tool #2: INTUITION
Magical Tool #3: IMAGINATION
Magical Tool #4: ATTENTION
Magical Tool #5: APPRECIATION
Magical Tool #2: INTUITION
Magical Tool #3: IMAGINATION
Magical Tool #4: ATTENTION
Magical Tool #5: APPRECIATION
Magical Tool #1
INTENTION
Your intention is your magic wand. It is your most powerful magical tool of manifestation you have. In New Earth, our desires manifest more instantaneously than ever before. However, if we are attached to our desires, meaning we are in a place of fear about them, it is that fear that will hold back our desires from manifesting. True intention is not bound by physical laws or limitations, and comes from a place of surrender and trust. Intention is your way to focus your energy moment by moment throughout your day. It is the key to your transformational process. If we don't set our intention, which is like a command or decree, then we generally work on automatic, our intentions based on our past experiences in the form of protecting ourselves from pain and danger. Our subconscious intentions can feel more like curses than light-filled magic spells. We declare and affirm things like, "I AM angry. I AM lazy. I AM stupid. I AM not enough. This situation is hopeless." Begin to notice your own automatic self-talk, for what you focus on and declare is what is so for you. Then, by deliberately declaring your positive intention, you are claiming your power as spirit in form. You'll begin to notice that a "good day" or "bad day" isn't so much about external events happening, but instead about how your interpret or judge those events. You are a powerful creator, filled with Love and Light, and can create anything you wish by letting go of demands and expectations and focusing on the gifts of whatever situation you are in. Be easy on yourself, as we were not trained for this, and the path of being human has many challenges. Keep going!
The universe is always manifesting exactly what you need right now for your highest good, even if it may be painful or the opposite of how you think things should look. For example, you might want a new job. Why do you want the car? For transportation to get to work. Why do you want to work? To make money. Why do you want to make money? To have freedom and peace of mind. Well, maybe what you want to intend is that you have freedom and peace of mind, which can of course include a new car! Consider intending that wanting that new car, or having car trouble, is exactly what you need in this moment, for the divine unfolding of your highest and greatest good. Dig deep and you'll uncover your greatest desires, and find that you can have them NOW, for they are not dependent on anything outside of Magical YOU.
SAY THE MAGIC WORDS
You can simply begin with the words, "I intend", "May I," or "I Am" when stating your intention. This itself will result in miracles. Even more powerful is combining a form of intention or prayer that involves experiencing what you are wanting with all of your being in the present moment, regardless of your present circumstances.
The best way I can describe this to you is an experience I stumbled upon when intending I would be with the perfect man for me. At the time, I was in a relationship (with a man I'll call John) that was wonderful but I wanted a more permanent committed relationship. I created an affirmation, "I am with the perfect man for me, John or someone better, at the perfect time." More than once when stating this intention, I would see myself doing dishes at the sink, looking out the window, and my beloved would come up behind me and put his arms around my waist. While making this intention, I had no doubt, and was literally experiencing in my mind's eye the scene I just described.
The more you can be in that scene of your intention already manifested, using all of your senses - touch, taste, smell, sound, sight - the more powerful. At the same time, you also use your emotions, having that intended experience in the present moment. I felt loving, calm and content in my scene. How do you feel in your scene of what you have already manifested? Consider that everything that occurs in your life is simply playing out in the physical realm what you have already created. This magic formula, used by ancient cultures, has the power to literally move mountains.
What happened to my perfect man? Well, I told myself that I'd meet him by the time I was 65, which for me (that thought might really depress someone else!) took out any sense of urgency. Little did I know that he was someone I already knew, and I married my amazing husband less than two years after I began setting my intention. After about a year and a half of our marriage, living in a new home, I was doing the dishes one day, looking out the window, and my husband came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. It was exactly as I had seen and experienced when I set my intention those years before.
PURE DIVINE INTENTION
Pure divine intention is created in our hearts and has no limitations. It elevates our frequency, or vibration, and is especially important for those choosing to transition into and experience New Earth. A pure intention might look like, "I intend the universe show me the way to be of the highest service today, for the highest and greatest good of myself, others and the world." It is these intentions, such as, "I am a conduit of pure love," that are commands or decrees we make as spirit in form. Pure intention removes our own limitations created when we focus on a specific physical goal we want to manifest. The mind can limit us, but the heart is open to all possibility. Be open to how the experience of your intention shifts, moment to moment, day to day. Surrendering to trusting Divine You allows the divine to assist you, be it through the earth, your higher self, your angels, or your friends and family.
Pure divine intention is the Divine You, the One that is more than this life or this body, here to be of service to the world and enjoy your life while doing it. It is a space of endless possibility, all solutions and eternal abundance. When you begin to claim your ability as a conscious co-creator, you'll see that you create all the time by aligning your words with your feelings. Giving space for your humanity, knowing that all you have done is to propel you to awaken and uplift evermore, you can begin to be more deliberate in your thoughts and feelings, shifting from problems to fix to the space of All Is Well Now. With love, awareness and sincerity, life can be miraculous and magical.
WHEN YOU WANT TO GET SPECIFIC IN YOUR INTENTION
Ok, I'm not saying not to make specific concrete intentions. One way to empower and elevate the vibration of a specific intention is to add the phrase "this or something better" to it. With my intention of being with a partner, I added, "I am with the perfect man for me, John or someone better than I could ever imagine." This allowed the universe to assist me and removed my limitations around the who, where, how and when of a loving partnership. Your heart already knows the deepest desire of your higher self, yet setting intentions is often done from the mind. Your mind is meant to be in service to your hearts and spirit, not the other way around. Because the mind tends to want to control your world and keep you safe (Thank you dear friend!), adding "this or something better than I could ever imagine" releases the need for controlling the outcome and alleviates emotions like fear, doubt or worry. It is a statement of surrender and trust in a loving universe that supports us fully and can manifest even greater things than the limitations of our minds.
Practice Assignment:
You are already intending all the time. Start to notice when you habitually intend, such as when you play an outcome in your head. These unconscious affirmations are based on past experiences and worries or fears about the future. How often do you expect a person to act or react in a certain way? Do you have a list of reasons why you can't have something you want? These are intentions that limit us, and you'll find them most often around the areas of money, work, health, time or relationships. Once you notice, acknowledge your good job of noticing, and thank those habitual thoughts for trying to protect you and take care of you. You need not now worry more that those outcomes will play out, because the power of love and light are far greater than our fears.
Example intention, though you'll have your own style at different times:
I Am Unconditional Divine Love. May I be more loving and compassionate today than ever before, for the highest and greatest good of myself and all people everywhere. So It Is!
When your intention is specific:
I Am Abundance in All Ways. I intend my income is doubled, or even greater than I can imagine, for the highest and best good of myself, others and the universe. It Is So!
Consider that while you can be specific, and "income is doubled" is more general than, say, getting a raise or promotion at your current job, what you are wanting in that situation may be even more general. Maybe you are wanting peace of mind, freedom, self-expression, abundance and/or prosperity. Those more general intentions allow the universe to show up in unexpected and miraculous ways, and align you with a higher vibration.
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The universe is always manifesting exactly what you need right now for your highest good, even if it may be painful or the opposite of how you think things should look. For example, you might want a new job. Why do you want the car? For transportation to get to work. Why do you want to work? To make money. Why do you want to make money? To have freedom and peace of mind. Well, maybe what you want to intend is that you have freedom and peace of mind, which can of course include a new car! Consider intending that wanting that new car, or having car trouble, is exactly what you need in this moment, for the divine unfolding of your highest and greatest good. Dig deep and you'll uncover your greatest desires, and find that you can have them NOW, for they are not dependent on anything outside of Magical YOU.
SAY THE MAGIC WORDS
You can simply begin with the words, "I intend", "May I," or "I Am" when stating your intention. This itself will result in miracles. Even more powerful is combining a form of intention or prayer that involves experiencing what you are wanting with all of your being in the present moment, regardless of your present circumstances.
The best way I can describe this to you is an experience I stumbled upon when intending I would be with the perfect man for me. At the time, I was in a relationship (with a man I'll call John) that was wonderful but I wanted a more permanent committed relationship. I created an affirmation, "I am with the perfect man for me, John or someone better, at the perfect time." More than once when stating this intention, I would see myself doing dishes at the sink, looking out the window, and my beloved would come up behind me and put his arms around my waist. While making this intention, I had no doubt, and was literally experiencing in my mind's eye the scene I just described.
The more you can be in that scene of your intention already manifested, using all of your senses - touch, taste, smell, sound, sight - the more powerful. At the same time, you also use your emotions, having that intended experience in the present moment. I felt loving, calm and content in my scene. How do you feel in your scene of what you have already manifested? Consider that everything that occurs in your life is simply playing out in the physical realm what you have already created. This magic formula, used by ancient cultures, has the power to literally move mountains.
What happened to my perfect man? Well, I told myself that I'd meet him by the time I was 65, which for me (that thought might really depress someone else!) took out any sense of urgency. Little did I know that he was someone I already knew, and I married my amazing husband less than two years after I began setting my intention. After about a year and a half of our marriage, living in a new home, I was doing the dishes one day, looking out the window, and my husband came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. It was exactly as I had seen and experienced when I set my intention those years before.
PURE DIVINE INTENTION
Pure divine intention is created in our hearts and has no limitations. It elevates our frequency, or vibration, and is especially important for those choosing to transition into and experience New Earth. A pure intention might look like, "I intend the universe show me the way to be of the highest service today, for the highest and greatest good of myself, others and the world." It is these intentions, such as, "I am a conduit of pure love," that are commands or decrees we make as spirit in form. Pure intention removes our own limitations created when we focus on a specific physical goal we want to manifest. The mind can limit us, but the heart is open to all possibility. Be open to how the experience of your intention shifts, moment to moment, day to day. Surrendering to trusting Divine You allows the divine to assist you, be it through the earth, your higher self, your angels, or your friends and family.
Pure divine intention is the Divine You, the One that is more than this life or this body, here to be of service to the world and enjoy your life while doing it. It is a space of endless possibility, all solutions and eternal abundance. When you begin to claim your ability as a conscious co-creator, you'll see that you create all the time by aligning your words with your feelings. Giving space for your humanity, knowing that all you have done is to propel you to awaken and uplift evermore, you can begin to be more deliberate in your thoughts and feelings, shifting from problems to fix to the space of All Is Well Now. With love, awareness and sincerity, life can be miraculous and magical.
WHEN YOU WANT TO GET SPECIFIC IN YOUR INTENTION
Ok, I'm not saying not to make specific concrete intentions. One way to empower and elevate the vibration of a specific intention is to add the phrase "this or something better" to it. With my intention of being with a partner, I added, "I am with the perfect man for me, John or someone better than I could ever imagine." This allowed the universe to assist me and removed my limitations around the who, where, how and when of a loving partnership. Your heart already knows the deepest desire of your higher self, yet setting intentions is often done from the mind. Your mind is meant to be in service to your hearts and spirit, not the other way around. Because the mind tends to want to control your world and keep you safe (Thank you dear friend!), adding "this or something better than I could ever imagine" releases the need for controlling the outcome and alleviates emotions like fear, doubt or worry. It is a statement of surrender and trust in a loving universe that supports us fully and can manifest even greater things than the limitations of our minds.
Practice Assignment:
You are already intending all the time. Start to notice when you habitually intend, such as when you play an outcome in your head. These unconscious affirmations are based on past experiences and worries or fears about the future. How often do you expect a person to act or react in a certain way? Do you have a list of reasons why you can't have something you want? These are intentions that limit us, and you'll find them most often around the areas of money, work, health, time or relationships. Once you notice, acknowledge your good job of noticing, and thank those habitual thoughts for trying to protect you and take care of you. You need not now worry more that those outcomes will play out, because the power of love and light are far greater than our fears.
Example intention, though you'll have your own style at different times:
I Am Unconditional Divine Love. May I be more loving and compassionate today than ever before, for the highest and greatest good of myself and all people everywhere. So It Is!
When your intention is specific:
I Am Abundance in All Ways. I intend my income is doubled, or even greater than I can imagine, for the highest and best good of myself, others and the universe. It Is So!
Consider that while you can be specific, and "income is doubled" is more general than, say, getting a raise or promotion at your current job, what you are wanting in that situation may be even more general. Maybe you are wanting peace of mind, freedom, self-expression, abundance and/or prosperity. Those more general intentions allow the universe to show up in unexpected and miraculous ways, and align you with a higher vibration.
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Magical Tool #2
INTUITION
Your intuition makes YOU the psychic, the oracle, the mystic. Also known as inner knowing, it is your tool to accessing your ability to tap into and follow Divine Will: your Divine Self and the divine guidance all around you. It puts you in the flow of the universe, where synchronicity abounds and you find yourself in the right place at the right time, with all the insights, resources and assistance you need. Using your intuition takes a willingness to go beyond the boundaries of your beliefs, logic, intellect and the traditional scientific method.
Human beings are extremely intuitive, and in this transition into New Earth, your intuition is becoming undeniably stronger. The question becomes, what are the ways you are naturally intuitive? While we can access it in many forms, you have a unique intuition that is yours alone. Your intuition guided you to read this page.
Intuition is as natural as eating, walking and sleeping. Intuition arises from more than your mind. As you drop into your heart's intelligence, intuition blossoms.
It is through your own experience that you will get to know how your unique intuition expresses itself. Be open to your own growth, as your experience of life can shift and expand when you open to the new.
You must be willing to trust yourself and take action on your own inner guidance. Sometimes the best stories of our intuition come from the times we didn't use our intuition. How many times have you said, "I knew that was going to happen!", ignoring your intuition only to find yourself in a pickle. That's ok, we fall a lot while learning to walk, and also didn't grow up with much support around accessing and trusting our intuition. Intuition does not live within the bounds of logic, space or time.
When things work out, we often don't acknowledge it or say it's just luck. When they don't work out, it's a big deal. How about making a bigger deal out of the magic of things working out than when they don't!
Personally, I notice that when I don't honor my intuition, I feel anxious. My mind is saying, "You're just being anxious for no good reason and it's your fault. Stop being so judgmental, drinking so much coffee, do your should's, get it together..." Instead of thinking there's something wrong, honor that your intuition is guiding you, and that your upset sensations may just be telling you you're not listening.
The quickest way to access your intuition is to close your eyes and bring your attention to your heart. Open eyes has you in your mind more, and it is in your heart where your intuitive intelligence resides and expands from.
Human beings are extremely intuitive, and in this transition into New Earth, your intuition is becoming undeniably stronger. The question becomes, what are the ways you are naturally intuitive? While we can access it in many forms, you have a unique intuition that is yours alone. Your intuition guided you to read this page.
Intuition is as natural as eating, walking and sleeping. Intuition arises from more than your mind. As you drop into your heart's intelligence, intuition blossoms.
It is through your own experience that you will get to know how your unique intuition expresses itself. Be open to your own growth, as your experience of life can shift and expand when you open to the new.
You must be willing to trust yourself and take action on your own inner guidance. Sometimes the best stories of our intuition come from the times we didn't use our intuition. How many times have you said, "I knew that was going to happen!", ignoring your intuition only to find yourself in a pickle. That's ok, we fall a lot while learning to walk, and also didn't grow up with much support around accessing and trusting our intuition. Intuition does not live within the bounds of logic, space or time.
When things work out, we often don't acknowledge it or say it's just luck. When they don't work out, it's a big deal. How about making a bigger deal out of the magic of things working out than when they don't!
Personally, I notice that when I don't honor my intuition, I feel anxious. My mind is saying, "You're just being anxious for no good reason and it's your fault. Stop being so judgmental, drinking so much coffee, do your should's, get it together..." Instead of thinking there's something wrong, honor that your intuition is guiding you, and that your upset sensations may just be telling you you're not listening.
The quickest way to access your intuition is to close your eyes and bring your attention to your heart. Open eyes has you in your mind more, and it is in your heart where your intuitive intelligence resides and expands from.
If you want to increase your intuitive abilities, the best way to start is by using your magical tool of intention to do so. Affirm and intend, "I am extremely intuitive. I trust my intuition."
Experiment in trusting yourself, taking action simply because your intuition told you to. Now is the time for you to be the expert of yourself, and stand in the power and contribution to this world that only YOU are. Some are born with a powerful natural intuition, such as seeing spirits. They don't have a "better" intuitive ability than you. Know that while your intuition is unique, you can also practice increasing your intuitive abilities. There are many books and websites on the subject, so I will simply outline some basic ways intuition arises. Intuition involves our entire being, meaning our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies.
CLAIRVOYANCE
This type of intuition involves clear seeing. Intuitive insight comes in the form of images. Close your eyes and imagine you are standing at the front door of your house. Can you see the details around you easily? You may or may not see the actual door with your eyes closed. Everyone's intuition is unique. For example, when I do readings, I can have my eyes open and describe a guide that is present in my mind's eye, even though I am not actually "seeing" the guide as I would a physical object. Others literally see guides and angels with their eyes open. Using your clairvoyance, you may see flashes of light or orbs at the corner of your eyes, or see auras or energy fields around people, plants or objects.
Clear seeing is also often experienced in the dreamtime. You might have a very real (because it was!) dream of your guides, light beings or galactic family. The experience of deja vu is simply the reminder that you dreamed your present moment the night, or many nights, before it occurred, preparing you for the present event. There are ways to practice "waking" dreaming, from going back consciously into a dream to gather more information, to time traveling, to bi-location, such as is done in remote viewing.
Clairvoyance is the most common type of psychic ability people think of. Is it better than the others? Absolutely not. Furthermore, any visions or symbols that are spontaneously received often need to be interpreted. The other forms of intuitive abilities are then used to interpret what is seen.
Practice Assignment:
Remember the practice I had you do of closing your eyes and being at the front door of your home? You can continue practicing that exercise, closing your eyes and seeing in detail the colors, shapes and textures of the objects in the various rooms of your home.
Clairvoyance is experienced in the third eye, or sixth chakra. This is located between and just slightly above your eyebrows. Command your third eye to open and imagine it opening. You can also use a clear quartz crystal to assist you. Make sure your crystal is cleared (such as laying it on selenite overnight or in the sunlight and moonlight for a day). With your left hand, place the point of the crystal toward your head on your third eye and then place your right index and middle fingers at the back of your head, at the back of your third eye, straight behind the crystal. Imagine light going between the crystal and your right fingers, opening your third eye.
Warning: When the 3rd eye begins to open, you may experience a headache at the front of the forehead to the temples. This is totally normal. It's like working a muscle in strength training. Drink plenty of water.
CLAIRAUDIENCE
This is clear hearing. From a voice in your head to hearing music, tones or ringing in the ear, to the voices of your guides or the tree in your backyard, the world, seen and unseen, is speaking to us all the time. It might warn us or help us make an important choice. It's those times you're driving and inside your head you hear a voice say, "Take this exit," avoiding unseen traffic ahead or an accident.
Everything has a frequency or vibration, which has a sound. That sound carries divine information that can assist you. "In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Practice Assignment:
Those that are naturally clairaudient are often more sensitive to noise than others, such as when an ambulance goes by. You can practice increasing your sensitivity to sound.
Whether in meditation or just sitting quietly, begin to notice the sounds around you. As I write this, a crow begins to caw loudly, reminding me to listen to the guidance all around my environment. You can begin by noticing the sound of your own breath. Then begin to notice the sounds in your environment, especially ones you might normally tune out. The clock ticking, the cars driving by, the airplane passing overhead, the birds, the wind in the trees, or the voices nearby. Close your eyes and listen inside your head, near your ears. Do you hear any tones, any high-pitched sounds? This is voice of your intuitive hearing.
CLAIRSENTIENCE
Clairsentience is clear feeling or clear sensing, which includes being empathic. It can be challenging to differentiate our feelings or emotions from those of the people around us and our environment. Clear sensing can be physical and/or emotional. It can show in our bodies as the sensation of goosebumps, tingling, prickling, rushes of heat or cold, or gut feelings. You may experience the unseen world of guides, angels, fairies and your deceased loved ones through a feeling that someone is in the room with you or is watching you.
Clairtangency, an aspect of clairsentience, is the ability to feel or sense energy or information from objects. This can be experienced when sitting in a chair, holding an object, or simply walking into a house or building. I remember doing a workshop long ago with Jame Van Praagh, a famous medium. He had us break into pairs and hold an object belonging to our partner, such as a ring they were wearing. It was amazing to see that all of us, with no previous training, gave detailed information about the other participant, such as where they were the night before, their relationships or what their home looks like.
Practice Assignment:
Most of us are more empathic than we realize, so your assignment is to start to notice how you feel when you are alone, such as at home or in nature. Then notice any shifts in your feelings or emotions when you are around another person. This is not the same as your own judgments, which are also important to notice. However, instead of thinking it is just your own feelings and judgments, consider that you are picking up on the other person's energy. They might say they are happy and be smiling, but you feel anxious or sad. They might seem trustworthy and like the expert, but for no apparent reason you don't feel right about trusting them. There is nothing you need to "protect" yourself from. Instead, consider cultivating heart-based feelings, like love, appreciation and trust. These allow you to be compassionately aware of other's energy, deeper thoughts, feelings and motivations without having your own energy affected.
CLAIRCOGNIZENCE
Clear knowing happens to us all the time. We are not used to taking action or making decisions based on just knowing alone. We are trained to plan and schedule, to be logical and analytical. Clear knowing comes suddenly and with no explanation, no "why" or "how" you know what you know.
One of my favorite memories comes from my early twenties. After arriving home from having a nice dinner with my mom and grandma, my mom realized that a hundred dollar bill she had tucked into her boot was gone. I knew that I could go retrieve it for her at the restaurant. She thought that was a crazy idea, and that even if it was there, surely someone had found it and would keep it. I insisted on going back and finding it. I just knew, very clearly, that it was under a table and I would find it. Once I got to the restaurant, I looked under the table and tables nearby. I talked to the waitress. No luck. I was very confused. I just knew it was there and that the possibility of it being gone wasn't an option. I left the restaurant and walked toward the car. I heard a voice behind me say, "Excuse me! Are you looking for this?" There stood a man with a hundred dollar bill! He had heard me talking to the waitress and said I looked under the wrong table. I gave him the biggest hug ever!
Claricognizence can be subtle because it does occur in the thinking mind and sounds like your own voice. It could be an inspired idea or "aha", divine messages from your guides and angels, a thought not to trust someone or go into a situation, or information about a future event. We know what we know but we don't know why.
I find that I often know when an appointment or event is going to be cancelled. It's a tricky practice, because I'll easily go to thinking I'm just trying to back out of doing something. I've found that the only time I don't "feel" like going to an event I've already scheduled and have no apparent reason why I feel that way, that event gets cancelled. This example also shows how different types of intuition work together. I'm a strong feeling intuitive, so my clear knowing (the thought of not going) combines with clear feeling (an emotional sensation in my body).
Remember, clear thinking is different than ego-based logical thought. It comes out of nowhere, without fear or judgment and simply as a knowing. Claircognizence often only makes sense in hindsight, so give yourself the space to practice trusting your clear knowing.
Practice Assignment:
Practice making decisions quickly. This will have you begin to trust your inner knowing. Start small, such as what you will have for dinner or what clothing to wear today. Make your decision and take action immediately. You might notice that when a loved one is with you, it is more challenging to make a decision quickly. Before asking their opinion, make your decision. That decision might include that their opinion or feelings are important to you, and that's okay too. Be gentle with yourself. Trusting your clear knowing by making decisions quickly can be very challenging. This is why it's important to practice taking immediate action, so that you do not have time to second guess your intuition!
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Experiment in trusting yourself, taking action simply because your intuition told you to. Now is the time for you to be the expert of yourself, and stand in the power and contribution to this world that only YOU are. Some are born with a powerful natural intuition, such as seeing spirits. They don't have a "better" intuitive ability than you. Know that while your intuition is unique, you can also practice increasing your intuitive abilities. There are many books and websites on the subject, so I will simply outline some basic ways intuition arises. Intuition involves our entire being, meaning our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies.
CLAIRVOYANCE
This type of intuition involves clear seeing. Intuitive insight comes in the form of images. Close your eyes and imagine you are standing at the front door of your house. Can you see the details around you easily? You may or may not see the actual door with your eyes closed. Everyone's intuition is unique. For example, when I do readings, I can have my eyes open and describe a guide that is present in my mind's eye, even though I am not actually "seeing" the guide as I would a physical object. Others literally see guides and angels with their eyes open. Using your clairvoyance, you may see flashes of light or orbs at the corner of your eyes, or see auras or energy fields around people, plants or objects.
Clear seeing is also often experienced in the dreamtime. You might have a very real (because it was!) dream of your guides, light beings or galactic family. The experience of deja vu is simply the reminder that you dreamed your present moment the night, or many nights, before it occurred, preparing you for the present event. There are ways to practice "waking" dreaming, from going back consciously into a dream to gather more information, to time traveling, to bi-location, such as is done in remote viewing.
Clairvoyance is the most common type of psychic ability people think of. Is it better than the others? Absolutely not. Furthermore, any visions or symbols that are spontaneously received often need to be interpreted. The other forms of intuitive abilities are then used to interpret what is seen.
Practice Assignment:
Remember the practice I had you do of closing your eyes and being at the front door of your home? You can continue practicing that exercise, closing your eyes and seeing in detail the colors, shapes and textures of the objects in the various rooms of your home.
Clairvoyance is experienced in the third eye, or sixth chakra. This is located between and just slightly above your eyebrows. Command your third eye to open and imagine it opening. You can also use a clear quartz crystal to assist you. Make sure your crystal is cleared (such as laying it on selenite overnight or in the sunlight and moonlight for a day). With your left hand, place the point of the crystal toward your head on your third eye and then place your right index and middle fingers at the back of your head, at the back of your third eye, straight behind the crystal. Imagine light going between the crystal and your right fingers, opening your third eye.
Warning: When the 3rd eye begins to open, you may experience a headache at the front of the forehead to the temples. This is totally normal. It's like working a muscle in strength training. Drink plenty of water.
CLAIRAUDIENCE
This is clear hearing. From a voice in your head to hearing music, tones or ringing in the ear, to the voices of your guides or the tree in your backyard, the world, seen and unseen, is speaking to us all the time. It might warn us or help us make an important choice. It's those times you're driving and inside your head you hear a voice say, "Take this exit," avoiding unseen traffic ahead or an accident.
Everything has a frequency or vibration, which has a sound. That sound carries divine information that can assist you. "In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Practice Assignment:
Those that are naturally clairaudient are often more sensitive to noise than others, such as when an ambulance goes by. You can practice increasing your sensitivity to sound.
Whether in meditation or just sitting quietly, begin to notice the sounds around you. As I write this, a crow begins to caw loudly, reminding me to listen to the guidance all around my environment. You can begin by noticing the sound of your own breath. Then begin to notice the sounds in your environment, especially ones you might normally tune out. The clock ticking, the cars driving by, the airplane passing overhead, the birds, the wind in the trees, or the voices nearby. Close your eyes and listen inside your head, near your ears. Do you hear any tones, any high-pitched sounds? This is voice of your intuitive hearing.
CLAIRSENTIENCE
Clairsentience is clear feeling or clear sensing, which includes being empathic. It can be challenging to differentiate our feelings or emotions from those of the people around us and our environment. Clear sensing can be physical and/or emotional. It can show in our bodies as the sensation of goosebumps, tingling, prickling, rushes of heat or cold, or gut feelings. You may experience the unseen world of guides, angels, fairies and your deceased loved ones through a feeling that someone is in the room with you or is watching you.
Clairtangency, an aspect of clairsentience, is the ability to feel or sense energy or information from objects. This can be experienced when sitting in a chair, holding an object, or simply walking into a house or building. I remember doing a workshop long ago with Jame Van Praagh, a famous medium. He had us break into pairs and hold an object belonging to our partner, such as a ring they were wearing. It was amazing to see that all of us, with no previous training, gave detailed information about the other participant, such as where they were the night before, their relationships or what their home looks like.
Practice Assignment:
Most of us are more empathic than we realize, so your assignment is to start to notice how you feel when you are alone, such as at home or in nature. Then notice any shifts in your feelings or emotions when you are around another person. This is not the same as your own judgments, which are also important to notice. However, instead of thinking it is just your own feelings and judgments, consider that you are picking up on the other person's energy. They might say they are happy and be smiling, but you feel anxious or sad. They might seem trustworthy and like the expert, but for no apparent reason you don't feel right about trusting them. There is nothing you need to "protect" yourself from. Instead, consider cultivating heart-based feelings, like love, appreciation and trust. These allow you to be compassionately aware of other's energy, deeper thoughts, feelings and motivations without having your own energy affected.
CLAIRCOGNIZENCE
Clear knowing happens to us all the time. We are not used to taking action or making decisions based on just knowing alone. We are trained to plan and schedule, to be logical and analytical. Clear knowing comes suddenly and with no explanation, no "why" or "how" you know what you know.
One of my favorite memories comes from my early twenties. After arriving home from having a nice dinner with my mom and grandma, my mom realized that a hundred dollar bill she had tucked into her boot was gone. I knew that I could go retrieve it for her at the restaurant. She thought that was a crazy idea, and that even if it was there, surely someone had found it and would keep it. I insisted on going back and finding it. I just knew, very clearly, that it was under a table and I would find it. Once I got to the restaurant, I looked under the table and tables nearby. I talked to the waitress. No luck. I was very confused. I just knew it was there and that the possibility of it being gone wasn't an option. I left the restaurant and walked toward the car. I heard a voice behind me say, "Excuse me! Are you looking for this?" There stood a man with a hundred dollar bill! He had heard me talking to the waitress and said I looked under the wrong table. I gave him the biggest hug ever!
Claricognizence can be subtle because it does occur in the thinking mind and sounds like your own voice. It could be an inspired idea or "aha", divine messages from your guides and angels, a thought not to trust someone or go into a situation, or information about a future event. We know what we know but we don't know why.
I find that I often know when an appointment or event is going to be cancelled. It's a tricky practice, because I'll easily go to thinking I'm just trying to back out of doing something. I've found that the only time I don't "feel" like going to an event I've already scheduled and have no apparent reason why I feel that way, that event gets cancelled. This example also shows how different types of intuition work together. I'm a strong feeling intuitive, so my clear knowing (the thought of not going) combines with clear feeling (an emotional sensation in my body).
Remember, clear thinking is different than ego-based logical thought. It comes out of nowhere, without fear or judgment and simply as a knowing. Claircognizence often only makes sense in hindsight, so give yourself the space to practice trusting your clear knowing.
Practice Assignment:
Practice making decisions quickly. This will have you begin to trust your inner knowing. Start small, such as what you will have for dinner or what clothing to wear today. Make your decision and take action immediately. You might notice that when a loved one is with you, it is more challenging to make a decision quickly. Before asking their opinion, make your decision. That decision might include that their opinion or feelings are important to you, and that's okay too. Be gentle with yourself. Trusting your clear knowing by making decisions quickly can be very challenging. This is why it's important to practice taking immediate action, so that you do not have time to second guess your intuition!
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Magical Tool #3
IMAGINATION
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to
Do it
Want to change the world?
There's nothing to it
-from "Pure Imagination" in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to
Do it
Want to change the world?
There's nothing to it
-from "Pure Imagination" in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Your imagination holds the key to unlocking new worlds, new timelines, new possibilities, new dimensions and new realities. YOU are a creator, born with the creative spark to experience any reality you can imagine. Even Albert Einstein used his imagination first and formulated the math equations to match second.
Your imagination calls you to be a playful storyteller. How you tell your story, what you imagine to be true, lays the groundwork for your life experiences. Let's play in a magical world of wonder, where dreams come true and all is well!
The challenging thing around imagination is that we were taught that things must be seen in order to be believed. What if being open to believing has us then see? What if the elemental world of fairies, unicorns and mermaids was real? What if you could go into your past and be your own guide or angel, or reclaim parts of yourself? What if you could talk with the animals, trees, flowers and stones? What if you could step into a new world, a new timeline, anytime you choose?
It's important to take a look at the limits you have on your imagination. It's just right the way it is, but taking a look at yourself gives you the freedom and power to make a different choice about what world you want to create. How did those questions above make you feel? Is it against your religion, your science, your culture to open your imagination to believing in all possibilities? If so, why? What horrible thing will happen if you decide to believe that love is the answer and the divine resides in all things? You are an intelligent, responsible person who has had some painful experiences, yes. Does it serve you to continually re-create those experiences in your imagination with your thoughts and memories? We also believe a lot of things we've never personally experienced. We believe that a lot of things aren't real because someone else told us so and have the evidence to back it.
"Evidence" usually comes from:
-Personal experience, which is a personal story we've interpreted through our imagination. This turns into belief through our repetitive thoughts and looking for the evidence (which we will always find if we are looking for it) to back our story.
-Society and culture, which is a collective story.
-History, which is also a story interpreted by the ones who write it, report it or review it.
-Science, which is theory and method created from imagination.
If they make a good argument, that makes them right. Right?
Your imagination calls you to be a playful storyteller. How you tell your story, what you imagine to be true, lays the groundwork for your life experiences. Let's play in a magical world of wonder, where dreams come true and all is well!
The challenging thing around imagination is that we were taught that things must be seen in order to be believed. What if being open to believing has us then see? What if the elemental world of fairies, unicorns and mermaids was real? What if you could go into your past and be your own guide or angel, or reclaim parts of yourself? What if you could talk with the animals, trees, flowers and stones? What if you could step into a new world, a new timeline, anytime you choose?
It's important to take a look at the limits you have on your imagination. It's just right the way it is, but taking a look at yourself gives you the freedom and power to make a different choice about what world you want to create. How did those questions above make you feel? Is it against your religion, your science, your culture to open your imagination to believing in all possibilities? If so, why? What horrible thing will happen if you decide to believe that love is the answer and the divine resides in all things? You are an intelligent, responsible person who has had some painful experiences, yes. Does it serve you to continually re-create those experiences in your imagination with your thoughts and memories? We also believe a lot of things we've never personally experienced. We believe that a lot of things aren't real because someone else told us so and have the evidence to back it.
"Evidence" usually comes from:
-Personal experience, which is a personal story we've interpreted through our imagination. This turns into belief through our repetitive thoughts and looking for the evidence (which we will always find if we are looking for it) to back our story.
-Society and culture, which is a collective story.
-History, which is also a story interpreted by the ones who write it, report it or review it.
-Science, which is theory and method created from imagination.
If they make a good argument, that makes them right. Right?
The world of imagination is the world of creativity. Imagination literally creates worlds. What you've been taught is "real" once lived only in the world of imagination. We are creative beings whose limits are only those that we place there. Some are stronger than others, and it's important to get to know yourself and be honest about your own limitations, especially those that are deeply agreed upon by the collective. I myself believe in some of the limitations of this physical 3rd dimension, so would not jump off a cliff because I know I can fly like in my dreams and meditations. I know I still have fears about the safety of my world, so when I leave my home, I not only protect it with angels and light, I also lock the doors. With a foot in both worlds, our spirits in multiple dimensions, we transition into New Earth at the perfect pace and way for us uniquely.
So, how do you experience a world of magic and miracles?
A primary way that the magic within you expresses itself is through synchronicity. Synchronicity is your secret key to living in conspiracy with the universe. Our world speaks to us and guides us all the time, if we are open to go outside the limitations of logic, explanation and science. Otherwise, we are locked in a mundane world of coincidence and cause and effect, thinking the world is separate from us without innate intelligence, soul or spirit. Everything is alive and humming with the energy of the divine. This living universe is our friend and is filled with a community of seen and unseen partners and guides. It speaks to us not just in our inner world of dreams and imagination, but as we walk down the street or go grocery shopping.
Practice Assignment:
In order to make sense of our world, we categorize and judge. This is a tree. Jumping off a cliff will most likely kill you. Stealing is bad. Ok, great, we all understand this. However, what a tree is might be something you never imagined before. Science has seen things in the life of a tree our own eyes alone never would, much less would we categorize as a "tree". Someone imagined they could fly, so created not only a way to jump off a cliff by hang gliding, but they figured out a way to fly around the world. If your family is starving, is it ok to steal bread? That's for you to judge.
So your assignment is to be open to seeing and experiencing something new. Look for what's different. Notice where you expect life to show up or turn out in a certain way, when you try to categorize, make sense of and judge it. What about your loved one is different today than it was when you met them, or even was last week? Look up to the sky, the clouds, the sun. What is new? What is something you've never seen before and have no explanation for? Notice when you try to explain an extra-ordinary experience with the "evidence" discussed earlier. Unlock the world of the unseen and the unknown with your willingness to have new experiences, new sight, and to tell a different story.
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So, how do you experience a world of magic and miracles?
A primary way that the magic within you expresses itself is through synchronicity. Synchronicity is your secret key to living in conspiracy with the universe. Our world speaks to us and guides us all the time, if we are open to go outside the limitations of logic, explanation and science. Otherwise, we are locked in a mundane world of coincidence and cause and effect, thinking the world is separate from us without innate intelligence, soul or spirit. Everything is alive and humming with the energy of the divine. This living universe is our friend and is filled with a community of seen and unseen partners and guides. It speaks to us not just in our inner world of dreams and imagination, but as we walk down the street or go grocery shopping.
Practice Assignment:
In order to make sense of our world, we categorize and judge. This is a tree. Jumping off a cliff will most likely kill you. Stealing is bad. Ok, great, we all understand this. However, what a tree is might be something you never imagined before. Science has seen things in the life of a tree our own eyes alone never would, much less would we categorize as a "tree". Someone imagined they could fly, so created not only a way to jump off a cliff by hang gliding, but they figured out a way to fly around the world. If your family is starving, is it ok to steal bread? That's for you to judge.
So your assignment is to be open to seeing and experiencing something new. Look for what's different. Notice where you expect life to show up or turn out in a certain way, when you try to categorize, make sense of and judge it. What about your loved one is different today than it was when you met them, or even was last week? Look up to the sky, the clouds, the sun. What is new? What is something you've never seen before and have no explanation for? Notice when you try to explain an extra-ordinary experience with the "evidence" discussed earlier. Unlock the world of the unseen and the unknown with your willingness to have new experiences, new sight, and to tell a different story.
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Magical Tool #4
ATTENTION
Your attention is your interdimensional, shapeshifting, reality changing tool. It determines the world that you live in. What you choose to put your attention on in this now moment determines the experiences you will have in this moment. It's as simple as that. What will you choose to notice or put your attention on?
This is one reason meditation is gaining such popularity now. We've come to realize that slowing down and putting our attention within, such as toward the breath, the specific area we feel pain in our bodies, or the sound of a mantra we are repeating, brings us to the most magical place of all where miracles occur. This wonderland is called the present moment.
In this present moment, everything we see, feel, think and experience is a gift. This is what we choose to put our attention on. Everything is for our highest and greatest good. We often put our attention on fears of the future, pain of the past, or anything but the experience we are having in this moment. Your power lies in choosing to put attention on the things that bring you joy, peace and that feel good. This doesn't mean you don't have pain or challenges. It means you choose to put your attention on the light, in your heart, and on this moment. Instead of running from or ignoring pain, you give it the loving attention it is crying out for.
Through practicing your magical tool of attention, you can transform yourself and the world around you. You can put your attention on the things that are new and different, or on how things are the same. You can notice what is right or what is wrong. With your attention, you can get to know yourself, your automatic thoughts and habits, deepest desires and deepest fears.
Your world, inside and out, can shift in the blink of an eye by simply noticing what is happening in this moment.
One of our greatest responsibilities when we choose to be a part of New Earth is the discipline of bringing our attention to the higher vibrations of 5th dimensional consciousness and beyond. We can choose to put our attention on love or fear, abundance or poverty and lack, harmony or competition, peace or hate, unity or separateness, trust or doubt, and surrender or control. These extremes of the polarities of reality are intensifying on our planet, and you have a choice. You can literally live in different dimension, timeline and reality than someone else, and even the collective consciousness of the planet, through your attention.
Practice Assignment:
In a space of solitude with no distractions, close your eyes if you wish and take a breath. An inhale, an exhale, easy and naturally. As you breathe, notice how, in this moment, there is nothing you need to do. All the air you need is here, with each inhale, each exhale. Bring your attention now to your heart, placing your hands on your heart and feel your breath moving through and in your heart. Open your eyes now, with your hands still on your heart, and notice something in your environment that feels good to any of your senses. It might be beautiful or useful, or even just the play of shadow and light on an object or wall. Notice how that object has your heart feel. It might feel warm, heavy, light or no different than before. Notice any feelings you have as you put your attention on this amazing object. You might feel appreciation, love or peacefulness. Smile, my friend, this is how it feels to have your attention on the juicy magic of the present moment.
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This is one reason meditation is gaining such popularity now. We've come to realize that slowing down and putting our attention within, such as toward the breath, the specific area we feel pain in our bodies, or the sound of a mantra we are repeating, brings us to the most magical place of all where miracles occur. This wonderland is called the present moment.
In this present moment, everything we see, feel, think and experience is a gift. This is what we choose to put our attention on. Everything is for our highest and greatest good. We often put our attention on fears of the future, pain of the past, or anything but the experience we are having in this moment. Your power lies in choosing to put attention on the things that bring you joy, peace and that feel good. This doesn't mean you don't have pain or challenges. It means you choose to put your attention on the light, in your heart, and on this moment. Instead of running from or ignoring pain, you give it the loving attention it is crying out for.
Through practicing your magical tool of attention, you can transform yourself and the world around you. You can put your attention on the things that are new and different, or on how things are the same. You can notice what is right or what is wrong. With your attention, you can get to know yourself, your automatic thoughts and habits, deepest desires and deepest fears.
Your world, inside and out, can shift in the blink of an eye by simply noticing what is happening in this moment.
One of our greatest responsibilities when we choose to be a part of New Earth is the discipline of bringing our attention to the higher vibrations of 5th dimensional consciousness and beyond. We can choose to put our attention on love or fear, abundance or poverty and lack, harmony or competition, peace or hate, unity or separateness, trust or doubt, and surrender or control. These extremes of the polarities of reality are intensifying on our planet, and you have a choice. You can literally live in different dimension, timeline and reality than someone else, and even the collective consciousness of the planet, through your attention.
Practice Assignment:
In a space of solitude with no distractions, close your eyes if you wish and take a breath. An inhale, an exhale, easy and naturally. As you breathe, notice how, in this moment, there is nothing you need to do. All the air you need is here, with each inhale, each exhale. Bring your attention now to your heart, placing your hands on your heart and feel your breath moving through and in your heart. Open your eyes now, with your hands still on your heart, and notice something in your environment that feels good to any of your senses. It might be beautiful or useful, or even just the play of shadow and light on an object or wall. Notice how that object has your heart feel. It might feel warm, heavy, light or no different than before. Notice any feelings you have as you put your attention on this amazing object. You might feel appreciation, love or peacefulness. Smile, my friend, this is how it feels to have your attention on the juicy magic of the present moment.
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Magical Tool #5
GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION
Appreciation and gratitude are part of your alchemical elixir, transforming metal into gold. Do not underestimate their magic. They are a way to lift your vibration or frequency to a higher level of light and love. Divine YOU is filled with gratitude for every breath you take.
Gratitude is really a state of being in the world. It is such a lighter heart-centered state of being that sometimes appreciating things is a gentler way to build your ability to hold the space of gratitude. For example, you may not feel grateful for the fight you just got in with a loved one, but you can appreciate it. You can appreciate that it is an opportunity for you to look at yourself, your loved one and your relationship, to be honest with yourself and them, to understand yourself and them more deeply, to care more, to get to know your triggers and judgments, to stand up for yourself, to communicate more....the list is virtually unending.
This is why gratitude and appreciation are alchemical. They transform your anger, resentment, judgment, fear and limitations with the power of love. As you transform from within, the world outside you also transforms. When you practice appreciation, the universe will provide you more to appreciate and be grateful for. True gratitude is not dependent on any circumstance outside of yourself.
One way to practice gratitude is to make a list in the morning or evening of things you appreciate or are grateful for. Take time to reflect and think of specific things about yourself and your day that you can appreciate and be grateful for, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem at first glance.
Another way is to practice saying, "Thank you!" Wake up and say, "Thank you for this day!" Brush your teeth and thank the toothbrush. Thank your wonderful teeth for their smile, their ability to chew solid food. Thank your water before you drink it, infusing it with crystalline light. Thank your food for its nourishment, the plants or animals who gave their life so that you may live. Opportunities for appreciation are unending throughout our day.
Take it a step further and try thanking those people, things or situations that are challenging. Thank them for the opportunity to show you the things you do not think are divine or lovable, within you and without you. Thank them for bringing up in you ways you can love more, ways you can stand up for yourself, ways you can be kinder or more compassionate. You don't have to like something to appreciate it. Of course, don't keep anyone or anything in your life that is abusive, but you can bless them for their guidance toward caring for and honoring Divine YOU.
The magical tool of gratitude and appreciation brings with it more and more things to be grateful for. It lifts your spirit and vibration, and allows you to see the goodness and perfection of every experience you are having and every aspect of yourself and your life.
Gratitude is really a state of being in the world. It is such a lighter heart-centered state of being that sometimes appreciating things is a gentler way to build your ability to hold the space of gratitude. For example, you may not feel grateful for the fight you just got in with a loved one, but you can appreciate it. You can appreciate that it is an opportunity for you to look at yourself, your loved one and your relationship, to be honest with yourself and them, to understand yourself and them more deeply, to care more, to get to know your triggers and judgments, to stand up for yourself, to communicate more....the list is virtually unending.
This is why gratitude and appreciation are alchemical. They transform your anger, resentment, judgment, fear and limitations with the power of love. As you transform from within, the world outside you also transforms. When you practice appreciation, the universe will provide you more to appreciate and be grateful for. True gratitude is not dependent on any circumstance outside of yourself.
One way to practice gratitude is to make a list in the morning or evening of things you appreciate or are grateful for. Take time to reflect and think of specific things about yourself and your day that you can appreciate and be grateful for, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem at first glance.
Another way is to practice saying, "Thank you!" Wake up and say, "Thank you for this day!" Brush your teeth and thank the toothbrush. Thank your wonderful teeth for their smile, their ability to chew solid food. Thank your water before you drink it, infusing it with crystalline light. Thank your food for its nourishment, the plants or animals who gave their life so that you may live. Opportunities for appreciation are unending throughout our day.
Take it a step further and try thanking those people, things or situations that are challenging. Thank them for the opportunity to show you the things you do not think are divine or lovable, within you and without you. Thank them for bringing up in you ways you can love more, ways you can stand up for yourself, ways you can be kinder or more compassionate. You don't have to like something to appreciate it. Of course, don't keep anyone or anything in your life that is abusive, but you can bless them for their guidance toward caring for and honoring Divine YOU.
The magical tool of gratitude and appreciation brings with it more and more things to be grateful for. It lifts your spirit and vibration, and allows you to see the goodness and perfection of every experience you are having and every aspect of yourself and your life.
Practice Assignment:
The most powerful practice is to appreciate something in your immediate now moment. Thinking about something you love, appreciate and are grateful for, such as a loved one or past experience is also very powerful. However, it often comes with more than appreciation itself, such as nostalgia, regret, or awareness of something in your present moment that is missing that was present in the past.
Right now, in this moment, find something in your external environment that you appreciate and are grateful for. It could be beautiful or useful. For example, if you are washing the dishes, you might appreciate the tools, such as a sponge and dish soap, you use to clean your dishes. The dishes allow you to eat food in a pleasing and comfortable way. Appreciate how the utensils allow you to easily prepare and eat meals. You might appreciate the beauty of the glass as you wash it, the store that opened so that you could purchase it, the person who created it and the one who discovered how to make glass. Appreciate the water that not only cleans your dishes but sustains your life. This is only the beginning of what you could appreciate while washing the dishes. Use your power of focus to notice only what you appreciate and are grateful for.
Deepen into this practice by turning your attention to yourself and to what you appreciate about yourself in this moment. In washing the dishes, you can appreciate your amazing hands and their dexterity and all the wonderful things they can do. Appreciate your care for yourself and your environment as you clean. Appreciate your choice in this moment to bring your attention to what you are grateful for and how your body responds to appreciation, such as feeling calmer, more joy-filled, and your heart warmer. Notice if anything comes up that you don't feel good about, that you judge as bad. ("I really don't enjoy doing dishes. Why am I the only one that does the dishes? I don't have time for this. I should clean house more often. There's a water shortage and I'm wasting water.") Appreciate those judgmental or fearful thoughts coming up to be seen and released, cleansed with loving attention, as naturally as water and soap on dishes.
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The most powerful practice is to appreciate something in your immediate now moment. Thinking about something you love, appreciate and are grateful for, such as a loved one or past experience is also very powerful. However, it often comes with more than appreciation itself, such as nostalgia, regret, or awareness of something in your present moment that is missing that was present in the past.
Right now, in this moment, find something in your external environment that you appreciate and are grateful for. It could be beautiful or useful. For example, if you are washing the dishes, you might appreciate the tools, such as a sponge and dish soap, you use to clean your dishes. The dishes allow you to eat food in a pleasing and comfortable way. Appreciate how the utensils allow you to easily prepare and eat meals. You might appreciate the beauty of the glass as you wash it, the store that opened so that you could purchase it, the person who created it and the one who discovered how to make glass. Appreciate the water that not only cleans your dishes but sustains your life. This is only the beginning of what you could appreciate while washing the dishes. Use your power of focus to notice only what you appreciate and are grateful for.
Deepen into this practice by turning your attention to yourself and to what you appreciate about yourself in this moment. In washing the dishes, you can appreciate your amazing hands and their dexterity and all the wonderful things they can do. Appreciate your care for yourself and your environment as you clean. Appreciate your choice in this moment to bring your attention to what you are grateful for and how your body responds to appreciation, such as feeling calmer, more joy-filled, and your heart warmer. Notice if anything comes up that you don't feel good about, that you judge as bad. ("I really don't enjoy doing dishes. Why am I the only one that does the dishes? I don't have time for this. I should clean house more often. There's a water shortage and I'm wasting water.") Appreciate those judgmental or fearful thoughts coming up to be seen and released, cleansed with loving attention, as naturally as water and soap on dishes.
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