Mar. 23, 2020
...are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love."
~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Mar. 23, 2020
It dawned on me recently that the Dark Night of the Soul I experienced 4 years ago is what the collective is experiencing now...
Four years ago, I experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury that caused me to lose my job, my health insurance, and almost my home. I discovered Reiki when researching Eastern Medicine, as Western Medicine was no longer an option. Reiki made such a difference in my life, I felt compelled to share it with others, which is how I ended up on my path.
But in those dark times of uncertainty, suddenly finding myself without employment, the ability to work, or any money coming in, I was in a state of sheer terror. Coupled with the lack of family, or friends I could
lean on for support, and finding myself burdened with a cognitive handicap, where its permanence was ambiguous, words fail to do justice to the state of paralysis and deep depression I found myself in.
I understand with endless
empathy what the collective is going through now.
I've felt that paralyzing fear. I've tasted that terror. I know what it's like to lay awake at night, alone and scared, playing scenarios over & over
in your head on how you're going to make it through the next day.
Please know: My heart is with you. ❤️
I want you to know you're not alone. As isolating as it feels, please
know you are not alone. When we feel at our wit's end, when we are at our breaking point, wondering if there's anything left for us in this world, I want you to know: There absolutely is.
I contemplated
taking myself out of the pain 4 years ago. In fact, had I not had a failed suicide attempt at 18 (and decided then I should really stick to things I'm good at... clearly, that wasn't one of them), then I would have removed myself in 2016. I can
look back now and feel so grateful I did not succumb to that siren song of eternal sleep...
It was a long road to realization that challenges exist to level us up. They truly exist for our benefit. Take
solace in knowing: You will NEVER encounter a challenge you cannot overcome - which is why you experience it in the first place. If we lacked the ability to survive it, the challenge would not exist for us. Sometimes it takes a crisis to
open our eyes to the fact: We are powerful beyond measure and there is nothing in this world we cannot do.
I want you to know that we're all in a tunnel. It's dark, it's cold, and we can't see what's up ahead.
But this is not permanent. This is only temporary. We are moving through it, and this too shall pass. This is not the first time we, as a human race, have found ourselves in this position. Humans have a knack for innovative thinking,
for making lemonade, and for survival. This will not stop us. This WILL make us stronger.
View this time as an opportunity to go within. Utilize this quarantine as a much needed break from the noise
of the world (turn off the fear channel), and listen to yourself. Chances are, there's a still, small voice inside you that's been quietly trying to get your attention for years, but was drowned out by loud, busy days. Breathe deep and take that
inward journey. Enlightenment isn't upward, it's inward. See this as a beautiful opportunity to recognize the blockages and thought patterns that have kept you in a self-imposed prison. Question EVERYTHING. Especially the beliefs
you were raised with: "Did this belief benefit me then? Does it now?"
As we clear our closets, why not too clear our internal clutter? All the things we wanted to do, but never had the time.... now is our golden
opportunity. Now is the time to go within, start a journal, make peace with your past, forgive yourself, read books, meditate. Decide what world you wish to create, and how you want to show up for yourself & others. In the words of poet
Rainer Maria Rilke: "Let me not squander the hours of my pain."
And please know: My Heart is Always With You. ❤️
Mar. 22, 2020
We so often get wadded up in our programming by our parents, which is reinforced by society, that to be vulnerable or show emotions somehow equates to weakness.
This is the biggest lie our world has been conditioned to believe.
The truth is, we have it backwards:
Those who have the Courage to Feel are Warriors. Those who are secure enough in their personhood to not only feel,
but express their emotions, are Warriors. In this society, it takes the Courage of a Warrior to Feel. THAT is a true sign of strength. To live your actions openly and authentically from your heart is the definition of strength.
To live your truth in the face of ridicule and ostracization and not be afraid of what others think - THAT is a true sign of strength. To own the power of your emotions and express your feelings - which gives others permission to do the same - THAT
is a true sign of strength and leadership.
Those who are too scared to show their emotions act in Cowardice. Those who have been conditioned by stoic families to believe they
cannot show emotions, because that makes you weak, and therefore susceptible to harm, is a patently false and abusive belief. You have been programmed with fear by fearful people, who learned at some point in their life it was not safe to express emotions.
You have been conditioned to believe the same, which is impeding your personal growth and opportunity to live authentically. To believe it is unsafe, because it is "weak" to express your emotions, limits you. It does not make you strong.
It disconnects you. It is Cowardice. It is no sign of strength to limit yourself.
I was born first generation to eastern european parents. I understand the latter. I was
raised to believe "No one cries", and felt the physical repercussions for not adhering to this belief. What this teaches our children robs them of their identity. It becomes an ingrained core-belief that is carried into adulthood,
which further limits connection with thyself and others. Then we wonder why we are lonely and in dysfunctional relationships with everyone.
It is never too late to begin the healing process. Understand you have been
conditioned a certain way that no longer works for you. Know when you open your heart and allow your love to shine through via expressions of your emotions, you are not only healing yourself, but the world. You are showing others it is safe to
be heart-centered and authentic. You are giving others permission to soften their heart and to live from love. You are making the world a better place, in real-time.
As an Energy Healer, I can attest to the fact that
the greatest healing power emanates from an open, emotion-filled heart. To the extent that we feel, is the extent to which we can heal. Your emotions ARE your Superpower. Breathe deep and feel safe in this knowing.
You are already there.
We have two options in this world, always: Live from Love, or Life from Fear. We have seen what living from Fear has done to this world. Make the choice to embody real strength by expressing
your emotions. Live from Love. I promise, it is the safest thing you can do. ❤️
Mar. 15, 2020
A common theme for my clients, as of late, is the lack of purpose and motivation to continue. I'd like to share with you what I shared with them, as this advice is Universal. If you are reading this post, then chances are this message was meant for you too...
The things we experience in this life, the trials and challenges, can sometimes feel like enough to completely sink our ship. Yet, before we got here, we chose the path we would end up on, because with our lifetimes
of knowledge and capability built-in to our DNA, we knew we could overcome it. Otherwise, we wouldn't have chosen these lessons to expand our consciousness. We forget, when we opt back in to this existence, all we've been through, and all the skills
we have ingrained in us. This harsh, dense 3rd dimensional reality is real enough to make us want to opt out, or at least give up, not seeing what the point is in continuing; and that is understandable. That is the challenge of this world.
If you can remember your higher-self perspective and decide to hop to another mountain top for that shift in view and perspective, it may help to remember that this is all just an illusion, and the authentic awesomeness of the power that is you is unwavering
and eternal. It is not by accident that you're here. There will never ever ever ever be another <insert your name here> incarnated in this world. You are uniquely talented and gifted, and you have many gifts to offer this world,
even if no one recognizes it yet because you are ahead of your time. Heck, we didn't appreciate what Nikola Tesla brought to this world until MANY years after his death - this is the case with angels and geniuses. Just know the world is a better
place because you're in it; you have gifts to offer no one else does. You knew you could overcome anything that was thrown at you this time around, otherwise you wouldn't have signed up for this experience. You are amazing and are here for a reason.
Please never forget that. ❤️
Mar. 6, 2020
Last Sunday, I gave the Alternate Sunday Service at the Unity Center in West Linn on this topic; it seems relevant given all the recent headlines. There is a fluid situation that is creating a fair amount of fear among the masses. All you have to do is turn on the news to trigger your Fight or Flight response. So many feel helpless in these circumstances, especially in the Northwest, that it makes living day-to-day difficult.
First off, awareness is key. There is
value in being aware of what is going on in the world around you. This is imperative. It is equally important to know there is a fine line between awareness and obsession. When we veer into the lane of obsession, our fears get triggered,
and life becomes difficult to navigate.
Okay, let's all take a deep breath. Funny how we have to remember to do that sometimes. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts. Doesn't that feel
better? :)
Understand that stress is a byproduct of fear. If your fear is around getting sick, then being stressed is not conducive to your health. Understand this and ask yourself how you can mitigate your fear in
this moment.
In the moment of being triggered, it is important to soothe yourself. Take a deep breathe, take a walk in nature, calmly speak to yourself in a loving tone, telling yourself you are safe and protected.
Drink some chamomile tea, take a bath, listen to soothing music, take a nap. Recognize the need to move yourself out of a state of fear. Reiki is a wonderful way to elevate your energy and dissolve fear around any situation.
From a calmer state, let's look at the facts. There are things happening in your world you cannot control, so what can YOU do to control your world?
1). Understand fear produces stress. What does
stress do?:
- Stress is the cause of 90% of all illness.
- Stress constricts the blood vessels in our prefrontal cortex, causing clouded thinking. Stress actually makes us less intelligent.
- Stress reduces cell turnover, causing us to age faster.
- Stress compromises our immunity. If we're stressed that we might get sick, it may increase our chances of getting sick.
2). See this as an opportunity to improve
hygiene. It is a good thing to wash your hands regularly anyway, so now's your chance to improve on this aspect of your life.
3). See this as an opportunity to become self-aware. You have the freedom to
be aware of what you're doing (i.e. touching your face, eyes, mouth, etc.). Self-awareness is important, as we are often on auto-pilot. View this as a wonderful excuse to increase self-awareness.
4). Understand that
your thoughts affect your biological processes:
- When you have a thought, it sends a signal down a neural pathway in your brain, triggering a gene expression, which triggers a synthesis of proteins in your cells, which produces an electrical and magnetical field around your body, which can be seen with MRI and EEG machines.
If you live in fear, believing you will get sick, that stinking thinking might beget that experience. Be aware of this. You get to choose your thoughts. Therefore, you have more control over your biology than you realize. Do not assume you will get sick. Assume you are in perfect health, while doing practical things such as washing your hands often, and mitigating your stress.
If you are reading, watching or listening to something that causes a knot of fear in your stomach, recognize that fear is affecting your immunity, and turn off the tv. Doing what you can to turn away from fear, while not being ignorant to
reality, will be the key to staying healthy. You have more power in this situation than you think.
Follow your intuition and choose thoughts that create a calming sensation, instead of allowing yourself to be
pulled down by the undertow of fear. Stay strong in the face of fear (F-False E-Evidence A-Appearing R-Real). We are beautiful, magnificent beings designed to conquer challenge. Honor your strength and know there is no threat in this world
you cannot overcome.