Red Coral Messenger

Living by the sea has taught me many lessons. I have learned that storms come bursting upon the scene without warning. The winds cause the ocean to heave and grown as the waves become whipped up in a frenzy. The birds take cover as the clouds grow darker. Much like the tempests that beset man time and again.

The storm ravages the sea bed and hurls it onto the beach. Marine creatures and plant life are ripped from the safety of their everyday lives. It is the natural rhythm...it is the heartbeat of our planet. The coming and the going. The birthing and the dying.

The storm begins to pass and the birds slowly return to forage on the bounty now washed upon the shore. They call to one another as they squabble for the choicest selections. The clouds quietly depart as the sun comes out from her hiding. The day returns not missing a moment or a second as the waves keep time sighing… in and out…in and out. Life goes on.

As we move forward along our journey we can begin to see that much like nature we too are carried along in the storms. We face the onslaught, the battering down and the recovery. A divorce, a loss of income, a death. Our emotions become swept up in all of this and if we are not careful we become ill.

Meditation is not the "end all be all" answer to our problems, but it is a wonderful tool that can help you weather the storms. There are days when your emotions are brimming and you cannot contain them, nor explain them. You are feeling this uncontrollable energy that overwhelms and ravages your sea bed and tosses it up upon the shore. Scattered memories, floating missed opportunities, and bits and pieces of dreams that will seemingly dissolve leaving you feeling empty and powerless.

If you find that you are waking daily to these overwhelming emotions then perhaps it is time to listen to your body as it is calling to you. Let them out yes, but connect with what they are telling you.

If you are able to sit beside a shore then find one. If you would rather do a walking meditation then find a body of water and slip into this energy–feel the natural pace as it connects to your heartbeat. If you cannot do this then find a natural sea sound audio file, put some headphones on and quietly let your mind float along the sounds of the waves. If you are able– look  for elements from the sea such as red coral, shells …anything from the sea that holds the natural energy to use it in meditation. Perhaps you live near a river, a waterfall, or even a park water fountain. Draw close to the energy of water. Soak in a tub, stand in the shower or find a pool and immerse yourself. Connect to water and all of the healing properties it holds.

After you locate your special place with water, begin meditating with purpose. If you are doing a walking meditation then simply do this with your eyes open – the method is still the same.
Begin with a prayer or invocation for protection and blessings and state your intention- "I would like to connect with the energy of water. Please help me to blend my spirit with the healing elements offered to me and allow me to hear the message it contains." Slowly begin breathing and feel the energy of the water. Let all thoughts dissolve away and just become one with the water. Stay in your meditation for 15 minutes. When you are finished say a prayer of appreciation to the water and the universe and close.

As a side-note, I like to use red coral as it has that wonderful property connected to our root chakra and provides an excellent grounding effect that is so necessary when dealing with emotions.

The universe has provided many ways to find inner peace. Meditation is a simple tool that can be used by all ages. You can do this with music, in silence with your eyes open or shut. Some do this alone or in a group. It's not important which method you choose– only that you DO IT.

To learn more about the meditation style I teach, please read my book.

Vibrational Check-Ups Are You Humming?

It's time to evaluate your hum factor. Humans, plants, animals and the world around us are all made up of energy, in actual fact they are living energies. Your energy is much like your fingerprints; nothing existing can match your personal vibrational signature. Imagine your energy as a light radiating all around you. Now imagine each element you come into contact with as living breathing balls of light, your loved ones, your pets, etc each glowing. Now close your eyes and imagine a person you love with all your heart coming into the room and standing beside you. Can you sense the shift in your energy? Take note of the changes within you. Do you feel lighter, more vibrant, calmer or even tingly? Keeping your eyes closed now imagine a person that is always irritable and unkind, someone who always has something nasty to say. They come into the room and stand beside you. How has your energy shifted in response to this person? Note the changes within you and how your energy reacts to this negative energy standing beside you. We can begin to see how one individual whether positive or negative can change the dynamics in a room like a rippling wave washing over you. This is the effect you yourself have on other people. Now you can begin to have a deeper realization of the “good vibes” or “bad vibes” you are connecting with. You are able to become more sensitive to this as you tune into it.  This unspoken communication resides all around—and perhaps you may be engaged in it totally unaware. So, what kind of energy are you?

Now that we have identified the feelings of energies let us move toward tuning into it. Think of your energy like a device that runs on fuel. Begin to make the connection that your energy is reliant on the choices you are making every day. What types of foods do you eat? What liquids do you consume? This beautiful bundle of energy that you consist of requires certain foods to make it run smoothly. Begin today to make wise choices as you approach each meal and strive to give your body the very best. You certainly do not need another diet book to determine what is best for you. Listen to your body and give it the nourishment it requires to run more efficiently. Just like a vehicle that requires certain products to keep it humming, your body runs best when you select nutritional nourishment. Science teaches us that up to 60% of our bodies are composed of water, the brain 70% and the lungs around 90%.  The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream. Replenishing this water is extremely important. So now think about your own patterns. How much water do you drink daily? We have become a people that have replaced this with beverages loaded with additives. Your body will run on this but less efficiently and perhaps some of your parts will become unhealthy and break down. Water is the tool that transports waste material from your body. Sugary beverages only add to the toxins. How much water do you need to drink? Learn to tune into your own energy and give it what it needs – make intelligent choices.

For years I was unaware of the effects that negative energy brought to my health. I was living in a loveless marriage not bothering to make any changes as I wore it as my punishment for my out of wedlock pregnancy. At the time I was allowing religious dogma to rule important life decisions. As you can imagine my home life was a hot bed of negativity. I suffered from insomnia for many years. I struggled with depression along with a poor self-image, loathing my appearance and myself. My miserable life was all hidden behind a smile as I cut the slices of anniversary cake marking another year of despair. Pretty extreme example, I know, but once I made the connection that living with all that negative energy created a toxic swamp making me unhealthy, I was able to pull myself out of the muck and swim to fresh water. Is it any wonder that I chose a place named Clearwater to call home?

As you continue to learn more about yourself through meditation, you will see that certain activities enhance your energy. Food and water is not the only thing your energy requires. Look within- what makes your heart sing?

All my life I have lived near water. Not ever really thinking about it I was always drawn to the sea. The thought of living in any area on this planet where I cannot easily get to an ocean makes me shutter. As I began to learn more about myself I found that my many walks on the beach fed my creativity. This is my element, this is my energy booster and making this connection was like finding a magic that I could tap into. And so in order to maintain a healthy me I have set time aside each week to disappear from electronics and the chatter of the world to be near the ocean. I use this whenever I need to recharge my batteries. How do I know when it is time to do this? Well usually, if I skip this practice, within days I am feeling restless and irritable and I know I have to take a break.

How are you recharging your energy? Begin to ask yourself what is it that helps me feel rejuvenated? Perhaps it’s creating something or being in the presence of animals. Meditate on this. Maybe you love mountains, hiking in a forest or sitting beside a babbling brook. My spouse loves to build and create things. He loves taking many pieces and bringing them all together and for him this creates a calm within. My sister has always been drawn to horses and she finds that they create a peace within her that is unexplainable.

Learn to surround yourself in the elements that bring you harmony. Look around your home, workplace and where you reside. Does it reflect this balance? Does it remind you of the thing that makes your energy feel healthy? Recognize the necessary elements that keep your energy burning brightly and embrace them. For me some of my most inspirational moments have come while sitting in water. Where is your energy booster? Once you discover what it is that really makes your heart sing, be sure to include it into your routine knowing that you are forging a path to a healthier you. This is your energy maintenance and only you will know what works best for you. As you learn to connect with this you will be contributing to the good vibes needed on our planet.

Learn how to meditate by following this simple plan.