Crystal Pathways to Your Hidden Door

Apophyllite

Have you ever thought of using crystals in your meditations? I have introduced this into my daily routine and the results are quite remarkable. This particular crystal, Apophyllite, is exceptional in connecting with your higher self.  You can purchase gems and crystals in Rock Shops and most stores catering to self-healing practices. I always let the crystal choose me by walking around them closing my eyes and when I open them I go to where I am drawn. But take caution...this isn't always the best choice regarding your wallet!
After purchasing your crystal you will need to clean it. If you have a crystal that will not be damaged by water (ask your supplier) it can be held under a tap or immersed in salt water. You can also use a bag of brown rice or sea salt and leave them sitting in it overnight and some people use smudging (pass them through the light of a candle or visualize them surrounded by white light). This will clear away any negative energies and purify them. Next, allow them to sit in the light of the sun or full moon to re-energize them.  Now you are ready to connect with them personally.
To begin you will need to activate your crystal. Hold it in your hands and imagine light all around it or hold it in front of a light source and then formulate your intention. Just be specific on how you want to use it.
This is what I used for my Apophyllite:
"To my highest guides and helpers second to none, bless me and protect me knowing that everything that is said, heard, felt or sensed is with absolute love. I wish to connect with this crystal and use it as a CLEAR CHANNEL to receive guidance and wisdom from my higher self."

I then sit and meditate holding the crystal for about 15 minutes in silence. When I am through I send a blessing and give thanks to all of the guides working on my behalf and I go on my way.

I began using Apophyllite several months ago and it has increased my empathy. I have noticed a surge in my ability to feel the love of others in a way I have never known. Romantic love, parental love and just love for a pet activates a part of you that is so unique.  But what about the ability to feel the love of others around you? I had no idea when I set out to use this crystal that my meditations would take me in this direction. Not only am I able to love myself better, but I am actually feeling the love that is being showered on me. I have three children- ages 36, 31 and 21. I have wonderful relationships with each of them and they are all quite different. But it is only recently that I am actually able to feel their amazing love that is being sent my way. It's so strong that it makes my breath catch and my eyes fill with tears.  Has this always been there? Of course it has, but my ability to sense it this deeply is very new for me. I believe my clear channel has opened me up to this new talent.

Try it for yourself and begin to use crystals in your meditations. Tap into their wondrous power. It is a gift worth giving yourself and may open new doors to the YOU that has been waiting for a visit:)

To learn more about using meditation to connect with yourself please read How To Begin

Special Today-Lobster Tail and Poodle Pudding

Why is it that the people who fuss and coo over their pets think nothing of eating a form of life that was butchered and cooked to provide them a meal? I have even been in the company of some die-hard animal rights advocates who were discussing their next protest while ordering their steaks well-done. If you can eat a cow why not a horse?

In 2005 while I was traveling in Israel. The food was ordered family style and began to appear on platters. Meat on a stick was the entree. We were told it was beef, chicken and lamb. Everything I sampled tasted exactly the same. It was day two with eight more to go. The landscape was breathtaking but I kept stepping over feral cats that seemed to pour out of the cracks. Every photo opportunity had groups of wild cats appearing. Many had missing body parts and were oozing liquid from their eyes and ears. They looked quite sickly. I just couldn't help wondering if they were serving cat in the restaurants. That was the last day I ate meat of any kind. It just all seemed like "flesh" that was once living and breathing and now on my dish. Yes, it's a personal choice and I do not fault anyone eating meat– I want to make this very clear, however I do often wonder about the fine line of some of the choices made regarding the welfare of animals on this planet.

I live in the Florida Keys where hunting for lobster is quite an attraction during Mini-Lobster Season. People come from around the world to net these crustaceans and I really dread this event. There is supposed to be a limit of only 6 lobster per day per person in our waters. Now let me ask you this...who is going to haul their boat, pay for hotel and meals plus fuel for only 6 measly lobsters a day? People come in droves to snatch their bodies off the ocean floors and I doubt if the authorities has enough man power to enforce the rules. And so as I was sitting in a salon recently getting my hair cut I was sickened by the conversation. I was staring at photos of the beautician's pet poodle plastered on the mirror before me. They were discussing how they don't like to actually watch the killing, but they love to eat them.
"You just pop their heads off," said the one lady.
"I know but they still scream even after their heads are off. Their heads are lying beside me screaming while I have their bodies in my hands," laughs the other.
"Yes, but they taste so good and the smaller they are the sweeter they taste."
"Yes, but there are rules you cannot take them under 3" because they need to get bigger."
"Well did you see the one in the paper the other day? It was so huge and my husband said they should have left it because big ones breed bigger lobsters?"
So let me get this straight, came my thought, they shouldn't eat the big ones so they can go back and breed bigger ones for them to eat?

Something does not feel right here. I know of people that spend loads of money on pets. Special diets, special toys and many cannot bare to leave them alone. They play music for them and dress them in little clothes. But these same people think nothing of eating animals. Would they eat a Dolphin or a Panda? Who made the rules of what is ok to eat and what is taboo? Man. Man has taken it upon himself to be the decider of who gets to live freely and who gets to arrive on his plate.

My meditation continues to teach that we are all part of something greater than ourselves. We are united with everything on this planet- every rock, plant and animal...and yes even lobsters.

Choose wisely and think about this connection. No one is advocating that we all become vegans- but we need to be careful about our respect for life. Man may think he rules over this planet. Let a storm wash away all he owns and let him sit upon the shore without material possession or family...or his poodle and let him think again.

To learn more about how you can use meditation to connect with your higher conscious please read

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.

Mental Dieting the New You

Many of us find ourselves watching the scale begin to inch upward as we blow out the candles marking another year onward. We look at photos and grimace...is that me? Does my backside really look like that? No... it must be a bad cameraman.

For years I have been able to eat glorious foods and although I would put on a bit and my waistline felt tight...I could always knock off the dessert and pasta for a few days and everything was rosy. Somehow the magic has worn off and I find myself giving into a size larger than I would like to be. I am not alone in this. The dieting industry is alive and well and the companies offering their many solutions aren't the only ones getting fatter. If you were to observe the conversations in the workplace or around your family you would see that many, many people want to look and feel what they imagine in their minds to be the perfect size. It is with this thought that I decided to examine this in a new light.

I am applying my meditation toward this and am beginning to have a clearer understanding. If we as individuals begin to focus on what we would like to achieve, then it truly is a mind-shift. This is available for all. If we set our intent in the direction of the goal we hope to accomplish, we are taking back control of our scales and we are the ones that decide our course.

Science has taught us that we are energy. In order to be a healthy energetic being we need fuel to keep us at our best. If we are able to move our minds into this thought pattern then we should be able to get the results we so desire. Is it easy? No, but with meditation it can help you fix your focus. Start with little things, allow yourself to create in your mind the self you would like to be. Are the choices you make railroading that self? If so, keep that self in your mind's eye every time you refuel and move toward your goal. For many of us we select a reason— a wedding, a vacation, wearing a swimsuit in public! You reached your goal, the event passes, and slowly you are back to where you started. It was with your mind that you were able to complete that task and by keeping your mind in charge of your choices is the beginning of mental dieting. It's time we got off the roller-coaster and applied a simple approach. If it takes weeks, months, or even years to accomplish the self you want to be, start today by acknowledging that you are making the choices of how you proceed. I will still enjoy my fine cuisine and I will still indulge in celebrations with the people I love— but I will learn to take control of accepting that what is on my plate begins in my mind.

To learn how you can begin meditation please read How to Begin

Your Journey is Not a Competition

Lately I have found myself seeking and searching. It feels as if I am on a quest and there is an urgency surrounding this. If I were to ask 10 people about this they would each give their opinion of why this is occurring. Then I would probably have 10 different reasons to ponder. Do I really need to sift through their impressions of why I am moving in this direction? No. And so I began meditating about the whys and what-ifs in my life.

My partner is on his own quest.  He's an avid reader and his love for studying history is something he has enjoyed all his life. Lately he has delved back into some of his favorite eras and is rereading various accounts and looking at them with fresh eyes. He likes to share every new tidbit and we sip coffee in the morning discussing all he has uncovered. Although I really have no desire to study history at the moment, it seems like a puzzle he is trying to solve for the sole purpose of obtaining knowledge and it brings him pleasure and this is in turn brings me joy. At times this joy has been interrupted by an anxiety that lies just under the surface as it creeps into my thoughts. I usually tell my partner everything and yet this I kept to myself. I allowed it to sit on the back burners of my mind simmering for a few days. What could be causing this unrest? It could be any number of things and so it seemed pointless to worry him about it and so I tried to ignore it. Through meditation I learned what was hiding in the corners of my mind.
A few months ago I had enrolled in a workshop regarding psychic development. It's intense and I've had to apply myself in areas very new to me.  As I studied and practice different techniques such as psychometry and telepathy I found myself becoming more anxious and I couldn't understand why.   And so I decided to ask for help during a meditation. I placed all my anxiety out before me and said, "something is bothering me can you tell me what it is?"  I always journal after all meditations and this is my entry from that particular day.

Saturday, June 23, 2012  

My Meditation: We are all on a journey and traveling at different speeds. It is not a competition and there are no blue ribbons. Just as my spouse is seeking knowledge regarding history, I am seeking to learn psychic development – for my own personal use - I am not to worry about comparing myself to others as I am progressing at my own pace designed just for me. I am not seeking information to do psychic work professionally, I am learning to access the treasures that await me to enrich my life. 

After writing this in my journal I went about my normal routine. I was startled by this message that appeared on a friend's web page. I smiled knowing this was a confirmation of what I was told. It's a lesson well worth remembering.

 By meditating daily we will continue to surround ourselves with a wisdom created to help us along our journey. We must continue to look within as this is not a race it is our own personal expedition.

To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day

Your Life is a Pizza-You Choose the Toppings

Throughout my life I have stumbled through many obstacles. In my youth I won two gold medals sprinting down a track...but I could not jump the hurdles. Life's detours seemed to find me at every turn. I had dreams of going to art school and an unexpected pregnancy seemed to bar my way. I say unexpected because I was using birth control at the time and this was quite a shock. Faced with the decision to abort or continue the pregnancy was life changing. Of course well intentioned advice givers were plentiful...but they all seemed to be saying things that contradicted one another. How can anyone faced with such an enormous decision hear their inner voice when they are surrounded by the opinions of others? When the dust settled I was left alone with my thoughts and for me it was a quick and easy choice- I was having a baby:) He's an amazing 21 year old 6' 4" bundle of love now and I can't help but wince when I think of the advice of those around me. Of course they meant well, but honestly, it was none of their business. I only wish I had been meditating when I was faced with this, perhaps I would have avoided a lot of self doubt. Abortion is the choice for many, many women and I strongly feel it is a PERSONAL decision and I honor and respect that right. It just wasn't an option for me- end of story.

my baby

Daily meditation connects us to a wisdom that is greater than anyone you can reach on the telephone. Life's paths leads to many hills and valleys. Using meditation can help you discover your strengths and weaknesses enabling you to walk with purpose and perhaps stumble a little less. Do you want to remove yourself from a toxic relationship? Is there an area in your life that you need to regain control of? Are you happy with who you are? If not, then why not still your mind and begin to practice meditating in silence? By removing the noise you will begin to hear the guidance that has been waiting all along.  Start finding your inner beauty that is waiting to be set free by unraveling the onion skin of self doubt. We're all a work in progress and we can make choices by adding or removing anything we wish. If you want to vent with others go right ahead- if you want to have a pity party- no problem, this again is one of many choices.

You are a beautiful being who is blessed and unstoppable! Begin today...forget about yesterday and start fresh with an attitude of self love. Go relax take some cleansing breaths and find your inner voice as it grows stronger cheering you on. To learn how to find your inner harbor of peace please click How to Begin.

Even Spiritually Minded People Un-Friend

I have been careful to surround myself in positive energy. Troubles come and go like storms washing through my life almost as often as they do around my home in The Florida Keys. Meditation brings that peace and calm that centers and grounds me and it is with this energy that I wish to reside. But how can I stay there when I come into contact with unfavorable energies that seem stuck in mud?

Finding that island of peace has helped me to grow and learn. My heart seems to expand each day opening my eyes to the needs of others, and I find myself venturing into uncharted waters. I was invited to join a social network group where like minded people encouraged and supported one another through good times and bad. I met some wonderful people and the dynamics of the group felt like a spiritual boost each time I stopped by. But something happened to the intention and focus of this group and like a small snowball it began rolling and growing until it became an unstoppable mound of negative energy. Snarky comments, snippets of anger couched in defensive statements reminded me of my dogmatic church days... and it all felt so wrong. People pointing fingers with accusations and as I tried to make sense of it... tried to remove myself from this anger I was reminded of what can happen to good ideas when you lose your passion of purpose.

As children we often found ourselves in situations when we felt unliked...unwanted. Maybe we were pushed aside by the older kids, maybe we felt we were unpopular or maybe we just gave up trying to fit in. Many of those children have grown up to raise children and grandchildren of their own. Perhaps even some of the people in your social network.  And here they are years later no longer on the school ground but in the internet playground. There is a disagreement and instead of working it out, understanding the lessons to be learned, challenges that need to be faced they do something that is much easier...they UN-friend you. It's something our parents and grandparents were never faced with and it can happen in a click of a keyboard. Like a slap in the face from someone you may never actually have met and only knew via a thumbnail icon on your screen. All trust vanished in a heartbeat. What can we learn from this?

Walk with integrity, continue to be true to yourself. Help one another and when negative energy starts to raise its ugly head- don't get wrapped up in it. Remain silent and meditate. Give yourself permission to cut the ties and move away. Even writing this blog I questioned if this was keeping the negative energy up in the air twirling like a plate on a stick. It is my hope that this post can help others to stop and think before they say or do something (like un-friending) that can truly cause others to feel less of themselves. Learn how to AGREE TO DISAGREE - and use it wisely in your relationships.

We're each on a journey and cross paths from time to time and hopefully it's to share the joy and blessings we find along our way.  We may stumble and fall... but we can pick ourselves up, brush away the dust and look ahead to a brighter future... one filled with strong winds, rough seas and sunny days. Peace to ALL of you, may your days be filled with love and light always.

To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day