The Fabric of Death

The unexpected death of her husband has left my sister hanging on a thread. They were supposed to spend their 40th wedding anniversary together this past weekend, but sadly there will be no more celebrations of this kind. The grieving process although necessary feels as if I am watching her slowly fade away. She has tried counseling but feels so disconnected that she no longer attempts to share her pain. If you have ever been around someone like this, you can attest to the ache within your own heart as you watch helplessly knowing it's a personal journey. (To learn more about this tragedy please read.)

Last spring when this occurred I was compelled to move my office into her home and I lived with her for 6 weeks. It was during this endeavor when I saw first-hand how the body goes into shock and denial. She would wake each morning hoping it had all been a bad dream. She stopped eating or caring and her nurturing spirit turned towards her beloved pets. Now she fears they too will get sick and leave her alone with her thoughts.

It was during his funeral as she was searching through his belongings when the idea first struck me. I had meditated the night before he had passed and he had spoken to me. I asked him how I could help his wife and his reply came very clearly.

"Hold her. She is a strong woman that can do anything in this world, but she cannot hold herself."

As she was rummaging through his things looking for his policeman's badge I looked at all of his shirts with tiny golf emblems on them. As a retired police chief he had moved into his next profession as a caddy master at a local golf course. His closet told the story. Policeman's emblems embroidered on jackets to country club insignias adorning his shirts. These would make a beautiful quilt, I thought. She could take this quilt and wrap herself in him. He could hold her once more.

Pattie proudly displays her handiwork

And so I spoke with my other sister Pattie, the one born with a needle and thread in her hand, and asked if she would help. Susan and Pattie have never really been close and I wasn't really sure how this would turn out. They are both talented seamstresses. I held my breath hoping Susan would agree to this, after all we were cutting up his clothes. Susan was honored that Pattie would take the project on. I sat back knowing my role was the bridge that had come up with the idea and had put the two of them together.

Pattie had to work with whatever Susan gave her— ties, shirts, jackets and even his pajamas. She cut, measured and hand-sewed non-stop committing all of her spare time to this amazing feat.

Meanwhile I arranged to have a sister's weekend in my home. All three came to spend some relaxing time in sunny Florida... this event happened to fall on the non-celebrated 40th wedding anniversary.  Susan needed us and all four sisters gathered to support her. There were tears and laughter and healing as we blended together and supported one another.

I had forgotten about the quilt as I knew it would take Pattie until springtime to finish it. But I was wrong. As Susan sat limp with emotions and tried her best to smile through her pain, Pattie handed her a package. Susan opened it with trembling hands and cried tears of joy. The quilt is a masterpiece and with it comes healing. Healing for a woman that is grieving for her husband, healing for two sisters that have never really connected. The fabric is woven from memories that will embrace our sister Susan and help bring some comfort to her broken heart. I felt myself overcome as well as I remembered when the idea was first given to me...did Lee help plan this? Was he whispering to me that day?

The next morning my youngest sister Dotsi did a meditation at dawn.
"I was doing my meditation,"  she said, "and seeing lovely colors and I was waiting for what the images would become when a stupid song kept playing. It was a Bee Gee's song and it really was bothering me as it kept interrupting my meditation."
"What was the song?" I asked.
"Something about emotions," she replied.
And so I did a quick search on the web and found the lyrics Dotsi had heard being sung as she was sharing a bed near our sleeping sister Susan.
In the words of a broken heart
It's just emotion that's taken me over
Tied up in sorrow, lost in my soul
But if you don't come back
Come home to me, darling
You know that there'll be nobody left in this world to hold me tight
Nobody left in this world to kiss goodnight
Goodnight
Goodnight

It now holds her every night.

Meditation is a wondrous thing to experience. I am now encouraging my grieving sister to try again. She had stopped as she feared being alone with her sorrow. I believe meditation has given me a clear channel to be able to act upon inspiring thoughts coming to me from my Higher-Self. I believe it gave Susan the ability to be held once more.
To learn how you can use meditation to enrich your life please read How to Begin.

Raise Your Vibration Daily

Each day you wake up and slowly recognize thought. Thoughts are living things and as you allow yourself to reconnect with your conscious state you become more aware of your first thoughts. It could be about food, work, family or household chores…but nonetheless you are pulling your energy to a thought. This thought can either raise or lower your vibration. Seeking to raise your vibration will help you to become high enough to connect to the power of intention. Your island of peace and hopefully to your sweet spot where you feel happy about yourself and your surroundings.

If we were to incorporate a daily routine of waking with positive thoughts it would begin our day with a boost of internal energy. After all, we are all energy and we all vibrate on different frequencies why not strive to be your very best?

Here are some ways to help raise your vibration.
1. Become conscious of your thoughts. State your intention for your highest good- "Today is a new day and I am a beautiful person ready to accept what is for my highest good."

2. Make meditation a regular practice. Connection to your higher power and intuition will allow you to rise above all negative thoughts. It does not matter how long- it only matters that you DO.

3. Become aware of the foods you eat. Consuming foods that are covered in pesticides will make you feel weaker. Processed and foods filled with chemicals will actually lower your vibration. Seek to include organic, fruits, vegetables, soy, nut and virgin olive oil to help raise your vibration. 

4. Reduce drug and alcohol consumption. Not only does this lower your vibration but you will find yourself surrounded by low vibrational people that enjoy this habit. Limit it or remove it from your life completely.

5. Tune into the music you are listening to. Does it have messages of love, passion, hope, forgiveness? Or are the lyrics filled with anger, hate and resentment. Words are powerful and can contribute to the way you feel about yourself and others. Monitor what seeps into your life, be it the car commute to work or the background radio in your home. Listen to whale song, there is powerful healing in the wisdom being given to us through these incredible beings. Keep it handy for doctor's offices, airport travel, fussy children and anyone dealing with depression.

6. Low vibrational television can derail your good intentions. The constant stream of negative energy is not good for you. Real life dramas with crime, violence and hatred interspersed with commercials telling you to buy a product to bring you health and happiness will lower your vibration.

7. Surround yourself with high vibrational people. Family members and friends that are always speaking with a glass-half-empty attitude can drag you down. Limit time spent with this type of community and connect with high vibrational people that are filled with happiness and joy.

8. Look around your home to see what you have chosen to view everyday. Photographs, books, art, crystals, plants and the colors in your home can all create energy. Learn about Feng Shui today!

9. Incorporate a lifestyle that  includes being OUT in nature as often as you can. This will raise your vibration and put you in touch with a community that is sharing our planet. Learn to listen, smell, see, feel and KNOW the energies that want to share life with you. We share the same natural resources and man is NOT above all life forms. Raising your vibration will make you more aware of the needs of others.

10. Wear or place crystals and minerals in your personal space. Some of these minerals vibrate at a very high frequency. By connecting with their energy your vibration will lift to meet theirs. Some high vibrational crystals are: Kyanite, Rainbow Mayanite, Zincite, Aura Quartz, Gaspeite, Moldavite, Ajoite and Bookite just to name a few.

As your vibration rises you will feel your energy blossom and grow as your light shines brighter. Your feelings of self love, confidence and well being will create a desire to love others and the world around you. You will find yourself doing more and more random acts of kindness. Forgiveness for the people that have caused you deep pain and resentment will drift away as you truly begin to see them as loving spirits on a journey.

Start today with an intention of raising your vibration and BE the loving energy that can help shed more positivity into our world. 

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

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Raising Your Vibration Through Scent

Have you ever had a scent float across your path and find yourself startled by the wonderful memory it brought? A few days ago as I was doing my meditation a scent of Lilly of the Valley appeared. I immediately thought of my mother and my heart began to beat a little faster. Memories of her gardening came flooding back. I found myself watching images appear as if I was viewing my childhood home. Mom hanging wash, dad in his upholstery shop while my sisters and I stopped to admire the Lilly of the Valleys growing along the pathway.

I finished the meditation and felt a wave of love wash over me. For my mother – for my wonderful carefree days as young girl picking flowers, and for the flowers themselves. How magical that they contain a scent that makes me bubble up with love.

This aroma and the energy it brings actually raises your vibration. You are lifted into a beautiful space of love and appreciation for the wonders of this earth. Do you have a special scent that awakens something deep within you?

And so I took the next step and purchased a bottle of Lilly of the Valley essential oil. Placing it into water held by one of my mother's favorite vases made it feel even more intimate. It now sits beside me while I work. How lovely that we can all find this magic for ourselves.

Find the scent that raises your vibration and keep it near you if you can. It may be the smell of rain, go for a walk in it! It may be baked goods, visit a bakery! Whatever it is learn to connect to this wonderful energy of scent and allow yourselves to be carried to that space of peace that is waiting for you.
To learn how you can  meditate please read Meditation Mojo.

Crystal Channeling in a Watercolour

I found myself swimming through an amethyst a few mornings ago. Last week I had asked for some help in discovering which guide was helping me with my art.

Here is my journal entry:
Meditation: I placed an amethyst upon my third eye and began my meditation. I ask for the help of the amethyst in connecting with my higher self. I am now seeing what appears to be a tunnel of shimmering amethyst and I am flowing through it. Shimmering water appears. I see a watercolor I am currently working on. It is of a blue heron against teal water. I am taken into the water as if I am able to dive beneath the surface of this paper- it is still paper yet it is the sea of teal blue.  An Asian man in sunglasses is leaning against a rail. He kind of looks like he is grinning and watching me.  He is painted into the picture but I do not recognize him. The meditation ends. After the meditation I realized I did not paint the man in my watercolour and I have not finished the painting yet. Who was he? Is he who has been helping me paint, surely someone seems to be urging me on...

The artwork you see above is part of a series I have been painting. I am being led to sell my work to benefit wildlife. A seabird sanctuary nearby is unable to continue helping the many shore birds entangled in nets, crippled by boats and jet skis and just harmed by humans out for a good time. I will be in an art show this coming weekend. All profits will go "to the birds." I sincerely hope that I may help raise awareness and donations for this sanctuary. I believe the gentlemen in the meditation is a guide that is helping me. I am thankful to ALL of my guides and the crystals who are assisting me.

Crystals are amazing entities that enjoy lending their energy. Find one that speaks to you and perhaps you'll be led to lend your gifts to encourage harmony within our planet. To find out how to use crystals in meditation please read Crystal Pathways
 
Have a comment about this blog? I would love to hear your thoughts...
If you would like to purchase art or make a donation to this wonderful cause please drop me a line. Here is their website. http://www.seabirdsanctuary.com/

Crystals Speak During Meditation

Crystals are wonderful friends that delight in lending their energy. Our connection with them is as natural as breathing as we are all part of earth...we are all part of IS. We are one.

Using crystals in meditation is particularly beneficial as it allows the stones to lend support as they blend their energy with your own. This blending creates a sort of bond between you. You will begin to notice yourself smiling every time you are near them. When this happens always remember to greet them and THANK them.

During your opening invocation as you begin your meditation, it is always good to set your intention. When working with crystals during meditation I always mention them by name and ask for their help. When closing I offer my thanks. Thanking them bathes them in respect and gratitude. This they will give back to each of you in abundance.

Here is a snippet from a recent meditation journal. As you can see meditation can bring you little road maps to help you along your journey.

Thursday, November 1, Meditation: I asked for a message for my spouse Dean. I asked for his guides to come forward to help me communicate something for his highest good. I also asked for help with his migraines he seems to get from time to time.
A man with white hair in a ponytail stood before me looking down at his sandaled feet- he had blue jeans on and a white shirt- he told me that I need to place Moo-kite under Dean's desk, and next to his feet. I said "you mean marcasite?"  Laughing he replied “I will help you carry it back.”
I asked if there were any more messages. A voice spoke, “He needs to drink more water, cut down on the coffee.” I was about to thank them and the voice said “And you too!”

After finishing the meditation I did a bit of research. I was spelling it phonetically as I was unfamiliar with it. I found what I was looking for. Mookaite is an Australian Jasper which comes from Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia. I bought several chunks (see photo above large veined rock top left ) and one now sits under his desk and under the foot of his side of the bed. The migraines are becoming fewer. If you want to know more about this stone here is more information. Mookaite.

Sunday, January 27,  Meditation: FULL MOON
While holding Amethyst and Lapis I asked for help in developing my spiritual gifts. I asked for guidance through these tools to help open me for a stronger spiritual connection with my higher self. I was sort of floating in darkness and then I heard my own voice speaking over and over saying "Mie-a-night, Mie-a-night, Mie-a-night...I said "Huh, you mean like the myans? This kind of threw me and I reply "No, I'm asking about this Lapis and Amethyst. Can you please help me align with their energy to help me learn? Please teach me." Again "Mie-a-night, Mie-a-night, Mie-a-night," repeats and this time it is louder – also there is a bit of chuckling and laughter.  I thanked my guides and crystals and started to hunt for Mieanight.

Again I was spelling it incorrectly and couldn't find it. Then later during a walk I remembered myself saying "Like the Mayans?" Sure enough I found it. Mayanite. I had never heard of this stone and the fact that it was given to me during meditation when I asked for help with my development assured me it was the answer to all I was seeking. I purchased a piece (pictured above it is the gold colored crystal) and I now sit in meditation with it. A remarkable stone to be sure. If you want to know more about this amazing quartz that has only recently been discovered here is some information. Mayanite

Connecting with the beautiful energies of crystals will raise your vibration. When this occurs you will find yourself drawn to nature. Begin using crystals today and listen to what they have to say. They are quite powerful, insightful and extremely loving. Keep them near you, wear them and take them along as you walk this earth. They will reward you with an incredible blessing and when they do – always remember to give them the thanks they so richly deserve.
Please add a comment if you have enjoyed this blog. Thank you.

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

Metaphysical Enlightenment

If you're like me you have explored metaphysics as part of your journey. There are many places during your adventure to stop and rest. Numerology, Astrology, Tarot, Runes, Crystals...the list goes on and on. But where does it all lead?

Hopefully it is moving you toward a place where your vibration is lifted. One of the best ways to raise your vibration is through meditation. This simple daily self "time-out" exercise can help develop your intuition, enhance your creativity and connect you to your higher self.

It only takes 15 minutes. Just begin with an introductory prayer (see link below) to ask for protection and set your intention.  Always be sure to state exactly what you are hoping to achieve.
Some examples of setting your intention are:
Meeting your guides
Spiritual development- seeing, hearing, sensing
Spiritual connection - loved ones

As you meditate daily be sure to keep a journal. Hopefully, if your journal is like mine, you will be given insight to help you with your journey. Here is a sample out of my journal:

Meditation on Beach: A pool of deep blue water that appeared to have bubbling water underground- green tiny shoots of grass peeking up.
A birds wing appears and the feathers are all disassembled and they are each numbered…someone is showing me the different feathers and how they all get reassembled into a wing—I finish the meditation to find a gang of seagulls sitting all around me.

I am often given visions regarding water and water conservation. The bird's wing reminds me of the order in nature.  Raising your vibration gives you a deeper respect for the earth's resources and inhabitants.

Meditation: I am speaking with a man and I am asking him about true north he tells me to look up- I do and suddenly I am looking down over a building- I can see it is near where I live so I adjust my vision and I am seeing over the top of our condo on the Clearwater Bay, FL—amazing.

Who is this man? Most likely a guide as I often find myself with someone instructing or teaching me. I was so amazed that I could look up and find myself peering sky-high down on my home like a bird.  Raising your vibration enables you to use thought to see the universe.

Think of your daily meditations as your oasis during your journey. Continue with your seeking and enjoy the adventure but always remember that your compass lies within.

To learn more about how you can begin to include meditation in your life please read How to Begin.

Glorious Palaces Amidst Severe Poverty

Golden fountain in Topkapi Palace

I recently returned from a wonderful excursion to Turkey and Greece. We wanted to experience Christmas in a country where we could enjoy some time off from the type of music that is piped into every corner of the US. Some of us would prefer it be kept to the actual time of the holiday. I am not a hum bug, but the intent of the marketing machines that thrive in our country have slowly infiltrated Christmas music into our lives beginning in October. Enough said. It was delightful to visit Istanbul and Athens and I have learned a great deal from this experience.

While touring I always make time for daily meditation as it can often vary in degrees of intensity while sitting in areas of a different energy vibration. If you have not thought to do this, as it may feel awkward in an area you are not accustomed to, you may want to try it.

Sultan's room decorated with tortoise shell tiles.

By keeping a daily journal I am able to look back and find interesting bits of information sometimes describing what I may come upon in the future. While visiting Istanbul this actually occurred and I am intrigued by the message. Here is a note from my log.

Dec. 24, 2012 Meditation: Brilliant Christmas like sparkling lights cascading. A feeling of wealth as they blend into sparkling jewels. A swirl like icon appears and it feels like a logo to me. It is gold thin metallic and it splits into several of the same swirls on a thin long narrow body. A voice then speaks. "Severe Poverty- Behold the Tombs"

I finished the meditation and wondered about it. I remembered something about tombs all throughout Istanbul. The Sultans of course are kept in a very distinguished area of the Topkapi Palace – a place on our check-list of sites to see.

Severe poverty. I did some research and noted that in May of 2011, Istanbul hosted the 4th United Nations conference of the world's 48 least developed countries (LDCs), with their 800 million people, half living in extreme poverty. Here is what Turkey’s president Abdullah Gul had to say.  "The gap is widening in “income, education, child mortality, agricultural productivity and export performance… This situation is not sustainable. While a bottom billion lives on less than $1 a day, the rest of the international community cannot turn a blind eye to their sufferings.” The situation was alarming “not just morally, but politically … the nexus between development, peace and security cannot be ignored.”

Room built to hold Sultan's Turbans in Topkapi Palace

On the following morning after this meditation we visited the Topkapi Palace. I stared at the ticket in my hand unable to move. The image was the logo I had seen in my meditation. I was stuttering as my fellow travelers nudged me to move along. Why was I given this message in my meditation? What can it mean?

I am still researching this. I was told by a ticket counter person with poor English that it is the Key to the Hagia Sophia and indeed this image adorns several of my tickets purchased to other sites in Istanbul.

Ceiling in Hagia Sophia - Istanbul

"Severe Poverty- Behold the Tombs." I will continue to reflect on the message brought forth – but I am left with this thought. Who built the tombs? Where are their remains?

Hagia Sophia - Istanbul

Istanbul is a treasure to behold and boasts a marvelous collection of antiquity, art, music and food to be sampled. But I must say that the thing I found to be most endearing were her people. This is her wealth. I am thankful that I was able to brush off the many westerners who told me to stay away as this was an unsafe place to visit. It was an experience that has opened my eyes to yet again the beauty that surrounds all of us. If its inhabitants truly are living in extreme poverty than I am thankful I was able to help contribute what little I did to the merchants, shops and cafes I enjoyed during our visit. It was an added pleasure of course to have my daughter join us. Here she is scoping out the many shops selling musical instruments near Taksim Square in Istanbul.

Learn to listen to the messages given to us everyday. Tune into your inner voice and feel the wonder that is all around you. Be that wonder to all you meet. Be the LOVE in the spirit you are.

To learn more about meditation please read Meditation Mojo.