A few years ago I had an online radio show entitled Step Up. The theme of the show was stepping into your intuition and your spiritual awareness. I view our spiritual path as a gentle upward journey where we are better today than we were yesterday. Our choices are more spirit centered and Spirit Connected with each step.

Imagine my surprise when I’ve been led to step back and step away from a physical practice.

A few years ago, a health issue manifested itself in a big way. I found a list of supplements that slowly brought my health around through daily consumption. I was so glad to find these supplements and grateful for regaining a measure of health.

Recently, I found myself spiraling down health-wise again. I couldn’t seem to shake it and I couldn’t seem to get any better.

One day I was running late and “forgot” to take my supplements before I left the house. I planned on taking them as soon as I got home. Well, after getting home, I had several major distractions and missed taking those things all day. The next day, Phil noticed that I looked better. I didn’t really feel much better, but I did feel a bit better. Not connecting the dots yet, I took my supplements as usual that morning. Sure enough, I didn’t feel well again.

Several days later, I ran out the door without those supplements again and got distracted and missed another whole day without them. Sure as shootin’, I felt better again.

Phil notice again.

Could the supplements that saved my life be now causing me distress??!!??

How could this be?!?

Well, I just couldn’t believe it and resumed taking the supplements again. You guessed it . . . I felt badly again. Brain fog and severe fatigue.

Well. For cryin’ out loud. I must say I experienced a great deal of resistance at stepping back from utilizing those supplements. Until I realized that I’d been doing healings on myself for months now. I’d discovered or had been Spirit guided in some new visualizations that really seemed powerful.

Apparently so!

So, I have this drawer in the kitchen that is full of supplements. I might need this or that here and there, but for now, I can let go of having to take a handful of those things.

My heart vacillates between been grateful and resistant. I allow myself gratitude for the supplements that supported me for so long and blessed me along the way. At the same time I allow myself to be resistant in stepping away from them and grant myself peace as I ease out of their use. This in turn allows me gratitude for a new measure of health that no longer needs them.

So, too, I allow myself to step back and step away from friendships and relationships that no longer serve. Certainly, there may be friends that I couldn’t have gotten this far without, yet our paths no longer converge and I get to step away with gratitude. Gratitude for what we had and gratitude that I can move on.

I used to feel that way about soda pop. When I was experiencing an abusive situation and dire financial circumstances, I allowed myself one bottle of soda pop a week. I could nurse a bottle of cola for days. It would be flat, but it was my prop. It got me through. Long after I found safety and financial footing, I still clung to that pop. I could afford more than one a week, so I did. I felt such bliss with each sip. It wasn’t just the taste, it was the taste of freedom that it granted me.

Years later, I was able to step back and walk away from soda pop. Now every once in a while I might choose to have one. Doesn’t taste the same and I don’t get the same blissful feeling. I’ve stepped away from that emotional crutch. I can hold gratitude for how it got me through the difficult times, and hold even greater gratitude that I don’t put that stuff in my body very often. I am gratefully free to choose.

I had to step back first – notice it. See how it worked or didn’t work in my life. Then make a new choice and step away.

What might you be hanging on to? Does it really serve you now or do you feel attached by the memory of survival? Step back. Take a look. Notice how your life is different now. When you are ready, step away. Set yourself free.

The tear pooled in my eye and hesitated there for a moment. Then, it began to fall, gently sliding down my face.

I decided in that moment that this is the last tear. The last tear to fall as a result of your comments or your disdain.

Love, as close as family, extends beyond approval or disapproval. When I needed your encouragement and you sat silent. I felt rejected and tears fell. When I needed your reassurance when I felt weak, you demanded attention for your own hurts. I felt rejected and tears fell. When I needed to clear the air, you projected your own pain onto me demanding me to change to make you happy. I felt unheard and tears fell. When I succeeded and wanted joyous celebration with me, you belittled my success. I felt unworthy and tears fell.

Yet, this is the last tear.

Not that I choose to shut down. No. Shutting down would do me more harm than good. Not that I choose to put shields up to protect myself. No. Shields cannot protect me in this.

I choose to see you from a different perspective. Rather than seeing you as me – a wounded me, a broken me – I choose to see you in truth. Your wounds dictate your actions and reactions to me. Your pain commands you to withhold love, appreciation, and acknowledgement. You cannot yet be any other way.

I choose to see this without judgement. In fact, I choose to see you with a heart of compassion. I observe you and the pain constricting you with deep empathy.

This last tear dries on my skin, evaporating into the air that surrounds it. My need for your approval and acceptance evaporates with it. I expected you to respond to me in a way that fulfilled my needs. Now, I release you from that expectation. I’m free.

I’m free to encourage myself. I’m free to console myself. I’m free to acknowledge my own successes. I’m free to negotiate this life without the need for outside approval. This inner approval resides within my own bright heart. This inner approval finds confirmation from Divine Source who uplifts and supports me while offering me guidance and comfort.

Certainly, I will cry again. Sorrows and disappointments happen. Loss and grief live alongside a fulfilled life. Yet, this is the last tear that falls for expecting you to be whom you are not. I finally understand. With a bright heart, I finally release . . .

This Last Tear.

(If you enjoyed this blog you might also like the Ancient One’s message entitled “The Power of Serenity”)

I recently learned a valuable lesson from my brother’s dog. Yes, from a dog.

Phil and I took our new, 6 month old Delilah for a walk with my brother, Joe, and his dog Simon. Simon, a Shih tzu, is about 4 years old.

Simon loves the game of chase! He loves to zoom around evading the other dog while making impossible turns and spins. It’s just adorable to watch. Simon loved to play this game with our old Molly. Molly loved it, too and nearly caught him a couple of times. Though mostly Simon left Molly in the dust. Literally . . . lots of dust in the dry season.

Simon’s experience with Delilah (Lilah) held a different experience for him. Lilah is fast and young, so she bowled Simon over a couple of times. Though we tried to restrict Lilah, she was too fast for us to react.

So, here’s the lesson I learned from little Simon . . . you ready for this?

He just stopped.

He stopped running. He stopped allowing Lilah to chase him. Without any movement from Simon, Lilah also slowed down. Then, Simon darted after Lilah! Lilah jumped into a full run and the sport was off again this time with Simon chasing Lilah! They ran through the tall grass and jumped over branches. When Lilah got ahead and doubled back on Simon, Simon stopped again. Once Lilah was again out in front, Simon took off and more running ensued.

Simon didn’t like being bowled over and we were unable to protect him. He didn’t run away. He didn’t bark or growl, he just stood still.

So what did I learn from Simon?

To just stop.

If people aren’t treating me with respect or they are getting a bit pushy, just stop. Don’t talk, don’t engage. Just stop and wait. Once things are respectful again, go have fun! Full enthusiasm!

If life is full of struggle and I feel like I’m being bowled over by life, just stop. Stand still. Wait.

That’s so hard to do! I want to fix it. Change it. Make things the way I want them to be. I think I want control. But control is an illusion. What I really want is cooperation, respect, joy and living life full out!

Things will shift. Things will change. That’s the Law of Impermanence. Everything changes. Instead of Simon being chased, he changed the game so he was the one doing

the chasing. He changed. He still had fun! Lilah and he had a great time. Simon stopped. Simon changed. The game changed. And with a subtle shift, the game was on and fun was had by all!

Maybe it’s time to stop for a bit. See where there might be someone stepping on toes. Pray for insights to change the dynamic. Pray for insights to change the direction. Try something new.

Thank you, little Simon, for such a BIG lesson!

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about gratitude lately. As spiritual power tools go, it ranks among the highest in my book! Right next to prayer. I have a bit of a twist on the process of gratitude I’d like to share with you.

It started when I walked away from a marriage, friends, church and everything familiar. I had never held down a full time job and had to provide for my troubled teenager and I in a new city. The extraction from that marriage was messy to say the least. I had no backbone and had no idea who I was, much less what to do with myself. My teenager was falling down the rabbit hole of addiction and I was barely keeping food on the table. Some days I felt overwhelmed and I wished I could die. Some days I felt glad I was alive and free and had a chance for a better life. Some days I felt both at the same time.

I don’t remember how I got it, but I ended up with an old calendar – one with a pretty picture and positive saying on one side of the page and the week laid out on the other. The dates weren’t accurate because it was from the previous year, but I appreciated the beautiful pictures and the positive sayings a great deal, so I kept it.

Since the days didn’t matter, I began to write down every accomplishment, no matter how small. When I found something to be grateful for, I wrote that in the calendar. Many days in a row were blank. As the weeks and months dragged by, I started over the next year continuing to notice milestones I made . . . getting my own apartment . . . buying my first car . . . These were huge things I never thought I would ever do. I also noted the little things. The little things that made me smile, like a sunbreak in the clouds that seemed to shine down on me just when I needed it the most.

I noticed that as I turned the pages from one year to the next, that I had grown. On days when I felt overwhelmed and lost, I would see an accomplishment I’d made a year ago that I didn’t think I would ever to and I felt encouraged to do what was before me right now. Or I would remember some little gratitude that generated that same sense of gratitude again giving me the strength to look for Grace one more time. I would see the name of someone I appreciated and a kindness they had done for me and I was inspired to be kind yet again.

The most important acknowledgment I noted was during a group counseling session with multiple families whose kids were in the same treatment facility.

My ex and his wife were there along with Phil and I – showing support for our now 16 year old son and his 3rd trip through re-hab. There were about 30 people including the kids in a huge circle and we were doing some sort of activity. I don’t remember the circumstances, nor do I remember the words, but somehow my ex challenged me in a disdainful way in front of all these people. Normally I would have shut up, backed

down, cowered and felt victimized. I don’t remember the words I said, but I do remember that I stood up and spoke my truth with calmness.

The entire room applauded! The ex backed down. In that moment, I had a spiritual spinal implant and overwhelming support as a result. In my calendar, (it was on the 3rd of the month. I don’t even remember which month or which year) I acknowledged the situation that put me at a point of choice and my decision to speak my truth with grace. Had I not had my calendar and the building of my strength that it gave me up to that point, I probably would have caved in one more time.

Acknowledgement is not about pride. It’s not about me being better than someone else. It’s acknowledging a moment of growth. Those acknowledgments become anchor points for the future. Once experienced, we never go back to the way we were. Not really. We may repeat some old behaviors, but the new person we are becoming sees the truth and moves closer to that reality with stronger dedication than before.

Gratitude is the emotional response to acknowledgement. Appreciation is the expression of awareness for another’s kindnesses in our behalf. This too, leads to the feeling of gratitude.

You see, we tend to remember the bad stuff. Researchers call this “negativity bias”. We tend to look for what isn’t working to protect ourselves and keep ourselves from harm. This smallness may feel like we are keeping ourselves safe, but in fact, it’s just keeping us in survival mode. Life is so much more!

I’ve noticed a lot of people lately saying how terrible 2019 was and how they hope 2020 will be better . . . 2019 probably held a lot of growth and beauty that got forgotten due to the negativity bias!

As you look at the close of this year and look to the hope of next year I hope you take the time to take note (literally!) of the people and their kindnesses towards you along with your own accomplishments. As you physically note these and take moments to ponder them, the feelings of gratitude will flow through you. These feelings of gratitude draw to you MORE THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE GRATEFUL!!!!

If you really want to bless your own life, use this powerful tool. I’m including a pdf of a simple Gratitude, Appreciation, and Acknowledgment sheet. Print out 31 of these. One for each day of the month. Make note of your Appreciation and make Acknowledgment of your own breakthrough’s and list opportunities to express Gratitude on that day of the month – any month. From month to month you will see changes and growth. Notice positive feelings expanding and positive experiences building.

I don’t have that old calendar anymore. Several moves later and it was lost to the chaos of change. Yet, the positive energy that practice gave me sustains itself in my awareness.

I’ve created other Gratitude, Appreciation, and Acknowledgment journals over the years and this process still continues to bless me.

Whether you check in with this every morning or every evening or even once in a while, at the end of 2020 you will have a record of positive and powerful experiences to build the rest of our life upon! Bless yourself with this simple tool and you will be richly blessed in all areas of your life.

May it be so!

Tis the season to be weary . . . Fa la la la la… Right?

Well, maybe yes and maybe no. We tend to find a million things to do and expect ourselves to do them perfectly. We must find the perfect gifts. We must prepare the perfect treats. We must make the holidays beautiful and happy. Right?

Well, those are our expectations for this time of year. We may not speak them aloud, but there they are! We know no good will come of this, but we forge on with these expectations burning in our hearts and minds.

Certainly, it’s such a blessing to be the one who brings joy to a holiday gathering. Yet, have you noticed? If someone is not in the place of joy, no matter how nice the setting, they will not know joy.

Joy is a matter of choice. I cannot deliver joy and have it received without the willing choice of another to accept it. Perhaps my idea of joy is not exactly fun for them! Maybe they prefer to watch the football game where I would prefer to layout Tarot cards and get all intuitive and stuff. Does that make them wrong or me wrong? Nope. But my happy doesn’t make them happy. Their happy sure doesn’t do anything for me either!

So, this year, I’m going to do my best to be happy. If someone cares to share that happy, that’s great! If they don’t, that’s great, too! Even if someone chooses to be miserable and negative, they get to and I get to hold on to my happy. I don’t need to change them or coerce them into happy. I couldn't do that even if I wanted to. Happy is a choice. Each person’s own personal choice.

I certainly may choose to share some cookies or some treats of some sort. I certainly may choose to spend some time with friends and loved ones. Yet, each person may be going through something I cannot fix . . . Stress at work, family issues, financial woes, health troubles . . . Whatever the situation. I just know that even in the darkest times, people I know have found joy and lived in that joy through that darkness.

Most won’t. Most people prefer to stay stuck and recount their misery. Yet, I don’t have to. I get to decide to be in a place of happy and let them be where ever they choose to be for themselves.

My empathic heart wants to make them stop suffering so that I don’t feel their pain. My spiritual self allows them to be where they are out of respect for their power of choice.

Their relationships, their work, their health is their journey. I can hold sacred ground for them as they walk through difficulty. . If they request assistance in finding happy, I certainly can do that! I can open my heart and embrace them with love. I can help them re-discover what brings them joy by asking them about their flavor of happy. What happy/joy looks like and feels like to them. Maybe they will choose to do those things that bring happy/joy back into their world. (Or maybe they won’t. It’s their choice.)

So, for now, I’ll choose to be happy as best I can and share as much as others will allow. How will you be and express happy?

Sometimes our fear about a psychic’s abilities keeps us from utilizing their talents. We fear they may somehow know secrets or wield power over us in some way. To set you mind at ease, here are some things a psychic just cannot do.

1. We cannot read your mind or “see” your secrets.

It’s true that we can get on the same wavelength and “know” words and concepts that hold significance for a client. Recently a client came in and I heard the Star Spangled Banner playing in my ear. When I asked about it, he said he was from Canada. We both laughed. Our guides were helping us connect immediately.

What happens here is this: As a psychic, I tune in to Divine Source and become open. In this openness, my angels and guides connect with my client’s angels and guides. Together they send words, pictures, sounds tastes and other impressions that connect us and bring information through that is helpful and often profound.

That fear of someone knowing your thoughts or reading your mind makes people tense up which throws up blocks for the reading. Yes, in a great reading a psychic can tune into what Spirit (Divine Source) would have you know in spite of any blocks caused by tension and, as a result, offer keen insights for you. (Reading through blocks makes the session really hard work for the reader! You may as well relax and enjoy! That state of being helps the process.)

If you have secrets, we won’t usually pick them up unless you are ready to deal with them. If a psychic picks up on something you’ve got hidden away, it’s because your soul is ready to clear out that stuff. You are ready? Relax. Trust the process. A great reader isn’t here to judge or shame, but rather bless and clear.

2. A psychic cannot tell the future.

What!?!

A psychic can tell you “a” future but not “the” future. What!?! The future is fluid. If a psychic sees an outcome, that’s with the understanding that things are on course – without change. Should you change your mind, change your heart, change your actions . . . the future changes, too. The good news is, if you don’t like the result or outcome the psychic suggests, you have the opportunity to make some changes. This is the perfect opportunity to ask the psychic for insights on HOW you could change yourself and what actions might lead to a different result.

3. A psychic cannot tell you what to do.

Certainly, in a reading you’ve asked for a psychic’s guidance. Their insights might provide helpful options, tools and clarity. Truth is, the future – your future, your life – is your own. No one can tell you what to do. (Well, they can try. Who likes to be told what to do? Not me!)

Sometimes messages come to a psychic with a great deal of urgency. That urgency may generate a pressure that the psychic responds to by issuing directives - telling you what to do.

Any classes that I teach regarding psychic development, I encourage the use of terms like, “you might want to consider . . .” “It would be helpful for you to . . .” “If it were me I might do this . . .” or “One thing that might be helpful would be . . .” These comments keep the psychic humble and aware of each person’s own personal power of choice. Saying, “you need to do this or that” or “you should do this other thing” removes personal power. Telling someone else what they should do diminishes one’s ability to listen to their own heart. That’s the real source of power – the heart. Not the feelings that get injured, but the heart-of-hearts that knows the truth. When you know in your heart to do a thing, it gets done. When we act because someone said to do so, our actions are not empowered and probably won’t work anyway.

Whatever actions a psychic might encourage you to do – check in with your own heart-of-hearts. Does it ring true for you? It may be uncomfortable because it’s a bit different than your normal actions, but you will feel the truth of it if it’s right for you. Just because it feels different doesn’t make it right or wrong for you. Sit with it. Let your heart ponder on it. If it begins to resonate with you then consider it. Trust your heart-of hearts. Often you will “know” instantly that the guidance is right for you.

4. A psychic cannot fix you, your relationship, your work situation, or your life.

A psychic can and does offer insights for clarity. Armed with those insights, you can take action that can shift your world. Armed with information like: What my partner needs from me right now; what lesson this job is bringing to me to learn; what life lesson is being activated at this time - these allow insights for clarity. With clarity comes clear action. With clear action comes change and with change comes a relief from being stuck or overwhelmed.

Often people utilize a psychic reading because they get all bunched up about what’s going on and they can’t see the forest for the trees. A psychic can show you. At work, your lesson seems to be to learn all you can and be ready to move on. Or, your relationship hasn’t had sufficient fun (or communication/or time) to sustain itself. One thing you could do to improve the fun/communication/time together would be . . .

The insights may be simple yet powerful and just what you really needed to hear to help clear your thinking and put you back on track. Again, YOU do the fixing. Your change in attitude, awareness and actions bring about change in your world. Utilize the powerful insights offered to discover a new way for yourself. That’s where the real “fix-it” comes from.

5. A psychic cannot have power over you.

A psychic may be creepy accurate in the insights and spooky profound in their guidance, but they cannot have power over you.

You are buying a service and that draws the line in the sand. If a psychic tells you that you have to come back for more readings . . . RUN!! This person may utilize your fears to pad their bank account. At the same time, not all that needs to be addressed may get addressed in one session. YOU decide if you would like additional sessions for additional subjects.

You have the power in your own life. Yes, sometimes we feel powerless when we get overwhelmed and stuck. A really good psychic helps you get unstuck by showing you the situation clearly and offering insight and options. Just because you may feel a bit creeped out because of their keen insights when you haven’t told them your life story doesn’t mean they have power over you. A clear reading does not take your power. A clear reading empowers you in your own life.

Bottom Line:

Through their connection to Divine Source, a psychic offers amazing insights to assist you in finding clarity, shifting your thinking, and moving forward. Relax and trust the process. Trust your heart-of-hearts to resonate truth for you. Ponder, consider and take the guidance offered as it fits for you.

May your journey be blessed!

We’ve had some lovely fall days recently. Not our usually spectacular Indian Summer that we usually have, but lovely none the less. My favorite part of fall is the changing of the colors of the trees. Certainly, I’m sad to see the annual flowers fade and turn brown and I’ll miss the deep green foliage of summer. Yet, those golds, reds, and yellows of fall really touch my heart. There is a vibrancy about them. A brilliance that invigorates the soul.

Those colors speak of change and release. They speak of the courage of being seen and allowing life to flow onward.

It feels as if hanging on is in my nature. Seeing the trees change and let go reminds me to do the same. Letting go of what no longer serves doesn’t have to look like miserable sacrifice. Letting go has the right to be brilliant and stunning!

It’s so lovely to see different trees releasing their leaves in different colors. Seeing a tree blazing with red leaves next to a brilliant yellow tree next to a tree with both green and orange leaves just takes the breath away.

We all don’t have to release or let go in the same way. Some trees drop their leaves quickly while others are the last to remain clothed in fall fashion. This reminds us that there is no wrong way to release and heal. (Releasing is healing on lots of levels!)

What are you ready to release? What no longer serves you? A perspective of mistrust? A condition of frustration? A cloak of shame? A basket of judgment? A crate of duty and obligation that no longer serves?

How might you release that? Prayer and fasting? Dancing and celebration? Journaling and meditation? Deep breaths and a new affirmation? Turning around and clapping your hands 3 times?

Whatever method you choose to use, your intent fuels the fire. Will it be a blazing bonfire or a quiet candle? The choice is yours because the journey is yours. You get to do it your way. Or not at all! Perhaps you require more time with this attitude/situation/experience for now. Just realize that this, too, is your choice.

I’m choosing to let go of some old fears. They have kept me safe for a long time, but my soul no longer needs fear in order to be safe. I have a measure of wisdom and I have wonderful friends who help me see the truth of who I am. I can gratefully release fear for the safety it granted me. It may slip back here and there. That’s okay. I can release

it every time it shows up. I’m just not granting it full time residence in my heart any more.

Just as the trees loose their leaves and then go dormant for the winter, we, too may require a time of turning in to get stronger, so that, when the sun shines brightly in the springtime, we can emerge stronger than before. It’s good to remember that winter doesn’t last forever and our time of turning inward has an expiration date. Maybe an hour or two; or a day or two; or a month or two. Know that the time of emerging can be blocked by another level of fear or mistrust. Keep checking in to make sure the restoration path is clear. This turning inward is opposed to shutting down. We are maintaining our awakened awareness in a quiet moment or two while healing happens.

Release in brilliance. Restore in trust.

Emerge in Power. Walk in Love.

Serve in Gratitude

Phil and I got an Instant Pot for Christmas last year. I’ve been learning to use this new piece of equipment. I comes with recipes, so I’ve been trying some new things. Some are pretty tasty.

I’ve been trying some of my old favorites and they work famously in the new gizmo. Some not so much. I’ve had two failures recently. I have a spare rib in bbq sauce that does famously in the crock pot. I decided to use pork loin instead of pork ribs - I don’t know if it was the different meat or what, but the sauce wasn’t very good. Meat was nice and tender, but the sauce was too sharp with vinegar. I decided to try my beef stroganoff recipe. Nope. Not a winner.

But, I keep trying!

I like the idea that I can put something into the Instant Pot and it’s done in about an hour—rather than waiting for at least three hours with a crock pot or slaving over a stove mixing and stirring other meals. This allows me to do a bunch of other stuff most days without thinking about the main meal of the day until the later.

Planning and meal prep has been a major portion of my day—every day for most of my life. Having a new toy . . . I mean, a new tool, makes it a bit more fun and interesting. With the latest failures, the word “interesting” takes on new meaning.

I like the flavor of the old and familiar. I like the speed of new and different. Will the worlds collide? Will I be able to blend the two? Maybe not. Maybe I’ll learn new recipes the new way and do the old and familiar recipes the old way.

I’ve done it before . . . When Phil discovered his gluten intolerance, everything shifted. I had to learn a whole new way of cooking. Now we are both gluten free. The shift was a lot easier with the pattern already in place.

So time to adapt again. Time to find some new patterns/recipes. The hardest part is the trying and failing. Yet, without failing, I don’t know what works (or what doesn’t). Failing holds great value! Failure teaches us things that success cannot reveal.

My chili was too thick for the Instant Pot. So was my stroganoff. I’m learning. Bless Phil’s heart—he will eat even the failures—unless they are burned. His willingness spurs me on to try again. What will it be today? Good thing the weather is turning cooler and we can have some hearty soups. My squash soup in the Instant Pot was spectacular! Success! I’ll do more of that and mark stroganoff off my Instant Pot list.

It’s hard to let go of what doesn’t work. Part of me thinks that if I just tried harder . . .

Don’t we keep trying things that don’t work? We think it will work this time. It won’t. Let it go. Time to utilize new tools and techniques for a happier result. It’s hard to try something new. It’s hard to let go of what used to work. Failure is our friend—when we listen.

What’s our friend Failure teaching us right now? What are we learning? What new tools, techniques or patterns will help us have a better result? Take a new look. Take a new step.

I was resting outside in my lawn chair a few minutes ago. I ran through a few tapping rounds utilizing the 5 Waterfalls of Light info. I tapped the heal of my hand and said, “I hereby move into the Waterfalls of Light.” I tapped over of the tapping points saying, “I step into Active Peace wherein I enjoy relaxed intensity.” I then tapped through the other tapping points saying, “I access Vitality by releasing efforting/anguishing about things I cannot change nor things I do not understand.” Then I did a round of tapping saying, “I notice Courage building as I get clearer and stronger.” Then, “I open myself to Expansive Awareness that allows me to be guided and become aware of that guidance.” Then, “I sense a renewed depth of Compassion for myself and for others as a result.” Then I just continued to rest in the lawn chair with my eyes closed expecting to fall asleep.

For some unknown reason, I opened my eyes.

Soaring right above me was a RED-TAILED HAWK!

The Red-Tailed Hawk is a spirit animal totem for me. I told Phil and he saw it too (so it was for real!)

I cannot tell you the gratitude that flowed from my heart at that moment! It was profound! I have not seen a hawk over our property since the construction started over 4 years ago. I occasionally will hear a hawk’s piercing cry as it hunts in the nearby fields for mice, but this is the first sighting in years.

Why did I open my eyes?

Why at that very moment did I see that hawk?

Was it because I had finished tapping the 5 Waterfalls of Light, I was feeling Peace, Vitality, Courage, Expanded Awareness and Compassion? I was, certainly, at that very moment, guided to open my eyes to receive the blessing of sighting my spirit animal.

The Red-Tailed Hawk symbolizes one who is aware of the interconnectedness of all things and holds a reverence for all life. It bestows the gift of vision and inspiration for guidance for others in their awakening. (adapted from Ted Andrews, Animal Speak)

I must admit, I had been feeling kinda low and feeling as if I wasn’t very connected. Apparently that connection was renewed BIG TIME!!!

We all could use renewal now and then. I’m so grateful I felt led to do some tapping. I’m so very grateful I responded to the sense to open my eyes. I’m so very grateful my connection was renewed in a big way!

How might you renew your own connection? There is no wrong way to reconnect. Tapping is just one way. Prayer is another (though I think the tapping that I was doing WAS a prayer!) Taking time to notice the bright things in one’s life. Even when we are down or feeling low, Spirit can and will bring to our attention bright things to brighten our day.

We often feel guilty for feeling down or low. That’s a part of that efforting/anguishing that we get to let go of. We can let go of shame and blame about our life’s journey and step up into a greater awareness of who we really are and how truly connected we can be. May your connection be blessed!

My phone is wasting away. Its poor little battery gets hot when I go online. Its little screen is cracked. Alas, I must replace it.

NOOOOOOooooo!!! Not the new phone syndrome! Everything will change! I won’t be able to find anything at first.

Okay, so my phone is really old. It’s pretty pitiful. I knew this day would come. So, I have insurance on the phone and I get to have it replaced with a newer version for a deductible fee – a whole lot less than the $700 for a new phone. I’m good with that!

So, after sending several sets of documents in to the insurance company and babying the old phone, I’ll be ready for the new one. It took the agony of dealing with recharging the phone several times a day and turning off the mobile data for me to become willing to accept and even welcome change.

I think change is hard on all of us. We hold on to what we know even if it no longer serves us. (At least I don’t think I’m the only one who resists change!) Sometimes the Universe asks us to move forward into something new and wonderful and we resist because the act of changing feels difficult. The Universe then asks more loudly for us to shift and move into something beautiful and new. Do we jump into the new effortlessly?

NOPE! Not me, anyway. I like the familiarity of the old. My auto pilot functions just fine here. Gotta love that auto-pilot. . . no thinking, just automatically cruising along. Not really enjoying life, but not getting into difficulty either. Just hovering and getting the little tasks done that deem themselves necessary in our lives.

Eerk! Gotta pull myself up short on that one! Just cruising is fine if you are on a cruise ship. Just cruising mindlessly through life robs me of all the possible joy available in each moment.

Certainly, I don’t need to concentrate on every tooth while I’m brushing my teeth, auto-pilot can assist with that and free my brain to consider other things. Yet, without attentiveness, I may push too hard on the brush and do damage. Or, I may miss a spot that could lead to decay. Hmmm. Best be a bit mindful even of teeth brushing. So, how is brushing one’s teeth joyful? I have teeth! I get to keep them clean so they bless my smile! I get to . . . brush my teeth!

When I allow myself to move with the directives brought by the Universe, I move into a state of “get to.” I get to do whatever is in my heart to do, and I get to do that with joyful intent. I get to learn to utilize a new phone! I certainly hope only a limited number of swear words are necessary before I become an accomplished user of my new phone. If not swear words, at least I hope I’m saved from moments of exasperation and frustration. I get to be patient with myself as I learn to navigate the new system. I get to be intrigued by any new formatting.

Now, we wait for the new phone to arrive. I get to nurse the old phone just a little while longer and hope it stays alive long enough to transfer data over. I get to be okay with that, too.

I’ve created a new definition of patience – it is peace in the unfolding. I get to be at peace while this situation unfolds. I cannot rush it by becoming impatient. I cannot delay it by being stuck in the old pattern. I get to be in a holding pattern but without struggle or difficulty. At least in this moment. I may make a new choice in the next five minutes and become exasperated. Or, I may choose to be with this as it unfolds – neither dreading nor fretting.

We shall see . . . let’s hope I choose peace in the unfolding!