www.MariaHaswell.com

Munay-Ki Workshop: Be As Thou Art

2011-05-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Munay-Ki are the nine great rites of initiation of the medicine way. The word munay means "I love you" or "be as thou art." The Munay-Ki are the nine gates that heal us and transform our human energy field into that of homo luminous.

The prophecies of the ancient Americas speak about a new human appearing on the planet - one who lives free of fear and resides in his or her transcendent nature. The nine Munay-Ki rites are the codes for the new human. They are delivered in the form of energetic transmissions.

Each rite initiates another level of transformation in your energy field, which continues to evolve as you nourish and grow the seeds of these rites. It is recommended that you take time after receiving each rite to be present with this transformational process, support integration of any shifts occurring in your energy and awareness, and come into deeper relationship with the gifts and blessings of the rite.

Participants are invited to align with their inner guidance to determine their personal tempo and timing for learning about and receiving each of these rites.

For more information about Munay-Ki, please visit the www.Munay-Ki.org

Foundation Rites
The first 4 rites of the Munay-Ki are foundational rites, which work together synergistically to heal and strengthen the foundations of your being.

Healer's Rite & the Bands of Power
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 10am
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 10am

Harmony Rite & the Seer's Rite
Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 4pm (at Mount Shasta)

Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 10am

Lineage Rites
The 3 Lineage rites align you with lineages of Spirit beings, who step up to support your Luminous Becoming and call you to join them in service to the luminous evolution of humanity.

Daykeeper Rite, Wisdomkeeper Rite, Earthkeeper Rite
Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 10am

Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 10am

Pachakuti Rites
The year 2012 is a threshold of this new era in human consciousness which will be unfolding for the next 10,000 years. This time of great transformation is called a pachakuti. The ancient prophecies of the Americas teach that we are entering into a new stage of human evolution, which will allow us to fully manifest our transcendent nature. The two Pachakuti rites help you to align with this process of Luminous Becoming.

Starkeeper Rite, Creator Rite
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 10am

Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 10am

Cost: $225 per person

($100 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot)

Location: Outdoors / Maria’s Home
(Address provided when you register)

During the 4 sessions, you will:
• Receive the 9 Rites of Munay-Ki
• Learn how to open Sacred Space
• Receive energetic protection
• Receive intuitive guidance
• Be gifted a pi stone
• Participate in fire ceremony
• Connect with Spirit
• Open your heart
• Receive deep healing
• Align with your Authentic Self

Words cannot fully describe how powerful these energetic transmissions can be for your life. Bringing these enlightenment vibrations into your being can accelerate your own spiritual path and connect you with support you never knew you had. Whether you feel more meaning in life, more support around you, an increased connection with Spirit, or even specific messages with each of the rites, there is no doubt these rites can provide insight into your life. Individuals who receive the Munay-Ki rites sometime experience how problems magically get resolved in their lives, without having to do anything at all! Though the focus is on the internal healing journey, bringing in the Munay-Ki vibrations can change what is happening around you as well.
The Munay-Ki will assist you in the way that you are ready for, so if you are drawn to participate in receiving the Munay-Ki, set your intent to be open for miracles!

NOTE: This training prepares and empowers you to set up and run your own Munay-Ki training. You don’t need to know anything about the way of the shaman to do this course. You need no special skills - just the desire to make a difference, and the willingness to play with idea that you can!

A Message From Dr. Masaru Emoto

2011-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Below is a message from renowned Japanese scientist, Dr. Masaru Emoto, who brought attention to the power of thought/prayer on water crystals. He has a special request for assistance TODAY (March 31, 2011) 12 noon in whatever time zone you're in.

If this message resonates with you, please lend your intentions also.

Remember to center and ground and set the intention for the highest good.

We have a huge opportunity to test these ideas in the all-too-real world tragedy that recently struck Japan.

Here is Dr. Masaru Emoto's Message:

"Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan!

By the massive earthquakes of magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing…even now… It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima nuclear plants started to leak, and it’s contaminating the ocean, air and water molecules of the surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them.

Is there really nothing else to do?

I think there is. During over twenty year research of hado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is.

Energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people’s consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth.

I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan, but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet.

The prayer procedure is as follows…

Name of ceremony: “Let’s send our thoughts of love and gratitude to all water in the nuclear plants in Fukushima.”

Day and Time: March 31st, 2011 (Thursday) 12:00 noon in each time zone

Please say the following phrase:
“The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you.”

Please say it aloud or in your mind.

Repeat it three times as you put your hands together in a prayer position.

Please offer your sincere prayer.

Thank you!

Dr. Emoto (author of The Masaru Emoto: The Hidden Messages in Water) "

PS: Here is Dr. Emoto’s message in Japanese: YouTube video

Reiki & Meditation Nights: By Donation

2011-01-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Reiki Healing and Meditation Night

Maria Haswell, Reiki Master/Teacher, is hosting Reiki & Meditation nights at the Danville Yoga Center every Wednesday evening in January.

Reiki and meditation are excellent paths to enriching your spirit, rejuvenating yourself, and helping you create a more restful life.

Reiki is an ancient healing art that balances energy, reduces stress, opens up creativity, calms your mind, and increases focus and productivity. It enables your body to heal itself naturally by encouraging balance, and creates an overall state of harmony and well-being.

Relax and quiet your mind in the meditation space while listening to soft music, before and after your Reiki treatment from trained Reiki practitioners.

Danville Yoga Center

125A Town & Country Drive

Danville, CA 94526

Click Here for directions!

Wednesday evenings: January 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 7:15PM-8:30PM

Open to the community - no advance registration required

Suggested Donation: $10.00 and up

50% of the proceeds go to Danville Yoga Center - to cover facility costs.

50% of the proceeds go to SpreadKindness.org - a 501(c)3 Local Non-profit organization encouraging others to do acts of kindness in their daily lives.

Introduction to Mediumship: Connecting with your Spirit Guide 6-Week Workshop

2010-07-12T11:40:00.001-07:00

Introduction to Mediumship:
Connecting with Your Spirit Guide

Course Outline
In this fun and interactive workshop, you will learn how to blend with the power of the spirit, and work within this power to obtain clearer and more concise messages from your spirit guides. You will be inspired to push the boundaries of your own mediumship skills, whether you are a beginner or an advanced student. You will learn that you are capable of more than you realize, utilizing your own intuition. And, in your day to day life, you will begin to enjoy all the wonderful guidance of your spirit guides as a result of your stronger connection with them.

Embracing the Spirit is about more than mediumship - it's about awakening and nurturing the spirit within, and appreciating that we are all part of the same divine family, bonded by spirit.

This workshop will include tutorials, lectures, discussions and demonstrations. Although the classes will be centered on speaking to your spirit guides through your own mediumship development, we'll be looking at other ways of receiving spirit communication and all the wonderful and diverse ways you and the spirit world can come together.

I will be on hand to help, encourage and guide you in your development and will offer plenty of creative feedback and useful advice on how you can improve, expand and build on the unique abilities you already possess.

This is a 6-week workshop full of fun, laughter, music and inspiration, in a warm and supportive environment that will encourage you to be yourself. I look forward to working with you and helping you with your growth.

Dates:
6-Week Workshop: Every Saturday
Week 1: August 21
Week 2: August 28
Week 3: September 4
Week 4: September 11
Week 5: September 18
Week 6: September 25

Time:
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location:
Danville Yoga Center
125A Town & Country Drive
Danville, CA 945826

Payment:
The cost of the 6-week workshop is $240
Space is limited -- Please contact me ASAP to register.
Printed learning material is included with your payment.

Testimonial:
"Maria Haswell has a very natural way of nurturing and inspiring growth in people, regardless of their filters and phobias. Connecting with my spirit guides - this is a delicate topic in itself for me. 1 part yearning, 1 part skeptic and 3 parts trying-too-hard but Maria embraced all of that was in me and focused on guiding and teaching me patiently. Maria saw and spoke to the potential that was in me. The safe environment she continuously encouraged throughout the class provided me the security to learn and grow in an area I was unfamiliar and unsure of. Learning to trust without reservation was the crucial point for me in this journey. It was at that point I started to have breakthroughs in leaps and bounds. I now enjoy connecting to my spirit guides and teachers and receiving their guidance on a regular basis. Maria has impacted & enriched my life so extensively it is difficult to quantify. I'm so grateful to have Maria Haswell as my teacher."

- Virna Low

*************************************

"Maria, thank you so much for helping me advance in my spiritual development. I made more progress in the six weeks with you then I had made in 4 years previously in working with my spirit guides. You rock as a teacher!!"

- Roseanne

Do You Have The Winning Ticket?

2010-05-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

"I live in a loving, abundant, harmonious universe, and I am grateful."

The current jackpot for the California Mega Million lottery is $266,000,000 - and I hold the winning ticket for tomorrow's drawing! (sigh) Perhaps! ; )

Fantasizing about great wealth is a frequent pastime for many of us. How wonderful it would be not to worry about paying the bills, to be able to be spread kindness to the world, to be able to buy whatever we want, and have the freedom to travel as often as we'd like. It's a lovely fantasy, but how realistic is it, really?

The one mistake that many of us make is to believe that money will solve all our problems, and our lives will become smooth and serene. Not true! Having more money might help ease certain struggles, but it will not transform our lives. If anything, having a lot of money can bring on a new set of problems beyond anything we might imagine.

Before we will TRULY be ready to handle increased abundance of any kind, we need to develop certain qualities within ourselves.

Do you truly feel that you deserve abundance? If we struggle with poor self-esteem and don't have a positive self-image, we continue to push abundance away when it presents itself. In this case, we might need to work more on our sense of worth before we can accept true abundance.

Remember that we create the quality of our own lives, moment to moment, and it all begins with our thoughts. Thoughts become reality. If our present lives don't resemble the lives we'd rather be living, we can choose to examine the reasons for it, take responsibility for our actions, and make a commitment to improving our circumstances. While this can be a lot of work, realizing that it's all within our power to create our own reality can be very powerful!

Feel abundant now, and be thankful for what you already have. Always stay true to yourself and others around you. Believe in the ability of the universe to deliver to you the abundance that you desire.

Don't forget to purchase a lottery ticket tonight, for the fun of it - and if you win, that would be AWESOME! But if you'd don't, hey, better luck next time.... :)

Peace & Joy,

Maria Haswell
Spiritual Medium / Tarot / Reiki Master / Certified Hypnotherapist / Intuitive Life Coach

"There is a thought in your mind right now. The longer you hold on to it, the more you dwell upon it, the more life you give to that thought. Give it enough life, and it will become real. So make sure the thought is indeed a great one." - Ralph Marston

"Riches are not from abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind." - Mohammed

Happy Spring! Creating Change In Your Life

2010-04-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

Life is good, really good! I have an amazing husband, two teenage kids that make me glow with pride, good health, the best dog I could ever ask for, and on top of that, two amazing and rewarding jobs: as an Intuitive Counselor, and founder of SpreadKindness.org. I have a lot to be thankful for. For the past few years, "Thank You" has been my meditation as I start my day.

But the truth is, life was not always this good. It wasn't that long ago when my life looked radically different. At one time, my life was filled with nearly everything that people try to avoid. From bad relationships, bad health, and the financial hardship I experienced, it was time to do something new.

Enlightenment and epiphanies can show up in some pretty strange ways. The Buddha found it under a Boddhi tree; Nelson Mandela found it in prison; spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle found it in the sound of a chirping bird outside his window. For me, it was a clear message from my Spirit Guide one morning, while working on my laptop, telling me I needed to pursue my calling as a spiritual medium. And a few years later, I woke up one morning with a simple desire to spend a day performing acts of kindness that resulted in the formation of SpreadKindness.org.

In those moments, I felt an overwhelming sense of change and transformation starting in my life. In the days and weeks that followed those realizations, the world looked different to me. It felt like Spring!

This Spring, as we transition from cooler temperature into the warmth of longer days and the promise of new growth, remember to sow the seeds of kindness that are ever present in our hearts.

As you look around and enjoy the changes that Spring brings - morning dew on the grass, tiny buds on trees and bushes, lovely scents of blossoms in the air, the sweet sounds of birds returning north - be encouraged to also look at how you can change the way you treat others, and create change in your life.

I'm grateful for your friendship and your continued support with my spiritual work and SpreadKindness.org. Thank you for allowing me to share my newsletter with you. I invite you to come to any of the upcoming events below. I'd love to see you soon!

With Love & Gratitude,

Maria Haswell

P.S. My Spiritual Circle meetup group is a sponsor for Holostic Living Expo on April 25th in Pleasanton -- Please stop by and support me and my meetup group. Print FREE Passes, CLICK HERE! Please pass along the free passes!

"IGNITING YOUR INNER GUIDANCE"
Free Presentation given by yours truly at The Holistic Living Expo on April 25th at the Hilton Hotel

Attend the expo and get inspired! FREE PASSES, Click Here!
Time of Presentation: 3:30pm - 4:00pm

Description:
It's time to flutter your third eye, spark your sixth sense, and begin to follow your intuition. It's time to let go of any preconceived ideas surrounding what you believe intuition to be, and become more intimate with your own natural abilities. Believe it or not, everyone is intuitive!

During this presentation, Maria Haswell will show you how to discover your own intuitive abilities by fine-tuning your connection, and listening to your inner guidance. She'll also share some of her experiences as a spiritual medium and intuitive counselor, and will inspire you to ignite your own inner guidance.

Please spread the word about this event. Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Upcoming Events

Intuition & Holistic Expo
Saturday April 10, 2010
10am - 5pm
Stanislaus County Fairgrounds
900 N. Broadway Blg E-5 Turlock, CA95380

Crystal Fair Walnut Creek
April 17th - 18th
Saturday:10am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Civic Park
Community Center
1375 Civic Drive
Walnut Creek, CA

Holistic Living Expo
Sunday, April 25th
10am - 6pm
The Hilton Hotel
7050 Johnson Drive Pleasanton, CA 94583

Free Passes: CLICK HERE

To check out more upcoming events, visit my website!

About Maria Haswell

2010-03-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air...

2010-02-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

We've all heard it countless times before, "To experience true love, we first must love ourselves," or some variations of such. Remember that we are all created out of love. We accept and love other people, animals, nature, all that comes from the same source as we do. We too then, are worthy of our own love.

In celebrating Valentine's Day, I wanted to write about love (it's in the air we breathe!). Loving yourself is about fully embracing oneself, realizing the strengths and accepting the flaws. Self love is not about being self-centered or egotistic which is based on insecurity and not knowing one's true self.

Think of it this way, if we truly love ourselves we know that we do not need to be the best looking, most talented, or have the most possessions. When we love ourselves, we are able to give love freely to others without fear of being hurt or used. We love ourselves enough to not allow others to take advantage of us. And, when we are secure in our love of self, we attract the love of others.

To learn to love yourself, treat yourself the way you treat those you love. Here are some ideas for you to think about:

1. Be kind to yourself, giving yourself all that you need to be happy and healthy.

2. Show yourself a good time by doing things you like.

3. Eat well and take care of your body.

4. Say nice things to yourself (post-it notes with positive affirmations around your house is helpful!).

5. Compliment and praise yourself, just as you would a friend, family member, or lover.

6. Encourage yourself when you're feeling down.

7. And most importantly, say the words that we all long to hear. Look in the mirror and tell yourself, "I love you." This can be difficult, but it's a powerful tool in acceptance and self love. It may not be easy, you may feel foolish at first, but you can do it. Even if you don't feel it right away, keep doing it.

Love yourself first and you will be able to truly love others and to be truly loved in return. Remember to always follow your heart, listen to your inner voice, continue to become your own soul mate, and stay open to love that come your way.

The journey of finding of finding a relationship, whether it is for friendship or love interest, begins with being in good relationship with yourself.

Have a happy Valentine's Day with lots of self love and loving others...

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T13:08:00.001-08:00

I was walking along the cool winter breeze with my "oh, so cute!" companion dog, Charlie in my neighborhood earlier today. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the day was! The future stretched out ahead, in the valley, hills and mountains that surrounded me. The past was there too, but earlier today, I chose to walk forward: to live and focus "in the now", the present moment. I truly saw all the great things the Universe offered and was inspired to fully embrace the moment. The air was cool and breezy. Fluffy clouds floating high in the bright blue sky, and the sunlight glittered and shined off the houses and cars in the distance. There were a few people out walking and some with their dogs too. I noticed them talking and laughing together, as they enjoyed the day of new beginnings. What a beautiful and peaceful scene it was!

As Charlie and I reached home, we went inside our warm and cozy home, closed the door, and gave thanks for the gift of "now". It has taken a long time to find it, and although I can't seem to keep it with me, all of the time, I know how to open the door again, when the time is right. I know that whatever the new year will bring, there will be joy, and enough treasures of "now" to help me through any challenging times that we all must go through at times throughout the year.
My heart is full of joy as I remember that it is New Year's Day -- A perfect time to start anew. I feel the overwhelming gratitude for crossing paths with you, my dear friends and family. Thank you so much for your continued support, your constant encouragements, and your helpful feedback. I'm always inspired by you and the great life lessons you teach me daily. I love what I do for a living and I have you to thank for that!

Remember to have some fun in 2010, and most of all let the music of your heart color your experience with joy every day.

Let this new year be better than all the others. Have a very happy, abundant, and exciting new year!

Giving Thanks...

2009-11-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Being thankful everyday is a blessing, and in each moment there are many things that we can be grateful for. The world opens up to us when we live in a space of gratitude. When we appreciate and express gratitude, the universe glows a bit brighter and showers us with even more blessings.

There is always something to be grateful for, even when life appear to be challenging at times. When times are tough, whether we're having a bad day or stuck in what may feel like an endless funk, it can be difficult to take the time to feel grateful. YET, that is when gratitude can be most important. If we can look at our lives, during periods of challenge, and find something to be grateful for, then we can transform our realities in an instant.

There are blessings to be found everywhere. When we are focusing on what is negative, our abundance can be easy to miss. Instead, find what already exists in our lives that we appreciate and notice the change we see in our world. We start to notice one blessing, and then another.

When we constantly choose to be grateful, we notice that every breath is a miracle and each smile becomes a gift. We begin to understand that difficulties are also invaluable lessons.

The sun is always shining for us when we are grateful, even if it is hidden behind clouds on a rainy day. A simple sandwich becomes a feast, and a trinket is transformed into a treasure.

Living in a state of gratitude allows us to spread our abundance because that is the energy that we emanate from our beings. Because the world reflects back to us what we embody, the additional blessings that inevitably flow our way give us even more to be grateful for. The universe wants to shower us with blessings. The more we appreciate life, the more life appreciates and bestows us with more goodness

Thank you to my wonderful clients, my family, and my friends for all your loving support. I am very blessed to have you be a part of my life. I love what I do, and I'm thankful everyday for my daily blessings...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Peace & Joy,

Maria Haswell

Dia de los Muertos

2009-11-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

Dia de los Muertos
D a y o f t h e D e a d
A look at how we can celebrate life...

From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence. Death does not have to mean the end of life. It can be seen as a new phase of life in which the spirit is freed from the body. This concept is at the center of the Mexican ritual known as "Dia de los Muertos", or Day of the Dead.

They honor the memories of friends and family members by telling stories, decorating gravesites and creating altars. While the special day is reflective, it is not a day of sadness. Instead, the day exists to celebrate the lives of loved ones and to lighten our fear of death with lightheartedness. Using the rich traditions of Day of the Dead, you can honor the lives of loved ones in a meaningful and loving way.

Day of the Dead dates back some 3,000 years to the traditions of native Mexican people.

The essence of this beautiful ritual is to lovingly and happily remember the dead relatives, their life, and in this way, give meaning and continuity to human existence. The Day of the Dead is a grand celebration of life itself.

Let's honor those we know and love in the spiritual realm and say a little prayer for them. Remember all the fond memories and take the moment to celebrate Life!

How to Create an Abundance Altar

2009-09-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

How to Create an Abundance Altar
Vastu Altars To Increase Abundance & Prosperity

1) Make sure the area is clean and your surface is against a northern wall or window, or in the north sector of your home or office.

2) The colors gold and green should be used on some pieces on this altar.

3) The water element in the northeast can be fresh flowers in colors that correspond to the altar. You can use a vase that is clear or lightly colored.

4) Use a green or gold candle in the southeast, or an oil lamp.

5) Use stones or crystals in the southwest in green or gold colors. You can use a statue of Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance, a plant, or anything from nature.

6) For the air element in the northwest, use a standing wind chime, incense, a fan or a feather.

7) You can hang a green colored Austrian leaded crystal on a red string in increments of nine inches over the center of your altar to keep the abundance you desire moving in your direction.

8) Add a dish or small plate in the center of your altar to act as a place for your offering. Use gold or green.

9) You can add a Shree Lakshmi Yantra to your offering dish for an extra boost of positive energy or a Ganapati (Ganesh) Yantra to remove all obstacles to your abundance.

10) On an unlined piece of paper that can easily fit onto the Offering Tray, add a handwritten word, an Angel Card, or some other symbolic representation of the abundant feeling you would like to receive from the Divine.

11) Include a Personal Symbol in the center, in back of the offering tray of your altar. It can be a statue, photograph, collage, or picture that inspires feelings of abundance.

This is reprinted from Altars of Power and Grace: Create the Life You Desire by Robin and Michael Mastro.

For more information visit VastuCreations.com

Money Energy

How you perceive money has much to do with how much you have and are able to create. While it's not healthy to be preoccupied with money or lust after it, it is important to appreciate its value and the positive things it can do for your life. And, like anything, the more you appreciate something, the more you invite that into your life. So, if you express appreciation and gratitude towards love, health, and money, you'll attract more of those things into your life. Likewise, it you have a negative attitude towards such things; you'll attract less of those things into your life. So, if you're constantly worrying about the lack of money, you'll constantly have money woes, even if you earn a good income.

Be conscious of your thoughts towards money. Do you feel like you deserve to have money? How were you raised to deal with money, were you always told to save and never spend, or were you always told there was never enough?

There is energy in everything and money is no exception. The energy of earning manifests itself in the money, and the energy is exchanged through spending. Therefore, it's important that we not only make money, but that we spend it as well. Anything that is static will never reproduce and that includes money. Still, you want to use your money to not only take care of your needs, but to help others as well. Be as generous as you can with those less fortunate and you'll be circulating your money so that more comes back to you.

Introduction to Mediumship: Connecting with your Spirit Guide 8-Week Workshop

2009-09-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Course Outline
In this fun and interactive workshop, you will learn how to blend with the power of the spirit, and work within this power to obtain clearer and more concise messages from your spirit guides. You will be inspired to push the boundaries of your own mediumship skills, whether you are a beginner or an advanced student. You will learn that you are capable of more than you realize, utilizing your own intuition. And, in your day to day life, you will begin to enjoy all the wonderful guidance of your spirit guides as a result of your stronger connection with them.

Embracing the Spirit is about more than mediumship - it's about awakening and nurturing the spirit within, and appreciating that we are all part of the same divine family, bonded by spirit.

This workshop will include tutorials, lectures, discussions and demonstrations. Although the classes will be centered on speaking to your spirit guides through your own mediumship development, we’ll be looking at other ways of receiving spirit communication and all the wonderful and diverse ways you and the spirit world can come together.

I will be on hand to help, encourage and guide you in your development and will offer plenty of creative feedback and useful advice on how you can improve, expand and build on the unique abilities you already possess.

This is an 8-week workshop full of fun, laughter, music and inspiration, in a warm and supportive environment that will encourage you to be yourself. I look forward to working with you and helping you with your growth.

Dates:
8-Week Workshop: Every Fridays
Week 1: October 2
Week 2: October 9
Week 3: October 16
(No workshop on 10/23)
Week 4: October 30
Week 5: November 6
Week 6: November 13
Week 7: November 20
(No workshop on 11/27)
Week 8: December 4

Time:
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Location:
(Address provided when you register)
San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone: 877-542-1192

Registration:
Please register by contacting me via RSVP through meetup or email me by September 25th. (4 spots left)

Payment:
The cost of the 8-week workshop is $200. Please bring cash or check (made payable to "Maria Haswell") on the first day of the workshop. Credit card payment is available only via PayPal prior to the event (There is an $8 PayPal service fee). Please contact me at mariahaswell@comcast.net if you would like to arrange pre-payment, or discuss alternative payment methods.

Happy Friendship Day!

2009-08-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the first Sunday of August is Friendship day?

Friendship Day is a day to nurture relationships, new and old.

Start the day by getting in touch with some old friends. Start early. Phone calls, emails, Ecards, are great tools. See if you can make plans for lunch today, or some other day (soon).

Then, catch up to some of your current pals and buddies. Make sure to do some interesting things with them before the day is through. As you go through the day, be ever vigilant to spot an opportunity to make a new friend. Finding new friends today, is a real feather in your cap.

One thing is for certain...... if you put your all into the spirit of Friendship Day, you will have a great, great day.

Happy Friendship Day to all of you!

Trusting the natural flow of Energy

2009-07-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

The most difficult time to be generous is when we ourselves are feeling poor. While some of us have experienced actually being in the red financially, there are those of us who would feel broke even if we had a million dollars in the bank. Either way, as the old adage goes, it is always in giving that we receive. Meaning that when we are living in a state of lack, the very gesture we may least want to give is the very act that could help us create the abundance that we seek. One way to practice generosity is to give energy where it is needed. Giving money to a cause or person in need is one way to give energy. Giving attention, love, or a smile to another person are other acts of giving that we can offer. After all, there are people all over the world that are hungry for love.

Sometimes when we practice generosity, we practice it conditionally. We might be expecting to "receive back" from the person to whom we gave. We might even become angry or resentful if that person doesn't reciprocate. However, trust in the natural flow of energy, and you will find yourself practicing generosity with no strings attached. This is the purest form of giving. Remember that what you send out will always come back you. Selflessly help a friend in need without expecting them to return the same favor in the same way, and know that you, too, will receive that support from the universe when you need it. Besides, while giving conditionally creates stress (because we are waiting with an invisible balance sheet to receive our due), giving unconditionally creates and generates abundance. We give freely, because we trust that there is always an unlimited supply.

Being aware of how much we are always supported by the universe is one of the keys to abundance and generosity. Consciously remember the times you've received support from expected and unexpected sources. Remember anyone who has helped you when you've needed it most, and bless all situations that come into your life for the lessons and gifts they bring you. Remember that all things given and received emanate from generosity. Giving is an act of gratitude. Plant the seeds of generosity through your acts of giving, and you will grow the fruits of abundance for yourself and those around you.

Moving Into A New Phase

2009-07-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

Every one of us lives a life mirrored by individual and changing experiences, perceptions, needs, and desires. We connect with others, becoming friends and confidants, most often because they share something with us, such as an interest or need. But as time goes on there is change, and the bonds that brought you close to a treasured friend may not be enough to sustain the relationship. You may find your lives have gone in wildly different directions and you no longer share the same aspirations, or you may have changed on an energetic level. It is not unusual in such a situation to find that the comfort you found in the other person has vanished and that you have trouble relating as you once did. Outgrowing a friend can be confusing or painful, but it is a natural part of one's personal growth.

You have a right to choose to surround yourself with those people who understand you, are helpful and compassionate, and put you at ease. Months or years into a friendship, you may find your friend no longer seems like the same person he or she once was. The change may have been within them, but may also have come from within you. Moving on does not mean that your past shared experiences were not meaningful or important to you both, but rather it acknowledges your needs in the present.

Ending a friendship can be difficult. You may not feel comfortable explaining your reasons for doing so. Even so, you can still be kind, respectful, and considerate, and simply state that you can no longer devote time to the friendship. When you have made the conscious decision to let go of the relationship, it will most likely happen naturally.

The people who are or have been a part of your life each taught you something. Some friendships are long-term while others are brief. In all relationships, however, it is important to embrace changes and to let go of regrets. While you may outgrow the need to maintain a friendship with someone who was once very special to you, that person will nonetheless always occupy a place in your heart.

Small Acts: Large Impact!

2009-05-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

We often feel that we don’t have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with the small gestures that compose what we call common courtesy. It sometimes seems that this kind of social awareness belongs in the past, in smaller towns and perhaps, “slower times”. Yet, when someone performs an act of kindness to us, we always feel touched.

By doing something simple like helping someone with the groceries and can make n impression because many people just walk right by. Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, smile, and greet us properly when entering a room stands out of the crowd. Common courtesy is a small gesture that makes a huge difference. An important component of common courtesy is awareness and common sense—being aware outside yourself to see when someone needs help or acknowledgment.

As a courteous person, you are aware that you are walking into a room full of people or that your waiter has arrived to take your order. Then, allow awareness to lead to action.

It is usually quite obvious what needs to be done—open the door for the woman holding the baby, move your car up two feet so another person can park behind you, acknowledge a shy person with a smile and some conversation, apologize if you bump into someone.

A third component is to give kindness freely, without expecting anything in return. People may not even take notice, much less return the kindness, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions. When you are out in the world, remember to be aware of others, lend your hand when one is needed, and give this help without an ulterior motive. Through these small acts of kindness, you make this world a better place in which to live.

Affirmation: 3/27

2009-03-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

The thoughts I choose to think and believe right now are creating my future. These thoughts form my experiences tomorrow, next week, and next year.

**********************

Today, I give my best to that which I do, knowing that when one experience is complete, I am led to even more fulfilling and rewarding experiences.

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I only give out that which I wish to receive in return. My love and acceptance of others is mirrored to me in every moment.

Visit SpreadKindness.org

2009-03-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

Worries Be Gone

2009-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

I went to Cost Plus today. I love Cost Plus - they have so many beautiful things....

I purchased a beautiful decorative box today, not the one pictured here, but my own perfect box to put my worries in.

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think. We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. We think that we're maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, this is not really what's going on. We may actually be delaying the our hopeful dreams and the resolution of our worries, fear, or anxiety because we won’t let them go. They are constantly in our minds.

At times such as these, we may want to use what I call a worry box. A worry box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box.

By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We are giving ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it.

The box I purchased today will be very special to me, as it will carry all my worries so I can let them go. I think that if you decided to get a worry box, it should be a sacred container for your worries. By doing this ritual, it will not only free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the worry box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.

Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes.

I think it'll be really fun in a couple of months to go back and pull the slips of paper (folded sticky notes) out of the box once your requests have been granted. And as you could imagine, it would be amazing how quickly problems can go away and dreams actually come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.

10 Things: Life Lessons for the Busy World

2009-02-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

10 Things: Life Lesson for the Busy World

1. Live simple and live it like you really mean it! By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you'll discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive. The colors are more vibrant!

2. Stay in the present moment. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media presents us with visions of negative issues and at times just unnecessary topics. Be wise about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in the Big City or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your group of friends & family. If you don’t have one, create a one! When you have a network, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors - can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your viewpoint by exploring other types of being through your own research, travel, and discussion.

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem like routine. Never stop incorporating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live an inactive life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a instinctive way. It also restores our energy.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often "on the go" and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

Finding your inner voice

2009-02-10T10:53:00.001-08:00

Within each of us, there are numerous voices often that compete for our attention. It can be difficult to decide which one to listen to, particularly when their messages are all quite different, sometimes conflicting, and even alluring. One voice, however, is the speaker of truth. Among all your inner voices, your true inner voice is the one which encourages you, gives you hope, and pushes you to trust and believe in yourself. Conflict within oneself is often caused by dueling voices inside of each one of us. As we move through life, we get mixed messages from the various aspects of ourselves. Some of our voices can speak so loudly that they drown out the voice of truth. Listening to your true inner voice – often the voice of understanding, support, and self-assurance - can help lessen and even resolve internal conflict.

If you’re looking toward the future but your faith in your ability to succeed in life is indecisive, you will benefit from finding and listening to your true inner voice. You can connect with it by remaining relaxed and alert, while listening carefully. If you have trouble distinguishing your true voice from the others, meditation may be helpful. You may hear many voices as you meditate, but the one you should pay attention to is the one that speaks to you with love, understanding, and compassion. It will strengthen your spirits and urge you to go after your dreams. And it will never cause confusion, remind you of past mistakes, or cause you to doubt yourself.

The more you listen to and believe in what your true inner voice is telling you about your value and your potential, the stronger that voice will become. And the more you disregard the voices that can interfere with your resolve to succeed, the quieter those voices will become. Saying no to the voices that are judgmental and make you feel ashamed will help you stop being critical of your failures and afraid of success. By finding and strengthening your true inner voice, you will be able to ignore internal conflict and pick out the one that speaks the truth.

Shine Bright and Illuminate

2009-01-24T18:25:00.000-08:00

There are times in life when we’ve all wanted to crawl under a rock and hide away from the world. We may have preferred to be invisible rather than let other people see us or notice that we exist. This feeling of being like a hermit usually only happens when we are feeling hurt, angry, or simply weary of the world. And while we may convince ourselves with the defense that we are shy, an introvert, or a loner, we may actually be hiding.

When we hide and make believe that we are invisible, we can think that no one sees us even though, truthfully, we are only really hiding from ourselves. And while we may try to live life as discreetly as possible, we only succeed in becoming more obvious because people can’t help but notice that we are trying to hide our light. None of us are meant to hide; each one of us radiates a unique brilliance that is meant to illuminate the world. When we try to dim our light, we diminish the natural radiance of the Universe, and we deprive the people around us of the unique gifts and talents that we are here to share with each other.

Stepping out of the wings and letting your light shine is actually a way to serve the planet. We each have a responsibility to contribute to our community, and we do this when we let ourselves be seen. It doesn’t do anyone any good when we try to hide. We are all beings of light and we are here to light the way for each other. When we let ourselves shine, we become a bright mirror that others can see their own reflected brilliance through, and they can’t help but want to shine also. Shine your light out into the world, bless those around you by sharing your gifts, and watch the universe glow.

Reconnecting The Flow

2009-01-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Lately, I’ve been hearing some of my friends experience the feeling of being separated from the flow of the Universe. They describe the feeling of being disconnected as uncomfortably quiet. Interestingly enough, I have felt this way before. I do know what my friends mean. Don’t worry, it’s not permanent! :-)

I thought about being disconnected for a moment and this is what I got:

When you feel disconnected, it’s because you choose to be.

What?! Did I just say that?!

Okay, I’ll start again… When you feel disconnected, it’s because you choose to be. We purposely, though sometimes not realizing it, choose to cut ourselves off from the flow so we can avoid painful issues, avoid the necessary steps for growth, or prevent the possible accomplishments that we are afraid of achieving from ever happening. Whatever the reason may be, perhaps unconsciously, it is by choice…

When you choose to disconnect from the source, you block the flow of the Universe’s energy. You go through life unconsciously, as if you were sleepwalking – just going through the motions without having any feelings. Your sense of purpose, creativity, and ability to be spiritual are not as easy to access. Your hopes, dreams, goals are looking as though they are distant.

Trust that Universal support never really left, but if you can remember that you disconnected yourself from source by choice, you can choose to reconnect. The easiest way to reconnect is simply by stating the intention of doing so. When you are connected to the universe, all aspects of your spiritual being will feel very alive as the flow of the universe pours through your well being and into your life.

First Year Anniversary

2009-01-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Anniversary to me…

It’s been one year since I accepted my life calling. I learned so many things in 2008. It was truly amazing and exciting to learn new things and to grow. I learned many ways to help others and feed my soul. If anyone would’ve told me 2 years ago that this would be what I’d be doing – I would’ve laughed and thought it was so farfetched.

As the New Year arrives, I look back in 2008 to see what I have accomplished and to see what needs improvements. I think about all the clients that I helped, and all the wonderful new friends I’ve crossed paths with. There are still so many lessons I have to learn, and I’m looking forward to learning more things in the new year.

I’m thankful to God, my guides, the spirit world, mentors, teachers, friends, and my family.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

By now many people are beginning to size up their New Year's resolution options.

Have you thought about it yet?

Realize that any time is a good time for a resolution. Yet the New Year is as good a time as any to gently move into the soul space with heartfelt motivation and shift your consciousness in such a way as to produce transformation. Resolutions work because they traverse the fine line between intention, will, strength, gentle trust, and alignment with what is already set in motion by the universe.

Remember to have some fun in 2009, and most of all let the music of your heart color your experience with joy every day.

Let this coming year be better than all the others.

Here are some resolutions for you to consider:

- Discover something new. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

- Call up a forgotten friend. There's always a reason why you've crossed paths. Perhaps by thinking of them again, it may be time to reconnect.

- Forgive more often. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories.

- Walk tall and smile more. You'll look 10 years younger.- Count your blessings every day. Always be grateful and give thanks. - Ask for guidance daily. Ask and it is given!

- Be more loving to others and yourself. By practicing loving yourself, you'll soon be better at loving others. Don't be afraid to say, "I love you" often. They are the sweetest words in the world.

Have a very happy and exciting new year!

No Need For Worries

2008-12-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

"A person (usually a child) who cannot sleep due to worrying can express their worries to a doll and place it under their pillow before going to sleep. According to folklore, the doll is thought to worry in the person's place, thereby permitting the person to sleep peacefully. The person will wake up without their worries, which have been taken away by the dolls during the night." - Wiki

We have all had the experience of worrying about something at some point in our lives. Some of us have a habitual tendency to worry. We have all known someone in our lives who constantly worries at some time or another. Perhaps it could be the person you see in front of the mirror.

In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen. We worry about stuff that hasn’t happened but we create this unreality in our mind.

Worry is another word for fear. Fear comes from our own ego. It is a state of needless fear. Still, most of us worry. Worrying creates an unpleasant effect on your body, mind, and spirit.

There are many different ways of worrying. For example, you might worry about your loved ones driving home in bad weather. Knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do to guarantee their safe trip, you continue to worry until you finally hear that they've reached their destination safe and unharmed.

The next time you find yourself worrying, imagine the best result instead of anticipating the worst outcome.

Visualize your loved ones’ path surrounded in white light and clearly see in your mind’s eye their safe arrival. Call out angels or guides and ask them to watch over your loved ones as they make their way home. Generate peace and well-being instead of nervousness and unease within yourself.

Keep in mind that worrying does nothing to ensure a positive outcome. Remember that the Universe is always listening – It’s the law of attraction! Be aware of your thoughts at all times.

The Interview With God Poem

2008-12-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

The Interview With God Poem

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled.

“My time is eternity.”

“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...

“That they get bored with childhood,they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.”

"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...

“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgiveby practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly. "Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said...

“Just know that I am here... always.”

-author unknown

My Cute Teacher: Charlie

2008-12-13T13:30:00.001-08:00

Animals As Teachers

There is so much we can learn from animals. Unlike human teachers, animals can only impart their wisdom by example. We learn by observing them. An animal teacher can be a pet or an animal in the wilderness.

Animals teach us in a variety of ways about behavior, habit, and instinct. House pets represent an unconditional love no matter what our shape, size, age, race, or gender is. They care little for the differences between us and them and simply enjoy loving and being loved. Our pets encourage us to let our guards down, have fun, and take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life.

Animals teach us about life, death, survival, sacrifice, and responsibility. If you find yourself drawn to a particular animal, ask yourself which of its traits you find most fascinating and think about how you might mimic those traits. Animals express themselves with abandon, freedom, and integrity. It’s natural to be drawn to the wisdom offered by our animal teachers.

Life Lessons: Live it Now!

2008-12-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives would look like in the future. We may be eager to find out what gifts and challenges are presented to us in the coming months or years. For some of us, we may want to know if the relationship we’re in now will last or if our goals will be recognized. Perhaps we feel like we need help making a decision and we want to know which choice will work out best. We may consult psychics, tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. I believe that even though we think we would like to know the future in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us before we actually live it.

Take a moment to look at your life as you’ve lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you probably have done more and faced more than you could have ever thought you could accomplish or learn. If someone had told you as a kid of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with every ups and downs in your life, you would have become overwhelmed. With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually transpire.

In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow and learn. For example, it would’ve been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn’t ultimately work out. Although, realize that through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. In truth, your most challenging experiences with their life lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be—fully living life and in the present moment.

Mirror Me : Mirror You

2008-12-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

Reflections of Me

We Are All Mirrors for Each Other

When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in different ways and sometimes, random combinations. However, the qualities that we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist within us.

"Like attracts like" is one of the spiritual laws of the universe. We attract individuals into our lives that mirror who we are. Those you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them. For example, when you look at others, you will likely see what exists within you. When you see beauty, love, peace, or light in the soul of a person, you are seeing the goodness that resides in your soul. When you see traits in others that have the feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, you may be seeing the reflection back at you. Perhaps it’s those parts of yourself that you do not like much. Because we all mirror each other, look at the people in your life. It can probably tell you a lot about yourself. It’s easy to see the traits you may not like in others. It’s much more of a challenge to realize that you possess those same traits.

When you come into contact with someone you admire, search your soul for those similar admirable traits. Likewise, when you meet someone showing traits that you dislike, accept that you may be looking at your own reflection. Looking at yourself through your perception of others may be a humbling and eye-opening experience.

Be loving and respectful to all people, and you will attract individuals that will love and respect you back. Nurture compassion and empathy and let the goodness you see in others be your mirror.

Be Ready

2008-12-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

Below is the sermon by Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert from Lake Merritt United Methodist church, in Oakland, CA - I just wanted to share with you the message...

Be Ready

Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-8
by: Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert

"Prepare the Way of the Lord"

The prophet Isaiah said it this way: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."

Hundreds of years later, John the Baptist - who arrives out of the wilderness into the scriptures of Advent each years - said it this way, quoting Isaiah: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

This Advent season, you are invited to "be." Not simply to "do," because most of us know how to "do" things. Instead, to "be."

The Greek sea god, Proteus, was (like the sea) capable of changing form in an instant. In order to get any decent information out of him, you had to grab him and hold on tight while he went through his various forms - lion, wild boar, snake, tree, running stream - it wasn't easy. The verb "To be" is said to be the most protean of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. Considering that we use it so often, it is really too bad that the verb "To be" has to be the most irregular, slippery verb in the language.
And today you are invited to "be ready." How do you "be ready"?

A story: "While on one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton left some of his sailors on Elephant Island with the intent of returning for them and taking them back to England. He was delayed. By the time Shakleton and his ship returned, the sea had frozen and he had no access to Elephant Island. Three times he tried to reach them, prevented by the ice from succeeding. Finally, on his fourth try, he broke through the ice and navigated a narrow channel to save the men.When he arrived at Elephant Island, he was surprised to find the crew waiting for him, supplies packed and ready to board. They were soon on their way back to England. He asked them how they had known to be ready for them. They told him they hadn't known when he would return, but they was sure he would return for them. Every morning, the leader rolled up his bag and packed his gear and told the crew to do the same, saying, "Get your things ready, boys. The boss is coming today."

As I thought about this scripture, I remember in my own life the time before I left the Midwest to come to seminary here in California. I knew I was starting a new life, and I didn't know what that life would hold for me. I expected to return to Wisconsin - God willing - but I didn't know when. So I spent time thinking about my life and the relationships I was leaving, for the time being, in the Midwest. I remember having certain conversations with friends, clearing up misunderstandings, and saying "I'm sorry," or "I'm glad you are my friend." In a sense, I reviewed my life as I began my new life.

Who among us knows when this life - the life we are living now - may end? Who among us knows when we will draw our last breath? As people, we always face the possibility of death, and to "be ready" for death - to meet our Maker, in the old expression - we would do well to take time to look at our life and our relationships, to "be ready"?

Are you treating those you love as you want to treat them? Are you demanding, when you could be accepting? Are you allowing others to be who they are? Including your children? Are you accepting of those around you, forgiving them for their foibles, their humanity, and forgiving yourself, as well? If you left here today and couldn't say another "good bye," are your relationships in the place you want them to be?

Are you living the life you want to be living, or are you always "saving for a rainy day"? Have you put off saying "I love you, "out of pride or fear? Is there a relationship you know has not been good for a long time, and you have been afraid to leave? Be Ready.

As people, we live as if there will always be tomorrow. On another level, we know that may not be so. When we live that way, we live in denial of the reality of life - and death.

If you are going through difficult times this holiday season, remember to Be Ready. Be Ready for the return of the Light in the Darkness. Those in faith know that the light is already present, is already here, and we must ready ourselves, throw off our barriers and our resistances, to let the Light in.

Be Ready implies a sure-ness, a trust in God's goodness. Be Ready implies that when you offer your prayer to God - it is surely heard and is already being answered.

As people of faith, we can practice the Advent message of "Be Ready" by holding the sure and solid hope that all things are well. However things look on the surface, if God is active in this world, if God is surely present even in the most difficult of times, then we can be joyful and trusting and hopeful - in a word, ready - no matter how things may look to us.

Sometimes our attitude towards things is surprising. We can speak eloquently about our faith, but we groan about everything else. The two don't go together. I'm sure many of us remember the 1980's, when it was popular to spend years in therapy complaining and lamenting the dysfunctional families we grew up in. And trust me - we all did, to some degree! But there comes a time in life when we need to get over these things, and live into the lives we were meant to give. There comes a time when we can say: "yes, I had it tough, but now I'm an adult, and I can make my own life as I choose."

Several weeks ago I attended a service where people were invited to move ahead in their lives, to live into the change and the new-ness they desired. One woman spoke up: "but I had such a difficult childhood, I was so abused, and I spent so many years as an addict. Now, when I try to move ahead, I am filled with oceans and oceans of anger." The leader listened, and then responded: "so you've quantified your anger. You could have made it little, but you've made it big. It's time to move into your new life."

Be Ready. Whoever you are, whatever is happening in your life today, be ready. Live the life you were meant to live. Live with the sure hope and trust that God is shaping you and your life and the life of the world exactly as it is meant to be.

Be Ready.

Angels Among Us

2008-11-25T10:17:00.001-08:00

During each of our journeys, there are those inevitable moments when someone comes into our life at precisely the right time and says or does precisely the right thing. Their words or actions may help us perceive ourselves more clearly, remind us that everything will turn out for the best, help us cope, or see us through difficult situations. These people are human angels – individuals designated by the universe to be of service to those in need at specific points in time. Some human angels make a commitment before their births to make a positive contribution to the world at a particular moment. Others were chosen by the universe. All human angels, however, come into our lives when we least expect them and when we can most benefit from their presence.

A few of the human angels we may encounter are in professions where helping others is an everyday occurrence. But most of them are regular people, going about their daily lives until called upon to be in the right place at the right time to bring peace, joy, help, or heal someone when they most need it. You may have met a human angel in the form of a teacher who gave you a piece of advice that touched your soul and influenced your path. The person that momentarily stopped you to say hello on the street, delaying you long enough to avoid an oncoming car or a collision, is also a human angel. They may offer nothing more than a kind word or a smile, but they will offer it when you can draw the most strength and support from their simple action.

You may be a human angel yet not know it. Your fate or intuition may guide you toward other people’s challenging or distressing situations, leading you to infer that you simply have bad luck. But recognizing yourself as a human angel can help you deal with the pain you see and understand that you are there to help and comfort others during their times of need. Human angels give of their inner light to all who need it, coming into our lives and often changing us forever. Their task has its challenges, but it is they that have the power to teach, bring us joy, and comfort us in times of despair.

Prosperity

2008-11-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

Why do people have trouble with prosperity?

Many of you automatically think of prosperity as something primarily financial. However, this is simply not so. Prosperity encompasses much more than money.

In fact prosperity is synonymous with self-esteem. Prosperity is manifesting what you feel you are worth.

It is success by your standards: it could mean lying in the sun for an hour a day without having to feel you should be somewhere else; knowing that you can lie there and congratulate yourself on having your life so well handled that lying in the sun is a celebration.

Prosperity or havingness (the ability to have) is a pervasive thing. You limit your success according what you think you are worth. This occurs unconsciously and it so happens that you have that level of success or richness of relationships that matches your self-esteem.

Imagine a family with low self-esteem winning a million dollars in a lottery. Within twelve months it is all gone and they are back to the old lifestyle. They couldn't have that level of success because their self-esteem was not high enough. Their energy level could not contain the huge increase. Limits to prosperity are imposed by the false personality and come from fear.

There are real and specific fears of what may happen to you if you have high, high havingness.
For instance, people kill other people for their possessions. If you don't have much you won't get killed. One can look at the specific fears in your conscious mind and dispose of them. The converse of this is that if you love yourself then all things are possible. So, prosperity is about feeling worthy enough to have life be the way you want it.

On this account prosperity fills lack; lack of time, lack of things, lack of relationships, lack of love, lack of creativity, and so on. Prosperity is then about having an abundance of anything you wish you had more of, including more spiritual insight.

Prosperity and Higher Centers

Spiritual prosperity, as with spiritual power, has to do with being in higher centers, gaining that distanced perspective on yourself and your life to see how it all fits together. It is about feeling a sense of oneness with other people. Not surprisingly, prosperity is a matter of how you handle the three components of the higher centers and of the universe -- truth, love, and energy.

Truth

The focus of higher intellectual center is truth. Prosperity is a matter of having truth in your life. You can tell the truth to your friends and family and they can tell the truth to you. This is the prosperity that truth bestows. When you have told the truth and have heard the truth you can then act on it. You can then decide what relationships you want in your life. When you tell yourself the truth about your job, you can decide to change it or to keep it. Having done this weeding out you are automatically a more powerful person. You are not spending time with people you don't want to, so you have more time and more energy. In short you have higher havingness. Having seen where you fit in, you can then see the whole, and open yourself up as a spirit without boundaries to your guides, channeling, and connectedness, and away from pain, fear, and suffering. From this space you can make powerful choices.

Love

Remember that higher emotional center manifests unconditional love. Prosperity is dependent on having more love in your life. It is about feeling that you deserve it and loving yourself enough to let yourself have it. Fear blocks higher havingness levels and the remedy is learning how to love yourself. Love yourself and all things are possible.

Energy

Prosperity is about having the energy to manifest what you want. The energetic quality of the higher moving center makes the integration of truth and love possible. When truth and love work together in your life, you can become as prosperous as you wish. Remember the example of the family with low self esteem who could not take advantage of their good fortune. The energy of higher moving center raises your capacity to have, do, and be more.

Becoming More Prosperous

In order to become more prosperous in an integrated way, balance is required. There must be inspiration, expression, action, and assimilation. Inspiration needs action. Action needs expression. Expression requires assimilation first, and so on. All are interrelated. Each axis must come into play. When satisfying prosperity is blocked, usually one of these four axes have not come into play. Imagine that you are inspired by a vision of what you want your life to be like. You assimilate the vision and express it to other people. However without a plan of action it is unlikely that your vision will manifest to any degree. Likewise if you go into action without an inspirational vision you will probably only manifest chaos.

What To Do

The following is a pragmatic step-by-step approach to having, doing, and being more in your life.
Work out exactly what you want and write it down as a series of goals. Create positive affirmations about these, stating them in present terms, as "I am now enjoying wonderful health and good relationships." This will instantly bring up the negative beliefs that have held you back in this area. Those beliefs can then be listed, acknowledged, and let go of. New positive affirmations can take the place of each one.

Regularly visualize mentally being the way you want to, having what you want, doing what you want. Persist in doing this despite current circumstances and absence of immediate results. It takes time for thoughts to manifest on the physical plane. Make a plan of how to meet the goals. Check off each step as accomplished.

Limitations to Prosperity

Know what your comfort zone is. Pushing beyond your comfort zone and having more can be quite uncomfortable, believe it or not. Do you truly want another forty thousand a year? Do you truly want a committed love relationship? Are you prepared to handle whatever discomfort comes with it? Ask yourself first? "Can I have it?"

Look at what you have to give up to get above the comfort zone limits of your ego. List the items. Look at how other people rely on you to not increase your havingness. If you do it, they will have to look at theirs because they are often competitive. This may make them angry with you. You need to give up the belief that you can't have it.

Note that your ego simply wants to be right.

There are two attitudes to money:

Spend now and trust - make the space for it. (positive)

Expense control - governed by the fear of running out (negative)

Note that these work in a kind of dynamic tension with one another. One does not work without the other. Look at the structure of the universe. Does anything run out? No, it doesn't. The law of the universe is that it will replace whatever you spend. What you sow you shall reap.

Look at your experience. You can run low on things and stay there, but you never actually run out. You never actually starve to death unless you have specifically chosen an environment to promote this experience. You can trust in this process. One of the governing principles of this teaching is neutrality, that is, not hanging on to things. There may be pleasures, sadness, money, or whatever. The aim is to experience them as they occur. Let them in and let them out. Often people dealing in huge sums of money work no harder than those in menial jobs. The energy input is the same. The difference is in the mental tapes they play. Their beliefs about money are different. One believes you have to work hard for a little of it. The other believes you can have lots of it for relatively little effort. They make it fun. They don't seek to hold on to money. They are philosophical about it. They work hard at working out what they want, and persist until they get there.

Authors Details: José Stevens

Family Ties

2008-11-12T10:03:00.001-08:00

Family relationships may at times have you reacting emotionally, leaving you feeling moody and uncomfortable.

Since families are so close to us and so central to our lives and our sense of identity, it makes sense that we would be more emotional around them than others.

There are times that we may mistreat our family members because we feel that they are safe havens who won’t abandon us, no matter how badly we behave. But the truth is that because they are so precious to us, we should treat them with greater care and thoughtfulness.

When a family member does abandon us, it has a greater impact than the loss of a friend or acquaintance, because the connections are so profound and multifaceted. Rather than taking your mood out on your family today, you can choose to breathe deeply and appreciate them for their unique lessons and presence in your life. Nobody’s family is perfect, but our families are our best chance for connection.

When the rest of the world isn’t there for us, our families are more likely to support us. Sometimes we find ourselves building our own families, either by marrying and having children or by gathering friends around us to create a family.

Family relationships can be intricate and deeply affecting, but because of this they deepen and enrich our experience of life. Remember to be grateful for our families, both biological and chosen, for all they bring into our lives.

Living Today

2008-11-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

"As you listen to the thought, you feel a conscious presence - your deeper self - behind or underneath the thought, as it were. This is the beginning of the end of involuntary and compulsive thinking." - Eckhart Tolle

I've been doing great progress in healing myself and learning to forgive myself and others. It's a working progress and I'm doing my best to live my life in the present moment.

I still look back at my past, not to dwell on the bad times, but to learn from my mistakes. I also look back at the times when I'm happy. I cherish the moments and whenever I look back, I smile.

For years, I've had an awakening of my spiritual existence. I didn't know what was happening. It kind of scared me a little because I was confused. When I'd have these awakening, I would stop what I'm doing and look at my fingers. I stop and think about where I'm at that moment and what my purpose of living is. I would ask my friends if they ever experienced what I described, and none of them seemed to understand me.

My awakening seemed very random. It probably started about 10 years ago. For awhile, it used to be about twice a year. Then as the years pass, it became more frequent. The awakening was very automatic for me. I knew when it happened, but could not understand what it meant.

I finally know now, that what I was experiencing for many years was the power of NOW. I have read/listened to the audio book "The Power of Now" By Eckhart Tolle - and it now makes sense to me. I often wondered if others were feeling the same way as I did. Not one friend understood what I was going through. The only one that understood me was my husband. It's no wonder that we were put together in this lifetime.

For anyone who have not read this book yet, I highly recommend you pick up a copy. It has helped me understand what I've been going through all through the years. It also reminds me of living in the present moment.

I'm learning that there is no need to go back to the past to dwell. The past does not serve a purpose unless you learn from them.

"When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means that you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now."
- DON Miguel Ruiz

Through Forgiveness

2008-11-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Through forgiveness, which essentially means recognizing the insubstantiality of the past and allowing the present moment to be as it is, the miracle of transformation happens not only within but also without."
- Eckhart Tolle

I've been hearing the word "forgiveness" lately. It seems like it's been a theme these past two weeks for me. I've been working on my own self and giving myself permission to forgive myself for doing the things I did. I forgive myself for doubting myself. I forgive myself for thinking negative thoughts about myself. I forgive myself for having to take on things I could not handle.

I believe that it starts within to forgive, then you can begin to forgive others around. I'm finding out that the sooner you forgive, the easier it is to be in the present moment with yourself and with others.

My Father, My Hero

2008-10-31T16:58:00.001-07:00

I remember my father. The memories of him lingers in my thoughts as I think back of what he's given me throughout the years since he's passed.

My father died on June 20, 1996.

There were so many things I wanted to tell him before he died.

Dad, did you know that you're my hero?

Dad, did you know that I looked up to you?

Dad, did you know that I will always love you with all my heart?

Dad, thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you for always giving me the benefit of the doubt even though I didn't deserve it at times. There were times when you were disappointed at the things I did, the choices I made - but I knew that you still loved me, no matter what.

My father was a loving man. He worried alot and didn't like some of the choices I made growing up. I didn't understand why he held on to me so tight. I didn't understand why he never showed his emotions. I didn't understand why he was angry. My father, rarely showed his emotions, and when he did, it would be an angry emotion. My father was a family man. He worked hard to take care of his wife and his five children.

I remember when I was about 8 years old, when my father would go up and down the escalator with me. I remember the bart train rides back and forth, and never really getting off the trains (LOL). I remember when I was about 14 years old, when we were sitting down facing each other and began to laugh for no reason. We laughed, and laughed, and laughed - my mother thought we were going crazy. I will never forget the things he did for me. The times he would give me rides to school.

I wish I can physically hug him again. I love you dad...

I miss my father so much as a physical being. I'm happy that I can still communicate with him. I didn't understand him at times, but now, I can... He's asked for my forgiveness, but I also ask for his. There are times I wish I had the chance to go back in time and tell him all the things I want him to know. Lessons learned.

I know now that my dad is proud of me. I know now that my father watches over me and guides me to do the right things in life. I thank him for always being around.

Papa, I love you - always!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T15:06:00.000-07:00

If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, please click here!

You'll receive coupons, inspirational quotes, thoughts, ideas, and best of all, an opportunity to learn something new...

As we enjoy Halloween day, please remember your friends and relatives who have crossed over. Send them good thoughts and remember to keep them in your prayers.

Halloween is a time to honor and pay attention to the lessons that your ancestors have given you. Halloween is a time for meditating on what gifts your loved ones have left you.

We celebrate what our ancestors have given us. We remember the dead and know that our children will remember us. This allows us to celebrate LIFE.

Past Life Regression: Leadership & Bravery

2008-10-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I posted. I've been happily busy with getting certified in Hypnotherapy that I haven't had the chance to post. Okay, enough excuses and let's get started...

This past weekend I had a past life regression through hypnosis. I didn't think it could work, but of course, it did! I was guided to find a vehicle of my choice and go back in time to another life....

Here's how it went down:

I saw myself in some kind of time machine. The inside looked like a scene from Back To The Future where there were digital numbers of the years and lots of buttons. When I was guided to get out of the vehicle, I stepped out. I looked down at my feet and saw boots made of rawhide material. I looked at my clothes and realized that I was a man. I wore long pants and a long sleeve V-neck top. My neck was covered with beads. My face was painted but not sure how it looked, but I knew that my face was painted. I was asked if there were anyone there. I noticed it was night time, and there was a large bonfire in the center. I saw many people looking at me with fear. I could see their faces and they were waiting for me to decide. I realized that we were being under attack by another tribe and I was the leader for my tribe. They wanted to hear from their leader about what to do next. I knew that if I decided to go into battle everyone in my tribe were going to get killed. I decided that I sacrifice myself to the other tribe so that my tribe would not get attacked. During this whole time in hypnosis, I was crying hard... Tears just kept coming down my face. I was scared but I knew I what I had to do. I had to be brave. The next thing I saw was me going forward and meeting the other tribe. I watched arrows hit me and I was killed instantly.

It was so powerful! I was so amazed with how clear the vision was. I didn't understand why I was shown that time of my past life, but I knew that there's a reason for that. I thought about all evening Saturday, and when I woke up Sunday morning, I understood...

My spirit guide has guided me to help others. Some of the things I've been told was to lead and be brave. I have had a fear of public speaking for many, many years. Through hypnosis, and my willingness to overcome the issue, I have learned to face it. I can't honestly tell you that I'm not exactly completely over it but I have improved quite a bit. I was shown in my past life I'm a leader, and I'm brave - I've been there already. I can do it again... except less the arrows, of course (Yikes!).... I can be brave and I can also be a leader, to enlighten people's lives in many ways.

Stereotype Psychic: Please don't judge a book by its cover!

2008-10-01T10:47:00.001-07:00

Is this what a psychic really looks like?

When I see some of my clients for the first time, I notice the surprise look in their faces when I open the door. I find it remarkable how many people expect a middle aged woman wearing a loose fitting dress with bangles, earings, and of course, the turban to open the door to greet them!

One of my clients asked me: "Hi, is your mother home?" When I told her that I'm Maria Haswell - she paused for a second, and looked at me up and down before she politely reached her hand out and said "Nice to meet you, I didn't expect you to be so normal."

I live in the suburbs and I consider my house to be warm and inviting with modern art hanging on walls. I don't have a colorful beaded curtain, a crystal ball, and definitely a loose fitting dress like the one you see on the picture above. I have two awesome kids (12 & 14), a husband in the software business, and a really cool dog (Shepherd mix). I consider myself a typical family house mom who cooks dinner for their family (sometimes), drive the kids around (sometimes), and do wife duties (sometimes) - LOL! I have everyday normal issues like everyone else.

One of my clients said to me the other day when I met him was that he was expecting an older lady with long gray hair, wearing a long dress with birkenstocks on. It made me laugh but it also made me think about how many people stereotype psychics, mediums, tarot readers like me out there... I wonder if I wore "the part" would I get more clients? Then as quickly as I wonder it stops because I know that I have to be ME. I'm proud to be who I am and what I represent. It is definitely entertaining sometimes to see clients surprised - I just laugh and I say - "Please don't judge a book by its cover!"

I end my post with a quote by Travis Smiley:
"Take your focus off of how others see you. Cease being obsessed with the need to impress your friends and your foes. Keep your concern on the vision you see in the mirror. Don't allow the approval of others to obstruct your view of you."

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!

2008-09-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I thought about what I should write about in my post today. I thought for a long time and I finally got it after scanning through some inspirtational quotes.

Here's one for the day by Abraham -Hicks:
"You are not here to fix anything, because nothing is broken, but everything is continually changing and expanding. Release your struggle, and seek joy and fun, and in doing so, you will align with the fantastic expanding rhythm of this Universe."

Start your day by waking up being thankful and excited for another new day ahead! Think of it as a gift that you live another day. It is certainly a blessing... Live life everyday as fun and as joyful and as if it's your last day here on earth. Amazing things happen when you see things in a different view. Don't worry about the things you cannot fix, only focus on what can be done.

Ghost Town and Me

2008-09-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to see the movie "Ghost Town" the other night with my children.

Finally, a movie about ghosts and a medium who didn't really want to be a messenger of the other side. I won't spoil the ending for you... It was funny, light hearted, and cute! As a medium, I'm going to have to tell you, it's not quite like that - but it was very entertaining.

Ricky Gervais (the British comedian and mastermind behind "The Office,") plays as a not-so-nice, arrogant, self-centered dentist, Dr. Pincus. A horrible mishap during a routine colonoscopy left Dr. Pincus technically dead for seven minutes, and that's how he started to see and hear ghosts.

It made me think of me and my own life, and how I came into this world. You see, something amazing happened to me at birth and this is how the story goes...

The pregnancy
My three older brothers and sister were all born in the hospital. Each one came out normal with no complications. When my mother got pregnant for the fifth time, she decided to give birth at home instead of going to the hospital. At the time, she and my father thought that it was probably a good idea and that it would save alot of money, since we didn't have very much.

The mid-wife
Two weeks after the estimated arrival, I would not come out. The mid-wife that my mother had at home began to really worry about the delivery. With the advice of her mid-wife, my mother and father took the long trip by bus to the hospital.

The hospital
When they got to the hospital, the doctors decided to do an emergency C-section on my mother because I had gotten way too big to have a normal delivery. When I came out, I was pronounced dead. No pulse, no heartbeat... Now, I'm not sure how long I was gone for but from how my sister described it, it was hours.

The box
My parents didn't have alot of money and couldn't afford to buy a coffin to put me in, so they decided to buy an oridinary shipping box so that they could take my body back to their village. My father went out to purchase a box and on his way, he went to Catholic church and knelt down before the Virgin Mary and prayed.

The prayer
My father prayed and asked the blessed virgin Mary to send him a miracle of life for his daughter. I was told that my father made a "deal" with the blessed Mary as he prayed. The deal was that if Mary would make his daughter live, he would name his daughter after her (Maria)... When he finished his prayer, he realized he had forgotten something in the hospital. He went back to the hospital.

The miracle
As he watched my dead body lay there, I could just imagine how he heartbroken he must've been. A miracle happened as he arrived and that I started to cry... My parents and doctors were in much amazement and shock. Hence, that is where I got the name "Maria" from.

Is this possible?
Yes. A talented intuitive councelor once told me that perhaps the spirits were switched during birth. The reason being was possibly because it was me that was meant to be here to do this kind of work.

Long story short
So when I told my mother and sister that I was hearing things, and that I am doing this kind of work, there were no surprises. It made sense to them that this is what I should be doing in this lifetime.

In Memoriam

2008-09-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

One of my best friend's father, Duncan, passed away Monday, 9.15.08 in the hospital.

Having been married for 53 years, he left behind his loving wife, two sons, and three daughters. Duncan's physical body may not exist anymore, but he is still with his family and friends through his spirit and energy.

As he left his body, he went through a transitioning period. I'm not quite sure how long the process lasts, but I feel that it's quicker than what we may think.

Here is what I saw as I think about his transition. He sees a magnificent loving light that leads him to a reunion with a past loved one. There, he is met by his mother, who's been anxiously waiting for his arrival. They walk through this room, which looks sort of like a movie theatre, only to find out that it's a private viewing. The movie plays, and it is about Duncan. How he lived his life, his struggles, success, love, family. He realizes a few mistakes but is comforted by Universal light of love. It is an amazing experience for him. He laughed, he cried, he accepted. What seems to be a long 70+ years of his life seemed so short and so quick to end after seeing this movie.

When I think about his transition, I also reflect on my own life. I ask myself questions about how I'm living.

Will I like the movie I view?

My spirit guide speaks and this is what he says as I ask about my own life:

"Don't worry about how you lived your past. There is no need to look back to any challenges you may have had unless it serves a positive purpose on what is going on today.

Your life as a human physical being is still functioning. Since your physical being is still functioning, do what is good for humanity. It is never too late to make a positive affirmation with the Universe, God. Today fixes whatever happened before and in whatever happens in the future.

Focus on your life today, and every day.

Enjoy the moment that you are in. Love yourself and love others. Do good deeds. Appreciate the beauty in everything you see, hear, feel, and sense.

Everyone is connected by God. The more you practice on taking the moment to love and appreciate your existence, the easier to understand the connection as one with God.

Make daily affirmations. Make today a beautiful day. Celebrate life, your family, your children, your friends, your life lesson teachers. Forgive and let go, there is no need to hold on to what happened in the past. Acknowledge the importance of each person around you. Be happy and content. You have everything you need and want. For every unappealing thought that you come across during the day, let it pass through your mind, and let go. Once you let go, double the thoughts in your mind with goodness and love to make up for the unappealing thought."

NOW is Today

2008-09-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

With the suggestion of many friends and clients, I finally picked up the audio book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle...

I am very much enjoying the book.

Because of my busy schedule with work, school, family, and friends, I bought the audio book so I can save some time. I'm very glad that I did, but I do have to mention that the audio book may not be suitable for everyone. Eckhart Tolle has a very quiet and almost monotone voice as he reads his book. This may put many people to sleep. So far, I have been able to hang in there because the words that he speaks are so beautiful and so right on with what I believe.

The book focuses on what 'today' brings rather than tomorrow or yesterday. I've personally been working on focusing on what today brings. It's been really good and I think as I practice everyday, the better it will get. Thinking about yesterday no longer serves a purpose. Let go of what happened in the past. Tomorrow hasn't come yet, so therefore, there is nothing to worry about. Today is what is important because tomorrow may never even come.

Celebrate today. Celebrate life. Celebrate the moment.

"When you make the effort to pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations around you, you're encouraging yourself to live in the present moment."

- Deepak Chopra, MD

My Soul Mate : My Love

2008-09-15T17:11:00.001-07:00

Seven years ago from today, I married my soul mate.

I married my best friend.

He is my strength.
He is my life.
He is my love.
He is my husband.

I am so happy to have found the love of my life. It took me two wrong relationships to find happiness.

I believe that the Universe must have put us together for a reason. We fit together, pefectly.

He loves Khaela & Ryan.
He loves me.
He understands me.
He supports me.

To the love of my life...

You are my inpiration. My backbone. Thank you for always supporting me all through the years. It is truly amazing how our love grows more and more each day. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for always reminding me how much you love me. I am a lucky woman to have such a perfect husband. I love you, always...

Happy 7th Anniversary, my love!

Circle of Friends

2008-09-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

We all have a circle of friends. For some of us, we have many different circles. Some are bigger than others but they are all connected by you.

Appreciate your friends.
Love your friends.
Be thankful they exist.

I held another montly East Bay Spiritual Circle: Share, Learn, and Enlighten! event last night to support spiritual awareness and get to know other spiritual beings.

Everyone in the group had something to offer. Everyone had something to share. Reiki was given to some members, and while some received intuitive readings, and spirit messages.

It is so beautiful that there are very many like-minded individuals in the world who share the same thoughts, the same feelings, the same energy as you. Find them and cherish every moment.

Be in the love and light around people who share the same interests.
Be open and share your abilities and your thoughts.
Be kind and giving.

“Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.”
- Quincy Jones

a Small Medium at Large

2008-09-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

If I went back 15 years ago before I even had my first born, and said to myself; "I am going to be a spiritual medium when I'm 35 and I'm going to help so many people"... I would've I laughed at myself and thought "Never in a million years."

As I sit here and think of how my life has changed, I'm thankful.

From having deep emotional issues with my family.
From being homeless.
From having painful emotional loss of my dear father.
From having a painful divorce.
From being a single mom (twice).

I'm thankful.

To finding happiness and joy.
To finding a new loving family that accepted me after being homeless.
To having two wonderful children.
To finding love again.
To finding forgiveness.
To finding peace & joy.

I'm Thankful.

I've always had a feeling that I can hear and feel people who have passed on as a young child. I kept this to myself for a long time, and assumed that I just had a very good imagination. What would my family and relatives think? What would my friends think?

After my dad passed away in 1994, I began to search for answers as to what happens on the other side. I felt the need to know that my dad was ok. I wanted to talk to him. I read books, listened to CDs, watched spiritual videos. I began to feel my dad after awhile, and I started to see him in my mind's eye. I started to have conversations with him. The more I practiced, the more I started to hear clearer. I started to hear other relatives that passed on and shortly after, I started to hear and feel other spirits.

I started to do readings for my friends. I would begin by reminding them "Now, look, I'm not a professional psychic medium, but I see your 'Aunt May' standing next to you and here's her message to you........". Everytime I would have this experience, my friends would be shocked and would ask me how the heck I knew so many personal things... I didn't know how it happened or why, it just did!

I was always a skeptic for myself especially because I thought that this was just an imagination. I would go on about the messages to my friends, and they would confirm the messages to be true and accurate. As years passed, the messages were getting stronger and more audible. I started to give messages to extended friends and then some relatives.

Each message is important. It may not be important me, but to the person receiving the message. After my father passed, I really needed answers. I am thankful that I can talk to him whenever I need him and know that he is there listening.

When my spirit guide "showed up" in my bedroom that morning and said to stop what I'm doing and be a medium full time.... I began to get tingles and felt that this was my true life calling. At first, I wasn't sure what to do. But with trust and faith, I am where I am supposed to be.

Happy.
Giving.
Peace.
Joy.
Love.

No Pressure...

2008-09-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

When you work with love and sincerity, there are no worries, no pressure.

A few weeks ago, I was asked to do a medium reading for a documentary film director, Mark Wexler.

At first, I was baffled why they would choose me to do this film. I thought that there are so many other famous mediums out there that they could've picked for this film, and then, they chose me...

Why me?

The answer: Why Not?

I thought about it for a while before actually returning the call. With my spirit guide, I was reminded that it does not matter how other mediums work and what styles they have. We all work with the best intention. With that said, I realized that I'm just as good as other famous mediums, and in fact, I may even be better. I say this with alot of respect to many famous mediums.

My favorite mediums are John Edward and John Holland. They have inspired me throughout the years by watching them, reading their books, listening to their radio show. They made me realize that this is normal. This is not at all scary as how some people may view it. It is a part of life. They exist! Unfortunately, the media paints a whole different twist to make it scary (sigh).

We all have different styles. We all have a different approach. The one thing that stays the same for all sincere mediums, is this; when you work with the highest and best intention to help others, spirits come through. It doesn't matter how old a medium is, what gender, what their nationalities are. Spirits don't descriminate :-)

When the film crew came over, I was nervous at first. The picture at the top is me and Mark Wexler sitting at my table. The film crew were setting up and getting everything prepared while we talked. They set up the cameras and lights in my dining room. It was a very wild experience to say the least.

When the lights turned on, the little red light from the camera came on. I froze... I started to stutter my words... Then about a minute or two, I felt a really nice woman standing next to me as she said "Don't worry dear, it's just the camera - do what you're supposed to do" Shortly after that, I relaxed and did what I was there to do. I realized that there was no pressure. As a spiritual medium, I am there to help clients connect with their loved ones on the other side. Cameras and lights does not exist where spirits are and it's not important to them. Spirits have a way to come through. I was there to help Mark Wexler connect with the person he wanted to connect with for the film.

All went well.
All was good.
All was peace.
All was love.

The documentary will be at Sundance Film Festival early next year and in theatres nationwide.

Flowering

2008-09-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Danville, CA. I've been a member of the chamber for 2 years - not to promote what I do now, but for my past/previous business as a FoundValue eBay Trading Assistant.

With the chamber, I also joined a business networking group. The idea for joining a networking group is to give referrals for each other and maybe drum up some business. Within the group, there's a lawyer, realtor, designer, organizer, finance, marketing, doctor, banker, insurance, and so many other positions to name and then, there's me......

As a Spiritual Medium, Reiki Master, Tarot, and (soon-to-be) Hypnotherapist - I wasn't sure if I would get funny looks... They, of course, didn't do that. I think the people in the group are wonderful professionals - and I think that's why I stayed with the group. For some of them, they probably don't even know what Medium or Reiki is. I finally "came out" today at the morning meeting and explained my change of business and how I accepted my life calling...

WOW - What a relief that was! Although, I noticed something about my experience today.

My voice was cracking the whole time I was introducing myself. I was really nervous. My heart was pulsating so hard, I had forgotten to breathe. That 30-second introduction felt like it was 30 minutes!!

But Why??

For those who know me, they can't believe me when I tell them how shy I am. They have a hard time seeing me in that dimmed light. For some, they think that I'm warm, personable, always smiling, and very easy to talk to. They see me talk to groups of people with confidence. They see me give hugs and welcome others who are shy and quiet. I want to be like that all the time. I want to be how my friends see me all the time, anywhere and whatever the situation that I'm in.

I'm not embarrassed of who I am or what I do. I know that I can help people. I know that there are many people out there that may need me and others like me. I am doing my part to educate, enlighten, and inspire others... So, why have these feelings?

In two weeks, I am doing a 15-20 minute business highlight for the networking group. I have the intent to be clear, easy to understand, and with confidence. Maybe, the group can learn something that they're not so used to hearing or have lack of knowledge in this subject. I'm guided by my spirit guide. I know that all will be okay. Just Trust and Let Go...

For my blog readers: please send me good thoughts and energy as I work on finding ways to not be so shy. Send me an email if you have suggestions!

Smiling: A Guided Meditation by Juan Vega

2008-09-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying my hypnotherapy class so much... I'm learning so many things!

The students in my class are all wonderful, loving people. I'm blessed and so happy to be in the same energy with all of them.

One of the things we do to start the class is to meditate. Each student signed up to do a guided meditation for the class. I enjoyed last week's meditation so much I asked my classmate if he would send me a copy to share.

This guided meditation is by Juan Vega - a wonderful, loving spiritual being:

Just find a safe and comfortable position and let your eyes close….

take a nice deep cleansing breath in…

fill your lungs up and exhale out slowly…

breathing as you relax…

relaxing as you breathe. Inhale relaxation…

and as you exhale release all the stress, tension and strain.

Take a deep breath in… hold it…and let it out slowly…

feeling your body starting to relax.

Breathe in…and out. in…and out. in…and out.

Bring forth in your mind the energy of smiling. Use your powers of visualization to create an image that makes you feel like smiling.

You might imagine before you the face of a loved one beaming love towards you.

The image could be of your own smiling face, or a memory of a time when you felt love and peace.

Perhaps you would like to imagine the beautiful face of a divine being shining love upon you.

Hold the image in mind as you continue to breathe slowly and calmly.

Feel the welling in your heart as the image stimulates your emotional response.

Allow your heart to open to the smiling.

Allow yourself to smile back at the image.

The change in your facial muscles may be very slight, but let a peaceful, loving expression overtake you.

Continue to feel the smiling energy. You can place your smile anywhere in your body. Let this pleasant thought and feeling course through your body.

Feel it course through various organs of your body.

Send your smile to your heart, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys, your glands, and direct your love to parts of your body that you don’t think about much.

Be whole in your compassionate smiling self.

That’s it…

just Smile. Feel the energy… loving energy swirling.

Cultivate the loving feeling that arises with a smile.

Awaken the love energy in your heart and mind.

Move into the flow of love that fills the universe.

Fill yourself with loving kindness.

Share your smile and your loving heart with people in your life.

Grow the circle of your compassion wider and wider, so that it includes yourself, and those you love.

Include those you know that you didn’t think you loved.

Grow it wider so that it includes people you don’t know,

and wider still to include people you don’t know, but you didn’t think you could love.

Send your smiling energy to everyone in the world

Shine that smile into their hearts.

Wish them greater wisdom and wish them awakening awareness of love.

Expand the scope of caring to include all beings in the universe.

Know that the force of love pervades the universe, seen and unseen.

When you love, you attune to that great force, you come into accord with the divine unity.

Develop the habit of using your inner smile to activate your loving heart.

Use it to relax your mind and body.

Use it to make friends with your world.

Register this as a state that is readily available to you.

This pleasant emotional state can be summoned, just as you would summon a memory.

You need only remember to smile

Now I’m going to count from 1 to 5 and when I get to 5, you’ll be able to come back feeling full of life and energy, with a sense of vitality, peacefulness and joy.

So coming back now—1, getting ready to open your eyes…2… feeling refreshed and alert…3, with a wonderful sense of well being and energy, 4 opening your eyes, 5 coming back now, feeling wonderful, energized and great.

I AM SMILING, SO I EXIST. YOU ARE SMILING, SO YOU EXIST. WE ARE SMILING, SO WE EXIST ALL TOGETHER.

Desperately Seeking

2008-09-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

There is more than enough people in the world that seek your profession.

One consultant, one physician, one baker, one healer, one medium, one counselor, etc... cannot help everyone in the world.

Acknowledge your friends, your peers, your circle and know that each and everyone of them possess a gift or talent that help someone in the world. You are surrounded by many talented, loving, giving people.

Tell them who they are!

Imagine a world where everyone can share their knowledge to others.
Imagine a world where everyone can recommend someone to another.
Imagine a world where everyone can see others in good light.

Share.
Give.
Enlighten.

I don't understand why some people out there would not share what they know or who they know simply because they fear that it is taking away from their own business. Remember that when you share with others what/who you know, you are helping someone.

Network with each other. There is no competition.

I end this blog with a quote from Deepak Chopra, M.D.

"The greatest secret to making money and being successful is helping other people make money and be successful."

The Wise Mind / The Higher Self

2008-09-07T08:12:00.001-07:00

Stop and listen to what your wise mind is telling you. The wise mind is your higher self.

In my hypnotherapy class yesterday, I learned the five levels of consciousness:

The Superconscious State:

Higher Self, Light, Love, Wisdom, Peace, Compassion, Forgiveness, Healing

The Conscious Mind:

Thoughts, Everyday Actions, Logic, Judgement

The Subconscious Mind:

Vast Database or Storage House of All Life Expereinces, Traumas, Fears, Events, Obstacles, Subpersonalities, Emotions

The Unconscious Mind:

Stored Karma, Saskaras, "Impressions" from all Incarnations

The Energy System:

The Aura, The Energy Filed, Meridians, Electromagnetic, Energies, The Cosmic Force Field

Your wise mind/higher self is located in the superconscious state. There you will find no judgement of yourself. No worries. No fears. No obstacles. In your wise mind/your higher self, there is love and compassion. There is forgiveness of oneself and others.

The way to be in the supersconsious state is to meditate and listen. Another way of doing so, is by writing in a very relaxed state. Without judgement or editing, write what you feel. Write what you hear. Don't stop and think about what you are writing. Just go with the flow.

Try it!

What would your wise mind/higher self tell you today?

What Are You?

2008-09-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

This week I met my client, Amanda. She told me that she felt "stuck" in a relationship that she was in. Amanda explained that she met this person, fell in love, had a baby, and moved in together. When her baby turned 1, her boyfriend confessed that he'd been cheating on her. Obviously, Amanda was upset when he told her. But because she depended on him, she stayed with him.

Amanda went on about how bad of a situation she was in. She didn't have a good job. The money she would earn would automatically be deposited into his bank account. She depended on him financially. She said that she didn't know what she would do if she left him. Would he go after her with revenge? She was afraid of what can happen. She wanted to leave. She wanted to be saved. She worried about the next day. What to do...

I wanted to help her. I wanted to save her. I wanted to do whatever I can to protect her. Her spirit guide came through and this is what she said:

The one and only person that can help Amanda is Amanda...

When you tell the Universe:
I'm stuck.
I don't make enough money.
I hate my job.
I have a bad relationship.

You are getting exactly what you say you currently have. You focus so much on your energy and feelings towards what you don't want, rather than what you could do to make things better.

Instead of focusing on what you don't want, focus on what you already have that is absolutely wonderful.

I'm beautiful.
I have so much to offer.
I have a healthy child.
I can breathe, walk, and see.
I have another day to live.

When you change your emotions, you take control of what the the day ahead of you brings. Plan out your day joyfully. Make your day count, for there may not be a tomorrow.

If you are on an emotional roller coaster, find out which feelings are driving you. Did you know that just as colors and sounds have a range, so do feelings?

I found a list of emotional feelings online:

Victim feelings
These feelings lead us to crying in distress for a hero to save us.
Feeling like quitting and running away to hide
Feeling of being controlled
Feeling hurt or taken advantage of
Feeling of being manipulated
Feeling of being shocked or surprised
Feeling disillusioned - naïve - rejected - unwanted
Feeling shame - inadequate - anguish - guilty
Feeling a deep sense of loss - afraid - giving up
Feeling needy - helpless - fragile - hopeless
Feeling confused - depressed - like dying

Villain feelings
These feelings lead us to harmful actions if not dealt with.
Feeling like harming someone
Feeling pleasure in having hurt someone
Feeling abusive - malicious - destructive - revengeful
Feeling justified - cruel - mean - hateful - arrogant
Feeling superior - critical - judgmental - accusing
Feeling rage - angry - upset - hard - emotionally cold

Hero/Heroine feelings
These feelings are our reward for saving others. Once we’ve helped others enough times, usually we learn to become our own hero. That’s when we feel these feelings most of the time, not only when we have just saved someone else.

Feeling love - important - compassionate - acceptance
Feeling wanted - useful - resourceful
Feeling of adventure - of caring - of courage - of happiness
Feeling accepted - in control - strong - passionate - helpful
Feeling enthusiastic - passionate - determined - capable

I end this blog with a quote by Sylvia Browne:

"Try to avoid thinking about what you're not: 'I'm not happy, not rich, not good-looking,' and so on. Instead think about what you are: 'I am joyful; I am prosperous; I am beautiful.' Your self-esteem will rise immeasurably."

Campaign for Love & Forgiveness

2008-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I found this great website called: Campaign for Love & Forgiveness. I found it very comforting and thought I should add this to my blog. I hope that it can help others let go of the past. I talk about my past in my blog, not because I hold on to it, but rather, to help inspire others. I have a very interesting story about struggle & triumph.

I face everyday challenges, but this time, I let it pass me quickly and not worry so much. Having said that, I am not perfect - far from it. There are still things that I carry around but I do work hard in finding ways to let go, one by one. When times that I can't seem to let go quickly, I give my worries to God and know that it will be ok.

I end my blog with quotes from Caroline Myss and Peter Occhiogrosso:

"How much of your precious day do you invest in the past? Everything from your past except wisdom and love has long since served its purpose. Witness what calls to you from yesterday and why."

"Today is for observation. Where does your mind wander naturally - into fear or fantasy, humor or stress? Follow your mind, and observe where it goes to feed itself. Do you like what you see?"

At 21 years old...

2008-09-03T11:16:00.001-07:00

At 21 years old...

I thought I was old enough.
I thought I knew everything.
I thought I would be loved.
I thought I was in love.

At 21 years old...

I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
I gave trust to the father of my child.
I gave my feelings of hope and wishful thinking.
I gave myself heartache.

At 21 years old...

I realized I was never going to be alone anymore.
I realized that my daughter depended on me.
I realized that I had to grow up - FAST.
I realized that I had to stay strong.

The father of my child left me when I was 6 months pregnant. He cheated on me while I was pregnant and told me he didn't want me to have the baby anymore. I was hurt. I was angry. I felt alone during my pregnancy. He did not support me during the pregnancy. So many emotions... so much pain... so much anger...

Why did God want this to happen? I asked...

Because it taught me to be strong.
Because it taught me to be independent.
Because it taught me to know the meaning of love.
Because it taught me to ask God for help.

I've learned that the father of my child was one my teachers to teach me life lessons.

He taught me to be patient.
He taught me what love is not.
He taught me that betrayals existed.
He taught me to forgive.

For my teacher:
The one who hurt me.
The one who played me.
The one who disrespected me.
Thank you for teaching me ways to improve my life. I wouldn't be where I am today without you...

National MS Society - Make a Difference

2008-09-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

The National MS Society addresses the challenges of each person living with MS. In 2006 alone, through the national home office and 50 state network of chapters, nearly $126 million was devoted to programs that enhanced more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested more than $46 million to support 380 research projects around the world.

My best friend registered for the MS Waves to Wine Ride on September 13-14, 2008. I hope that you can donate money to this great cause. He needs $170 to make his goal. If you make a donation, I will credit $10 off to your next private session (Medium, Reiki, or Tarot).

Please click on the link to donate: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=4358528&pg=personal&fr_id=9066

Countless Birthday Gifts

2008-09-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

I feel blessed everyday. I have all that I need and all that I want. I woke up to a brand new day. Today is my birthday, and it's a time to reflect on all the many blessings I've received so far. I celebrate my day filled with gratitude. I thank God that I made it through another night. I woke up to my love next to me.

This morning, Ryan opened our bedroom door with Charlie giving me a big lick in the face (ech!)... Mark, Khaela, and Ryan sat on the bed while they watched me open my cards and gifts. Charlie was also in our room sleeping (lol)... I got so many wonderful gifts. Most of all, I know that I am loved by my family. They give me so much love everyday.

I am thankful for all the wonderful gifts. There are so many things to thank for, but here are just a few:

My 36th year of existence.

I'm healthy - no pain, no aches.

I can see, hear, smell, and sense.

My love of my life, Mark, who supports me in everything I do.

My beautiful daughter, Khaela, who teaches me to be strong.

My wonderful son, Ryan, who give me love everyday.

My coolest dog ever, Charlie, who makes me smile.

My great friends, who I can always count on.

Preying Thunder, my spirit guide who guides me to my journey.

My home, to keep me safe - day & night.

My teachers, who teach me life lessons everyday.

There are hundreds of things I can list...

I'm thankful for this day, that I live in the light of God.

Who's in Control?

2008-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Stop.

Listen.

Breathe.

Enjoy.

Remember to stop and listen to what surrounds you. Quiet your mind. Take a moment to realize you're not alone. You are loved. You are cared for. Energy surrounds us everyday.

You are in control of what the day ahead brings. Try your best to find joy in everything you do. Find the time to stop and listen. Don't forget to breathe. Change your feelings when things go bad. I personally, have moments when I think I'm way too busy to do something. It's practice and determination.

You can't control others, even at times when you wish you could. You can only control YOU. Never mind what others have or don't have. Find happiness, find joy.

Accept and let go. Don't hold a grudge. When someone hurts you, send them loving thoughts in return. Remember that the best teachers to give you life lessons are the people who hurt you.

I end this blog with a quote from Iyanla Vanzant:

"Until today, you may have been holding on to something or someone, not realizing that its purpose in your life has been served. Just for today, surrender all attachments to the people and things you've been struggling to hold on to."

How I Became A Medium: Trust and Patience

2008-08-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

I had 2 online businesses before I accepted my life calling as a spiritual medium. I owned a party favors business called Happy Times Designs for 7.5 years. I created and designed party favors for all occasions and would sell it online nationwide and retail stores around the bay area. In the past 2 years, I also added another business as an eBay Trading Assistant with a company called, FoundValue. Both businesses were doing very well. It kept me busy and it helped with paying the bills. I enjoyed both of them very much.

All my life, however, I've always heard voices and sensed other spirits around me and other people. I struggled to believe what I was feeling, hearing, and seeing was right. I really wasn't sure if I was just imagining everything in my head...

I told only a few close friends that I trusted about my abilities. I was really worried about what people would think of me if I told them what I heard, sensed, and felt. I didn't want people to think I was crazy... As years pass, it felt that my ability to hear, feel, and sense were getting stronger.

One morning, I was upstairs in my room working on my laptop, listing things on eBay when suddenly, my spirit guide showed up in my room. I can't see him physically, but I knew his presence. He said "Time to close shop. It's time for you to do what you are supposed to be doing with your life" - I was so flabbergasted to hear what I heard. I thought about it for a few hours that day. Into the evening I told my husband what I had heard that morning. We both were a little reluctant about closing my businesses and not having enough money to cover our bills. We were a little hesitant, but, we both knew that it was the right thing to do.

When I closed my businesses, I had questions for my spirit guide and he answered them:

Q: How will people find me?

A: Trust and Patience

Q: How will I get my name out there?

A: Trust and Patience

Q: How will people act when I tell them what I do?

A: Trust and Patience

When I finally heard his answers, I did what I was told... He first helped me with creating a myspace account. With very little knowledge of html codes, I was able to design a myspace page within 1 hour, with of course, the help of my spirit guide. I couldn't have designed it that fast if it was just me... He guided me to meet the right people at the right time. He guides me in all my everyday life, even while I post my blog.

I trust.

Trust is important in my work, and without it, I can't be what I am today. When I began to trust, amazing things happened. All GREAT things happened!

Remember to trust and be patient - all things happen at the right time.

Cold Box ~ Warm Heart

2008-08-30T09:53:00.001-07:00

April of Last year, I was encouraged by my spirit guide to share my story about my experiences. I started to write some of the things on a word document but didn't know what I would do with them afterwards. Over a year later, here I am...

I am going to copy and paste a couple of stuff that I wrote here on my blog.

I hope it helps anyone reading this to have faith, all will be okay!

Quietly I lay in this dark cold box. I could see my warm breath as I exhale through the cold air. The sound of cars passing through with their headlight shining towards me, I prayed. “Please watch over me and keep me safe” I requested. I quietly laid there almost motionless, as I gloomily asked Him how I ended up inside the trunk of a 1987 Chevy Corsica. Where do I go from here?

Waking up to the shine of another lovely day, I thanked Him. The beauty of God shined before me as I sat behind the wheel to reflect on my new day. My frail cold fingers ran between my frozen strands. My stringy hair at times had icicles on the end - the size of tiny teardrops. A calming voice told me daily that I’d be okay and to hang on to what little I had. But I would ask again, where do I go from here?

My family and small group of friends knew nothing about my ordeal. I didn’t want to go back to where I came from. I felt that I could handle this on my own as I had a strong belief that God would be there even in bad times. With these feelings, I felt secure to move on. With no home, no job, and feeling alone at age nineteen was frightening. Where do I go from here?

Six moths have passed as I continued to call my Corsica my home. The dark night welcomed me as I drove around for new surroundings to call it an evening. As I passed by neighborhood homes, nearby gas stations, not one was safe enough for me to park. I headed towards a parking lot and saw a familiar face. An acquaintance I’ve met months before. He came towards me as I nervously smiled at him hoping he wouldn’t see right through me. With a friendly smile, he stated that he hadn’t seen me for a while. “Where have you been, where are you staying?!” he demanded. I struggled to come up with an answer. I heard a voice telling me to tell him the truth. Not understanding why I heard what I heard, I glanced back at this friendly face as I started to stutter. My voice was shaky and I teasingly said, “You’re looking at it!” I began to laugh as if it was not a big deal. What came over me? I was so embarrassed that I told him where I had lived. I was ready to drive off and shake off my humiliation.

An awkward silence, he looked at me with pity. As I watched him look at me, he asked me to give him a ride home from work. He offered me a dinner at his home and asked me to stay the night. Because I was hungry and haven’t eaten a good meal for a while, I sheepishly accepted to have dinner but graciously declined the overnight stay.

Walking up the winding stairs, I began to miss how it was like to live at home. The warmth of the heater subtly blowing through my neck made me feel sheltered. I sat on the comfortable couch looking around the cozy living room. My friend sat with me as he tried to entertain me with pictures of his family. He told me that his parents would be home soon and we would eat with them. I heard the door open and close as I started hearing footsteps coming up from the stairs. My nerves began to shake and I started to feel uncomfortable. “What would they think of me?” I thought. I was ready to leave and stood up off the couch and started to tell David that I was ready to leave.

As I started to tell David how anxious I had become, his parents stopped right in front of me. They stood there smiling at me as I reached over to shake their hands. David proudly introduced me as his friend and that I would be staying for dinner with them that night. His parents smiled at me with acceptance.

The taste of home cooked meal felt like paradise. The warm bread rolls were soft and fluffy. As I sat there eating my delicious meal, I started to feel the love the family had for each other. They respected each other and laughed together as they joyfully talked about their day’s end. I witnessed something that I haven’t seen for a very long time with my own family. They shared their stories with me as we sat in the dinning room. I learned that David had three older brothers and one sister.

I started to reflect on what happened to my family and why things happened the way they did. I sat there and accepted what was in front of me and I felt blessed. Dinner ended and I excused myself to the restroom to wash my hands. As I opened the door from the restroom, David’s parents blocked my way to the stairs. They stood there quietly for 10 seconds for what felt like 5 minutes and had a concerned look on both their faces. They asked me where I lived and I told him just around the block. As I told them my somewhat fib, I noticed that David was spreading out the bed sheets in a room. I started to feel very uncomfortable. I knew David told them. I felt ashamed and started to cry. David's mother hugged me and assured me that I would be okay.

What was supposed to be just an overnight stay turned into a 2-year stay. They accepted me into their family and helped me get back on my feet. I knew God watched over me, and I believed He would never leave me alone - He never did!

Having peace within

2008-08-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Peace and Love...

A great combination of feelings to have in our lives.

The feelings of peace: The feeling of not worrying about what tomorrow brings. The feeling of not being angry or holding a grudge. The feeling of being okay of what unfolds today. The acceptance of existence.

The feelings of love: The feeling of receiving love. The feeling of giving love. The feeling of giving what you can and accepting what you have.

Counting blessings each day brings more happiness into everone's lives. Where there's happiness, there is peace, there is love.

Appreciate your existence.
Appreciate what you have.
Appreciate your friends, your family.
Appreciate what you receive and can give.

I personally struggled for years about having peace. I knew that it existed. I knew it was possible. I have had many challenges in the past that kept me from having peace all the time. I was mistreated by my friends, my relatives, and my past loves.

Peace and love is a working progress to have in our lives. You must always work on maintaining the feelings you have - everyday. Changing your feelings, your thoughts when things go bad. I am constantly learning and finding ways to incorporate that in my daily life.

I believe that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. When you anger or have resentment towards another person, send your "higher self" and call upon the other person's "higher self" to join you in peace and love on another plane. Send loving thoughts to the person your angry with.

What I learned is that thought is energy. Forgiveness also plays an important role to having peace and love. Without forgiveness, you can never have peace.

Hours of enjoyment

2008-08-29T09:45:00.001-07:00

C H A R L I E
German Shepherd / Rhodesian Ridgeback
Adopted 8/21
6 mos. old, 51 lbs

A beauty.
A friend.
A love.
A happiness.

Welcome home, my sweet Charlie!

The first time I saw Charlie (http://www.arf.net/), I knew he belonged to our family of four.

The laws of attraction!

He was meant to be at the right place and at the right time.

He's kind.
He's loving.
He's sweet.
He's playful.
He's smart.

What more can you ask for? What a blessing to us!

Another blessing from above

2008-08-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Another amazing experience.
Another wonderful feeling.
Another creative thought.
Another beautiful day.

The many countless blessings that surround us each day.

Don't forget to smell the flowers.
Don't forget to hear the sounds.
Don't forget to feel the weather -- whatever it may be.
Don't forget to thank the Universe for another day.

We are all blessed.
We are all loved.
We are all one.

Experience the beauty that surrounds you.
Experience the feeling of happiness.
Experience the simplicity.
Experience the love.

Worry less and Happy more.