Category Archives: Gratitude

When our hearts are breaking, for a million different reasons…

Posted on 05/02/2019 | 2 comments

In these wild times, how do we stay peaceful. . . and faith-filled?

There are many scary things and loud people out there grabbing for our attention, and many inner fears and beliefs derailing our positive in-tentions. It’s easy to be left feeling fractured, frizzled and frantic.

If we let our mind spin in it’s worry-state, though, we’re trusting only our small scared self to figure it all out. Alone. No wonder it’s overwhelming! We’re stuck circling our issues, in a very limited space.

“Worry is prayer that we pray to ourselves instead of to God.” ~Chris Smith

Do we more often dabble in doubt or the divine?✨

There’s an area of our brain called the reticular activating system – RAS. It’s job is to edit out endless daily data that bombards us. The RAS allows into our conscious mind what we’re interested in, what we believe in etc. It edits out what doesn’t confirm our belief systems (BS,) or contradicts the labels and identities we may have carried since childhood. Our “stories” may be so dang convincing to us that we think of them as reality.

Ever bought a car you’d rarely seen, in a color you thought was different? Then you get out on the road and that exact car is everywhere. The car had always been around, but your RAS never picked up on it until you put it on your radar.

This isn’t woo-woo-ery. It’s science.

If we stay focused on the problem, on what’s “wrong,” the RAS is blind to the good stuff.

What we believe about our life is what we keep seeing, and then we keep believing, and thus, we keep recreating. “Reality” is the outer representation of our inner beliefs.

Our RAS isn’t programed for right or wrong, it’s wired according to our focus. It’s a tool – a neutral search engine – scanning for evidence of our expectations. So if I reaffirm, “I didn’t do enough today,” “I’m overwhelmed,” “The world is broken,” “money corrupts,” etc… I’ll see the “proof.” Our RAS acts like a prayer to the universe and keeps regurgitating evidence of our beliefs. They have been “real” for us, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay that way.

As soon as I shift my attention to the ‘simple’ things that are going smoothly, I’ll notice more of those. It helps me stay connected, grateful, hopeful, productive. And in that place, my heart and soul have more influence and power in my life, and beyond.

Sometimes we stick to being “right” about the things that actually feel “wrong” – like “I’m too old,” “Murphy’s Law,” “the cup is half empty,” “I don’t have enough _______.” Being ‘right’ about negative beliefs is a familiar prison. The suffering is what we’ve known, and staying in it might seem safer than change. Humans want to feel loved, accepted and ‘right’ in the eyes of our herd. Being “wrong” means feeling bad, unacceptable and rejected by the herd.

I saw this angel cloud on Wayne Dyer’s birthday. A self-portrait, no doubt

Step away from the dysfunctional pasture.

If we point a helpless finger outward at the cow pies, political parties, president, culture, corporations, violence, losses, health, gender, appearances, past, parents, or partner, for letting us down, we’ll endlessly spin outside ourselves. Our mind will feel crazed and ungrounded because our leverage doesn’t exist out there.

But going within, to harness our light, might also means facing our shadowy stuff, and that can be a scary deterrent.

Inside is where our vulnerability and fears are waiting to be witnessed – they’re our little lost kids – they’re hurting, wounded, raging, distrusting, defiant, powerless and pitching a hissy fit. They haven’t felt heard. Life knocked the wind out of their sails, and laughed in their face. Getting their hopes up means they could be dashed, again. Disappointment is terrifying. They’ll stop us from trying again, for our own protection.

So when we give our RAS more hope-filled focus, like imagining a peaceful world, a united government, a happier career, better health, relationships, finances, or a new adventure, guess what happens?

Old beliefs surface, dragging their miserable movie reels from our past.

Emotions boil up. It can be embarrassing to our “adult” self. But just let the little kid FEEL, and let the resistance and grief surface. It diffuses the voltage. It gives us a chance to feel compassion for our younger selves, and to question the manure we keep stepping in.

Notice the old lies. Wipe the overdue tears. And smile. It’s been a long poopy path.

It takes courage to FEEL – it also births more courage.

Take a deep and satisfying breath in, right now. Ground yourself and allow Source, God and the angels, to flood your senses. Fill the emptiness. Empty the worry. Let Mother Nature envelope and breathe with you. Let your soul light pour in. Expand your rays, like the mini-sun that you are.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’m giving my attention to what’s “wrong” and judging it, them or me. As I remember to shift my focus inward, breathe my energy back home to my heart and body, I can relax (or cry, if needed.) Then I have room to hold the larger light of Spirit.

If we broaden our awareness each day, by imagining the radiant bubble of light within and around us, expanding – we create a bigger playground. In that vastness, our heart opens. Or maybe our heart opens us to the vastness. Either way, our worries become smaller, after a few deep breaths, and one envisioning, several times a day.

We can invite in the Divine, even while we’re driving, walking in a parking lot, or waiting in line. Our attention, imagination, feelings and thoughts direct the Light energy that we are (which inspires our actions.) Our daily focus is a priceless power tool – the more we practice, the deeper the habit grows.

Tell new good-feeling stories about your life. Turn the past crap into fertilizer for the future. Let the fresh air of truth blow in.

Point your prayers in uplifting directions.

Go for that walk, admire the sky, relax in the sun, cuddle with a pet, climb that mountain, do something new, read a good book, love your body, send healing to the globe, doodle, celebrate the signs, meditate, make a smoothie, do some spring cleaning, sit in the boundlessness. Marvel at it all.

The simple stuff … saves us.

May our hearts be broken open, in appreciation, for all that’s been given.

Keep looking in, with awareness, keep looking out, in awe, and life will keep looking up.

with lotsa love,
and ginormous joy

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Posted in Belief Systems BS, finding inner light in the dark, Gratitude, grief, Inner child, inspirational blog, Letting Go, mindfulness blog, spiritual blog, Trees, vulnerability

Financial Obstacles? Waiting on the World to Change

Posted on 10/07/2018 | Comments Off

We, the mystical messengers, earthy-crunchy-creatives, rainbow warriors, wounded healers & divine feminine waker-uppers (we go by a myriad of tie-dye names,) have been working, wishing and waiting on the world to change. We’re giving our hearts to help that happen. But zoikes, it can be so discouraging.

The past few weeks have tested my faith and resolve. I’ve been praying for more and more businesses, institutions, politicians, leaders and governments to step up and be a force for good. For unity. For all. To help soothe this aching world. But I’ve been feeling deflated, disempowered, disenfranchised.

Sometimes it looks like we lack the resources, connections or clout to make a difference. To make a major contribution. To make sense of the senselessness. How do we “be the change we wish to see in the world”?

When we’re struggling or overwhelmed in our relationships, finances, careers, parenting, health, spiritual path or just remembering self-love-and-care, our festering fears can separate us. The answer to healing our collective soul-sickness is to heal our own wounds, first; then we have a brighter, clearer and enthusiastic vision to reach out and make broader changes.

In this divisive climate, we need each other more than ever. So. If you’re looking for some super-soul support in aligning with your spirit’s power, mission and vision…

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The Divine Feminine is rising (in women and men, both.) She’s the loving energy that works in cooperation (instead of competition, cold business-as-usual, political insanity, corporate greed, arrogance, superiority, nationalism, racism, etc etc etc etc!!!)

Deep breath.

She’s the compassionate, creative, tender, nurturing, powerhouse Amazon within us. She’s the heart-centered healer. The protective mama bear. Our Great Gaia. Pachamama’s Holy Presence. She brings balance and courage. She holds hearts and quiets minds. She soothes the broken child within us. She births a new world.

But.

She’s been silenced for eons. Belittled. Dismissed. Assaulted. Abused. Oppressed. She. Needs. Support. She’s been struggling to the surface, to be heard, to be honored. The out-dated patriarchy is grasping and gasping for control. The conflict, the backsliding, the pain and wild resistance is mind-boggling and heart-wrenching.

The crumbling current world order is s.c.a.r.y. I’ve been wringing my hands and heart trying to understand why people behave so deplorably.

Those groups who have lacked political, electoral, or economic clout for thousands of years, see it in almost every industry. It is heartbreaking. Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white man … and with her courage, she started an entire movement toward civil rights. Sadly, we have not manifested that Dream, on many fronts. Yet.

The truth is that the world is both troubled AND beautiful. But focusing on the F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real) is to pitch our precious energy into the negativity, as if it’s more powerful than the Light. It is not. Dark is a lack of Light. That’s all.

Spreading our love, faith and courage into the haunted corners will illuminate what was never really there. This is not to say that you and I have not suffered at the hands of others, or that it wasn’t very REAL to us. But the Truer Reality is that we survived. We will Thrive, no matter what hatred or bullies are in the backrooms, boardrooms and battlefields.

Our souls are unhurt-able.

Our most difficult task is not allowing the inner BS battlefield to overtake our alignment with our bigger purpose. Our Spirit. Peace. Hope. Family. Friends. The gorgeous earth that sustains us. The radiant, pulsing life all around us. We are not forsaken.

Please don’t hang your head (for too long…) or let despair win. We need you. Embolden your heart. Live in Inspiration. Be brave. Give into wonder and joy. It’s our soul’s natural state. It’s the place where our power leads us onward and upward. Higher. Happier. No matter what wolves are at our door.

How can you invest your values, talents and passions in a better life? Better relationships? Career? Creativity, health, parenting, self love, self-care? We all need support in uncovering the gifts that come as a result of any challenging times.

When I’m tempted to believe that the current strife means we are losing the *battle*, I remember that saving ourselves IS dissolving the bigger war. Cultivating inner peace is saving the world, one soul at a time, one courageously inspired act at a time.

This is where I do my best work – helping clients to process tough emotions, uncover and release limiting beliefs, overcome challenging circumstances, follow the spiritual breadcrumbs and practice daily mindfulness.

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Partnering with me will bring new direction, motivation, vitality, energy and enthusiasm. As you practice seeing life from a higher perspective, you’ll more naturally connect with the beauty and power of the true you.

There’s no quick fix, but there is one power-packed ongoing practice ~ aligning with your rock-star soul and following its sacred call.

Where is it calling you? Let’s work together so you can enjoy the sacred mission you came to fulfill – to use your mighty Spirit to liberate yourself and your world. To empower your voice and your divine path. Don’t give up your seat on the bus. Your irreplaceable soul wants you to ignite your Light and keep on truckin’ toward your goals and dreams.

I am here to help!

In super-soul support and solidarity,

singing, dancing, painting

and howling at the moon

with you,

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P.P.S. Grab a tissue and watch these inspiring videos!

This young dance crew, The Lab, gives me hope! “Waiting on the World” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY_lf0No-gk

An epic dance/acrobatic group, Zucaroh, performing to “Baba Yetu” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5vSo2pFZKA

Another emotional dance by The Lab to “Cold Water” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlPjatViUFU

?☀️

Leaving you with a beautiful poem from Jai-Jagdeesh

Day by day,

step by step,

we come into our power.

You are UNFATHOMABLY strong;

you know this, right?

There is absolutely NOTHING

you can’t do

when

your heart

your soul

and your mind

are working together.

A harmonic convergence,

a full embodiment;

a most BEAUTIFUL thing.

We get there

with age, with experience,

through inspiration…

and because of practices like these.

THANK YOU for your practice.

THANK YOU for showing up AS YOU.

More embodied every day,

every hour,

every minute.

I bow to your strength.

May you always use it

to change the world

for good.

~Jai-Jagdeesh

Comments Off on Financial Obstacles? Waiting on the World to Change

Posted in Belief Systems BS, community and collaboration, finding inner light in the dark, Gratitude, inspirational blog, life coaching coupon codes, pay it forward, spiritual blog, super soul coaching

Tagged community and collaboration, Great Gaia, heart centered healers, life coaching coupon codes, May the Source be with you, Pachamama post, rising of the divine feminine, super soul coaching

What Tick’s You Off? Death and BS in the Circle of Life

Posted on 06/11/2018 | 2 comments

Hiya Radiant Renegades,

I arrive at Green Diva Meg’s magical home, ready for a delightful stint of dog sitting. 10 days in the woods. 10 days of quiet. Daily walks around a beautiful lake with her devoted dog, Gracie. I get to hang with the heron and gab with the geese. A sapphire sky sprawls out before us. It’s heaven on earth.

Until.

The cool camouflaged snake

A sign appears on my first walk. A snake! I feel so excited to have noticed her, wonderfully camouflaged along the trail. So much exciting life in these woods!

Ten minutes later, my mood plummets. I see half of a mutilated snake, jaws gapping open in wide-eyed shock. Did it suffer? It’s just the circle of life, I say, trying to soothe my heart. I’ve always loved animals. But I’m pained by predators and not at home with the ways of the wild.

The next morning, I notice one of the unique brown squirrels… and an adorable baby bouncing behind her! AW! I watch them closely, totally enjoying their twitchy athletics. Later that day, I feel a sudden nudge to grab the binoculars and look out the front window (which I’ve never done – it’s partially blocked.) As I’m peering out across the lawn, a fox runs right into view! WHOA! ? I follow the fox with my lens, feeling SO happy that I listened to the nudge. Then I notice a soft bundle in her mouth. Oh. No. As she’s running, she drops it! What the?

Sunset on Meg’s lake

The fox zips out of view and I swing my lens back to the motionless furball. What is it? Please not a baby bunny. Please. My heart is dipping into sadness & shock, once again. I wait awhile, but the fox does not return for the meal. I feel horribly compelled to go look. But I can’t look. But it’s right on the path where we walk. Crap. I have to look. No I don’t want to look.

I’m gonna go look.

I walk out across the expansive green lawn with Gracie, for comfort and courage. My eyes are glued to the spot where the sweet bundle lies. I’m braced for the bunny.

But it’s a baby red squirrel.

What. The. Hell!

The circle of life… again!?!

I stare bleakly, as Gracie sniffs the adorable baby. Death makes me droop. Is the mama squirrel distraut? Why can’t I accept that death follows life?

The universe is being very loud. What’s the message?

A few hours later, the lil body is still there. I’m hoping it won’t go to waste.

Vulture perched above us

As Gracie and I head into the woods, there is a a loud flurry of flapping. A huge vulture lifts off the path and perches above our heads.

All this LIFE in the woods, and Death will NOT shut up.

I text my hubby the eerie deets of the day. He sends a photo of a ginormous feather he found in our yard and writes, “it’s from a deep doo-doo bird.”

OMG vultures are circling.

Live snake. Dead snake. Live squirrel. Dead squirrel. Vulture. Vulture. Is someone gonna die??

Vulture feather (deep doo-doo bird)

I wake up the next day and find a deer tick embedded in my side ? Nooooo! And there’s a bloody bull’s eye, already! ACKKKKKK! Invaded! After some pulling, pain and panic, I finally remove the beastie, but it’s black grappling hooks are left in my side.

This is NOT fair! Nature is where I feel at home, in awe, connected, but now the glory of the Great outdoors is circling the drain! Why would the Earth attack me?

As I drive to the health food store, and talk to the naturopath, I resist the answer.

Mother Nature isn’t betraying me. My BS (belief system) is. My fears already had me circling the drain. I’m a wilderness wannabe, but I continually worry that my dwarfed body isn’t safe in this world. Vulnerable. Victim. Ah ha. I’ve become the prey I feared. My BS is confirmed! (BS would rather be right than happy.)

Bonus BS – I have a deep distrust of the medical world, even though it’s come to my aid in the past. I DO NOT WANT antibiotics! But I know I can’t fool around with Lyme disease. I worship (and cling) to natural remedies. But I’m working to blend the two worlds, of medicine and metaphysics, without judgment.

I’m still terrified. And totally ticked. This tiny pain in my side brings old issues to the surface… and it feels like everything’s all WRONG… but maybe it’s to help me see that in the bigger picture, I’m always alright.

Magical pond at Meg’s, early morning

At the doctor’s office, the nurse tells me she’s had Lyme’s for 28 years. As she’s leaving the room, she turns back, as if nudged from beyond, and says tenderly, “you know, ticks are a part of the circle of life.”

My jaw drops open like the wide-eyed snake.

“I canNOT believe you just said that,” I tell her. “That’s been going through my mind for two days!”

“I couldn’t understand why God created ticks,” she said, “so I read up and found that ticks help clean up the environment. Like vultures.”

“No. Way.” I stared at her, gobsmacked. I feel a profound awe and relief.

The lake where I stayed

We live in a dynamic, interactive ecosystem. It breathes through us and speaks to us, as us. Animals, water, sky, nurses and even ticks. Life and death are divine dance partners. We came here to take the crazy, complicated, courageous steps. To walk in each other’s moccasins. To dive into the dark and remember our own reflection of light. And to lovingly @#$% embrace our belligerent BS.

When we’re in deep doo-doo… it isn’t the circumstances that cause the lasting pain, it’s our beliefs about them. Fear tells us we’re alone, wounded, and the vultures are circling. The truth says we’re One with it all. We draw to our side (or embedded IN our side) whatever will bring up our BS so we can return to wholeness… and let go of the grappling hooks.

FYI I learned that ticks are a major food source for birds, reptiles etc. If we erased them (or mosquitoes, fleas, poison ivy etc…) we’d further mess with the balance of nature.☯

We already live off the Earth quiet mindlessly, and yet she’s a forgiving host. We complain about insects and inconvenience… and yet our collective footprint melts glaciers. Kills bees and trees. We’re the predators. In my tiny tick-attack, the tables were turned. Circle of dark and light.

What ticks you off?
What’s sucking the life out of you?
What fear needs to die, so something better can be reborn in you?

Meg’s dog, Gracie & the setting sun

Fighting our troubles is a form of violence against ourselves. We add to our suffering by insisting that life be other than “what it is.” When we reject what the foxy universe presents, we miss the hidden bundles that heal our inner wild.

When the old BS is circling, our prayers are bringing unexpected answers. Take that leap of faith. Accept life with an open heart. Trust your soul’s nudges. And smile across the mysterious wilderness.
With a deep bow.

✨ Sending lotsa love and light,
☀ in the circle that moves us all,
~ Julie

P.S. The oldest known fossilized tick was discovered in a piece of amber in NJ (where I am, lol.) It’s 90 million years old! They must be doing something right. So let’s keep on ticking… just like they do.

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Photo from my favorite park and pond

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Posted in Belief Systems BS, Circle of life, death, Gratitude, grief, Inspiration, Letting Go, Mother Nature Heals, Spirituality, vulnerability, wilderness

Tagged balance, belief systems, circle of life, empowerment, grace, healing, inspiration, letting go, mother nature, snake, soul, spirituality, ticks, vulture, wholeness

The Queen of Autumn: Leaf Piles and Present Moment Magic

Posted on 11/06/2015 | Comments Off

(Originally posted at my Huffington Post Blog in 2011!)

As my neighbors grumble about the leaves covering their lawn, my boys wait wide-eyed, with mighty rakes in their hands. The time is here; our delicate Japanese maple has finally shed enough of her red robe for a ginormous leaf pile.

Our maple stands on duty, everyday, a quiet nanny to a neighborhood of fast friends. She stoops down low for even the smallest of sneakers to scale and reaches high enough for the bigger kids to walk on air.

As the seasons move past, dependable and reassuring, she’s alive in our photos: summer kids dangling like earrings from her limbs, green leaf stew at her feet. There are winter snowmen around her waist and a count down to Christmas in her ears.

But her infamous time of year is Now, when ruby-red leaves dance and drop from her skies. The dogwood nearby offers a generous contribution and the old oak by the street throws in her golden leaves. But no one is fooled. We all know who is really Queen of Autumn.

Our autumn maple in an early snowfall, 2011

“We can rake now, right Mom?” my ten-year-old asks as he watches a squirrel tight rope through our bare maple. “Yup we definitely have enough leaves,” I answer, as he breaks for the garage. “C’mon Ky, let’s get the rakes!” My six-year-old scurries behind him, a bagel in hand, no shoes on his feet.

I grab my camera and step out front. Long rake handles appear first, bobbing above our front bushes, taller than both boys combined. As the work begins, our maple occasionally catches their hair in her branches or snags the wooden handles. Nothing inconveniences the boys, though, as they move with purpose and enthusiasm. Spencer tugs at the glorious crimson carpet, sweat beading on his forehead, as our maple exhales oxygen and inhales CO2 in a beautiful exchange.

From across the street, our twin nine-year-old neighbors, Manuela and Thomas, spot the fun and rush to join the leaf brigade. Thomas refuels the effort where Ky has petered out. “We can make a pile as high as the house!” he yells with glee. Spencer’s tired rake is reluctantly passed off to Manuela, who moves with invigorating new purpose. A monstrous pile is built.

Can you find all three faces…

My maple and I smile with motherly pride. Appreciating the present moment, I remember where peace and joy resides. “I jump first!” Spence yells. “Second!” Ky pipes in. “Third!” “Fourth!” Thomas and Manuela add. Our eight-year-old neighbor Danny suddenly runs into the yard yelling, “Fifth!”

I balance my smiling camera as Bill comes to enjoy the spectacle. Like our maple, the kids stand ready for the joy ahead, for snuggling in next year’s shade, for the long upward climb into adulthood.

We watch as Spence backs way up to begin his debut run. He takes off with a bang and then, with an enormous leap and a giggly shout, he dives head first into the autumn womb.

With laughter spilling around like sunshine, I feel reconnected with it all. The smell, the crunch, the gratitude for a world breathing in and out. I have the boys to thank. They won’t let their childhood pass us by too quickly. At least not today.

Soon our maple will be hailing the holidays, branches lined with elegant white snow. Although I may get distracted by the busyness, scurrying to get it all done, I can count on our maple to etch our lives in peace.

In the years ahead, as our sons find new joy and work in this world, Bill and I want to be there with them, celebrating each new season of their lives. All the while we’ll remember the days of autumn leaf piles when friends and family (and an elegant Japanese maple) were there to steady our souls.

Let it go,

let it be,

for love,

Julie

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Posted in Gratitude, Inspiration, Letting Go, Mother Nature Heals, Present moment, Spirituality

Tagged gratitude, inspiration, mother nature, Parenting, power of now, soul, the present moment

How Will I spend My Heart Today? On BS or Mindfulness?

Posted on 08/02/2014 | 5 comments

Hiya Radiant Renegade,

How do you feel about really truly deeply being seen? Including your insecurities, shadows & secret darkness? I had an enlightening run-in with some of my old BS just last week.

As I’m basking in the quiet of my favorite park, writing by this very peeeaceful pond (in the photo), a noisy group sauntered into my sanctuary and plopped down in the shade behind me.

Ugh.

I continue writing, trying to ignore the prickly feeling of eyes and action behind me. One dude is particularly loud. Generally, I love listening to other languages – I have this excited feeling that I understand what’s being said, even when I don’t. But today, his foreign tongue is like a jackhammer and he seems to be the only one carrying the conversation.

I ask my angels if they’d help !@#$ quiet him. Oh wait. Trying to change him is a disempowering focus. Instead, I need to shift my own intention and response. It feels better to say, Thank you angels, in advance, for helping me tune out the distraction.

Soon enough I notice a tremendous turtle sunbathing on a rock. Some swallows are swooping and playing in the air. A goldfinch flies past. Colorful dragonflies are whisking all around. Ducks and geese are feeding nearby in their funny bottoms-up way. Earlier, a small snake had swam seamlessly through the sunlit water.

While marveling at this wide-eyed world, I forget my cares and remember what matters.

And I’ve been able to ignore, somewhat, the incessant talker, who is still rattling away. My goodness.

It’s getting too warm sitting in the sun and I want to gather up my books, beach chair and snacks and waddle over into the shade, about twenty feet away. But I hesitate. I fear the roving eyes behind me. Oooph.

My residual BS has bubbled up – the old Belief System that fears my dwarfism & I will be judged, rejected, humiliated. I shake my head. Why do I care what they think? What will they do, throw stones? Tomatoes? Call me ugly? Laugh? WHO CARES!

Apparently, I still do.

I take some deep breaths, relax and prepare myself to stand up and BE SEEN. Go ahead Jule, they can’t hurt you. You are free to be yourself in this world. This is a great opportunity to bust through the BS. Reclaim the joy.

I awkwardly stand and . . . you know what?

The chatterbox shuts right up.

Hee hee.

By facing my fear, I get my wish ~ his mouth is firmly muzzled. (My inner BS was speechless, too.)

In the past, I’ve dreaded that hushed reaction to me. The shocked looks. Today, the quiet is my reward.

I grab my gear and shuffle into the shade, chuckling to myself. I am an anti-gab Goddess. A shift in perspective is everyone’s super soul power, available anywhere, anytime.

I sit back down and put my notebook on my lap. Suddenly a white-tailed dragonfly (I Googled it) lands on my writing. I watch in surprise as her tiny velvety body breathes. It isn’t a quick flutter – her whole body expands slowly and then contracts. Wow!

Then I realize her fabulous domino looking wings are perfectly covering just one sentence. I’d written it in the upper corner of my page this morning~

“How will I spend my heart today?”

Will I give away my joy because of other people’s reaction? Or will I stand up and be who I am, in peace (or flat out enthusiasm.)

Will I focus on an argument with an old friend/partner/sibling/kids? Or will I send them love bombs and release thoughts of right or wrong.

Will I try to control the outcome of some ‘uncomfortable’ circumstances? Or will I breathe deeply, expand my heart, my love and my willingness to grow.

Will I judge what’s ugly in me/them/the world? Or will I search for what’s beautiful around me and within me.

Will I spend my heart on self-doubt? Worry? Criticism? Shrink away from my challenges?

Or will I trust life to unfold in spectacular ways.

The dragonfly’s work has dominoed and is done. She lifts off the page, hovers for a moment and then zips toward the open water, taking some of my black and white BS with her.

How will you spend your heart today?

Let me know in the comments, I loooove hearing from you : )

I see you,

with lotsa love~

Julie

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Posted in Gratitude, Inspiration, Mother Nature Heals, Present moment, Self Acceptance, Spirituality

Tagged belief systems, dragonfly, dwarfism, empowerment, facing your fear, healing, Little People of America, mindfulness, mother nature, self acceptance, self awareness, self-confidence, soul, spirituality

Can You Drink in Your Dreams? Are You Creating Fungus or Fabulous?

Posted on 05/27/2014 | 9 comments

What the heck can rice prove when it comes to the unimagined power of our thoughts, feelings and words?

I wanted to see it with my own eye balls. So my boys and I started an experiment in positivity, inspired by Dr. Masaru Emoto. Although our attitudes obviously affect our personal decisions and lives, here’s a wild illustration of how they ‘mold’ the world around us, as well. It blew me out the back door.

We took three small containers and put 1/2 cup of cooked white rice in each. I labeled one, Love Joy Peace. I labeled another, Fear Hate Stress, and the third was the control rice so it had no label.

The three containers sat on the same shelf separated by six inches or so. Each day we quietly sent the “Love rice” good vibes, thoughts and prayers. We sent the “Hate rice” anger, stress and fear (rather awkward to do.) The control rice was ignored.

I was surprised to find that suddenly I had doubts.

What if all the containers mold at the same rate? My boys will just stare at me sideways and think, that’s just Mom and her spiritual stuff. But after about six days (check out the youtube video progression) a small hunk of blue fungus appeared on the Hate rice. wOOt-wOOt! Holy mold. I’ve never been so psyched about decay. A few days later, a bit of blue-green graced the control rice too.

The Love rice was still rawkin’ white. Cool.

Another week past and the Hate rice was even moldier. The control rice had some mold but less than the Hate, and the Love rice was still holding strong with nada. Go love!

The Hate rice was soon host to an ominous tsunami – condensation on all sides and a doomsday grey fur on top. Whoa. It was a primeval forest of fungus and fear. It was amazeballs.

The control rice mushroomed some more pink mold and some blue, but nowhere near the ferocious growth on the Hate rice. It wasn’t until the 4th week that the Love rice surrendered to some pink ick on top and a brownish breakdown on the bottom.

What an incredible experiment!

My 13-year-old said to me, “mom, even though I’m a believer, I wasn’t sure this would work.” Aw, a believer. I told him I’d had my concerns, too. Doubt seems to be built-in to the forgetful human suit.

Yesterday I grabbed three sugar soaked donut holes and, one by one, mindlessly popped them into my mouth. Then I spotted the small sign I’d posted where the experiment used to be, “Remember the Rice.” Oops. So I took a deep breath and blessed my belly and it’s bounty. It made me smile.

Gratitude boosts our immune system, metabolism and well-being. It’s never too late to prevent an inner tsunami by chowing down on thank you, thank you, thank you. What’s the hurry, bless it all!

We need consistent inspiration and reminders of what we already know; the power is within us. When we’re numb, negative or uncaring we’re feeding ourselves rot, but when we’re mindful, hopeful and loving, we’re wielding the power of light.

For most of us, it isn’t whether we believe in the power of positivity or prayer (we do.) It’s whether we’ll remember to stop, take a deep breathe and implement. Slow it way down. Snap out of the race. Go against the ‘grain.’ Bless our grub. Pause and send love bombs. Smack some affirmations on our frig, mirror, wall or forehead.

I like to make co-creative-coasters ~ I take a sticky note & write a word like, “LOVE” or “JOY” or a phrase, “RADIANT HEALTH” or “FINANCIAL ABUNDANCE.” I take fat clear tape and cover the whole note to ‘water proof’ it (sort of.) It sits under my water glass daily. It sinks into my heart. Dr. Emoto has researched how “water listens.” Our words and intentions imprint on our world. So bottoms up. Drink in the dreams. Expect miracles . . .

According to the rice, what we’re being, believing and blessing is spreading the mold or the marvelous. What beliefs and feelings are you feeding your friends and fam? Your neighbors? What silent thoughts are you dining on daily?

Don’t succumb to fungus. You can choose fabulous!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seeing a forest of grace and greatness within you,

& always LOVE!