amy wants to save the planet

i have been working on my elevator pitch... man does writing something to speak in 15 seconds tweak my buttons. how can i possibly sum up my practice, all the services i provide, and a compelling hook to join me?

the worst part about playing with elevator pitches is the idea i have stuck in my brain that some how i have to capture your attention in this brief time and then once i have you hooked i then have to expand and real you in. it feels so inauthentic and sort of desperate and slimy (like a fish).

but maybe it feels that way because i am a bit desperate at this point in time.

somehow i have to change the paradigm stuck in my brain and create a story that invites future inquiry and inspires a person towards action.

very small changes... the essence is exactly the same but change the key words and suddenly you are acting in partnership with someone, instead of trying to up sell them so you can pay your mortgage.

so in essence i want to save the planet... not a small goal and one i am not really sure how to even set sustainable check points to see my accomplishments but see it's really, really important to me that we have a planet. because if we don't then i have no idea how any one will live.

and i think i can do it. ok obviously i can't save the whole planet all by myself but see that where what i do fits in. i teach people to take better care of themselves, which leads them to making more sustainable choices, create products and services that help in ways i can't even begin to imagine, and take personal responsibility for every choice and action they do.

so you see i get to be a catalyst. a small little person with a set of expert skills in a couple of key areas who connects with others skilled in other expert areas and so on and so on...

i am a vital strand in the web. and i will show you how you are as well. and together we will save the planet.

planting the seeds

I have been listening to this program on retraining my brain to accept in new belief structures.

Today I hit the jack pot of all information.

My job is to plant the seed of new belief, whatever that is: a new income level, a new car, anything.

My job is not to know or even understand the HOW. The universe will provide the how: the people, the insights, the ideas, the media spots, the for sale sign.

Now it's just this simple and it's not just this simple. I must act as if it already is, I must visualize it, find a picture, create a mental movie, feel the joy, I must to act, to as much of an extreme as is possible, as if it already is. Only then will you begin to override the systems in place in yourself that keep you in this current safe smaller place. Once things begin to be re-written-MAGIC- Things begin to show up, ideas you would never have acted on before you leap at, you meet people who are or know the people you need to help you, you spot the tiny ad for your car/home/partner and you act. You act, you act.

First you act as if, and then you on.

Here's to a life of change, abundance, and beauty!

Enough Already!

i am tired of the financial crisis. it is taking up news time, creating panic in our population and lowering the vibrational energy of every living thing on this planet.

so over the next few weeks i am determined tot discover and explore the idea of enough.

when one has enough there is no need for more, there is no lack, and therefore no conflict, fear or pull.

the trick is to understand what enough is for you while i understand what enough is for me. we are all different so therefore we each get our own ideas and numbers.

if you want to manifest enough, you have to know what it is before it can arrive.

so that is my self imposed task. to learn what is my enough. then i can be in full responsibility of my life, and my choices and act with integrity, love and gratitude.

the problem with america's finances are it was never enough, someone always needed more. so i challenge you to take responsibility in the only way you can. find your idea of enough.

then purge the excess allowing what you really want to enter and transform your need into gratitude for its arrival.

Definition: Enough

adjective
Being what is needed without being in excess

noun
An adequate quantity

adverb

1. To a satisfactory amount or degree; sufficiently
2. Very; fully; quite
3. Tolerably; rather

blessings in this discovery. i feel in my heart it will be the best journey i have ever undertaken. it might also be one of the hardest as transformations and butting heads with belief structures can rip you open, chew you up and spit you out. but alas staying in this place isn't any better, in fact i think it might be way worse a slow sort of torture.

These are the days...

of owning personal responsibility

of not letting fear overcome your ability to risk, love, do, create and breathe

of showing gratitude for what you have, where you have come from, and where you plan to go

of dreaming the big dreams

of loving just a little bit more

and crying just a little bit louder

and praying
for yourself, your family, the world, our government and our nation

of asking for impossible things
like world peace, and justice, and a break for the underdog, more love, less war, more community, less hate, food for all, water for all, saving the planet, and saving ourselves

these are the days to breathe in, and get up, and take one more step... even though you are so very tired and it seems so utterly impossible and it looks so utterly improbable

all change starts within and ripples out into this world

have gratitude for those that make waves

have gratitude to be here and be alive so that you can choose differently starting right now

please remember to breathe

i had a email from my dearest friend in new zealand today which made me have a wee bit of depression. she is thinking of moving flat but is worried about things, one of them being the idea of a certain white man as president who then croaks and what do we have left.

it made me do some research on her. and then it made me depressed. and then it made me realize part of the problem is as a nation we seem to be holding our collective breath.

lots of us are feeling compelled to act but have no idea what to act on. everyone is committed but doesn't want to commit and the east coast gets battered by storms and the west coast gets little earthquakes and holy shit.

i think the best think i can do right now it to remind people to breath. inhale and exhale. it will do us no good to arrive at november 4th blue in the face and so forgetful from asphyxiation we forgot to vote.

and stop waiting for it to come. visualize the ideal outcome, whatever yours is... and breathe into it. give it energy and light and love and it will help it come to manifestation.

you must be breathing, especially as we are about to enter a period of mercury in retrograde. if you aren't getting enough oxygen in those three weeks they are going to be some miserable days to suffer through.

in light and love i pray we are ready to embrace our potential as a community and a country.

my daily practice

what i am learning about life right now is that it is all about intention.

i had an amazing chat and lunch with my friend "the queen of the fairies" all about soul, and purpose. that we are meant to awaken. to realize our magnificence and to create what we desire.

and i realized it really is that simple. you just have to opt out of playing the game everyone else on this planet seems to be playing. then you will find others who are also observing and together you can go off and create magic.

now let me tell you that i have had this realization no less than 10 times in my very short life. and things flow really well for a month or so and then i get sucked back in by trying to pay bills and get things done. but every time i remember i take a little bit more with me when i return to the chaos, confusion and heartache.

"inherent in every intention is the mechanics for its fulfillment" deepak chopra

don't worry about how you are going to get there, trust the universe to do its job to provide for those who dare to risk and hold the intention. it is a daily task, you must constantly intent that you are already there. worry attracts all the things you worry about and then you doubt because the universe has brought you all this struggle when really it was you asking to be alone, live in fear, or not be able to pay the bills because that was the strongest thing you were broadcasting.

i intend to perfect this and be able to hold my vision and allow worry to just slide right off me.

Thursday Circle This Week

Yes the second Thursday of the month circle is happening on the third week this month :D Just to keep you on your toes!

This month we will be playing with the concepts of myth, happiness, and manifesting.

Please bring a journal and figure out something you are trying to bring into the Real World... "Any picture you image, if focused on daily for an extended period of time, cannot help but appear in your outer world." If you come across any images or quotes in the next couple of days that express this please bring them with you as we will be beginning work on a visual (picture or written) for you to keep close.

Please feel free to bring anyone who might be interested and RSVP so I know how many chairs to have about :D and email me if you need directions to my home!

people just keep saving the planet

thankfully we don't stop when met with resistance, we just go underground or utilize the amazing power of the internet to change things.

get smarter and feed someone or save a rain forest
http://www.onesquarefoot.org/
http://www.freerice.com/

local shopping program that helps local people
http://www.interraproject.org/

a 20 minute video to educate you of the life and death cycle of all your possessions
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

beauty with a beautiful impact
http://www.iamapeacekeeper.com/aboutpeacekeeper.htm?

monks save trees by making them monks, does anyone else think that is the best thing ever
http://ecoworldly.com/2008/01/19/thai-monks-combat-deforestation/

2008

Numerology time 2+0+0+8=10 take it down to 1+0=1

This is the year of 10 and 1.... I am so excited for so many reasons...

To start 10 is symbolic of the ending of a cycle while 1 is obviously the beginning. Why is that so exciting to me? Mainly because the more work I do on/in myself the more excited I become when I near the end of something. I love getting the death card in a tarot reading, not because I am morbid but simply because it means something big is about to change. Honestly I can think of nothing more positive happening on this Earth than a HUGE change. I'm ready for a new beginning, and I'm manifesting a positive and amazing new start, as opposed to focusing on all the problems in the world currently.


here's what Angeles Arrien has to say The Tarot Handbook: practical applications of ancient visual symbols
10 or the wheel of fortune. ..."universal principle of abundance, prosperity and expansion... we can turn our lives in a more fortunate direction by remaining objective, flexible, reaching for opportunity and expressing out creative power..."

And on the 1 magician... "universal principle of communication... communication that is balanced, healing and transformative. The magician utilizes the tools necessary and appropriate to effectively communicate (and get what he wants)..."

It gives me tingles to think about a year in which change is so prevalent and we are asked to communicate with impeccability. It also gives me hope for the upcoming elections.

Words shape our reality and we are being given amazing metaphysical tools this year, I hope we can all rise up to the challenge and transform the world one kind word at a time. Remember everything you say shapes something, make sure you are planting more seeds of joy and abundance then weeds and entanglements.

There is more that delights me but I must go get ready for a client and plant some positive seeds for healing and new beginnings!

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful start to a new year. If you are anything like me trying to make resolutions and change habits is a challenge on these cold rainy Seattle days. So to say thanks for helping make my 2007 great and to get your 2008 started on the right (or left) foot I have a few specials going on.

Testimonials
I am updating my website and need some client and student testimonials. Please help me out by writing up something about how reflexology, massage or intuitive work has changed your life/beliefs/day. It doesn't have to be about me it can just be about the work, my goal is to get across to people the magic of this work. Please email me your submission and I will mail you a gift card for $15 off a session or a free 1/2 hour upgrade. If you can bring tears to my eyes then you will get an even bigger discount :D

Intuitive Work
January is a great time to begin mapping out your next steps. The winter months are ones of dreaming into our lives, to help plant the seeds that will blossom this coming spring I am offering a huge discount on intuitive sessions. Sessions are 30-60 minutes in length and include tarot work, scrying or other mediums to consult guides and get you the clarity you need for the upcoming year. January special rate is $25 for 30 minutes/ $45 for 60 minutes. You can add an intuitive session to any of your regularly scheduled appointments, just confirm ahead that I have the time flexibility.

Packages (special new offering price valid until 3/1/08)
"Catalyst" set of 5 --60 minute reflexology sessions $325 ($50 discount)

"An Afternoon With Your Soul" $125
This 2 1/2 hour session invites you to relax and open to your inner wisdom. An afternoon with your soul consists of a foot soak, a 50 minute reflexology treatment, tea and treats, and a 30 minute intuitive reading. Bring a journal to take notes.

Please pass this email on to anyone you think would be interested, and to entice you to talk about me and help me find new clients I am offering Refer 3 Get One Free! For every 3 new clients that you refer to me, and that actually come in and get a session, you get a free hour of my time. You can exchange this for reflexology, massage, intuitive reading, or shamanic work in your space. Thanks for helping me get the word out!

Blessings in the New Year... I think it's going to be an amazing ride!

compost

being self employed is surely becoming the most hazardous thing i have ever done. my time is divided into a myriad of "Things to do" "Things that I should do" and "Things that must be done yesterday."


in amidst all the internal chaos are two cats, a house, a giant yard, laundry and dinner. oh yeah and a husband. how'd i forget him?

what am i slowly but surely learning? that every thing counts and that all my failures need to be relegated to the realm of compost. yes compost, that luscious black squishy dirt that feeds plants vital nutrients, keeps their roots warm in the winter and wet in the summer. no plant can thrive without this decaying material made of bit of paper, food, leaves and lots of small bug like things. when i look back, i find much fertile fodder all in small piles... what a delightful and more healthy way to look at these piles. instead of being embarrassed, ashamed or repelled by the failure i can back up, laugh a little and sprinkle it hardily onto everything i see.

if i can shift my perspective just this little bit i can see that yes, life is full of shit, and what a delightful thing to roll up your sleeves, dig your shovel in and hide your own pile under the skirt of your newest success, because that pile fed that success just like compost hides at the base of every healthy plant.

so in addition to the mantra
chop wood, carry water
achieve enlightenment
chop wood, carry water

i will add:
shovel shit
achieve enlightenment
spread compost

it's funny

i just sat down to my computer with tons of energy and a million and one things to say. and now that i'm here... nada

it's been a day of revealing moments and tons of synthesis. my body has been through the wringer and i'm feeling a bit like i have a heard of elephants running about in my gut. i felt so eloquent 2 minutes ago, but then i sat down and stupidly responded to an email and now... it's all gone for the moment.

so... i'm going to go follow my pleasure, see where it leads me and hopefully i will be back with words of inspiration.

but for the moment consider this. consider comes from con sidere--with the stars. next time you find yourself considering a big decision, look up and realign with the stars, they will lead you to your answers and possibly grant your wishes.

once upon a time...

there was a woman who HATED to ask for help. Then one day she had an epiphany, if she couldn't ask then no one was free to ask for her help. This confused and saddened her because she truly enjoyed helping other people. (this also applies to always saying "yes", if you can't say "no" once in a while then you really aren't free to say "YES")

She started small, asking for little things progressing on and on until one day she sent out a plea to all her clients and even out over the Internet in her blog (which she's not sure anyone reads) Now anyone could view her need. This made her feel oddly insecure and relieved all at the same time.

Maybe no one would respond. Maybe the sophisticated spam filters would gobble up all her emails. At this point it didn't really matter. She had done it, she had asked for help with something BIG. Her career. She had essentially admitted that she was struggling. Struggling with confidence, paying the bills, and finding people willing to pay her to help heal them.

At this point she had a minor breakdown and wrote a whole story on her blog in the third person.

But it didn't matter because the fear that used to clutch around her ribcage at the thought of asking for help, or needing anything, loosened a bit tonight and well she (I) need to celebrate that! Thank you for playing along.

And she lived happily for a few moments and then life continued with it's usual ups and downs.

The End

magic and art

Well I just sent out a mass email to all my clients asking for their support in helping me find clients. I kinda hate mass emails, but this one was special... this one had a very specific intention behind it.

What I have discovered in the last three weeks is that just that action alone will produce at least one new client. Possibly from a referral but most likely they will just randomly show up. It is amazing how that has been happening lately. I put up fliers in West Seattle and people take a flier form Fremont and decide to call. A women meets another woman I worked on once in a yoga class and she calls, I work on my web site and someone finds my profile on Biznik and calls me to do a presentation. WOW! Can the world be anymore random? Thank you whatever forces are at work! I am truly grateful and I am learning how to not be scared of this amazing thing.

And so because magic happens when you put it out there....
I need help manifesting 8-12 clients a week. Just visualize for me, no need to mess up your life, or re-arrange things to try and come in (I'd love to see you if you have the time!) Just after reading this whisper out into the universe...
"Amy would like to see 8-12 clients a week, it'd sure be nice if you could make that happen."

If you want to do it more than once, knock yourself out!

Let me know what you need and I would be more than happy to whisper it out for you.

And now, because I used to be an art teacher... I leave you with a study of masterpieces to understand global warming

"Eventually I came to think there are three major reasons [for climate-change skepticism].

One is catastrophe overload. The end of the world has been going to come several times, and we're all still here. So it's: 'Wake me up when the real end of the world is coming.'

Then there's: 'If this were really as bad as you say, I would feel it by now. There'd be water lapping at my first-floor windows.' The problem is that the climate operates on a very long time lag, so if you wait until there's water lapping at your first-floor windows, you can be sure there's going to be water lapping at your second-floor windows. I don't think the message has gotten out: changes 30 or 40 years from now are already inevitable. There is warming in the pipeline already.

And then there is this question of what to do. People don't like to confront problems they don't have a clear answer to. And the answers here—to the extent there are answers—are very, very complicated. They're very hard. We know what causes people to be overweight, and we can't even stop that! And with global warming it's not as simple as 'eat less, lose weight.' It's 'do a million things.' As the mayor of Burlington, Vt., said to me, there's not one thing we have to do; there are hundreds and hundreds of things we have to do. And we have to do them on a global scale.

So that's pretty daunting to people. It's very much easier to pretend the problem doesn't exist."

—Elizabeth Kolbert in a 2006 interview with

I feel like I'm on some bouncing string... Like one of those Johnny-Jump-Ups that used to live on the hook in my basement. I am strapped into this contraption merrily bouncing along... Unfortunately my recent bouncing has not been quiet as peaceful and merry.

I feel trapped in this confusion of "what needs to happen" "what do I focus on" and "what the f*ck am I so depressed about now" I feel a bit alone in this bafflement, so I will try and explain whats happening in the hopes that maybe one person out there in the world can relate.

I feel a bit weird trying to grow a business when I see the world collapsing around me. It seems a bit odd to be worried about how to pay the mortgage and where to find "my ideal client." As an Aquarian I have been graced with always having my head stuck somewhere in the future 5 to 10 years ahead. I'm confused by all these people trying to "get ahead" Where do they think they are going? I'm not a drastic person but honestly, the economy ain't going to work the same way in the near future, and so I again wonder... "what's the point?" Our entire society revolves around a commodity that's running out. Why should I participate in it... and yet how can I afford not to.

The planet we inhabit is very sick. I think diagnosis might be a combination of cancer, AIDS, depression a really bad rash, plus a fever and boils. In my most evolved of moments I know that it doesn't matter and that the Earth will still be here long after we have thoroughly destroyed it. But in my everyday waking moments I feel paralysed. Why aren't we doing MORE. Why am I trying to build a stupid reflexology practice? and What is everyone thinking? I don't know what to do. So I bounce... trying to find a way to bring in income while and play the game of living in 2007. But underneath the voices are getting louder and I'm not sure how long I can keep playing.

So what's keeping me back? Well for starters, I have no idea what needs to be done first. Who do I talk to... why didn't I get that environmental education endorsement I wanted? If I tell someone I can heal not only people but water and plants and soil are they just going to dismiss me and walk away. Where's my place? Who are my people? and Where do I sign up? I'm bundling it all up and sending it out ... I want to help, I know I can help, please show me the next step or introduce me to the right person.

I know it's too late for some places, for some people and for some animals... but I also believe that this is a chance for the human race to shine. For us to put down our weapons, our fears, our judgements because who cares what the person next to you looks, thinks or act like if we don't start changing our relationship with the Earth they won't be there to hate, and we won't be there to learn to see through our hate and love them.

I'd like to see Al Gore switch the title of "Global Climate Crisis" to "Global Climate Opportunity" he's the man who could do it... then instead being inundated with yet another crisis we could see this for what it is... a chance for us to evolve and become so much more.

the times they are a changing

This summer has been one of intense self discovery and complete breakdown of my personal and professional life into what really matters. In June I re-entered weekly therapy with the express goal of figuring out why my career was blocked, and my schedule empty. I'm going to take a few bragging rights and state that I am an amazing therapist, especially in reflexology. I have a very loyal set of clients. My issue is that they are a small group and I have helped them all so effectively that they don't need to come in as much. GREAT! Unfortunately it means less income. So I have been confused and disheartened lately as to why there's no new showing up, and why I am have been floundering in this career for a good while.

Through much trial, struggle, and a willingness to look at myself and my practice with a microscope I have found a lot blocking. With guidance, I have spent a lot of time contemplating what's important to me and what I am willing and able to sustain for an extended period of time.

To make a long story short, there will soon be some big changes occurring in my practice. My website is about to be redone to reflect the new directions I am going and the new practices I am about to introduce. I am very excited about these changes and I look forward to renewal and vitality in my career.

The best thing I found in this summer of self exploration is a profound sense of gratitude. I am so thankful for my life, for the people in my life and for the support and help, physical and non-physical, that has marked this transition. I look forward to integrating this gratitude into my practice and hopefully passing it on to my clients. There is so much to be thankful for on a daily basis, if only we take a few moments to stop and see it.

namaste

taking time

You know life is good when you can feel productive watching your tea leave uncurl. There is something so satisfying in knowing that even with all the things I should/could be doing I have taken these 3 minutes all to myself simply to watch the unfolding.

I feel sometimes as if in these still moments more gets done than if I was rushing about.

So just for today, I encourage you to take a moment all for yourself to simply observe. Whether you copy me and watch your tea leaves expand, rain running down the window, leaves dancing in the wind, an insect pollinating flowers, the clouds, the people walking by... whatever you can, just sit and be caught up in the activity.

Maybe you'll find a lot has changed in that simple act of observation and you'll see the world in a whole new way. If only for today. I wish you delight in stillness.

New Moon

It's the new moon and I'm not sleeping... which considering the amount of chatter going on in my brain is not surprising. So here is a fun game a wonderful friend passed on, all about manifesting on the new moon.

Pick 5 seeds you want to plant for this coming month, mine are:
* create works of art
* listen to my guides more often
* move my body
* connect with people in meaningful ways
* have a really good belly aching laugh

Then as a mantra use each of the above and create a new catch phrase and assign each of 5 words to a finger so you have a physical and verbal reminder of your seeds. Let's create miracles!

CLMCL (my letters, I picked L for laugh on the last one, you can re-arrange the letters to suit)

Creating Life Manifesting Copious Love

Now I have my daily reminder and can say this lovely phrase over and over and remember that every time I say it I am making a pledge that I will actively nurture these desires.

Aah the bliss of settling the mind through intention. I think I can sleep now!

question

"The formulation of the question is far more important than the answer"
~Albert Einstein

I ran across that quote this morning and am thankful for it's reminder. I feel lately as if I have a million and one questions and none of the answers. When I find myself able to relax into this state of perpetual wonder answers usually appear in the most unexpected ways.

Unfortunately, as of late the relaxing into the questions has been missing. Instead I sit here worrying, asking question after question, never pausing to see if there might be an answer or turning my brain off to listen.

Luckily, the above quote found me again and I remember to embrace the curious 2 year old inside who lived in perpetual state of questioning And I remember to smile into the confusion, try to breath in between the questions, and listen for the patient person who will provide the information I seek.

Upcoming retreat

Linked here is a description of the upcoming retreat I am co-facilitating June 8th-10th on Whidbey Island. It will be a wonderful weekend of giving to the Earth and receiving for yourself. I will post more as details make themselves more known.

Right now there will be work around our current environmental chaos and easy, small steps you can take to help. There will be sweat time in a Finnish sauna, gardening, labyrinth walking, shamanic journeying and much more. Plus we are staying in the cutest farm house ever and eating delicious local foods prepared by me and the catering staff at the Whidbey Institute. It will be a weekend full of magic!

I hope to see you there!

http://ravensongretreats.com/index.html

choice

I am in a playing with the concept of choice today. I was reviewing parts of Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing for a shamanic session I am facilitating and I found a whole section on choice which sparked this inner dialogue.

In my view of the world I tend to believe that there is no wrong choice. There are easy ways to go and there are harder ways. Right or Wrong seems way too black and white for me and I tend to view the world and the events in more of a spectrum with a huge gray scale and not much happening in the realm of Good (white) or Bad (black). But that's me, I like gradients and I like to think that even my worst choices are tools for learning "what not to do." I hope that they teach others as well (that is if I choose to share my follies).

What got me pondering choice today are concepts Caroline Myss presents, which are 1) choices made in fear are not supported by the divine 2) choice is the process of creation 3) ultimately we cannot be in control.

My response to point 1: her basic statement following this idea was that any choice made in fear is a wrong choice and cannot be supported by God. Fear negates all forms of manifestation and creativity according to the argument presented in the book. What I can't get behind in this idea is that A LOT of our decisions are made in times of fear and panic. In fact most of us are consistently living in a state of near panic at all times due to the stresses of daily living in our society (how do I make ends meet, how do I pay taxes, is my relationship going to fail, will I be fired, etc) So what I don't get is that if we are living in a state of fear due to the circumstances of our lives, does this mean that we are continuously making bad choices? Because yuck. I can't subscribe to that. It takes away our power. I realize on one hand it is trying to give us power and make us see that Right choice comes from a calm, centered place but how can we get to that calm centered place in the middle of the high stress business meeting, or the dark street corner? Rash quickly made decisions should be thought about and reviewed, I can own that. But I can't stall on that street corner or in that meeting because if I do someone else is going to make a decision for me and that decision may very well affect my well-being. This is why having a gray scale is a good thing. I can justify and place all of my actions somewhere on that scale and make none of it Right or Wrong. And I can find the trust somewhere in my being that the higher powers looking out for me will put energy behind any decision I am fully committed too.

I really like the idea that choice is creation. I am creating my reality with every small decision I make. I like that. And I hate that. Because I understand that when I choose not to exercise my body or feed it healthy things that I am creating and environment for my body to not function at it's highest potential. In the long run I hope this belief can turn into a lifestyle where I make better decisions (brighter on the gray scale) which in turn create more opportunities that I like to participate in and can put energy and resources behind. And to play again with point one, if choice is creation isn't any choice made under any circumstance blessed by the divine? I'd like to think so.

And the last point: that we are ultimately not in control cracks me up. It like being offered a choice between a and b, picking one and then having it withheld (nope sorry, I just wanted to see which one you'd pick). If this is True why bother to make a decision at all? If everything is already planned out and we are not in control, then what is the point of all this struggle? What I believe the author was trying to get across is that we are all subjected to the factors of chaos and fate. Chaos comes from the influence of others actions upon your decisions and also from outside influences you cannot control. Chaos makes life more interesting and highly unusual. Fate to me is events that are unforeseen and out of our control, things like accidents, illness, miracles. Fate makes sure you get to the next level of your evolution whether by force or by happenstance. These forces work together to make your life full. What I am hoping the author was trying to say that it really doesn't matter what you choose you will get to exactly where you are supposed to be one way or another.

This brings me around to the whole point of this post... I am a poor decision maker. Especially when asked questions if I am hungry or tired or feeling overwhelmed. I have learn to view this as a fault of mine. I get confused and I don't want to commit to anything, not even what I want to eat. So I let others decide and either it is ok or more often it pisses me (or the other person) off, because I wanted anything BUT that. I am a difficult person. However due to an activity I participated in this weekend about taking our fault and turning it into a superpower I am finding amazing things about choice and how many choice I am constantly and actually making in life here on planet earth. So if I am to turn this around I have to say that....

I am Opportunity woman. Able to defy fate with patience, annoys serious adults but is friend to all children, animals and artists, has a storeroom of possible doors to walk through, can change temperament, clothes or ideas in a flash, has the potential to manifest anything, sees all potential outcomes and commits to nothing but the possibility of everything.

That's a pretty good superhero skill.

Manifestation

So there is this craze happening in the world about a little thing called manifestation. Apparently it's a secret. I'm having an issue with The Secret.

Now I haven't yet read the book, nor seen the DVD because it is so bloody popular I can't get my hands on it (and well I refuse to buy it). This makes me incredibly happy on one level. Why? Because people are reading a book about how to manifest a great life for themselves. On the other hand it makes me cringe.

Life according to Amy goes something like this... I believe that we are amazingly powerful beings. I believe that we can in fact manifest anything we desire. The yucky places in your life are a product of your manifestation and are areas that need to be healed, strengthened, or shifted. In my reality Ego is that little piece of you that asks for things to be true and them promptly tells you that you can't get/do it for reasons x,y and z. The Ego must be continuously rewired to understand that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and that reality is "not real." I believe life is an experience we are all having, kind of like the Matrix, only once you pull out you don't go back in with super powers per se just with more information which means you can let it slide, move stuff around to your liking, and manifest better things for yourself. I don't think we end here in this little planet, in this little life, because we are made of bits and pieces from all over the universe and when we fall apart into our most basic elements we will just be recycled into something new. I believe we are here to learn, and that our most important job in the 80 some odd years we are gifted with here as this person is to learn to live in the present moment and savor each beautiful experience that comes our way. From this place of presence we can't help but fall madly in love with life, the earth and every thing around us. Every single thing is precious in some amazing way and it is here for a reason. That reason is balance. Even the annoying things serve a purpose.

So the stories I have been hearing about The Secret scare me. They involve rewiring the Ego to understand that all you have to do is believe you can have what ever you want and it will happen. This is a good thing. What one must remember are two very important things and it doesn't seem this book and DVD address them. They are:
1) Do not fall into the roll of victim when things aren't going the way you want them to. Victims are helpless creatures and can't do things, they are powerless to react or change situations. You do not want to be here. Unfortunately we are trained to live here. The Ego proudly proclaims it isn't my fault, it's theirs, or my parents, or the governments. You get the idea. When things are crappy it is probably because you have a broken piece that needs some reassurance/ rewiring. I suggest a good life coach, counselor or shaman to help you extract these wounded bits and replace them with lovely shiny bits.
2) Everything you take/ receive/ manifest must be paid for energetically. You now make lots of money Great! you now have a responsibility to use that money wisely and give back to the planet/ community. Why? Balance. How do you think the world got so messed up? People stole resources from the Earth without giving back and look where it has lead us. Pollution/ climate crisis/ war in Iraq/ poverty/ materialism/ greed. I trained in faery doctoring and the most valuable lesson I learned its that nothing in this world is free. You must give back, whether it be to create music, art, or a beautiful garden you must give back. Dis-ease like fibromyalgia, chronic pain, cancers and aids are running rampant. It is my belief that the fae steal part of our essence in order to balance the Earth this leaves people vulnerable and ill. No the fae aren't evil, they are trying to keep the world in check, which is a very hard job currently so they steal from us because we have stolen so much from them. Pick up trash, sing a song, play and laugh, it's really easy and mostly fun to give back. As a child you were probably trained to say "Thank You" this is exactly the same thing.

So manifest, live abundantly and create your own reality, but give back through service/ goods/ money/ or time. It will make you feel better and will help to restore balance. All you have to do is increase the beauty, love, or strength of the world. Take all of this with a grain of salt... keep what helps and throw thw rest away

Here are a few books that have helped me on my way...
Your Heart's Desire: Instructions for Creating the Life You Really Want

The Power of Intention

The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams (based on Creating Affluence)

Intent

It's been busy, busy, busy around here. I am making lots of changes to my practice and searching out many forms of advertising and marketing strategies to help in my transition. I will share more about that later.

In the midst of chaos, whatever it may be it is good to be reminded of intention. When working with clients in a energy related field it is of prime importance to remember who you are, what you are doing, and leave everything not related to the session outside the room. I cannot tell you how many times I have made my grocery list while working on a client and afterwards felt drained and horrid. How rude was that to be working on someone and not feeling what was going on under my hands?!? Because I am trying to be more gentle with myself instead of scolding, I made a pact that when I found myself drifting I would gently pull myself back and re-focus, much like in a meditation practice.

Intention is powerful. In my opinion it is the most powerful tool we as bodyworkers have. Instead of asking what a client needs, I now try to ask what their intention is for the day. This way we both have an active focus for the session. Miracles can happen when two people combine efforts to shift a pattern.

I love intention because you can talk to anybody about it and not have them think you are 'out there'. You can most definitely have metaphysical discussions around intention with those who choose too. But you can also ask your business or athletic type clients what their intention is for the session and they usually won't think you are getting all eccentric on them.

Holding intention is easy. You just take what the client has told you and you image yourself as a mirror and reflect that quality, or change back to them. In essence you are reflecting back to them their highest self. It requires no energetic output from you, you are a mirror not a conduit of free flowing energy. After a session you should feel energized, for in reflecting their highest healed self to the client you are also coming into contact with your highest healed self. Fill up your client, get filled up yourself.

Again when you find yourself drifting, gently pull yourself back and refocus on the intention. If the client is awake you might want to check in with them and see if you are picking up their worry, energy, grocery list, or physical discomfort. Don't judge as you may have picked up some really important information, just file it away for later and return to the session. I have during a session told a client, I hate to say this but I am making a grocery list in my head right now, it includes *blah, blah, blah*. My client sat straight up and said, I was just thinking about making *blah* for dinner and I need all those things. So really sometimes the grocery list is for your client!


"There are two ways to spread light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." Edith Wharton