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All around me people are announcing that mercury is in retrograde.  Admittedly, I'm not hearing  these announcements, I'm seeing them in print.  But the impression I am getting is that if they were saying this, it would be said with the same feeling tone as that old ditty:  "THE SKY IS FALLING!  THE SKY IS FALLING!"

I wasn't sure why, so I looked it up.  Now I know why I didn't know what it meant that mercury was in retrograde:  it's astrology.

Now, before you think this is going to be an attack on astrology, it isn't.  I think the human habit of attacking something we don't believe in or disagree with is abhorrent.  But that is the subject for another blog post.

I've never been a fan of astrology, even though I know a lot of people who are.  Here is why I've never been a fan of it:  because it is one more example of basing our decisions on something outside of ourselves.  I feel the same way about anything that tells us to ignore our own truth and instead follow the dictates of another.  Traditional religion as it is currently taught does this.  So does most of the New Age stuff.  I love New Thought because it teaches us to go within, know our own truth, and proceed accordingly.  And by the way, I love candles, scented oils, and even crystals and all sorts of other New Age gimmicks.  But I'm not going to base my decisions on them.  They are just nice things.  And sometimes excellent reminders of my own truth, which I discovered by going within.

Back to this current retrograde Mercury thing.  Instead of just ignoring it, I decided to ask, what is it all about?  And got this link for an answer:  https://www.astrologyzone.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mercury-retrograde/

I read the article.  Seems we aren't supposed to make important decisions, sign contracts or have elective surgery during this time.

Sigh.  Really?  Ok.  Here's the deal about important decisions:  I know that I shouldn't be making them under duress.  In other words, don't make decisions when angry, grieving, sad or excited.  Settle down, go within, meditate, know your truth.  Then make the decision.

Here's the deal about contracts:  If it is time to sign a contract, I am certainly not going to tell the other person involved in the deal that I need to wait until mercury is out of retrograde to sign it.

And I don't believe in elective surgery, so that is a no brainer for me.

My point here is this:  We have an entire culture of people who seem to base who and what they are on outside things.  Everything from doing what your peers do to blindly  following religious dogma to allowing what the planets are doing to effect your life.   I love the empowering message of New Thought:  go within...find that part of yourself that knows...and be and do that.

Everything I do, from my ministry to my counseling, from workshops and retreats to my book (www.newthought12steps.com) is a variation on this one thing:  I teach people tools that they can then use to go within and find their own truth.

Bottom line:  I'm not going to base my life on someone else's interpretation of something outside myself, including whether or not mercury is in retrograde.  How about you?

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Perhaps you were a bit like me growing up:  you started wondering what you were going to do for a living.  And perhaps you had parents like mine, who responded the same way to every idea I had:  "You can't make any money in that."  And maybe....just maybe....like me, you wondered if money was the only important consideration in choosing a career.

I pondered that, and somehow, without being coached, I knew that not only was money not an important consideration in choosing a career, it barely made the list.  What was important was that I enjoyed my work.  It has never made sense to me to spend 8 plus hours a day, 5 days a week, doing something I didn't enjoy just to bring home a paycheck.  Later on I learned that somehow I had figured out one of life's big truths:  we need to be doing what we love, or we fall prey to all sorts of misery:  chronic illness, fatigue, depression.

And, like one of my favorite all time quotes, I also knew that if I built it, they would come.  Because the Law of Attraction is always in place.

What do you long for?  What calls to your spirit?  If it is calling, there is a way to earn a good living from it.  Explore that, and don't be afraid to jump in.  Remember that what you focus on tends to manifest, so don't focus on what you don't want.  Dream big, and focus on that.

I can help you dial it in.  Contact me for information on business coaching.

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"Pursue the obstacle. It will set you free."  Mark Nepo

Do you have an obstacle in your life?  Something that seems to block your way no matter which way you turn?

I'm not speaking of an outer obstacle here, although if outer obstacles keep appearing that can be an indicator that something in your life needs to change.  But for this post I am referring to inner obstacles.

Maybe a fear that keeps you from taking that next indicated right step.  Or stubbornness.  I'm sure you are familiar with this:  you know a change in thinking would be the best thing, but you stubbornly refuse to make the change...just because.  Or maybe it is anxiety.  The thought of doing something makes you short of breath.

These are the obstacles to which I am referring.

What Mark Nepo is suggesting with his quote is that instead of trying to get rid of the obstacle, or attempting to block it somehow, we pursue it.  He clarifies, in his book titled "The Book of Awakening:" "we are asked not to oppose what blocks us as something mounting its will against our own. For the obstacle will simply give our resistance back to us. We are being asked not to empower or perpetuate the life of the obstacle, but to step aside if we can with openness to the energy of the obstacle—much like the ancient art of Aikido, where instead of blocking a punch, you help the punch move past you."

How could this be done?  Nepo suggests that we describe the obstacle as a part of nature.  Sort of like the deer in the headlights. And then ask ourselves how is what we want or need colliding with what it wants or needs?

When we go within and get in touch with our inner wisdom, the answers will come.  The obstacle isn't really an obstacle.  It's a doorway.  Open the door.

I now have some openings to help you move beyond your inner obstacles.  Contact me now for more information! [contact-form][contact-field label='Name' type='name' required='1'/][contact-field label='Email' type='email' required='1'/][contact-field label='Website' type='url'/][contact-field label='Comment' type='textarea' required='1'/][/contact-form]

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Like many of you, and many of the people I know and love, I woke up Wednesday morning shocked, dismayed, and very very frightened.

I consider myself a fiscal conservative who believes in true equality for all. What that boils down to is I think government needs to get out of our personal lives, and stop enabling people by paying for things that, quite honestly, they should pay for themselves. I believe in lending a helping hand. I've taken advantage of those helping hands at times in my life, but while doing so I also took steps to educate myself, and do my inner work, so that I could once again become responsible for my own life. It is very empowering to do that and I am grateful I had people in my life who refused to enable me. But what I believe in most of all, and this....excuse the language...trumps everything else...is equality. I'm so over racism, and misogyny and bigotry and hateful language which very often results in hateful acts. This is a deep value of mine, and one that takes importance over everything else, so when I vote, I vote equal rights no matter what. No matter whether I agree with the rest of it.

I tell you this because I believe it is important we know what our values are, because all of our thoughts, words and deeds stem from our values. I was frightened post election because I perceived that my country had elected a person who, from his words during the campaign, believed in the opposite of equality for all. Not only that, he seemed to embrace misogyny, hatred, bigotry and racism. I'm frightened of that. To be honest, I did not even investigate policy with him, because I couldn't get past the hateful language.

I also believe that after all I've experienced and done in my life, I am not here to live a fear based life. I believe that we either live a fear based life or a faith based life. Living a fear based life means I believe in us and them. Living a fear based life means I say hateful things, take sides, view others with suspicion, and feel a need to protect myself. It also means I judge others who are not exactly like me. It means I can't make eye contact with people I meet on the street. I can not and will not live like that. I choose to live a faith based life. Living a faith based life means I believe in Oneness, there is no separation between me and you. If I say hateful things to you, I am also saying them to myself. And vice versa. In my faith, I have learned that everything I experience has been for the good. And I've experienced a lot that most "normal" people don't. It has all been for the good. Living a faith based life also means that when I'm experiencing fear, as I was the other day, the call is not to declare sides and lash out in anger and blame others. The call is to go inward and investigate what it is I am afraid of, exactly, and why. And do my inner work so that I can move back into faith. And then make amends if, in my fear, I did any damage.

I've done the inner work. I am now back in faith. I now once again remember that outside appearances have no power to affect me except if I give them that power. I now once again remember that we are all one. I now once again remember that blame only keeps me in the problem. Pointing fingers at others only keeps me in the problem. Focusing on what I am afraid of only keeps me in the problem.

I am not advocating spiritual bypass....which is simply an exotic way of talking about denial. What I am advocating is that we stop contributing to the divisiveness in this world and begin to contribute to peace.

It is time for us to do our inner work, and make amends. I've been reading some interesting articles that basically say that Trump won this election not because of his misogyny, bigotry and racism, but in spite of it. He won because he represented change to a people who are tired of not making enough money, tired of things not working right. I'm tired of that too. I'm tired of people telling me they won't hire me as a photographer or wedding officiant because I charge too much. I'm tired of people who value price over quality. I'm tired of people telling me ministers should do the work they do for free. I'm tired of the government telling me what I can and cannot do in my personal life. Don't EVEN get me started on seat belts. My point is here that those of us who say we believe in tolerance and equality have not listened to the cries from "those other people." We've just judged and separated ourselves from them. Part of my amends is that I will no longer do that.

I've received a few phone calls and emails the past few days from ministers and practitioners (spiritual coaches) who wanted treatment (prayer) and help with the fear they were experiencing. I am also witnessing many who are posting things on Facebook that indicate to me they are still in fear. It is time to move out of our fear folks. It is time to embrace what is. Should we hold Donald Trump accountable? You bet. Do we need to ensure that human rights don't take a step backward? You bet. Should we blame and point fingers and say he isn't our president, when he will be come January? No. That is more separation, more fear based thinking, and it will only keep us in the problem.

One last thing: the good that has come out of this? Ernest Holmes, the founder of what we now call Centers for Spiritual Living, said that healing can only come from revealing. For a long time we've been able to hide the fact that there is racism and misogyny and bigotry in this country. Now it is out in the open. No one can deny it. Now that it is revealed in all its ugly glory, we can heal it. That is my job from this point onward. I don't know how I'm going to do this job, but I know I'm going to do it. Won't you join me?

On Sunday, I will be speaking at the Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City about how to survive....and thrive....in this unsettling time. I hope you will join me. Meditation at 10, service at 10:30. 3579 Highway 50 East in Unit 301. We are in the iStorage Business Park across from Goodwill. Don't use GPS to find us unless you want to take a scenic tour.

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14237556_1095689767190116_6864990953356301039_nDo you have trouble consistently believing that you are infinitely creative, brilliant and potentially perfect? If so, this is the class for you! This is a special introductory offer for those who are unfamiliar with my work. Take the first class for $10 (discounted from $25 normal price!) and check it out! Once you see the value, you can sign up for the rest of the series at the discounted price of $120! 

 

The Girl Who Cried Woogie
The Girl Who Cried Woogie
The Girl Who Cried Woogie
$20.00
Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
$25.00
Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
$10.00
The Practices Package
The Practices Package
The Practices Package
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A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
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Published on 1 Comment on What I learned from making apple pies

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I've been having a lot of fun with apples lately.  Noticing the abundance of them, picking them, preparing them, finding apple pie recipes, and making pies.  And giving said pies away.  It has occurred to me that I have a whole bunch of excellent metaphors here and I'm having a bit of fun with it, so I'm passing it on to you.

First of all, the abundance.  I live across the street from a neighbor who has a very green thumb.  He has pumpkins (lots!), corn (lots), tomatoes, squash, onions, various kinds of lettuce.....and lots and lots and lots of apples. Four trees, with branches so laden with apples they are bending down to the ground.  First metaphor, be flexible so you don't break.

I love metaphors for abundance.  Seeing all this abundance in a garden reminds me to remember that there is abundance everywhere, including in my life.  In order for me to receive said abundance, I must collect it.

So I've been helping with the harvest.  I've picked apples, kept an eye out for tomatoes ready to go, brought home squash, plucked onions.  There is a law that says in order to experience abundance in our lives, we must accept it.  I'm looking at all this harvesting as a metaphor for accepting and receiving my good.

...continue reading "What I learned from making apple pies"

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I am so pleased to announce a new teleclass beginning in October!  I've designed it to finish up just before the official start of the holiday season.  You will indeed have much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving this year after taking this class!

Sign up here

This class will help you to answer these questions:

  • What IS the greatest expression of me?
  • How can I find it?
  • What's up next for me in my life?

And most importantly, what is blocking me from being the greatest that I can possibly be?

In this class you will discover the true problem.  You may think you know what the problem is, but for many that really isn't the TRUE problem.  It's just a blanket.  Discover the TRUE problem and then....you are ready for the solution!

Sign up here

In this class you will not only discover the solution, but you will learn tools to implement the solution.

AND....these are tools you will be able to use for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!  to ensure that you continue to remain as happy and peaceful as you were meant to be!

You ARE infinitely creative, brilliant and potential perfect, and this is the class that will allow you to KNOW that!

Sign up here

Here are the details:

  • 7 week teleclass begins October 6
  • from 6-8 PM Pacific time
  • you will receive via email a phone number to call in to attend class, it will be the same number each week.
  • simply call in a few minutes before 6 every Thursday from October 6 through November 17.
    The Girl Who Cried Woogie
    The Girl Who Cried Woogie
    The Girl Who Cried Woogie
    $20.00
    Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
    Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
    Companion Workbook AND Book, printed versions
    $25.00
    Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
    Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
    Companion Workbook to A New Thought Journey through the 12 Steps-e version
    $10.00
    The Practices Package
    The Practices Package
    The Practices Package
    $360.00
    A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
    A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
    A New Thought Journey Through the 12 Steps book
    $9.00
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I had a couple of wonderful discussions recently about why.  There is a lot of shit going on in the world today: crazy politics, terrorism, violence.  The human response, typically, amongst people who care, is to find out why these things happen, then enact laws and policies to prevent them from happening in the future.

The result is a society over burdened with rules that severely encroach on personal liberty.  And...the long term result of this is a gradual disempowerment of the populace.  We have created a society that does not know how, nor care to learn, about personal responsibility and its resulting empowerment.

I believe, and have for a long time, that asking why is pointless, irrelevant and keeps us in the problem.  And in one of my recent discussions, it was pointed out to me that asking why is a human question.  I think we should be asking spiritual questions, not human ones.

Asking human questions is like putting a bandaid on a broken bone.....it doesn't work and may make the problem worse.  Instead, what would happen if we asked the spiritual questions?  What would happen in your life if, instead of asking why, you asked some different questions?

I stopped asking why a long time ago when I realized I was getting no satisfactory answers, and when I realized that asking why simply kept me living in the past, which was an unpleasant place to be.  Asking why kept me in the problem, and I wanted a solution.

I now ask different questions.  Inner questions.  Spiritual questions.  Questions like these:

  • What is mine to BE in this situation?  Once I figure out the being, I can respond (not react).
  • What am I to learn from this situation, or my reaction to it?
  • Why (you know there are always exceptions right?) is this affecting me so much?
  • What needs to change in my way of thinking so that I can have some peace of mind?

These kinds of questions take us beyond our humanness and into the realm of the spiritual, and it is there that wonderful things begin to happen.

So.....the next time you find yourself asking why such a thing happened, or how could someone do that...instead ask yourself some deeper questions.  I'd love to hear your answers.

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imageWhat does this phrase mean to you?

It's an inside job.

I found myself wondering where the phrase came from so I did a search.  While there are many references to the phrase, mostly for books and songs, here's what Wikipedia has to say, "An inside job is a crime, usually larceny, robbery or embezzlement, committed by a person with a position of trust who is authorized to access a location or procedure with little or no supervision, e.g., a key employee or manager. The perpetrator can also be a former employee who still has specialized knowledge necessary to facilitate the crime."

😀

All humor aside, the phrase really means that everything in our lives begins within us.

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."
- Frank Outlaw

What this statement really boils down to is that if we have a situation in our life which does not please us, or which we would like to change, the place to begin is inside....with our thoughts.

It does little good, and has little lasting effect, to try and change things from the outside.  And the outside stuff is temporary at best, always changing.  It is better to be more involved with what is going on inside of you and less attached to the outside.

In this culture, where we are taught to place more importance on appearances than on how we feel, this is sometimes a difficult task.  I work with many people who find it extremely difficult to know what they are feeling and thinking.

However, it is imperative to begin at this level.  Consider this formula:  thoughts plus feelings equal power.  When we think something with emotion behind it, we put power into it.  And when we put power into it, we tend to manifest what we are thinking about.

So watch your thoughts.  Change them if necessary.  Watch your feelings.  Focus on the thoughts and feelings you enjoy.  Then watch enjoyable things happen in your life.

 

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"Our stories are the stairs that lead us to the stars."  Donovan Livingston, said during his 2016 Harvard Graduate School commencement speech

This young man moved me with his commencement speech.  Such wisdom at such a young age!

I do not advocate living in the past, nor do I think it wise or helpful to base current beliefs, thoughts or actions on things that happened in the past.  I do, however, think it is a good idea to take a look at our past to glean the nuggets that would allow us to live in freedom, joy and happiness.

We've all got stories.  All of us.  We are at choice as to how much we wish to allow those stories to affect us.  We can limit ourselves by saying, "Well, THAT didn't work so I will NEVER do that again!"  Or, "I tried that, it didn't work."  Or, "I had a bad experience with...(fill in the blank with your favorite whipping post) so I won't associate with those type of people."

Our stories can be pathways to hell.....

OR...

They can be stairways to the stars.

We can be like that brilliant young man, who somehow learned that without his stories he wouldn't be giving the commencement speech at Harvard.  I have no idea what his stories are, but I know what mine are.  And Livingston is right, without my stories I would not be where I am now, which is pretty close to the stars.

What are your stories?  Have you gleaned the nuggets and moved on?  Or have you decided never to do THAT again because it didn't work so well the first time around?  Have you explored the stories, done the inner work, forgiven and now live a life free of victimhood?  Or does life seem to be a series of one mishap after another, where you feel continuously victimized by the whims of the weather, other people, or whatever governmental institution you are currently dealing with?

We create our lives by our consciousness, what we focus on expands and what we resist persists.  If what is happening in  your life is not pleasing to you, it may be time to examine your stories and stop believing them.