by Lori | Sep 1, 2020 | Blog
While I was running errands the other day, I needed to use the facilities in a grocery store at which I infrequently shop. Their restroom is through the employee breakroom. As I was washing my hands, I read the decal that was on the mirror which was probably there to remind the employees about safety issues. The decal said, “You are looking at the person most responsible for your safety.” Like all signs, the employees probably don’t even notice it any more.
As with most motivational signs, the saying could be used for almost any situation or quality. We are most responsible for our safety, our health, our wisdom, our power, our love, etc. Like the employees, I probably get complacent about the signs around me. I probably need to remember the wisdom of knowing my responsibility now more than ever. Spirit is reminding me that I am the creator of my reality and I am being encouraged to tap into the courage of my responsibility, too!
It is very easy in our meditation chairs to know and quote the words that we are responsible for our own creations. It is sometimes harder to believe it when all our good intentions do not seem to be creating the desired result, or even 90% of the desired result, that we believe our actions should attract. When we look out to the world, we may see, not just slightly less desirable results, but a mess or even a disaster as viewed from the lens of our third dimensional world.
Spirit encourages us to look at the outer world through the lens of the inner world. Look at the outer world with the courage to know and believe that all of our creations are our responsibility without the judgment that the word responsibility conjures in the third dimensional sense. We can ask to have the courage to forgo judgment or blame for what we have created. We can have the courage to persevere in the face of moments of hopelessness. We can breathe in courage and fill with the strength that comes with that. Then we can ask for the action step that is next on our path and ask for the courage to take that action step, no matter if it feels like that action step is just more of the same.
The action step may be filling with courage, strength and perseverance every three hours for 24 hours to counteract the fear that comes to us as we go through the day. If we try doing this intentionally for a week, maybe that will help to clear the fear of asking for and taking the next action step. Remember that slow and steady progress is progress. Slow and steady can win the race. Slow and steady helps to integrate the higher frequency energies in order to BE the higher frequency energies in a sustainable way.
Just like the advice in the employees’ restroom, none of the ideas in this blog entry are new. Just because an idea feels like a cliché doesn’t mean it isn’t valid. The ideas behind the clichés work. It is our intention that works. It is our courage and perseverance to remind ourselves that we are the creators that works. Know your courage. Bask in your responsibility. Know yourself as Source.
by Ginger | Jul 31, 2020 | Blog
In our recent July class exploring Divine Self Love, Rebecca Cribelli shared her insight into giving and receiving love when she was feeding her cat, Primrose. She felt her deep connection with Prim and felt great joy in being able to show her love for Prim by caring for her. That simple act of service was both a gift to Prim and a gift to herself. In that moment, Rebecca had the realization that this unconditional love and joy in giving is what Source feels for all of us, as aspects of All That Is. She was tapping into the unlimited love that Source has for Source. If only we could allow ourselves to feel that same great love!
We’ve all heard how important it is for those in long-term caregiver roles to make sure that they are taking care of themselves. It is sometimes hard to give to yourself when you’re helping someone who seems to be in much greater need, but it is equally important, like the advice in the airplane safety guidelines to put on your own oxygen mask before you assist others with theirs. It feels selfish on the surface, especially if you are with someone who may genuinely need special help to get their mask on. And intellectually we understand the logic: if you pass out from lack of oxygen then you really cannot be of any assistance to anyone else and also could end up requiring others to now spend energy assisting you. But still we feel that filling ourselves up first is selfish because we’ve been told so many times that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
But when you start to look at acts of self-love, from the perspective of Unity, you understand that loving yourself is loving all. It is only selfish when the intention is to take control, take over or take from others. That’s not Divine Love in any form: it’s fear. It is fear from a belief in lack and limitation. But self-love from the divine perspective is all-inclusive, not exclusive. In those moments of self-care, you may be focusing on that aspect of Oneness that is you, but if you are holding the awareness and the intention that you are part of the One, then what you do to support yourself becomes something that ultimately benefits everyone. You are keeping the infinity flow open and balanced, being both the giver and receiver. It is not more blessed to give than to receive: it is essential to allow both.
That infinity flow of giving and receiving must always be in balance. In our Eminent Reiki™ circles, we spend time receiving the Reiki energy and then sharing it long-distance with others. In some circles, we choose an ascended master to send energy to and then take a moment to receive from that master. At New Moon ceremonies, we have a time to be in the circle to receive energetic support for our personal manifestations and we also spend time giving to others and to the planet. We do this to honor the principle of keeping that infinite flow in motion with the understanding that whether you’re receiving or giving, it is always a universal act of self-love and love for all.
*This blog contains excerpts from a class taught in July 18, 2020. If you are interested in purchasing the full recording, contact us at our Standing the Light contact page
photo courtesy of Pixabay
by Lori | Jul 31, 2020 | Blog
Tanitoluwa Adewumi is a nine year old who aspires to become the youngest Chess Grandmaster. If he manages to become a Grandmaster by the age of 12 years and 7 months, he will overtake the record spot from Sergey Karjakin.
I recently read Tani’s book called My Name is Tani and I believe in Miracles, written with Craig Borlase. In the book, Tani describes his family’s move to the United States from Nigeria and the miracles that aided the move. He writes about his start in the world of chess. Tani has some great chess coaches in the New York Public School district. One of his coaches, Coach Russ, told him, “You only lose if you don’t learn from a defeat.”
Tani seems to have taken this advice and integrated it as his life philosophy which makes it his reality. Yes, Tani practices chess in just about every free moment of his day. In addition, his belief and ability to learn from past experiences without dwelling on them and even being willing to sacrifice a piece for the greater goal of winning the match is inspiring.
He believes, “If you have the right way of thinking, you never really lose. You only ever win. Don’t quit. Stay in the game. If you are still in the game, you have a chance at winning.”
What do you need to reframe in your life to see it as an experience, even a win, instead of a defeat? You can do it. You can do it because you are persevering and staying in the game.
Thanks to Steve Buissinne for the image from Pixabay.com
by Lori | Jul 3, 2020 | Blog
In a Soul Kitchen Dance group today lead by Rachel Phillipe, which focused on freedom and independence, another friend, Barbara Morningstar suggested that we explore the idea of the fourth of July as Interdependence Day instead of Independence Day. This is my declaration.
The origins of 13 American Colonies declaring independence from the British are well known to Americans and many other cultures, too.
Independence and freedom are very important to all humans. We all must step through the levels of independence in order to know that we can and do stand in our own power, to shrug off the yoke of oppression in whatever form that takes and to remember ourselves as sovereign beings. Throughout human history, we have experienced this with differing degrees of success. Sometimes we help each other to live these qualities and sometimes we hold each other back from knowing independence and freedom. However, these qualities of sovereignty and freedom are just the beginning of where our inner wisdom is guiding us.
If independence is the goal and not just the stepping stone, then we are missing the next objective in our evolution: Interdependence.
The third dimensional definitions of independence include “free from outside control and not depending on another’s authority” (Oxford Dictionary). These are positive aspects of independence. However, one of the other Oxford Dictionary definitions is “not connected with another or with each other, separate.” When taken to its extreme, this notion of independence, of not being connected is isolationism or even abandonment.
The separation energy is what has allowed us to form groups where some of us are in our group and others are not. Some of us are worth protecting and others are not. Buying into the concept of separation is borne from fear and the need to keep our power by overt or covert means instead of knowing the strength and power that comes to us all when we see ourselves as the unity of humanity not divisions within humanity.
Interdependency energy brings with it the power of mutual reliance and the reassurance from the axiom that the sum is greater than its parts.
In nature, bees have individual reasons for landing on flowers (e.g. gathering nectar). The interdependent relationship allows that the act that benefits the bees, also benefits the propagation of more flowers. We as humans, individually and collectively, sometimes play the role of the bees and sometimes we play the role of the flowers. Regardless we are integral to each other.
This first half of the year 2020 has given us ample opportunity to see the interdependent nature of this experiment, the interconnectedness of us all. It isn’t just the interdependent nature of humans, countries, economies, and freedoms. We have seen videos of animals’ behavior changing when many humans were sheltering at home. We have seen changes in air quality in big cities with less traffic. There is a long list of consequences, intended and unintended, that have resulted due to our actions and experiences this year. These demonstrate our interdependency.
Coming from the goal of experiencing our oneness, the separation which needs to be healed is not the physical separation in order to slow the spread of a virus or the physical separation required to initially set up our own sovereignty or to stand in our power. The separation which needs to be acknowledged and healed is that we believe we are separate from All of Creation, from Source. Ultimately, we are interdependent because we are One, we are Source. Recognizing and embracing our interconnectedness, our interdependency will move us forward in all of the challenges we may be facing as individuals, as Americans, as humans, as beings of Light.
Knowing ourselves as unique within the unity will propel us forward in our evolution and in our sovereignty and freedom. Paul Dirac, a British physicist, stated: “Pick a flower on Earth and you move the farthest star.” This statement proclaims that everything and everyone effect each other. It is my declaration of interdependence that we strive to affect each other in ways that allow us to experience and spread more love, joy, and freedom. Happy Interdependence Day.
Gratitude to Benn from Pixabay.com for the image.
by Ginger | Jul 1, 2020 | Blog
My former cat companion, Xena, was a true priestess who navigated life with grace, poise and detachment. She was every bit the elegant lady, but even she had moments of being frazzled. What she modeled so well was her ability to regain her composure easily and effortlessly after a moment of imbalance.
I remember one particular morning, as I was getting ready for work, I opened the linen closet to get something and didn’t see her sneak in. In a rush to get to work, I shut the linen closet and left. When, I came home that evening, I soon heard a mournful, bleating meow coming from somewhere in the house. I searched and searched and finally identified the sound as coming through the linen closet door. When I opened it, she came frantically rushing out of the very disheveled closet where everything on the lowest shelf and floor was over-turned and jumbled together. I looked at the chaos and immediately realized what had happened. I felt terribly guilty that she had been stuck in there all day. How could I not have seen her go in? What kind of cat mom was I?
Xena, in her mastery, trotted into my bedroom, gave one last exasperated meow, then literally shook it off and went about her usual business. I could feel her energy shift, even though mine hadn’t because I’d yet to forgive myself. I checked in with guidance about whether there was anything I could do for her and heard that she had been annoyed at the experience but was already over and done with it. She had completely let go of the entire event. I heard from my Soul to do the same.
I share this bit of feline wisdom for all of us during these sometimes stressful and uncertain times. Animals are often great models of being so in the moment that once a stressful situation has passed, they are able to re-focus their attention immediately to whatever is happening in that next moment. Since most stress comes from our negative beliefs about the past or fear of the future, the greatest peace comes from allowing ourselves to fully relax into the Divine Now. I know that it’s sometimes easier said than done, but what a great opportunity to work with our own version of shaking it off as we bring ourselves back to this present moment.
picture courtesy of Pixabay
by Lori | Jun 1, 2020 | Blog
If the path in front of us is not clear, we each need to ask our inner wisdom for just the next step. We may not know what step number ten is on our path. The view might be hazy or obscured. Because the highest plan for each of us is part of the unity of the highest plan for all humans, we really cannot know what step number 10 on the path is anyway. The highest plan for us changes with the influx of energy and decisions that those around us also take. The highest plan for us changes with the decision to take the next step now or whether we wait until next week to take it.
Work with the energy of divine discernment to help determine the next step for you and when to take it. Trust your inner wisdom. Find the strength to be who you truly are in every moment. Find the determination to take your next step with the wisdom and grace that is your quintessence.
Much gratitude to Pixabay.com Free-Photos for the image.
