READ: Because I Can by Edie Weinstein
April 4, 2012 by Edie Weinstein
Filed under •-Headline, Abundance, Health & Well-being, Insights, Law of Attraction, Motivation, Personal Growth, Purpose, Reflection, Relationships
“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”
Stephen Grellet (2 November 1773 – 16 November 1855), a French born Quaker missionary was the likely author, according to Wikipedia, but this quote has been attributed to William Penn, Mahatma Gandhi and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I have long appreciated these words because they speak so clearly to a calling I heard as a child and was modeled for me by my parents who in addition to their full time jobs both in and out of the house, were dedicated life long volunteers into their 80′s. It wasn’t a sense of less- than- greater- than in terms of relationship with anyone to whom they lent a helping hand. Sometimes it was anonymous. They were also just plain kind people, smiling at ‘strangers’ on the street, laughing and playing with children who crossed their paths, offering a listening ear to anyone who happened to need it. In my childhood home in Willingboro, NJ, we had a ‘helping hand’ sign in our front window as a signal to the neighborhood kids that ours was a ‘safe house’ in case they were in any danger. When my parents retired to sunny South Florida, the children in the condo community would stop by to visit. The last Halloween my mom was alive, some of them came into her living room, dressed in costume and were greeted with a hug and candy. I was heartened by witnessing that they were more focused on time with her than the treats she gave them.
They encouraged us to be grateful for what we had and to share it when we could, whether it was material, financial or experiential.
I was on a trajectory throughout my life to become a ‘helping’ professional and these days, it takes the form of being a licensed social worker, interfaith minister, transformational writer and inspirational speaker. I am also known as the ‘go to’ person for promotion of folks’ service work in the world. On a daily basis, friends approach me with the request…”can you spread the word about my writing, music, art, cause…..?” I always say yes, simply because I can. I’m not a saint, believe me, but I also know that if I have the wherewithal to do something, and if in any way possible, I can use my gift as a connector to stir up more love in the world, then it feels incumbent on me to do so. I have many friends who feel the same way and am gratified to see them do it and delighted to see the results of their kindness. On the flip side, I have also sadly observed that out of fear of competition, there have been others who haven’t been as free with their energies. My experience has been that when one succeeds, all succeed; when one reaches a hand out, it elevates all of us. Through the years, I have been the recipient of the sweetness of ‘fairy godmothers’ and ‘fairy godfathers’ who have opened doors for me and I have willingly done the same for others. I invite you to take any opportunity to don your invisible wings and flap them in support of those who cross your path.
http://youtu.be/f2H-GiiDfnE Try A Little Kindness by Glen Campbell
Rev. Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a Renaissance Woman and Bliss Mistress who delights in inviting people to live rich, full, juicy lives. Edie is an internationally recognized, sought after, colorfully creative journalist, interviewer and author, a dynamic and inspiring speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, offering uniquely designed spiritual rituals. In addition, she is a PR Goddess, promoting events and transformational teachers, healers, writers and artists. She speaks on the subjects of wellness, spirituality, sexuality, creativity, time management, recovery, body image, mindfulness, self esteem, stress management, re-creating yourself, caring for the caregiver, loss and grief. She is a frequent guest on radio and TV. Edie is currently writing her first best selling book entitled The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming the Ordinary Into The Extraordinary and is offering a workshop for women who want to re-create their lives, based on those concepts. A 20 year old journalistic vision came to pass in July of 2008 when she interviewed His Holiness The Dalai Lama. It was a potent reminder to never, ever, ever give up on our dreams. Over the years, Edie has written for mainstream and transformational publications. She has interviewed hundred of notables in the transformational fields, including Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Debbie Ford, Leonard Peltier, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Beckwith, Jonathan Goldman, Gregg Braden, Neale Donald Walsch, Mary Manin Morrissey, Dan Millman, Alan Cohen, Ram Dass, Jack Canfield, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Patch Adams, Ben and Jerry, Donna DeLory, James Twyman, Elizabeth Lesser, Michael Franti and Jean Houston. Her website is http://www.liveinjoy.org
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Crazy Whirled by Edie Weinstein
Music feeds my soul and singer songwriters are the farmers whose craft of cultivating fertile fields of rhythm and rhyme, harmony and lyric, bring to the table all manner of nourishment. I am blessed to know many talented musicians in this genre. Among them are a foursome that call themselves…
How to Deal with Anxiety Using the Power of Positive Affirmations by Chantal Beaupre
It can be difficult to do anything with your normal passion and excitement if you are feeling anxious. Anxiety can squelch your motivation and control your life – if you let it. If you have experienced an anxiety attack, you may be fearful of having another one; but living in such fear means you are living in a state of perpetual anxiety. This can happen just because you are afraid of the anxiety itself!
READ: Why Resolutions Fail and How You Don’t Have To by Shasta Townsend
January 3, 2012 by Shasta
Filed under •-Feature, Abundance, Ego, Health & Well-being, Personal Growth, Positive media, Spiritual Guidance, Spiritual teachers, Taoism, Weight Management, Yoga
Happy 2012! There is something wonderful about the turning of the calendar into a new year. It is that feeling that anything is possible. It is that feeling of getting a second chance. It is the feeling that this year finally I will get it right.
So many people make New Year’s resolutions just hoping that maybe this year they will make the changes they want for themselves and their lives. And so many people will fail.
I love New Year’s but I know resolutions don’t work.
Resolutions are based on the idea that there is something wrong with you and your life – that there is something you need to change and if you can change then and only then will you be happy. Resolutions require a lot of hard work and this hard work is often based on the idea of unworthiness, self-loathing and lack. If only you could lose that last ten pounds or stop smoking or eat better then you would be worthy and happy. Resolutions don’t work for you because ultimately they make you feel bad, they are overwhelming AND they are not based in an uplifting energy. No one wants to feel bad or overwhelmed so you get gung-ho for a while (like a week) and you don’t smoke but then it feels hard so you have just one cigarette and then you feel bad and overwhelmed which only makes you want to smoke more so you do and then before you know it you are smoking a pack a day and it is only January 15. Whoo.
Rather than resolve how about you use the new year to REMEMBER…
Remember your truth…You are an infinite, powerful, amazing creator who is supported by an infinitely loving Divine Source. In other words there is nothing wrong with you. This doesn’t change because you smoke.
Remember your value…You are a wonderful person whose smoking, over-eating or whatever action you don’t like does NOT determine your value. Live a great life based on your value. Quit smoking because you want to feel good not because someone says smoking is bad.
Remember your joy…Life is not about being perfect. It is about having purpose, joy, love and ease. So maybe it is time to find deeper purpose and joy so that you don’t even want to smoke.
Once you REMEMBER then ask what is my intention?
For me when I REMEMBER my truth and I begin to let go of the voices, ideas and thoughts that keep me small and contained. The same voices that tell me something is wrong with me and I need to change. We all need evolution and expansion but what if we sought it from a place of possibility rather than self-loathing?
When I remember my truth I say, YES, anything is possible. Then from this standpoint of possibility I ask myself what do I INTEND to create this year? What do I want to step into? What fun do I want to have? What do I want to gift myself and the world with this year?
THEN…I have a clear intention.
THEN…Actions follow naturally and not because I am forcing it.
Feel the difference in these statements:
I need to lose 10 pounds so I will force myself to go to Yoga everyday and put over 5 kilometres on the treadmill each day.
OR
I intend to feel alive, whole and at peace in my body so I will commit to healthy practices that help me do this such as daily Yoga practice, eating more alive food and walking over 5 kilometers everyday. I use these tools to help me celebrate my body.
So what is your remembrance, intention and natural actions?
For me…
My remembrance is anything is possible because I am Divine.
My remembrance is life is about play, joy and expansion.
My remembrance is I am a creator who seeks to BE love and light here now.
My intention is let’s see how far we can take all of the above in 2012 and truly be possibility!
Stay tuned for the actions. I know it will be a great year and a great ride!
Wishing you all deep remembrance and love,
Shasta
Remember to tune into Shasta’s Vivid Life Radio Show Possibility 101 every Wednesday at 4:00 pm eastern standard time on www.vividlife.me.
A celebrated transformational leader and a leading pioneer in embodied spirituality and Yoga, Shasta has inspired hundreds of people through her breakthrough methods for awakening and empowering your inner voice and divine power. Director, founder and senior teacher with Balanced Life Yoga, she delivers public talks, seminars and trainings on evolution and empowerment. She draws on a wide variety of techniques including Yoga, Shamanism, meditation, energy healing, coaching and the Law of Attraction. She is especially appreciated for her passionate way of allowing individuals to make sense of their world and embodied, holistic means to become the change they wish to see. As early as in her teenage years, Shasta embarked on her journey as a spiritual explorer which led her to India, where she studied yoga, meditation and energy healing. She has studied with many remarkable mentors and she has undergone thousands of hour’s intense practice of meditation and spiritual studies. Shasta has taken every opportunity to become adept in her field through her own practice as well as through extensive training in yoga, group dynamics, meditation and spiritual counseling. www.balancedlifeyoga.ca
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How to Chill When Times Get Stressed by Ed and Deb Shapiro
India is an extraordinary country where you get to meet all sorts of unusual people. On a recent visit we had tea with Mary and Don, a fascinating couple, who were born-again Christians from Texas. For over twenty-five years they had been running a clinic for disabled and handicapped children, caring for the poorest of the poor in Chennai, South India. We found their sincerity and commitment to the suffering that surrounded them powerfully moving.
The Way of the Mouthy Warrior ~ Speak Your Truth by Shasta Townsend
Do you ever find you are just keeping quiet to keep the peace? I try to practice a high level of self-responsibility and sovereignty. I try to be present to my emotions and thoughts so that I am not reacting but responding. I don’t want to have temper tantrums or take everything personally. I want the freedom to decide how I will
READ: In the Pursuit of Consciousness: Relating to relationships
November 11, 2011 by Chris
Filed under •-Headline, Abundance, Books, Family & Relationships, Holistic Living, Law of Attraction, Law of Attraction, Love, Meditation, Meditation, Metaphysical, Personal Growth, Reflection, Relationships, Spiritual Guidance, Wealth
The Ultimate Challenge
Here is an interesting question: Who are you within the parameters of an intimate relationship? Do you understand this question? I’m not always as clear as I would like to be, so I want to make sure that everyone is on the same page here. The question speaks not necessarily to whom you are now, but who you will become when you engage in an emotionally dynamic relationship with an intimate, relational partner. In other words, if you are like most people, then you will begin to transform and morph your behavior once you enter into ‘the relationship’.
Have you noticed it?
More and more single people around these days, right? Some might say more and more lonely people. However it is my belief that there are more and more courageous people these days who dare to become emotionally independent, and who dare to dream of self actualization. Sure, you might argue that self actualization is something that could or perhaps, should, be able to be pursued no matter what your relational status is. However, I argue that for most people this is a state of being that must be pursued in relative emotional isolation. Most people who say otherwise are most likely fooling themselves. Conversely, you could argue that self actualization can not happen without a significant other to be your ‘mirror’ and show you yourself, fully as it were.
There are exceptions to this however, a few here, a few there. Some folks can actualize themselves and tackle the responsibilities of being a conscious partner at the same time. However, these individuals are few and far between. Most people are constantly in an unconscious state of seeking love and validation and thus, the person or people who choose to be single, are often in recognition of the emotionally addictive nature of relationships and are in the process of trying to wean themselves off of this drug.
I can hear you out there
Proponents of the argument for a loving relationship are very vocal when it comes to this philosophy. They say, ‘But you need to love and be loved to be whole’ or ‘it’s my right to want someone to love’ or ‘you cannot evolve without someone to show you who you are.’ I’ve heard it all, truly. Everyone has their own individual path to enlightenment and will take that path. No two paths will ever look the same, but I will tell you this: most people are more likely to undergo conscious evolution outside of a relationship than inside of one. You can argue all you want with me, but that is the truth. Most of the fully illumined conscious seekers have taken some years outside of and away from the confines of ‘the relationship’ in order to actualize themselves to the point where they feel emotionally independent and evolved.
Here is the question
What happens if, you find someone, but you are still in the process of evolving and working on yourself? What happens if you are a conscious seeker who is working to integrate your emotional body (arguably the only aspect that really needs to be integrated) and then this other person pops up in your life? What if they are also a conscious seeking, spiritual being like yourself? How do you negotiate this new terrain?
Maintaining consciousness
In the pursuit of consciousness one finds that the trick is not really pursuing it, but rather maintaining it. Thus, the pursuit of consciousness becomes the maintenance of consciousness from moment to moment. As a very good friend of mine says, “How about now?” and “How about now?” If you understand what this means then you understand that my meaning is that the pursuit of consciousness is being with how you feel in every moment. How do you feel in this moment? If you are able to be emotionally honest and in touch with how you feel then you may notice, of a sudden, that in this particular moment you are feeling less than integrated; then you can allow this feeling to surface for integration. This is the ultimate pursuit of consciousness.
So now, engaging in this type of interaction with a significant other? With someone who will become your mirror and most likely trigger you in big and small ways? The maintenance of consciousness has never been so challenged as in the arena of intimacy. Here is the testing and proving ground of any would be conscious seeker and experienced integrationist. Here is where you will get to find out how conscious you really are. Are you willing to allow to come up, be with, and ultimately integrate whatever feeling comes your way? This is the test that many are stepping up to the plate during these extreme times to come face to face with. This is your test, this is your challenge. Be who you want to be with by integrating your mirror.
Christopher Pinckley
Author of Reality Creation 101
READ: Conversations with a Guru: One job to do
October 20, 2011 by Chris
Filed under •-Feature, Abundance, Books, Family & Relationships, Holistic Living, Law of Attraction, Meditation, Metaphysical, Personal Growth, Spiritual teachers, Wealth
So I asked him, “Oh guru, what is the difference between ‘personality’ and ‘ego’?”
He replied, “None.”
I then asked him, “Well then, if I completely diminish my ego, who will I become?”
His response was, “Why would you want to do that?”
“But, oh guru, is not our duty to extinguish or diminish our own egos to the best of our ability during an incarnation?”
“My son, your duty is to be love, nothing more, nothing less. Everything else is just a pretend game; you are pretending not to be love, that which you are. Run, play, create, have fun, and be love! You do not need to diminish any part of yourself in order to do this; you only need to have the courage to be who you truly are.”
“But guru, surely we are supposed to be doing something? Surely we have duties and obligations to our fellow man?”
The guru looked me in the eye and said, “Indeed, my son, you do. I will repeat your duty, your only duty; be love. You do not need to give someone money, or clothing, or shelter, in order for you to be love. You only need to wake up in the morning and smile and be glad. That is your only duty my son. All else is illusion.”
I was in total disbelief, shock, and denial. I stuttered, “But guru, oh guru, there is so much suffering in the world? Is it not our job to end suffering?”
“You can never end another’s suffering my son, nor is that your job. You cannot tell another what to do, you cannot coerce another to do it, and you cannot convince another to do it. Their suffering is not your business. You only have one business, to be love. End your own suffering and you shall have planted the seed to end their suffering. In doing this you will have made the biggest contribution to end the suffering of the earth.”
“But, guru, I am not suffering. I only suffer when I think of other’s suffering. This is not my own suffering, I do not suffer.”
The guru shook his head thoughtfully, “My son, if you have no suffering within you, then you will never suffer. Another way of saying this is that when you are love, no one elses suffering will cause you to suffer. Another way to say this is that you are not being love and when you are not being love you are in a continual state of suffering. If another person’s suffering causes you suffering it is simply because they are making you aware that you are not being love. No one else can create your suffering; they can only show you that you have suffering within you, which is another way of saying that you are not being love.”
“So, if I see that someone else is suffering then that means that I am suffering…?”
“If it causes you to suffer, then you are simply seeing your own wounded, suffering self within them. And of course it also means that you are not being love. If, in that moment, you were able to be love, you would see their suffering diminish and eventually dissolve, right before your eyes.”
“I see. But, oh guru, I have another question? What if I want to have a really nice car and a really big house?”
“What if you do?”
“Should I strive to get these things? Or, am I being egotistical and self centered in my desires?”
“Do these things bring you joy?”
“Well, yes, they do!”
“Then you should have them.”
“But, is it not greedy for me to want them when there are others in the world who do not have enough food and water and shelter?”
“Can you end their suffering?”
“Well, maybe if I used the money that I make to send food and supplies instead of get my house and fancy car, I can make a contribution.”
“Would that make you happy?”
“Well, I would feel better knowing that.”
“Would you?”
“Well, I wouldn’t feel so guilty at least.”
“So, you would give up the things that bring you joy out of your guilt then?”
“Uh, yes I guess I would.”
“Would this end the suffering of the world?”
“Well, if everyone did this then it might end all the suffering.”
“So, my son, you are saying that if everyone gave up the things that brought them joy it would end all the suffering of the world?”
“Well, no, I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that if everyone made sacrifices that the world could be a better place, maybe.”
“What kind of sacrifices would be enough to end all suffering?”
“The kind that got enough money and resources to the people who needed them, of course.”
“Really? And how has this worked out in the past when it was tried?”
“I do not understand oh guru, can you explain it to me?”
“My son, what happens to a person or a people when you begin to supply things for them which they have not been able to provide for themselves?”
“You are implying that this is a bad thing?”
“I imply nothing my son; I simply ask you what happens to people when you supply them with things that they are unable to supply themselves with?”
“Well, I think that they begin to feel loved and cared for.”
“Do they? Or, do they begin to seek the love and care that they need from an outside source instead of realizing that they have everything they need within themselves?”
“Well, I don’t think it’s either/or oh guru. I think this is a both/and.”
“My son everything in the Universe is made of consciousness, yes?”
“Yes, oh guru.”
“So then, is there an end to consciousness?”
“Well, of course not oh guru, there is no end to that which has no limit. This was your first teaching to me and I knew it to be true when you first spoke it.”
“So then, if everything in the Universe is consciousness, and consciousness is limitless, then who decides who gets more consciousness and who gets less?”
“Well, I do not understand guru. What does this have to do with clothing and shelter?”
“My son, clothing and shelter are simply manifestations of consciousness. But, more importantly, they are manifestations of specific types of consciousness which are unique to each individual soul incarnating on the earth. Each soul will manifest their life in whatever way they choose. And, it all centers around one thing, one undeniable concept. That, my son, is love. How much love will you allow yourself to be?”
“Wait a second oh guru, are you telling me that people who have no food, clothing, or shelter are not allowing themselves to be love?”
“My son, I am saying exactly that.”
“But, oh guru, is it still not our job to show our love by giving to those who are in need?”
“My son, only if it brings you immense joy to do so. In other words, if you are being love, then all action that you take is divine right action. However, if you are being less than love, then you are still living an illusion. It all comes back to that my boy. Be love, let the world figure itself out, this is not your job.”
Christopher A. Pinckley
Author of Reality Creation 101
READ: ‘Financial Abundance’ by Tony Samara, Part #2
October 17, 2011 by Tony Samara
Filed under •-Feature, Abundance, Law of Attraction, Spirituality, Wealth, Yoga
The journey of a lifetime begins with a few easy steps.
When we are no longer trapped in these thoughts then we can move on to step one where we acknowledge that we no longer have space for the poverty consciousness and rather open our unconscious thinking to the powerful hope and recognition of change. This doesn’t mean escaping from the reality that we are living in but rather acknowledging our thoughts as real and hence an amazing step that prepares us to get ready to think differently.
With this step we naturally flow to step number two which is affirming our positive thoughts in a practical sense with positive actions not simply to ourselves but also to our family, our friends and our community. Affirming to ourselves that we are rich, we are good at everything, we are physically perfect, we are intelligent and we are always reaching our goal, consciously re-writes our thoughts. Once we do this things begin to take care of themselves so that everything becomes more positive.
The third step is acting out these new positive personal thoughts to create an abundance beyond the positive focus and energise it so that it grows exponentially (e.g. you deserve the best and the abundance keeps growing). Focus upon the growth and the growing rather than the lack.
Step number four is to realise that it is important to keep watch on our thoughts so that we do not sabotage our growth. Perhaps we begin to feel uncomfortable in what we are not used to, that which is new and unknown from previous experiences but stay positive. It is important for you to know that by constantly giving power to something on a mental level whether this be conscious or unconscious that miracles happen.
You will be surprised how often we think about ourselves in a negative sense and how easy it is to empower oneself simply with different thoughts.
It is always easier to recognise and relate to an old pattern which has become a habit but understand that the joy of relating to the flow of who you are carries you to a sense of real abundance that is much more powerful. As someone remarked, “old habits die hard”.
In relation to money we all need to have a relationship with this physical/material aspect because money is everywhere. It dominates our attitudes and cultural sense of who we are whether we believe it to be important or not.
Many of us believe that money is the root of all evil but really it is what money does rather than money itself that creates the negative circle of desire. Perhaps it is better said that it is the lust after money that is the root of all evil and as there is no evil it is perhaps better said that it is the lust after money that is the root of all the confusion that we face in today’s world and the suffering that it creates in individuals.
When we desire money to fulfill needs then we forget that these needs can more easily be fulfilled by trust, love and sharing rather than by spitefully keeping large amounts of money/material wealth in our pocket.
If we use the material to evolve in a more balanced way we realise that money is just another aspect of the energy that we are made of, made visible in a form that we can more easily relate to. Our energy takes on many forms like love, compassion and wellbeing in this physical world. If money becomes an extension of this then it can be another form of abundance.
It is not bad to have more love or more time or more space or more resources that help us to experience ourselves in a more beautiful way and that help us to be freely abundant. Enjoy the gifts of nature such as good health, pure air, sunshine and the amazing beauties that are free for everyone to experience.
As we free ourselves, we free our thoughts to occupy a new space and notice things that seem invisible to others and by ignoring what once got in the way of such beauty we can focus on the beauty itself.
A lack of wealth is simply an opportunity in disguise.
Financial barriers can pave your road to success but only if you believe and trust yourself to walk on this road by being helpful to others and thus creating more abundance in the energy field that is around you and the sense of who you are.
If you focus on manifesting money alone this limits the real abundance that the universe can provide for you. If you look for personal quantities to put into your pocket then you miss out on the abundant universal quantities that are there to be shared, as they will not fit into your pocket. This is one of the greatest gifts that you can acknowledge.
When you acknowledge this you will attract others who can and will help you reach your goals as you help them reach theirs.
Being of service is the secret to success.
You get what you want from life by helping others get what they want. By being of service you exchange abundance with others which then becomes manifest not only in appreciation and betterment of your fellow beings but also in a material sense and you manifest one of the most beautiful laws of nature – those who serve most get most.
If you face each opportunity with a desire to serve others by helping them to reach optimum health (for example) rather than focus on the money, then this amazing law creates abundance without effort. The motivation for many will often be just money but for real success the motivation has to be to love what you are doing, to believe in what you are doing and to want to share what you are doing with the world.
This is very logical. If love is the most powerful force in the universe then it must be strongly linked with all aspects of who you are including financial abundance.
If your goal is love then money will flow like water.
If you have followed the above steps then the greatest block to manifesting such levels of financial abundance will no longer be a hindrance. You will no longer be afraid of being free and sharing your depth with others. You will no longer be afraid of the world you live in and being part of it in a more abundant way. The energy field will no longer magnify any shortcomings that you have believed in. You will magnify your strength as you become more generous to yourself and to others.
You will share in the joy and well-being that each wonderful opportunity creates for yourself, friends, family, colleagues and people that you meet in a world full of potential and abundance.
Tony Samara – a living, spiritual master, discusses financial abundance through positive affirmations and selfless service as a method of personal transformation and self-realisation.
