LyonHart Amrie

As I have continued my journey with Seahorse, I have been feeling its healing powers of androgyny. I have also been marveling at the unique fact that male seahorses actually carry the eggs of the female in their own pouches, until it is time for their baby seahorses to emerge fully developed. Out of the entire animal kingdom, male seahorses are the only males that undergo pregnancy and give birth to their offspring, and so there is something really powerful here to absorb from this incredible and special ability.

In recent times, attitudes towards gender roles have changed within mainstream society and the world is slowly becoming more fluid with what is deemed as male and female. Underlying this change there has been a historic shift in the mass consciousness, with the Feminine Principle coming more into balance and acceptance, after it has endured thousands of years of persecution and suppression. This change has created deep healing with the psyche of the earth and slowly within all of us. The acceptance of the Feminine Principle has allowed for a much more balanced environment of the male and female energies to co-exist and be recognized as a whole, and this is what leads us into androgyny.

Most people in life are looking for someone to complete themselves; perhaps they are looking for their “missing piece.” I believe, however, that when we can heal and come into balance with both our male and female energies, that the desire to find something externally is not so strong. Relationships can become more authentic, as souls come together, because it is enjoyable, rather than based on the NEED to be with a male to fill the lack of male energy within, or the need to be with a female to fill the lack of female energy within. We all know that when we feel more balanced and complete as a person, that we are happier and healthier, we make better choices from our hearts, and life is less complicated.

If we look at the yin and yang symbol, it is the male and female in perfect balance, encapsulated by the circle. The yin and yang symbol shows that we cannot look for someone else to complete us. Rather, we have to go inside and work on ourselves, heal, and find the male and female balance within. When we are able to this, then we are complete, and can connect into our true and Higher Selves.

Like anything in life, this type of evolutionary journey takes time, energy and the commitment to self-growth. Whatever stage you are at with your relationships, your internal male and female balance, or your personal feelings of wanting to “complete yourself,” a Transference Healing session can help you. Old pains, past memories, and negatives patterns that are holding you back can be purified and shifted, allowing you to let go, move on, feel at ease, and be restored and renewed.

As you know, I have been working with the energy of the Crane for January, and one of the gifts this beautiful bird brings is to help us find our knowledge within. In its natural environment, the crane stands patiently at the waterside, totally calm and still, waiting for that perfect moment to strike for its daily catch. There is no struggle in the stillness of the waiting; the crane has the inbuilt knowledge of what to do. In fact, the crane thrives in the calm, trusts its own ability, and has faith that the fish will come to the perfect spot, just as they have done for thousands and thousands of years in this set up of the animal kingdom.

We all have our own innate wisdom, but sometimes we need to be able to bring that into sharper focus, so that we can see, hear and witness it. In today's society, our senses are constantly being overstimulated with technology, mass media, noise, images, people, energy...the list is endless and this input affects our ability to catch what our inner and higher self is saying.

Meditation is now a very popular form of mindfulness that helps us to disconnect from the bombardment of external frequencies; it is beneficial in calming our mental plane and releasing the stress of everyday life. Meditation is something I personally must do each day to help me balance internally, and to sustain own my inner peace. Also, meditation is wonderful because it helps me to hear my own knowledge within.

It is a common misconception that your inner wisdom should arrive like a voicemail message as soon as you close your eyes for meditation or quiet time; it is thought that this message should be precise, clear and 100% inform you of the best thing to do today. For most people, however, it is rare to receive something so exact and comprehensive. Instead, our knowledge within tends to shows itself in much more subtle ways: for example, hearing or seeing the same thing three times, is a definite signpost to take note of. Physical experiences like shivers, gut reactions, and hairs on the neck raising, are all messages that are beyond just what your mental plain is experiencing. Dreams, visions, and daydreams could be classified as your imagination, but are actually windows into a deeper part of you, that hold more answers than you realize.

So while you might not receive a full download of everything you need to know about life next time you meditate, please know that the practice of quietening the mind, disconnecting from the external, and going within DOES make a difference. I can guarantee that by making regular time to be still and quiet, you will be guided to your own inner tools of the Universe, bringing into sharper focus what you need to know and when you need to know it. This takes away the stress and pressure of everyday life and the need to find the answers for anything and everything. Deep within, we are all just like the Crane; we can be patient and still, we can trust our own abilities, and we will know the perfect time to strike.

Every day in both my professional and personal life, I meet people who want to do better for themselves by improving their life circumstances, inspiring their community, and ultimately enhancing the world around them. They have beautiful aspirations of change, and work very hard to make it happen. They often grapple with their own inner struggles and with external resistance and limitations placed on them by others. While it might not be immediately apparent, these people are actually alchemists. They are starting with something about themselves, their community, or world, and changing it into something else. This is what alchemy is: a path of purification and transformation. Alchemy expands one’s consciousness, develops one’s insight, and frees one from negative thoughts and patterns of behavior. Alchemy shifts one’s state of being and reality so that one can get out of the struggle and instead live an enriched and fulfilled life.  I resonate with alchemy and welcome the opportunity to transform myself into something new. I actually practice alchemy daily, and through the healing sessions I facilitate.

Every moment we have the opportunity to be the alchemist...to shift our perceptions...to let go of old limiting beliefs and patterns...to experience the world through our heart, instead of in our head. These may sound like small things and not very transformational, but they are the keys. When we practice them, then our day to day moments, and our life and personal world can literally transform.

So how do we do the work?
Trying to change negative thought patterns, that have potentially been ingrained within your brain for 20+ years is not as simple as just “stop thinking about it.” These thought patterns come from inherited beliefs, conditioned upbringing, and even past life experiences. In order to transform these thought patterns, you must clear the subconscious pain connected to it, across all areas and layers of your being. The same goes for the old limiting beliefs and patterns that we carry inside; they are not there because we are broken. Rather, they are literally unresolved wounds carried by our soul. They are previous experiences or traumas that have not been let go of, and it is through their cycle of suppression that they have become our current perceived truth.

The work I facilitate is called Transference Healing and it works at clearing inherited beliefs, conditioned upbringing, past life experiences, subconscious pain, unresolved wounds, trauma, and suppression. The incredible thing is that it does not just clear and transform just one aspect of the self; rather it works across all facets of the self - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Changing all of these aspects of the self is what creates change and transformation.

Alexis Cartwright, the anchor, channel and founder of Transference Healing, teaches that these sessions work “with frequency, light and matter to initiate 'transference'; a shift from one state of being into another. This is pure alchemy.”

While some ancient practices of alchemy may have sought to turn lead into gold, in today's world, Transference Healing can help support people’s own internal alchemical transformation process, which provides something much more personally lucrative than any physical precious metals.

This month we have been resonating with the energy of the Bat.  Bat tells us that we are undergoing a shift in our being, that is, who we are as individuals. Bat tells us that it is time for us to let go of things that no longer serve us.  Bat is our guide through the process, helping us to identify and remove things that are in our way. Bat also shows us the way, helping us to find our sense of direction as we shift our being.  Last time we talked about the energy of the Spider, and how it helps us to co-create things in our lives. The notion of co-creation is exciting and one that we may wish to start right away, or on the other hand, perhaps it is one that we would like to delay, because we are not sure quite where to begin.  How do we actually know when it is time to start changing, shifting our being, and working towards co-creating? How do we figure out where to begin in this creating process, to sort out what we need to let go of and what we need to do going forward? Bat helps us to figure these things out.

What are some things that no longer serve us? Some things can include the proverbial “drama” in our lives. This drama can include things such as engaging in power plays with other people, or letting other people take our energy and monopolize our time and resources.  These types of situations make us feel depleted, tired,  and unable to work on things that we want to work on. Bat magic helps us to get rid of things that we do not want in our lives, so that we can enter a new cycle, let go of our old ways of being that no longer serve us. When we can let go of things that no longer serve us, then we can work towards living our lives in a more empowered way.

It is not easy to let go of circumstances or relationships that we may have become attached to. We may feel excited or validated by engaging in drama or energy plays with other people. But while we may feel temporarily validated, in actuality these types of situations just keep us preoccupied, prevent us from taking control of our lives, and do not leave us free to take the reins of our own lives to define and co-create what we would like to work towards and become.  Bat helps us move through all of these situations so that we can live our lives in more empowered ways and by not surrogating others. Actually, when we stop surrogating other people, we actually enable them to live their lives in a more empowered way.

Bat allows you to release the fear of change, welcome transformation, and empowers you to work with your gifts and talents. So, consider what could serve you well to to give up, for you to let go of? What in your life is holding you back? These could range from your current physical circumstances, to certain relationships you have with other people, to thoughts or feelings that you have. Tune into the energy of the Bat and ask Bat to help you see what direction you would like to go in regarding these circumstances, relationships, thoughts or feelings.  Ask Bat to show you the way and/or let go of those things that no longer serve you.  Or, perhaps you are on a course that you like and you want to stay on that you have started. If this is the case then you can ask that Bat help you see if there are things on the course that you can let go of that are no longer serving you. Ask Bat to help shine the way for you, to help you get stronger and to help you expand and grow. 

Earlier this month I asked that we all check in with ourselves to see what we wanted to change and let go of?  If you did that, look at the progress you have made this month. How did you go?   You can continue to check your progress by writing down where you are right now, continuing to ask Bat to help you, and keep working towards what you wish to change. Then later on, you can reflect and check in to see the progress that you have made.

Bat guides us towards the empowered way to live our lives of co-creation, which is to recognize, embrace, and accept the end of old cycles, the beginning of new ones, all the while identifying, embracing, and using our gifts and talents.

Spider weaves the web of fate, releases illusion from the physical world and allows you to reach beyond the horizon and other dimensions. Alexis Cartwright Animal Magic, 2005, p. 221.  This could be considered to be our imagination but really it is using our sixth sense and beyond, that is, things that we cannot physically experience, see, hear or touch in our current physical reality here on earth, in this dimension.

When stagnation happens, we get blocked. The energy does not flow and we cannot manifest things because the way to pulling it down from the ethers is blocked.  Spider clears this blockage, called webbing or “situational fibers” so that positive energy can then flow into and resonate with the chakras. Perhaps one can think of it as getting out of your own way, to not allow ego, fear, or difficult life situations to stop you. We have the capability to create many good things in our lives, things that we want to achieve; our hopes, our dreams, and our aspirations. We are meant to create things and to fulfill our destiny here on the earth. Also, we are at our best when we are creating rather than just consuming. Creating is the key to the world being a good place to live in, to bring us health, wellness, and longevity. Through creating we can contribute not only to the well-being of ourselves, but also to the well-being of the world.

There are a number of factors that cause Spider’s web to shift and ripple, and to ripple and shift. When we set our intent and tell the Universe we want something to happen, the Universe perks up its ears, but Spider’s web may not move. The Universe wants to see something more from us to prove that we are committed to that intent and desire, and that we really mean what we desire. The Universe looks for something more from us, a sign of our willingness to move forward and change. This “something” does not have to be an action; however if it is an action, the Universe looks at our intent behind the action. The “something” could be how we set our feelings towards situations, how we react, how we view things, and the responsibility we have towards something. The Universe wants to see how vested we are: are we really up for the outcome that we want? The Universe and Spider with her web patiently wait to see. When there is a shift in our perceptions, feelings and understandings, or if we have taken an action towards what we want, the Universe responds in kind, and Spider’s web shifts.  Another thing that can shift Spider’s web is what quite literally can be characterized as the “web of fate.” Sometimes the Universe in its infinite wisdom sets up certain situations to help move us along when it perceives that we do not want to be moved along, and we are comfortable and cozy right where we are (but really we are not). So, the Universe throws a curve ball and initiates an unfortunate circumstance, a challenge, an unexpected emergency, or situation, where we have to take the time and deal with it, we become very uncomfortable and more worse for the wear; this can be described or thought of as the web of fate. 

The Universe looks for signs from us that we intend and truly want to create and change, or will send out its own signals if it determines that we are not moving fast enough, and then Spider responds in kind with her web that she weaves.   How do we move through challenging situations?  What if we feel stuck in trying to manifest what we we would like to do or what Universe in its wisdom hands to us? How do we create new and positive circumstances in our lives? The key is to shift our vibrations. Shifting our intent, emotional state, and perceptions shifts the vibrations, and in turn, shifts what we attract, create, and then ultimately do in our lives. Spider watches and weaves her web accordingly, helping you, as you help yourself, to create and achieve those things that you set your intent to do.

During this year of 2018, so many loved ones of people that I know have passed away. Many of these deaths have been literally life-changing for people. As we are in the midst of a season of lights and holidays, let us take pause to honor those who have passed away. Let us take time to comfort ourselves as we mourn those people and animals that we loved who have passed away. Let us take time to feel the loss of people that we are no longer in contact with. Let us take time to mourn the traditions and events that will cease to exist and no longer happen.

Loss of loved ones can take so many forms; loss is not only limited to one’s passing from the earth. Loss can also entail: the death of a loved one, either a person or an animal. A divorce. A breakup. The end of a friendship. Losing a job or one’s job security. A child removed from their home, taken away from their parents, or from their caretakers. A loved one developing a debilitating disease, or a condition such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia, leaving them to no longer be the person that we once knew.

The reality and pain of separation and change remains and reminds us that our loved ones have passed on, and that things are no longer as they were. Yes, there still remains the unshakable feelings of loss and grief. We find ourselves searching and looking for someone or something that is no longer there. We have memories; through our remembrances we try to hold on to a feeling or feelings we had with someone. We try to recreate these same feelings we had in new settings and with other people but we cannot. We mourn, we feel loss, we grieve. It is true, things will never be the same.

Sometimes we have the feelings, or perhaps we tell ourselves or give ourselves the illusion that things were perfect with our loved ones who have passed on, have gone away, or changed, and only that sense of perfection or bliss can be obtained with them. Perhaps a need of ours was satisfied with these loved one(s) who we mourn. Perhaps we felt safe, nurtured, had a sense of belonging, and felt valued in the relationship. Perhaps we had a deep emotional connection with the person and bonded in a way with them that we did not experience with others. Perhaps we built traditions with them or developed a sense of tradition. Perhaps the person had the ability to provide reliability, comfort, and grace and strength for us. Perhaps we leaned on that person and depended on them so much. And then suddenly, our beloved, the one that we knew and that they knew us, are no longer there. Our hearts grieve, yearning for the times that were, and yet that cannot be anymore.

The holidays heighten that sense of feeling and loss (especially if the loss happened during the holiday season!). Perhaps in our day to day lives we can obscure, blur, and even forget the feelings of loss. However, as that one special holiday rolls around year after year, just one time a year, well that is when we acutely feel a sense of sorrow and loss because the holiday can serve as a reminder that the person, persons or animal(s) whom we loved are no longer here. Traditions, rituals, routines, celebrations, and things done on the holiday or during the holiday season with that person are suddenly no more. The time of each holiday gives us only once a year to process those intense feelings that come up, unlike the other routine days that we have during the year. And on top of this, there are still plenty of other days during the year that can highlight and remind us of our feelings of grief and sense of loss.

The loss is not necessarily going to get easier. One of your parent dies; the other is still alive. What is going to happen when your other parent passes away? Or what happens when you lose other people that you love and were close to? What if you have you lost your spouse, or significant other? What if you have lost a child? The loss is very real. For those who have lost ones to death, the loved ones do not exist in the human form any longer and thus you cannot communicate or interact with them on the earth plane as you once did. For those who have lost loved ones due to life circumstances such as divorce, mental illness, adoption, or other life-changing events, it can feel so hard because you know that the people still live on the planet but you are no longer able or permitted to be in touch with them; or perhaps you know that they have no desire to be in touch with you. The feelings of pain and rejection can be quite unbearable and overwhelming. And back to death...Aunts, uncles, pets...as we get older, death becomes more and more of an inevitable part of life. Will you let the death or loss just overcome you and consume you, leaving you unable to carry on your existence on earth? Let’s face it, the loss will never go away. The emptiness for those person or persons will always be there. Things will never be the same again.

So how to deal with this sense of loss? Well that’s not an easy answer and it can vary widely from person to person on how people deal with it. The fact is that loss is loss, and things are not going to be the same again. However, since we are living here on earth, the mere fact that we live in the physical mortal flesh, we do carry on, although how we do this can vary and take many different forms. As we are and remain living, we can and do have the power to work on coping and grieving. We have the power to work through the grief and come to terms with the loss of our loved ones or changed circumstances.

Death and loss are part of the human experience. We came into this world alone and we will leave the world alone. No one else can live our journey for us. No one can think for us and no one can be us. It remains a fact that we carry with us emotions that include a profound sense of loss and abandonment. However, we are born with, and have been given tools to cope with loss and have internal resources inside of ourselves to be resilient. The Human Spirit and Life is meant to carry on. We still have the capacity for love in our hearts. We still have the capacity to love others and to physically spend time with others on the earth plane.

Let us tell ourselves and remind ourselves that we are still living on vibrant earth in the embrace and loving energy of mother Gaia and that she is here to support us and nurture us. While those whom we cared for and loved are no longer here in the present physical forms, their souls will live on. Their form has merely taken a different shape. Let us remind ourselves that we can still reach out to them even though they are no longer in the human form. It is okay to comfort ourselves regarding our changed circumstances and people and animals that no longer exist on the earth realm. It is important to acknowledge our feelings and our sense of loss.

For those whose loved ones have passed, depending on your beliefs, perhaps you could have a celebration in their Honor. You could incorporate a tradition in your loved one’s honor and start new traditions. Seek out and be with those who love you, the living ones who are still on the earth. They too enjoy celebrations. Make new friends. The pain is not going to go away. There will always be a wound, a hurt, a scar, but you have the ability and strength to work through it. Feel your sorrow, acknowledge it. Honor the beloved person or animal who has passed away or who is no longer with you. Take some time to be sad, to comfort yourself and to seek comfort from others; it is okay to be sad.

Loss of loved ones, though painful and changing, is a great opportunity to turn to our faith or at least to acknowledge there is something out there in the world that is greater than ourselves. Sometimes, perhaps more often than we admit, we look up to people as our rocks and strength. Actually, that strength also exists in a higher power, in something greater than ourselves. Whatever your faith is, or perhaps you are an atheist or agnostic, a great step to empower yourself is to acknowledge that there is a universe outside of our earthly and human existence, and that there are forces that exist that we can call on to use as resources. The point of doing this is so that we can give ourselves permission to turn to someone or something for help, so that we do not have to be strong all by ourselves.

Be kind to yourself this holiday season. Honor those you have loved and lost. Know that life will continue and that you have the power to comfort yourself, and to work through the pain and loss.

Sending Blessings and Light during this Holiday Season.

What force is greater than oneself that creates serendipitous and synchronized circumstances,  moves mountains, and allows for boundless miracles? What is the force that supports events to unfold in beautiful and mysterious ways for the benefit and enhancement of overall well-being of oneself and humanity? The force is the power of the Divine. Aligning one’s power with the will of the Divine enables one to work and create miracles.

To align one’s power with that of the Divine, one must set their intent in good faith and with love, trusting in the Divine. One must make their intent to be of service, to serve for the highest good of all. Then, one must do their part to plan the logistics of the work, and set things in motion, so they can happen in the physical realm. With one’s will in align with the Divine, and by doing the work, that is when the magic happens. Events unfold: the people one meets and the things that happen are serendipitous and synchronized with the project, goal and work.  Resources abound and events beautifully and effortlessly unfold.  This is the power of Divine Will in action.

Surrendering to the Divine starts with recognizing and then acknowledging that there is a force greater than oneself in the universe and then surrendering to it, allowing the force to work through you to help you.  The key word for Dragon is Divine Will (Alexis Cartwright, Animal Magic, 2005, p. 90).  Alexis Cartwright writes, “‘Transference Healing(R) Dragon Power’ is the most profound power source held on the planet.” Alexis Cartwright, Transference Healing Animal Magic, 2005, p. 91. 

Dragon Power and Divine Will work in tandem, when one is working from their heart and not from their ego.  Working from one’s heart allows one to work according to the will of the Divine. One may seek challenges as one works towards a goal because their intent is tested to see if it is pure and coming from one’s heart.  If one’s intent pure, then Dragon Power, the power of the Divine, is triggered, will come into help, and will remain to help, as long as one stays in their heart and their intent remains pure.  One is truly empowered by working from the heart in align with Divine Will.

Dragon Power will help one move forward on their projects, and to transform and change. Aligning oneself with Divine Will will bless one’s projects in the most fortuitous and magical ways; ways in which one could never have imagined. Dragon Power allows one to be in their heart which is to open their heart letting the magic and love flow. At the same time Dragon Power allows one to protect themselves, and to stand in their power so they are not run down and can take care of themselves.  Dragon Power counteracts negative feelings. It helps with goals, purifying one’s ego and intent, and helps one feel more calm and dignified. Dragon Power is a magical force that creates light, freedom, happiness and a new state of being. 

When one’s intent is pure, when one connects to their heart, this allows for the ultimate connection to the Divine.   Aligning oneself with Divine Will is a key to truly know and understand that everything happens in Divine Timing. Through Divine Will flows the keys for being truly productive - patience, faith, trust, clarity, and wellness, for the highest good of all. 

You find yourself in a rut doing the same thing every day unable to get out of it. You are not able to see a bigger picture of why you are living your life and exist in the world.  You may find that you go through your days in a routine. You are in an awake sleep state and you cannot wake yourself out of it.  Wanting to break out, you find that you cannot break out, or perhaps you are not even aware that you are able to break out of the routine. Or, you may have no clue how to begin to break out of the routine. You feel that this routine will go on forever and forever, and you will never break free from it.

However, the truth is, quoting Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, “change is the only constant in life.” Change in life is indeed inevitable.  The Universe requires that we come out of and away from our routines because we cannot stay stagnate or the same forever.  The Universe in its infinite wisdom has its ways of creating the means for the change to happen. The Universe actually may move us to change or we may choose to change ourselves. Sometimes the process of moving and shifting is painful but at the same time the change can be very freeing.  The Shift for some people can be apparent and visible to the outside world and to themselves: relocating homes or offices, changing jobs, having a baby, getting married, or getting divorced. The Shift can be very unexpected e.g. being terminated from a job, or a natural disaster ruining one’s home. For others, the Shift can be very traumatic and even devastating: experiencing a life-debilitating illness or death of a spouse, parent or loved one.  We are not saying that change is easy.  But you can help the process of the Change or Shift and make it easier for yourself,

by becoming aware of what is going on

When something or someone is taken away from us, or we lose something or we leave something behind, or someone is no longer with us, there is immediate change in our world. When we no longer have someone or something that we had before, we have a brand new and different perspective in our lives.  Suddenly, the sense of security, power, or familiarity that we felt with the person or thing is pulled away from us. We can feel vulnerable or powerless.  At the same time, despite our frustration and pain, we are suddenly free because we are no longer dependent on the person or thing that gave us the sense of security.  This can be an unsettling concept; perhaps it feels disloyal or sacrilegious to even dare contemplate that we could be free by losing someone or something that was our whole world. 

What’s going on with the world then? What and why are these Shifts and Changes in the Universe shifting and changing our External Reality?

We are being the gift of awakening, the purpose of which is so that we can come into the Light, see the Light, and begin to co-create the existence of our reality and to remember from where we came from.  The awakening is happening so that we can shift and reconnect to our Divine Self.  We are being supported in the year of 2018 to make huge shifts in our reality and consciousness and the Universe is divinely supporting us to do this.

There are many things presently happening in the Universe that are quantifiable and can be verified that are helping us to awaken, shift and change. In the months of July and August this year, there were three eclipses (on July 12th, 27th and August 11th). Eclipses signify change and create incredible opportunities to change. Sometimes the logistics of the change can feel messy, painful, even devastating, like one’s whole world has come crashing down. But in reality, the change is an incredible opportunity for change. Another major event that happened this month was the LionsGate Awakening which occurred August 8. The LionsGate occurs every year on August 8th.  The LionsGate Awakening happens in the star sign of Leo.  During the time of the LionsGate, the Earth, the Star Sirius, and the Sun are in alignment. With the alignment comes an intense surge of light which causes and helps us to awaken. According to Alexis Cartwright, “Sirius is the largest and most brilliant star in the heavens, situated 8.6 light years from Earth. It is located in the eye of the great dog Canis Major, and is therefore known in mythology as the ‘Dog Star.’....Sirian frequencies are very pure frequencies of light that filter down and into our dimension from the dimensions of Sirius via the Sirian ‘stellar gateway’ (located where the star Sirius is in the sky)... Sirius...opens the third eye chakra so new levels of consciousness and enlightenment can manifest.” Alexis Cartwright, Transference Healing Animal Magic, Transference Healing Pty. Ltd., 2005, p. 282.

Take a deep breathe.  Now close your eyes.  Picture Light. Beautiful White Light that filters in and around your body, mind and soul. Beautiful white light filters through in the atmosphere, in your surroundings and in all corners of your world. Light helps us to see because it illuminates what is going on in and around us. Light shows us the way so that we know what we are doing.  Light shows what is distorted and not working in our lives, so that we can clear, restore, and actually improve our situations.

Part of our awakening process requires that certain things about us or our lives need to break down and that we get pulled out of the routines in our lives.  That is when some of the Changes/Shifts that we discussed above can happen.

While the Universe is presenting us with this lovely gift of awakening and light, we must also do our part to be able to receive the gift.  It is an important part of this awakening process to keep an open mind and heart and to take some time for introspection. Introspection is the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.  It is self-examination. It is soul-searching. It is self-observation.  Introspection helps us see things in a new light and helps us to become conscious of what needs to change for our highest good. Conducting introspection during the time of awakening and when surrounded by the light helps give us courage to make changes without fear.

If there is one thing to take with you from reading this, it is that you are divinely supported and encouraged by the Universe at this time to make changes in yourself, and in your reality, for your highest good. Awaking and Introspection gives you the perspective and direction to reconnect with and remember your Divine Self, for your peace, fulfillment and happiness here on Earth and beyond. With a little work and a little faith, you have the power to make those changes happen.

Manifestation is a word with such a deep meaning. An often-asked question for many people is: Do I truly have the ability to manifest what my heart desires?

In our previous writings, we have talked about topics that include conducting ourselves with honesty, integrity, and reliability see, “Being Truly Reliable Means Being Able to Count On Yourself.” What is the importance of incorporating these actions and things into our lives? Is it just for the sake of our own self-care, deriving personal self-satisfaction and patting oneself on the back? Or, is there a greater purpose, some kind of universal collective award?

Is the only reason for living our lives and always aspiring to live our lives consistently with honesty, integrity and reliability is to just prove that we can handle the challenges that life presents to us? These challenges include life’s little challenges, and life’s big challenges. What is the point? Why go to all of that bother you ask? Why not just aspire to get it right at the important times that you can, and call it a day when you cannot? Isn’t that a better way to treat yourself? Sometimes we work so hard, yet because we are human, sometimes we just cannot get it right, as much as we try. Because of this reality, it is indeed important to have compassion for ourselves as we discussed in “Compassion Helps Lighten Our Loads,” and to not self-judge ourselves as we discussed in “Releasing Self-Judgement is an Act of Self Care.” However, this does not mean that we should not continue to push ourselves, and to challenge ourselves in order to grow and learn. After all, we came here to this planet earth for a purpose. No matter what our each individual purpose is, each of us with our individual purpose, is a delicate and integral part of the human and the broader universal fabric, existence, and experience.

But, so what we say to ourselves, we do not care about this one iota. Okay then: Look around you. How is your life? Are you truly content and fulfilled with your life and have achieved all that your heart desires? Are you truly being honest and in integrity when you answer this question? If so, stop. Read no further.

However, do you find yourself wanting something more in your life? We must stress that we are not speaking of material things. We are speaking of immaterial things: Being able to maintain a peaceful and balanced state of mind when your deadlines and bills are due. When bills are due and there is not enough money in the bank to cover them. When your child, spouse, elderly parent or loved one falls ill, and when you fall ill at the exact same time. When someone close to you dies. When things do not work out as you hoped. Also, we are referring to maintaining peace and balance when good and beautiful things happen.Getting a job promotion. Winning money. The birth of a child. Getting a new haircut, dress or car.

In sadness, disappointment, and in happiness, it is important to remember to focus, to balance, and to align. Why is this important? The purpose of keeping an even keel and maintaining grounding and alignment is so that manifestation can continue to happen. When we do not worry about the material things and the external events happening to us, we can maintain peace and a relaxed and detached state of being within ourselves. This peace and relaxed and detached state of being then creates a space that can then allow for good things to come into our space. When we are off-balance and worry, our energy is off-kilter, we are worried and become attached to outcomes, and then in turn this can allow for negative energy and things to come into our space. Like a domino effect, negative events can result in a downward spiral that does not seem to end or relent. Then, whilst in the downward spiral, it can be difficult to climb out of it and start moving up again.

The key to maintain peace and detachment, and thus avoid negativity when both good things and bad things are happening is to actually BE balanced and aligned. To BE means not just to think it in your brain. Not just to have it as a passing thought. Not to just talk about it ad naseum for hours and hours on end. Not to wish for it and think it will happen one day. No, rather, in order to BE balanced and aligned, some steps need to be taken. And, this is where the actions of honesty, integrity, being compassionate with and reliable to oneself come in. In doing these things, we are BEING respectful and caring with ourselves and towards other people. In doing these things we feel better and more balanced and aligned. When we are in balance and aligned and at peace, our frequency raises. When our frequency raises then we can be in the right vibration to attract things that we want for ourselves. Being balanced, aligned and at peace creates the space and opportunities for us to reach up and out, move forward, to manifest things that will make us grow and enrich us, and that we wish for in our lives.

Did you know that if you cannot be reliable to yourself, then you cannot truly have others depend on you? To determine whether you are sincerely reliable to yourself, then you must first be honest with yourself and you must project that honesty out into the world. Some people pretend to be honest in their assessment, but they do not really want to find or know the truth. So, what happens is that some people pretend that they are reliable to themselves, but they really are not.

But what do you mean, you ask? What is being reliable to oneself?

Most often when one thinks of reliability, one calls to mind being on time, keeping your word, coming through for someone in a time of crisis, doing something consistently and unwaveringly, paying bills on time, perhaps having a good credit score. Being faithful to your partner. Returning phone calls. Sending money every month for someone’s support, perhaps your parents or children. Taking care of an elderly person in the family, a small child, or regularly cooking or supplying food on a regular basis to groups of guests, or even to people who just drop in unexpectedly to your house; you accommodate their schedules. Bailing someone out of jail. 

Always being there in an emergency, no matter what it takes, where someone’s life or liberty hangs in the balance. Ignoring public policy or safety concerns when making a decision or judgement for the benefit of the principal individual.  Paying your adult child’s credit card bill, light bill or car insurance every month.  Perhaps you are reliable in that you provide great customer service at a fraction of the cost of your competitors or other similarly-situated service providers.  People say that you are a good ole’ dad or a good ole’ mum. Or that you are a great sister, brother, daughter, son, in-law, boss, or worker. People say, thank goodness for you to help out, that you are their rock. It appears awesome and good to take great measures and go to great lengths for people or to be the reliable steady eddy in someone’s life.  It feels awesome to be called the old faithful, that you are consistent, reliable and unwavering.

While it may appear awesome and noble to undertake all of some of these endeavors, have we ever stopped to consider if we are reliable to ourselves. What, you ask? What does being reliable to yourself mean? Until now, have we ever looked in a different direction other than from the perspective of the outward appearance of reliability? Have we ever looked inwards to assess how we have been reliable towards ourselves?

Let’s say that you are the type of person that runs around and makes time for everyone, and you are a person of your word.  But consider: Are you reliable to yourself? Have you ever let yourself down? Reliability can range from the most mundane, routine and boring to the most important pressing matters; there are so many ways of being reliable to ourselves in so many ways. Do you brush your hair and brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis? Do you go for routine teeth cleanings or medical checkups?   Do you consistently do these things well and on time?  Do you keep your promises to yourself, things like promising yourself that you are going to exercise more, or do morning stretches? How about doing your taxes on time, by the deadline? How about starting that project that you have always wanted to start, or finishing the one that you already started?  How about the promise you made to find a way to make more money? Or to save up for that item, trip or experience that you have always wanted to have?  Have you been reliable to yourself? Can you depend on yourself to take care of you in case of an emergency? How about relying on yourself like obtaining and being able to afford to pay for  a divorce or an emergency , making up a will, or signing a power of attorney so someone could speak for you in the event of an emergency?

Or, instead of being reliable to yourself, have you in fact let yourself down? Have you spent all of your resources in support of other people so that you are out of money, feel spent, exhausted, depleted, and unable to provide for yourself? Have you been reliable in a way to others that puts yourself out and makes you unable to take care of or provide for yourself?  Does paying your adult child’s bills leave you unable to pay for your current bills, or unable to put money away for your retirement or savings? How about taking care of an elderly person or child? Are you physically able and strong enough care for them? Does taking care of them require that you physically maneuver them in a way that will leave you physically exhausted, in pain, or hurt in some way?  Or does being reliable leave you unable to pay your own bills, or unable to give yourself the financial means to do some things you have always wanted to do? Does being reliable take up time and money that you do not have or cannot afford? How about when over the years you had a household full of people who dropped in at the last moment and you constantly cooked for them and served them. Did you forgo looking at your own life in terms of how you were feeling – how your health or energy level was? Perhaps the activities tore you away from tending to projects in your house that you had been meaning to do, or kept you from having or taking the time to plan your whole future.

Where are you now? Has being reliable truly enriched your life and made you stronger?

The experience or process of being reliable should be one that makes us become even stronger in ourselves, grow deeper in our roots and richer in our experiences, giving us a strong solid foundation from where we can grow stronger and move forward to create and work towards greater endeavors. Reliability should not leave us feel weak, exhausted, depleted, spent, unable to take care of ourselves. That is not the purpose of being reliable. To be reliable in a way that sells ourselves short, that harms us, that is not truly being reliable. If we are reliable in a way that harms ourselves, then we are not truly being reliable to ourselves. And then, it is just a matter of time that we will not be that so-called and perceived reliable person that we had been with others because our foundation will crumble, we will not be on solid ground, we  will lose our footing, and then no one will be able to rely on us, including ourselves.

So, in looking ahead, think about yourself in terms of reliability. How are you going to be reliable to yourself, starting today?  How have you been failing yourself or not as reliable to yourself as you think should be? The point is not to chide yourself and make yourself feel bad that you have not done for yourself. Rather, the point is to get you to an assessment of how you have not been reliable to yourself, make a plan of how you will do better for yourself, and then move into action.

 Being reliable to yourself is all for your well-being: For your life. For your foundation. For your peace and soundness, in body, mind and spirit.

In order to get something that you want in your life that you do not have, you have to step out of your ordinary routine and the regular course of your life.  Often this means that you have to either give up something, take new steps or actions, or set a different course for yourself, mentally, physically, spiritually or emotionally.

People often feel that they are stuck in a situation.  Sometimes they find themselves reacting out of fear. Sometimes they fear that they are not and never will be good enough. Sometimes they feel they do not have the strength or ability to change. Sometimes they are afraid of failure. Sometimes people are even afraid of success.

People often say that they are doing just fine with their lives, that things are going well, and that nothing needs to change. However, upon closer examination, people may see a thing or two, or several that could stand to improve or change.

It can be a scary thing to change no matter how uncomfortable our current situation is.  After all, sometimes it is much more comfortable to stick with the feelings of familiarity, of the familiar daily routine and norms. Even though these familiar and comfortable situations are disruptive and disturbing to one’s sanity peace of mind, (and sometimes even to one’s physical well-being), they, in the end, have a way of simmering back down and can temporarily ignored.

We sometimes find ourselves in these uncomfortable yet familiar situations: Friends, family members, a spouse, colleague, partner, or parent that yells, is disruptive, or is critical or judgmental.  A boss that is demanding and unreasonable. Office politics that are tense or filled with corruption.  Tons of drama among friends.  Cheating, lying, infidelity, and manipulation. People who simply “know it all” and/or are so opinionated to the point that they are unable to hear anyone else’s point of view.  People who are “self-righteous” or are just too busy running their mouths and could care less what you or anyone else has to say. Enduring the silent treatment for countless days by a loved one.  Waiting patiently for friends or loved ones to respond to your phone calls and attempts to engage with them. Giving your time to someone who is emotionally unavailable or who is not available to be in a relationship with you because they are already committed to someone else. Succumbing to others’ unreasonable demands because it is the “right thing to do” it is “our role” it is “our place” it is the “way to keep the peace.”  Putting ourselves out or last so that others can be made to feel comfortable even though they are being excessively demanding or unreasonable.  Stifling our voices or way of being because we are too afraid to speak up.

There are other familiar and uncomfortable scenarios of not having one’s finances in order. Being in debt. Not having one’s taxes filed. Not having your spouse or children provided for in the event that you should pass away.  Staying with a job that makes us feel uncomfortable. Or, not having your dream job and feeling like you will never be able to obtain one.

There is the familiar and uncomfortable scenario of denying ourselves. Putting off things you want to do until you retire.  Putting off that trip you have been wanting to take.  Putting off taking that painting class, or learning to play an instrument, or learning something else. Waiting to do something that you have always wanted to do.

There is the scenario of continuing to do familiar and uncomfortable things that make us physically ill. Putting off quitting smoking: you want to quit smoking because the cigarettes are making you sick and cough all the time and feel physically bad including having trouble with your breathing.  Continuing to eat that third doughnut, or the second pint of ice cream even though the extra weight on your body is making you sick and creating health problems, putting pressure on your internal organs, bones and joints, and making your blood pressure soar. Continuing to consume exorbitant amounts of sugar or caffeine even though you are getting sick from eating so much and it feels like your heart is racing all of the time.

Sometimes we just stay in these situations because it feels like it just would be much more painful to walk away or put our foot down to set our boundaries, then to just remain and keep the status quo. Somehow it just feels more comfortable to stay in the painful situation. It is familiar.  Sometimes we just cannot fathom making the change. Sometimes we fear that we will be loved less or criticized by speaking our truth and setting boundaries. Sometimes we want the change to happen without having to do anything about it ourselves.  

Some people never do make any kind of changes. They remain stuck and often become physically sick from the constant pressure and struggle. Or they self-medicate with alcohol, drugs, overeating, gambling, or with other addictions.  Other people have “help” from the Universe to get out of the situation and become unstuck: perhaps a dramatic situation occurred such as a close brush with death, or another person’s death, that forces people to literally “Do. Or Die.”  Sometimes there is a situation that pushes people to the point of being so uncomfortable that they are literally forced to change.  Perhaps they almost died or someone they deeply loved died. Or their house burned down. Or they had a car accident.  In essence, the dramatic incident was a wakeup call to change.

We often do not change because we are afraid. But, the reality is that we have the power to release our fear of change so that we can create a better reality and way of living for ourselves.

You do not have to settle. You deserve better in your life and deserve to get what you want.  Your life counts. You have to right to be at peace and to be happy.  You do not have to continue or remain in a situation that you bring you fear or makes you feel uncomfortable.  You do not have to continue to believe in things that were taught to you that are not true and keep you in a state of fear and afraid.

While it sounds appealing to be liberated from fear, the very idea of freedom from being fearful and to have choice in one’s life, can actually be a scary one. Sometimes excuses are made to remain uncomfortable rather than for us to face our deepest fears. Sometimes even though we do not want to be afraid, and we are tired of being afraid, we are too scared to let go of fear and actually feel more comfortable to remain in a place of fear. The fear of failing in a marriage, or relationship, or fearing that we will never have a meaningful and loving relationship. Thinking that we are not good enough. Fearing illness. Fearing running out of money. Losing your child/parents/ mother/father/partner/spouse or other ones.  Fear of being attacked, of planes crashing, of drowning, of dying.

In order to change we have to let go of something. That could either consist of stopping habits or starting things that bring us good feelings, that we have been meaning to do, and that that we have been wanting to do. Change means that we have to let go of something, a certain part of ourselves has to leave and we have to embrace a new part of ourselves. In essence, the part of us that no longer serves us has to die, and we must let go. After the dying and shedding, there is then an opportunity for new growth and change to occur within ourselves. A caterpillar is an excellent example of change. In order to change, a caterpillar must stop crawling around; instead of crawling, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly and it is in then able to fly around. We are able to take our cues from the caterpillar and know that we have the ability to change our actions, thoughts, emotions, and feelings.  We do have the ability and power to let go of whatever no longer serves us. Through letting go, we create the space for new beginnings, new thoughts, new emotions and new actions to come through into our lives. In that process of letting go and creating new we can view ourselves as letting a part of ourselves die, and then letting ourselves be born into a new reality and existence.

We do not have to be bound by our past, nor our feelings, emotions, actions, nor our life circumstances.  We have the ability to let go and to make room for and embrace the new. This process can go on continually in our lifetimes and beyond. Letting go of what no longer serves to make way for the new to create lives where we feel more empowered and more comfortable with the shifts in reality that make our lives better. This is the process of death and rebirth.

Marie-Eleana First, March 2018
LyonHart Amrie

Self-judgment is such an important and challenging topic; while it is on many people’s minds, it is often not discussed and/or is suffered through alone and in silence. The condition of being part of the human race means that by our very nature we are not perfect and that we are all bound to make mistakes at some point or other during our lifetimes. For those of us that try hard to achieve quintessential self-perfection, making mistakes can be really upsetting and stifle us in our development as human beings. 

Depending on the context, timing and parties involved, these mistakes can take on so many meanings and have so many varying degrees of harmful consequences. And, they can take many forms: Saying hurtful things to a child. Writing a bad check. Stealing. Physically beating someone up. Cheating on an exam. Robbing someone. Destroying someone’s property. Starting an argument. Playing loud music in the middle of the night waking up neighbors. Forgetting or missing a deadline. Dating or marrying a toxic person. Engaging in toxic professional and/or personal relationships. Cheating on your spouse or partner. Making a poor choice or decision. All of these things can be damaging or harmful. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, they can affect not only the parties involved, but also ripple out onto other people. Sometimes they can have severe and deleterious consequences, profoundly impacting others in unforeseen ways. 

The parade of horrible mistakes and misdeeds is endless and can range from annoying to unfortunate, from inconveniencing people, to minor upsets, to wreaking havoc and ruining lives.

Some people never own up to their mistakes nor recognize how their actions have negatively impacted themselves or the people around them.

Some people, on the other hand, are profoundly sorry about what they have perceived they have done wrong. Some people find that they ruminate on their behavior to the point of wallowing in sorrow and regret, rendering them unable to process what happened and to move forward or to learn valuable lessons from their actions or inactions.  The process of harboring and harping on oneself can become stifling and debilitating.  We can remain for years and years reflecting on these actions in or inactions that caused upset and we also can spend years and years reliving what happened over and over again. Even if we have apologized to those whom we have hurt, were sincerely sorry, expressed our regrets to them, and even if they forgave us, sometimes we still stay in a place of judging ourselves, scolding ourselves, or find ourselves in a constant state of regret. This is called Self-Judgement.

If you are reading this today, you should know that you are on the right track of being able to push through your feelings of self-judgement and letting go (if you have not done so already).

The first part of working through what we regret having done is to recognize that our actions or inactions had a negative impact on ourselves and/or someone else.  There are many people in the world who are not able to perceive this; they always make reasons or excuses as to why external things caused them to foist their misdeeds onto others. Rather than refraining from examining your actions, you instead have acknowledged and considered that you had a role in how you acted. Well-done, to do this takes tremendous courage and honesty, good for you. However, while it is excellent to acknowledge what one has done in order to process it, express sorrow, learn from it, and then move on, it is simply unhealthy to remain in a place of regret over it.  To stay in a place of regret is a way of judging yourself. Self-judgment is harmful to you because it pulls your vibration down, fills up your box with negativity and does not allow room for brighter and lighter things. Self-judgment is a form of a power-play. It is a form of surrendering of your power, which takes energy from you, and leaves you feeling negative.

The key for over-coming and putting a stop to self-judgment is to have compassion for yourself. Having compassion for yourself makes room, and allows for the space to truly look at yourself and your behavior.  Truly examining yourself in this way, will help you to understand the reasons why you did what you did. In turn, gaining some perspective on what happened and understanding why, will allow you to forgive your own-self.  Gaining perspective will help you to acknowledge what happened, and learn something valuable about yourself from what happened. This is not to say that this will make right what you did. But forgiving yourself will allow you to detach from continually blaming yourself, to stop replaying in your mind what you did wrong.

Giving yourself permission to truly look at yourself in a non-judgmental way, and then to forgive yourself is an act of self-care. In fact, letting go of self-judgment is an act of behaving responsibly in your life and in the world. You are empowering yourself by not letting what happened in the past remain and filter through to what is happening in your present life. By forgiving yourself and stopping the self-judgment, you are allowing for transformation to happen within yourself. Releasing the self-judgment is tantamount to releasing self-destructive behavior. Releasing the self-judgment is an act of being loving and compassionate with yourself. Releasing the self-judgment creates room for you to feel better about yourself and the world around you. In turn, feeling better about yourself ripples out into the world, helping to make the world a more compassionate and loving place.

As I have said before, compassion for others is so important to myself, to our world, and to our future. It is not an easy practice, but one I try to follow by engaging my heart and embracing all that is around me. Removing unwanted emotions, which are excess baggage, helps me to lighten my load. Compassion is an act of self-care taking out resentment and anger in our bodies that left to linger may contribute to making us become sick.  “The….Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that 85 percent of all diseases appear to have an emotional element, but the actual percentage is likely to be even higher.”[i]

As it is the beginning of the new year, compassion is a great way to help me make a fresh start.  It is healthy and natural course of events for humans to clear things to make way for the new.  We clean and clear our cupboards, closets, drawers, file cabinets, and garages.  Why then, not clear the clutter from inside of ourselves, including those emotions that no longer serve us. Compassion is a way to help us do this.  If we do not clear and clean then we become full and we do not have room for new things to come into our lives, including the new and joyful.

Think of your body as a box. Hurt builds up in your body.  Hurt can be both deliberate and unmeant. If one keeps the hurt inside the body, then the box can fill up and up. If these hurts stay in the body and consciousness, there will be less room or perhaps no room for things like joy, love, happiness and openness. The body fills up and becomes closed, not open.  These hurts take time to build up, they do not happen overnight.  Perhaps you are saying, no thank you, there is not possible way to let go of things that have hurt you in the past. Somehow, it may feel more satisfying to stay angry and hold a grudge. We want to resist because somehow it can be more satisfying to our egos to hold a grudge. You will never forgive the person who wronged you. Yes, it is more satisfying to hold on to the hatred, to the dislike, to the disdain.  However, consider, does holding the bitterness and hatred inside your body mind and spirit help you? Are all of the negative emotions good for your body? Consider that holding these negative emotions put our bodies in a state of dis-ease and that we can become ill from our negative emotions because we are in a state of “dis-ease.”

Let’s take a moment and reflect. How many years have you lived on this planet Earth? What is your first memory of being hurt? What has filled up your box and closed it?

Think of the first time that you were wronged or felt you were treated unjustly. They all are significant, and have had deep impacts.  Perhaps you were neglected and abandoned by your parents when you were young. Or, perhaps it was the time when you were just a tiny tot and your perceived that your parent favored your sibling over you. Perhaps it was the time you were smacked in the face by an angry parent and it caused your nose to bleed. Or when a classmate stole your brand-new pens and the teacher did nothing to help you or to find the culprit.  Perhaps it was the time you found that your girlfriend or boyfriend was cheating on you and betrayed your trust.  Perhaps it was when one of your closest friends who you trusted divulged a cherished secret of yours that you had told them in confidence. Perhaps it was your parents refusing to help you with anything. Or perhaps they gave you excessive criticism and no praise and acted always as if you could do nothing right.  Perhaps it was a friend who you cared deeply about did not give you the time of day.  Perhaps it is someone you love who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or both. Perhaps you were beaten, abused, molested or raped.  Perhaps someone robbed your house, stole from your car, or stole your wallet and used your credit cards.  Perhaps you had several or many of these things happen to you. The parade of horribles and atrocities are endless.  I encourage for those who have suffered deep traumatic events to seek professional counseling and to not let this trauma go untreated or dealt with if you have not done so already.

Even if you have been in therapy for the trauma and it feels like you have processed it, what I have found is that many of us tend to harbor and fixate on how these terrible incidents harmed us.  We remember and hold on to the feelings of how we were simply wronged and hurt without cause or justification.  The emotions of anger and resentment can fill us up and feel very heavy and weigh upon us. If we carry around all this bitterness and anger inside of us, then what room do we have to feel other emotions and things? How is weighing our own-selves down going to give us the strength and inspiration to work on the things that we want for ourselves in this life if we are fixated on the past and literally are awash and absorbed in anger and resentment? Simply, it cannot.  In keeping our resentments and anger, we are not open, we are closed. We are not light, we are weighed down.

Compassion helps us to let go of these hurts, and to find within ourselves the forgiveness that was never asked by the ones who hurt us. And importantly, compassion allows us to forgive ourselves, for things that we may done to sabotage ourselves, even if they were unintentional. Having compassion does not mean to gloss over these feelings that we have acquired from all of these wrongs over the years. Rather, having compassion is to be able to let the feelings of hurt go, once we have felt, acknowledged, and processed them. Once our box is emptied, we can then have room to feel other feelings. Then, being able to feel other feelings will help us learn and grow more and leave us able to experience emotions like joy and happiness.  The beauty and value of having compassion for others and for ourselves is an act of self-care because we are not letting the actions of those who have hurt us to continue to weigh us down. 

Having compassion is a way to free our body, mind and spirit so that we can move on and forward, improving our well-being and the over-all quality of our lives. 

December marks the time of year where there is a lot of focus on light and darkness. There are many festivals and traditions that focus on light at this time: Hanukah for Jewish people, the Winter Solstice for Pagans, and for Christians, Christmas.  In the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice marks the longest darkest day of the year, the day with the least hours of sunlight. As darkness increases upon the earth, humankind slowly makes its way back to the light, to reflect on it, to remember and to celebrate it.

Despite whatever tradition we celebrate (or do not), how about if we were to consider that love is a ray beam of light in the world, an actual conduit for a spark of hope and wonder, capable of filling hearts with comfort, peace and joy.   How about if we were to consider love, a magical mystery on the earth and beyond, its ancient origins reaching far back into the time of no time, as a way to bring the light to earth?

 Love, a ray beam of light that calls for us to remember our own love that we hold inside each and every one of us, reminding us that we are capable of having compassion and understanding and forgiveness for other human beings that we share this planet and world with.

There is so much suffering in the human world: acts of violence, hate, trespassing, robbery and terror among humankind.  The people who commit these acts have a lack of respect and love for themselves and therefore are not able to respect and love others. These affronts can cause anger, resentment and fear. Sometimes they make us want to fight back if we or ones that we love have suffered the affliction.  However, if we retaliate, we ourselves then perpetuate the cycle of violence and hate making for a further meaner and cruel world. Violence upon violence. Hate upon hate. Cheat upon cheat. Thievery upon thievery. Robbery upon robbery. All upon all, solve nothing.  The world without the love, without the ray beam of light, can find itself in a cold, dark slumber, of hate and despair.

However, to bring the light back into the world, what we can do is to look into our own hearts, to find that compassion and love, to reach some level of understanding and a common meeting point of humanity; we are all humans living here on this planet Earth, coexisting together on this planet. Consider that if we can find it in our hearts to forgive others for the wrongs they have done to us, that we can then bring a bit more peace into our lives and light to the world.

To do this, we must first give ourselves permission to forgive ourselves, for the wrongs that we have caused ourselves, to have gentleness and compassion for ourselves.  To forgive ourselves for the way that we criticize ourselves, the way that we overthink things.  To forgive ourselves for the dissatisfaction of the way we feel when we look in the mirror.  To forgive ourselves for feeling like we could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.  To forgive ourselves for the regrets and shame that we have, and for the embarrassment we have for things we have done or not done.  To forgive ourselves for harboring feelings of guilt or regret. The ray beam of light is sparked by having compassion and understanding towards ourselves. The ray beam of light can come forth when we ease up the tension and stress in our body, and where we can actually let go of the burdens we carry around.  Self-love has been coined by songwriters Michael Masser and Linda Creed, and sung by the late great vocalist Whitney Houston, “ Learning to love yourself  it is the greatest love of all.”

If bringing this ray beam of light seems too daunting, then we can at least try or practice a bit.  The next time that you make a mistake, forgive yourself. The next time that you feel overwhelmed with things and feel that you cannot cope, be understanding with yourself.  What can you do to take off some of the pressures for yourself?  The next time someone is rude or inconsiderate or steals something from you, do take appropriate steps to protect yourself in danger, and report to proper authorities if necessary. However, for your own peace of mind, to help let the anger and resentment go, consider what kind of despair or tumultuous world the person must be living in to violate or disrespect another human being?  If they do this to others, then they do not have respect or love for themselves. That’s where we have an opportunity to look into our hearts, to forgive for the wrongs they have done to us, to bring a bit more peace into our lives and a ray beam of light into the world.

Marie-Eleana First, December 2017
LyonHart Amrie

The world around us and what we bring into our lives is truly shaped by our thoughts, outlook, attitude and actions.   As we celebrate this Thanksgiving Day, let us take a few moments to reflect and take stock of our lives, and the direction that they are heading. Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to examine the minutiae, the details, the essence, the very core, of how we live our lives, and what we are doing to bring forth more of what we desire.  Through this examination, we create a marvelous possibility to identify what we want for ourselves, and to actually begin attracting it.  

Thanksgiving is the day that we take time to gather with our loved ones, the people we hold dear in our hearts, our beloved family and friends, where we come together in community and celebration.  Will we be with people who uplift and inspire us, or will we be in the company of people who are negative and bring us down?  We not only choose with whom we wish to be with, but we also choose where on the physical location of the earth planet that we wish to be.  Will we be somewhere that makes us feel happy and comfortable, or will we be somewhere that makes us feel sad and uncomfortable?  The Thanksgiving food in the meal we eat and the quantity we choose to eat not only nourishes our bodies but also influences our reality. Will we consume food and a quantity that makes us feel uncomfortable and sick, or will we consume food and a quantity that makes us feel satiated and content? These choices all shape and influence our reality.  Thanksgiving is a day that we nourish ourselves on so many levels – Body, Mind and Spirit.  If we pay attention and are honoring of ourselves, we will be able to relax, recharge and replenish in doing so will gain fortitude and blessings.  Being grateful for the things we value in our lives, will attract more things to be grateful for.

There is proof in science that thoughts and emotions shape reality.  Dr. Masuru Emoto, the Japanese scientist and water researcher has shown how thoughts and vibrations affect the molecular structure of water; the most beautiful water crystals were formed after the water was exposed to the words “love and gratitude.” The fact that the human body is made of 70% water, our thoughts can have profound impact on our health and the well-being of the planet.[1] Negative attracts negative, positive attracts positive. Giving thanks shapes the world around us.

So, think of Thanksgiving as an opportunity to reflect, to gain strength, and to position ourselves to move onward in our life journey. This can be accomplished with the company we keep, the food we nourish our bodies with, and the gratitude we hold in our hearts.  Taking these steps in turn, allows us to identify, create, and continue to create what we want in our lives.  Then, in the bigger picture, we can take these steps with us into our everyday realities, making everyday a day for reflection, celebration, and thankfulness.

Marie-Eleana First, November 2017
LyonHart Amrie

Do You Beat Up On Yourself Because You Feel That No Matter What You Do You Just Are Never Good Enough?

Have you ever felt like no matter what you do you just are never good enough and should be doing more? Do you beat up on yourself in your quest to achieve a ceaselessly unattainable and elusive standard of excellence in your life? You work so hard in your life and yet it never seems to be enough.

At home you work so hard for your family: you help out your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your parents, and even your household pets........

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November 11 is a day that supports the planting of seeds for new beginnings on the journey of self-transformation.

What this means is that now is a great time to create and make positive changes in your reality, in your life.  The universe is supporting us to instigate changes in our reality, to grow, to move on from painful circumstances and to change the reality of our every day lives. 

I have heard numerous stories lately where men and women from all walks of life, feel and act trapped in the current and past circumstances of their lives.  Helplessly they recount stories of dashed hopes and dreams.  They express anger and frustration about things such as not having achieved success in their chosen career path, or not having more money.  They express animosity towards a sibling or business partner who has cheated or stolen money from them, unjustly being deprived of an inheritance, or their fair share of business income.  They are consumed with sorrow over the breakup of a marriage or significant other.

Rather than taking time to feel their pain, grieve the loss, and plan the steps towards moving on, many people chose instead to focus on, repeat and relive their problem, similar to the way a broken record repeats itself. 

In fact, the continuous expression of hopelessness can become a painful cathartic exercise, even a way of life, to the point that it seems normal to experience this pain in their daily life.

Since people only have a certain threshold for pain, they take a break and escape, numbing their feelings by excessively using alcohol, drugs, or food; they may excessively diet or exercise. They may engage in other activities whose primary purpose is to distract them from their pain.  But, once they have taken a rest, they go back and start their ruminations anew about their past hurts and injustices suffered.  The cycle is self-destructive and chips away at their well-being and ability to feel that they are in control of their lives.

Some people have actual physical symptoms of their “dis-ease” and discomfort.  In the past several months I have seen many people with feet, ankles and/or legs in casts; I have heard from several people that the emergency rooms have been packed with people with sprained ankles, broken legs or foot problems. 

It is uncomfortable for us to sit and feel our emotional pain and sorrow.  Somehow it is easier to numb ourselves and then sit back and point fingers blaming the other person or persons for our problems.  It’s so and so’s fault that I…”am sad;” “didn’t get the job;” “don’t have more money;” “have to work so hard.” And on and on we go. 

No matter how great the discomfort, it is somehow much easier to stay in the circumstances and complain, numb and accuse then to actually find a way to move on.

Have you ever stopped to consider for a moment what your life’s journey and purpose is here is on earth – just why you are here? Why were you were born? Do you remember how you used to feel as a child? Did you ever feel that you could accomplish what you wanted and you would succeed at what you wanted to achieve? 

I submit to you that as children, we looked at the world wide-eyed. Anything and everything that we wanted to do was possible.  Do you remember being asked what are you going to be when you grow up?  We wanted to be lots of things, and we felt that we could do it all.  As children, we were not jaded.

Think about where you are now.  How did you get there?  Did you wake up one day and “poof” you became what you are now?  Did someone just hand you your degree, your career, your business, your house or living space, your spouse or partner, your children, your clothes, your shoes, your haircut? Or did you achieve these by making choices, plans, goals and working to achieve them? I would wager that all of these achievements and situations were your doing.

So too, in the same way that we have made these choices in our lives, we can chose not to be victims of our circumstances; we all have the ability to be calm, to empower and nurture ourselves.

Please view these pages of LyonHart Amrie, where we offer tools, experiences, events, with profound healing and wisdom, in support of your self-empowerment.

Here we light a pathway to move through stressful and painful experiences and become that empowered person that you want to be.