Soul healing: Moving the blocks

With the advent of a new wave of thought concerning the association between mind and soul, a new place of prominence has been given to the word "forgiveness". Our whole life, we have been conditioned to believe that by forgiving a painful action we are forfeiting our right to receive human or cosmic justice. Nothing is further than the truth. Real forgiveness does not imply that we let the insensitive acts of others off the hook; it simply means that we no longer allow them to run our life. In the greater scheme of things, we are our own worst enemy, and the first step toward forgiveness must be directed within ourselves. Only by embracing the relief that comes with forgiving ourselves for our flaws, mistakes and shortcomings, we will ever truly be able to start the wonderful journey toward successful inner healing.

A light of understanding in the darkness of the unknown: Why Magick works.

Because of the mysterious cloak of fear which wraps itself around the word "Magick", most people believe that only a few initiated individuals hold the key to magickal manifestation. (True magick is spelled with a K at the end to differentiate it from stage magic.) The raw truth is that, if one has a mind that can think, he or she is able to work magick. There is no secret to magick. A thought is formulated, visualized, "felt" emotionally, and then RELEASED to the subconscious mind. Release is the key element: by passing the worry ball to a higher power, one lets go of the heavy feeling associated to a specific issue, and is able to focus on more positive aspects of life. Although it has been ostracized and demonized by mass media, magickal practice is nothing more than a highly visualized prayer, very similar to those used by mainstream religions. The only difference between the two is that magick is "acted" rather than being merely spoken. Magick and Christianity are sister and brother who have not yet realized their family ties.Hopefully, with the advent of a widespread increase of consciousness expansion, more and more people will come to understand that. No matter what our religious affiliation is, we all send wishes out to the Universe; whether we send them to God, Allah, Kali, Aradia or Olodumare, the message is still released to the waiting hands of a Higher Power only too eager to free us from the burden that weighs down our soul.

Learning from a goose: Living in peace beyond our racial boundaries.

When I mindlessly perused the news this morning, one story particularly caught my eye: A goose in Hereford, Texas, is perfectly comfortable hanging around with a herd of goats.
As peculiar and seemingly insignificant as this bit of news might appear, it is powerful enough to remind us of some of our shortcomings.
As members of the human race, we still struggle, on a daily basis, with the challenges of living with each other.
Although racial tensions have superficially eased since the black and white communities have integrated, a lot of people still simmer with lack of acceptance under their differently colored skin.
A lot of civil rights leaders have worked very hard in trying to mend the differences, but in many cases they have done more damage than good. People have felt pushed into a corner, obligated to give up treasured traditions in favor of exotic beliefs, celebrations or fashion fads, and that has created a widespread sense of resentment. Feeling powerless in the face of losing their own heritage and identity, many have responded with anger and hatred.
With great intentions in their hearts, civil rights leaders have responded by feeding the flame of outrage already burning on the other side, and by pointing out the differences that separate the cultures. In an era of politically correct talk and affirmative action, it is very common to hear labels chosen by the very same people who feel singled out.
The black community still refers to itself as African-American, the Hispanic community as Hispanic-American, and the Asian community as Asian-American.
Something is wrong with that picture: by labeling the cultures we promote separateness. Americans are Americans, regardless of their heritage. My children were born in America and call themselves American, even if their heritage is entirely Italian and British.
Maybe, if the politically correct way of labeling people applies to the whole, they should call themselves Italian-British-Americans.
If we truly look at the origin of things, then the only true Americans are the native Indians; the rest of us are just imports, no matter when our boats approached the shores of our beautiful country.
As far as human value is concerned, if one wraps a beautiful gift in different shaped boxes or colored paper, the gift inside the packages still remains the same.
What’s important is not getting stuck on the wrapping.
Racial acceptance and peaceful co-habitation have to begin within ourselves. If we feel that we can contribute something to society and to each other through the beauty of our individual qualities, then we can move forward and build a new foundation for our children’s future. There is beauty within every culture, and good that can be found within the heart of every person, regardless of race, creed or financial status.
As intelligent and reasonable human beings, we need to start with ourselves and lead by example. We preach that the best way to teach our children is by praising their efforts and focusing on their good qualities, yet we have no problem in lashing out at each other for our mistakes when it comes to adult interactions.
By focusing on what brings us together, rather than what sets us apart, we can open a new door to united and symbiotic living which can only positively affect the future of our nation, and set an example to the rest of the world.
And when we forget how we should relate to each other, may God bless the Goose.

Whispers from within.

As I drove home from a play date with my daughter two days ago, I annoyingly found myself moving at a snail's pace, inching behind a long line of cars slowly cruising with their emergency lights on. I speculated that an accident was probably the reason for the traffic jam, until I saw that the long line was led by a police patrol car.
Because of the imminent presidential elections, I wondered if one of the candidates might be inside one of the cars. As I patiently waited, a quick flashback from long ago pierced through the fibers of my consciousness, and took me back to a time when President Bush visited Raleigh.
As the traffic finally picked up speed when the line of cars escorted by the police took a left at the next intersection, I drove home with no further delay. That night, as I related the incident to my husband over dinner, he informed me that President Bush was in Raleigh.
The whole evening I mulled over the synchronicity between Mr. Bush being in town and my flashback. Personally, I don’t believe in coincidences, and I look for signs to give me guidance any time I stand at a life crossroad. What made this situation slightly different is the fact that it didn’t directly involve me; it was merely curiosity that prompted me to ask who might be in one of those vehicles.
I asked, and Universe answered with an image I could understand. Just like that. It was nothing more or less than a quick exchange between two minds.
At any given time in our life, we are never alone. Our ego pushes for us to feel disconnected and out of touch, but if we just pay attention we realize that our feelings of isolation are only an illusion. If we truly watch for signs and remain open to messages, something will happen which will answer our questions and offer guidance.
Guidance can come in many guises; it could come through as a random situation we are allowed to witness, as something that is happening to a friend, as a TV or radio commercial, or even as one of the many thoughts that cross our mind after we have wondered about something.
No matter how the answers reach us, we must remain available and alert if we hope to acknowledge them. Furthermore, we must allow ourselves to trust the guidance which comes from deep within. If we belittle its importance, or dismiss the voice as ‘silly imagination’, we limit our vision and narrow the scope of our understanding.
The Universe-or God Mind-is ever ready to provide answers and guidance, but it is very subtle as it guides us through intuition and signs. As a lady I know once said: “The Devil (our ego) is very loud, and to hear the soft voice of God (our inner guide) we must listen very carefully.”
The choice to accept or dismiss the guidance we receive is up to us; some of us will pay attention, while some others will ignore it in favor of a theory which can be proven by limited science.
Whatever we choose to do with it, it is important that we all acknowledge the existence of our inner knowledge, and respect it as wise advice kindly bestowed on us by the greater mind which humbly and silently observes our vicissitudes from within us. Intuition is our lantern in the darkness of illusion; by following its light, we can overcome even the greatest obstacles and remain true to ourselves. By accepting its guidance we can take one more step toward a boundless consciousness, and we can rest assured that we are on the right track toward making sound decisions.

Angels or Demons?

A few days ago, while talking to a friend, I learned that one of her co-workers is hoping to get a new job which she applied for last week.
This lady-I will name her Lauren to maintain her privacy-has held on to the same job for over a decade; although she loves what she does, she feels as if there are no challenges left for her in her current position. In addition to the general feeling of being on a dead-end street when it comes to her professional growth, Lauren has also been having trouble in dealing with a new supervisor in her office.
She has been there for so long that she can attend to her job requirements with eyes closed, yet the supervisor continues to breathe over her neck making her life miserable. When I spoke with her, Lauren readily admitted that the hellish supervisor was the main reason why she set out looking for another job. Had she not been looking, she would have missed the wonderful opportunity of advancement this new position offers, and would have probably chosen to remain in the unrewarding, yet familiar type of work. The figure of the supervisor was a catalyst for the change, and the feelings she triggered in Lauren were the fuel needed to nourish the flame of courage necessary to start her engine.
In our lives we all do that a lot. When blessings come knocking on our door, we often mistake them for a crude joke of destiny. As hard as it to recognize a blessing when it is clad in unpleasant garments, we should always assume that everything happens for a specific reason. We pray for change, yet we get angry and annoyed while the road to our desired wish is being paved.
A few years ago, I read a wonderful book which related the journey of a spiritual Master. One day, the Master was visited by the town drunk, who was belligerent and disrespectful, waiting only for a chance to start an argument. The Holy Man asked him if he could pray for him, and only demanded one favor: from then on, the drunken man would have to accept everything that manifested in his life, whether it was good or bad, without questioning it. After a prayer is sent out, the Holy Man explained, any unfolding event is simply one more step toward achieving one’s heart desire.
If we pray for more financial affluence, a sack of money won’t just appear in the middle of our kitchen table; rather, we may have to lose our present job position to free ourselves from the chains that hold us back, and have the opportunity to find more financially rewarding employment. Similarly, if we ask to become more courageous, or better parents, we may first have to go through the ‘basic training’ of a few unpleasant experiences, before we can develop the attributes we wish for.
All the people we meet, and all the apparent trials we endure hold the potential of helping us become the type of person we want to be. Everything is placed on our path for our greater good, whether we do or don’t recognize its value in the greater scheme of things.
We may not understand why something is happening, but we can’t judge the importance that such an event might have in our life.
Maybe it is time that we all learn that even demons, most often, are nothing more than just angels in disguise.

Will The Gas Men outshine Superman?

In the midst of our crumbling economy, everybody secretly dreams of a Superhero showing up unexpectedly to save the day.
We all are familiar with the heroic stunts of the supreme and so far unmatched hero of our time, Superman; the mental image of his windblown red cape, as he cruises the skies looking for people to help, still causes everyone to smile and brings out the child in even the oldest person out there.
Everyone is out to be saved, and when times get tough even the tough tremble under the threat of a shaky economy. In the worst 'financial pandemic' to hit the world in decades, the average citizen worries about what's coming next. An increasing number of people have been pawning items from their home to bridge the growing gap between their income and the price of food and gas.
Although in America our gas prices are quite cheap compared to other nations (in Europe gas averages now over $10-$15 per gallon), our already heavily indebted economy has been strongly impacted by the skyrocketing prices. The cost of food has also increased, pushing families to consider extreme measures such as separating from treasured heirlooms in favor of putting food on the table and gas in their tanks.
But alas, a new brand of hero has finally been spotted cruising the highways of Connecticut: The Gas Men. Wearing sunglasses, baseball caps, matching green shirts and khakis, The Gas Men have been seen approaching motorists at the pump in Plainville, Connecticut, and handing out nice crisp $100s, along with a card that reads: "Re-Fueling Our Community".
So, who are The Gas Men? As the once more popular Super Heroes, they have not been identified, but it is speculated that they are a duo of wealthier citizens who feel the pain of the not-so-fortunate others.
Saying that this kind of news segment is heartwarming barely scratches the surface. As security crumbles, and the proverbial rug is swept from under their feet, people tend to disconnect from one another, listening only to the call of the ego. All the lessons from Sunday School and the scoldings from loving parents are quickly forgotten, as the majority of people feel that they should not share with others when they don't even have enough for themselves.
Hard times are a test of faith among the crowds. All of us have experienced receiving something in return after selflessly giving; yet, when fear of survival kicks in, everyone shuts the doors connecting to others. We become prisoners of our own fears and only listen to the threatening call of the ego. Giving DOES lead to receiving, as the feeling of having done something good offsets the many pangs of guilt we all suffer from, to some degree, within the inner recesses of the Self. By committing selfless acts we trigger subconscious responses that allow us to attract more abundance in our lives because we feel we are worthy of the incoming bounty.
Mass media encourages fear, and quickly blinds us to what we know to be good and holy, by constantly painting a picture that is nothing short of apocalyptic, and it is up to us to retain our inner balance and maintain a clear perception. When the dangers of the Bird Flu first appeared and were picked up by the media, the real threat was inflated into mass hysteria; news segments on multiple channels warned of an impending pandemic which was forecasting the death of at least one third of the world population. We were told that the current flu vaccines were useless, and that nobody had a real chance to protect themselves. Fear escalated to panic, and people steered clear of anything bearing wings. That threat, as most others that are picked up by the media to instill fear and increase their ratings, was certainly blown out of proportion. So are most other threats that are painted with the color of impending doom.
To be able to see things clearly and draw meaningful conclusions, we have to shed the blindfold of fear; only when we are able to stand on neutral ground, we can truly say that we can make conscious choices that will affect us and the rest of the world.
That's why it is nice to see that, even in the midst of widespread panic, Angels still walk among us, setting an example that should be considered our map on the journey to financial security.
Maybe, someday, The Gas Men will even be featured in Marvel Comics.

Life passions

A few days ago someone asked me what I do, aside from writing.
Although my days seem always full to the rim, and I barely have the time to breathe, this question left me speechless for a few minutes.
What do I do? Writing is my passion. My children are my world. Spirituality is the glue that keeps it all together.
I guess that the best title I can identify with is "life observer". I have been labeled a life coach before, but I have never been fully satisfied with it.
Life observer wraps it all up. For many years, I have applied what I know about spiritual teachings to my life, and I have tried to use the same knowledge to help others.
I have always offered my skills pro-bono, and there have been many times when people have asked me why I do that; until now, I really didn't have an answer for that either. Then, when I started writing, all these wonderful life stories I had listened to from my "clients" came together in creating a wonderful diving board for my writing career.
Suddenly I realized how much I have learned from each person. They all believed that I was helping them in finding the light at the end of their dark tunnel, but I don't think anyone ever considered that they helped me too.
Through each tale I discovered something I didn't know before; a new piece of the puzzle that added clarity to the bigger picture.
My writing is based on what I have learned through the years. Some of the content came from the many life experiences that were shared with me, some from my own upbringing in a very eclectic spiritual home, and some certainly came from that wonderful place which is the creative mind in each of us.
My first work, "The Book of Obeah", is a spiritual suspense novel: While fulfilling the final request of her departed Grandmama, Melody Bennet, a young professional raised in the genteel suburbs of North Carolina, is plunged into the clandestine world of an ancient West African religion – via the Louisiana bayou. In unearthing a mysterious religious manuscript, Melody collides with those seeking powers believed to be contained within the text, from The Vatican to individuals claiming it as their legacy. She accepts the task of safeguarding the book and finds lives are threatened, including her own, sometimes from unexpected directions. As her knowledge grows and perceptions shift, Melody's path is fused with that of the sacred book. She risks body and soul to protect both and, unbeknownst to her, secures the future of an esoteric, divine prophecy.
I recently found a literary agent who signed me up, and is willing to represent my novel. Saying that I am excited is truly an understatement. Aside from taking on "The Book of Obeah", Krista Goering also asked me if I wold be willing to write a non-fiction book about self improvement or spirituality. After giving that idea a few deep thoughts, the concept of "Housekeeping For The Soul" was born. It is currently a work in progress, but the first draft is very promising and I am receiving good feedback on it. Until my new project is polished and ready to take off, I am still busy trying to prepare the first baby for its imminent flight.
In the meanwhile, I continue to talk to people and widen the horizons of my understanding.
Someday, I hope I will be able to look back and appreciate all the small steps that have led me to where I will be standing.
I would like to invite everyone to watch my novel video trailer on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJPL1wqlV_Y, or visit my website at:
http://www.bookofobeah.com