Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year 2012


Happy New Year 2012!

This is the year that the Mayan's spoke of. No, it doesn't mean that the end of the world is coming. Rather, it means that a new era of peace will reign--a new earth.

Can't you see the signs of it already? The Occupy Wall Street is now worldwide. The Arab Spring toppled its dictraitorous (I just made up this word) leaders. A couple of days ago, 500,000 Syian protestors took to the streets, protesting the unfair policies of their ruler. People are awakening. They are telling their governments and their dictators...

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The needs of the people should never be subservient to the selfish needs of the governments!

People MATTER.

Indeed, people and love is the only thing that really matters.

So as you protest for freedom and equality in 2012 and beyond, remember this what Margaret Meade said:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."





The Power of Archangel Michael to Comfort You


If you need protection, comfort, and even guidance…you might want to call on Archangel Michael. He does not mess around, as I found out recently.
I have never been one to pray to angels, much less Archangels. But desperate situations lead to desperate measures.  

Earlier this month, a controversial bill was passed and will soon be signed by President Obama. This bill is called the National Defense Authorization Act and it really destroys American’s Bill of Rights. For instance, this allows for the possibility that Americans can be “indefinitely detained” if they are expected of terrorist activities, associating with terrorists, or even committing a “belligerent act” against the United States.
Besides the fact that this bill will deny Americans expected of such crimes the right to face their accusers and the right of a speedy trial, the language is so broad that it could include average protestors or anyone who disagrees with the United States’ policies. (I have read, in fact, that the U.S. has defined protestors as “low level terrorists.”)

Well, I got really upset and started obsessing about what this bill could mean for this country and the world. I started imagining the United States turning into Nazi Germany. I imagined them busting into my house in the middle of the night and arresting me for my belief that all men and women are created equal and have certain inalienable rights. As I’m a writer, I have a vivid imagination, and I could actually feel myself and others being rounded up and sent to detention centers (concentration camps) and even death camps.
Of course, I was also reading all the online articles about this subject and watching all the scary YouTube videos which even added to my fear.
In my mind, this horrible incarceration and death of American citizens was a done deal, and I was scared to death. My fear was so great, in fact, that I actually considered suicide.

Archangel Michael to the Rescue

Instead of killing myself (or going totally insane) I remember something that I had recently read about Archangel Michael by Doreen Virtue. This Archangel is the head angel and sits on the right side of God. He is the warrior angel and is the one that is said to have thrown Lucifer out of God’s kingdom.

Archangel is frequently pictured with a sword and a shield, signifying both his role as a warrior and as a protector, but as one that cuts the bonds of anything that no longer serves you (such as fear). But you can also call on Archangel Michael for help in any situation. Apparently, he is the “all purpose” Archangel.

So I figured I would pray to him. I prayed that he would bring peace to the world and that he would bring me peace. I asked him to cut my bonds of fear. I asked him to calm me down.
Oh my GOD!

 The next day, the woman who had been desperate and suicidal (me) woke up feeling “the peace that passeth all understanding,” as the bible says. This has been several days ago, and I STILL feel totally peaceful. All of those feelings and mental pictures of doom and gloom are entirely gone. I know that God has everything under control. I know none of what I visualized will happen.
So if you are ever upset or scared, call on Archangel Michael. He will help you. Trust me.

Watch my video below for a little more explanation on my experience.

Do you have any experiences with Archangel Michael you'd like to share?








Monday, December 12, 2011

Book Review: Adventure in Everything

Adventure in Everything. Matthew Walker. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc., 2011, 205 pp.

In Adventure in Everything, Matthew Walker writes:

“The purpose of this book is the significance of adventure and how pursuing some aspect of it in everything you do will help you attain the quality of life that has just been described.”

After reading this book, I would say that Walker succeeds in this. Drawing on his experiences as a mountain climber, Walker shows us how we can take what he learned about his breathtaking adventures and apply them to our own life. But being the teacher that he is, Walker doesn’t just instruct us in how to have Adventure in Everything and then let us go. Rather, he includes detailed instructions in each chapter (homework, if you will) that shows us how to implement these techniques.

At only 205 pages, this book can be read in one sitting. But its teaching can inspire you forever. I highly recommend Adventure in Everything.

Use the link below and order it for a Christmas gift for yourself or a loved one this year.

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The publisher has provided me with a copy of this book for review purposes. My opinions are my own and Hay House has not paid me for writing a positive book review.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Add These to Your Christmas Shopping List


Here’s some products that I have added to my Christmas shopping list. If you are ordering from Amazon this Christmas, you only have 5 more days to order if you want to guarantee delivery before Christmas. Please order though the links below and support my blog! MERRY CHRISTMAS

KINDLE FIRE

The Kindle Fire is a combination of the Kindle reader and an iPad, only much cheaper. With this product, I can instantly download zillions of books and search the web. Awesome!


EMPOWERING WOMEN: EVERY WOMAN’S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING

I have never heard of this book by Louise Hay, but it seems like something I’d like to read!


HOPE: A GUIDE TO SACRED ACTIVISM

As I am becoming more aware of the disintegration of human rights in our world, I’ve become more interested in becoming a social/political activist (this from a woman who spent most of my life feeling that nothing I could do would matter). Anthony Harvey has written this book about sacred activism (a term which he coined). I saw him interviewed by Lilou Mace and knew that I had to purchase this book. Apparently, he espoused a way of being that bridges both the “I’m above it and the world is totally my perception and I will go to hell if I participate in worldly stuff crowd” and the “I don’t care what it is, I need to protest it with hate and violence crowd.”

This is a book that I need to read and, perhaps, you should read it also. (Please watch theYouTube video of Harvey’s interview below and then order the book). With sacred activism, we may be able to transform the world!



Friday, December 9, 2011

Full Lunar Eclipse Tomorrow—Last One Until 2014


There will be a full lunar eclipse tomorrow, 12/10/11, at 4:45 am Pacific Time. At this time, the full Moon will appear to be burnt orange in color. The total lunar eclipse will last from 6:05 a.m. until 6:57 a.m. (PT) where the full moon will be totally darkened. If you want to see it, you should put it on your calendar. This is the least full lunar eclipse until 2014.
If you are into astrology, you must be asking what this full Moon lunar eclipse means for you. Well, that depends upon your astrology chart. Any eclipse—solar or lunar, partial or full—adds power to the planets. An eclipse of the Moon, however, affects people on a personal level.

I expect this full Moon lunar eclipse on December 10, 2011to be a doozy for me.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse and Me
In astrological terms, when the Moon is full this means that the Sun and Moon are in opposition. Generally, during this time the masculine (Sun) and feminine (Moon) are in conflict.

I was born during a full Moon (go figure) with a Sagittarius Sun and a Gemini Moon. The full Moon lunar eclipse, therefore, is mimicking the condition that was present at my birth (minus the lunar eclipse).
Moreover, my Sun is in my 5th house (of creativity, gambling, children, etc) and the Moon is in my 11th house (of friends, hopes, and wishes). I expect, therefore, that there will be tension between my creativity and my hopes and wishes. As I have recently gone to full time writing, this is the area in which I expect this stress to play out. For instance, my creativity may not fulfill my hopes and wishes.

Whatever happens, I know it should be interesting!
Do you have any experience weathering a full Moon lunar eclipse?

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Mercury Retrograde Strikes Again


Mercury is still retrograde, and I should have been more careful with my computer documents.
Last night, I had a computer virus that forced me to restore my computer to an earlier date. The instructions to do so said that my documents would not be disturbed. Boy was it wrong. I lost all but my most recent documents. This means that I lost my book that I had almost completed writing!

My mom was an astrologer and I know I lot about astrology. Therefore, I should have known something like this could happen and I should have saved my important documents elsewhere.
Mercury rules communications, technology, and mechanics of all kinds. When Mercury goes retrograde, all of these matters are confused. Thus, you can expect confusion in appointments, computer glitches, and even transportation breakdowns.

How retrograde Mercury impacts you depends upon the sign it is in and which house in your chart it is traveling.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius

Right now, Mercury is retrograde in Sagittarius. I have a Sagittarius Sun with a Gemini Moon. As my 6th house is Sagittarius, Mercury retrograding here means that my daily work would be impacted in some way. It is also opposite my 12th house, the house of solitude, so this would impact the work that I do alone.

So, the moral of this story is:

Even though you know astrology doesn’t mean that you necessarily pay attention to its warnings!

Do you have any stories about how this, or any other Mercury Retrograde, period has affected you?

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Book Review: Shift Happens!


Shift Happens! Robert Holden, Ph.D. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2011, 268 pp.

In the introduction of his book, Shift Happens!, Robert Holden writes:

Shift Happens! is about is about personal alchemy and inner transformation. Some people “go” through life; and other people “grow” through life. Shift Happens! celebrates your unlimited potential to grow, blossom, and evolve—in spite of everything. It is a book of hope.
After reading this book, I would agree. Shift Happens! is, indeed, a book of hope.

Weaving together story after story, many taken from patients that he treated in his role as a psychologist and happiness coach, Dr. Holden teaches heart-warming stories of hope and healing. I truly felt a “shift happening” in my spirit as I read this beautiful book.
This book is also a fast read with easy-to-understand concepts.

If you want to be enlightened and entertained at the same time, you need to read Shift Happens! While you’re at it, use the link below to buy one (or more) as Christmas gifts for loved ones. Spread the “shift” around!
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I have received a copy of Shift Happens! for purposes of my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I was not paid for giving a positive review.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Ditch the Doldrums: 9 Keys to Health and Happiness in the New Year

Photo Credit: Stephanie Berghaeuser

Ditch the Doldrums: 9 Keys to Health and Happiness in the New Year
by Mark Allen and Brant Secunda

Adapted from their bestselling book, "Fit Soul, Fit Body"


Are you stressed-out, overweight, overworked, uninspired, or plagued by negative emotions? Don't worry -- anyone can achieve health and happiness by trying out some new behaviors and attitudes, and working at it step-by-step. Here are nine ways to achieve a fit body and soul in 2012.

Key #1: Balance your responses to the six types of stress. Chronic stress produces high cortisol levels that don't go away. Chronically high cortisol will make you sick, physically and emotionally. Stress can come from multiple sources including these six: negative emotions, too little sleep, poor diet, overwork, toxic chemicals, and inflammation. The antidote for stress is balance. Look at each of these six stress triggers individually and work on finding small ways to reduce excesses and achieve more balance in each area. Seek more laughter, calmness, and clarity in your life.

Key #2: Quiet the mind. Ignoring external chatter and focusing on one thought or a single repetition is an extremely effective tool for dissipating emotional stress and helping shift negative thoughts. Learning to quiet your mind also helps to reduce cortisol levels in your body and increase DHEA, a feel-good hormone that promotes feeling of serenity. Quieting your mind can help you sleep better, eat more healthfully, and keep work and life pressures in perspective. One of the best ways to quiet your mind is to exercise, especially outside.

Key #3: Transform fear, anger, and jealousy. Good thoughts lead us to incredible awareness and experiences. Olympic athletes know this, which is why they psyche themselves up before a big event. Each day brings personal "Olympic moments"--for instance, an important meeting, a big workout, a tough but necessary talk with a friend, or a commitment to a daily spiritual practice. Fear, anger, and jealousy hinder our optimal performance. Bite off a smaller chunk of tasks that seem overwhelming. Get perspective on the real significance of your troubles and reactions by being out in nature. Accept the fact that challenge is normal and life is not controllable.

Key #4: Reconnect with the spiritual world of nature.

Who hasn't been touched by a rose in bloom or trees coming to life in the springtime? Having a sense that you and Mother Earth have a special relationship lets you know that everything is as it should be, which makes our souls happy. The more you connect to nature, the more open you will be to its wisdom and calming influence.

Key #5: Honor yourself. Self-love is the best way to honor yourself, and the most immediate tool you can use to fortify yourself against negative emotions like fear or self-doubt. Learning to honor and love yourself instantly transforms "need" into "peace." One of the factors that eats away at self-love is boredom--boredom with work, boredom with your own repetitious behaviors, boredom with life. Try to find what's new in the old; seek out new ways of thinking and behaving. Draw strength, support, and affirmation from community.

Key #6: Know and set the quest. To get somewhere, you first have to know where you want to go. What physical goals are you striving toward? What kind of person do you want to become? Having these answers sets your intentions, helps focus your efforts, and provides you with tangible ways to measure the results. Set small goals. Set yourself up for success; for example, schedule your workouts at a time when you'll be most likely to do them. Turn your attention away from negative thoughts.

Key #7: Live what you ask for. Asking for a healthy soul but choosing unsupportive friends will only prevent you from finding peace. Asking for a fit body, but eating junk foods, will only sabotage your own success. Surround yourself with actions, thoughts, and people who will empower you and allow you to achieve your personal success.

Key #8: Slow down to get faster. In the modern world, most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness, or in life. Slowing down allows your body to run more efficiently. Apply small focused changes that are gradual versus intense.

Key #9: Invite your inner cave man to the table. Our bodies weren't built to withstand the rapid changes we've witnessed in our food industry. The hunting and gathering we once did has turned into drive-throughs, super-sized meals, and chemically laden foods our organs don't have the ability to use or process. Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and protein based on ancient genetics keeps you from eating either too little or too much, both of which cause us to hold onto unwanted and unnecessary body fat. Drink lots of water and eat whole, unprocessed foods.

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Shaman-healer Brant Secunda and six-time world champion Ironman Mark Allen are body-soul fitness experts and seminar leaders known for blending ancient shamanic wisdom with the latest scientific findings on nutrition, fitness, mood, and stress, and turning them into fresh tips and advice for improving health and well-being. Their new book is Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to Healthier, Happier You (BenBella Books). Learn more at www.fitsoul-fitbody.com.