Friday, December 25, 2015

On the 12th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Yoga Classes

When we lived in Coppell 7 years ago, we went to a local yoga studio twice a week. I didn’t really “get into it.” I was still figuring out my best meditation style and had a lot going on with work and building a practice in past life regression. To say I didn’t give yoga a fair shake is putting it mildly.

I’m ready now. I want to learn more about yoga and how I can integrate it into my life, into a practice that is truly a part of my spiritual journey.

My dear friend Arthur Graye told me about how he got into yoga:

“I was led to yoga when I was 18 because I was drawn to the idea of merging the physical body with the energy which inhabits it. Everything is so separate in our common society. I liked the fact that there was a clear path of physical action that could lead to the knowing of ourselves on an energetic level and thereby granting us access to spiritual enlightenment. It changed my life. And then when j discovered the branch of mantra, it changed it again.”

Arthur is a Yoga teacher, Reiki Master and wears many other hats as a spiritual leader in our community. His explanation of the various aspects of yoga is one of the best I’ve seen and I have his permission to share it:

“In my classes, we start off with Mantra Meditation. We recite the Gayatri Mantra or the Mahamitrunjaya Mantra while using a strand of prayer beads , otherwise known as a Japa Mala. By participating in Mantra Meditation, we raise our awareness and create an inner sacred space that allows us to be fully present for our practice on the mat. The Japa Malas are useful tools in keeping count of the number of repetitions for the Mantra. This meditation is an excellent way to clear your head and raise your vibration. It sets the mood for the practice and is a valuable tool in connecting to the Divine.
Pranayama is also a major part of Tantra Yoga. In my classes, you can expect to be presented with the opportunity to learn many different breathing techniques. There are breathing techniques for calming, energizing, balancing, etc. The breath is one of (if not the absolute) most important things we do. Without air, we could not live. Breathing is the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do before we pass on to our next plane of existence. Some say that the breath is the bridge from the physical to the spiritual. I believe this wholeheartedly. Breathwork is the quickest way to gain control over your emotions and mental processes.
The third component of my classes is Asana. This is what we, as Americans, recognize as yoga. This is the physical work of Yoga. Postures such as Downward Dog, Warrior, Cobra, Childs Pose and MANY more are used to enhance the strength and flexibility of your physical body. Remember, that the entire goal of yoga is to gain access to the control panel of your mind. The physical work is a very important component of this goal. By keeping our body in a fit condition, it will allow us the range of motion to sit in meditative positions for longer and longer periods of time. The fact that we will become more and more comfortable in our bodies and in our daily lives is a very big added bonus.
Many yoga classes today concentrate on getting you in the class, getting you warmed up, wearing out your physical body and then sending you on your way. This is EXACTLY what I try to avoid in my classes. After the Asana (physical postures) is completed, I always lead my students through a ten to fifteen minute Savasan.”


http://thegreenmanstudios.weebly.com/yoga.html

If you live in the Lewisville, TX area, I invite you to check out Arthur and his weekly yoga classes at Miracles of Joy.

What I like best about Arthur’s approach is, as he says in his own words, “Tantra meets you where you are.” With Tantra’s all-encompassing approach to yoga, the postures, breathing exercises, meditations and/or chanting work with your own life force to alter your energy for your own personal needs. He teaches different classes on grounding, relaxation, detoxification and inspiration.

How can yoga benefit me? Well, I wanted to find out what the medical community might have to say about yoga. I found an interesting article by the American Osteopathic Association:

Benefits of Yoga

“The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome,” explains Dr. Natalie Nevins. “Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia.”

According to Dr. Nevins, other physical benefits include:
-Increased flexibility
-Increased muscle strength and tone
-Improved respiration, energy and vitality
-The maintenance of a balanced metabolism
-Weight reduction
-Cardio and circulatory health
-Improved athletic performance
-Protection from injury

Aside from the array of physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which has been known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate,” says Dr. Nevins. “Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.”


http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/yoga.aspx

Yep, gonna find a yoga class and get started . . . Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, y’all!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

On the 11th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Access Consciousness Tools

Over the past 20 years, I have adopted many different energy clearing tools. In fact, when I learned EFT back in 1999, I didn’t even know what an “energy clearing tool” was!

My favorite collection of tools this year is from Access Consciousness. I’ve been using The Access Clearing Statement and several other tools from their collection after learning them from a coach I worked with in 2011. Later, I took the Bars Foundation Class with Dr. Sue Hegel in 2012.

My favorite tool is asking “Who does this belong to?” As an empath (someone who feels the feelings and picks up on the thoughts of other people) I can be easily bombarded when I go to Wal-Mart, a mall, a large office building or any group setting with a large number of people.
I can also become overwhelmed when the people around me are sad, angry, mad or depressed. Access Consciousness advises that 98% of my thoughts and feelings are NOT mine. If this is true, it’s important to have an easy tool to release these from my energy body.

Here are the steps to “Who Does This Belong To?”
1. Notice what you are feeling. Sad? Angry? Depressed? Panic? (a biggie on airplanes!)
2. Ask: Who does this belong to? OR Is this mine?
3. Say: Return to Sender, Consciousness Attached OR Return to Sender, with Love
4. Notice what you are feeling. If you feel lighter, then the feeling WAS NOT yours

If you still feel some of the feeling, it may be yours and you may want to use the Access Clearing Statement to clear that feeling.

Access Clearing Statement

Anytime you would like to change something, whether that something is a belief, a restriction, a feeling or whatever, just destroy and uncreate the old belief, restriction, feeling or whatever.

How do you do this? By using the really wacky Access Clearing Statement, which works to confuse the brain long enough for the energy body to clear the old belief or whatever it is that has you feeling stuck in that moment. The statement is:

“Will you destroy and uncreate everything that is times a godzillion? Yes, please. Right, wrong, good, bad, POD, POC, all 9, shorts, boys and beyonds."

A recent statement that the Access Consciousness folks created that has really helped me is this one:
"What stupidity am I using to create the lack of receiving I am choosing? Everything that is times a godzillion, do I choose to uncreate and destroy it all? Yes, please! Right, wrong, good, bad, POD, POC, all 9, shorts, boys and beyonds."

The second part of the Clearing Statement are shortcut words for a process that the Access Consciousness Founder Gary Douglas channeled from his Guides back in 1990. If you want to learn more about the entire process. Please click the link below for the Access Consciousness website.

In 2000, Dr. Dain Heer, a chiropractor in Santa Barbara joined Gary and the two of them began taking the Access Consciousness principles around the world. Dr. Dain has a YouTube channel with weekly updates and Google Hangouts that help you clear what’s bugging you. One of my all time favorites is his holiday broadcast from last year, which you can still catch:

https://youtu.be/mFAC51cQ_X4

Dr. Dain's messages are always light-hearted, therapeutic and very supportive for your spiritual journey. I love his candor and the way he navigates his life, as well as all of the tools he shares.

If you are in the DFW area, Dr. Sue Hegel is your “go to source” for all classes and sessions in Bars and Access Consciousness. Tell her PJ sent you:

http://www.drsuehegel.com/access-bars

For more information on how this process works, please visit the Access Consciousness website:

http://www.accessconsciousness.com/

In the words of Gary Douglas, “What would it be like to live your life from infinite possibilities and choice?”

What else is possible?

How does it get any better than that?


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

On the 10th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me a Leather Bound Journal

When I was 15, I received a 5 year diary. You know the kind, with the little key to lock it up, safe and secure. I remember thinking that 5 years into the future was such a LONG way off!!!

I still have that little diary, in a box of mementos in the attic. I saw it a few years ago and recalled how much fun I had tracking my activities, my friends and my thoughts.

When Steve and I began our spiritual journey in 2002, I began recording my thoughts, capturing what came to me during meditations and writing other notes. When we moved in 2007, I found several of those notebooks and was amazed at the wisdom and beauty in those words that I barely recognized as mine.
One piece of prose was a written description of flying, as a hawk or eagle across the night sky. If I hadn’t recognized the handwriting, I wouldn’t have known that the words were mine.

I believe that the words are reflections from my Soul Self, written after meditation, when I was deep in Theta brainwave state and really in tune with the Divine.
Recording messages from my Soul Self is just one benefit of keeping a journal. Another benefit is the emotional release that I receive from writing about what’s happening my day-to-day world.

One of my mentors, Deborah King says that when we sit and fume or stew over people or situations in our lives, it’s like we have one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas. We’re not going anywhere! Yet, when I write, I am able to connect with what’s transpiring or what I am processing from the past and we am able to take my foot off of the brake and move ahead.

Did you know that there is also scientific evidence that journaling is beneficial? Read on:

“University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker contends that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Pennebaker believes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health.
I know what you’re thinking: “So writing a few sentences a day may keep me healthier longer, but so will eating lima beans! Why should I bother journaling when I’ve already got too much on my plate?” The following facts may convince you.
The act of writing accesses your left brain, which is analytical and rational. While your left brain is occupied, your right brain is free to create, intuit and feel. In sum, writing removes mental blocks and allows you to use all of your brainpower to better understand yourself, others and the world around you. Begin journaling and begin experiencing these benefits:
-Clarify your thoughts and feelings. Do you ever seem all jumbled up inside, unsure of what you want or feel? Taking a few minutes to jot down your thoughts and emotions (no editing!) will quickly get you in touch with your internal world.
-Know yourself better. By writing routinely you will get to know what makes you feel happy and confident. You will also become clear about situations and people who are toxic for you — important information for your emotional well-being.
-Reduce stress. Writing about anger, sadness and other painful emotions helps to release the intensity of these feelings. By doing so you will feel calmer and better able to stay in the present.
-Solve problems more effectively. Typically we problem solve from a left-brained, analytical perspective. But sometimes the answer can only be found by engaging right-brained creativity and intuition. Writing unlocks these other capabilities, and affords the opportunity for unexpected solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.
-Resolve disagreements with others. Writing about misunderstandings rather than stewing over them will help you to understand another’s point of view. And you just may come up with a sensible resolution to the conflict.


http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/

Keeping a journal also allows you to track your growth and see things that bugged you in the past that are just a minor annoyance now. I love to be able to see what things upset me 5 years ago and know that I have transformed myself in that area of my life. Also, when I can see that progress, I have proof that I can grow and heal.
According to Rachelle Williams of the Chopra Center, it’s important to take a moment to breathe before starting to write:

“Create some space between your last activity and journaling by taking a moment to breathe, literally. A great breathing technique that has immediate benefits is Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing. If you have a regular meditation practice, try meditating first and then use that stillness to take your writing to a deeper level. Using breath alone or in combination with meditation can help to shift your body into a state of restful awareness, which is ideal during times of reflection.”

http://www.chopra.com/ccl/journaling-exercise-end-of-year-reflections

Visit the link above to find more tips on journaling, including a great exercise to capture your end of the year reflections.

Don’t think you have to have something fancy for your journal. Even a spiral notebook or legal pad will do. As Rachel says in the article,

“The physical act of putting pen to paper and writing your thoughts creates a mind-body connection that helps your brain fully integrate the process.”


I have found that capturing your journal entries on your pc or Mac is just as therapeutic. In fact, the first time I did my journaling on my pc, I was surprised at how easily it flowed. Many of my hypnosis scripts and class manuals also flow from this same Divine well of inspiration. So, typing works just as well as writing for me.

How will you remember and chronicle 2015 and some of the milestones of your year?

On the 9th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Essential Oils


In the Fall of 2014, my daughter asked me about alternatives to medicine for her 3 year old and new infant.


One of my friends had been talking about doTERRA® essential oils, so I contacted her and signed up to be a Wellness Advocate. It’s really easy and free to join doTERRA® and you can save up to 25% on all your purchases. There are also free oils and other items when you maintain a certain level of monthly purchases.

Please do not think I am leading up to a subtle (or not so subtle) sales pitch. I do not sell essential oils. If you are interested in buying doTERRA® essential oils, you may contact my friend and master teacher Christi Turley Diamond: www.mydoterra.com/ctd

OR you can call or text Christi at: 972-838-7383.

Now that I have that out of the way, would you like to learn more about using Essential Oils? For example, consider Lavender. It is one of the most popular essential oils and also one of the most reasonably priced oils. The aroma of Lavender is heavenly and it can support you in a number of ways. Here are just a few:

1. Linen Closet. Wake up your linens with lovely lavender. You can mix in a bottle with distilled water and spray.
2. Good Sleep. Make a rollerball and put Lavender on the bottom of the feet of babies, children and adults to calm them down and support good sleep.
3. Smell Fresh. For a homemade room freshener, put baking soda and 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil in a small Mason jar. Punch holes in the lid. Place in smelly areas. (laundry room, near garbage can, garage) Shake up from time to time.
4. Pet Smells. Toss a tablespoon or two of your baking soda and lavender mixture on your carpet and vacuum! Especially effective for pet smells!
5. Diffuse. Put a few drops in your cool mist diffuser and allow the mist to permeate a room.
6. Place on pulse points (wrist, neck, behind the ears) to support your physical or emotional healing.
7. Apply topically for burns, eczema, pain, inflammation and other physical concerns.
8. Add to recipes to enhance flavor, such as in icing for cookies or in recipes for shortbread.

doTERRA® has an introductory kit of 3 oils: Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon. Here’s a pdf of 101 Ways to use these three essential oils for your home and family:

http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/wp-content/uploads/101_Uses_for_the_doTERRA_Intro_Kit.pdf

That’s the fastest and most inexpensive way to get some essential oils into your home.

When I started with doTERRA®, my friend told me about the Family Physician Kit. It gives you 10 different essential oils or essential oil blends. Utilizing these 10 is a great way to learn about essential oils:

Frankincense
Lavender
Lemon
Melaleuca
Oregano
Peppermint
dōTERRA Breathe™
dōTERRA DigestZen®
dōTERRA On Guard®
dōTERRA Deep Blue®

You can learn more at: http://www.doterratools.com/documents/Enrollment_Kit_Flyers.pdf

doTERRA® just added 6 new essential oil blends to their product line. These blends come individually or in a kit of all 6 called the Emotional Aromatherapy Kit.

This new line of proprietary essential oil blends represents six categories of emotional well-being and gives you a way to use fragrant essential oils for emotional aromatherapy applications. Each delicate blend contains CPTG® essential oils that can be used aromatically or topically to help balance and brighten your changing moods. Just a few drops of these naturally complex, fragrant blends can elicit profound emotional responses to help you let go of burdens, find comfort and encouragement, or inspire you to dream with passion again.

dōTERRA Forgive™
dōTERRA Cheer™
dōTERRA Console™
dōTERRA Peace™
dōTERRA Passion™
dōTERRA Motivate™

Learn more at: http://www.doterratools.com/documents/Emotional_Aromatherapy_Kit_Product_Information_Page.pdf

Want more ideas for using essential oils? My master teacher in essential oils, Christi Turley Diamond just posted this yesterday.

10 Ways in which I've used my essential oils during the holiday season by Christi Turley Diamond:

1. Put dōTERRA On Guard® in the water for my live tree to stay alive and healthy and boy has it worked wonders!!
2. Used lemon and basil essential oil in a cream cheese dip at a Christmas party
3. Used peppermint oil for flavoring in peppermint cookies. YUM!
4. Used wild orange to easily get sap off my hands from moving our live Christmas tree
5. Used Douglas Fir oil to put on fabric ornaments and make it smell even more like Christmas!
6. Gave oils to my baking friends as gifts
7. Gave oils to a new mommy for sleep and relaxation
8. Gave an emotions kit to a loved one going through some very difficult times in her life right now.
9. Used dōTERRA On Guard® to keep me healthy when I go shopping or to any public place where i could catch something by putting it on my feet and hands. I don't want to be sick during the holiday!!
10. Diffused oils to keep the anxiousness low and the JOY high! Smells good and works emotionally!

Since lots of people also use Young Living Essential Oils, I want to recommend another friend who can sponsor you. To learn more about Young Living Oils, you may contact my friend Kim St. Andre: http://kimstandre.com/young-living-essential-oils/

Please tell Christi or Kim that PJ referred you!

How will you use essential oils during the holidays and during 2016?

Monday, December 21, 2015

On the 8th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Prayer Beads

Growing up in a Southern Baptist Home, the nearest I ever came to any type of “prayer beads” was when I saw a rosary in the home of a friend of mine.


I never really understood the use of a rosary until I took instruction to become a member of the Catholic faith in 1978. (Interesting side note: the sweet Jesuit priest who taught our class didn’t think I was serious enough and made me repeat the class! I think he was really surprised to see me when I showed up for the second series of classes that were held weekly for six weeks at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Dallas.)

My in-laws bought me a rosary and took me to dinner to celebrate my first communion. The rosary came in a pretty box and it sat in my bureau for several years. I’m not really sure where it is now.

Flash forward to 2003 and Steve and I are studying mediumship and meditation and he suggests that prayer beads would really help with our meditation practice.

I bought a child’s rosary and kept it in my purse. I liked the dainty size and compact nature of the child-size prayer aid. I could pull it out for my early morning meditation or anytime during the day when I wanted to center and go within.

A few years later, I bought a beautiful mala of picture jasper, which was hand strung and tied by my friend Arthur Graye of Green Man Studios. Arthur makes beautiful prayer malas and each one is unique and hand-crafted.

(http://www.shopthegreenmanstudios.com/collections/prayer-beads )

As I hold the strand and count the 108 beads, I am able to go inside and “into the gap,” as Wayne Dyer puts it. My husband Steve says that counting gives the Left Brain something to do, while the Right Brain connects with Spirit for healing, communicating or just “Be-ing.” I agree.

Why Picture Jasper? Well, if you remember, I select crystals intuitively and then look up the meaning later. In this case:

“Picture jasper helps create harmony, proportion, creative visualization, positive things in business pursuits. It brings and shows hidden messages from the past as well as hidden thoughts, fears, and hopes. These qualities make it useful in crystal healing as an emotional/psychological healing stone.”

There are also prayer bracelets, made of gemstones and crystals. Wear the bracelet and then take it off to count the beads for your own meditation. You can get a meditation bracelet or mala of prayer beads in almost any gemstone, wooden beads and some seeds.

Whether you select a hand-crafted prayer mala, a rosary or make your own prayer beads, learn to meditate with a gemstone creation and make your meditation or prayer time a special part of your day.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

On the 7th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Clear Quartz Crystals

Back in 2001, Steve and I owned a sterling silver jewelry store and brought in natural gemstone jewelry and gemstone beads to make into bracelets and necklaces for our customers.
The first gemstone that caught my eye at a show at Dallas Market Hall was Dalmatian Jasper. The stone was just so beautiful to me and the artist had combined it with black onyx for some really nice bracelets. That was 2001. The items we bought didn’t really sell that well. We’ve always been ahead of our time!

Then, we left that business and began our training in mediumship. When we learned that crystals could be used to raise your vibration and amplify your connection to Spirit, we were hooked. We went to Tucson and Arkansas and began buying crystals for our own use.

While Steve studied crystals and learned all he could about them, I used the intuitive approach, as I have done with essential oils. If it caught my eye or “picked me” at a show or shop, I bought it. Then, I would do the research and find out why a particular crystal was appealing to me.

As I wrote on Day 2, Rose Quartz was one of the first crystals that appealed to me. When I did my research, I learned why. Rose Quartz is THE stone for love, self-love, healing the heart and clearing and balancing the heart chakra.

I was also really drawn to clear quartz, which I have used to amplify my connection to Spirit, as well as opening my heart and mind to Divine Guidance. Clear quartz is also known as a type of “master healer,” and will amplify the effects of any other crystal you are using for any type of healing. Clear quartz crystals are inexpensive and readily available, whether you buy them in a rock shop, a metaphysical shop, on Etsy or eBay or go to Arkansas and dig for your own crystals. In the words of many crystal healing teachers, clear quartz is a master healer and is “the supreme gift of Mother Earth.” (Hank Mason, http://www.crystalvaults.com/ )

In the words of master teacher Diane Stein, in her book “The Woman’s Book of Healing”:

“Any healing survey of gemstones begins and ends with clear quartz crystal, the most versatile all-aura, all-chakra healing gemstone. Clear quartz amplifies, holds and transmits energy and is directed/programmed by the woman healer for whatever visualization or color work, whatever psychic healing or “tinkering” she desires. The most totally positive, totally pure healing energy, clear quartz relieves and reduces bleeding, purifies, protects, sedates or energizes and opens for a woman’s well-being and good health. It works on the level of the seen and the unseen bodies, on all the aura levels, and for all the chakras. It affects, develops and balances the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, unifies and integrates them for power-within and goddess-within on the Earth Plane.” (pg. 268-269)

Here are just a few benefits of clear quartz crystals:

• A must have crystal for all spiritual workers.
• An all-purpose healer that is a powerful amplifier.
• Balances emotions stimulates the thinking process.
• Stimulates the pineal and pituitary glands.
• Used to repel and destroy negative energies and vibrations.
• Great for meditation as it enhances communication with the higher self, spirit guides, and angels.
• Absorbs, stores, balances, and amplifies energy.
• Balances all chakras, and enhances your ability to heal.
• Beneficial for manifesting, healing, meditation, protection and channeling.
• Quartz crystals are cosmic tuning forks, harmonizing the soul, mind, heart and body.

(http://thebestofcreation.com/clear-quartz/

More about crystals from Diane Stein:

“The little crystals and colored gemstones in our pockets and jewelry do more for us than we know, and their energy is increasing in usefulness as time goes on….We are becoming much more than people can ever remember being before; we are becoming the Be-ings of Light, energy, and information, what was our original heritage. Human twelve-strand DNA contains the genetic keys of all life in the universe…[which is a] Living Library. That library is being repaired, healed, and reactivated, and returned to us primarily by way of gemstones and crystals.”

How might you use clear quartz crystals on your spiritual journey?

On the 6th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me a Massage Session

When was the last time you had a massage, Reiki session or other type of body work, such as CranialSacral or Rolfing?
Did you know that a massage or bodywork session can benefit you in many, many ways?

Here are just a few:
-Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
-Ease dependence on medication.
-Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow
-Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
-Improve the condition of the skin, which is the body's largest organ
-Increase joint flexibility.
-Lessen depression and anxiety.
-Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
-Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
-Relieve migraine pain.
-Enhance sleep quality.
-Greater energy.
-Improve concentration.

Some people say that most disease is stress related. Nothing ages the body faster than high stress. Although we can’t eliminate all anxiety and stress, massage and bodywork can help you release stress and old emotional pain. Some people often report a new sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance that bodywork provides can be as valuable as the physical benefits.

I enjoy massage with Reiki and sometimes enjoy “just” Reiki, which is traditionally done with the person fully clothed, while lying on a massage table. In fact, Reiki doesn’t even require “touching” the skin or body. The Reiki practitioner simply channels healing energy through the chakras in their hands for your body to utilize for self-healing.

Another modality that I enjoy is CranialSacral, which is a technique that works with the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) helping to clear restrictions within your body to start the healing process. It is a gentle type of bodywork that feels like massage, but is so much more.

I LOVE this modality. Stephanie McLaughlin is my favorite practitioner and she is in Allen, TX. As a registered massage therapist, she does the more traditional massage sessions, such as Swedish, Trigger Point, Shiatsu and Deep Tissue. She is also an UpLedger CranialSacral specialist and she uses her intuitive skills to masterfully guide you and your body back to a place of wellness.

I once went to Stephanie after a good friend had told me that she no longer wanted to be my friend. I had moped around for days! Finally, I booked a session with Stephanie and she worked with me and my body through the grief and sadness, including old grief and ancient sadness from childhood. (Stephanie always understands the links between present upset and past pain.)

I told her in an email later that “I have my JOY back!” And I do! I was able to lean into the pain, process it and release it in the safe container of her healing room.

If you live in the DFW area, contact Stephanie through her website: http://www.stephaniemcl.com/

Whether you choose CranialSacral or a massage at the day spa near you, enjoy a journey to wellness with bodywork.

Friday, December 18, 2015

On the 5th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me the Gift of Forgiving Others

FORGIVENESS. Does any other word conjure up such feelings, memories or utter disdain?

Many people confuse forgiveness with condoning the behavior of the person or persons you may want to forgive. However, in the strictest sense of the word, forgiveness means:
Noun
1. the act of forgiving or the state of being forgiven
2. willingness to forgive

So, what does the word “forgive” really mean:

Verb (used with object), forgave, forgiven, forgiving.
1.to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2.to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3.to grant pardon to (a person).
4.to cease to feel resentment against:
to forgive one's enemies.
5.to cancel an indebtedness or liability of:
to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

verb (used without object), forgave, forgiven, forgiving.
to pardon an offense or an offender.

I find it interesting that the dictionary meaning includes the idea of “willingness” to forgive. Isn’t that what true forgiveness is all about? Being willing to forgive or pardon or stop feeling resentment toward another person is at the core of forgiveness. This doesn’t mean that I condone the act, yet, I am allowing myself to pardon the person for the act or omission.

So many people fail to forgive because they don’t want to “let the other person off the hook.” However, true forgiveness is for the person doing the forgiving. True forgiveness clears the debt from your own heart and can also be very freeing.

When we fail to forgive, it’s as if we hold a grudge against the other person. That only clouds my heart and limits my own personal freedom. You don’t even have to tell the other person that you forgive him or her. However, until you forgive, it’s hard to let go and move on. So, unless you forgive the other person, you may allow the other person to stay under your skin, to continue to hurt you, again and again. This can also hinder your own personal healing.

Caroline Myss says that when we forgive others, it releases energy that allows you to move forward. It really is as simple as:
1. Think of the person who hurt you
2. Picture the person in your mind
3. Express how you felt when the person did what they did
4. Let out any emotions around this situation
5. Forgive the person in your heart
6. Let it go

Caroline goes on to say that forgiveness is the most selfish thing you will ever do! It’s a great way to say “I love me” because forgiveness leaves you feeling so much better.

"When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves, or when we intentionally create pain for others, we poison our own physical and spiritual systems. By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. It disables a person's emotional resources. The challenge is to refine our capacity to love others as well as ourselves and to develop the power of forgiveness."-- Caroline Myss

I particularly like Caroline’s simple forgiveness model which is shared above. In private sessions with clients, I use hypnosis to help you envision each person, one by one and go through the forgiveness steps. In the end, we also cut the cords that bind you to the person. It is very healing and therapeutic.

Colin Tipping has a worksheet in his Radical Forgiveness program that works really well for forgiving others. He takes you through the steps to see how this situation may have been set up by your Higher Self or Soul to foster healing, growth and transformation.

You may access the FREE worksheet here:

http://www.radicalforgiveness.com/free-tools/

Who do you want to forgive this holiday season? When would you like to begin?

Thursday, December 17, 2015

On the 4th Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me a Smudge Fan and Sage

Incense, resins and botanicals are still used today in various Native American, shaman and indigenous ceremonies and rituals. The fragrant smoke purifies a room or space of negative vibrations. Incense is used for meditation or for simply scenting a room. The ancient Chinese believed that different scents induced different reactions such as tranquility and peaceful solitude.

Smudges are used to cleanse, purify, protect and remove negative energy. Smudges have been used by Native American and other indigenous people for thousands of years. The smudges most often used by Native Americans are sage, sweet grass and cedar. In central and South America, copal resin is also used. In the East, Frankincense and Myrrh resins have been used by Christians and Jews for purification and protection.

Sage, Cedar and Sweetgrass can be purchased and burned in small bundles. These can also be cut up and mixed together and burned. Sometimes these mixtures will contain Lavender flowers, as Lavender is used in love and healing rituals and promotes sleep and peace.

It is traditional to burn the smudge in something made of the earth such as an abalone, clam or oyster shell, a clay pot or flat or concave rock. These can be purchased at most metaphysical stores and some rock shops. Use a bundle of sage or pour a small amount of the mixture into the shell and light it on fire. Let the mixture catch fire and then gently blow out the flame and let the smudge herbs smolder. This will create a small stream of smoke. Now, you will use your feather or fan to guide the smoke around yourself or the room.

To Sage Your Home or Office:

After lighting the bundle of sage and other herbs and blowing it out, walk from room to room in your home or office, spreading the smoky mixture with your prayer feather or fan. Hold the shell in one hand by the edge. Be careful, for the bottom of the shell will be hot.

Use the feather to guide the smoke in a clockwise fashion into every corner of the room. Use the feather to guide the smoke and sweep the negative energy out. Say a prayer or set an intention for the smudge. For example if you are removing negative energy, set an intention to do so. Say and think it, while you are smudging the room. You may also ask for protection and purification while smudging.

Remember, you can also ask your Angels and Guides to help you clear the negative energy from your home or any space.

When you are done smudging the room, your home or other space, simply snuff out the end of the sage bundle or place a bigger bowl over your mixture in the shell and it will extinguish itself.

How might you use sage and other wonderful grasses and herbs to cleanse yourself, your home and office space?

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

On the 3rd Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me the Gift of Meditation

There is nothing that has changed my life more than meditation.


When I take time each day to unplug from the world and plug into the Divine, my day flows with a grace and beauty that is both wonderful and affirming.

When I first began meditating, I would fall asleep. I’ve since learned that this is very common. Our teachers recommended that we honor the falling asleep. One teacher suggested that one reason that we fall asleep is because is because the ego is not interested in nothingness. LOL. Over time, this stopped happening for me.
One way to avoid falling asleep is to meditate when your body is not naturally sleepy. For this reason, early morning is a great time to meditate. My favorite way to meditate is to roll out of bed, go to the bathroom and then immediately take a seat in the big, comfy chair we have in our bedroom. I try to do it BEFORE checking email or Facebook, so that my mind is still clear.

If I am heading to the office, I meditate after I have arrived. I have found that a practice of 30 minutes is optimum for me. I started with 10 minutes, went to 15 and then to 20 and 30. I now do about 30 minutes each day. I meditate with a mantra, given to me by a teacher several years ago. Sometimes, I use binaural beats to help me get into the Theta brainwave state faster and stay there. My favorite are audios from Kelly Howell at Brainsync.

There are several other companies that offer binaural beats, as well. How does it work? Here’s an explanation from Kelly Howell’s website, www.brainsync.com:
Brainwave Therapy sends pure, precisely tuned sound waves of different frequencies to your brain via stereo headphones. In his EEG research, Oster discovered that when different vibrations, or sound frequencies, are delivered to the brain separately through each ear (as with stereo headphones), the two hemispheres of the brain function together to "hear" not the external sound signals, but a third phantom signal. This signal is called a binaural beat, and it pulses at the exact mathematical difference between the two actual tones. For example, a signal of 100 Hz delivered to the left ear, and a signal of 107 Hz delivered to the right creates a binaural beat of 7 Hz that in this case falls into the Alpha range.

Research shows that parts of the brain and eventually large areas of the brain begin to resonate sympathetically with this "phantom" binaural beat. This is known as the Frequency Following Response. Subsequent research determined that a binaural beat frequencies drive brain activity into specific brain states. Thus, effortlessly and naturally, your brain activity slides into rhythm with this binaural beat, becoming organized and coherent. Within minutes, the sound frequencies start to balance the left and right hemispheres of your brain – creating a remarkable state called hemispheric synchronization and driving the electrical activity of your brain into powerful states, normally unattainable. Flashes of creative insight, euphoria and a deep sense of calm is often accompanied by this extraordinary brain state.

Brainsync has a collection of 4 audio tracks that will take you from beginner, Alpha frequencies all the way to Delta, in just 4 weeks. It is called Sacred Ground and is available on their website www.brainsync.com and Amazon, as a CD or audio download. This is a fantastic program that I have used for about two years. Here is a description:

This is the perfect all-in-one program for all levels: from the beginner, who wants to be led gradually into deeper levels of meditation, to the more experienced listener, who wishes to have a variety of music and brain wave states available in a single program.

Week One - Relaxation and Grounding - Alpha Window Frequencies
Week Two - Relaxation and Release - Alpha & Theta Window Frequencies
Week Three - Opening Higher Consciousness - Theta Window Frequencies
Week Four - Deep Resonance - Theta & Delta Window Frequencies

There are other types of meditation, as well, including the use of a mantra, which I mentioned earlier. Primordial Sound Meditation (PSM) is a silent practice that uses a mantra. The mantra you receive is based on information provided to your teacher or guru and is not to be uttered allowed or shared with anyone else. My mantra is personal and specific to me.

Another type is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and these classes are often taught by physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. This technique uses breath awareness and body scan. For breath awareness, you focus your attention on the inhale and exhale. Body scan is a process of focused attention on your body, starting at the toes and working up to the top of the head. You can also start at the top of the head and go down the body. As you focus on the body part, you relax that part and the practice takes you deeper within. This may be done seated, lying down, or walking.

Zen meditation or “Zazen” means “seated meditation.” It comes from Buddhism, and is done through observing both the breath and the mind. This is usually taught by a teacher and sometimes chanting is involved.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who trained many famous followers like the Beatles. It uses a mantra or series of Sanskrit words to help the practitioner focus during meditation. You will want to train with a TM Yogi to learn this technique.

Kriya Yoga is another form of meditation, brought to the West by the Indian mystic Paramahansa Yogananda. Kriya is an advanced Raja Yoga technique of pranayama (life-energy control). Kriya reinforces and revitalizes subtle currents of life energy (prana) in the spine and brain. The ancient seers of India (rishis) perceived the brain and spine as the tree of life. Out of the chakras flow the energies that enliven all the nerves and every organ and tissue of the body. The yogis discovered that by moving the life current continuously up and down the spine by the special technique of Kriya Yoga, it is possible to greatly accelerate one's spiritual evolution and awareness. If you are interested in this form of meditation, you will want to train with a Kriya Yogi.

"By the definite science of meditation known for millenniums to the yogis and sages of India, and to Jesus, any seeker of God can enlarge the caliber of his consciousness to omniscience to receive within himself the Universal Intelligence of God." — Paramahansa Yogananda

If you want to use guided meditations, this is totally acceptable. Kelly Howell has a number of guided meditations available and so do a lot of authors, such as authors and spiritual teachers from Hay House or Sounds True. Just go to these websites and search for meditation audios. Deepak Chopra and his Chopra Center host a meditation challenge several times a year. There are lots of meditation tips and sources. Let your angels and guides lead you to the style that is best for you.
Don't worry so much about the experience you are having or not having during meditation. As the saying goes, “Just do it!” If your mind wanders or if you drift away, gently bring your attention back to your mantra, your breath or back to what Wayne Dyer calls the “gap.” The gap is nothingness.

Don't struggle or beat yourself up if you don’t feel you are “doing it right.” Meditation is all about letting go and allowing everything to be. Remember the Beatles song, “Let it be”? Don't try to control your meditation experience. An advanced meditator will allow her mind to do whatever it wants. If thoughts come in, imagine them as leaves in a small stream and see them float off. Or, you can imagine thoughts as clouds floating by in the sky. Soon, you will see that as you allow these thoughts to float by, you begin to allow things in your life to “float by,” as well. Very cool how this works.

Please continue meditating, even if you do not see immediate results. Sometimes, it takes months to get into your natural rhythm and sometimes it take years to really relax into realizing the power and benefits of meditation. Meditation teacher Pema Chodron says that the students who come to her and want to quit are on the verge of letting go!

Over time you will develop a love for the peace that you feel, as you go into the emptiness, the “gap”, or whatever you want to call it. So celebrate the moment when you want to meditate and leave the world behind for a few minutes a day.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Rose Quartz Crystals

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, My Soul Self Gave to Me Rose Quartz Crystals for healing my heart and opening to more love in my life.

Rose Quartz is one of the first crystals I found when Steve and I began collecting crystals in 2001. I loved the pale pink color and the variety of options: beads, pendants, rough stones, jewelry, carved angels and skulls. You name it: Rose Quartz is available in many, many forms and is very inexpensive. What I love most about Rose Quartz is how it heals the heart chakra. It also fosters love on many levels, including Self-Love!

“The fair and lovely Rose Quartz, with its gentle pink essence, is a stone of the heart, a Crystal of Unconditional Love. It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a Divine loving energy throughout the entire aura. Reawakening the heart to its own innate love, it provides a deep sense of personal fulfillment and contentment, allowing one the capacity to truly give and receive love from others.[Raphaell, 82-85][Simmons, 331][Hall, 236]
Called the Heart Stone, Rose Quartz may have been used as a love token as early as 600 B.C. and is still an important talisman of relationships. It is quite effective in attracting new love, romance and intimacy, or in developing a closer bond with family or friends. It supports connection within groups and community, and carries a high spiritual attunement to the Earth, Universe, and the Divine. [Eason, 50][Simmons, 331][Hall, 236]

Source: http://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/rose-quartz
(Books used for the description are shown in parentheses by author’s name.)

I use Rose Quartz in a number of ways in my life:

1. Carry a small piece of Rose Quartz in my pocket. I make sure that it is a smooth stone.

2. Wear a pendant of Rose Quartz.

3. Wear a bracelet that has Rose Quartz beads.

4. Drop chunks of rough Rose Quartz in my bath. Wonderful as a skin softener and it also heals the physical body. One source said it’s good for wrinkles!

5. Use Rose Quartz to heal my heart by lying down and placing a piece over my heart chakra.

6. Use Rose Quartz in a crystal grid for healing on mental, spiritual, physical and emotional levels. Rose Quartz is a great stone to add to any grid.

How might you use the healing properties of Rose Quartz in your life?

To learn more about Rose Quartz, I recommend books by Adrienne Goff, Judy Hall, Philip Permutt or Katrina Raphaell.

Monday, December 14, 2015

On the 1st Day of Christmas, my Soul Self gave to me

Over the next 12 days, I’m going to share wonderful gifts of healing that you can give yourself. The very first one is my all-time favorite gift:

THE GIFT OF SELF-FORGIVENESS


What a gift! When I am truly ready to forgive myself for past wrongs, omissions and any other things for which I have judged myself, a cascade of healing can begin. How do I begin the process? My favorite vehicle for Self-0Forgiveness is Colin Tipping’s Radical Self Forgiveness:

https://www.radicalforgiveness.com/

Go to Colin’s website and download FREE TOOLS for Radical Self-Forgiveness. His worksheet and tutorial will take you through the steps. He also has a book on Amazon and an audio on www.soundstrue.com. In Colin’s own words:

“If you have a tendency to be hard on yourself and make yourself wrong a lot of the time, then this is the strategy for you. Radical Self-Empowerment is a combination of Radical Self-Forgiveness and Radical Self-Acceptance.

Even though the core technology is the same as Radical Forgiveness, we treat Radical Empowerment as a strategy in its own right, given the difficulty people experience when trying to forgive themselves or find love for themselves. It also has its own set of tools which I recommend you use if you find it difficult to accept yourself just the way you are.”

Are you ready? You may begin in small ways to forgive yourself. You can add crystals to support you while you are forgiving yourself. A few that work really well for forgiveness are:

Rose Quartz
Rhodonite
Rhodochrosite
Chrysoprase
Apache Tear

You might wear a rose quartz pendant or get a piece of Chrysoprase to carry in your pocket. I enjoy getting beads of the various crystals and making bracelets that are easy to wear.

You can also add essential oils to support yourself. I feel that the crystals and oils work together to hold me in a loving embrace, while I do the forgiveness work. doTERRA® has a new blend called Forgive! Or, you can use Bergamot or Thyme essential oils. Get a good quality essential oil like doTERRA® or Young Living® or Aura Cacia®, which is available at Whole Foods.

So, the next time you do something that you feel is a “mistake” or something you’d rather you hadn’t done, stop and:

1. Breathe
2. Go inside and connect with your HEART
3. Say: “I Love you and I forgive you.”
4. Take another deep breath and look around you. Find something for which you can show appreciation. Anchor this in your heart.
5. Inhale or apply your favorite essential oil to feel supported as you heal and release.
6. Carry a crystal or wear jewelry made with your crystal(s) for additional support.

You did it. What a great gift you gave yourself today!

PJ Spur pjspur@gmail.com www.soulrevelations.com

Monday, August 24, 2015

Boot Scootin' in Heaven Now . . .

My favorite uncle passed away last week: Clarence Simpson of Amarillo, TX. He was 93. We shared a birthday month (November) and a love of red cars (he had a red Firebird once and I drive a red Toyota now!)
One of his daughters read a beautiful chronicle of his life at the service. The Chaplain said he asked the family for some stories to share and that most of them said that the best stories about Clarence wouldn’t be appropriate for the service!
So true! He was a bigger than life cowboy who lived each day to the fullest. He was telling stories and dancing until the day he died. He won many dance contests, in fact, and you can see a video of him dancing on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azkfPSzNMTo

That’s the Boot Scootin’ Boogie and there’s another one with “Waltz Across Texas” if you want to check it out.

Here are some of my favorite stories about Clarence Thomas Simpson.
1. First of all, his name wasn’t really Clarence Thomas Simpson, although many people called him “CT” for most of his life. (I knew him as CT) When he went to join the Army, they asked him for his name and he told them, “My name is Clarence Simpson.” The recruiter asked for his middle name and he told the guy he didn’t have one. (My mother doesn’t have a middle name. Her mother didn’t have a middle name. Don’t know the whole story on this!)
So, the guy kept pressing my uncle until he just blurted out: OK, My name is Clarence Thomas Simpson. They wrote that down and it stuck for the rest of his 93 years. He also had the nickname “Pinkie,” although I don’t know the origin of that. I’ll have to ask my Mom.
2. He was played football and was valedictorian of his class at O’Donnell High School in O’Donnell, Texas. He won a full scholarship to Texas A & M. However, the summer after graduation, he had appendicitis and had to be hospitalized. By the time he recovered, he had missed the start of the school year and lost his scholarship and chance to go to A & M. Instead, he joined the Army.
3. He wasn’t really 93. When he went to join the Army, he lied and said his birthday was November 10, 1921. He was really born in 1922. He lied so that the Army would enlist him.
4. He had two TVs at his house and during Football Season, he would turn on both, each one turned to a different game. One was on one end of the living room and one was on the other. His chair was in the middle of the room. This way, he could monitor two different games at holidays.
5. My sisters and I spent a week at his farm several summers when we were little. I have fond memories of riding Jim Jump and Queenie, two of the horses he kept at his place on River Road. We also played in the water at a neighbor’s house. She had a Water Wiggle. You know, one of those water toys that have been deemed unsafe for today’s kids. We had a blast with it! One of my favorite pictures of me is in a chair at CT’s house, holding a huge stuffed animal that belonged to my Cousin Judy.
6. He raised cattle and would sell cows to individuals for food. My Mom bought a cow or half of a cow many times over the years. Once or twice I bought the other half for my family. It would be butchered, packed, quick-frozen and we would drive to get it. Once, my Ex-husband and I went to get our beef and drove out to the ranch to see him sell cows on a Saturday. Some Asian families were there and they bought the cow and butchered it right there on the spot! Really! It was incredible to watch. Interesting and unsettling at the same time. Not nearly as much fun as seeing my Ex-husband eating “calf fries” later at my Uncle’s kitchen table! Poor guy was from California and had no idea of the origin of such a delicacy! Hey, they were battered and chicken-fried and my Aunt made great country gravy!
7. CT had a heart as big as Texas. He gave money, cows, packages of beef and sausage (he traded out with a guy who raised pigs) to families and single parents who needed help. He and his wife took in 3 or more young girls who didn’t have families and raised them as their own.
8. He took the place of our Grandfather when ours passed away in 1968. He was Granddad, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy all rolled into one and he always looked out for my Mom for quite a few years. Then, when he moved into the VA Home, my mom began to check on him and look out for him.
9. He gave one last gift. After the service and the graveside festivities (Bugle playing "Taps", Gun Salute, Folding of the Flag and Presentation of a Flag to each of his three children) we went to a local diner for lunch. CT had eaten at this diner at least once a week in his hey day and daily after the death of his wife Barbara in 2000. After he moved into the VA Nursing Home, he would treat visitors to meals at the diner, whenever people came into town to see him. It’s called Youngblood’s and is a café inside the Stockyards in Amarillo. After we enjoyed chicken fried steak and yeast rolls the size of Rhode Island, we got up to pay and were told it was taken care of. I thought that the café took care of it because of what a loyal customer my Uncle was. But, I learned later that HE paid for it. He left notes in his will for his son that he wanted to take everyone who came to his service to lunch! So, even after his death, CT Simpson was a most generous man! Can you imagine: thinking ahead, making this decision and the plans to do such a kind and generous gesture?

That’s the kind of man CT Simpson was, is! He IS a most generous Soul!

Yes, CT was a colorful, generous man, who lived a long and full life. I’m sure he’s already joined a dance contest in Heaven and is charming the ladies!

I love you, CT! So glad to know you and call you my Uncle! May you rest in peace.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Angel Messages . . .

Here are the angel messages from our group last night:

1. Revisit some of the music you grew up with to heal childhood hurts.
2. As the weather gets cooler, walk barefoot in the grass and enjoy nature.
3. Put your passion together with your skills and talents and claim your life’s work.
4. You will also benefit from getting away to the beach or camping at the lake. The water is good for you.
5. You need some R & R! Take some time away to recharge and you’ll come back ready to rock & roll!
6. Someone from your past may be a key to future career success. Be open to the signs or new opportunities.
7. Slow down and smell the roses. What’s your hurry?


I always love it when the angel message that I hear and record compliments something that Steve shares in his live, “shoot from the hip” messages from friends and loved ones on The Other Side. Last night, I was recording what my angels whispered to me about a young man (See #3 above) and then Steve began to say, “You’re involved in music, aren’t you? Not just making music, but producing and recording.” Then I could instantly ”see” how his passion and his skills and talents were going to come together. The smile on his face said it all! Have you ever noticed how someone glows when he talks about his passion?

As always, I share these bits of guidance in the knowledge that someone else can benefit from a tidbit that resonates. So, name it and claim it!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Over the weekend, I was thinking about families and the term “dysfunctional family” came into my mind. “What is the opposite of dysfunctional?” was my next thought. Well, “functional,” of course.

However, do we want “functional” families? Doesn’t that sound very clinical or utilitarian? And so I began thinking about what adjectives I wanted to consider for MY family.

Balanced
Happy
Trusting
Loving
Generous
Supportive
Peaceful
Harmonious

When I thought of the word “harmonious,” I looked it up in a thesaurus and also saw “symphony” or “symphonious,” which means:

an interweaving of themes, or harmonious arrangement




Isn't that amazing? An orchestra is various pieces.



Many different kinds of instruments. You don’t often hear of a band of all clarinets or an orchestra made up of only violins or only tubas. Yet, how often do families want each member to fit into a mold and be just like each other!

Yes, in an orchestra, there is a variety of instruments and each is encouraged to be unique and make its own special contribution to the group. You don’t play a clarinet the same way you play a tuba or a piano or a violin. The sound that comes from each instrument is different, as well. Yet, when each is played, the sounds blend together to create beautiful melodies.

So, today I pray for healing and harmony for my family and families everywhere!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

The Healing Power of Crystals and Gemstones . . .

In 2001, Steve and I opened a small sterling silver jewelry store in Grapevine, TX. When we went to Market Hall, the Tucson Bead Show and other stores on Harry Hines in Dallas, we saw gemstones and crystals being shown. That year, we began seeing more and more necklaces and bracelets made with these “real” stones, rather than glass or plastic beads.

One vendor, in particular, featured strands of beads in Dalmatian Jasper and black crystals. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. We bought a few strands and began making jewelry to sell in the store.


Have you ever heard the phrase, “We were ahead of our time?” People would come into our tiny store in Grapevine and look at our creations and then put them back on the rack. They were mostly there to buy sterling silver charms, which were all the rage at that time.

Shortly after 9/11, we closed our store. Business fell off substantially during this time of uneasiness and despair in America and both of us found employment with other companies.

Fast forward to 2003 or 2004 (I can’t remember exactly) and we learn about quartz crystals and how these natural stones from Mother Earth can support us in developing our psychic senses. Steve still uses one or two clear quartz crystals when he does readings, whether in private or in one of our small groups. I prefer to wear crystals, whether as a pendant or as part of a necklace or bracelet or ring. I still have my jewelry making tools and supplies from our jewelry store days, so I often create something special for myself in my home office.

Over the years, I have taken a few classes with Pat Cook of Power of the Rainbow in Arlington. My favorite was the chakra class, where we received a bag of 8 color matched quartz crystals to use for clearing and balancing our chakras. Steve and I take turns placing the stones on each other for healing. It is so calming and soothing to take just 15 to 20 minutes and feel the healing power of the stones.

A few weeks ago, I learned about a new holistic boutique called SoulTopia, in Valley View Center in Dallas. I scheduled a crystal healing with Michelle Scheef, the owner. I was struggling with some childhood issues and the leftover residue from a friendship that ended a few months ago. Michelle works intuitively to select the stones for each healing, to create a custom session.

When I emerged from her beautiful center, I felt balanced and more centered. She gave me one stone to take home and I purchased small versions of the other stones that she used in my healing. She has little recipe cards that you can select and then put together a little silk pouch of crystals and stones for a specific need. My daughter was stressed and suffering from a sinus infection, so Michelle put together a kit for her to boost her immune system.

On Monday, I wrote Michelle and said: “Today, I am aware of how much lighter and brighter I feel. When I think of my sisters, there is a sweetness there. When I think of my friend, there is closure. The healing session with you is such a gift. Thank you!”

Michelle posts “recipes” for different situations often on her Facebook page and one day she posted the recipe for Self Love, which is a concept I have been embracing for a few years now.

Today, my angels showed me a bracelet made with the crystals from this recipe and I am going to go through my jewelry making supplies tonight and create one!!!

Oh, and the Dalmatian Jasper that caught my eye and my heart so long ago? I looked up the healing properties just now and here’s what I learned:

“Jaspers are extremely nurturing stones and work in a subtle way to give slow and gentle healing. Known for its protective and healing properties, this mineral's vibrational energy is slow, though quite effective, and should be used long term. Dalmatian Stone encourages fidelity and emotional harmony, strengthening family bonds and long-term friendships. It encourages team effort and cooperation.”Source: http://tinyurl.com/owvcjqh

Long term, huh? No kidding! It has been healing me since 2001! Thank you, Angels!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Angel Guidance for You . . . Take What Resonates

My angels have encouraged me to share snippets of the guidance I share with each person in our small group "Messages from Spirit," which is held twice a month. What I've learned is that sometimes, something resonates for someone else and it's OK to "take" that bit of guidance and apply it in your own life.

Here is one sentence from each of the 10 angel messages that were shared last night:

Angel Guidance from May 26, 2015
1. Some R & R is just what you need-maybe even time at the beach.
2. Take some time in nature and connect with your inner goddess.
3. Escape from time to time and share your knowledge with the world.
4. What will it take for you to claim joy and welcome in joy, love and laughter?
5. Let yourself dream big regarding blending your vocation and your passion.
6. Let yourself laugh and feel joy.
7. In the morning, step outside and connect with the nature spirits.
8. When you reach out to loved ones, suspend judgment and allow them to be there for you.
9. There is a joy in the center of your soul that wants to expand and light up the lives of others.
10. Let yourself walk outside early each day to center and ground yourself.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

50 Lessons Life Taught Me - Regina Brett's List

I love lists. That is, lists that inspire me or encourage me in some way. When I read about Regina Brett’s 50 Lessons Life Taught Me, I knew that I had to take a look. It’s a great list that inspires me and confirms many truths that I’ve come to know, as well. I’ll list one per day and write a little about what it means to me. Feel free to comment, if I strike a chord in you or you want to add to my writing.

#1 Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.


This one bugged me when I first read it. I once had a counselor who told me that anytime you use the word “but” in a sentence, you negate the truth of everything you said BEFORE the “but.”

An example would be a cheating spouse, who says, “I love you, but, I have my own needs.” The spouse has his own needs AND he doesn’t love her. Probably doesn’t even love himself, but that’s for another day and another blog!

So, if you go with the idea shared by my counselor, she is really saying that Life IS Fair and Good. I truly believe this. Many times, we get so caught up in our own “pity party” that we miss the beautiful life that surrounds us. We miss the blessings in people, opportunities and situations in our lives.

I also believe that we have a Soul Contract, an agreement that we make before we are born, in which we set out certain lessons we want to learn. We also have karma to work out, a kind of balancing of “you did this to me” and “I’ll do this to you” here in Earth School.

Now, someone is going to present the idea of a child with a horrific disease or disfiguring accident and ask, “How is that fair?” Well, what if that Soul planned that life path, to learn specific lessons here in Earth School? If that was the plan, then the details ARE fair and are just what he/she ordered!

Another idea that some people don’t remember is that I have my Soul Contract and you have yours. I have my lessons and you have your lessons, as well. It’s a very complicated matrix of all of those contracts and plans and detours. Just watch “The Adjustment Bureau” for a small glimpse of how this works and how things can change, when we make one small variation.

When you agree with the idea of Soul Contracts, you begin to see that Life IS Fair. The cosmic forces (God, The Universe or whatever you choose to call the Great All That Is) are always engaged behind the scenes to work things out. I believe that things are always working for your highest good. So, to me, life is fair, because it is a representation of what I set out in my life plan before I came down here.

Want to read more about this idea? You’ll enjoy Robert Schwartz’s book “Your Soul’s Plan.”

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Messages From Spirt

Twice a month, Steve and I hold "Messages from Spirit," a small group gathering, where we give messages to 8 people. Steve connects with your loved ones and friends on the other side and I connect with your angels and guides. I record what I receive and give the message to each person. Also, I record one or two sentences from each reading to share later or use to encourage myself. Here's what I have to share from Tuesday, March 24:

1. Heaven is waiting to open to you. Blessings are coming.

2. Love yourself and take better care of you today for a sweeter tomorrow.

3. It is time for you to make a clean slate for your future.

4. Just ask for guidance and record what you hear or feel. Honor these messages and live in peace. (This girl also got: “The angels and fairies are all around you.” She cried and asked me if that was a common message. I don’t think I’ve ever received a reference to fairies in this setting. And only rarely in one-on-one readings.)

5. Meditation might help you center and find peace.

6. You can also eat blueberries and sing to help clear your throat chakra.

7. Let the good times roll and connect with old friends to re-establish bonds from the past.

8. There is a place in nature that you love to just sit and center yourself. This is so good for your Soul. Record these sweet escapes in your heart and you can close your eyes and take yourself there in times of stress or chaos.

Beautiful messages for beautiful Soul Companions!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Lessons From Stevie Wonder

A few years ago, our daughter invited us to join her for a concert with Stevie Wonder. Steve was so jazzed, as he’s followed the prolific musician and humanitarian since he was in high school. (And who doesn’t love a 25X Grammy Winner from our generation?)

Although I’ve seen him on TV countless times, this was my first concert with Stevie. I was impressed by his demeanor, his gentleness, his mastery and his sense of humor.

It was evident that everything is well planned and rehearsed, including his daughter bringing him to the stage. However, once he is on stage, he sits down at one keyboard, then shifts over to a baby grand piano, picking up a harmonica or two along the way. He even stood once and sang a song and then settled back down at the keyboard. All of these movements was without help of any kind.

The four harmonicas and an extra microphone were on top of the baby grand piano, laying on some textured, non-slip material (kind of like what I have in my kitchen cabinets) At one point, he reached for a harmonica, touching it and then putting it back and taking the one next to it. When he blew into it, he
made a funny face, put it back and then picked up the one he had passed on, just seconds earlier. He blew into it and then threw his head back and laughed at himself.

I LOVE how he is able to laugh and just go with the flow! There were a few more times where he laughed at himself or made a joke about “the blind man up here.”

Think about it: blind within a few weeks of birth, shuffled from his original home at the age of four to Detroit, one of six children raised by a single mom in the 50’s and 60’s. Yet, he began playing piano, harmonica and drums at an early age and won his first Grammy at age 13!

He said this about himself:

“Sometimes I feel really blessed to be blind because I probably would not last a minute if I were able to see things.”

Yes, he is a gentle soul. Yet, my favorite attribute is his ability to NOT take himself so seriously, to laugh at himself and to smile and have a great time on stage . . . and in life!

So, the next time, I drop something or take a mis-step, I’m going to laugh at myself and think of Stevie Wonder.

It’s all good . . .

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Healing Myself, So I can Enjoy Healthy Love Relationships

I’ve been taking a daily class through Daily Om that is called “Intimacy without Responsibility.” It’s a 49 day class and interestingly enough, the creator of the course says that it takes about 7 weeks to change a habit. (7 X 7 . . . )

She is really challenging us to look at our relationships, specifically our Primary love relationship and look for ways where we manipulate, control, wheedle, cajole or use tricks and traits we learned in childhood to get our needs met. (Or not, if you are on the Martyr track…)

It’s been an interesting 7 weeks! I am almost finished with the coursework and can see that I have opened a door to a new way of thinking, living and BE-ing in the world of relationships.

I began this class before the Value beta test that I started about 4 weeks ago and see now how perfectly these two blend together, to accelerate changes in the way I think, believe and heal myself.

One example? I came down with a cold this last weekend and it was MUCH easier to ask Steve for help and support! I didn’t hesitate. My self-care has also been better. I cancelled a client on Saturday, when I came down with the cold. The “old me” would have “soldiered-on,” and been resentful in the process.

Rather, I wrote the client and rescheduled. And, when three more prospective clients contacted me during my down time, I resisted the urge to respond right away. Yesterday, when I felt better (a full 3 days after becoming dis-eased) I contacted the people and let them know my status. All understood, of course!

As I love myself and show better self-love and self-care, I can also learn to love you in a new way: one that allows for true intimacy, without the responsibility for fixing or changing you or meeting your emotional needs.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Is It Really True?

I am participating in a beta test for a new energy healing modality that is helping us retrain our brains to live more from a place of compassion and kindness, rather than from old hurts. We are halfway through the 6 week process.

One day, I felt as if I had “hit the wall,” and was really wallowing in some pain regarding a family member. I had used the process a number of times and was still hurting. As I left the office for lunch, I was reminded of Byron Katie’s work and asked myself: “Is it really true?”

I was just wallowing in something a family member had said and took it to mean that she really meant to say something else and that she has always felt that way about me and on and on and on.
At that point, I just stopped and asked myself: Is it true that I know that she means what I am inferring?

NO.

At that, my feelings subsided quickly and I could feel myself calming down.

WOW! All I had to do was ask a simple question: “Is it true?”

More later on this amazing process. I’ll be able to share with clients and students within the next year!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Messages From Your Angels

Once or twice a month, Steve and I hold “Messages from Spirit.” He connects with your loved ones and friends in Spirit and gives evidence and messages. I connect with your angels and guides and write down 3 to 5 sentences of encouragement or guidance for each of the 8 people in attendance. Then, I give a sheet of paper with the personal words of wisdom to each person.

A few months ago, my guides suggested that I take one or two sentences from each reading and record those on a separate sheet of paper and share those on my Blog or Facebook. It didn’t take long for me to see that some of the words are intended as messages for me!

Here are the special messages from the Angels who spoke at last night’s event:

1. No worries! You can’t get this wrong. There are no mistakes, just chances to explore and go on an adventure.
2. Be gentle with yourself, as you heal and grow.
3. Meditate for even 5 minutes a day, to center yourself and find peace. Give yourself the gift of time alone to commune with your Higher Self.
4. Let your life be sweet; it is! Enjoy the night.
5. The morning is a key time for you to talk with your angels and Higher Self.
6. Your love of the water is good for your Soul.
7. Just minor changes in what you eat and drink will give you more energy and happiness.
8. Show your appreciation to people you love.


If something resonates for you, take it. Your Angels love to share wisdom and will use any channel available to do so!

Friday, March 6, 2015

The Difference Between Shame and Guilt

I’m participating in a beta testing group for a new protocol for changing my self talk and resulting actions by reintroducing myself to my core values. Over time, I am creating new neural pathways in my brain, changing what was my “toddler brain” to a more mature, healthy brain. I’ll then be more able to respond to my environment and make better choices, rather than simply reacting.

One of the “self talk” aspects that I am dealing with concerns “shame” and “guilt.” I’d like to make a distinction here about these two concepts.

One of my favorite authors, Dr. Brené Brown, has spoken extensively about shame, exploring its harmful effects and sharing the best ways to combat it. Dr. Brown says that one simple way to "unpack" it is by understanding the crucial difference between shame and its sister: guilt.

In one "Super Soul Sunday," Dr. Brown said that it all comes down to your "self talk," or inner dialogue. "The difference between shame and guilt is the difference between 'I am bad' and 'I did something bad,'" she told Oprah.

For example, Dr. Brown says, imagine that you had too much to drink one night and showed up to work hung over, missing a meeting. Someone experiencing guilt will say to themselves, "That was a really stupid thing to do. I wasn't thinking."

In contrast, someone experiencing shame will say, "I'm an idiot. I'm such a loser." In other words, guilt focuses on behavior while shame focuses on self.
This distinction is so serious, in fact, that she reveals an alarming piece of information about shame's effects. "This is going to freak you out," she tells Oprah. "Shame [is] highly correlated with addiction, depression, eating disorders, violence, bullying and aggression. Guilt? Inversely correlated with those."
Therefore, the ability to change the self-talk -- and believe it -- can dramatically affect positive outcomes.

Dr. Brown shares her method for moving toward having a healthier internal dialogue. "I talk to myself like I would talk to Ellen or Charlie, my kids," she says. "The first thing I try to say is, 'You made a mistake. You're human. You're okay. I love you. You're going to get through this.' But the big piece is -- and this is a hard one – you've got to reach out and tell your story. You've got to speak your shame."

That’s why I always encourage clients and students to have a buddy, what I call an accountability partner. This person is your BFF or someone with whom you can be brutally honest about your shame. As Dr. Brown relates, there’s something very healing about sharing something so personal with someone you can trust.

I also want to draw your attention to her comment, "I talk to myself like I would talk to my kids." This presupposes that you talk to your children in a loving way! Some of us were parented by people who practiced the "spare the rod and spoil the child" philosophy. Many times, they used shame to discipline or punish us, trying to shame us into good behavior. As Dr. Brown shares, this never works. So, I'm learned to talk to myself in a more loving way. I hope that I used these same skills with my daughters. I know that I am more conscious about how I speak to my granddaughters!

Stay tuned to more information on the new protocol I am learning. In a few months, I'll be able to share it with my clients and students!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

I'm In Love with doTERRA Essential Oils!

I’ve been using essential oils for a few years, such as adding rosemary and peppermint to my body wash and using Tea Tree Oil as an antiseptic, for cuts and burns. Last fall I decided to check out doTERRA oils and signed up as a Wellness Advocate with one of my friends.

Why did I choose doTERRA essential oils? Because doTERRA is the ONLY company that sells Certified Pure, Therapeutic Grade oils. doTERRA means "gift of the earth" and that's just where they source all of their oils! Each oil comes from the country where that plant is indigenous. doTERRA is committed to providing simple, safe and empowering solutions that enhance well being.

Since January, I have been reading everything I can get my hands on and using the oils for pretty miraculous jobs! I invested in doTERRA’s Family Physician Kit. Here’s what it includes:

The Family Physician® Kit is a collection of ten nurturing essential oils, including six single oils and four blends. The stunning box includes tips for using the oils, as well as an audio CD featuring dōTERRA®'s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David K. Hill. In this audio presentation, Dr. Hill teaches listeners how to care for their family's everyday health needs with simple and safe methods using the ten essential oils included in this kit. Includes 5 ml bottles of Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Melaleuca, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue®, Breathe, DigestZen®, and On Guard to help families address a multitude of health issues.

Late in January, I had to have some pretty extensive dental work done and I did my homework. I put together rollerballs of Deep Blue (really great for pain) and Peppermint (helps with swelling). Then I took a drop of Frankincense and On Guard 2 to 3 times per day. I continued to use the Deep Blue, just rolling the diluted oil around my mouth several times a day. The Peppermint went around my ears. There is usually some ear pain with dental work and this really helped. I only took about 4 of the pain pills that my DDS gave me. I attribute the low pain I experienced to my use of the doTERRA essential oils!

Cool husband story: after a class I took with a friend in Richardson, I saw her Facebook posting on how she used Lavender and Melaleuca for her son’s earache. My hubby had a sinus headache and said his ears also ached, so I made some rollerballs and layered the two oils, around his ears and nose. After about 20 minutes, he said his ears popped. Then, after 30 more minutes, he said his sinus headache
was gone and his sinuses were clear!

My husband really swears by Deep Blue! He uses it on his back and his feet! My younger daughter has two small children and she uses everything from Lavender to On Guard to Melaleuca to keep them healthy and sleeping through the night! My older daughter has some allergies, so I made her a roller ball of Breathe and gave her a bottle of On Guard. Then, she saw the DigestZen in the kit and had to have some of that, too!

Want to buy oils? Check out my site:
http://www.mydoterra.com/pjspur/

If you want to learn how to save up to 25% on your oil purchases, contact me and become a Wellness Advocate yourself! Just write me at pjspur@gmail.com or fill out the contact form on my doTERRA website.

Next time, I’ll write about using essential oils for emotional healing. This is my favorite aspect of healing with essential oils. Why? Because it blends so well with www.soulrevelations.com, my practice where I support you in healing your body, mind AND spirit!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Forgiveness . . . Self-Forgiveness . . . Why Bother?

Forgiveness is such a huge concept, isn’t it? You have forgiveness that involves others and self-forgiveness.

When we were children, we were taught to pray “God, help me forgive ____.” But, I realize that sometimes, I want to hold on to the grudge. Maybe I have been hurt OR someone I love has been hurt and I feel that this is wrong. And then, I think of the old adage: “Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you condone the action.” Remembering this helps me to begin to forgive.

One of my friends said this on Facebook recently:
Remembering that forgiveness is a process and freeing myself from the expectation of “once and done” has really helped. Have you ever “re-injured” yourself by getting mad at yourself because you haven’t been successful at forgiveness? Sometimes it takes a long time.

Time and space are the two most important gifts to give myself on the road to forgiveness. How many times have you waited a few days and then, you just feel better? Especially when another person you are close to or work with is involved, those few days can really help with healing.

Another friend said:
Forgiveness is an ongoing process and sometimes, I experience that I’m beyond the process and that forgiveness has simply “occurred.”

I call this occurrence a “download.” Something has happened and I am changed, but I have no intellectual awareness of the process that took place. This is what some people also call a miracle!

Self-Forgiveness

Self-forgiveness is another matter. (Why am I so hard on myself?) Have you ever forgiven yourself and then dredged it back up and “unforgiven” yourself? I’ve done it. Maybe I think I didn’t do enough penance. Maybe I think I have a few more steps to go.

One friend says:
I ask myself: “Is this the worst thing I have ever done?” If the answer is “No,” which it usually is, I encourage myself to accept it with a huge dose of compassion.

I’ve been healing myself with Ho’oponopono more and more, and I find that after a few minutes of the cleaning process, I’m in a better place. I think that Ho’oponopono combines all of the aspects of forgiveness (and self-forgiveness) into one practice. Especially when I am the one who has been hurt or offended, I may use the practice and feel a softening inside.

The basic steps of Ho’oponopono are to repeat these phrases:
I love you
Please forgive me
I am sorry
Thank you

You can repeat the phrases up to 10 or 20 times per sitting and do the practice several times a day. If the forgiveness involves another person, you can have the person in mind, as you say the phrases.

Dr. Len, the man who brought Ho’oponopono out of Hawaii and into the rest of the world explains it this way:

I heal the inside of me to see changes in my external world. When I feel love inside of me, outside reflections start showing up. When I take good care of me, others reflect this love and care. When I forgive myself and exercise good self-care, the world begins to respond to me in like manner.”

If you want to read his story, click here: http://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/practice-hooponopono-four-simple-steps/

He used Ho’oponopono and healed inmates at a psychiatric hospital and never met with a single patient! Finally, the hospital was closed, because there were no more patients. He goes on to say:

The Ho’oponopono cleaning process allows direct contact with the divine wisdom, love and inspiration already within each of us. It is achieved when memories replaying as thoughts, fears, and judgments are transmuted to ZERO by Love. It is a state of being which enables us to lead inspired lives.
Much of today’s stress is a result of memories replaying the past and displacing Love. “Cleaning” can restore us to Love, to Zero.

We can transform ourselves, our homes, our communities and our world into one of peace and Divine inspiration. It begins with doing the cleaning process, knowing that everything we see outside of us can be cleaned inside. It is the first step in being instruments of Love. The first step in learning how to BE “Cleaning in Action” and to become “Love in Action.” It is how to be 100% responsible. It is the “fast track” to Zero.


So, by repeating the Ho’oponopono phrases, you can transform yourself.

This is exactly what Dr. Hew Len did to invite divine transformation, not only for his life, but for the lives of the patients at Hawaiian mental hospital.

Author and spiritual teacher Carolyn Myss says:

By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. Forgiveness is no longer an option but a necessity for healing. Nothing empowers our ability to heal as much as our love and forgiveness.

Is there a better reason to forgive?