My Choices Set Me Free

“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” (Albert Einstein)

To be FREE of limiting beliefs, I could start by forgiving myself and others for many old habits and ways of being, however well they served me in the past.  “The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him – that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.” (Swami Vivekananda)

   

How wonderful to know, in these amazing days, that I am FREE to choose my experience, by my attitude and stance, and by my thoughts, words and deeds… and to know that my choices keep me in bondage, or my choices set me FREE.

A beautiful Video

www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html

Speedy Ways to Pull the Plug on Stress

Speedy Ways to Pull the Plug on Stress
By Michael F. Roizen, MD, cofounder of RealAge, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, and chairman of the RealAge Scientific Advisory Board.

"Stress isn't all bad. In fact, the only time you don't have stress is when you are 6 feet under. Short-term stress can help you meet a deadline, turn a double play, or keep your bumper from getting crumpled.

But when stress lingers like week-old leftovers, or nags like a too-full desk, it's time to pull the plug. The more you're stressed, the greater the risk of accidents, infections, and arterial aging. It's not the desk or the stress that's the trouble; it's your reaction to it. So while we can't stop your boss from sending work to you, or make the line at the airport move faster (if only), we can help you learn how to make stress take less of a toll -- or maybe make it toll-free. Even if you already have a favorite way to break the tension, whether that's playing basketball or listening to Mozart, these easy techniques are great to keep in your back pocket when your first choice isn't available:
1. Breathe in, lick your lips, and then blow out slowly. The cool air helps you refocus and slow down.
2. Scrunch your face tightly for 15 seconds and then release. Repeat several times. Repetitive contraction and relaxation helps release the tension you hold above the neck.
3. Stop for a second and focus on your breathing. Now, look down. See anything moving? Probably not. That's because most people take short, shallow breaths -- the kind that come from your chest. To relax, take deep, whole breaths. It should take about 5 seconds to inhale and 7 seconds to exhale. And your belly (yes, your belly) should expand as you breathe in, then flatten as you breathe out. Ahhh . . . that's better."

Book Release - Emerging Voices

Laurel is a dear friend as well as a gifted poet and artist.  Her new book, Emerging Voices, is now available.  This book is a beautiful and unique journal which contains her artwork, poetry and has a place for the owner to write their own thoughts.  A well known reviewer for Amazon said: "Your book has touched my heart and soul. It has so much potential for dealing, coping and starting to live again for so many."
To puchase a copy, go to http://www.essenceoflaurel.com/.

SELF-EMPOWERING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Don't make others' feelings about you more important than your opinion of yourself. If you've allowed any negative thoughts and opinions directed your way to become the basis of your self-portrait, you're asking the universal mind to do the same."

~ (Wayne Dyer)

The Use of Reiki for Cancer Patients

Visit http://www.mesothelioma.com/alternative_treatments.htm to learn more about how mesothelioma patients are using Reiki as a form of palliative relief during cancer treatment.

Healing Poetry and Artwork

Laurel is a dear friend as well as a gifted poet and artist.  Please visit her website at http://www.essenceoflaurel.com/

Simple Steps to Build Self Esteem

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410469593

Super Brain Yoga Exercise

Your memory can be improved by one simple exercise. 
http://www.homeopathyplus.com.au/superbrain.html

Daily Exercise to Live a Soul Filled Life

This is a wonderful daily exercise from John Holland's Soul Inspiration Newsletter.


Start your day feeling balanced, confident, grounded, and calm. Be connected to your inner guidance before the external gets a hold of you. Intuitive information has a better chance of getting your attention when you begin each day in this open and receptive way, simply by turning inward and taking a few minutes for yourself and your intuition.

By practicing this short exercise each morning, you’ll begin to build a relationship with your inner guidance, one that can be accessed when you need it.

Begin by closing your eyes and taking a complete breath as you start to relax. Let your awareness bring you back into your body. Follow your breath into the quiet place within your heart. Breathe a few breaths into this area, as you continue to relax and become more grounded. Your body and mind begins to grow quieter with each breath. Now bring your awareness into your solar plexus area (just below rib cage) . Ask your intuition if there’s anything specific it wants to tell you. Breathe and take a moment with it. Acknowledge and receive whatever comes.

Now guide your awareness up to your crown chakra (top of head). Ask if there’s a situation that you should know about, or that would be helpful for the coming day. Depending on your psychic strength, you may receive words, symbols, or a feeling about what you need or want to know.

It doesn’t take long to do this exercise and you may receive something important, or something quite small, or you may receive nothing at all on a certain day. At least you’re honoring yourself and your inner-guidance, by making the commitment to listen. After awhile, you will see how your days seem to flow better with a sense of divine guidance and enthusiasm!

A Boost of Spirit

While we may think we’re all uniquely distinctive individual souls, in fact there’s a commonality that binds us all together – a spiritual force, which has a consciousness of its own. Spirit is the life force, the vital energy that fuels all life. Spirit is the spark, or the portion of the Divine Source that’s in every living thing. You may have heard it referred to as Prana, Chi or Ki.

So many people don’t realize that we are in fact energetic sentient beings and how precious this vital energy is to our body as well as our souls.

Your Chi carries your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions while mixing with the energy around you. You radiate Chi all around you, sending out your thoughts, beliefs and emotions.

When I need a boost of spirit, that wonderful life-force, I go and exercise, or go to the beach and meditate, or do something that I love – something that will infuse my soul with that chi (spirit force) once again. When was the last time you did something for yourself, something that you love doing, something that infuses your soul?

Energy Healing and The Wolf

I encourage you to watch the following video. It’s amazing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GC1Sw__ooE&feature=player_embedded\

The Guest House by Rumi

Rumi is one of my favorits poets.

The Guest House


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

(The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)

A story about Love, Inspiration and Healing

I recently received a wonderful little story via e-mail from Soulstice Rising about LOVE, INSPIRATION, AND HEAING that I wanted to share.


Once upon a time there were two caterpillars who were very loving sisters...they spent almost all their time together; they crawled together; they talked with each other day and night.  Every morning they had a place where they would meet. And then one morning one of the caterpillars came to the place, but the other caterpillar wasn't there. One of the sister butterflies started crying and crying, because she missed her sister so very much. Suddenly a Beautiful Butterfly came and sat next to her and said, "Why are you crying; don't you see I'm a butterfly?"

U-Tube - "A Good Day" with Brother David Steindl-Rast

For your enjoyment!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zl9puhwiyw