Grace and Clarity

Last year at this time, I had no idea what to select as my New Year’s intention.  So I opted for my favorite go-to method, I asked the Higher Realms for assistance.  The Guides came through as always, and within a day of asking I knew what I was meant to focus on: Integrity.  A great word,  a powerful concept…alright-y then.  Onward!

One of my favorite definitions of integrity is, “What’s on the inside matches what’s on the outside.”  This may seem overly-simplistic but for me it fits the bill.  It reminds me not to say what I can’t truly mean, not to hide what I truly am.  But little did I realize that even as I blithely coasted into my year I wasn’t living from my deepest integrity at all.

In the spring of last year my whole world blew apart.  I was critically ill for the 3rd time in four months, forced to quit my job to regain my health and had no second source of income for nearly 7 months.  My life was in the biggest flux I’d experienced since my twenties…and I had no idea what to do.

So I did what I always do: I turned it over to the Guides.  The day after quitting my job in the spring, I started a new morning affirmation about how the Angels and Guides would “Lead Me to the Life of my Highest Calling.”  I affirmed that “It Would Come and I Would Know It.”  Both of these phrases had been given to me by the Guides years earlier at a time of great change.  They had led me to the life I have now and I knew they would serve as beacons for me again.

Fast-forward 6 months.  As I ring in this new year I am amazed at how different my life looks than it did a year ago.  Instead of enjoying a second job as a waitress (a love I’ve indulged across the years because of its 3-D Tetris-type qualities…fun!) I now thrive while teaching voice and singing in my small town on the weekends.  Instead of holding a wealth of knowledge about yoga and wellness quietly within me, I have resumed my uber-fun yoga workshops with beloved friends from back in my Midwest home state.

But it wasn’t until last night, when my husband asked me what my NY intention was for 2016 that I remembered what my intent was for last year–and how it came about.  And as I silently mused about whether or not “I had achieved it,” I was totally floored:  I hadn’t achieved a dang thing.  No, it was the Guides Who had fulfilled it for me–when I was trundling along my merry way, not even paying attention.  And it wasn’t until it was all behind me, well in my rear-view mirror, that I was able to see how it all fit together as the perfect actualization of my intent.

See, that’s how it works: When we ask the Universe for guidance, we always get it.  But we don’t just get clarity, we also get the super-powered support from the Universe to make our goals into reality.  In 2015, my life showed me that even when I don’t know the breadth and depth of what my intention can be, the Higher Vision of the Divine can help draw forth any area not in, well, INTEGRITY with that intent.  In the end, we get what we truly focus on–with or without our meaning to.

This year I don’t know what I’ll be focusing on either; I have a “call in” about that and I know that the Angels and Guides will be responding here soon.  All I know is, once I get the memo for what I should be focusing on I’ll be darn sure to examine its ramifications closely.  Because if I learned anything from last year it’s to be ready for my life to change in accordance with what I affirm.  My takeaway?  Be bold, be brave and just like Momma told you, be careful what you wish for.

If you enjoyed this post, we welcome your comments and invite you to check out more inspirational practices from our Practicum and Try this! selections.

Black Light is a term I like to use for the grounded Energy of our amazing planet Earth.  As we discussed in my recent blog “Divine Black Light,” Black Light has just as much healing potential as White Light and is an important balance for the airy, expansive energies of Its counterpart.  To cultivate and explore the healing powers of Black Light, try the simple exercise below.

Rather than thinking of Black Light as a dull, dark energy I like to imagine Black Light as a sparkling black or dark blue swath, scintillating with power and potential.  I breathe this Light up my legs from the Earth to my Heart Center, where I hold Its grounding power.

Some days I focus here and breathe comfortably for just a few seconds, while on busy or chaotic days I may spend a few moments breathing more and more of this Energy up from the Earth, through my legs to my Heart.

When I’m ready to move on, I continue to hold the image of the shimmering Black Light at my heart while inhaling White Light from the top of my head to my Heart.  There the two co-mingle in perfect beauty.  I breathe comfortably while holding my attention at the Heart’s meeting point, sometimes visualizing a Yin/Yang symbol and other times imagining a swirl of sparkling black and white Energy.  Then I exhale the perfectly blended combination out in front of me and imagine it balancing my own life and healing the world around me.

After a little practice, you will be able to clearly distinguish between the vibrations of Black and White Light.  Focus on deepening these different sensations, memorizing and relishing the unique qualities each one possesses.

You will find that Black Light meditations are especially helpful in times of change or drama.  Such visualizations also help balance those with a notable amount of Vata in their Ayurvedic constitution.  This meditation can be uniquely settling during weather patterns creating extreme temperature changes or producing excessive amounts of wind.

I invite you to start using this practice today so by the time you need it, your heart and mind will be ready to welcome and metabolize the unique properties of the blessing we call Black Light.

For more inspirational practices, please visit the other entries from our Practicum and Try this! collections.

December is filled with beautiful opportunities to mark our turning from darkness to Light.  Rituals of lights are performed in Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice and New Year celebrations, providing us with many chances to honor our personal growth.  Whether you choose to observe them in solitude or in the company of loved ones, ceremonies give us a method for paying tribute to the transformation in our lives.  Here is a simple ritual you can enjoy alone or with others which turns your hearth into a place of ceremonial celebration!

You will need:

A wood-burning hearth or stove (a basket will do if you have neither)

One or more candles, music and aromatherapy to create a blessed atmosphere

Twigs or small sticks

Notepaper and pens

Start by creating a sacred space.  Simply light one or more candles, select some soothing music and fill your space with captivating aromas.  You may wish to use an aromatherapy spray, light some incense or simmer a natural potpourri on the stove by combining water, cinnamon sticks, cloves and a dash of nutmeg.

Gather your group or your own thoughts and select a stick or twig symbolizing something you wish to release from your past year.  It may be a feeling, a painful interaction with someone, an unhealthy personal habit or a phase in your life.  Share aloud what your item symbolizes, imbuing the stick with your deep desire to release old energy.  Then lay your twig in a cold or crackling hearth; if you have no fireplace, simply lay the stick in a basket.  If you are practicing in solitude, allow ample time to share with the Higher Realms everything you wish to release.  If you are in a group, each person can take turns discarding as many symbols as they would like until all feel complete.  Then, if the hearth is cold take a moment to light it, silently watching the refuse of the past year transform into pure Light and Energy.  Items placed in a basket can be ceremoniously scattered in Nature following your ritual.

Once all Releases have been expressed, it is time to affirm your Intentions for the new year.  I recommend from one to three Intentions; any more than four and it is difficult to  remember all the things you are trying to achieve.  This leads to unnecessary guilt and shame when priorities are set but never accomplished.  Have few enough Intentions that you can memorize them quickly and call them to mind repeatedly over the coming year.

Taking a pen and paper (I like sticky notes, which can be immediately posted for inspiration), write down your Intentions.  The more succinct you can be, the easier the Intentions will be to memorize.  For example, bringing more compassion into your relationship with Nathan can be simply written as, “Compassion toward Nathan.”

I encourage my students to select at least one Intention relating to their spiritual practice; make your Journey a priority each year and you will find you grow more quickly.  These might be praying or mediating with more discipline, opening your heart to Divine Guidance regularly or other goals that deepen your Connection to Goodness.  Finally, read your Intentions aloud.  If practicing in a group setting, have each person read just one Intention they feel comfortable sharing with others.

Close your ritual by offering gratitude and asking the Higher Realms to bless your Intentions.  Be sure to save your paper and keep it close for your inspiration.  I like to rewrite my Intentions on two or three sticky-notes, placing one in my office, another in my car and another in my home.  This reminds me to check in with them again and again and not to forget them as the months roll by.  Our Intentions are meant to unfold within us over the entire year, until the next time we are ready to Release what no longer serves and Renew our connection to  Divine Light.

May the coming days of greater sun and Light inspire you to shine each and every day!

Some ancient civilizations tell us that this year’s solstice and new year celebration will be unlike any other.  2012 has been touted as a year of unprecedented Light and opportunity for change.

Regardless of how you feel about such things, one thing is the same this year as every other: We have the opportunity to honor another blessed year of life and set intentions about what we want to create in the days to come!  Whether you choose to do so in private or in the presence of loved ones is up to you; whether you plan to howl at the moon on the solstice or kiss someone over champagne on NY Eve, make time to celebrate the past twelve months and get excited about the dawning of another year!

Here are a few simple suggestions to help you focus on what this special time of year can offer you.  If you would like live, personal support in creating a unique ritual all your own, you can contact us at hopeofthenewage@msn.com and ask about our Release and Renewal Consultations.  There is also a post in our archives here entitled “Release and Renew” from December, 2011.

• Set aside some quiet time and create a sacred space.  Simply light one or more candles, select some soothing music or fill your room with captivating aromas.  Include items that are lovely or meaningful to you if you desire a more elaborate ritual feeling.
• Release the old.  Quiet your mind and contemplate some things from 2011 you wish to release.  As you get clear on each thing state it aloud, asking the Divine to help dissolve it into Light and bless the wisdom each experience provided (whether known or unknown to you).  You may have five things to release or one hundred; there is no limit to how much you can release!
• Contemplate your Intentions for the new year.  I recommend from one to three Intentions; have few enough Intentions that you can memorize them quickly and call them to mind repeatedly over the coming year.
• Taking a pen and paper write down your Intentions.  The more succinct you can be, the easier the Intentions will be to memorize.  For example, bringing more joy into your relationship with Bernadette can be simply written as, “Joy with Bernadette.”
• Set at least one spiritual Intention.  Make your Journey a priority each year and you will find you grow more quickly!  These might include things like seeing others as aspects of the Divine, opening your heart to Divine Guidance regularly or other goals that deepen your connection to Goodness.
• Read your Intentions aloud.  Ask the Divine to create them into reality even now, before you manifest them into physical form.  This is like visualizing a picture before you draw it.  Then it’s just a matter of allowing your life to flow along the pattern your intentions have set!

Close your ritual by offering gratitude and asking the Higher Realms to bless your Intentions.  Be sure to save your paper and keep it close for your reference.  I like to rewrite my Intentions on two or three sticky-notes, placing one in my office, another in my car and another in my home.  This reminds me to check in with them again and again and not to forget them as the months roll by.

Our Intentions are meant to unfold within us over the entire year, so get excited about what you can create in the months to come.  As an old fortune cookie I received once said, “If you can shape it in your mind, you will find it in your life.”

Blessings as you create more Light around you in 2013!

If you are like most people, you don’t appreciate being reminded of things you said you would do but didn’t.  Still, when it comes to living a powerful spiritual Journey the name of the game is honesty, not avoidance.  Rather than stick our heads in the sand, what say we use the heat of summer to fry our ambivalence like an egg on the pavement and get growing?

If you do not have it memorized, the first thing you will likely have to do is relocate your New Year’s Intention list.  It may be on a computer document, in a journal or in your mind.  And don’t cringe with guilt when you see it!  Chances are good no one but you is privy to the promises you made to yourself.

As you review your list, first notice what you have done well.  Celebrate those intentions which have become a part of your regular routine.  In prayer or in your journal, honor the positive impact these choices are making in your life and affirm that they will continue to do so.  Consider treating yourself with a new inspirational book, special hike to a favorite Nature spot or dinner with an encouraging friend.

Next, become aware of intentions that have been marginally successful.  These are the goals which were dominant in January but likely faded down the stretch and now only come to mind once or twice a month.

Affirm your desire to rekindle the flame within these intentions.  Review your original list and recall your reasons for selecting these goals.  Will they bring you greater peace, health, abundance?  Honor the value these intentions have in your life and resolve to be conscious of them more often.

Then take practical steps to bring these goals into your daily awareness.  You may wish to make them a part of your daily affirmations, asking the Divine to help you be more mindful of them.  Consider writing these fading goals on a note and posting them in your office or home.  Don’t forget to write a sentence or two about what these things will bring to your life once realized!  In addition, analyze which roadblocks caused these intentions to dissolve and brainstorm ways you can you remove those challenges.

Finally, assess intentions which have disappeared completely from view.  These are the goals that were set in January, then promptly forgotten.  Do some investigating: Did this intention feel overwhelming?  Does it now seem irrelevant?  Do you simply have too many goals to attain them all?

Whatever the reason, acknowledge that you cannot overhaul your entire life all at once.  Perhaps it is best to allow this intention to wait until a more appropriate time.  Trust that you will be guided to the work you need most right now, whether it is on your New Year’s intention list or not.  Sometimes life leads us to priorities we did not expect at all and we must honor that Divine direction.  Learn to flow, hold to the intentions that feel important and grow from there!

As spring blooms around us we are reminded of the personal, physical and spiritual awakening taking place within each of us every day.  In order to maximize our growth potential, we are best served by making our evolution a conscious rather than unconscious Journey.  What better way to do that than to reconnect to the good intentions we set for this year?

Of course, it can be intimidating to look at our progress over time.  We may fear falling behind our goals–or even worse, forgetting about them entirely.  But the Angels remind us there is no room for guilt or fear in true spirituality.  Instead we are called to be conscious, which could be defined as “being aware without judging,” and we should practice this skill regarding our state of being at all times.

To come into conscious communion with your objectives for this year, review the list you created back in January.  It may be on a computer document, in a journal or in your mind. If you have not set intentions for 2012 yet, it’s not too late!  To start, I recommend from one to three intentions; any more than four and it is difficult to  remember all the things you are trying to achieve.  Try to have at least one intention relating to your spiritual practice.

As you review your list, first notice what you have done well.  Celebrate those intentions which have become a part of your regular routine.  In prayer or in your journal, honor the positive impact these choices are making in your life and affirm that they will continue to do so.  I would encourage you to treat yourself to a special dinner, inspiring book or healing treatment to celebrate your success thus far!

Next, become aware of intentions that have been marginally successful.  These are the goals which were dominant in January but likely faded down the stretch and now only come to mind once or twice a month.

Affirm your desire to rekindle the flame within these intentions.  Review your original list and recall your reasons for selecting these goals.  Will they bring you greater peace, health, abundance?  Honor the value these intentions have in your life and resolve to be conscious of them more often.

Then take practical steps to bring these goals into your daily awareness.  You may wish to make them a part of your morning affirmations, asking the Divine to help you be more mindful of them.  Consider writing these fading goals on a note and posting them in your office or home.  Don’t forget to write a sentence or two about what these things will bring to your life once realized!  In addition, analyze which roadblocks caused these intentions to dissolve and brainstorm ways you can you remove those challenges.

Finally, assess intentions which have disappeared completely from view.  These are the goals that were set in January, then promptly forgotten.  Do some investigating: Does this intention feel overwhelming?  Does it now seem irrelevant?  Do you simply have too many goals to attain them all?

Whatever the reason, acknowledge that you cannot overhaul your entire life at once.  Perhaps it is best to allow this intention to wait until a more appropriate time.  Trust that you will be guided to the work you need most right now, whether it is on your new year’s intention list or not.  Sometimes life leads us to priorities we did not expect at all and we must honor that Divine direction.  Learn to flow, hold to the intentions that feel important and grow from there!

This week I received a wonderful suggestion from the Guides about how to manage challenging relationships.  It was so simple, I had to laugh out loud!  I call it my “Relationship Recipe Box.”

1. Collect some recipe-sized cards, lined or unlined.  You will need enough so that each significant relationship in your life has its own card.

2. At the top of each card, write the name of a person with whom you find it difficult to interact or are working out some emotional issues.  Don’t forget your significant other, each of your children, each of your living elders, co-workers, acquaintances from church, committees or volunteer organizations.  You may even need to include those who make you feel insecure like your dentist or accountant!

3. Spend some time each day or week focusing on one of your cards, until they are all complete.  Give priority to those you see the most frequently.  Quiet your mind in meditation and offer affirmations or prayers that you want to grow and find peace with this person.  Affirm that this relationship is a tool for your growth and ask for guidance as to how to perceive this relationship.

4. Jot down words or phrases that come to your mind.  Include phrases that tell you how to behave, what energies to cultivate and whether or not you should simply exit the situation if it becomes too toxic.  For example, one of my cards says, “Practice compassion for one who has a job that makes them cynical and world-weary.”  Another reads, “Protect your Energy at all costs.”  You may wish to attach a copy of an inspirational reading that will add to your sense of clarity when interacting with that person.

5. Plan ahead!  When you are about to see one of the people on your list, use your spiritual tools!  Start with a brief prayer, which may be as quick as, “Please help me!”  Then review the card bearing that person’s name.  Use it to establish the proper spiritual mindset, knowing it will help bring about the highest possible outcome for all involved.  You may wish to keep relevant cards close by: those for your family stay at home, those for co-workers are at your desk, those for volunteer organizations are in your car or wallet.

6. Don’t give up–keep using your tools!  It takes two to create a peaceful or respectful interaction.  If you find an encounter does not go well, affirm that you have done your best and ask the Angels to help open the other person’s heart in the future, as well.  Don’t forget to use your cards before every family gathering, every business meeting and every holiday get-together.  Tools can only work for you if you pick them up and use them!

We are responsible for the quality of Energy we bring to every encounter, so take charge of what you offer to the world.  When we plan ahead and use our tools consistently, we find that others around us can’t help but notice.  The result: more positive interactions, more of the time!

December is filled with beautiful opportunities to mark our turning from darkness to Light.  Rituals of lights are performed in Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice and New Year celebrations, providing us with many chances to honor our personal growth.  Whether you choose to observe them in solitude or in the company of loved ones, ceremonies give us a method for paying tribute to the transformation in our lives.  Here is a simple ritual you can enjoy alone or with others which turns your hearth into a place of ceremonial celebration!

You will need:

A wood-burning hearth or stove (a basket will do if you have neither)

One or more candles, music and aromatherapy to create a blessed atmosphere

Twigs or small sticks

Notepaper and pens

Start by creating a sacred space.  Simply light one or more candles, select some soothing music and fill your space with captivating aromas.  You may wish to use an aromatherapy spray, light some incense or simmer a natural potpourri on the stove by combining water, cinnamon sticks, cloves and a dash of nutmeg.

Gather your group or your own thoughts and select a stick or twig symbolizing something you wish to release from your past year.  It may be a feeling, a painful interaction with someone, an unhealthy personal habit or a phase in your life.  Share aloud what your item symbolizes, imbuing the stick with your deep desire to release old energy.  Then lay your twig in a cold or crackling hearth; if you have no fireplace, simply lay the stick in a basket.  If you are practicing in solitude, allow ample time to share with the Higher Realms everything you wish to release.  If you are in a group, each person can take turns discarding as many symbols as they would like until all feel complete.  Then, if the hearth is cold take a moment to light it, silently watching the refuse of the past year transform into pure Light and Energy.  Items placed in a basket can be ceremoniously scattered in Nature following your ritual.

Once all Releases have been expressed, it is time to affirm your Intentions for the new year.  I recommend from one to three Intentions; any more than four and it is difficult to  remember all the things you are trying to achieve.  This leads to unnecessary guilt and shame when priorities are set but never accomplished.  Have few enough Intentions that you can memorize them quickly and call them to mind repeatedly over the coming year.

Taking a pen and paper (I like sticky notes, which can be immediately posted for reference), write down your Intentions.  The more succinct you can be, the easier the Intentions will be to memorize.  For example, bringing more compassion into your relationship with Nathan can be simply written as, “Compassion toward Nathan.”

I encourage my students to select at least one Intention relating to their spiritual practice; make your Journey a priority each year and you will find you grow more quickly.  These might be praying or mediating with more discipline, opening your heart to Divine Guidance regularly or other goals that deepen your Connection to Goodness.  Finally, read your Intentions aloud.  If practicing in a group setting, have each person read just one Intention they feel comfortable sharing with others.

Close your ritual by offering gratitude and asking the Higher Realms to bless your Intentions.  Be sure to save your paper and keep it close for your reference.  I like to rewrite my Intentions on two or three sticky-notes, placing one in my office, another in my car and another in my home.  This reminds me to check in with them again and again and not to forget them as the months roll by.  Our Intentions are meant to unfold within us over the entire year, until the next time we are ready to Release what no longer serves and Renew our connection to  Divine Light.

If you are like most spiritual practitioners, you judge the quality of your spiritual Connection randomly throughout the day.  Sometimes this happens precisely during a moment of contraction (“Why can’t I stop thinking while I lie here in Shavasana?”  “I know I should be patient with my children, but all I want to do is scream!”).  Other times we judge our spiritual integrity after the fact (“I can’t believe I let my coworker pull me into that old gossip habit again!”  “Why didn’t I see that angry outburst building inside me ahead of time?”)

The judging voice within works overtime, day in and day out.  Whether we are at work, with family or enjoying leisure time we are constantly judging not only our spiritual practice but almost everything else in our lives.  From physical appearance and personal success to the way others live their lives, judgment is a pervasive part of the human experience.

Yet, when it comes to spiritual practice it is critical we learn to release judgment.  Why?  Because our Connection informs every other area of our lives.  In keeping with the Angels’ Wisdom shared in “The Ebony Fan,” consider taking some time this month to observe just how much the voice of judgment blares through your mind.  One friend of mine calls this voice The Ridiculer; the Guides have referred to my inner critic as Mr. Blackheart.  No matter what you call it, if you listen for that familiar voice you will find it is almost always belittling and degrading your spiritual progress.

If you are lucky enough to notice judgment as it happens this month, try simply observing it.  This is the best place to begin since, initially, it will be almost impossible to silence the inner critic.  Start with the small step of noticing that your judging voice is present.  Ask yourself if there is even a tiny bit of wiggle room: Is it possible to divert your attention to something else in the room?  Could you just get yourself to think of someone who loves you or makes you smile?  If not, fine…just keep observing.  But if you are able to get that tiny bit of wiggle room, you might be able to slither out from under the judging voice that has you pinned to the ground.

If you find yourself judging a spiritual shortcoming after the fact, spend some time with a journal this month noting what happened and what the judging voice in your mind had to say about it.  For example you may note, “Last Thursday I was unkind to a friend and I am sitting here now judging that action.  I should have been more patient and kind and I am judging myself for not being so.”  Then brainstorm about what may have triggered your negative response at the time–as well as why you feel the need to judge it now.  Investigating judgment after the fact is like entering a doorway: it opens up an opportunity to examine, from a less combustible frame of mind, what our motivations may have been and how we can make leaps in our understanding for future encounters.

Over time, you may be able to catch yourself in a judging moment as it unfolds.  Although examination after the fact can be helpful, true progress is made when we begin to act more skillfully in the challenging moment itself.  Progress begins with noticing the voice of judgment, then gaining what little wiggle room we can by diverting our attention.  Mindfulness then deepens as we learn to wiggle more fiercely, perhaps using a deep breath, a prayer for help or an affirmation of gratitude to shift ourselves out of judgment and into expansive awareness.  Eventually, we watch the whole cycle of judgment diminish in scope as we offer ourselves compassionate affirmation that–more and more–we are doing our very best.

Once we come to that point, we are less likely to have anything at all to judge later.  The whole spiderweb of dark, condemning energy naturally shrinks back until it is more manageable.  We intuitively avoid wasting our spiritual vitality on cannibalistic judging habits and instead practice the forgiveness, encouragement and compassion which help us grow and awaken to our Highest Selves.