In Praise of Napping!

Dream of taking a nap?

From my experience, and those of my fellow nappers, taking a break in the middle of the day to relax and rejuvenate is one of the wisest things we can do for ourselves!

We all know the benefits of taking a "time out", but too few of us actually do it. FYI ~ taking care of others is a more joyful experience when we've also taken care of ourselves. It's simple ~ we can give more and do more when we replenish ourselves as well. When we view napping in this way, it's not a selfish act to close our eyes and drift into sleep, it's an act of service!

Feelings of prolonged physical or emotional fatigue or overwhelm due to personal or business reasons comes at a price to our health. However, taking a nap can ease those difficult feelings by the simple act of rest. In western cultures resting is sometimes viewed as being lazy - how dreadful! We've lost the 'knowing' that resting is vitally important for body and soul.

So, I'm going to share the most important reason for taking a nap.

Because you want to! Yes, that's it, that's all the reason you need. I am the Napping Queen and I give you permission! Lay down, close your eyes, breathe deeply, relax your body, imagine yourself in a very calm and restful place, and let you mind drift off into sleep. M m m m m m.....

Now doesn't that feel good?!

A Dream Come True!

I'm filled with such joy and love as I share this fantastic news with you. This past week I received an email from my publisher at Soul Wings Press, letting me know that the book I co-authored, Soul Whispers: Collective Wisdom from Soul Coaches around the World, has just been released for purchase on Amazon.com!!!

Soul Whispers has been honored as an Award-Winning Finalist for Best Anthology: Non-Fiction, in the 2010 Internation Book Awards!

This has been such an amazing experience for me as well as the other talented authors. I am forever grateful to my publisher Sohpia Fairchild's loving work on this project and the fulfillment of a vision I've held for many years.

I've long dreamed to leave something of value for my daughters to light their way when I'm no longer with them in the physical realm. I can think of no better light than wise words shared by amazing women from all around the world that have a soul connection!

Soul Whispers is a collection of writings about how to live a more joyful and authentic life. My contribution to this amazing work is on the topic of 'Synchronicity', which seems to be my constant companion! Other chapters range from 'Transitions' and 'The Bad Girl's Soul Coach' to 'Remembering Who We Are', and many other wise and wonderful contributions.

I'd be so happy if you'd check it out at Amazon.com

If you've already read Soul Whispers I'd be so happy if you'd write a review on Amazon. If you'd like a signed copy just let me know . . . . I have a few left!

Thank you for letting me share this wonderful news with you!

A Sacred Walk

A Sacred Walk is a slow meandering!

This is not an exercise walk, power walk, or even a slow jog. It's only purpose is to bring us into the moment as we take each step and simply go where those steps take us. A Sacred Walk is about using all six senses as we mindfully experience the life affirming activity of 'being'.

What do you see? Maybe a path that turns and disappears and seemingly has no end, mighty trees or tall grasses, brilliantly colored autumn leaves or the fresh budding of spring growth, clouds floating lazily in the sky or being shooed away by the wind.

What do you hear? Maybe the songs of the birds that have been sung since the beginning of time, or the playful chatter of squirrels running and chasing each other. Maybe the wind rustling in the leaves, or the crunch of dried leaves underfoot. An owl, a woodpecker - what else?

What do you smell? Can you sense the changing of the seasons in the air? Breathe in the wetness, the dryness, the freshness. Really taking in a deep breath of air can give us amazing insights as to what is close by or what might be coming our way.

What do you taste? What does a sprinkle of rain on the tip of your tongue taste like? Anything we can breathe in deeply we can almost taste - use your imagination, give it a try.

What do you feel? The cool morning breeze blowing through your hair, the warm afternoon sun shining down on you, the wetness of rain drops falling on your skin? What do the veins of a leaf feel like, the surface of a stone or the outer layer of a tree trunk?

What does your Soul, or intuition tell you about all that you experience during your Sacred Walk? Maybe to slow down and appreciate each moment before it passes, or perhaps to be more fully engaged in all of life that is such a precious gift. Ask if there is a message for you and listen for the answer. Sacred Walks are the most amazing way to tap into creativity, answers to questions, and the clearing of intrusive thoughts that seem to prevent us from moving forward in a joyful way.

On some of my Sacred Walks I have been given clear and profound messages from Spirit ~ on some of my walks I simply enjoy the intimacy with myself and nature ~ and on some walks I feel overwhelming gratitude for life. No matter the outcome, I've breathed in and enjoyed the moments of my life.

Send Blessings

The offer of a blessings is a way of sending good will to others.

There is plenty of negativity and fear all around us, and sometimes it's not easy to see that there is something we can do to help ourselves and others feel better ~ but there is!

Offer a Blessing!
Yes, it's that easy.

A blessing is the infusion of something with Divine Holiness - as in a prayer.

Blessings can be for people, places, situations, anything that would benefit from the outpouring of love. We can bless our friends and family, our enemies, the situations we find ourselves in, our planet, and our future. It can be concrete or abstract. And that's joy of it because it's all about intention and imagination!

It's as easy as this ~ Think of who or what you want to bless. Think of what attributes you want to enhance or create, imagine your purest intention for the very best outcome, and then express it in some way.

It feels amazing to give and receive blessings like;
"May you know deep and everlasting peace."
"May your heart be filled with joy."
"May your dreams be realized and celebrated."
"May you love and be loved beyond measure."
"May peace envelop our world, our nation and our communities."

The love we give, in blessing others, comes back to us as a blessing for ourselves! Remember ~ what we put out is what we get back!! Kate Nowak designed a beautiful movie entitled "May You Be Blessed", please enjoy it as a blessing from me to you!

See it at http://www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com

Counting Our Blessings . . .

What does it mean to be blessed? For me, it's to experience the Creator's presence.

All of life is infused with the Divine. If only we recognize this we can feel the joy of life in seemingly ordinary moments. Blessings come in countless forms; big life changing events or tiny moments of wonder.

My life has been blessed beyond measure. This past week has been overflowing with Divine blessings. My third grandson was born into our family on September 21st (the International Day of Peace, how cool is that!) and his presence is a blessing to our family in countless ways. To watch him sleep is to witness real peace, to smell his newborn scent is to be filled with the fragrance of purity, to hear his cry is to know the wonder of life and to witness family and friends in awe of such a tiny creation is to see the Divine in all who hold and love him.

My daughters and grandsons are a huge Blessing in my life, but I also count the little Blessings. Here is a short list; the smell of coffee in the morning, the scent of roses (reminds me of my Mother), the taste of a vine ripened tomato, the smell of the ocean, ladybugs and butterflies, the feel of freshly laundered sheets, belly laughs, doggy nuzzles, handwritten cards and letters, star light. I could go on and on and on . . .

If, just for one day, we make a list of the Blessings we experience ~ our lives will be enriched and have a little sparkle!

Writing 'Love' Notes

Writing a note, card or letter seems to be a dying art, yet who doesn't simply love getting a hand written card or letter in the mail. How long has it been since you've received one, and more importantly how long has it been since you've written and sent one?

With the technology age solidly embedded in our everyday lives, many of us prefer to send emails or e-cards. It saves us time, we can do it at the last minute, and at least we remembered the birthday, anniversary, etc. Right?! And then we can move on to the next task at hand.

But let's pause for just a moment. How long does it really take to write a few meaningful sentences to let someone know that we love them, miss them, wish them good health, thank them, congratulate their success, welcome them into our world - our lives? It's really about letting them know they are loved. "Love" notes are for everyone. Wouldn't you like to receive a note that let you know someone was thinking about you and took a moment from their busy life to express those thoughts in their own special way. Wouldn't that feel good? And how much better to be the one bringing that joy to someone else.

Most of us only recieve bills and ads in the mail and who really wants to open those?! I bet if we each took a few moments today and wrote someone a 'Love' note, it would add joy to their day and to ours!

You don't need a fancy card or paper, just a simple handwritten note. Today's the day to let someone know how you feel. The rewards are great!

Listen to Yourself

Who or what do we listen to most of the time and on a regular basis to the exclusion of our own voice? Our family, friends, "professionals", the media? Why? We have our own absolute truth waiting to be heard if we're ready and willing to listen.

That voice inside each of us is sometimes called; Intuition, Conscience, Higher Power, Inner Voice, our Soul, even our Gut . . . whatever you call it, we all have it. And, it's there for a very good reason, to guide us on life's path. I believe it comes from our Divine Source and is there for the good of ourselves, others, the planet and all of life.

Many of us have been taught not to pay much attention to it. We've been taught well by our families, teachers, religious leaders, friends, the media. And, many of us are very good learners. We've learned to ignor, rationalize away, bury, question and ridicule those important messages from deep within us. But we intuitivily know in a deep sacred place that it speaks the truth. AND we can choose to listen!

Listen to what your body has to tell you.
Listen to what your thoughts have to tell you.
Listen to what your soul has to tell you.

Be still, ask questions and listen for the answers. Do this again and again until you 'know' your truth. If your body hurts talk to it and ask what is causing the discomfort. If your thoughts are not lifting you up, ask where the negativity is coming from. If your soul is whispering to you, what is it saying?

By ignoring or discounting these soul messages we can become ill of body, mind or spirit. We become unhappy, make decisions that don't serve our highest good, hurt ourselves or others, and feel disconnected from our own lives.

But when we LISTEN to our inner voice, which only tells us the truth, we tap into the Divine Knowledge of the universe. Wow, how awesome is that and what power it holds!!

Listening to Others

Really listening to another person with our full attention is a gift.

We all want to be heard, but what does that require of the listener? That they be present, without distraction, and fully engaged in the conversation. Looking directly and deeply at the person speaking and paying fulll attention to what they're saying isn't always easy. We are oftentimes distracted; phone calls, text messaging, thinking about what we want to say, etc.

What if - we actually listened without interuption and connected to the person speaking?! What if - we were so fully engaged that listening to what the other person was saying was the most important thing at that moment?! What if - we listened with compassion, love and friendship?! When engaged in conversation let's offer the gift of really listening and hearing what others have to say, of connecting on a deeper level, of truly paying attention. The gift we receive may be even greater; we may learn something new about ourselves as well as the other person.

It feels great to be heard!

The Joy of Giving

Give a gift to everyone you meet in the course of your day! Sound impossible? It's not. It's a lot of fun and the rewards can be amazing!

I'm not proposing that you buy and give material gifts - though on special occasions that might be a wonderful idea as well. What I'm talking about is much more spontaneous and simple. It can be the gift of a smile, a helping hand, a kind word, a hand picked flower, or a prayer. It might be a shoulder to cry on or a hug of encouragement. It might be a card, or a phone call to let someone know you're thinking of them.

In these seemingly small ways we can deeply connect with another and it may be the connection they (or we) need most at that moment.

A moment in time that really touched my heart. I was busy gardening on a Sunday morning. As I worked, my elderly neighbor Daisy (in her mid 90's) made her way across the street to chat. She told me the same story everytime I saw her, about her husband who had passed away several years before and how much he loved to work in his garden. I listened attentively even though she'd told me this story many times before, clearly it was a wonderful memory for her. After a few minutes, she said goodbye and went home. Since I was practicing 'gift giving' I wondered what in the world I could give to Daisy. I decided to cut some lily's and roses from my garden and take them to her, which I did. I rang her doorbell and when she answered the door I smiled and handed her the flowers. Her eyes just lit up, she was so happy. She said she hadn't received flowers in a very long time. She told me how beautiful they were and how good it felt to receive them. She thanked me over and over again.

That was a few years ago. Daisy has since passed away. But I'll never forget how simple it was to give her that moment of happiness. She in turn gave me a gift as well, though she may not have known it. She gave me the gift of insight and gratitude - how such a small gesture can be so meaningful to someone in need of exactly what we have to give.

So, try it this week. Give a 'gift' to everyone you come in contact with. See how it enriches the lives of the receiver and the giver.

Joy in Nature

After reading last weeks post, a fellow Soul Coach, Catriona MacGregar, asked if I would post an article that she had written. I am delighted to do so as Catriona beautifully describes her Joy in Nature. I hope you enjoy her experience as much as I did!

Joy in Nature
"Today, we miss the subtle changes in the wind, the calls of birds, the smell of the fragrant Earth beneath our feet. We leave little time for deep inner journeys or quiet walks in the woods even though who we are and what we are—the very root of our identity—is connected to the Earth. Peace, joy, and wisdom are within our reach - but are not found in the electric boxes lighting up homes and offices around the world.

It is in nature that our cup of joy fills to the brim. Joy is there in the yellow halo of a new morning sky. Joy is there in the animated movements of a gray squirrel leaping from branch to branch. Joy is there in the deep purple of a wild iris. Joy is there in the still, glasslike surface of the lake. We feel such happiness and joy in nature because we belong in nature. The Creator planted this joy seed in our heart that blooms in nature.

I recall a joyous moment, when my heart shone as brightly as the harvest moon. I was walking quietly in the early morning along a narrow trail in northern California. The trail, more fit for delicate deer hooves than human feet, wound along the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais. Yellow grasses along the trail brushed delicately against my calves as I walked. Three hundred feet below me was a small narrow valley, where the sunlight gave way to the gray-green shade below. The spring morning air felt cool on my skin and the sun was just beginning to rise over the closest ridgeline. A veil of fog was slowly lifting from the tips of the surrounding hillsides.

As I rounded the bend a few minutes later, a sight opened before me that completely shifted my consciousness. On the northern incline of the trail, in the sheltered blue-gray shade of live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, over one hundred of most exquisite wild white lilies sprang from the ground. Narrow beams of soft, golden light from the sun illuminated each delicate flower. Each flower’s six pristine white petals appeared to be communing with the sun as the light streamed softly between the upper branches of the trees. It seemed as if I had innocently come upon a mysterious gathering of angels lighting upon the Earth as flowers.

Elevated in that shimmering moment, every cell of my body filled with ecstatic grace and joy. Inhaling deeply, my lungs filled fully with the morning air still touched with the memory of the cool starry night. The sacredness of the place brought me fully into a moment of oneness with all of creation—a moment that seemed to span an eternity of time and space. I was the saintly white irises; I was the soft light of the sun; I was the powdery blue Spanish moss that hung gracefully from the branches.

When that moment had passed, I could hear with great clarity the delicate singing of the small stream below and the sweet songs of the birds. I felt lighter and immeasurably freer. Nature is the perfect portal to this sacred moments of joy. We all have the ability to become something new when we fill ourselves with the elixir of nature.

What kind of person will you be when you are filled with the warm rays of the sun, the clarity of the blue sky, or the freedom of a soaring hawk? Just go outside and lay in the grass, looking up at the trees and the sky. Take the time to walk over to the flowers to smell their fragrance; look deep inside their petals to see the subtle colors. Do not fool yourself that these acts are less important than spending tedious, long hours working. Instead, let these wild things grow inside of you, and from this, your soul will be richer than it will ever be from a thousand promotions. From this place of joy the light of your spirit can then change the world."

Catriona has been a voice for animals and wild places all her life. Catriona leads Vision Quests and Nature Quests to help people connect to nature and their own unique path in life. [Learn more at www.naturalpathfinder.com] She is the coauthor of Healing the Heart of the World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Change Your Life and the Planet, along with Carolyn Myss, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Masaru Emoto, Fritjof Capra, Thich Nhat Hanh, et al. as well as the author of “Partnering with Nature: The Wild Path to Reconnecting with the Earth” available at Amazon.com.

Spend Time in Nature

Peaceful places in nature actually nourish the soul. How do you feel when you sit quietly by a creek, hike a trail in the forest, watch the rhythmic waves of the ocean, or walk a path in a beautiful park? These quiet moments allow us to soak up the natural calming energy of our Mother Earth. Spending time in nature each day helps to center and relax us. It's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of life, but let's not forget that it's just as easy to step outside and be awed by a full moon!

Let's remember that our soul loves the quiet reflective calm of a starry night, or watching a leaf floating in a stream. Let's also remember that the morning greets us with a glorious sunrise and birds singing the day awake and the night gives us magnificent sunsets and a moon that watches over us. Sometimes, it just about remembering to be more a part of nature and appreciate it's gifts.

I love walking and listening to the birds chirping in the trees, watching the butterflies tasting each flower and quietly saying 'Thank You' for it all! I also love the picture above which my grandson, Brady, took on one of our 'adventures' into the natural world. It reminds me of precious moments with him and soaking up the delights that nature brings us.

So, here's a challenge . . . . .
Spend some time in nature each day. Breathe in the fresh air. Get lost in watching the clouds move slowly across the sky. Say good morning to the sun and good night to the moon. Make a wish upon the first star in the night sky. Watch a frog or a cricket, a bee or a butterfly. Listen to the birds sing their favorite songs. And then, just see how it makes you feel to be more connected to the nature of the universe.

Self Compassion

Why is it that showing compassion for others is easier than showing compassion for ourselves?



We can be so hard on ourselves (I know I can!). We can be unforgiving, disappointed, critical, judgemental, and non-loving with ourselves. And, of course, this makes us feel awful. I, for one, don't want to feel that way, I'm shooting for joyful! So, what if we practiced the same compassion we have for others ~ on ourselves? We're not perfect and that's ok - why, because it's a fact of life. So let's make peace with it!



How do we make peace with that voice in our head that is so critical of us? First, give it a name! Yes, that's right, a name. The critic in my head is called 'Gabby' because she has an opinion on almost everything and can go on forever about it! However, when she begins to voice her displeasure, she's simply thanked for her input and dismissed. After a lot of practice, I now find myself laughing about it which lightens my mood! I can then come back into my awareness of compassion and choose to be kinder to myself, as I would a friend. If we have experience soothing a friend or loved one then we are fully capable of expressing compassion for ourselves. It just takes practice.



Self compassion is about moving from feeling 'awful' to feeling 'full of awe' for ourselves!

Compassion

Compassion is incredibly powerful. It is the difference between happiness and sadness, wellness and illness, openness and judgement. To really feel compassion for someone or something I must be able to remove my own 'ego' - not always easy. However, when I'm able to get out of my own way and really feel or understand in my heart what the other person is feeling, it is so much easier to act in a compassionate way. When my ego keeps me seperate from someone, usually by my own judgement towards them - then I'm closed to any feeling or acts of compassion. So, I love this idea of 'practice compassion'. Practice it daily!!




What does it look like on a daily basis? Listening, really listening to others. Being kind and considerate. Taking the time to really be present with others. Giving what I can rather than taking what I want. Remembering we are ONE and not seperate from each other, which means how I am with others affects how I am with myself.




Albert Einstein said, "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us 'universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest. . . a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ouselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

Affirmations

Reflecting back on a positive affirmation during the course of the day, particularly a difficult day, is so helpful in remembering that our focus is on joyful living. When it feels like the 'sky is falling', simply repeating a personal affirmation can ease the negative vibrations of energy that may be swirling around. My affirmation for this Wednesday eve is "I love that I have a choice about how I view my life experience."

Joyful Living

Intentional living is based in awareness. However, it's easy to get caught up in the activities of the day and not pay attention to how we are really living our lives. "Just get me to tomorrow" is sometimes our mantra!

When we become aware that we can choose how we respond to the demands of our lives, the joyful possibilities are endless. So, each week as I pull one of my Sabbath Cards, I'll post it and share my experience about each one.

"Create an Affirmation for Joyful Living"

This serves as my vision for how I intent to live more joyfully.

"I choose joy and look for things to laugh about every day."

"My family is my greatest joy and I tell them daily that I love them."

"Nature inspires and nurtures me. I spend time outside each day experiencing what it has to share with me."

Share your affirmations and create ripples of joyful living!!