Welcome to a World of Spiritual Harmony

So we’re ending the second warmest January on record. And while our gas and electric rates are way up from last year, that’s almost been balanced out this month by the warmer temperatures. The coldest two weeks of the year are usually the middle two weeks in January. The only cold we’ve had so far this winter has been the extended and unusual stretch in early December. In my memory, usually the major shift from fall to winter, weatherwise, happens the week between Christmas and New Year’s, give or take a few days. Somehow the shift happened early this winter - and then shifted right back!

We are obviously enjoying the short term benefits of global warming. Benefits for us - but the nation of the Maldive Islands in the Pacific has already lost a good portion of its habitable land, due to the small increase in sea level around the planet. And don’t forget these kinds of changes are geometric progressions, not arithmetic. Not 1 plus 1 is 2, but 2 x 2 is 4 x 4 is 16….

It’s time for us to get serious about recycling, conserving, walking more and just plain loving the planet we’re on.

While we’re at it - I do not understand why stockholders own our energy companies (called Cinergy here in Cincinnati), so that the profits go to investors and investment funds all over the globe. The profits should go to help keep us and our neighbors warm, particularly in this wacky and unpredictable weather. The notion of doubling gas bills for the poorest of our neighbors, and then cutting off their supply when they are, as is easily predicted, unable to pay is public and institutional cruelty. Most cities used to own their own public utilities - now Cleveland is the only major city to do so.

If we want mercy from Mother Nature, let’s extend mercy to our neighbors.

So you want to change your life in a hurry? Affirmations are definitely the way to go!

What you affirm doesn’t have to be true in the least when you begin to affirm it. You don’t have to believe it, you don’t have to believe you can achieve it. You just have to start saying it, writing it, singing it, exercising to it, repeating it. Over and over and over.

So pick one from a book, make up one, draw one out of a hat where you’ve piled in an affirmation on each of the wonderful ways you want to be, each of the wonderful toys you want to have.

“I am calm and peaceful.” “I am a perfect size 8.” “The new car I’m looking at comes easily to me now, at a great price.” “I am always lucky.” “I am happy all day long at work.”

One great benefit is that you’ll learn how much time and energy you spend downgrading yourself. Decide you’ll say your affirmation whenever you feel sorry for yourself, or get angry, or worry about money. You’ll be amazed at how much work you’ve put into those negative affirmations! And how much time you spend in that downer place.

A Rule: Keep affirmations positive. And no shoulds allowed. A simple short direct sentence is all that’s required. And what works best.

Another Rule: No how’s, please. Don’t tell the Universe how to give you the car, that you can have it if you save $5 a week for 10 years, or that your grandmother might give you hers - or that you always have second best cars, not the one you really want. Step right up and place your order. “My wonderful green hatchback is here now. I love that new car smell!”

Say your affirmation. Play in your mind with how you’re going to feel when you have what you want. Smile as you think about it. Look your toy up on the internet. Make a treasure map with pictures of how life is going to be once it’s here. Worrying won’t help, being playful definitely will. Put it out there and let it go. No griping or fretting until at least 6 months have passed. It’s probably manifested, but if not - change that affirmation. Adjust it, tweak it, give it up altogether. No thinking. Just what feels good when you write it down.

And don’t forget to say thanks - be grateful….over and over and over again. Life is definitely on our side, and works when we let it! : >

I have a little space heater in my office, which I turn on each morning when I wake up and start the computer. I simply refuse to heat the entire house when I’m only going to be in my private space of 3 rooms before I leave. So I just warm up my toasty little nest. As I reached down to push the button one day last week, I realized how much pressure I was using to get the toastiness going. The next morning, I used the lightest touch I could manage - an amazingly small amount of pressure and energy!

I’ve been practicing this piece of mindfulness each morning, observing that I can get what I want with almost no pressure - that the heater is very willing to produce lots of warmth for very little effort. And I’ve been carrying that same idea through the days - re-learning a lesson part of me has known for a long time, while another part of me has refused to believe that anything less than full force will have results.

Just practicing….

The picture I hold in my mind and thoughts for each of my students and friends:

That you are already in a good place and are growing to be even better

That your life and life path is getting simpler and clearer day by day

That your friendships and relationships are increasingly heart to heart and that you are now an empath, knowing what others feel

That you trust your self and your Higher Self, and allow yourself to say what you are feeling

That as evidence of all this growth and willingness to be true to yourself, every part of your life is easier and lighter

So that the perfect parking space is always where you want it to be, friends call shortly after you think of them, right on the shelf at the store is exactly what you are looking for and there is plenty of money in your pocket to pay for it…

And you recognize that life itself is a miracle, minute by minute

Full of joy.