Logistics for Methow Astral Retreat, Spring 2015

GENERAL

If you are not paid in full, please communicate with us about that right away!

Weather looks idyllic, so far - truly, check it out!! ; )

There is wifi and cell where we are staying

We will meet outside whenever it is comfortable to do so - please bring a chair that you can use outdoors (and indoors if you would like.)  There are some chairs available to use, if you need an outdoor chair, let Wendy know. Bring a lap blanket so you are warm outside.


Please commit to being present and ready to work at all agreed-upon class times. 
There is SO much we want to share with you guys, and we want us to share together!

The is a hot tub, and chance to swim in Momma Nature - if you dare ; )
Please bring swim suit, and river shoes if you would like

Wear whatever you want - casual weekend. 
We suggest you dress in layers.  Bring a shell/jacket, just in case cold or rain.
Bring journal, pen, and a little light you can use to make notes in the night

Lynn has provided a list of hikes that are around the area - you can do before and after weekend, and in the cracks - during free-time... Bring walking/hiking shoes. (there will be some printed at the retreat as well) - questions? ask Lynn.

Requests for your contribution in this cooperative weekend:

1. Invest 4 hours as a healer - if you don't get the chance to do this over the course of the weekend, we can work with you to help us as healers afterwards. There will be a chart to track your contributions as a healer this weekend. (If you just want off to enjoy weekend, you can just pay a bit more ; )
2. Invest 1 hour toward shared meals - cooking and clean-up - there will be a sign-up chart.
3. Invest 1/2 hour to make the weekend easy and graceful for all, sometime during the weekend, to operate in a clean, neat space and to leave everything better than we found it. Please do this in short segments as you see things that need done, or long investments throughout the time of your stay. We will particularly need a few folks to help return the place to 'normal' when the retreat completes - thanks!

Current DRAFT Schedule
18 hours of group time over 3 days:

** Group meeting time of 15 hours (including some breaks)
This includes 8+ hours of official teaching and meditation, 3 structured – 45 min reading/healing trade times, as well as sharing, learning from peers...
** 3 hours of facilitated fireside learning and sharing (optional but encouraged) 

Additionally, each person receives:
1 hour of body work
10 min of advanced astral healing
1- 20 min and 2-10 min aura healings
2 long afternoons off: do whatever you want!!  Group activities available:
one afternoon of service and one afternoon to play in momma nature.

Overview:

Thursday evening - you can arrive 5pm or later.
First Body-work session scheduled 5:45.I believe all plan to come by about 5
call me Wendy late - 206 853 8603


Officially done with group program about 1pm Sunday. 
Last Body-work scheduled to complete 2:30.
You are welcome to stay around until 5pm Sunday - to BE, to trade healings, to enjoy yourself!

Friday afternoon, we have the opportunity to help an elderly woman around her property - remember Fire AND flood in the Methow challenges last Summer.
People who really don't want to get dirty can still help out, even if it's just by healing the land.
AHP helped a different family in the Autumn we all really were blessed by the day.
Need: work gloves - thick leather or rubber, if you can AND EYE cover if you can (Lynn & Wendy will bring a few extra) and boots (or shoes that can get dirty) sun-hats, sunscreen, layers

See bottom for DRAFT schedule



FOOD

Yes, food is provided, please bring specialty items of food and drink that you can’t live without : )

I posted current draft menu near bottom

Please let us know right way if you have dietary restrictions, besides these:

So far we know:
Wendy
No milk (butter ok), wheat, sugar or other sweeteners , corn (can have on cob), meat (except grass-fed, organic, happy cow). Lots of salad - preferably organic.
Lynn
no gluten, soy, dairy
David
No nightshades (especially bell peppers and potatoes) and sugar if possible.  If meat is involved, no pork. Also, no nuts.
Sarah
Wheat and soy free. Not much of a cereal/grain. Lots of fresh vegetables. Needs meat or eggs with each meal, eggs organic or at least BG free dairy.
Jessica
no Fish


SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Bring Ear Plugs - even if you have your own room, walls are thin.  We are purposely being TOGETHER to sleep and play on the Astral. What do you need to make it a comfortable expereince?

YAY - sleep inside or bring a tent if you wish
There will be blow-up beds and cots available - for inside or outside use, as well as regular beds.

There is now a working bathroom on each floor (yay!)
NOTE: the basement toilet CANNOT handle feminine products or anything that cannot be easily broken down! :-)

Current plan - Body workers will each be given a downstairs room (If you don't like this plan, say so), you can push bed aside to set-up table to offer body-work OR if it is nice outside - you can go on side porch, or out in yard, as you and your healee decide...

If you are in a bed, you don't need bedding.
If you are not in an official bed, you need your own bedding and pillow.


Sleeping Arrangements

Lynn- Top Floor King Bed
Wendy – Top Floor King Bed or one ion main floor
Jessica B – Top Floor / Futon 1
Tamela – Top Floor / Futon 2

Scott W – Bottom Floor/ First room on the Right
Sarah L – Bottom Floor/ Last room on left/ own bed
CAN BE FOR MASSAGE – Bottom Floor/ First room on the Left ( not the first door on the left as that is a bathroom ;-)
Tim C – Bottom Floor / Last room on right/ own bed/ share room w/David
David - Bottom Floor / Last room on right/ own bed/ share room w/Tim

There are 2 pull out beds in main floor, feel free to use - move around as suits you ; )


DRIVING

Going out:

Lynn - out at 11 am, from Kent, taking no one
Wendy - out at 10 am, meet in ballard, picking up Tim and Jessica at their homes, on the way
Tamela - out at 12:30, taking Scott
Sarah - taking David (can you pick him up at his home in Fremont?)

I regret that it is working out so absurdly - this is because
Coming back: (leavening about 2:30-pm - assume back about 7pm)

Lynn - taking her sister (room for one more - but everyone is going to Seattle, not Kent) maybe someone can ride with Lynn until near Seattle, then switch cars??
Tamela - taking Tim, Jessica, Scott
Sarah - taking David
Wendy arriving a day or two later - taking no one

<<Wendy being a buttinski
I suggest for this trip's travel: at least $10 each leg to the driver, $20 for the whole trip.
I have often worked-out with my friends on long trips: the driver provides the car, the passengers pay for gas.
FYI, we are going at least 220 miles one way - At the current IRS mileage rate of 56 cents, this is an acknowledged investment for your driver of at least $123, each way. Driving is expensive, we complain about gas, but many of the other costs are hidden from our consciousness.
These are things to consider, blow pics about, and look for yourself.
We are not in charge of this exchange, but please be generous and work out with your driver(s) what seems fair.>>


 ***YOU CAN STOP READING - more detailed info below, if you want it




MEAL Plan

3 Dinners

1) make your own tacos - or taco salad
black bean chili (organic grass-fed ground beef on side) (mild with hot sauce on side), org brown/black rice, onions, tomatoes, lettuce,  cheese (cow, goat and non-dairy), fritos and tortilla chips, guacamole

2) meatloaf with organic grass-fed ground beef, oats or GF bread, egg, sautéed onion, spices
regular macaroni and cheese (alt made with non-wheat and non-dairy cheese)
carrots, mashed cauliflower

3) orange beef stir fry and brown rice (not sweet) and broccoli



2 Appetizers

leftovers
and some stuff from always available food, that’s appropriate, i.e.  nuts, credit, cheese & crackers, etc



3 Lunches

1) italian style buffet: tunafish and ham, with regular and GF bread - tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, mayo, onions, oil & vinegar on side - or chef salad

2) make your own pizza (english muffins and gluten-free pizza bottoms) - or Italian salad
goat cheese and mozzarella (regular and non-dairy), sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, peppers, pepperoni, sliced olives, spices, tomato sauce (alt tomatillo salsa)

3) leftovers!


3 Breakfasts

1) granola, muesli, fruit, yogurt, nuts, hard boiled eggs… buffet

2) oatmeal, sausage, hard boiled eggs

3) scrambled eggs, bacon, onion/veggie sauté as well as cheese choices on the side



3 Evening snacks:

S’mores
org oat banana apple sauce, coconut milk, raisin cookies
GF brownies
Fruit salad



Food available all the time for snacks, and meal additions:

veggies:
salad
crudite - broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers…
at least 2 dressings to choose - ceasar & goddess; also Lemon, Vinegars and Olive oil available

fruit:
fresh fruit of many kinds, including apples, oranges, grapes, bananas…

protein:
Nuts & seeds
Hard boiled eggs
cheese - cow, goat and non-dairy
Natural, NoSugarAdded Peanut Butter (& org Jam)

carbs:
bread/toast & crackers - regular and gluten-free
muesli

snacks:
pretzels and chips of several kinds
frozen fruit, greens, granola to make smoothies - blender there can be used

staples:
butter & special margarine
coffee & tea (Decaf and herbal)
milk, cashew milk
delicious well water
Sara will bring ingredients for a pot of chai, and/or Hongkong tea.




DRAFT Schedule


Thursday Evening -

5 pm doors open for retreat

5:45 – 6:45 - Scheduled Body Healings for 1/3 of group

5:45 - 7:15 -  20 min Aura Healings for all (folks involved with body healing go last – IF not part of body healing, please please start your healing by 6:30)

6:15 – 7:15  - Dinner and snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

7:15 – 8:45 – Intros, Sharing, 90 min together

8:55 - Snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

9 - 10 – facilitated sharing by the fire (optional but crazy useful)

Friday

8 - Breakfast

8:45 - Sharing, 2 hour Learning & Meditation, 45 min trade time (3 people, 10 min of reading each, plus transitions), breaks –  4 hours together

1 - Lunch and snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

1:15 leave for Afternoon Service Trip – 2 hours of service plus travel, transitions and general playfulness - back by 5 (or Free time or your own Healing trades)

5 -  appetizers are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

5:15 – 6:15 - Scheduled Body Healings for 1/4 of group

6:30 - Dinner

7:15 – 8:45 - Sharing, 1 hour of Learning & Meditation - 90 min together

8:55 - Snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

9 - 10 – facilitated sharing by the fire (optional but crazy useful) – Lynn leads

Saturday

8 - Breakfast

8:45 - Sharing, 2 hours of Learning & Meditation,  45 min trade time (3 people, 10 min of reading each, plus transitions), breaks –  4 hours together

1 - Lunch and snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

1:15 leave for some kind of awesome outdoor play/hike/rest opportunity for a few hours - back by 5 (or Free time or your own Healing trades)

5 -  appetizers are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

5:15 – 6:15 - Scheduled Body Healings for 1/3 of group

6:30 - Dinner

7:15 – 8:45 - Sharing, 1 hour Learning & Meditation - 90 min together

8:55 - Snacks are flex, grab & go, not all sit together

9 - 10 – facilitated sharing by the fire (optional but crazy useful) – Lynn leads

Sunday

8 - Breakfast

8:45 - Sharing, 1 hour of Learning & Meditation, ½ hour reading/healing trades, breaks, separations – 2 hours together

11 - Astral Healing - 10 min Aura Healing, 10 min Astral Body Healing, 10 min Aura Healing – ½ hour each, happens over 1.5 hours
(for the first set of 5 healees, need 5 Aura Healers (10 min before and also after), 5 Astral Healers - Tamela, Scott, Tim, Madeline, Kammy? Kimba? - and 2 control – you and I. After that ½ the people heal and half get healed, then switch)

~12:30 – Lunch: Leftovers available for snacking -  flex, grab & go

~12:30 – Final Circle while eating lunch

1:15 – 2:15 - Scheduled Body Healings for 1/3 of group

2:30 - Retreat is officially over, and clean-up will begin in earnest.  Please move your personal gear to your car.  You are welcome to stay until 5 – outside and on porch, to enjoy quiet time or your healing trades with other healers, on your own time.


draft Assisting with food and cleanup Schedule

Tim is in charge of food, talk to him, help him - he is a Hero!

Assistants, for your meal, please think in terms of:
Cleaning up kitchen and dining room
Doing dishes from previous meal
Helping Tim with Meal prep
Helping Tim prep future meals and snacks
Doing dishes made messy while cooking
Right when meal served, making nice big soapy water for all dishes from meal - for folks to put into after meal
Helping serve meal

Thursday Dinner (and food storage)  - Lynn

Friday Breakfast - Tamela
Friday Dinner - Jessica

Saturday Breakfast - David
Saturday Dinner - Sarah

Sunday Breakfast - Scott
Sunday Lunch (and food packing) - Wendy


draft HEALING schedule

Thurs late afternoon
David acupuncture Jessica
Lucinda reflexology to Wendy
Tamela massage/energy work Sarah

Friday late afternoon
David acupuncture Tamela
Jessica heals, then Sarah reads Lucinda
Massage Methow lady massages Scott

Saturday late afternoon
Tamela massage/energy work David

Sun early afternoon
David acupuncture Tim
Scott reads Massage Methow lady
Tamela massage/energy work Lynn

Other healing:

Sarah and Jessica will do a lot of the Aura healing! Everyone else will chip-in ; )
That happens Friday night and Sunday late morning
Lynn and Wendy will control - and assist as needed

Astral Healing, late Sunday Morning will be done by Tamela, Scott, & Tim
Lynn and Wendy will control - and assist as needed



Additional Info for before, after, or at breaks during workshop:

Local Spots to Check Out:

1. Carlton Hole – 3 miles north, take a left after you cross the bridge into Carlton. This is a sand beach where the locals hang out and swim.
2. Foggy Dew/Gold Creek – Go south ½ mile, turn right onto Gold Creek road. Go another ¾ mile and turn right up towards Foggy Dew Camp Ground. The road continues way into the mountains and becomes a dirt road. Gold Creek is a nice creek to relax by or in  Just pick a spot to pull over and enjoy.
3. Twisp Bakery- Downtown Twisp
4. Famers Market – Saturday from 9-noon at the Twisp Community Center.
5. Sandy beach at river- go south ½ mile, cross the bridge and turn left onto the dirt road. Continue on dirt road for about ½ mile and you will see the sandy beach on the left (before the house).
6. Libby Lake Trail head- This is a beautiful 11 mile round trip hike. Even the first mile or two is worth the walk. Go north 2 miles, turn left onto Libby Creek road. Stay to the right when the road Y’s! Continue on the dirt road for about 5 miles until you come to the Libby Lake trail head.
7. Float the River- Take some inner tubes up to the Carlton Hole and float back down to the house.
8. Twisp Pub- Great food and local bands. The pub is on the left hand side right before you cross the bridge to head out of Twisp if you are headed North.
9. Other hiking trails: see hiking booklet.
   
   Communication complete - only garbage below ;)

Please give feedback, so I can update
: ) W

Savor, Share the Fruit of Your Life!

the Fruit of Our Life!  

When we are Ourselves, Aligned with our Source, we come to our own Unique Fruition:

It is like we are each different kind of tree, and when we come to fruit, our world is blessed in ways it would never be otherwise... and so are we!

Peach trees make peaches and pear trees make pears. They don't have to try, they just do.
They make them in their own season, so it is important to allow for the timing to flow.

Don't put the cart before the horse!

It is a mis-step to force service, fruit-on-demand.
Let's allow ourselves to grow up from the darkness, into the Light, into our fullness/potential - where we Naturally bear amazing Fruit!

Soul Fruit

Most folks who practice SoulTech, tend to enjoy these blessings, along with many others:

Freedom: permission to BE and to DO as your choose, get All your Free will back to apply as you see fit.

Seniority: BE in the driver's seat of your body, your energy and your life.

Certainty: BE centered in your Own spiritual information, abilities & connection with Spirit.

Power: BE filled with your spiritual energy and will to create as you desire.

Neutrality: BE free in the face of your body impulses and information (such as emotions, survival or sexual impulses, etc) as well as intellectual and judgment.

Amusement: BE playful, light, joyful, easy in the healing/growing dance with the Divine.

Some Fruit of BE-ing Our Potential

In our Inner Life... and the Rest of our Lives, we can open to our Soul Evolution:

BE... our True Self:  coming to our Unique Wholeness/Fruition (see more about Teleos).

SHINE... our Beautiful Light:  connect with All Our Relations.

DANCE... our Unique Journey:  embrace our spiritual path with each step.

LIVE... our Direct Body & Spirit Truth: delight in our body, our senses and the gift of life on this sweet Earth.

CELEBRATE... our Oneness with The Beloved:  savor the gifts and Presence of God.

Blessings on your Unique Journey!
- Wendy

Self-care for you: a Valentine for your Soul

Let love fill you up, then love others with open heart and open hands;
Take care of your self, then give to others from an overflowing cup;
Be filled with Light, then Shine your light in your world!

Self-care for you: a Valentine for your Soul
Now through February 28, register for your personal session in February or March,
and receive 50% off your 2-hour session
(usually $250, now only $125, for the first 10 first-time clients who register; please not to be combined with any other offers)

I haven't offered these kind of rates in years, and I don't see that I ever will again.
So, please share this great opportunity with your friends, or give as a Valentine's present they will never forget (just make sure you get your own session first, they will go fast!)

Seed your own wellness, water with a luxurious, playful personal session, and watch your world bloom!
E-mail or call me 206-853-8603, with dates/times that are best for you.
I look forward to seeing you soon.

in life!
Wendy

(If you really must read more, here are some links ; )
These are the different aspects you can include in your Personal Training Session:

Soul Counseling  

Spiritual Direction 

Meditation Coaching

Deep Healing with Inner Tools 

Developing your Soul Senses & Abilities

Flourishing as a Healer

.

Book II of our lives can start right NOW! Will you say YES?

I had the privilege to meditate and heal-with someone today for the first time.

She has had a very challenging life,
and an extremely difficult time on almost every level,
for the last few years.

When I spoke with her physically,
it was challenging to not go into sympathy…
so much pain, so much hardship
– how would she be able to find her way out?

But then when I worked with her spiritually,
I saw how incredibly capable she is,
what a beautiful spark of Life she is.

I could see how, now, at any moment,
she could turn around from her current trajectory,
backtrack a bit to where she got off-track
and keep going on her beautiful, bright path.

I could see how useful it is to drop the past,
all its hooks and attachments… and Pain.

The biggest thing I could see is
– if she allows it, Book II of her life starts NOW.
The future can be so bright
– almost anything is possible, in delight, in service.

It is such a blessing to meditate & heal with folks, for many reasons
– including because we all share so much in common.

For me, for you:

• our past doesn’t have to define us,
• our current pain need not stop us,
• we are each beautiful sparks of Light…

and Book II of our lives can start right NOW.
All we have to do is say YES:

• yes to ourselves,
• yes to our unique path,
• yes to Life!

Blessings, Wendy

Forgiveness: Not by might nor by power, but by Spirit

 

Most of us have tried to forgive in the past, to varied success;  we end up:

• thinking about it,
• complaining about it,
• feeling crappy & stewing about it,
• re-living it,
• yelling or crying about it,
• TRYING to let go of it!

Although I have been known to indulge in the above activities,
I have found another way that Really works for me:
Allowing the blessing, the ENERGY of forgiveness into my system.

When I spiritually allow-in forgiveness vibration,
it miraculously shifts my energy:
my thoughts, my feelings, my Resistance to letting-go of the past, my Attachment to my pain, hurt, anger, resentment and my pictures of what I think I need for a ‘fair’ conclusion.

All this begins to melt away,
and a more delicious experience grows within me,
as I allow this spiritual blessing IN and my vibration shifts.

.
For me forgiving others is hard enough,
forgiving myself is the really difficult part for me.
What about you?

Trying hard to forgive (myself or others) never got me very far,
rather I have found the miraculous power of forgiveness
truly is by Grace, not by force of will.

We are constantly being showered with mighty blessings,
which we rarely let IN
– how do we experientially allow blessings?

.
How about try this:
to let in this energy,
it can be as straightforward as being grounded and present,
then asking for the spiritual blessing of Forgiveness.

I can see, know, intend, allow a waterfall of Forgiveness energy
from the Universe
into my body and the space around me.

From here we have the potential to shift,
sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly.

This higher vibration can fill us with the blessing of forgiveness,
and wash-out all the other detritus.
It can be that easy to shift spiritually, if we let it.

.
I’d like to say more about this life-changing process of forgiveness.

The Ascended Master whom I know best regarding his physical life, is Jesus.
Jesus spoke about forgiveness, a lot actually.

One thing he said that kind of wraps-up his perspective for me, is:
“in what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.”

I used to think of this saying as a tit-for-tat kind of thing
– a Judge sitting there, looking at what I did and having me ‘reap what I have sown’.
If I was/wasn’t willing to share my toy, therefore the Cosmic-Cop would increase or limit my access to more toys ; )

It turns out that the very-same judgement that I live-in and I allow for others,
Really Is what is applied to me.

But, having looked at this with my spiritual senses for quite a while now,
I have a very different perspective on the mechanisms behind this process.

God/ the Universe/ Karma isn’t rewarding or punishing me!
It is a matter of the vibration I am inhabiting.
From my perspective, the waterfall practice/analogy is really powerful here.

What I notice spiritually is:
if I am in the waterfall of Forgiveness,
all those around me are in it as well.

If I allow you to be in a waterfall of forgiveness,
then I am in it too – I have to be!

So what I allow for myself, you get.
What I allow for you, I get.  It is that simple.

.
This is not only a tremendous key in our forgiveness process, in my experience,
but in all aspects of our lives: love, peace, joy, trust, healing…

The vibrations I allow for myself, you get.
The blessings I allow for you, I get.
What an easy, beautiful way to transform our world!

.
Ok, so back to forgiveness.
The way my spiritual senses perceive Forgiveness,
the vibration is very similar to the vibrations of Validation, Truth, Certainty, Acceptance, Gratefulness, and Healing that is an experience of the Wholeness we Already Are.

This seemed really strange at first,
because from a body-perspective, from my experiential, intellectual and emotional perspective,
these ideas had been very different things for me.

But, eventually I realized what they had in common:
They are all about ‘Being with what IS.’

Powerfully, spiritually ‘BEING with what IS’ opens up a whole new world to us.
Many of us are fighting, judging and resisting what IS.

It is can be life-changing to start allowing the energy of ‘Being with what IS’
to shift our vibration, as
well as how we experience ourselves and our world.

.
I work with energy.
I believe, practice and experience that when we shift our energy (change spiritually),
everything inside us and around us changes. 

And it does.
We create our lives from the inside-out.

And, at the same time, shifting energy can assist us to change our mind, change our heart, change our experience, when we deal with things from the outside-in.

.
There is much wisdom in the world to support us in this process of ‘BEING with what IS’.
One that has been a useful tool for me is The Work of Byron Katie.
One of her books is called ‘Loving What Is’.

For years now, I have one of her quotes right by my bed, so I see it when I sleep and when I rise:  ‘Stop arguing with what IS!’
… How Powerful is THAT?!



.
Ok, so back to forgiveness.
Isn’t it interesting to apply the distinctions and power of ‘BEING with what IS’ to Forgiveness?  Well, I think it is!

What I have noticed, as a spiritual healer for the last decade:
at its core, Forgiveness really is fundamentally ‘BEING with what IS’ on every level of our being.

What they did, what I did, what happened, how that affected me, them, the world….
this can just become a FACT, a past-reality;
without a big-long story, without a truck-load of emotionality attached.

I really can stop suffering, stop living in the past, and just BE;
and I can let them do the same.

Amazingly, the healing progression over time can end up in ‘Loving What Is’.
It really can.

And the process is not because we are mighty forgiveness machines, 
or because we power/fight-through it,
it is by allowing the spiritual gift of forgiveness.

.
I would enjoy sharing so many more blessings about forgiveness, for ourselves, for others; but that is enough for now.

I hope you allow you and your world to be continually blessed,
by letting-in waterfalls of forgiveness.

And I trust some of the things I said above
can assist you to move along in your process of allowing forgiveness:
for yourself and for others.

I pray you are that much more open to savor
a Happy Holiday Season and an Awesome New Year!

Blessings on your unique path, Wendy

Too Much Spirituality?

In response to the question:

CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH SPIRITUALITY?

Spirituality is a word so broad, that it seems to have no meaning; 

unless it is the being and practice of consciously manifesting spirit in the world.
We already ARE spirit, there is no Where to strive to or from. 

Our practice is only to encourage us, invite us, to allow this spiritual reality into our conscious expereince within and around us: 

to uncover Light / Love / Truth / Way / God in ourselves and in our world... 

to see and to be Light - to be filled with Spirit within, as well as invite Spirit to Shine in our world.

 

 

 

We do this by focusing spiritually, not physically...

and there cannot be too much spiritual focus:
Being spirit in my body and acting powerfully from that place IS the practice and the Being.

Meanwhile, much of what people consider spirituality, is actually the body trying to understand, shift and change to obtain some physical or allegedly spiritual result.

There is no end to our desire, physically; including the desire for 'spiritual' wisdom, power, results. 
THIS is where we are tempted to imbalance - with physical desire, even too much is never enough! 

Therefore, when my body is in charge of my spiritual expereince, practice and goals - I am 'tryin to get to heaven on the end of a kite'!

Most of us start in this physically-focused place in our spiritual walk. 
But, if we allow it, we move to a move spiritually-focused place, 

in which we live in balance, freedom and affinity, 

while we learn our lessons, create/heal, serve and enjoy our unique journey here on earth.

Blessings, Wendy

Shifting Consciousness, Spiritually

When Problems/challenges arise,
it helps me to remember that God is SO Big,
even when my vision and resources feel So small, sometimes.

When I try to fix my life, or figure out who I should be, or what I have to do - I often stay stuck.
But, when I spiritually put on the Mind of Christ: spiritual perspective, Christ Consciousness;
Everything Shifts inside me and in my world, naturally, effortlessly.

When I Try to be Good, to Act Loving, to Perform as I believe Jesus would have:
I get off track - Because I am being physically focused, no matter how 'holy' my intention.
When I focus spiritually, bring my spiritual eyes back on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, everything changes in and for me.

I am Not speaking of focusing on the Jesus of Religion, of Christian Faith and Practice, of Ethics or the Bible.
I am Not relying on who I think Jesus was or what I think he did when he walked the earth...
I AM speaking rather of who Jesus is Now, as spirit:  always spiritually present with us, available to each of us now, in intimate relationship, in spiritual communion.

From this spiritual perspective, 
problems/challenges are an invitation
back to my spiritual center: alignment with God and my unique path.

My challenge is:

• Really Allowing God's abundant, limitless blessings IN, and
• Allowing my eyes to shift from:
• flesh: my body, my needs, my shortfalls/brokenness and my myopia;
• to spirit: living as Jesus, as God's Way, Truth, Love, Life, Light manifest in our world.

SO many of us Mean to do all this, Think about this, Sometimes feel this and sometimes don't.
We hunger for God; to experience God's Blessings, Fruit, Leading and Manifestation in our lives, and in our world.
And many of us struggle with HOW to do this.  

THIS is the focus of my ministry. Please see here for info.

This post was inspired as a followup response to someone who is struggling, after they responded to the previous post.

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Supporting Your Unique Spiritual Path - a fruit of My Journey with Jesus

My ministry really boils down to 2 things:
Inner Tools and Spiritual Companionship.

Inner Tools

I struggled for decades in my life, in my walk with God.
I savored spiritual expereince, feeling, guidance within... Sometimes.
Other-times, I felt spiritually obdurate, closed, un-moored, cast-out, in Darkness and pain.

I tried many different churches, fellowships, worship experiences, and meditation techniques -
nothing was right for me, nothing Worked consistently.
Where was the Rock on which to build my life, in practice not in theory?

I FINALLY allowed God to lead me to learn and practice Inner Tools
that have put my relationship with Life, the Universe, and Everything on a strong, reliable foundation.

My relationship with Jesus went from my hating-on him
(because of the behavior of 'his' people and how they hurt me, and SO many others)
through a healing and deepening period
to now, since about 2004, Jesus being my BFF ;)

The promises of the bible, of many spiritual traditions finally became real for me.
I wrote a blog explicating this experience in Christian metaphors a few years ago, called I have found what I'm looking for .

I became so excited about the tools,
my spiritual expereince and fruit,
spiritual deepening and healing...

I learned, healed and developed spiritually,
so I can empower groups and individuals
in their connection with their expereince of the Divine;
and deepening in spiritual experience
- as well as IN This Life!

This was a very challenging process
- and completely worth the journey!

The Tools make it Do-able...

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Spiritual Companionship

When life gets intense for me, problems / challenges loom,
my past comes up to bite me...
it helps me to ask a buddy to meditate with me.

I know we can totally do it ourselves
- but sometimes it is harder, alone.

Also, I equip and inspire folks who work with me,
to get to know Jesus and other Spiritual Masters,
so we can experience that we are never alone
- we Always have extraordinary Spiritual Companionship
- whenever we care to notice!

If you want to go to the Quiet, the Beloved, the Earth, the Universe... together;
allowing healing, blessing, filling, letting-go... 
to help get out of a 'rut',
and learn new ways of being
that will shift your inner life, and the rest of your life...
ping me.

Blessings on your Unique Path!
-Wendy

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Love means a hundred different things - what do you mean when you say Love?

In my soul/psychic training,
we learned that Love includes 3 sets of information / consciousnesses / chakras.
Let's count down:


3) Reality, root chakra - actual time/space reality.
i.e. In my youth, a family-member who lived far away used to send cards to me for my Birthday and Christmas signed ‘I love you’.  I was annoyed and confused because this had no meaning to me, I rarely saw or spoke to this person; we didn’t know each other at all…
Reality is essential in love.

2) Communication, throat chakra: actual spiritual and physical interfacing and sharing.   
Someone may have a lot of affinity for me - but if we aren’t in communication, then love is not present in fullness.

1) the obvious one - Affinity, heart chakra: our soul experience of the Oneness that IS spiritual reality. This is the yummy, connecting experience that most of us associate with Love.
Ways we experience this, as humans:

• Our Wholeness and Completeness within ourselves
• Our Compassionate, sometimes Delicious, connections to All-our-Relations,
• Our delightful Belonging with our sweet Mother Earth, and
• Our Oneness & Relationship with our Source/God.

Read more: posts about Love

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Grounding with Mother Earth, Allowing Spiritual Support & Ease, and Inviting Your Vibration to Rise: Meditation Workshop with Ancient Venus

Let's get together, and practice BE-ing:
as Spirit, in our beautiful bodies, with sweet Momma Earth.

In this Meditation Workshop, we will consciously and energetically learn from Ancient Venus:

• Allowing a new way to Ground with our Earth-Home.

• Relaxing into the Support and Ease that is our Birthright.

• Inviting energies of the Earth and the Cosmos to help us spiritually (and from there, physically) shift with no-effort.

In this Meditation Workshop, we will have the opportunity to:

• Sit upright in a chair, to learn and practice some basic meditation techniques. 

• Share your experience out-loud, if you choose, a couple times during this session.

• Mostly, quietly enjoy letting go and experiencing your inner world. 

What is exciting about this opportunity?

• Open to present-time teaching, validation and friendship with this delightful, generous Spiritual Master!   

• More importantly we can energetically Work Together WITH Ancient Venus.  So, we don't just intellectually learn - because, as interesting as that may be, it won't change our lives!  This way of energetic learning has no intellectual meaning, it is an spiritual reality which must be experienced!

I look forward to playing with you soon!
Wendy

- Learn more about Ancient Venus!

Empaths: Let’s Stop the Suffering!

I am an empath.

I was so excited when I learned that there was such a thing as being an empath,
because I felt alone, and overwhelmed, and out of control, and freakish... 
SO, I was excited to learn that I wasn't alone, and I felt validated in my experience.

But now, decades later, I am uncomfortable identifying as an empath, or as a ‘A Highly-Sensitive Person’ (HSP). 
Why is that?

Empaths can be powerful and capable.
Empaths get info about the state of the people and the vibes around them, that many miss.
Why would I feel uncomfortable about that?

These things are great!

But here is my issue:  for many of us, there is a suffering that goes along with being an Empath, that is unnecessary.

That is not great.  And I would like to see us all let that go!

Without training, it is easy for us Empaths to feel overwhelmed by sensitivity to so much of life;
dominated by emotions, heaviness, darkness, and suffering! 
I am here to tell you - there is a WAY OUT.

I have enjoyed over a dozen years of freedom from all that crap! 
This way if life is delightful and delicious, and I am so peaceful and blessed to be past that.
I am still an empath, but I am a comfortable, happy and free Empath.

We can still keep the special gifts we are blessed-with

AND find balance with them!

If that sounds good to you - please read on…

 

From my expereince, the ups and downs of most people's expereince of being an Empath were modeled very well by Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek, The Next Generation. 

If you are familiar, she was an Empath who received information that was often useful to herself and others.
BUT: she was sometimes overtaken by other energies/personalities, and she was sometimes overwhelmed by others emotions.

An interesting question, that I didn't consider before my own training:
Isn't it strange that an entire culture/species could have these abilities,
but not have the information/ability to protect themselves and control their Clairsentience.

A Clairsentient is someone who has a heightened ability to perceive the information in our soul about how the body feels - emotions and sensations - our own and others - it is another word for Empath.

This inability for information moderation as well as holding one's own personal boundaries, that Deanna experienced, made for a great plot device (but it does not make a great life, for us ;)

Fortunately, it turns out in REAL life, there is a lot of information and practices that assist us to manage our information receptivity and have our own experience, this just isn't known to our common culture. 

Knowledge and practices have been passed down through the millenia, from many different sources and spiritual traditions, about how to live comfortably, empowered and free. 
With practice, these tools can become as easy as turning a volume control up and down.

Practicing these tools, has revolutionized my life!

Your suffering can be OVER! 

Are You ready for that?

Being overwhelmed by emotional information and carrying other people's garbage around, doesn't make us special, it makes us SAD and dis-empowered. 
It turns out that Everyone has soul senses and abilities, its just that 

- some of us have them turned way up - consciously: too much

- some have them turned way down - consciously: not sensing anything 

- and some of us have them tuned - just about right, most of the time ;)

We can all find our volume controls - and come to balance!
Now that my dials are more comfortably and powerfully set, 

not only am I SO much less miserable - physically, emotionally, relationally, in my soul...

I am free to be of true service in the world. 

Now that I have chosen to do what it it takes to stop suffering and be free: 

I have more and more energy available to live life, abundantly; 

and to share Love, Light and Life in the world.

From my experience, when we start to realize that we can be more energetically and emotionally comfortable - it is a choice we can make. 
I teach folks how to do this all the time, and my students consistently enjoy tremendous freedom and joy... after years of their own unique brand of heartache and pain.

IF you are willing to learn, heal, and Practice change, 

you too can stop the suffering as an Empath, 

and live an amazing and abundant life.

Read more in the previous post

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Empaths: Let's Be Free!

(This post goes along with the one above - you can read here)

The experience of Soul freedom and joy are a real and actual possibility for each of us,
available whenever and wherever we choose to realize/ manifest/ co-create them.

Just like our physical senses and abilities,
We are so generously gifted with soul senses, to enjoy and to help us find our way;
as well as soul abilities to serve soul evolution, to serve others, to serve ourselves.

These Soul Senses and Abilities Empower and Equip us to 

lead Awesome lives and make the difference we are here to make

... They are NOT meant to make us suffer! 

If your soul senses and abilities are causing you distress...
It comes down to this, pretty much:

• If the radio is too loud, turn it down, and then go on with your life...

• If you don't know how to turn the radio down - find out!

• Now that you have read this, I hope you never again tell yourself:   
• I just have to live with this radio screaming in my ear, I have no choice, it is just my 'cross to bear'... because it is NOT!

• Having a radio is a beautiful gift of music and communication, education and entertainment... being able to turn it up, down, on, off, change the channel, even... that is just basic operating instructions!

Many suffer, and it really sucks.
I know this with my life.

I lived in overwhelm, depression and chronic physical illness for decades, in large part because I was too empathically open and I took on way too much disturbance and emotion from others.

BUT, from the time I started learning inner tools, over a dozen years ago, all this started to turn around. 
I am free in a way I never imagined I could be

... and you can be too!

I work with people every day in soul development,
and ONE of the many things we learn to handle, within ourselves, is managing empathic info and energy.
It is easy to learn and practice, for most people. 

Everyone I have worked with, who chooses to shift their experience and shift their life, has done so:

• With training of one evening, many can shift. 

• Others take a few weeks to a few months, because of the layers of choices and habits in their system that hold their old way of over-responsibility, victim and overwhelm in place.  

• For many of us, there are parts of our system that don't want to be free, joyful, powerful, and in the drivers seat of our lives - this must be addressed and shifted.

• There is great value in receiving soul training, rather than suffering through decades of trying to figure out the 'ropes' by oneself, or the blind leading the blind.

Together, let’s stop the tremendous suffering going on about this, 

when it is so incredibly unnecessary. 

If you are suffering, I encourage you to be UN-stoppable in your quest, until you find the tools and ability you need to shift, and begin savoring your life!  

It is a great service to ourselves, to our loved-ones, to our shared world, and to Spirit, 

when we allow ourselves to let go of heaviness and darkness, and allow ourselves to be Light and Life in our world.

Empaths: Let's Be Free!
Wendy

.(This post goes along with the one above - you can read here)

Ryan: An American Meditater in Paris

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

In Seattle I have the pleasure of being Wendy’s student. Through her teaching and my own dedication I have developed my spiritual practice to a deep and effective level.

Before meeting Wendy I held belief in the goodness of the universe and the concept of non-separateness. But, not until I acquired tools to nurture my soul’s relationship with my body in present time did I understand my spiritual empowerment.

Today I understand I am part of a Divine Whole. I feel this in my head and my heart; I know this.
Yesterday, while meditating at the Jardin du Luxembourg I noticed my third chakra (power chakra) was hesitant to open. I am in a new place, surrounded by people who don’t speak my language, people who I’ve been told will judge me because I am foreign to them. This is scary. I am staying in someone’s home who I barely know. This is unusual. I’m on a grand adventure; leaping into areas of the world as well as expressions of myself which prior to now I did not believe I could conquer.

Matching ascended master Jesus, I asked for his guidance. He said “do not be afraid to express your power, for it is the power of God.”

All my life I’ve run into trouble for “being myself,” so as a separate “me” I naturally fear confrontation with separate “others.” Jesus was telling me: “express unity.”

When I am aligned with my own truth, when I have sought and found what I see to be right for me, it is best to act on those truths. It is best to attempt to communicate with the Parisians in my terrible American accent because I am intending to speak to them from a place of light. It is best to live and act on what I think is right for me in each moment, despite what others’ truth for me may be.



The more I believe in my own light, the more this light is recognized by others- for they too have light. Whether consciously or unconsciously our light attracts and makes the world brighter.
More than speaking languages, this practice generally applies to trusting myself…

It is always easier to trust God than to trust myself;

but what I know now

is that they are the same thing.

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

Ryan: Purple is Just Another Crayon in the Box

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

Recently, in personal session with Wendy, I worked on getting spiritual authority in the space where I live.
There was dark energy in the house, of which I noticed two things:

1. When I encountered this energy (both in my waking life and in my dreams) I was able to own my own space by consciously establishing my aura.
2. I was uncomfortable or unable to establish energetic authority outside my aura.

“Aura” is the space 1-3 feet around my physical body which I have learned to work in spiritually. It is “my” space. In meditation, I focus light and vibrational work inside this space. It houses my energetic channels and my physical body. The more I meditate the more it becomes a part of me; like my hands and feet.

As I heal and grow I become energetically clean enough and aware enough to notice when things are awry within my space. I also have tools to return my space to my liking.

…as if that wasn’t cool enough….

Both in this past session and in weeks prior I have realized that (surprise) there is more growth to be had! I am now becoming aware of the energy outside my space, how it is sometimes misaligned with my own vibration, and how it is affecting me.

When I was trying to correct the dark energy in my home I got stuck. First I worried it was because the energy was menacing and thwarting my spiritual abilities, but then I realized it was an internal sticking.

Authority on a larger scale; I felt like it wasn’t my place to influence.  When I was prompted to own the space I hardly even wanted to try. I had a sense of not deserving, not right and not allowed. (wow; that’s a lot of nots). The word “authority,” to me, had a bad connotation.

My beautiful teacher did not give me her perception on the hang up, but rather assisted me to find the truth for myself. To do this Wendy suggested I call on Ascended Master Ganesha.

Ganesha runs his energy like a boulder descends a hill; power rolling strong and dense. In my practice I see the color purple as seniority energy, or in other words authority. Ganesha runs purple through his cosmic channels. His vibrations teach me how to gain seniority in my life over people, events, fears and so on.

What was happening with the aversion to authority, I asked him; our conversation went something like this:
Ryan: “Why should I access authority outside my own aura space?”
Ganesha: “Purple is just another crayon in the box.”
Stop making it such a big deal the master told me. Authority is just one of the colors needed to draw a spiritual rainbow; no more or less than the other vibrations.


Vibrations which I already feel comfortable raining down to ground or to heighten the vibration of any given space. I run other colors freely like the blues of faith and certainty, the pinks of amusement and affinity, and the golds of spiritual vitality and cleansing. So too should I run with rampant abundance the purples of authority and seniority. I’m not trying to dictate the space in a Hitler kind of way; I’m trying to assist it spiritually. The intention is good.

Ganesha meant for me to learn that exercising seniority is one component of being a conscious spirit and powerful being. That authority is spiritual.

I believe that my purpose on Earth is to fully embody my present spiritual potential. By choosing to change and grow, I contribute to the benevolent and magnificent expansion of the universe.

Today I learned that yet another physical/societal conception was blocking me from my God-ness.
In my personal evolution as spirit the time has come for me to play my part through the authorial influence of space outside myself. Making this shift is as easy and powerful as I let it be. Ganesha has already shown me the way. Now to sit back and be the change.


Meditate with Purple! Click to try an At Home Exercise: for Authority and Seniority

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

Ryan: At Home Exercise: for Authority and Seniority

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

How can you practice playing with purple crayons?
Exercise to accompany Blog: “Purple is Just Another Crayon in the Box”

1. One way to explore authority is to run purple energy, with the intention of allowing the vibration of seniority.

• Start by sitting in meditation and asking the Universe to shower you in clear purple light.
• Feel the seniority vibration feel you up. If it feels good, you can fill in your whole aura as well as your physical body.
• Once you are full, any excess purple light can fall through you and be absorbed by the Earth below.

In this process you are already healing both yourself and the space around you.

This “purple waterfall” can go beyond you, as I learned the other day.
2. The second way to run authority is to give it to the larger geographic space around you.

• Continue meditating in your chair. The way you ran light from the Universe to the Earth, in part one, can extend past your aura. Magnify the waterfall by putting the whole room in a purple waterfall.
• Now the whole street block.
• And your town.
• Your State.
• Country.

Notice how it feels to exercise your spiritual power on such massive spatial scales.

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

Ryan: Light: Science Supporting Spirit

 (written by guest blogger Ryan)

While browsing the used book store I was inevitably drawn to the “Spirituality” section. Hidden in the sub-section on “2012″ I found a book called Return of the Children of the Light by Judith Bluestone Polich.

Light has come to the forefront of my consciousness through meditation work at SoulTech. I run different colors of light to assist my body and spirit through whatever it is I’m wanting to understand or change. I have seen this light consciousness make material changes in my life; physically, relationally, and emotionally. More than anything this use of light has helped me evolve spiritually.

Presently I understand myself to be part of All that Is; no more or less than anything else in existence. In the book Polich discusses this concept through an investigation of ancient Mayan and Incan beliefs. Further she links ancient spiritual understandings with findings in modern science.

One concept is that human beings (as well as everything else) are light. Literally that we are light; like the light we study in astronomy classes, which spans the breadth of space and time. Polich explains quantum physics; bringing scientific perspective to this spiritually implicit idea. 


Light has frequency. Particles and their actions make up this frequency. Polich says “In experiment after experiment, it has been shown that when the observed function, the wave, interacts with the observing system, the person making the measurement, it changes into a new state.” Basically the intent and participation of the observer changes the frequency of the light.

Polich says, “The implications of these findings are far reaching and significant for the world of everyday activity and human interaction. They imply that by our conscious intent we bring into manifestation what we want to perceive-that we can and do shape our reality.”

Through meditation I have been shaping my life into an entirely different one. Polich describes the experience of awakening. She says “everything may be externally the same, but you are perceiving this world with a new and very clear vision, without limitation or any feelings of futility.” More or less my life is the same externally, but my sense of alrightness with myself, and everything else has made my life a new one.

New lives of light consciousness are possible for anyone, and are, I’ve found, much closer than we are conditioned to think. You are already glowing. You are already knowing. You are here.

(written by guest blogger Ryan)

This is It

A beautiful poem by Ascended Master Lau Tzu 
describes why we practice meditation and what it does for our wellbeing.

“Always We Hope”

Always we hope
someone else has the answer.
some other place will be better,
some other time it will all turn out.
This is it.
no one else has the answer.
no other place will be better,
and it has already turned out.
At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.
There is no need
to run outside
for better seeing.
Nor to peer from a window.
Rather abide at the center of your being;
for the more you leave it, the less you learn.
Search your heart
and see
the way to do
is to be.
–Lao Tzu
(translated by Witter Bynner: The Way of Life, According to Lao Tzu)

How to Receive a Spiritual Reading

Recently I was asked
“What would you tell someone who is considering getting a Spiritual Reading?”
here’s my answer:

 

1)  When getting a reading, remembering your Free Will is key.

Humans are tremendously capable and creative beings. We each have our own creative power, and the freedom to will that power into existence. There is a rumor going around that our Free Will is a gift from Spirit.

Therefore when receiving a reading I suggest:

• Avoid advice: Information is useful, but you are an adult and don’t need to be told what to do. A healing is empowering when the healer’s words resonate with a truth you already know inside, even if that knowing is very deep.
• Avoid predictions of your future: The only moment you can ever own is NOW.  The only space in which you can harness your immense creative power is HERE. You choose your route, and you can shift your direction anytime by choosing Here & Now to make a change; by choosing to heal.

Questions about the future:

I don’t mean to discourage you in your quest for your truth and your direction… just the opposite.

You can ask to look at any situation or choice that is before you, and examine the energy of that situation in the present moment. By doing this you will see which direction you are currently headed. If it doesn’t look how you’d like, then you can start to heal that path.

This supports you to make your own decisions. By opting to heal yourself and walk your own unique path, you honor the gift of your own spiritual freedom.

 

2) Getting a reading can be a wonderful gift of an outside perspective, a spiritual perspective.

It can be hard to see everything clearly from within ourselves. I can be very useful to receive information from an outside source, someone who is much more neutral, someone with a spiritual perspective...

In our society that is materially-focused we are trained (consciously and unconsciously) to doubt or ignore our own spiritual information. When receiving a reading from a spiritually-dedicated individual, you are spiritually validated.  A conversation is started with the spiritual life energy that enchants your physical form. 

 

This is the gift of a reading – you are receiving a perspective on yourself as spirit and your creations (your life, body, relationships, etc) that is outside your own usual consciousness. It can be like looking in a sacred mirror, receiving a reflection of yourself from a different angle.
This is potentially an incredible blessing!

The atmosphere of a HELPFUL READING: Optimally, your reader will give you a spiritual perspective:

• Neutral
• Amused
• Validating
• Spiritually-focused

Atmosphere of a potentially HURTFUL READING:

• Emotional
• Judgmental
• Invalidating
• Blaming
• Fear-based

If you perceive your reading to be in this unhelpful realm, I would suggest wiping your feet and walking away.  

3)  Getting a reading is like a Spaghetti fight  – what sticks to you, is yours.

In a reading, I encourage you to take what resonates with your deeper truth and leave the rest. You want to stay open minded during a reading, because opening spiritually is usually a new experience and parts of you may meet resistance or fear of this new (but truly beautiful, plentiful and safe) world.

If the reader says something that doesn’t align with your information at all, if you’re thinking “I don’t think so” then let it go.

Please don’t take the reader’s information over your own.
Meanwhile, as a rule: take what is said and let it bake, ruminate on it:

• Even things that don’t initially seem true for you may produce something fruitful upon reflection.
• If something is bugging you, I recommend letting it sit on ‘the shelf’ for a few days; then meditate on it, ask God what the gift is for you in this information.

I encourage you to let this perspective from outside yourself, hopefully a spiritual perspective, inform your life and your living.

4) But, most importantly, I urge you to continue to develop your own spiritual ‘ears’, ‘eyes’, ‘knowing’ etc.; so you can continue to deepen as the authority in your own life, the driver of your own car (life).

Blessings on your Unique Journey, Wendy

Unfolding Perfection

 

I used to be dominated by the pressure to be perfect...
to be very different, better! than I am and better! than I ever could realistically be.

In various layers of my being, consciously and not-consciously,
I used to think that I had to be perfect to be loved, to be acceptable, to deserve good things.

I have been allowing shift on this for many years now, layer after layer, thought after habit, emotional default after energetic attachment… shifting and allowing light and lightness.
It is a blessing to allow healing and change at the deep layers.

It gave me a lever to help me free myself, when my spiritual teacher told me that there is NO perfection in this world.  On the Physical, perfection is an unobtainable ideal (perfect picture), so it would serve me to let go for this Imaginary Delusion of Perfection.

At the same time, it helped me to see and expereince over and over, from a Spiritual perspective, that Everything and Everyone really is perfect: right now.  Always have been, always will be  Perfect.  Everything is ALL Right!  That is the spiritual reality which I expereince, when I tune into my mystical senses.  As Julian of Norwich said:

‘All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.’ 

 
It also helps me to notice what I think perfect is...

Is it a rigid picture of how someone or something should be, an IDEAL?
This doesn’t work for me, I never live up to my own or other’s idealized pictures of who I should be, what I should look like, and what I should do.
And nothing in this world lives up to my idealized pictures either.
This is a painful way to live, and it doesn’t work for me.

Fortunately my spiritual practice has very useful distinctions and practices around these ‘perfect pictures’ that so often drive us – so I am grateful to be in the process of letting go of them, and the mechanisms behind them, deep in my psyche.

Another way to look at perfect, which I find enlivening:

The Greek word that is often translated as perfect, can also mean:  Complete, Mature.
See full definition here.

I find this a useful way to look at ‘perfection’ – like an acorn that has now become a mighty oak (As my favorite Christian Minister, Dr Bruce Morgan, used to say ; )

Of course, I STILL won’t get to full maturity in this reality, until my life completes and I am ready to transition. But, I really like this definition of perfection: to be allowing myself be in active process of wholeness and coming to completion as MYSELF in my Unique Being and Doing in this world!

And to be clear! I do not mean coming to maturity through Striving, through Effort, though Trying to be bigger, faster, smarter, BETTER!

• I mean like a child in the sandbox, playing: and while I play: learning and growing and maturing.

• I mean like the beautiful tree BEING itself every day in every way: enjoying the land it is on, soaking up the rain, delighting in the sunlight, swaying in the breeze… then millimeter by millimeter = after years, or decades, or centuries of being – it comes to its fullness.

• I mean a maturity that comes with being myself, creating and playing in the physical reality, trusting Spirit.

I am excited about that kind of perfection!
How about you?

in Life!
Wendy

PS

I believe our path in this world 

is to bring the Perfection we already spiritually Are - our true selves: Light, Love, Truth...

fully and uniquely manifested into this reality - this world, this body, this life

Want to read more? Here are some posts on: Teleios? Coming to our Perfection

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Sympathy Hurts, Empathy Heals

The system I share to Empower Healers and help us invite Self-Care works as a unit, and is better understood as an experiential whole.  But, I am sharing some pieces, because I believe these distinctions are life-changing for many of us, and those who have 'ears to hear' can hear them, independently.

There are many Healing Distinctions.
I shared 2 in a this blog post:
- Heal Yourself First
- Heal Yourself and you Heal the World

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Questions that I often hear, in some form, in class:
"How can you have empathy if you haven't felt pain?"

My first thought is usually:
All healers have pain, and have felt pain.  It's not like we need more practice ; )
We are humans, in the earth-game - pain is part of the deal.

My second thought is usually:
If we are wallowing IN pain, how can we help?
 - If the blind lead the blind, they both fall in a hole, Jesus said.

Do I want a doctor/caregiver/healing helper who is feeling my pain with me?
Or, do I want a healing helper who can help me step out of pain, so I can be empowered & whole.
When I am in Pain, I really don't care how my Healer (healing helper) feels about it!

For me, I have come to the place where I want to live my OWN life, learn my OWN lessons, solve my OWN challenges, grow into OWNing who I am, walk my OWN true path.

It doesn't help ME as a healer
- and it doesn't help me help THEM, the ones I mean to help -
when I let their emotionality get All Over Me!

.
So, I realized it might be useful for some folks if I share this Healing Distinction.
From my experience, where we stand, where we come-from when assisting others, really matters:
Sympathy Hurts, Empathy Heals 

I define Empathy, like Compassion, as an important part of Love.
This is one of our spiritual senses, I like to call Affinity - 4th chakra.
It is the beautiful experience of the Oneness that IS
- one with Earth, one with Universe, one with Source, one with All our Relations.

We can powerfully connect with someone from Empathy.
This is a heart centered experience...
It can be a Joy for us; and it can make a very Positive difference for folks on their healing journey.

But if I fall into Sympathy, into Pity, things get sticky. For example:
emotionally matching them,
experiencing Their distress as my Own - or conflating the two,
taking-on Their distress as My problem...

When I fall into the Sympathy Game:
I am likely Reacting instead of Acting.
I am likely becoming part of the Problem instead of part of the Solution.
I am likely multiplying the challenging emtions, rather than deescalating them.

Because Sympathy is an emotion centered expereince - 2nd chakra.
It can add a lot of Suffering to Our lives, as healers;
and it makes no Real, Lasting difference for Them - the folks we mean to help.

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So here is a parable of what it can look-like:
If I climb into a hole filled with crap with my friend, and I get stuck there - not only does this not help my friend; Also, I have no time/energy/grace left to help anyone else.
Actually *I* become part of the problem!  *I* now need saving, along with my friend.

When I graduated Lifeguard Training around 1987, the most important thing we were taught was: don't go down with 'em.
If you can not engage them safely, then don't engage at all, because then we will be having two funerals instead of one (ain't nobody got time for that ; )

And here is the thing, only a few years later, Lifeguard Training shifted in a Very Intelligent way - the new rule became - don't engage directly, ever.   
For the general public, the mantra became: “Reach or throw, don't go.” 
For lifeguards: “Make direct rescues with equipment” - always have something for them to grab onto, something that isn't YOU! 

Is the parallel clear enough?
Do Not Go Down With Them! 
We can not help if we are drowning too.

So, to apply this:
We stay out of Sympathy with them.
We practice being Neutral and not being hooked by whatever they may be feeling.
We avoid taking-on their emotions.
We steer clear of making their problems, our problems.


Sometimes advocating for someone's wellness, acting from empathy, can look tender, sometimes it can look fierce.
When I am standing for someone’s wellness, empathy strengthens and informs me.
But, sympathy weakens me - I fall into emotionality, I get lost in the mire.
I am not free to be in compassion, and I am not empowered to fiercely fight for their freedom.


I lived for decades, energetically taking on other's pain, meaning to help.
I am an Empath, that is what Empaths naturally do - energetically feel what other’s feel.
I really suffered.
But, it helped no one,
and it almost killed me - literally.

I have repented of that path.
Now I help people every day
and I am free to live in love, joy, peace
- I am learning to Live!

I have found it is unnecessary and painful to suffer with people,
I have found that love looks like helping them to stop the suffering! not adding more!
This is my experience, what is your experience, friends?
- Wendy

Love thy neighbor as thyself

Love thy neighbor as thyself

- Jesus

Most people hear this as a Should to love others. 
It is often practiced exactly the opposite of what Jesus said - trying to ‘love’ others Before ourselves.

It is not just what is says:
Love others as I love myself
…. so I better darn-well love myself ; )

Question:
Is it possible to Love others, without loving ourselves?
Is it possible to Love ourselves, without loving others?

Hmmm...
Here is my belief / experience:

Spiritually, regarding loving self or others
(or sharing any spiritual fruit / vibration / blessing: joy, peace, forgiveness, gratefulness, whatever)
to me it is ONE experience.

Either I am IN the vibration/blessing of love, or I am not.
Either They are IN the vibration/blessing of love, or they are not.

If I am interfacing with them,
I cannot be in vibration of Love for them but not for me. And,
I cannot be in vibration of Love for me, but not for them.

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Many of us have blocks to these spiritual blessings.
When we are blocked from spiritual blessing, we can do physical things to try to  compensate:
we try, strive, ‘fake it til we make it’

But, I believe,
if we are not spiritually IN the vibration of Love,
we cannot love ourselves or others.

If we are not spiritually IN the vibration of Love,
we can only try to do loving things, we can act nice, we can try to serve people… or ourselves.

Gosh, doing it this way is not only unReal:
it is Hard work;
with little fruit, BTW

When we allow the Blocks to Light, the blocks to Love to move, to melt.
When we allow the Blessings to Flow - spiritual experience (like joy, peace, forgiveness) in this case, Love
 Our internal experience of blessing can shift dramatically.

And amazingly,
sharing the clear, bright vibration of Love with others,
can shift as well.

IMO, this is why it is primarily important to clear, and allow the healing, transforming spiritual gift of Love for ourselves.
Love thy neighbor as thyself then takes on a whole new meaning and power.


Read more: posts about Love

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