Let Your Seeds Bloom

I have been in tizzy of turmoil the past few weeks as I pulled back on my reigns and halted my full-steam plans to reflect and reevaluate. I do not believe in coincidences, and I am certain that the timing of Mercury Retrograde (and four others) was Divinely timed in order for me to slow my perfectionistic roll and surrender to what was moving through me and around me. I discovered if I eased into the very tumultuous energy by surrendering with grace, this time could work in my favor, if only I let go. The art of letting go is one I am still trying on for size as my nature is to hold tightly to control. But as fate would have it, I discovered I was approaching my Ego and need to hold on all wrong. I have started to embrace my heart in a way that allows it to lead the way I live through decisions, thoughts, feelings and actions, but that what truly shook me awake is the notion of embracing fear.

I can embrace love until I sing to my heart's content (and I do frequently), but until I work with fear by acknowledging it and allowing a healthy partnership with Ego to blossom, the patterns, beliefs, thoughts and doubts would still linger in the depths of my being. Sure I can pile on love, and I do, but piling love onto fear raises the vibration of those negative energies, but it cannot extinguish them. 

Fear-based patterns and belief systems are ingrained in our psyche from a very early age, and we carry them with us for the remainder of our lives unless we make the conscious choice to do something about them. Luckily, as a being of Love with a large amount of faith and trust, I was Divinely guided to the tools I needed to begin to work with my fears rather than bury them away from sight.

Two profoundly wise women came into my path simply by my intentions being set (and sent out to the Universe) to embrace my true self by further deleting old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve my Higher Self.

Nina Cashman appeared on Profit Boss Podcast to share how to rewire your mind for wealth by reviewing the patterns and beliefs around money that we unconsciously pick up from our parents (or other influential adult). Once you bring awareness to these beliefs (and recognize the patterns throughout your life they cause), you empower yourself to choose new money beliefs that fit your true self, based on your self worth and confidence.

Possibly the most valuable thing I have learned (aside from choosing to embrace new beliefs), is that money is merely energy. As I wrapped my mind around that concept, I saw how it truly fits my newly adopted beliefs around energy, the Law of Attraction and manifestation. Christie Marie Sheldon, an intuitive coach and medium, taught a seminar on clearing abundance blocks (aka belief systems) that prevent us from fully stepping into a life of love, abundance, purpose and joy. Her Love or Above program is in complete alignment with every step I have taken to get to a higher vibration of love (which leads me to wonderful role models such as herself) in order to step into my purpose with confidence and clarity.

While uneasiness stirred my soul, I began to feel empowered in my ability to surrender. And as soon as I did, solutions and tools came right to my doorstep. I didn't have to struggle or hold on with a hulk-like grip; I simply had to leave the how to God. The more I trust that my path is unfolding with ease and grace, the more blessings land in my lap. I am a firm believer that when we align with love through intention, the Universe does everything in its power to deliver exactly what we need to move forward with confidence.

As I sat with my fear and had a heart to heart with it, I saw that many of my decisions were actually based in fear. I became comfortable with saying yes to my dreams, yet I slipped back into my perfectionistic tendency to control the outcomes. I know I am living in my purpose and choosing a career that wholeheartedly honors my truth and Divine gifts, but my Ego said "you're not enough. You cannot move forward until you do this, this and this."

And that negative self-talk was causing me to seek every training, certification, and seminar under the sun, so that I could finally be ready to step into my calling. I forged ahead with these plans without trusting in God's plan for me. I began to use my fear self to determine the how, rather than trust that I am ready in this moment. I am enough just as I am. Every message the Universe sent my way had told me to move ahead without delay. I had every sign tell me I am ready to fulfill my spiritual life purpose as an intuitive empowerment coach, yet I was frozen with fear. Instead I signed up for school full time and started planning my additional certifications.

Right around the time that school began, I got the intuition to stop and re-evaluate. In my fear-ridden haze of moving forward, I was Divinely led to hear the forecast for May's energy; and I finally sat still long enough to hear my heart. And the beauty of the heart is it always signals exactly what we need to feel (as our heart can separate somewhat from the fear-based thoughts in our mind).

Honoring my heart led me to slow down and truly listen to my true feelings. I could not do this if I continued my perfectionistic drive to be more than enough. And so with a fully-fledged website ready to launch my business and simultaneously go to school full time while working part time, I said enough already.

I took off my self-doubt hat and donned a much more fitting perspective: loving awareness (and the confidence I desperately needed to try on for size). And in that space of awareness I saw that my need to improve myself was denying what I strive for (and preach) daily: self acceptance and steadfast faith. And when I remember to surrender, miraculous moments ofsynchronicity start sprouting with chilling reminders that we are never alone in this world. We are always supported.

My wonderful friend, Traci, guided me to an intuitive business coach that dissolved my debilitating mindset and allowed me to see just how powerful my story is:

There is power in your story. No one else can own who you are or take your identity away from you. Choose to use your gifts for good, and the Universe will repay you grandly.

-Karilyn Owens

As I learn to sing my sacred song and embrace my purpose on this planet as the full expression of my whole heart, I have slowly fostered the confidence I need to press on, not with certainty, but with grandiose faith: faith in my gifts, faith in my ability to inspire and affect change in the hearts of others and faith that if I continue to even crawl toward my calling, I will surely see miracles bloom along my path.

As the light of the Full "Flower Moon" began to brighten the summer nights, and my sensitive soul started to rumble with that same feeling of uneasiness, I was humbly reminded in my dear friend, Lisa Groves' yin class (my saving Grace each Full Moon) that I have already done the work to manifest my dreams; I have planted my seeds of intention since the beginning of this year.

Think of your body as an ancient stone temple, with flowers growing all around it. Everything you have imagined every intention you have set every seed you have planted is now blooming all around you. No desire to be anywhere else, just right here, right now. Grounding down, but everything you have planted rising up.

-Lisa Groves

The reassuring tone of Lisa's voice and the wisdom behind her words sent a shiver of realization down my spine:

So maybe for today, just as best you can, allow yourself to be right here, right now. Grounded to the earth. Not worried about what to do next. Nowhere to go. Nothing to do except be right here, right now.

-Lisa Groves

As I relaxed into this feeling, I felt waves of anxiety and overwhelm dissipate from my mind, which is why you will always find me at Lisa's yin class every Full Moon. Because my need to do and accomplish and excel and grow is never ending (which is why I'm able to set fire to my dreams through persistence and hard work), this soul of mine, the one I've come to know so intimately, simply needs to be. And breathe. And surrender. Thank you, Lisa, for always serving your yogis with the supreme dose of stillness our hearts need. You are everything. And I adore you to no end.

And so this very tired yet hopeful soul is resting (and writing clearly) under the majesty of the Full Moon. And I'm thanking my lucky stars, Angels and Spirit Guides for leading me faithfully to this moment; one that I can just be knowing I planted my seeds and now I am sprouting into my true self. One that knows I am enough. I am always enough.

Aside from being a Godsend of a yoga teacher (follow her on Facebook for her class schedule), Lisa has recently written a book, Off the Beaten Path: a Guide to Abuse Recovery © 2015. Learn more about her story below.

Lisa Groves, JD, is a former trial lawyer, a yoga teacher, and the Founder + President of I’ve Been Meaning to Write LLC, a boutique marketing and publishing firm.

Lisa holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree, Undergraduate Degrees in Journalism and Women’s Studies, and a Teaching Certificate in Yoga Practice and Philosophy.

Herself a victim of physical violence, Off the Beaten Path: a Guide to Abuse Recovery © 2015 is Lisa’s most recent work of nonfiction and journey through abuse recovery (www.lisagroves.com/book.html)

Lisa resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, Dr. LtCdr. Paul Bloomquist and daughter Madeline Mary.

www.lisagroves.com

Make Friends With Fear

As my journey continues to take me further off into the unknown, I have grappled with fear. We all deal with fear.

Without conscious practice and acknowledgement, fear can derail us from following our heart.

My spiritual awakening is paying off as I learn to work with fear rather than bury it (or worse—ignore it altogether).

It takes more energy to work against fear than it does to work with it.

Fear is not the enemy when we make friends with it.

It is a vital part of who we are, so invite fear along as if it were a wise friend; it is there for a reason.

Fear keeps us safe in times of danger and sustains us throughout perilous times of change.  

When we make friends with fear and allow it to be heard, we can gently let it know our plans.

Be grateful for the role fear plays, but affirm you are choosing a different route—courageous love.

The development of a healthy ego alongside a courageous spirit ensures we have all we need to navigate this world.

-Sarah Varcas

Fear lands us right at the same intersection we left it, at the corner of been there and done that. Unless we choose a path to love by opening our heart to everything below the surface of fear, we will experience the same unfulfilling and predictable outcomes while hiding from our own emotions.

When fear becomes your lighthouse it will perpetually lead you to darkness.

-Kris Carr

Fear's number one job is to keep us safe and secure in the comfort of our current reality. It certainly doesn't want us to dig deep into the crevices of our heart and soul, because when we listen to our deepest calling and inner knowing we inevitably come to meet the complacency and unfulfilling path that our fears keep us traversing along.

Choose a New Path

There's no security in following love or dreams or desires, because those things offer zero certainty. They DO offer rewards that far exceed the risk we take to follow our heart—happiness, fulfillment, joy, purpose and self care.

Choosing love via adventures, self worth, soul searching, soul mates, dreams, fulfilling careers, or any multitude of things calling to your heart is the only way to live freely with empowerment, purpose and inner peace.

The next time fear starts to speak, go ahead, have a dialogue with it.

"Thank you, Ego, for doing your job; I want you to know that I am choosing to listen to my heart. I already know where you take me, and I'm ready to chart a new course this time. I sure hope you'll come along. I'm still going to need you."

Listen to your intuition to determine whether fear is playing a healthy role, or sabotaging your dreams by halting any momentum.

When fear is kindly put in its place, we make space for the whispers of our soul to be heard. The calling of our heart or the curiosity of our Higher Self begins to flourish. 

It takes often might courage to honour the truth as we see it, especially when it sets us apart from others or challenges the status quo.

-Sarah Varcas

If life is providing you opportunities to grow or revealing experiences to test your heart's desires, say yes. Step outside of your comfort zone, and make one step at a time.

You may not know where the path to Love takes you, but I can guarantee you haven't been there yet. And don't forget to invite along courage, faith and trust. You're going to need them.

By staying present to both our fears and our hopes and dreams, we assertively take action that befits our current reality. Dreams are healthy so long as we take one curious step at a time.

Dream It, Feet It, Expect It

In honor of Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's 76th Birthday today (Happy Birthday, Wayne!), I felt compelled to share his wisdom on manifestation. Dr. Dyer is one of the great Ascended Masters who lives long beyond his Earth years, as his Infinite Love, wisdom and teaching will continue to touch our world for centuries to come. Dr. Dyer is the first truly Spiritual being and teacher that I discovered along my path; my dear cousin gifted me two of his books, Your Sacred Self and There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. I now own almost every one of his books. I vehemently suggest his work; he is a Master of the Spirit, and his teaching will change your life (it absolutely changed mine).

His equally-brilliant podcasts are re-aired on Hay House Radio; I stumbled upon a topic I have grown to understand and implement: the Law of Attraction and manifestation. The philosophy behind this principle can (and will) change your life. Dr. Dyer breaks it down so that this Universal law is easily understood and implemented.

You have a dream. We all have a dream. And while our dreams take tenacity, faith and hard work to manifest, there is another way to put your dreams on the fast-track to manifestation:

Dream it. Feel it. Expect it.

-Wayne W. Dyer

This three-step process is how Wayne breaks down the enactment of the Law of Attraction. As the law states, like attracts like (everything, including ourselves, is made of energy); our thoughts, focus and intentions influence our every experience in life.

Where focus goes, energy flows.

-Wayne W. Dyer

Dream It

If we believe our dreams are some far-off reality that is not attainable, we must change our beliefs, thoughts, attitude and focus around the subject of our wildest dreams. Remember, energy flows where intention goes. The first step to super-charging our dream is to believe in the power of our ability to manifest it through empowered thoughts. So goes the saying, "if you believe it, you can achieve it."

Feel It

Once we have applied positive thoughts, beliefs and intentions around our dreams, we must act (aka "feel") as if the dream we wish to fulfill is already here. This is the absolute KEY to manifestation.

The beauty of our mind is we cannot differentiate between imagination and reality. If we think with every ounce of our being how it would feel to be living that dream—being with the love of our life, working our dream job, attaining well-being and health, discovering the next big solution to the energy crisis or whatever our heart desires—and then embody the mindset that we are currently fulfilling our wishes, our mind, body and spirit will pick up on these cues (with the Universe following).

Our energy levels will rise just by thinking and feeling in this manner, and soon, we begin to attract every situation, possibility, person and tool we need to manifest our dreams. All the Universe knows is the output of energy we signal to it. Which in turn, sends us on the direct path to fulfilling our dream, because the Universe already thinks we have achieved it.

Consistency is Key

Dr. Dyer presses the importance of continually re-establishing the feeling of achieving our dreams; we do this by staying in the "I Am" state and by expressing gratitude for fulfilling our dreams daily. We can thank our Higher Power and the Universe for sending us all we need to unfold our dreams.

I use the power of mantras to stay in the "I Am" state of being:

• I am powerful beyond measure.
• I am a (insert term here).
• I am Universally connected.
• My dreams matter.
• I matter.
• I am successful.
• I am enough in this moment.
• I am fulfilling my destiny.

By affirming we are already fulfilling our dreams and then grounding ourselves in the present moment with gratitude, we begin to attract magic into our lives.

Negating Negativity

It is easy to get caught up in what is not in our life or how far we must go before achieving our dreams or goals; this thinking is what keeps us from believing in our own power and soul's purpose. Gratitude keeps our attention focused on what is rather than what is not; this allows our thoughts and energy to stay positive.

By being grateful for all we are/do/achieve in this very moment, we bring more of what we desire into our lives (including opening doors which lead us closer to fulfilling that dream).

Expect It

Lastly, and certainly most importantly, we must, MUST, expect our dream to manifest into fruition. The power of our thoughts, both subconscious and conscious, will directly impact our ability to fulfill our dream.

This goes hand in hand with our beliefs. Continue to check in with your beliefs, especially when that pesky Ego starts to speak self-defeating thoughts in your mind. Counter this by sitting with your thoughts, and acknowledge your doubts or fears.

When we acknowledge our fears, we can take their power away by choosing to think with a mindset of love and empowerment. Turn that negative thought into a loving one (thereby raising the negative energy of our thoughts).

We are the ones who control the valve to our dreams; we enable our dreams by believing in ourselves, holding positive thoughts, feeling as if our dreams are already here, and then affirming this daily with mantras and gratitude.

Faith Through Action

Dr. Dyer's steps to manifesting our dreams are pivotal in achieving our dreams, but physical actions are required in seeing our dreams through. The magic of manifestation surely opens you to the flow of abundance, bringing you everything you need to fulfill your dreams. But unless we pass through those open doors, we cut ourselves off from the fruits of our manifestation.

This is a form of resistance (usually caused by fear), and it sends a direct signal to the Universe that shuts off the valve we worked diligently toward manifesting. We are called to act through faith; if we expect our dreams to come true, then we must believe each step we take is getting us that much closer to fulfilling them. Faith is taking the step without knowing where our leaps land, but believing wholeheartedly that we must take the step.

Faith is a tool I often use to stay grounded in the present (along with gratitude and affirmations). We are bound to become overwhelmed in the process of manifesting our dreams, which is why it is imperative to attain mindfulness along our path. Every faith-filled step gets us closer to the result we intend to achieve, so harness the confidence in knowing we can achieve anything we set our mind and heart to, one step at a time.

Dear One, you are powerful beyond measure. The dream you hold is placed on your heart for a purpose, and you are strong enough to manifest it into reality.