What do you enjoy the most? What can you do that makes you happy and brings you joy? What are some of your favorite things? When we think about the little pleasures in life, most of us consider them to be frivolous “wants” and not “needs”. We often relegate our enjoyment to the bottom of the to-do list, with all sorts of “more important” things taking up our time and energy. What if we were to create some boundaries for time to do whatever it is that we enjoy? Set certain hours where we were required to engage in these wonderfully fun activities? We set hours where we are required to work, so why not set hours where we absolutely must have fun?

Some people feel there is a negative quality to enjoying life too much. Do we fear tipping the scales and ending up in a place where we ONLY do things we enjoy? Sometimes pleasure is equated with negativity in the idea that indulging ourselves will lead to becoming selfish, overindulgent, lazy, irresponsible, or even sinful. I believe that if you listen to your inner wisdom, clear your energetic space regularly, honor your body, and do your inner healing work as it arises, then doing the things that bring you joy will be life-giving and positive for both you and the people around you. It is only the “pleasures” that arise from our wounded selves that cause imbalance and negativity. I say “pleasures” because we know that, truthfully, these things actually cause us harm/pain. True pleasure comes from activities that are full of Love, Light, and life-giving. What can you do right now that would be full of fun and positive energy?

Mantra of the day: I engage in joyful and life-giving pleasurable activities. I listen to my inner wisdom and get creative to make more time for fun/play/laughter every day!

What is your value? What is your worth?

Think about the first answer that comes to mind when these questions are asked. How you see your own value is important, because it affects how you feel about receiving. It could be receiving in the form of love, kind words, gifts, etc. If you have trouble receiving gracefully, then you may on some levels have become disconnected from your worthiness. It is time to awaken to your own inherent value. Our value as individuals on a SOUL level is not tied into anything that we commonly consider valuable in our society. You have a value that cannot be taken away from you. I don’t care if you have no money, no job, if you haven’t gotten out of bed in a week, if you yelled at a loved one this morning, if you forgot to clean the kitchen, if you broke a promise, if you broke someone’s heart, and so on- nothing we do or don’t do, have or don’t have in this physical plane can reduce our inherent value.

You are here on this Earth for a reason. You are the singular incarnation of your particular set of gifts. You have something to offer the world that absolutely nobody else can offer. The science of conception shows the magical moment that took place, a one in a million chance, where you came through to inhabit a physical body. You are meant to be here, and you are meant to walk this path. Awaken to this truth. Seek connection to your Soul Self. See your beauty, your value, your immense worth. If you cannot see it clearly today, look at pictures of yourself as a child. You are still as precious and amazing in your adult form- even more so! Embracing and understanding just how infinitely valuable you are is your challenge today! Much love to you all and may you see your truly beautiful selves!

Mantra of the day: I am a gorgeous, magical, wise, worthy, funny, loving, one-of-a-kind Soul Being who is deserving of all that life has to offer!

With all of the transition that has been taking place for a while now, many of us are still in the midst of a huge shift (or shifts) in our lives. It could be external in the form of something like an ending of a job or a relationship, or internal in the form of something more like a complete overhaul of how you look at the world. It could even be both.

The message today is to continue to create more and more space for what it is that YOU need right now. While you may be caught up in responsibilities and obligations, there is a great value to slowing down and saying ‘no’ at the moment. This has been a common theme as of late, but we are learning deeper and deeper levels of self-care for a reason. The ultimate purpose of asking for what you need, and slowing down to take on only the projects and people who feel right to you on a soul level, is a greater sense of exactly who you are. As we set down the idea of responsibility, or a concrete right and wrong in terms of following through on things that we consider to be obligations, we can tune in more and more to our intuition. By listening to what your Divine Self needs, and then acting on those needs by creating space for them, you are strengthening your energetic field and making it easier to continue to the next phase in your life. Do you think you’ve already slowed down as much as possible? Notice what comes up around slowing down even further. Remember that this is a temporary process, for the space that you open up by saying no will soon be filled with bigger and better opportunities to advance towards your greater purpose.

Perhaps you are in a situation that you have not slowed down to assess. Now is the time to do so. You may have to respectfully let go of some things that you’ve promised to do, and that’s okay. Explain lovingly and hold strong through any obstacles. Ask for help when you need it, such as if you need a break from caring for your children. Find someone who will lovingly be with them while you take the break that you need. You will still remain in your integrity overall, even if you break your word at this time. It would be dishonest to continue on with something that you know isn’t right for you. At the moment, your well-being, rest, renewal, and focus on your own needs are more important than any responsibility or obligation.

Mantra of the day: I listen to what my Soul is saying, and I trust the guidance that comes from my Divine Self.

Have you lost your connection to creativity? Often, as we “grow up”, we take on full time jobs and other responsibilities, and lose sight of the ways in which we used to feel our most creative. Are you feeling wiped out far more often than you’d like? Are you exhausted to a degree that doesn’t seem to match the level of activity you maintain? Reconnecting with creative undertakings in any form will help to open you back up to the flow of Universal Love and Light energy. Sometimes, we set down our creative endeavors because we are afraid of not being good enough. We fear that whatever we put out into the world will be made fun of or unappreciated. If you are in that space now, the only way out is to confront your fears and start creating anyway. Even if your creations never see the light of day, you will still reap the benefits of having created them.

Has it been so long that you don’t even know what to create anymore? Ask the Universe to guide you and then pay attention to what comes into your realm of awareness in the coming days. Notice what you feel drawn towards, and even if it feels intimidating, go after it. You will find that being open to new creative experiences and facing your fears will lead you to a whole new level of energy and vibrancy in all parts of your life.

Mantra of the day: I create freely from a place of Love within, and I am connected to the creative energy of the entire Universe. Through creativity, I heal my own being and invite others to do the same.

Today, I find myself in the midst of several different creative and work-related projects at the same time, not to mention parenting my two girls. I’m sitting here as they both nap, and suddenly my head is spinning with inspired thought after inspired thought. I feel like I am waking up to a whole new reality of just how much creative energy I can channel through my being. And yet, at the same time, there are human limitations to my physical body. I get tired, I get hungry, I get thirsty, I get emotional. All of my human-ness must come along for the ride and be honored as well.

How can we experience our energetic, inspired soul selves and also our human physicality and restraints in a balanced way? Focused intention is the key. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and check in to see how you’re feeling. Does your physical body have any needs at the moment? Perhaps a glass of water and a snack, take the time to make that happen first. Once those needs are met, decide which project is calling you at the moment. Focus your intention to work on that one single thing, while at the same time holding space for any interruption the Universe may bring. (My interruption usually comes in the form of one or both waking children! And I make sure to meet them with joy when they wake, for their timing is always as it should be. Any project can wait. Allow the same space for whatever your interruptions may be. We never need to rush.) Once you feel done with that project, whether it is completed or not, begin the process again. Check in for physical body needs, then move your focused intention to the next thing. Do your best to maintain focus and not divide your attention. Close any extra windows on your computer that may be distracting, silence your phone, draw your energy in to fuel your current focus. And when you check in again, if you feel the need to rest, set everything aside and rest. Trust that everything will be completed in due time, it is more valuable to honor the break that you need at the moment.

Mantra of the day: I am always able to balance the needs of my physical and energetic bodies with the work that I am here to complete. I let go of the idea that there is value to hurrying through things or dividing my attention. I am flexible to change my plans however I feel called to in the moment.

When we have a strong sense of self, it is much easier to be out in the world without being swayed by those around us. In the same way, when our energetic body is strong and we are aware of how it feels, we will become a lot less open to picking up other people’s negative energy.

By sitting in meditation regularly, you can become more and more aware of what your own aura (energetic space) feels like. It is helpful to check in every morning and see how you feel that day. In addition to becoming aware of how your energetic body feels, also tune in to the way that your physical body feels.

Checking in this way will give you a baseline to measure from throughout the day. You will become more aware of how your physical and energetic bodies are affected by the things in your life. We can feel shifts from certain activities, what we eat, being around other people, even thinking of other people. Notice how each thing makes you feel. This is how you will know what is right for you and what is not. There may be some wonderful, seemingly life-affirming things out there in the world that just don’t feel right in your energy field. I have experienced this with other people. There are people who I absolutely love, respect, enjoy, and yet- when we are in the same space, I get a terrible feeling inside. Don’t read too deeply into these reactions, just follow the wisdom of your body. Perhaps there is something in that connection for me that would lead me in a direction that isn’t best. I just trust it. Some things cannot be explained.

Mantra of the day: I pay attention to the way that things feel in my energetic and physical bodies. I stay centered in Love and calmly leave behind anything that doesn’t feel good to me.

Anger is always appropriate, as it is a necessary piece of our emotional experience in this lifetime. Anger needs to be expressed and it also needs to be heard. Too often, we are afraid to express what we might view to be a “bad” emotion. Or, we hold it in so long, that we have now turned it into rage, and it’s expression becomes volatile and unexpected. We can even repress our anger so deeply that we have no idea how to begin to express it anymore. It is time to learn to embrace your anger when it comes up, to express it and be heard in a safe way so that you can fully release it from your body. Perhaps the safest space to be witnessed in your most intense emotions is in nature. The spirits of the trees are so grounded through their roots and they hold a steadfast, strong space for healing. Go into nature and release your anger. You can use your voice, you can use a drum, you can use whatever feels most expressive to you. Allow yourself to be witnessed by the spirits of nature. Thank them for holding this space for you. By moving through the most overwhelming depths of anger, you will begin to transform it and find your power within. But first, you must be sure that you are not holding it back within you.

* Often, when we feel anger, it may be directed at something external. Another person, a thing, an idea, something that has happened, etc. It is important to remember that the root of what we are feeling is internal, even if something external is provoking us. That is why the recommendation is to release in your own safe space. It is inevitable that there will be times when anger comes out towards another person because you simply cannot contain it anymore. This is usually the product of past repression, which we may not have been previously aware of. When these moments occur, understand that perhaps your expression was for the greater good in some way we cannot see. Take responsibility for the energy you put out to someone by drawing your angry words and actions back to yourself in meditation and releasing them to the Earth below to be turned into Love. Be gentle and forgiving with yourself, and make further anger expression in a safe space a priority in your schedule. Offer words of apology directly if they feel needed, or meditate and visualize the other person surrounded by a pink light of Love and Healing.

Mantra of the day: I experience my emotions fully, expressing them when they arise, releasing them from my body. By honoring the emotions that come through me, I transform their energy into something new.

You may find yourself in the midst of the process of opening. And, oh, what a painful process it can be! When it feels like everything is falling apart, trust that everything is indeed actually falling together. Something must be removed from your life to make space for a new thing that will be more suited to your path and your purpose. What is the best way to be in these times? Open, accepting, and full of compassion for yourself. When it gets tough and you feel grief and sadness to the very bone, let it be. Feel that grief and sadness with every ounce of your being, until you are ready to let it go. Ask for support. Ask for someone to make food for you. Ask for someone to come by and check in on you. Rely on those around you to help in whatever way feels best. Then release those feelings from your body when you are ready.

How will you know what to do next? Doors of opportunity (or sometimes windows) will begin to appear in front of you. If you feel unsure that these doors are right for you, get quiet in meditation and check in with your body to see how it feels about what is in front of you. Nothing happens as an accident, there is always a purpose or a reason. Open as many doors and windows as arrive that feel right. Then simply trust and allow Spirit to work magic!

Mantra of the day: I am open to new and wonderful opportunities that come before me. I trust that Spirit is guiding me and I believe in the magic!

What is the purpose or message of illness? It is,first and foremost, a message to slow down. Perhaps to remove many external obligations from your life and begin to do some internal exploration. Illness comes when we are in some way out of balance, as it is true that the body will always work to maintain it’s best possible state of health given the circumstances. The cause and degree of each person’s experience with illness can vary greatly, but the overall message is the same. Get quiet, get still, stop DOING, and rest. Begin to evaluate every thing that you can choose to take on or leave behind. Begin to evaluate the conditions that your body has found itself in that have allowed for your health to become compromised. This is not to say in any way that illness is your fault. We are all doing the best we can with what we know. But do consider any time of illness to be a cue from the Universe for stillness and introspection.

What does it feel like to stop DOING and lay in bed or on the couch all day? Are you able to get creative with your obligations and be sure to allow yourself to rest? These are some good starting points for further exploration. Be gentle with yourself and allow the process of healing to unfold.

Mantra of the day: I am in tune with the internal flow of my physical body. I slow down when that is what I need.

What is your relationship to the idea of asking for help? Do you consider it to be a sign of weakness or something to be ashamed of? Maybe you, like me, have moved beyond thinking of it this way, but it is still a stumbling block on some level. And yet, when we have been asked for help, do we not freely give? If you’ve been thinking about asking for help, now is the time.

What happens for some, and what makes the exchange feel “yucky” sometimes, is that giving becomes a move of power over another. The thought is something along the lines of “I am giving to you to prove that I have more than you do.” or “I am giving to you because I pity you.” or some other variation of the same concept. Often, those who give in this manner are not even aware of it! And when we ask and receive, someone may give with such a subconscious intent. Upon receiving any physical gift from anyone, it is valuable to accept it and then clear it before you integrate it into your life. (You can clear a physical item through a quick meditation setting your intention to clear it of anyone else’s energy, then filling it up with love and light.) Upon receiving an intangible gift, clear yourself by doing a grounding and clearing meditation. This is not to say that you are assuming the person is sending you negative energy! We really don’t want to be taking on another person’s energy in any manner, and so it is best to clear anything you receive. If a gift ever really doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to say “I will receive the love behind your gesture but this gift is not for me.”

In addition to that, if you are giving a gift, it is best to clear the item and then focus your intention on sending only love to the recipient. That way, you can be sure you are taking responsibility for your own energy in any exchange.

Mantra of the day: I ask for the help that I need. I gracefully receive what feels right to me with gratitude and joy.