Stewards for All Time

It's a rare time that I will post anything that smacks of "preaching" on this website. But we had an interesting discussion in our family yesterday that I'd like to share with you. The conversation was about investing, and it centered around the question "what are the best ways to invest?" with options like stocks and mutual funds being explored. I wasn't really participating in the discussion, but rather going about my business, letting the discussion swirl around me but not impact me, as I'm sure we all do with talk that we can hear but that doesn't particularly interest us.

However, my ears perked up when I heard one of the group say "Mutual funds are probably the overall safest investment, but the most profitable investment right now would be oil." This was followed with a discussion about the economy, the scarcities of resources, and how one should always seek out the best profit they can. My response was immediate, measured, and - totally unlike me - completely calm. I said, clearly and matter-of-factly, "profit should never come at the expense of the planet and those who live upon her." By "those who live upon her" I mean humans of course, but also all creatures and indeed, all of consciousness.

My comment was met with the following statement "one should never invest from the heart or from the emotions". To which I replied, again calmly, clearly, and matter-of-factly, "profit should never come at the expense of the planet and those upon her." The conversation continued for a short while, using arguments for profit over welfare like "profit is always first and always has been, this is the society that we live in" and other similar "they do it so we need to do it" mentality. I added that the world is changing, that around the world people are beginning to impact and change the way that "society" acts. At that point some show or other came on TV that everyone wanted to watch, and the discussion was dropped.

What I did not say, that I wish I had said, is that we are not the owners of this planet. We are the stewards. We don't own the planet, therefore we don't get to behave as if we did. If you get right down to it, we don't own anything. Not the land we build our homes and businesses on, not the homes and businesses themselves. We don't even own our own bodies. We are consciousness incarnate in a sentient being called the human body and our relationship to that body and everything around us is as stewards.

As stewards of our world, it is up to us - each and every one of us - to live our lives as if it mattered what beliefs we hold, what words we speak, what decisions we make, what actions we take. While some of us accept the existence and assistance of benevolent ETs, no one, not even ETs is going to change this planet for us. We are. We are the top of the food chain, the conscious beings left in charge - the stewards. It is up to us, one individual at a time, one decision at a time, to take responsibility for our own behavior in regards to that responsibility. That doesn't take speeches or rallies or gatherings, although those can certainly help raise awareness. It takes each one of us as individuals living ours lives as if we personally were responsible for this planet and everything upon her. Because we are.

I will say it again, and again, and again if necessary, until the entire human race has awoken to the fact that profit can no longer be put before the welfare of the planet. We are her stewards, and as such it is our responsibility to bring about the changes that will take this world into our next evolutionary stage of development. No longer can we afford to follow the lead of those "in authority" whether that authority be government, business, schools, organizations, or even family, when we know clearly in our hearts that the decision(s) being made and/or the method(s) being employed go against the best interests of our planet, ourselves, and all manner of creature and beast.

It's time we each looked deeply into our hearts - and into our souls - for the image of what we want this world to be, and then live our lives continually gauging how things are going and how we are doing based on that image. Mass change doesn't happen over night, and it doesn't happen from a big rally. But it does happen, and It happens one individual at a time. It happens in each home, in each classroom, in each office, in each grocery store, each and every day, by the thoughts that we think, by the words that we speak and by the actions that we take.

Live as if the world already was exactly as you wish it to be .. and it will become that. One individual - one steward - at a time.

Building the House of Awakening

Enjoy this very inspirational reminder of who you be in relationship to those who are newly awakening. Take a moment to appreciate your very special contribution, whether you are aware of what that contribution is or not. You are special! .. and you are never alone.

Something About Trees

September 1, 2008
Jean Tinder
You Are God Also

Sitting here looking out my office window at all the aspen, pine and spruce trees that are close enough to touch, I remember that without them I could not be here, for they create the oxygen that sustains me. They breathe so that I can breathe. In fact, I am breathing the oxygen created by trees thousands of miles away from me and I am grateful for the life they make possible.

Do you know that you are breathing life for those who follow? You are creating the essence – the New Energy oxygen – for their awakening, simply by going about your life, being who you are, and breathing for yourself. Those trees on the other side of the world don’t know I’m breathing the air they have enriched. They are simply being trees, standing tall, swaying with the wind, experiencing the weather, reaching deep into the earth, and offering their presence.

Just the same, you may not know all the humans that you touch with the energy you bring. You only need to live, breathe, flow with the moment, experience whatever is happening, reach deep inside and simply be. Just as the trees have made it possible for you to breathe, you have helped make it possible for others to awaken.

This beautiful House of Awakening that is nearly complete has been built on the foundation of compassion. And like a house can be built from the wood of trees, this House is built from the consciousness of your breath. Every time you choose to breathe, you are choosing life; you are choosing to love yourself; you are choosing clarity, compassion and wholeness - and these are the substance of every fiber of the House of Awakening.

You have designed this House with every moment of life you chose to live, constructed it with every conscious breath you chose to receive – and it has taken no more effort than it takes a tree to grow. Turning your life into the substance of awakening takes no more effort than for the tree to turn the sun into oxygen. It’s simply the nature of who you are.

Are you ready to be and know who you really are? Can you let go of your limitations and doubts, your fears and hesitation? You will probably still feel these things at times, but can you let go of thinking they are yours and simply breathe with them in compassion?

The doubt that you transform today may form a picture on the wall in the House of Awakening that tomorrow will be seen by someone in another land, reminding them to trust themselves.

The fear that you embrace tonight may knit a blanket of courage that warms another soul as they lie dreaming in our House tomorrow night.

The pain you breathe through tomorrow may write the story that someone reads, sitting in the library of our House next week.

The frustration and confusion that baffle you – until you remember to breathe – is paving the pathway of clarity that winds through the gardens of our House and bring Aha’s of knowing to those who walk here next year.

Do you see…

…how carefully we have crafted every part and every detail in this House of Awakening?

…how the challenges you’ve faced have served to place a treasure in the House for someone else?

…how your darkest moments have only been because you went into one of the newest rooms to light it with your compassion and then furnish it with your wisdom?

…how, by breathing through feelings that are not even yours, you have created the fixtures of trust, compassion, self-love and courage?

...how sometimes you can’t see your grandness for a moment because the welder’s hat has obscured your vision while you’re finishing up a particularly beautiful part of the House?

…how the shambles that might surround you is simply the chaos of a building site where a mansion is emerging?

…how you can choose easy when a challenge appears, dive into the moment as it unfolds, and trust that your breath is all you need?

…how that very choice and that very breath is changing the world before your eyes?

The construction of this House of Awakening required the best architects, the wisest designers, the most compassionate decorators – and YOU are on the team. Will you let yourself remember who you really are? And, when you get a glimpse of your amazing Self and wonder if it’s true, remember: the grander it is, the truer it is.

This House of Awakening has been built with every conscious breath you take; and it has been nailed and glued and loved together with every beat of your loving heart.

After the Fact

Do you ever find yourself creating a feeling - particularly a negative feeling - based on something that happened in the past? Here's the idea: You're feeling pretty good, then your mind pictures an experience that normally would have you not feeling so great, compares it to the current experience and then, through the power of the memory, you start feeling bad?

I found myself doing just that. Our grandson is learning to use the potty, and between me determining that "now might be a good time to try" and him indicating that he had to pee or poo, he was on the potty 7 times in 5 hours. The potty that we've been using for this is on the second floor, which means up a flight of stairs. I have my office, another bathroom, and other important rooms in the basement, which is down a flight of stairs. Sometimes he chooses "down a stairs" instead of "up a stairs" for potty attempt, so I get stair-climbing either way. All in all, in one 5 hour period, I have probably been up and down the two different stair cases over a dozen times. Normally I'd be feeling the effects of that much up-and-down, but today I wasn't.

Then the most amazing thing happened: In my mind flashed images of other times I'd just gone up and down a few times, but felt tired and out of breath from the experience. Just that tiny memory sent my body into the same feelings - tired and out of breath. Just from the memory! That old pattern, the one that said I ought to be tired or out of breath, even though I wasn't, affected my present moment in a not particularly pleasant way. Once I realized what was happening I said to myself "this is ridiculous! I'm not going to be a slave to my past" and immediately all the negative feelings went away. It was a great reminder of how the past can reach out and grab us, taking our feelings - both emotional and physical - along with us.

As a child I recall recoiling in fear every time I was taken to the pediatrician. The memory that invariably popped into my mind was the one where shots were given, or when the doctor worked on me even though I was screaming in pain. I suppose it's a natural thing for the mind to present us with the worst possible scenario in order to protect us, but boy does it limit our ability to enjoy our present!

I'm finding that the best thing we can do when we notice feelings that don't match how we want to feel is to breathe and get grounded. If the feeling continues, try to just allow the feeling to pass through your body. If it seems significant you might ask "what's this all about?" If no answer is forthcoming, just let it go. You might be get a thought or an image at some later time that will open up your understanding of the issue. Try not to get judgmental with yourself, these are the times when beliefs that no longer serve us are being released, so it's completely appropriate to release them!

Free vs Paid Services, Can We Come to Terms?

There's been a lot of controversy recently, followed by a lot of upset, as different spiritual and metaphysical web sites shift from a completely free model to a pay, or mostly pay, subscription-based model. While the site organizers struggle to come to terms with charging for what they have heretofore believed should be free - and have been offering for free - some subscribers are struggling to accept why they should have to pay to continue to subscribe at all. Some few of them are even holding up the old "if you're really spiritual you shouldn't be charging anything" card.

As I was attempting to respond to all these mixed feelings, the following article, written in 2006 by Steve Pavlina, came into my awareness. It speaks to what I believe is the real issue, and offers some important advice for working through that issue. So rather than "reinvent the wheel" so to speak, I'll simply allow Steve to tell this very important story. If you are struggling with similar issues, I hope the information brings you peace and improves your life in some small way.

Lightworker Syndrome
by Steve Pavlina

One obstacle that traps a lot of highly conscious people is what Erin and I call Lightworker Syndrome. This is what happens when someone wakes up to a higher level of consciousness, but they can’t figure out how to live on purpose and feed themselves at the same time. Such people have a lot of trouble staying connected to higher levels of consciousness while also remaining solidly grounded in the physical world. Many of them get so frustrated with the experience they become depressed and have feelings of wanting to give up and just “go home” (i.e. return to the nonphysical world).

Spiritual connectedness vs. physical groundedness

These troubled lightworkers often feel they must compromise: either stay connected up top and be totally ungrounded, or lose that higher connection and become more grounded. But this is a really tough compromise, so many of them oscillate back and forth, never quite sure which is the right way to go.

Consequently, these lightworkers either do empty work they don’t enjoy but which pays OK, or they do purpose-centered work that hardly pays anything. They end up sacrificing either their purpose or their income, since it’s very, very challenging to satisfy both at the same time. But this either-or decision takes a toll in the long run. It’s hard to stay on purpose if you’re worried about paying the rent, and it’s hard to generate good income if your work doesn’t inspire you.

The real trap is the either-or belief itself. It’s a mistake to think you can’t attract abundant resources doing what you love. It’s also a mistake to think that staying broke is the best way to help other people. Many lightworkers are so sensitive to the idea of sacrificing their purpose for money that they figure it’s better to have no money at all… or barely enough to get by.

As is typical of other lightworkers, I’m very sensitive to the idea of making money “the wrong way.” I have a strong disinclination — I would actually call it total disgust — of violating my values to generate income. However, when you’re faced with financial scarcity and have to pay the rent or lose your home, it’s really tough to maintain integrity because under stress you’ll likely lower your vibration and bring your awareness down. You effectively become a different person. When your survival and stability are threatened, those become your priority. Fortunately I haven’t been in this situation for a long time, but I certainly know what it’s like. It’s pretty darn hard to think about serving others when you’re behind on your rent, deep in debt, and you discover a 3-day pay-or-quit notice taped to the door of your apartment.

I’m not going to tell you the solution is to choose between your higher connection and your groundedness. As you can probably guess, the solution is that you need both. But you won’t be able to get there until you understand why you don’t already have both right now.

Fearing your own power

The reason you can’t maintain your stable connection to Source AND remain grounded at the same time is that you’re afraid of what it will mean if you succeed.

There’s a good chance you won’t agree with that statement — I wouldn’t have agreed with it a few years ago — but please keep an open mind while I explain why this is so.

First of all, it is possible to stay connected to Source and be grounded at the same time. This isn’t just some new agey concept — it’s downright practical.

On the one hand, I have my purpose, my spiritual beliefs, and my feeling of connection to everyone. When I resonate with those thoughts, I’m motivated to serve and help people all day long. On the other hand, I also live in the physical world. I need to provide the basic needs for myself and my family, which in practical terms means I need an income. So I can’t be too airy-fairy if it means I don’t have a place to live. I have to stay properly grounded.

Connectedness + groundedness = synergy

At their core these two sides aren’t really in conflict. They may be different energies, but they’re not inherently opposed to each other. In fact, they serve to support each other. The spiritual side provides abiding motivation. When I feel connected up top, I’m driven. I’m passionate. I’m energized. And I’m also peaceful. That’s powerful motivation to do some kind of work — work that could very well help me become more grounded simply by generating some income. And on the other side, when I’m more grounded, more physically and financially stable, I have more freedom. I have a greater capacity. I don’t have to worry about paying the bills. And that lends itself to the spiritual side because I have the capacity to devote more time to spiritual pursuits. So these two energies are naturally complementary. When they work together, they work synergistically.

Truthfully I can say to you that this is what I experience in my life as my normal state of being. I feel I have a great balance of conscious connectedness and physical world grounding. I attend to both sides.

This did not happen by accident though. It happened by conscious choice. I really had to stop and do a total life redesign to make it work. That happened in 2004 before I made the decision to start this web site.

What will happen if you succeed?

Now this may sound a bit strange, but for me the decision wasn’t as balanced as I probably just made it sound. I know a lot of would-be lightworkers are concerned they can’t make a living pursuing their purpose. I didn’t have that problem though. I felt confident I could make a living at it somehow. What really held me back was whether I felt comfortable doing it at all. My real fear was: What’s going to happen if this actually works? What if I succeed?

Only after I achieved a stable balance between connectedness and groundedness did I begin to recognize this same pattern in other lightworkers. At first I figured it was unique to me, but I was wrong about that. I see the same pattern everywhere now. Whenever I see a broke lightworker, I invariably see an underlying fear of success. If I confront the person about it, they will usually resist the notion, which I completely understand, but the pattern is so strong that once you see it, it’s undeniable.

The real barrier to achieving the connectedness-groundedness balance is the limiting beliefs you may have about what will happen after you achieve this balance. What will realistically happen when you’re honoring your life’s purpose and making more than enough money to sustainably do it for the rest of your life?

Well, I can tell you what will happen because I’ve already turned that page. Here’s what’s likely to happen. You’re going to succeed in a big way. When you’re doing what you love and generating plenty of income from it, it creates a positive spiral. Those two sides support each other. Your purpose drives your actions, your actions drive your results, and your results produce income. Your income gives you more freedom and more fuel for your purpose. And the whole thing just keeps going because once achieved, it’s a stable pattern.

With great power comes great responsibility

This might sound like a good thing. And truthfully it is a good thing. But I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “With great power comes great responsibility.” And that is exactly what lightworker syndrome sufferers fear most. They fear that if they actually succeed, they’ll have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.

That fear is what kills their income. The best way to increase your income is to help more people. In practice it’s not that difficult to do — IF your beliefs will let you. The desire to reach out and help more people is what drove me to build so much web traffic. I’ve met many lightworkers who are able to provide genuine value to others, but they’re doing so on a very limited basis. When I toss out a few simple suggestions on how they could fairly easily double their income (or more) by doubling the number of people they help (without working harder or longer), the usual response is resistance and excuse-making. I can see the real answer in their eyes though — they fear what will happen if they actually succeed. So they keep themselves in a position where they make just enough to maintain the status quo, but not enough to get ahead. And if they do somehow make lots of money, they’ll keep themselves so busy they won’t have the time to seriously think about their true purpose for being here.

Overcoming fear of responsibility

I ran this exact pattern for many years. The only way I escaped it was to confront those fears head-on. I admitted to myself that I had the internal resources to be doing much better, but I was holding myself back. I knew I wasn’t doing my best, but why not? I wasn’t doing my best because I wasn’t ready to accept the consequences of doing my best.

If I really did my best, I’d have a bigger impact. I’d draw a lot of people to me. I’d end up with a lot of responsibility. Scary.

Well, guess what. Those fears were accurate. I do have a lot of responsibility. Once I achieved the connectedness-groundedness balance and got that positive spiral going, my results took off. They’re still taking off. This web site is now getting about 200,000 page views a day. I’m generating way more income than I need to cover my basic needs… more than $1000 per day, whether I work or not. I fully expect this increase will continue spiraling for a long time to come. But I didn’t reach this point by focusing on getting more and more for myself. That kind of motivation would have been too weak. My real motivation comes from a deep desire to make a positive difference in the world. My passion comes from my purpose, not my income.

However, I couldn’t tap into that motivation until I first overcame my fear of success. I had to first accept that if I did my very best and succeeded, I was going to end up with far more responsibility. I had to become a “vibrational match” for that scenario; otherwise I’d never be able to attract it and maintain it.

I had to answer those tough questions: Who am I to reach the point of influencing thousands of people a day, even while I’m sleeping? Who am I to tell people how to improve their lives? Who am I to try to make a difference?

Subconsciously I couldn’t handle those questions, so for years I just maintained my status quo position as a seemingly contented computer game developer. Occasionally I would journal about them though, but it wasn’t enough to get me past the underlying fear of success.

Position vs. power

What eventually allowed me to break that pattern was when I looked at the situation from a different angle. I was thinking about the idea, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and I noticed I’d been assuming that my power would increase if I really did my best. In other words I equated power with position. As my position increased, so would my power… and thereby so would my responsibility.

At that point I had a revelation that threw me for a loop. What if power didn’t come from position? If I have the potential to achieve a greater position, but I’m not pursuing it, doesn’t that mean I actually do have the power? If I don’t exercise my power, it doesn’t mean I’m powerless. It just means I’m inactive.

I thought to myself, “Crap! I’ve been thinking all this time that I’m staving off power (and thus responsibility) by declining to act. But all I’m really doing is giving up control. If I have the potential, then I have the power, which means I have the responsibility too, whether I act on it or not.” Failure to act does NOT relieve one of responsibility.

It was then that I had an epiphany. I realized I could never escape responsibility by failing to act. The only thing I could escape was control. This is why I say you can give up control but never responsibility. Responsibility is a given.

That realization gave me a good kick in my complacency. Even though I felt like I was in a relatively powerless position on the outside, in that moment I finally accepted my inner power. That included accepting responsibility for that power. And of course by the law of attraction, once I began resonating with that inner power, it was only a matter of time before the outer world reflected it. If you’ve been following this web site for a year or more, then you’ve seen that manifestation unfolding before your eyes, and you’ll see that process continue over the next year as well.

Responsibility is a privilege

That thinking process got me out of my ego and past my fear of success. When I realized I couldn’t escape responsibility no matter what my external position looked like, it made sense to just accept it. My fear wasn’t at some distant point in the future — it was already here and now.

You see… even though my external position may seem more burdened by responsibility than yours, in truth you have just as much responsibility as I do. And that’s because you have great inner power just as I do. Maybe you’ve accepted it, and maybe you haven’t, but the power is there, and the responsibility it bestows is inescapable.

Even though we’ve probably never met, I feel a deep sense of responsibility towards you right now. I feel honor-bound to do the best I can to help you grow — because I can. It may seem like my position gives me the power to do that, but that isn’t accurate. Power doesn’t come from position. Position comes from power. Because I have the power to help you grow, I must help you grow. You may not accept my help, but that doesn’t make me feel any less responsible to you. I feel responsible to everyone.

That feeling of responsibility, however, isn’t the burden I once feared it would be. When I accepted my inner power, responsibility became a privilege. I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to help so many people each day, even while I’m sleeping.

Overcoming Lightworker Syndrome

So what does all of this have to do with overcoming Lightworker Syndrome? Lightworker Syndrome is a lack of acceptance of one’s power. That lack of acceptance is what manifests the apparent conflict between connectedness to Source and groundedness in physical reality. As within, so without. Your inner conflict manifests in your external reality. In truth you are simply getting what you’re intending. You fear your real power, so you silently intend it to remain dim. This manifests a never-ending series of distractions to keep you preoccupied enough that you don’t have to think about what you’re really doing — keeping yourself small because you’re afraid of too much responsibility.

If you recognize you’re suffering from Lightworker Syndrome right now, I have a lot of compassion for you. Having gone through it myself, I know how hard it is. But you must recognize you’ll never solve this problem at the same level of thinking that created it. Realize you’re the one who’s manifesting the annoying health problems, the “unexpected” financial crisis that suddenly wipes out your savings just when you start to get ahead, the unfulfilling relationship, etc. You’re manifesting all of it because you’re resonating with fear — it’s one giant distraction. You can hack at the branches all you want, but you’ll only be spinning your wheels. Whenever you’re ready, you have the power to turn off those petty problems and stop manifesting them, but once you do that, you’re going to have to deal with the real issue of why you’re here. Deep down you know that’s the truth, don’t you?

The major turning point for me occurred when I finally surrendered and said, “Enough already! I’m done with living small. I’m tired of dealing with one pointless crisis after another. I know this isn’t what I came here to do. I don’t know if I can handle what might happen if I tap into my real potential, but I can’t accept going my whole life without finding out. So I’m going for it. If I go broke, I go broke. But if I go this route in good faith, the universe had damned well better back me up.”

I have to credit the results of the past two years to that decision. That’s what cured me of Lightworker Syndrome. Once I experienced the inner shift, I entered that positive spiral where my connectedness and groundedness supported each other beautifully. Attracting more money and a larger audience just means I have a greater capacity to give. And I’m always finding new ways for my connectedness and groundedness to move into better harmony with each other.

Embracing your inner light

If you consider yourself a lightworker, understand that your real work is to accept and embrace your inner light. You are meant to shine, not to be snuffed out. If you feel that life in this physical universe is dragging you down, it’s because you aren’t yet in vibrational harmony with your light. The more you fear it, the more you’ll attract distracting problems that have little or nothing to do with your purpose. But whenever you’re ready, you can say to the universe, “OK. I’m ready. I’m going to pursue my purpose with all my heart and soul, and you’d better back me up.” Once you make a committed decision, you’ll attract all the help and resources you need. You’ll be shocked at just how easy it is.

You came here to do some serious good for this planet, so get busy and go do it. You’re not fooling anyone by standing still. You’re responsible to do what you came here to do whether you do it or not. And if you’re going to be responsible, you might as well accept and embrace the power to do something about it. Staying small serves no one, least of all you. This planet needs you now, not tomorrow… not someday. Don’t let us down, and especially don’t let yourself down.

I shall leave you with a quote from Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Article copyright and courtesy of Steve Pavlina. Many thanks to Maja at The Smiling Soul for bringing it to my attention!

Responding to World Events

The following message from Selacia and The Council of 12 is a good reminder to all of us to stand apart from news of global happenings, at least long enough to sense the energy of the whole situation and feel into our personal response.

The Council alludes, but doesn't really say, that it's far more useful for us to determine how we want to see things proactively than to react - which is almost always knee-jerk - to what is playing out in front of us. When we find ourselves engaged in drama, it makes sense to disconnect, breath and find our center, then focus on the outcome we'd like to see. From that place of quiet, right action as it involves each of us as individuals will be made clear.

Responding to World Events
A Council of 12 Message, 2/9/11
Copyright 2011 by Selacia
www.selacia.com

Look beyond the surface appearances of what's in the news now. There are many agendas being played out in the coverage you see. Stand back from the headlines -- far enough away to receive your own truth. After all, you are learning to find your own truth. You are alive now to discover a light-filled way to be.

In these times of extremes, avoid pack mentality that tells you to follow each move of the world's chaotic events. You will find clarity by keeping events in perspective and listening deeply to your heart. Few events in the news now are really a "10" -- avoid reacting to them with "10" energy.

The life of a divine changemaker is not defined by the headlines in the news. Regardless of outer circumstances and current happenings, you are learning to trust in your ability to skillfully view and navigate the path.

Your Role Now

Your role in times of chaos is to be the voice of sanity and intuitively guided reason. Avoid getting caught up in crowd mentality and extreme hysteria that can accompany the falling away of outmoded structures.

Change is in the air. You are a part of that change. You are meant to be an active participant in changes occurring now. Vote for the changes you want by how you live your life, by what you focus on, and by what you buy.

Remember when things happen that nothing is random. When new people come into your life, or people leave your life, these are not random occurrences. These times involve vast amounts of shifting; this will include your relationships and your relationship to everyday things like work and play.

When you realize that life is not a series of random events you can begin to appreciate the present moment. Each one of those present moments is part of the grand tapestry of your path. Appreciating them as they come connects you with a joy of being.

What can you do right now?

Find something to smile about and give that smile to the world today. The world around you is in a reconstruction process; to help this phase of great change go more smoothly, spread your light. Do this whenever you can, wherever you can. You are an integral part of the shifting and you can do your part to bring lightness of being. The people you encounter when smiling will be uplifted; they can then uplift others.

The world is ready for you now. Are you ready for the world?

As you continue the journey of discovering your divine nature, we surround you with our love and blessings. We are The Council of 12.

Copyright 2011 by Selacia, Channel for The Council of 12

More on "Be Here Now"

The following message from Archangel Uriel through Jennifer Hoffman at Uriel Heals, called "Live Where You Are" gives us yet another peak into what it means to "be here Now". With each passing moment, with each event we experience, being here Now becomes ever more important. While our goal is to raise our consciousness and move into higher and higher vibrations, the ultimate way to achieve that is to be present and appreciate every moment for exactly what it is.

Uriel's Message -- Live Where You Are

The presence of your physical body in each moment is in perfect alignment with your healing path, the destiny you have created for your life, the soul intention for this lifetime, your karmic history and life purpose. Within each moment there is a specific energetic vibration you resonate with and it is in harmony with your place in the world. This is where you live; it is your experience of life, where the path you are on meets the journey that is your lifetime and when you are not fully in your life in this moment and place, you are not living.

As your awareness of alternate paths, dimensions, realities and even universes is awakened, you have opportunities to experience many different life paths. This is a shift that can happen within a moment but you cannot live with the expectation that this can and will happen, denying yourself the joy and peace you believe is available to you at higher dimensions or vibrations. There is joy and peace at every level of awareness and if your awareness is in a different time or place, you are no longer grounded in your self, your life, your experiences and your path.

Within each moment is a perfect experience that holds the answer to every question, the completion of every lesson, the fulfillment of each dream. If you long for the future while cursing the life you have in the present moment you are not in touch with your power. While you may feel powerless in a situation, the power you need is there for you but you are not connected to it because you feel it is somewhere else. A situation does not rob your of your power; you give your power away to the people, circumstances, situations and events that make you feel powerless. To reclaim your life and begin living again you must reclaim your power and live where you are in each moment.

The purpose of your life is to remember who you are and that is part of each moment. Your divinity, soul essence and light are always part of you, no matter what circumstances you are facing. Each moment is a powerful one, if you live where you are. Remember that life is occurring within and all around you in each moment. Your life is not in the future, some other dimension or at a different vibration. It is happening as you created it, in the right place and at the right time. Anything can be transformed when you remember to step forward from the place where you live, which is where you are right now, and set your intention for each thing you wish for in this moment, which helps create it in the next.

Archangel Uriel through Jennifer Hoffman
Uriel Heals

2012 – what will happen?

There's probably as much speculation about 2012 and the coming days - about what might or might not happen - as there are people to have an opinion. But no matter what the specifics - and specifics are hard to come by as we are creating our future one moment at a time - most lightworkers agree that powerful energies continue to flood into our world, and that as each day passes it becomes more and more crucial that we focus on raising our personal and global consciousness.

On this topic, I found the following from Diana Cooper to be interesting and helpful. I particularly appreciate the Vision Prayer she gives near the end of the article. Note that this article was written in September of 2008, so any predictions given would have been a snapshot of that moment in time, not necessarily true today.

From Diana's Newsletter - September 2008
September 8th, 2008

2012 – what will happen?

As this date approaches more and more people are asking what is going to happen on 21st December, 2012 – and what afterwards.

The moment of 11.11 on the 21st December 2012 marks the end of the 26,000 year outbreath of Brahma or Source. There will be a cosmic moment of silence throughout the universe, during which time anything can happen.

Kumeka [Diana's spirit guide] says that, based on the current consciousness 11% of the population will become enlightened and could ascend at the cosmic moment, most of them choosing to remain in a physical body carrying a higher level of light.

He said that the vast masses at the third dimension had not progressed as hoped and were holding everything back. However, they will be very much affected by the climate of change, depending on the level of mass consciousness. We have important work to do.

The majority of those currently at the fourth dimension will rise to the fifth dimension. Those currently in the fifth dimension may ascend. This will accelerate after 2012.

He adds that another sudden step in consciousness will take place at 11.11 on the 11th November, 2011. At this moment many will become enlightened. Some will open up psychically, which may cause them to panic. These changes may be frightening for the masses, so those who carry more light will be able to help them, acting as beacons and teachers. For those who are ready there is a great deal to be done and many opportunities for accelerated spiritual growth available.

In between 11th November 2011 and 21st December 2012 there is a period of huge opportunity when the gateway to heaven will be open.

After 2012 people will become conscious co-creators and many will have their full psychic and spiritual gifts restored.

Preparing for the cosmic moments

These are divine moments when anything can happen. Miracles and wonders beyond imagining might take place. At this time anything can happen and this is why the ancients could not see beyond this point. We are due a step change in consciousness.

For some time I have been meditating on the best way to help us all to utilise the cosmic moments, 11.11 on 11.11 2011 and 11.11 on 21.12.2012. The latter is the Friday before Christmas 2012. I was walking a labyrinth when Melchizedek, the head of the Melchizedek priesthood, who is overlighting the Diana Cooper School connected with me.

Melchizedek communicated that the most effective way to prepare people to receive the energy would be to offer a prayer, then an 11 minute ohm, to raise everyone’s frequency. This would be followed by a one minute silence during the cosmic moments.

Melchizedek said that the whole world needs to start now building up the energy for that time.

How to use the Law of Prayer

Remember the Law of Prayer, give thanks for what you ask for with faith that it is already granted. First state your request or vision, then express gratitude, knowing that it is already granted.

Vision prayer for 2012

I have a vision where all people are at peace, fed and housed,
every child is loved and educated to develop their talents,
where the heart is more important than the head and wisdom is revered over riches.

In this world justice, equality and fairness rule.
Nature is honoured, so the waters flow pure and clear and the air is fresh and clean.
Plants and trees are nurtured and all animals are respected and treated with kindness.
Happiness and laughter prevail
And humans walk hand in hand with angels.

Thank you for the love, understanding, wisdom,
courage and humility to do my part to spread the light.
May all the world ascend.
So be it.

If we start to do this alone or in groups, by the time 11.11.2011 and 21.12.2012 arrive there will be a huge build up of light. 12 minutes is possible for everyone and this is suggested as a programme.

Programme for 11th November, 2011 and 21st December 2012

• 10.59 Vision prayer
• 11.0 11 minute ohm
• 11.11 1 minute silence during the cosmic moment

And after this - celebration! When you are celebrating, your thoughts are happy, light and positive and this is what is needed at this time.

Focus on Your Self First

As we move further into Unity consciousness, as our consciousness raises and our heart expands, we often find ourselves reaching out to others without first focusing on ourselves and our own needs. Sometimes this can feel like duty or obligation, and as such isn't entirely helpful.

When we find ourselves experiencing life in such a way, the best thing to do is step back and address our own needs first. We are the one - the only one - responsible for meeting our own needs. We have all the help in the multi-verse to do that, but it us who has to accept our responsibility for it, and reach out for that help. And when we do, something magical happens .. we find the energy and the resources to help others easily and joyfully, without the feelings of duty and obligation that have plagued us for lifetimes.

In this month's public channel, taken from a private session with Saint-Germain, Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack at Joy and Clarity tackle that very subject. Following is the Saint-Germain portion of that session, the full session can be found here.

Help Wanted: A Steady Job with Soul Purpose, too.
A Saint-Germain Channeling
By Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
August 21, 2010
www.joyandclarity.com

The following is part of a Soul Purpose Reading for a client. It includes important astrological information about Soul purpose (here) and a channeled message from Saint-Germain (below).

Dear Saint-Germain, I love the field of health and nutrition which I studied in college, but I hate the place where I'm working. It's a teaching environment, and it just doesn't feel right. I only studied this field to please my parents. I would have preferred something more artistic. Needless to say, I'm too scared to break out on my own now, and I don't have the certification I need to do counseling work. I can't take extra time away from my children to get certified because I'm a single mother. I feel so stuck. To the outside world, I look like a huge success. But inside, I'm falling apart regarding life path. I feel that these conflicts are connected with my over-eating, too. Can you help me? Thanks very much.

Saint-Germain's Message, Channeled by Alexandra:

Greetings, dear friend. I AM Saint-Germain. I am here, along with Alexandra and your spirit guides and friends. We are by your side – ready to talk to you, to greet you, to welcome you, and to encourage you, indeed.

Yes, it IS an important time in your life right now. We know that you’re struggling to get through it, and that you are asking for answers. But before these answers can come to you, I would like to invite you, right now, to stop for a moment and breathe with me. Breathe deeply. I invite you to breathe in life, to breathe in the joy of living, and to welcome whatever is coming your way next.

Yes, my friend. You have told us many times that you feel stuck… that you feel frightened and confused about this situation in your work life. We remind you that you have been seeking comfort and nourishment from your profession and work relationships because you were denied this in the home. There is no blame or judgment in this. It’s just information that you can use to come to a greater understanding of your situation and an eventual healing of it.

We know that you feel stuck and frightened because your work and career are not nurturing you in the way that you need, deep inside. And now, you are turning to the only way you know how to nourish yourself, which is through over-eating foods that give you comfort in some way. And this is one of the main reasons, as you already suspected, for your weight gain. It’s a kind of unconscious compensation. You have gained this weight, because you need to nourish yourself with loving kindness, acceptance, and recognition for the wonderful being that you really are. And because this is not coming from anyone else around you – not from your family, or the people you work with, or those who employ you – this is causing you to fill your need for emotional nurturing with a substitute. And that substitute is physical food.

But now you are beginning to realize that this kind of comfort is not the nurturing that you seek. This comfort is just keeping you in the same place. It's neither the emotional nurturing you would like to receive from others, nor is it the peace that self-love and acceptance would bring to you. Instead, it is the false comfort of continuing along the same path… of continuing with something that is familiar to you, but not really in your higher interest. Not in your Soul's interest. Your Soul is encouraging you to break with this now, and to turn to something better.

It is necessary that you nurture, love, and be kind to yourself now, and that you accept yourself as you really are – a Child of God, and God also. When you are willing to accept the truth of your Core Divinity, then you will find that profound changes start taking place from the depths of your being. These changes take root and begin to seek expression in your outer world, too. And one day, you will realize that you are completely transformed.

I would like to encourage you to take this one step at a time, and not expect immediate relief or results. You are working with a process of profound inner change. If you focus on the goal or end results instead, such as immediate weight loss or greater appreciation from those around you, then you will miss the magic of the transformation. Transformation is about process, not the end results. The outer results will come because you have allowed yourself to fully experience the inner process of change.

Yes, dear friend, engaging this process is a major part of your Soul’s purpose for you now. And it’s something that has been neglected for many years because of the demands that were made upon you by having to serve others, while sacrificing yourself and your interests.

Now you are needing love and attention from your Soul and Higher Self. Your inner child is calling for you to allow this kind of nurturing, love, and attention. This is what it needs now. Pay attention to this inner voice.

We are here by your side, day and night, and we encourage you to put your focus on yourself. Be with yourself first. Then you will discover how your relationships and career will shift. Things will become clearer to you. You will see what nourishes you and what does not. And then you will be able to choose again. Don’t force or push yourself. Just allow your process of inner transformation to take place within the loving shelter of your heart.

This is our message for you today, my dear friend. You can feel encouraged by the changes that are taking place in your life. You've already stepped across the threshold. Take heart and be glad.

We love and encourage you, and we are there in every moment of your life.

I AM Saint-Germain.

The Energy of January 2011

What's in store for us this month of Jan 2011? Following is a message from Jen Erimath at Akashic Transformations regarding the energies of the month and how we can be attune ourselves to it.

It's important to note the emphasis on focusing on what we want and not on what we don't want, not getting drawn up in drama, and when we do, to let it go and refocus on more positive outcomes. This is going to be an important theme for upcoming years, that is, training ourselves out of the habits of the past when they don't bring us the joy that we are naturally entitled to. It's our work to create the kind of world that we want to see, and it all starts with our thoughts and beliefs. Enjoy!

A Channeling from the Akashic Records of January 2011

By Jen Erimath at Akashic Transformations


What energies and experiences can we expect in January 2011?

There is so much light available on Planet Earth this month. There is a sense of things moving forward, and things being out in the open and available for you to work with. This is a month when you do not need to get lost in the mystery of things or feel overwhelmed. The image that they are giving to describe what this month can be like is surfing on the waves of the ocean. You are the surfer and this energy is swelling up and lifting you up.

Just like with the sport of surfing, occasionally you might get swamped. You might get knocked over and tossed about, but this month it is more possible for more of you to achieve a balance where you can be on top of things. This month it is more possible to see the big picture and get things done -- and where you can feel like your life is moving in the direction you want. Even when things do not go your way, you have a greater ability to steer yourself this month than usual.

Do not tolerate anything that disempowers you this month; do not accept things that overwhelm you. Find a way to get on top of them or get out of the way. Move on, do something different. This is not a time for wallowing; it is not a time for feeling paralyzed. If something is not working for you and you cannot find a way to get on top of it, walk away from it and try a new solution. Do something different.

This month is about light and visibility. There is a sense that there is not much room for secrets or deception this month. This means you are likely to see big secrets being revealed this month. You might find that things in the news will appear, revealing secrets that have been long held by different groups, organizations or institutions. Be prepared for scandal and do not buy into the drama and fear in the stories of those scandals. Instead, allow yourself to feel a sense of relief that the truth is finally coming to light -- finally you can all look at it and move on. Do not get mired in drama. Do not bother with people who want to stir the pot or make trouble. Do not bother with deception. Step out into the light, take things as they are, and find a way to work with it and move on.


What more can we do to work with the energy of this month?

An important mantra you can use when things are difficult this month is to brush yourself off and try again. When you fall down, when you make a mistake, when you are not sure what to do -- find a way to stand up, recover, get a new balance and start again.

Try again is a great mantra for this month because just like surfing, you will fall over sometimes. There will always be another wave. There is so much energy available this month that you do not need to worry about you have missed your chance or run out of choices. There will always be a new way to accomplish what you really want. This month that new path, new resource, or new approach will arrive pretty quickly if you just stand up, shake yourself off and find a new balance. Try again.

That might be the most important thing you can do this month in addition to avoiding the drama and fear that might come up from others. Do not stick around for gossip or conspiracy theories. Instead, step toward the light, step toward the parts of your life where you can feel good things are happening. Put your attention there this month. The other things will fall into place eventually.


Is there anything else the Keepers want to tell us about January 2011?

This is a very intense time, but also a very hopeful time on Planet Earth. There is a lot going on, you all have many challenges, but every single one of you is stronger than you have ever been before. Every single one of you has more resources available than you have ever had before. Do not imagine that when you feel overwhelmed that you are actually going to fail. Feeling overwhelmed is a sign that you are stepping into something big, something new, and something that you have always wanted.

Have faith in yourself and draw upon your resources. Take quiet moments to listen to your intuition. Reach out to your friends and loved ones. Take good care of your bodies, use all of your resources to set you up for success.

January 4 will probably bring many of you a sense of a real challenge. Do not let yourself fall over that day. If you do fall over -- do not fall apart, just pick up and try again. If you pay attention on January 4, most of you will find that whatever challenge comes to you that day will continue to be a challenge for you in months to come. This day can be an opportunity for you to get a preview of what is to come and start to get a handle on that challenge. You will not respond to the challenge perfectly on January 4, instead it is an opportunity to try something and see how it works and then collect information about what worked and what did not. That is a good way to use the day of January 4.

Otherwise, the month seems to have mostly and expansive energy with gentle, undulating waves. You will all go up and down in your own rhythm this month, so just take those waves as they come.

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The Challenges Of Intent

With the intent to become more of who we really are come the challenges we put in place to allow us to choose a new path over the habits of our past.

The following message from shamanic healer and teacher Jan Engels-Smith helps us understand this process. The only thing I would add to Jan's message is remembering that we are the ones putting these challenges in front of us. A hurdler doesn't strengthen her ability to jump hurdles by never having hurdles to jump. Neither does a new energy human strengthen their ability to grow by never experiencing what stands in the way of that growth.

Stop, breathe, choose, re-focus on the new choice. It's what there is to do. It might just be all there is to do ..

From Jan Engels-Smith at LightSong

Manifesting Your Intentions

As I contemplate the end of this year I have decided to look over the intentions that I put in motion for 2010. I am amazed what I have manifested and where my challenges have been. I notice that the challenges I have endured are a great part of the manifestation that is trying to come about. With this epiphany I am guided to remind you of a few things that I noticed:

· Spirit is always working for you, not against you.

· When you put something into motion with a prayer, intention, desire, or dream, there is an energy that goes into action in order to make this manifest for you.

· The greater resistance you have, the more difficult will be the manifestation and the more beat up or defeated you might feel.

For example, you might say, I want to live in my true self, I want whatever is blocking me from my true self to fall away and I want to live with unconditional love. (I have used this example because it by far the most common intention I hear from students.) Even though this intention is beautiful and loving, you can guarantee that you will find yourself in all kinds of situations that will require you to forgive, step forward, allow, not judge, be the bigger person, move out of fear, move out of judgment, or basically move out of ego.

Unless you actually practice these acts of love you will be challenged. You will be challenged with the things that have a high priority of knocking you out or blocking you from your true self. The universe will, without judgment, create incident after incident for you to claim your desire and your intention of being in your true self by giving you ample opportunity to choose accordingly. Again, the universe will be working for you, to help you reach your goal.

The opportunities presented may not be immediately apparent. They might feel like challenges or hardships and your choice could then be denial, avoidance, or resistance. In fact, you can become so delusional with a situation that you miss the whole message and teaching. The choosing you will be faced with may appear to conflict with your desires. It is often this conflict that creates the growth. If you are already showing your true self to your friends, co-workers, family, or whomever you relate to easily, the opportunity may show itself in the people who challenge you-- those who you want to avoid, those who have hurt you, or those who may have betrayed you. Your real growth to become your true self or to live unconditionally will be in these arenas of challenge.

The intention of living in your true self or being unconditionally loving will not manifest in a Pollyanna scenario where you will be unchallenged. Instead the intention will provide all kinds of scenarios where you will have to reach deep within yourself and understand that in order to live in your true self or with unconditional love, you have to change!

Resistance to these challenges is the block that you seek to remove. You must let go of your judgments, your opinions, and your fears. You must develop a loving, kind, sincere, honest, courageous, and open personality that will stand up in any situation without defense, opinion, judgment, pressure, or concern for yourself. In fact, your only concern would be for the other.

So, the questions are: What have you put into motion? What are your desires? Where are your challenges, which often show up as resistances? What is your next choice? If you think that this is too hard or is asking too much of you, then change your intention. You can always change what you wish to create in life. You get to be in charge! The universe will never judge your choices; it will only act on what you put into motion. Remember the universe does love unconditionally and allows anything.

My recommendation is that you spend some time during these dark days of the North... to discern your behavior; to accept that love is always the answer; to give up what doesn't serve you; to mend bridges; to think about what you can do. Self-discovery is not who has hurt you, but who have you hurt? The irony is that often these challenging folks are in your life by your own design. You have pre-contracted with them to help you gain what you have come here on the Earth to achieve. The contrasts are in alignment with your own personal desires for growth. The contrasts can make you reach and change, or they can stagnate you. The choice is always yours.

Heart to Heart

Jan

Rebirth and Renewal, 2011 Style

In the spirit of renewal, which the coming of a new year always brings for me, I offer the following from Kryon. It was given in response to a question asked in 2003, but I find the response appropriate even today .. maybe more so.

Have a spectacular and wonderful journey through and beyond 2011!

Dear Kryon, how much in life is just plain and simply habit? Habit meaning doing things away from awareness or away from the knowledge of the "free-will" (Earth) project? Any good tips for quick transformation? Thanks.

Answer: What a grand question! The answer is this: Unless you actively seek to know more about this, your life will follow this "habit" until the end.

It goes like this: You are born with an imprint that many call contract. It's so strong that even Lightworkers feel that it's something that is honored so strongly that they should follow it completely. They are on their knees asking for help to fulfill it, never realizing that the entire work of a Lightworker is to alter it!

This is therefore only a beginning contract, if you will. It's what you select to arrive. You selected your parents, your race, your country, and even your biological attributes and predispositions. Your past karma is all part if it, and what you call your "past life experience" is also there. It's complex, but you often feel it at the cellular level. It's what makes Humans drive toward a passion to be artists, musicians, mothers and fathers, or even criminals. It's a powerful force.

And… it's only a habit.

If you do nothing, it will fulfill itself to the degree you pursue it. You have free choice to move around it in any way you wish, but many don't understand that you have always had free choice to also cancel it!

There are many walking around today who have changed their names. Why? When they cancelled this beginning energy… a groove that did not suit them (the habit), they felt as though they had a new life! Many have had profound changes of passion due to this. They studied all their lives to be one thing, and now they are another. They have given themselves permission to take control of the interdimensional "rudder" of their own ship!

Change your DNA. Rewrite the past. Eliminate the biological predispositions of your Human family. All of this is not only possible, but is what we are teaching you to do.

Happy New Year!

One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.

~ Ida Scott Taylor*

From Quotes Cafe

* English Author and often quoted Pseudonym of Frances (Fanny) Jane Crosby, famous hymnist. Crosby used nearly 100 different pseudonyms during her career, of which Ida Scott Taylor is believed to be one (reference Hymntime).

Have a wonderful and joyous new year! May all your beautiful dreams become manifest, from the most magnificent down to the very least.

Responsibility, Choice, Freedom, and Hate .. A New Beginning

Responsibility

For a long while now I've wanted to use this space to tackle the subject of responsibility. Not responsibility in the sense of doing a good job at work, obeying the laws, or taking care of your family. But responsibility as in taking full and complete responsibility for our part in creating and allowing everything - absolutely everything - that we experience.

We live in a litigious society, one where finding fault and assigning blame has been a way of life. The need to assign blame is an obvious response in a world where responsibility is shifted off of self and onto other. We learned how to be that way from being in a society that is that way. It's a circular thing, and not surprising that we find ourself in such a world. But this cycle has to be broken. As we enter into a new year, aided by a new and profound energy, it makes sense to start building a world where we recognize - and accept - the power inherent in each of us. Maybe now is a good time to find another way.

It sounds strange, maybe even impossible, to look at life as a creation that each of us has control over. The obvious question is "If we can create everything, all of our experiences, why would we - do we - create the world the way that it is?" That really is a great question .. why do we create the world in the way that we do, with all the hate, war, struggle, and atrocities that we hear and read about?

I admit that I don't have an answer to that question. The only thing I can say is "but we do". We each create our own portion of it, and all those "our portions" add up to complete the whole. The Law of Attraction is unwavering in her fairness, she will bring together like vibrations even if those vibrations are (to those standing on the sidelines) despicable.

Can we control the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of other people? Think carefully here, there are nearly 7 billion "other" humans on the planet right now! The answer is .. "of course not". It's ludicrous to even try. But try we do! We think that everyone should think as we do, believe what we do, behave like we do. Generally speaking we have very little tolerance for those who oppose our stand on about any issue up for discussion.

The key phrase attributed to Jane Roberts' Seth was "You create your own reality". Seth was speaking of both you singular and you plural, meaning that it's through each of our individual thoughts, beliefs, and actions that the world becomes what it is.

So instead of trying to change everyone else, the more useful action would be to manage our own personal reality, allowing others to see what's possible for them through their experience of us. Allowing them to see and feel and know that they can live a different way, bring different experiences into their reality, if they choose it.

The underlying issue here is that we don't want to believe that we really are that powerful. But we are. From the most exciting facets of our lives to the most mundane to the most upsetting we create and allow them all. "You are a child of God and God also" as Saint-Germain through Alexandra Mahlimay continually reminds us.

And the key to acknowledging and accepting that power is to accept responsibility for everything - everything - that comes into our awareness. We don't have to know how or why, and we certainly don't need to dwell on it, we only need to acknowledge that we had a hand in it, and then let it go. In the letting go we can choose a different reaction, a different creation, a different possibility, a different probability. For each and every thing that happens there are untold other experiences possible, if we only stop for the half second it takes to choose something different.

Choice

An empowering question to ask, in any and every moment in time is .. "Is this what I want to create?" This question can easily be understood in relation to what we are living through in our personal lives, but it has huge implications on what's happening in the world at large also. Yes, we are that powerful.

If the answer to the question "Is this what I want to create?" is "Yes!", "Yes, this is something I want to create!" .. woohoo for us! A time to celebrate our creation(s), revel in the moment, accept that we had a hand in the creation, reiterate to the Universe that yes, this is grand! .. more please!

If it's not what we wish to create, if we're left thinking "I would like something different", all there is to do is accept the creation as it is, then re-focus attention on what we want to create instead. As Abraham likes to remind us, we don't need to know how to bring our desires into reality, that's the Universe's job. We only need to focus our attention and feelings on what we want and not on what we don't want. Focusing on what we don't want (on the creation or experience that didn't turn out to our liking) only gets us more of that. This is true for both personal and global experiences. Don't want war on the planet? Don't focus on people not getting along, focus on all of us coming together in love, joy, and acceptance instead. The good news is .. it starts in your personal world.

I should add here that the common response - for me and everyone else that I know - isn't generally "I would like something different." My/our typical response is "omg, this sucks! I didn't create this. No way. They (the infamous 'they') did this to me! I would never have created something like this!"

I never said this was going to be easy. But it is simple: Did you create your own experience? Yes, you did. Yes, you did bring that upon yourself. You didn't necessarily do it consciously. In fact, it's almost guaranteed that you didn't do it consciously, and that's really the point. Being aware of our thoughts and beliefs helps us regain power over them. All that's left to do, once an experience - whatever it is - is right in your face is stop and acknowledge that yes, you did bring this to you. You may not know how, or why, but you did. Accepting your responsibility in the matter is key, followed by a shift in focus.

Freedom

There is such a sense of freedom in accepting our own responsibility in the matter of our own lives - and in the happenings on our planet - even if we don't know how it came about. We don't need to know how a car works to drive one, likewise we don't need to know how the human vessel works in order to create from within it. All it takes is acknowledging the god in you, and accepting that we are all connected. As an individual one cannot possibly experience everything that there is to experience, that's why all this uniqueness was created - to give All That Is uncountable numbers of experiences that could not be had as a single unit. Hence the creation of "other". Inside of that massive creation, each experience counts, whether it's an experience you like or don't like, agree with or don't agree with.

Once we acknowledge that everything, absolutely everything, that comes into our awareness/experience is something that we had a hand in creating, we have access to choosing differently. If we don't accept our part in the creation of our own life experiences, we live forever inside the victimness that says someone else can do something to us. They cannot. "Other" is not more powerful than each of us inside the parameters of our own lives. They only appear to be more powerful when we don't accept our part in the creation of our experience.

It's an amazing and powerful tool, likely the most power tool we have at our disposal, the tool called Choice. We can choose, in any and every moment, to continue on the path we are traveling, or we can choose differently. All it takes is stopping long enough to remember that we have choice, and then being willing to give up being right for the opportunity to be what we desire. Would you rather be happy or be right? The tiniest little shift in awareness, in attitude, in acceptance, unlocks the door.

So how do we get there?

Hate and ... a New Beginning

One place to start is by choosing not to continue with feelings of hate. At this time in our evolution, hate is an emotion whose work has been done, it's time to release it and move on to the more powerful emotions of joy and love. No matter what someone did to you, no matter what you did to someone else, the time is now to release those feelings and choose acceptance instead. Inside acceptance is the opportunity to shift the energy, and our work now is all about shifting energy away from what we don't want and toward what we do want.

A very wise woman once told me that the answer to every question that I have at this time is "It Just Is". "Why this?" "why that?" "why something else .. ??" These are questions that I would ask constantly. Nothing about my own behavior or the behavior of others made sense to me, and it was driving me crazy. But the reasons are no longer important, and rehashing the question only keeps us stuck in the energy of it.

So I would ask you this - do you think that it is possible to live without any kind of hatred at all, even the "baby" variety like resentment, blame, guilt and revenge? Are you willing to give up victim feelings and embrace your own power to choose differently instead? Can you look at every experience that you have - good, bad, or indifferent - and say "I did that!" "I created that!" "I allowed that!" And if it's not something you'd like to experience again, refocus. Accept responsibility for the event or experience and choose something different going forward. Can you start, right inside your own life, using your own power of conscious choice to refocus, recreate something beautiful out of negative experiences?

John Cali and Chief Joseph had some interesting comments on releasing hate. It might help you to move toward acceptance and forgiveness and out of blame and guilt. Here it is in its entirety:

A Life Without Hatred

This week's video gives us a glimpse into the life of an amazing woman, Alice Herz-Sommer. Alice's story is perfect for this holiday season when many folks' thoughts turn to peace on earth.


John Cali

A few weeks ago, on November 26, Alice celebrated her 107th birthday. She's the oldest living Holocaust survivor.

Alice, an accomplished pianist, says music helped her and others survive the horrors of the concentration camps. As she put it, "Music was our food." Today, at 107 years young, she still practices the piano three hours a day.

Despite enduring the horrors of those concentration camps and losing her family there, today she leads a happy, fulfilling life. She does not hate the Nazis. As she put it, "Hatred brings only hatred."

Alice is a powerful shining example of what a life without hatred can do to help heal a wounded world.

Here's Chief Joseph.


Chief Joseph

While most of you have never experienced what Alice did, you still harbor what you might call "minor hatreds."

Is there a family member you feel resentment toward? Is there a co-worker you don't like? Do you hate your job? Do you hang on to hurtful experiences after they're long past? Do you resent, or harbor grudges against, even yourself for your past mistakes?

Most humans have had these experiences, or some variation of them. And that's fine. All such experiences are simply part of your growth as human beings.

But you create problems and barriers when you insist on hanging onto those memories, those experiences, and all the pain and anguish.

In fact, we observe you so often creating memorials to your pain and suffering. How many "war memorials" do you have? Monuments to suffering, pain, and hatred?

While we respect your natural desire to honor those who have suffered and died in your human struggles, we do not think it's a good thing to keep all the suffering and pain fresh in your minds and awareness. The saying you have -- "We shall never forget." -- dooms you to continually reliving what you'd be far better off forgetting.

The only way you will achieve world peace is to follow Alice's example and refuse to let hatred live in your hearts. No matter what has happened in the past. As she said, "Hatred brings only hatred."

And love brings only love.

Every hateful thought you hold contributes to the wounding of the world. Every loving thought you hold contributes to the healing of the world.

Live a life without hatred. Live a life with only love. Then you will create the world you've always dreamed of.

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However you celebrate this time of the year, Chief Joseph and I wish you and all your loved ones a most beautiful and blessed season. God bless you all!

This is going to be an extraordinary year, and you are here, on planet earth at this time, being a part of it. What a joy! and what an honor! to be a human at this time. It is my honor to be here creating and experiencing it with you! As the days move forward may your awareness continue to increase, and the life you choose continue to unfold.

With much love and appreciation for what you do and who you be,

Kathelena

The Immensity of Your Being

To begin with, what seems to be never really is. From that intellectually disturbing premise, I urge you to launch into a much more hopeful and, at the same time, realistic imaging. One might almost say, to redesign the world doesn't take war machinery and diplomacy. Rather it requires the enormous courage to remember: to remember the dreams of childhood, the hopes of Now, and the infinite possibilities in the name of Love that exist within each of you. You have all forgotten that you are men and women of God. You have forgotten the empowerment that this offers.

So, what have I said? That this is not a time for despair or gloom and dire predictions, but a time for recalling the immensity of your being, the golden intent of your coming, and the courageous willingness of your presence here and now, again, in the name of Love itself. Please do not be afraid to believe. Faith in the inherent goodness of humanity is the path out of the forest of conflict and back to the garden of peace and compassion.

Emmanuel, through Pat Rodegast