The Great Shift

In the highest interest of letting my grandson sleep as long as possible this morning,  I was being quiet and looking around for something to do for a few minutes.  Noticing some journals on a shelf, I randomly picked one up and started to read.  It was a gratitude journal and the initial entries were dated in 2007.  Between the lines I could identify what was going on in my reality then and reflected on the lessons learned.  Wasn't all peaches and cream, but I was reaching for the peaches, aiming higher.

For some reason the dates jumped to 2013, post '2012'.  As I read and remembered the situations and experiences going on at that time, it dawned on me that this was the "shift" in full swing, expanded, accelerated, blown up and demanding my full attention.  I truly believe that since December 2012, we have all been experiencing this energetic shift, the Universe insisting that we must learn our lessons NOW, that change is happening whether we go kicking and screaming, or awake and seeking what's true.

The dark got darker and the light got lighter.  As I listen and pay attention to people and groups of people, near and far, it is apparent that there is gross resistance at one end and major acceptance at the other.  It may not be war, but it is no longer a game.

These past couple of years have been challenging for all of us, to say the least.  This year, however, I see the manifestations, peace and prosperity among us, or definitely on its way.  We took a long, hard look at what we were creating and decided we didn't like it, it wasn't our preference, and chose anew.

For me, it was a matter of changing my perceptions, identifying what I truly wanted, letting go and getting out of my own way.  I didn't try to force anything or anyone, manipulate outcomes, or hold the on to "this is how it has to be".  The manifestations I chose aren't happening overnight, but they are happening.  I am seeing evidence of this almost everyday!

Yes, I have buyers for the Higher Self Bookstore (can't wait for you to meet them!), my health care is taken care of, a steady income is lined up, my house will be taken care of, and my family is making positive adjustments and arrangements toward being independent.  I chose freedom - and I am being freedom!

I am pleased to no end that others are realizing their dreams as well!  Can't get there by resisting change, wishing things were as they were, or staying stuck in woe-is-me.  Rejoice in what can be!

I am very excited about the future of the Higher Self Bookstore.  Please remember, if you need guidance or assistance on your journey, we are here to help.  Always.  Namaste! 

Can We Have a New Conversation?

Neale Donald Walsch's latest book, The Storm Before the Calm, was on my "to read" list, having to do with 2012 and how we can be proactive in our collective future. I'm a big fan of Neale's works, all of them, the Conversations with God series being my "go to" books for answers, inspiration, peace, love - and remembering who I am.

My sister, Cindy, received The Storm Before the Calm as a birthday present in January. Her friend also told her about a group in her area meeting to have "conversations." She called me very excited about the book and the group, so I brought the book home the next day. On the cover reads "Conversations with Humanity."

Neale encourages us to ask ourselves seven questions, and have conversations with others about these topics. He presents the questions as early as pages 43 and 44. When I first read them, my reaction was "Oh, hell no, I do not want to go there." Which is exactly why I am going to go there. It's time to dig deeper. We all could use a deeper dig. In fact, I believe our future depends on a deeper dig.

My women's group is going to work the book and the questions. I am considering having the Higher Self Bookstore host a "conversation" group. You may want to join in right away, so I am going to share four of the questions with you now:

1. Who am I?
2. Where am I?
3. Why am I where I am?
4. What do I intend to do about that?

Who am I? I answer this without labels, such as mother, store owner, daughter, woman, feminist, writer, artist, cook, housekeeper, blahblahblah. I am Divine, a child of God, I am spirit now having an human experience, I am God individuated. I forget this as I am doing all the things my "labels" seem to require of me. And like many of my neighbors, local and globally, I have been very, very busy focusing my attention on survival. Except when I'm not. It has been way too easy to forget who I am.

But now, as encouraged, I ask my self that question everyday and am automatically reminded who I am. Wow, this conversation has already changed my life! I am also going to the web site to participate in conversations there, http://www.TheGlobalConversation.com

What impresses me about the "Occupy" movement is that conversations are happening. It may not be clear what the solutions are, but with enough people talking to each other and sharing what they know, answers can be developed, declared, and demanded. We can go even bigger.

We are going through many changes and we feel we have no control over the future. We are way more powerful than we think. As the line goes in an Indiana Jones film (something like) It's Time to Ask Yourself What It Is You Believe.

If you are interested in participating in the "conversation" at the Higher Self Bookstore, send us an email and let us know: higherselfbooks@aol.com

As I dig into my own answers deeper, I promise to share them with you. I'd love to hear your answers as well. Let's talk - it's important, and it just may be our saving grace.

Why this book, and why these questions and not some other? It is the one before me, it talks to me, I can relate and connect. Neale's has laid out some great guide lines, and has "started" the conversation, and it's a good one!

Truth, or Wannabe?

I was reading through some of my older articles (before blogging) and ran across Truth, or Wannabe? It was written, obviously, not long after 9/11. As I read, it occurred to me that 2012 could easily replace 9/11 in the article. 2012 is a hot topic and much has been written and much is currently being discussed, well, everywhere!

Give it a try and see what you think:

There has been a plethora (I love that word!) of articles and books written since 9/11. They offer advise on how to go on, how to grieve, how to face your fears, how to cope, how to change the world, and even some proclaiming the end of the world. In my opinion, some were written from the heart, while others were written to make a buck. Some reinforce religious dogma, and some would have us building bomb shelters. Some are meant to exalt, and some are meant to tear down.

Like anything you read or intend to read, you’ll know the truth when you read it. The trick is knowing what is true for you, and what is merely evidence of what your ego wants you to believe.

For example, if you are holding a belief, or wanting to believe, that extraterrestrials are our only salvation, I’m sure that you could find written material that will support that. I call it “gathering evidence.” If a certain religion must be blamed for the world’s woes, I’m sure you can find evidence for that as well. In fact, for several weeks after 9/11, an acquaintance filled my email box with attachments of “you need to know!” propaganda against Islam. He doesn’t know me very well.

When I’m reading something new, I first tap into my good ol’ common sense. If I can’t make sense of it, I go to step two – what am I resisting here? What do I believe that blocks my understanding? If I come up with something, great! This is my opportunity to look at what’s up with me, what do I believe, and does it serve or limit me. If it is not working for me, I get rid of it. Now I’m more open to new ideas, new truth for myself.

If I come up with nothing, I pass on it. I know my truth, and this isn’t it. Or, I’ll search for further explanation of the text.

I trust myself to know the truth when it is presented. How do I know truth? It is an “Aha” moment, an excitement in my body, or a warm feeling of confirmation, a flash of light in my mind and heart, and a desire to be the messenger of truth.

How do I know what’s not true? A “no” whispers, sometimes shouts, throughout my being. I feel sad and heavy. And I want to be the messenger of what is NOT true.

If I feel anger, I go directly to step two, because anger is a clear signal to me that fear and self-righteousness are present.

These steps do not always work for me the first time. A previously dismissed truth will re-present itself to me repeatedly until I “get it.”

You may recognize yourself taking these same steps, consciously or unconsciously. I hope this is so, because there is a “plethora” of soul-feeding, peace-creating literature out there.

I’ve talked a lot about my truth, and your truth. The truth is, we are all one, each one of us is “we”. When one of “we” gets right down to it, right into the heart-afire, glory be, connected-in-love truth of it, we will all get it. If what I believe separates me in any way from you, it is not the truth. If what you believe separates me from you or you from me in any way, it is not the truth.

Some tips on what to read post-9/11: If it ain’t about love, it’s about fear – skip it. If it ain’t about unity, it’s about separation – save your money. If it ain’t about peace, it’s about war – read it only if you’re looking to justify and collect evidence pro-killing. If it’s a very, very old book written by old men – just know you may also need a library of other books offering definitions, explanations, interpretations, expansions and modernizations.

And guess what? This is not the truth! It’s my truth, what I believe, and you must find your own truth. You and your Higher Self.

2012 - I'm Not Redy!

Yep, that is my thought as we enter this highly proclaimed, prophesied, talked-about, mysterious year. 2012, with December 20th being the last day on the Mayan calendar (as well as other ancient timetables). What does it mean? What do we do?

Lucky for me (luck?), I just happen to be the owner of the Higher Self Bookstore where there are not only many books on the subject of 12/20/12, but lots of conversation as well. And, I have had the privilege of listening to the authors and speakers who have done the research, not to mention the channelers and psychics, those renown and those lesser so.

Several times over the past year I have been asked what I think is going to happen, and I must admit that my response changed as I received new information (new to me:). What I believe boils down to this: Huge changes are already happening. The Earth will do what the Earth needs to do. The planets will line up as they will line up. We have the power to direct the outcomes.

I am particularly inspired by the science (you will not learn these things by watching the news). Science has proven that our energies have a definitive affect on the Earth and the outcomes of the changes we are facing.

So, my intentions in preparing for 2012 were simply to: 1) get fit and 2) raise my vibration. Doing just these two things will make it easier for me (my body, my spirit) to move through whatever does happen. And what I do for me I do for you. Good intentions, yes, but my progress wasn't what I'd aimed for.

I know they sound like typical New Year resolutions - lose weight, meditate more. But my heart and soul know this is a bigger game, and when one chooses to play a bigger game, the challenges get bigger as well. Just because I'm saying "I'm not ready" does not mean I've given up.

Progress has been made, for sure. I am more in the moment, I am listening to a voice I never paid much attention to in the past, I take action when the voice speaks, I do what's in front of me to do, there is far less pain in my body. I look for the miracles everyday with excitement, and I love.

I just love everyone. You don't know that I am loving you? Well, I am! Fear has a hard time stepping in when I focus on just Being Love. Can you imagine if everyone picked Being Love to be their focus, everyday? It's our "heart vibrations" that will determine if this is the time of saving grace, or apocalypse.

For many of us, this is going to be quite a roller coaster ride - one of terror or one of excitement. You get to choose. I say, "Bring It On!” with a smile and a wink. Happy New Year! And I do mean "Happy" - Be Happy, Be Love!