Crystal Waltz

From Yehuda Berg......

2006-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Did you yell at your wife, boss, dry cleaner, or brother last week? You do know they’re not the enemy, right?

This week’s Torah portion starts off with the phrase, “When you go forth to battle against your enemies...” The Zohar explains that the enemies are not people...

...they are our thoughts.

Like any good military tactician, our Opponent uses other people as decoys so that we don’t deal with the real enemy - our negative thoughts that keep us stuck and frustrated.

An example of this would be your boss coming to you and saying, “I think you should go over this proposal one more time.” A typical response from you might be to get angry and to start thinking what a jerk he is. In this situation, the real enemy is not your boss, it’s your ego. It’s thinking your work doesn’t need a second look or that you are inadequate and this is the best you can do.

Like most people, you might want to choke your boss. But instead of choking your boss, choke your Opponent for bombarding you with these “screw the boss” thoughts that keep you from improving your work.

This week, witness your thoughts. Replace the negative ones with positive ones such as “This person is bothering me because there is something I need to fix” or “I don’t see the big picture, so I will restrict my judgments.”

These are split-second decisions made in the heat of the moment, and they’re never easy. But the more you replace “I’m gonna get you, sucka’” with “Where can I improve” thoughts, the easier it will become to hit the switch.

All the best,

Yehuda

I thought everyone would enjoy this week's "Consciousness Tune-Up" by Yehuda Berg. Since it's on the subject of "ego", I thought it appropriate. Also, since I am back in the workplace and teaching school, it is very meaningful at this time in my life. God Bless!! Crystal

Resisting Gravity

2006-08-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

I never told Angelle that she couldn't climb like a monkey. I never emphasized the "what if you fall" idea. I never forbade her to climb to the very top of the playground in the park and sit on top of the roof of the thing. I've always let her climb trees. I've always sat there nervously, with a smile on my face and encouraging words on my lips as she achieved these feats. Why interject fear?

She wants to try gymnastics. So, we had a free trial class on Thursday. She was in a level 1 class with 5 other girls who had all been doing this for awhile. The floor work was okay, but she obviously didn't have the flexibility these other girls had. I imagine that will come with time. However, when they put that girl on the balance beam, it was like she'd been there her whole life. She had quite a knack for it, and wasn't scared at all. And yes, she did lose her balance and fall a couple times, but she didn't stay down for long. It was like she was made of rubber, bouncing, nearly flying, right back up.

And that kind of sums up Angelle. Head in the clouds, nearly flying, feet barely touching the ground. Defying gravity every chance she gets. Fearless. Fearless. Free. Spirited. Free-spirited.

I wonder if she flies in her dreams?

Ego

2006-08-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

I received an e mail from "Enlightened Beings", which had a good bit of information about "ego" in it, which I am sharing now in this post.

"You know you’re living in your ego when thoughts like the following run through your head:

How can I make sure John doesn’t get that promotion and that I do?
How can I avoid paying child support and still get away with it?
I need to tell my wife that it’s my way or the highway.
Why am I always getting shafted, I deserve better!
No one realizes how important I am.
I’m ashamed of my race.
I always get taken advantage of. People really suck.
… and so on."

Remember, I think it's very important to not be in denial anytime we're living a more "ego-based" life in order to recognize it, then change it. Let that light shine through!!

Summing up summer

2006-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

I have one more week of summer vacation left. One more week of endless hours with my two daughters. One more week of carefree non-scheduling of my hours. How bittersweet it is.

This has been a summer of evolving. KD has grown so much....finally caught up with her pudginess with her height. Her hair has grown so she always looks like a girl now. She has many very amusing and sometimes inappropriate phrases which she's learned from her big sister and cartoon network. My least favorite example is when she points a stick at me and says "You must die". Thanks Angelle. I'm sure that will be a big hit at daycare!! She can sing "Twinkle twinkle little star", and she can count. She really does imitate her big sister and can almost sing "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore.

Angelle has had a blast learning how to be a performer. She sang in four Bill Riley contests and won 2nd place twice. From the first contest to the last, I watched her improve, become more confident, and learn how to win over an audience. She will sing at another over Labor Day weekend, but her new song is "It's My Party", and she'll be wearing a poodle skirt. This one is to qualify (already) for next year's State Fair. We'll continue to do these contests as they come up because Angelle enjoys them so much. She likes meeting other talented kids, and really and truly loves being on stage.

In early May Angelle could not yet ride her bicycle confidently. That has all changed and her bicycle has given her some new found independence. She rides and rides and visits with neighbors. What a big girl she is becoming.

As for me, it's been a summer of spiritual development. I started this blog and have really been exploring my own belief system. There is still much I have to learn, but much as been accomplished over these summer months.

I will be sad to leave KD in daycare, and see Angelle get on that school bus, and step foot in my own elementary music classroom to see 450 children every week. But I will also be joyful to know that I get to touch the lives of 450 children every week, and provide them with some music in their lives. And I know that I will in turn learn from them. May God bless us as we begin our new journeys into a new school year. God please be with KD and let her have fun with the other 2 year olds, and help her to understand that Mommy has to work, but will be with her every evening and weekend, and that another summer will arrive. God please be with Angelle and help her to read with confidence. Help her to learn how to deal with mean people, and let her bless others with her musical gift. And help me to teach with patience and love. Thank you for this awesome summer. Thank you thank you thank you!!

Peace....

2006-08-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

Peace is the inner nature of humankind. If you find it within yourself, you will then find it everywhere." ~Ramana Maharshi

Luck o' the Irish

2006-08-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband's band played at Jameson's, an Irish Pub. They are not an Irish band, but play rock and blues. However, my husband runs sound at Jameson's and they had a night with no band, so the owner invited his band to play. Amazingly enough, as I went into the park with my children after he left, and sat looking at the clover growing, I spotted a four leaf clover!! I have wanted to find one my entire life. Imagine my excitement!!! I showed the kids in the park, then put it in a plastic baggie and am now pondering ways to preserve it.

It's amazing what that little discovery did to my mood. I've been giddy ever since.

Oh, and that rock and blues band had a killer night at Jameson's. They had a huge crowd, my husband said it was "amazing", and it was a huge success.

Luck o' the Irish? Perhaps.

And the luck o' the Irish be with ye today, too, laddies and lassies!!! :-D

The Subject of "sin"

2006-08-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

The other day I mentioned to a friend what my "personal" one of the 72 names of God was. It just happens to be "Revealing the Dark Side". This friend of mine has not read the book "72 Names of God", but has a chart with the names on it. I started to mention what I thought my name meant.....how I am to find my light by first acknowledging my ego, or dark side. This friend is an extremely positive and light-filled person, and she said "Oh, I think it means that you bring out the light in others.", thereby changing my interpretation of what the name means to a much more positive, "oh aren't I great" kind of message. That was extremely kind and I am thankful that she sees me that way. I, however, knowing myself, know that my original interpretation will help me more and is more accurate.

I DO have ego, and I DO have a dark side. I DO do things and say things that I am ashamed of. I try not to, but try as I might, on occasion I make mistakes and I react instead of "pro-act". And this ego, dark side, these things I do which I regret, hide my light and make it harder to shine through. That's why there is this name....to find our holy light, we must first find where it hides, which is behind our egos.

Is sin the things we do which are wrong or which we are ashamed of or regret having done? Or is sin our separateness from God? Or are they both one and the same? I believe we are striving to be more like God, to get closer to God, to share in God's consciousness. Christ came to Earth to die for our sins according to the Holy Bible. Did he die so that we would become closer to God? Did he come to tell us the Kingdom of God is within us? Did he come to tell us to love one another as we love ourselves?

Even Jesus said "Why do you call me good? I am not good.". Even Jesus knew that by being human, He also had ego.

I am all for being more positive, reading only the happy news, trying to live without fear, and trying to convince myself that I AM a wonderful being because, after all, God did make me and made me to be more like Him/Her. I really like warm fuzzies!! But, I also recognize that to find that wonderful being inside, I must acknowledge that ego so that I can make it go away. I can't get rid of it if I don't see it. I can't become a being of sharing without first seeing the "non-sharing" things I do and earnestly try to change them.

I pray that God will help me to see my own "dark side" so that I can eliminate it and let my light shine through.

Blessings!

Statement of Belief

2006-07-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

I've been spending alot of time this summer on personal spiritual development. I thought it might be helpful, especially to me, to sum up a few points into a sort of "statement of belief".

I believe in God, the Creator, whom I also refer to as "Universe". I believe Jesus was the son of God, as we are all God's children, and that Jesus was indeed here to "save" us from our own ego. Jesus made some very important statements of which some are "Love thy neighbor as thyself", and "The Kingdom of God is within (upon) you.", and "these things you shall do and more.". I believe that Jesus was able to tap into the Light within, therefore performing miracles, and doing many wondrous things during his short life here on Earth. And He said we could do MORE......

I do believe that the Light of the Creator (Holy Spirit?) is within each of us, hidden by our own egos. I believe we can reveal this Light and diminish our egos in different ways. One is through meditative prayer, which raises our vibrations. Another is (believe it or not) through suffering, although this way tends to be only temporary. Of course, having recently read the "72 Names of God", I do believe that by meditating on these names, one's light can shine through as well. These names, incidentally, actually help to transform ourselves into beings more closely connected to our Creator.

I believe that an attitude of gratitude helps to bring more abundance into our own lives, and that that is what our Creator truly deserves. I am so thankful for ALL of this. I am thankful for the hard times, for the great times, for the trees and the sky and the Earth, for my children, my family, my friends, the air that I breathe, this blessed moment..........

I also have come to believe that becoming a being of sharing should be one of my main goals. To be more like our Creator, who is a being of sharing, we must become the same. Through sharing we can experience a life of fulfillment and joy.

I do not believe it is my place to judge or persecute other religions. I practice religious tolerance and know that most people believe the way they were brought up to believe. I believe there is ONE Creator, ONE God, who is called by different names. And I believe that God did not create religions, but that people did. We are all on the same circular, horizontal path, but in different places along that path. I will even refrain from judging my evangelical Christian friends (no easy task for me, believe me) and let them be, even if they in turn judge me.

I believe that the Bible has been misunderstood over the centuries. I believe it is not to be taken literally, and that when one steps back from the literal statements, one can see the Truth that is written there more clearly.

I have experienced on this journey many ideas, thoughts, concepts that ring true for me. I believe that miracles still take place in this world. I believe that people have visions. I believe that my own mother saw Christ, just as she said she did. I believe we are far more capable of creating miracles ourselves than we think we are. I believe I should continue learning and growing, giving thanks, sharing, and worshipping. I am so thankful for being able to write this and for those of you who will read it.

God Bless!

Synchronicities...

2006-07-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it. The big thing I really am trying to work on in my life is my finances. I have a good teaching career, own a house with my husband mortgage-free, but often find myself strapped by the end of every month. I am doing some good things like contributing to a college fund for Angelle, building both girls savings accounts, and of course, there are cello, piano, and soon to be gymnastics lessons in there, too. Of course, during the summer, there are swimming lessons, festivals, etc. etc.

So, whereas I am not living in poverty, I do find myself using the change at the bottom of my purse from time to time. I really want to improve this situation so that the worries of money disappear. My goal is not to become a milllionaire, win the lottery, or any such thing, (although I wouldn't refuse), but to have plenty of money every month that I don't have to expend any energy with worries about money. Make sense?

Well, this week I was finding myself in the same count the change at the bottom of my purse situation. I will get paid again on Monday, so it was only a week or so to go without having much. Last night the girls and I wanted to go to a smoke-free pub to support a project of my husband's. I thought it sure would be nice to be able to get a couple "shirley temples" while there for the girls. In the meantime I came across a coin I didn't know I had. It was an 1867 2 cent piece masquerading as a normal penny. I took it to the coin shop to see what it was worth. In it's condition, it was only worth $3, but I sold it to the man anyway, figuring $3 would come in handy. The truly amazing thing is that two Shirley Temples and a coke at the pub cost exactly, and I mean EXACTLY $3.00.

Earlier in the week we wanted to go to the pool. I was getting down there on my cash reserves, but realized we needed swim diapers for KD. (We have a season pass to the pool). So, we went to the store, and amazingly enough, I had JUST ENOUGH for a pack of swim diapers.....$7.50.

So, I am ending up with exactly what I need this week. I find that to be very encouraging.

Of the 72 Names of God, I have meditated on the "Power of Prosperity" name, the "Enough is Never Enough" name, the "Revealing the Dark Side" name, and a few others related to straightening out my financial situation.

I am encouraged and looking forward to whatever other synchronicities the Universe sends me.

Have a blessed and prosperous day. Crystal

"The 72 Names of God"

2006-07-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Also in one sitting, I finished reading "The 72 Names of God" by Yehuda Berg (Michael's brother). Wow!! Powerful stuff, I must say. "The Secret" led me to this book, which just happened to be available in our public library. So, I loaded up the girls for a trip to the library. As luck would have it, KD (the 2 year old) fell asleep in the car on the way there. I carried her into the library and poured her into a comfy chair where she happily napped while I read the entire book. Angelle enjoyed herself playing with the puppets, looking at the monarch caterpillars there, and visiting with the library's pet dwarf rabbit. It was perfect reading time for me. Just as we were getting ready to go, my good friend, Janine shows up with her children, who are two of Angelle's very good friends. That delayed our exiting the library a bit. I showed Janine the book I was about to check out (72 Names), and asked if she had heard of it. Her eyes got kind of big as she said that a medicine man had given her a printout of the 72 names just the evening before. Hello synchronicity!!

Anyway, I strongly recommend this "technology for the soul" to everyone. It doesn't matter what religion you are. It is there for everyone to use. It comes from the Kabbalah, so I would also recommend that you watch this 30 minute free video on Michael's blog here: www.blog.kabbalah.com/michael/en/ to learn more about Kabbalah and what it's all about.

Incidentally, I have been working on becoming a being of sharing. I started small, from leaving a mere $3 at the library on the floor knowing someone who needed it would find it, to giving my husband $10 for his motorcycle trip this weekend, to overtipping the waitress tonight when she didn't bring back my change. I'm looking for the opportunities, and if it's hard for me (believe it or not, giving my husband the $10 was hard), I figure the better. I'm also trying to find other ways to share my gifts, my talents, my insights, my love.

Bless us all on our spiritual journeys!! May you find the light within you. Crystal

"The Secret"

2006-07-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

In one sitting, I just finished "The Secret" by Michael Berg. There is also a movie out by the same name which can be purchased or downloaded on the internet, but I have not yet watched that.

Of course, I am now inspired to write about it, especially since step 6 in learning to live "The Secret" is sharing "The Secret" with others. The Secret is simply this: "The only way to achieve true joy and fulfillment is by becoming a being of sharing".
Sounds ridiculously simple, doesn't it? But here's the deal.....it's not just about sharing or tithing or giving more, it is by BECOMING A BEING OF SHARING. It is about actually transforming oneself to BECOME a being of sharing.

We are meant to cleave to our Creator, or to share in the Creator's consciousness. We do this by becoming more LIKE our Creator, whether you call the Creator He or She. Think about that. Our Creator freely gives, freely shares, freely offers help. We need to strive to be just like that. When we are given blessings, we need to share them. And this is actually harder if we are wealthy, I think. Just as Jesus said, "It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.....etc. etc.". Maybe that's part of the reason why. If I have $100.00 and give only $20.00 to the needy, I am better off than someone who has $1,000,000.00 and gives only $2,000 to the needy. It's like the widow who gives only a few coins to the temple, but it is all that she has. Her contribution is much greater than that of the wealthy who gave more.

There are a few more catches to becoming a being of sharing. Do you expect others to give you a reward? Have you made a "secret deal" with the Creator such as if I perform acts of sharing, you need to give me what I want? Are you sharing so that others will like you? Because it's the moral thing to do? Because you're afraid you'll be punished if you don't? Are you only sharing when it's easy for you? Are you always aware of the opportunities around you to give and to share?

In looking at myself, I clearly have a rather long, interesting, and adventurous path ahead of me!!

I've worked on being grateful, on being happy and raising my vibration. Now, I will work on becoming a being of sharing, just as our Creator is.

I would recommend the book, which was $14.95 specially order from B. Dalton (I'm sure it's available from Amazon) to anyone seeking a closer relationship with God, the Universe, the Creator. It's an easy read of about 100 pages, but a very enlightening read.

I'd also be interested in hearing your feedback. Please leave a comment if you've read this book or seen the movie.

Have a blessed day! Crystal

More on The Kingdom of God

2006-07-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus said "It is harder for a wealthy man to enter the Kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle". The "Kingdom of God" is written all over the New Testament. If you recall from Luke (in a previous post)....the Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU. What if, just what if, when Jesus is talking about the "Kingdom of God", he really isn't talking about where we go when we die (Heaven as a place to spend eternity), but where and who we are when we LIVE??? If that is the case, it really makes sense. Maybe it IS harder for a wealthy person to find enlightenment, or to become what it is that we CAN become and to glorify God in doing so. They already have what they need (or what they THINK they need), and therefore, don't have alot of reason to search.

I have met so many people who just "go to church". These people consider themselves to be the good Christians because they go to church, maybe serve on a committee, tithe, send their kids to Sunday school, etc. etc. Technically, they believe what they believe because they were TOLD to believe it. It is what they were TAUGHT to believe. What about discovering other aspects of God and adding it to that belief? I also see these same people have stopped dead in their tracks and no longer continue to search for their own spiritual truth. On the other hand, I have had the most enlightening spiritual discussions with those who are on the "fringe" of society, so to speak. Like the man who used to make jewelry and sell them in bars for a living. He was "uneducated" in a sense, but certainly had alot to say about God and what his life is all about.

Don't be surprised by where you might find spiritual teachers. It might not be the Pastor of your local church. In fact, it probably won't be. It might be the gas station attendant. It might be your child. It might even (gasp) be a WOMAN!! Believe it or not, I know some people who would think that a woman could never be a spiritual leader or teacher.

Anyway, my point is that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and is within you, and I believe God speaks to our hearts and lets us know exactly what we need to believe. I also think it's okay to be wealthy, but don't think because you've achieved what you need in life that you have achieved what you need to truly LIVE. It might be difficult, but if we awaken, we CAN enter the Kingdom of God, and it is here now. Go ahead, go to the edge, push the green button, wake up, take a risk, wake up and LIVE. The possibilities are truly endless. There is nothing you can't do. The sun came up today for YOU.

God Bless You! Crystal

Happy News!

2006-07-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

The happy news is....that there is a happy news website!!! Check out happynews.com for the latest happy non-fear-based news!! And in the meantime....be happy!!! Disappear fear.

The Kingdom of God is Within You

2006-07-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, if I were more of an expert on Biblical verses (I daresay I am not), I would have realized this:

"The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17: 20, 21)

So my thinking that the Kingdom of God might be within us rather than upon us was not an original thought, nor was it non-Biblical.

Next time I will do a Google search of my intended subject for a post before posting it instead of after!!

In the meantime, remember that the Kingdom of God IS indeed within you. WITHIN YOU.......how powerful that is!!! With that thought.....go on and create beauty!! Thoughts become things, so choose the good ones.

Blessings and beauty....Crystal

"Kingdom of God"

2006-07-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a historical account of Jesus by Michael Grant.

The main gist of Jesus' ministry here on Earth was all about the "Kingdom of God". He stated that it was imminent over and over again. I also read in this book that it is not clear what is really meant by "Kingdom of God", but in the original translation it means more like the "Reign of God". Jesus says many times that the "Kingdom of God" is at hand and had many of the time believing they would see the "Kingdom of God" occur during their own lifetimes. At other times Jesus specified that the "Kingdom of God" was just beginning.

Here is what I have considered. What if the Kingdom of God, instead of being "upon" us, is actually "within" us. Jesus himself said we must be AWAKENED. All over the world these awakenings seem to be happening. Many people are feeling a "call" to be more like Jesus actually was. Jesus could heal with a touch, Jesus could perform miracles, Jesus also said "These things you shall do and MORE".

As all the creatures in the ocean are connected by a flowing body of water, are we humans not connected by a flowing body of spirituality? Is the "Kingdom of God" within us or does that refer to the "end of the world", so to speak? Just questions to ponder.

Happy Birthday Kristin!

2006-07-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Kristin. Have a blessed day!! Crystal

Historical Jesus

2006-07-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Today I bought "Jesus" by Michael Grant at B. Dalton for $1.99. What a bargain!! And it's a topic I've really been wanting to explore further. Thanks to the girls, I am on pg. 12. It's hard to get much reading time in, but I'm sure I'll have many reflections about what I read in this book.

Some say we should take the Bible literally, in which case I should not be wearing makeup or speaking about spiritual matters at all.

Others say it is poorly translated and interpreted. Still others say it is "encoded". I believe that the Kabbalah states it should not be taken literally at all, but is to be more deeply understood.

In the first 12 pages of the history book I bought, I did learn that Jesus was probably not born in Bethlehem, but more likely in some small Nazareth town. Bethlehem is not in Nazareth.

Pretty simple stuff so far, huh?

If you've read this book, I'd be interested in hearing your comments and insights. Also, please scroll down to the post called "We Crazy Spiritual Seekers".... I included some points which I think are of importance and interest. And thank you!!

Have a blessed day, Crystal

I am thankful for: (July 5th)

2006-07-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

God
softball
swimming
this beautiful home
trees, especially linden trees
memories
money in my purse
chipmunks
wrens
America
this moment

Thank you thank you thank you!

We Crazy Spiritual Seekers....

2006-07-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

"We crazy spiritual seekers...spending our lives trying to awaken,
instead of resting in the awakening that is already here now and
always." ~Kathleen McCarthy

What great words of wisdom. "...awakening that is already here now and always." Sometimes it seems we work so hard and seek so earnestly to discover what is the "truth", when in actuality, we have already discovered it and are living in it at this very moment. We are already awakened. So is everyone else.

Think of it this way: maybe we are all on the same path, but the path is circular or curved, and more horizontal than vertical. Each one of us is at a different point on that very same path, from the evangelical Christian, to the new ager, to the Buddhist, to the Wiccan. None of us "more" enlightened than the other, but simply at a different point in a never-ending process. A never-ending awakening, a never-ending re-birth. Wow, when you think of it that way........

Unless one denies any spiritual presence or great power whatsoever, we really are all doing the same thing. Seeking the "truth". Seeking the Source from which we came and trying to understand our purpose here. Trying to remember all that which we have forgotten. According to the Kabbalah, that goal is called "perceiving the Creator". How do we get closer to God? How do we "feel" God in our hearts and our minds? How can we share some of our Creator's consciousness?? Is that consciousness our ultimate home we shall return to someday?

According to the Bible, we aren't supposed to try to perceive our Creator at all, but simply to worship and pray. Is this enough? Certainly it is good to give ourselves over to God. To trust in God. To be all that God intended us to be.

What did our parents teach us? How much of what our parents taught us is caught up in our own spirituality? How much of it comes from our own hearts? How much of it depends on a holy book? How can we possibly say who is right and who is wrong?

Too many questions to answer in just one lifetime, I think. :-D

Independence Day

2006-07-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for:

God
Independence
BBQ
Friends
Fireworks
Friends who live far away, but still keep in touch, even when I don't (thanks Jayne)
KD's "pretty dresses"
Angelle's 7th birthday
This house
This moment

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Today I am thankful for:

2006-07-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

God
Sunshine
Rain
Swimming
Laughter
My car
KD's new phrases ("do NOT touch KD, "No, stay there!"
New revelations
Answers
Questions
This moment

Thank you thank you thank you!

Words of Wisdom for July 3rd

2006-07-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

I received this e mail from "Enlightened Beings" today and thought it appropriate.

"You are what you think you are. If you think of yourself as an infinite being with unlimited potentiality who is the master of your universe... then you are! If you think of yourself as a powerless limited being then you are a powerless limited being. What you think about yourself is who you are. To change who you are, change what you think about yourself." ~Jody Sachse

I also found the website called "tut.com", and strongly recommend it for anyone.

I especially like the "Notes from the Universe".

Speaking of the Universe, do you know who we are talking about when we say "Universe"? It is just another name for "God", that infinite being who created all of this. When you release gratitude to God, many wonderful things happen in return.

I also read a bumper sticker a couple days ago which I appreciated in light of my debate over religious tolerance on brookshanes.com/blog. "God is too big to fit into one religion". Amen!

I am thankful (for July 2nd)

2006-07-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am thankful: (July 2nd)

for God
for this wonderful day
for my daughter's happiness
for my daughter's tears
for my daughter's friends
for good food
for good company
for this moment

I am thankful....

2006-07-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for:

God
being alive
having all my senses to enjoy this beautiful world
my lovely and awe-inspiring daughters
my husband
my home
birthday parties
true friends
readers of my blog
friends who make me think
children
dogs (especially Shadow)
this moment

Thank you thank you thank you!

Gratitude Attitude

2006-07-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

I spend so much of my time each day thinking of what I want, but that I don't yet have. I'm just beginning this journey into abundance manifestation, and realize I need to start thinking of what I already HAVE. And I need to express my sincere gratitude to God and the Universe for my already overwhelming abundance. Many thanks to Kraig and Barbara for suggesting to me that I check out the website called gogratitude.com. It all makes so much sense. And it brings everything home for me.

Yes, I was focusing on what I wanted, pretending I already had it, and saying thanks for it, but deep in my subconscious it was more like focusing on what I didn't have. It bothered me that I didn't already have it, and deep down, I didn't really believe I could achieve it. The power of my subconscious!!!

Learning to be grateful, just grateful for these wondrous things I already have, made all the difference. My subconscious literally relaxed (honestly, I could feel it happen), as I concentrated simply on being thankful. Suddenly I felt totally different. I could tell my vibration raised instantly. I want to be an appreciator, not a depreciator.

Yes, it's true, and if you know me, you KNOW it's true, that I would like a bigger, roomier house that can allow all our energies to expand, but for now, I am simply going to concentrate on being thankful for the house we HAVE!! This beautiful home has gotten us quite far. We've made alot of memories here, not to mention two beautifiul children!! Thank you thank you thank you for this abode.

I'm going to start a gratitude journal, and maybe I'll start it as a new blog. What could be more uplifting than reading what someone else is thankful for? Maybe I'll just post my daily gratitude list on this blog. Check in and see! And in the meantime, I am so grateful to you, whoever you may be, for reading my blog. Thank you thank you thank you!!

The "Charmed One"...:-D

2006-06-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

My little "charmed one", Angelle, who did not win the Bill Riley talent contest, illustrated another one of her charmed moments at our local festival. At the magic show, holding her 2 year old sister on her lap, sitting right up front, the magician picked her, out of all the children there, to be his first volunteer. He said "Just throw your sister off to the side, it's fine". So funny, especially since she was so unaccessible with a 2 year old sitting on her lap.

Another funny note.....the magician asked her name and she said "Angelle", enunciating quite clearly, so he asked one more time and she answered, and he said "Let's hear it for Sarah, ladies and gentlemen!". Hmmmm. That's the problem with unusual names, I guess.

To Win or Not To WIn

2006-06-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

My daughter just sang in her first Bill Riley (an Iowa thing) talent contest. She didn't win. But, she did do a tremendous job and her Father, Godmother and I were so incredibly proud of her. She didn't, however, deal well with not winning. As a mother, that was really difficult for me to deal with. My first instinct is to comfort....no mother wants her daughter to be hurt or upset. So, I hugged her and told her she was a "winner" in my eyes. Then we got in some distraction time riding carnival rides and playing some carnival games, as well as eating junk food. When we got back in the car it hit her again. She started to cry one more time and said "I really wanted to win, I am NOT a winner!". Hmmmmm.

I've been thinking alot about the whole thing. She is an awesome and talented singer for 6 years of age. She could easily have placed, but that is the judge's decision, and they chose different performers. I was concerned that maybe putting her in that competition position might have made doing what she loves to do best a bad experience. Then I thought about it some more, and we do have to learn how to NOT win in this world. There have been plenty of times when I didn't get a part, didn't win, didn't get the job, etc. etc. I've asked her if she would like to sing in another contest coming up. At first she said she didn't, but now that she is getting over the not winning, she says she does want to. She might not win again. Will it be easier the second time? Or will it be a double disappointment?

I think it is character building for her. She has lived a pretty charmed life so far. She gets lots of great opportunities, gets chosen out of a large audience to direct the orchestra onstage, almost always has a group to be in the parade with, and gets fireworks on her birthday (July 4)....lucky her!! (She was born the year of the rabbit, the luckiest of signs). If she always won, always got things her way, she would never get to experience being happy for someone else. Never get to experience the not winning. I am now thankful she didn't win this first talent contest. She now isn't "used to" winning, but knows it is a possibility to NOT win. I don't think she seems traumatized a bit. In fact, many people, including our town mayor, complimented her performance last night when they saw her today. She knows she did a great job, and she just has to deal with the judge's decision.

I'll let you know how she does on the next one!! :-D

Religious Tolerance

2006-06-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

I invite you to read an interesting exchange between myself and an evangelistic christian who is a friend of mine. The debate has been about religious tolerance, and has been a friendly and quite rational one. I would also be interested in hearing anyone's views on the subject.

Please visit brookshanes.com/blog. The debate is under the posting about "me", called "The Winner". You can also read my "autobiography" there. The debate about religious tolerance actually is in the comments for "The Winner". Be sure to read them all. I think they are QUITE interesting, and thought-provoking. It's nice to know I can have a peaceful debate with someone whose spiritual and religious beliefs are quite different from my own.

Blessings!

Vibration Smashers

2006-06-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those great days, however long that "day" may be, where you feel great and happy and the trees and grass are greener than normal, and you can just tell.....just FEEL that your vibration is nice and high....where it needs to be?? And then someone comes along and says one little thing to bring you right back down again?? It amazes me how quickly that can happen. How quickly a few little words can smash one's nice, high vibration.

The challenge is overcoming that and raising your vibration again. Erin Pavlina's blog entry on "Raising Your Vibration" offers some great tips for doing this. First, I take a deep breath and let it all out, and reassure myself that what I just experienced doesn't really have to matter. Then I simply tell myself that I am happy, all is still great in the world. Then I do something I love to do. Personally, I love Erin's suggestion of getting an emergency foot massage from your significant other! :-D

Society is, unfortunately, full of vibration smashers. There isn't much we can do about that except to continue to vibrate at the highest frequency possible and hope that rather than "them" bringing us down, we can bring "them" up. I think we also need to monitor whether or not we ever end up smashing other's vibrations as well. As often as someone else says something hurtful to me, it's just as easy, especially after that, for me to say something hurtful to someone else. As an elementary music teacher who sees 460 K-5 graders every week, I really have to watch myself. Sometimes I obviously have to discipline or admonish the behavior of one (or more) of the students. I have to be careful how I do that. It's one thing to explain why a certain action is not permitted in school and should not be continued, and another to humiliate the child and just "snap" on him/her.

As a parent, I again have to concentrate on the parenting without fear stuff. I don't want my daughters to feel helpless, to feel little or "bad". I want them to feel good about themselves and raise their own vibrations. My husband and I have both found that if we just explain things to them first.....give them the "why", we get much better results. And these children certainly ask "why". And really, don't they have a right to know? There have been times when my answer has been "because I said so!", which I feel is a legitimate answer. She asked why and I gave a reason. She doesn't necessarily like that answer, but she always accepts it. Other times it is more appropriate to launch into an explanation of why I don't want her to behave a certain way, how it affects others, what that action will produce in the short and long run. Children will usually listen. They WANT to know.

So, did someone just smash your vibration? Take a deep breath, let it out, regroup, and get a hot fudge sundae!

Reiki

2006-06-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

If you don't know what "Reiki" is, it is a form of energy healing. As the story goes, one time someone went up a hill to meditate, and while there, was given a set of mystical symbols and words. These mystical symbols and words enabled the person to tap into his/her own healing energy. Upon coming down from the mountain, this person went into a cafe where the server was complaining of a horrible toothache. This person then put his/her hand on the mouth of the person with the toothache and immediately the toothache went away.

Here are some of my own experiences with "reiki". About 10 years ago, when I was teaching at a laboratory school, someone commented that I needed to learn to control my own energy and should find a reiki master. I had no idea what that was at the time. I was teaching a keyboard class, and one student in particular just did not want to buckle down and play his keyboard that day, but wanted to talk. I finally decided to let him talk, so he took off his headphones and we had a little conversation. I asked him what his mom and dad did for a living, etc. etc. Imagine my surprise when he told me his mother was a "reiki" master! Just a coincidence? Or an amazing synchronicity?? I'm inclined to say it was meant to be.

This spurred me to call his mom and set up an appointment, and then I was attuned to first and second degree reiki over a period of a few months, and found a very important spiritual mentor. She helped me through the beginnings of "awakening" and raising my vibration. I had some remarkable experiences with reiki as well. When I was just practicing my hand positions, I practiced on a friend who had just discovered she had some pre-cancerous nodules on her cervix. The funny thing was that after I "practiced" my reiki hand positions on her after my first attunement, the nodules were gone when she went back to the doctor. The doctor couldn't really explain it.

During my attunements, I discovered I would "see" a reiki tree in my imagination or with my third eye. It was a beautiful, sparkly tree, with purple, gold, and green leaves. When I was channeling reiki energy, I would see this tree sparkle and shimmer in the breeze and energy would flow from it. After I first saw this tree, my spiritual mentor told me that the reiki "colors" were green and purple, and that when she did reiki she also called down Christ energy in a gold color and wove that energy into the green and purple reiki energies.

I've had reiki performed on me as well. When I was pregnant with my first child, I came down with a horrible cold and ear infection. After seeing the doctor to make sure nothing more serious was wrong, I went to a friend who was attuned and had a reiki treatment and ear candling. Both worked wonders!! I was better in no time.

Natural forms of healing really interest me as well as spiritual healing. This is something I will post more about later. I'm definitely not an expert, as I have never had a master attunement, but if you have any questions about reiki, I would be more than happy to try and answer them. Have a blessed day!

Parenting Without Fear

2006-06-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have two beautiful daughters. One is almost 7 and the other is 2. They are quite gutsy, bold, assertive, and strong little girls. My older daughter is an amazing climber. She could seriously be doing extreme rock climbing as she gets older. I think part of the reason she has developed this skill is my determination not to subscribe to fear. We live across the street from a park with a playground on it. My daughter was raised in this park and actually thinks it belongs to her!

She can climb to the very top of the roof covering this playground and sit there like it is nothing. I watched her do this countless times last summer and then one day I told her to "be careful". No sooner had I uttered the words, then she froze, got scared, and needed help getting back down. Oh, the destructive power of fear. I learned a big lesson that day. What my daughters are capable of and what I am capable of is really and truly limitless, unless I let fear have it's way. Why live small? Why create my own limits?

Of course, many of you will say that sometimes fear can be healthy, and that is certainly true as well. But, most of the time, fear simply isn't necessary. Fear is debilitating, crippling. We certainly don't need as much of it as society likes to put out there for us. Disappear fear.

Introductions...

2006-06-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salutations!! This is so exciting to finally be starting my own blog site. My current goal is raising my own vibration. I want to live in spirit, love, and light, help others, raise my daughters to love, and be happy! And I want to help others to do the same.

First, I think we have to do what we can to eliminate fear. Fear in everything sets us back. Fear in parenting, fear in our workplace, fear at home, in the world, etc. Turn off the news!!! Don't read it. It's hard, but just don't. The news is full of fear, and it only lowers our vibration and causes us to fear. And fear attracts fear.

Go ahead, say "goodbye" to fear. Here, I'll say it with you.....1, 2, 3...."GOODBYE FEAR!!" That wasn't so hard, was it?

I invite you to help me on this journey. To join me, and to spiritually become all that we can be.

Blessings! Crystal