Balancing Acts

 The Spring Equinox this coming Thursday, March 20, brings to mind the value of keeping our balance as we pursue our goals and dreams. This day is equal parts day and night and then tips the balance into more light every day. This is a physical sign of the changes nature is bringing, swinging back and forth between light and dark with the two balance points in the year of the spring and fall equinoxes.

There are lots of ways to help us keep our balance.

How does that work for us? One big challenge is to reserve some time in our day to nurture our personal relationships and not neglect them because we are working hard at building our business. Both are important.

An important aspect is balancing between physical and non-physical activities. I reserve some time almost every day to go to the gym to balance out all the time I spend at my desk talking with people and getting things done on the computer.

In the picture above are some of the instruments I use to create additional sound and vibration to reiki energy healing sessions. Sound can help to re-balance us by vibrating through us, with the flow of those vibrations carrying tensions away like a river carrying those disturbances to our system out of our body and into mother earth for recycling.

What other ways do we seek balance in our life?

How do we balance our every day goals with our long term goals? When we take a little time each day to reflect on where we are and where we are going, we check in with our spirit guides, take a little time to read literature that inspires us, and then think about any changes we want to make to bring us more balance, we will feel better about having our thoughts and actions aligned. Doing that always brings feelings of peace and happiness. Grounding and centering helps us keep our balance.

There is always a balance between the give and take in all our relationships. How is the balance between give and take in yours? In our everyday balance, and in the bigger picture,we have karma, where we get back what we give out.

When we pay attention to our balance, we often find those places in our life where we need to adjust the balance in order to get a smoother flow of energy in total.

Another aspect is this. When we are finding our attention drawn to a subject, it might be that following up on that curiosity will help bring more balance into our life. Our spirit guides often inspire us to follow a lead to get a balancing aspect into our life that we didn't know we needed until after we check it out to see how it feels for us.

Laughter Lightning

Laughter is lightning for our mind. Why is that? What is the nature of comedy? Why does it work?

Comedians and humorous writers see the same things we see, but they see things differently, and when we are cracking up because of this different point of view, lightning is zapping our mind.

This past month, one of my favorite authors crossed over into the the next dimension where we all go for our encore performances.

Tom Robbins was a writer who had a great sense of humor. He lived 92 years and wrote stories that had me dropping the books while cracking up with laughter. Another of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury, also was 92 when he made his transition. Hmmm..............I wonder what that means?

So often, when a person wants a day off from work they have to call in sick in order to get it. Robbins called in well when he sold his first novel and never went back to his day job.

Interestingly, Robbins wrote all of his book manuscripts long hand, then had someone else type them up to send to his publisher. One other author you might have read, Wayne Dyer, also wrote all his books long hand.

Writing by hand slows the process down while encouraging deeper connection to thoughts with the written words becoming an act of creation, thoughts manifesting into action.

We create in three levels of communication. We begin with a thought, the second level is when we speak those thoughts, then thirdly, they take on another level of reality when we write them down.

Robbins was unique in that he was not only humorous, but his books included metaphysical matters like reincarnation, tarot card readings, aromatherapy, the second coming, the dance of the seven veils, moon lore, mythology and more, all treated with a wildly weird sense of humor. Robbins could find humor everywhere, even in subjects we don't usually find humorous. His most popular titles include:

• Jitterbug Perfume
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
• Still Life with Woodpecker
• Another Roadside Attraction
• Skinny Legs and All
• Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas
• Tibetan Peach Pie

Now I know that what might be hilarious to me might not be to your taste, but my main point here is the value of humor in our life, the value of humor to our spirit, and its use in healing.

Notice how a joke or funny story breaks the ice when meeting new people or starting a presentation.

Notice how when you are feeling stressed or burdened that finding something to laugh about lightens the load. After laughing a bit, you might decide that there are some things on your mind you can let go of, or not worry about.

And there have been studies done where they discovered that laughter can help boost the immune system. Music helps boost the immune system too.

Often, I look on Netflix to watch stand up comedians after a long day of work or to lift my spirits after a stretch of focused, intense sessions. And as you have noticed, I like to use humor to help make points in my sessions.

One of the other benefits I have noticed from fun reading is this. When we read books that require focus because we are learning something new, we may be going over parts of it and making notes. We are working at a slower pace. When I take a break just to read a fun book, my pace is quicker, so when I return to the books that require more attention, my mind is quicker, my reading speed is faster.

Humor lifts our spirits in the same way that love does. When you laugh with a person, your energies become warmer and more harmonious.

Who are your favorite authors who write with a great sense of humor? I am always willing to check out new ones, just as I am always checking out new comedians.

 

The Year Ahead

2025 is a 9 year.

So what does 9 tell us about the year ahead?

Remember that each of us has our own new year on our birthday every year.

New Year's Day on January 1 is a national holiday and society gets its new year going on this date.

So in our lives this year, we will see some of the things that have been regular parts of our lives come to the end of a cycle. These changes can be in any area of our lives.

The emphasis on change this year which will provide both challenges and opportunities. Often it is our attitude that determines which it is.

Wherever we have a choice, take a good look at which new development can be put in the place of the things we are letting go of.

At this point it is also worth reflecting on the goals, dreams, desires and intentions we had for last year.

What were the things we did very well with, and what things never really took off? Which will we continue with this year?

What changes may be coming to our businesses that may require us to change?

Which of these things can we control? Which ones can we plan for and work around?

What are the things that keep coming to mind that we have not done yet?

Will this be the year we place them front and center and act on them?

Forget new year's resolutions. Instead, state the vision of what you want to create with absolute clarity, and then hold that vision constantly in your mind and keep moving yourself into that vision.

Take a moment to meditate with your four 9s.

Look at the 9 of hearts as the love in your life this year and consider whether you have good relations with all the people who are part of your life. Does anything need to change here?

Look at the 9 of spades as the knowledge, ideas and sharp decisions you will make this year. What information do you need before you proceed?

Look at the 9 of clubs as the inspiration and creativity in your life that gives you joy and energy. What are the things you want to do more of? What creative concepts would you like to dive into?

Look at the 9 of diamonds as the state of your finances, what you do for a living, how you use your money and the numbers that are important to you in realizing your vision. What changes are necessary for your plans to produce the results you want?

Doing this will help you set your plans on solid foundations. Can you feel it?

Look at the 4 cards again. In each part of your life, what are you done with? What do you want to stop or start this year? When you pick up the cards because you have clarity in these four aspects, you have a winning hand.

 

What do we learn from disasters?

 Disasters, while tragic, often serve as a poignant reminder of our resilience and the unyielding spirit of community.

Observing the California fires, it’s heartwarming to witness how adversity ignites a collective drive to support one another, showcasing the innate goodness of humanity.

Many survivors, despite losing their homes, emphasize the priceless value of life and loved ones, a perspective that, while seemingly simplistic, starkly contrasts our often distracted daily lives. These harrowing events compel us to re-evaluate our priorities, fostering gratitude for the little things we might otherwise take for granted.

Remember the fires here a few years ago? For a while, those of us who lived in nearby towns were hyper alert, hoping the fires would be put out before they could spread here. We were greatly relieved when they did not.

The sight of entire neighborhoods consumed by fire is both chilling and awe-inspiring, as we are reminded of the fragility of our built environments. Ultimately, disasters teach us that while structures may crumble, the bonds of community and the appreciation for life endure, and that is a lesson worth holding onto.

Disasters are literally the end of one phase of our life and the beginning of our next phase. Our things may all be gone, but our spirit helps us begin again, this time, with even more heart.

Midwinter Joys, Snow or No

 

As we embrace December this year, there is a palpable shift in energy that feels notably more serene than in years past.

While the festive atmosphere still hosts its share of gatherings, they resonate with a quieter, more intimate vibe that encourages us to slow down and savor the moments.

This season, illuminated by the Full Oak Moon or Cold Moon, invites us into a space of profound reflection and introspection.

It is a time when the Sagittarius season inspires us to dream boldly about the future while honoring the cyclical nature of our lives. The cold, characteristic of this time of year, serves as a gentle reminder of the strength that lies in the restful depths of winter. As the Oak symbolizes resilience and the promise of new beginnings, we are reminded that, like this magnificent tree, our spirits too will awaken and flourish as the sunlight gradually returns, leading us into the vibrant renewal of summer. December was also the time when druids harvested mistletoe from oaks.

Mistletoe does not grow on the earth or in the sky, but rather high up in the tree, between heaven and earth. An appropriate sort of meditation for this time. With the festive spirit of the season, we treat ourselves to parties and special events before putting renewed energy back into our work after the holidays.

Some of us are enjoying popular Christmas traditions while others of us are enjoying other ways to celebrate the season.

Some people want snow so that it fits their picture of the season. Of course, some parts of our country now have so much snow that they are not hoping for more.

People who work in ski resorts want all they can get, yet one of the odd results of global warming is that some ski resorts are not open due to lack of snow, and in places around the world, glaciers are melting, including our own Glacier National Park, which some time in the near future, will not have any more glaciers. Part of the changing realities of our present world.

Let us embrace this quieter energy as an opportunity for growth and rejuvenation, setting the stage for the blossoming possibilities that lie ahead.

In the Wee Small Hours

 

A frequently asked question is what does it mean when we wake up at 3 am with thoughts and dreams that are powerful enough to wake us, and then we go back to sleep. It seems that the universe opens its doors, inviting us to receive messages from the spirit realm. It's almost as if the cosmos has set up an exclusive late-night hotline just for us! Tied intricately to the number 3—often celebrated as the number of manifestation and creation—this hour becomes a golden opportunity for inspiration and enlightenment. So, if you find yourself wide awake, staring at the ceiling, take a moment to embrace the magic of the night. Who knows? You might just be on the brink of a profound revelation or a brilliant idea waiting to burst forth into existence! Jot it down so that you can reconsider it after you wake up to start your day.

Awakening during the early hours of the morning, such as at 2, 3, 4, 5 can hold intriguing significance beyond mere sleep disruption. Many cultures and belief systems suggest that these awakenings may be linked to our body's natural rhythms or even spiritual messages.

For instance, waking at 2 AM might indicate a time for reflection and self-evaluation with a focus on balance, while 4 AM could be associated with heightened intuition and creativity and how they can be used for stress relief. Waking at 5 can be about connecting with higher realms and aligning with circadian rhythms. These moments of awakening can serve as invitations to explore our inner thoughts, reevaluate our goals, or connect with deeper aspects of ourselves. Embracing these early hours with curiosity may lead to profound insights and personal growth, transforming what may seem like an inconvenience into an opportunity for self-discovery and inspiration.

It is a common experience to awaken with a flurry of ideas and insights, only to find ourselves drifting back into the comfort of sleep, allowing those valuable thoughts to slip away into the recesses of our minds. Imagine the potential unlocked by simply keeping a notepad by your bedside, ready to document those bursts of creativity and reflection. Embracing this practice not only helps preserve our ideas but also empowers us to harness our subconscious mind, transforming those ephemeral thoughts into tangible actions that can lead us toward our aspirations. So, let us strive to awaken not just our bodies, but also our creativity, ensuring that no brilliant thought goes unnoticed or unrecorded.

Does this season, this part of the year, bnring you any different awakenings?

Dressed to the Nines

 

Dressed to the nines is an old expression meaning to the highest degree. As we know from numerology, 9 signifies the completion of a cycle, getting things finished and wrapping things up. Nine is not only the number of completion, it is also the number of wisdom and leadership.

That is why people traditionally dress up when going to a symphony, theater performance, a public presentation by a well known speaker, a business event such as an expo or awards ceremony.

These kinds of dress up occasions reflect the special vibe of the event, where the participants will all dress up creating an aura of higher energy.

Some people joke about having a suit for weddings and funerals, but the other examples named above are times when excellence is awarded and the evening is enveloped in a celebratory aura. This includes getting together with family & friends for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas and Solstice parties, going to New Year's Eve parties. It feels good to be casual for every day, and dress for events.

Another way to look at dress is this. We notice that shamans, healers, and spiritual leaders of all kinds don special garments before beginning to lead ceremonies.

Why? Because the person getting dressed to lead a ritual of any kind is getting their mind into that altered state. You could say that for the leader, the ritual is beginning from the time they do their ritual cleaning and dressing, then getting their tools ready for use. So they are changing their consciousness as they prepare and they are in an altered state before their performance begins and lasts beyond the night. The energy stays with us for a good while after a ceremony.

Changing our appearance is all about changing our attitude and mental state. We are changing our mind as we change our clothes.

And this suggests to us excellence, doing the best we can, using our abilities to the nines.

Many of us have experienced that feeling of the nines when we have set a goal and accomplished it, whether in our career, a sport, a hobby, overcoming a health challenge, or perhaps as a volunteer with a charity.

Even when we are teaching ourselves something new or developing a new habit, and we strive to do our best, we are going for the nines.

Notice how you do certain things to shift your consciousness. Is your desk or office set up to facilitate your flow and productivity? Do you wear certain things to get ready? What habits do you cultivate to sharpen your wits and shift your consciousness?

When do you dress to the nines? How do you feel about yourself when you do?

How does your outer state reflect your inner state?

Are you considering some new ideas about this now?

 

After the Costumes Come Off

Dressing in costume is a way of being a different person for a while. We can have fun pretending that we are someone else and we can talk different and act different for a while, and when our costumes and masks are well done, no one knows it is us, we can be outrageous and wild and totally different than our normal way of being. Does some of that stay with us for a while? Do we sometimes like the person in the costume better than our usual self?

Do we not sometimes desire a major change in our life so that we are very different from our present self?

This may sound a bit far fetched, but stop and think for a moment.

Once upon a time, I worked in jobs that required wearing a suit and tie every day, no beard, short haircuts and driving in rush hours to get to office buildings downtown every day. You would never know that by looking at me now.

Have you seen anyone at a party who looked absolutely fabulous dressed up, where their every day manner of dress and looks are plain and low key?

How did you used to look before I met you? How we look influences how people see us. And now, more than ever, we are free to look however we want. There was a time when certain looks went with certain positions. That has largely changed. For example, it was not that long ago that if you had visible tattoos, a lot of companies would not hire you.

Who is the person underneath all the designs, body art and clothing styles? That is the part that really needs to shine through. Does a person's look reveal that? Is the person able to do what needs to be done? Does the way a person looks fit their personality? People are enjoying looking more colorful and why not? If colored hair and body art lifts your spirits, go for it. Employers these days are letting go of those old dress codes as long as you can show up and do the work.

Even in medical professions, where we will continue to see those professionals wearing scrubs, how differently do we perceive that person when we see them in their scrubs than when we see them in their street clothes? On the occasions when I encounter someone from my doctor's or dentist's office in another place, I have to do a double take to recognize them, but they don't have the same hesitation recognizing me.

How differently do we see ourselves when we are wearing jeans and T shirts and when we are dressed up? Who is the person under those clothes? What kind of energy are we projecting when we dress different ways? How do we want people to perceive us?

We put a lot of thought into our costumes. What else do we put a lot of thought into? Do these concepts drive thoughts of change?

 

That Sweet Tooth

When I was a little kid, my favorite holiday was always Halloween. We put on costumes and walked around the neighborhood, filling our bags with free candy. What a great holiday, dressing in costumes, playing tricks on people and feeding that sweet tooth.

These days, Halloween means doing tarot readings for costume parties, and this is as much fun as going trick or treating.

Now, over the years, I get a sweetness that comes from spiritual celebrations where we remember and honor our dead. When we focus on the good things that someone did for us and the important part they played in our life, we summon happy memories rather than the ending of a person's life, we gather encouragement and perspective from that.

This is why I always experience October as a sweet time. It was a different appetite that we were feeding when we were kids. Now as adults, the appetite that we are feeding is for wisdom and balance.

Taking time to reflect on the people in our life, we express gratitude to those who have given us other gifts, things we learned from them that has lasted us a lifetime.

Whether you celebrate Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Souls Day other spiritual tradition, it is a sweet tradition. As adults, when we reflect on the people we know who have already passed into the next realm, we have different realizations about both the tricks and the treats we have bagged during our life.

These spiritual celebrations are lights on our path, with the auras of those who have been with us for a part of our life illuminating our visions and goals.

Sometimes we get the trick, sometimes we get the treat. Experience teaches us to savor both with a smile.