Thursday, March 23, 2017

How Do We Affect Others?



 

How do we know how we affect others? Many times you have heard me say that I often feel that we live more than one life in this lifetime, and I know that many of you feel the same way too. Along the way, different people become part of our life for a while, then when we move on, we are involved in new activities with new circles of friends, co-workers, associates and peers.

Another example of this just came up for me yesterday. An old friend of mine from Atlanta, Akbar Imhotep, a professional storyteller, writer and poet who I have not seen in many years, looked me up and contacted me through email. How did he think to do that? A magazine that I helped create 17 years ago in Atlanta, Oracle 20/20, recently published an article of mine. The publisher of that magazine, Sherry Henderson, still sends me a copy every month and reads this newsletter. Akbar reads the magazine. He is a good man and an engaging performer, a talent that he has worked hard to achieve.

My point is that we often do not know how we affect the lives of others. We only get a glimpse once in a while. Some years back, another person, a writer and teacher from Chicago, wrote to me to let me know that my first poetry book made such an impression on him that he was inspired to write and become a teacher. And I never met this person, emphasizing the point that often we affect people in ways that we do not even realize and these people might be unknown to us, unless they contact us.

I met Akbar back when I used to make my living as a freelance business writer and decided to publish a second book of poetry just for fun, or perhaps it is accurate to say that I wanted to express some thoughts and feelings that were different than the brochures, articles, press releases, annual reports and ads that I was paid to write.

So as part of doing promotions, performances and public readings, I created events that also involved other writers, and got me more involved with writers groups, musicians and other artists.

The artist who illustrated my book, Donna Pinter, at one point suggested that I approach the local metaphysical paper to write articles for them. So I volunteered to write one article a month for free just for the variety of the experience and the editor mentored me in that writing. When my mentor died, the publisher asked if I would like to be the next editor, and I accepted and did that, but then the publisher got cancer and shut down the business. Later, readers of that paper approached me about starting a new publication. Writing for these publications is how I learned about metaphysics. My job involved meeting lots of people, interviewing them, reading their books, listening to their recordings, attending their events, checking out what they were doing and then publishing what I found out.

So that is how I went from being a freelance business writer and a self published poet to the editor of very influential magazines that also co-sponsored major events. The first magazine I created was Aquarius, which is now in its 24th year, and Oracle 20/20, which is now in its 17th year. It brings a smile to my face knowing that I created things that have lasted this long. And when I read Oracle 20/20 every month, I always find interesting articles.

While editing, I simultaneously spent 10 years teaching creative writing to adults  at a community arts center, and several years teaching metaphysics at The Inner Space/Hoot Owl Attic, which is a bookstore and school in the Atlanta area, comparable to Isis in Denver.

Every so often, when something comes up, like Akbar contacting me, I look back and think about what a different life that was, a whole chapter of activities and connections which were very vibrant then, but faded into fragmented memories now.

What is important about this is that we have a sign that we made some positive impression on another even way back then, and the significance may be something other than what we think it is. All this is part of our learning experience in this life.

Often, as we proceed with our lives, we wonder what our purpose is and what were the important things we did. Perhaps the answer we are getting is that there was not one thing that was most important. There is value in everything we have done.

In fact, I do not think that we have a purpose in life. That is a concept that people sometimes express, but I think that what is really happening is that we are here simply to enjoy the experience of living and make the most of it.

What I believe is that if we treat other people the way we would like to be treated, every day good things happen between ourselves and others. When we choose to do something or learn something just because we are interested in it our consciousness expands, our view of the world shifts in accord with our new experiences, and new opportunities open for us. 

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that we are simply spirits having human experiences. Being deeply appreciative of humor, I also like the author Kurt Vonnegut's idea that we on Earth are really just a zoo that exists for the entertainment of the critters and beings on other planets. You could certainly make a case for that, couldn't you?

All my life, I have been drawn to learn and do new things because my curiosity fuels my desire, and I feel that what is really behind all that is our spirit guides are pointing out directions for us to explore.

Consider this perspective. Some of those big positions we held, the promotions, the raises, the awards we got were not really the most important developments in our life. Maybe something else is.

There are people who have thanked me for readings or healings that I did for them long ago that I might not be able to remember clearly, but they tell me that those things really made a difference in their lives. How rewarding is that?

What do you want to do next with your life? How can I help?

I am ready whenever you are.

Thank all of you for being part of my life. 

Life is good. I am happy to be here now. And I am always happy to hear from you.


Friday, March 10, 2017

Grateful, and taking it to a new level





The intensity of this year of new beginnings has inspired me to do something radical to show my appreciation to all of you.

Eleven years ago, I moved here from Atlanta, recently divorced, with nothing but a little Subaru sedan (not a station wagon or SUV) and what was in it. Even though I had a metaphysical practice in Atlanta and was very well known there, I didn't know anyone out here except my two sisters who lived here, which is actually how I happened to land in Longmont. So I had to start from scratch and build my business all over again. 


I had to learn some things all over again and see things differently and doing that was both challenging and refreshing, although sometimes difficult. And as we know from numerology, when in a 10 year, it is about beginning again at a higher level.

So this spring begins an 11 year for me in Colorado, having just completed 10. Some numerologists refer to 11 as one of the master numbers.

This is what the numerologist Hans Decoz has to say about it. "The 11 symbolizes the potential to push the limitations of the human experience into the stratosphere of the highest spiritual perception; the link between the mortal and the immortal; between man and spirit; between darkness and light; ignorance and enlightenment. This is the ultimate symbolic power of the 11."

I am definitely feeling shifting waves of energy. One big one that is happening is since the two nurses have joined me as spirit guides, my reiki healing and energy work has taken a quantum leap.
These nurses are very special and encourage me along shamanic lines. More people are contacting me every day for healings and for teaching, both for reiki and other energy clearing and healing work that I do. Those who are experiencing it are feeling it more quickly and strongly and I can feel it reaching a new level as well.

Recently I am also picking up on some different perspectives and insights that are presenting me with new visions. More about that later.

And all of this has prompted me to do something very radical and offer all of you a gift.

Effective immediately, I am rolling back my prices to what they were when I arrived here in Colorado and began reconstructing my life.

Yes, you can have my reading and healing services in private sessions at the rate of $60 per hour and $30 per half hour. That means tarot readings, rune readings, dream interpretations, numerology readings, reiki healing, energy clearing, guided meditation, visualization, spiritual counseling, drumming, chanting, and other methods I may have forgotten to mention.

Classes and readings at parties will continue to be priced differently but private sessions for all that I have named above will revert to my old prices for all present and past clients. Prices at shows and public events, as most of you know, are set by the show producers.

I have made many new friends since I have been here, including some magnificent, kind, sweet and brilliant fellow professionals, served many fascinating and wonderful clients, helping many to reach new levels of success in life. And generally reinvented my own life.

So expanding on my habit of gratitude, I am offering all of you the gift of my services, which have grown significantly during the last 10 years, for greatly reduced prices.

My spirit guides told me that this is the right thing for me to do at this time and I know that their guidance is always accurate and helpful, and serves the best interests of both me and my clients, which is an expected result from good relations with spirit guides.

I am beginning again at a new level and I am celebrating it by offering you the opportunities to engage in new levels of consciousness, awareness and healing, moving to a new level as well. I feel that my guides are confirming all of this by giving it all a fresh start again.

Are you ready?

I am ready whenever you are.

Thank all of you for everything.