Journey to Forgiveness

At some time or another, we all have to let go of the ties that bind us to the past. There are cuts and scrapes, indignities and all kind of physical and emotional wounds that we cause one another. All the hurts, resentments, anger, open wounds which never seem to heal have to be let go.

We’re all guilty at one time or another of inflicting pain on other, but this isn’t about judgment or blame. It’s about conscious reality and knowing this is a low vibration energy which doesn’t serve a higher purpose. In order to let them go – permanently, means you have to be willing to forgive. Those emotional echoes have been eating you up from the inside for a long time and no good can come from them.

I want to introduce you to a practice which will allow you to peacefully and purposefully release those hurts. It’s time to say your goodbyes and let them recede into the energy vortex of the universal consciousness so the “thought forms” can be cleansed and repurposed. So what is forgiveness?

·         It’s a process of conscious release so we can rid ourselves of the emotions from events and situations which no longer serve us.

·         Allowing you to have healthy emotional detachment from formerly painful triggers.

·         Changing your attitude and finding inner peace and strength.

·         More importantly, forgiveness is a healing for YOU!

Forgiveness is not:

·         About playing the victim card.

·         Pretending or ignoring the circumstances which brought you to the emotional abyss. Rather, you retain the knowledge and wisdom of lessons learned while releasing the ghosts.

·         Harboring resentment.

We all have something we need to let go of – judgments, slights of others, unkind words. No matter, the first person we need to forgive is ourselves. Why? In spite of our best efforts, we self-inflict a lot of pain and emotional abuse upon ourselves due to our failure to attain our hoped-for dreams and aspirations. Get rid of the guilt and let it go. It’s not too late to live the life you truly want. Each morning, you are given another 1440 minutes (24 hours x 60 minutes) to accomplish miracles. In a week, you are presented with another 10,080 opportunities to make things happen!

This is a time for you to self-reflect on all the angst and anxiety you’ve been holding in your body and gently release it. Sit quietly with your feet firmly on the floor and slowly relax your body. Starting from the top of your head, ask each part of your body to release any judgments, anger, hostility, etc. it is holding. Feel the shift in your physical body as this energy begins to slide down and melt away beneath your feet. Once you have released, start filling your body up with the emotion of love. Give yourself a hug. Visualize a mental image of you hugging yourself. Give yourself some positive messages:

·         I FORGIVE MYSELF.

·         I LOVE MYSELF.

·         I FORGIVE ANY AND ALL WHO HAVE CAUSED ME PAIN OR GRIEF. I LOVE YOU.

·         I AM A BEING OF LIGHT AND I AM LOVED.

·         I AM PART OF THE CREATOR’S DIVINE ENERGIES AND I AM LOVED.

Sit for as long as necessary and cry whatever tears you need to. This is important. Relish the feeling of tranquility and emotional release. When you are finished, take some time to be good to yourself. Maybe it’s a bubble bath, or a nice glass of wine. If you’re into chocolate like I am, get something good and decadent. Take care of yourself and keep piling on the hugs.

After a day or two, you’ll be ready to take the next step. Set out some quiet time when you can write out a list of all the people and situations in your life to whom you would like to apologize. Your list may be quite lengthy – if you’re being honest your list is probably several pages long!

Once you’ve made your list go through and jot a quick note about the situation – no more than two or three words are necessary. This isn’t about getting stuck in the emotions – it’s about acknowledgment and release. When you’ve completed this task, settle yourself and come back to a calm and neutral state. You don’t have to do your entire list at one time – break it down into bite-size pieces over several days so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Closing your eyes, take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself in a blue room with walls stretching as far as you can see. There is no ceiling and there is no floor, but this is sacred, protected space. You are alone, but as you get comfortable, ask for each person in turn to come and visit you.

With your mind, speak to their higher self and explain why you have asked them to join you. If you are having trouble speaking, ask your spirit guides to help you communicate. Acknowledge what you have done to contribute to the unpleasantness of the situation and then politely ask for their forgiveness.

When you are finished, take some more calming deep breaths and open your eyes. You should experience calmness and probably more healing tears.

Nothing in life that is worthwhile is easy. As a result of this exercise, I no longer carry around unnecessary baggage.  It takes courage and compassion to step into the waters of forgiveness, but if you are ready, it’s definitely a journey worth taking.

New affirmation: I FORGIVE.

P.S. If you’d like to learn more or need some help letting go, click here.

Always expect the best outcome! Love and light,

Cheryl
IntuitiveGoddesse

Confronting Your Own Weapons of Mass Destruction

Now that I’ve got your attention, I’m referring to that box of old tapes and CDs you keep stored in the back alley of your mind. If you’re like me, they’ve been stacking up for years and you’ve gotten them from everybody – family, friends, and co-workers on the job. They keep piling up – the  “music” isn’t any good and, for the most part, they’re broken or warped – just like the messages they keep bombarding you with! 

Yeah, you know the ones I’m talking about. The ones with names like:

Jealousy & Envy – This duo managed to make a fortune off heartfelt odes to your inadequacies, broken dreams and heartaches. They were famous for making big annoyances out of small petty contrivances.

Passive Aggressive – The original head-bangers of their day, they could really do a number on you. They were kind of surreal – starting off with blissful serenades which turned into blistering rifts of anger and fury.

Or maybe Public Humiliation was more your style. The rap stars of their time, their claim to fame arose from their ability to launch personal attacks and inappropriate exploitation – all with smiles on their faces. Come on, admit it – you’ve tried to throw down to their beats on more than one occasion.

Well, there’s no treasure in this trove. No priceless vintage artifacts you can’t bear to be without. It’s time to have a garage clearing, or you can just start throwing them away in your trash bin.  Either way, it’s time to take out the trash! Get rid of the weapons which are slowly killing your spirit!

Now you can start recording positive and affirming messages for your soul self to listen to.  Some of the better known messages I like are:

Love to the Infinite Power is all about loving yourself from the inside out.  Some spots are mild; others wild. All I can say is this disc offers a refreshing way to talk back to the gremlins and inner critic distracting you.  Before it’s over, you might even find you’re grooving so well with this vibe you’ll write yourself a love note.

I Define Myself resonates because it’s full of mellow healing sounds reminding me that I AM strong, compassionate and fearless (insert your own descriptive POWER words) and will get you psyched to start taking better care of yourself. Become aware of the rhythms of your own body – you can’t live in spirit if you don’t even live in your own body!

Bring Me to Life will kick-start those dreams you’ve kept locked away. Pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments and remember, the future is open with unlimited potential.

Thnk U is one of my all-time favorites. These jazzy beats let you easily fall into a state of bliss and gratitude. Whenever this “CD” plays, I take time to jot down three things I am grateful for in the moment.

Now that I’ve introduced you to some of my new “tunes”, you should have the general idea.  It only takes a few minutes and you’ll be amazed at the changes you’ll start to see as you interact with the world around you.

Remember, you cannot change others, but you can change yourself.  Rid yourself of the negative energies which are draining and keep you from focusing on moving forward. You should only have “tunes” in your mental I-Pod affirming the life you truly want to lead.

New affirmation: I AM DEFINED BY MY OWN CHARACTER AND ACTIONS.

P.S. If you need some help clearing out your stock of vintage, non-productive emotional clutter, click here.

Always expect the best outcome! Love and light,

Cheryl
IntuitiveGoddesse

Intuition - Access Your Own Power!

I keep getting questions about intuition – What is it?  How do you know if you have it? What do you do with it? So I’m jotting a few thoughts on the subject. In simple terms, Intuition is nothing more than a re-awakening of a gift you were already born with.

That’s right -- get rid of the myth that not everyone has it. Everyone’s born with intuition. From the moment of birth, at the instant the umbilical cord is severed, babies instinctively know what’s good and what’s bad – even though they can’t speak for themselves. Reliance on this internal guidance diminishes as we get cues from our families and the environment at large which guides our choices. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have forgotten these, as we continue relying on society at large to provide our frames of reference.

How can you recognize it? Intuition is experienced differently depending upon how well attuned an individual is to his/her body:

• “Knowing” the phone is going to ring before it does.
• Experience “hunches” when you’re making challenging decisions.
• Changing travel plans because of unsettled or anxious “feelings”.
• “Receiving” information without being told anything in advance.

These are all examples of intuition at work. Some people see things; others hear messages. There are a variety of ways information is transmitted to us intuitively. We are constantly receiving these bits of data, but most of us spend our time ignoring them because we don’t know what they represent.

The majority of us function under sensory overload – we’ve trained ourselves to submit to sensory interruptions as “white noise”, as we go about our busy lives. Everything around us is composed of pure energy; we are bombarded by invisible sound waves (think radio and television), vibrations from people’s voices, computers, automobiles and other things in our environments, to name a few. When you can learn to shut out these external interruptions and learn to ground yourself, you can begin to access and develop the intuitive skills you were born with.

Accessing your intuitive gifts requires reconnecting with your spiritual self. Meditation or time spent in focused contemplation is a good place to start.

Once you begin the reconnection, the real learning begins. Working with your intuition and using it properly is akin to learning how to craft a fine piece of artisan work. To start, you’ll go through an apprenticeship where you learn how your body responds, listening to subtle hints and work to refine your latent ability. Some will move on to journeyman status, working on a deeper level to properly interpret the information you’re receiving. With years of practice and dedication, some will eventually master their talents and begin developing and cultivating their own intuitive practices.

Is intuition 100% fool-proof? I believe the answer depends on the individual and how carefully you work at tuning your instrument. Trusting your intuition and listening to your inner guidance will allow become more empowered and confident about calculated risk taking. What I can guarantee is that you’ll be living healthier and happier with much less stress. New affirmation: I AM RECONNECTING WITH AND TRUSTING MY INTUITION. 

P.S. Obviously there’s a lot more to working with intuitive gifts than I could possibly outline in this entry and you’re not going to become an expert overnight. If you’re interested in learning to work with your intuitive gifts and would like more information, please click here.

Always expect the best outcome! Love and light,

Cheryl
IntuitiveGoddesse

How to Have the Best Day Ever!

Okay, so what do I mean when I say BEST? In simple terms: you have to be willing and committed to supplying the necessary action(s) to achieving the highest result. Your DAY – from waking until bedtime, is the amount of time you have to invest in yourself. EVER has to do with the intensity of your action. Set the intention and commitment so what you accomplish today surpasses anything you’ve contemplated before.

Tip #1 in a nutshell is the most important thing to remember because this is where it all begins:

• Tip #1 - Stop looking around and start looking inside.  You’ve been given the greatest gift and most powerful tool one could ask for – YOUR MIND!  Get to know it and it will be your greatest ally. We spend a great deal of time looking around at everyone else, but we’re hesitant and reluctant to bring that vision back around to ourselves. The mind’s eye is a powerful focusing lens, magnifying or diminishing whatever you choose. Visualize what you want to CREATE. Set the intention and start tending your garden, plucking out any negative weeds growing there!

Okay, so it sounds a little silly, but it works!  When you look for wonderful, awesome things to happen, then you’re setting your mind cap to allow those same wonderful, awesome opportunities to be presented.  We’ve got the big one out of the way. What’s next you ask?

·         Tip #2 – Live only in the present moment. If you’re always focused on COULD’a, SHOULD’a and WOULD’a of bygone yesterdays, you’re missing opportunities RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU… TODAY!

When you start looking backwards, it’s easy to lose the momentum and begin falling back into old patterns and behaviors.  If you’re constantly dreaming about tomorrows that may or may not come to pass, I guarantee you’ll miss opportunities...  Yesterday is done and Tomorrow may not come – all you have is TODAY… more specifically, all you really have is this moment in time. 

·         Tip #3 - Set a realistic goal each day and expect the BEST OUTCOME. This will set the rhythm and tone for the day.

Start off with something reasonable and measurable so you can ensure you’re consciously creating something you can accomplish. If the goal is too large, it becomes untenable and frustrating. If it’s too small, then you may not be too concerned with recognizing your accomplishment when it’s done.

Make sure the goal is also something within your sphere of influence or control. You cannot create something that is not yours…

When you have your objective in mind, write it down, otherwise you’re wasting time and energy and the thought may vanish! Brainstorm about what you can do to nurture it. Thinking outside the box is called PROBLEM-SOLVING.  That’s how most successful people get to be where they are.

·         Tip #4 - Fake it till you make it.  CHOOSE how you react to people and circumstances.  Have patience and give yourself credit for showing up.  My motto is ALWAYS GIVE THEM SOMETHING (positive) TO TALK ABOUT.  Sometimes you’ve got to believe your own press and just get out there. BE REAL AND AUTHENTIC. Let your light shine.

Let the world know you’re ready to step up and be seen! People will react positively to the confident energy you exude.  People want to be like you – BEAUTIFUL, CONFIDENT, FEARLESS AND AWARE! When you’re confident, you’re able to create what you want more effortlessly.

And here’s the last one, though by no means is it any less important:

·         Tip #5 - Practice Random acts of Gratitude. This one’s near and dear to me and, as they say, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. It’s easy to be thankful when sitting down to a lavish feast.  Conversely, it’s hard to be grateful as you consider challenges ahead, especially unwelcome ones. 

Write down FIVE things you can be grateful for. Maybe it’s your family. It could be your health. In this economy, be especially grateful that your needs are taken care of. Even if it’s not the long-term job or career you envision, please give gratitude. Take a few minutes to send love to all the things on your list. Doing this revitalizes your energies and releases stress and fear.

In your gratitude, it’s a perfectly natural thing to want to share that feeling with others. Maybe you can perform a random act of kindness and generosity. Not because it’s expected, but rather, because it isn’t. Get used to doing things outside of your own needs and you will be surprised at how the energy is returned!

You’re going to make mistakes… pick yourself up, dust off your backside and get going again. There are going to be days when you feel ‘small’ – when that happens, remember tip #4 - Fake it Till You Make It. Go back inside, turn that frown upside down, open the door again and step outside into the light. That’s part of the process. Expect the unexpected. Have fun with it and celebrate the serendipity that comes into your life.

With these basic tools, you’re on your way to having the BEST DAY EVER! 

New affirmation: TODAY I AM BLESSED WITH OPPORTUNITIES.  

Always expect the best outcome! Love and light,

Cheryl
IntuitiveGoddesse

Gifts from the Universe

I've had an ongoing fascination with rainbows for about the past six or seven years.  I believe this had to do with my opening up and allowing myself to see the beauty which is all around us. Since that time, I have been receiving these Universal gifts in lots of highly unusual places. I have remarked on rainbows which suddenly appeared on bus benches, on street signs, on pavement, in a clear blue sunlit sky, and on empty walls.  Some people ask for feathers; some want pennies – for me, I’ll take the rainbow. I consider myself lucky to witness these wonderful, positive and affirming energies when they make their infrequent and inspirational appearances.

Today is Martin Luther King's birthday and I was on my way into the office. Yes, I'd lingered extra-long in the bed before throwing back the covers and announcing aloud, to Spirit and myself, it was going to be a wonderful day. I quickly got myself dressed, fortified with a bowl of oatmeal and cinnamon for breakfast and headed out.  Heading out, I grabbed a coat thinking I’d better be prepared – it had been a fair weekend, but the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind.  Even then, I wasn't prepared for the gift the Universe was getting ready to bestow on me.

Every morning, I make the same drive down this four-lane road which gives me the perfect opportunity to see the mountains and judge the weather on the other side of the Continental Divide. Most days, I'm greeted with beautiful scenery, but today was different.

Before witnessing this morning's display, I was still peeling away the layers of weekend fog to be ready to handle some tough assignments I had ahead of me. Having settled into my familiar commute, I was barely five minutes from my front door, when the sun beamed out of the Eastern sky at my back, like a Hollywood spotlight. Surprised by the intense glow which enveloped my car; I immediately looked up and found myself staring at an impressive rainbow silhouetted against fluffy clouds spilling over the mountain tops.  Carefully etched into the cloud layer, it reminded me of an illustrated pathway to the heavens, a beautiful, colorful bridge resembling Dorothy's yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz.

My heart was suddenly filled with unexplainable ecstasy. Everything around me ceased to exist and for a time, there was only me, the rainbow, and Divine consciousness – LOVE -- surrounding me and my car. I found myself wishing with all my being to be allowed to leave my car parked by the side of the road and hike up the rainbow so I could bear witness to what was on the other side. Blinded by the intensity of the sights and sounds around me, I nearly steered my car into the opposite lane. Thankfully, it was empty and I was in no danger. The car was on auto-pilot, guiding me safely down the hill to the next intersection.

For a brief moment, I was filled with sadness and I realized it was because there was no one else around to share this joyful experience. Quickly recovering, I looked up again only to find the rainbow had disappeared. As I normally do, I took this to be a sign – a big “thumbs up” from the Universe. Just so you know, the mountains are a good 30-45 minute drive from where I live, so I can only imagine the level of intensity had I been closer! This experience just confirmed my affirmation for the day: I AM TRULY THANKFUL FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS I RECEIVE!

What a blessed day! Love and light,

Cheryl
IntuitiveGoddesse

Say Yes to Your Future!

Well, we're halfway through the month and there's still a lot work to be done before January gets marked off the calendar. IntuitiveGoddesse.com has been busy helping folks jump-start work towards their 2011 goals. By and large, my client sessions have been productive and I'm looking forward to seeing the results of all the seeds they are planting!

If you haven't gotten around to setting your goals, it’s usually because of fear or procrastination. No matter what your individual circumstances – if you really desire a successful life, the first step only requires changing your thoughts. What's really holding you back is inability to see success in your future. Yes, it’s true – life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but you’ve already been given the greatest gift and tool anyone could ever ask for – YOUR MIND!  It’s the most powerful tool available to you.  Get to know it and it will be your greatest ally.

Whoosh! Time to take a breath and reframe your thoughts! I’m asking you to say YES TO YOUR FUTURE SELF!  I mean it.  Take in another deep breath and plant the seed – say YES TO YOUR FUTURE SELF!

It’s that simple – say YES!  If it’s easier for you, use this affirmation – I AM ALLOWING MYSELF TO BE OPEN TO ALL POSSIBILITIES. You owe it to yourself to make an investment in YOU and your future.  When you say the affirmation aloud, you should feel the change in your body – especially in your solar plexus area which is the 3^rd chakra. Even if all you feel is a little shift or flutter, this is the first step forward.

Now it’s time to get started on the work necessary to make things happen. As they say, actions speak louder than words.

If you're ready to move through your fears and stop procrastinating, click here to take a F*REE survey and receive a complimentary 30 minute coaching session as my gift to you.  Like I said, this is just the first step. It is my wish and I’m setting an intention for you as well that you are opening and allowing yourself to claim YOUR FUTURE – the one you WANT and DESIRE.  

Love and light,

Cheryl

IntuitiveGoddesse