Our Hope And Our Future

I had an extremely interesting conversation with some young coworkers a few days ago. By young, I mean all three of them were young enough to be my daughters. I can't remember which one brought it up, but the bottom line of the conversation was that none of them believed the "news" story about the reporter and cameraman in Virginia being shot live on air was real. None of them! For the record, I myself believe the story to be doubtful, but then again I am a conspiracy theorist. I have just seen too many stories that leave more answers than questions, too many leads not followed up on.

For example, I don't believe anyone died at Sandy Hook. There have been many things that made me question the story over time--emergency drill planned for the area that day, evidence of crisis actors, even one video that made a case for the child "victims" all being alive and well (and substantially older than they were reported to be at the time of the incident).

What I realize about my young friends is that they were born into a world with problems. Things have not been as easy for them growing up as they were for me. Consequently, they are not programmed to believe the world is run by people who care (like so many people my age and older). They see the flaws and desire to change things.

I'll admit, becoming a conspiracy theorist was difficult for me. I did not want to believe the world I live in is run by control freak psychopaths. When I finally understood the level of control and manipulation I live under, my world completely fell apart. I literally had to reconstruct my whole outlook to reflect these new understandings. Confronting evil is not pretty.

Young people today don't have anything to reconstruct because they were born into an obviously flawed world. It is much easier for them to not only see the evil but also to deal with it. These kids are now coming of an age where they are old enough to change the world, and they are making great strides. I am extremely encouraged that I do not have to fight this battle alone. These young people are our hope and our future. May I be blessed enough to witness everything they accomplish!

~CSE

   

On The Other Side Of Fear

Wars and rumors of wars. Disease. Environmental destruction. Failing economies, falling stocks and poverty. The world is one great big mess. Most days it is easy to get lost in the negativity of it all. Being fearful is the natural result of such a focus. The thing is, there is so much more on the other side of fear.

There is friendship and peace on the other side of fear. Many people work behind the scenes every day to bring cooperation to situations that are on the verge of becoming volatile. The fact of the matter is, most people worldwide do not hate and dislike the idea of fighting. It is only our supposed "leaders" who fight for control of the world's resources that take us into conflict in the first place. We have the power to change this by making our voices heard.

There are cures for disease on the other side of fear. Often, finding them requires looking beyond what we are told. Some of the cures we know about. Others still require finding. Our world and even our own bodies can reveal secrets to how to keep our bodies in health.

The world's money problems continue to play in the forefronts of our minds, thanks to the media. Markets all over the world are volatile and in freefall. The thing to remember here is, you can't eat money. Even though we believe we need money to survive, the reality is we don't. We need food to survive. We need water and air and access to clothing and housing. Understand the things we need to survive already exist. We just need to rethink the system that gets them to us.

Stepping into the other side of fear requires us to focus on improvements that need to be made. The only reason we need to even acknowledge the fear is so we understand exactly what needs to be changed in the first place. Fear does not need to be given place in our hearts.

It is time to step out on the other side of fear, and change the world.

~CSE

  

It Isn't About You!!!

It happens to everyone. A friend or coworker says or does something hurtful, and we stand back wondering what we did to merit such action. We may end up feeling sad or angry or, at times, just confused. Sometimes it upsets us so much we say or do things we regret later. There is one thought that keeps me sane at times like these: it is not about me!

People act on what they know. If you grow up in a family that speaks their minds and fights all the time, it will feel natural to treat everyone else that way. Years ago, I had a coworker that was quite aggressive. If she didn't like something you were doing she would let you know in no uncertain terms. Many days I felt like I was in the crosshairs because we were so different. The funny thing was, another girl began working with us that was exactly like her. While the rest of us didn't really care to hang out with either one of them, they became fast friends. They fought and bickered between themselves, and that was okay because that's what they were used to.

I encounter many people in my customer service job who are abrupt and difficult. Sometimes they are just in a hurry and need help finding something so they can be on their way again. Sometimes they are not feeling well, but junior needs khakis for his band concert tomorrow night, so there they are at the store when they would rather just be in bed. There are many other reasons they might act in disrespectful ways. I don't take it personally. Being sensitive and a good listener, I can usually feel they are in pain. I do what I can to help, often times making them feel a little better.

There are occasions where something I do seems to send someone else over the edge. This is because my action has reminded them of something someone else has done to them in the past and it triggers an automated sort of response. I call these trigger points, and when I encounter them personally I know there is an issue I need to look at and work on. Understand that most people are not ready to deal with their issues and will act out on them instead.

What I try to remember is this: people act out for many different reasons, and it is not about me. It is really all about them! It is their experience, their issue, their life! It is not right or wrong. It is part of their learning experience and something they are dealing with in the moment of now.

Don't make their problem about you. You have enough to deal with without taking on additional responsibility. The only person you can truly fix is yourself. Respect them enough to allow them to fix their own problems. It isn't about you!!!

~CSE

    

What It Means To Be A Lightworker

There are many people out there who like to call themselves "lightworkers". It's a rather New Age term meant to designate someone who has chosen to bring light and healing to the planet. The only thing is, I see a good many lightworkers who like to point out the flaws they see in others claiming to be lightworkers. This puzzles me. How can you be a lightworker if you are going about bashing other people? How is that helping to bring light and healing to the planet?

We all come from different backgrounds and different perspectives. What makes a Catholic better or more enlightened than a Protestant? Why is practicing Usui Reiki an improvement over Kundalini Reiki? Why is protecting animals any more important than saving Mother Earth herself? The fact is, no one perspective is the "right" perspective. Many of us change perspectives throughout the course of our human lifetimes and come to very different understandings of how the world works.

Lightworkers understand the overall goal is not to bring truth but to bring love. Life is not about fighting and separation. Life is about setting aside your differences and working together for the common good! While I do believe there is true evil in the world that needs to be overcome, it is a waste of time to stand against an idea that does not necessarily fit into your understanding.

Signs You Are A Lightworker

1. Listen to the guidance of your heart.
2. Focused on bringing light, love and healing to the world.
3. Able to be love in trying situations.
4. Understand (and accept) your own imperfections.
5. Open to new concepts and to growing as a human. 
6. Allow others to function as they are without trying to change them.
7. Able to brings sides together to function as a cohesive unit.

What must be understood is there are many groups and philosophies out there that are all trying to help rebalance the planet. Just because they are coming from a different perspective than yours does not make them "bad". They are just seeing a different side that also needs to be worked on.

There is great evil in the world that is multifaceted and all-encompassing. It is going to take different perspectives and different approaches all working together to change things! Stop fighting them and go instead to where your heart leads you!!!

It is only when our hearts and minds are One that we can bring about a world of love, light and abundance for all!!!

~CSE

Appreciate The Quiet Moments

As I sit with my coffee and the light from the window grows steadily brighter, I am reminded to appreciate the quiet when it happens. There are many days when I feel so busy it is difficult for me to even think. Today is not one of those days. The quiet of this morning helps me understand today is one of those "recovery" sorts of days.

It is important to take the time to rest when we can. Life is often like a roller coaster--lots of ups and downs and excitement. Days like today are when you get off the ride and find yourself waiting in line to get back on the ride. It is in those quiet moments we have time to rest and relax so we can be ready for the action that is coming down the road.

I have a feeling September is going to be a rocky month. The powers that be have historically used the month of September to deluge us with really negative things. The last two "recessions" began in September of 2001 and 2008 after the stock market took historic drops. (Of course, September 11, 2001 is also the single greatest terrorism event to date.) Interestingly enough, both of these events occurred at the end of a seven year cycle known as a Shemitah year. Every seven years, the people of Israel were instructed to let the land lay fallow and to forgive all debts. This Shemitah year began last September and will officially end on September 13, 2015. With all the volatility of the markets recently, it would not shock me to see the stock markets totally collapsing around that date. Interestingly enough, there are all sorts of significant world events getting ready to happen around that time. September is also the month the UN General Assembly opens and will launch a new "sustainable development" agenda, not to mention the month the Pope will appear there as well as in Washington. The eyes of the whole world will be watching as events unfold.

Now is the time to sit in the quiet and rest. Feel into your heart, get grounded, and connect to Gaia (Mother Earth). Allow yourself to draw strength and energy from her and allow yourself to understand what she, in turn, needs from you. The time to act is coming. Rest and be renewed now so you will have the strength and courage for what lies ahead.

~CSE

Manipulation Vs. Awareness

I recently heard the statement, "Anything beyond 'No' is manipulation." The friend who said it was trying to set clear boundaries as part of her recovery process. I can see where she's coming from. In our society, our actions are almost always defined by "the rules" and our various responses to them. Everything we do is largely based on thoughts and ideas outside ourselves, and this is where our problems begin. Instead of consciously leading our lives through personal awareness, we are caught living the lives others want us to live through manipulation.

When we live in a state of manipulation, we allow others to define us. We live according to a set of rules that are supposedly designed to be for the greater good and allow our minds to guide us based on our previous experience within that framework. Manipulation clearly defines "good" and "bad" (aka judgment) and uses emotions like guilt, anger, and sadness to persuade people into following the rules. Living in manipulation is living in a place with clearly defined boundaries.

Living from the heart is living in awareness. It does not define things as good or bad, right or wrong. Rather, awareness draws your attention to those things that are important in the present moment. You may feel guided to actions you wouldn't normally take in your day to day life, and you don't judge yourself for doing them. You are not bound by "the rules". Rather, the Universe makes you aware of your own needs and the needs of those around you and encourages you to take action that benefits the whole.

Begin today by taking a closer look at the world around you. What draws your attention? The television? The tree dying in your yard? Another person? Ask questions that help you define what is drawing you there. (Am I watching television as an escape, or is there something happening in the world I can act on? If it's an escape, what can I change about my life that I don't need to escape from? Does what I'm watching inspire me in some way?) (Is there something I can do to heal the tree? Do I need to see the tree gets taken down because it is going to become dangerous?) (Is something wrong with the other person that I can help fix? Is the person acting in ways I should copy in order to improve my life?)

Living in awareness requires a whole new way of looking at the world. Awareness asks you to step out of the robot mentality and think for yourself. When you are finally able to escape the box society has placed you in, you free yourself from manipulation. Awareness allows you to express the BEing you were born to be!

~CSE

     

The Myth Of Self-Sacrifice

From the time we are small children, we are molded and shaped by society in an attempt get us to live in certain prescribed patterns. Over the past few weeks, one of these patterns has drawn my attention as it is something I have allowed myself to be trapped by for a very long time. I call it the myth of self-sacrifice.

The vast majority of us are convinced it is noble and good to sacrifice our own desires for the greater good--that it is more important to do for others instead of ourselves. We look up to figures like Jesus and Mother Teresa as examples and believe it is important to emulate them. I believe this is a lie. It is not a choice between being selfless and being selfish. The real choice is to connect to and follow the guidance and wisdom in your own heart.

The difference between choosing selfish/selfless or choosing to follow your heart is judgment. If you make decisions based on selfishness or selflessness, you are coming from a place of judgment. When you choose to follow your heart, your decisions are not based on thoughts of what is right or what is wrong. Your choices are based on what the Universe considers best for the whole. Understand the difference sounds subtle, but is extremely profound!

When you follow the guidance of your heart, there are times when people will judge your actions to be selfish. At other times your actions will be seen as selfless or self sacrificing. The actions being judged are short term consequences that may actually have long term results that are not anticipated. Actions taken upon advice from the heart typically result in circumstances working out beautifully in a cohesive whole. The beauty is often only seen in hindsight.

At this point in my life, I understand how much damage I have done to myself because I allowed my own personal judgments (aka guilt) to guide me in my decision making process. At times when I believed it was best to sacrifice myself in service to others, I missed opportunities that were presented to me. I could have had more and done more. I could have shined as myself instead of allowing my relationships with others to define me.

Before you begin to jump into judgment, understand I am not talking about doing things for myself first. I am talking about consulting my heart for guidance when making decisions. It is not about me wanting to be selfish or selfless. It is about me wanting to make decisions based on what the Universe believes is for the greater good. Sometimes the decisions will benefit me. Sometimes they will be more blessing to others. It's really all about the bigger picture and not the little individual pieces.

On the negative side of the self-sacrifice myth, when you believe life is all about giving you may give until  you have nothing left inside you. This is not a productive place to be. However, the bigger problem with sacrifice is that you not only deny yourself but you also deny your own power. You are not the master and creator of your own life. You are a slave to judgment and to those who want to use your power for their own personal gain.

If you want to live in authenticity and in power, it is important to lay aside judgment and consult your heart. It is your heart that connects you to Oneness. It is your heart that overcomes the separations of duality. It is your heart that knows what choice is best for the greater good. Learn to consult it. Your life will flow in a much easier and less troubled way.

~CSE

Stock Market: Real Or Not Real?

As I write this, I'm watching reports about the falling stock markets all over the world. After a bad week last week, the markets are going down even worse. Everyone is wondering if they will miraculously stabilize or will we see another big bubble? At this point, it's pretty much anyone's guess, although I believe the powers that be still control what happens to a very large degree.

I want to play a little game: Real or Not Real, but first I need to give you a little background. What is the stock market? If you go back in history, wealthy men put their money into manufacturing businesses that could use common workers to mass produce goods more cheaply than ever before. Somewhere along the way, these rich men came up with the idea they could attract more money for investments by opening their businesses up to other people with money and selling "shares". They would then pay the shareholders dividends based on profits created by the business.

The idea began to take off. This was because there was a middle class with dreams of making their hard earned cash pay in ways they didn't have to work for. They too could make money off the backs of others like rich men did. Some of these middle class people did very well with their investments and became much more wealthy as a result.

The Great Depression changed many people's fortunes overnight. Suicides were common as people literally lost everything they thought they had "earned" with their investments. Ironically, most of the ultra wealthy people had managed to sell off their investments before the fall came (NOT coincidence). After the fall, they were able to buy huge businesses for pennies on the dollar and made even more money!!!

There have been many more recessions since then. The 2008 "recession" I have always called a depression because the effect was in many ways similar to the 1929 collapse. Huge numbers of people lost good paying jobs. Many lost their life savings. The ultra rich banks were given more investment money they could gamble with and lose. Today, we once again seem to be flirting with financial disaster as the markets once again take dangerous tumbles.

Now to the game!

Real or Not Real? 

1. Are the manufacturing plants real? Yes! They produce real goods to be used by real people!
2. Is the stock market real? Quite simply, no. Stocks are a bet that those in charge are going to make decisions that will make the company more profitable. There are no guarantees. While these bets are believed to be based on tangible goods, they are really based on money only. 
3. Is money real? That depends on how it is created. If it is created because you have some physical good that it represents (like gold or lumber or oil) it is somewhat real. It is still just a representation of the goods designed to make trading the actual goods easier. If it is created from thin air (like most of our currencies in recent years) it is not real. Fake money is called fiat money.

Now that we've played the Real Or Not Real Game, what do we need to understand about our lives as we know them?

The stock market is a tool of rich people to siphon money off of poorer people. While people are made to believe they are investing in real goods and services, these "investments" come with inherent risks. Investors don't get physical pieces of the company. They don't even get whatever product or service the company produces unless they buy it. Their "shares" have a monetary value that is pretty much always based on fiat money. Winning or losing often comes down to convincing other people you have something of real value to sell.

What We Need To Remember

All around the world, real goods and services are produced every day by people just like us. These can be traded and used by everyone so that we all have food, clothing, shelter, etc. The supply chains are already in place. We do not need company chairs and CEO's to provide ourselves with what we need to live on. The structure is there.

When our world economy collapses (and there is no doubt in my mind it will), understand the solutions require new ways of looking at the world. We do not need rich men to live. We need cooperation. We need each other. We are real!!! We are what matters!!!

Allow the illusions of the world to fall aside so we can create a new, real world together!!!

~CSE

  

Someone Else's Journey Is NOT Up To You!!!

In an ancient past lifetime, I came into contact with a very aggressive and controlling personality. This person did some really evil things that hurt people I loved and affected me deeply. Karma acted quickly and decisively in that instance and he was killed. Several months ago, I realized this same energy had shown back up in my life and was once again hurting people I love. The relationships are different, and I am now in a position to understand what created such destructive anger.

As I meditated on this situation, several insights appeared. The first is that I am apparently attracting this energy back into my life. The second is that this energy is trying to gain something from me. The third is that I made a formal agreement on some level that is allowing this person back into my life. I believe I agreed to take some of the responsibility to help heal this very hurt and unhealthy energy.

I did show him the way to love, which is the greatest healing power there is. He is still the same angry, controlling energy he was before, causing havoc in the lives of people I love.

It is time to draw a line in the sand and renounce the contract I previously made. I may have agreed to help him. He decided to not accept the lesson. As far as I am concerned, my part in the deal is over.

What stands out to me in this whole process is that we, as humans, have been convinced we are responsible for our brothers' well being. Let me make this perfectly clear: we are not responsible for the journeys of others. We are only responsible for our own journey.

Do you honestly believe that what you do has the power to make or break another individual with free will? Do you truly think that you, and only you, have the power to save the life of any other? Maybe you should put on your shiny armor, mount your noble steed and ride into the battle to save the day! (Sarcasm intended!!!)

Yes, we are all responsible for everything we do!!! Actions have consequences, and if the actions you take are not in alignment with the wisdom and guidance of your heart you may have to deal with a lot of unnecessary problems.

The thing is, someone else's success or failure is their own responsibility. Their journey is not up to you!!!

As I look at the situation I described above, I have done what I can and what is in alignment with my heart. He has chosen not to learn the lesson. There will be other people and other situations which will enter his life in an effort to help him learn the same exact lesson. I did what I agreed to do. As far as I can tell, I've done it more than once.

At this point in time, I have chosen to renounce the contract and break off energetic ties. I am at a place in my own life I know I deserve more than the sort of struggle this energy brings. I am ready to disengage from this energetic block and move on.

I now understand his journey is not up to me. I do not need to struggle to teach him over and over again if he doesn't want to accept what I have to offer.

The journey that should be important to you is your own. Make it a priority to ground yourself and connect to the Oneness that lies within. It will show you the path you should take.

~CSE

       

A Call For Peace

Chaos swirls in the air around me. ISIS and terrorism. Wars and fighting. Devaluing currencies and falling stocks. Arguments over who are the rightful "citizens" of countries. These things are all noise--distractions designed to keep us separate and alone and afraid. Now, more than ever, it is time for us to get grounded and connect inside our hearts. A call for peace has gone out, but it is impossible to hear unless you focus with intention.

Today is the day to find a quiet space to sit. Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. As you breathe in, focus on bringing in healing, and love, and peace. As you breathe out, allow the stress and tensions of your daily life be expelled. Allow this process to deplete you of negativity while filling you with abundance and opportunity. Sit in silence until you have released all blocks and feelings of helplessness.

Next, focus on your beating heart. Feel your spirit body residing in that physical place where your heart beats. Picture your spirit inside your heart. Once you get a firm sense of how that feels, increase the size of your spirit body until it completely fills your physical body. Once those boundaries are established, allow your spirit body to expand in even greater ways. Picture it the size of the room you are in. The town you are in. The state or country. The continent. The hemisphere. Picture your spirit body the size of the whole planet, allowing it to fill the entire core of the earth. Continue to expand your spirit body out beyond infinity, to the place where everything exists in a limitless way.

As you sit in this expanded state, explore your personal energy. What does it feel like? Ask the Universe, the Oneness, what you are called to do...and wait for the answer.

Once you have a firm sense of self, explore the energies around you. Feel the elements of nature. Become aware of art and music and architecture. Sense the energies of the people you experience your present reality with. Feel the give and take of the flow that connects all of it. Understand that you are not separate from anything in reality. Allow that sense of Oneness to fill you with peace.

Peace is within you when you take the time to go inside and search for it. Practice it daily. This is what will save you from the chaos that follows. As always, the choice for peace is up to you. Listen to its call. Take time to connect.

~CSE

We Belong To The Earth

Ownership. It's what we work for. It's what we fight for. It creates the need to dominate and establish boundaries. It is the driving force behind all wars. It is all based on a lie. The lie is that we are the dominant species who must claim their power and rule over everything.

Mother Earth laughs at the hubris of men. With one energetic volcanic heave, she can create more power and destructive energy than an atomic bomb. She can flatten whole cities with tornadic and hurricane force winds. She can deluge civilizations, often burying them in the depths of the sea. She can bring great ice to cover vast portions of herself and limit the population of the planet.

The sun, too, is a force to be reckoned with. Radiation can heat the planet and cause destruction on land and sea and animals and plants. Solar flares have the potential to knock out technology as we know it (and with it our way of life).

But we humans are supreme! We have the ability to take over and control everything (including each other)...or not!!!

The fact of the matter is, we have gotten it all wrong. We can no more own the land any more than we can own the sun. We may be able to control and manipulate certain things, but nature and the forces of the Universe will always have the last laugh.

It is we who belong to the Earth! It is we who have been charged with taking responsibility for how we live on her!!! Even with all the abuse we allow her to suffer, she will still survive after we have all managed to kill ourselves off.

It is time to be the good stewards of the Earth we were meant to be. The Earth can be our home and will provide for us if we treat her right. Our mission is not ownership or power. It is about life and enabling Mother and everything on her to live on in prosperity.

Isn't it time we remembered that?

~CSE

The War Is Being Won On The Internet

The hacking of extramarital affair site Ashley Madison has been big news the past few days. While this one seems to be a way to humiliate people by exposing their sins, my intuition is telling me there is so much more going on here. The hacking of this and other sites are happening to uncover information that will eventually be used to take down the cabal.

Ask any conspiracy theorist, and he/she will tell you stories about how people are working behind the scenes to arrest the powers that be for all their vast and many crimes. Most days I believe the cabal themselves actually spread these rumors in the hope that our knight-in-shining-armor programming will kick in, convincing us that someone else is on the way to save us all so we will not take action ourselves. While I definitely believe part of the reason we aren't seeing prominent people being arrested is because we personally fail to act, I also believe there are people working many different behind-the-scenes angles to reveal the crimes of those we have allowed to be in power. The work is extremely tedious and time-consuming because of the lengths those in charge have gone to in order to hide their crimes.

Besides this "newsworthy" hack (sarcasm intended), there have been quite a few other hacks lately that you should pay attention to. Banking hacks, especially where they obtain personal information on the bankers themselves, are part of this. There was a recent attack on US government agency sites that pulled up sensitive information about 19.7 million people who had gotten background checks and 4.2 million federal employees. Incidents such as these are not random attacks by people who want to steal people's identities. They are uncovering information they can use to track people down--people who are using their positions of authority to gain unfair advantage.

The battle for power is being fought on many fronts by many different groups. Understand the internet is a tool/weapon in this war. As more truth is revealed through database breaches, those who hide in the shadows will be put in the spotlight. The war is being won on the internet!!!

~CSE

Rethinking Selfish

We have all been programmed to believe selflessness is a good thing. While it is true that helping your fellow man is a virtue, it is also true the selflessness has the potential to be harmful as well. For me, the difference between the two lies in the ability to connect to and follow the guidance of your heart. Often, some of the actions our hearts tell us to take seem selfish initially!

Doing no harm is a good thought. The problem is, thoughts occur in our minds. While our minds can be helpful in making decisions, they are not our hearts. They do not have access to the full spectrum of wisdom and knowledge like our hearts do. Decisions made based on the wisdom of the mind are always limited at best.

There are times when doing something for yourself first is preferable. For example, have you ever flown on an airplane? When they do the little safety talks before the plane takes off, they always mentions what happens if the cabin becomes depressurized. Little air masks drop down for people to breathe through. This is because air is extremely thin at certain heights and oxygen becomes so scarce it is easy to pass out and die. In the safety instructions, they always tell you that if you are flying with children to put the mask on yourself first. Why do they do that? Wouldn't most people want to do the selfless thing and save their children first? They council you to do that so you are still thinking clearly before you pass out!!! If you are not thinking clearly, you may not be able to help your children and you could all die!!!

When you are selfless, your main thought is other people. You will do anything and everything you can to help your fellow man. This approach will often leave you empty and broken yourself though. If you spend all your time caring for others and not replenishing yourself, you will soon have nothing left to give others. 

When you follow the guidance of your heart first and foremost, it will tell you when it is appropriate to help others and when it is appropriate to help yourself. There are times it will tell you to do the selfless thing. There are other times it will tell you to do the selfish thing. The point here is to listen to your heart when it tells you to do something!!! 

Wisdom has never been about being selfless or selfish. These judgments don't even come into play! Wisdom lies in following your connection to Oneness, your heart. The heart knows how your actions will play into the whole. Your mind, with its limited understanding, may not understand the long term consequences and make poor choices. 

It is time to get off the "selfish" bandwagon. Taking care of yourself is not a bad thing if your heart tells you to do it. Free yourself from judgment and allow yourself to be cared for and nurtured by the One. In doing so, you become part of the big picture. You become part of the solution.

~CSE

 

Eleven Everyday Tricks To Tame Tension

I've been under a lot of stress lately. When issues begin to pile up on you, it is often difficult to disentangle yourself from the fray. Here are a few of the tips and tricks I use to help me get back on track!

1. Meditation. The simple task of focusing on your heart and allowing yourself to connect will ground you and remind you of what really matters.
2. Music. Singing is extremely beneficial for loosening up your core muscles and clearing your head. Listening to music is also beneficial by helping your mind focus something besides your problems.
3. Dancing. Moving to music you hear (or even music in your head) can help you relax and release stress energy.
4. Reading. Anything that captures your attention, whether it be a book or magazine, can be used to escape the drama (at least temporarily) and help to relax you.
5. Watching TV. Again, this can be a form of escapism, but it can also help your mind focus on things outside your troubles and in that way reduce tension.
6. Working a puzzle, crossword or game. These will focus your mind in a constructive way (with the added benefit of keeping your mind active and alert).
7. Jogging/Walking. Physical exercise is an excellent way to release stress energy and increase neurotransmitters, which will brighten your mood. Doing this outside will also connect you to nature.
8. Riding a bike. Again exercise will relieve stress and build neurotransmitters.
9. Doodling/creating art. Being creative allows your mind to think outside the box and improves your mind/body connection.
10. Humor. Laughing is one of the best ways I know to immediately reduce tension and relax.
11. Playing with a pet. Our animals are there with unconditional love! Allow yourself and your spirit to be soothed and comforted by their presence!!!

Don't allow the frustrations in your life to get the better of you!!! Be proactive and take those steps necessary to maintain a balanced state of mind. Your life will take on more clarity and meaning as you take responsibility for yourself!!!

~CSE

I Am Not Your Mama: Renouncing Spiritual Contracts That Burden You

It may surprise some of you that I can remember bits and pieces of some of my former lifetimes. The first time a memory came back to me was when I asked a specific question about a relationship I have with a present day friend. The exact question was, "Why do I have so many conflicts with this person I care so much about?" All of a sudden, I had a vision of a past life that explained our longtime connection and past struggles. Interestingly enough, remembering this event has helped me maintain a better balance in my present day relationship.

We all have many long standing relationships with people we meet here on Earth, regardless of whether or not we remember those past connections. Often we have agreements to help each other learn certain lessons or accomplish certain tasks. This is why many of the same people show up with us, lifetime after lifetime.

There are times when the same people bring the same low vibrations back to our lives to play out again. The goal is to learn something new in the hope that growth is achieved. However, sometimes one being is ready for the new vibration/frequency/change and the other being is not. At that point, it is important to intentionally renounce the spiritual contract that is tying you to the other being.

While you do not need to renounce the contract in a formal way, renouncing it formally will make a decisive end to your spiritual contract. The following is a simple outline you can copy (and change if necessary to fit your particular situation):

I, (your name here), renounce and revoke any and all spiritual agreements, contracts and connections I have with (person you are breaking the contract with). I understand only (person you are breaking the contract with) has the ability to change themselves and I am not legally or morally responsible for his/her well-being. I do not consent to the spiritual tie I have been bound with and declare my sovereignty and freedom from this person and situation. 

Remember, your life is not about another person. It is about you and your personal journey of understanding and growth. You are not responsible for the journey of someone else.

That said, I am not responsible for your personal journey. You need to take responsibility for yourself. I can show you the tricks and tools I use to connect to Source and find my own answers. In other words, I can show you the door. I cannot force you to walk through it. I love you, but I am not your mama!!!

~CSE

Are You Too Comfortable?

Do  you ever feel as though you are stuck in life? Maybe you are at a pretty good place, but you see more out there and crave some of it? If you can't seem to get to the next level, the question you should be asking yourself is, "Am I too comfortable?"

Often, we see comfort as a good place to be. It feels safe. It feels secure. It feels like home. We know what to expect and how much we can accomplish. After all, we do it every day...and that's where the problems begin.

If you continue to do the same things you have always done, you cannot expect growth or change. Living in the rut may feel safe and secure, but doing the same old thing day after day will only make the rut deeper. The longer you continue on in the same deep path, the more difficult change becomes.

Now that you have established you are in a rut and need to change, what can you do to step out of your comfort zone? Sometimes, changing something small can create enough discomfort to take you out of your everyday rut. The follow is a list of ideas you can use to help yourself acclimate to the feelings change brings about in your life.

Small changes that create BIG growth:

1. Take a new route to work! Just getting out of your normal daily routine can be enough change to help you see new possibilities!
2. Take on a new hobby! Expanding your mind and body by learning something new not only creates new neural pathways in your brain but also gives you feelings of accomplishment.
3. Explore a place you've been wanting to learn more about! Maybe you've thought about touring a local museum or hiking a new trail. Allow yourself to go outside your normal routines to access new things to do.
4. Meet new people! Join a club where people gather to discuss hobbies or topics you enjoy. Talk to people at the grocery store. You never know where you might meet someone who can help you see a new way of doing things that will promote growth.
5. Explore the interests of people who are important to you! Not only will this assist with new perspectives, but this has the added benefit of helping you become closer to your loved one through shared experience. 

Stepping into the uncomfortable is mandatory for anyone wanting to make significant changes in their lives. Allow the little things to shake up your routine enough to prepare you for the bigger changes you want to accomplish!!!

~CSE

Connecting To Heart Radio Show

Come join me on Wolf Spirit Radio from 4pm to 6pm Eastern time (3pm to 5pm Central, 2pm to 4pm Mountain, 1pm to 3pm Pacific) TODAY!!!

Today's show will begin with our usual guided meditation to help your connect to your own heart for answers!!! From there, we will explore the energies/dynamics of interpersonal relationships, focusing on identifying how to receive more love and how to understand the lessons we can learn from all types of relationships!!!

Call ins welcome during the second hour of the show!!! 
     US and Canada call in number: 1-775-773-3431
     Britian: 44 141 356 4141

On Finding Love

I was very broken when my first marriage ended. I invested everything I had in that relationship, and somehow it was still not enough. In the end I felt like a shell of my former self, empty and lifeless. It took several long months before I could appreciate my giving nature enough to realize that I deserved to receive as well. At that point I began looking for a relationship that was more worthy of me. It took over ten years to find it.

I made some interesting discoveries along the way. While I met and went out with a lot of people, there were only two besides my current husband that I really had any sort of relationship with. It took about two months with each of them before I realized they were not what I was looking for.

With my first husband, I felt like I knew him from the very first date (at this point I definitely believe I did know him before). We meshed from the beginning, and I felt extremely comfortable with him. At the time I thought being comfortable was a good thing--like that meant we were supposed to be together. What I now understand is that we were vibrating at a similar frequency, but that wasn't necessarily a good frequency for either one of us to be in or aspire to.

The first brief relationship I encountered during my days as a single mom began really well. He was intelligent and very handsome, successful and ambitious. He believed in working hard and playing hard. He had the money to treat me to dinner at nice restaurants and concerts, and we had fun together. This man had many of the characteristics I believed I wanted in a relationship. He was also proud and perfectionistic with very little sense of humor, and expected to be doted on. I never got around to introducing him to my kids because on some level I really didn't think he could handle them. It dawned on me after spending two months with him that he treated me much like my ex-husband had. When I realized that, I broke off the relationship.

The second relationship seemed a little more promising initially. He asked for my input, had a wonderful sense of humor and even was a good father to his own son. After a while though, I began catching him hiding important details (also something that had happened with my ex). Again, I realized the relationship was not where I needed it to be, so I broke things off.

I appreciate both men and the opportunities I had to explore these relationships. Even though they did not work out in the long run, both taught me things about myself I needed to know. Both taught me things I needed to look for in a healthy relationship. In those respects, these relationships helped heal some of what was broken in me, and I am truly and profoundly grateful.

My relationship with my current husband actually did not begin all that well. Before we began dating, I knew he was a kind and strong person that I admired. What I didn't anticipate was how strange it would feel to be treated well. Because I was not used to it, I initially pushed it away because it made me uncomfortable!!! Fortunately, I was able to analyze my discomfort enough to recognize what was causing it. I forced myself to live through the initial discomfort until I was used to being treated this way.

With everything I've learned, the most important is this: we receive the treatment we believe we deserve. If you find yourself being used and abused by others, understand there are underlying self esteem issues. At that point, it is important to look at yourself with new eyes. Focus on your good qualities and ask yourself if you are receiving back what you give out. When you begin to appreciate and understand your own value, so will everyone else.

Love is always out there for us if we are willing to step out and demand something more!

~CSE

Connecting To Nature

I spent a great deal of time outside when I was a kid, especially during warmer months of the year. There were two trees in the yard of the home I grew up in. The one in the front yard was a maple tree that turned a magnificent red in the fall. The tree in the back yard was a huge black ash tree. It's dark and rough channeled bark is still etched in my mind even though it has been years since I've seen such a tree. There were a few rose bushes my mom had planted in the side yard beside my driveway. Behind the garage there was a huge lilac bush, and on the shaded side was a patch of lily-of-the-valley that would appear every June. The rest of the summer that same flower patch was home to perennial spearmint. Many were the days I would lay in the grass and study the movement of the ants or the lazy way the fluffy clouds moved through the sky.

There has always been something about nature that called to me. Even though my current yard is extremely small, there are times I feel the need to go into it, sit in a lawn chair and put my bare feet on the grass. There is definitely something powerful in the physical connection we all have to Gaia (Mother Earth). Scientists have even discovered that physically connecting to the ground has an antioxidant effect on the body and can help the body heal itself.

On a spiritual/energetic level, allowing yourself to being open to the energies of Gaia and nature opens you to the love and abundance available in the Universe. Just as a mother gives everything she has to make sure her children have what they need, Mother Earth supplies all those things we need, including inspiration. Connecting the Gaia not only grounds a person but can also have a calming effect.

The process of connecting to nature is simple. I find that sitting in one location gives me the opportunity to explore the individual energies of what is around me in a little more depth, although walking in nature is also therapeutic. Allow your mind to wander to all those things that draw your attention. It might be the grass, a rock, a particular tree. Notice the color and shape. How does it make you feel? What does it make you think of or remind you of? There are no right or wrong answers here. Different people will see different things and connect in different ways. Don't judge the thoughts that come. If something comes to your attention, your awareness is kicking in. Allow the process to happen.

The more we take time to explore the gifts that Mother Nature bestows on us--the more we take the time to be thankful for those blessings--the better able we are to connect with all the blessings and gifts the Universe has in store for us. Make it a point to connect every day. You will feel much more energized, loved and grounded when you take the time to remember the natural world around you.

~CSE

Adaptation

One of my nieces discovered she had numerous allergies after being hospitalized for a severe asthma attack. Tests showed she had negative reactions to an unbelievable amount of different things. She decided to limit the foods she eats in an effort to help keep the problems at bay.

I had an interesting conversation with her just a few days ago. She talked to me about mixing up her own toothpaste, made from coconut oil and other natural things (and no fluoride). She said she feels like her teeth are cleaner now than they have ever been. She also talked about making other personal hygiene products like deodorant, shampoo and soap.

My niece is not a conspiracy theorist, but because of her health issues she is taking her health into her own hands. Making natural products she can use to keep herself healthy is just an extension of that. In a nutshell, she is recognizing the problems as they come up in her own life and is changing in order to meet her needs. She is adapting.

It strikes me that this is a great metaphor for life on planet Earth. Real change does not always happen through protest or wars. It doesn't come from some hero riding in on his white horse to save the day. It comes from people who recognize everyday challenges and work to solve those problems. Yes, it is a slow process, but it is also a sound one. Small changes over time are much easier to make than severe changes all at once. This is adaptation at its very core, and we are taking the necessary steps for survival, whether we understand their significance or not.

Adaptation is the process of understanding what it takes to survive and changing oneself to fit the new paradigm. It is subtle and overlooked, but it is happening as I write this. It is the process we use to change the world! Don't underestimate it!!!

~CSE

Don't Settle!!!

I was very happy as a young child. I smiled a lot. I made friends easily. I was usually the one who came up with the game plan for what the group did. Life was good as I followed my heart and the blessings flowed.

As I got older, doubt crept in. People I loved and looked up to "put me in my place". It was not up to me to be in charge. My ideas were not the only ones that were good. While such ideas were true, they also made me feel bad about the choices I made. I stopped following my heart, no longer believing in myself. There were times I was still happy, but only occasionally.

The lowest point in my life was when I divorced. At that time, my life was not my own and had not been my own for a long time. I was a dedicated wife and mother who did everything for everyone else except me. By the time my husband left I felt totally empty and used up, a shell of my former self. It took me over ten years to build myself back up to the point I felt I was once again worthy to receive.  

Most of our problems in life stem from not loving ourselves enough to accept the love and other blessings we truly deserve! We are often broken and abused, and somehow we are convinced it is because something inside us is unworthy. This is a lie!!!

We are all beautiful, powerful and infinite beings!!! At no time are we unworthy to receive the abundance and blessings the Universe wants to bestow on us. What stops us is we ourselves!!! We are our own worst enemies.

Don't settle for second best!!! Allow yourself to follow your dreams and your heart!!! Be open to the blessings the Universe has in store for you!!! Be bold enough to ask for them!!! You are worth it!!!

~CSE

Awareness

My divorce was not a very pretty one. I wasn't planning on getting divorced when I had my children. Consequently, when my husband chose to divorce me I was pretty ruthless when it came to my kids. I told him I wanted them to spend their holidays with me as these were the only children I would (or could) have. He could have more that he could spend these special times with. He agreed.

Years later, he asked if I would allow him to take the kids up to Iowa for Thanksgiving holiday. My mind wanted to scream "No!". My heart, on the other hand, tugged at me. The kids had been little when we left Iowa, where their other set of grandparents lived. They really didn't have many memories of my ex's parents, who I was still quite fond of. His parents were quite a bit older than mine. My heart tugged at me. I felt very strongly that I needed to allow my children to have good memories of these grandparents. I agreed, and my children were able to spend some quality time with my former in laws.

The next year, my ex asked again. Once again I said yes. My former mother-in-law passed away during heart surgery just a few days before Thanksgiving that year. My children were able to go to her funeral.

As I look back at everything that happened, I am so thankful I listened to the wisdom in my heart. My children all had a beautiful visit with their grandmother and grandfather they still cherish--memories to last a lifetime. If I had put it off even one year, they would not have had that.

Awareness is not always conscious. More often, it is those little things that tug at your heart and give you those nagging feelings that you must act in certain ways. Pay attention!!! It may save you a great deal of heartache in the long run.

Understand we all have the capacity to become consciously aware. The more we make the decision to pay attention, the more likely our lives will flow in a much more positive way.

~CSE

The Strength To Stand

I have a friend on Facebook. She lives in England. I've never met her in person--she was introduced to me by a mutual friend, but she is someone I particularly admire. She has a son who has a rare genetic anomaly. He is capable of learning, but needs a different sort of structure than the mainstream typically allows. The local school district wants him in a local special education school where he won't learn what he is capable of. As a mother, my friend is very aware of what he is capable of and has found an out of district school that would work. Problem is, the local school district doesn't want to pay for it--to the point of trying to bring her up on criminal charges for not educating her son. (She has been home-schooling him, a task she is more than capable of with her advanced education.) Fortunately, my friend is also brilliant! She has been able to anticipate their moves and remain step ahead of them. A lesser person would have given up a long time ago. My friend is an extremely powerful woman, and she is here to help change the world.

Changing the world is not for the faint of heart. It takes amazing courage to be willing to stand in the fire intentionally. Just being ridiculed is enough to make most people back down. The powers that be understand this. They find ways to manipulate information so that most people will not have the courage to stand up for the truth. This is why they are still in power.

This is also why I have no shame in calling myself a conspiracy theorist. I do believe ideas the mainstream has been programmed to consider outrageous, and I have actual reasons!!! I have learned to listen to my heart when it tells me something is not right! Usually when I investigate something because of an underlying nagging feeling, I am rewarded with new information that makes me understand why I questioned in the first place.

The world is a very unjust place. Billions of people live in abject poverty while a very few at the top of the food chain wiggle their fingers and their every whim is acted on. The thing is, is doesn't have to be this way. Mother Earth gives her resources freely to us--to ALL of us (not just the thieves at the top). They have done such a good job controlling everything they now also control what most people think.

The world will not and cannot change if all you do is stand back and watch. Change requires active participation, and ALL of us need to participate, not just a few random and strong people!!!

It is time for all of us to tune in to our inner strength. If nothing else, you can actively support people like my friend mentioned above!!! By adding your strength to those engaged in the battle, we all become stronger. By adding your support to all those ideas based on actual truth (and not made up lies), we all have the strength to stand.

Want to change the world? Find your courage. Find the strength to stand. (Hint: it's in your heart!!!)

~CSE

Thankful In the Storm

Storms. They are part of our lives, whether we want them to be or not. Most days the storms are not so bad and we get through them quickly and easily. Less often the storms are terrible. They may bring thunder and lightning and strong winds and last for days and even years. We question how we are able to survive, let alone do it with the ease and grace of thankfulness. Thankful is the last thing we want to be when we are in the middle of the terror. 

In our anger and frustration, we often ask how a supposedly loving God could allow such things to happen to us. It doesn't seem right that a being who holds unconditional love and great power would let us go through such hardships. Let me say this clearly: it isn't about God bringing or allowing terrible things to happen to us. Storms are there because we have energy issues we personally need to resolve. We bring the storms on ourselves.

At their core, the storms of life are spiritual issues. Spiritual problems can manifest in infinite ways. One person may come down with a physical illness, like cancer in themselves or a loved one. Another may be constantly broke or even become homeless. Still others deal with mental illness or other chronic conditions over long periods of time. The key here is to recognize there is something in the background that has brought the storm on. Storms are the physical manifestations of the underlying spiritual problem.

How do we fix the underlying (and unrecognized) spiritual problems? We ask questions!!! I usually begin with, "What am I supposed to be learning from this situation?" or "What do I need to become aware of?" Then I will ask for help in some form I will recognize--either a teacher of the information I need to know or several people/situations that all point toward the same idea (many people call these things "coincidences"). Understand that asking questions is key to figuring out what is causing the storm.

As you begin to work through the underlying issue, the storms will begin to lift and even pass. Once the storm is finally over, it becomes easy to look back and see the progress made. You begin to understand that your greatest lessons and accomplishments have all taken place because of theses storms. This is how people can be thankful in the storm! 

People who are thankful in the storm are thankful because they understand that past storms have changed them in profound ways. They appreciate the acquired strength and growth they received. They know the present storm can also contain a blessing, even when they cannot see it. Thankful people are thankful because they know what storms are designed to do--help us resolve our own inner issues.

The next time you find yourself in the middle of chaos, understand the Universe is conspiring to wake you up to who you can become. Be thankful for the opportunity to become better. Acknowledge the necessary change, and make it happen!!!

~CSE

The Gateway To The Divine

My first experience with the Divine happened when I was twelve. I was at church camp in the hills of Ohio--Camp Bountiful to be more precise--a place I had been coming to with my family from the time I was a small child. It was a place I loved. It was way out in the country, so none of the distractions of my daily life were there. It had cabins nestled in the hills, a large shelter house for services and campfires, a dining hall to eat and fellowship in, and a pool for recreation. A creek traveled through much of the property, water meeting earth in a beautiful union. It was definitely one of my happy places.

I had been attending a Junior High Camp that week. Classes and activities had been fun, and I enjoyed hanging out with my friends. As usual, I was friends with everyone. Also as usual, I had a couple of friends who didn't like each other. In fact, I can remember both of them asking why I liked the other one that week. I had the same answer for both: because they were nice! They were nice to me (just not to each other).

The last campfire we had for the week took place on a Friday night. While campfires started out boisterous, they always ended on a quiet, thoughtful note. At this final campfire, they gave people the opportunity to stand up and share experiences and thoughts they had of the week. Some people stood up and shared problems. Some people talked about how God had touched them personally in their lives. What touched me most though was my two friends that spent the week not liking each other. They apologized to each other for the way they had acted. As I sat in this atmosphere of caring and love, I felt the whole Universe open up in a way I had never experienced before. All of a sudden, I became aware of the presence of angels. I could even seen the outlines of them standing in the leaves of the trees on the other side of the creek.

There was no doubt in my mind that God loved me. I could feel the love emanating from those angelic beings. I could feel the love in my friends. All barriers between us came down as love was given place in our hearts. Love had become the gateway to the Divine. Even though I was limited to this time and space, my heart allowed me the freedom to explore and expand in ways I never dreamed possible.

As I look back at that time so long ago, I understand the place of the heart even better now. All the blessings I've received in my life were from those times I was open to love. At those times when I allowed my heart to be fully opened, I became fully engaged, fully enlightened. Nothing was held back from me. Love is the state where energy flows freely. 

Love is the gateway to the Divine. When we can break down the barriers that stand between us, energy is free to flow. We allow ourselves to access the knowledge and wisdom of the Universe. It is this in this process of connection we finally find our place of acceptance and power. It is in this place we truly find ourselves.

~CSE!!!

 

Divergent: A Book Review

A spirituality blog seems like a strange place to find a book review on a popular sci-fi/fantasy book, yet here it is. I finished the book last night. This morning, all I can think about is how many parallels I can see to life here in the United States in 2015. As I have been writing here with the idea of writing where my own spirit leads me (and not fighting it), the book is where my thoughts take me this morning.

Divergent, by Veronica Roth, is set in a future dystopian Chicago where five separate factions live and work together. All factions are based on a single principle. Each faction is responsible for some aspect of service to the community as a whole. The factions are Abnegation (selflessness), Erudite (knowledge), Amity (friendship), Candor (honesty) and Dauntless (fearless). At the age of sixteen, each person is given an aptitude test to help them determine if they want to stay in the faction they were born into or if their personalities require something different.

The main character, Beatrice Prior, is from Abnegation. Although she appreciates her faction she does not really feel she can be selfless and finds herself looking to other possibilities. Her aptitude test is inconclusive, meaning she does not identify strongly with any one particular principle. The person running the test tells Beatrice she is Divergent, which is a dangerous thing to be in that society. The tester encourages Beatrice not to divulge her test results and to choose from the three factions that were not ruled out in her test.

The idea of being Divergent is what speaks to me at a spiritual level. The bottom line is, Divergent means a person is able to think in many ways. The reason Divergence is considered dangerous is because a person who is Divergent can think for themselves. They will not go with the status quo if they believe something is wrong.

Living in modern day United States, I see the parallels. Every aspect of our society is highly controlled: education, medicine, food production, energy, politics and entertainment. The only choices we have are those the powers that be give to us. As time goes on, more rules and regulations are brought in, confining all of us to particular routines. Those of us who have the tenacity to question what takes place are minimized in ways that the majority of people fear to follow.

The really scary part of the book comes at the end, where the author discusses topics such as mind control, using such techniques involving injection of microchips and electronic signals. Even though microchipping and electronic commands seem like science fiction, they are quite real. I have read through some of the actual patents on such things. I have a few friends that have experienced these sorts of commands working on them.

The book was well written and difficult to put down. As I have always enjoyed a good read, I definitely appreciated the process. Still, all I can think about today is that this story is just one more disclosure of truth that we all give our unknowing consent to. The fact that the storyline has reached the masses through movies is extremely significant to me. Most people are not big readers. Many more people will pay for the entertainment of a movie.

There is truth all around us. If something is hard to put out of your mind, understand that is something you need to pay attention to. It is usually the wisdom/connection of your heart, telling you there is an important concept you need to be aware of. Trust your instincts. They may keep you from being one of the mindless zombies and make you Divergent.

~CSE

Confronting Darkness

There are some who are meant to look at and promote the light. There are others who are meant to face the darkness and shine a light on it, drawing it out of the shadows where it no longer has the power to hurt anyone. I am one of the latter.

My own life this go-around has been relatively easy. My parents are wonderful people who loved and protected me. I believe this has been important to my growth and personal story because it has given me the strength I needed to confront the darkness.

My empathic nature made me extremely aware of misery when it was near. I was often the champion of the underdog at school, defending people who could not or would not defend themselves when they were being bullied. I could not allow such darkness and negativity to go on around me without doing something about it.

After my family moved to South Carolina in the early 80's, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a camp that had been started to work with abused and neglected children. Some of the kids at the camp were not a whole lot younger that me at the time. (I was 16 the first year I volunteered.) For whatever reason, quite a few of the kids that week shared some of their personal stories with me. These kids had experienced so many things I could not imagine--abuse (some of it sexual), extreme poverty where they did not have enough to eat, parents in prison for violent crimes. I listened, and I loved them anyway. Even at that relatively young age, I had the strength to face and acknowledge there was ugliness in the world. I vowed to make it better.

This eventually led to getting a bachelor's degree in psychology and working several years in a group home with emotionally disturbed children--children who had severe behavior problems because of extreme abuse and neglect. This work was stressful and time-consuming. Change was slow as I helped these children unlock those experiences that caused them to act out. Again, I was able to look at the darkness and love them unconditionally.

We are all bits and pieces of light and dark. Ignoring darkness does not make it go away, nor does it get any less potent. The best way I know to face and overcome it is to look at it head on and turn on your connection to unconditional love.

Love connects us to Source/God. Love connects us to each other. Love connects us to animals and even to Mother Earth. Unconditional love allows us to face the darkness and not become overwhelmed by it.

It is unconditional love that will save us all.

~CSE

The Nature Of Light And Darkness

There is a powerful struggle going on between light and darkness. As with all things, there are varying degrees of light and dark--some lighter than others, some darker than others. There are two natural laws you must be aware of in this battle. The first is that the smallest amount of light is enough to expose the darkness. The second is, the darkness will do its best to extinguish any light there is in order to keep from being exposed.

Darkness is literally attracted to all things light, just as light is also attracted to darkness. It's the way our dualistic world attempts to balance things out. However, we have come to a period of time where the darkness has become exceptionally strong, and it has been that way for quite a long time. We are so used to dealing with it that is seems second nature and we don't realize the battle is taking place.

Have you ever noticed that people who are exceptionally light often carry tremendous burdens? Some of them might be constantly sick. Others cannot seem to catch a break financially. Many of them have no excess energy. There is a reason for this. The darkness sees them as a threat and attacks. Darkness will also feed on this light energy, draining it of strength. Darkness has a voracious appetite and is constantly looking for energy to feed on.

Recharging Light Energy

It is extremely important for those of the light to participate in activities that protect and energize at this time. There are extra efforts on the parts of those who are more dark to extinguish light so they can continue to live in the shadows.

Here are a few things you can do to recharge your light batteries:

1. Daily meditation.
2. Prayer (especially for protection)
3. Journaling
4. Singing or listening to uplifting music
5. Artistic pursuits, such as painting, drawing, crafting, etc.
6. Humor/Laughing/Smiling
7. Connecting to pets/animals
8. Connecting to nature
9. Exercising
10. Drinking pure, filtered, unfluoridated water
11. Eating unprocessed, fresh, organic food

The more you consciously take the time to connect to your heart (which all the activities listed above allow you to do), the easier it is for you to keep your light energy strong. Understand that you are important!!! If you will not take care of  yourself, no one else will either.

It is time to allow our light to bring darkness out of the shadows and into the open where it cannot hide any longer. Consciously recharge your light batteries so the task can be accomplished!!!

~CSE

Revisiting 9/11

As long as I live, I will never forget that day. The horror and shock of it all will be forever etched in my brain. I was a daycare teacher with a classroom of one-year-olds. I had already been working for an hour or two when news of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center was brought to my classroom by a float teacher. We were stunned that such an accident should happen, but work went on as usual. Shortly thereafter the same teacher came back in the room and told us a second plane had hit the other twin tower. As we stood contemplating the odds, the same teacher came in a third time and told us the Pentagon had also been hit. It was at that moment we had to admit to ourselves that someone had plotted this savage attack on American soil.

Feelings of panic and overwhelm set in as I contemplated the number of people that might have been in the building that day. News reports continued to show pictures of the second plane hitting, the burning buildings, and their ultimate collapse, which added to the heaviness of my heart. There was so much pain at the thought of the death and destruction. The whole world stood back in shock and grief over the events of that day.

It took well over a year for me to look at a plane overhead and not see a savage weapon. I accepted "the facts" as the government laid them out, never questioning the official story. I believed that the United States was being attacked by a foreign terrorist and that it was important for our safety to find that terrorist wherever he chose to hide and bring him to justice.

I didn't not want to believe that someone inside my own country might have had reason to commit such an atrocity. I wanted to believe that the people in charge were a lot like me--basically good but making mistakes along the way. The fact of the matter is, I was not at a point in my life where I was willing to look at truth.

Truth never changes. It never goes away even though we choose to ignore it. As time went on, I began to question other subjects where the facts did not add up--topics that were not quite as insidious as 9/11 that were easier for my mind to handle. After quite a few years, there came a day when I was ready to admit there might be more to the 9/11 story than I had been willing to see at the time it happened.

Some of the most compelling evidence came from a group called Architects and Engineers For 9/11 Truth. A video they put out entitled, "Solving The Mystery Of Building Seven" held some intriguing information that was largely left out of the whole 9/11 puzzle. It focused on World Trade Center 7, which also collapsed that day even though no planes hit it and falling debris from the twin towers did not overwhelm it (as they fell in their own footprints). The brief documentary makes a good case for WTC 7 coming down in a controlled demolition.

Part of the reason the group put this particular video out is to point out that building 7 collapsed within its own footprint at freefall speeds--just as the Twin Towers did. It uses experts witnesses to explain how the government's story has a good many holes in it. It uses sound logic--at least for those who have enough courage to finally confront truth.

It's been several years since I have had the fortitude to look at the truth of that day. While the facts were hard for me to accept, they have also brought me a curious new freedom. I broke out of my programmed little box and allowed myself to ask new questions and see new information.

Even though I understand there is great evil in the world, I also know there is great goodness. We all have the power to tap into this goodness and use it to improve the world around us. It is not an easy process, nor is it a quick one. However, little by little, we are beginning to change the outcomes. By tapping into our awareness and seeking out new information, we are starting to have the upper hand. We are exposing the evil to our light every day, forcing it out into the open. At some point, the evil will be overwhelmed by the transparency and will no longer be able to hide.

In many respects, 9/11 woke me up to my role in allowing evil to take hold of the world through my denial of its existence. It has forced me to stand up and take responsibility for what has happened and  allowed me to shine my personal light on truth.

Life's greatest lessons often result from terrible tragedy. As we revisit and remember the tragedy of 9/11, may we appreciate the fact that it has become an amazing catalyst for change. May it continue to help us evolve into a people of light, peace and love.

~CSE

        

Energy Exchange And The State Of BEing

I smiled as a kid. A lot. I was pretty happy, but I also knew the power of a smile. Smiles opened doors. A confident smile allowed me to walk in to any group or social situation and be accepted. There were also many occasions where I found I could pass along my smile to someone who was sad or in pain. My smile could make people feel better. Genuine smiles contain immense positive energy, and it was this energy I freely shared and accepted back from the people I shared them with.

My smiles were a form of energy exchange. There are many such exchanges we make with other people every day. We also exchange energy with animals, plants and even Mother Earth. Most of these energy exchanges we pay no attention to because we are not consciously aware of their value. However, there are many cases where it would be difficult to live without such exchanges.

Let me give an example. A cotton farmer plants his fields, nurtures the land and his crop and harvests this resource. The farmer expends his energy with this work and is rewarded back with a commodity he can then sell to a mill to make into threads and eventually into cloth and clothing. 

Our money system is a form of energy exchange. Typically we put in some sort of energy at a job (usually a thought process and/or physical labor) and we receive back cash we then use to pay our bills. The problem with this system is that it is highly limited. Only certain actions are considered worthy of money, and only under certain conditions. Much of the energy we put out into the world is never acknowledged--like my smiles--and never given a monetary value. 

It's silly to put a price on a smile, right?

The right smile can change the world! In my lifetime, I have managed to get smiles back from people who you would never believe had a smile in them! A smile can give hope, courage, joy, love, peace, acceptance. It can give another person that little something that helps them cope and move forward. In very real ways, smiles can give others much needed energy!

Sit back and think about all the things you do during the course of the day. Maybe you exchange a quick kiss with your wife or husband or child as you head to your job. Maybe you stop at the local coffee shop for a quick coffee and chat with the barista. Maybe you interact with coworkers in an effort to solve a problem that will propel the business further.  Maybe you make dinner for your family so you can spend a little time talking about their days. Did you share a smile or a laugh with someone? Did you do something to touch someone's heart? Did someone do something to touch your heart? How did you feel? How did other's feel?

Every day, we go about our lives without a thought to all the ways we give to others and receive from others in return. This energy we put out into the world is who we are--the very essence of BEing!!! Our BEing creates value in the world, and yet we don't get paid for most of it. We don't even get acknowledged for it!!!

Tell me. What is the worth of a smile? When we understand the answer to that question, the world will change in very profound and powerful ways! 

~CSE

    

Starting Over With Money

I'll be the first to admit I have a tendency to bring up the doom and gloom that goes on in the world. It is not a pretty picture. That said, I do not bring it up because I believe everything is bad. I believe there is a great deal out there that needs to be changed. I point it out in order to break people out of the apathy they have been stuck in for so long. Problems occur when we do not care enough to take control of our own lives. As the world we have always known caves in, understand this is an opportunity!!! When things break down, we have the ability to change them!!! We have the ability to start over!!!

One of the most important things we can do to get the process started is to think in different ways. We have been stuck in a rut which has gotten deeper and more difficult to get out of as time passes. For example, here in the United States we have been stuck on the idea of a forty hour work week. Way too many of us work jobs that do not make us happy (aka don't fulfill our heart's desires). We know something is wrong because our hearts tell us so! We continue to do the jobs we do because we are dependent on money to supply us with what we need. What if there was no money (or what if the money we had and had worked for was worthless)? How would we survive?

Before our present technology, people needed to do physical work in order to supply what they needed for themselves. They might plot a big garden, raise animals, and can food. Many of them made their own clothes or bartered or traded for what they needed. The built their own homes. Some of them had businesses where they supplied goods and services to others. Sometimes they were paid in things like gold. At other times they were paid in different goods and services. My point here is, they did not necessarily need money. Why did we need money again?

We believe money is necessary because we have been programmed to believe it!!! As technology advanced, we no longer have to work physically demanding jobs (or even long hours) to supply our needs. The deceptions that have taken place though are quite real. Subtly and behind the scenes, various jobs have been assigned monetary values. This is extremely important. At the same time, those things we need have also been assigned monetary values. This is where the fun begins. As we become more dependent on technology to supply our needs, the people in power have worked to control more and more of the sources of those needs. They control our food production. They control our clothing production. They control our energy needs. They control our medical needs. They control our entertainment (including what we call news). They control our education. The fact of the matter is, if they control all our resources, they control us!!! With all this control, they can then begin to artificially manipulate prices on what we can buy but also on what we earn! Eventually, they end up with all the money!!!

This is the same mentality that brings you CEO's of huge corporations stating that the world's water supply should be privatized!!! (Meaning certain people should control a literally life-giving resource!!!) It seriously doesn't get any more screwed up than this!!! Note this is the very same company that is taking California's lake water during the biggest drought on record for FREE and selling it for PROFIT!!!

As our current economy grows weaker, it is imperative we begin to think in ways new ways. If we continue to believe those who supposedly own the world's resources actually "own" them, what happens when money we use to purchase those things no longer has the ability to purchase them? Will we allow ourselves to starve, or will we force these people to give up their power and control for the survival of the planet?

The changes we require are dependent on a whole new way of thinking about money and resources. By asking questions and opening ourselves up to new ideas, it is possible for us to not only survive but also thrive!!! Starting over with money depends on changing your though processes. Are you up for the challenge?

~CSE