It may seem like we're watching things crumble and tumble around us. What if we, even as and especially as individuals, now stand at the threshold of expanding our personal power and potential, no matter what? What if expanding this inner power is the very thing we should do? Are you in?
I read a line in a novel by P. D. James, ". . . preserving always the same look of puzzled acceptance of a life which had to be endured rather than possessed." Many people probably feel this way these days; but they can feel another way, if they choose to.
In our most challenging moments you or I face, we tend to ask, "How did I get into this situation," or "Why is this happening?" These are understandable questions, but they aren't necessarily helpful.
Every day, each of us endures something even if it's an inconvenience of lesser magnitude. Some people endure much more than most of us ever think about having to. When we find ourselves facing a challenge we believe we can do nothing about, we can still take possession of it. When we take possession of something, we generally take care of it or care for it; or, at least, that is the idea.
How many of us feel we are in possession of our lives? In order to feel this way, we have to also feel in possession of our thoughts, words, feelings, and actions. We have to possess or own the choices we've made and the outcomes they created. We have to decide if what we experience causes us to endure life or live what we desire.
There are things about our lives that only we can change. There are things we cannot change, so must find a way to come to terms with them. Whatever you feel challenged by at this time, find a way to take possession of it, even it it's just your attitude about it. To paraphrase Ernest Holmes, fear is misplaced faith; a belief in two powers instead of one.
Though I've had a lifetime of successes (depending on your definition of success), several years back, I clearly saw and felt something was missing. I could have taken the approach many do and learned and mimicked a lot of external actions to produce outcomes that would cause others to call me or my life a success. I could have done that, but I didn't. Instead . . .
I decided to expand my personal power, to see what I'm truly capable of, primarily from the spiritual perspective. I knew my path was going to cause many to shake their heads or feel frustrated with me. When challenges appeared I'd wonder if I should abandon this path and take the one more traveled. Then, I'd remind myself of my desired outcome and keep going, no matter what. T.S. Eliot said, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." However, I feel there is no "too far" in expanding personal power in connection with Spirit and the truth of how reality works.
There were times when my world seemed to be crashing down around me; but like the Tower card in the Tarot, the seeming destruction was so a new, sturdier, and more splendid structure could be created instead.
Here is the process I take myself through to feel peaceful, empowered, and free even in times of perceived chaos.
� I acknowledge that where I am is where I am and allow it. I own my part in creating it. Resistance creates struggle; and if I'm using this process, I don't need more struggle, I need to shift it.
� I acknowledge that maybe I can shift it today and maybe I can't shift it until "tomorrow," but I can shift how I feel now. This is especially important to me since I know that like attracts like. If I allow myself to feel even a bit better (raise my energy), I allow for things to shift with greater ease. This may sound like New Age hype, but its importance is huge and its effects immediate.
� I agree to be on my timetable and no one else's. This is my personal journey.
� I remind myself that if I focus on the situation as it is, I sort of superglue it into my reality. Focus on my desired outcome shifts my energy, attracts more of what I want, and just feels better.
� I ask Spirit to show me what to do, including how to open myself to feeling more of what I want to feel. "Show me what I need to do to feel (xyz)," is one of the best ways to kick this into high gear.
� I look at which beliefs serve me and which ones don't. The foundation of every conflict is a belief. Some beliefs have been with us so long, we form an attachment to them, even though they're toxic. We may even call them "facts." They have to go if we're going to make a real shift. They have to be replaced with beliefs that support desired feelings and outcomes. I've had to recognize that my beliefs are the stories I repeat to myself. I can choose my stories.
� I find some measure of truth in a new belief statement because we can't fool ourselves. If we don't believe it, we cancel it out.
� I choose to get out of being so much in my mind and more into my feelings. Our feelings give us honest information. How we act from there becomes a measure of our greater understanding about the bigger picture and our role in it.
� I affirm there is a way and I will find it, that Spirit always assists me. There's a reason so many say to leave the how in the hands of Spirit: no one can do how better. I pay attention and take action as needed.
� I focus on something else while I wait for the answer, solution, next step, or shift. It's coming to me; it always does. I know from experience to expect it.
I am an ongoing process (so are you). I've learned to determine what is authentic for me even if it differs from what others may think or believe is the way things should be done, or is "how things are." I experience how joyfully powerful and peaceful it is to take full responsibility for my thoughts and thought patterns.
If you depend on external matters to feel peaceful and empowered, you've agreed to enslave yourself to the whims of externals; and, you will feel fairly powerless and often frustrated as a result.
Life is to be possessed, not endured. We can choose between enslavement to externals or freedom through personal empowerment; but, they are inner experiences first. Which do you choose?
Joyce Shafer, L.E.C., is the 4P Power Coach (jls1422@yahoo.com). 4P Power Coaching is for those who wish to use a spiritual approach (and tools) in life and business through conscious use of Law of Attraction. Details, free newsletter, quiz, and more at http://www.freewebs.com/coach4lifebalance ~ Books, reviews, preview chapters at www.lulu.com, including Law of Attraction Alchemy, which includes 64 powerful affirmations � with a twist!
Creation Or Random Selection �" Why Not Both?
Your Inner Powers Truths are revelations to the soul which alter man’s perceptions of life through his/her experiences. There are many discovered and processed truths that have been passed down through time and known by only the privileged select few in every age. The average person is never exposed too nor has the vision needed for tapping into an inner supremacy so powerful that the world has no choice but to surrender to it. Great mathematicians, scientist, scholars, teachers, leaders of industry, government leaders, etc. throughout the ages, were able to attuned to this secret power source and change the world. Though it is true, information is evolutionary the mind of man is not. Information depends on one piece of information to support another while man is self-sustaining. Man accepts and enacts within his/her environment. Sometimes enactment is reactive and sometimes it is subjective but it is always supportive to its’ endorsement. Think about it, why does one person excel way beyond his/her parents, siblings or colleagues? What sparks determination in the mind of one person while another lives a life of mediocrity? What special seed sprouts desire and a craving to be the very best? Could it be that simply passion triggers the divine spirit of man? Perhaps it is passion which sparks the life force within the seed that sprouts accomplishments. The plight of man is he/she co-exist in a material and spiritual world. This duality of man tends to cause a separation within the whole man. In today's world however, there appears to be a turning toward examining the deeper meaning of life because people have reached a state of realization where they question the possibilities of an expanded God existence. These teachings are an attempt to convey to the average person some of those great known truths so as to engage him/her into a deeper understanding and relationship with their inner self. The possibilities lie in ones ability to rethink his/her awareness of the truths. Where once there were illusions now lies possibilities, an open book containing the realities of life. You must delve into and look beyond the obvious subtleties of the soul and peer into the abyss. Seek reason and meaning; then and only then may you emerge too know thyself. Truths are contained in a higher realization of self in relationship to passion, for it is in passion that we strive forward. I would say right here, if you are hung up on a religion, or have beliefs that direct your thinking, then throw this article away. You have already chosen your destiny and no one can fix that. You must be a seeking spirit open to new thinking, be willing to be reborn and regain your relationship with your inner self. The concepts contained here are an exercise in God's laws and your relationship to them. Here then, is your road to expression, realization and interactions. So, in that context and if you're ready, let's go forward. God and Man �" a special relationship. To suppose that God created an Intelligent being in His likeness and in His image, then placed him in bondage would be to dishonor God and negate the sacrifice of Christ. All of history's great prophets would have no meaning All of the world's religions would be for noting. On the other hand, to suppose that God could make man in His image and likeness as a creative being, without the ability to discover himself, would be to suppose an impossibility because the soul of man was brought fourth from the breath of God. This means, the consciousness of man must be spontaneous and unquestionable yet reasonable and consistent. Man is a seeking being whose inner self taunts the senses yet has the ability to sort out the good from the bad. The seeds of reality are all but hidden within the shell of mankind, but unlike the irresponsible men of the past, modern man strives to make great discoveries within himself. This journey toward greatness is the essence of man’s drive and purpose. The journey may at times seem difficult and the burden too great to bear but man still harbors a subtle sense within, a drawing toward a spiritual presence, a divine Reality. Thus, the inherent nature of man is forever seeking to express itself in terms of freedom. We would do well to pay attention to this inner voice, this spirit connected center, because it tells us of a life wonderful in its scope, of a love beyond our wildest dreams, of a freedom which only the soul can embrace. As God establishes the laws of His own Being, we must find life force principles through the law. But . . . wait a minute, didn't Darwin say everything evolves through natural selection? Could order come from random selection? The very thought of random suggest confusion. Why did some animals change while others didn't? Why aren’t they still evolving? Why aren’t all animals able to cross breed? I can't get a handle on the concept of random selection. There's to much inconsistency �" no stability. Everything would be spinning off in different directions, continually evolving, continually changing. Aaaah, what if God planted a seed? God can create as He wishes so, could first man have come from a seed? His laws are his to enact as he wishes. This, then, is the teaching, The Principles of Life Lay In His Laws. As the love of God is perfect, so the laws of God are also perfect. The Laws of God were created especially and exclusively for the expression of God and the experience of man because man is the only living creature who is able to decipher and enact God’s laws. People must understand and distinguish the different between God's love and God's law. Law is the probability while love is the unbiased pouring out of abundance. "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Donald Yates, Former Director of Business and Leadership Development for Imperial Research, is now retired but continues to assist young people in engaging life through self discovery, Life course planning, intuitiveness and fulfillment. Learn how you can build a powerful organization of your own. To learn more, visit Ordinary people making money working on the Internet Good Stuff For Seniors
5 Tips On How To Build Self Confidence Today
There are very few people who could call themselves perfect and be right. Most of us need to build self confidence today, but the majority just either ignore the issues or concentrate on the negatives: stress, worry, jobs, money problems and relationship issues. Concentrating on these areas drains our self confidence rather than improving it.
If you could improve your self confidence you could make more money, look and feel better physically, or just be more relaxed with other people. Below there are five simple techniques that have been proved to help build self confidence today.
1. Talk to yourself. It sounds crazy but it works. All of us have a running monologue constantly in our heads, whether we realize it or not. Everything we see, hear, or touch sparks off an immediate dialog in our thoughts.
For those who lack confidence this monologue is filled with negative messages many of which are the negative side of adverts from television, radio, advertisement boardings, newspapers, and just overhearing other people talk.
These negative thoughts literally suck energy from our minds and bodies and block the flow of positive messages. We need to hear the positive messages as they will build self confidence today and raise our self esteem. Take control. Use your inner thoughts to talk to yourself in a positive manner, as often as you can.
As an example one of my regular sayings is "I like myself, I like myself, I like myself". I just repeat it for a couple of minutes. It sounds cheesy, but does build self confidence today �" Try it. I bet that if you go to the mirror right now and repeat out loud "I like myself!" 50 times, it will be impossible to keep from smiling.
2. Dress as smartly and as classily as you can. You wont feel at your best if you don't look your best. You will be amazed at just how much more confidence you will have just looking your best. It just feels good when you are wearing your best clothes, are well groomed, and are surrounded by a clean environment. So what if it is Saturday, you need to build self confidence today not next week. Put on your nice clothes, get the car washed, style that hair! A hairdresser once told me "Everyday is show time!"
3. Increase your self esteem even more by giving thanks to what you are, how you look, and what you are doing. Say "thank you" to yourself to everything you see, all whom you meet, and each smile that you receive.
4. Stand or sit correctly: How you stand sends out a message to the World, and in turn, back to you. This results in improving how you feel about yourself and will build self confidence today and every day.
There is scientific evidence that shows how posture affects our mood. Do not slouch. Slouching produces a down mood. By slouching you are telling the world and yourself it doesn't matter, you don't matter. Standing tall and upright will actually lift your mood. Help build up your confidence by pulling back those shoulders, stop that slouch, and walk proud.
5. Smile. Just smile and things seem better somehow. Practice smiling regularly and get your facial muscles used to the physical act of smiling.
Go to the mirror and smile �" make yourself. Not a grimace, but a proper smile. If you don't think you can try this:
1)Open your eyes as wide as you can �" (try and get your eyebrows right up to you hair line)
2)Slightly open your mouth
3)Pull the corners of your mouth back towards your ears (If your not sure pull them back with your fingers so you know what it feels like then try again without your fingers).
4)Repeat 50 times. Get your facial muscles used to smiling and you will smile more and encourage smiles from others. This will make you feel happier and with that you'll build self confidence today.
John has 4 grown up and successful children and recently completed a writing degree. He now writes on a number of topics including overcoming shyness and building self esteem . Go to Gain Self Confidence for another article on self help and confidence.
A Midsummer Wicca Sabbat
Celebrating the Sabbats is extremely important for any Witch. It is important to "recharge" your Magick batteries throughout the year, and that is one of the purposes for Sabbats. Sabbats are a time to relax and take a break from your Magick work.
Your energy can be depleted throughout the year, and you need to relax. Eat good food, spend time with friends, and enjoy all that life has to offer. Don't focus on spells - but focus on celebrating nature, the Goddess, and the Sabbat on hand...
Here is a simple way to celebrate the Midsummer Sabbat - as an example...
Call upon the God and Goddess to come into your circle, bringing with them the blessings of Divine Spirit.
Take the time now to connect with the God and Goddess. Contemplate on the meanings that Midsummer holds. It is a time for love, healing, protection, and purification. It is a time for the Earth to ripen from the seeds first sewn and coming to life past the energies of Spring. See these life forms growing. Send your blessings to their form, as though an unborn child about to burst forth from the womb.
Take time to think about the full season, the blossoming of the Earth energies, and the power that we receive from our connection to her. Contemplate the joys and blessings of your own life, and share it with her. Send the love and warmth that you feel into the ground beneath your body.
When you are done communing with the energy of the Earth Mother, and sharing her blessings and yours, then thank her for her patience in your growth. Send to her the love that you feel as her caretaker. Ask her if there is anything that you can do for her during this coming season that will offer enrichment to her existence. Listen carefully and follow through with anything she may ask of you.
When you have spoken again to the Earth Mother and have heard her words, it is time to come back to your physical state of awareness. Ground yourself and any excess energy into the Earth beneath you. If you want, have a light snack of raw fruit to help ground, and to honor the bounty of the Earth that is to come. Thank the Spirits and the deities that you have called to your circle and ask them to depart, and then close your circle. When you leave your circle, give thanks again for connecting to the God and Goddess, and the Earth, on this honored occasion.
As you can see, the Sabbats do not have to be celebrated in full ritual format, but they can be as simple or complicated as you make them.
Rose has been practicing different forms of Witchcraft for over 27 years. For more information on wiccan holidays visit her site The Ask Rose Ariadne Witchcraft Site"
How Tarot Cards and Tarot Readings Originated
Tarot cards and tarot readings have been believed to have originated way back in the early years of the fifteenth century. The precise date and even the accurate name or names of the individuals concerned for its inception may not be known but it is a well-known fact that tarot is actually an ancient practice.
There are two sets of tarot cards involved in during tarot readings. The first one is no different than any ordinary set of gaming cards. These cards have numerals from one to ten, with knight, king, queen, court, and page.
The other set of cards are special, and they reach up to twenty-two in number. They are identified as the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana cards are identified with emblematic figures and images of various characters, some in human forms and those that are interlinked with nature.
Eventually a form of amusement was derived from these figurative tarot cards, called the Game of Triumphs. This game has various strong similarities with playing bridge. Twenty-one of the unique cards are utilized as stable trumps. These cards have the power and ability to be superior above any other regular card. This type of card game was particularly favored by those from the higher classes in society.
Eventually, these cards known today as tarot cards used in tarot readings began to undergo several alterations. This took place when this card game began to reach several other countries in Europe including Italy in the northern part and France in many regions. As these cards were handed from one country to another, the figures depicted on the cards also began to alter, as well as the power associated in each. Before long, this game of cards was recognized all over the globe, along with the modifications on the characters represented therein.
Individuals who were followers of the magical arts in the European continent started to view the Tarot in a more supernatural manner. The figures represented in the cards were regarded as something denoting a spiritual interpretation that can be used in divinations and foresight. A higher observation on the tarot cards was the precursor for the tarot readings that is very popular in present times. It was the set of figurative representations present in the cards that gave them more character and uniqueness, and has helped readers in personal life and events representation during tarot readings.
Tarot and Personal Intuition
As the figurative elements on the cards have altered over time, this is just a growing evidence of the fact that each artist has possessed various analyses and versions on the development of the tarot cards. One common factor however, is that the essential principles of the Tarot remain unchanged and with this, the cards are still widely employed in disentangling the perplexities of natural things through tarot readings even in the modern times.
In modern tarot cards, there are several decks being presented. It is therefore important to opt for the one that is good for your intuition and one that you feel most positive about. You should be able to achieve a significant connection with the cards so as to generate a good interpretation. This can be done through assessing one’s sentiments, mental aptitude, and the right information acquired. In reading the cards, there is not one specific set that have been known to perform more excellently than the others. What is important in tarot readings is having the set of tarot cards that the reader or physic feels most at ease with, as this will help in assessing the universal forces that are to be interpreted in each specific reading.
The author writes articles on tarot readings. For more information about tarot cards, visit PsychicCosmos.com
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