As we embark upon each new year, it is a time for that new diet as we recover from the binges of the holidays to shed the unwanted pounds they have brought. A time to embrace our new year's resolutions affirming our ideals and aspirations for a better future, and a time to let go of the old to make way for the new. The start of a new year presents an opportunity to turn our attention to the energetic remanants lingering from the past, for a fresh start of the new year. And what better place to start than in our own homes.

While feng shui and space clearing have become a multi-billion dollar industry catering to the likes of corporate CEOs as well as Hollywood celebs, there are simple techniques that any novice can do to clear the energies of their home or office to preparing the space energetically for the new year ahead. Listed in this article are some simple space clearing tips that anyone can use to clear our spaces of the vibrational imprints of the past. Although these tips are by no means comprehensive, they will provide a quick and easy way to align the energies of your environment with your intentions for the new year. These 6 C's of Space Clearing will empower you to sweep out the old and make way for the new in your environment.

1. Clutter: To our subconscious mind, clutter triggers images of stagnation, stuck energy and places where Life doesn't move. It usually represents the things we are resisting and where we don't want to put our attention. Simply put: clean out the clutter. Piles of laundry, papers, boxes, mail...whatever it is, when we see clutter, our mind equates it with chaos and dead energy. So make a point to dive into your clutter like a heat seeking missile. Go straight for it, put it away, find a home for it, make decisions about it, address it! Once you move that dead energy in your home, you will be surprised at how it moves in your life!

2. Corners: Keep them especially free of clutter as corners are the places where the Life energy or Ch'i of our environment comes to a stop like traffic at a four way stop sign. Put things in your corners which move energy: a fountain, wind chimes, or even a plant will keep the energy moving and flowing instead of stagnating. Use some common sense and your intuition. Trust how it makes you feel. There are many rule books out there, but ultimately, if you feel more harmony, peace and joy when you look at that space, you will usually be on the right track. An altar is usually a nice way to redirect the dead energies of a corner. Put things in the corners of your home or office with intention because these are special energy spots in the house.

3. Closets: Clean them out! They are the bowels of our homes and offices, the storage bins for old, dead energy. If you don't use it, loose it! Keep your closets clean, neat, and free of unwanted, old, unused items. Yes, you looked marvelous in that dress you've been holding onto for the last five years, and one day you'll loose that extra 10 pounds and will fit in it again, but for now, give it to a friend, or family member who can use it. When you loose that weight, you'll owe it to yourself to buy a new dress! Don't allow your closets to become black holes, or they will reflect that energy.

4. Ceremony: This is sadly lacking in our modern society. Where we do have any kind of ceremony it is usually around a sporting event, food, or commerce. Ceremony is a time when we honor life, the seasons, and those aspects of living beyond the physical. It brings us in touch with the worlds beyond our everyday, and reminds us of a vastness of Life beyond our immediate attention. Make time for ceremony in your life and your home and you will open a doorway into another dimension beyond this one allowing fresh new ideas, inspiration and energies to flow into your home.

It could be a simple ceremony like a ribbon-cutting ceremony to initiate the new energies of your place, or popping of the champagne cork to signify the bringing in of the New Year. Whatever the ceremony, when you do it with intention and awareness that ceremony heralds in the energies of your intention in a much more profound manner than when we simply and perfunctorily go perform the same act. Even the simple ceremony of smudging a new dwelling can be quite profound when done with an awareness of the intention. Burning a candle each night and ceremonially letting the problems and worries of the day burn in the fire, is a simple ceremony and one which keeps the energies of your home clean and clear of the burdens of the day. Ceremonies to acknowledge and honor the ancestors of the past, through music, song or dance, is another way in which ceremony helps to keep the energies of your space clear and clean. Keep ceremonies simple and heartfelt and they will do wonders to keep the energies of your space aligned with higher dimensions and energies.

5. Consciousness: The power of this cannot be overstated in my experience. Where we put our consciousness, we put our life energy. So find the aspects of your home or office where you have vacated your consciousness, those closets, corners, and dead zones that you pretend are not there, or wish weren't. For some people, it could be a room where their dead parents used to live, or where the kids used to live before they went off to school, or the pile of paper in the office that calls out for help, but we pretend isn't there. Put your consciousness into that space, with intention, and yes, even ceremony, and notice the MAGIC that happens when you do! Energy flows where attention goes!

6. Cycles: There is a rhythm to Life, a time for growth, and a time for death. Cycles are important to observe: moon cycles are often used for planting, cutting hair, beginning new projects. Similarly, observing the cycles of the sun of day and night, being more active during the daylight hours, and winding down in the evening when there is less energy available. As well there are the larger seasonal cycles, solstices, equinoxes, and the times in between them (what the Celts called the cross quarter days.) When we are in tune with and align consciously with these cycles of nature, the rhythm of Life, we find more harmony and balance in our lives.

The season of Winter is a natural time to go inside--hibernate in the cave like the bear--reflect, pull our energies inwards, a kind of death to the old, so that we can go forward in the Spring with new energy and enthusiasm unencumbered by the past. Then, beginning on Feb. 1st (ground hog's day) we enter the cycle between the Winter Equinox and the Spring Equinox, a time traditionally honored by the Celts as the time to plant the seed of the new idea so that it may sprout in the Spring. When we follow these cycles, we harness the Life energy of the planet begin to dance to the same beat of Life. So by paying attention to the cycles of Life, we begin to work with them to receive the gift of their energy.

With some small investment on our part, we can dramatically change the energies of our environment making our homes a sanctuary to reflect our highest intentions and dreams.

Christan Hummel is the author of the “Do-It-Yourself Space Clearing Kit.” She travels internationally lecturing and teaching people how to access nature in a co-creative spirit. For more information see: www.earthtransitions.com

© Christan Hummel, 2004.
All rights reserved.
Reprinted with Permission

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Being Impeccable with Our Word By Wyatt Webb

A couple of years ago, I was privileged to hear a speech by DON Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements. One of the things that struck me most about his lecture was when he talked about leaving his culture and going out into the world. His story went something like this:

DON Miguel was raised in the Toltec tradition in Mexico, where his grandfather was a tribal elder and a shaman who was known as a great, wizened teacher. When DON Miguel left home to pursue his formal education, he rejected the teachings that he'd been subjected to in his culture. He became seduced instead by the world around him, was educated as a medical doctor, and returned home with the primary intention of using his newfound knowledge to confront his grandfather's Toltec beliefs.
DON Miguel met with his grandfather, and for several hours gave him a dissertation about the primitive nature of the Toltec beliefs. When he finally finished, he looked at his grandfather and said, "So what do you think?"

His grandfather looked him straight in the eye and said, "Lies, all lies," and then proceeded to explain why. At that very moment, DON Miguel began his "graduate study" of his own culture and later became a Toltec master himself.

The next day, the people I work with asked if I remembered anything about the lecture. For the next hour and a half, I told them pretty much verbatim what DON Miguel Ruiz had said. I've never been able to do such a thing before or since — I certainly don't have a photographic memory — but I'd been completely open to this man who had such great power and who'd gone through a journey that had brought him to a place of truth. He was a superb communicator: He spoke broken English, but it was almost as if everything he said bypassed any type of filter system that was imprinted within my psyche. I was very impressed, and continue to be to this day.
One of the things that DON Miguel spoke about was being impeccable with our word. He stressed repeatedly that the most important thing for us to watch in regard to our conversation is not so much what we say to others, but what we say to ourselves. I'm totally convinced that this is of paramount importance, because what we tell ourselves is primarily what we'll be saying to others on a daily basis.

We absolutely must pay attention to our own stories and how we repeat them to ourselves moment to moment as we live our lives. In other words, if some of the information or programming that we've taken on doesn't work in ways that bring joy into our lives, we're obligated to change it. Each of us should be a walking, breathing example of the joy of living — and the only way I know how to do that is to walk through the fear and self-doubt that we've adopted over the years as a pattern of survival. And as we do so, we change "survival" to "living." As DON Miguel says, we must be impeccable with our word: When we feel fear, we must acknowledge it; and when we feel self-doubt, we must also acknowledge it. What we say to ourselves is the most important conversation we'll have all day.

Shattering Preconceived Notions

One thing about acknowledging fear and self-doubt is that when we do, we often realize how ridiculous these emotions are. For instance, if I had a dollar for every time I've made up a story about someone in order to prepare myself for what I feared might be the inevitable, or the possibility of my getting hurt, I'd be a rich man by now. Let me tell you what I mean.
In the early 1990s, I met Judy McCaleb, whom I'd made up a story about before I even met. I knew that she was an extremely intelligent, attractive, sophisticated, and matter-of-fact woman, and I surmised that she'd risen to the top of her profession not by being the nurturing kind of female that I enjoy being around, but by being someone with a couple of steel rods down her back, or an "ice queen." I envisioned her to be a sharp, ruthless, very powerful, and self-assured woman.

Upon learning that Judy was going to be my new boss, I was immediately triggered into feeling like a helpless little boy, even though I was a middle-aged man who stood 6'4" and weighed about 220 pounds. In and of itself, my assessment of Judy as an "ice queen" was the foundation for my fear. Fortunately, I knew that if I didn't become proactive with my feelings, I wouldn't enjoy coming to work the next day. So I called Judy immediately and made an appointment to meet with her the following afternoon.

When I walked into her office, Judy was sitting behind her desk in what I refer to as a "power suit," emitting enough energy to light up Delaware. Looking up at me, she asked, "What can I do for you, Wyatt?"

I said, "When I found out yesterday that you were going to be my new boss, I immediately became uncomfortable."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of you," I replied honestly.

Her face immediately softened, but she looked puzzled as she asked, "Why is that?"

"It's not about you," I said. "It has to do with my not knowing how to deal with powerful women — it's an old thing and is among many scenarios I'm continuing to work on that scare me. This just happens to be a stopover along the way."

She smiled and said, "Well, I've been looking forward to the opportunity to work with you."

This came as a total surprise to me. Judy went on to tell me how much she admired what many people had told her about me, including my sensitivity, my kindness, and my straightforward approach to my work and how I live my life. She added, "One of the reasons I've been looking forward to working with you is that I believe you're trustworthy, because you walk your talk."

That day, thanks to acknowledging my fears and bringing them to light, I was able to begin a wonderful relationship with a truly amazing human being. We worked together for a period of months before Judy decided to resign from her position and move on to a full partnership with her husband in a successful development business here in Tucson. The day she announced her decision to leave the company was one of the most moving events I've ever witnessed. Judy was so well loved and respected that when she announced her plans to leave, half of the grown men in the room were reduced to tears.

Over the years, I've stayed in touch with Judy, who remains one of the kindest, sweetest souls I've ever met. She continues to be totally successful in her life.

I recently asked if I could write about her in this book, and she was deeply touched. Just about every time I see her, we wind up misty-eyed, remembering that day when I walked in and did my best to clear my stuff out of the way so that I could let her into my heart. Thank you, Judy, for allowing me to use this example in these writings — but thank you most of all for being my friend.

What has always made my life the most fertile of landscapes for spiritual and emotional growth is my willingness to acknowledge and quantify my fear, to look at the worst-case scenario, to get information that's supportive, walk through the fear, and come out on the other side with a smile on my face.

Know that these steps are always available to you as well — but that first one is the most important. It all starts with acknowledging your fear and self-doubt.

This article was excerpted from Five Steps for Overcoming Fear & Self-Doubt, © 2004, by Wyatt Webb. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Hay House Inc. www.hayhouse.com

About the Author
Wyatt Webb survived 15 years in the music industry as an entertainer, touring the country 30 weeks a year. Realizing he was practically killing himself due to drug-and-alcohol addictions, Wyatt sought help, which eventually led him to quit the entertainment industry. He began what is now a 20-year career as a therapist. Today he's the founder and leader of the Equine Experience at Miraval Life in Balance™, one of the world's top resorts, which is also located in Tucson. If you'd like to learn more about Wyatt Webb's Equine Experience programs held throughout the year at Miraval, please call: (800) 232-3969

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The Art of Letting Go Author Unknown (If you know who this author is, please let me know so I can provide proper credit!)

What do those two words mean to you? "Letting go."
For me there are really two questions that spring to mind here. What are the kinds of things we want to let go of? and Why should I do this? i.e. What is the benefit for me? Holding on causes tension and restricts freedom, letting go does not mean losing or having to give something up. Letting go means allowing things to exist as if they were in the palm of your hand.
Letting go is simply making a decision to no longer to allow something from the past to influence your life now or to reduce your inner sense of peace and well-being. So all we need to do is to let go of the beliefs and attitudes that prevent us from experiencing the joy of the moment.

The problem comes in identifying exactly what that means; we have so many beliefs that prevent us from being in the here and now, from being content and peaceful within.

Taking Responsibility for Our Own Lives

One of the worst attitudes is 'Things happen to me', not from me but to me; a degree of victim mentality. At any level we really need to accept the full responsibility for whatever happens to us. Or we can take the responsibility to accept that what happened to us five minutes ago is no longer of any importance because that was five minutes ago and this is now. If we are holding onto the incident, we continue to hurt ourselves. What happens subsequently is important but not what happened in itself. Something happens, and it sets off a sequence of events. So let go of the bit that happened back there and deal with the bit in the sequence that is actually occurring now. The important thing is not holding on to anything any longer than it actually lasts. In reality, all we need to do is experience the learning and move on immediately.

Learning from Experience

Sometimes we convince ourselves that we need to 'hold on' in order to extract the learning from it. If you are repeating big
patterns, you can retain the memory in terms of what not to do next time, but not the emotional content it aroused in you. Thus you can get the maximum amount of learning but ultimately that's still part of the letting go process. If it's a traumatic experience that's teaching you a lot, keep it as something to learn from, while letting go of your attachment to it, let go of it emotionally. That's the basis of letting go of our beliefs and attitudes that anything happens to us, that we are a victim of anybody.

Making Choices

Life is a series of choices of how to behave. Often we make these choices automatically, without really being aware of what we are choosing or why. But no matter what anyone does in any aspect of their life, it is still a choice they have made. And, of course, in making choices we also make mistakes. It is from those mistakes that we learn about ourselves and others. And we learn how to make different choices next time if we remain open to the process of making mistakes. But one thing stops us learning from choices and that is fear. Fear of judgement and criticism, which is usually felt as shame or guilt. So the second thing we have to let go of is all of our judgements and values and ideas of what should be or what shouldn't be.

We should have no values, no judgements, no morals, no criticisms, no ideas of what is or should or shouldn't be. None at
all. Because if we have an idea of what is or what should or shouldn't be we are making a judgement on something that is as it is, as God or as the Universe intended. It is as it is, and it is perfect as it is for the people who are involved in that scenario.
That applies to us in our lives, but because it is a principle it applies equally to the people in a war crisis, for instance. And
that's where the understanding becomes really difficult to accept. You may say, 'Hold on, this is not right' but it is, it's right for
them, and I'll go back to a previous point. The angrier everybody gets about a situation, the worse it gets. This is not at all
pleasant or emotionally intelligent but judging won't improve it either; it will make it worse. If everybody stops being angry about a situation it disappears; the war will not happen.

Keeping Neutral, Learning Acceptance

If we see something and make a judgement or a criticism about it we are adding our angry 'energy' to that situation. We are
actually increasing it. If we collectively say, 'What is happening in this war or that country now is terrible', we are adding to the energy of that event; we are making it worse for the people in it. What we need to do is to stay completely neutral and know the highest truth i.e. what is happening there is as it should be for those people, however traumatic. We've all been through equivalent experiences one way or another, so we've got to let go of the idea that it's right or wrong; that's just the way it is for those people. The most important point to make here is that making choices is not making a judgement. It is just saying, 'choose not to behave in this way'.

Eventually, if we allow everybody to learn without fear, then the mistakes stop being so terrible and the results stop being too
damaging and dramatic on individuals and society. But it has to happen that way round so that we suspend the judgement before others stop doing whatever we originally judged. We cannot expect them to stop before we stop judging. What we can do is make our own structure for the choices we would make but without saying we are right, and that is wrong. It is
saying this is what we would do as far as we know at this moment. Period. Not that it's right or wrong.

So what if we saw an old lady being mugged in the street?
Should we just walk on?
No. If possible, and not to the detriment of your own safety, you can choose to intervene with the action but what you mustn't do is add your judgement or criticism to it. You must not judge either party involved. That is the tricky bit. Saying 'that's not my choice of behaviour but I accept their right to do that and I will intervene because that is my choice'. We have to accept the consequence of that choice, which might be that you get mugged.

People and Behaviour are not the Same

Something that gives a depth of understanding is to recognize that the action is not the person. You can say that action is not
good, but the person is perfect, they are perfect in as far as they have got in their own learning about life. We cannot possibly see what the master plan for the Universe is, so if we start judging and criticizing we are saying we know better than God, the universe, energy or whatever, and we don't. We have to let go of the assumption that we know. The trouble with a little bit of enlightenment, a little bit of spiritual awareness, is that you suddenly get into a kind of spiritual judgementalism: I know, and you lot all don't'. It's a very difficult ego state to get out of. Eventually you do get kicked out of it because you realize that you're not that much different to them. You just realize a little bit more of what you're learning next, you're a bit more aware of it. It's very important not to assume that we have some greater understanding.

All spiritual teachings include a section about 'not judging because to do so would be hypocritical'. None of us has always got
it right, or, should I say, made the best choices. But if we learn from it and don't repeat it that is the most anyone can ask.
So we do have to separate the behaviour from the person and take that to the highest levels, such as a war crisis, which appears so horrendous. We can choose to keep our thoughts out of it and know that that situation will heal itself when everybody has learnt what they can.

Becoming More Emotionally Intelligent Helps the World Too

If we replace judgemental values with a sense of our self-worth, and how we wish to express that essence of us to the rest of
the world, we choose to live in a way that helps to heal ourselves and other people. We accept it in a way that is unconditionally accepting of ourselves and of other people, so we drop our barriers in order to help heal the world. We help to heal everything in the rest of the world by dropping our sense of what is right or wrong. There is a fine line between making a decision about how to behave and making a criticism or judgement of behaviour in others. Once you can see where it is, you can stay on the one side of it. Just consider for a moment how differently you respond if you feel critically judged compared with being accepted as you are. That applies to the whole universe too.

Fixed Ideas of What Will Be

The next thing is expectations of outcome: if I do this, then that will happen. Our disappointment is always based on what we
think should have happened or what we hoped would happen or what we thought the other person should do. It is never based on what has actually happened, it is based on our disappointment that what we wanted didn't occur. So we want to control the universe, thinking we know better than God etc. again. If we decide what we think should happen is right we are getting back into judgements. But God is neutral. It doesn't say, 'You are bad because you made that mistake today and you are good because you did that'. God acknowledges: 'You are learning, you are going in the right direction and doing the
best that you can do at any time' and that's what we need to start working from.

My understanding is that God is the supreme intelligence but is also an evolving consciousness, and as our consciousness evolves we contribute to the evolution of God-consciousness. We are all God, or spirit, having a human experience and when we raise our consciousness individually we are also, in a collective way, raising God-consciousness, because we are all God anyway. That is the point of creativity; that is the point of intelligence. Evolution occurs as a result of intelligence, not the other way round. So if God- consciousness is the ultimate intelligence that lets go without judgement, then we have got to emulate that by letting go without any judgement or questioning about anyone else. God lets us go where we want, to expand our consciousness, including making some stupid mistakes and making some wonderful discoveries in human terms. If we are allowed to do that, so then is everyone else.

Interconnectedness and the Oneness

Why is it important for us to raise our consciousness and let go of our beliefs in order to help everyone else come back to the
connectedness of everything in the universe? Some people want to move and grow faster and others grow more slowly. All travel. Some are trying to slow the others down and some are trying to speed the others up, but whatever each one does affects the others next to it. We are all units of vibrating energy, according to quantum physics. So our emotional energy will affect the people around us. Miserable people are a drain on us; we call them a drag, and they are dragging our energy down. We want to vibrate more lightly, more harmoniously, and they are slowing us down. By lifting our vibrations through our self-development, and releasing our sense of judgements, criticism and control, we are actually allowing everybody else around us to speed up as well. So ultimately we have one responsibility and that is to raise our consciousness sufficiently to help raise the other ones around us.

So we have to choose to let go of the illusions of what was or what will be, of right or wrong, and to increase our vibrations. And then we automatically raise the vibrations of those around us. The final belief that we need to let go of is that our individual humanhood really matters. Everything will be as it is. It doesn't matter how it is because however it is and wherever it is going it will get there because it can't not. Probably where it's going doesn't matter because there isn't a decision about where it's going to go. There is no limit to where it's going to go. If you decide it's going to go from 'here' to 'there' you are immediately placing a limit on where it can go to, but it doesn't matter where it's going. So we have to let go of the idea that humanhood really matters. We are in it and it is part of our experience and we do have to live with our feet in both human and spiritual worlds but we have got to let go of the idea that this matters.

Changing One's Perceptions

One of the best ways to deal with this is to think, 'will Ifeel this stressed about this situation tomorrow, or next week, or
next year or in five years time?', and the answer is usually no, not if you let it go. If you go straight to that feeling of detachment and let go of 'what I am feeling now', it becomes much more comfortable.

Try using these statements in your life:
• I can't control what is happening in the world;
• I can say loud and clear that I want this or that to happen;
• I can accept that if it doesn't, there is some good reason for it though I can't see what that might be;
• I'm not God and I don't know what that good reason is now, but if I remain open then I will find it;
• I have to let go of what I think it should be and I will find it is far better.

So we've got to get away from what we think things ought to be and get to our free will. Our free will is our choice and we are affected by the wisdom of our choices. We are not right or wrong in the choices we make. It may not even be the same choice for the next day. You might make a different choice, but for that moment in time it is right and that is the same for everybody. We have to let go of a sense of being right or wrong and allow things to be as they are, to accept the process of change in ourselves and others and give each other the freedom to change and learn without judgement. We have to let go of our thoughts and learn to listen and wait. We have to let go of our expectations and let things and people be as they are and we have to let go of the need to do and simply allow ourselves to grow and change daily.

What are the Real Benefits to Me of This Approach to Life?

So what is the point of it all? This is easier.
• If we learn to let go we acquire a greater sense of being in the present. A greater sense that our needs actually are being met, because at any given moment they are, so don't worry about what's going to happen tomorrow because today everything is fine.
• If we let go of expectations and judgements, we find a sense of calm and inner peace, because we are not in conflict with what we think should be. We also have a far greater sense of strength, and respond to the moment instead of the past. Our vulnerability is never in the moment; it's in what we fear will be. Have you ever noticed that you are usually frightened after or in anticipation of what will happen but very rarely in the moment? So we get a sense of our strength because we are right in the here and now. We lose our vulnerability which is based on what if, not on the here and now.
• We have greater acceptance of others and therefore we make a greater contribution to raising their awareness, a greater sense of truly going with the flow.
• We gain a sense of fun and freedom in all we do. How often do we go out and dig a hole in the garden and then fill it in again just for fun? Adults don't often do that, kids do and really enjoy it but adults don't really do that kind of stuff, they want to be sensible. But that is what being is, digging holes and filling them in again, just for the fun of it.

So start thinking about what you're doing and have fun with it. It's a weird sense of just letting go and not having a reason for
doing something. Do it because you really just want to. Have you seen how much energy people put into building a sandcastle, just to watch the sea wash it away? And you may think what a waste of time, but it's not, it's a wonderful thing, you're in the moment, you're there and you just did it for the hell of it. Live all of your life as if it was building a sandcastle. There can be no better reason for doing something other than you're enjoying it. Actually it's the best reason for doing something. Enjoying something is our choice.

Becoming fully immersed in what you're doing, called mindfulness in Buddhism, is a very good way of letting go, letting
go of all the other stuff around you, so that all your concentration is based on what you're doing. You're not making judgements; you're not having expectations of outcome. The key thing is that the more we let go of these attributes of victimhood and judgement, the more we move into our true nature. Living without judgement means living in a state of -being.
Being- reveals our true identity and oneness with creation. It allows us to release concepts of who we are and allow the spiritual identity to emerge. Being- places us beyond the world's effects and allows us to live at a different level of consciousness. It allows us to have without fear of loss, without needing to control and judge, to live and be truly free. So begin to let all your life become one big let-go experience and then see what happens next. Allow each day to unfold for you not as you would choose but to reveal to you your true nature. That is the true meaning of intelligence

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Today, I wish for you to take a close look at your life and identify the things which are in it, habits and addictions, which are restricting your freedom and your self-expression. I wish for you to consider anything which you do or fail to do, even though you know it is not in your own best interests. I would like you to think about the actions you take which run counter to your own desires for yourself. And I would like you to look at the actions you do not take which would move you closer to your desires.

It is useless to visualize and to pray for a better life while undermining yourself with your own actions. The universe stands ready to help you to fulfill your dreams, but you must do your part.

You must do your part with readiness, building all the talents and skills which will be necessary for you to fulfill your dreams. And you must actively participate through your actions, doing those things which will bring you closer to what you wish your life to be, those things which lead directly to your health and your welfare. All of this is up to you.

It is an amazing thing that people spend so much time and energy in trying to control things outside themselves which are not theirs to control, and yet do not learn to control their own habits, their actions, their body.

You are responsible for what you do, for what choices you make. Right now, take a good, long look at what you do and what you do not do. Realize that this is up to you.

Right now, set aside your excuses that you are too pressured, you do not have enough time, you do not have enough money, or that someone else makes you feel a certain way. Set all of this aside. You own your own actions. You do not control what happens around you, but you can learn to control your own responses to it. This is completely yours to own.

No longer will you say, “I meant to do it, but he made me upset and now I can’t.” Take a deep breath, fill yourself with courage and just do what you need to do, without blaming anyone else or using them as an excuse.

You can find the time. You can find the energy. You will find it if you look. You may need to find the time by spending less time watching television, by going to bed earlier and getting up before others are awake. You may need to find the energy by changing the way you allow people and events to throw you off track. If you are a perfectionist, finding the time is a simple attitude shift, learning to let inconsequential things go while you focus your time and energy on what really matters to you.

This week, take a look at it all. Think about how you want to be and how you want your life to progress. Take a look at what you are doing, and what you are not doing, and realize that it is completely up to you to make a shift.

And now, let us also take a hard look at habits and addictions. These are the things you do which you know you should not do. Addictions can be defined in a two ways. First, they are simply those things which you do not wish to do but which you somehow cannot seem to help doing. This may be alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, drugs or it may be relationships which have repeat patterns. Another way to define addiction is this: It is something you do or take that makes you desire it even more rather than satisfying you. Think about this. When you eat vegetables, do you crave vegetables more and more? No, you do not. But consider how you respond to candy, to chocolate, to a drink. This increased craving is a sign that your relationship with this substance or this action is not healthy.

And now, after you have honestly and truly identified those things in your life which are not healthy for you, are not heading you in the direction you wish to go, prepare yourself to stop. Yes, just stop. This week, begin to taper off. And then, on New Year’s Day, stop.

Right now, make this commitment to end this unhealthy cycle. Make the commitment to stop the downward spiral of addiction. Move yourself into the upward spiral of strength and courage, of feeling pride in your strength and your commitment.

I want for you that you awaken each morning full of pride at how you conducted yourself the day before. I want you to awaken full of love for yourself. No longer will you awaken with criticism, heaping insults upon your head for the things you did or failed to do the day before. This is not what I want for you. This is not what is healthy for you.

This is much, I know, to ask you to change your relationship to habits long formed, to end those battles you have fought for your entire life. But I believe in you. I know you can do this. I know you are strong and capable.

It is yours to do and you can do it.

Please consider this. You can continue to struggle, sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but always struggling and fighting a battle. Or you can, instead, just decide not to struggle and decide to win instead. It is completely within your power to do this. To make the commitment and follow through. You are strong enough. You are whole and complete enough. And you are surrounded by help at every turn. You can do this.

Prepare yourself to do this. Get your mental state ready. Stop your bad habits right now if you care to. Or use the next few days to prepare for it. Either way is all right. But be honest with yourself. See the things you need to do. Acknowledge them and then simply do them.

I want you to have freedom from the demons you have bee fighting. I want you to be free of all of this, free to create your life in any way you choose. You are strong and capable. You are enough to make this happen. You, just you, exactly as you are, can do this. All you need to do is choose to win. Choose to do whatever it takes to win.

I promise you this: If you will stop, if you will abstain completely from those things to which you are addicted, they will lose strength daily. Yes, they will kick up a fuss every now and again. But when they do, all you need to do is call me to you and feel me surround you with a warm blanket of love and strength. Then take a deep breath and fill yourself with courage and resolve. Then just face it down and say no. You can do this.

Begin by identifying what you need to do. If you need to stop spending money foolishly, then write that down. If you need to eat more healthily, possibly abstaining from certain things, then write that down. Give yourself a plan.

And yes, you must meditate every day. But you may do this however it works for you. There is no need to be a purist—experiment and find what works for you. If it works for you to do your yoga and your meditation at the same time, then do so. If you like to take a nice nap during a recorded meditation, then do so. There is no right or wrong, except not doing it.

There are ways you can work it all in. Ways you can find to exercise your body, meditate, eat healthy food and abstain from harmful actions. You can do all of this. And you will find ways if you will simply commit to doing it, decide to make it work, and then experiment with what works for you. It is your world. You create it. Use your creativity to find out how it can be done.

And if you need to talk to your family about getting more time or space, then do so. Have courage. Commit and do not accept excuses from yourself. Your old self will try to talk you out of this, so your commitment must be strong.

You can do this. Prepare yourself and then do it. I believe in you. I know you can do this. I will be right there with you, helping make you stronger and more resolved. It is your life. Own it completely.

Imagine yourself right now free of these struggles. Picture yourself right now as you will be when you have overcome your addictions and bad habits and have begun putting some good habits in their place. Picture how you will be one year out, two years out, five years out, if you begin these healthy ways right now, if you begin building those disciplines. You could be speaking another language, playing an instrument, be slender and healthy and vibrant, doing activities you hesitate to do now, wearing clothes you cannot wear now. All of this is yours to do.

Fill yourself with love for yourself and give yourself this great gift. Let me see you shine. It is all there within you. Let your own goodness and love fill you and shine out, shine out with all that you are. Focus on that light inside and let it spread, let the love spread, let the joy spread.

Shine your way into a glorious new year. I know you can.

If you have a question you believe might interest other Quado readers, please send it to Carrie at carriehart@msn.com. Thank you!

About The Author

Carrie Hart is a spiritual healer and channeler of Quado. Go to http://www.carriehart.com to read more messages from Quado and learn how Carrie became a spiritual healer & what services she is now offering. Carrie Hart is the author of "There is a Garden", the story of her spiritual journey from stressed executive to spiritualist and channeler of Quado. This book, Carrie's CDs of original music, as well as daily messages by Quado are available on www.carriehart.com.

Copyright 2004 - Carrie Hart

Reprinted with Permission

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Spirit Signs - January 2005 By Robyn Johnston

Sight Seeing

When we think of taking a journey, what comes to mind is usually thinking of how a place looks. We can recall grand views and beautiful horizons that we've witnesses on past trips. One of my favorite sights to see was China Man's Hat off the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Without a doubt, our sense of physical sight in a wonderful gift. We were also blessed with another extraordinary gift, that of spiritual sight. All persons have this ability, it is not reserved for any "choosen few". However, in many individuals, the talent to see with spiritual eyes is one that has not been developed or used.

Those who wear glasses know the difference between fuzzy and clear. Using spiritual sight is similar. Tuning into new ways of thinking or visualizing is often unclear and "fuzzy". Most of us dislike looking through blurred vision so we become dependent on wearing glasses or contacts to ensure that the vision is crisp and clear. I am one of them. I have worn glasses since I was in high school. I finally broke down and admitted I couldn't see the basketball hoop, no wonder I was missing so many shots!!!!!

Along my spiritual journey, it came to me that I haven't really worked on strengthening my eye muscles. I did some research and found several methods that assist the eyes in becoming stronger, which reduces the need for glasses. Although I hate to admit it, the exercises took more time that I budgeted for. I was actually easier to wear the glasses rather than take the time to do the exercises! LAZY?!?! We'll just say, one has to pick her issues and prioritize!

The experience did bring though a lot of revelations though! How many of us become too dependent on a fixed ideal? How many of us want to see our wishes and dreams come true in physical form before we believe that it is real. Do we have to have the physical sight of an object to know that it is real and that we are on the right track?

I realize, through my inner study, that indeed, I don't have to wear glasses. My eyes are perfectly healthy and strong without glasses. However, I am choosing to wear glasses at this point in time. One day, I believe that I will be free of them, through the use of affirmations and visualization.

Oh yes, visualization! That is the key to begin developing spirit sight! Visualization is sort of an abstract concept to explain. Its one of those abilities that takes practice, imagination, creativity and TRUST. It is something that you can read about but like "yoga for the eyes" it just has to be done, and felt and experienced! No one can tell you if you are doing it correctly or not, but you'll know it works when you see the PHYSICAL results! In fact, you'll need to focus on the spiritual concepts of what you are wishing for, how it feels to get that and what it will do for you once its received. Everything that you wish to manifest, must be seen in the mind, using spirit sight, before it can come to fruition.

AND....don't give up! Many times before something can manifest in the physical form, there are a few road blocks that you may encounter on your journey! Sometimes issues of fear, anger, and inadequacy will arise. These must be honored recognized and released and rewired before the physical results can come into this dimension.

The good news is that it is becoming much, much easier and faster to see our thoughts of our spiritual sight manifest! If one works to strengthen their spirit sight through the use of visualization and affirmations, and he/she understands the process, the results can be seen very quickly. Whatused to take me a year or several LONG months, now takes much less time.

For example, I have used this process to assist in finding and purchasing a large section of land in the country, as well as manifesting the right home to go on it. I have used it to sell houses, and three vehicles. I have also used it to find vehicle replacements! I use it in my career, with my relationships, problem solving, diet, food/choices, body image, health issues and of coarse WEALTH AND PROSPERITY!!!

My most recent example is that of acquiring just the right vehicle! I had projected for a new SUV. With a growing family we needed more room and 4wd! In October I "plugged in my spiritual sight" and started the manifestation work. The goal was so sell the old vehicle and get a new one. We'd had the old one on a lot since August. No action, but then again my sight was focused on a few other projections. (In order for this to work, one has to be very clear on the issue and it is usually better to
address one or two issues at a time.)

So, when I got "focused" things happened quickly and in divine perfect order! Our vehicle sold, to the only caller we had! A couple of weeks later we purchased our next one.

Something else to mention is that it does help to be flexible when working with manifestations. Offer up your desires and wishes but be flexible too! For example, I decided this time around I wanted a few different options. I wanted leather, quad seats, tow package, and a sun roof!! I left the color up to the universe! I began affirming and visualizing a fancy, clean
vehicle! With joy I repeated my positive projections. Tuning in my spiritual sight, I saw a dark grey vehicle and felt a sense of sheer excitement. I saw it sitting in my drive way, I saw my family traveling down the road in comfort and style! I saw myself loading Christmas packages in the back! I saw me driving it down the road with my cozy little camper behind! Was the vehicle sitting in my driveway? Not physically, but that didn't matter. My spiritual sight told me it was already there! Rejoice!

Two days after this, my husband delivered a black suburban to our home. Interesting to note that it was not dark grey, but close! (It actually looks dark grey with the mud and snow!) Also I had thought I wanted a sun roof, but luckily my "spirit team" who I leave totally in charge, had an even better idea, a vcp! My husband and I had just commented that that would be "kinda fun" to have on our long road trips with the kids! I share this because sometimes we need to be open to EVEN GREATER BLESSINGS that we can visualize! The universe is just waiting to fulfill our desires. The things that usually blocks the process is us, our dependency on physical sight and our fear of not getting what we want.

If you would like to develop your spirit sight I can offer some wonderful resources. I have tried several and found them to be highly effective. I have developed a process through 10 years of research, study and personal trial and success! I now offer this insight through spirit coaching sessions via email and phone.

Ultimately though, one must takes the journey of spiritual sight seeing individually. Of coarse a guide comes in handy in this "new territory". Guides are the souls that have gone before. They know the way and the short cuts! They can save time and frustration!

Spirit sight is a gift for everyone! It needs no special occasion to be opened and it will prove valuable beyond anything you've ever purchased. It is a new way of thinking, being, feeling and looking at the three dimensional plane you are now living on.

In the coming years, there will be many changes to come. I am already seeing them with spirit eyes. For those that attune their vision, the changes and chaos will be manageable and even enjoyable, with the right kind of mindset. For those that resist and insist that all things be seen in the physical, there are many challenges that lay ahead. Our journeys will require us to believe without seeing in the physical sense, to trust even though there may not be proof, and to affirm that we are always divinely guided and loved, even when there is no physical confirmation. Yes, the journey may get rough, but if we've taken the time to develop our spiritual sight, rest assured we will be offered awesome views along the way.

About the Author

Robyn Johnston is a Feng Shui practitioner, Nine Star Ki Consultant and Reiki Master. She is available for residential and business consultations, energetic readings and distance reiki sessions. Robyn also offers personal coaching and intuitive guidance through these tools. If you would like to schedule a consultation, reading or session with Robyn, she can be contacted through email at rainbowcanyonreiki@yahoo.com. Be sure to also check out her website for online Nine Star Ki Readings and Distant Healing! http://www.dekora-lotus.com/mystical-messages/robyn/

Reprinted with Permission

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Prosperity Meditation by Lorrie Kazan

I am grateful for life. I focus on good, whether it's the smallest star in the sky, or the barest hint of the moon, and more goodness appears. I love life and life loves me. I am rewarded with vibrant health, money, love, and consistent success. Abundance is my natural state. The more I share, the more I have, and there is always enough for everyone. An attitude of gratitude joyously lights my way. Lorrie Kazan Psychic/Intuitive Guidance lorrie@lorriekazan.com http://www.lorriekazan.com Reprinted With Permission

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Healing Circle

This is an area I'd like to offer to our subscribers for distant healing services. If you have a need for distant healing or prayer and energy work, or you know of someone who would like some, please send me an email at dekora@tds.net with "newsletter healing request" in the subject and the person's name, location and reason for the need of healing in the main email. This isn't just for healing, it can be also a request for extra energy for another reason (ie. please send energy to help Sandra find a new job), all requests for love and help will be honoured.

Each month I will post the new people who need healing in this area of the newsletter and encourage all members to send distant healing, prayer and energy to the people in the healing circle.

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