Spiritual Journey - A Quest!

So, it is that time of year again!

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey". Stephen R. Covey

I am beginning to think about going on a spiritual journey and what I want to do and what I hope to accomplish. Last year I spent time reflecting on my Native American roots and my Native Name. I drummed and I sang and I sat by the fire. I grew and I learned. It was also when I got word that my Grandfather Herrmann was about to pass. I had to leave early and I remember now just how poignant that weekend was for me. I got a chance to reflect on where I had been and where I was going and that included stories from my grandfather and grandmother.

Now it is time to reflect again. . .

It is not important to explain what I hope to achieve, but it is important to understand the process.

I hope that you do not do this as a one time event, but repeat this a couple times a year, or at least once a year.

Now, Where to begin?. .

I always start by thinking about my journey as a quest.

And then what?

This is actually a lot easier than you might think. You always start with how you view the process. Think about a journey as a quest. I don't mean slaying a dragon, or rolling some dice (DnD), or by clicking the mouse (RPG). I mean a true to quest.

This quest can be for self-knowledge, achieving a goal such as building a spiritual space, or it could be exploring how you view an idea or a concept. Just remember that these answers may change. You are basing these on your current view of how you see and interact with your world.

So get out a piece of paper and think about these questions. . .

What kind of quest do I want to take?

Do I want it to be easy and relaxing?

Do I want to work on building an idea or project?

What do I hope to have accomplished by taking up this quest?

Now write what you think your quest will be. Remember each quest has a series of sub-goals and achievements.

Write out what these look like to you.

These are all just starting points.

Part of the journey is learning to see and overcome obstacles. These can be weather, or some other situational aspect, but what if you are exploring an idea and all of a sudden that idea no longer fits how you view your world? Remember what I said above? Part of the idea of a spiritual journey is to broaden and then focus in on your world view and your personal view. These may or may not coincide cohesively.

What kinds of obstacles do you think you will face?

How do you think you will over come them?

Location Location Location. . .  

Now that you have an idea for the kind of quest you would like to go on, and some of the issues that you may face,  where do you hope this quest may take place?

While the location is important, it is also important to be safe.

What kinds of things do you think you will need?

Are you going to a hotel?

Are you going to your back yard?

Are you going camping?

Hiking?

Boating?

Other?



However, did you think about going on a spiritual journey in your mind alone?


You do not need to physically go anywhere if you have a vivid imagination and have the ability to develop the journey in your mind's eye. This can be the most rewarding kind of spiritual journey because it really is between you and your views of your world and you can develop and explore as much, or as little as you want at each point and you can come and go from there a lot more easily.

My favorite places to go:

I love to go camping and explore nature while being completely exposed. I do not like to use tents, or to use a lean-to. I prefer a tarp, a sleeping-bag, a knife for protection, matches, water, herbs, spices, couple teaspoons of honey and a LEAVE-NO-TRACE mentality.

This is a lightweight fire-bowl that I can bring with me on my journey. It protects the ground from fire damage and is easily extinguished.

I go to rivers, lakes and oceans. I go where my heart and feet will carry me and I go with an open mind, body and spirit.

If you are not going to an area well-known to you then I suggest 3 extra days of dried foods. I want to leave the area as undisturbed as when I arrived. I do not want to break or fell any living thing: this means plants and animals. 



The main point to this journey is that it is for you to develop your mind, body and soul. There is no wrong way to go on a journey as long as you go with the right attitude.

Let me know how your journey went and don't forget that journal!!!

An interesting question. . .

How did you learn all of this?  A meditation student asked recently of me. He was referring to the various classes that I teach on a number of topics.

That is not the right question. I am limited in my response, Please ask again!  (i-robot)

How do any of us learn and know how to do what ever it is we are doing?

Some of us have gone to school, classes and workshops and others have read more books than most people can fathom.

For me, I started by reading and asking questions. Later I went to classes and workshops, but in the end it seemed I was driven to read many, many books and LIVE. With each book I read I found I had more questions. I traveled as much as I could. I went camping. I completed weekend survival courses. I learned to hike, climb and repel down mountains. And I kept questioning each new topic. I was never content with one answer. I questioned EVERYTHING AGAIN and I talked with my friends and others who were on a corresponding path.

In the end, I followed my own intuition and learned that EVERYONE is RIGHT and EVERYONE is WRONG!!

Each of us must determine our own truth and NO ONE is on the same exact path and not everything I do, or someone else does, will sit right with you!

So, back to the question; how do you learn everything I have learned? You don't. BUT, by experiencing life and allowing yourself to be free you will learn equally important truths and maybe even on the same topics.

If you decide to travel somewhere, go! and experience that place in the most natural way that you can and you will find your own lessons and you will learn the answers to your lessons. How can I tell you what to do about a situation I have NEVER been in? I may have encountered a similar situation and I can tell you what I did, but what I did may not be right for the outcome you want. THINK! LISTEN! and use your INTUITION!!!

Learning does not come from a book! You may question this as I had just said I read a lot of books. Yet, in the end I also said I had to follow my intuition. This is the ANSWER! Use your intuition!!

So, there you have it. I learned everything I know by reading, asking, talking, questioning and in the end trusting my intuition and then question my intuition still further by looking at the result of that intuitive impression.

Nothing I believe is set in stone until I have accepted MY TRUTH! And I know I cannot find anything else that fits that situation and thereby provides that same answer over and over.

My intuition is rarely wrong! And when it is, it is because I did not ask the right question.

How do I learn to trust my intuition?

That my friend is the right question!

Automatic Writing

There is a lot on the web about automatic writing, but do you really understand what is happening?

First you are trying to connect with either Spirit, or your higher-self. Spirit is any thing you believe that exists beyond our natural known world and requires faith in its existence. Your Higher self is between your subconscious you and Spirit. This is what you do not know you know , and are not aware of yet. You go past your subconscious and in this area Spirit greets you and talks to you about your questions,

I like to use the idea of depth of vision to try and explain how this works.

Almost everyone can see straight in front of them several hundred feet quite easily even if they need glasses. This is the conscious you. This is everything you are clearly aware of.

Then there is the part of you that you get glimpses of, but the image is never clear. This would be the peripheral you. Things you sense or know, but easily leave your focus.

The subconscious you is that area the is behind you exactly 180degrees. You get a feeling of its presence, but never see it and when you turn around its gone.

Now we are at the Higher Self. This is that part that you get to see when you are just about to fall asleep. This is that time when "epiphanies" tend to occur. If you have ever had a hard time with a project and you decide to "sleep on it" and just as you are about to sleep you get that, Oh My! I know what the answer is, or was. This is the Higher self connecting to your Conscious Self.

OK, so now what?

Well, the easiest way to connect with this "HIGHER SELF" is to meditate, or attempt to take a nap. Keep a notebook ready. Ask a simple What question. What will tomorrow bring? What should I do to help this situation? What direction is my path taking?

Now don't think about that question, instead just allow yourself to relax. Once you are thoroughly relaxed just start writing. Do not think about what you are writing. Just WRITE!

How do I know if I am actually automatically writing?

Well, this may vary from person to person, but many people, including myself, feel a lightening in the hands. An energy that is surreal. Kind of like static electricity. It just flows and makes you feel weightless. Once this occurs you know for sure you are writing without conscious effort.

Now, if you do not experience this, it does not mean you are not using automatic writing. Look at what you have written. Do the words seem to ease any of your stresses? Are they uplifting? Do they sound different in your head? Do you just feel like they are right?

Automatic writing can be any of those things. It can also be so much more. Maybe you will begin to "see" images or "hear" thoughts, or words, or you may "feel" emotions. This process will help you to awaken yourself to your abilities to communicate with Spirit.

There are many level of communication with spirit. Some people only do this for themselves and others are called to use their gifts to help others.

I use my gift to teach others so that they can use their gifts to help themselves. There is a quote that says something about teaching. . .

"Doing something for someone helps them one time, but teaching them how to do something themselves helps them for a lifetime."

I always start my sessions with clients by teaching them what they can do and use to get the same result as coming to me and me giving them the answer. I want to empower my clients, not make them dependent upon me.

The best way to begin automatic writing is to: write. draw, color, cut and paste words, or ideas on a large blank poster board.

And see how it answers your WHAT question.

The next thing is just to keep doing it. No one gets this straight away. We all need practice. Be patient and understanding of yourself and your path. Their are many paths to communicate with Spirit and this is just one!

Communication

Here is one of the lost arts: communication. Have you noticed that people do not communicate? We text, we will use FaceBook and Tweet on Twitter, but we fail to make people understand what it is that we are saying. We do not think about how the wording conveys specific emotion and how those emotions can affect our relationships.

Relationships are not just with our good friends and families; They are about the interaction with every person, for every reason. You have an instant relationship with the checkout person, when they ask how you are doing, they are making more than small talk. The checkout person is trying to show that you are important to their business. I often tell the checkout person that rather than ask how I am doing; they should simply say It was nice of you to shop our store, what brought you here, or did you find everything you were looking for? This creates a more meaningful dialogue and if a person is having a bad day they don't have to pretend they are happy when they are not, or provide a flippant remark as I often do.

Let's talk about friendship. What do you think constitutes a friendship? What do you give and what do you expect to get? Me, I think friendship is honest dialogue and occasional check ins. What I often see is one person doing the check ins and the other needing support, but not reciprocating. If someone offers you a great deal and you accept, a friend would follow through an acquaintance forgets.

This is where Facebook makes people into emotional blobs of nothing. I am sure you all have those who type how miserable their day is and you always respond with happy and lighthearted thoughts, (lets call these FB hugs) and the day you need some of those FB hugs, not one person responds, that is a sure way to know they are not your friends, but sponges. Yes, FB is full of sponges. They drain you of your happiness and expect you to cheer theirs. Yet, you will never say a single thing about this because you know it is just not worth it. I think Facebook has one purpose to make the prom kings and queens remain prom kings and queens. I tend to ignore most people on Facebook, but I will try and give support once in awhile. After all it never hurts me to be kind and since I never expect it back, I neither become happy nor sad if someone does or does not post.

However, What really gets me is my business contacts. It seems like people do not offer the same care and respect with these relationships as they should and thereby burn some very important bridges. What happens when you get upset at a company you tell 10, 20, 30 of your "friends" and spam FB for a larger number, but when you do something kind and try and be helpful you might get one positive comment out there. This is also shows a lack of solid communication. I am sure your friends would love to know where you had a great experience.

If we all learn to focus on positive communication think of how much more you can get. I mean that. When people are nice I tend to give them many more services at either free or very reduced rates, but when people are less than authentic I will nicely remove them from my list. The reason is I don't need bad communication. I want someone who may ask me to redo something 20 times to get it perfect than just say yes, that is fine even if they hate it because they are afraid of hurting my feelings. I have no feelings when it comes to websites. The websites are not upset they don't care what they look like, but as an artist I care about how the website reflects on my clients. I prefer communication at all hours of the day and night than to leave something in a state of disquiet.

So, in short if you want something you better damn well communicate what you want. If you ask how someone is doing be prepared to hear they are having a shitty day and if you work with a firm for any reason be sure you are clear in your expectations, as you may just loose out on the best deal you could have gotten.

Think about what you want to say in an e-mail and write it and re-write it. Read it aloud, once twice and three times make changes and more changes and then and only then click the send button it may just be the best decision you ever made in communicating your real thoughts!

New Year, New Office for a New You!

The Year 2012:

Some say that the world is scheduled to end in the year 2012. Me: I say the world is just beginning!

I have decided to open a facility that will allow for the WHOLE Mind, Body, Spirit connection! You will be able to purchase goods and services that will help to empower yourself, to allow you to help you grow and become who you really are, but just not blossomed yet. This is also a place for those who know who they are and the path they are on to find the tools to help them stay focused and have a place of community. This is not just a store who happens to offer a few classes or workshops. This is a place where the workshops and classes are the focus as the items for sale are just there in case you need something and at the lowest possible prices. If we do not have what you are looking for, just ask and we will order it for you without shipping or handling fees and still below most retail stores

 on Wind's Song
Meditation and Divination
with a complete focus on the Mind, Body and Spirit

135 Old Homestead Hwy Keene, NH Suite 102
This is actually Route 32 by the Keene Air Port.

opening 15th, January, 2012


What will be offered. . .

Reiki- Will be based on who is providing the service. Each Reiki Master will be setting their own rates.

Massage: I will have a bio and options each of the massage therapists has and their individual fees.

Divination using Tarot, or Oracle will be $20 for 30 minutes

Life Coaching  1.5 hours a week  for 12 weeks for a total of $540 payable in three installments of $180

Guided CD Private Meditation is $10 per half hour

Guided Private Meditation with instruction is $25 per half hour

Spiritual Advising is donation only

The Tuesday Evening group is for Meditation, Spiritual Healing and Intuitive Tarot $10 (3 hours) 6pm to 9pm

The Thursday group is for Meditation, Spiritual healing and Intuitive Divination with an ever changing topic and expanding on what we have done in the past $5 3 hours Wednesday from 11am to 2pm

the Monthly Full Moon group has a stronger focus on Spirituality and the Moon  This is a donation only class. 6pm to 9pm NOTE: Takes place as close to the Full Moon as possible.

Please call 603.852.3576 for more info

Reiki: The Great Debate!

The Power of Reiki!

Reiki is the flowing of energy from spirit through you to your client. The Reiki Practitioner/Master is attuned to Reiki and is simply a channel to help direct this energy. The energy goes to wherever the person needs it. Using Reiki on all chakras helps to balance the body and thereby the meridians. These meridians are also used by acupuncturists. Reiki Energy is flowing all around each and everyone of us. We just need to learn to access it.

Reiki is learned through a Master to a Student, but the student already has Reiki; he is just not yet attuned to it.

My personal journey to Reiki is below the explanations and disclaimers!

{begin:}
This is where the debate comes in:

How does a person become attuned to Reiki.

According to http://www.valleyreiki.com/reiki_iiia___reiki_master_practitioner student will receive the Reiki Master symbol which will enable her/him to attune themselves to Reiki (clear out the healing channel)."

Yet, some people believe this must be done hands on. This Reiki Master says the same thing and yet, by the admission of the website owned by the Reiki Master above the Symbol will allow the student to attune themselves.  I hate double talk!

Also who initiated the first Reiki Master, Mikao Usui, it was said to be done by divine inspiration or enlightenment. He was said to have been on a 21 or so day fast in the mountains. He was said to have travelled to America and received a doctoral degree, but that has been so far unproven, but what he did and does has been proven: the ability to heal.

It does not matter how he obtained the information that is the story of legends, but what does matter was the differences he made and the difference Reiki continues to make in today's fast paced world of go, go, go and money, money, money.

This is another statement tauted by Reiki Masters, "Choose someone who has completed her own financial commitment." http://www.usuireiki-ogm.com/becoming_a_reiki_master.html 

"The Reiki Cash Machine

So - Reiki in itself is NOT a scam. However, many Reiki courses ARE! Reiki has really become a real cash machine: Most Reiki masters teach in three distinct stages, and each stage requires hefty premiums:

• Level 1 - Reiki Practitioner: $100-$150
• Level 2 - Advanced Reiki Practitioner: $150-$500
• Level 3 - Reiki Master: $350-$10,000
• These are the prices for Reiki courses. Reiki Healing costs $25-$70 an hour from Reiki practitioners, $50-$120 from Reiki Masters. " http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/

This has been one of the largest issues I have encountered with various masters. This is an elitist view point. That only those who will be able to pay the fees will be able to take the classes. Thankfully this has changed some in recent years, but still blocks out some of the people who would make the best healers. Those who want to do it because they really want to heal and those who want to heal are also often the ones who need to be healed. Because of their own illnesses they often cannot afford to receive Reiki, let alone afford the classes to teach it.

This is where a more correct view of Reiki has come into play. Reiki is needed to heal the world!

"All attunements, in my opinion, whether received from a Reiki Master in person or from a distance, work for the same reason.

Reiki Attunements work through the Reiki Master, but only because the student has already opened herself to her Higher Potential. She has said to herself, 'I am ready to learn Reiki, I am ready to take control of my life, I want to help myself and my family and friends, I am ready to relearn the gift that was given to me when I was born.'" http://www.reikiblessings.com/attunements.html

I will also now quote my own Reiki Master Judith Conroy, " Mikao Usui, the founding father of modern day Reiki, actually attuned himself to Reiki all those years ago!
Which is quite obvious when you really think about it – as there was no-one else there on the mountain to do it for him!
(Yes, some people say a great light came out of the darkness, hit Usui in the forehead and gave him Reiki – and that sounds beautifully mystical doesn’t it? But, it’s just a ‘flight of fancy’ I’m afraid, and it’s not meant to be taken at all seriously).
No, what actually happened was…
Usui went to his favourite meditation spot, totally alone, and after a period of fasting and meditating, he experienced a sudden flash of deep understanding – a Satori if you will…
…about how a particular aspect of the vital life force energy already flowing within him could easily be accessed and used for both healing and accelerating self-realization." http://www.chikara-reiki-do.com/master/

{This is the Ending of the documentation of why I chose this route!}


My Story begins!
So, now that I have shown you what others have said on thier own websites, I would like to talk to you about my attunement!

I was first attuned many years ago now to Reiki I and Reiki II, but because I could not afford the class the teacher let me take the class for personal and family use, but not so that I could do it on others and get paid. Okay, that makes sense. Everyone needs to make money. So, I was fine with that until last spring when I really wanted to start doing Reiki on others and to make money, so I started looking for Reiki Masters.

I am a website developer and I am a multi-talented crafts person, but I have also been unable to work for the past 4 years at a full time job. Living on one income with 3 kids is difficult. I was told by several masters a sacrafice needs to be made, but a giant sacrafice for one versus a minor to no real sacrafice to others seems a bit unfair (elitist). I have offered to barter for my Reiki as well. Since I build websites I figured an awesome website would be a fair exchange. It takes me 200 hours to build a custom website. But, alas most people said it needed to be a monetary exchange and others said they were not interested in a website. I have no issues with that, so I began to look into alternatives.

Online Reiki I, II and III cost between $50 and $500 dollars. There is a website that reviews online Reiki. Click here for that:  http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/

The Alternative Road to Reiki

Two years ago I started to look into online Reiki Classes and the theory behind an inperson versus distance attunement. I am a SPIRITUALIST this means I circumscribe to various beliefs that may differ from the Christian view point. I believe in Astral Travel and I sometimes do this. I have been using the Energy of the Universe and Spirit to do hands on healing for years. Since 1996 to be exact. I have been an Emergency Medical Technician because I wanted to help people in a real crisis. I have volunteered at Peer Support Agencies for those who have or might suffer from a mental illness. I have taught meditation since 2006. I have taught Intuitive Tarot since 1995. I was once initiated into Wicca and have since left that practice. So I know what initiation and "hands-on" attunements are all about.

However, it was through Wicca that I learned my greatest lesson, It is not about what you do, or even how you do it, but the intentions behind it!

So, I contacted Judith Conroy of Chikara-Reiki-Do who gives three attunements. One is in her own lineage and two are standard lineage. She teaches Usui Reiki, Tibetan Reiki and Chikara-Reiki-Do which attunes all of the chakras!

An Amazing Attunement

As I have said, I was already attuned to Reiki I and Reiki II with several years of practice. I have read several books on Reiki and I have watched countless videos over the years. I have met my spirit guides before and I work with my animal spirit guides and totems regularly. 

I have been developing my spiritual intuitive self extensively for over a year. So, when I got Judith's .pdfs, videos, and online documentation I could not fathom how anyone could say I missed any of the critical information.

What I was not prepared for was my four step attunement!! That is right for my Masters there was four seperate and amazing steps. I did not experience anything close to this in Reiki I or Reiki II!!!! I had my candles, incense, crystals all setup around me. I was warm and comfortable. I was sitting on my floor in lotus position and I was listening to the most beautiful meditation music provided by Judith. She talked me through a guided visual meditation via video and then stepped me through the next 3 phases. The last phase was her doing a complete Usui Reiki Attunement!

Now people might be wondering what I felt and saw and I will describe it now. In the meditation I was more relaxed than I could have imagined. I get anxious waiting in groups and in class rooms. Infact I hate getting massages because I get so nervous, so that was wonderful just being in my very own warm and soft, comfortable space. I was sitting on a meditation cushion. During the first attunement I was filled with a buzzing of electrical energy that seemed to fill every cell of my body. During the second phase I saw my spirit guide standing infront of me. During the third phase I felt my spirit guide's "hand" on my shoulder and attuning me. I felt the energy of his "fire-finger" touching the palms of my hand. That was simply the best.

Other's have seen my Spirit Guide

A few weeks ago one of my Spiritual Intuitive Group Leaders had us do a guided meditation to meet our spirit guides. I was in a pyramid and he was showing me Reiki Symbols. I could not believe it. I told J. the group facilitator, about it. Later at another of her groups we did a candle reading. My spirit guide was clearly defined in that image, Joanne was shocked and amazed.

My spirit guide is truly amazing. It is genderless, but might be considered male. "HE" looks very similar to the picture we see of "Greys" or "Aliens", but it may just be that he is old, bald with large eyes, tall and gangley.

Since My Attunement and the Reason for It!

I have felt more peaceful and at ease. The only stress I have had is comming from other's not accepting my attunement, but the crazy and wonderful thing is when people go looking for a Reiki Practitioner they do not ask where or how you got it. They just want to see and feel proof of your healing energy.

The reason I wanted to learn and use Reiki is because the symbols, while just kanji, when used by many thousands of people with the same intent increase the power and the energy of that symbol thereby increasing the healing energy!!!

Here is a review of the course I took: http://www.reviewsnest.com/reikimastercourses/ultimatereiki.htm


Please read, learn and understand before you make any decisions regarding Reiki.

I wish you a blessed day!

Our Animals Are Our Friends, Our healers!

Today I was sitting and reflecting about how I use self healing and as I was doing so my cat Caramel came in to sit with me. She is a sweet cat, just like her name. I often use the healing energy from the Great Spirit to help me when I am in pain. Since I have learned Reiki I have used that as well, but nothing can compare to the healing energy we receive from our pets.

You may wonder why and how this works. Well, animals are innocent. They live because we take care of them and in return their love is abundant. When we are sad they will often come over to us lick our faces, put their paws on us and in my kitties case she pats me. Yes, she takes her little paw without any claws and ever so lightly taps me with it. Her purrs remind me of my kids when they were babies. Have you ever heard a baby mew? I have and it is amazing and when my kitty does that it makes me feel such comfort.

Animals also seem to instinctively know when we are in pain and they come over to us to get their pats from us and in return we become distracted from that pain. When they sleep with us, their body heat makes us feel warm and safe. They alert us to people coming to the door. Yes, even kitties do this. Caramel does it because she wants to go out and play and since she is an indoor cat she knows she might get her escape (She is chipped and has all shots just in case!). But in her escape one time she alerted me to her own illness; ,this was when she started eating tea berry leaves and I then learned they were great for upset tummies. So, she taught me an herbal remedy.

Animals also seem to know where our chakra points are. Have you ever noticed that your dog or cat will lay on or rest their paws on certain chakras? My cat loves my heart and third eye. I have chronic bronchitis and because of her placing her paws there I know I feel her healing energy flow through me. On my third eye I can feel her communicating with me. she looks right into my eyes when she does it. At first this was unnerving, but now I know she is talking to me on a subconscious level allowing me to "SEE" her.

What does your dog or kitty do with you and to you?

What quirks do they have when they interact with you?

Learning to listen to their way of speaking can really open up a lot of additional healing avenues for you!

These are their gifts to you and once we all realize their amazing gifts really should treat them like Kings, Queens, Princesses, and knights in shinning armour and give the feasts, love and attention they really do deserve!

To all animal lovers out there I wish you and your pets a long, happy and healthy life.