The Burning Fires of Celtic Faith

 

I have a fun update on my round-the-world trip name: it's WASSAP. That is an acronym standing for Worldwide Adventure- Sacred Spiritual Altruistic Pilgrimage. How cool is that?! I got a little help from Heavenly Mother on that one. :) And I actually laughed out loud because it's so ME! "Whazzup?" haha.

So far 2 countries on my list have really spoken to me, really called out to me saying, "Dive into our rich spiritual waters." These countries are Israel and Ireland. 

Israel is calling to me because I want to walk where Jesus walked. I want to experience the Holy Land by going back in time to the Savior's time, and feeling of that sacred energy and transformation in His sanctified holy land. In fact, it was a reference to the Holy Land at church that was one of my big signs that this trip needs to happen for sure.

Ireland is calling to me because of my noble, Celtic, God-intoxicated, spiritual/literal ancestry. (Yes, I know the Celts didn't only live in Ireland, but this is where my ancestors lived). I didn't even realize how connected Israel and Ireland were until last night when I was reading the book pictured above. I've read a lot of books during my goddess journey, and several of them have moved me deeply. But not until last night did I break out into full sobs because I was so overwhelmed with intense power at the words I was reading and the feelings that overcame me.

It was one of those ah ha moments when I realized a beautiful connection (for me) between Israel and Ireland. To better explain this, let me tell you a little bit about the spiritual Celtic wanderer, which is thoroughly entrenched in my blood.

In the book Celtic Journeys by Steve and Lois Rabey, they describe the Celts' "inexhaustible urge to travel." This was inspired by their deep curiosity at the world God had made- their "innate yearning to explore the unknown, and to visit hallowed holy sites." They had a "divine calling to leave all that is known and familiar, to trust in the mercies of God, and to head out into the unknown and often untamed lands." So far this is sounding very familiar to my own desires and adventures.

In addition, the Celts had a strong desire to share their belief in God and Jesus with the world and expose everyone they could find to Christianity. Famous Celtic monks such as St. Brendan, Columba and others, set sail with lofty evangelist goals of heaven in their sails. In 1977, it was proved that St. Brendan could have quite possibly been the very first to land on the modern day American continent, long before the Norsemen or Christopher Columbus. We're going way back here folks, to around the year 550.

Some of the current divine Celtic books I'm reading now.

In the book The Path of Celtic Prayer, it is explained that "the Celt was very much a God-intoxicated man." I loved how beautifully Calvin Miller describes the Celtic faith of fervor. It's just so inspiring!! I was surprised that I cried so hard at reading these words, but you just never know when you're going to be especially moved:

"This narcotic state of heart is indeed intoxicating. For when we have drunk deeply of the nature of God, there is born within us a God-thirst that can never be slaked by any lesser stream. The Celts of the sixth century also believed that Jesus was coming soon, and their expectation of the second coming created a faith of great vitality. 

...Our failure to perceive Christ's imminent return as our "blessed hope" have contributed to our feelings of separateness from God. What of our blasé contentment with things as they are, Christless and self-managed? The Celts found God no casual diversion. They were too needy to talk about spiritual things over tea cups and pastries.

As with much of Europe, the world was always falling down around them. In desperate times, living becomes an altar where you pray and sing because the only good news of the day is that God lives longer than you do. And God promises you that even if your days are few, your dying is not a wall, but a set of gates. Even now the Celtic embers of spirituality are catching fire all around us. 

But a blazing church is not what most people find when they go to a typical worship service today. Disinterest, sparse attendance, and boredom are more common. Such spiritual lethargy was not the nature of Celtic trust. Vitality- flame and gale- was the heart of the Celtic faith. This is both the practice and the hope of all that is being born in current Celtic revival. From the Spirit's breath a new kind of worship is once again rising out of ancient devotion. The Celtic way born long ago in the cold, dank Hebrides Islands stirs anew."

 I think what really touched me and brought on the tears is how the Celts got it. They understood what faith and spirituality really meant. (Unlike the spiritually dead vibe I feel in so many church meetings I attend). Instead of just desiring to close the gap on the separateness between ourselves  and God, they DID it! They understood that Christ was the center, THE good news of the day (every day!) the hope of life, the foundation.

They understood the power of alignment with Oneness. They knew at their core that God is everything and everywhere and is to be praised continually and daily. Long before the Celts even became Christian, they had a profoundly sacred spiritual connection with nature, and honored and revered her sacred powers unlike any other group of people have ever done. 

They understood that a spiritual journey takes place not only within oneself, but literally too, in far-flung unknown places of the world, truly connecting with its exotic four corners. They were willing, and compelled, to leave their homes to undertake long, dangerous, exciting journeys in the name of God that also expanded their Highest Selves. (Sounds a lot like a goddess journey, yes?)

I felt a surge of pride knowing these were my people, and because of that, they get me. It's in my blood!! Maybe they're even reading my blog, smiling knowingly. They get why I feel this strong desire to go travel the world on this spiritual pilgrimage, return to my 'homeland',  feel that energized magical Celtic soil between my toes, and renew that unique spiritual connection that can only feed the deepest parts of the soul. They get why I literally need to walk where Jesus walked in Israel, why I need to be there and see, feel, hear, smell, and breathe it all in myself, and not just read about it.

As I read the passage, did I have a few tears of regret that today I, and others, have lost touch with the burning Celtic flame of faith? Yes. I wept bittersweet tears, both of sadness that I somehow have not lived up to my incredible Celtic spiritual legacy, but also of hope that there's still time to redeem myself. In fact, I hope to spend some good quality time in Ireland, hopefully in the area of my ancestors, working on a farm, rekindling every possible Celtic flame I can light. And I intend to listen to everything my ancestors and their sacred land want to teach me.

Answering the Call

 

The above photo is me at Machu Picchu about a year ago. It was the first time I combined travel with a spiritual purpose, and I loved it! I went with a group of powerful women goddesses, participated in healing earth grid ceremonies with a Peruvian shaman, and felt the intense spiritual energy and power of this sacred place fill my veins. It was life-changing for many reasons. I was hooked.

Next year I will be doing a similar type of journey, but on a much, much bigger scale. But first a little background as to how this came about.

One reason I haven't written for 2 months is that it's been a very confusing, straining, stressful time of upheaval and growth. Helloooo, goddess path! One day I had a job, and the next day I didn't. Not because I was fired or quit, but because the FDA caused my friend's business (whom I work for) to shut down. It's a long story, but it was so unexpected (to both of us), I spent a few days in shock, a few days in deep depression, and a few days feeling intense anger. Then came the confusion and the question I can't stand most of all: "What am I going to do now?"

The great/difficult thing about losing your job, or experiencing any other major life change, whether planned or unplanned, is that you REALLY get to reevaluate what you truly want to be doing. I asked myself that question, and much to my chagrin, did not get an answer for a few weeks. I somewhat patiently waited for the enlightenment I wanted while making it the intention of my meditation. I actively looked for signs from God, angels, and the Universe daily, knowing they would have to reveal their secrets to me at some point.

I started realizing that I wasn't really asking "what job should I get?", and I wasn't even worried about getting a job because I knew that would work out perfectly. Throughout my entire life, I have been blessed with jobs so easily, it's almost laughable. My desires were deeper than just how I was going to earn a living. I needed to know how I was going to make a difference, how I was going to find meaning, and how I was going to be blissfully happy with this gift of life. Basically all the questions that started me on my goddess path to begin with. Aaaaand we have come back to the beginning.

One day I was sitting on my porch in the usual confusion about where I should put my energies, and a thought came to me: "What would you do if money and time were no issue, and all limitations were lifted? Think big. Think dreams. What would you do?" I thought about it, and what came was: "I would take a trip literally around the world combining humanitarian work, several spiritual pilgrimages, and connecting with Gaia and my brothers and sisters in all corners of the globe." BAM!! Thinking big enough?? I was sooo not expecting that answer!

At first I dismissed the idea as a 'real' possibility, because obviously that's crazy, right? Well one thing I've learned is to listen to the inspiration you receive, take it seriously, and sometimes the craziest ideas are the right ones.

But I needed a little proof. I asked for some confirmation that this was really the answer that I've been waiting for, and really what direction I should be taking. Long story short- I got it, and it knocked my socks off. Sooo....here goes nothing!

About the time that my "official" documentation of my goddess path is supposed to end (next May), I will embark on a 5 month worldwide humanitarian/spiritual journey!! Whoa! (This is of course unless God decides to change my life course once again. Flexibility is the name of the game). 

I will continue to work a little bit on my trusty laptop while I'm out adventuring, bringing in a little money, but for the most part, my life will take on entirely new smells, sights, sounds, experiences, and richness. I get to be completely immersed in the international, beautiful, magical tapestry of the world and her wonders. It will be an amazing energy exchange unlike anything I've ever known or could dream.

I haven't had much time to map out my course or do much planning at all other than get a rough estimate of costs and a general idea of countries I'd like to include on the journey. In order they are (so far): China, Japan (transit point), Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt, Israel, Romania, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, UK, Portugal, and Spain. That will probably change as I do more research. Some places I will stay in longer than others. I've already got plans to meet up with a couple people for 3-4 of the countries, so that's fantastic.

How does one prepare for a literal circumventing-of-the-world-adventure?? This is a HUGE undertaking that requires a lot of faith, trust, money, networking, miracles, patience, and flexibility. I also know it will be an experience of a lifetime never to be forgotten, that will present so many opportunities to stretch my goddess muscles, I should in fact come back a totally changed person. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm excited and nervous, and feeling like I'm preparing for the biggest, most intense, fun, crazy, breathtaking, and amazing roller coaster ride of my life.

Buckle up.

Birth and rebirth

This weekend I was blessed with another niece, and like all the rest of my nieces and nephews, she instantly melted my heart. It's been a very exciting time. I'm sure like all the other grandchildren in the family, she will be a joy and delight to all of us. Each of them brings a very special spirit of joy and innocence to our family, which I love.

This past week has been all about the babies! What better way to delve right into a journey into rebirth! In Dr. Weiss' book, Miracles Happen, that I'm reading, he states,

"Our bodies and our minds are the masks our real self- the soul- wears in the physical world. When we die, we remove our masks and we rest in our natural state. There is no disappearance, no oblivion. We simply take off our masks, our clothes, and other outer coverings, and we return home to the spiritual realms. Here we are renewed and restored. Here we reflect on the lessons of the life that we have just left. Here we are reunited with our soul companions across the centuries. Here we plan our next lifetime on the earth. When the time and circumstances are right, we don new masks- a baby's body and brain- and return to the physical state. With a refreshed energy and outlook, we continue learning our spiritual lessons until the need to reincarnate is no longer necessary. Then we can continue to help people to the other side. It is important to remember that we are the souls, not the masks."

One of my friends had a baby a few weeks ago and she told me that our psychic friend sensed that he (the baby) had not lived on this planet since the 1500s. So interesting. I wonder if he's been on other planets this whole time. If I hadn't lived on Earth for 500 years, I might think my reincarnating days are done. :) But not so! Here he is once again, with more lessons to learn. My friend also said that she senses her baby is already tired of being a baby again, being the old soul that he is. I totally believe that!

I believe that anyone who is choosing to become like a god or goddess will eventually get to the point when all the lessons are learned and we can progress into god/goddesshood. I have a feeling that I asked for many lives to experience everything under the sun, but sometimes I do wonder when my lessons will be done. Not in a 'hurry up' kind of way, just a curiosity kind of way. Is someone going to knock on my door one day and say, "Congratulations, you've learned all your lessons. Time to be a goddess."?

There was something else that I found very interesting in Dr. Weiss' book. This was the theory that one of his clients had about women who had had miscarriages somehow getting the trauma of that event stuck in their bodies. (Which I totally believe happens). This ultimately caused the next baby that they were pregnant with to be breech. This client would help the mother do a visualization to clear that energy and communicate that to the baby, reassuring the baby that all was well. In 100% of the cases, when the mother did this, the baby turned from breech to the correct position. I was pretty amazed at this. This could seriously help reduce the FAR too many C-sections that are performed right now!

This theory also hit a personal chord with me since I was born via a C-section because I was breech. Right before my mother got pregnant with me, she had a miscarriage. I now wonder if my mother had done this simple visualization, a C-section might not have been necessary. (There were no other factors involved in the doctor doing a C-section other than me being breech; my mother and I were both healthy and she was in her early 20s).

Other baby and fertility references this week... A few nights ago, I had a dream that I was taking care of a baby that wasn't my own. When I woke up, I recognized that baby dreams usually indicate something new, or change. This is fantastic because I'm definitely ready for some new fun adventures!

Also, a few different times during meditation this week, I saw things, (animals and flowers) which upon researching, I discovered were symbols of fertility. It's always fun to see things in meditation that I have no understanding of their symbolism to read about it later and find out all the magical things it means.  It's like a fun little game you can play every day while tapping into your own energy and seeing what's there that you need to discover more about that day.

Apparently I needed to have a lot of 'babies, fertility, and rebirth' put into my field this past week. It's been a unique experience for a woman who has never had a child, (in this life anyway), but is very connected to the children she knows will come. And I wonder what adventures my children-to-be have had in other eons and dimensions, or are currently having, until we get to meet in this lifetime. It will be exciting when that is revealed.

The Wheel of Life

 

This past week has been intense and beautiful! It has consisted of more past life regressions, revelations, and inspirations. I have been relishing Dr. Weiss' book and learning so much about healing from past life trauma. The Universe has been continually sending me signs that I'm on the right track on my journey. It's been amazing! One of my favorites was that I had a totally random reference to both the names of myself and my husband in my 1580 England life, the day after I did that past life regression. That was pretty wild little gem of a gift.

I did go ahead and try Dr. Weiss' past life regression video out on myself twice last week and was able to see glimpses of 2 lives I led, one in Japan and one in Hawaii. Although I don't know the dates of either one for sure, my guess is that the Japan lifetime was in the 1700s and the Hawaii lifetime was ancient. The main thing I have learned from Dr. Weiss is that merely having actual memories from your past lives (during regression) can heal you from past trauma. Who knew it was so simple? I love it.

In Dr. Weiss' video, at the end of the past life you witness, he has you imagine a spirit or entity conversing with you, bringing you whatever message comes to you. After my Hawaii life regression, I saw Goddess Pele talking to me, explaining that the main purpose of that lifetime was for me to get very well versed in the healing arts and adept at using the powers of nature. I definitely saw that I was very connected to the animals, beach, rocks, plants, volcanoes and everything around me. I played with energy and nature like they were my friends and it was a wondrous sight to behold. It was a rich life of beauty, community. and healing in the middle of paradise.

The next day I was doing meditation and the message came very clearly that I am supposed to acquire some blue obsidian. I had never heard of this color of obsidian, which assures me know that the message didn't come from me. In reading what blue obsidian symbolizes, I read about Pele, so there again was another reference confirming that my past life regressions were real. Incidentally, blue obsidian is the protection stone for sensitive or psychic people. It protects against negative energy, aids in telepathic skills, and is a great stone to use if exploring your own spiritual abilities. It also awakens the inner warrior and is very good for performing past life regression, where it can heal traumas and negative emotions from our past lives that we have been unable to release. 

In addition, I have had a few animals come to me during meditations this week, and in researching what the specific animal totem symbolizes, every one of them deals with either past lives, spiritual awakening, rebirth, expansion, or things of this nature. In every case, I was not aware of this when the animal came to my mind. I think the Universe wants to help me in every way it can with these past life healings!

Yesterday during church, reference was made to how Hindus believe in past lives and that in each one we attempt to achieve enlightenment. Although this is not something that is taught in my own faith, I thought it was extremely interesting that it would be mentioned yesterday of all days. Once again, this further confirmed that I am right on track with my spiritual path.

During my meditation today, I saw what looked like a bicycle wheel and the phrase that came to me was 'wheel of life', which name didn't have any specific significance for me. I knew that each spoke represented one of my past lives and they were all connected like the spokes of the wheel. On each spoke was a beautifully colored ribbon, which I knew represented a specific person designated to help me and teach me in that particular life, providing a depth and richness that no one else could give me.

In searching for a photo for this blog post, I googled 'past lives' and the image of the Bhavacakra was one of the first ones I saw. I was enchanted by its colors and intricate designs and clicked on it. I was completely amazed to find out that it is called "The Wheel of Life". What?? Holy cow, Universe, that's a good one! I had never heard about this painting before, but I knew immediately it was another sign for me, and definitely supposed to be the image for this post. In the painting, the six divisions in the third layer are six different types of rebirth, or samsara. Samsara is the process of cycling through one rebirth after another. Well fancy that, finding the absolute perfect photo for the past lives blog post that is connected to my meditation perfectly!

And one more little connection is that it just so happens that next spring I'm going to the Sera Monastery in Tibet where the above Wheel of Life painting resides. Sometimes the magical abundance in one's day is just too great for words. :)

Witnessing the Past, Healing the Present

I usually pay attention when things happen in threes. It's like a message from the Universe or God that I should REALLY pay attention to. A few days ago I had 3 references made to past lives within 24 hours, so I listened. The messages came in the form of an angel card that I picked out of a deck (the love cards version), a download during my meditation, and immediately thereafter hearing a song on the radio about "in another life." It was pretty clear that this was a step on my goddess path that needed a little exploration right now.

I never really thought much about my past lives, or if that was even a real thing. I guess until a couple years ago, I believed they didn't exist, but now I'm so open to any and all possibilities, it seems like kind of a cool thing to discover more about. My main question has been "What's the purpose of knowing anything about a past life? How will that help me in my current life?"

If I had to guess where a past life of mine was lived, I would definitely say Germany because I've always felt an uncanny and infinitely deep connection to that land and people. I also would guess it was sometime in the middle ages and that one of my current friends was with me back then. But I've never had any of this confirmed. I would like to find out, however!

What I did do was a little online research, where I found a YouTube video of an actual past life regression session being done on someone. I decided to try it out on myself! I listened to the words being spoken in the video setting the scene, getting me into a meditative space, and saw myself boarding the train that would eventually take me to another time.

Once the train went through a tunnel, I found myself emerging into my past life, or at least one of them. Through a series of questions that the man in the video was asking like "What clothes are you wearing?" "What is your name?" "What year is it?" etc, I was able to ascertain that I was a peasant in England in 1580. (I have learned to just trust the first thing that comes into my head as information and just go with it).

Among other things, I saw 2 very important events- the birth and immediate loss of my first child (a boy), and a severe illness (years later) that afflicted my devoted husband, of which I nursed him through, but which left him forever crippled. In both instances I saw myself using herbs and natural remedies to try and help the situation, but I still felt powerless against God's apparent will that he should take my son and cripple my husband. This helped me understand why today, even though I love and use herbs, sometimes I really question why they don't work as well or as fast as I'd like. Sometimes I truly do have a love/hate relationship with them, and it confuses me. I believe this past life experience helped me gain more insight into this confusing relationship with herbs I have sometimes. In addition, it helped me understand why I tend to worry and overreact when someone I love gets sick, and why I feel a sometimes overbearing urgency to take care of them until they get better.

Another current issue I'm dealing with is the huge fears surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and raising of healthy children naturally, although I have made great progress in this area the past couple years. But often, it seems like such an impossible feat to actually have a totally safe and natural home birth, (which is what I want), and at times it feels like no one has done it successfully! I have so much emotional charge around this, and I have had an extreme fear of the problems and complications that arise during childbirth, it almost felt like a phobia. Again, witnessing this experience in my past life has helped me understand why this fear is very real and deep-seated.

So now that I had identified a couple of issues that needed resolving, I set to work on clearing them with one of my tools I like to call "re-creating". I visualized those same events but pictured a totally different happy ending that was perfect, in an attempt to in effect rewrite the past so that my energetic field and DNA would hold different memories and energy. This is a form of soul reclamation, which I heard about from a friend, but haven't done in its full glory just yet. (Incidentally, as I was telling my sister about this past life regression and the re-creating I did, I noticed that a huge grasshopper hopped right onto our porch. I looked up grasshopper totems, and one of its symbols is 'the birth of a son'. Could my re-creation have already worked?!)

I still need to discover how to properly and completely clear these negative experiences from my past life so that my energy is a fresh and clean slate in my present life. I would love to be free of any emotional baggage I've been carrying around from days long past. Although it was super cool and fun to visit my past life in 1580, I will admit! Time travel has always been my ultimate dream.

Right after the self-guided past life regression session, I did a little more online research and found a different video by Dr. Brian Weiss, MD, who travels around doing these sessions for entire audiences. I want to try his video next! Fortunately he has also written some books on the subject, one of which is pictured above. The other one was right next to it at the library, and I'm excited to delve into them both to see how I can use my past life experiences to gain wisdom and healing in my present.

Tomorrow starts the Virgo new moon, which incidentally is a fantastic time for physical and emotional detox! I'm all about the clearing out of old stuff, even 434 year old stuff! Let's have some fun!

Have you ever done a past life regression, either from a professional, or a self-guided one? How did you clear any trauma that you may have witnessed yourself experiencing?

Shamanism 101

Recently I finished a 4 week Shamanism 101 course, which was fantastic. It was taught by an Arapaho medicine man, Two Horses (Dorian Sanchez), Shaman Goddess Renee Shaw, and a few other shaman staff members. This was definitely a first for me, and some parts of it were a bit too "unknown" for me, but that's good! A huge part of my goddess journey includes many things that are new and unknown. I'm dedicated to trying to new things on this goddess path, and getting out of my comfort zone. With that, expansion is inevitable. It's interesting that Renee has been teaching Shamanism 101 for years, but I'd never felt called to go to the class until now. Timing is always perfect.

The course started off with a sweat lodge (pictured above), which was fascinating to watch and be a part of. This was my first one and I didn't know what to expect. A lot of my friends had been to one, and they each had different things to say about them. One thing everyone warned me about is how HOT and SWEATY you get inside the lodge. The funny thing is, that didn't bother me at all! In fact I relished the hot, thick, moist air dancing with the scents of aromatic herbs thrown onto the glowing hot rocks in the center. When the water was poured on them, the herbal steam filled the air and my lungs, and I drank it in like a healing elixir.

I could definitely feel the powers of Two Horses, powers from an ancient time. He is so connected to the earth, and has such respect for the Grandfather and the ancestors. It actually made me tear up listening to him talk since he speaks with such deep honor and sacredness of "our eagle brothers" or "our rock brothers." He is a healing poet with his words and medicine.

Inside the lodge, we did different forms of sacred ceremony, united as a connected group in intention and space for healing. Two Horses sang many chants, offered many prayers, and performed different forms of healing and cleansing. It was pitch black, until the door was opened to let in more hot rocks from the fire, and create more steam. 

Some other things we covered in the 4 week course were:

Prayer ties (left)
Medicine wheels
The elements and the 4 directions
Medicine bundles for healing and ceremony
Sacred and protective herbs (salt, cedar, tobacco, sage, sweetgrass)
Pipe ceremony
Male/female balance
Attuning to the powers and energies of nature and animals/totems
Ancient chants and mantras
Energy work and healing
Shamans in many cultures and different specialities of shamans
Cleansing and purifying ourselves and spaces
Sacred colors and symbols of Native American Shamanism
Native American astrology 
Father Sky and Mother Gaia

 One of my favorite things was seeing the different personalized medicine bundles that each of the staff had collected over the years. They were all so unique and fitting to the person's personality and life experience. The woman who had lived in Australia for many years had many Aboriginal artifacts that had meaning to her. Another person had a gigantic staff he had carved and decorated with feathers, leather, and meaningful symbols for him. Another one had essential oils and symbolic items she had collected in her travels from around the world. She explained that each one had powers from ceremonies she'd done with the items. Renee had a gorgeous collection of symbolic musical instruments she had acquired in her travels as well, from Peru to Uluru. It really got me thinking about the different healing tools and sacred symbols I would collect for my own shaman kit and medicine bundle. 

 At the end I got to collect some of the different protective herbs in a little bundle (above) to keep with me (and my car!) at all times. Neato! I loved that. It was also very interesting learning about the symbolism and power of the medicine wheel. Arranging the rocks (must be of specific colors) in the exact pattern that they do creates a portal! How cool is that? I didn't know WE could create portals. I guess I just always thought they existed and we were just lucky to happen on them from time to time. I really loved everything I learned, the sacred energy with which everything was presented, and the wide opening of my shamanic horizons and sensibilities.

I'm so grateful to my guides for leading me to these wonderful teachings, and for each of the teachers for sharing their gifts and inspiration. Powerful in so many ways.

Heaven on the Mountainside

A few days ago I was enjoying a delightful "European picnic" with a beautiful, dear friend of mine. The scenery, delicacies (representing 5 European countries), atmosphere, props (above) and even the iPhone music we had whisked us away to another time and place amidst the rolling hills of a romantic land across the sea. It was in a word, heaven. And I almost missed it.

I almost missed this heavenly scene because right beforehand, I got into a battle with my inner demons and fears that surfaced at a most inopportune time! I felt completely paralyzed, and this was both surprising and frustrating. It was surprising because ever since I began my spiritual goddess path, I have been able to successfully focus on my journey keeping a very positive, abundant outlook on my life, drinking in the magic of moments like never before. I have never experienced such a time of growth, expansion, and ascension, and a true connection to my goddess self. So why was it so easy to get pulled back into old patterns of thought, fears, and doubts when I least expected it? That was the frustrating part.

The next step was to figure out what to do about it...like a real goddess.


One of my indispensable daily tools is meditation. Nothing else brings me such peace, grounding, and inspiration as I am guided by my highest self, my guides, and God. (I especially love to do it while diffusing essential oils and placing oils on myself too). I knew that upon being pulled into the field of negativity where I was, I needed to immediately get to a better place, so my dear friend chose some affirmation-filled, beautiful music to assist me with my meditation and EFT tapping to open up energy blockages in my meridians. It was lovely, and I did feel the positive effects after allowing myself to come back to my center.

Unfortunately, the negative field of your fears and doubts can be very strong, (alas!) and I realized I needed even more help. My friend was incredibly patient and kind, listening to me voice my concerns and frustrations with myself. It's not easy being on a goddess path--the 'growing pains' are intense, let me tell you. (This is one reason I haven't written for 2 months, but that's a whole other story).

My friend is very wise, and during our conversation expressed to me the age old wisdom of 3 main truths of which I needed reminding:

1. What you're worried about doesn't matter (in this moment, nor in the grand scheme of things).
2. Show gratitude for the beautiful abundance and miracles all around you, no matter how small.
3. We have tools to get past our pain and we need to use them.

Brilliant. Easy. But why so hard?

Why is it so hard to remember that when you are worried about something from your past, or something that may or may not happen in the future, that it TRULY doesn't matter in your present?? Not only can you do nothing about it, but you are missing out on the beautiful present right there in front of you! The present moment that is most assuredly filled with abundance of light, beauty and all things magical if you will see them. We can see them by using our tools, like meditation, tapping, energy work, and many other modalities. A goddess doesn't go anywhere without her Goddess Toolbox because a goddess has no need unfulfilled. Why do we forget that sometimes?

I listened to my friend's gentle wisdom of light and let it seep in. We drove up to the mountains as I said a silent prayer to Goddess asking for even further help. May she lighten my heart and open my eyes to this beauty in my present moment and free me of the weights that plagued me needlessly.

Like the endowing Goddess she is, she answered my heart's prayer. By the time I was on the mountain a few minutes later, the darkness had left me, and my eyes and heart were opened to the transformative powers of nature and the dance of healing energies all around me. I was so grateful. I enjoyed pure bliss, where fears and doubts do not exist. I ate a pretzel and divine French cheeses and organic grapes. Did I mention it was heaven? My friend and I basked in the refined magic of it all. Perhaps next time I feel a cloud descending over me, I can recall such moments as these and remember life's sublime richness. What blessings.

As we left that exquisite mountain scene, I expressed my deep gratitude to my friend for being one of my spiritual tools that day that helped me come back to myself, back to the present. Where would I be without the magnificent, beautiful teachers and guides in my life? Not on a glorious European mountainside, that's for sure.

Danke...danke sehr. :)

My Gorgeous, Wise Fox Animal Totem

(photo courtesy pixabay.com)

The past 6 months or so, I've been really into doing new moon ceremonies. It's been a powerful and beautiful addition to my "creatress" skill set especially since the moon is associated with feminine energy. I enjoy learning about the different aspects of ourselves each new moon allows us to focus on. On May 28, we welcomed the Gemini New Moon, and I was particularly excited about welcoming this new moon since Gemini is my ascendant and this symbolizes curiosity, learning, details, observation, which are definitely a huge part of my spiritual path right now. 

During the meditation part of my Gemini New Moon ceremony, I was interested to see a gorgeous female fox that came to me. Communicating with animals fascinates me, as does the changing of our animal totems and guides throughout our life, representing such a wide array of beautiful things to help us. I had never had a fox come to me in meditation before, so I was very curious to see what her message was.

The first thing I noticed was that she was breathtakingly gorgeous, and I was entranced. I've always had a deep love and fondness for foxes and think they are very magical, enchanting creatures. She climbed up a white staircase and I followed her. We sat down together, looked into each others' eyes, and began to communicate. She definitely had an air of wisdom and grace that drew me in. 

I noticed 2 cubs hiding under her belly. They came out and started playing. She asked me to look at them and tell her what I saw. I saw that they were beautiful, like her, and having a lot of fun. I also noticed one was male and one was female, and that even when an invisible wall was placed between them, they imitated each other perfectly in sync. Her messages to me were based on my observations, and she elaborated a little. 

She said the cubs were born foxes and would grow up to be foxes even without her help, but they would learn so much more if they listened to her, followed her example, and partook of her motherly love and wisdom. She said that I was born a goddess and would always be so because of my birthright, but my gifts would be so much better defined if I involved Mother Goddess every step of the way and used all possible resources given to me. I am also supposed to channel my 'inner foxiness' and remember what a beautiful goddess I am all the time.

The two cubs represented always aiming for perfect balance of masculine and feminine energy in my life, and also twin flames, who might not always see each other physically, but are in perfect sync energetically. Additionally, they represented the joy and pleasures of life, having fun on my journey and breathing in every blessed moment. It was a very beautiful and meaningful meditation ceremony. I don't get to talk to a foxy fox every day. ;)

Later that day I had 3 unusual fox references, which happily validated that indeed I had communicated with a fox! The first reference was while I was making dinner and noticed the brand of the asparagus I had. It was ‘Foxy Organic’. I kind of had a mini freak out of joy because I love the signs the Universe sends you out of nowhere to let you know you're right on track!

The second reference happened while I was doing dishes. On one of the plates, I noticed a picture of a fox that I had never noticed before. Wow! Where did you come from, little fox?!

The third reference happened when I needed to change something on my car rental reservation for the next day in San Diego. I pulled out my reservation paperwork and realized that it was Fox Rent A Car! What?? Three fox references within 4 hours of each other? Wild! And no coincidence, let me tell you.

In the "new age lightworker's world", references of 3 are veeeery important to pay attention to, and especially if they are within a few hours of each other. If this ever happens to you, just know that this is NO coincidence; the Universe, God, Goddess, angels, etc have a very specific message for you. In this case, they were confirming to me that I had received wisdom from a beautiful fox and I was to pay attention to this gift. It was very validating...and fun!

I had even more fun when I looked up the symbolic meanings associated with the fox totem. Some of her symbolism that is significant for me at present, (and also correlates very well with the Gemini New Moon)--

• Increased awareness and observation of all the senses and faculties
• Curiosity and cleverness
• Call to be discerning
• Wisdom
• Ability to find your way around barriers and perceive solutions to problems
• Sharpness of your mental skills and analytical intelligence
• Utilize all your resources, the seen and the unseen in order to accomplish your goals
• Be fluid and adaptable
• Intensely loyal and energetic
• Celtic guide
• Good eating habits and increased health
• Luck
• Have fun while working
• Celebrate our foxiness
• Maintain balance and harmony in everything you do and with our surroundings
• Fox’s keen eyesight helps us perceive the different realms of existence and move between them
• Use your powers of inner instincts and innate wisdom and all your natural gifts

Very cool stuff!
          
What is your animal totem right now, and what message is it giving you?
How observant are you of the signs that cross your path, validating that you are on the right track?
How are you developing your natural gifts, embracing your beauty, and communing with nature?