When experiencing a digestion problem, we often think of food as the culprit. While the quality of our food definitely is a factor in this equation, we usually overlook the true villain—STRESS.

Go to a doctor for digestive symptoms, and it’s likely you will come home with a prescription (or three) to reduce acid reflux, stimulate the digestive track, and probably even “treat” anxiety or depression. Visit an alternative medical doctor, and you’ll come home with a prescription to eat raw foods, enzymes and herbs. But no amount of drugs or herbs is going to fix digestive difficulties in the long run if the problems are caused by stress. And if you have digestive problems, chances are stress is the engine powering them!

A Tale of Two Brains
Our digestive system is autonomous, meaning it thinks for itself. Research has found that our gut has 500 million nerve cells, second only to the brain. More and more, scientists are recognizing the importance of digestion and refer to our intestines as our “second brain.” Anyone who has ever experienced a “gut feeling” can confirm the validity of this. Many people even look to this “gut brain” for signals to help make decisions!

Although autonomous, our gut brain is intimately connected to our big brain. Our primary connection is called the vagus nerve, which starts at the base of the brain, travels across the chest, and branches throughout the gut. A majority of the signals going between the gut and the brain are going in reverse, meaning our gut impacts the rest of our body—not just by determining the quality of our nutrient absorption and distribution, but by telling our brain how we feel. There is truth in the saying, “Trust your gut.”

The Stress Effect
Have you had any of the following symptoms or conditions?
• Heart disease        • Sleep problems        • Fatigue
• Digestive problems    • Depression        • Obesity
Sexual dysfunction    • Memory impairment    • Anxiety
• Diabetes         • Hyperthyroidism        • Ulcers
• Tooth and gum disease     • Hair loss

Well, according to Mayo Clinic (and most other scientific sources), all of the above have a PROVEN, direct link with stress. Why does stress cause these ailments? According to Dr. Mercola, whose website is the No. 1 ranked “natural health” website in the world, the stress response causes a number of detrimental events in the body, including:
• Decreased nutrient absorption
• Elevated cholesterol
• Decreased oxygenation to the gut
• Heartburn
• Decreased gut flora populations
• Elevated triglycerides
• Increased food sensitivity
• Dour times less blood flow to the digestive system
• Decreased enzyme production in the gut

So, then, why does stress cause these physiological reactions in the body? The University of Kentucky School of Medicine conducted extensive studies on the distribution of blood flow throughout the body during exercise, and it has the exact same impact on the body’s blood flow distribution as chronic stress. A peaceful, resting body expends a majority of its energy in the digestion process; however, as exercise becomes more strenuous, blood flow increases and the body stops blood flow to regions nonessential for exercise, specifically the digestive system, and reroutes it to the muscles.

During exercise, digestion stops.

Imagine we exercised ALL the time and stopped digesting completely…Now we’re starting to get to an understanding of how stress can impact the body. Let’s look closer.

The Butterfly Effect
The gut is intricately linked to your state of mind, as you know if you’ve ever had butterflies before a big date or felt sick before an exam. Feeling butterflies in the stomach is just a milder version of a more severe reaction experienced during a traumatic event (or even a scary interview). During these situations, the body enters fight-or-flight mode and the brain issues a surge of stress hormones, signaling the body to focus all its resources (including blood flow, like in the case of exercise) on the problem—leaving the regulation of digestion on the back burner. In response, the gut may go into overdrive (otherwise known as diarrhea or vomiting). Good times.

The Saber-tooth Effect
If our bodies didn’t have a natural stress response we would be dead. Actually, our ancestors would have died and we never would have been born at all. Our fight-or-flight response was designed to save our cave-dwelling ancestors from an untimely death in the jaws of a saber-toothed predator. Today, humans are on the top of the food chain, but we may recognize the symptoms of flight-or-flight response from the last time someone cut us off in traffic:
• increased heart rate
• elevated blood pressure
• increased oxygen in the brain
• increased muscle tension
• a boost in energy supply (no coffee needed!)

But, according to Mayo Clinic there are also a few things going on under the surface that you wouldn’t notice:
• altered immune system responses
• suppressed digestive system (who needs to digest when you’re running from a saber-toothed tiger?)
• suppressed reproductive system and growth (saving your own butt takes priority over survival of the species)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, other symptoms you may be familiar with include sudden lack of appetite, heartburn, nausea and stomach pains.

The chemicals and hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, released to save our lives are supposed to return to normal after our Neanderthal is sitting around the cave fire telling his buddies about his narrow miss. But in the modern world our bodies don’t normalize because our stress isn’t caused by threat of death. For us, everything looks like a toothed predator! Our stress is constant! Overbearing bosses, tight schedules, nagging children, distant spouses, and empty hearts put many of us in a state of chronic stress—as if we’re in a perpetual state of fight or flight.

Remember what happens when we exercise? Stress has the same impact on our bodies, but unlike exercise, American’s experience stress nearly 24 hours a day.

“Prolonged stress has a significant effect on digestive health. The blood supply to the organs of digestion is increasingly diminished making repair difficult and digestion weak. In time, the bacterial eco-system in our digestive tract (so vital for nutrient absorption) becomes unbalanced and pain, constipation and/or diarrhea are more common.” – Sue Webster, colon hydrotherapist

Mental Indigestion
If stress is the cause of physical indigestion, what is the cause of stress? MENTAL indigestion! Most people be-bop through life oblivious to their mental, emotional, and physical states and do not notice how stress effects them until they’re at the doctor’s office asking for a pill. I would like to propose that if we PROCESS what happens in our lives and DIGEST what enters our minds, we can reduce our stress, better digest our food, and regain our health!

Below are common symptoms and causes of MENTAL indigestion. Notice whether you have experienced the corresponding physical digestive ailment in conjunction with its mental/emotional counterpart:
Constipation: repression of feelings, resistance of what IS, unwillingness to look at and process a situation or feeling.
The runs: distractibility, complete withdrawal of attention to mental processing, inability to absorb information.
Gagging: trying to swallow large mental concepts or ideas in one bite, biting off more than you can chew.
Nausea: consumption of poisonous or rotten thoughts, fear caused by a lack of understanding.
Bloating: inability or unwillingness to release.
Acid reflux: lack of balance, painful shout-out to oneself.
Fatigue: poor quality input, lack of positive stimulation.
Weight gain: holding onto emotions, such as resentment, fear, and guilt, causing them to get stuck in (and expand) your (fat) cells.
Irritable bowl syndrome: constant irritation and anxiety, no matter what you try to digest it just doesn’t come out right.
Indigestion: some things are just not digestible, such as bones (What bone are you gnawing? Put down the bone.)

Tools for improving mental AND physical digestion:
• Get proper health care for existing or new digestive problems (digestive issues can also CAUSE stress).
• Seek support, such as counseling, life coaching, or support groups.
• Develop a gratitude practice, such as journaling.
• Exercise in any form that you enjoy.
• Do what you love.
• Make the changes you’ve been putting off.
• LET GO.
• Explore stress reduction programs, such as yoga, massage and acupuncture.
• Develop a spiritual practice or join a spiritual group.

And remember “… or get off the pot.” Sometimes you’re just not ready to process or digest certain thoughts, emotions, experiences, or food, and that’s okay.

Natalie, Publisher of Transformation Magazine, has worked with thousands of people seeking to live a life of purpose and genuine relationship with their true selves, others, and their world. She is the former Director of a counseling center for teenagers and their parents. She is also a public speaker and leads workshops and retreats on Practical Spirituality, Finding Joy, Discovering Your Purpose, and Enlightened Relationships. www.transformationservices.org

In today’s society, we tend to look for quick fixes to our physical and mental health issues, problems connecting with others, and emotional discomforts. To our disappointment, most of the time we find that what we thought was a quick fix is not truly a fix at all. Therefore, I understand that some may be skeptical about anything that preaches rapid results.  However, there is a powerful, simple, free, quick fix that we already know and we can harness its power at any time: Research is finally demonstrating the super power of a SMILE.

Smiling is universal, meaning every culture and society uses it to express happiness. Therefore, it’s a language that a superhero can use to communicate with anyone, anywhere. Think of it this way: If you want to become a superhero for yourself and others just smile. You may be thinking, “OK Joeel, how powerful can a smile really be?”
It’s so powerful that research in Britain has demonstrated that:

A person who has manic depression (bipolar disorder) can be cured by sitting and smiling for 20 minutes a day over several months. No medication required.

Why? Because of the simple fact that between our two ears we have the best pharmaceutical company in the world—and we own it! The simple act of fake smiling can actually changes a person’s emotional set point and rewire the brain. Now that is pretty powerful!

Research also has demonstrated that people who smile can increase their life expectancy by 10 years.

I would also like to point out that these are additional healthy years, since smiling actually increases immune response and our ability to fight off diseases and promote healing. One of the reasons is because smiling reduces the chemicals that stress produces in our systems and replaces them with healthy chemicals. Some research has shown that up to 80 percent of illness can be manipulated mentally. This could explain why cultures that have limited medical resources, but experience less stress and smile more, have a significantly healthier population than more advanced, high-stress societies.

Another interesting study on the power of smiling was conducted on professional baseball players to evaluate how big their smiles were on their baseball cards. It was determined that the players with the biggest smiles lived longer by an average of eight years, had longer marriages, and experienced more success in their careers. We may be thinking that they had bigger smiles because they already had great marriages and successful careers, but this was not the case. This kind of study is backed by countless others showing that people who smile more get more promotions at work and tend to be more successful in life.

When you smile, it is like giving your mind and body a super boost of super fruit.

Smiling helps your brain process information faster, memorize more information, store the information for longer periods of time, improve critical thinking, and increase productivity, focus and creativity.

Still not convinced on the benefits of smiling? Then ask yourself this question:

“Would you rather be around a person who smiles or frowns the majority of the time?”

I vote for the smiley face. In fact, research has also shown that people who smile more often have more friendships, are better liked, are more approachable, and are even perceived as better looking. In other words, you can become more attractive just by smiling, without spending money to impress with fancy cloths, cars, makeup or surgery!

It has been demonstrated that smiling even helps those around you! For example, have you ever been around someone who has a beautiful contagious smile? The kind of smile that changes your whole attitude or shifts your energy? Well that is the same power that your smile has. In fact, the impact of your smile is not only limited to the person that you are smiling at. Even others who see you smile or are simply near you and can sense your positive vibes will receive the benefit as well.  Wow! The ability to change people’s moods and health in a positive way without them being aware of what is happening. Now THAT is having a super power!

The best news is that the smile does NOT even have to be a real, genuine smile. Even if you are faking a smile, it still gives you all the benefits!

It’s called facial feedback. When you smile, your brain tells your body, “Well, he must be smiling for a reason; therefore, I must produce the chemicals that make him happy.” You’ve probably heard that chocolate is the highest producer of “happy chemicals” in our brains, which explains why some people reach for chocolate when they are feeling down. Not so!

The “happy chemicals” produced when smiling are equivalent to more than 2,000 bars of chocolate!

This means you can have the benefits without the calories! Other brain scanning studies have shown that simply smiling has the same impact on the brain as if someone gave you $30,000. You may be thinking, “Well, I think I would be happier with the $30,000.” I would point out that true lasting happiness comes from within and that the act of smiling is already producing that pure happiness, without the need for an outside investor.

What can you do to smile more?

• Become more aware of your body language and challenging yourself to make the effort to smile more during your day.
• Set yourself reminders to smile: For example, you can write sticky notes and place them where you are going to see them or set a reminder on your phone or in your planer.
• Watch funny movies or videos or find some funny jokes and share them.
• Do something that you loved to do as a kid, or just close your eyes and imagine that memory. The brain does not know the difference of whether the memory happened 20 years ago or if it is happening now.
• Create time for fun activities.
• Have a smile buddy: Talk to a friend or coworker and call each other out when the other isn’t smiling enough.
• Do Laughter Yoga

I am not saying that you should smile all the time. However, the more you get yourself to do it unnaturally, the more your brain and body will want to do it naturally. You are only aware of a small percentage of things that happen around you. Would you rather focus on the things that make you smile or the things that don’t? By creating that smile, your brain and higher self will look for more reasons to prove that the smile is real. If for nothing else, smile more just for the simple reason that it makes you feel good.

Until next time, I wish you many smiles, good health, amazing adventures in simplicity,  many blessing, great relationships, and a state of gratitude.

Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed., Ph.D. (ABD) holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is currently completing his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Psychology. Joeel’s extensive career as a relationship coach includes certifications in P.R.E.P, a 30-year research-based program for couples, Nurturing Father’s curriculum, and Parenting 21st Century. Joeel is now taking a select number of Life, Relationship, and Entrepreneurship Coaching clients. Contact Joeel at joeel@transformationservices.org

“All know that the drop merges into the ocean, but few know that the ocean merges into the drop.” ~Kabir

Once upon a time there was a drop named Splendid. This little drop knew itself to be the ocean. It knew not of itself in any other way. Splendid moved with ease through the sea and through the many elements that embodied the ocean. She witnessed the different components, but consciously couldn’t distinguish any separation from the all. She was ocean and wonder, creatures and rocks, sand and breeze.

One day Splendid felt a stir through the Ocean with great power….. The Sun had spoken; with its voice came rays of light which casted themselves upon the Sea. A particular ray moved graciously towards Splendid with ripples of warmth that surrounded her essence, and she felt loved. Sun spoke directly to Splendid with gentle love and power. It told her about the Ocean, and of the earth that connected with the sea. It shared that the Ocean and earth were one of the same, just unique components of the whole. Splendid, fueled with wonder, asked question after question of this place, and for the first time she felt the energy of desire move through the ripples of her being. She wished to experience herself though the elements of earth. In loving response to this sincere desire, the Sun stretched its rays beyond the sea and in one swift move brought them all together to create a perfect circle of light.

Sun apprised Splendid that she was to become a drop of water and that she would journey through earth within this circle of light; and with this truth she’d always be protected and guided by the light. In the Sun’s love she became enlightened within the awareness that she is part of the Ocean and Sea, water and light in its unison, earth and sky just the same, and free to be all that she pleased. Sun then spoke once again, and all time seized as Splendid the drop got carried up, up, up into the sky; and with a gentle breeze brought forth through the breathe of all creation, she became one with the clouds.

Splendid was filled with awe as she witnessed the beauty and perfection contained within the deep emerald blue Ocean, and for the first time she knew herself as free.

The bliss exalted her higher into the sky, heightening her understanding of it all. With the light as her guide and the Sun’s essence as her companion, she was in perfect alignment; and within that instant…. Swish…… She felt herself fall.

Falling faster and faster though the sky, past the clouds that welcomed her in this ordained initiation, past the blue that she once knew herself to be. Falling steadfastly through the uninhibited air that filled the space between sky and earth, her ultimate destination; Earth, a place that Sun had inspired for her to see. Splendid, full of eagerness to what may unfold. At last finding herself moving amongst colors she had never seen and finalizing her fall into the arms of a wide opened Lillie that, un-beknownst to its awareness, was expecting Splendid’s sudden arrival.

Lillie moved with the wind, yet unaware of Splendid presence and her light. Splendid felt herself gently gliding down Lillie’s petal propelled by a hidden force that she didn’t recognize but one that contained the same warmth and love she felt from the Sun. Lillie depends on drops like Splendid to maintain her physical existence, and in that visit Splendid would be offering life to Lillie while empowering her growth. Shivers of sustenance moved through Lillie as she discovered Splendid’s presence and the good she was bringing forth. Splendid, without effort, felt an aspect of her break away. A new drop emerged and it moved further down Lillie’s petals and ultimately down into the ground. Lillie felt joy and in her presence and expressed gratitude for the gift Splendid had just bestowed.

Splendid felt elated, for in this moment she knew herself as Love, and in this she felt bliss.
Moments passed and the breeze brought Splendid to the tip of Lillie’s perimeters, and with a blink of an eye, Splendid found herself being carried up in the sky by a creature with intricate wings and vivid colors. Butterfly was this creature’s name. He was bold and full of confidence. He recognized Splendid as a source of sustenance and depended on her now. She felt herself in disarray, since she felt no freedom in this moment. So she called on the light that was part of her whole and she noticed more drops falling from the sky upon her. They brought with them strength and inspiration and she felt herself grow. She received what was needed and what she had set forth through intention, and within that she found peace. Butterfly landed on the side of a tree, in which he proceeded to drink from Splendid’s new expanded self.

In this moment, Splendid knew herself as nourishment, and in this she felt bliss.

Butterfly now carried her further in his arms over a river that was part of this land. He let her go as he shared gratitude through his energy. In doing so, she could further be part of the Earth she was destined to see. Her excitement and experience of adventure elevated to its highest as she headed down the rapid river. This presence was joy, and within it she heard laughter. River was neither male nor female but one and the same and it played with Splendid with every bump and turn. River informed Splendid that it was happy to have her as a guest. It showed her different components of earth and the ultimate potentials contained through its banks. Splended felt herself grow in understanding. In turn, she shared with River all that she has learned and the experience with the Sun. River felt fortified in this knowledge.

In this moment, Splendid knew herself as Wisdom, and in this she felt bliss.

In a quick turn of the land, Splendid found herself being catapulted up into the sky. She saw Sun in its splendor and felt instantaneous bliss. In this moment she knew herself as Sun, as she graciously evaporated into its light and its rays. She had fully become part of the whole, neither Ocean nor drop, but one with it all. Sun chanted words of knowledge and love as it brought Splendid back to Ocean, as she once knew herself to be.

In this moment Splendid knew herself as complete, and in this she felt bliss.

Awaken to the Splendid within you. Know yourself as love, and in this truth you too will find your bliss.

Namaste

Emily Rivera Andrews is a certified Angel Healing Practitioner, Reiki Practitioner, and an Angel Manifesting Master Practitioner. Emily shares techniques that have helped her become a Gifted Intuitive, Intuitive Channeler, Healer, Manifester, and Angel Communicator. To ask your Angels a question, email emily@LivingtoInspire.com or visit www.LivingToInspire.com. To order her book Connecting with the Angels visit www.transformation-publishing.com

The headlines shout messages of yet another Priest scandal, the evening news glorifies a local break-in, and battles wage over the regulation of deadly weapons.

Often it is easy to lose faith in humanity.

Strangers save the lives of strangers as a storm rips through a neighborhood, a community rallies to raise funds to support a family in need, and a nation’s heart is captured when a child prodigy shares his or her gift with the world.

Hope is restored.

We live in a society that speaks both of duality and oneness. We belong to a species with the intelligence to create atomic fusion but the stupidity to use an atomic bomb. One moment I can become overwhelmed with admiration for a fellow human being, and seconds later I find myself reeling with disgust. Sometimes I can’t help but ask:

Is the nature of our world good or evil?

To get to the bottom of this question, let us first consider the big picture.

Is the Universe good or evil?

Our Universe is a chaotic and unforgiving place filled with massive galactic collisions and primarily void of life. Yet, at the same time, the Universe is so limitless, so abundant, so perfect and magnificent. Some scientists see chaos while others see order. For some, the vastness of space leads to feelings of insignificance, while for others the infinitude adds deeper meaning to life. Whether the Universe itself is good or evil depends on the purpose it was created for and/or the opinion of a conscious observer. Being that we can never fully grasp the former, the ultimate answer lies in the latter. It appears that it’s up to me and you to decide.

It may be easier to grasp the notion of good and evil if we bring it closer to home, and so next let’s consider the Earth herself.

Is nature good or evil?

We hear stories of mommy cats nursing abandoned puppies and wild rabbits and deer becoming friends. We experience awe when we observe the beauty of sunset and wonder at the majesty of the mountains. We are fascinated watching the delicate praying mantis, but then she suddenly eats her mate’s head.

We live in a wonderful world of unimaginable beauty, yet disease is ravaging the earth, plate-tectonics cause lava to flatten villages, and extreme weather causes destruction regardless of who or what is in its path. But again, the Earth’s just being a planet. Only we can judge it as good or evil. It seems that the answer remains up to us.

So, as the conscious observers, who are we? Are we judging from a place of good or evil?

Is human nature good or evil?

We have Sigmund Freud to thank for the modern Western world’s strong bias toward the belief that humans are innately bad. (Although, really certain religious factions have been pushing notions of original sin for thousands of years… But that’s another story.)
Freud believed that people were innately bad (destructive, cruel and selfish). He believed that if it weren’t for society dictating what we can and can’t do, civilization would collapse.

Now on the other side of the spectrum is the humanist psychologist Carl Rogers.
Rogers believed that people are innately good, and that people can be described as, “positive, forward-moving, constructive, realistic, [and] trustworthy.” Rogers believed that people, if given free will, would naturally move in a direction to improve society and perpetuate the human race. From Rogers’ perspective, the evil we see is not due to human nature but due to societal or cultural factors (nurture), such as money, prejudices, injustices, and traumatic or negligent upbringing.

One does not have to do anything but watch the news to verify the validity of Freud’s claims. (As a side note, perhaps one solution to experiencing more of the good is to STOP watching the news. I’m just saying. And while I’m already in this aside, let me mention that we wouldn’t even know who Sigmund Freud is if it wasn’t for his nephew Edward Bernays, who was the founder of public relations. Watch the documentary “The Century of the Self” if this interests you.) At the same time there is ample evidence that supports Rogers’ notion, such as the myriad of stories of people self-sacrificing for the greater good and tribal communities existing in peace and harmony without corruption from outside forces.

So is human nature more like Mother Teresa or Jeffrey Dahmer?

Are we eternal beings of love that are one with All That Is or are we original sinners who are punished and judged?

If we can appreciate the perfection of a flower or the beauty in the complexity of elegant machinery, why can we not see the magnificence of the human form, or even more, the human experience?

One thing (only one thing) is clear after all of this analysis: The answer to the question, “Is the nature of our world good or evil?” is that:

It is our CHOICE.

It all comes down to asking ourselves: which world do we want to live in? What do we want to experience? What world do we want to create?

If it’s up to us to determine how we perceive ourselves, our fellow man, our planet, or the Universe, then we have to delve into another of these mind-boggling questions:

“What does good and evil even mean?”

Grapple with that one for a while.

I’m an eternal optimist and I have come to KNOW the Source in a way that leaves me little doubt that it’s ALL good. Now, that doesn’t mean that I, or all people, would choose to perceive it that way. Perhaps our opinion makes it so, and perhaps it is what it is regardless of how we choose to feel about it. I don’t know. But I do know I’ve run out of time to go down any more rabbit holes.

“And God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light.” (And it was good.)

Natalie, Publisher of Transformation Magazine, has worked with thousands of people seeking to live a life of purpose and genuine relationship with their true selves, others, and their world. She is the former Director of a counseling center for teenagers and their parents. She is also a public speaker and leads workshops and retreats on Practical Spirituality, Finding Joy, Discovering Your Purpose, and Enlightened Relationships. www.transformationservices.org

Spiritualize your life and dissolve any challenge you face with this simple, yet incredibly powerful, technique.

The Spiritualize technique can transform your life into a happier, more healthful, and more inspired reality. This article explains the entire technique so that you can begin using it right away but first, let’s examine the spiritual secrets behind this powerful method.

There are ways of reaching higher consciousness that are so effective that, for centuries they were suppressed and driven underground. Today, as we experience a world of rapid change and a planetary shift to higher consciousness, the secrets are out. They are available right now, without any barrier blocking your way and they are ready to help you transform your life for the better. This is a spiritual development technique that will act as an anchor of stability and inspiration in the fast-changing 21st century.

The question is, “Are you ready for the transformational power of the Spiritualize technique?” The one barrier that could still prevent you from gaining such spiritual growth is the one that you can erect yourself. Can you believe the truth about the enormous spiritual power that resides within you? The truth is we ALL have that power within us.

The deeper our sciences probe into the nature of physical matter, the more apparent it becomes that everything in this world is connected to everything else. To outward appearances, we have individual identity and seem to be separate from each other but, in reality, we are connected to all matter and to all people. This is because every person is a unique facet of the same all-pervasive intelligence. You are not connected to God or the “All That Is” like an add-on module.

You are God in expression because everything in existence is the mind of God.

We have different viewpoints of reality, but we are all representations of the One, the Divine, or the great Presence that exists within all things.

Your mind may need time to get used to the true nature of the Divinity within you but that alone is no barrier to success. Practice the Spiritualize technique regardless of any temporary doubts you may harbor. Just do it! Let it work for you and you will experience its transformative power. As that happens, any doubt will evaporate in the light of experience and you will have the most powerful tool ever for positively transforming your life.

When you enter a sufficiently higher state of consciousness, life’s challenges become transformed.

Problem situations can be solved through the correct practice of this technique in one of two ways: Either by being energetically healed and transformed or by an inspired solution becoming apparent.

The primary purpose of the Spiritualize technique is to give you a way to anchor your mind to the reality within at any time of the day. By attuning with your divine connection, you rise above the turmoil and illusion of events in the outside world. Reality is within you. The more you connect with your higher consciousness the more inspired and successful your life becomes. The main purpose of human life is spiritual growth. This is how you can make your spiritual growth happen each and every day.

Principles of the Spiritualize Technique

1) You are one with God. You are an individualized aspect of the consciousness of the Creator charged with the mission of experiencing life from one unique point of view. By consciously aligning yourself with the Divine Presence, you invoke its transformative power.

2) The universe is completely benevolent. God is good. Any appearance of evil in this world is caused by a lack of spiritual light, just as shadow or coldness is caused by a lack of physical light. All beings are inherently drawn to finding their inner light and everyone succeeds in this, their primary motivation, sooner or later. By consciously realizing the goodness of God, we open our eyes and see the light. The appearance of any darkness then disappears.

3) Action creates results. Transformation occurs when you raise your consciousness sufficiently. When you elevate yourself into a state of higher consciousness through this technique, your situation becomes transformed by the goodness and harmony of God’s universal energies. The key point to realize is that the responsibility for action begins with you as the physical anchor within any situation. When you align yourself sufficiently with the presence of God and the benevolent nature of all Creation, all things in your life can transform and become healed. It is the realization of your oneness with the Divine and the realization of the goodness of God that acts as a transformative power within your reality.

Quick, Simple, Powerful

The Spiritualize technique contains powerful principles which help you to connect easily and quickly with the transformative power of the Divine Presence. Once you are thoroughly familiar with the technique and have used it many times, you will find it becomes a part of you.

First, detach from any thoughts of problems that need attention. Your higher consciousness is fully aware of all aspects of your situation. Any conscious attachment to needs will hold your mind down in the physical world, so detach completely from all concerns for the duration of this practice.

Focus on your breathing while your body relaxes and your mind settles into a reflective state. Then, take three heart-breaths as follows: On each inbreath, visualize spiritual energy as an intense white light coming from the Sun, all the way through space and then filling your brain. On each outbreath, transfer that energy down the spine to the level of the heart, then send it out the front of your body into your heart chakra, which is a vortex of energy located approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) in front of the breastbone.

Your heart chakra is the gateway to spiritual consciousness. You connect to the God space through your heart space. Then, silently make these declarations:

I am in God.
God is in me.
God and I are one.

For a moment, think about these statements and what the realization of Oneness means to you. Feel the closeness of the Presence of God with every breath you take and every beat of your heart. Feel the Presence right there with you as a living reality. Continue to focus on the breath in order to reach the necessary state of peace and deep relaxation. Notice how the breath brings a state of peace and serenity. Once you have reached this peaceful state, you no longer focus on the breath. Stop thinking and listen.

Adopt a state of attentive silence. Be receptive to the still, silent voice of inner awareness. It is important to be mentally still and allow the sense of the Divine Presence. Once you start actively thinking again, the experience is over. Mental chatter stops the process, so be attentive and adopt a state of expectancy. The secret is in the stillness.

At first, you may not hear anything, but you will experience, if only through a deep breath or inner sigh, the Presence. It is the moment of connection that is important. Then you have completed the purpose of that session.

You may receive information and insights during the process or they may come later. As you practice, you develop your ability to “hear.” Some people receive impressions as mental pictures, some hear them as mental words, but most people simply receive ideas as a sudden arrival of understanding. The wisdom from your soul will be able to reach you either at this moment or at a later time while your attention is diverted elsewhere. Be especially attentive in the next few hours for any subtle idea that arises more than once. It is the repetitive occurrence of such thoughts into your conscious mind that alert you to the realization that you are receiving a suggestion worthy of immediate consideration.
When you feel the peace of the Presence, you have opened yourself to God as Infinite Intelligence. This Infinite Intelligence knows your every need and, by realizing this, you have opened the doors for that realization to express Itself.

The Spiritualize technique fits into any busy schedule. Practice it at the start of every day in order to prompt intuitive support for the day ahead. Use it several times a day whenever you need inner guidance. It takes just one to five minutes.

Throughout your day, you will be turning within and aligning with the truth of your being. Several times on a daily basis, you will be connecting with a higher level of consciousness, spiritualizing all aspects of your life. In this process, you begin to train yourself to focus on Reality rather than illusion. This opens up the resources of your inner world so that your outer world will reflect this higher understanding and wisdom.

Spiritualize your life and share this wonderful technique with others.

The Essential Steps of the Spiritualize Technique
1. Focus inward. You must turn your attention within as God is within you. Nothing is “out there” except the illusion of matter and your outward performance in the theater of life.
2. Breathe into your heart chakra. Heart-centered consciousness is the gateway to God. If you use your intellect only, you will be unable to proceed to step 3.
3. Connect with God. Leave behind all your cares and the issues of the day. Focus your thoughts only upon God. Then stop thinking, be still, and listen. This will have a transformative effect upon your situation and your life.

Owen K Waters is an international spiritual teacher who has helped hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers to understand better the nature of their spiritual potential. His life has been focused upon gaining spiritual insights through extensive research and the development of his inner vision. For the past 10 years, he has written a spiritual metaphysics newsletter which empowers people to discover their own new vistas of inspiration, love and creativity. Spiritual seekers enjoy his writings for their insight and clarity. His new spiritual resource website is: www.SpiritualDynamics.net.

So, how do you handle fear in your life and your relationships? I guess the first question should be: Do you recognize unconscious fears when they are not obvious? Fear can be very detrimental to our lives, but most of the time we don’t even recognize it. How can it be that something that has such a heavy impact on us so easily remains undetected? It’s because we have a fear of fear. Okay, now it just sounds complicated. Understanding our fears and releasing them does not have to be traumatizing. In fact, it can be very liberating!

Did you know that most people fear success more than failure?

This is because a failure can be easier to accept than truly embracing the transformation that success can cause in life. Success means embracing those scary changes that would occur if we let go of fear.

Symptoms of Fear
Fear has many different symptoms, and knowing them can help us recognize the emotion associated with a particular fear so that we can release it. For example, some symptoms of fear can be obvious, such as when our body goes into fight-or-flight mode, or we experience physiological symptoms such as anxiety, racing heart, sensations in our stomach, headaches, or feeling light headed and dizzy.

For some people, this fear may manifest in panic that feels like they are dying or that their body is shutting down. This is the body’s reaction to an unconscious fear hidden under the surface of our emotions. When we experience fight-or-flight in a moment of true threat, such as if we were being chased by a lion, it is not “fear,” it is an automatic survival mechanism. However, when we experience the psychological impact of fight-or-flight, it is actually a survival response to a phantom threat that is only in our mind.

Most symptoms of fear are much more subtle, such as procrastination, constantly being late, not budgeting, not following through on commitments, trying to control others or clinging to limiting beliefs. It also can be surrounding ourselves with people who constantly have problems, which allows us to be the savior so we don’t have to face our own fears. These fears are a little more challenging to detect because they are easy to deny or justify.

The challenge with eliminating most fears is that they can be convincing. It is easy to fool ourselves into believing that our self-sabotaging behaviors or body reactions are due to external forces or actual physical maladies within ourselves. It is easier to project these feelings and behaviors onto outside people and events or to create internal “dis-ease” than it is to face the emotional fear that is the true basis for the symptoms.

Seek and We Shall Find
We seem to find whatever we need to confirm what we think reality should be based on our past experiences. So, if we have a fear, we may blame our reaction on something that someone said, bad luck, hereditary, how the stars align, what we ate, or a belief that it will be released once this or that happens.  There is a term in psychology called “confirmation bias.” It means that if we have a belief system we will look for evidence and try to create whatever we believe is necessary to confirm our biases.

The problem is that our ego thinks it’s more important to be right by confirming our biases and fears than to change a comfortable pattern that does not serve us.

Getting Honest with Our Fears
The first step to transformation is to be honest about our fears and the limitations that they cause in our lives. Several days ago, I had an interesting conversation with a good friend of mine, life coach Ceidi Garcia. She has an amazing transformational story! Ceidi died giving birth, an experience in which she saw herself outside of her body and then stepped into oneness. Then she was brought back into life to give life, knowing there was a higher purpose. She said that what she experienced was pure joy, it was a reality without any fears. After this experience, she realized that all fears are learned and that part of the journey of life is to deprogram our learned fears to embrace our true power, joy, and the potential that we really are. We discussed that one of the biggest obstacles on this road is coming to acceptance of a fear when it materializes and recognizing that bringing it into awareness can be transformational. She now dedicates part of her life to helping people overcome fear.

The Foundation of Fear
Have you ever heard the term, “The fruit does not fall far from the tree?” Those who are parents may see that their children are mirrors of them, making those parents great teachers for their offspring. However, in our society we negate the impact that our parents and our upbringing have on who we are. Our childhood experiences impact our relationships, our communication skills, our expectations of others, and our expectations of ourselves.

You may speak a somewhat different script or may wear a different costume, but ultimately you are carrying many of the same fears as your caregivers, which manifest in similar or different ways, and your children will do the same with you. Eliminating unconscious patterns and fears can be as simple as reflecting on the fears and beliefs of your caretakers and coming to your own conclusions about which characteristics serve your highest good.

The Purpose of Fear
Fears can have purpose in our lives. For example, if a person keeps hurting someone than the fear of getting hurt is normal and should be recognized and acted upon. This is important because setting boundaries will help us avoid developing relationships that don’t serve us. When we ignore legitimate fears such as this and remain in relationships that don’t meet our needs, we develop residual patterns of fear that we then project onto other relationships in which there is no reason to have fear. Feelings of fear are signals that there is something wrong. Pay attention to them and observe their cause. If they seem more extreme than usual, look deeper to find an unconscious reason for the reaction.

How to Release Fear:
1. Focus on what you DO want and WHY you want it! If you can make a case for how much better your reality will be if you alter it and remind yourself of it when it’s needed, you will have a higher purpose for embracing change.
2. Write down the benefit that you believe you get from maintaining a pattern that is fear-based. Remember even negative experiences can feel beneficial because you get to stay with what you know and it’s comfortable. Giving up a fear often takes you into the unknown, which may cause more fear than you already have.
For example, if your fears make you physically sick, what benefit do you get from that? Perhaps compassion from others, not having to take responsibilities in certain aspects of your life, having others take on your responsibilities, or having an excuse for why you are not living your ideal life. Keep in mind I am not saying that there are not genuine diseases; however, research shows that 80 percent of illness can be manipulated mentally. In fact, people who have multiple personality disorder can have a drastic change from one personality to the next to the extent that they can change eye color, vision, and physical appearance, all because of changes in blood flow and muscle tension. Sometimes an illness that exists within one personality is undetectable within another. Now, that’s a clear example of how powerful the mind is!
3. Develop an interrupting pattern. The best way to change a pattern of fear is to interrupt it a though process or a reaction. Create a thought that makes you smile to replace a fear-causing though. This can be a statement that you read, a song that you sing in your head, or anything that you can do to interrupt the fear. Every time the fear comes up, switch your thinking to the positive interruption (trigger) you created. You can even trigger the fear purposefully and then redirect the thought as training. Over time, the experience that previously triggered a fear will trigger a positive experience instead. Changing patterns can be so powerful that dentists are now using it by hypnotizing clients before doing a root canal and replacing the pain sensation with a positive sensation so that when the person is brought back from hypnosis they have no pain and feel good without taking any medication.
4. Do something symbolic. The mind sometimes needs a mental representation of your releasing something to fully let it go. One way to do this is to write it down and then tear up the paper to help you observe the release.
5. Don’t run from it. The more you try to repress fear the longer it will stay. Therefore, let it come to awareness and then release it (step 4) or redirect it (step 3).
6. Don’t beat yourself up. Instead of beating yourself up, see fear as a learning experience so that it can serve you moving forward. Lingering fears serve to teach and released fears serve to liberate. Either way serves a purpose, so relax and observe.

At the end of the day you are a magnificent being here to experience joy and live the life you desire. Embrace change, conquer fears, and watch your life transform. I wish you many blessings!

Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed., Ph.D. (ABD) holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is currently completing his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Psychology. Joeel’s extensive career as a relationship coach includes certifications in P.R.E.P, a 30-year research-based program for couples, Nurturing Father’s curriculum, and Parenting 21st Century. Joeel is now taking a select number of Life, Relationship, and Entrepreneurship Coaching clients. Contact Joeel at joeel@transformationservices.org

As I gathered my energy and intentions for the month of April, I felt a gentle nudge beside me.

It was as if the wind itself was sharing love, and the radiance emanating from the day was greeting my arrival to this Divine Appointment.

A rendezvous that would be filled with inspiration from the Angelic realm. I was at a bench by a playground, and accompanied with the warmth of the day were the sounds of laughter as the children gathered after school.

A young boy of about two approached me and waved and, as I admired his beautiful glow and cheerful spirit, I heard the words, “Innocence of the Ages.” I felt my energy and my whole being shift, and it was as if I was witnessing the moment from that child’s perspective and the soul of my being. I instantaneously felt joyful and free. All had beauty, all had love….I felt vibrant and experienced the pulsating energy of everything that surrounded me. All things emanated light and their own unique form of beauty. It was a moment of bliss, ecstatic euphoria, as my whole conscious and unconscious self witness the moment in a limitless state. I was observing the moment at its fullest, I was viewing all that was present as it is seen by the soul.

I feel honored and blessed to share, but please know that in the sharing there is so much limitation, since words cannot fully convey the fullness of the moment and the experience of it all. There is so much that is continually being witnessed by our soul. It derives clarity from a different source, detached from what our superficial senses may perceive and free from the filters that have been created from our experiences. Our soul resides in a state of innocence. All is innocent and in flow. All new and admired unconditionally in its truest form. Innocent because it’s not judged, but instead admired for what it is. Viewed from a pure state of detachment and intellectual perception.

Below I share the words I was best able to connect with in the moment, to describe the experience. I know and trust your soul will connect to its significance, while your mind will perceive what it will be able to comprehend. I hope the words shared will inspire you to spend time in silence and to invite the innocence of your soul to guide you in aligning to the blessings and joys of your existence here and beyond. Know we have all embodied this Age of Innocence while in spirit, in the embryo, and in the initial stages of our lives. Create the circumstances that will encourage you to remember the beauty contained within your soul and the truth within this experience we call life on earth.

Love and blessings….. Enjoy

From the Angels

A place of wonder, with unlimited potentials, ideas, and possibilities. No rules, just love. Jewels of treasures everywhere you seek.

An Age of Innocence…Free of fear, the doubt of circumstances, with clarity in understanding all is understood.

A reality free of perceptions that might be tainted by the ironies of this “world.”

An Age of Innocence…Freedom in existence, part of every breath that makes you whole.

Distinction without afflictions, nor biases in what unfolds.

An Age of Innocence…A recognition of splendor, serenity, and love. A space in which the soul resides at its fullest. Dietary pleasures that are inspired through pure joy.

An Age of innocence…One contained within the fractal of time, with no true beginnings nor endings.

Beauty in the shadows and in the cascading of the lights.

Power and honor within everything in sight. Hues within sounds, colors, and sensations.

A freedom to be, see, and be of knowledge.

An Age of Innocence.. A truth we all embrace—in this life and in the cosmos of all souls.

An Age of Innocence…Being reminded to embrace and celebrate today, tomorrow, and in all the moments to come.

Emily Rivera Andrews is a certified Angel Healing Practitioner, Reiki Practitioner, and an Angel Manifesting Master Practitioner. Emily shares techniques that have helped her become a Gifted Intuitive, Intuitive Channeler, Healer, Manifester, and Angel Communicator. To ask your Angels a question, email emily@LivingtoInspire.com or visit www.LivingToInspire.com. To order her book Connecting with the Angels visit www.transformation-publishing.com

If you’re finding yourself feeling more connected or feeling strange lately you’re definitely not alone. Here are some spiritual awakening symptoms MILLIONS of people have been experiencing all around the globe.

52 Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening

1 Changing sleep patterns: restlessness, hot feet, waking up two or three times a night. Feeling tired after you wake up and sleepy off and on during the day. There is something called the Triad Sleep Pattern that occurs for many: you sleep for about 2-3 hours, wake up, go back to sleep for another couple of hours, wake again, and go back to sleep again. For others, the sleep requirements have changed. You can get by on less sleep. Lately I have been experiencing huge waves of energy running into my body from the crown. It feels good, but it keeps me awake for a long time, then subsides.

Advice: Get used to it. Make peace with it and don’t worry about getting enough sleep (which often causes more insomnia). You will be able to make it through the day if you hold thoughts of getting just what you need. You can also request your Higher Power to give you a break now and then and give you a good, deep night’s sleep. If you can’t go back to sleep right away, use the waking moments to meditate, read poetry, write in your journal or look at the moon. Your body will adjust to the new pattern.

2 Activity at the crown of the head: Tingling, itching, prickly, crawling sensations along the scalp and/or down the spine. A sense of energy vibrating on top of the head, as if energy is erupting from the head in a shower. Also the sensation of energy pouring in through the crown, described as “sprinkles”. This may also be experienced as pressure on the crown, as if someone is pushing his/her finger into the center of your head. As I mentioned in #1, I have been experiencing huge downloads of energy through the crown. In the past, I have felt more generalized pressure, as if my head is in a gentle vise. One man related that his hair stood on end and his body was covered with goosebumps.

Advice: This is nothing to be alarmed about. What you are experiencing is an opening of the crown chakra. The sensations mean that you are opening up to receive divine energy.

3 Sudden waves of emotion. Crying at the drop of a hat. Feeling suddenly angry or sad with little provocation. Or inexplicably depressed. Then very happy. Emotional roller coaster. There is often a pressure or sense of emotions congested in the heart chakra (the middle of the chest). This is not to be confused with the heart, which is located to the left of the heart chakra.

Advice: Accept your feelings as they come up and let them go. Go directly to your heart chakra and feel the emotion. Expand it outward to all your fields and breathe deeply from the belly all the way up to your upper chest. Just feel the feeling and let it evaporate on its own. Don’t direct the emotions at anyone. You are cleaning out your past. If you want some help with this, say out loud that you intend to release all these old issues and ask your Higher Power to help you. You can also ask Grace Elohim to help you release with ease and gentleness. Be grateful that your body is releasing these emotions and not holding onto them inside where they can do harm. One source suggests that depression is linked to letting go of relationships to people, work, etc. that no longer match us and our frequencies. When we feel guilty about letting go of these relationships, depression helps us medicate that pain.

4 Old “stuff” seems to be coming up, as described above, and the people with whom you need to work it out (or their clones) appear in your life. Completion issues. Or perhaps you need to work through issues of self-worth, abundance, creativity, addictions, etc. The resources or people you need to help you move through these issues start to appear.

Advice: Same as #3. Additionally, don’t get too involved in analyzing these issues. Examining them too much will simply cycle you back through them over and over again at deeper and deeper levels. Get professional help if you need to and walk through it. Do not try to avoid them or disassociate yourself from them. Embrace whatever comes up and thank it for helping you move ahead. Thank your Higher Power for giving you the opportunity to release these issues. Remember, you don’t want these issues to stay stuck in your body.

5 Changes in weight. The weight gain in the US population is phenomenal. Other people may be losing weight. We often gain weight because many fears we have suppressed are now coming up to the surface to be healed. We react by building up a defense. We also attempt to ground ourselves or provide bulk against increasing frequencies in our bodies.

Advice: Don’t freak out, but just accept it as a symptom of where you are right now. You will release/gain the weight when all your fears have been integrated. Release your anxiety about this. Then you might find it easier to lose/gain the weight eventually. Exercise, and before eating, try this: Sit at the table with an attractive place setting. Light a candle. Enjoy how the food looks. Place your dominant hand over your heart and bless the food. Tell your body that you are going to use the food to richly nourish it, but that you are not going to use the food to fulfill your emotional hungers. Then pass your hand from left to right over the food and bless it. You may notice that the food feels warm to your hand even if the food is cold– I like to think that the food is good for me when it feels warm and nourishing to my hand. I have also noticed that when I practice blessing the food, I don’t eat as much. It is important not to let yourself off the hook when you forget to bless the food before you eat. If I’ve forgotten and I’ve nearly finished eating, I bless the food anyway. That way I don’t slip out of the habit. Another thing you can do is to stay present while eating — don’t watch TV or read. Heartily enjoy what blessings are before you.

6 Changes in eating habits: Strange cravings and odd food choices. Some find they are not as hungry as they used to be. Or hungrier.

Advice: Don’t deny what your body tells you it needs. If you are not sure, you might try muscle-testing before you chose a food to see if it’s what your body wants. Also try blessing the food as described in #5.

7 Food intolerances, allergies you never had before: As you grow more spiritual, you are more sensitive to everything around you. Your body will tell you what it can no longer tolerate, as if it, too, is sloughing off what doesn’t serve it anymore. You might be cleansing yourself of toxins. Some people find they often have a white residue in their mouth, much like that of runners at the end of a race.

Advice: An acupuncturist told me that this film can be removed by sloshing 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes (don’t swallow, whatever you do), then spitting it out into the toilet — not the sink, for you just removed toxins from your body and don’t want them in the sink. Brush your teeth and do the same. Then clean your brush. (Sorry this is yukky, but it works.)

8 Amplification of the senses. Increased sensitivity.

8a. Sight: Blurry vision, shimmering objects, seeing glittery particles, auras around people, plants, animals, and objects. Some report seeing formerly opaque objects as transparent. When you close your eyes, you no longer see darkness, but a redness. You may also see geometric shapes or brilliant colors and pictures when eyes are closed. Colors appear more vivid — the sky might look teal or the grass an amazing green. Often I see grids running across the ground. As you become more sensitive, you may see shapes or outlines in the air, especially when the room is almost dark. When your eyes are open or closed, you may see white shapes in your peripheral vision (these are your guides).

Advice: Your vision is changing in many ways — you are experiencing new ways of seeing. Be patient. Whatever you do, do not be afraid. Hazy vision may be relieved by yawning.

8b. Hearing: Increased or decreased hearing. I once thought I would have to pull off the road because of the painfully amplified sound of my tires on the freeway. Other symptoms are hearing white noise in the head, beeps, tones, music or electronic patterns. Some hear water rushing, bees buzzing, whooshing, roaring or ringing. Others have what is called audio dyslexia– you can’t always make out what people are saying, as if you can no longer translate your own language. Some hear strange voices in their dreams, as if someone is hovering near them. You can either ask the presence(s) to leave or ask Archangel Michael to take care of the situation. Again, there is nothing to fear.

Advice: Surrender to it. Let it come through. Listen. Your ears are adjusting to new frequencies.

8c. Enhanced senses of smell, touch, and/or taste. I notice I can now smell and taste chemical additives in some foods in a rather unpleasant manner. Other food may taste absolutely wonderful. For some people, these enhancements are both delightful and distracting. You might even smell the fragrance of flowers now and then. Many of the mystics did. Enjoy it.

9 Skin eruptions: Rashes, bumps, acne, hives, and shingles. Anger produces outbreaks around the mouth and chin. I had a dermatitis on my extremities for several months that accompanied healing an episode from my past. When I had worked through most of the issue, the condition was released.

Advice: You may be sloughing off toxins and bringing emotions to the surface. When there is an issue to be released and you are trying to repress it, your skin will express the issue for you until you process the emotions. Work through your “stuff”.

10 Episodes of intense energy which make you want to leap out of bed and into action. Followed by periods of lethargy and fatigue. The fatigue usually follows great shifts. This is a time of integration, so give into it.

Advice: Roll with the nature of the energy. Don’t fight it. Be gentle with yourself. Take naps if you are tired. Write your novel if you are too energized to sleep. Take advantage of the type of energy.

11 Changes in prayer or meditation. Not feeling the same sensations as before. Not having the same experience of being in contact with Spirit. Difficulty in focusing.

Advice: You may be in more instant and constant communion with Spirit now and the sensation may therefore be altered. You will adapt to this new feeling. You are actually thinking acting in partnership with Spirit most of the time now. You may find your meditation periods shorter.

12 Power surges: All of a sudden you are heated from head to toe. It is a momentary sensation, but uncomfortable. In contrast, some people have felt inexplicably cold. I have experienced both. More recently I experience waves or currents of energy rolling through me. Sometimes the energy seems so intense when it first comes into my body that I feel a little nauseated. But if I think of the energy as divine and let go of fear, I feel wonderful and enjoy the sensation. If you are an energy worker, you may have noticed that the heat running through your hands has increased tremendously. This is good.

Advice: If you are uncomfortable, ask your Higher Power, that if it be for your best and highest good, to turn down/up the temperature a bit.

13 A range of physical manifestations: Headaches, backaches, neck pains, flu-like symptoms (this is called vibrational flu), digestive problems, muscular spasms or cramps, racing heartbeat, chest pains, changes in sexual desire, numbness or pain in the limbs, and involuntary vocalizations or bodily movements. Some of us have even had old conditions from childhood reappear briefly for healing.

Advice: Remember what I said about seeking medical help if you need it! If you have determined that this is not a medical condition, relax in the realization that it is only temporary.

14 Looking younger. Yippee! As you clear emotional issues and release limiting beliefs and heavy baggage from the past, you are actually lighter.
Your frequency is higher. You love yourself and life more. You begin to resemble the perfect you that you really are.

15 Vivid dreams. Sometimes the dreams are so real that you wake up confused. You may even have lucid dreams in which you are in control. Many dreams may be mystical or carry messages for you. And in some dreams, you just know that you are not “dreaming” — that what is happening is somehow real.

Advice: You will remember what is important for you to remember. Don’t force anything. Above all, stay out of fear.

16 Events that completely alter your life: death, divorce, change in job status, loss of home, illness, and/or other catastrophes — sometimes several at once! Forces that cause you to slow down, simplify, change, re-examine who you are and what your life means to you. Forces that you cannot ignore. Forces that cause you release your attachments. Forces that awaken your sense of love and compassion for all.

17 A desire to break free from restrictive patterns, life-draining jobs consumptive lifestyles, and toxic people or situations. You feel a compelling need to “find yourself” and your life purpose — now! You want to be creative and free to be who you really are. You might find yourself drawn to the arts and nature. You want to unclutter yourself from things and people that no longer serve you.

Advice: Do it!

18 Emotional and mental confusion: A feeling that you need to get your life straightened out–it feels like a mess. But at the same time you feel chaotic and unable to focus. See #45.

Advice: Put your ear to your heart and your own discernment will follow.

19 Introspection, solitude and loss of interest in more extraverted activities: This stage has come as a surprise to many extraverts who formerly saw themselves as outgoing and involved. They say, “I don’t know why, but I don’t like to go out as much as before.”

20 Creativity bursts: Receiving images, ideas, music, and other creative inspirations at an often overwhelming rate.

Advice: At least record these inspirations, for Spirit is speaking to you about how you might fulfill your purpose and contribute to the healing of the planet.

21 A perception that time is accelerating. It seems that way because you have had so many changes introduced into your life at an unprecedented rate. The number of changes seems to be growing.

Advice: Breaking your day up into appointments and time segments increases the sense of acceleration .You can slow time down by relaxing into the present moment and paying attention to what’s at hand, not anticipating what’s ahead. Slow down and tell yourself that you have plenty of time. Ask your Higher Power to help you. Keep your focus on the present. Try to flow from one activity to the next. Stay tuned to your inner guidance. You can also warp time by asking for it. Next time you feel rushed, say, “Time warp, please. I need some more time to —–.” Then relax.

22 A sense of impendingness. There is a feeling that something is about to happen. This can create anxiety.

Advice: There is nothing to worry about. Things are definitely happening, but anxiety only creates more problems for you. All your thoughts — positive or negative– are prayers. There is nothing to fear.

23 Impatience. You know better, but sometimes you can’t help it. You want to get on with what seems to be coming your way. Uncertainty is not comfortable.

Advice: Learn to live with the uncertainty, knowing that nothing comes to you until you are ready. Impatience is really a lack of trust, especially trust in your Higher Power. When you focus on the present, you will experience miracles — yes, even in traffic.

24 A deep yearning for meaning, purpose, spiritual connection, and revelation. Perhaps an interest in the spiritual for the first time in your life. “Constant craving”, as k.d. lang says. The material world cannot fulfill this longing.

Advice: Follow your heart and the way will open up for you.

25 A feeling that you are somehow different. A disquieting sense that everything in your life feels new and altered, that you have left your old self behind. You have. You are much greater than you can possibly imagine. There is more to come.

26 “Teachers” appear everywhere with perfect timing to help you on your spiritual journey: people, books, movies, events, Mother Nature, etc.
Teachers may appear to be negative or positive when you are trapped in polarity thinking, but, from a transcendent perspective, they are always perfect. Just what you need to learn from and move on. By the way, we never get more than we are ready to master. Each challenge presents us with an opportunity to show our mastery in passing through it.

27 You find a spiritual track that makes sense to you and “speaks to you” at the most profound levels. Suddenly you are gaining a perspective that you would never have considered before. You hunger to know more. You read, share with others, ask questions, and go inside to discover more about who you are and why you are here.

28 You are moving through learning and personal issues at a rapid pace. You sense that you are “getting it” quite readily.

Advice: Keep remembering that things will come to you when they are ready to be healed. Not sooner. Deal with whatever comes up with courage and you will move through the issues rapidly.

29 Invisible presences. Here is the woo-woo stuff. Some people report feeling surrounded by beings at night or having the sensation of being touched or talked to. Often they will wake with a start. Some also feel their body or bed vibrate. The vibrations are caused by energetic changes after emotional clearing has taken place.

Advice: This is a sensitive topic, but you may feel better blessing your bed and space around it before you sleep. I rest assured that I am surrounded only by the most magnificent spiritual entities and am always safe in God’s care. Sometimes, however, the fear gets to me, and I call in Archangel Michael and/or Archangel Uriel. I don’t beat myself up for being afraid sometimes.

30 Portents, visions, “illusions”, numbers, and symbols: Seeing things that have spiritual importance for you. Noticing how numbers appear synchronistically in your awareness. Everything has a message if you take the time to look. I enjoy the experience of “getting the messages.” What fun!

31 Increased integrity: You realize that it is time for you to seek and speak your truth. It suddenly seems important for you to become more authentic, more yourself. You may have to say “no” to people whom you have tried to please in the past. You may find it intolerable to stay in a marriage or job or place that doesn’t support who you are. You may also find there is nowhere to hide, no secrets to keep anymore. Honesty becomes important in all your relationships.

Advice: Listen to your heart. If your guidance tells you not to do something, speak up and take action. Say “no”. Likewise, you must also say “yes” to that which compels you. You must risk displeasing others without guilt in order to attain spiritual sovereignty.

32 Harmony with seasons and cycles: You are becoming more tuned to the seasons, the phases of the moon and natural cycles. More awareness of your place in the natural world. A stronger connection to the earth.

33 Electrical and mechanical malfunctions: When you are around, lightbulbs flicker, the computer locks up, or the radio goes haywire.

Advice: Call on your angels, guides, or Grace Elohim to fix it or put up a field of protection of light around the machine. Surround your car with blue light. Laugh.

34 Increased synchronicity and many small miracles. Look for more of these.

Advice: Synchronistic events tell you if you are heading in the right direction or making the correct choices. Honor these clues and you cannot go astray. Spirit uses synchronicity to communicate to you. That’s when you begin to experience daily miracles. See #30.

35 Increased intuitive abilities and altered states of consciousness: Thinking of someone and immediately hearing from them. More synchronicities. Having sudden insights about patterns or events from the past. Clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences, and other psychic phenomena. Intensified sensitivity and knowing. Awareness of one’s essence and that of others. Channeling angelic and Christ-consciousness energies.

36 Communication with Spirit. Contact with angels, spirit guides, and other divine entities. Channeling. More and more people seem to be given this opportunity. Feeling inspiration and downloading information that takes form as writing, painting, ideas, communications, dance, etc.

37 A sense of Oneness with all. A direct experience of this Wholeness. Transcendent awareness. Being flooded with compassion and love for all life. Compassionate detachment or unconditional love for all is what lifts us up to higher levels of consciousness and joy.

38 Moments of joy and bliss. A deep abiding sense of peace and knowing that you are never alone.

39 Integration: You become emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually stronger and clearer. You feel as if you are in alignment with your Higher Self.

40 Living your purpose: You know you are finally doing what you came to earth for. New skills and gifts are emerging, especially healing ones. Your life/work experiences are now converging and starting to make sense. You are finally going to use them all.

Advice: Listen to your heart. Your passion leads you to where you must go. Go within and ask your Higher Power, “What is it you would have me do?” Watch for synchronicities. Listen.

41 Feeling closer to animals and plants. To some people, animals now seem to be more “human” in their behavior. Wild animals are less afraid. Plants respond to your love and attention more than ever. Some may even have messages for you.

42 Seeing beings of other dimensions. The veil between dimensions is thinner, so it is not surprising. Just stay in your sovereignty. You are more powerful than you can ever imagine, so do not entertain fear. Ask your guides for help if you slip into fear.

43 Seeing a person’s true form or seeing loved ones with a different face — past life or parallel life.

44 Physically manifesting thoughts and desires more quickly and efficiently.

Advice: Monitor your thoughts. All thoughts are prayers. Be careful what you ask for.

45 Left -brain fogginess. Your psychic abilities, your intuitive knowing, your feeling and compassion, your ability to experience your body, your visioning, your expressiveness all emanate from the right brain. In order for this side of the brain to develop more fully, the left brain must shut down a little bit. Normally the left-hemisphere’s capacity for order, organization, structure, linear sequencing, analysis, evaluation, precision, focus, problem-solving, and mathematics dominate our often less-valued right brain. What results are memory lapses, placing words in the wrong sequence, inability or no desire to read for very long, inability to focus; forgetting what you are just about to say; impatience with linear forms of communication (audio or written formats); a feeling of spaciness, being scattered; losing interest in research or complex information; feeling bombarded with words and talk and information; and a reluctance to write. Sometimes you feel dull and have no interest in analysis, lively intellectual discussion, or investigation. On the other hand, you might find yourself drawn to the sensate: videos, magazines with photos, beautiful artwork, movies, music, sculpting, painting, being with people, dancing, gardening, walking, and other kinesthetic forms of expression. You may search for spiritual content, even science fiction.

Advice: You may discover that if you allow your heart and your right brain to lead you, the left will then be activated appropriately to support you.
And someday we will be well-balanced, using both hemispheres with mastery.

46 Dizziness. This occurs when you are ungrounded. Perhaps you have just cleared a big emotional issue and your body is adjusting to your “lighter”
state.

Advice: Ground yourself by eating protein. Sometimes “comfort food” feels right. Don’t make any food right or wrong for you. Use your guidance to know what you need at any given moment. Take your shoes off and put your feet in the grass for a couple of minutes.

47 Falling, having accidents, breaking bones. Your body is not grounded or perhaps your life is out of balance. Or your body may be telling you to slow down, examine certain aspects of your life, or heal certain issues. There is always a message. When I recently broke my ankle, I understand that my ankle was taking on what I myself refused to deal with. And that was all of the above.

Advice: Stay grounded by taking your shoes off and putting your feet in the grass; even better, lie down on the grass without a blanket under you. Feel the earth beneath you. Get out in nature. Slow down and pay attention. Be mindful about what you are doing. Feel your feelings when they come up. Stay in the present. Surround yourself with blue light when you are feeling shaky.

49 Heart palpitations. A racing heart usually accompanies a heart opening. It only lasts for a few moments and means that the heart is re-balancing itself after an emotional release. I had one episode that terrified me: I woke up in the middle of the night, my heart pounding. I thought it was going to come right out of my chest. It only happened once and was, I understand, a huge heart-chakra opening. But I did check it out. There is nothing wrong with my heart.

Advice: Remember what I said about getting medical attention when needed. Consult your doctor about any conditions you are not comfortable with.

50 Faster hair and nail growth. More protein is being used in the body. Too bad we can’t tell the body where to grow the hair and where not to grow it. (Or can we? Hmmm.)

51 A desire to find your soulmate or twin flame. More than ever before, the idea that we can have a relationship that matches who we are seems more desirable.

Advice: The truth is, we have to be the kind of person we want to attract. We have to love ourselves and where we are right now before we can attract a more “perfect” mate. The work begins at home.
Here is how I think it works: Hold the desire for this person in your heart, but without attachment. Expect that someday you will meet someone who is more suited to you, but let go of any expectations as to who this will be and how it will happen. Focus instead on cleaning up your own life and being the kind of person you want to be. Be happy now. Enjoy your life. Then you may see…..

52 Memories surface. Body memories, suppressed memories, images of past lives and/or parallel lives. We are healing and integrating all our “selves”, so expect to have some of these experiences.

Advice: Keep in mind that it is best to recall what only what comes to mind, leave the rest alone, don’t analyze everything to death (because you will be stuck in the tape loop of infinite issues to process), and feel your feelings as they come up. Ask for help from your guides.

Origin/Author unknown. http://noliesradio.org/archives/54959

There isn’t a standard title for those who assist others by working in the realms beyond our body’s five senses. We will hear “psychic medium,” “intuitive reader,” and my personal favorite, “spiritual counselor.” For the sake of simplicity here, we will refer to them all as psychics, but it is important to note that none of these titles comes with a specific job description. This leads to much confusion about exactly what psychics can and cannot do and how to best utilize their skills and professional advice. To shed some light on the scope of this occupational field and the possibility for all of us to develop our own unique psychic talents, let’s look at some of the most common ways to receive information through nontraditional channels.

Psychic skills are not magical or mysterious. They are really the natural extension of at least one of our physical senses, especially sight, sound, hearing, taste, smelling, and “knowing.”

Additionally, psychic skills are not limited to the same concepts of linear time and space that exist when we are in a physical body on the Earth plane. When our consciousness accesses the more vast “quantum world,” impressions can just as easily be about future events as they are about the past and present. This may be difficult to wrap the mind around, but in the mental and spiritual realms of nonphysical existence the past, present, and future coexist.

There are limits to psychic guidance, however, and it’s important to understand that trained psychics never know everything about others simply by tuning into their energy fields. They do not have all the answers for us, and they cannot (or should not) tell us which choices ultimately will be better for us. They can often see ahead to the consequences of various choices we might make, but the decisions are ours and not the responsibility of the psychic. Many psychics can predict with fair accuracy what is likeliest to occur in the future, provided we do not make any drastic changes, but our paths are never written in stone. So now armed with the understanding that our freewill can always change a psychic prediction, let’s look at several areas of psychic capabilities, some of which you probably have personally exhibited and can enhance with the exercises included at the end of this article!

Mediumship

Mediumship is having the ability to tune into those people who have passed on or into conscious entities from other realms. Most people have had some sort of experience in their lives: footsteps on the stair when no one is there; cold air in an area of the room where there is no draft or reason for a temperature drop; touches on the hand or cheek, with the distinct feeling that someone is there; words being spoken softly, but plainly; and other sensations.

One fun experience I had a few years ago happened in the middle of the night. My long-deceased cat jumped on the bed, then on my stomach, purring loudly, kneading me for all she was worth. I could feel the depression in the mattress. I could hear and feel the plunk as she jumped on me. I could hear her purr. Somehow, I could sense the white color of her fur. I could feel her love. I reached out for her, but she was not there in physical form.

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

Extrasensory psychic gifts come packaged in a variety of forms. There can be a perception of events from the past “picked up” psychically as smells, sounds, visual snapshots of scenes, or a strong feeling or knowing that places us right in the midst of a past event. One name for this is retrocognition.

Most of us have had some sort of precognitive insight: foresight of the future—seeing, hearing, feeling, or knowing details of what is going to happen before it happens.

Sometimes it comes in a dream. It is usually sudden and has an impact on our senses.

Clairvoyance is receiving pictures from the third eye of people, places, and events from the past or future. They are usually rapid images. Clairvoyance can also describe the phenomena of seeing spirit or ghostlike images. While this can represent what we see in dream state, it can also describe the images that come to us during meditation.

Clairaudience is hearing words or sounds, spoken from another realm. These sounds usually do not have the vibration or overtones present with sound experienced with our human ear. They tend to be clear, but soft, without nuance.

Clairsentience is that “knowing” that comes, but it can relay more complete information in a flash than words or pictures. It is felt inside, usually around the solar plexus or heart area. Clairsentience may be the most common form of extrasensory perception. It is how most of my own insight usually comes in, accompanied by visual snapshots (clairvoyance) and sometimes words (clairaudience).

Developing Your Psychic Senses

While proven psychic abilities are a good thing to possess, they are best when they are an end product of spiritual growth, rather than being a specific goal, because the information received comes through with more wisdom. As one faces the world with trust and strong faith in higher powers, one learns to handle confrontation and disbelief with balance. As a result, a working psychic can face a wide variety of temperaments, calamities, and people in need. “We are all one” becomes a reality, not just a catch phrase. We feel the connection one to another.

However, you do not have to choose to be a working psychic to experience these gifts. You can develop your own abilities and use them your own way to enhance your life.

First, begin with meditation. If you cannot manage that, try relaxing with the spine straight and do some deep breathing exercises. Then sit quietly. You may receive a symbol or a message, but you may not. You will at least begin to still your mind. If you need a prop, concentrate on the flame of a candle or some object. Do this every day.

It might appeal to you to try inspirational or automatic writing. Typing at the computer takes up just enough of my busy mind that inspiration comes through around the thoughts that remain. After a while, my mind becomes stiller yet, and the inspiration increases.

Journaling with pen and paper is another method.

Psychometry is a fun way to exercise your abilities. Hold some object in your hand. Close your eyes. Allow images and impressions to come through about the object. Some may feel silly. You may not be able to prove what you’re receiving, but it is practice. Write down what you receive. Try this several times a week, using objects from different places.

Exchange a familiar object with a friend and share your impressions. You may be able to confirm with each other that if your impressions are correct.

Tune into the energy of a house plant or a nearby tree. Feel it. Talk to it. Still your mind and allow a response of some sort to come back to you. Continue to do this frequently and stay open to impressions.

Sit with a color. Hold it. Feel it. Breathe it in. Immerse yourself in it. What does that color mean to you? How does it make you feel? Do this with a different color and compare the experience. The vibrations of each color are different from each other.

There are so many different ways that we can exercise our psychic muscle. Whatever you choose, prepare to be patient, still, and calm. The rewards will be significant, and your life will be enhanced.

Rev. Spencer Rouse has been a psychic medium, teacher, counselor, writer, and healer for more than 25 years. She recently completed her Level 1 and 2 studies of Acoustic Sound, Color, and Body Movement with Fabien Maman (Father of Vibrational Sound Therapy) at the Tama-do Academy in Malibu and Switzerland. For more information visit www.psychicspencer.com, email PsychicSpencer@yahoo.com.

Are you a psychic or intuitive and, if yes, does it impact your relationship with your partner?

Before I answer this question or help you to reach a conclusion about it, I want to point out that we all have an attachment to words and terminology. I have worked with many different types of people, communities and organizations, and I have always found it interesting that I can speak about the same topic in a strict corporate environment as well as in a deeply spiritual group, the only difference being the terminology that I use. However, if you mix these groups together they often shun each other, believing that their different terminology means they have very different belief systems.

For example, when teaching a psychology class I explain the phenomenon of intuition as the different parts of the brain and their functions, and I cite the research behind it. On the other hand, when speaking to a spiritual group I usually explain psychic phenomena from an energetic perspective. So, the answer to my question is that you are intuitive! Woohoo! Now that this great mystery has been solved, we can move on to the fun stuff.

Intuition, for the most part, is our deeper connection and sensitivity to our environment, those around us and our interconnectedness—often at an unconscious level. It allows us to be able to derive information from beyond ourselves that can give us insight about ourselves, others and situations. We are all intuitive in our own way, and some individuals are more developed than others, due to many factors. For example, if you drive a cab for a living and have done so for several years, a brain scan would reveal that the part of your brain that is involved with mapping is much more developed than in the average person.

This is no different than a runner having bigger calf muscles than those who do not run.
Of course, some people are predisposed to having more abilities in certain areas than others. A great example of this can be found in sports, where there are certain players who are born with a natural talent that others do not have. In the same way, some people are born with natural “gifts” to access information beyond what our five senses typically perceive. However, whether intuition is predisposed or developed due to exposure, everyone has the ability to learn how to develop this gift.

Humans are amazingly adaptable and can learn new skills for utilizing intuition, for improving relationships, and for assisting in many other areas of life. For example, I was reading an article a couple of weeks ago about a blind mountain bike team. I thought to myself, “Really? A blind mountain bike club?” Well, it turns out that they have practiced echo-location enough that they can now ride their bikes through mountain trails just as well as people with full vision. In fact, research has demonstrated that you can take a seeing person and train them to use echo-location, and after 20 minutes he or she will be able to use this system to find the walls within a room.

You are capable of more than you can imagine!

So how does developing your intuition have anything to do with your relationship? Intuition impacts everything from the time that you meet someone through the development and lifespan of the relationship. Have you or anyone you know entered into similar relationships over and over again, whether romantic or not, that may not serve their highest and best good? A person who experiences this is a perfect example of a person who is using their intuition, or psychic ability, without even noticing. We all have an unconscious blueprint of what we believe a relationship “should be” (not to be confused with what we would WANT it to be) that has been created from our childhood and past experiences. Our intuition is constantly looking for people and situations that will fit our unconscious beliefs and expectations.

Amazingly, despite our intentions to find someone “different” and more in alignment with what we desire in a relationship, our intuition somehow KNOWS that someone is a match for our blueprint, and so we find him or her to be attractive. Our intuition is at work in our relationships, and if we want to use it for our benefit rather than continuing our old, unconscious, patterns, we can use the following tools and guidelines for recalibrating our imprinted programs:

1. Heal your inner child: We all have belief systems and baggage that we bring from our past, and our intuition will continue to seek a match for this blueprint until we become aware of it. If we reflect on our patterns and baggage in our unconscious minds and do work to release them, our intuition will then begin seeking a match to the scenario we want consciously.
2. Listen to your inner truth: There are many times that we have a deep gut feeling about something, that we don’t follow, and then find out that there was a reason for it being there. Take the time to truly listen and honor that gut feeling because this is your intuition trying to tell you the direction in which you should go.
3. Practice differentiating between your past expectations (and fears) and your intuition: The hardest part of understanding, for most people, is releasing their own biases. When we feel intuition pulling us, it’s time to take a moment to reflect on it and ask ourselves if the feeling mirrors an old fear or expectation. This may seem hard at first, but with time it becomes easier and the differentiation will become clear.
4. Write down your synchronicity experiences: If we do this it may help us to more clearly determine in what way we receive intuitive insight. For example, by tuning into my synchronicities, I realized that when I start seeing a lot of number “23s” I get a deep urge to consume information, often just before I’m about to go through a transformational part of my life.
5. Become aware of your patterns: We are creatures of habit and have patterns that we unconsciously follow, aided by our intuition that draws us to what it recognizes. We tend to do the same thing over and over again. The better we can understand our patterns and interrupt them, the better we can choose to use our intuition to get what you want rather than what we don’t want. The more time we spend reflecting on our actions and motivations, the more aware we become in the moment, and so we are more able to stop the cycles before they continue. Another strategy for stopping patterns is to interrupt. When we find ourselves falling into a habit, we need to do something totally unexpected and shock our system. For example, sometimes when I am conducting a workshop I say or do something out of context, knowing that when my audience is shocked or confused they are more open to change.

Your intuition is a filter through which you interpret everything in your life, whether you are consciously aware of it or not.

By developing your intuitive skills and resolving unconscious patterns, you will tune your intuition into attracting and sustaining the love you desire in your relationships.

The personal work I have done, using the tools above, has developed my intuition and led me to my life partner, Natalie. I would like to say thank you to the love of my life because together we reflect on our patterns and work together to create the relationship and reality that we wish to experience. We are each others’ teachers as well as best friends, so for your love I am eternally grateful.

Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed., Ph.D. (ABD) holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is currently completing his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Psychology. Joeel’s extensive career as a relationship coach includes certifications in P.R.E.P, a 30-year research-based program for couples, Nurturing Father’s curriculum, and Parenting 21st Century. Joeel is now taking a select number of Life, Relationship, and Entrepreneurship Coaching clients. Visit www.transformationservices.org