So. let’s explore this just a little bit.

The routines of daily life, the stress and pressure of deadlines, and the complexities of relationships can create a myriad of stress and discomfort. While relationships can be stressful, I firmly believe they can be the source of your greatest joy. It is a spiritual law, that as we do one thing, so do we do all things. That everything has its reflection into everything else. If you want to improve your life and relationships, why not start at the source? While the ultimate source is God, the creator of the universe, and thus your relationship with God is a factor in all things, the best way to see the quality of your relationship with God is to see the quality of your  relationship with your most intimate partner, and also your relationship with yourself.

So, take an inventory. What would you like to improve in your life and relationships? Is your communication positive and uplifting, with complete honesty and transparency? Are you being authentically you in your dialogues, without the need to hide or protect emotions? Are you appreciative and considerate? Are you respectful and nurturing? What is your level of gratitude? And, are you consciously creating together (in regards to self, you are consciously creating with yourself when the outcomes are positive and according to your desires, otherwise you are creating with the pains of your negative ego)? Are you consciously taking action that brings greater strength and unity and wholeness, a sense of fulfillment and purpose?

Because this is what is necessary in all relationships in order for them to be healthy. And the most important relationship is the one with yourself. What do you value about yourself that you also value in others?

Make a list…..

Write a few things down, at least ten (stretch a little). Be objective.

It’s important that you recognize you value these things in others, because when you acknowledge the value in others, then you override your negative ego’s desire to either feel arrogance or guilt for patting yourself on the back.

So this Valentines’ Day while you are appreciating the ones that have shared their love and brought you joy in life, please remember to love and appreciate yourself.

And if you haven’t given yourself a nice big hug recently, then maybe you are overdue.

 If you would like to make a public expression of appreciation, please share some of the things you appreciate about yourself and others in the comment section. 

Mars, the planet of war, is also Mars, the masculine energy for taking action. With Mars moving into retrograde, which started January 23rd (and goes direct in mid April, with its full release in the latter part of June), it concentrates the energies and increases its influences in our lives. For some, you may think this will give you more energy to be active. And while this may be true for some people, many times a concentration of energy is something with which your are unfamiliar. And because of this, you are unable to harness it and use it in its full effectiveness.

Mars goes retrograde in Virgo. In a perfect world, this would bring clarity and perfection in your work, and indeed you may experience some of this in the next couple of months. However, for most people, Virgo is about perfection in your own eyes and heart. This is a nice way of saying… “I want it my way!!!!”  With the extra energy to make it happen. The problem is, when you have it your way, with extra energy, it usually means someone else is not getting it their way. And guess what, they want it their way, and have extra energy too. And this is why Mars is often called the planet of war.

Early on, Venus, opposes Mars. And Venus in the watery sign of PIsces simply wants to be appreciated and nurtured. But this opposition, will often lead to conflict in a relationship, where you blame the other person in the relationship for not supporting you in the way you want it. Venus and Mars in opposition can actually create a scale of balance in a relationship when both parties can recognize the gifts and talents and honor those with true appreciation.

When Mars goes retrograde, the additional unfamiliar energy is often directed internally into your unresolved attachments and frustrations, which is why you may feel slow and sluggish. Nothing will slow you down or stop you like your emotions.The more you focus on your personal pain or “rightness,” the more the energy of Mars is internalized, depleting the fire of Mars with the watery emotions, and reducing the amount of energy you have to accomplish the things you want to have in life.

So, couple all of this with the fact that its 2012 (212: kinda reminds me of a scale), bringing energies that have not been brought to the planet for 1800 years. Compelling you to bring balance and order to your life, and in essence, clear up karmic debt. AND, this is the auspicious year of the dragon, which has the raw power and compels you to get things done. Oh by the way, the year of the dragon is also a sign to eliminate karmic debt in Chinese astrology.

When you combine these few influences, you are provided with an amazing opportunity to really clean up old patterns in your life and relationships. The best way do so is to base your actions on your spiritual purpose, which helps you align yourself with perfection according to the will of goodness. Let go of your personal pet peeves and your proclamations of “this is how its supposed to be.” Connect to the higher nature of Virgo, and recognize that “he who is greatest amongst us is yet but a servant”*(the mantra for Virgo, meaning in service to your Higher Purpose). In this way, we can come together and truly plant the seeds for Shamballah.

*from “The Mystery of the Christos”

It’s an interesting thing, the new year. Every year brings a change. 2011 was a year which helped to bring together all the plans and actions of the previous 3 years, helping you to reach a plateau, because it was a 4 year, and 4 is about restoring balance in your life, utilizing the energies of the previous 3 years. There’s another note to 2011. The 2 goes through the zero to create 11 or 1, 1. While for many people this is a four year, because of the 2 becoming 11, it puts in place the energy of personal mastery. So you may have been heavily motivated to work on your own personal growth and that which makes you feel better about yourself.

2012 is a totally different year. It brings in the fifth element. Where 2011 brought balance to the four elements of earth, water, air, fire, 2012 brings in the element of spirit. For many people this will be a year where they redirect their lives more in alignment with their spiritual purpose. For those that have difficulty aligning with their spiritual purpose, they may feel pressure, exposing where they need greater growth. Thus, 2012 can be a year of great success and triumph or one of great difficulty and ruin. All simply based on your willingness to follow your higher purpose. Simply put, do what you know is good for yourself and for everyone else.

This is also the year of the great prophecies. The end of great cycles. And as with all cycles, when we reach the conclusion, we must reap what we sow. So, this will also be a year to finish off karmic cycles of the past. Globally this could be very challenging for this year. The more of us who listen to our Higher Selves, the easier we make it for everyone else. Whatever your spiritual tradition or religious beliefs, one thing is sure, we are all in this together. The more of us who simply let go of our pain and suffering and embrace our strengths and joy, the easier it will be for everyone else in the world.

At the core of your spirit is the Light of Life. This light brings forth, not only joy, but also inspiration. Oh yes, and authority. The authority to do good. So I encourage each and every one of us to laugh every day, share a smile, and embrace the strength and freedom that comes when we do so.

On a side note, 2013 is around the corner. The energy of that year will be when we are compelled to overcome our shadows and fears and truly embrace hope and love.

By John Evans

Image by Kittisak

You’re driving down the road, and a car cuts you off, cuz they’re in a hurry. Or just interacting with large groups of people, we often find that people become tunnel visioned about what they want, and sometimes just forget good manners. It is easy to get caught up.

But these points of view are focusing on what other people are doing wrong. In focusing on others, we don’t really address how we can overcome.

People are impatient, often because they focus on the rudeness or ignorance of others. But in reality, when we lack patience, we are feeling as if we are not empowered. That somehow, someway we are not in control of our lives. The ultimate fuel for impati ence is actually repressed anger, where we stuff the little things down, because we don’t want to create conflict in our lives. Many times repressed anger comes from trying to be nice, enabling others in actions we ourselves think we would not do.

So, in order to create patience, we have to cultivate the vibration that allows it to flow to us. First, lets see if we can create a better understanding of what patience is. Patience is being kind. It is being compassionate, understanding of another person’s current state in life. It is loving and gracious, and freed from controlling actions and even thoughts of judgments or criticism.

Patience is not about being compliant or being a push over. Its about being yourself, being empowered in all situations. Patience is a strength that comes from knowing yourself and therefore, others. And this strength comes from and is cultivated by the Light of God.

Now, I know that sounds religious, and that’s n ot really what I mean here. The Light of God is actually a ray of creation, that fuels compassion, strength and courage, beauty, harmony, intelligence, clarity, and passion for all things. All of these combined, are aspects of the Love of God, as it flows through us. And when we truly connect to this vibration, we gain something else. We gain inner peace. When we gain inner peace, we gain the quality to overcome all things. And when we can overcome all things, we are forever patient.

So, lets start with baby steps. In your daily meditations, as you connect to the Light of God, moving through your body, which will help you to release stress and create a sense of personal peace, send this Light of peace to everyone that you know. And in so doing, it will flow through you with greater Light and consistency.

Everything in nature reflects into your life, for we are all reflections of one another, including that of nature. If everything is in a state of flux, that means it is either increasing in vibration, excitement or light…or decreasing in vibration. In life, this means you are either evolving into a better, more empowered state, or becoming more stagnant,more entrenched in your beliefs, and therefore cycles or actions. So, this brings about and interesting point.

(This article was originally published in a previous blog, in June)

So, once again we are on the cusp of a solar eclipse, which will occur tomorrow, July 1st. As with all eclipses, it is a time of diminished light on the Earth.

Every solar eclipse has its own flavor and influence. This solar eclipse has a grand square with no supportive grand trine (a square is where planetary influences on our shadows are stronger, and the grand square is the harshest of all. Trines are where planetary influences support our strengths and virtues). As such, it is a time to continue the course, and not make big changes. This grand square can create sudden changes that can impact all aspects of your world. The planets involved include the Sun, the Moon, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. These planets influence your sense of well-being, your emotions, your life lessons, sudden and rapid changes, and intensity of karmic cycles. All currently in unsupportive aspects, bringing in hard lessons from past karmic cycles.

With Mars also in the square to Neptune, action taken could easily get confused or slip into the realm of wishful thinking, with clarity of insight obscured. The Mercury, Jupiter square could easily trigger thoughts of not being supported by those closest to you. Simply put, the solar eclipse on July 1st is an inauspicious time. Try not to make any big decisions. There are several supportive aspects, but the difficult aspects far outweigh the supportive. This will pass quickly however, and within a week, you should find some relief. Spend the 4th of July weekend with family and good friends, sharing good times.

In all things, there are cycles of increase and decrease. And while we are in the time of the highest light, summer, the solar eclipse is a major shift from light for a few days. Use your protection rituals, stay focused on prayer and gratitude and joy!

Namaste

Gratitude is one of those things where we tend to make a list when we think of it. We focus on family, friends, things we’ve done. Just about everything we are grateful for is about a relationship. And when someone else is down, we tend to remind them of people that appreciate them, and this is powerful, because love flows on the wings of gratitude. And love is transformational.

But the essence of gratitude is a very deep concept, and its not as simple as we perceive it…as with all esoteric teachings. True gratitude has to go beyond external sources. It has to go beyond relationships with anything in the physical world. Defining your well being by anything in the physical world, including family and friends, is one of the greatest ways we limit ourselves in life. Just think about it, anytime we define our wellbeing on anything outside of us, our friends, our possessions, even our work, if we lose that thing, we are diminished. Instead of us being in control and empowered in our lives, we have given our power away. So while we have it, we are grateful, and in losing it, we are diminished.

The source of gratitude must be something greater, that all of these external expressions are a reflection of. These internal sources of gratitude are the true source of your well being. For example, when I wrestled with this question and I started to negate external sources as defining my well being, it became more and more difficult to find something to be grateful for, because we are so programmed by our senses and experiences and the world at large. I eventually moved to a place of deep meditation. And a line from the “Pattern on the Trestleboard” (I believe by Paul Foster Case), echoed in my consciousness. “I recognize the manifestation of the undeviating justice in all the circumstances of my life.” I was reminded again that everything in my life was the result of all of my actions, thoughts and beliefs. That I had in essence, by default or by will, brought myself to this point in my life, whatever point, for good or for bad. And the more I recognize this truth, and accept the actions that have not supported me and the life I want to create, the more I can engage my will, and by this awareness, make better choices, take more supportive actions. This is an incredibly freeing and powerful place, because it means, I have full control over my life and my future. And this is something for which I can be truly grateful. I can choose to accept the guidance and support from God and my Guides, and act upon that guidance to create a better place.

I encourage you to accept the blessings of Light that are ever present. Take an honest introspection of your present circumstances, and actions you have taken that have hurt you and that have supported you. And accept the strength, courage, and inexhaustible Love of God. It is by your will, you transform your life.

Namaste

When you put the right sock on the left foot…

When you show up to work and someone tells you your shirt is on backwards and inside out.

When you get lost on your way home.

When you can’t remember what you ordered at the restaurant.

When you start calling your family members by the wrong name.

When your dreams are more about work than fun.

When you don’t realize you’re thinking out loud.

When the kids homework is too difficult to figure out.

When your forehead bares imprint of your watch.

When you show up at a party and 2 other people are wearing the same top.

When you show up for “Wicked” the day after the show.

When you can’t remember where you parked your car.

Remember to give yourself a break. Be kind to yourself. This world has become very fast, even stressful, with internal pressures, that most of us don’t even begin to comprehend. Spiritual energies are higher than ever before, pushing us to make choices, to choose the light or to be aware of where we don’t. It is getting harder and harder to deny where we need to grow.

But in this life, it is easy to focus on what’s not working, or what’s wrong. And this life is not about what’s wrong. Its about the great things we are here to create. And we only create from our strength, intuition, and inspiration.

We all have a genius. We all have a greatness. May yours shine!

Love and Hugs,
John

Napolean Hill said, what you think is what you create. Jesus said, if you think of it, it’s as if you have already done it. Hermes said the same thing, using far more complicated and detailed explanations. Even quantum physicists talk about this, and I think this is a pretty well accepted concept; that what you think does impact your life.

Sooooo, to simplify the concept that your thoughts create your life, look at it this way. That which you are attached to, you are passionate about, and your thoughts are constantly flowing this energy, to the extent that they impact your actions and thus your life. But I’m sure you have already heard all of this.

What I would like to do is offer something more, which has it’s foundation in this concept and is something that will help you to take even greater control over your life and world.

Did you know that your WORDS create reality! This is a spiritual law, thus true for everyone: Creation is formed through RAYS. The first ray is Letters, in very simplistic terms these are shapes that are used to create forms. The second ray is Numbers, which define the frequency, or vibration of the forms. This defines the dimension, or density of creation. The third ray is Sound, which vibrates the letters and numbers into a cohesive structure. Look at it this way, every thought is defined in words, and these words create an image in your mind. This image is form and the basis for your actions.

The words spoken flow from you to the ears of those around and impact the thoughts of others, thus influencing their lives. And yes the words of others directly impact your thoughts as well. This is why the company you keep is so influential in your life. If you want to change your life, you must change the nature of the relationships and even eliminate the relationships that reinforce destructive patterns; at least until you have gained mastery over these patterns in your thoughts and deeds.

Secondly, the words you speak create forms which impact the energy surrounding your body, actually placing the images of your thoughts into your aura. This is how you create interactions with people in the world. This is how everyone knows if you are feeling bad or good, or how most psychics are able to read you and tell you what is happening in your life. They are able to sense your energy and thoughts picking up on the images you are sending out through your aura.

Thirdly, the words you speak actually vibrate your body. They shake the very muscle, flesh and bones of your physical body! In doing so, they transfer the vibration of the words you speak into your body. This changes the vibration of your form to match the frequency of the words you are using.The more you use words of a specific frequency, the more this impacts and changes your life.This is the foundation behind affirmations.

However, I would like to take this a step further and state that anything you say directly impacts you 10 times more than anyone else. So much so, that every criticism and judgment you express directly creates that energy in your life. Conversely every encouraging and empowering thing you express enhances your own ability to transform your life to something greater.

The vocalized word form itself is enough to impact the physical world. However, when it is compounded by the power of your emotions, which then greatly increase the density of the form, the impact on your actions become obvious. Emotions are the heaviest thing in the world; nothing is heavier. Nothing can stop you faster or more definitively than negative emotional desire or attachment. Nothing has greater influence in your life than your emotions, especially those of doubt, unworthiness, fear and rejection. Positive emotions, light and passion create strength, faith, love, joy and self-worth, and this directly fuels your thoughts and words in to actions. Therefore, positive emotions are the fire that fuels all creation. Combined with positive thoughts and words you will quickly open new doors for a better life.

It is because of this spiritual truth, that the ancients said “So it is said, so shall it be done!”

Speak only of things that are TRUE or that you want in your future. 

Everything is energy. This is fairly common knowledge at this point. And everything is a reflection of everything else. Clutter, disorganization in your environment, is a reflection of the clutter and internal resistance to your natural flow. While physical abundance comes from interactions with other people, the energy of prosperity is a river which flows through the layers of our consciousness, which defines our actions. This, in turn, impacts how we interact with others.

A disorganized and chaotic environment is a symptom of internal blockage to your flow. And this has been taught by many, especially in the field of feng shui. But from an esoteric point of view, it is not enough to just clean and organize your space, you must clean and organize your own internal energy.
This can be done with meditation, proper eating, breathing, and taking days for play and joy. As we do our own internal spiritual work, we clear up our attachments and our frustrations, letting go of these distractions, and freeing us to create, according to our joys and passion, our true strength.

Home

In addition, I offer another piece of information. It is important to energetically clean your space. And so I present several methods that are highly effective. Cleaning and organizing your home and cleaning the energy of your space, will help to relieve pressure that will allow you to flow more effectively and consistently in life, while you are doing your internal work.

How to Clear Your Space