Aspire Magazine Aug/Sep 2013 Issue - Embracing Your Worth by Aspire Magazine

SEPTEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 5, 2013

WITH LINDA JOY

EMBRACE

The Truth Of Who You Are

DISCOVER

Your Soul’s Purpose

LOVE

Christy Whitman

Leonie Dawson

Christine Kloser

Laura Hollick

Michelle Phillips

Lisa Marie Rosati

Inna Segal

Margaret Paul

Lone March

Jodi Chapman

Tess Marshall

Jill Hope

Unconditionally, Including Yourself

THRIVE In Your Mission FULFILL Your Deepest Desires CONNECT

With Your Passion And Purpose

CREATE The Life You Envision HEAL Your Story ALIGN With Universal Energy HONOR Your Body ACCEPT Your Brilliance EXPERIENCE

Enhanced Relationships

TRUST Your Inner Wisdom

24 VISIONARY WOMEN

SHARE THEIR HEART-CENTERED WISDOM FOR THRIVING IN YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS

Karen Russo

Kim Sarrasin

Shiloh Sophia McLoud

Elizabeth Purvis

Kristine Carlson

Ann Webb

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CONTENTS On the Cover

Christy Whitman New York Times Bestselling Author, CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Coaching AcademyTM, a 12-month Law of Attraction coaching certification program, and creator of the Enlightened Kid Program Christy is a certified Law of Attraction coach.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2013 EMBRACING YOUR WORTH Wisdom & Self-Growth 18 owning your inherent worthiness by Christy Whitman Vibration is the basis of all magnetism, all desire and all creation. The basic formula is this: Our beliefs direct our thoughts, our thoughts cause us to experience certain feelings, our feelings give birth to new desires, and our desires inspire us to action. The way we perceive the outer world at any given moment is a perfect mirror of what is happening in our inner world. Looking through this paradigm, it becomes clear that the more in touch we are with what truly makes us “worthy” – our presence, our love, and the wisdom and insights that are uniquely our own – the more the world will reflect our own light back to us, allowing us

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to see the many ways in which we really do shine. 22 living the big stuff: Expect the unexpected and lean into fear by Kristine Carlson Most of us prefer a normal routine to the imminent changes of life that often seem to choose us… whether we want them to or not. The best strategy to prepare for change is simply to expect the unexpected and keep your heart open for anything. Enjoy smooth sailing,

CONTENTS but when the great adventure of life comes in unexpected, with an open heart, you can weather any storm. 26 simply... empowered! the first step needed to create a magnificient life by Crystal Andrus If you can’t seem to create or sustain success in any area of your life, you clearly have unfinished business that must be cleaned up first. In the powerful exercise that Crystal shares, you’ll discover a tool to looking at your life as an observer—without judgment or shame. It will show you the truth if you’ll allow it. You can keep pretending that it’s going to magically get better, but it won’t. Don’t let DENIAL – Didn’t Even Notice I Am Lying – keep you stuck any longer! You deserve a magnificent life!

“A life worth living is one that is expanding, renewing, discovering, revealing and becoming.” Edwin Mamerto

30 divine connection: now is the perfect moment by Karen Hager The stress and drama of life can pull us out of alignment with our Divine connection. Intuitive guide Karen Hager shares an exercise you can do right now to bring yourself into the present moment, which turns out to be the perfect moment for opening to your true self. 34 how you can embrace your shadow and work with your inner child by Inna Segal In order to regain your inner power and know and love yourself fully, it is important to understand and embrace all aspects of your light and shadow. There are four archetypes which are part of our human makeup, including the inner child, prostitute, victim, and saboteur.

Working with archetypal energy can help you heal past wounds; release self-sabotage; let go of fearful and limiting patterns; reach your highest potential; reclaim your integrity; have more choices; and become self-empowered. 38 7 keys to healing the broken heart of an addict no matter what your addiction by Ester Nicholson Ester Nicholson, renowned vocalist for Bette Midler and Rod Stewart, former addict, teacher, speaker and author shares an excerpt from her own astonishing story from her new book: Soul Recovery - 12 Keys to Healing Addiction....and 12 Steps for the Rest of Us-A Path to Wholeness, Serenity and Success.

CONTENTS

“Until you know your worth you’ll continue to seek other people’s approval just to feel good about yourself.” sonya parker

powers, and lives deeply inside what she knows to be true. Wild Woman is the source of the feminine, the power of the natural, the alive inspirations and she has sacred powers. When she uses her 9 Wild Woman Super Powers she meets her most wild and precious self and re-members who she is. 42 swept away: how to surrender to the undertow of transformation by Shann Vander Leek In Swept Away, read about how Transformation Goddess, Shann Vander Leek let herself be swept away by the undertow of personal transformation. Plus learn five things you can do to stay afloat while experiencing a significant transition. 46 The 9 wild woman super powers by Elizabeth MacLeod Wild Woman is of her own mold. Wild Woman reclaims her place, brings her natural

50 awaken your intuition by Cari L. Murphy Awakening your intuition requires nothing more than improving your spiritual “health” and generating some positive momentum! Here are seven easy steps to do just that. You may be surprised at how easy they are! 53 create wealth through awareness & action: how to leverage both the feminine and masculine by Rev. Karen Russo Wealth is both an inner state of consciousness

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and an outer state of circumstances. A holistic approach to creating and sustaining wealth includes our spiritual, ethical, emotional, mental natures as well as our actions, circumstances and physical results with money. When we learn to balance the masculine and feminine energetic attributes. God (or life or the Universe or Spirit) includes both feminine and masculine ways of being. Therefore, healthy, vibrant, wealthy living is most effective when you deliberately leverage both the feminine and masculine. 56 colorscope by Elizabeth Harper Colorscope is a unique system designed to stimulate your intuitive skills. By choosing the color you are most drawn to you actively access the wisdom of your subconscious and the voice of your soul.

CONTENTS

”True meaning in life comes through understanding your own nature and learning to accept all aspects of yourself.” kristine carlson

Health & Wellness 60 living the goddess lifestyle: wake up your inner goddess by Lisa Marie Rosati Self-worth and selfesteem … words that have sparked endless hours of introspective thought and have stubbornly adhered themselves as the root of many peoples “problems”. The path of enlightenment is not a path of doing; it’s a path of undoing. Shedding all the protective layers filled with hurt, anger, judgment and resentment so that my Inner Goddess could finally bask in the glorious glow of love, forgiveness, acceptance and pleasure. Lisa shares ten practices that empowered her on her journey of awakening her inner goddess.

64 The Wise Woman Way: Living a Blissful Life by Susan Weed The path to a blissful life is the path of least resistance. The way of bliss is the easy way. A life of bliss flows from a mindset that enjoys the journey. The chaotic, unpredictable, amazing, journey that life offers.

interacts with the world. Our physical body is constant— beating our heart, healing small cuts, expanding our lungs and growing our fingernails—and this happens whether we are conscious of it or not. Our energy field is always listening. If we think a self-defeating thought, it depletes our energy and our aura contracts and becomes more susceptible to other energies. Discover powerful tips and insights that will guide you in working with your energy field.

66 we are more than our physical bodies by Elisa Romeo Every one of us is an energy worker. In yoga, this energetic part of ourselves is known as “the subtle body” or in Taoism as “the light body.” It is the outer layer around our physical body that first

CONTENTS Relationships 70 are you ready to stop sabotaging relationships? by Terry Gaspard MSW, LICSW The fear of intimacy, or rejection can cause a person to sabotage a relationship – even though they believe they are available or engaged. The truth is if you don’t do the inner work to get

“Loving yourself is the same as loving another person, the energy of love is just pointed in a different direction.” christine arylo

beyond your fear of being vulnerable or of showing weakness it can prevent you from being totally engaged in an intimate relationship. You may be freezing out the opportunity for love because you are fearful of sharing your inner most thoughts, feelings, and wishes. 73 parenting: what do your children REAlly need from you? by Dr. Margaret Paul, Ph.D. One of the most important things for parents to do is to learn to trust their own intuition. Your feelings tell you when you are on course or off course in your behavior with your children. Most parents want to be good parents. Yet parenting is one of those things that does not have hard and fast rules. Along with trusting your intuition here are four other things that your children really need from you.

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76 the richer sex: how to handle earning more than men by Kim Sarrasin There’s a huge cultural shift happening – one-third of women now earn more than their husbands and women make up for nearly half of all employees in the work force. While i celebrate the rise of women, i’m seeing the impact on my female client’s relationships and dating life who are high income earners. What i’ve discovered is that men are not concerned about how much money you make, what they’re really interested in is how strong your desire is to be nurtured and provided for. Kim shares some tips that will give you a great head start with learning how to strike a nice balance between your money success and showing up as a beautiful, radiant prize any man would feel proud to have on his arm.

CONTENTS Career | Business 80 Doing business like a goddess: success leads to more success by Elizabeth Purvis In the last issue, Elizabeth shared the importance of giving yourself permission to be successful while being true to yourself, in all of your brilliance. In her newest column she shares the importance of a woman celebrating her successes (large and small) as a crucial part of growing her business. In celebrating you create a subtle, yet powerful shift that increases your sense of deserving and stretches your “pleasure bucket,” allowing you to receive more fun, joy and even more money into your business and life.

“When we cultivate a relationship with our joy, our hearts and spirits expand and we remember who we are.” carol woodliff

86 is it time for a website makeover? by Kim Turcotte Is your current website helping or hurting your business? In her latest article, Kim Turcotte of Soul Purpose Business Solutions shares the five foundational elements that your service-focused business website must have in order for it to attract, engage and convert more of your ideal clients. 90 inspired to write? embrace your value by Lisa Tener It takes a certain level of valuing oneself— one’s gifts, one’s skills

LINDA JOY

and one’s being—to share those gifts with others—to live our passions, to be of service to the world in some way. Lisa suggests starting an Embrace My Worth journal and gets you started with some journaling prompts. The more you value yourself, the more others will be drawn to you and the more opportunity you will have to shine your radiant light. So, don’t hold back. Embrace your gifts, your skills, and your worth in every way. And shine, shine, shine.

Publisher & Editor-In-Chief | Linda@aspiremag.net

Creative & Brand Direction || Rachel dunham | www.HummingbirdCreativeConcepts.com Editorial Layout || Mandy Gates | www.GruveDesign.com Graphic Designer || MANDY GATES | www.GruveDesign.com COO || Kim Turcotte | www.SoulPurposeBusinessSolutions.com Mailing Address || P.O. Box 1149 | Lakeville, MA 02347 | 508.265.7929 ADVERTISING || Email Linda@aspiremag.net Mission to inspire info <Click HERE>

EXPERT COLUMNISTS CRYSTAL ANDRUS Simply... Empowered!

KRISTINE CARLSON Living the Big Stuff TM

Crystal Andrus is a leader in the field of self-discovery and personal transformation. From a tough beginning—she has risen to become a best-selling Hay House author, international speaker, women’s health advocate, spokesperson for Haylo Health, and Founder of The SWAT Institute. Crystal’s message is one of resilience, strength and inner power. www.CrystalAndrus.com www.SWATInstitute.com

An unyielding believer of Living the Big StuffTM and not sweating the small stuff in order to experience true happiness in life, as a bestselling author and inspirational speaker Kristine Carlson continues to expand on the phenomenal success of her late husband, Dr. Richard Carlson, beloved author of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series. www.KristineCarlson.com www.DontSweatMoms.com

ELIZABETH HARPER ColorScope

ELIZABETH PURVIS Doing Business Like a Goddess

Elizabeth Harper is an internationally acclaimed teacher, intuitive, healer, and the author of the award winning book Wishing: How to Fulfill Your Hearts Desires. Elizabeth is on the faculty at the highly acclaimed Omega Institute in Rhineback, NY and is invited to speak around the world. www.SealedwithLove.com

Elizabeth Purvis shows spirit-led, missiondriven women how to price, package and market their services so they create extraordinary income and impact. Known for blending heart-centered sales, Internet marketing, spiritual principles and Universal Law, Elizabeth delivers simple ways for her clients to double or triple revenues by creating multiple streams of income and enrolling ideal clients at higher fees. www.MarketingGoddess.com

LISA MARIE ROSATI Living the Goddess LifeStyleTM

LISA TENER Inspired to Write?

Passionista Lisa Marie Rosati is an Inner Goddess Catalyst for women and the Creatrix of The Goddess Lifestyle Plan. Lisa mentors women on how become a Modern Day Goddess by consciously designing a luscious Goddess life, cultivating radiant health and creating a lucrative business using and directing their feminine fire. www.GoddessLifestylePlan.com

SUSUN WEED The Wise Woman Way

An award-winning authority on writing and publishing books, Lisa Tener guides you to joyfully express yourself in writing. She blogs for the Huffington Post, serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s publishing course, and teaches her own Award Winning Book Writing Courses in person and by interactive teleseminar. www.LisaTener.com

Susun Weed is an internationally renowned herbalist, author, and director of the Wise Woman Center in New York. She is a revered voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, where women’s bodies and women’s emotions are valued. Susun is a founding grandmother of the herbal renaissance and the originator of the concept of complementary medicine. www.SusunWeed.com

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

christy whitman

kim sarrasin

rev. karen russo

cari L. murphy

DR. margaret paul, PH.D.

elisa romeo

elizabeth macLeod

shann vander leek

karen hager

kim turcotte

TERRY GASPARD

inna segal

ester nicholson

YOUR WISDOM! WITH OUR READERS

LETTER EDITOR

FROM THE

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” BRENÉ BROWN

Welcome to the August/September 2013 “Embrace Your

Worth” issue!

“It’s time to deconstruct the myth that worthiness must be earned. Like the keys to the kingdom in every fairy tale we watched when we were little girls, it was within us all along.” – Christy Whitman

The quote I opened with captures a universal truth that I believe many women struggle with – the myth that our job, relationship, looks or financial status is what validates our worth as women, as individuals. The truth, as Christy Whitman (cover feature) shares in her article Owning Your Inherent Worthiness, is that in turning inward for our validation we discover the Divine truth that we are worthy just for being who we are. Along with Christy’s empowering feature article, you’ll discover nuggets of wisdom, hope and inspiration throughout the Embrace Your Worth issue of Aspire. From Inna Segal’s How You Can Embrace Your Shadow and Work with your Inner Child to The 9 Wild Woman Super Powers by Elizabeth MacLeod this issue is filled with feminine wisdom to support you on your journey of self-empowerment, self-love and embracing YOUR worth as a woman.

Connect with me! om/ http://www.Facebook.c lindajoyinspires om/ http://www.facebook.c y aJo PublisherLind

I’m excited to announce the launch of Season 3 of Inspired Living Secrets sacred telegathering. This season I’ve invited 24 heart-centered feminine leaders, authors and business visionaries to join me on the topic of Heartcentered Wisdom for Thriving in Your Life and Business. I look forward to having you join us. (See inside cover for full page ad and all the details.)

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LINDA JOY Publisher & Editor-In-Chief | Linda@aspiremag.net

Here’s What I’m Reading Right Now...

FROM MY BOOKSHELF

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown A leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, Brené shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living— a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.

WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH

“Everything that happens to you is a

reflection of what you belie ve about yourself. We cannot outper form our level of self-esteem. We ca nnot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.”

Iyanla Vanzan t

Read Online!

Wisdom

on Tap

BY Shann vander leek

Intuition is available in each of us. It just gets lost under layers of experiences, judgments, mistakes, authority figures, inner critics etc. We often shroud our internal compass at an early age to stay safe and remain small. Dig yourself out from under the layers of junk and you will find a buried treasure more valuable than you can imagine. This fortune found is your wisdom on tap. Here are some tips to help you develop and use your intuition as your guide.

ors

Journa

l Journal ing can g intuitiv e mess ive bring you a ge inner w isdom. s from your

ols Symb

aph & Met

ill ition w u t n i r ou of sym imes y Somet in the form titive e p show u mbers or rep u n bols, hors. metap

Makin

g De

cision Releas s e your questio univer se n it. Whe and then sle to the e n mornin you wake up p on g, chec in the k what c omes u in and see p for y ou.

Meditate Create some time to be still and notice what comes up for you.

CHECK OUT MORE ONLINE!

AspireMag.net

l Live & Virtua

UPCOMING EVENTS

Inspired Living Secrets: Season 3 || DETAILS! 24 Visionary Women – Thousands in Free Gifts – Free Access Insider Secrets with Elizabeth Purvis || DETAILS! Transforming More Lives with Your Heart Word - Free Training Become a Certified Law of Attraction Coach || DETAILS! Quantum Success Coaching Academy with Christy Whitman

OWNING

your

Inherent

Worthiness

By christy whitman

rom the time we were old enough to watch our first fairy tale, we as females have been inundated with ideas about what makes us truly worthy – of love, of the metaphoric white castle, and of having all our happily-ever-after dreams come true. Even if the message is hidden between the lines, we get it loud and clear: the girl who wins the kingdom is dutiful, self-sacrificing, and almost always surrounded by people (including herself) who don’t recognize or appreciate her worth. Thanks to the good fortune of being kissed by a handsome prince or having a foot dainty enough to

slide into a tiny slipper, her destiny is forever altered and all she ever wanted is heaped upon her in lavish abundance. She sheds her former identify of peasant, misfit or slave girl and steps into her true potential – as a princess, a goddess, a queen. From the admiration of others, she finally gains what she’s been seeking all along: the validation that she is lovable; that she is worthy. As we enter adolescence, of course, this message gets layered with additional external yardsticks by which we are invited to gauge our inner worth: Are we pretty enough? Sexy enough? Skinny enough?

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What’s wrong with this picture is not just that it’s overly simplistic, but that it’s based on a premise that is inherently flawed. Beliefs about what makes us deserving and desirable as women are so pervasive that often the only way we’ve learned to assess our value is by looking at ourselves through this filter. The lie that many of us have mistaken for the truth is that inner worth is something that is bestowed on us by the outer world; that like a Disney princess, only the love and acceptance of others can convince us that we are good enough to love and accept ourselves. If we accept this premise, the path to achieving all that we desire becomes one of amassing enough evidence, accomplishments and accolades to finally prove that we are worthy. Life is seen as a competition; resources are scarce, and we are constantly reminded of all the ways in which we, by comparison, are falling short.

perfume – as well as the $30 billion more American women spend annually on diet products and programs. Both industries operate inside the paradigm that perfecting our outer package will deliver us inner peace. That our culture has so thoroughly accepted this “outside in” approach does more than make us faithful consumers of anything that promises to make us more acceptable. It also keeps us forever racing toward the next external milestone – and the next one after that – in an attempt to finally prove that we’re worthy. No wonder so many of us are discontent, discouraged, and flat-out exhausted, right? If I had a magic wand, I would most definitely use it to give women a view of themselves through an altogether different looking glass. After all, the most fundamental power bestowed on us as human beings is the power to determine the lens through which we choose to see ourselves and our lives. And our perception not only colors our reality; it actually helps to create it.

To be a Goddess is to stand in the full knowledge of our inherent worthiness and in the presence of all full power.

It is an ugly truth that an underlying belief in our own unworthiness fuels the $11 billion dollars we spend each year on beauty products like cosmetics, toiletries and

As a certified Law of Attraction coach, I’ve spent the better part of two decades studying, applying, and teaching others about the powerful internal forces which are at work behind the scenes in the creation of everything we manifest in our external lives. Understanding these universal laws – which include not only the Law of Attraction but also principles such as Polarity, Allowing, Potentiality, Sufficiency and Abundance –

Wisdom & Self-Growth

Can we force our bodies to conform to the images of perfection drilled into our heads by pop culture and Madison Avenue? If so, say the billboards, commercials and magazine ads, then we might just be worthy enough – of love, success, adoration, respect… the things our deepest dreams are made of.

is like removing the cover of a clock and discovering the internal gears that make it tick. The hands we use to tell the time are just an outer reflection of a hidden inner mechanism. In a very similar way, our experience of worthiness (and happiness and abundance and general fabulousness) are states of being that are driven from within. Trying to inject them like a cosmetic filler from the outside in is about as effective as manually turning the hands of a clock and expecting it to keep time. But when the inner vibration created by our thoughts, feelings and beliefs is one of knowing that we are inherently worthy, we effortlessly attract from the external world an endless variety of situations, people and experiences that reflect and reinforce this inner knowing. Vibration is the basis of all magnetism, all desire and all creation. The basic formula is this: Our beliefs direct our thoughts, our thoughts cause us to experience certain feelings, our feelings give birth to new desires, and our desires inspire us to action. Like the internal gears that drive the hands of a clock, it is our inner vibration – not our outer actions – which orchestrates the process of manifestation. The way

we feel about ourselves in the privacy of our innermost thoughts is not known only to us; it is broadcasted to the far corners of the universe through our vibration, and is reflected back to us in every encounter, every endeavor, and in every aspect of our lives.

So, for example, if we have developed a core belief that we are somehow inadequate, this belief will inform our thoughts, fueling an

internal dialog that might go something like this: I’ll never be as interesting as so-and-so. Nobody is going to hire me. Who would ever find me attractive? These thoughts, even if they take place at a subconscious level, affect our feelings and alter our vibration; causing us to notice, latch onto, attract – and ultimately create – life experiences that are consistent with those beliefs. In a very real sense, the way we perceive the outer world at any given moment is a perfect mirror of what is happening in our inner world. Looking through this paradigm, it becomes clear that the more in touch we are with what truly makes us “worthy” – our presence, our love, and the wisdom and insights that are uniquely our own – the more the world will reflect our own light back to us, allowing us to see the many ways in which we really do shine.

What this means is that if we desire to feel beautiful, lovable, and absolutely, inherently enough just as we are, our job is to first generate those feelings within ourselves. This is the key to attracting anything we seek, actually. When we are in tune with the truth of who we are, we don’t need anyone or anything to confirm it. Our “feel good” no longer depends on anyone else telling us how wonderful we are or how good we look. We have no need to seek outside validation because we are generating our own validation from within. This vibration of self-love is both magnetic and palpable. It shines forth like a beacon, drawing to us people and experiences which confirm what we already know to be true. It cannot work in reverse. The feeling of enough-ness

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

It’s time to deconstruct the myth that worthiness must be earned. Like the keys to the kingdom in every fairy tale we watched when we were little girls, it was within us all along. It is this realization – not a pill, a night cream, elixir, or magic potion – that awakens the Goddess within. To be a Goddess

is to stand in the full knowledge of our inherent worthiness and in the presence of all full power. It is not a construct that we have to make perfect and then wear like a mask. The Goddess emerges from within. Read Online!

Christy Whitman – A New York Times Bestselling Author of Taming Your Alpha Bitch: How To Be Fierce and Feminine (and Get Everything You Want!), CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Coaching AcademyTM, a 12-month Law of Attraction coaching certification program, and creator of the Enlightened Kid Program. Christy’s life-changing message reaches over 100,000 people a month and she has been seen on The Today Show, The Morning Show and The Marilyn Dennis Show in Canada. She has been quoted in Seventeen, Woman’s World, Woman’s Day, Teen Vogue, People Magazine, Hollywood Life, and Knot Magazine. As a certified Law of Attraction coach, her work has been promoted by and featured with best-selling authors like Marianne Williamson, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Marci Shimoff,. She currently lives in Montreal with her husband, Frederic, and their two boys, Alexander and Maxim. Meet her at www.ChristyWhitman.com and www.7EssentialLaws.com.

“If you ide ntify only w ith your bo its reality, r dy and ather than w ith your sp its reality, th ir it an en you’re te that dimin mpted to th d ished mate ink rial assets s diminish w o m e how ho you are . But you a merely a b re not eing of the material w are a being orld; you of unlimite d spirit. A spirit there n is no lack. You are no d in just becaus t lacking e your circ umstances are.” Marian ne Willia mson

Wisdom & Self-Growth

cannot come from the outside in. It can’t be given to us by anyone except ourselves. As Marianne Williamson so beautifully points out in A Woman’s Worth – which is every bit as relevant today as it was when it was written nearly twenty years ago – “We can’t look to the world to restore our worth; we’re here to restore our worth to the world.” We were created to be self-sourcing; all attempts to seek validation from others leave us hungry in the end.

LIVING the

Big Stuff !

Living the

Big Stuff: Expect the

Unexpected and Lean into

FEAR

By kristine carlson

ost of us prefer our normal routine to the imminent changes of life that often seem to choose us…whether we want them to or not. Change-seekers are a rare minority. However, change will come; it’s unavoidable and constant. Life has seasons; sunny summers transforming into autumns. Autumns freeze into winters, and then winters melt into springs that birth new life and new opportunities. Spencer Johnson said: “Change happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than the fear of letting go.” For example, we can see this, sometimes, in relationships and marriages that aren’t what they once were. Perhaps you’ve outgrown each other or you’ve grown up and apart?

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

– Spencer Johnson If this is you, it’s important to ask yourself what is it costing you to stay in a relationship that is depleting your life force rather than nourishing your soul? Fear of the unknown and the unexpected has a way of paralyzing us, when, in fact, it is in the unknown that the whole universe is waiting to unfold. It’s exciting and creative to dive deep into the depths of your soul and that part of you that is formless yet palpably present and create from this place. I’ve learned that leaning into my fear, especially in areas that my ego likes to make me hide, is the same as leaning into my authenticity. Just behind the fear is your vulnerability and behind that is your greatest strength. It’s quite the cosmic joke that our alter ego keeps us from living in our true nature but this simple principle of leaning into fear is a game changer. Once you realize that it is only the ego using fear to hold you back, then when you feel fear about a direction or opportunity that comes your way, rather than avoid it, move towards your fear. Neale Donald Walsch came up with a brilliant acronym for fear: “False Evidence Appearing Real.”

to expect the unexpected and keep your heart open for absolutely anything. Without resistance, you are more likely to embrace change and transition easier if you are aware that life can “change at the drop of a hat” - like receiving a dreaded phone call or life altering news that may be positive or negative. Remembering, too, that all things are temporary and “this too shall pass” really helps me when I’m in a tough spot. Change isn’t always bad. In fact, your life can be altered in an instant by meeting a new unexpected friend, or getting a better job offer or by falling in love with a life partner. You never know, and this is what

The best strategy to build faith and invoke grace and prepare for change is simply

Wisdom & Self-Growth

“ Change happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than the fear of letting go”

makes life a true adventure full of mystery. It is in the not knowing where all the creativity emerges. This is where possibility exists at its greatest level. Years down the road when looking back, we can see that the changes we’ve endured, and those that were truly pluses, have served us well and created new beginnings within the endings. In fact, those things that were difficult to navigate but forced us to act were exactly what we needed to propel us into our next level of greatness and perhaps what we now know to be our life’s purpose. That’s the power of change. That’s the promise of awakening. That’s the momentum of transformation. For years, our lives (Mine and Richard’s family life) rolled along, so well, so beautifully that I began to question why we were so richly blessed without many challenges. We chose, we worked hard, we loved with open hearts. I was incredibly grateful for all our blessings, but deep down, I knew that these golden years would change. Some might say that if you think “the other shoe will suddenly drop” then you’re creating that. I, on the other hand believe that our common sense wisdom tells us that life is filled with a lot of stuff, and no one escapes the journey that is laced with joy and hardship, too. And, when the shoe finally dropped, it dropped fast! I guess you could say I’m a realist that is truly optimistic because I choose happiness and peace no matter the circumstances. I lean into my fears like a guidepost for being my most authentic self. I change what I can but accept those things that I cannot change. This is how to invoke

grace and to allow life to unfold while moving in the current of all happenings. This is how to stand empowered by all change that comes your way. Enjoy smooth sailing, but when the great adventure of life comes in the unexpected, you can weather any storm with an open heart. Read Online!

Kristine Carlson – An unyielding believer of Living the Big StuffTM and not sweating the small stuff in order to experience true happiness in life, as a bestselling author and inspirational speaker Kristine Carlson continues to expand on the phenomenal success of her late husband, Dr. Richard Carlson, beloved author of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series. Learn more at www.KristineCarlson.com and be sure to download your Free Mom’s C.P.R. Kit at www.DontSweatMoms.com.

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

ve when we “We cultivate lo vulnerable and allow our most to be deeply powerful selves e n, and when w seen and know ual connection honor the spirit that offering that grows from ect, kindness with trust, resp and affection.” wn Brenè Bro

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Empowered!

The First Step Needed to

Create A Magnificent

Life!

BY Crystal Andrus

Staying busy exhausts us. Holding on keeps us stuck. Avoiding ‘what is’ robs us. Running away disempowers us. Our saving grace is that our consciousness will continue to show us what must be cleaned up in order for us to heal, evolve, create, and sustain.

— Crystal Andrus

hen it comes to creating an amazing life, most of us just want to get on with it and get to the good stuff. We’re ready to get down to business. We want to forget the past and move on. Let bygones be bygones. We’re embarrassed about, or ashamed of, certain parts of our lives. What’s the point of looking back?

And yet, inevitably, similar to a very long anchor that gets dropped overboard as we’re sailing down that wonderful river of life, something always happens that keeps us stuck right where we were. Why can’t we keep our raft going downstream? Why are we replaying the same story over and over? We thought we’d dealt with this! Or worse, why are we replaying the same story with

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

just a different person or scenario?

Self-sabotage is a clear sign that you have something weighing on your conscience. Repress your feelings—your embarrassment, blame, sorrow, sadness, anger, or jealousy—in whatever way you’ve learned, and they’ll find a way to reappear. As long as you try to resist uncovering “it,” dealing with it, or healing it, it will persist. The burden of carrying it, whether or not you’re aware of it, will exhaust you. Weight gain, financial messes, health problems, addictions, disorganization, and relationship woes are ways in which repressed thoughts, feelings, fears, and unmet needs manifest themselves in your outer world. If you can’t seem to create or sustain success, you clearly have unfinished business that must be cleaned up first! Only you can clean up your own stuff—even if you think it would be better for someone who’s bigger, stronger, richer, or smarter to step in and save you! What I promise you is that once you clean things up (no matter how hard it may seem), you can take the

It Is What It Is Most of us have a hard time seeing the truth about our own lives: the truth about ourselves, our situation, choices, fears, and motivators. We have a hard time accepting that we’ve created the circumstances we’re in—that life is what we make it! So if things aren’t so great in your life, you must ask yourself, Why would I create this? Whether or not you choose to see it, the answer is always there: It is what it is. Are you willing to face the truth and shine a light on “what is,”without any judgment, excuses, justification, shame, blame, guilt,or regret? If so—if you’re ready to take a peek at things—you’re ready to begin the process of creating a magnificent life. If not—if you’d rather choose to deny accountability or not face yourself—then this article isn’t for you . . . at least not right now. Cleaning up your life takes courage. It takes honesty and hard work, and you must be prepared to face the music. It can feel tough at times, but so illuminating at others. It all starts with stepping outside of yourself, almost like an observer, and letting your life be your mirror . . . your truth . . . your gift. Why not look at your life today but with one catch: Imagine that you didn’t know the person staring back at you. Try it. Stand before a full-length mirror and describe the person you see. What would you think of her? What would your reflection tell you about her? Would you see someone who takes

Wisdom & Self-Growth

Well, until you’ve truly cleaned things up, they will keep cropping up! Until you face your past, your not-so-wise choices, and your debtors and demons; and until you confront the reality of what you’ve fed your body and how you’ve starved your soul or shrouded yourself in shame, you can continue to avoid the truth, but you can’t hide—at least not from yourself! Your guilt and fear will eat away at your ability (and, eventually, even your desire) to succeed; they’ll rob you of your power and keep you struggling in the dark. Playing it small will become normal, and you’ll never realize your potential.

next step in creating an incredible life! Unfinished business drains your energy and robs you of strength and integrity.

care of herself? Someone who eats well, exercises, and honors her temple? Would you see someone smiling, happy, confident, and self-assured? What do her eyes say? Her skin? Nails? Hair? Teeth? Clothing? Weight? Posture? How does she talk to herself when she’s all alone? Now imagine you’re a fly on the wall in her home. How does she speak to her family—spouse, children, parents, and/ or siblings? How do they treat her? Does she thrive on stress, always creating drama and complications? Or does she speak her truth, even if the people around her don’t always agree with her views? Does she keep secrets, preferring to handle things (or at least some things) alone? Or does she live her life like an open book? Does she spend beautiful quality time with those she loves most? Does she hug, kiss, and say “I love you” often? How does she talk about her friends when they aren’t around? Her mate? Parents? In-laws? Children? Is she as honest in person? Is she honest at all?

How is her sex life? Is she passionate and uninhibited or uptight and boring? Does she constantly think about her past, reliving old fights and hurtful comments? Has she forgiven those who’ve hurt her, or does she bring things up whenever she needs justification or quick retaliation?

clothes, and her basement filled with stuff from 15 years ago? Does she have a poverty-hoarding mentality, or does she trust in the flow of life, spending and saving? The truth? What about her income,

Is her home harmonious, loving, and light? Is her bedroom a beautiful, sexy, feminine sanctuary? Is her bathroom a mini spa retreat? Are there soothing candles, soft music, and wonderful bath products to caress her skin? On the other hand, is her kitchen cluttered, her freezer stuffed with old food, her closet crammed with

You deserve a

magnificent life!

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Look at her work. Is it fulfilling, purpose driven, and satisfying? Does it light her up? What does it say about her? Is it balanced with play? Examine her health. How does she eat? Does she smoke, drink excessively, or take drugs? What’s her cholesterol ratio? Her blood pressure? Resting heart rate? BMI? Does she even know the answers to these questions? Does she take responsibility for her wellbeing, or is she expecting her doctors to fix her when things fall apart? Perhaps she’s so much in denial that she doesn’t even believe anything will ever fall apart, even though she’s neglecting her health? Review her habits and hobbies. (And not the version she’s been sugarcoating.) The truth! Does she eat too much, drink too much, shop too much, or gossip too much? Does she waste time on

mindless Internet sites or spend money carelessly? Or does she read great books, listen to motivational CDs, journal her feelings, and take action on her plans and dreams? Is she in denial, squandering her most precious commodity—time—or is she clear, sharp, focused, and inspired? Look deep into her heart. Do you see trust, acceptance, love, and forgiveness, or frustration, anger, animosity, and regret? Do you see longterm true-blue friendships and an honest and deeply committed passionate relationship; or do you see a few fair-weather friends, a lack of intimacy, fear, longing, and loneliness? What does her reflection

say about you? This is your life. She is you. Let her life be your mirror— without judgment or shame. It will show you the truth if you’ll allow it. You can keep pretending that it’s going to magically get better, but it won’t. Don’t let DENIAL – Didn’t Even Notice I Am Lying – keep you stuck any longer! You deserve a magnificent life! If you need help “Cleaning up Your Life”, visit me at www.crystalandrus.com and download my 7 FREE GIFTS – seven mp3s emailed to you every day for a week; all designed to help you let go of anything that no longer serves you, while helping you step into your greatest life! Read Online!

Crystal Andrus – A leader in the field of self-discovery and personal transformation. From a very tough beginning— one that could easily have spun her into darkness—Crystal has risen to become an international coaching sensation, three-time, best-selling author, international speaker, TV personality, host of her own “CBS Crystal Andrus Radio Show”, founder of “The S.W.A.T. Institute (Simply Woman Accredited Trainer)”, founder of the new online magazine, www.simplywoman.com, spokesperson for the health & wellness line of products—“Xooma” (sounds like Zooma), as well as a world-renowned women’s advocate. Her latest book about “Woman Energy™” is in the works, and will prove to be her greatest accomplishment to date! (Stay tuned!!) www.crystalandrus.com

Wisdom & Self-Growth

debt, and long-term planning? Does she know her worth, and does she receive it? Is she financially independent? Does she live within her means? Has she planned for the future while enjoying the present? Is she afraid or excited?

Divine Connection:

NOW is the

Perfect Moment By Karen Hager

“You teach best what you most need to learn.” – Richard Bach, Illusions

ee this photo of me? I don’t look like this anymore.

This picture was taken about seven years ago, and a lot has happened since then. I went through a major health crisis that was the catalyst for a huge spiritual awakening. I completely changed the way I approach my life path and my career. My kids, who

were tiny tots when I sat for the picture, are no longer tiny tots. I’ve laughed and cried, celebrated and mourned, danced and napped. Every smile-line and wrinkle and jiggly bit on my face now is a reminder of my journey through the last seven years.

So why am I still using the old photo? Because I want everything to be perfect before I get new pictures. It seems silly to have them done before I lose weight, learn to apply makeup flawlessly, get a more flattering hairstyle, discover the fountain

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

The irony here is that I teach people about

Don’t wait! Why do you feel you need to be ashamed? You are a much-loved child of the Divine in this very moment. Let your Light shine! We are spiritual beings in physical bodies. When we incarnate here we bring immortal, limitless energy into our mortal, limited physical bodies. Our Divine connection is

Now is the perfect moment! There will never be another exactly like this one. Let the world see you in all your beauty, your imperfection, your divinity, your frailty. Don’t wait! Why do you feel you need to be ashamed? You are a muchloved child of the Divine in this very moment.

Let your Light shine! authenticity and the healing power of the present moment. About how being aware of what is happening right now, cultivating mindfulness and receptivity in the present moment, can open us up to our Divine connection and spark our intuition. If a client or a student of mine came to me with this story about using the old picture because everything had to be perfect before she got a new one, I know exactly what I’d say to her. Now is the perfect moment! There will never be another exactly like this one. Let the world see you in all your beauty, your imperfection, your divinity, your frailty.

that spiritual essence, our link to the Source energy that runs through each one of us whether or not we are consciously aware of it. Stepping into our Divine connection triggers our natural intuition, opens us up to conversation with our guides, reminds us of who we really are, and empowers us to live in greater abundance and peace. It’s a tool we’re meant to be using to give us greater clarity and confidence as we move forward. But sometimes that Divine connection is elusive. When we get out of the habit of daily spiritual practice, when we get so pulled into the day-to-day stresses and drama of life, when we are exhausted

Wisdom & Self-Growth

of youth ... you get the idea. And those things are difficult to achieve (especially the fountain of youth part), so I keep putting them off. And yet, that’s the excuse I trot out every time I come up against this old photo on my website or a business card or in a media kit.

Ready to experience your Divine connection right now? F ind a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for 2 minutes or so S it down and be still I nhale, and imagine that you are recalling all your energy back to this moment in time. Any energy you’ve projected into the future (anxiety, fear) comes back to you on this breath. Any energy you’ve projected into the past (dwelling on past mistakes, old patterns) comes back to you on this breath. E xhale, and imagine that all the recalled energy is settling into its proper place in your body. You are returning to alignment. C ontinue to breathe deeply and comfortably, and become aware of a space gently opening up in your heart center. This space shines with a green light that symbolizes love, healing, and balance. As you contemplate this heart space, listen. Listen with your ears, your spirit, your imagination. W hat do you see, hear, know, imagine, experience as you do this? Y ou may experience silence. You may receive a message, a gentle nudge from your Higher Self. Whatever you receive, please express your gratitude before ending the exercise.

physically and emotionally ... it can be hard to remember we have that stream of wisdom available to us. Bringing our energy into the present moment, opening a space for Divine connection, is tremendously powerful. When you do this daily, you will find that you are tapping into your most authentic self. The goddess within, the you that can move forward in love instead of fear. What am I going to do about this old photo? I’ve scheduled a photo shoot with a photographer I trust, in a place where I feel safe showing up exactly as I am. I even put down a deposit on the session, so I won’t chicken out. I’ll do the exercise I shared with you before I head off to the appointment, and I’m going to carry that Divine Connection into the studio with me. And the next time you see a picture of me, it won’t be an image of me from the past. It will be me as I am today, Divinely connected ... perfectly imperfect. Read Online! Even the jiggly bits. Karen Hager - Passionate about helping others connect with their natural intuitive abilities, Karen Hager leads intuitive development classes and teaches on topics that empower people to listen to their own inner guidance. Working privately with clients from all over the world, Karen connects with Source to provide compassionate, no-nonsense Spirit-led guidance for people in transition. She’s the host of the popular twice-weekly radio show “Out of the Fog,” which reaches an international audience. In these transformative times, Karen encourages a shift from fear to love so that we can awaken to our Divine connection. Please visit http://fogcitypsychic.com to access a free guided meditation and much more.

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

SHADOW INNERChild How you can Embrace your

and Work with Your

by Inna segal

n order to regain your inner power and know and love yourself fully, it is important to understand and embrace all aspects of your light and shadow. There are four archetypes which are part of our human makeup, including the inner child, prostitute, victim, and saboteur. Each archetype is the keeper of many gifts and challenges and can assist you in understanding your unconscious and subconscious patterns, behaviors, and reactions. Working with archetypal energy can help you heal past wounds; release self sabotage; let go of fearful and limiting patterns; reach your highest potential; reclaim your integrity; have more choices; and become selfempowered.

Embrace Your Light and Shadow Our shadow side consists of aspects of ourselves we are least familiar with, bury, resist, and suppress. It is a secret hideaway where we try to mask all our insecurities, fears, disappointments, and failures, as well as our potential greatness, influence, beauty, integrity, and uniqueness. We yearn to be accepted and acceptable. Often our greatest fear is to be labeled as different, weird, or unusual. Thus, we try to detach ourselves from our deepest apprehension, that

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

somehow we are unwanted, worthless, false, unlovable, shameful, guilty, or damaged.

The shadow can be viewed as painful, unprocessed parts of ourselves, which have the potential to hinder many aspects of our lives at the most inappropriate moments, when we are least prepared. As our shadow aspects are often controlled by our subconscious mind, it is easy for them to permeate our daily life and wreak chaos without us being aware of how this is occurring. Our self-sabotage can manifest in subtle and potent ways when we arrive to places late, miss opportunities, become involved with questionable characters, misread things people say, destroy potentially empowering relationships, and so forth. When you disown your shadow, you

Our ability to fully love and accept ourselves and others is greatly hindered by our need to hide and deny our limiting patterns, emotions, and behaviors. Instead of allowing our highest aspects to lead, being comfortable with ourselves, and showing others who we truly are, we hand over control of our lives to our fear, resentment, rejection, hurt, anger, and neediness, without the awareness that we are doing so. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible how many of us are as terrified to discover that we might be powerful, ingenious, and extraordinary as we are of finding out we are average, weak, or dull. Our shadow aspects become dominant

Wisdom & Self-Growth

In order to escape from looking within and discovering our perceived darkness, we attempt to cover up, either by trying our hardest to please or to resist others. We also often project unconscious aspects of ourselves on to others. This can include positive and negative characteristics or personality traits that we disown. We neglect to understand that our shadow aspects are the keepers of our greatest power. Much of our authenticity, potential, greatness, creativity, success, passion, and contribution in life are concealed within our own self-imposed barricades. Since many of us are encouraged to strive for perfection, we lose sight that our true beauty, lovability, growth, and evolution arise from embracing and loving our imperfections, idiosyncrasies, and individuality.

when we refuse to have empathy for our own and other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges.

embark on a journey of fear, guilt, anger, and separation. You stop listening to, or trusting, the combined wisdom of your mind, body, heart, and soul and begin the process of internal confusion and conflict. If you choose to solely follow your feelings, you can turn into an over emotional, needy, insecure, doubtful, indecisive, and dependent person. If you allow the mind to rule, you can become judgmental, controlling, and over analytical. You are likely to make decisions based on logic and what you know without taking feelings, intuition, and wisdom into consideration. If your spiritual aspects are given all the power, you can become impractical, dreamy, and unrealistic, lost in mystical fantasies and desires of being saved. The idea is to create a healthy balanced relationship between your heart, mind, and spirit. As long as the mind, emotions, and soul feel split, and do not have an ability to communicate with each other, you will feel doubtful and unsure about what actions to take, how to connect to others, and how to live in harmony with yourself. Your shadow aspects can push you toward healing, by motivating you to start asking questions and embracing more of who you are. In order for you to become self-empowered, you need to move from living outside yourself to connecting to your body, intuition, and inner life. This requires bringing light to the shadow aspects of yourself that are entrenched in limiting patterns and helping them to mature. For example, you may be repressing the fact that you are not emotionally and energetically compatible with your partner. If you were

Your shadow aspects can push you toward healing, by motivating you to start asking questions and embracing more of who you are. honest, you would confront your partner and work together on changing your relationship, or choose to leave the relationship. This would require courage, trust, candor and a lot of personal growth. However, if you were to keep suppressing the fact that your relationship is not working because you are afraid of being alone, you might become negative, aggressive, lie, cheat, or cause destruction in your life and create dis-ease just to be safe. A huge part of your healing journey is to confront your shadow aspect and take back your power, your life force energy, and expand your freedom and the choices available to you. Read Online!

Inna Segal - The creator of Visionary Intuitive Healingâ&#x201E;˘, Inna an internationally recognized healer, professional speaker and trainer, author, and television host. Inna dedicates herself to assisting others in their journey of self-healing, wellbeing and empowerment in all areas of life. Innaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practical healing techniques, training programs, powerful product range, and media appearances are changing the lives of millions of people around the world. Learn more at www.InnaSegal.com

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Keys to

by ESTER NICHOLSON

Healing the

Broken

Heart

of an Addict — No Matter What Your Addiction

e’ve all experienced profound disappointment in our lives. There are some of us who use these disappointments to keep ourselves down, and to hang onto the belief that things never work out for us. We’ve held on to our stories of abandonment, rejection, betrayal and abuse, seeking to blame others for our pain. We unconsciously use these stories to stay small, constricted, and determined to never trust or open our hearts again. While that is totally acceptable and even encouraged in the beginning stages of shock and disappointment, it is toxic, counterproductive and a spiritual dead end to pull over and park there - especially for

those with addictive/dependent tendencies. It never serves us to do a bypass and pretend we’re so spiritual that we don’t experience resentment, fear and hurt. It’s healthy and absolutely necessary to be in the moment and acknowledge every feeling that arises when you’ve experienced disappointment and loss, no matter how it occurred or who’s at fault. Allowing yourself to feel the pain, rage, fear and sorrow, is, in fact, a very important part of your healing journey. If you skip this important step, true healing is impossible. However, it’s just as important to work through the pain and heal any unforgiveness or resentment that is operating in your awareness.

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

The Sufi poet Rumi reminds us that the way through the pain is to feel the pain. However, I have found that even in the midst of that pain, you can catch a glimmer of the fact that healing is possible, and that a blessing is right in the midst of your deepest despair. Just this awareness shows that you have made the first step in climbing your way out of what felt like your longest and darkest night.

In this state, life becomes very hard and every moment is like trying to operate through a foggy mind of scattered-ness, anger and pain. And from that place, you will act on your addictions and dependencies again because they are the only things that seem to give you the illusion of temporary relief.

How do I know this? Been there - done that and so grateful that the Universe has never failed me. Even in your darkest hour, it will not fail you if you’re willing to go to whatever lengths to find the “value in the valley, the message in the mess and the testimony in the test.”

Here are the seven steps that I practice on a daily basis, but especially when I’m walking through the fire of divine refinement in my own life :

1: Feel the pain

2: TELL YOUR STORY

Allow yourself to feel angry resentful, fearful and hurt. Yell, scream and cry if that’s what’s coming through. It’s your inner child needing a voice for his/her frustration and disappointment. If you don’t give children an opportunity to express their feelings - they find another way to act out, right? Your inner child will find a way to act out, as well, if not given a loving space to feel its feelings.

Tell your story to people on a spiritual path who can be compassionate with your pain, but have the ability to take you past the story to your healing. No more Starbucks dates with your best friend to talk about what others did to you over, and over, and over again.

Wisdom & Self-Growth

It has been proven over and over again, that resentment - which is the remembering, reliving and re-telling of painful events— is deadly for those with addictive or dependent tendencies. You simply cannot afford it. Resentment and blame blocks you from a connection with Spirit—your spirit. When you are blocked from your spirit, you are blocked from emotional balance and well-being.

3: FORGIVE Forgive, forgive and forgive. If you have to do a forgiveness process 50 times a day, do it. It doesn’t condone inappropriate behavior on the part of others; it heals your core wounds, allows you to release others from blame and transforms your story from victim to victory. Forgiveness sets you free.

4: MAKE AMENDS Make amends to the best of your ability for any part you’ve played in the situation. Yes, you can stop screaming - I know, I know. This is one of the most challenging steps there is, but it will take you where you want to go, my friend.

5: MEDITATION Sit in the silence - not to get your problems solved, but from a realization that in the mind of God, there are no problems and that the good you are seeking is already complete. Meditation isn’t about making anything happen; it’s about coming into alignment with the good that is already happening.

6: AFFIRMATIVE PRAYER Get clear about the reality and nature of God, and begin to pray from that recognition of your oneness with God. Affirming your freedom, peace of mind, divine and perfect order, harmony and inexhaustible love. Speak

the word of truth for yourself, and have others support you in this way, as well.

7: LOVE YOURSELF Surround yourself with love and support from family and friends. Exercise, eat healthy (Krispy Creams might not be the best thing for you right now, so treat yourself in a healthy way), and have as much fun as possible.

The next thing you know, you’ll be on the other side, and the door that was shut has been replaced with something better than you have ever imagined. ©2013. Ester Nicholson. Excerpt from Soul Recovery – 12 Keys to Healing Addiction. Reprinted with permission from Agape Media/Hay House.

Read Online!

Ester Nicholson - Renowned vocalist for Bette Midler and Rod Stewart, former addict, teacher, speaker and author uses her own astonishing story as the core of her powerful book: Soul Recovery - 12 Keys to Healing Addiction....and 12 Steps for the Rest of Us-A Path to Wholeness, Serenity and Success (Hay House/Agape Media). Soul Recovery, the process that Nicholson developed to heal herself of cocaine addiction unifying the12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with spiritual principles and practices - has guided thousands to their recovery and highest potential. The book includes a forward by Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith. For more information, please visit: www.soulrecovery.org

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Mindfulness-Based

RECOVERY Balance and Rejuvenate! A workbook for emotional and physical healing. Janet Gallagher Nestor Counselor, Energy Psychologist, Soul Detective and Intuitive

“A necessity for 21st century living. A practical means for daily balancing.” – Indrani Maity, ND, D.Ay., Integrated Ayurvedic Naturopathic Energy Medicine Center

www.mindfulpathways.com Get started NOW First 2 Chapters

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Swept Away: How to Surrender to the undertowof

Transformation by shann vander leek

his time of year my family spends a lot of time swimming and playing on the shores of Lake Michigan. My husband and I remind our young daughter to be mindful of the present and powerful undertow. We tell her to look for the ripples on the top of the water. Should she ever get in trouble, we instruct her to hold her breath and flow with the current until it sets her free. We remind her to swim with the current instead of trying to swim straight to shore or she may exhaust herself and drown. Recently I let myself be swept away by a metaphorical undertow of emotions after several weeks of deep introspection and intense planetary shifts. The perfect storm for being swept away included the Full Moon in Sagittarius (my Sun Sign), the first day of my moon time, a wise women gathering, and the study of the 7 Essene Mirrors of Relationship. I am humbled. Blown away by how much I have yet to learn on my path to greater consciousness. I choose to let myself be swept away by the undertow of my personal transformation.

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What I came away with is this:

I choose to accelerate my evolution of consciousness. I choose to dig deep.

My teacher Lorraine simply invited me to show up (and continue showing up) to see what unfolds for me. She reminded me that I don’t have to know all of the answers. All I need to know is that I’m in the process of becoming a more present version of who I’m meant to be. I feel honored to experience this transformational process with a wise teacher and circle of women who say a full-hearted YES to their/our Divine Feminine Unfolding.

Deep Exhalation…

I choose to practice ruthless compassion and passionate detachment. I choose to participate in my wise women’s circle to learn, heal and grow. Wise women’s work is rewarding, humbling, fascinating and draining. And at times, this work honors me with a glimmer of sweet liberation. Right responsibility is coming up

Wisdom & Self-Growth

I am allowed to be who I am, as I am, in each moment. I do not have to pretend to be strong. I am allowed to show deep sadness and emotion. I do not have to lead all the time. I can receive. I have permission to honor the wild part of my Goddess nature. I can simply show up. I am allowed to be the hot mess that shows up in a perfect storm without making excuses or casting harsh self-judgment.

for me now in a big way. As an enthusiastic teacher, facilitator and wise woman, I often feel like an elder. Part of allowing myself to be swept away was the crystal clear realization that I am not an elder or a crone. What I am is a mother in the process of becoming a sovereign Queen. When I share circle time with elders or women in the process of becoming elders, I often forget my place and am pulled into the flow of elder energy with unrealistic selfexpectations. Then I get impatient with myself (and others) because I’m not ready to step into the role of a crone. It’s no wonder I feel lost at times. I am lost at times. Who isn’t?

Here are

Five Survival Tips when

swept away by the undertow of

transformation:

Remain calm and practice compassionate self-care

Identify where you are and surrender to the energy of your current situation

Do your best to swim with the flow of your emotions until you can release them

Do not expend all of your energy trying to get directly to the shore of your resolution (it may take awhile)

When you arrive at the shore of your resolution, make time to rest and recover Read Online!

kenings are â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spiritual awa ical, lovingly irrational, illog plunge us into humbling, and y of the deep myster the divine.â&#x20AC;? Mary Cook

Shann Vander Leek - The founder of True Balance International, co-creator of Anxiety Slayer, author of Life on Your Terms, and the Sacred Heart Teachings. Shann coaches women in transition who are ready to reclaim their feminine sovereignty and transform their precious lives. She is a mama, author, entrepreneur, yogini, artist, and mentor to the goddesses who are attracted to her transformational work. Learn more at www.TransformationGoddess.com

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

the

Wild Woman super powers

By Elizabeth MacLeod

ild Woman is of her own mold. She cannot be stuffed into someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liking or made to be what someone else thinks she should be. Wild Woman reclaims her place, brings her natural powers, and lives deeply inside what she knows to be true.

through her eyes as she sees through her intuitive self, an ancient art that gets lost in our present culture. But she continues, retrieving the wisdom that goes back many generations, so she can reclaim it and pass it forward to those young ones stepping into their wild nature.

Ultimately, being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;untamedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the ability to navigate your path with the divine and wild feminine. We long for her. We long to see

Wild Woman is the source of the feminine, the power of the natural, the alive inspirations and she has sacred powers

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that are medicine to her soul and remedies for repair when lost.

She uses her 9 Wild Woman Super Powers and more as she breathes her soul and anoints her spirit and brings consciousness back into her memory. Here, she meets her most wild and precious self and re-members who she is.

Where do you resonate?

The 9 Wild Woman Super Powers

1 The Super Power of Creativity:

You are so in love with something that makes you happy to do it, be in it, make it, birth it or simply be it. You have heard of shape shifters and perhaps you are somewhat like that. Creativity is a shape changer. With one stroke of a brush the canvas shifts and changes. Wild Woman can change herself and feed the world with her creativity. It’s almost like Creativity is a ‘being’ herself as being creative naturally gives back all that is given and more. Wild Woman exists as creativity exists and knows she must keep in the flow to keep it turned on and that she must tend to it regularly.

You know that the rules of society and the ways that are considered successful, may not be your definition. You know what your Soul requires of you and no matter how much that might have been suppressed, oppressed or silenced you will seek your soul path, your true self. Wild Woman knows this is an act of courage. She respects the journey, the unlayering of notions she thought she had to be. She reaches into her community for what she needs, and she understands that her soul and spirit hold astonishing magic, just like that of a seed growing into a beautiful flower.

3 The Super Power of Spirit Tracking:

As you look for and attend to your wild soul voice, you realize that you must stay conscious of your energy. You look for old patterns that are alive in your present life. You look at where you are drained of energy and where you are supported. Wild Woman knows she is the guardian of her energy. Her tools, information and tracking shoes gathered, she continues to track her spirit gathering information and learning. She travels over the mountains in her mind and the wild oceans of her belly and the surges that pulse through her veins. She tears up the roots, finds lush

Wisdom & Self-Growth

When her feminine soul is fed, she expands, softens, rises and hears the call, even if buried deep in her bones.

2 The Super Power of Uniqueness:

areas to plant forbidden seeds and risks becoming new again as she learns of her underground self. She innately knows this work is crucial for her growth and brings a compelling nature to her world.

The Super Power of Staying Awake:

the great expanse of the Universe . . . She knows, she will manifest quickly, easily and find the parking spot just when she needs it!

6 The Super Power of Instinct:

If you lose your way or can’t find your purpose, or if you are confused or just lost your energy, you know that something has come along and tugged upon your soul in a way that takes the life out of you. You know then, work needs to be done and it takes some staying power to do. You know you can no longer sleep walk through your day. Wild Woman knows that once she has tasted her conscious self that she can never really turn back for long. She knows this is where joy waits for her and a widening of the taste of her soul destiny is what she yearns for.

5 The Super Power of Alignment:

When you might feel ‘off’ or unable to find your center, you know you need to listen to the needs of your body and the whispers of your soul. Clearing the way is important work. Wild Woman knows her body is like a wand between the Earth and the Sky. She knows when she is clear, when her soul is an emollient with her path and she is in agreement with herself and

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Your gut speaks to you. You are learning of your deep feminine knowing. Your instincts help you to move before you are ready or before you know enough. They help you respond before you know what to do. Wild Woman knows she needs to claim her instincts and take back her life. She knows she needs to learn this from the ground up, so she can really know what is truly her. She knows they tell her what boundaries to set and what lines are safe to cross and lead her and take her places where she can howl at the moon, sing without a tune, jump way high with her arms in the air or run through the fields and flop down onto her back to take in the sky . . .

7 The Super Power of the Internal Mother:

Wild Woman knows that if she is to express herself and her gifts, she must learn the ways of changing mothers.

8 The Super Power of Dreaming:

You love to dream. You look far beyond your eyes to see your vision. Going beyond the everyday, traveling with the dream-maker at night fuels the Wild Woman and feeds her desire for more, her quest for beauty, her divine vision powered by source. Wild Woman knows she is alive when she dreams and lives to keep fulfilling them. And she knows, the voice of her dreams, speak from her soul. When she hears the call, she may at first stumble, but she knows the wild is calling her and reaches to meet the heart beat of the call.

9 The Super Power of Intuition:

You never lose your intuition, even

Wild Woman can feel her intuitive wisdom inside her skin, in the flesh of her heart and deepness of her bones. She knows she has immediate access to this wisdom, always. And she’ll do whatever it takes to get it back and fully own the deep wisdom that calls her. Wild Woman is the force behind her Super Powers. By recognizing these powers, and giving her the space to have them, Wild Woman will not only show up, but she will stay. And you know, she will inform the deepest part of you, bringing you your most natural, wild and deeply feminine self and way of being. Where is she present? Where can you feel her breathe? . . . Are you longing for her?

Good. That means she is present.

Read Online!

Elizabeth MacLeod - A Wild Woman Muse, Teacher, Guide and Author and Illustrator of the Wild Woman Mystery Cards and founder of founder of Wild Woman Enchanted Co Int’l Inc.. Elizabeth’s beautiful line of Wild Woman® products, Wild Woman Enchanted® retreats, and Mystery Card Readings are dedicated to creating a space in the world where woman feel women feel connected with themselves and their power, grace, beauty, glory and wildness. Learn more at www.WildWomanEnchanted.com

Wisdom & Self-Growth

You know that sometimes, depending on what you need and how you are evolving, that sometimes your internal mother must change. Sometimes, it’s good to coddle and smile and keep you protected, and yet you know, that there are times that it is not always ‘good for the soul’ to hold back or play it safe. Sometimes a shove or nudge of brisk energy, risk or thrill, is also the role of the internal mother within.

when you hear that your intuition has been broken out of you, you know this is not true. It is the knowledge and knowing that has been passed down from generation to generation that has been broken, not your intuition.

Awaken Your

Intuition! By Cari L. Murphy

wakening your intuition requires nothing more than improving your spiritual “health” and generating some positive momentum! Here are seven easy steps to do just that. You may be surprised at how easy they are!

1. Communicate: Intuition is about communicating with your inner self. The first step in awakening your intuition is to begin regularly communicating with your inner self. How? Awareness of you how you’re feeling. This helps you gain a clear picture of what you want and where your happiness lies. Get clear on your passions, desires, and soul’s deepest aspirations. What excites you? What fuels you? Explore the inner landscape of who you are beyond the physical body. Explore the totality of your being, the part of you that cannot be seen. This magical unseen space resides within you and holds the potential for anything and everything you desire. Begin to acknowledge your soul self and develop

that infinite connection and relationship. Ask questions. Then, listen for the answer! The key is listening and responding to what you hear.

2. Be Positive: Pessimism creates stress – emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. When you actively and consciously free yourself from your worries (worry is simply a prayer for what you don’t want!) your body gradually attains a state of peaceful relaxation. The same thing happens to your mind when you think positive, nurturing, nourishing good thoughts. A relaxed and calm mind can more easily hear and interpret the messages from your soul. The clutter and chaos of pessimistic behavior does not allow for the

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space! It also relaxes your body and eases tension, helping you awaken your divine intuition in beautiful new ways.

3. Meditate:

5. Be Patient and Compassionate:

Ever wonder why so many spiritual leaders emphasize the importance of meditation? If your heart and mind are cluttered or if there is pain in your body, these conditions will steal your focus and attention. It will prevent you from being able to hear, listen or focus on the internal guidance attempting to flow through. Meditation soothes your body, helps your mind relax and releases resistance. Resistance and allowance cannot occur at the same time. With intention, compassion, self care and trust, you can more easily let go and receive. Meditation gives you the quiet time with yourself. This is essential for spiritual growth and expansion. It paves the way for a clear avenue through which you can steer your physical vessel with grace, joy and ease!

Enjoy the beauty in each moment without rushing to experience tomorrow. Set the intention to be patient with yourself as awaken your intuition. Be open to receiving divinely inspired guidance and don’t worry about not getting the “right” message or not getting any message at all. Don’t worry about receiving your messages in a specific way. Just stay open and receptive. There is no right or wrong way to experience an intuitive feeling. In fact, any labeling or defining blocks reception. Intuition can come as an emotion charge, a knowing, a physical response, a vision or all those things combined! Just remember that as long

4. Be Creative: Creative expression is the language of the soul. Allow yourself to get into the flow! Open the faucet of creativity and divine expression by giving attention to your passions. Take the time to nurture your passions. Allow this inspiration to flow through you more frequently. This will help you understand yourself, reclaim your gifts, and receive messages from your soul. It takes your attention away from anything other than the purity of divine expression. This flow is far more powerful than fear. In fact, fear cannot exist when you are in this

Wisdom & Self-Growth

clarity or receptivity necessary for listening and interpreting the insightful messages you are meant to receive.

as you focus on not getting any messages, you’ll impede the natural flow. Instead, celebrate every intuitive “hit” you get. This will boost your confidence and hone your skills. This will stretch your intuitive muscles so they expand more easily! Then, you will feel, hear, see and know divine guidance more consistently. Don’t judge or fear it. Just be open. Be patient. Be aware! Many lead such chaotic lives they don’t even notice the synchronicities happening around them! They often chalk it up to a coincidence if they notice at all! Cherish the moments of inspiration and nurture them. In doing so, they will come more regularly and easily.

6. Play: There are many things you can do to begin living a more intuitive, insightful, imaginative, creative, and beautiful life. Keep it simpe! Be more playful, spontaneous and open! Practice honing your intuitive skills by making it a game. Before you know it you’ll be getting intuitive hits all the time. Just relax, have fun with it and appreciate the support your spirit is attempting to offer you each day.

7. Keep a Daily Momentum Journal: Keep a journal of daily events, feelings and dreams that reflect the expansion of your intuition. The journal will show you how your feelings, intuition and dreams relate to your everyday events. As you document

what’s working, you will keep the positive momentum flowing! Journals are great reflective tools for heightened awareness. They help you see how you’ve responded to your intuition AND how your intuition has responded to you. Acknowledging these moments helps you realize how often this is actually happening! You may take your “tuned in” state for granted until you begin noticing its frequency, clarity and power. I hope those 7 steps were helpful, simple and easy. Now, they require implementation! That is the key. At a time when we are being bombarded with so much information, we need to filter information through our inner knowing, truth and discernment. We need to see, feel and know our own truth. Our inner guidance is our GPS in life. To ensure greater harmony and expansion, we need our innate instincts finely tuned. Happy tuning! Read Online!

Cari L. Murphy - As a Soul Success Coach, Business & Empowerment Mentor coaching tens of thousands worldwide, Award-winning author of 5 books, including the best-seller “Create Change Now”, Speaker, celebrated Media Personality, international Talk Radio Host of the globally syndicated “Create Change Now” Radio Show (450k listeners) & Founder of Empowerment Coaching Solutions, Cari Murphy is dedicated to helping conscious entrepreneurs and success seekers build their businesses and experience spiritual expansion, soul-driven success, and purposeful living through her consistently inspirational messages of individual empowerment. Cari is an expert in the field of Spiritual, Lifestyle and Transformational Media Hosting and Programming. Learn more at http://www.carimurphy.com

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Create wealth through Awareness and ACTION: How to Leverage both the

Feminine

and

MASCULINE by Rev. karen russo

ealth is both an inner state of consciousness and an outer state of circumstances. A holistic approach to creating and sustaining wealth includes our spiritual, ethical, emotional, mental natures as well as our actions, circumstances and physical results with money. God (or life or the Universe or Spirit) includes both feminine and masculine ways of being. Therefore, healthy, vibrant, wealthy living is most effective when you deliberately leverage both the feminine and the masculine.

Feminine and masculine are energetic attributes of expression. These qualities are present in women and men, in the energy of places, in how projects, ideas and businesses are expressed. After working with thousands of spiritually conscious women from all across the globe helping them discover an empowered approach to spiritual wealth leadership, I am convinced that every woman can learn to value and develop both feminine faith and masculine focusâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and prosper!

Feminine Spiritual Faith builds Wealth through Awareness The feminine energy of wealth is all about cultivating feminine spiritual faith helps you build wealth through awareness.

Divine Love is inclusive. One of the

attributes of the divine feminine is Love, the infinite embrace. Love is unconditioned generous welcoming of all energies, experiences and expressions. Love as a wealth principle is the idea that our existence is valuable… just because of who we are. We need to do nothing to earn Love. Love for us, as us, around us. When an individual has a practice of spiritual study, meditation, and prayer that welcomes the felt experience of Divine Love, then every aspect of her material life, including money, work and profession, is perceived as flowing from the spiritual source, and therefore being supportive, sustaining and purposeful.

Fear dissolves into peace of mind.

Present moment awareness that is diffuse and gracious is a feminine quality. In wealth creation, we become peaceful, not frantic, when we stay in the present moment. Most money worries are more about fear of lack in the future. Developing your ‘now’ presence is a valuable way to find financial peace of mind.

Receptivity and graciousness are big time income strategies. Gratitude is a

feminine spiritual practice—receptivity and appreciation for all the material channels that spiritual source flows though activates more flow. I encourage all wealth builders, men and women, beginners and experienced, to have a vital, fresh gratitude practice in your profession, your business, your family finances. Grateful individuals are already wealthy… and stay that way!

Masculine Money Focus builds Wealth through Action Building masculine money focus helps you create wealth through action. Masculine qualities of doing accelerate the financial results you desire.

Wisdom is divine sufficiency. Wisdom

is the infinite intelligence of the eternal, unified, all powerful presence of God (or Life, Source, Mother/ Father/ Creator). When we tap into our own inner wisdom, we are thinking from the mind of the divine within us. Wealth is a state of wholeness where needs are met, conditions are understood and supply is intelligently distributed with accuracy and perfection. For many wealth builders who want to lead their wealth more boldly, anchoring into Wisdom creates more powerful decisions about work, profession, investing, providing and giving.

Freedom is our natural state of being. The masculine in all of us wants

to be free! Free to choose, act, move and generate. Spiritually freedom emerges from the Law of Co-Creation, the principle that consciousness creates experience and consciousness can be changed. We are always at choice to release judgments, resentments and victimhood around money and to affirm the cooperative, creative truths that we want to embody in financial affairs.

Inspired action gets results. Masculine action is focused, deliberate and confident. Often women who are developing

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Find Your Sacred Balance of Feminine and Masculine Qualities

When you activate the feminine spiritual qualities of wealth you feel deeply connected to your spiritual source, you are engaged, content and powerful. When you

activate the masculine spiritual qualities of wealth you become vitalized with natural power, clear in your financial decisions and brilliant in your actions. Deepen your faith. Build your focus. You’ll Read thrive as a leader of your wealth. Online!

Karen Russo – Your Spiritual Guide in Wealth Creation and the award-winning author of The Money Keys: Unlocking Peace, Freedom and Real Financial Power, endorsed by her teachers Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Katherine Woodward Thomas and T. Harv Eker. Karen shares insights from her wisdom gained as an MBA from Columbia University, an accomplished corporate trainer, topselling salesperson, and an ordained interfaith minister. Get your ‘Escaping the Money Traps’ book chapter, audio guide and 3 lessons at http://www.TheMoneyKeys.com.

Wisdom & Self-Growth

their spiritual wealth leadership relieve overwhelm when they take simple, consistent, inspired actions in their money lives— becoming comfortable with the masculine provider energy within themselves. All wealth creators thrive with a healthy practice of spiritual habits and behaviors.

by Elizabeth Harper

Set an Intention to receive inspiration from your Soul. Close your eyes and take a deep breath into the center of your being. When you are ready, open your eyes, select a color and open your heart to the message from your Soul.

Embracing Your Worth Blue

You want to be free of limitations. A situation you’ve been trying to control hasn’t gone the way you expected. The tighter you hold on to how you think it should manifest the more likely you are to suffocate. Stop struggling, let go and make space to allow new opportunities to come your way.

Green

Financial strains have been hard on your personal wealth the last few months, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Money from a new source brings the abundance you’ve been waiting for. It won’t all be smooth sailing, but it’s a start.

Brown

Brown caters to your need to mother and be mothered, so this is a great time to nurture newly planted seeds. With some careful attention to detail seeds sown now will offer a steady return on your love investment within the next two years. On the romantic front, something or someone will draw your attention and get your heart racing.

Magenta

Home is where your heart is. You’ll be putting extra cash into your home in the form of renovating or renegotiating your mortgage.

Someone you haven’t heard from in a long time suddenly re-appears; the side effect of this surprise will rev up your creativity juices.

Olive

Communications have been a little touch and go, not everyone gets your humor or the way you explain things. Take a breath! This learning experience appears on the brink of a “big moment” or a breakthrough. Invite others to share how you can best connect with them and if it doesn’t feel right just let go and move on.

Orange

New adventures in networking are in the cards. This means that if you have an

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Yellow

Good health is important, but how fit you are physically does not always reflect your whole self. When you take on too much of other people’s “stuff,” it can weigh heavily on your wellbeing and eventually filters through to your body. All that’s needed is an energetic cleansing and protection routine to make you as good as new.

Pink

Trying to make things happen when the winds of change are not in your favor is like attempting to swim upstream against the current. It might work for salmon, but it’s advisable to stop fighting the universe, and consider changing direction to go with the flow.

Red

You want to be free of guilt linked with current and past partnerships. Aches and pains around the shoulders and back are physical symptoms of blame you’ve been carrying. Reach out to reconnect with someone you’ve been in conflict with and the suffering will have a chance to dissolve.

Turquoise

A message from afar brings a potential opportunity to expand your reach both personally and professionally, but wait for more information before taking a leap. Your body is sensitive to environmental influences right now so get plenty of rest, and eat well.

Violet

Something in your life may appear to be broken. Like a bruise it has brought you pain, but believe it or not this is a blessing in disguise. You can change what appears to be a problem to your advantage and make this your light bulb moment! Read Online!

Elizabeth Harper – An internationally acclaimed teacher, intuitive, healer, and the author of the award winning book Wishing: How to Fulfill Your Hearts Desires. Elizabeth is on the faculty at the highly acclaimed Omega Institute in Rhineback, NY and is invited to speak around the world. www.SealedwithLove.com

White

You are a fabulous healer and problem solver, but spending time fixing others takes away from those areas of your life that need your attention. Why not offer up ways they can do it for themselves! This way you’ll make space for something new and wonderful to come into your life.

Wisdom & Self-Growth

inspiring message to share you’ll learn how to present it to all corners of the universe and beyond. Remember to give back, be open to joint ventures, and above all don’t sell yourself short.

HEALTH & WELLNESS It Always Comes Back to

Care SelfBy Jodi Chapman

Aspi

l Live & Virtua

UPCOMING EVENTS

Golda Perotsky

My 4 Step Self-Care Formula:

For me, self-care is a process – it’s not something that happens overnight. It’s a journey of making conscious choices based on what feeds my soul and what nourishes my spirit. It’s about staying in touch with my body and really listening to what it needs. It’s about loving myself enough to walk away from that which causes stress and strain. It’s about welcoming anything and everything that feels wonderful and feeds my soul. Sometimes you just don’t feel like going within and centering yourself and slowing down. Sometimes you feel as though you truly don’t have time for it. reMag.net

ONLINE!

loving toward your body and giv es you the opportunity to enjoy the sensations of your body.”

Re On ad lin e!

Self-care doesn’t come naturally to many women especially those who have a habit of putting themselves last. The author shares her personal journey of learning to love, honor and care for herself and the self-care formula that is helping her to do so.

CHECK OUT MORE

“Do something every day that is

e an entire STEP 1: Slow Down Tak Pamper life. from day off – a sabbatical nd your spe d An lf. rse you e yourself. Lov time relaxing. n any te dow receive i r W : 2 u STEP st rity yo or cla d time to ju s t h g i a h w ins e o v fl a ou h ons to after y l. Allow emoti permission l i t s s r be you elf in. ou. Give space you are l y h g u o ’l r u e thr o v Y te . a ess wh to be in to force happin are living u y yo Don’t tr better if d that hole lot whatever moo w a l e fe in cally – ns to be. authenti happe

STEP 3: Recreate a balanc ed life by applying your soul’s wisdom into your physical life.

Take any insights that you rece ive during your downtime and find ways to incorporate them into your life.

els

ou! It fe elebrate y STEP 4: C re of yourself. And it

ca great to take good things come out en h w er to celebrate feels sup So be sure ! re u ca lfse of this e anytime yo ses you hav . any succes first put yourself

LIVING the

Goddess Lifestyle

Wake up your

INNERGoddess BY LISA MARIE ROSATI

h self-worth and self-esteem … words that have sparked endless hours of introspective thought and have stubbornly adhered themselves as the root of many peoples “problems”.

Here are a couple of things I know for sure: 1. S elf-esteem is a verb, not a noun. You’re always estimating yourself – the act of self-estimation; estimating your worth. Interesting definition and a big promise, I know … but I’ve done it and so can you. I spent the majority of my life inadvertently begging for scraps of approval from everyone who mattered to me and I let complete strangers totally mess with my

2. I t really doesn’t matter how you currently feel or have felt about yourself in the past, you can elevate your estimation of yourself. confidence level. The fear of judgment or criticism from others kept me quiet and small. I walked with my shoulders hunched and eyes looking down, I sat in the back of classrooms with my textbook opened wide in front of my face. I wanted to be invisible

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

because invisible was safe and this behavior continued until I hit my mid 30’s.

Goddess help me. What I decided was that I was going to immediately stop giving energy to analyzing what potentially my parents, family members, teachers, childhood friends, past lovers, cranky strangers, or anyone else did or did not do to cause my low self-esteem (because you know what… understanding “it” or why it happened is a complete waste of time – I’ll never understand it!). Instead, I was going to focus my energy on consciously letting go of the intense vice grip I held on all the crummy things that happened to me in the past or the belittling things that were said to me by others over the course of my lifetime. I was going to re-

invent myself as the woman I wanted to be; a Modern Day Goddess. At age 40 I was going to re-write my story. And I did.

The end.

The path of enlightenment is not a path of doing; it’s a path of undoing. Shedding all the protective layers filled with hurt, anger, judgment and resentment so that my Inner Goddess could finally bask in the glorious glow of love, forgiveness, acceptance and pleasure.

Some of the practices that helped me elevate my vibration, command my space on this earth, stir some of my dormant archetypes & wake up my sleeping Inner Goddess were and continue to be: • Set Intentions & Honor Them. You

are only as good as your word. Never break promises to yourself. Small ones or big ones … keep them.

• Live Your Authentic Life. Live out loud

and bad-ass! Stop editing and suppressing your true nature and authentic self. Let your freak flag fly, the world needs you!

HEALTH & WELLNESS

I don’t remember my “I am a TOTAL GODDESS” revelation being an exact moment… you know a profound “Ah-Ha Moment” that rocked me to the core. No, no, no … for me … it turned out to be more of an unfolding. I do remember thinking to myself on occasion when I self judged or had little faith in myself, “*sigh* this is RIDICULOUS, how long am I going to continue to be my own worst enemy?” My immediate next thought was, “How am I going to stop… I have no idea how to roll any other way.”

No… I’m just kidding, that’s when the real work began! What I discovered along the long and sometimes painful spiritual journey was that the path to enlightenment is not a path of learning, but a path of unlearning. Unlearning all the thought patterns, behaviors and beliefs that no longer served the divine vision I held of the woman I wanted to be.

• Choose A Healthy Mental & Physical Diet. Toxic everything; food, jobs, thoughts, people, etc. need to go.

• Stop Comparing Yourself To Others. Comparison is the death of joy. You are uniquely you and that is more than good enough.

• Stop Beating Yourself Up. Just stop. It’s

okay, it’s okay, and it’s okay. It’s all okay beautiful. If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a pickle, think about the lesson … what’s the learning in it for you, acknowledge it, then move on.

• Celebrate Your Successes. Even the

small ones and don’t withhold waiting on perfect. Any progress is worthy of celebration. When you celebrate, you raise your vibration and are telling the universe “I am in love with this. Please send me more!”

• Chase The Feeling Of Expansion.

Shift your “thinking” from your head and move it into your body. If I feel expansive, I keep going. If I start to shrink or contract, I stop. By the way - this concept works when speaking too. I have literally stopped talking mid-sentence because the words I was using felt yucky.

• Create Boundaries. No is a complete

sentence. Stop saying “yes” when your gut (your intuition) is screaming “NO” and stop letting others dictate what is important to you.

I am a work in progress as are you. I honor your journey, however that looks for you… but PLEASE try to get out of your own way. What I know for sure is that, if you ask your Inner Goddess to come out to play, your life will shift in the most miraculous and delicious ways.

• Live In Gratitude. You have so much to

be grateful for… start a Gratitude Journal. Before you go to bed each night, write down ten things you are grateful for that day and why. This is an important step. Gratitude alone can turn things around for you.

Read Online!

Passionista Lisa Marie Rosati – An Inner Goddess Catalyst for women and the Creatrix of The Goddess Lifestyle Plan.

• Pamper Yourself. Maybe get a massage,

mani/pedi, have your hair blown out, a bubble bath or a little afternoon nap. Treat yourself with the same honor, courtesy, respect and kindness you would if you were taking someone else out that you really (REALLY) liked. The key here is to embrace and enjoy the pleasurable experience. Feeling guilty defeats the purpose.

Lisa mentors women on how become a Modern Day Goddess by consciously designing a luscious Goddess life, cultivating radiant health and creating a lucrative business using and directing their feminine fire. www.GoddessLifestylePlan.com

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

The

Wise Woman Way

Goddess

ach of us has a Goddess within and it’s time to be that Goddess, now!

It’s time for each of us and all of us to embody the Goddess, to be the Goddess. It is time for each of us and all of us to act like the Goddess. Why? Because the Goddess is peaceful? No. She is fierce. She is Sekmet, the berserk lioness Goddess of Egypt. She is Kali, who gives birth dancing on the back of a copulating couple while drinking the blood of her newborn. She is Hell, the ruler of the underworld in Scandinavia. She is Erishkegal, Queen of the dead. She is the Goddess who knows how to end things. She is the Goddess who knows how to give death. She is the Goddess who knows how to say “no.” She is not peaceful; and she may very well end war.

Each of us has a Goddess within and it’s time to be that Goddess, now.

Time BY SUsun weed

It’s time for each of us and all of us to choose a Goddess archetype (or be chosen by one) and give voice to our Goddess wisdom (or allow Her wisdom to flow through us). Why? Because the Goddess will save us? No. She is the Goddess who feeds us. She is the Goddess who gives us medicine. She is the Goddess who clothes us. She is the Goddess who warms us. She is the Goddess who shelters us. She is the Goddess who gladdens our spirits with flowers. She is the Goddess who sweetens the air with delicious aromas. She is the Goddess who heals our wounds. She is the Goddess who gives us standing and understanding, but She is not the Goddess who will save us. She is the Mother Goddess and she is mother enough to know that we need to make our own mistakes. And mother enough to help us heal when we get hurt. She knows that, eventually, we will learn to look within, not without, for our salvation.

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

Each of us has a Goddess within and it’s time to be that Goddess, now.

Each of us has a Goddess within and it’s time to be that Goddess, now. It’s time for each of us and all of us to look into the mirror and see the Goddess. And smile. It’s time for us, each of us and all of us, to project the Goddess in all we do and all we say. With conviction, with power. It’s time for Goddess gospel singing and Goddess drumming and Goddess dancing ‘til all hours of the night. It’s time to claim your Goddess self and run with Her. Let Her loose. Let Her grab your hand and take you on a wild ride into your very own power. Yahoo!

It’s time. It’s time to be the Goddess. It’s time to be the Goddess right now. Read Online!

Each of us has a Goddess within and it’s time to be that Goddess, now. It’s time for each of us and all of us to reclaim our Goddess archetype, to exclaim and to proclaim: “I am the embodiment of the Goddess. My body is the body of the Goddess. I am perfect, just as I am.” The Goddess runs a marathon and the Goddess needs oxygen to stay alive. The Goddess cooks dinner for her family and the Goddess runs a restaurant. The Goddess uses herbs for healing; the Goddess is a surgeon. “I am the Goddess, just as I am. I am enough, just as I am. I am the Goddess now, just

Susun Weed – An internationally renowned herbalist, author, and director of the Wise Woman Center in New York. She is a revered voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, where women’s bodies and women’s emotions are valued. Susun is a founding grandmother of the herbal renaissance and the originator of the concept of complementary medicine. www.SusunWeed.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

It’s time for each of us and all of us to step into our role as Goddess and to allow Her to shine through our lives, our words, and our actions. Why? Because the Goddess will tell us how we ought to act? Give us commandments? Lay down the law? Tell us what is right and what is wrong? No. She follows no rules, exacts no justice. She is out of bounds. She is the shaman, the woman with the drum. She is the one who shifts her shape. When her husband murders Her and buries Her, She sprouts corn from her body. When Her father cuts off her fingers as she clings to the side of his boat, She turns them into all the edible creatures of the sea. She marries her rapist; She rules with him. She is true to herself. She is real, authentic, genuine. She is vain, at times. She is greedy, but not selfish. She may be petulant, sulking, impatient, rude. She is rarely the good wife; She makes it on her own. She is the Great Virgin. She is the Bountiful Mother. She is the Wise Crone. “All acts of pleasure and beauty are in honor of Me,” she says.

as I am.” Whoever you are, you are the Goddess. Wherever you are, the Goddess is there. What ever your age, the Goddess is your age: Maiden she is, Mother she is, and She is Crone.

We are

More than our

Physical

Bodies By elisa romeo

ne day while in graduate school, after many hours of back-to-back classes, I got a migraine. I was sitting with my friend, Dennis, and we were eating lunch on the grass. Dennis is an amazing body worker, and he started to give me a neck massage. Then he noticed I was about to “trance out,” so he moved me into a quiet room. While in a deep trance state, I appear drugged and receive intense visual dreamlike pictures. On this day, I left my body and hovered over my physical self. I saw the creases in my face and watched my chest contract and expand. All at once I understood the struggle of the physical

and was instantly overwhelmed with love and compassion. It became clear that my priorities—my life choices—had been dictated by fear. And then I had the most freeing epiphany:

I am not my body.

Like most of us, I desperately hoped I would survive as a consciousness after my physical body died, but I never completely trusted this was true. I thought I might cease to exist and was terrified of disappearing into a black void. But after that day there was no avoiding the truth. I now know I will exist after my physical body is gone. We will

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The real shake up of this experience was after the trance. Ultimately, the experience forced me to reevaluate everything in my life. Anywhere that I was making decisions based on physical world security was immediately and painfully apparent to me. There is more to life than a healthy 401k, a sixfigure income and tennis on the weekends. Life is about expressing yourself and allowing Love to move through you on a momentto-moment basis. At the end of the day, this is all that truly matters. Remember where you began, understand your truth and then be that without apology. I merged with my Soul Self and saw my ego-driven life with intense and painful clarity. This knowingness guides all of my sessions and all of my work in the world.

The Power of the

Energetic Lens Every one of us is an energy worker. As ener-

getic beings, constantly engaged with the subtle energies of the people and world around us, we make a thousand minor energetic tweaks to adjust to each moment. In yoga, this energetic part of ourselves is known as “the subtle body” or in Taoism as “the light body.” It is the outer layer around our physical

awareness gives us power over our engagement with the world. We don’t need to become paranoid or hypercritical of our energetic communication, but a basic awareness of the landscape can help tremendously. This allows us to navigate our lives with intention. All it takes is a little discipline and some consistency to become fluent in energetic communication. Our energy field is always listening. If we think a

Our energy field is always listening. If we think a self-defeating thought, it depletes our energy and our aura contracts and becomes more susceptible to other energies. body that first interacts with the world. Our physical body is constant— beating our heart, healing small cuts, expanding our lungs and growing our fingernails—and this happens whether we are conscious of it or not. But with our energy system,

self-defeating thought, it depletes our energy and our aura contracts and becomes more susceptible to other energies. If you feel you have not acted in an honorable way, your energy weakens. If you are connected to your Soul Voice and think thoughts

HEALTH & WELLNESS

all continue. And while out of body we have access to anything we could ever want to know. Without the weight of the physical world guiding our experience, we are truly spiritual beings.

that are affirming and Loving, your energy expands and strengthens. Your energy is a reflection and accumulation of every thought and every action. One of the benefits of the energetic lens is that it allows us to step out of victimhood and into our own empowerment as spiritual beings. Psychologically, this is known as an internal locus of control. Instead of our destiny or success being dependent on external factors, we have great power to alter our own energy and untangle energetically from others. We have options when the physical world fails us. It might not be possible to say what we want to say to our boss without losing our job, but energetically you can have the conversation and change everything. One of my clients was consistently bullied at work by her manager. She was constantly under scrutiny, unfairly attacked in a bully/ runt archetypal pattern. We managed to shift the energy cords and removed her from the manager’s energetic radar, which resulted in a much more peaceful work environment. In my early days working at the suicide hotline, my boss hounded me every day. Clients would call in, feeling utter despair and in the direst circumstances, but because the phone line was part of the for-profit health care system, we were pressured to handle our calls quickly. You can probably imagine the stress this created, between the desire to give quality care and the external focus on “our numbers.” I was constantly on the radar for having long

phone calls and received daily lectures about my performance. At the time I was studying at a meditation center and just beginning to learn about energy work. After I removed the energy cord between my boss and myself, she immediately stopped hounding me. I was shocked. My numbers hadn’t changed. Nothing had changed in physical reality, yet everything about our relationship was different. This validated for me the reality and influence of our energetic relationships. After that I learned as much as I could about the energetic world.

I find the energetic lens to be the most

helpful, powerful, healing, efficient and practical way to shift energy and relationships. Energy awareness takes relating to a whole new level and illuminates the codependency relationship in a powerful new light.

Read Online!

Elisa Romeo - Psychic medium, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, author and speaker. Elisa’s life was forever changed due to an out-of-body experience, drastically shifting her understanding of healing. After directly meeting her Soul, she was reminded why we come to Earth and the primary task of being human: to embody the Soul--fully and outrageously, in all of its messy human and Divine glory. She is the author of Authentic Intuition: A Psychological and Energetic Guide to Find Your Purpose, Claim Your Life and Live with Joy’ and the forthcoming Meet Your Soul (Hay House, 2014). Learn more at www.ElisaRomeo.com

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RELATIONSHIPS

“Your self-worth has nothing

to do with your craft or calling, and everything to do with how you treat yourself.” Kris Carr

Read Online!

LOVE is an Action Word: Tangible Ways to Connect with Your Child BY dr. caron b. goode

While saying “I love you” expresses how you feel to your child, when you’re able to clearly communicate your love in a tangible way that your child understands, there’s no chance your child will miss the message. Considering your child’s interactive style when showing expressions of love helps assure that your child, without a doubt, feels love, cared for and connected. Each child interacts with their world differently. In fact, there are four separate and distinct categories of interactive styles. These groups include achievers, thinkers, harmonizers and influencers. While there are bits and pieces of each interactive style in all of our children, children typically exhibit one or two dominant styles that direct how they interact with their world. achievers: Achievers tend to be children who have a great need for freedom and self-expression. thinkers: Thinkers tend to be children who thoroughly examine issues. HARMONIZERS: Harmonizers tend to be children who are the peacemakers of the family. influencers: Influencers tend to be children who are creative and artistic. Considering your child’s interactive style when showing expression of love can help assure that your child, without a doubt, feels love, cared for and connected.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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STOP Are you Ready to

Sabotaging

Relationships?

ne of the first questions I ask my clients is “What is it that stops you from getting what you want out of a relationship?” Notice I don’t ask them “What do you think your partner should do?” During this part of our conversation they often bring up societal standards or their family’s expectations. Surprisingly most of the individuals I counsel answer, “I’m not sure.” My response to that is that it’s time to examine their fear of intimacy and the ways they might be sabotaging their relationships. So what can you do if you are paralyzed by fear or unable to risk being vulnerable with your partner? First, you need to acknowledge it. Fear doesn’t go away by itself – it tends to morph into something else. Do you sometimes find that you sabotage yourself in relationships? Many people fear getting hurt emotionally and might flee a relationship or engage

By Terry Gaspard

in some form of self-protective behavior. This reaction can limit them by fostering a pessimistic attitude about the future. For many of us, pain is what we know. Conflict is comfortable. Dealing with an unavailable man is our wheelhouse. A man who wants nothing more than to be with us and make us a top priority is alien. The truth is that an unconscious fear of rejection and/or fear of engulfment can cause a person to sabotage a relationship – even though they believe they are available or engaged. Relationship expert Margaret Paul, Ph.D. writes “Since people attract each other at their common level of woundedness or their common level of health, an unavailable person’s fear of commitment likely mirrors your fear of commitment.” For many, a fear of intimacy may translate into testing a relationship by picking a partner who is wrong for you or playing it safe by distancing yourself.

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Do you find yourself falling into one or all of the following relationship patterns?

Ignoring red flags such as dishonesty, possessiveness, or jealous tendencies? alling into the trap of people pleasing F such as worrying more about your partner’s feelings than your own? ursuing a partner who is distant P even though you know deep down inside that they will never meet your emotional needs? The vast majority of the women that I’ve interviewed for my book Love We Can Be Sure Of describe themselves as independent, steadfast, loyal and conscientious. They are hardworking, trustworthy, and self-reliant – and pride themselves on these traits. They may feel self-assured and autonomous – confident they can take care of themselves while others can’t. The truth is that self-reliance is a double-edged sword. While it has many virtues, extreme self-reliance can rob women of true intimacy and the type of partnerships they deserve. A striking brunette in her late twenties, Rachel provides an example of a woman who learned to be self-reliant due to her family of origin. Crime, infidelity, and drug abuse broke apart Rachel’s family and robbed her

For a relationship to be balanced, partners must be able to depend on one another and feel they are needed and appreciated for support they give. If you have been let down in the past, the prospect of needing someone can be frightening. You may fear depending on your partner but may not be aware of the source of it. Achieving interdependence in a relationship is possible but takes time and intention. It’s unfortunate that we often equate vulnerability with weakness. In her landmark book Daring Greatly, Dr. Brené Brown defines vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Given this definition, the act of falling in love is the ultimate risk. Love is uncertain. It’s inherently risky because our partner could leave us at a moment’s notice, betray us, or stop loving us.

Take a moment to consider that you might be sabotaging relationship after relationship if you don’t get beyond your fear of being vulnerable. 71

relationships

Avoiding confronting your partner about important issues or sharing negative feelings with him because you fear his disapproval?

of a father figure. With passion in her voice, Rachel says, “I still have to take care of me. I feel like I never want to depend on anyone because that’s what my mom did, and look what happened to her.” Rachel’s comments reflect her determination to succeed as well as her strong desire to protect herself from heartbreak. She expects to lose and had become accustomed to losing.

Steps to Letting Love Into Your Life While all relationships present us with risks, they are risks worth taking. The following steps will help you on your journey to being more open to letting love into your life: isualize yourself in an honest V and open relationship and work toward allowing yourself to be more vulnerable with a partner. etermine if your reaction to flee a D relationship is grounded in reality. If it’s extreme, pinpoint the source of it and examine your thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. hallenge your beliefs and selfC defeating thoughts about your selfworth. You don’t need to prove anything to another person about your worth.

Take a moment to consider that you might be sabotaging relationship after relationship if you don’t get beyond your fear of being vulnerable. Your fear of showing weakness or exposing yourself to others, for instance, might be preventing you from being totally engaged in an intimate relationship. You may be freezing out the opportunity for love because you are fearful of sharing your inner most thoughts, feelings, and wishes. Read Online!

Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW – A licensed clinical social worker, author, and college instructor. She specializes in helping individuals heal from the pain of divorce and co-founded a website for that purpose with her daughter Tracy Clifford. Terry is a Huffington Post contributor and an expert writer for YourTango.com. You can find her at movingpastdivorce.com, Facebook and on Twitter.

otice your self-judgments because N they are a main source of selfsabotage. Be kind and compassionate toward yourself. emind yourself daily that it’s healthy R to accept help from others and a sign of strength rather than weakness. Developing interdependence with a partner will allow you to become more intimate with them. on’t let your fear of rejection stop D you from achieving trusting, intimate relationships. Surrender your shield and let others in.

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ility and “Love is the ab llow those that willingness to a be what they you care for to selves without choose for them that they any insistence satisfy you.” r Wayne Dye

What Do Your

Children REALLY

Need From You? By Margaret paul

ost parents want to be good parents. Yet parenting is one of those things that does not have hard and fast rules. So how do we know what to do? How do we know what will support our children in being all they can be?

Trust Your Intuition One of the most important things for parents to do is to learn to trust their own intuition. Your feelings tell you when you are on

course or off course in your behavior with your children. When things feel right inside, then you know that you are being a truly loving parent, and when they feel wrong inside, you know you are out of alignment with what is in your highest good and your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest good. I remember my mother telling me that she used to put her fist in her mouth to stop herself from crying, and from picking me up, when I was an infant and cried. She had

relationships

Parenting:

read in Dr. Spock that babies should not be picked up when they cry, that it is good for their lungs to cry, and that she would spoil me if she picked me up. But her insides were telling her the opposite - that babies cry when they need food, changing or love. It is so sad that she followed Dr. Spock instead of her own inner knowing. Now research has proven that babies who are not picked up when they cry become more dependent and insecure than babies who are kept with their mothers. In many countries, babies sleep with their parents until they no longer want to, feeling safe all night. In the U.S., most babies are alone at night, some crying themselves to sleep. This is not only sad, it is very unhealthy for the baby. So the first thing your child needs from you is for you to trust your inner knowing, rather than any book you read.

Your Loving Presence Your child needs your loving presence - not your busy preoccupied presence. For your

children to feel important to you, they need to feel you fully present with them - reading to them daily, playing with them, holding and comforting them and listening to them.

Healthy Environment Your children need for you to create a healthy environment for them by feeding them healthy food, restricting screen time - TV, computer, video games - and making sure they play outdoors and get enough exercise. They need your encouragement to develop their hobbies and interests. They need you to try natural remedies before resorting to drugs for illness, so that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set them up for more illness with the side effects of drugs.

Be a Role Model of Self-Care and Care for the Environment They need for you to be a good role model of self-care. Children need to see you taking full responsibility for your feelings, instead of being a victim and blaming others. With this role modeling, they will learn to take full responsibility for their feelings. Learning

Now research has proven that babies who are not picked up when they cry become more dependent and insecure than babies who are kept with their mothers. 74

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and practicing the Inner Bonding process will support you in becoming this loving role model for your children.

What do your children really need from you? They need you to learn to be all you can be so they have the role modeling and permission to be all they can be. Read Online!

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. – is a best-selling author of 8 books, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® process - featured on Oprah, and recommended

Your Spiritual Connection

by actress Lindsay Wagner and singer Alanis Morissette. Are you are ready to heal your pain and discover your joy?

Your children need to see you being connected with a spiritual Source of love,

CLICK HERE for a FREE Inner Bonding Course and visit our website at www.InnerBonding.com for more articles and help.

to see you d e e n n e r ild al “Your ch h a spiritu it w d e t c e n being con peace and , e v lo f o rally Source er to natu er d r o in , h wisdom ir own hig r e h t h it w g you connect developin an u o y y B c power. ction,they .” e n n o c l a heirs spiritu ect with t n n o c o t learn t Paul

re Marga

relationships

Children also need you to be a role model for care of the environment. My daughter told me that my 3-1/2 year-old grandson got very upset with the checker at the market for using a plastic bag. “No, no plastic bags! It’s bad for the environment!” he told the checker. By role-modeling caring for our planet, we can raise children who are much more conscious of taking care of our environment.

peace and wisdom, in order to naturally connect with their own higher power. By you developing your spiritual connection, they can learn to connect with theirs.

The Richer Sex: How to Handle Earning MORE Than Men By Kim Sarrasin

here’s a huge cultural shift happening – one-third of women now earn more than their husbands and women make up for nearly half of all employees in the work force. On top of this, the majority of graduate degrees are female students ideally suited to jobs in lucrative fields such as medicine, law and upper management. On the flip side, the last recession (and the two before it) put thousands of men out of work – especially in hard hit industries like construction and manufacturing. While I celebrate the rise of women, I’m seeing the impact on my female clients relationships and dating life who are high income earners. One client recently shared she received a big bonus at work, but didn’t want to tell her out-of-work

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husband for fear of bruising his ego. And it’s not unusual for my single clients to believe the reason they can’t attract a man is because men are intimidated by their high paying job and achievements.

Which begs the question:

Does making more money make you less attractiveto men? The short answer to this is no. Men

are not intimidated by a woman’s success – they’re intimidated by intimidating women.

It’s not about how much money you make, it’s more about the way you overtly demonstrate that you don’t need men. Being fiercely independent, competitive and controlling are all masculine behaviors we women have picked up from men as the best way to climb the ladder of success. But, what may serve you in business, is not serving you in your love life. I’m sure you have either met or have a woman in your social circle that has no problem attracting men around– even if they aren’t that good looking, yes? This type of woman always seems to need something, and yet the men flock around her. Know what her secret is? She makes men feel useful around her. Men are starved right now to be with women who allow men to produce for them. It’s great to feel proud of your success. The problems start when you demonstrate how self-sufficient you are and never ask for help. This sends a strong, clear message to men “you can’t provide for me; I don’t need you.” So how can you continue to climb the ladder of success, make as much money as you want AND not scare men away?

Here are 5 great ways to help you avoid intimidating men and show up deliciously attractive:

1. Ask for Help Nothing makes a man feel more like

a man than being useful. Of course I know you can kill spiders in your home all by yourself, and I’m sure you can find your way on an out of town road trip, and most women can even change a flat tire, and but when he’s around stop and ask him to help you with these things. Knowing that you need him and he’s useful to you goes a long way.

2. You Are the Prize Time and again I coach high-powered CEO’s who feel completely confident in business, but fall apart in love. Your insecurities get triggered, and then you hide behind your business accomplishments with men – pushing away the romance and intimacy you’re craving. Remember, you are the PRIZE – he’s the one that feels lucky to be around you. Which leads into…

3. Shine Your Light  Are you leading with your resume – or your radiance? I know you might think you impress a man when you tell him your list of accomplishments. But what you’re really doing is advertising, “I’m better than you and I don’t need you.” Be confident, not competitive.

4. Appreciate Him  The most valuable currency you can

give a man is showing your appreciation every time he does something for you. Enjoying yourself while you’re on a date and letting a man practice chivalry with you has been (and always will be) priceless to a man. Make a big deal and always say thank you for everything he does for you, whether big or small.

5. Be Secure  Being happy and content with who you are, grounded in your femininity, and viewing a man as a BONUS in your life— not the only source of your happiness— is a relief for men. Remember, it’s not a man’s job to make you happy – only to make you happier. Men are not concerned about how much money you make, what they’re really interested in is how strong your desire is to be nurtured and provided for. Following my tips will give you a great head start with learning how to strike a nice balance between your money success and showing up as a beautiful, radiant prize any man would feel proud to have on his arm. Read Online!

Kim Sarrasin – Known as the Queen of Hearts and is North America’s most sought after dating and relationship expert. As a certified Heal Your Money Story coach, Kim has helped thousands of women embrace their worth. To find out more about how Kim can help you, visit www.attractyourking.com

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CAREER/ BUSINESS

“Every woman that finally figured

out her worth, has picked up he r suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which lande d in the valley of change.”

ad Re ne! i Onl

Shannon L. Alder

How to Set Empowered Goals that Honor Your Feminine

BY Elizabeth purvis

We’ve all heard it and as any expert in the personal development industry will tell us, setting goals is the first step to making your dreams a reality. But is setting goals something you secretly resist? If so, you’re not alone. All too often, spiritual women resist setting goals because goal setting feels heavy and masculine and that to set a goal means you must drive, strive and push against the divine flow – so “old paradigm!” they will say. So how do you embrace goal setting that is empowered, supportive and free from the cycles of judgment, blame and shame? Here are 5 power tips to set empowered, soul-supportive goals that pull you forward… 1. Drop the judgment. 2. Set your goals, not someone else’s. 3. Choose goals that are realistic, and a stretch. 4. Ask, “What’s the learning?” 5. Ask for support. Remember, goals are really just an extension of the expression of your Creative Spirit – the part of you that truly is longing to express, expand and act on its mission. Your goals are about fulfilling YOUR purpose in this lifetime and when we resist setting them, we hold back the divine within that is trying to come through.

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Doing

BUsiness LIKE a

Goddess

SUCCESS Leads to

Success G

By elizabeth purvis

reetings, Goddess!

The intention of my column, Doing Business Like A Goddess, is to share key concepts that every feminine conscious entrepreneur must know in order to succeed in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new business landscape, plus how to create extraordinary income and impact while honoring that you are exactly who the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been waiting for. In the last issue, I shared the importance of giving yourself permission to be successful while being true to yourself, in all of your brilliance. (If you missed it, or would like to try out The Permission Method again, you can find the article here.)

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Just six years ago, I had a soul-sucking job. I was making great money – nearly 6-figures – but I was miserable! After months of dreading getting out of the bed in the morning, I knew it was time to leave. I was confident that I’d figure the solo business thing out. I thought, “How hard could it be?” Famous last words. Within what felt like a New York Minute (we were living in Brooklyn at the time), I crashed and burned. In just a couple of months, $30k in savings disappeared, and we were living off credit cards.

I hit my personal rock bottom… and stayed there for two years.

What made this experience a true dark night of the soul was NOT the money. For the first time, I was forced to confront the choices I’d made: that I’d been living my life for the approval of others, I’d discounted and undervalued myself for far too long, and that ultimately, I’d SOLD OUT my Creative Spirit in exchange for the security of a J-O-B. The turning point came while I was washing dishes in our apartment in Brooklyn, the morning after spending yet another night in a panic about money. With soapy water up to my elbows, I said to myself, “I am not living like this. Not now, and not ever.”

I made the decision to reclaim all the creative power I’d given up along the way and reunited with my magical practice and feminine spirituality roots. I quickly sketched out a plan that included practical, nuts-and-bolts steps with the magical practices I’d been taught on my spiritual path.

Within 30 days, I manifested $20,000 – starting from scratch.

I made all or nothing decision to get more clients and make my business work – with

Since then I’ve manifested well over 1 million dollars in new revenue, developed incredibly effective highend training programs, served hundreds of amazing clients I love, manifested a powerful team, the best mentors, rich relationships, a beautiful home, a loving husband, a beautiful daughter and so much more.

I asked myself, “What does it REALLY take to get clients and make money?”

All of which supports my bigger mission of bringing magic out of the shadows and to the next generation of conscious women leaders like you – so you can be RICH doing what you love, give back, become a model for others and change the world.

no exceptions or excuses. Failure was no longer an option, nor was living with the toxic thoughts of lack and the self-judgment that had been weighing me down for my entire life.

Career/business

I also promised to share a behind-the-scenes peek into my journey from struggling and “broke” to the Divine Decision that led me to where I am today, the leader of a high 6-figure company that empowers women worldwide to create thriving businesses while living a life they love.

My purpose for sharing my journey with you is to let you know that if I can do this, then you can too. In fact, EVERY successful entrepreneur I’ve ever known has a similar story of struggle and redemption.

Here are some simple tips to incorporate celebration and yummy rewards into your business – no matter what time of year:

While the characters and details may be different, the outcome is the same – YOU standing as the powerful Divine Feminine Leader you are here to be. I want to share another crucial key to your success. I think you’re going to love it!

Key Concept #2: Success Leads To More Success

Celebrate Every Success, Even When Things Are Crappy. I open every coaching call with a single question: “What are you celebrating?”

When a woman does something awesome – lands a big client, launches a new program, or even just makes it through a rough day – what does she do? If she’s like 99.999% of us… she barely acknowledges – or worse, discounts – her accomplishment and moves on to the next emergency. Goddess, this is a sure-fire recipe for overwork, overwhelm and s-l-o-o-o-w business growth! Taking time for FUN and celebrating your decisions and your journey (no matter what point you are at right now) is a crucial part of growing your business. The shifts happen on a subtle, powerful level: rewarding yourself consistently will increase your sense of deserving and stretch your “pleasure bucket,” allowing you to receive more fun, joy and even money into your business and life.

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There is always something to celebrate. Yes, even when you’re stressed out, your bank account is empty, the clients aren’t calling and nobody is signing up for your program. Believe me, I know it can be an act of sheer willpower to turn OFF the stream of negative thoughts for five seconds and acknowledge what you did well. You did it, and you are worth it.

Celebrate Every Success, No Matter How Small. It’s easy to blow past all the little things while in hot pursuit of the Big

The “small stuff” does matter – especially to your clients. Maybe your newsletter inspired someone to keep going. Or your phone call made their day, because you were thinking of them. It all counts!

(Oh, and those little awesome things you do that DON’T pertain to the Big Dream or Big Goal? Yeah, they count, too.)

What Makes You Happy? During some quiet time, make a list of what truly makes you happy.

you discover new ideas. Include “good for you” stuff that may take a little motivation, such as going to the gym… but only if it makes you happy. Also include fun stuff that gets you out of the house!

Decide Ahead Of Time When You’re Celebrating. Decide in advance what events and milestones will be marked with a celebration. Some possibilities:

• When you sign on a new client • At the beginning of a launch (you got it out there!)

• At

the end of a launch (you did it!)

• When you finish your newsletter • When you finish a sales page • When you held space during a client call

Do not judge what you write down. Do not write down what you think you “should” write down. Maybe watching “Buffy” re-runs makes you happy. Maybe shopping with your girlfriends makes you happy. Maybe searching for “best kissing scenes” on YouTube makes you happy. (I can’t relate to that last one at all.) Write it all down and keep the list handy so you can add to it when

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Dream or Big Goal. Remember that the Big Dream or Big Goal consists of smaller, tinier steps – and they ALL make a difference. Maybe you got your newsletter out against all odds. Or picked up the phone and made the call to the potential clients, despite your fears of rejection.

• When

you complete a task (especially one you’ve been dreading)

• When you hit a monthly income

On August 15th, at 5pm (PT) – Linda Joy will be interviewing me live. I would love for you to join us! See full page ad at front of this issue. Read Online!

goal or Bold Money Goal (or come close)

• On Fridays! • After an event

Elizabeth Purvis - Shows spirit-led, mission-driven women how to price, package and market their services so they create extraordinary income and impact.

or workshop you’ve been prepping for

• When

you take action on something you’ve been avoiding or feel resistance to

• When

you weather a storm in your personal life

• … or any other time you deem fit

Stay The Course – And Celebrate! – No Matter What.

Known for blending heart-centered sales, Internet marketing, spiritual principles and Universal Law, Elizabeth delivers simple ways for coaches, consultants, practitioners and healers to double or triple their revenues by creating multiple streams of income and enrolling ideal clients at higher fees. www.MarketingGoddess.com

Now here’s where the “discipline” comes in: reward yourself and celebrate no matter what, whether the outcome was exactly what you had hoped for, or not. Even when you don’t have the success you want. Remember – getting part of the way there is progress. Success leads to more success. It all counts. Also celebrate this question: what’s the learning that you’ll take forward for next time? What will YOU celebrate this week? What will you celebrate TODAY?

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

iritual women “It’s time for sp els - living to become mod ue spiritual examples - of tr bundance.” and financial a Elizabeth

Purvis

Is it time for a

Website Makeover?

By kim turcotte

see it all the time, fabulously talented coaches, healers, and other service focused business owners doing their business a giant disservice by having an outdated, underperforming website that doesn’t reflect the true brilliance and magnificent gifts they bring to the world.

offer and it looks like something out of the 80’s with home-made clipart and fuzzy images. What would your reaction be?

And they are losing potential clients because of it!

Whether it is fair or not, most people’s reaction would be to click off the site and look for someone else. This person could be the best coach, healer, artist (insert your title here) out there, but if their website isn’t up to par, they will lose business.

Imagine yourself hearing about a new coach or healer that could help you with something you’ve been struggling with, only to visit their site and find that the site is hard to navigate, isn’t clear about who they help or what they

Perception is reality and when someone lands on a site whose mission and offerings aren’t clear, a site where it’s hard to find what you need and doesn’t look or feel professional, then their immediate

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

impression is that the business behind the site isn’t professional.

So how do you do that? If you take the time to develop a website with the focus on what I like to call the “Foundation Five” which are the five key elements that every successful website owner needs to have in place, you will not only be creating a beautiful presence online, but you will be

Ready? Here

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Back in the day, just having a presence on the World Wide Web was enough of an edge to help catapult your business ahead of your competition. Even if that presence wasn’t the best designed or laid out. Just by being on the web, you had an advantage. However, in today’s more web-savvy world your website needs to be more than just a ‘presence’, it needs to immediately capture the attention of potential clients, build their trust and provide them with the ability to say YES to working with you!

creating a client connection machine that serves your business and more importantly the clients who need you most!

they are – Kim’s Foundational Five:

Get Super Clear About What Problems You Solve For Clients and Own It! The biggest challenge I see my clients struggling with when building their online presence is that they aren’t really clear about how all their experience, certifications and degrees come together to serve their ideal clients. It’s important not to focus on your qualifications or how you do things, instead, focus on what you do. You need to have complete clarity about the problem or problems you solve for your clients and then you need to be able to confidently communicate this to your potential clients in your own authentic

voice. When you step into your purpose and own your expertise, that’s when the magic happens!

the more you showcase your unique style and personality, the more likely a potential client is to work with you.

Know Who Your Ideal Client Is!

Invest In Professional Graphics and Branding!

As service-focused individuals, I think we all struggle with narrowing down focus of who exactly is the audience we serve. However, by trying to be everything to everyone, we actually miss the opportunity to attract the clients who need us most. Take a look at who your favorite clients are, what do they have in common, where do they hang out, and what’s the best way to share your knowledge with them? The more you understand who your ideal client is, the better you will be able to attract them and serve them.

If you are not a professional designer, you shouldn’t be designing your own graphics – PERIOD! There are many talented graphic designers out there ready to help you bring your business and website to life visually - and you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Investing in professional graphics and branding is one of the most important and easy ways to uplevel your website. Remember what I said earlier, about how perception is reality? When you place the value on hiring a professional to design your brand, graphics and website, you are able to create an immediate perception of quality, trust and professionalism. Don’t get me wrong;

Be Yourself! Don’t be afraid to let your personality and authentic voice shine through when creating your online presence. Your ideal clients will be drawn to your unique energy and style, so have the confidence to show them who you are! I see so many amazing women doing and saying what they think they are supposed to do and say, rather than honoring their own unique voice. Yes, you need to have some basics in place in order to attract new clients, but the way in which you present yourself and

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

egic t a r t s g By usin action on calls to age, your each p ill consume , w nt visitors f your conte o more to know you re get be mo a d n a better o become likely t ng client! payi

Create Clear Goals and a Call to Action for Each Page of Your Website! One of the things I always remind my website clients is that ANY page of your website is a potential landing page. What I mean by that is that all visitors to your site are not necessarily going to enter your site through your home page, they can enter on any page. So, when creating content for your site, you want to be sure that each page can stand on its own and makes sense to a potential client if they land on it. Keep your content focused and easy to navigate and most importantly, tell the visitor and potential client what

you want them to do next. Invite them to read an article on your blog, learn more about a particular product, sign up for your list etc. By using strategic calls to action on each page, your visitors will consume more of your content, get to know you better and be more likely to become a paying client! When your website looks professional, is in alignment with your authentic voice and business goals and speaks to your ideal clients by meeting them where they are, you will have developed an online presence that is a well-oiled, client attraction machine! So how does your website measure up?

Read Online!

Kim Turcotte – Online Business Strategist and Implementation Expert is committed to providing top-quality, easy-tounderstand and easy-to-implement products, programs and services that support coaches, healers, authors and other service-focused individuals to grow their online business. If you think it’s time for a website makeover, Kim can help! Schedule your complimentary website consultation today at http://www.SoulPurposeBusinessSolutions.com/web-consult

“Authentic ity is a co llection of choice s that we h make eve ry day. It’s ave to ab choice to show up a out the nd The choic e to be ho be real. nes choice to let our tru t. The e selves be seen.” Brenè

Brown

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just having great graphics won’t make you successful, you need to have the content and offerings to back up the perception. However, by creating an initial reaction that is pleasing to your potential clients, they are more likely to spend time getting to know you and ultimately hiring you.

INSPIRED To

Write?

Embrace Your

Value W BY Lisa Tener

hen Linda Joy sent me the theme of this issue of Aspire, I asked myself, “Why is self worth so important?” It takes a certain level of valuing oneself— one’s gifts, one’s skills and one’s being—to share those gifts with others—to live our passions, to be of service to the world in some way.

It also takes a sense of self worth to experience fulfilling relationships. When I was in college, I dated two kinds of guys-those who were crazy about me I quickly lost interest in and those who were lukewarm or distant seemed so much more attractive. I know now this was linked to my low sense of self worth, reminiscent of the Woody Allen line about why would I want to join a club

www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2013

It took me longer to find my sense of worth at work and truly value myself in that arena. When I left my job as a nonprofit executive, the organization hired a man with fewer qualifications and paid him many thousands of dollars more in salary and benefits than they were paying me. The new Executive Director drove the organization into the ground—proving he was certainly not worth what he was paid.

At first I felt resentful of the board of directors remembering how one year I had split my meager raise with all the employees because the board did not give anyone else raises. And the many years in the beginning, I worked so hard and barely got by. After my resentful period, I realized that—at some level—my salary had been a reflection of how I valued myself at that time. An interesting thing happened when I became an entrepreneur. While I struggled at first financially, the more I valued my work and skills and the higher my prices, the higher quality clients I attracted.

What’s a higher quality client?

Here are 3 wa ys to embrace your own worth:

• They’re reliable: they do what they say they’ll do.

1 D o something lovely for yourself every

• They’re already successful: they know what it takes to be successful and they are willing to do the work—so they’re successful in their book writing and publishing endeavors as well.

day—it can be a walk in nature

2 A sk people, such as clients, customers,

co-workers, friends and family, wh at value you bring into their lives. You may not realize how much you contribute to other people’s lives until you ask. 3 Keep an “Embrace My Worth” journa l Decorate the cover—or even the pa ges— with fun images.

• They’re coachable: they grow quickly. Of course, one can’t charge high rates without providing value—and that’s where you need to know your worth. And I do believe in overdelivering—it feels good to everyone.

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that would let someone like me in. Once I learned to value myself, I met my husband to be. As my sense of self worth grew, I was able to bring more to the relationship.

What

Embrace

put

your

Worth

Journal? Here are a few things to get you

3. L ist some qualities you ad

mire in your heroes, heroines an d mentors. For each quality, give an example of how you have disp layed that characteristic in some w ay.

started:

about e k i l s you ristics that g n i h t t Lis racte a h c — f l yourse u... make yo friend d o o g A • player der m a e t A • iring lea p s n i n A • g mom are • A lovin s g n i h t e why thes d how you t u o b a Write t to you an gh these importan e to others throu contribut istics and skills. character

2. Ask your custom ers, clients, colleagues or boss to list the things that make you valuable to yo u r cl ie n ts /c u st o m e rs / company/team. Put them in your journal and wri te about each one.

The more you value yourself, the more others will be drawn to you and the more opportunity you will have to shine your radiant light. So, don’t hold back. Embrace your gifts, your skills, your worth in every way. And shine, shine, shine. Read Online!

Lisa Tener – An award-winning authority on writing and publishing books, Lisa Tener guides you to joyfully express yourself in writing. She blogs for the Huffington Post, serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s publishing course, and teaches her own Award Winning Book Writing Courses in person and by interactive teleseminar. Download your free Author Tool Kit at www.LisaTener.com