Dear Readers Welcome to Mystical Voices Magazine. We’d like to thank you for taking time out of your busy holiday schedule to spend a few moments with us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Solstice, something else, or just the joy of being with friends and family at this time of year, we hope you find the mystical and the magical within this time. From our families to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays, and look forward to continuing the journey in 2014. Happy Holidays!
Rev Rita Marie Browning
Rita Marie Browning Publisher/Advertising Connect with Rita Online: Bancroft Spiritual Centre Metaspiritual Teaching Centre Mystical Creations Gift Gallery
Helena Bowers
Helena Bowers Technical Editor Connect with Helena Online: HelenaBowers.com Ritchie Media Social Media for Conscious Business She Is So Zen
Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 2
We welcome submissions for all issues. If you would like to submit something -- articles, poetry, photos, spiritual art -please view the submission guidelines before submitting. Deadline for Submissions is the 7th of the month of publication. http://mysticalvoices.com/submissions
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Embrace the Season of Giving ............................................................................................................ 7 Giving To Get: 15 Ways Volunteering Gives Back To You ..................................................................... 9 Learning How To Calm Your Mind ..................................................................................................... 13 10 Amazing Holiday Quotes.............................................................................................................. 14 Holiday Self-Care: 15 Ways To Keep Your Energy Up ......................................................................... 15 On Your Mark! Get Set! Go!!! ........................................................................................................... 18 Five Goal Setting Tips You May Not Have Thought Of ........................................................................ 22 The Holidays Unplugged ................................................................................................................... 26 Christmas In Prison .......................................................................................................................... 28 Lost a Loved One? Celebrate Their Life During the Holidays............................................................... 30
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Moira helps people get unstuck! Have you ever noticed that when we feel stuck - we become the expert of everything that does NOT work… like the diet that failed, the exercise regime that was too hard, the goal setting ideas that did not apply to us or the affirmations that were a waste of time trying?
Dan Davison is a man with a vision. He is the Founder and CEO of Double Helix Management Services Ltd., a company whose vision and passion is the development of a global financial engineering service corporation specializing in global conservation, self-sustainable, and energy related programs. He has also developed a design for complete a Self-Sustainable Community that can be quickly duplicated around the world.
The truth is that in order for a problem to exist - the solution must also exist!
As a CPA with over 30 years of professional experience and as a Unity Chaplain and Law of Attraction Coach she has worked with individuals, small businesses and organizations to inspire and support them to: • Create Financial Freedom • Move beyond the limiting beliefs that have stopped them • Align their values, vision, mission statements with goals and action steps • Realize their unique gifts and talents and create the future they desire • Create strategic plans for their business and personal lives
Moira has developed an innovative process called "The Get Unstuck Method" which will shift your mindset so that you are more solution focused, motivate you for change and create mindfulness in your life so that you can release stress and achieve the success you've been wishing for. For more information please visit her website: http://wellnesswithmoira.com
Coach Estelle is the Coach to Call when You are Ready to Eliminate your Limiting Beliefs, Get into Action and Achieve Your Financial Dreams!
Lisa Birnesser owns and works as a stress coach at Stress Relief Solutions. For over 25 years she has worked in the health care field, studying stress relief techniques. As a result, she has helped thousands of people reduce stress in their lives. Lisa helps relieve stress of successful women and entrepreneurs.
To learn more about Estelle, visit her website: http://www.journey-tofreedom.com
Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 5
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Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 6
Embrace the Season of Giving The season which runs between Thanksgiving and Christmas goes by all sorts of names, depending on who you talk to, and you probably even have your own name for it as well! If you haven’t yet been able to truly embrace the “reason for the season,” as some call it, you might want to give it some serious thought. Joining with others in giving back for the blessings that have been bestowed on you is a great way to make it joyful and memorable for you as well. But just how do you do that? How do you give back without literally taking what you’ve received and handing it over to someone else? Thankfully, there are several ways you can give and receive the benefits of “giving back.” Consider these ideas: 1. Visit a children’s hospital. Kids who are sick need to know that they’re loved and cared for. You can give them that reassurance by spending time with them during this season of giving. Your visits will provide much-needed encouragement and bring some special joy into their day.
Find out from your local children’s hospital if they have a program which allows you to become a mentor to young patients.
meaningful difference in an individual’s life or a program’s ability to help the masses. It’s easy to embrace the season when you realize how much you are appreciated! 3. Adopt a pet. Taking an abandoned pet into your home is one of the most heartwarming things you’ll ever experience! Animals have such a direct way of showing gratitude by giving back unconditional love and loyalty. 4. Count your blessings. Sometimes all it takes to embrace the season of giving is sincere appreciation of all the blessings you’ve received. When you take a moment to look at all you’ve received and achieved, you’ll realize that you have more than you imagined and can then feel free to share your wealth - financial and spiritual - with others. 5. Spend precious time with those you love. Precious memories with family members and other loved ones are worth more than their weight in gold. It’s an awesome feeling to let those closest to you know how important they are to you. That’s probably the best gift you’ll ever give them!
Make play dates or plan to read stories.
As you can see, the season of giving can really mean what you want it to mean. Embrace it by choosing your own special way to give back to others while giving thanks for all you’ve received.
Add the children to your social media network so they feel involved.
Customize the season to fit your life and cater to the things that are really important to you.
2. Donate cash, food, clothes, toys, or other gifts. Sometimes the most direct way to give is to donate cash or goods to a needy individual or organization. Your contribution can make a
Taking this approach enables you to get the most out of this season of giving, and also ensures that each year you can make new memories that you’ll cherish forever. Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 7
Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 8
Giving To Get: Fifteen Ways Volunteering Gives Back To You by Helena Bowers
It’s a Universal law that what you put out is what you get back. My father was always fond of telling us “what goes around, comes around.” It took me awhile to figure out the whole concept of the circle and how everything really does come around back to the beginning sooner or later. And that you really do get out of life what you put into it. You might thing that because I’m writing this in December that it’s all about the holidays. It’s not. Sure, this is the “season of giving” but giving to others and putting yourself out there is a year-round thing. You shouldn’t just give during the holiday season, and you shouldn’t just give in order to get something back. It’s a given that you will get something sooner or later … what and when is entirely up to you. How you give is just as important as What you give. Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 9
One of the best ways to give is through volunteering. Giving of your time and expertise is a win-win situation, both for those you are helping, and also for yourself. There are so many ways you can give of your time. You can:
coach a kid’s sports team
visit shut-ins in seniors’ homes and hospitals
volunteer at a local animal shelter
volunteer at an abused women’s shelter
read textbooks into audio format for sightchallenged students
do yard work for your neighbours who might have trouble doing it themselves
babysit your grandkids
organize a benefit for someone who needs help
volunteer your expertise to help people with income taxes (only if you’re qualified, of course)
help cook meals at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen
These are just a few things that come to my mind when volunteering is mentioned. There’s really no shortage of places you can volunteer, or things you can do for others. So, just what can volunteering do for you? Here are ten ways that you get just as much out of what you give as the recipients of your gift do. 1. You are a part of something bigger than yourself. It’s a good reminder that you don’t live in isolation, and that you can make an impact on others when you give of yourself.
2. It’s a big confidence booster. Sometimes just knowing that you’re lending a helping hand to someone else will make you feel better about yourself. 3. It makes you feel good about life. Helping others is a beautiful way to share your energy, making you feel good about life in general, not just about yourself. 4. You’ll make new friends. It’s almost impossible not to make a friend or two when you’re sharing your time and talents with people who share similar interests and passions. 5. You can develop a support network. It’s more of that “no man is an island” thing. Volunteering allows you to make connections with others who could end up as a part of your support network. You never know when you might need a friend or a helping hand yourself. 6. You get to see how the other half lives. It can be an eye-opening experience, and maybe just a bit of a reality check too when you come face to face with the fact that there are other people out there a lot worse off than you. 7. You get “real life” experience. The things you learn in the course of your volunteer time can’t be learned from a book, or in a class room. It’s why many schools now make community service mandatory in order for students to graduate. 8. You’ll learn something new. Chances are no matter how much of your own expertise you share, you will end up learning something you didn’t already know. 9. You’ll get some work experience. Regardless of what type of volunteer work you do, it’s experience. And many future employers weight experience gained from volunteer efforts just as highly, and in some cases higher than paid work. Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 10
10. You are making a difference in someone’s life. What you might think of as just an hour of your time may make the difference of a lifetime to someone else. 11. It’s a good reminder that it’s not always about you. You can get away from your own problems and challenges by focusing on someone else’s troubles. You might even find a solution to your own issues as you’re helping others. 12. You’ll add to the strength of your community. By helping others become stronger, you make the whole community stronger. 13. You will get to add a line to your resume. Employers want to know you’re a team player. By showing that you’re willing to volunteer, you’re showing that you’re willing to be a part of something that’s not just about you.
14. You can meet new contacts for business. Volunteering lets you meet new people from all walks of life. You will never know until you get out there just how one meeting can impact your future or your business. 15. You will gain a reputation for being helpful. This can be a great public relations tool if you choose to use it that way. Being known as a helpful person who cares about others in the community can bring many good things your way. Volunteering is not only a way for you give and grow yourself, it’s also a way to help your community grow. Not only will you learn about yourself, what makes you tick, and maybe even what your life passion is, you’ll also learn more about your community, the people in it and what makes them tick too. And, as Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.“
Helena Bowers is a writer, blogger, WordPress wizardess, and all around geek girl. She is the creative force behind Ritchie Media and the co-founder of SheIsSoZen.com. Helena is passionate about her role as a creative consultant, taking care of all the technical details of running a website so that others can focus on doing what they do best. In this way she truly is the person behind the curtain, while her clients take centre stage.
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Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 12
Learning How to Calm Your Mind Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with frantic thoughts about all you need to get done the next day? Are you ever unsure about where to start because you have so much to do and no time to get it done? Everyone has these feelings from time to time, but you can learn to calm your mind. A calm mind is a more attentive and proactive mind, and in learning to remove anxious thoughts, you can learn to enjoy your life far more than you already do! How to Achieve Peace Within When you have a mind that will not stop, you usually are hard-pressed to find inner peace. The more your mind races, the more anxious and frustrated you may become, and this can lead to unproductive days, weeks, and even months. You don't have to continue to live this way. There are many ways to calm your overactive mind and you really can learn how to live a more calm and peaceful life. If your mind starts running a million miles a minute and you're not sure which way to turn next, try to pause and repeat a positive affirmation. When you use the power of positive self-talk, you will program your mind to work in a new and different way. When things seem as if they are getting out of hand, you can use an affirmation such as, "I trust my ability to relax. I am calm and peaceful." Although this may not be the case at the moment, if you repeat this constantly
you will start to believe it. This will help you change your inner dialogue in those moments when you are tempted to succumb to the craziness surrounding you. Positive affirmations are important because they give you permission to turn off the negative dialogue in your mind and replace it with positive thoughts. The negative dialogue feeds the feelings of turmoil, and when you replace them with peaceful affirmations, you change your life, one positive statement at a time. If you have a hard time believing that this strategy will work for you, give it a try with an open heart and mind. It really does work! In no time at all, you'll feel more peaceful and reap the benefits in every area of your life. Many of us feel like we cannot do anything about the crazy lives we lead and the inner discontent we feel. I can assure you that this is not true! When you use positive affirmations, you can reprogram your brain so that there is only room for positive thoughts. You will be surprised to find how quickly a positive affirmation such as, "I trust that there is a plan for my life, even if it has yet to be revealed to me" can work for you. If you feel like your life has gotten off course and you don't think it's possible to lead a calm life, why not give a peaceful affirmation a chance? If you repeat affirmations often enough, you'll soon begin to believe them, and you'll turn a seemingly simple statement into reality.
Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 13
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . .means a little bit more! – Dr. Seuss, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. — Albert Camus Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white. – Bing Crosby My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? – Bob Hope Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ― Hamilton Wright Mabie Christmas, my child, is love in action. -- Dale Evans I will love the light for it shows me the way. Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. – Og Mandino You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. ― Kahlil Gibran No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. ― Charles Dickens Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. -- Muhammad Ali
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Holiday Self-Care: 15 Ways To Keep Your Energy Up This Holiday Season The holidays are a fun and busy season full of extra errands, travel and entertaining. If you and your family want to make the most of these special times together, there are plenty of natural and effective ways to keep your energy levels up. Eat Smart 1. Avoid big meals. Your body has to work harder to digest those huge holiday dinners. Try to eat more slowly and limit your portions. 2. Reach for healthy snacks. Complex carbohydrates will give you energy fast. Protein provides fuel for the longer term. Make a salad of walnuts and winter greens. 3. Eat more fiber. Foods rich in fiber help your body break down carbohydrates at a steadier pace over a longer time. That gives you more stamina. Feast on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. 4. Stay hydrated. Munch on foods that are high in water content like celery sticks and grapefruit. Drink plenty of water too. Your blood will flow more easily, transporting the oxygen and nutrients your cells need. 5. Eat breakfast. You're bound to feel
fatigued unless you refuel in the morning. A healthy breakfast will also make it easier to resist fattening snacks or overeating at later meals.
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Sleep Well
More Lifestyle Tips
6. Take a nap. Brief naps of 20 minutes or less will help you recharge. Just closing your eyes for a few minutes can also be refreshing.
11. Exercise every day. A brisk walk or other moderate aerobics will wake you up and pump more oxygen to your brain. Take the stairs at the shopping mall and park farther from the entrance.
7. Watch out for extra caffeine. Those chocolates and peppermint-flavored coffee drinks may put you over your limit for caffeine. If they're keeping you up at night, cut back. 8. Drink alcohol in moderation. A cocktail may help you fall asleep faster but it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Try to avoid any alcohol within a few hours of bedtime. 9. Place a curfew on online shopping. You can shop for gifts all night on the Internet but you'll feel the effects the next day. Turn the computer off a couple of hours before retiring to adjust your mind and body after the mental stimulation and lighted screen. 10. Stick to a regular schedule. Holiday parties and travel may interrupt your daily routines. As much as possible, getting up and going to bed at the same time each day will help you stay in top shape.
12. Clear away clutter. You'll feel more restful when your surroundings are in good order. Recycle those gift wrappings and tidy up after parties to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 13. Alternate between tasks. Baking hundreds of cookies and wrapping mountains of gifts can be tiring. Switching off between jobs can help some. Even better, recruit family and friends to divide the load. 14. Manage stress. Feeling more stress this time of year is natural. To help prevent this, listen to relaxing music, meditate or talk with friends. A positive outlook can make handling extra tasks much easier. 15. Focus on giving. Giving to others is the best part of the holiday season and the most effective way to stay energized. You'll feel motivated to accomplish more with less effort when you think about making others happy. Share your time and attention with the people you love and do some volunteer work to connect with others in your community.
The holiday season can be demanding, but simple lifestyle changes are usually enough to keep you alert and merry. Watch your diet, get plenty of rest, and manage stress so you'll be ready to tackle all the shopping and parties.
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Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 17
(Thoughts for a New Year) Words by Dan Davison, Photo: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / corepics
In our younger years, these words are learned fairly quickly and usually portray a joyous time of first learning to compete fairly and with some level of excitement. Either a junior school field day, church picnic, family gathering or some similar event allows the children to get together for this experience. The words reflect a time to completely stop, adjust your direction and then spring into action. There are events in our life which have the same mental process and can change our direction, or at least bring focus and outcome to upcoming life. New Years, birthdays, graduations, deaths, illness, moving to a new location or even the seasons can trigger a thought process of new beginnings and a start. It is my intent in this writing to bring some basic principles of life and living into the process to form a ground-level knowledge of the mental and spiritual environment in which to run a newly determined coming race. In doing this myself recently as I passed another birthday, I had to review the last year and look at the next one. Some thoughts came to mind. They deserve some reflection and are as follows: 1. My daily life is a product of my thoughts. “Whatsover a person thinketh, so they are” (from an ancient text). “We are what we think”! “We become what we think”! “I create my own destiny with my thoughts”! Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 18
2. In a world of acting and drama, it is easy to “think” one thing and say or act “another”. This way we can hide our thoughts. This gives us the ability to “act nice” but think something
C – minus Words Conflict
much differently. Especially as it relates to other people or circumstances. So, - - Not so fast! Let’s carefully think these principles through and see how I am doing today. 3. The Universe of manifestation and self-actualization is predicated on our thoughts, no matter how well we hide them from others. This is an absolute. This principle cannot be camouflaged or mitigated with a smile or empty “nice” expression. 4. We think in “WORDS”. Words are important. The mind just
Competition Criticism Castigation (moral punishment) Capitulation Contrast
works that way. On average a person speaks around 100 words per minute but often thinks at 400 to 600 words a
Contention
minute. If we think of a water pipe with a level of flow constantly, there is a lot of “water-words” that go through the
Clash
brain in our waking hours each day. 5. Words create feelings; even at a subconscious place in our being. They create mini-feelings as we process them. Our Soul is made up of our thoughts and feelings. Both conscious and
Controversy Counteraction
subconscious. Contest 6. If our Soul is healthy, our body and total existence is healthy and prosperous. If our Soul is constantly processing negativity
Combat
and destruction to others and ourselves, the results will be manifest appropriately in lack. Going back to another childhood experience of school, I have to state that I had some challenges. This was not in that ability to learn, but my mind was so creative and diverse that it was hard to move at the pace of the teacher and class. Most of the time I just was not there. I would look out the window and see a sunny, cloudy day and would go to my imaginary world of walking in the forest, chasing frogs or butterflies, watching a woodpecker build a nest or doing those important things like building a fort of twigs or climbing trees.
Cheat “Chisel” Con Connive
This seemed so much more important than school. Even later in high school, if I related to the teacher and the topic was creative, I got Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 19
really good marks – and mostly without study or doing homework (unless I got caught). But in most of my classes it seemed that I had a special magnetic affinity toward the marks of C + or C - !!!
C – Plus Words Compassion
Someone told me that “Wisdom takes the middle road” and I took that literally with my high school effort and marks! I must have been extremely wise as my marks seemed to prove it!
Cooperation
Back to our words, thoughts and eventually our expression though our deeds and actions.
Collaboration
In the millions of words we process, I am going to give you a list of words and related thoughts that can pass through our minds and have a major impact on our relationships, health, prosperity, spirituality, intimacy, happiness, joy, love, peace, patience and strength to eliminate unbalanced indulgence in any way. Take some time and embrace an exercise for a few days to see if you are processing the words on the C-plus or C-minus side more often as listed below.
Conciliation Companionship Community
You can determine your future – starting today. When a C-minus word enters your brain, kick it out. Let it go. Especially as it reflects in the lives of any other person, group, religion, politics, looks, gender, social status, economic levels and actions of others. Be deliberately neutral about evaluating or judging anyone else using your C-minus words. If a person makes a mistake in your opinion, don`t ATTACH the event and your judgment to the person – but only to the situation as discernment and observation.
Consideration
Review and let go silently with no one knowing your thoughts and opinions. I suggest that you eliminate any thoughts that reflect the following statement of “I am different or better than ____ (person) _____ because of ___(circumstance)___ ! Especially if it is a criticism or judgment of who they are. Yes, if they hurt you, just simply drift away like the morning fog. Now you see it – now you don’t. Don’t engage the negative or hurt feelings. You don`t have to win except by winning control of your own heart and thoughts.
Clemency
In the end, our existence should ensure that there is an immaculate and seamless determined alignment between our thoughts, words and actions. This eliminates any concept of difference, duality, “right and wrong” in others, and puts us in vast unlimited expanse of all that exists that is related to all wellness in the Universe. Watch the miracles of abundance and peace explode. It allows us to be wisely discerning without pinning any label on one single individual that draws breath as a Sovereign Soul in the world. It embraces strongly the full acknowledgement that every person on this earth – approximately all 7 billion - as both fully human and fully divine. They are constantly bombarded by human learning
Consecration Condolence
Caritas (charity) Camaraderie Company Conviviality Condonation (continual forgiveness) Convalescence
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experiences to the extreme and constantly united with every other creature and being in the god-ness of heart, regardless if it shows or not. The divine nature of all humanity is a divine given and there is no room for my vote on the matter. My human nature and being cannot determine the level of divine nature in another. I must accept the matter as an absolute. My vote on any level of another’s divine nature would not register universally anyway – as it reflects and registers only in MY own heart delivering the eventual outcome of my life and living. Take an inventory of how happy and peaceful you are in life. Look at the constant struggles that you seem to have. Now “reverse-engineer” the process and go back to the source in your thoughts. If your life consists of many daily struggles, I can fully state and guarantee that the absolute truth of the situation is that you are embracing and entertaining more C-minus words/thoughts in your consciousness than the C-plus in your struggles. To clarify this example and the potential of the power of our thoughts, let’s do a little calculation here of a potential example. In our waking hours, we may be randomly thinking of things for 12 hours. In each hour there are 60 minutes. In each minute we may process thoughts which translate into up to 400 words. This means that the word/thoughts we process through the pipeline in a day could be 12 X 60 X 400 = 288,000. To somewhat oversimplify, in a day, the number of either C-plus words or C-minus words could vary according to the habits and discipline of our thinking. But we make the choices. Before getting too deeply in the formulae and potential impacts, I think you understand the principles thus far. Let’s go simply and directly to the list of thought/words which strongly impact our lives toward either dis-ease or well-being. Take some time to think carefully and determine which of these words and attitudes fill the place in your thoughts daily and determine your destiny. In a day, which words would flow through your mind and describe your feelings about anyone or anything as you evaluate the moment most often? Take time to reflect. Don’t be too hard on yourself but be honest. Take the C + words and apply them to yourself and remember situations where you really brought goodness and wellness to yourself and others. Just keep doing it! Before long, your life will reflect an “A +++” Blessings and love. ~~ Dan
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Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 22
Five Goal-Setting Tips You May Not Have Thought Of
By Lisa Birnesser Photo: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / focalpoint
The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. ~ Vance Havner When it comes to getting what you want out of life, one of the best places to start is by setting goals and writing them down. Telling you to create SMART goals – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound – is a common starting point for many coaching programs. While I’m not going to argue that SMART goals work, I am going to tell you that there are a few other things to take into consideration when setting goals. Here are a few goal-setting tips to think about that may not have crossed your mind: Is this the best goal for me at this point in my life? Just because you can set a goal, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Consider all your possibilities before you select the topic of your goal. One way to do this is to write out a list of 5 to 10 goals you are thinking of working on. Then go down the list asking yourself, “Which one of these goals resonates with me the most at this time?” Pay attention to how you feel as you are answering the question. Your heart and intuition will provide the answer for you, if you let them.
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What is the deadline for this goal? The “T” in SMART goals stands for time-based, and it only makes sense that any goal you set must have a deadline of some sort. If you leave the completion date open-ended, you will not have much motivation to really achieve it. Think about the time frame for your goal, and be clear in adding an end date to it. Using the phrase “On or before…” to start your goal statement gives you an opening to achieve it earlier than your selfimposed deadline. Another thing to consider is how much time you want to give yourself. It is generally considered most effective to limit your goals to things you can accomplish in three months or less. If you are looking at a long-term goal, break it down into smaller steps that you can accomplish within the three-month time frame. Could this goal have an open-ended result? Just as you want to allow for achieving your goal in a shorter time frame, you might want to also consider achieving more than you think you can. Two examples of where it’s possible to leave an open-ended result are weight-loss goals and financial goals. For example, when setting a weight loss goal you might include “I will lose at least…” in your statement. That way you allow for the possibility that you could lose more than the minimum. The same goes for financial goals. If your goal is to create an income of, say, $500 a week, adding “create income of at least $500” opens the door for you to receive more than what you are asking for. What will I do to achieve this goal?
It always amazes me that people expect a goal to achieve itself, as if the act of writing it down is enough. You must take action and be willing to do what needs to be done in order to achieve the results you want. When you are writing out your goal, be sure to include a list of specific actions you will take. Not only does this show that you are claiming responsibility for achieving your goals, it also gives you a checklist that you can use to keep track of your progress along the way. Is achieving this goal a priority for me? It’s easy to fall into the trap of setting a goal because you think you should, not because it is a priority for you. To achieve a goal, you must find a way to let your brain know that this goal is the number one thing that has to get done. One way to get the message to your brain is to practice visualization. Visualize what you will feel like once you have achieved your goal. See it happening in the most ideal way you can imagine. What do you see, hear, smell, think, and feel? The more emotions and senses you can add to your vision, the more real it becomes to your brain. A second way to let your brain know this goal is important is through repetition. Here is an exercise you can do: Once you have set your goal, write it out 25 times. Pay attention to how you feel about it as you are writing. If you feel anything less than motivated and excited, there is some question in your mind about it. Take the time to figure out what's holding back your enthusiasm so you break through the block and move forward with confidence.
Whether you use them by themselves, or in conjunction with other methods, you will find that taking the time to ask yourself these questions, and paying attention to the answers may just give you an edge in achieving your next goal. Lisa Birnesser owns and works as a stress coach at Stress Relief Solutions. For over 25 years she has worked in the health care field, studying stress relief techniques. As a result, she has helped thousands of people reduce stress in their lives. Lisa helps relieve stress of successful women and entrepreneurs. Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 24
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The Holidays Unplugged 4 Steps to Consciously Create Your Holiday, Your Way
Many times during the holidays we have huge expectations. We want to create the perfect family time, get the perfect gifts, throw the best party, entertain guests and family, get everything right and make everyone happy. As you go through the holiday season what happens is that you end up overspending, overeating, overcommitting and become frustrated, impatient and worn out. The opposite of what you really want. Several years ago I attended a workshop based on the book Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Staeheli. After participating in this workshop I created and experienced one of the most meaningful Holiday Seasons ever…and you can too!! What does it mean to Unplug? For many people the holidays have become more and more costly, frenetic, impersonal, and commercial and in many cases without much meaning. You may have noticed that holiday displays and commercials in stores, on tv and the internet are starting earlier and earlier each year – we can barely get through September without bumping into decorations, wrapping paper and gift displays! You CAN unplug from the commercialized hustle and bustle, the “machine” that the holidays have become and consciously choose what you want to experience for the holiday season. Here are 4 Steps you can take to make simple changes to reduce your stress, increase your enjoyment and Consciously Create your Holiday Season. Step 1 – Get Clear on What You Want to Experience You may have family traditions that you want to continue, or you may want to have a simplified holiday focusing on the meaning of the season, spending time with loved ones or those that are less fortunate or take some time out for self-care. Step 2 - Make Conscious Choices. Once you’re clear on what you want to experience you can select the activities, preparations, gift giving, people to spend time with, etc. – that are aligned with what you want. You choose where and how you spend your time and energy. Step 3 – Be aware of how you feel. The holidays can bring up issues and emotions. One way to stay conscious is to be aware of how you feel and honor those feelings. Many times when we avoid our feelings, we numb or ignore them and end up doing things that we may not want to do. This can lead to stress, frustration, resentment and negative feelings.
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Step 4: Make a Plan – Create a Plan to incorporate some specific goals, activities, events and actions that are in line with what you want to focus on and experience for the holiday season. Having a plan helps you make choices in the moment and reduce your stress as invitations and requests come in and pressures mount.
I’ve created a Free Virtual Workshop to help you Unplug!
You can LEARN MORE about it here.
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What was the last song you listened to? There is a reason you were so drawn to listen to it. It might have put you in a great mood or eased your worry. It might have brought back memories from days gone by. Understanding the effects music can have on your mind can help you make the conscious decision to listen to music a part of your daily life for its incredibly beneficial effects!
What Can Music Do for You? Listening to music can help you remember your first kiss. It can motivate you to keep on going. It can calm you down after a long, hard day. There are so many wonderful things music can do for you! It's absolutely fascinating to understand why it has such an impact - and what you need to be doing to take advantage of that fact.
How Does Music Affect Our Body and Brain? Music appears to be processed in the right hemisphere of the brain. The way we experience music also affects our nervous system. There are different neurons that respond according to what kind of music is playing. Music can affect hormones, encourage the production of cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin. Music can even trigger a release of endorphins. Beyond the biology and the actual responses of your body, there are definite responses of the mind as well. You're aware of how you feel when you listen to music, but how do you know that it's actually having any sort of effect on you? There is scientific evidence of the way it can affect your mind! It's clearly more than just a suspicion - it's fact!
The most famous experiment related to this is probably the one that was performed at the University of California at Irvine. College students were assigned to three different groups. The first group listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major. The second group listened to a relaxation tape. The third group listened to nothing at all. After listening, they took a Stanford-Beinet reasoning test. The results were clear - those who had listened to Mozart had improved scores!
Music Can Improve Memory Therefore, it's thought that music has the most effect on the part of the brain that deals with memory. Unfortunately, the effects were not found to be long-lasting. Still, there is nothing wrong with getting a consistent music boost to improve your memory, mood, and sense of well-being over all! Interestingly enough, music even seems to have a positive effect on the memories of those who are suffering from Alzheimer's. In some cases, music can help these people remember things and events they had long forgotten. This is an amazing gift for many Alzheimer's patients!
Why Does This Work? You might be wondering why this works the way it does. Dr. Alfred A Tomatis theorized that it's because music (specifically that of Mozart) helps to retrain the brain, in a sense. The different frequencies can help to 'exercise' the brain and provide great benefits. Many people use music to achieve different states of mind as well. Playing a cheerful song at the end of a long day can go a long way toward improving your mood. Playing mellowing music can help you get to sleep at night. Playing upbeat music can help you get into the right mood to go out and have fun with your friends. Classical music is the most Mystical Voices ~ December 2013 ~ 29
beloved among those who subscribe to musical therapy. It has a variety of positive uses, including increasing focus, and, as we discussed above, memory. It's all well and good to understand that music can have amazing effects on your life. However, it's important to start making a conscious effort to include music every day. There are specific types of music that can help you achieve whatever state you might need to be in. You can become more creative, enter into a meditative state, relax whatever you want! The science is there, and you've seen it yourself. It doesn't matter how old you are, where you are in your life right now, or what you want to achieve, the power of music can help you get there.
Long Term Effects Many musical therapy experts recommend making music a part of your daily life, because its effects can improve with time. There is evidence that, over time, your language skills, creativity, happiness, and more, can improve with regular musical therapy. There are even some incredible effects that can come along with playing a musical instrument, if you're inclined to do that! Whether you're listening to music or playing it, you can consider it to be like exercise for the brain --
only, much more pleasant! It will have great benefits right away and the benefits will only increase over time. Sure, you might listen to music already, you might even find that you gravitate toward it. However, by seeking out specific types of music, you can see more desirable effects. By consistently seeking out the right kind of music, you can see incredible effects over time. The great thing about this is that you can get started today. Music isn't something that will take up your time -- it's something you can focus on or just have in the background. Having calming music playing more consistently will completely change your life for the better. Mind music is one of the easiest changes you can make for positive effects in your life! The effects of music on the mind are absolutely incredible. Whether you listen to music for meditation, relaxing sounds, Mozart music, or something else altogether, there is something out there for you. There is a reason so many experts in the world practice and recommend music therapy - it's because it is something you truly can't go wrong with. Do what you can to start investigating its effects on your own life today. The music of Mozart is a great place to start. There are other options available, depending on what your goals are. Soon, you'll start to gain an even deeper appreciation for all of the wonderful things music can bring into your life.
Click here to listen to some enhanced music for FREE in the amazing Sound Transformation Kit
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Lost a Loved One? Celebrate Their Life During the Holidays When a loved one has passed on, the next group of holidays can be painful, sad, and scary. But your loved one would've wanted you to be happy and joyful, smiling as you remember the good times you shared. To work toward that peaceful feeling, find a way to celebrate your loved one's life this holiday season. The great memories you had with that person can be a place to start. Pictures are always good, too. They may make you feel a bit sad, but there are usually times in that sadness where you'll find yourself smiling or laughing over something silly or touching that you remembered or saw in a picture. Incorporating that loving feeling into your holidays can help you to heal. Let Your Faith Guide You No matter what your religious faith, you can use prayer and your spiritual beliefs to help you get through trying or lonely times when you miss your loved one. Sometimes, those feelings are magnified at special times like holidays, and more time to pray or meditate is needed. Don't be afraid to take the time you need for prayer. Hold onto the understanding that your loved one is at peace. Remind yourself that the struggles they faced here in their lifetime are no more. There is comfort in those thoughts. Dwell on the Happy Times Of course you miss your loved one, but you also have the joy of having known that person for a period of time. Use these tips to help you focus on your happy times together: 1. Cherish what you had. When the holidays come around and you start to get sad over what you don't have, think about all the times you did have. What would your loved one want you to remember about him or her? 2. Focus your energy on being joyful for what was. Whether you had your loved one a long period of time or a short one, you had love in your life for that time. That's a very precious gift. Elevate the value of that gift by savoring the happy moments you remember. 3. Remember the good times. Everyone has memories of their loved ones that make them smile or that they re-live again and again. Take those memories out and look at them over the holidays. 4. Do what's in your heart. You might like to hang up your loved one's stocking at Christmastime, light a candle for them, or make a favorite food or dessert. Mourning is part of the healing process, but remember to celebrate, too. Everyone does things differently when it comes to how they want to show their love for someone who has gone on before them. Focus on a celebration that feels right to you. No matter what it is, if it's right for you, then it's perfect for the occasion. Because everyone is different, some people might question what you're doing or why. That's okay. Honor your loved one and celebrate their life in a way that brings you joy and peace this holiday.
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Based in Bancroft, Ontario we are a metaphysical teaching centre founded by Rev. Rita Marie Browning.
Winter 2013
The Centre will be offering classes on a variety of metaphysical topics and healing arts beginning in the Fall of 2013. If you would be interested in attending one of our classes, please contact Rev. Rita Marie for dates and course availability.
revritamarie@gmail.com
Animal Healing Communication Reiki Ministry - through the Bancroft Centre for Awakening Spiritual Growth Hypnotherapy Crystal Healing Bowls Crystal Colour Therapy Angel Work Shops Learn Tarot Chakra Balancing
Contact Rev. Rita Marie Browning for more information:
revritamarie@gmail.com If you are interested in offering your teaching skills, contact Rev. Rita at revritamarie@gmail.com for more information.
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July 25, 26, and 27, 2014 Lakeside Gems 29277 Highway 28, South Bancroft, Ontario
Join us for a weekend of:
Special Events Watch This Space For upcoming details Of the 2014 Gathering!
Psychic Fair Metaphysical Arts Trade Show Workshops & Demonstrations Energy Workers Psychic Readings Meditation Circles Guest Speakers & Visitors Hosted by:
Contact: Linda Bast 613 332-9894
Contact: Rita Marie Browning 613 332-2055
For Vendor information, email gathering@lakesidegems.com
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Churches Bancroft Spiritual Centre: Spiritualist/Metaphysical Sunday Services: Awakening Spiritual Growth in an Environment of Love. Everyone is Welcome to Attend Sunday Services. Come as you are. Every Sunday Morning 10:30 am – 12:00 noon. @ Bancroft Spiritual Centre; 29277 Hwy 28 Bancroft Ontario. 613-334-2943 www.bancroftspiritualcentre.com . Contact: info@mysticalvoices.com to place your worship service here
Practitioners Mystical Practitioners in cooperation with Mystical Creations Gift Gallery; Hwy 28 S. Bancroft, Ont., offers ongoing workshops, classes & services. Mediumship Development, Spiritual Healing, Reiki Learn Tarot For more information contact; 613-332-2055 or 613 334-2943 info@mysticalpractitioners.com www.mysticalbancroft.com www.mysticalpractitioners.com
Rev June Blackburn; Animal Intuitive & Energy Healer, dogwhispers@hotmail.com
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Thank You! Life is full of mystical voices. You may hear them in the voice of your loved ones; in the stranger you meet on the street. The dog that barks, the bird that sings; waves that lap at the shore and wind that whispers its secrets at dawn. All are mystical in some way to someone. We thank you for joining us in exploring the mystical voices that speak to your body, your mind, and most importantly‌ your soul. Happy Holidays to you and yours,
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