Tradition, Symbolism and Ceremony and the New Year December 2018 by Transformation Coaching Magazine

COACHING & BUSINESS TOOLS Should I Get a Real Job? Embrace Personal Development

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INSPIRATION & GROWTH Life is a Journey Tradition, Symbolism & Ceremon... & the New Year Get Inspired The 7 Deadly Virtues, Part 2 Make the Connection Matters of the Heart

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FEED YOUR SPIRIT An Experience with Yoga Nidra Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas Dinner Your Greatest Resource

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PUBLISHERS Natalie Rivera Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed.

EDITOR Lisa Cedrone

CONTRIBUTORS Kate Pennell, Julie Bouché, Natalie Rivera, Ashar Mohammed, Mary Boutieller, Gregg Sanderson, Rena Greenberg, Dr. Bryan Hawly, Jo Mooy, Alan Cohen, Owen K. Waters

We believe that self-employment is the ultimate form of empowerment. Our mission is to bring you guests whose powerful entrepreneurship stories and real-world advice will give you the inspiration and tools to create a business and life that you love.

Meet the first 5 guests (ourselves included)!!

Listen on our website or your favorite podcast app or watch the video version on our YouTube channel.

Should I Get a Real Job?

By Kate Pennell

How to be a good parent and realize your dreams. It’s December. My sprouting preteen has just announced that his trousers are approaching half-mast and Christmas is raising a sarcastic eyebrow in my direction. Oh, and the rent is due. It is at moments like this that I swallow and doubt. My teaching brings in a bit of money, shouldn’t I just put all my energy into that? After all, it’s my responsibility as a parent to care for my kids and set a good example for them. And at the end of the day, the rent needs paying. When we set our feet on this path towards creating a better self and a better life we know that, at times, the path will be stony and hard going. We overcome so much as we leave our baggage behind, find our purpose, answer the deeper calls within

us, and dare to grasp the distaff to spin our dreams into reality. Then reality douses us, ice-bucket challenge style, and we have to fight to keep that passion burning within us. My kids dream. First, they had crazy dreams of being inventors, playing for Barcelona FC, being pop stars. Now their dreams have a little less stardust on them—but they dream on still. Photographer, studying abroad, writer. Just as crazy. God bless crazy dreams and crazy dreamers. I so want for them to fulfill their dreams, to be who they were made to be. I look back down the line at my own dad, who had his dreams stolen from him one after another, to whom retirement feels like pie in the sky even at his age. As he says, “I

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Valeria Zoncoll

will have to work until I die.” Yet, if one looks, the pieces of his potential can be seen laying there like unjoined pieces of a puzzle. That is the last thing that I want for him or for myself or my children. Or for anyone. It is one of the motivators for moving out of the mundane and reaching for something beyond. It is the reason for my Life Coaching certificate, for my writing, and sharing. It is the reason behind my studying and all the energy and time being put into becoming better, becoming more authentically me, and moving out into fulfilling my purpose. However, just sometimes, when the kids need new trousers and I’m tired of working two jobs in the in-between light before

the dawn of being able to see all that I hope for becoming reality…I wonder if I should just get a “real” job. Am I alone in thinking this?

“Pursuing your purpose in life is one of the most unselfish things a person can do,” ...says Natalie Rivera, entrepreneur, life coach, speaker, and publisher of Transformation Coaching Magazine. How on earth can that be true? Especially for parents! There seems to be this unwritten rule that we should give up everything for the sake of our kids and you’re a bad parent if you

even think about having preferences or a personality. Dreams are for the teens or the retired, right? Wrong. My sister, crazy woman that she is, recently did a night hike up the highest mountain in Wales in support of a cancer charity. Halfway up, something nasty happened to a tendon after a slip on some shale. Did she give up? Did she ‘eck as like! She crossed the finish line supported by two hike organizers and the waiting cheers of her two little girls. She told me afterwards, “What would my girls think of me if I’d given up? What example would I have set for them?” You see, there it is. Natalie Rivera goes on to ask how can we expect our children to truly be themselves and live their passions and purpose if we lay our own aside? It sounds like a case of, “Do as I say not do as I do,” and kids have finely attuned hypocrite-detectors.

If we are brutally honest with ourselves, many times the motivation for laying our passions or dreams aside is rooted in fear... ...fear of failure, of success, of what people may think or say, of messing things up for ourselves or others, of not possibly being good enough. It’s doubtful that decisions made from such a negative starting point can have a truly positive outcome. Fear seems so powerful, espe-

cially when it brings some muscle along in the form of false guilt or condemnation, or manipulates our sense of duty and our wanting the best for our families. Despite seeming like a supervillain, fear is just a bad emotional habit with a loudhailer. We have a choice as to whether we make an agreement with it or not. Making our decisions with a healthy respect for the consequences and the cost is not the same as making a decision from a place controlled by fear. You see, if we sacrifice up our desires we teach our families to sacrifice theirs. If we persevere, we model perseverance and achievement for them. So, when they see us studying in our “free” time, we help them to see that learning can be a lifelong passion and how to invest time wisely. They see that we can be more than our current limits. When they see us working two different jobs, they learn that a person is not defined by their job title. They see us balance real-life obligations and real-life passions. When they have chores on the job rotation—because Mum/Dad can’t do it all—they learn that the housework is not done by fairies, and that living together means cooperating as a team. They learn to think about the needs of other people and the group as a whole. (Warning: They may not see it like this at the time. You may even have noticed this.) When things take time, they learn that life isn’t a drive-through Happy Meal. Very often, good things need time to grow, along with patience and hard work, care and creativity.

When we live authentically in front of them they learn to trust us and in turn to trust themselves, even if they question the world around them. And that is just for starters. So when we hug them, listen to them, bake a cake or kick a ball with them AND live all that alongside them, that makes us Good Parents. We invest in ourselves, our lives together, and in them. You see, we can say inspirational and directional things to our children every day, but if I die tomorrow I don’t want my kids to remember platitudes and exhortations, I want them to remember ME, to be inspired by who I am and how I lived. Better still, I’ll inspire them while I’m alive and, in so doing, teach them and myself how to live with our eyes open, leave fear behind, and be able to say at the end of the day, “I did well because I did my best.”

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” —Marianne Williamson Shine! Shine boldly, give warmth and light.

Permission to Launch with Kate Pennell

Kate Pennell, English and slightly geekish, is a coach and dream catalyst who lives in Spain with three kids, various furry creatures and a patient husband. She loves nature, creativity and seeing people discover what truly makes them come alive. Kate provides the people she works with permission to launch and helps them begin to ﬂy as they were made to. She teaches, encourages and connects with fellow travellers across our global village. Find out more at https://permissiontolaunch.website/.

Life is a Journey

The process of the Heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey is a continuous and transformative pattern, one that can help create the best version of ourselves one step at a time. 8

By Julie Bouché When I say the word “Journey,” what comes to mind? Some responses I’ve heard in the past range from “exciting” and “adventure,” to “scary” and “hard.” We use the word Journey a lot, describing various experiences and intangible ideas as Journeys. Life is a Journey. Education is a Journey. Love is a Journey. The Journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. There are many more I could mention. For the record, I agree with all of those statements. But do we ever stop to think about what that actually means? If those things truly are Journeys, or qualities of a Journey, does that knowledge change anything for us? It can. It can change everything. Before we get started unpacking this idea of Journeys, let me explain what I mean when I use the word Journey. There are, of course, other definitions of a Journey. But, to truly get to the core of what a Journey can do, we define a Journey as an experience that has three distinctive qualities: 1) It pushes us out of our comfort zone. 2) It creates a change that results in the person becoming a better version of themselves. 3) It follows a relatively predictable pattern.

The first two seem pretty straightforward; the third maybe less so. That pattern is the key to not only recognizing the Journeys we encounter, but also finding the meaning and power within them, allowing us to become the Hero of our own story. Much of this work is rooted in Joseph Campbell’s work with the Hero’s Journey—the archetype that is found in stories both written and lived. As you go through these steps, imagine either your favorite story (Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, etc.) or your own lived Journeys and see how the steps play out for the Hero you choose.

The Pattern

Every Journey begins with a character. For our purposes, we will call this character the Hero. This Hero has a life, family, friends, perhaps a job, and other pre-existing conditions that influence them. What matters to us is the state that we find the Hero in when the story begins. For most Heroes, the beginning of the Journey finds them in a “state of discontent.”

This state falls somewhere on a spectrum: on the one side of the spectrum they could be unhappy, listless, or bored; on the other end of the spectrum they could be in physical danger, pain, or servitude. Regardless, for most of our Heroes the story begins with a need for something to change. Our ability to recognize the beginning circumstances of our Hero will allow us to create a baseline. That way, when the Journey is over, we can reflect on how far our Hero has come. Once we have a baseline, the next step in the Journey is that moment that Joseph Campbell describes as when “destiny has summoned the Hero”—the Call, as we refer to it—and their path is laid out before them.

Our Hero is, in essence, called to find their destiny. This Call can take on as many forms a there are Heroes. Whatever the situation, something happens that changes things for the Hero. It is important to note that Calls are not necessarily foreshadowing the outcome or even the purpose of the Journey; they are merely the mechanism that Fate chooses to get the ball rolling. Now that our Hero has entered the path that is presented to them, they will, inevitably, reach a moment known in Journey terms as a “Threshold.”

A Threshold is defined as a point of entry or beginning. The same is true with the Journey: a line must be crossed by the Hero that signifies a deeply important moment. The Threshold in the Journey is the moment where our Hero goes from what is “known” (their family, friends, home, lifestyle, etc.) into the “unknown.” They must leave behind those elements that acted as a support system for the pre-Journey Hero, lest they remain where, and who, they are. For some of our Heroes the Threshold is an actual place: a new country, a city limit, even walking out of the door of their house if they never have before. The Threshold could also be symbolic, mental, emotional, or psychological. The form of the Threshold does not matter. What matters is that our Hero must leave their comfort zone. Once our Hero has crossed over the Threshold, they find themselves up to their eyeballs in a world they have no idea how to navigate.

The language is different, or magic is everywhere, or they have to pay bills they have always relied on others to pay, etc. The world is foreign, the expectations are confusing, and the Hero is unprepared to deal with what is happening to them. Because of this, the Hero is set up for a series of attempts and failures. They do not have the right skills or the right knowledge to be able to navigate this new world without help. This is an intensely difficult and frustrating time for the Hero. They are constantly being faced with what they don’t know and what they can’t do. Where at home they were experts, or even just competent, here they are clumsy, ignorant, and incompetent. Heroes handle this experience differently, but the more foreign the world, the more failure becomes a regular occurrence. In addition to the trials that this new world brings, the Hero is may also have to overcome Temptation.

Temptations can take various forms, but at its core this is a Temptation to return home before the Journey is finished, even if things at home were terrible. In some stories the Hero develops something akin to amnesia: things weren’t really that bad, were they? I was actually pretty happy, wasn’t I? The difficulties at home can feel preferable to the trials of the unknown world, causing the Hero to consider turning around and going home. Because of the difficulty of crossing into the Unknown world and the Temptation to quit early, the Hero would certainly fail on their own. Destiny provides others to aid our Hero on the Journey until they can become capable on their own. These “others” fall into two categories: Helpers and Mentors.

Helpers are those characters who are, basically, on the same level as the Hero. Due to differing life circumstances, they have skills or knowledge that the Hero needs in order to make it through the Trials and Temptations. At the same time, the Hero has things to offer the Helper that makes it a reciprocal relationship. The characters on this level are complementary, all having something that they can contribute to solving the immediate crisis, but none of them whole and complete on their own. Mentors, on the other hand, are on a higher level than the Hero. They are wise, knowledgeable, and capable on their own. They don’t need the Hero. However, they find themselves in a position to help train or educate the Hero in a way that no one else really can. Their perspective allows them to ease the Hero along their path while absorbing many of the blows that might otherwise push the Hero off course. Mentors are much less about the immediate crisis and more about course correction. Without Helpers and Mentors, the Hero would be lost in this new world that lies beyond the Threshold and would possibly succumb to the Temptation to give up early. With the

Helpers and Mentors, the Hero is positioned grow and learn, ultimately ready to move to the next, and possibly most defining, phase of the Journey. At this point, our Hero is most likely starting to feel pretty good about themselves. Thanks to contributions of Helpers and Mentors, they are starting to get the hang of this new world. They are able to function within the unknown as it is starting to become more “known.” The time of the Trials and Temptations sees them a little wiser and a little

more capable than they were before, and that can build confidence in them. What comes next seems very dark in comparison. This next stage in the Journey is often referred to as “The Abyss”—conjuring up images of dark, bottomless pits.

The Abyss challenges our Hero to their very core. This is where the Hero is confronted by, and must face, their greatest fears. Here, in the Abyss, the Hero is given a choice. They can either sacrifice the part of them that is holding them back, or they can submit to the opposing forces and give up. Both options are equally powerful, and equally viable. The reward for making the sacrifice must be equal to the difficulty of making it. Equilibrium means that the decision of the Abyss must come from the Hero. They make the sacrifice; they receive the reward. This is a moment of great triumph for the Hero because they defeat their inner demons and weaknesses and come out stronger than ever before. Connected to the Abyss experience are two important aspects of the Journey: the Revelation and the Transformation.

The Hero has a moment of enlightenment that opens their eyes to a truth or a piece of wisdom. Their understanding is expanded, and they are able to see things—their Journey, a piece of

their past, the truth of their relationship, etc.—more clearly than before. The learning that accompanies the Revelation is transformative; it changes their disposition and the way that they view the world. Even if, at some point in the future, they decide to reject this knowledge, they can never “unsee” it. In addition, if our Hero is able to leave the Abyss triumphantly, they will, of necessity come out a changed person. The Abyss marked the “death” and “rebirth” of our Hero. They left behind those doubts, fears, prejudices, weaknesses, and any other sacrifices that were required, and are now different. Physical changes do happen in some stories, but more often it is an internal change that most signifies a triumphant return from the Abyss. The Call, the Threshold, the Trials, the Temptations, and ultimately the Abyss, have all been preparing our Hero to complete their final job. They have been shaped, transformed, and refined by their experiences, and they now get to the final step in this phase of the Journey: the Unique Task.

This is something that the Hero needs to do. Because of both the experiences the Hero has endured and the very nature of who the Hero is, they are the only one capable of completing it. The Hero is now in harmony with the forces of Destiny. Whether it is saving the princess, defeating the monster hordes, or winning the spelling bee, the Hero is now capable of, and completes, the ultimate task of their Journey. This is often the most

exciting, intense, anticipated part of stories or movies, and there may still be some doubt as to the outcome before we see the Hero actually complete their task. Regardless of the outcome, the Hero is ready to take on the Task and to face it head on. Once the Hero has completed the Unique Task, what happens next? Isn’t that usually where the story ends? Sometimes. But there is an entire section of the Journey that stories often overlook: the Return. The Return is part of every Journey, and it carries with it its own important elements. The Return, as the last phase in the Journey is called, marks a very important moment for our Hero.

It’s not just that they go home; it is that in doing so they pass back over the Threshold that marked the beginning of their Journey. They cross from the world that was once unknown back to the familiar. They return to their families, their friends, their house, even back to emotional or psychological safety and security. And yet, they are changed. Their Journey has transformed them, and the person they used to be is gone. This can either go smoothly or with great difficulty, but this is also predictable in many ways. Inevitably, the Hero will return home with a Gift, with a capital “G.”

The Gift represents all that the Hero has gained through their Journey. This may be a physical, tangible item: a medallion, a book of spells, a trophy, etc. More importantly, as successful Journey will result in in-

tangible Gifts: wisdom, patience, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and more. These Gifts have come through difficulty, hard work, and sacrifice, and are held to be intensely valuable by the Hero even if they are not understood or appreciated by those at home. Fortunately, once the Hero has returned home they are not done—another Journey awaits them. And another. And another. This process is continuous and transformative, creating the best version of ourselves one step at a time.

The Importance of Knowing Knowing and recognizing this pattern does two things for us. First, it allows us to put our experiences into perspective. Hesitant to step out of our comfort zone? Completely normal. Tried to do something new and it was hard, or it failed miserably? Part of the process. Feel like your stuck in a dark, deep hole that you can’t find your way out of? That’s a choice point. When we can find where we are in the process, we know what to do next. Second, it gives us power over our story. We are not alone in this; we are connected to each other in powerful ways. We are not helpless; we control the outcome.

We are not victims; we are Heroes. Life is indeed a Journey. It is time to start living like it.

The JOurney Blueprint with Julie Bouche Julie is an educator and coach who is passionate about helping people take control of their stories and live the Journeys they have been given to their fullest potential. Her book The Journey Blueprint lays the foundation of the Journey process and empowers the reader to see themselves as the Hero they are meant to be. Through workshops and coaching she shares the way to not only ﬁnd where we are on our Journeys, but how to thrive within them. Find her at http://www.juliebouche.com or contact her at juliembouche@gmail.com.

Tradition, Symbolism & Ceremon... & the New Year

Photo Credit: Pixabay/Free-Photos

& the new year

By Jo Mooy

Traditions are carried forward year af te r year as a way of commemorating the past and connecting the community. By Natalie Rivera During the transition from one year to the next, cultures across the globe observe holidays that celebrate this transition, as well as a variety of other historical or religious dates. No matter what religious or cultural background you come from, your traditions bond you to your tribe. There are also universal ceremonies practiced around the world, such as weddings, funerals, and the welcoming of babies, however in each culture a different tradition exists for the celebration. These ceremonies provide us a framework for integrating the new and embracing the significant changes all humans experience.

THE POWER OF SYMBOLISM So, why are humans so inclined to uphold traditions and practice ceremony? The answer is that:

Symbolism is hard-wired Into our brains.

The brain’s main function is to organize and categorize information to help us understand the world. This is why humans communicate in symbols. Symbols are a simple way of expressing a greater meaning. For instance, letters, words and numbers are all symbols. Every culture also has its own sets of symbols that represent Photo Credit: Pixabay/Free-Photos

different experiences and perceptions that are learned and shared. Rituals are a series of symbolic actions that trigger thoughts and emotions within participants. Symbolism is incredibly powerful to the brain because it cuts through the complexity of language (which itself is a series of symbols) and expresses the core meaning in a way that speaks directly to the unconscious mind. This is why throughout human history people have been using symbolic ceremonies and traditions to establish common beliefs, values and customs. We might all use different symbols and practice different traditions, but we all do it for the same reason:

Symbols give us a sense of identity and purpose.

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS

As I mentioned, the transition into the new year has become a universally celebrated occasion. Even though there is no real change from the last day of one calendar year to the first day of another, humans like to assign meaning to this day.

The new year symbolizes an opportunity for redemption, a fresh start, a higher aim. It is customary in most countries around the world take time to reflect when approaching year’s end and then set life goals for the year to come. However, one of the most powerful symbolic activities that one could do during the new year is a releasing ceremony. Only when you let go of past mistakes, heart aches, or limitations can you really be free to take the first steps in the direction of your new year goals, your new life. And, so in honor of this time of tradition and symbolic transition, I would like to share a powerful releasing ceremony that I encourage you to use this new year. You can complete this exercise alone, visualizing yourself going through the process. You can combine the activity with a burning ceremony, in which you write down what you’re releasing or what your new goals are or both. Alternatively, you can get together a group of people and complete the ritual together, each taking turns at the center of a circle. Regardless of what you celebrate this time of year or how you welcome in the new year, take advantage of the power of the collective symbolism and allow this new year to be a catalyst for your life.

The re is something magical and libe rating about the idea of a new beginning.

Change isn’thard and it doesn’t take a long time. Change happens in a moment. ONE MOMENT. And that moment takes place when our brains make the switch from the old to the new—when a decision is born—which is almost always triggered by a symbolic action.

A TRIBAL RELEASING CEREMONY I heard once of a tribal ceremony that illustrates the importance of letting go of the problems we become attached to and the limitations we use as our excuse for not moving forward. These stories we tell ourselves about why we’re not enough, why things don’t go our way, or why we can’t do what we really want are just stories. By releasing them, symbolically, we free ourselves from them. In this tribe, when a community member has a problem, a grievance, or a complaint—in other words a story of his or her limitation... ...the entire tribe comes together to support this person. The tribe gathers in a circle and the person with the sob story stands in the center.

...He or she is asked to tell their story 3 times. The first time the person tells the story the tribe responds with words and gestures of affirmation and support. Even hugs! They acknowledge the story and show empathy for how the person feels. The second time the story is told, the tribe again offers support. However, the third time the story is told... ...the entire tribe remains silent and turns their backs away from the individual at the center. This turning away signifies their acknowledgement that the story has already been told, and now it is time to move on. The individual in the center of the ring is forbidden to speak of it again. Some people may believe this practice to be extreme, but the truth is that we remain tethered to our pain, problems, and perceived limitations as long as we continue to tell the story of them. So, my challenge to you is to release your limitations. Let go of your problems and your pain. Don’t just make empty promises to yourself that this will be the year you will change. Create a ceremony for yourself that symbolizes the end of the old. No turning back, you are going to let it go FOR GOOD.

Tell your story of limitation two more times, and that’s it. done. And this time it won’t just be the beginning of a new year, it will be the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

Your story can always be changed. But, of ten it takes a powe rful symbol for your brain to know you mean it.

Ignite Life with Natalie Rivera

Natalie Rivera is a firestarter, speaker and entrepreneur. She is passionate about empowering others to GET REAL and live authentically. After a decade of living a life that wasn’t hers and developing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Natalie let go of everything and completely transformed. Through her journey to healing she rediscovered her true self and greater purpose—to inspire others to transform their lives. Natalie “retired” from the rat race at 24, put herself through school as a freelance designer, created a non-profit teen center, and later created Transformation Services, Inc., which offers motivational speaking, curriculum development, life coaching, event management, and publishing. She is also the Publisher of Transformation Magazine. Visit http://www.transformation-academy.com.

Embrace Personal Development

By Alan Cohen

How I Became Obsessed with Personal Development and Why You Should Too! By Ashar Mohammed

By engaging in activities that develop your talents and potential, you will enhance your career and life as you move forward toward the realization of your dreams and aspirations. We can all benefit from practicing daily personal development. The rewards are huge for those who invest the time to grow mentally. Here are the nine reasons why I became obsessed with personal development and you should too:

1. IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

I’m only preaching this magical thing called personal development because it works. If it didn’t work, then I would shut up about it. It’s because it works, though, that I scream from the rooftop to wake up and get on the bandwagon. It’s the one thing I tried which actually worked. All the woo-woo chanting, affirmations, and pretend positive thinking did nothing for me! Before doing the actual work around personal development, I had an ugly scarcity mindset. When I learned to believe in the greater good and change the way I think, everything changed and I believe the same can happen for you.

2. SERVING OTHERS BECOMES A MUST. From the outside, it appears that personal development is all about you; however, the deeper you get into it, the quicker you realize that it’s about serving others. Your success is about what you do for others. Before you can do anything for others, though, you have to get yourself in order. After you learn the basics, you’ll no longer settle for selfishness or an inflated ego. All you’ll think to yourself is, “How do I attract like-minded people to come and change the world with me?”

3. PROGRESS IS ADDICTIVE. If I had to break down personal development into one piece of information it would be this: It’s all about prog-

ress. That’s it. You make one small change per day toward your vision and then you take action. The action you take is automatic and often requires almost no thought. The lack of thought comes from trusting yourself and learning not to overthink. As you start to see results, guess what? It’s addictive. You become addicted to success. All you need to do to master your life is to commit to being just a little bit better than you were yesterday. Don’t fall for the delusion that you need to make humongous changes every day because you don’t. If you try and do that early on in your transformation, you will burn out and give up. Start small. Try lot’s of new things and act like a kid again that doesn’t care about anything other than having fun and discovering new things.

4. YOU MEET COOL PEOPLE. Before I got on the personal development bandwagon, everyone around me was ordinary. They were all failing and, like me, they were pretending they weren’t. Together we would post silly photos at nightclubs pretending life was great. It wasn’t. We were miserable. When I started learning about personal development, I met others in the same situation. Together, we grew and smashed our goals. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, cool people magically started entering my life because they to wanted to share the good vibes. Like attracts like, so do you want to attract the dregs or an infectious energy that will propel you beyond your wildest dreams?

5. YOU CAN DEAL WITH PAIN EASIER. Before personal development, I would experience pain like everyone else, but then I would allow myself to suffer. The pain is guaranteed, but the suffering is a choice. My default reaction to pain was to let it consume me, and I had no other references to get me out of a tough situation.

After beginning to embrace personal development, I began to embrace fear and become vulnerable. I learned that our flaws are what make us awesome—and we should never be ashamed of them. Pain still comes around; it’s just now I have the tools to deal with it.

6. OUR BRAINS’ PREHISTORIC FLAWS ARE REVEALED. Our mind’s software is millions of years old, and it’s never had an update. Through personal development, you learn how to force a software upgrade and understand the flaws of the way we are designed. The flaws are not all bad and are often there to protect us and shield us from danger. Without going into the whole subject of our brain, the most important thing you will learn is that the average mind spends most of its time thinking negative thoughts. The default response of our brain to any situation, without intervention, is to think in a negative way. No wonder we’re so messed up. By simply understanding this fact, and learning how to override the autopilot mode, you can win back your happiness, take back your life, and kick some serious butt!

7. LESS TIME IS SPENT WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE. I became obsessed with personal development because it taught me to avoid negative people and not to try and please everyone. Even with personal development, some people will refuse to change. It’s their choice, and we should respect that.

8. YOUR INCOME INCREASES. While you should never let money be your driving force, personal development will double if not triple your income. That’s what it’s done for me, and I’m positive it can do the same for you. Customers and companies want to pay you bucket loads of money when you become a magnet for everything that is good in this world. The feeling is infectious, and everyone wants to be around it. The money can help you make a bigger impact and enjoy life more. It can give you the resources you need to do extraordinary things. Most of all, you’ll realize the money means nothing. All that matters is your dream.

9. YOU APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY. It’s very easy to take what we have for granted. We all want more money, sex, power, and good feelings. When your mind shifts from wanting more to realizing you already have enough, a subtle shift starts to occur. You’ll start to be grateful and express your gratitude towards others more often. You’ll learn a secret weapon, which is that whenever you feel horrible you can shift your state of being by practicing gratitude. In states of gratitude, the world slows down, your mind stops racing ahead and you see beauty in the simple pleasures of life. Now that’s something to celebrate.

Pursue Your Freedom with Ashar Mohammed Ashar Mohammed is Nutritionist, Networking Business Coach, NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, and the author of Home Work Out Bible and Healthy Eating. After earning a MBA, Ashar worked in business for his family and on his own for 13 years, until becoming a coach in 2015. Now pursuing his true passion, Ashar has helped thousands of people around the world to achieve their freedom—freedom from disease, freedom of time, and travel and ﬁnancial freedom. For more information, visit his blog at ashardxn.blogspot.se.

Get Inspired

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Robin Mathlener

“Life is available only in the present moment. If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply.” — Thich Nhat Hanh By Mary Boutieller Another year is coming to a close, and I find myself simultaneously shaking my head in amazement at the rapidity with which it has gone by, while smiling at my surprise because it always feels this way toward the end of the year! My mind starts to buzz with all the things there are to do before the year’s end, yet I’m reminded that today is just that—today. Maybe we can embrace this day, this weather, these thoughts, the one and only breath we have right now, instead of worrying about what’s coming next. As you may imagine, I’m always on the lookout for people, things, events, that inspire me and make me want to be a better person! I’ll often jot down a quote, get teary-eyed at a happy news story, or feel gratitude for the amazingly generous people in my life. When we witness or experience something inspirational, it has the power to move us—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and it opens our hearts to another way of seeing and being in the world. Just this morning I sat outside sipping on coffee and marveled at the sun’s rays lighting up the lower tree limbs in our yard. It was as if someone had lovingly laid a beautiful golden blanket across the leaves. Truthfully, I’m not often

up early enough to sit outside and watch the sun rising; it was beautiful. These experiences lighten our loads, bring us to the present moment, and cause us to catch our breaths, if we allow them.

I realized today that a big part of what makes my world go around are the small wonders, the sweet and unexpected gestures, the inspiring moments that find me along the way! And even though I know that we can find inspiration anywhere at any time, still it surprised me to find such a thing during a spin class at the local gym! I hadn’t been to a spin class in a long time and was looking forward to a bit of a workout. I expected a certain instructor—someone I knew—who was younger and more fit than I am…knowing that she would kick my butt. So when the substitute instruc-

tor walked in—an older gentleman with white hair—I was a bit disappointed but thought at least it would be an easier class! His name was Charlie. Charlie came up to me and asked if I needed help with the new bicycles, and I smiled and accepted. He tweaked my seat height (under minor protest), and it helped. I started pedaling the bike while the music played, and Charlie got on his bike. As the class proceeded, I was amazed at his strength and stamina…I was awed at his ability to talk and pedal at the same time (while I huffed and puffed)…I was tickled that this lovely, older-than-me instructor was, yes, kicking my butt. Up one hill, down the other, up the same hill (or so it seemed) and down again, over and over, until my legs started to feel like jelly! But this was only the beginning. It was what he was saying while he was bicycling that struck my heart like a beautiful chord. As he coached us and encouraged us to work harder and push ourselves, he talked about effort and passion. He said it wasn’t enough to bring effort to what we were doing; he said that we should try to bring some passion to it as well. This made me think about my daily life and how much of it is effort and passion, and how much is just effort.

Teaching, for me, is effortless effort and lots of passion! That one is easy. However, the “just effort” parts of my life have little color, no real life force. What, I wondered, would happen if I brought more to my tasks than just effort? What if I could bring some passion to the routine things that I do—from cooking to grocery shopping to a walk around the park or learning something new? It may seem silly, but it really resonated with me. Maya Angelou said,

ready for the hard part, Charlie said this, “Okay folks, the bad hill is coming up. I want you to get ready, reach out, and rise up!” And he said it with passion and care and genuine concern for our well-being, with the desire that we bring our best selves to this one effort. At least that’s how it felt to me. Suddenly, I loved this guy! I thought of all the times in our lives when we have a “bad hill” coming up—an illness, a tragedy, and unexpected turn—and the advice that Charlie gave was perfect.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

“Okay folks, get ready.”

And that’s not all I learned from Charlie that day. In most spin classes, there is the easy part, the not-so-easy part, and the hard part where you push with all of your strength just to get over the imaginary hill. As we were getting

How do we get ready for the unexpected, the downturn, the struggle? We start by doing our best to take care of ourselves. We look for the potholes and try to avoid them; we minimize the potential damage by looking ahead and we prepare the best we can.

“Reach out.” Once we’ve prepared, we reach out! We ask for help. We let our friends and our families in on our struggles and we acknowledge that maybe we can’t (or don’t want to) go this alone. We look for the support systems of loved ones, good

doctors, trusted resources, and we bolster ourselves up.

And then we “rise up.” We stand with our hearts wide open and our heads held high, we look for inspiration to be better than we thought we could be; we take the moments as they come up and we find our true strength— the core of our being, the place that can’t be touched by all the stuff going on, and we realize that we are so much more than we give ourselves credit for. We rise to the occasion. When we fall, we get back up, and we bring our best selves to the table, over and over again. Sometimes we can do it on our own, sometimes we need a coach, sometimes kismet brings us someone like Charlie. During that spin class, I pushed harder because Charlie inspired me to do so. And maybe without even knowing it, he taught me a life lesson that I will not soon forget. And the next time I go to a spin class, I hope Charlie is there, so I can be humbled and awed once again! Many blessings to all of you during this inspirational time of year.

The Yoga of Life with Mary Boutieller Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.

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The 7 Deadly Virtues, Part 2

PART 2 The Seven Deadly Virtues are actions that are, in themselves, considered positive. But they ignore personal responsibility, and the goal of Unconditional Love.

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By Gregg Sanderson Because of the Bummer BS, (Belief Systems) the Seven Deadly Virtues aren’t always virtuous. They can be deadly to your rela�onships, self-esteem, and happiness. Last month, we talked about the misunderstood aspects of Communica�on, Commitment, Trust, Considera�on, and Asser�veness. If you missed them, run (do not walk) to last month’s issue of Transformation Coaching to catch up. While you’re there, you might as well subscribe. It’s free, and you’ll love it. This month, we start with…

SACRIFICE Some people tell us that sacriﬁce

is the secret to happiness. Don’t believe it! Those who extol the virtues of sacrifice generally want to be on the receiving end. Sacrifice is when you give up something you value for something you value less. For example, if I give up broccoli for a hot fudge sundae, it is not a sacrifice. If you give up a new car to send your kid to college, it’s only a sacrifice if you’d rather have a new car than educated progeny. When you go to school, you trade your �me and money for knowledge. That gives you more to trade when you seek employment. Then you trade your �me and skills for money, which you trade for the goodies that sustain and enhance life. There’s no sacrifice. What it boils down to is this: Everything we do in life is a trade. You give up something you value for something you value more. Trade is the moral opposite of sacrifice and trade works. O�en people will talk about the importance of sacrifice in rela�onships. I’d

like to suggest that the path to happiness in rela�onships is non-sacriﬁce. Suppose you give up something you want to be, do, or have to protect my feelings. You sow the seeds of resentment in yourself and in me. You will resent me for all you give up, and I’ll resent you for not giving enough. Sound familiar?

FORGIVENESS Many tell you how important it is

to forgive if you want to be happy. That’s so, but beware the subtle trap of judgment. You done me wrong, and I forgive you. How noble of me, but you’re s�ll wrong. Let’s pretend for a moment that somebody betrays your trust and doesn’t communicate. Maybe they’re inconsiderate, unasser�ve, and refuse to make the proper sacriﬁces to you. Suppose, instead of “forgive” we use the word “accept.” Remember, love is the emotional acceptance of “what is.” That takes the judgment out of it, and with be�er BS you feel OK no ma�er what the situa�on. You don’t have to like the person or ac�on. You don’t have to approve of it or want more. It only means you don’t get upset. If it happens again it s�ll won’t bother you, although you may be closer to a choice not to hang out together. Then again, you might ﬁgure that’s the way it is and leave it at that. I have a friend who is a feather in the wind. There have been occasions where he’d call to say he’d be right over, then not show up for two or three days. A s�ckler for promptness, I had to make some changes in my BS to accept his behavior. I could have terminat-

ed the friendship. I chose instead to appreciate the way he was since he is such a joy to be with. Understand that your forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person. No ma�er what your feelings in any situa�on, it’s your own BS that causes them. Once you realize you can change your BS, life gets be�er and be�er. If you s�ll blame or judge, you haven’t forgiven. It’s a subtle trap, but an important one. Think “accept.” It’s easier.

TAKEAWAY None of the Seven Deadly Vir-

tues are “bad.” All are desirable. They don’t work for your happiness if you think you can use them to get someone else to change. Here is a brief guide to the caveats. 1) Communication — Communicate. Don’t manipulate. 2) Commitment — Give it when you want. Demand it never. 3) Trust — Trust everybody to be himself/herself. 4) Consideration — Handle your own BS. Say it with love. 5) Assertiveness — Ask for what you want. Create no rebels. 6) Sacrifice — A trade is not a sacrifice. Give value, get value. 7) Forgiveness — Acceptance. Beware judgment or righteousness.

When in doubt, ask yourself, “What would Love do?”

Happiness is BS with Gregg Sanderson

Gregg Sanderson is author of Spirit With A Smile, The World According To BOB. He is a licensed practitioner in the Centers for Spiritual Living, and a Certiﬁed Trainer for Inﬁnite Possibilities. His earlier books were, What Ever Happened To Happily Ever After? and Split Happens—Easing The Pain Of Divorce. His latest project is the New Thought Global Network, where subscribers can enjoy the best in New Thought presentations from anywhere at any time. You can see it at http://www.newthoughtglobal.org.

Make the Connection

The mundane can be transformed into the mi when you invite the Spirit of Service into your

iraculous r daily life. 27

By Rena Greenberg What if everything you did— whether it be paying a bill, washing your face, managing a client’s needs, or clearing the dishes off the counter—was regarded as an act of service? That sounds pretty farfetched, doesn’t it? And yet, when you stop to think about it, the mundane can be transformed into the miraculous when you invite the Spirit of Service into your daily life. So often, when I think of service what comes to mind is doing for another person or organization. When your plate is already full, that can be a challenge, especially around the holidays. One of my clients, Julie, confided in me that she often avoided joining an organization or going to an event that she might otherwise have enjoyed simply because she knew that she would be asked to give something—most likely her time—to the cause. It’s not that she didn’t want to be generous, but her life was already very full. I could really relate to what she was saying. And yet, at the same time, as busy as life may feel, each of us is seeking connection, either consciously or subconsciously. When the longing is subconscious, we may try to fill the void by reaching for something that is ultimately not going to be very satisfying, such as a harmful food, drink, substance, or running up the credit card.

When the seeking is conscious, there can be a keen awareness of an ache in the heart—a loneliness that can only be filled by that which is beyond the physical. Yet, living in the physical world, it can be challenging to take time out of your daily schedule to form a deep and satisfying relationship with the Divine. We know that meditation is a good idea, and we’ve certainly heard about the multitude of benefits gained from adopting a regular meditation or prayer practice. However, in reality, the business of life often takes over. Between shopping, cleaning, taking care of others, making a living, and tending to friends and family, as well as managing our basic self-care needs, it may feel as if there’s little time for anything else. Sure, you might be able to squeeze in a yoga class, a hypnosis session, or a group meditation, but it can be challenging to allow the Divine to infiltrate your life and your consciousness completely. In fact, that aspiration may seem totally out of the question.

What if you didn’t have to go to an ashram, a forest or even a mosque, church, or synagogue to reach a conscious, nourishing relationship with the Divine?

Photo Credit Secondary Spread: Unsplash/Tim Foster

What if you could simply change only one thing and get exactly what you are seeking? What if that one thing was so simple and you had complete control over it? The good news is that the answer is absolutely within your reach. It is simply your intention. That’s right, it’s shifting your intention to one of Service, so that everything you say and do is not necessarily for the one standing in front of you, but rather it is for The One. That could be the One Love, One God, One Breath, All-That-Is or One Life . . . it doesn’t matter how you name it. All that matters is that you activate your connection with it by setting your intention to live your life for that higher purpose. Just that simple shift can completely change your experience from one of loneliness, boredom, frustration, or overwhelm to one of peace, joy, contentment, gratitude, awe, and humility. Here’s an example. If you are feeling lonely, it’s likely that you are running a mental movie of experiences you are having now, or that you’ve had in the past that left you feeling criticized, misunderstood, or unloved. When this inner DVD is playing, it’s likely that your demeanor becomes closed off and withdrawn. You may or may not have conscious awareness of this fact. However, the result may be that you are isolating yourself or turning off the

people around you. Even if you become conscious of your own energy, it can be challenging to change it, even if you realize that would be best to do so. What if, even though you are feeling this inner constriction, you were able to breathe into your heart center, the space in the middle of your chest, where love occurs, and remember that therein lies your deep Spirit—beyond the thoughts, feelings, and energies of the physical. And with that awareness, imagine that your very next thought or action was fed by the knowledge that we are all breathing the same air, that the feelings you have are feelings that everyone shares at one time or another. Imagine if you could look at the person across the room, whom you may have no personal connection with, and remember that he or she also loves someone, whether it be a parent or child, just as you have felt such love. That love is the same for both of you, even if the timing of the love and the object of affection are different. That awareness can close the gap you feel between yourself and another. Imagine interacting with others as an extension of the Divine, a channel to share its love and light to yourself and others? I do not mean by preaching because nothing will turn people off faster.

In fact, silence is so much more profound that chattering on about your supernatural experiences. Rather, the relationship with Spirit that you are cultivating through your intention to serve is something personal for you to grow and cherish in your own heart. Imagine tending to even the most mundane act, such as getting gas for your car, paying a bill, disputing a charge on your credit card statement or checking out your groceries in the supermarket, with a sense of graciousness—as if it were an act of service to either humankind or your Higher Self. What if you began to experience all that you think, say, and do as part of the Divine plan that contributes to life on this planet? And imagine that you can begin to look at others in the same way. Each one is doing his or her part, and together we are making society possible. One person is not more valuable than another because the contrast of one makes you appreciate the other, and so all are necessary. Sure, we are making mistakes, collectively and individually. But it’s incredible how each of us also has the opportunity to make things better for ourselves and others. Rather than cultivating frustration over disappointments in the physical world, imagine if every experience was

seen as an opportunity to serve. The service could simply be awakening an inner acceptance as a way to model this valuable resource for others who also may be experiencing challenge.

Service is a doorway to uplifting your own consciousness. Yes, it’s wonderful if you can build a school in Africa, walk for muscular dystrophy, or participate in building a Habitat for Humanity home. However, you don’t have to wait for these types of special opportunities. Within the next 5 minutes, you have the chance to transform whatever is in front of you right now into an act of service by remembering the value that you may be offering someone else, either energetically by shifting your own energy and radiating it out to them with a kind thought, or by physically imparting a word, act, or gesture that may transform and uplift. You don’t have to wait for someone in your life to “deserve” your kind attention. In the realm of the Divine, all that exists is showered in the Spirit of Service.

Love Life, Live Happy, Live Healthy with Rena Greenberg Rena Greenberg, a Hay House author, can be reached at EasyWillpower.com. Her weight loss and gastric bypass hypnosis success has been featured in 150-plus news stories including USA Today, Woman’s World, The Doctor’s, CNN, Good Morning America and Nightline. PBS stations nationally aired Rena’s show, “Easy Willpower,” in August 2015. Her wellness program is sponsored in 75 hospitals and 100-plus corporations. She conducts hypnotherapy sessions with people all over the world on Skype.

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Matters of the Heart

Of all the organs, the heart is the only one that is thought of to have its own intelligence. By Brian Hawley Our body is one of the most complicated yet amazing pieces of biological machinery in our known universe. It is our temporary housing while we learn, play create, and experience our world. Housed in our body are seven major energy centers that start at our perineum and end up just above the crown of our head. The three lower centers absorb energy from the surroundings and comprise of “earthly” energies that are necessary for our survival on this plane, and they operate on a bit lower frequency than the others. These lower three are also associated with Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jala), and Fire (Agni). Then there are the upper three

chakras that are in higher vibrations and contribute energy into the environment. These are associated with the elements of Air (Vayu) and Space (Akash). These associate with the five Mahabhutas or master elements. Now if you notice I only mentioned six energy centers. There is a junction point in the middle of these upper and lower energy centers and that is our fourth energy center. This is the heart center, also known in Sanskrit as Anahata. Its color is associated with Green, but in some cases of higher vibration it can turn pink. It is represented by two triangles superimposed upon one another, with one facing up and the other facing down. This is a very special center

in the fact that it can direct energy either up or down depending on your thoughts, intentions, attention, and energy you are putting into it. It is also said to be the bridge between the earthly and the non-earthly. Ancient Egyptians called the heart “ieb” and believed it to be the center of life—rather than the brain. In our western medical society the heart has long been thought of as merely a pump, but recently we are discovering new things about this organ. Did you know that the heart has its own electric field, and that is even stronger than the brain’s electric field? Of all the organs the heart is the only one that is thought of to have its own intelligence.

The heart communicates with the brain and body in four major ways. 1) Neurological communication (nervous system) 2) Biochemical communication (hormones) 3) Biophysical communication (pulse wave) 4) Energetic communication (electromagnetic fields) This organ not only generates its own electromagnetic field, it also connects us to the field around us. Most all of us have felt the openness of our heart center at one time or another. That feeling of joy, bliss, connectedness, and being at peace with ourselves. It can also have the opposite effects, sadness, heaviness, worry, stress and just not feeling worthy. Biologically, this is because the heart has a direct connection to both branches of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic (gas pedal) and the parasympathetic (break). Both of these branches continuously relay messages to the heart and brain. In fact, the heart and brain have the most connections of any two systems in the body. When these two systems, the heart and brain, are in coherence with each other and the autonomic nervous system is balanced, you feel harmony and peace; you are in homeostasis. The opposite is also true. In disharmony, we feel agitated, blocked, stressed, and over time this can actually cause physical harm. The Mayo Clinic found

that physiological stress was one of the strongest predictors of heart disease.1 It is also known the heart is an “autorhythmic” organ. This means that the heartbeat is originated from within the heart itself and not directed from the brain. This has been demonstrated thousands of times in the lab when the living heart is dissected out of its host and placed in Ringers solution. There it will continue to beat for several hours independent of any neural input from the brain. Another key component about its independence is in the developing fetus. There it will start beating before the brain is even developed. The heart is usually formed about the three-week mark whereas the brain is around eight weeks.2 This establishes the fact that the heart is capable of direct contact with the nervous system without the brain. This new data represents the beginning of a new medical discipline called Neurocardiology. Doctors have discovered that the vastness of neural networks within the heart are quite developed and is characterized as a “brain in the heart”3,4 The heart-brain, as it is commonly called, or intrinsic cardiac nervous system, is an intricate network of complex ganglia, neurotransmitters, proteins and support cells, the same as those of the brain in our heads. In addition, the intrinsic cardiac nervous system even has both short-term and long-term memory functions and can operate independently of central neuronal command.

What it Means So what does all this mean to the average Joe? It means that our thoughts and outlook on life have a direct connection to our hearts; they can either kill us or heal us. It means that when our thoughts are positive we will create a chemical (that is called a feeling) in the body that can stimulate our heart to feel joy and wholesome, and we feel fulfillment and gratitude. This creates brainheart coherence. When these two major players are in coherence together it helps align all our energy centers and we create both physical and spiritual homeostasis. This is also one of the key steps into manifesting and changing our lives to express the best versions of ourselves. So the next time you hear someone say that the heart is only a pump you know there is a lot more behind the scenes and how special this one organ really is. References 1. T. Allison, D. Williams, T. Miller et al., “medical and Economics Cost of Physiologic distress in patients with Coronary Artery disease” Mayo clinic Proceedings, vol. 70, no. 8 pp. 734-742. (Aug 1995) 2. M. Gazzaniga “The Ethical Brain” NY Times (June 19th, 2005 3. Armour, J.A., Anatomy and function of the intrathoracic neurons regulating the mammalian heart, in Reﬂex Control of the Circulation, I.H. Zucker and J.P. . Gilmore, Editors. 1991, CRC Press: Boca Raton. p. 1-37. (4) Armour, J.A., Potential clinical relevance of the ‘little brain’ on the mammalian heart. Exp Physiol, 2008. 93(2): p. 165-76.

Listen for Your Calling with Dr. Bryan Hawley Dr. Bryan Hawley has served in the healthcare arena for over 30 years. He has owned several high-end clinics and has traveled all over the United States lecturing and teaching healthcare practitioners. He currently teaches guided meditations and energy work to clients all over the world. He lectures on topics such as neurogenesis, epigenetics, metacognition, and how we can literally reprogram our brains and create the lifestyle of our dreams. He is currently ﬁnishing two books on the subject which will be available in January 2019. Contact him at info@drbryanhawley.com.

An Experience with Yoga Nidra

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Words are thin coverings to describe the deep states of relaxation, peace, and insight you can achieve with a Yoga Nidra meditation practice. By Jo Mooy Yoga Nidra is a physiological state of deep relaxation while remaining aware. The practice takes you into a state similar to the one between sleep and waking. It’s brief and feels a bit like dreaming as thoughts disassociate and float freely. In this state, you become a passive observer, as visionary images pass by in an altered state of reality freeing consciousness to explore this remarkable and unconstrained world. Yoga Nidra is an ancient Eastern meditation practice of conscious deep sleep where the conscious mind recedes yet the individual remains aware. As thoughts are allowed to dissolve the unconscious associations and impressions are released. Under the guidance of a tutored practitioner, supreme stillness results. The practitioner mentally touches parts of the body in a prescribed manner awakening subtle energies in the body. Individuals experience a thought-free state where peacefulness and insights into aspects of the self can be realized. In an ultra-Yoga Nidra state, the highest states of cosmic unity can be experienced.

A Personal Journey Within

The voice of the meditation teacher was mellow and flowing. She was leading the “Golden Egg” Yoga Nidra practice. Following her voice, I entered the state of relaxed breathing, aware that each breath took me further into deep relaxation. I mentally touched the various parts

of my body being called out by the teacher. I was intensely focused on my right hand, right thumb, forearm, and shoulder, moving down the torso to the hips and legs and toes. I continued the practice, focusing on the left side of my body, then repeating the process as the teacher’s voice continued. She said, “I am alert and aware and practicing Yoga Nidra.” In the state between deep relaxation and awareness, I experienced the air pressure all around me, pushing my body, and its millions of cells down, as the hard floor rose up to support it. I felt my body begin to meld with the floor. It was no longer separate from it. Instead, I could energetically see and identify the illumined cells that were mine and those of the floor, even as they magnetically floated together while holding the suggestion of shape. The teacher’s voice, which had disappeared for how long I don’t know, was consciously heard again saying, “I am alert and aware and practicing Yoga Nidra.” As she began to recite a series of unrelated images, I immediately fell back into the previous state I’d been in. This time, despite her saying “a candle at midnight—a dog in the park”—a child with her mother” there were no forms or formations. Sound disappeared. There was no light. A conscious random thought struggling to be heard; it asked where’s the light? A distant answering—“knowing”—said:

Here there is no light. There’s only deep stillness and peace. I’ve practiced Yoga Nidra for 10 years but never experienced this state. Words are thin coverings to describe what happened. I dissolved into formlessness. I was both conscious and unconscious. I was nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I was vibration. I was stillness. I was sound. I was silence. I was nothing and I was everything. I slipped into the most profound and sweet peacefulness I’d ever experienced. When her voice reached me somewhere deep down inside the “Golden Egg, I heard her say, “I am alert and aware and practicing Yoga Nidra.” Every atom and shred of consciousness rebelled. I did not want to leave that peacefulness. But the human voice was persistently calling me out. Yoga Nidra is a compelling practice. Done regularly, it will lead to deep states of relaxation. It calms the mind and balances the emotions. Some use it nightly to restore the body and induce sleep. Mystics say one hour of Yoga Nidra is equivalent to four hours of deep sleep. In my experience doing the “Golden Egg” Yoga Nidra it was so much more.

Conscious Living with Jo Mooy

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com.

Guess Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coming to Christmas Dinner

34 Photo Credit: Unsplash/Rawpixel

By Alan Cohen

If we are willing and can meet each other in the heart for a day, can we not do it for two days? Or a week? Or a month? Or a lifetime? By Alan Cohen When I texted my niece Jordin, an attorney who works as a public defender, she told me she was at a softball game. Every month, she explained, the town lawyers get together with the inmates at the local prison, along with the guards, and play softball. I was jarred to hear this, as I usually think of lawyers, guards, and inmates as being in adversarial positions. They are too busy fighting and being angry with each other to enjoy each other. But not so in Jordin’s town. For a few hours each month, all of these people rise above their social identities and come together as equals on the same playing field. What a model for how good it can get if we let it! Jordin’s softball game reminded me of a story I heard about the French and German armies fighting each other in World War I. One Christmas both sides agreed to a cease fire, and soldiers from both armies came into a small border town to a tavern where they ate dinner together, drank wine, sang, and enjoyed each others company. The next day they went back to shooting each other. Yet for a moment in time those soldiers dropped their animosity and joined. I hold this vision dear as a teaching in what we can all do if we are willing. If we can meet each other in the heart for a day,

can we not do it for two days? Or a week? Or a month? Or a lifetime? The popular and healing spiritual training A Course in Miracles began when two people who were at odds with each other chose to join instead. Dr. Helen Schucman and Dr. Bill Thetford were research psychologists and professors at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. As is often the case in academia, the two were immersed in egoistic power struggles, competition, and backbiting. One day Dr. Thetford came to Dr. Schucman, and told her, “Helen, there must be a better way.” Helen agreed, which changed the entire dynamic of their relationship. Soon afterward Helen began to hear a voice that gave the world A Course in Miracles through her. Course scholars cite the moment the two agreed to work together rather than against each other, as the seminal moment that opened the door for the entire Course to come to the world. Behold the power of sincere willingness to join. One Mother’s Day I saw my friend Danielle walking into a restaurant for brunch. “My husband and ex-husband are taking me out for Mother’s Day,” she told me. Odd, I thought, that these two men would join to support their current and former partner. “We all cooperate around taking care of the kids, so we thought we would celebrate,” she went on. What a

wonderful demonstration of how we can choose to stay connected in relationships rather than use changes as an excuse to separate from each other. Even though we may choose to separate physically, we can still join in spirit. One of the key lessons in my Life Coach Training Program is the technique of reframing, taking a situation that seems daunting and finding another way to look at it that is empowering. One of the trainees reported a reframe she had achieved: “Last weekend my ex-husband, who now has a girlfriend, came to my house to drop off our daughter after she had spent a few days with her dad. As the girl was exiting the car, the girlfriend gave her a hug and kiss and said, ‘I love you.’ When I heard that, my heart sank. I felt like this woman was attempting to replace me as my daughter’s mother. “When I thought about it more, I realized that it was a wonderful thing that my daughter had another loving parental influence, how nice that his woman chose to reach out and support my daughter. I realized that we are not in competition with each other, but we are all devoted to the welfare of my daughter. Seeing the situation that way made me feel a lot better. I now appreciate my husband’s new partner.”

Get Real with Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books, including the bestselling A Course in Miracles Made Easy. Become a certiﬁed professional life coach through Alan’s transformational Life Coach Training beginning February 1, 2019. For more information about this program, Alan’s books and videos, free daily inspirational quotes, online courses, and weekly radio show, visit www.alancohen.com.

Your Greatest Resource

Photo Credit: Prottoy Hassan/Unsplash

Your inner being—your soul or higher self—is not something that you have. It is what you are. by Owen K Waters Your complete consciousness is your inner being. All of the so-called parts of your mind —the conscious, the subconscious, and the superconscious parts—are all facets of your one, complete consciousness, your inner being. Your conscious mind is the result of your inner being focusing attention upon the outer world through your physical brain and senses. When, instead, you turn your attention from the outer world toward the inner world, you access the resources of your inner being. Your inner being possesses all of the wisdom, understanding, and strength that you will ever need. It is your ultimate, personal resource. Your inner being is also your link with the universe and with the consciousness behind all life, Infinite Being.

If you think of yourself as living your life like a performer on stage, then your inner being is like the backstage technician who makes sure that your performance has all the support that it needs to make everything happen on cue. The amount of knowledge and wisdom available within you is unlimited. In order to access it, you only have to make an intention to go within and find it. Your subconscious mind runs all of your biological systems without conscious effort on your part. In fact, if you think about it, the subconscious mind of an ant knows more about biochemistry than today’s leading scientists. Your inner being knows even more; in fact, everything about anything you want to know anything about. The trick is to ask the question and

then silence your conscious mind enough to hear the answer. When you become consciously aware of the true nature of your inner being and its resources of wisdom, understanding, and strength, you begin to dissolve many of the former limitations to your growth. The key to expressing your human potential is to know that all potential lies within you and you only have to open an external channel in order to begin to allow that unlimited potential to flow out into the world. The power is within. To become empowered, you don’t have to become something new. You only have to realize that you already have that power within, then allow that infinite inner potential to flow into your life.

Spiritual Dynamics with Owen K. Waters Owen is a cofounder of the Spiritual Dynamics Academy, where a where a free spiritual growth newsletter awaits you at: www.SpiritualDynamics.net. He is an international spiritual teacher who has helped hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers to understand better the nature of their spiritual potential. Owen’s life has been focused upon gaining spiritual insights through extensive research and the development of his inner vision. For the past 12 years, he has written a spiritual metaphysics newsletter which empowers people to discover their own new vistas of inspiration, love and creativity. Spiritual seekers enjoy his writings for their insight and clarity.

Meet the first 5 guests (ourselves included)!!

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