Monthly Archives: August 2013

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

What if you are on the road to living your most authentic life and feel you’ve found your purpose, when suddenly you find yourself the target of dark forces whose intent is to pull you off course?  Can there be cracks in your spiritual armor that make you vulnerable to darkness? It can happen to anyone. I’d like to share a story of my own brush with darkness.

Years ago, when I was laid up in bed with a back injury that seemed to have come out of nowhere, I found myself with nothing to do except meditate, journal and sleep. I took advantage of that opportunity to get clarity on some emotional issues that I had been struggling with, and found myself becoming more and more connected with my guides.  Little did I know that this connection coupled with a challenge that I was facing in my healing practice, would attract some very unwelcome guests.

I woke up one night with my hair standing practically on end! There was a palpable evil presence hovering over me, floating on the ceiling of my room. I had never felt anything so terrifying, especially when this accumulation of darkness actually spoke to me.  The darkness communicated this message “If you’ll give up your guides and join us, you’ll get everything that you want.” I knew exactly what I wanted, and apparently this dark force knew too!

I had been making tremendous progress with my own spiritual journey and was deeply involved in my healing practice. But, despite my must herculean efforts, I had not been as successful as I wanted to be in the area of helping people.  I yearned to break through this barrier, so you can understand how the dark offer was tempting to me. That frustration and yearning to be able to effect immediate improvement in others was what was making me vulnerable!

I fought back the temptation to give in to the forces, and focused on an icon of my main guide. Holding the icon up, I bid the spirits to leave in His name. They retreated a little, but came back night after night until I realized that the back injury that was immobilizing and weakening me wasn’t even real. Armed with this knowledge, I stood up and faced the forces – I used every weapon in my arsenal – an icon of my guide, a bottle of blessed water, and my own fierce, unbending intent.  I ordered the forces out of my life, and they left.  They come back to test me periodically but never with the same force, and I was always able to see them coming, and withstand them.

What are some things that make us vulnerable to darkness?

Holes in our energy field due to unprocessed emotions and unresolved trauma can allow darkness to slip in and fill those spaces.  What I’ve learned in my time as a spiritual teacher and energy healer is that regular meditation and journaling are the best protection against falling into the trap of beginning to believe your own stories; remember, it’s the lies we tell ourselves that do the most damage. Healing courses are another way to resolve issues that might leave you vulnerable to negative energy.

Ego and pride, which can be associated with our appearance, financial or social status or our special abilities can keep us from being our best selves, and make us susceptible to darkness. Power can corrupt, and in the course of my own energy healing training, I saw many powerful shamans and healers fall victim to their own pride and ego, with dark results.

Giving away your power to others who fill a void in your life can be setting yourself up for psychic attack.  It’s important to have the strength and self-awareness to know when someone is filling an unhealthy need, so that you can maintain your own personal power. Working with a wellness coach, or taking life coaching courses so that you can work on yourself can help resolve those old injuries, and protect you from psychic attack.

An unhealthy body, brought about by abusing alcohol and drugs, not getting enough sleep or exercise, or poor nutrition can make us open to negative energy, and keep us from living a balanced, light filled life. My students know that I am all about eating well, exercising and spending time in the outdoors. I even like to sleep outside!  Make physical health a priority, and make sure that you are aware of the right diet, exercise and sleep requirements for your unique body type!

Keeping a healthy mind is equally critical. You are what you eat, but you’re also what you watch or read. Be careful of exposing yourself to evil and violence, either through movies, books or online. Watch movies and TV and read books about people who inspire you as an alternative to overdosing on violence and negativity. Finally, your mother was right about one thing: we become like the people we hang out with – don’t waste your time with people who pull you down. Instead, seek out people who inspire you to be your very best self possible, people who help you raise your consciousness. You’ll want to join me at my live online event sponsored by Hay House, Seeking the Light, starting soon, that addresses this very topic in detail.  It’s a great place to get lots of light!

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Years ago, while attending a fund raiser for a local homeless shelter, I found myself seated next to the delightful and very down-to-earth couple who ran the day-to-day operations of the facility.  I was amazed with the progress that this particular charity had made over the past several years, and suspected that my new friends were responsible for a big chunk of that success.

As they shared their story, it turned out that I was 100% correct. Larry and Roberta had both attended prestigious colleges, married, and spent many years climbing the corporate ladder when, as part of a corporate outreach program, they started helping out at the shelter.  As they became more and more involved and applied their business expertise to the center, they found a passion for the work that they hadn’t experienced in their corporate jobs. Larry quit his six-figure job to take a full time position at the shelter (at a much lower salary), and Roberta joined him a few months later.  With their help, the shelter grew to a multi-faceted facility that didn’t just house and feed the homeless, but provided drug and alcohol rehabilitation, counseling and job placement.

I was inspired by Larry and Roberta’s commitment to the homeless and to each other.  It was obvious to me and to everyone around us that they had found their true calling!

There was a period early in my own life, when I was seeking my true path – not the road that others expected me to travel, but one that was healthy and meaningful for me. I learned to meditate, to listen to the inner voice, the intuitive guide within. And here I learned my true purpose in life: to overcome any darkness within me, to live as consciously in the light as possible, and to help others do the same. That’s the subject of my newest book, Entangled in Darkness: Seeking the Light, just now available.

So the question is: what is your purpose in life. Do you know why you are here on Earth, in a body, at this time? I’m not talking about your job, your daily responsibilities, or even your hopes and dreams for the future. I’m talking about the age-old question: What is the meaning of your life?

For those of you who have discovered the path of Spirit, and who have had some sort of direct experience of Source, your perspective shifts. You may no longer be interested in “hot” partners, shiny jewelry, the best car, or the biggest house. Your attention now focuses more on what’s inside than on what’s outside. Are you kinder than you used to be? More loving, more accepting of other cultures and lifestyles, more open to new experiences, new people? Are you doing something, big or small that makes the world a better place? Do you have a spiritual practice that sustains and supports you?

When you think of your purpose in these terms, you can see that your goals change. Your purpose in life basically doesn’t have much to do with what you do as much as who you are. Mother Theresa put it this way: “We do not DO great things. We do small things with GREAT LOVE.” Your current purpose may be to love yourself more, to accept your human frailties, to stop trying so hard to be perfect. Maybe your purpose is to heal your old wounds and be kinder to yourself and to your body. And your purpose will evolve over time, as you face and surmount challenges.

Eventually, you come to understand that spiritual development, the evolution of your own consciousness, is the best way in which you can serve others. In that way, you are also serving the world. You can still be passionate about your job, your family, and work to make your day-to-day life more comfortable and secure—all the while knowing that everything outside of yourself is impermanent.

Larry and Roberta found happiness and fulfillment by using their business skills to help others break their cycle of poverty. I found my true path in teaching, whether it’s simple health & wellness concepts on national TV or sophisticated energy medicine and life coaching courses or teaching people how to move up to the next level of consciousness. You’ll want to use your discernment to determine what your true purpose is and don’t assume it’s what you do every day at work; while it may be, it could also be something you do at home or in your free time.

To find your true purpose and embody it requires that you’ve cleared away much of your past darkness and moved into your own higher qualities. To help you become that leader you’re meant to be, join me for a 4-part Hay House Live Online course called “Seeking the Light,” starting September 19^th.  You can come live or listen later – I hope to see you there!

Good things often develop out of the worst in our lives. In my twenties, I was a successful attorney living in the fast lane when a cancer diagnosis forced me to re-examine my life. Suddenly, things took a dramatic u-turn! Drawn to the world of energy medicine, I created a fertile breeding ground for an amazing remission of the cancer, and in the process discovered an entire new path in life. I studied energy healing far and wide, which I now share with the world through my books, courses and shows.

How can my story inspire you to find your true path in life? Tune into my interview on Veria TV and find out! Here’s how:

1) Go to http://verialivinggo.com/  and  sign up now for your FREE 7 day trial,  you can watch Veria shows from your TV, computer, smart phone or tablet! Sign in through Facebook or email.

2) Next WEDNESDAY August 21st at NOON EASTERN/9:00am PACIFIC catch my interview on “Over the Hump”: go back to http://verialivinggo.com/  log in and click on the Live Streaming Link in the tool bar.

I’m so jazzed to be on Veria Living TV; if you’re not a fan of Veria already, I know you’re going to thank me for introducing you to this super entertaining health & wellness channel!

What happens when someone close to you dies suddenly, and you have unresolved issues or questions involving that person?  Or what if you simply can’t get a handle on your grief, and wish you could speak to them one last time? Are you limited to finding answers, comfort, and closure alone?  Many people struggle with regrets or sadness after losing someone, which can result in on-going symptoms like, depression, compulsive behavior, weight problems, anxiety, isolation, and worse. What if there was a way to ask that one burning question, or have that last conversation that would provide a release from guilt and regret, and maybe provide a glimmer of hope and guidance from beyond?

There is and it isn’t new! All through history, people have embraced the concept of an ongoing relationship with the deceased. Myths such as the Greek story of Demeter and Persephone and the Egyptian story of Isis and Osiris remind people that it is possible to reconnect with those who have died. Most ancient cultures and some modern ones have rituals that maintain a connection with the ancestors. In many cultures, it’s considered not only normal but desirable to connect to the deceased. I teach classes on how to do connect with the dead and how to honor our ancestors.

For many people suffering from the loss of a loved one, any hope of opening the lines of communication with the deceased is met enthusiastically. John Edwards, a leader in the field of “crossing over”, or speaking to the dead, shared his gift with a receptive public shortly after publishing his book, One Last Time, in 1998.  When he appeared on the Larry King Show to discuss his book, the switchboard practically exploded due to the flood of callers who were anxious to speak with him. Edwards landed a TV show soon after and spent the next several years transmitting messages from beyond to a studio audience.  John Edwards didn’t invent the idea of communicating with the dead, but he certainly brought it to the mainstream!

In the course of my energy healing work, I “cross over” whenever I sense it will help my client. For example, I sometimes find an individual incorrectly corded to someone who has died. If you are familiar with my workshops and writings, you know all about chording: cords are streamers of auric light that emanate from your chakras and connect you to other people; they can be either positive or negative. Death doesn’t undo these energetic connections, so when people find themselves chorded incorrectly to someone who has died, the cord may need to be cleaned or even removed in order for the living person to move on.  I do this by crossing over and connecting with the deceased, addressing the cord, and clearing or releasing it. This relieves my client of the constraints that are holding them back and often the change is immediately apparent.

Interested in learning more about this fascinating topic? Tune in this Wednesday at 2:00 PDT to my Hay House Radio show!  I’ll be speaking with a very special guest, Mark Anthony, a talented medium and crossing over specialist.  Get your questions ready, we will be available to provide you with answers from the other side. This is a not to be missed opportunity, see you there!

“A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction.
It should be a progression of moods and feelings.
The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”
~Stanley Kubrick

Check out these “must sees” at the movies, starting with Blackfish, a documentary prompted by the death of a SeaWorld trainer 2 years ago. Zoom in on what’s happening behind the scenes with killer whales in captivity. Looking into the eyes of these amazing orcas, you know you are in the presence of beings more sentient than we are. But separated from their families, imprisoned in small pools, and left for long periods of time without exercise or stimulation, psychosis can develop. The film focuses on Tilikum, a male orca captured and taken from his mother when very young, who’s been involved in 3 deaths. One expert in the film said, “he’s killing because he’s frustrated and has no outlet.” I would also suggest that separated from his family when very young, he’s had no opportunity to be properly socialized. Attacked by more dominant whales imprisoned in the same tiny pool who don’t speak his language, left hungry and then forced to perform for food, has pushed him over the edge.

Tilikum isn’t the only captive whale who has fought back by killing or injuring a trainer; we see disturbing footage and listen to a litany of former SeaWorld trainers talk about their shame over their inability to protect these noble creatures. As for SeaWorld, the company refuses to comment, relying on canned press releases that blame it all on “trainer error.” It’s obvious that nothing matters to them but their bottom line.

At the end, the film is as much about us humans as it is about these majestic creatures with superior language abilities and brains with emotional centers more developed than our own. Why some think it’s appropriate to keep them captive in a little swimming pool for the entertainment of the masses says we are still in the days of the Romans in the Coliseum.

Blackfish is a must see this summer. Search out the theatre nearest you and get charged up about protecting the whales!

Another great watch is The Hunt. I was interested to see this film because in my work as a spiritual teacher, healing repressed trauma, I find that many traumas are a result of sexual abuse. Lucas is a former high school teacher struggling to emerge from a divorce and loss of his job.  Just as he begins to heal, his life is shattered by a false accusation of molestation that launches his community into a state of hysteria. The real theme of this movie is mob mentality and the destructive power of gossip. Beautifully filmed but disturbing to watch, this movie, reminiscent of an earlier film, Deliverance, reminds us that civilization is a really jut a thin veneer.

You’ll also want to see Fruitvale Station in light of the recent Trayvon Martin scandal. It deals with a true story—the shooting of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old unarmed black man who, in 2009, was shot in the back by a transit policeman at the Fruitvale station in Oakland. The films does a great job of presenting Oscar as a real person, who starts his day taking stock of his life and resolving to make things better, only to end up senselessly killed—a casualty of racial profiling.  This event shook the Bay Area and the nation when it occurred, but we continue to see incidents of racial profiling today. Talk up Fruitvale Station and encourage others to see it; film is a great way to increase group consciousness.

My last review, The Unfinished Song, will make your heart sing! It features Arthur, a grumpy old soul perfectly content with sticking to his dreary daily routine until his dying wife Marion, played by Vanessa Redgrave, drags him to a local singing group. The music group helps Marion transition from cancer to the next level, and allows the grieving Arthur to get himself through some extremely difficult times. This film illustrates the healing power of sound, a technique which we frequently use in energy healing.

Don’t miss these great films since they won’t be in the theatres much longer. They will all give you something to think about. Grab the popcorn and go for it!