Posts in category: Featured

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.     

                                                                         —-Confucius

What does it mean to “fall off the wagon”? The homey old expression comes from the days of unpaved streets when wagons filled with water traveled the roads wetting down the endless dust.  In the early days of the Prohibition Movement, problem drinkers were encouraged to give up strong spirits and get aboard the “water” wagon instead. “Falling off the wagon” came to mean tumbling backward into the gutter, sinking back into the mire of hopelessness. Farewell to the chariot that was going to carry you home!

Today, “falling off the wagon” is used as a way to express your disappointment in yourself. You didn’t stick to your diet. You let yourself get caught up in the fearful frenzy of news media designed to scare you senseless. You stopped meditating because you were just too busy and overwhelmed. Falling off the wagon perfectly describes those times when you fall away from the good habits and practices you want to build. You know your best life lies ahead, and you need that wagon of good spiritual self-care to get there. Do you give up or try to catch up?

You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? As singer-songwriter Hayley Williams would tell you, “Sometimes it takes a good fall to really know where you stand.”  Just as my recent tumble from a mountainside shook me awake to the real needs of my spirit, any fall you suffer may be the wake-up call for you. What’s happening in your inner world is reflected in your outer world. You may need to look close, think straight, and re-evaluate your life in spirit. Why aren’t you doing the things you know will help and heal and uplift you? Falling never means you have to stay down.

Here are some steps you can take to climb back on the wagon of spiritual growth and self-care:

First, forgive yourself! You fell off the wagon? Well, so have many great souls before you. Instead of beating yourself up for not sticking to your meditation practice, your yoga classes, or your vow never to engage in office gossip again, take a deep breath. You are a child of the Divine. Regarding yourself with love and gentleness is a reflection of your Source. Your falls are tools to build with, so use them to rise up and resume your journey.

Remember not to give in to fear in any form. Let love be your guiding emotion. Fear is a habit you can conquer with intention. I can, and I will! On the far side of everything that frightens you is freedom and the light of liberation. Don’t be afraid of failing or falling. Think about what you love and how much good your love can do in the world.

Focus on service and think about all you have to give. Your efforts to grow in spirit and to stay connected to the Divine matter to everyone. When you meditate, it isn’t just for your own peace of mind and well-being. You lift up the world with your love and your focus on oneness, harmony, and peace. Many others in the world have fallen and need help getting back up.

Reach out for help when you need it.  Our society suffers from loneliness and isolation. By rebuilding the connection and community that humans need to thrive, you are helping to heal yourself and others. I have noticed that I am more effective as an energy healer if I have a roomful of participants.  Gathering together in classes and workshops for spiritual study concentrates the love and intention you need to move forward. All hands are needed, whether they are reaching for a boost upward or lifting another back on board.

Re-engage right away! I recommend getting back to work on the heart of your spiritual practice—meditation. Be patient with yourself and keep in mind why you began meditating in the first place.  Not only is it the best practice I know for self-transformation, it leads to better health and greater happiness. Your meditation practice helps you and contributes to the well-being of all. And the more you work at it, the more it won’t be work at all, but pure joy!

Each day is a new day, and a new chance to turn toward the light. Of course there will be obstacles.  The secret is to accept them as challenges to strengthen you and building blocks for the best life ahead. You are not alone and you are infinitely creative and resourceful. As you take steps to grow in spirit, you add to your ability to help others do the same. Look down the road, and you’ll see that the wagon has paused to wait for you!

If you’re attracted to this type of learning or you want to know how meditation can change your life, learn how to meditate with me >>>

“Happiness is not determined by what’s happening around you but rather by what’s happening within you.”    —–Buddha

What would you say is the most important question of human life? Is it “Who am I?” Or “Where did I come from?” Or “Why am I here?” Mystics and philosophers of all traditions have reflected on these mysteries and arrived at one constant recommendation for seekers—“Look within!” The answers to these eternal questions and so many more are already alive and well deep within the recesses of your being.

The fact is that we’re all here on the same pilgrimage of the soul. Life is a journey toward higher consciousness. As I see it, we’ve come to this physical plane to be bearers of the light. This “light” is the highest energetic frequency that exists in our world and from which we originate. It’s the energy called Source, Spirit, oneness, love, or God.

On the path to higher consciousness, the mission is to shift from lower-self qualities—which are largely related to physical existence and survival—to higher-self qualities, using the energy of love that your soul intended for you to develop in this lifetime. Growing in the direction of love leads to happiness, health, abundance, and peace.

Is there a short cut on this path to higher consciousness where all good things await? As I have often said, learning to meditate changed the course of my life and set me firmly on a spiritual climb I never would have believed possible.

Things didn’t look good for me at first. My pilgrimage of the soul began with a childhood haunted by abuse. Although I had connected deeply with the world of Spirit through my family’s Catholic faith, I abandoned that connection during my rebellious teenage years, replacing it with addictions—to alcohol, Valium, high-risk sports, and extreme dieting. As a young lawyer, I was promiscuous and driven by ambition. Then, at age 24, I learned that I had cancer.

My diagnosis stunned and terrified me. I didn’t want to die. In fact, what I desperately wanted was a better way to live. I began reflecting as deeply as I could on my life and what might have caused me to become so ill. At this point, I discovered meditation. This new avenue of spiritual awakening helped me begin thinking clearly and allowed me to calm down.

When I stopped the addictive behavior that was numbing the pain of my difficult childhood, I focused on caring for myself—mind, body, and spirit. My self-esteem began to improve, and I started to feel better. I tried alternative healing modalities. After several sessions with an energy healer, I had a “spontaneous” remission from the cancer. I knew this miracle was due in great part to the energy work I’d received. In my quest to learn more, I took the first steps on my true life path to becoming an energy healer myself.

Daily meditation became crucial to my physical, emotional, and spiritual health. In my studies to become a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I learned that every culture throughout history has had some form of meditation. The purpose is to still the mind; calm, cleanse, and refresh the body; and increase the connection to Spirit.

One of the biggest problems of our modern-day culture is that we’ve let go of many of the things that in previous times supported our spirit. We’ve become more science and technology driven, more isolated from our neighbors, more secularized as a society.  How has this affected us? People have become more unsettled and anxious, restless and discontent—forever searching for something that will make them feel happy and whole.

Sadly, many members of our society are in a constant state of agitation and unrest. For me, the key practice for increasing your light and keeping your psyche healthy is meditation. Meditation can keep you connected to a power greater than yourself and help you stay focused on living in the light. When you connect with the Divine each day, this connection helps you discover your reason for being here. It helps you feel fulfilled and purposeful, knowing your life makes a difference to others.

What happens when you meditate correctly and regularly for some time is that your brain begins to function in a much more coherent way, which allows you to access intelligence that is beyond regular waking consciousness. The more you meditate, the more information will come to you. I highly recommend that for the best results you learn to meditate by studying with a teacher. You can learn from me here.

While the popular view of meditation is that its key purpose is to help us reduce stress, tune out, and get away from all the chaos of daily life, there is a much deeper purpose. The real intention of meditation is to tune in, to get in touch with what’s inside of yourself as well as with your Source of Being.

The ultimate goal is to reach that state of peace within that so many traditions speak of—the peace that is so profound that it is indeed beyond all understanding.

By expanding your awareness—by experiencing greater peace, raising your consciousness, and connecting with the Divine light—you are actually assisting every other person and creature on the planet to do the same. We’re all connected by one vast field of energy.

When you’re in that field, you’ll find the true meaning of Oneness. You’ll also discover that this field is pure, boundless potential—that you can accomplish anything when you’re tapped into it. You can create anything, heal anything. Meditation is the one intentional path that easily and reliably takes you there.

Are you ready to begin your journey to Meditation Mastery?

If you’re attracted to this type of learning or you want to know how meditation can change your life, learn how to meditate with me >>>

Are you sleeping, Brother John? – Traditional French song 

In the old familiar children’s song, Frère Jacques is sound asleep when he is supposed to be up ringing the bells for morning prayers.

Do you ever feel like the sleepy friar who isn’t quite awake when it’s time to rise, shine, and give out the glory? Maybe you feel like your entire life is one long nap and you are sleeping right through the important stuff.

Are you awake or asleep? Tuned in or zoned out? Your state of consciousness, your level of awareness of all the aspects of your mind, body, and spirit affects the way you experience everything, especially the degree of joy, happiness, and love you feel.

How does your level of consciousness influence your daily life? Find out by asking yourself a few simple questions: Are you filled with joy? Can you maintain or quickly return to a loving space in the face of adversity? Are you grateful for the blessings (and challenges) in your life?

According to the wisdom of ancient India, the Ayurvedic system of energy medicine, a person who is healthy and balanced in mind, body, and spirit is cheerful. Cheerful! A beautiful word for a beautiful state of being.

Each day you have a chance to experience the four major states of consciousness: waking, sleeping, dreaming, and meditative (also called contemplative).

Waking consciousness is your day-to-day awareness. It is how you function in the world and where you live most of the time when you’re not sleeping. Dreaming gives you access to your subconscious thoughts and feelings.

If you keep a journal of your dreams, you can capture and study what your subconscious considers important. This can be a valuable source of information to help in the process of healing and expanding your self-awareness.

It’s the meditative state of consciousness, however, that holds the key to the growth and empowerment of your spirit as well as the health and well-being of your mind and body. In the meditative state, you have the power to access higher levels of awareness as you re-connect with the Source of All That Is.

If you meditate every day, correctly and consistently, you will soon find that it affects the other states of consciousness in amazing ways. After I had been meditating for a few years, for example, I found that I needed less sleep. After a few more years, I realized that I had begun dreaming in a much more directed way.

As more time went by, I felt as if I were in a state of meditation all the time, floating between states of consciousness with ever greater access to the healing energy of unconditional love.

The meditative state enhances how awake and aware you are in every aspect of your life. Can you be open to noticing more beauty in the world, more goodness in the people around you, and more ways to serve and heal others?

Yes! Can you be stronger and more resilient in facing the challenges that life presents? Can you be more loving, accepting, and forgiving of yourself and others? Yes and yes!

Your meditation practice can bring the states of consciousness full circle and expand your waking state in powerful ways. If you are ready to move past the worrisome sensation that you are never quite awake and might be missing something wonderful, consider what happens when you expand your awareness:

You can know yourself better. You have a limitless potential for spiritual development and personal transformation. What abilities and powers are waiting to be discovered within? Why not wake up your potential for healing yourself and others in mind, body, and spirit? Self-knowledge leads to self-love and self-acceptance which lead to greater happiness.

You can see opportunities. Open your eyes and heart to the vast array of possibilities for attracting peace, joy, abundance, and love into your life. Closed doors can become open windows with expanded consciousness. Opportunities to serve others will appear and fit naturally into your life.

You can recognize your path. Your purpose and place in the world lie right before you. When you wake up to the knowledge that you are being divinely guided in the direction you were born to travel, you’ll let go of fear and frustration and embrace the blissful feeling that you are on your path.

You can appreciate the goodness around you. Being more awake and aware will open your eyes to the all the blessings you have to be grateful for. As you see more goodness in others, you’ll feel more empathy and compassion. Feelings of isolation and loneliness will fade as a sense of unity and oneness grows within.

You can call upon your powers of intuition and creativity. Expanded consciousness gives you greater ability to focus and concentrate. You can become more aware of your spiritual potential, access your talents and gifts, and see ways to use them. With increased faith in yourself and your purpose comes greater joy and playfulness. Wouldn’t you love to laugh more and share that joy with others?

It’s sweet to imagine that Frère Jacques, our sleepy Brother John, wakes up laughing and starts ringing those bells for all to hear.

If you’re ready to wake up and start being the REAL you… join our Summer Healing Series and begin a journey into the light… where you belong. Click here >>>

From ripe rosy peaches to gardenias in bloom to heaps of beach towels and sand buckets at the store, you can’t miss the signs of summer. Everyone has their own favorite sights, scents, tastes, music, and memories of summer—the traditional season of freedom and relaxation. Routine and work-day responsibilities fade into the background while beaches, mountains, forests, and parks beckon!

What will you do this summer to celebrate the season of longer, lighter, warmer days? As an energy healer and spiritual teacher, I have a few ideas for you. Underlying all that is joyful and beautiful is the creative energy of Spirit. Why not think of your summer as a perfect time to look within and tune up your healing connection to that unlimited source of light?

First, envision your very best self. How would that highest self think and feel? What can you do to move closer with love to that vision? Summer is all about healing energy —more light, greater warmth, more time, and more opportunity to heal and grow in Spirit. Here are some ways you can harness the powerful energy of summer:

1. Meditate!

A less encumbered schedule this summer? It’s a perfect time to recommit to a daily meditation practice. Meditation has been the true north star of spiritual growth in my life. I teach it and preach it with my whole heart as the foundation of all healing practice. You can learn my tried and true method here.

2. Plant!

Summer is the growing season when flowers, fruits, and food crops flourish. What can you plant this summer that will give you the deep satisfaction of watching life appear and expand? Whether you plant radish seeds and marvel at their magical growth or plant a tree for a future forest, the experience of tilling the Earth with your hands is a sacred ritual. Imagine yourself planting a seed of hope or compassion or courage in the fertile ground of your spirit and see what blossoms!

3. Move (Outside!)

Summer invites you to move your body more so step out into the sunlight and spend time enjoying the wonders of the natural world. The bright and potent energy of the summer urges you to move into action mode. Being connected to the energy of Mother Earth is something our culture is steadily losing, but you can reclaim the peace and joy that comes from being in tune with nature. Being outside helps to ground you and clear, balance, and charge your chakras. Use your long summer days for more healing walks and outdoor exercise.

4. Splash!

Think of how many sweet summer memories are connected to water—swimming and boating, hiking beside a mountain stream, marveling at the power of a mighty waterfall, listening to the crash of ocean waves. Water is a powerful tool for healing. Just taking a walk along a waterfront, river or lake will help clear your mind and lift your spirits. Water is an elemental force for good, a conduit of universal energy. It can help you clear blockages from your second chakra and second level of your personal energy field. Saltwater is especially healing – take time to head to the beach and play in the surf. Take advantage of all the wonderful ways you can enjoy water this season!

5. Shine!

Consider what the summer sun does for your spirit with its warmth and light, energizing and empowering all your dreams and desires. Enjoying the good energy the sun provides can help you wake up the power you have within to shine forth in the world. How can you begin to shine like the sun in your work, in your relationships, in your service, in your spiritual practice?  As the poet Hafiz famously said, “Even after all this time, the Sun never says to the Earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that—it lights the whole sky.” Let your spirit shine!

Summer is full of opportunities, so make sure you embrace the light of the season to help you heal and grow your spirit. Summer’s freedom and weather create the perfect opportunity to move toward healthier habits and heal yourself from the inside out. Whether you are basking in the sun or swimming in the ocean or lying on a blanket looking up at the clouds, take advantage of this precious time to benefit from the powerful healing energy of summertime.

If you are interested in this type of learning, check out my Chakra Wisdom Course.