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Are you looking for a better way to interact with a certain someone in your life, or people in general? Does someone you deal with regularly have a behavior that you just can’t figure out, and you wonder what in the world is motivating their actions?

One of the greatest tools I can arm my students with is the knowledge of character types, or characterology, an amazing way to improve all your relationships. Seriously, this information is going to change your life.

Awareness Is the First Step

Characterology, or the study of character and body types, is a practical way of looking at other people that will illuminate their behaviors and motivations. With this deepened perception of others’ tendencies, you will be able to figure out the most effective way to deal with them in all kinds of situations. As an added benefit, once you have mastered using this tool to observe others, you can use it to examine your own patterns of thinking and behaviors and open up new levels of self-awareness, an essential component of spiritual advancement.

As a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I can tell you that all spiritual progress is born out of awareness. That’s why a daily meditation practice, staying in touch with your emotions, and taking healing courses to clear your chakras are all necessary elements in any spiritual journey. I am always guiding my students towards methods to increase their awareness, and understanding character structures is an excellent one.

The Link Between Trauma and Body Shape

In the last century, there have been many discoveries about the ways thought, behavior, physical body structures, energy fields, chakras, and illnesses are all interconnected. Practitioners of energy medicine and psychologists have independently identified some of the links, and, of course the ancients knew this without the need for studies, but it was Austrian psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich who first posited that childhood traumas, and the defenses created in response to those traumas, can actually affect the shape of your body.

Reich realized that many of his patients who had grown up with similar situations tended to develop similar body types, and patients who had similar body types tended to also have similar psychological patterns. He noted that people seemed to fit into five categories, which he named using terms that were popular for psychological discourse in his day: Schizoid, Oral, Psychopath, Masochist, and Rigid.

Don’t be worried by these dramatic names, and rest assured that they are not literal! If you (or someone you know) is a Psychopath in this character structure system, it does not mean you are really psychopathic!

Energy Field Distortions Create Physical Distortions

These character types are essentially defense mechanisms created as responses to traumas in your childhood. When a child experiences a trauma, they often block or repress their feelings. When the emotions are suppressed instead of expressed, they create a structure or system that allows for the child to deal with the world more easily. This defense pattern is designed to keep the child “safe,” though that safety is a façade because the defense itself perpetuates the behavior-response model it seeks to avoid. When this method of response to the world becomes habitual, it affects the structure of that person’s energy field and consequently, their physical body.

One of the tenets of energy healing is that your body is made from the energy in your personal field. When the energy field is sick, the body becomes sick, too, and when you heal your energy field, you can heal the body. It would make sense then, that a persistent distortion in your energy field could cause a distortion in your physical shape, and that similar distortions in different people caused by similar traumas would create similar body types.

Each of the five character types is formed at a specific developmental age from a specific type of trauma, and each has its own set of issues and goals, mottos and physical builds. Here is just a glimpse of the wealth of insight characterology provides.

1. The Schizoid

The schizoid feels unsafe and often tries to disconnect from the physical world. This internal struggle can manifest as a seemingly disconnected physical body, including weak joints. Schizoids are often tall and thin and some have twisted spines and/or asymmetrical or lopsided features or limbs.

2. The Oral

The Oral feels deprived. Often they feel an inner emptiness that they are constantly trying to fill. They are terrified of rejection and abandonment and are prone to depression and fatigue. The Oral’s physical form appears sluggish, with weak legs, hunched shoulders, and flaccid muscles. The Oral body tires quickly and may have low metabolism.

3. The Psychopath

The Psychopath feels betrayed, and has difficulty trusting anyone. The psychopath responds with aggression toward the world, often disguised, and this character type can be attractive and charming with compelling eyes. Watch for the slump of an overburdened soul, and back or joint problems to identify a Psychopath. Heart issues can also be a concern.

4. The Masochist

The Masochist feels trapped and defeated, unable to express their true self. They hold everything inside which fuels their anger, and as a result, their energy field becomes inflated. This energy pattern creates a heavy and compact body with big muscles and a short neck.

5. Rigid

Rigids fear vulnerability and are determined to squash their true self as a result of that self being rejected in early childhood. This constant “keeping up appearances” mode creates a stiff posture with a straight and erect backbone and a head held high.

Character types are so much more complex and multi-dimensional than I can cover in a blog post, but I hope this brief overview has given you a taste of how helpful this information can be in deciphering other people’s actions and becoming more aware of your own behavior or feelings. When you grasp character structures, you can begin to predict actions and responses from others, and learn the best approach to take with different types to improve every single one of your relationships, including with yourself.

I discuss each of these character types in much more detail and show you how to apply this knowledge to improve your day-to-day relationships in my current LifeForce Energy Healing® I Online Course, which is a twelve week program designed to teach you how to heal yourself and others, and certifies you in the exciting field of energy medicine!

If you’re on the path to higher consciousness, you have likely heard a great deal about the importance of keeping yourself and your energy field clear of negative energy. But how do you know for sure if your energy field is clear and strong, or if there are imbalances or blockages that need correcting?

Of course, you can take healing courses or workshops or meet with an energy healer to have your chakras read. A practitioner of energy medicine can determine where your flow is blocked or crimped like a hose and keeping your energy from streaming freely. You can also learn to read your own chakras by using an old and powerful tool: the pendulum.

The pendulum is an incredible way to diagnose imbalances in your chakras so you can continue your work of ridding your whole being from negativity. A pendulum can even connect you to your higher self!

Here are five things you need to know about pendulums:

1. The Type Does Matter

A pendulum is technically any weighted object connected to a fixed point by a string or cord so it can swing easily in all directions. I recommend you use a conical beech wood pendulum rather than a crystal or metal pendulum for these purposes. You’ll get the best results.

Keep the pendulum close to you for a few days; carry it around in your pocket and sleep near it at night so it begins to resonate with your specific energy. The pendulum acts as an amplifier for your energy, so the more it is in tune with you, the more accurate the readings and revelations you’ll get from it. Be sure to bless the pendulum each time you use it, and if you happen to get a used pendulum, don’t attempt to use it until it’s been cleared of all energy attached to the previous owner.

2. Get In Touch With Your Unconscious

Once you have let your pendulum soak up your energy, it’s time to test it and learn its signals. The best way to try this is to ask a series of questions that you know the answer to. To get a response from the pendulum, hold the cord between your thumb and forefinger and let the wood cone hang down, not touching or resting on any surfaces. Keeping your arm and hand still, ask a question, the answer to which is definitely “yes,” like your name or the city you live in. Observe which way the pendulum moves—clockwise, counter-clockwise, or side-to-side. This movement will always mean yes. Repeat the process with “no” questions.

When you have a baseline for yes and no, you can start asking questions that your conscious mind doesn’t know the answers to, but your unconscious mind does.

3. Connect to Your Higher Self

In the same way you can get yes or no questions answered by your unconscious, you can also get answers from your higher self. It’s important to center and ground yourself beforehand with meditation and/or a walk in nature. Then, relax, open your mind, and ask that your higher self help you in guiding the pendulum. Let your guides and higher self know that you would like their assistance, and then be sure to remain open and available to their influence.

Clear your mind so you are only focused on the question at hand. You don’t want to indirectly influence the response by letting your personality or conscious mind get in the way. Let the advice and wisdom of your higher self tell you whatever you need to know.

4. Determine the Condition of Your Chakras

When your chakras are blocked or distorted, it can manifest in all kinds of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual distress, so you want to keep them as clear and open as possible. In order to maintain the health of your chakras, you have to know how they’re moving so you can figure out where there are distortions or imbalances. In other words, you have to know the problem before you can treat it, and that’s where the pendulum comes in.

It’s best to have a partner help you with this process, and you’ll want to test your pendulum for accuracy with the yes no questions before you try to read chakras. When you’re ready, hold the pendulum about four to six inches above each chakra and observe its movements. It may take a minute for the pendulum to pick up enough energy to being moving, so try to be patient and remain clear and receptive.

If the pendulum spins clockwise, that means the chakra is open and balanced. If the pendulum spins counterclockwise, that indicates a blockage or negative energy associated with that chakra, possibly from emotional trauma. If there is no movement, that could mean the pendulum is in the wrong location on the body, or it could mean the chakra is closed-off.

A pendulum will find distortions and imbalances so you can fully understand the condition of your chakras, and your energy field.

5. Anyone Can Learn

One of the best things about pendulums is that anyone can learn how to use them. The more you use it, the better you will be at understanding its messages. Just like learning any new skill, practice and patience are necessary, but the rewards are immense.

Pendulums are powerful tools, and used correctly, can give you great insight into yourself and others. As an energy healer and spiritual teacher, I have seen energy healing change lives dramatically, and it starts with finding the blocks in your field, and then ripping them out at the roots. A pendulum is one of the first steps on the road to healing, health, and happiness.

If you want to begin accessing the power of pendulums, you can buy one here. If you would like to learn how to reach even higher levels of insight with pendulums, and enter the life-changing world of energy healing, you might be interested in my Hay House Online Video Course, now live! It teaches you how to heal yourself and others, PLUS certifies you in the field of Energy Healing!

Accidents are part of life. You’ve probably done things like bake a cake using salt instead of sugar or left your car windows open during a rainstorm. Sometimes small mishaps are totally random—you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—but more often than not, “accidents” occur in order to call your attention to something important that may be damaging to your health, like wake-up calls from the universe. Large “accidents” like an injury or trauma are particularly strong warning signs from the cosmos. It’s up to you to decide if you’re going to heed those warnings and snap out of the detrimental behavior.

Hello? You might be in trouble.

What is usually the first thing that goes through your mind when you realize you’ve left the oven on overnight or drove two hours in the wrong direction because you were on your phone and missed a turn? First, you probably get angry with yourself for forgetting to check that all appliances are off before going to bed, or allowing yourself to get so distracted while driving. Second, you probably make some sort of vow not to do it again. Imagine if that vow not to text while driving is just in time to prevent you from getting in a near-fatal car wreck or hitting a pedestrian? Even these small mishaps can help you be more aware of a behavior that is currently a potential hazard, like texting while driving, or help you notice an action, like leaving your oven on, that could possibly become unsafe down the road, especially if it is part of a larger pattern of repeating types of accidents.

How do you know when an accident isn’t really an accident?

Even small occurrences are not just accidents. Maybe you just happened to step in dog doo. But when it “just happens” to your new expensive shoes that you really couldn’t afford, perhaps the wake-up call is a reminder that material goods aren’t as important as peace of mind. Or if you trip on a curb trying to walk and read your phone at the same time after a long day in which everything has gone wrong, it might be a sign that you need to slow down.

Use your gut to determine the meaning of the early warning sign. Does it make you zero in on some activity or mental state that might not be in your best interests? If you spill milk on your outfit, knock over the trash can with your car, and then get rear-ended on the way to work, your Higher Self is trying to tell you something. Are you too stressed to concentrate properly and need to meditate or take a rest day to reset your system? Are you distracted by an emotional issue that needs to be addressed?

 
Deal with the underlying issue.

If you have recently had an unfortunate occurrence, and especially if you’ve had a progression of small accidents, you may want to figure out how to tackle the root problem. Journaling can help you access ignored emotions that may be creating roadblocks in your chakras, therefore affecting your health and wellbeing. Writing your true feelings can release the negativity, and help each chakra to flow in the right direction. Meditation can significantly reduce your stress and increase concentration, productivity, and happiness. Meditation also makes you generally more aware of yourself and your surroundings, which will make you less prone to accidents.

Big accident equals big wake-up call.

All large accidents are messages designed to grab your attention and snap you out of a behavior pattern that is no longer serving your best interests.

I’ll give you an example from my energy healing work. I had a student named Cora who, when her mother developed terminal cancer, moved to her mother’s home, vowing to stay there until the end. While her motive was altruistic, in fact, her own husband and children needed her.

One evening as she drove back to see her husband and kids, she skidded in an oily puddle on the highway and crashed into the concrete divider. Cora wasn’t seriously hurt, but she was shaken to her core. She realized how much worse the accident could have been, and she realized her life was not worth risking, trying to be the ideal daughter. This accident illuminated how stressed she was, and woke her up enough to get her back on track. There was a way for Cora to be supportive to her mom, without totally abandoning her obligations to her other family members and herself.

Illness is no accident.

As a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I often see people like Cora who have unexamined emotional issues that have created destructive behavioral patterns. Some attendees at my healing courses have such deep wounds in their energy fields that their wake-up calls have come in the form of a serious illness or injury. One of my biggest wake-up calls from the universe was my own diagnosis of cancer in my twenties. Hearing that I had the big C forced me to reevaluate the harmful actions I was engaged in: drinking, drugs, and promiscuity, and through journaling, meditation, and energy medicine, I was able to deal with my suppressed emotional issues so that I could live a life in light rather than darkness.

An accident could save your life.

When accidents happen to you, whether they are large or small, from falling down the stairs to a terrifying car crash, try not to beat yourself up. Instead, recognize that the universe is trying to take care of you and keep you safe and healthy. That accident is saying, “Hey, you. Listen up.” If you heed these warnings and examine your behaviors to find the problem, you can make a change that just might save your life!

There is a leader inside of you. Yes, you!  In spite of any shyness, or feelings of inadequacy at a task as large as leading others, or doubts and questions like, “How can I possibly make a difference in the world?” you can learn to inspire others. And that’s what true leadership is all about.

Too often we think of leaders as people in positions of power: presidents, CEOs, managers, directors, kings. While it’s true that one definition of a leader is someone who is in charge of others, another, purer definition is someone whom people follow. If you can inspire people to follow your lead, you are a leader, whether you are a CEO or senator, or not.

Inspiration comes in many shapes and sizes, and anyone can be a leader. A leader is simply someone who has done the requisite work to get to know themselves, has thoughtfully and consciously formed their core values and beliefs, and is fully committed to those values and willing to stand up for them. Who can you think of who fits that description?

You’re probably thinking of people like Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Jesus, or Mother Teresa, who were all, of course, great leaders who prompted changes that have rippled out through generations. But there are lesser sung leaders, too. Think of a man who organizes his entire neighborhood together to build a community garden, or a little girl who campaigns to convince the school board to donate all leftover cafeteria food to the local homeless shelter. Everyday people can become leaders and effect change in large and small ways, and you can, too.

The first step to finding your inner leader is to find your true self. This requires some self-discovery. You must delve into your soul to fully understand who you are and what you stand for. What is your higher purpose? What are your core values? Why are they important to you? The better you understand your belief system, the easier it will be to ensure that your actions match your words. No one likes a dishonest or hypocritical leader.

Because you are the only person who can define your personal convictions, take some time to get to know yourself! Journal each night before you go to bed and write out all your deepest fears, your greatest joys, your hopes and aspirations. Meditate daily and open your consciousness to your highest self. Meditation not only calms the mind and spirit, but allows us access to our higher selves and the unified field beyond. If you have trouble connecting to your higher self or purpose, there may be blockages in your chakras that need to be dissolved. Healing courses or working with a spiritual teacher can help open the doors to your true self, and clear any obstacles between you and your inner leader.

Once you are attuned to your higher self and purpose, you can begin to inspire others by exhibiting your passion. Suze Orman, financial guru, has said that you can’t inspire others if you’re not inspired yourself. You have to care about your mission deeply. Perhaps you want to effect change on a personal level with a goal like losing weight; or maybe you’ve set your sights on starting a business or running for local office. I gave up practicing law when I realized my passion lay in energy healing, and even after assisting in the transformation of tens of thousands of people over the years, my desire to continue this work has never waned.

Whatever your ultimate purpose, passion is a key ingredient for leadership. How are you going to motivate yourself to exercise each day if you’re not passionate about feeling healthier? How can you expect your townspeople to vote for you if you’re not showing your enthusiasm for the betterment of the city? In order to be a leader who inspires others to action, your actions must inspire them, or yourself as the case may be. Without passion there is no inspiration, and without inspiration there’s no leadership. But if you’ve connected with your authentic self and are truly committed to your goal, your fervor will no doubt get people moving.

Your inner leader must also demonstrate unwavering intention. Did everyone listen to civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahatma Ghandi the first time they spoke out against injustice? No. Leadership takes more than a fleeting impulse—it takes a solid commitment. Ghandi and King both spent time in prison, and were verbally and physically attacked for their convictions, but they did not respond in kind. Instead, they continued to practice their protests with grace and demonstrated forgiveness for their assailants. Hardship is a test of a leader’s dedication, and great leaders like King and Ghandi don’t compromise their values even when things get tough. That’s why thousands of people trusted and followed them. Each man’s commitment to his authentic self and higher purpose could not be derailed, and they inspired thousands of people.

Inspiration brings transformation, and true leaders know that. With a firm foundation in your authentic self and higher purpose, a passionate attitude, and commitment to your beliefs, you can awaken the leader inside you and make significant changes in your life, your household, your community, and beyond.

I send you my blessings for what the New Year will bring:

May you be surrounded by friends and loved ones, and bask in the beauty of the natural world.

May you allow the time to celebrate what is truly important in life, and make it a habit to give thanks for all of the good things that surround you.

May you continue on your journey and ascend to levels of higher consciousness.

And above all, may you honor yourself for all that you already are.

Wishing you peace and joy for the New Year.

Warmly,

Deborah

“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
~Fannie Lou Hamer

Are you SUPER tired? If you’re like most people, your schedule is jam-packed every day! Career, family, and/or household obligations can really pile up and there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. When you finally crawl into bed, your mind is racing, thinking about tomorrow’s to-do list. In today’s hectic, fast-paced world it’s normal to be tired, but do you ever worry that your exhaustion is too severe and constant and might have a more serious cause?

How can you tell if you simply need more rest and “me-time” or if you’re suffering from something more serious, like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about half a million people in the United States suffer from a “CFS-like condition.”  The number is probably much higher because so many people do not seek medical help.  They think the fatigue is something they will just get over; but unlike just being tired, CFS symptoms persist for months.  In fact, to be diagnosed with CFS, extreme fatigue must be accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms for six months or longer:

• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of concentration and/or memory
• Flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, enlarged and painful lymph nodes in neck or armpit, muscle soreness
• Joint pain without swelling or redness
• Headaches that differ in type, severity, or location
• Extreme exhaustion accompanying physical or mental strain which lasts longer than twenty-four hours

Many people with CFS also report other symptoms, such as panic attacks, night sweats, depression, weight loss or weight gain, shortness of breath and/or nausea.

If you think you might be suffering from CFS and are ready to be diagnosed, cured, and move on with your life, it might not be that simple. It’s tough to get clear answers about this condition from mainstream medicine. The medical community doesn’t know much about CFS or what causes it. There are several theories as to what may cause CFS. These include:

• Depression
• Anemia
• Hypotension, or mild chronic low blood pressure
• Changes in hormone levels in pituitary or adrenal glands or hypothalamus
• Immune system dysfunction
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar
• History of allergies
• Viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr Virus

If you suffer from CFS you may wonder, “Am I ever going to feel like myself again?  Is my life ever going to be normal?”

Medical treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome aims not to cure the illness but to alleviate and manage the symptoms.  This is extremely helpful in helping people to cope with their illness.  But you want to do more than cope – you want to enjoy life!  Is this possible when you have a chronic illness?  Yes, and western medicine isn’t the only answer. Supplementing your treatment with changes to your lifestyle and alternative healing techniques can help you achieve a much greater level of vitality and physical and emotional health.  The following techniques have been shown to provide relief to people suffering from CFS:

Energy Healing: As an energy healer and spiritual teacher, I’ve come across countless people suffering from unexplained symptoms of tiredness, depression and pain. It’s been my experience that most if not all of these symptoms are rooted in unaddressed feelings of fear and that having that fear removed by a qualified energy healer is a great first step to take. Additionally, in addition to getting yourself checked out by a physician, I always recommend that you take steps to work on your emotions – by meditating, journaling and working with your practitioner to address any past traumas or unexplored emotions.

Acupuncture: Studies have shown positive results when treating chronic fatigue syndrome with acupuncture. A high percentage of patients suffering from severe CFS, who participated in the studies were able to sleep more deeply, and felt more energetic during the day – allowing them to return to work and normal activities.

Therapeutic Massage: Therapeutic massage helps you to sleep longer and move less in your sleep (resulting in a more restful, deep sleep), as well as providing a sense of well-being. Lessening fatigue, as well as anxiety and depression, can mean the difference between getting out and enjoying the day or staying in bed.  Studies have shown that people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome respond best to gentle massage.

Avoid foods that intensify symptoms: With chronic fatigue syndrome, eating whole foods and staying away from fats, sugar, and starch is important, but there are also some foods you should avoid.  These include MSG, Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, caffeine, yeast and gluten.

Get enough vitamins: Make sure you are getting adequate vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.  Talk to your health practitioner about multivitamins and really pay attention to balancing your diet.

Exercise: It is very important to set limits when exercising.  Doing too much, even if you feel all right at the time, can set you back.  Listen to your body.  Moderate exercise could include:

• Warm water activities
• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Pilates
• Biking
• Walking

Gentle exercise on a daily basis will help you reduce stress and anxiety, create energy and and improve your overall emotional wellness.

Want to go from tired to terrific? Be sure to tune in, Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 2:00pm pacific on Hay House radio where I’ll be interviewing Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, an alternative physician, whose specialty is chronic fatigue. If you call into the show, you can ask “top doc” your personal fatigue question!

“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!

“The dance between darkness and light will always remain – the stars and the moon will always need the darkness to be seen, the darkness will just not be worth having without the moon and the stars.” ― C. JoyBell C.

I’ve always been intrigued by the Chinese Symbol for Yin and Yang, the black and white circle divided into two teardrop shaped halves, each containing a smaller circle of the opposite color. This simple symbol is so profound and expresses so much – balance, flow, transformation, and the opposing forces of nature that make up almost everything!

Yin and yang elements are expressed in pairs: the moon and the sun, female and male, darkness and light, hot and cold, good and evil. The elements stay in balance and are not static or separate, instead they are complimentary and relative to one another because they come from a common source. Just like the yin and yang symbol itself, the nature of yin and yang lies in the interchange and interplay of the two components – like night flows into day, the opposite forces in yin and yang flow into each other.

It is said that the nature of yin and yang was first recognized by Fu Shi some eight thousand years ago. He developed the principles of yin and yang, which provide an explanation of the laws of nature that govern the universe. According to his principles, the actions of yin and yang apply to every facet of life and are expressions of everything that exists in our universe.

Lao Tzu, the Taoist sage, tells us that one polarity cannot exist without the other. If there is no “light”, there is no “dark”, no “up” without a “down”. He writes, “Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil.”  He asks: “Is there a difference between yes and no?” “Is there a difference between good and evil?”

Meditate on Lao Tzu’s words for a few minutes and you will see how understanding and embracing the concept of yin and yang allows you to suspend judgment on any one component as you realize that the forces in your life are in a constant state of change, and that they balance and flow exactly as they are meant to.

We can deal much more effectively with past traumas and current problems by visualizing them as naturally flowing (like night flows into day) and becoming their opposites. What if we accept the negative events in our life as a pathway to growth and enlightenment? How much more gracefully can we accept challenges if we know that experiencing them will help us to recognize and appreciate the better times that will come if we just allow them to?

Try these techniques to shift the negative elements that you see over to the positive:

Acceptance – accept your past mistakes, traumas and misfortunes and realize that they have made you the person who you are today, and have given you the strength and experience that you need to create a better life for yourself.

Wisdom – take advantage of the opportunity to learn from negative experiences so that you don’t repeat them. Be aware of your decisions and take responsibility for your actions – it will take you a long way toward higher consciousness!

Gratitude – look for the light and appreciate it, and in bad times, know that experiencing the darkness will make you value the light even more.

Attraction – be positive and open to the laws of the universe, picture the dynamic, flowing symbol of yin and yang, and have faith that the dark times will cycle into the light!

There are so many things that we deal with every day in our own lives and in the world around us that are dark and difficult. There are times when it’s hard to imagine that the world will change and life will get easier. Using the techniques above will help manifest the change that you want to see in your life and the world.

As a spiritual teacher, energy healer and life coach, I frequently recommend limiting exposure to the news, violent television shows and movies, and making sure to spend time meditating, talking to good friends, and exercising. These are just a few of many ways to keep the dark and the light in balance in you life!