Chapter One
Energy
Visualize
this with me. You are walking along a beach. I know many meditation
techniques start with a beach but bear with me. Picture the shoreline
of white sand with a cool aqua sea lapping at it's shore. There is a
light breeze that embraces you, pulling your hair back from your face
and the sun is warming you. You close your eyes. You can hear the gulls
crying for fish. You can feel the golden rays of the sun. You can feel
its energy. You are at peace in that moment, appreciating the simple
beauty of nature and that you are a part of it. What you hear is equal
to what you see and what you see is just as real as what you feel. The
warmth of the sun is part of the experience as are the gulls, the sound
of the water and even the way the sand feels between your toes. Each
one of these experiences is filled with energy. Although the energies
are different, they are all part of a whole and are equal to each
other. Whether they are physical or non-physical, they are forms of
energy and do exist.
Now apply
this idea to your body, mind, and spirit. What you say is just as
strong as what you think. What you think is just as strong as what you
feel. And what you feel is just as strong as what you do. Just because
your thoughts and emotions are non-physical, it does not mean they are
less than the physical. So in any action, the non-physical is equal to
the physical.
Words
Let's go
into another visualization. Picture your words as swords. Feel the
steel against your fingers. Feel the weight of the handle in your palm.
The words you say are like a sword given to the person you are saying
them to. Is your sword a form of protection for them? Or is your sword
used to cut them? Your words affect others just as strongly as your
actions. Regardless if you do not strike the other person with your
fist, your words can strike them with just as much force.
Thoughts
Visualize
your thoughts. Do they wander? Are they focused? What about when you
have an argument? Do you have an internal conversation over and over in
your mind of what you wish you could say to that person? What if you
knew, really knew, that what you wanted to say was what the other
person really heard you say? Your intentions are a form of energy that
manifests. Whether you say things aloud or not, your thoughts and words
ARE heard by the other individual. Next time you cycle this upsetting
conversation in your mind, remember that the other person really can
hear you, it's just being said in a non-physical manner.
Let me give
you an example. I had a dear friend named Anna. I read tarot cards for
her. About a month before her death, she and I drifted apart. She was
engaging in destructive activities and although I knew it was
unhealthy, I didn't realize the seriousness to her actions. So on the
morning I received the phone call from a mutual friend to tell me she
had died, I was beside myself. We all worked together in the same place
and her true best friend "Jules" was shattered. Whenever I would speak
of Anna in the presence of Jules, she would get offended and I could
feel why. She felt protective over the friendship she had with Anna and
didn't want to hear someone else say that Anna was close with anyone
else. In time it caused a riff between Jules and me. Her grief was
tremendous. I realized that if I spoke to her and told her my true
intentions, that she would understand that I was not taking away from
the friendship then it would cease the defensiveness of her. So one
evening while she and I were in the back room, I saw that as the time
to speak with her. But I didn't want to approach her. Instead, I sat
down quietly and spoke to her in my mind. I showed her that my
intentions for Anna were with love and that I was not a threat to the
memory of their friendship. Within moments, literally, Jules walked
over to me and with a smile I hadn't seen in weeks, she spoke to me
quite nicely. We had a nice conversation and from that moment, she let
down her guard to me.
Our thoughts
and expressions are valid. They are just as real as if you were to
drive over a patch of wild daisies with your car. The impression is
left behind. People with whom you are connected will feel and know all
that you express non-verbally. So when you encounter a conflict and
raise your sword, be conscious of what you intend to do with it because
the other person will receive it, whether it's a slash against them or
another tool of protection in their own toolbox.
Everything
is comprised of energy and every form of energy has it's own signature.
Think of it as a fingerprint. We all have fingerprints yet each one of
us has that unique fingerprint that nobody else has. We are all part of
the same living energy and yet our expressions of it are individually
unique.
Frequency
As human
beings, we operate at a specific energy level, a specific frequency and
speed. All things move at different speeds and frequencies, even the
things that appear to be lifeless and standing still. For example,
think of a diamond. That diamond is living energy. It may appear to be
lifeless but if you think of it's evolution and the eons it took for
that diamond to form, it would make sense that it is living energy just
as we are. Think of what it took for the carbon mixed with the right
amount of pressure and heat, you'll see that the diamond is continually
evolving through time. If we were to fast forward it's evolution, we
would see dramatic changes and movement.
As a human
being, we often compare life only to ourselves; our speed, our length
of life, and our movement through the world. If other things move too
slowly or too fast, we don't see it moving at all. But that doesn't
mean that it isn't.
An easy way
to visualize this is the speed at which a heart beats. The smaller the
creature, the faster the heart beats and of course in comparison, the
larger the creature, the slower the heart beats. And what about the
rate at which we breathe? The same simple visualization can apply to
this as well. We forget that our breath isn't the only breath and our
heartbeat isn't the only heartbeat. Through millions and billions of
years in evolution, even the and universe breathes. On our planet, land
masses change. They break apart from one another, grow back together,
change and evolve.
Love
Energy is
your foundation, illuminated by God with love. It is that simple.
Whatever you do in life, do it with love and self love is the first
step. To work with spirit and communicate not only with the other side,
but with people on a soul level who are still here on this earth, it is
important to clear any emotional obstacles that stand before you. As
the obstacles are removed, you will discover how much stronger your
connection will be.
To love
yourself is at times a greater task than to love another and that's
because it's a bigger risk. When we love another person, we are
choosing what qualities about them we want to love. We can choose
whether or not we want to look deep within them or just love them for
what we see on the outside. But with ourselves, we can't escape the
truth and oftentimes to avoid what we don't want to acknowledge within
us, we withhold love to our own spirit. We amputate our capacity to
love and therefore, never truly discover love in depth. The depth at
which you receive is the depth at which you give to yourself.
The goal is
to knock down that wall you have up, even against yourself and it
starts with acceptance, so here's an exercise to get you started.
Recognize that all of your life experiences have been the building
blocks to creating the person you are today. And sure, you have work to
do on yourself. I would be lying if I said I didn't have work to do on
myself also. But that is the point. We are here on this earth to learn
and to grow and we cannot do that without being challenged. All of the
mistakes you've made, whether done willingly and knowingly or
unconsciously, you need to give up your shame. Just give it up. Let it
go. If you feel shameful about something you've done or not done, then
already you have learned the lesson of the mistake. It is the
individuals who carry no remorse who have yet to learn the lesson of
the mistake. So as you recognize that the past is the past, then leave
it there. It will always be there for reflection as well as wisdom to
pass on to others. But keep it there. Let it drift away from your
conscious self. Let it slip into the back of your mind and let it go.
Forgiveness and Acceptance
It is time
for forgive yourself. I know it's easier said than done, but
forgiveness is quite a powerful tool that you will need as you go
further in your spiritual work. Situations come into your life to bring
you wisdom and of course, the wisdom isn't learned without risk or
pain. It is partially true that time can heal wounds but what really heals us is forgiveness and acceptance.
Accept that you made a mistake. Accept that it is in the past. Accept
that you deserve forgiveness and move forward. You know you'll
encounter more life lessons where you'll make more mistakes. But that
is a natural part of being human. All of us will experience mistakes
until we pass on to the other side. And even there, we will continue to
learn lessons which will bring us closer to oneness with God.
If
you are having a difficult time putting the past in the past then I
suggest to you an exercise that can help you transfer your thoughts and
feelings associated with it into the universe where healing can find
you. If you have unresolved issues with someone, then take some quiet
time and write them a letter. Yes, write them a letter. Say all that
you need to say but do it constructively. Be professional but be open.
Don't hold anything back and even as you express all that you feel and
think, don't use curse words or be unnecessarily harsh. That would be
counterproductive to your goal. When you are finished with the letter,
seal it up in an envelope. Put it together as though you are intending
it to go out with the morning mail. In your mind, see the letter
arriving at their doorstep, even if it is your own, addressed to
someone with whom you have the issue. Visualize them reading it,
absorbing it and taking to heart what you say. And then be done with
it. Allow them to reply to you.
And just let it go. Recognize that you are sending it out into the
universe to be resolved. When this visualization is finished, take the
letter and put it somewhere private. Only keep it until you no longer
need to. In the end, feel satisfied when you discard it. This will tell
your subconscious that you allow it to be released. With each issue you
face that blocks you from love, do this exercise, even if the letter is
addressed to a loved one who is passed away.
Colors
To continue
on the path of reaching your true potential by overcoming the obstacles
that are blocking you, join me in another visualization. In the
following example, I emphasize the importance of colors and how we can
use them as a form of therapy. This is something you can use in your
everyday life and it is also something you can identify in your dreams
as messages from your subconscious about things you need to work on.
See yourself
walking into a castle. Take in all it's beauty: the stonework, the
elaborate tapestries, gorgeous stained glass windows and energy of the
past. Now, imagine that this is your own castle and that the castle
actually represents you as a whole. You are stepping inside of
yourself. Many doors stand unlocked, waiting for you to find the keys
that unlock them. Some of the doors are stained with bright oak, maple,
and cherry finishes, while others stand neglected and worn. As you walk
forward, you see a table to your left. It is a long antique table,
crafted hundreds of years ago. And on the top of the table are books
upon books. There are enough books to fill a library but they aren't
cataloged and are sitting there, waiting for you to organize them. As
you walk over to look at them, you see that none of them have titles or
descriptions. The only difference between them is the colors and
textures of the covers as well as the number of pages. The first book
you choose to pick up is bright yellow. It's a bit dusty because it's
been sitting on the very top of the tallest stack for a long time and
has gone unread. It is there to guard the others and when you open it,
you immediately feel better. In fact, before you have a chance to see
what's inside, you hear footsteps behind you and turn to see someone
you recognize from long ago. You recognize the face, although you don't
remember from where. But you smile and see that they are there to help
you make sense of what sits before you.
"Are you ready to look inside?" Your guide asks you and yes, you are ready.
"Each book
is a facet of who you are. Like a diamond with many facets, you too
have many facets and now it's time to polish them." Your guide adds.
You open the cover to the bright yellow
book and suddenly, you see images of your life. You see the wonderful
joys and celebrations that you have shared with others. You see the
simple moments that made you smile and you remember the warmth of the
sun. You relive every moment, simple and complex that brought you
happiness, celebration and joy. When you finally close the book, your
guide speaks to you.
"This is a
book within your castle that you can always revisit at any time. All of
these books you can revisit to remember its message to you. The
abundance of joy and moments of celebration will always be there for
you. Just remember the bright yellow color of it's cover and you can
fill your castle with the energy of joy and celebration at any time.
This color will guard you from times of despair."
Then you move on to another book. It is smaller but thicker and has a dull yellow
cover. You can see that this book has been heavily used and as soon as
you pick it up, you feel tired and sick. You know you don't like the
way it feels so you immediately toss it down before opening it.
"Ah yes...," says your guide. "This book is a hard one to read."
"What does it represent?" you ask.
"Imbalance of energy and it manifests as emotional and physical illness," your guide replies.
It is an interesting perspective but your guide is correct. The dull yellow color represents illness and dis-ease, also known as disease. The book
represents the things you have kept stored within you that are
unproductive and unhealthy. They are the unnecessary things that we
should have discarded long ago. The experiences that cause dis-ease
compile together and before you are aware of it, the book is thick and
heavy. Like our memories, this book is frequently re-read but the story
ends the same way. The negatives of the past are recorded but if we
choose to keep inviting them into our conscious self, they grow heavier
and thicker and keep us 'down'.
"Once you
discover that this books' contents no longer need to stay logged within
it's pages, it will become lighter and easier to read," your guide says.
Then you pick up another book. It is inconspicuous at first but as you study the thick, shiny, blue
cover, you realize that everything will be okay. And as you open the
cover and look inside, you see very clearly, a map. It's as though it's
a map you have already memorized and the book is just reminding you of
it.
"This is a map to peace," says your guide, explaining to you that the energy of the color blue represents the many forms of peace that guide you along the rugged terrain of life's journeys.
"Be at peace with your self, and you will be at peace with the world," your guide advises.
Then you pick up another book. It has a bumpy rich brown texture
and is rough around the edges. Immediately you take in a deep breath
and feel a calm come over you. It is a calm that feels so natural, as
though you are free of every expectation of who to be, even the
expectations you put on yourself.
"Yes, as your natural self, textured and rough around the edges, you will find freedom in being true to who you are. The rich browns,
like the trunk of a tree or the leaf litter of a forest, become the
lungs and nutrients of your earth within. Being natural is a shield in
it's own right. In this perspective, there are no hidden secret caves
of self-deception that reside within your forest," your guide says.
The next book you choose to pick up is pink
and fuzzy. It feels like the fur of a soft baby animal who's innocence
alone makes it the most beautiful creature. You quickly realize that it
cannot be opened right away. In fact, you see that it is guarded with a
riddle and will remain closed unless the riddle is solved.
" The ice
shall only cap the lake, if it seeks it's death to this day at stake."
Your guide says to share the riddle aloud. Naturally you are curious as
to what it means.
"Do you have
what it takes to discover its meaning which will open the book?" Your
guide asks and you are certain to discover it's meaning.
"Pink represents Love.
The cover of the book is soft and fuzzy, like the warm fuzzies you feel
when deep in love. Yet love in depth can be cold and icy, like the ice
that freezes a lake in the slumber of winters darkness. All who step
into the waters of love, will feel the chill of winter. Yet, for all
who risk freezing to death while standing on the frozen lake, will
delightfully discover the warmth of an eternal spring. For love has
it's seasons, even the blazing heat of mid-summer. If you can withstand
the bitter cold and endure, then you will be rewarded with the kiss of
spring and the passion of summers splendor," your guide explains and as
you look down to re-examine the book before you, it falls open in your
arms, revealing it's vulnerabilities and exposing it's weaknesses.
"When you
have the courage to read every page within, then you will receive the
bounty of true love. Only then, when you can see the cold and the
warmth together can you fully understand the seasons of love. Walk into
love with innocence, like that of a newborn in it's mothers arms. Do
not pervert it's wisdom and you shall receive abundance within," your
guide explains.
You stare
down at the open pages before you and realize that you are just as
vulnerable to it as it is to you and that's when the words materialize
on the page.
Love begins with truth.
It is sparked by taking a leap of faith
and it is embraced with open arms.
You discover
that the walls you have built up over time have kept you from loving
yourself. Your vulnerabilities were something you saw as a weakness
instead of courage. Yet the further you read, the more you begin to see
that you haven't really known love at all because you weren't willing
to take any risks. Love, in it's superficial form always keep you safe.
But true love, the real love that moves mountains is just as risky as
climbing that mountain. The storms will come suddenly when you least
expect them to. The skies will darken and yet with love beside you, you
have no fear. You realize that fear has long stood in the way of your
full experience of love. And so as the words before you so eloquently
say:
There can be only one force;
Either love or fear
And it is love that moves mountains.
A smile emerges from your lips and you feel content to close the book for now.
As you see
the other books before you, feeling overwhelmed by their presence, your
guide reminds you that step-by-step, the books will all be read. To
open them takes time, and as that advice becomes realized, you become
more at ease, and are ready to go further.
The next book you find is bright green.
It's smooth cover is cool to the touch and you suddenly become aware of
all that you feel, think, see, and do. As you open this book, you see
that the pages are also bright green. The whole book inside and out is bright green. Looking up at your guide, you ask what it means.
"Green represents Healing. When you heal the inside, it heals the outside," your guide answers with wisdom.
As you flip
through the pages, you feel inspired. You can hear the roar within you
of the healing energy that wishes to take form. You see your whole self
and whole spirit, embraced by the bright green light that is
emanating from the pages. You know you can revisit the book at any time
and you know there is much to learn from it. But other books are
calling for your attention so it's time to move on.
The next book you see is orange.
You want to read it and are curious but also hesitant. You want to
explore what's inside, yet when you try to open it, you discover it has
a big leather latch around it with a thick rusty buckle holding it
shut. Confused, you turn to your guide.
"This book, once opened, can be the most beautiful inside, but the rusty dirty buckle that holds it shut is strong. The orange is the
fire of sensual and sexual expression. If kept hidden within the stigma
that it is dirty, its force and beauty will, become perverted from the
truth. The book is opened only when you free yourself of the bondage it
represents," your guide explains. Suddenly, your growing desire
to open the book frees the binding buckled lock, revealing a secret to
you. The pages are glittering with gold and display an image of two
identical birds of paradise. There is one male and one female, and once
bonded together through intimate rituals of complete pleasure on every
level, they become mirrors of each other. They become united together
in oneness, discarding their separateness which manifests in their
display of identical colorful plumage. They embrace one another equally
and enter into an enchanted dance.
Satisfied with leaving it behind, you move on to the next book.
It seems pretty basic by appearance. It is bright red
but the cover isn't anything fancy, or dull either. It just is what it
is. Opening the book you realize that you underestimated it's contents
because once the pages were in your hands, sparks began to fly. Heat
radiates through your fingertips, then up through your arms where it
encompasses your whole being. Not knowing what to do about it, you shut
the book, only to see your guide giving you a look that suggests you
have quit without letting the truth unfold before you.
"This book has confused you, as it does many others who stumble upon it in their own castle. The red
cover represents your passions and once you touch upon them, they
ignite, for good or for bad. Most people don't know how to handle the
things about which they are most passionate and close the book to
opportunities and truth. But if you can stay focused enough to keep
turning the pages, then you will eventually create a solid foundation
so strong, not even you could destroy it. Just imagine the great
islands of Hawaii and think of the lava that formed them as an example
of your raw passions. Keep them ignited long enough, and you'll begin
to see how they grow into a life all their own with beauty abound. Be
conscious to give them direction because passion without direction can
cause that beautiful new island to crumble into the sea," your guide
says wisely and you close the book until it's time again to open it.
That's when your attention turns back to the table.
You realize that there are only two more books left in front of you that need to be read at that time: a purple one and a white
one. Your guide explains to you that they are intertwined and that if
you read one, you need to read the other, or the stories won't make any
sense. So you take them both and set them side by side. Comparing the
covers, you see that the texture and page count is the exact same. You
see that they could pass as twins if not for the color.
Opening the purple
cover, you see that the pages are filled with really tiny lettering. In
fact, the lettering is so small, that a magnifying glass will be
necessary to read what is written. You realize that the book is full of
these words. Not a single space remains free and you know there is much
wisdom to discover, if only you could read it. Before asking any more
questions, you leave that book as it is to open the white one
that sits next to it. In this book, the letters are huge! This book as
well is completely filled and as you see what it says in large bold
print, you discover how simple its messages are. Patiently, your guide
waits until you are done examining both copies before explaining the
difference between the two.
"The purple
book is your gateway to spiritual truth. And it takes time to pass
through this gate. The little things in life represented by the purple book are really seen as the big things in life in the white book. The color white is a combination of all colors together which represent a combination of all energies together and once you find the white book in life, you will truly find God," your guide says simply and hands you a key.
"This is a skeleton key," your guide adds, and you see that it can open any door in your castle.
"We all have
skeletons in our closets," your guide continues and shows you the first
door. You recognize it because it was the first door you saw as you
entered your castle. The door was solid cherry wood and had many layers
of finish that gave it the perfect shine. But as beautiful, perfect,
and crafted as it seemed, it also had a large, bulky, misshaped brass
knob and keyhole. They seemed out of place of one another and as you
put the key into the hole and turned it, a whole new world opened up to
you.
"Are you ready?" your guide asks you and you are in awe of what you see. Before being consumed by the loving white light that is about to embrace you, you turn back with a smile.
"Yes, I am ready," you say and let go
