New Year's Thoughts

Depending on your sense of humor, we have a new year.  I see this year as a chance to make positive, healthy changes.  Of course, we can always keep on doing what we always do -- muck up potential opportunties.  I forgot what television or cartoon character used to say, "Time's awasting."  You know what, we do waste time.  Then again, there are times when we have to wait for things to happen.  Either way, life is all about how you spend your time and how you can change toxic thoughts into healthy thoughts,

What do you want to do?  Me?  I welcome change, even though there will be times I find myself kicking, screaming and fighting it.  What keeps me grounded is the "Wizard of Oz."  Not the book -- the movie.  Remember when the wicked witch wrote the words "Surrender Dorothy" overhead?  Surrendering allows the Creator to take our thoughts, wishes and dreams and make small miracles happen. 

The memories of my childhood still brings a smile to my face.  I cannot divorce myself from my past -- my childhood -- the dreams I had and disillusionments that often followed.  I would not be the person I am today if all of these experiences did not occur.  I am the sum total of the changes that occurred in my life as well as the choices I made.  You are the sum total of your experiences as well.  It is good to remember and remind yourself of where you came from and what you have accomplished, rather than be concerned about what you still want to accomplish.

The new year, start out fresh -- like newly fallen snow before someone tromps on it and the cars make it slushy and dirty.  As a child, I remember wanting to run outside and make angels in the snow.  The sound of the crunch of snow under my boots and the caress of the brisk air of a cold Chicago winter are still locked into my brain and memory.  I cannot turn the clock back, but I can remember.  Then reality hits.

I have gotten older.  Many, too many, of my high school and grade school classmates have transitione into the spiritual realm.  These are people I consider my family.  Why?  We grew up together.  We shared experiences -- likes dislikes, dreams, and oh, all sorts of things.  Children and teenagers do that. 

We do not live forever in physical form.  Our bodies are not designed that way.  We are like our automobiles -- our parts wear out and sometimes need to be replaced.  We have a finite period of time on this planet.  Why don't we all focus on what we want to change and embrace.  Life is short.  We do not know how much time we have left here.  This is a new year.  This is the year where I'm going all out.  I'm going to live my life fully, completely and do a ton more of writing.  I was put on this planet to share thoughts, ideas, and be spiritual teacher -- ok, with a Tarot deck in my hand as well.

My new year's goal, yes it is a goal, to do consistent blogging, writing and sharing my wealth of knowledge and the wisdom gained.  What is your new year's goal?  Tell me. 

Perfection -- nah!

What is perfection?  Everyone has their own answer to that question.  What makes something perfect?  How knit-picky, analytical or critical do we have to be before we say -- enough!  How much input from others, you know a critique that occasionally borders on an insult, should we take to heart?  How many people, who we value as authorities, have been honest with us throughout our lives? 

Twenty/twenty hindsight is our best teacher.  I bet if you look back at your life you will see at least one incident of having been knocked down and kicked (not necessarily physically) by someone you loved or respected.  I would also bet that you may have thought or believed that you deserved it, and then possibly beat yourself up over it.  On the other hand, it may be quite possible that you may have had the awareness to say, "What the ...?"  Age has a wonderful way of showing us the wisdom we have gained through living, and if we are willing, provides us with more opportunity to say, this is as good as it gets.  I'm fine with what I've done.

So, what is my point here?  It's all about self esteem/self worth. 

Many of us go through life beating ourselves up trying to please others, do our jobs, create art in some form, or anything whatever, only to have someone trash us.  The problem is, we often accept other people's opinions of what is good or perfect.  Perfection is as subjective as art.  Everyone has an opinion.  Some we agree with and others we do not.

Everything we do depends upon the standards we set for ourselves or those we abide by, depending on the situation.  What is important is we should be happy with whatever we have done whether or not someone else is happy with it.  OK, so we are graded, judged, appreciated, reprimanded, etc.  That is a fact of life.  We should do our best at any given moment.  If we are having an off day, we can blame it on an astrological aspect or some cycle.  Even better, we should just take responsibility for what we did or didn't do as well as we normally would.  Life's like that.

The most important thing to remember is we have the ability to see what we went through, whether the person who committed the act of trashing us ever realized they were doing so at the time.  Jealousy does exist, but why should we live our lives worrying about the negative stuff.  "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Not every day is perfect.  Not everyone behaves perfectly.  Isn't that terrific?  I think so.  Perfection to me is having things come together and being able to make people ... and myself happy.  If it works, this is excellent, nah, it's Perfect.   

When I grow up I want to be...

When we are children, we often make all sorts of wishes. We wish on a star, on a four-leaf clover, include them as part of our prayers, and through other means. If we look back (20/20 hindsight), these wishes are eventually granted. However they may not be granted immediately or they way we expect. They may take dozens of years to come to fruition. How do I know this...I've been reading Tarot cards and Palm for over 30 years.

Here's an example of four of mine that have come to pass:

Wishes No. 1 and 2 - I wanted to be a teacher and I also wanted to be psychic like my dad. When he was alive, I used to say, "If I had one quarter of his abilities I would be thrilled." My dad used to tell me, "The student should surpass his/her teacher." While I thought I might actually teach school, it never occurred to me that I might teach unconventionally -- Tarot in the continuing education department of a community college. Bingo. It has come to pass, not necessarily the way I envisioned it. But it happened -- both wishes granted.

Last night I experienced the gifts of a young woman -- a Reiki practitioner who works with Archangels Michael and Gabriel. She was directed to register/take my Practical Tarot II - Minor Arcana class. With no actual knowledge of Tarot, her intuitive gifts blew me out of the water. Her abilities remind me of when I first started reading Tarot -- full on intuition with very little knowledge of the cards. She's amazingly clairaudient. I know she will bring great joy to the world as she continues on her path. I am blessed to learn she was directed to me. What an honor from the angels. - Wishes 1 and 2 granted.

Wish No. 3 - I wanted to be a nurse. While I didn't make it into nursing school, which was probably the best thing in the world, I discovered that my intuitive abilities with/without Tarot -- ok clairaudience, allows me to provide information for people who are begining to heal, or need input as they continue to heal from their emotional issues. When I was 18, I was a trance medium. After my father died, that was the end of my mediumship abilities, or so I thought. For the past four months or so, I have been communicating with people who have crossed over during the course of my Tarot/intuitive work. There are times when the information I receive, along with the character and personality traits of loved ones, amazes me. Now I truly understand the power of the gifts of John Edwards, James van Praagh and Theresa Caputo, the Long Island medium. My gift works differently than theirs. I still provide messages, but somehow, I have to hold a Tarot deck in my hand...and I also do other types of readings -- not just crossover work. So, while I may not be a nurse, I am definitely one who ministers to the well being of others. -- Wish No. 3 granted.

Wish No. 4 - I wanted to be an actor. Well, I did pursue it as a career, in Chicago when I was in my 30s. I had a few good print jobs and voiceover bookings. The improvisational and scene study classes I attended provided information that has been beneficial to me in many ways. For example, from improv, I learned to "be in the moment." If we live in our heads, we are not really living. There is a time for imagination and fantasy, but for day-to-day living, staying grounded and present is necessary. Through scene work, I realized that conflict provides for the growth of individuals and the clearing up and creation of karma. While emotional outbursts makes for great entertainment -- drama, in real life, temperance and understanding is what is needed. To quote my mother, "Maturity is the ability to exercise self control." -- Wish No. 4 granted...I am an entertainer, not necessarily an actor.

So, I have gotten all four wishes in one -- not necessarily the way I expected, but perfect for me just the same.

To sum things up, I am an instrument of angels and others. My wishes were granted and on that level, I am at peace and content -- living in the present and living passionately.

Are you willing to share your "when I grow up story... and how it turned out?"

Angels on Earth

My friend, Cindy Gardner, channels information from angels -- the archangels, other angels, and people's personal angels. An amazing gift! My intuitive gifts allow me to channel information from various sources -- angels, guides, relatives, and friends who crossed over. I usually don't always know the source of the information I provide until after I remove my foot from my mouth.

What prompted me to blog today about angels was how they work through us. The divine angels choose someone in human form to carry out their work. In essence, all of us are capable to carrying out the acts of angels. I remember reading about Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale when I was in grade school and how they were perceived as angels. So, for me, angels used to be about people who gave of themselves to help heal others.

Today, I view earth angels as people who provide help when someone is in need -- any kind of need. A simple act of kindness -- random acts of kindness fall into this category. There were many times in my life where strangers stepped in, seemingly "out of nowhere," and provided assistance to me.

One Thanksgiving Day, when my little Honda Civic and I were driving to Sedona to visit my friend Barbara I was taken under the wings of angels...

I was zipping along a reasonably deserted freeway when I heard a "knock knock" on the roof of my car. It's really easy to speed on an open road. My speedometer started to climb past 80 mph when I heard the first knock knock. I remembered I had a patched tire and needed to slow down. I did. About ten minutes later, my car was zipping along again and I heard another "knock knock." I remembered I needed to slow down because if I did not, my tire might blow. So I did. Once again, I my car was zipping along when I heard a "thunk-thunk" near the front wheel on the driver's side. I thought, "Oh cripes, my tire's gonna blow!" I could "feel it."

I moved over to the far left lane, and sure enough, my tire blew, however, my car stopped perfectly. Whew! When I got out of the car, I noticed the chrome piece around the tire was missing. That was the "thunk-thunk." There were minor skidmarks on the pavement. I was very blessed. I popped the trunk and pulled out the jack and mini spare.

I asked "God can I have an angel please?" I heard a voice in my head reply, "I already sent you one." I realized that was how my car stopped without spinning out of control. I shouted, "Can I have another one to change my tire?" Within ten minutes a trucker from Wisconsin stopped changed my tire. Apparently, another trucker saw me he picked up the message. Another angelic moment in the Mohave Desert. To top off two assists from angels, I was given a third. I was two exits (less than ten miles) from Rip Griffin's Truck Stop. My Honda received a new tire and I arrived safely at Barbara's three or four hours late.

To summarize, angels exist and we all have moments in our lives where we act as angels or do their work. Be an angel today and do something nice for someone -- anyone! I try to do this every day.

Did you get the message?

Most of us know what it's like when our intuition, guides, ancestors, angels, etc. try to help us, right? We often stumble, literally, seeking information or answers to our most burning questions, but fail to make the connection. I learned to acknowledge that we get what we need when we need it and that "getting" tends to save the day, bail our bottoms out, and pave the way for new opportunities, or better ways of handling current or ongoing situations. This is a "truism," at least in my world it is.

Then, I had an "aha moment" the other day. While speaking with a close friend, and without divulging a private conversation, I made a major connection -- Free Will. Part of the conversation revolved around listening to guides, or intuition if you prefer that word, and why they don't tell us directly what to do. Actually they do in life-threatening situations, but not when it comes to other choices we need to make!

Here's the message that I would like to share with you: When my guides tell me something, it is generally in the form of these types of questions:

• "Why don't you do ____________?"
  
• "Are you sure you want to say that?"
  
• "Are you sure you want to do that?"

I equate these conversations to the words of wisdom uttered by the Scarecrow in the "Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy couldn't decide which direction to take when she came to the end of the "Yellow Brick Road." He suggested two choices -- left or right. Dorothy ultimately chose her path and the Scarecrow came along to guide her. Guides are always with us.

The missing piece has always been the fact that we have free will. Too often, we keep making the same choices we always have, or some variation thereof. This may or may not take us where we want to go, or we take a mis-step from time to time. Maybe it's time to choose differently -- and wisely. A new perspective might take us somewhere else -- to a new experience that may enhance our lives. Dorothy ended up in Oz. I don't think I want to be filed neatly under "R" in the "O-Z" filing cabinet. I want to get to the Emerald City -- my Emerald City. By understanding that my guides really tell me what to do, I need to...

• To trust the questions they ask me,
• Get out of my own logic,
  
• Know that I have the wisdom to avoid doing something "stupid," and
  
• Know that I must make my own choices.

Sometimes it sounds like my father's voice channeling through my guides. Could my father be working with/through them? I did say ancestors, didn't I?

It is all about FREE WILL. The one thing I strive to do as an intuitive is to present all sides of a situation and possibilities to my clients without taking their power away from them.

The answer you may be seeking may often arrive in the form of riddle or a question. Know this and choose wisely. The information is there. The choice ... yours!

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my father's 96th birthday. I had an emotional moment yesterday...and today. One of loss and remembrance. Rather than wait until Father's Day, or the anniversary of his crossing -- June 26th, I want to celebrate his life on the day of his birth.

Because of his love, wisdom, philosophical nature, willingness to roll up his sleeves to help someone in need, and genuine desire to be a "Mensch," I took his words to heart. He was my first spiritual teacher. In his mind, pursuing my passion, at that time, acting, was unacceptable to him because he didn't want to see my heart broken. However, developing my intuitive and mediumistic skills, participating in his meditation circle, and playing with Tarot cards was very much encouraged.

I once said, "If I had one-quarter of his psychic gifts I would be extremely blessed." Now that I am the age he was when he encouraged me to pursue this path, I realize I have surpassed my teacher in many ways. He enjoyed being the armchair psychic for a small group of individuals. An armchair was was not enough for me. I had to be the performer, even if it was not on the stage. I ventured out into the world with a mission to change the image of psychics, something I don't think he would have ever done. I will continue to entertain, enlighten, and empower as many people as I can using my gifts until the day I can no longer function. I know he is proud of me, even though he is not physically here to tell me that. There are times I "feel" him around...and that, is the best feeling of all!

My present to him, posthumously, is remembering how much he has influenced my life. So, Dad, the acting training helped me be a better entertainer, speaker, and teacher. I'm pretty fearless in the spotlight and grateful for having followed in your footsteps -- sort of.

A few years ago, I found a typed snippet among his clippings. I put it on my refrigerator. It says, "When money is lost -- nothing is lost. When health is lost -- something is lost. When character is lost -- all is lost." I think I would like to replace the word character with the word integrity. My father was a character who read people's character...and so do I. He was a man of high integrity and I am grateful to have learned from the best!!

Faith

When all else fails, there is faith. The other day, when I emerged from a meditation, the memory of a conversation I had with a former neighbor of mine popped into my head. As with all things that "pop" for me, it leads me down a road that includes memory rushes of various related incidents from my life. Without disclosing a private conversation with the Internet world, I can say that I was and still am in awe of my former neighbor's faith in God.

While the world is filled with many different religions and belief systems, the one constant I find is nearly everyone believes in some sort of a Creator -- a higher power. I like that concept because it allows for everyday miracles and provides a sense of faith -- a belief that if things are good, we are blessed, and if things are not good, we are blessed because we learn to appreciate what we have, the experience, and know that things will change and improve. They always do. This is my belief.

As I have gotten older, I have become more tolerant and understanding of people's beliefs, but I have become less tolerant of closed minds. Getting back to my day of faith, I realized, at least for me, that the word faith is very important today and every day. Without faith, negativity creeps in, fear takes over, and our light dims. Faith illuminates the darkness. I chose this card from Sasha St. John's Gentle Wisdom from the Faerie Realm deck because it reminds me exactly about trusting and having faith even when there is no indication otherwise.

Faith keeps us alive, hopeful, optimistic, and able to handle whatever comes our way.

Faith is what helps us over the hump when we are afraid of the future or the unknown.

Faith is the word for today and every day.

Faith is our ability to believe when there is no local or tangible reason to believe.

Faith is trusting that you can thrive, even when it seems as though the deck (Tarot or otherwise) is stacked against you. It's only a cycle.

Faith is the one word that you can grab onto to support you when nothing else is there to do the job.

Faith is the bridge, the conduit, the connection to the future.

Faith is the star in the sky that twinkles -- the one you wish upon.

Faith is what is needed when you have nothing to encourage you to to continue to trust.

Faith is what it takes to move forward even when you don't know where you are going. The Creator does, and if we embrace our ability to have faith, we can manage our fear of the unknown. Everything will be all right, no matter how it seems at the moment.

Am I a bit redundant? Possibly. Does it matter to me if I am redundant? No. What matters to me is, "Did I remind you of something wonderful to latch onto today?" I hope so.

KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!