The Light of the Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice arrives on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 11:57 a.m. EDT. This is the day with the most hours of sunlight – often referred to as the longest day of the year. I love the feeling of brightening that is happening right now . . . every day until June 21 contains more light, more sun, more illumination, on every level that we wish to open to. Summer reminds us of the light, of our light.

This is a wonderful, powerful time to allow all that dynamic light to wash over us and through us, taking with it all the detritus and baggage we have accumulated over the course of our lives. There is always a wide open portal into which we can pour all that we are releasing. The portal will transform the flow pouring into it and return buoyant, uplifting energy to us in an endless, loving loop.

Release can be painful, we may need support and guidance. It’s good to seek out the help we need, and as we ask, it will be shown to us. I am noticing that the energy of this time and this portal is clarifying issues for me quickly and crystal clear. As I ask for help with situations where I have felt confused, fearful and resistant, and have the 51% confidence and ease and trust that I am all taken care of, the answers are dropped into my consciousness from my wisest Self, in concert with the loving Universe, of which we are an indivisible part. I always ask for my answers to be crystal clear – that’s how I need to see and hear them, to get through to my hard headed human self. And I have great compassion for that hard headed human self.

When we walk through the fires that burnish us, we come out brighter and lighter on the other side. And since there is no way around but only through this life, it helps to remember we are never alone. On the contrary, we are All One. I draw on that immense strength and support which gives me comfort all through the day. It is ours for the asking and receiving. We are an integral part of this fabric of the Universe. We are part of the Light and Love we call on.

I invite you to open to the Light and Love that is here for us and that we already are. As we open our hearts and minds in trust, we will be reminded of our essence of good and love and joy. The tiniest remembering will lift us into the Light. And I will remember you are Light and Love until you do.

Transitions

I sent a version of this newsletter in January, 2020. As the intense energy of big waves of transition are lifting me up and carrying me forward, this seems apropos to revisit.

CHANGES

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

Pretty soon now you’re gonna get older

Time may change me

But I can’t trace time

I said that time may change me

But I can’t trace time

—David Bowie

I’ve had a lot of changes in my life in the last year. Of course, energy is always moving, and everything is energy, so everything is always changing, even if imperceptibly. July 10 will be a year since Ed died. Pamela will retire August 1. I can’t feel time passing. I’m not sure how we got to the end of April! It is only when I look at the depth and breadth of the experiences of my life that I know that so much time has passed. It takes time to re-assess and reinvent, and then re-craft my life going forward. And I am.

I used to think this song said, but I can’t change time, not trace time. I think it’s all the same, though. Time changes us, and we can’t change what happened, or what brought us to this present moment. When we look back, it’s hard even to trace the threads that had to intertwine in so many convoluted, unknown ways to help us arrive where we are right now. And all perfectly orchestrated, of course, for our highest good.

I’ve always liked getting older. Maybe I’m wiser, maybe I make better choices, but at least I have an appreciation for the process of Life. I am better able to “face the strange”. I am in awe of how people came into my life, or left it, or how I was guided and directed to whatever was for my highest good, even when I had no idea where I was going, or what I was doing. A lot of times were tough and distressing, and ultimately all of it brought me to learning to love and take care of myself through all of changes and challenges. Or at least the best I can. I still have life to live, so I still have time to learn how to take better loving care of myself. And Life keeps bringing us opportunities to do just that.

Whatever shows up on my path is my work at that moment. And my path always leads the way. And ultimately, it’s all good.

Use the Violet Flame

This is a delicious filling up practice. When we work with energy, or simply are living our lives, we can feel depleted. Sometimes we feel we are scraping the bottom of the barrel. We can’t give or serve from an empty vessel. We can’t give anything to anyone else if we are empty, or need what little energy we have just to keep ourselves going. We need our reservoir, our moat, to be at least half full, so our energy can effortlessly keep creating more of itself. When we are less than half full, we have to work hard just to get to the halfway point. At halfway, we can rest in that nourishment while our energy has enough energy to happily keep filling our moat.

I find this filling exercise very helpful. You will also find it on my website wellgoodwork.com under the Energy Practices tab.

First, it is helpful to ground yourself. This practice is also on my website wellgoodwork.com under the Energy Practices tab. Then use this:

Filling with the Violet Flame from St. Germaine

(An Ascended Master, closely associated with Mt. Shasta in California)

Imagine or pretend a violet flame in the earth under your feet, without heat. It enters your feet, and it begins to fill your toes, feet, ankles, lower legs, thighs, pelvis, torso, shoulders, arms, hands, neck, head, to the top of your head . . . see it rising up your body, until you see yourself completely full, and feel it if you can . . . and let it take as long as it takes to fill each part of your body. Sometimes when I set the Violet Flame into motion, it may take an hour to fill my feet. I just keep checking on it throughout the day. Sometimes, I start it up and I feel it flow up effortlessly all the way to the top of my head. But not always. Usually it takes some time to fill. Sometimes I see violet tendrils reaching up and then the full flow follows after some time. Just notice what is happening. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to fill, even if it takes days.

Then see it spilling out from your hands, heart, third eye and crown . . .because you are full. It spills over to the moat, the cushion of energy surrounding you, and when that is full, it spills over to everyone and everything around you, circulates through the universe, returns to you multiplied, pours into your crown and even more fullness spills out to be circulated again . . .

This is one of the most efficient and powerful ways to nourish ourselves right now. We have a lot of demands on our energy from life in general. In addition, the tension of moving from the yin of winter to the yang of spring or from any season to the next, can take a toll on our energy reservoir. Our strength and capacity is ramped up when we do this practice. We can do it over and over. It allows us to see and feel how much filling we need and how filled we are. When we are filled, we function more smoothly, we rest better; and we more easily remember and feel the energy of Love we already are and we flow that more easily, to ourselves and others. We feel the harmony of Life.

Stay Bendy at the Equinox

Have you felt the stirrings of the change of season? The Spring Equinox 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere will be Monday, March 20 at 5:24 pm. It’s been warm, cold, rainy, a little snowy, blooming….it’s been some of everything in this run up to Spring, just like Life.

In Chinese Medicine, the Element of Spring is Wood….the green, flexible, sapling wood of Spring growth. Green wood bends in the wind, gives with the stresses and flexes, and doesn’t break. As Spring approaches on Monday, perhaps we can be willing to bend in the face of being pushed by Life. We won’t break, even if we flex more than we think we can.

Our suppleness can be supported by the loving energy of Reiki. Reiki is about Love, loving yourself, filling up with that Love and letting it spill over into your Life and those around you for a more harmonious, flowing experience. If you have studied Reiki, you know it can be a daily practice for a smoother, more joyful life. Spring is a great time for a Reiki treatment for yourself. Just giving yourself a little bit of love and kindness is a Reiki treatment, which is just a love treatment. And, I will be resuming Reiki Classes later this year.

Stay bendy!

Filled Up: Turning a Corner

I find myself in a new state of experience. A state of being filled up. That 51% creeps up on you. Earlier in February, as the post shadow of Mercury Retrograde finally came to an end, along with lots of reviewing, revisiting and reassessing, I felt like I turned a corner. While it seemed like overnight, it was of course the last teensy tiny step of many steps over the last several years.

Seemingly all of a sudden, I felt filled up. I don’t know whether it’s the support and love of so many in my life, especially my dear hearts Pamela and my sister Ann. Or whether it’s showing up for my sister in her time of loss as she showed up for me. Or whether a month off rejuvenated me. Or whether I’m far enough away from the stress of the last few years to finally be more present to what life is now. And life now is very, very good.

I’ll tell you something else I notice. As an empath (and I know a lot of you reading this are also empaths) I feel energy in my body: from clients, friends, family, even the energies around the planet. This is why grounding is so so important. We have to have a way to release and clear these energies or our health can be impacted. (Check out the Energy Practices tab on my website.) The more filled up my reservoir is, the less I take on the physical feelings of the energy around me, which can be very draining. As our energy field is stronger, we can receive the information we may need, but we don’t take on the energy, or we shed it quickly. This is also a function of compassionate detachment: we have compassion but stay on our own path, which protects our energy. That’s hard to do if we are in a deficient energetic state. The less filled we are, the easier it is to get drawn into someone else’s energy and story.

My family had a zoom call a few days ago about an upcoming vacation we will all have together: Pamela, my sister Ann, my nephews and me. It was a wonderful and lighthearted connection time. My sister later texted me that I looked so happy and unburdened. She said she hadn’t seen me look like that for years. What she was noticing was that my energy reservoir was filled up, and that allowed for free flowing good feeling to circulate through me, fill me up and spill over to everyone and everything around me. All for the highest good!

It’s never one thing that creates change. It’s lots of little steps, baby steps over time. And finally, we cross that 51% threshold and it seems like a sudden sea change. All the previous steps were necessary, all at the right time. And even if it’s a long time coming, we finally remember our light.

Circle of Life: Love, Loss, Love

Many of you who know me, have come to see me for a session, or read my blog, book or newsletters, have followed my story, the arc of my life experiences. Everything that happens to us is just life. Life happens. Focusing on the process rather than the content helps us to move forward.

What’s important is how we respond. That way we can see our way through anything: all the sadness, all the grief, all the disappointment, all the fear, and all the excitement that will invariably give way to the day to day.

I find it helpful to keep this in mind every day. With everything that comes up, if I say, oh, this is what’s happening now, I stay grounded and don’t wish for a situation to be over or last forever. It’s all okay. It’s just what’s happening now. This is how we embrace it all, whatever it is. And it will change.

Pamela and I were to fly to California to see my sister, brother-in-law and nephew on Jan 7. On January 3, Pamela fell and broke two ribs. Trip canceled. On January 8, my sister called and said her husband was in the hospital. On January 10, he had a heart attack, and on January 11 I flew out to California – the day of the FAA glitch. It took me almost 24 hours to get there. And on Friday January 13, Richard died.

It seems surreal that within the space of six months, my sister and I both are widows. Our circumstances are so different. She had 11 years with Richard, I had almost 40 with Ed. She just retired on January 1, 2023. Nothing can be compared. Everyone’s life, plight and suffering is their individual path and we can’t understand anyone else’s path. All suffering deserves compassion.

I think that everything that happens in life helps us learn to love more. As devastated as my sister is, she is saying to people, love now. Don’t take time for granted. Do what you want now. Don’t delay. You never know what’s going to happen. Stay present. Enjoy what you have in the moment. Love more, now.

We both had losses before we found love again. And even in the shock and sadness, I found a new closeness with my sister and my two nephews, her sons. Even more love, more than I could imagine.

Everything brings us back to love, sometimes through our heart breaking . . . if we allow it.

Less Expectations

We have put 2022 to bed. 2023 is already rapidly unfolding. What if we did something different this year and just were kinder to ourselves? What if we were easier on ourselves? What if we just gave ourselves a break?

It’s been a tough last year or three or six. Personally, I am healing from lots of trauma, sadness and loss over the last few years. And I am healing. I felt I hit a wall last year. I just had to stop, rest, take it easy. I finally took a good chunk of time off from at the end of 2022 into 2023. I noticed what I could accomplish, and what I couldn’t. I slept a lot. My visit with my sister and nephew in the California desert which was supposed to be R & R turned out to be saying goodbye to my brother-in-law as he moved across the veil. And reconnecting with my family. I let the space and healing power of the desert flow through me as we grieved and let go, and loved. And I didn’t expect much from myself or others. I just let all of us be.

Lessening, even abandoning my expectations of everyone, including myself (as much as possible) was freeing. It allowed me to drop into a very present space. I couldn’t muster any resistance or rigidity. Instead, I felt flexibility and acceptance. It’s been a very different experience, and a long time coming. And, it was wonderful to feel that resilience and flow.

So now in this new year, I am willing, as much as possible, to move in that same spirit. Make space for me, make space for others, allow compassion and kindness for all of us. Notice more, expect less. And maybe, just maybe, that will allow for more ease, joy, light, love and peace.

Good Body

At the beginning of the New Year, we are often making new resolutions to take care of our sweet bodies and sweet selves. Here’s a good way to start.

I first heard about the Lighten Up exercise many years ago in relation to weight loss – so many years ago that it was on a cassette tape. What I came to understand is that it means lightening up on many levels. Lighten up in how we view ourselves; be less judgmental about ourselves and our bodies; be kinder and more loving to who we are right now, just as we are . . . and thus lighten up on other people, be more loving and compassionate for the struggles we and everyone might be experiencing.

I used this exercise in my Love the One You’re With series of classes. When we are willing to apply love, sometimes we come smack up against where we are feeling unloving about ourselves. Which just calls for more love, kindness, and tenderness – to ourselves.

Here’s how it works: The first time, do this sitting down. Start by saying: I love my beautiful body (whether you do or not, or think that or not). Then put your hands on top of your head and say: I love my head. Then move to your face. With your hands over your face, say: I love my face. Keep moving your hands to each part of your body (gently, respectfully), and each time say, I love my . . . so you would say I love my neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, belly, back, bottom, thighs, knees, calves, shins, ankles and feet. Just try touching each part of your body as you say it (again, gently, respectfully). I still do this every morning in the shower.

In my classes, there were many widely varied reactions. Some people cried. Some people couldn’t say the words out loud – they got choked up. You can say this silently too, but saying this out loud is very powerful. Some people said they hated their belly or they couldn’t stand to touch certain parts of their bodies. Some people had no issues at all, or didn’t feel anything. And some lingered over each part lovingly, curiously, wondering if what they were saying was true. Resistance came up, as well as acceptance.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel that you love each part of your body as you say that you are loving it. Just say it and notice how you feel, whether you feel resistance or doubt. Just be willing. You will notice how loving you feel toward your body and your self, or whether it’s difficult to feel loving. Either way, just notice and continue. Over time, if you are willing, you will dissolve your resistance, if that is what is coming up, and you will actually feel kinder and tenderer toward this body that serves you every day. If you feel loving each time you say it, or simply are willing to be more willing to be more loving each time we say it, we automatically access that Love that is infinite and limitless. Our willingness opens the portal to feeling the Love is that we are, the Love that flows through us and lifts us up . . . if only we allow it, if only we say Yes! And let Love do the rest. It will seep into our lives at every level, for our bodies and our entire journey, wherever that takes us.

The idea isn’t to feel that our bodies (or lives) are perfect. The idea is to notice how we actually feel about our bodies (and our lives); and begin the process of accepting ourselves, just as we are this moment. Love the one we are with, today. Embrace ourselves exactly as we are right now. Working with the body is a profound way to learn to love ourselves. As we are willing to love our physical vessel, we find that what loves is the Love we already are. We love what is visible, the without, and it helps us love our True Self, the within. Since our True Self is already Love, we can suddenly fall in love with ourselves. We can remember we were Love all along.

The reason we do an exercise like this every day (and it just takes a minute) is because we grow and heal in baby steps. We notice and are willing to let go of our resistance, which allows us to grow in love, bit by bit. This is what our lifetime is for. We build layers of love, a little at a time. Gossamer wing by gossamer wing. When our loving feeling reaches 51%, the scales fall from our eyes and we see our radiance, our Love.

I have a pendant that a friend made many years ago. Engraved on it is the saying: May all being come to know itself as Radiance. May you come to know yourself as Radiance, as Love. I will remember for you until you do.

Forgive It All

It’s almost 2023. Would you like to begin the new year with a clearer heart? One way is to do a practice that helps us let go of what we are holding against others . . . and ourselves.

I am reminded of the beautiful forgiving practice of the ancient Hawaiians. I think this is a good time to send this message out once again. When we forgive ourselves, have compassion for ourselves, we forgive and have compassion for everyone and everything. We are all One. We are all Love.

Ho’oponopono: A Gift to the Planet from the Hawaiian People

From Navigating the Collapse of Time by David Ian Cowan, citing Joe Vitale’s book Zero Limits, with Dr. Hew Len

“In the ancient Hawaiian culture, whenever a member of the community fell into any kind of misfortune, whether through illness, accident, or even willful crime, the entire population sat in a circle around the person, silently searching their own hearts for how they may have contributed, even in some seemingly minor way, to the person’s suffering. Perhaps they held a judgment against this person or their family or maybe felt a secret envy or jealousy. Whatever the case, after they recognized their part and silently asked for the subject’s forgiveness, they quietly left the circle. No words were shared. In the end, when all had made their own peace, the individual sitting in the middle was healed.

“As simple as this practice sounds, it works based on what we now call quantum principles – that we are all entangled or connected and therefore we cannot escape the effects of one person on the collective, or of the collective on one person. It also works on the metaphysical level……that of the One Mind asleep in the dream of suffering (our human lives). All minds, then, are joined as One.

“Dr. Len distilled this tradition of forgiveness handed down from his elders to four phrases. Think of someone or some situation that evinces a ‘loss of joy’ however slight. Hold this subject in your mind and begin to repeat the four phrases, directing them to this mental image. You don’t have to “feel” the connection; the feeling comes after the choice to do this. Spirit is more than eager and willing to heal this relationship – even as little as 1 percent of willingness from you opens the door.” (As I like to say, willingness is the key.)

“You will find that when you next see this person (or are in the situation), something has changed. What has changed is that the veils of darkness between you have lifted. You are now both seeing more of your real Selves in each other. The past has melted away in the Light of Spirit that you invited into the relationship.

“Here is how we do Ho’oponopono. I invite you to join me in this loving practice.

“I love you: We are recognizing that at a deep level we are One. We are mirrors for each other. Judging or condemning you would just be doing the same to me. You, in my perception of you, are a projection of my state of mind. Loving and forgiving you is also doing the same for me. The divisions between us are only in our imaginations. Although bodies and actions appear separate, the Mind that is expressing through all of us is the same. All behavior is either an expression of or a call for Love. So Love is the cause of everything, and the cure at the same time.

“I am sorry: Not for anything in particular that you or I have done – that would make the offense real – but for together having decided to experience separation, and for all the suffering of all of us as a result of this mutual decision. For that I am truly sorry. And I am sorry for my contribution in this way to your particular experience of suffering, confident that in our awakening and acceptance of forgiveness, we shall ultimately see all suffering washed away in an instant of healing and liberation.

“Please forgive me: Not for what it appears I have done, but for agreeing with you to create this dream of suffering and separation. Please see me as an undiluted, invulnerable, eternal, and forever joyful Spirit, as I now choose to see you. I see you as Spirit who through the majesty of your own creativity and freedom has created this opportunity to awaken and remember Love, and I trust you to love me and forgive me my illusions.

“Thank you: For giving us both an opportunity to heal our relationship, to heal in my mind any misperception of you as less than Divine, knowing this healing goes out to the One Mind and affects everyone and everything in Creation beyond what we can imagine. Thank you for joining with me as One Mind and healing together. 

“With this level of understanding simply repeat the four phrases with your subject in mind until you feel a shift or inner lightness around the relationship. That is all. Dr. Len has condensed this practice to simply: I love you; thank you.”

Recovery – The Process of Healing

Recovery from anything is a process of healing. And the process of healing happens in layers. Just like when we open to the truth of our True Self being pure love, and our connectedness and oneness with Source or Spirit, we do so bit by bit. Baby steps. When we are in the process of recovering from anything, we may have big realizations here and there. Recovery and healing is a gradual process of integrating what we think in our minds into our hearts and feelings. It takes a while to really live and apply the understanding we have resolved.

We recover from so many things: grief, loss, trauma, not loving ourselves, wishing we had done things differently, disappointments, regretting our behavior to ourselves and others. I’m sure we all can name a myriad of things we need to heal from. I need to heal from not enough rest, too much tension and worry, pushing myself too hard, expecting too much of myself, recent death of a spouse after so many years of illness, decline and caregiving. We all have our laundry lists of what we need to rest and recover from. One person’s list is not greater or lesser than another person’s. All suffering and difficulty deserves compassion.

It’s not a linear process either. It’s a series of science experiments. Finding out what fills us up, what refreshes us, what invigorates us, what takes care of us, and what drains us. What works and what doesn’t work. Step at a time.

What’s important is to have compassion for ourselves in the process. That allows us to take it day by day. Today I’ll try this. Today I need to cancel this. Today I need to sleep in. Guess I’m not going there or doing this chore today. Don’t have the energy to be on the phone. Just need to take a walk or sleep. Need to stay home today and chill. We keep asking, what is the most loving thing I can do today for myself?

And of course, if we are taking loving care of ourselves, we will eventually be more available to others. It can be a rollercoaster, a very up and down journey. How we feel and how our bodies feel can be variable. One day we might feel good. The next day, or that afternoon, we may not feel up to par. We may suggest a get together, and then be unable to keep the appointment. In great kindness, we simply say what’s true. I really wanted to get together, and I find I just can’t right now. I thought I was feeling better, but my tank is empty. I need to reschedule. People may or may not understand, and that’s okay.

When we take care of ourselves, not everyone likes it. Maybe people have expectations, or think they know what we should do or what would help us or what is best. Or they are worried they will be left out of our process. What’s true is that everyone is on their own individual path. No one knows what’s best for us. Our Higher Self will guide us if we make the space by taking a breath and checking in. We need some quiet to hear our still small voice. Not the harsh voice that berates us; that is our human ego voice. We are listening for the kind guidance that is our loving Higher Self. We will know what feels good and true for our body, our mental well being and our spirit, our heart.

There’s no rushing this process, as I am finding out so clearly. Each person proceeds at their own pace and is perfectly where they need to be on their path as always. The challenge is to notice how I feel, what’s possible today, be very kind to myself if I’m not going to be able to do what I’d like to do, and make a loving choice that takes care of me. I know it sounds simple, and I know how difficult it is. Simple, not easy. If I extend this compassion to me, I will be better at extending it to everyone else. Kindness breeds kindness.

I invite you: take a breath, just take a moment, check in. How do you feel? What do you need right now? What takes care of you? This compassion is self-care, not selfishness if it’s for our highest good and that of all concerned. And if we wind up being kinder to everyone because we are willing to take care of our sweet selves, the world will be a little better place to live.