NAVIGATE YOUR LIFE WITH GODDESS GUIDANCE PART 2

Spirit Of The Warrior Goddess

Living in the 21st century is convenient but not easy. We have all been fighting battles with the world, our lives and ourselves. We have had to fight our way through pandemics, anxiety, illness, loss, uncertainty and unprecedented hardships.

The warrior goddesses knew that living takes a huge amount of courage. To live with courage is an invitation to live authentically, boldly, bravely and sometimes even a little foolishly. It doesn’t mean our decisions are perfect or right all the time. It doesn’t mean we always feel sure about them.

What it does mean is that we feel sure about ourselves. We are certain that we have an innate ability to forge ahead, even on days when we don’t want to. When we feel we can’t take another step, we still find a way to do what is right and necessary.

We deal with issues as they come up – instead of adding them to tomorrow’s to-do list. This is the spirit of the warrior goddess, the archetype that liberates and protects us using skill and discipline, never giving up and tirelessly fighting for what is fair and truthful.

As Above, So Below

If you think that you are alone in your struggles, think again. For centuries these brave women had to live in a time where they had no voice, no rights, no power. Every single day was a battle to feed, clothe and support themselves and their families. Death, plagues and poverty were rampant. Has anything really changed in our world?

Persephone, Greek Goddess of the Underworld, had 14 siblings! Can you imagine who won the fight for the remote control every evening, never mind the bathroom setup? Relating with primordial gods and goddesses – all the bickering, sibling rivalry, power struggles, adulterous affairs and double crossing for pole position – is not as foreign a concept as you may think.

Apathy and the illusion of time are our biggest downfalls. To the earliest goddesses there was no time like the present, living every day as if it was their last. These heroines had to flex the muscles of confidence, wit, courage and focus every single day – if only to survive.

Just as we cannot go into battle unprepared, we cannot go into our days unprepared either. We need to don the armor of purposeful living, not only to survive but to succeed and thrive.

Wisdom Of The Warrior Goddess

We do not have to be activists, advocates, agitators or aggressive, argumentative mercenaries always on the attack to emulate these great women. We just have to be who we are – sisters, mothers, daughters, husbands, sons – human beings. Unfortunately, over the centuries this is how the feminine warrior has been distorted and viewed – the heartless she-devil – a whole archetype of its own being born from this flawed thinking.

The warrior goddess does not do battle for battle’s sake; there is always a higher purpose. I am quite sure that each of these women had more interesting things to do with their days. Just as the ancient Samurai warriors had a calling to “serve and attend” so too does the deity live with conviction, integrity and honor. This is how she transforms from she-devil to the sacred empowered feminine.

Goddess Energy For The 21st Century

We could do well to master these qualities in our 21st century throw-away culture. We quit, block or delete people and places when things get tough. Often, we fall into a victim mentality, we lose heart and time waiting for something or someone “out there” to come to our rescue.

It is vital to wake up from the sleeping beauty syndrome we have created and save ourselves! Giving up is not an option. Should failure knock on our door, accept defeat but don’t dwell there. A warrior goddess is not bound by the past, though she has taken notes for her future. Can we aspire to embody her spirit where we live, whether man or woman, courageously, truthfully and authentically?

Settling into the new landscape of our lives, I hope these dynamic warrior women encourage you to continue the journey of discovering how this ancient feminine wisdom can enhance your life.

The warrior goddess learns the lessons and always takes flight to fight another day.

7 Magnificent Warrior Goddesses

Let us explore some of the mighty warrior goddesses who can teach us to embody empowerment in healthy and vibrant ways.

Athena – Goddess of Courage, Clarity and Wisdom

This multi-faceted Greek goddess, sometimes known as Pallas Athena, comes to your aid when clarity and intelligence are called for in taking the next step in your life, this is partly the reason she is also known as the Goddess of Wisdom and is often depicted with an owl as companion.

She encourages strategic thinking, instead of violence and aggression, to obtain the results you want; call upon her to help resolve arguments and disagreements.

Athena plays a central role in Greek mythology, always facing her opponents with courage and championing mere mortals to become heroes.

Minerva is the Roman counterpart to this powerful and talented goddess.

Nike – Goddess of Victory

Another well-known goddess of Greek mythology, Nike is the Goddess of Strength, Success and Speed – little wonder a very famous brand recognized the spirit of this goddess and ran with it.

Nike will literally spark the “just do it” attitude and fast track your growth to success.

She is depicted with wings, which also gives one the ability to rise above problems – useful to embody in any competitive environment.

Sekhmet – Goddess of War, Strength and the Sun

This Egyptian deity’s name means “strong and mighty” or “she who is powerful” and she lives up to it with her fierce protective nature and connection to lions.

She is a good ally when you need to stand up for yourself and release being a victim.

Her hot breath-like fire was said to have created the deserts and therefore can wipe out any problem that befalls you.

Sekhmet is associated with inner strength and the confidence to use it!

The Morrigan – Goddess of War and Sovereignty

A complex triple goddess associated with Celtic mythology and is known as “Great Queen” who embodies power, authority and strength.

When your life is out of control, she restores balance and reclamation of authority over your life.

This goddess demonstrates the courage of the mother who sees her child in danger, and puts her own life at risk to save her.

She is fierce, protective, and faces obstacles head on. Morrigan accompanies you on the battlefield.

Morrigan is closely associated with the Valkyries – a powerful group of female figures in Norse mythology who travel between the worlds fighting for justice and accompanying the deceased to the afterlife.

Maat – Goddess of Clarity/ Justice/ Truth

One of the most powerful Egyptian goddesses overseeing and judging the journey of souls at the time of death.

She brings clarity and truth when called upon to clear up confusing situations.

Maat assists with discernment in any situation to hear all sides of the story before passing fair judgement.

Call upon her energy before signing contracts, dealing with any disputes, or when feeling confusion.

Durga – Goddess of War, Strength and Protection

This principal Hindu goddess of war epitomizes courage in the face of adversity.

She provides the courage to stand up for what you believe in and takes no prisoners.

Durga is typically portrayed riding a lion or tiger, displaying multi-limbs to deal with conflict on multiple levels and fronts.

This Hindu goddess is a worthy ally to generate self-confidence and determination.

Freya – Goddess of War/ Love

The beautiful Norse goddess is still venerated across Europe today and is well known in pagan circles.

Freya brings to life the saying “All is fair in love and war”. She is a bold risk taker, loving to celebrate success and life.

Call on her when you need some confidence in social situations, especially on the romantic front, or have low self-esteem and body image issues.

Continue this magnificent journey with me in the next bodymindsoul’s article with the big-hearted, benevolent goddesses of compassion, love, beauty and kindness.

SAYING “NO” WITH LOVE

Volume 7

A strict upbringing made me believe that if I said “yes”, I was being good. A “no” translated into being bad or disobedient. This belief coupled with low self-esteem made me a yes-girl throughout most of my adulthood. All of that changed when I started my spiritual practice some years back. I started to understand why I felt the need to give in to other people’s demands no matter how reluctant I felt. That was a huge revelation. I now find it easier to say “no”.

6 Ways Of Making It Easier To Say “No”

1. You Can’t Please Everyone
No one in this world can be liked, loved or completely accepted by everyone else. Neither do you have control of what others think of you. There will always be cynics, nay-sayers, wet blankets and what-nots waiting to voice their personal opinions. Face it… no matter what you say or do, you can never please everyone.

What matters is that you are in charge of what you think about yourself – how you feel within yourself. It is not about how others feel or react when you say “no”.

2. Love & Accept Yourself As You Are
According to the law of attraction, your thoughts and emotions are reflected through other people and by the situations you attract. When you love, honor and respect yourself, you attract more of these attitudes to yourself from other people. And eventually, you too will also treat others the same way, bringing more mutual love and respect into the world.

Do you feel energized and empowered after you say “no”? This goes back to self-love; saying “no” puts back the value into our own needs and preferences. It’s really up to us to love ourselves no matter what happens on the outside. Empowering means to always bring it all back to ourselves.

3. Sincere People Stay With You Even When You Say “No”
When someone gets upset with you or disagrees with you, the fear of losing their ‘approval’ may creep in. Face your fear with this affirmation – “I love and accept myself just the way I am.” Loving yourself unconditionally means fully accepting the way you are without judgment. Loving yourself fully for what you are and also, for what you are not.

If these people are meant to be a part of your life, they will support and respect your decision and continuously be there for you. Otherwise, they will leave and there is nothing wrong with that as they have already lived out their role they were meant to play in your life. All you need to do is to ensure you grow as a person and keep moving forward with an open heart and sincere intentions.

4. The Choice Is Yours
Always remember that you have a choice in any situation.

Let’s assume that I am invited to hang out at a particular bar by well-meaning friends. Just because I don’t have anything else on and just want to chill out at home, it does not mean I have to join them. As it happens, I do not choose to be at a place filled with cigarette smoke or loud music because such an environment affects my personal energy.

There is no need to explain myself to my friends. With enough self-respect, a simple “Thank you, but I don’t wish to do that” is good enough for me to decline the invitation politely.

Also, I am often told to work up a sweat to keep fit. But there are days when I prefer to stay home, be a couch potato and watch TV. I take full responsibility for my decisions even, if I may be unsure about them sometimes.

I am ready to face all the consequences of my choices. I find it is better to make a clear choice that I am responsible for than to do something I do not want to do. On most occasions, I find that I am glad that I stayed home to rest and recuperate from a hectic week.

5. Be Your Authentic Self
Being spiritual is about constantly facing life with your authentic self. It’s a fact that you cannot control what others think about you. You can only control what you choose to believe about yourself. So make choices in your best interests and your highest good.

Consider that always saying “yes” to others despite our own discomfort eventually makes us resentful and frustrated. We should stop playing the victim as that lowers our vibration. We starve ourselves to feed others, mentally and emotionally, and that is not being authentic and empowering.

6. Say “No” with Love
Always say “no” with a loving attitude. A way to do this is to place your attention on your heart as you say, “I would love to help you but I have already made plans. Thank you for understanding.” or “Let me think about it and I will get back to you tomorrow.” The second is a way to have more time to figure out if going along with the request is something you want to willingly do.

Also, start saying “yes” to yourself more often, that is, to the choices that make your heart sing with joy. With this affirmation of yourself, you will gradually find it easier to say “no” to others.

Persistence Is Key

I cannot say I have successfully said no on every occasion since then. However, today I am way better at it compared with my yes-girl days. I am still not as direct as I wish to be, although I am as honest as I can be in explaining my decisions. Surprisingly, people have been forgiving and they respect my explanations.

My refusals are out of love and respect for myself and are in no way meant to offend. I am fully aware of my own emotions as I say “no”, whether I feel, for example, empowered or guilty. I am looking forward to the day when I can say “no” with love consistently all the time.

I am not perfect, and like all human beings, I am here to learn and grow. The many demands from the people around me are perfect opportunities to realize that I am here to stretch beyond my present limits and grow. It reminds me of our true purpose – to be of service to humanity, in whatever situation we are in, with love.

The 4 Champion Factors! (Part 2)

(Part 2 of a 2-part article) To read Part 1, please click here.

August 2018 had me watching on TV, the Asian Games, which was held in Jakarta and Palembang in the Indonesian archipelago. My wife asked me, “Why do you follow these Games so closely when you hardly indulge in sports?” My simple answer to her was, “Well, I suppose it’s because I like watching how winners do it.” Watch and learn as the masters would say.

3. Training (& Practice)

Training to me basically involves all the things needed to prepare us to succeed. It is the accumulation of the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in one’s goal. Strategies would also be included, as the hard work of training must come with the smart work of planning.

Within the framework of training is practice. Practice involves repeating the action of which we want to be good at (presumably to achieve a desired outcome), getting feedback, refining the action or course-correcting and doing it again until we reach the point of “perfection” where it leads us the outcome or place we want to be.

Unfortunately for most people, practice is uncomfortable because people are hard-wired to feel lousy about being “not good enough”, “weak” or “a failure”; and practice inevitably forces us to confront our “weaknesses” (unpolished skills, laziness, impatience, indiscipline, negative emotions, etc.) and “failures” (when we practice, we are sure to “fail” during the practice; or else, why practice?).

What makes a champion different from the ordinary person is that the champion is not afraid to be weak and fail, because she knows that whatever weakness or failure she faces at present is only temporary; and she has the self-belief to know that with enough failures and feedback, she refines her actions and will inevitably reach her goal in the end. She knows she has no choice but to succeed when she is committed to learning and improving.

4. Competition

If you look it up, most definitions of competition still say that competition is a contest between different sides for one side to defeat, win or be superior over the others. For me, such definitions are rather limited as we have forgotten that the “competition” is mostly not “out there” but within ourselves.

The old energy of this planet carries the limiting belief that there is “not enough” to go around. An example of such “old age” thinking is found in classical economics which pre-supposes that humankind must compete amongst themselves for scarce resources. This is not the abundance mindset of the New Age.

There’s always competition in the world, but you don’t have to be enemies. You can empower each other. Justine Skye, American singer and model

For me, the point of competition is really not to defeat, win or show one’s superiority but to establish an external point of reference so that the person realizes where she is in comparison with others. This gives her a benchmark to strive harder and be better, and be number one if she so chooses.

For where would No. 1 be, without No. 2 or even no. 3 being in her life? Where would Dina Ashkey-Smith (2018 fastest woman in the world so far in the 100 meters sprint) without her rivals Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Marie-Josee Ta Lou?

I’m not in competition with anybody but myself. My goal is to beat my last performance ~ Celine Dion, singer and performer

Competition is really about winning over the present you, so that you can become a more powerful next-moment you. To have the inner strength and discipline to change whatever’s not working for you to become a winner. It is about constantly becoming a more superior you in every moment.

The mindset and heartset of continually improving greatly empowers not only you, but others who watch you as their reference point, to continually become bigger and better and not just ordinary like the rest. If everyone on Earth is to be so empowered with the constant desire to be better, just imagine where this would take humanity.

Be The Winner!

Look around you, and notice the 4 elements of talent, hard work, practice and competition constantly at work in the daily lives of true champions and winners.

Look within you, and check if you have the 4 elements. Just remember that:

• talent can be in any form, even if its washing dishes (you know what I mean)
• hard work simply requires discipline (and a good relationship with your body)
• practice until you make it; have the self-belief and perseverance to know that you will make it in the end with enough practice. Remember the story of how Thomas Edison did 10,000 experiments before he invented the alkaline storage battery? His retort to a friend who questioned his lack of results, “Results!  Why, man, I have gotten lots of results!  I know several thousand things that won’t work!” … and
• competition is necessary (your biggest competition is you)

The Magical Bridge Of Faith

Volume 8

A Magical Bridge

Once upon a time, a man stood at the edge of a very high cliff. This special cliff did not let you just turn around and go back, for there was no turning back. The man had two choices.

He could stay there for the rest of his life or move on beyond the cliff toward the mountain on the other side. The cliff symbolizes the crossroads of life where one is either stuck or takes a leap of faith to move forward despite not knowing what might happen.

Finally, he decided to do it. To simply take the leap of faith.

He stepped forward, trusting in his heart that life and the Universe were supporting him. As he stepped onto what he saw as just empty space, part of a bridge magically appeared under his foot! Feeling happy, he shouted with relief, “Hey, this is trust! This is faith! The Universe is with me!”

With each step forward, the magical bridge kept appearing under his feet. Everything seemed beautiful and good. Even when there were challenges, he kept reminding himself, “Don’t look back, just keep moving.”

Everything seemed perfectly bright and sunny. Suddenly, things changed. The sky darkened, and a storm rushed in. The man asked, “Hey, I’ve already made the choice to move, so why is the Universe putting me in this situation? I’ve done my part by trusting life. Where is the beautiful sky and why is it raining? Why can’t I see the bridge anymore?” It was difficult to see the small and narrow bridge up ahead. The man was worried as he really wanted to get to the mountain on the other side.

Despite his great fear and doubt, he didn’t give in. “Never mind. I will continue to trust…” He closed his eyes, followed his heart and kept walking forward. Miraculously, the bridge continued to form under his feet! He remained safe whilst moving forward on his journey, thus learning that trust was required on both sunny and stormy days. By just following his heart, he would eventually arrive victorious on top of his mountain.

Suddenly, the bridge became shaky. It felt as if it was about to collapse! “Since I trusted the Universe on sunny and rainy days, why should this happen now?” he worried. His only choice was to move ahead because it was too far to turn back.

Patiently, he took each step with his heart in the space of stillness and he landed safely on the bridge. His lesson was to continue with trust and faith, even when life was shaky.

Then, out of the blue on the next day, the bridge collapsed! The man tumbled all the way down into the ocean. Blaming the Universe, he asked, “Why? I did everything that I needed to. I trusted and held my faith. Why am I down here instead of up there on the bridge?”

And this is what happens to many people – they lose trust and doubt when things do not work out the way they had expected it to.

There was no other choice than to save himself. Pulling out from the ocean, he continued again on his journey up the mountain. But it was different this time. He progressed on to a higher height in his life. That became his ascension, moving to the next level of light, to finally arrive at the top of the mountain.

The story could continue endlessly. Because that’s what life is about – coming face to face with challenges and feeling fear, yet moving forward with trust and faith. And arriving at the top of one mountain, and the next mountain, and the next …

Lessons On Trust & Faith

Faith Is Unconditional Through Good & Bad

Trust and faith, like love, is unconditional. When you place conditions on your trust and faith, it can never be true trust and faith. Like the man in the story, you may not see the next step or that invisible bridge before you. Though you don’t know what will happen next, you still trust that there will always be something there for you.

During good times people say, “The Universe is with me because of the good things in my beautiful life.” On the other hand, they blame life and other people for bad situations because they can’t see the love in bad situations. 5 years later they may declare, “Without that bad situation, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be who I am today. I am so proud to have gone through that experience.” The realization that it was a gift happens only after 5 years! In the meantime, they blame their brothers, sisters, parents, and the entire world.

See the goodness in each fall. Sometimes a person asks for A, and life gives him B because B serves him better. Instead he blames, and fails to trust. That’s when he doesn’t see. Life is like that.

Faith Is A Choice

When you make up your mind, you just walk with the Universe as if a guide is holding your hand. You cannot see it but you can feel love in every part of your life. That teaches you to have gratitude in your heart and appreciate life.

Faith is a matter of choice to trust the unseen, life, what one may call the Universe. To trust that life supports you. And that no matter what happens, life will show you a bigger picture as you move to a greater height of love.

Faith Means Following Your Heart

Your heart empowers you whereas your mind disempowers you. It’s that simple. Your heart empowers you to achieve your dream, to think bigger and to be fearless. Whereas your mind casts doubts and fears. It always analyzes and stops you from moving forward while your heart keeps you moving. Always follow your heart.

Faith Is Courage

Normally, people with big problems standing at the edge of the cliff, will doubt. They will sit there at the edge, waiting, not moving, as fear builds up and clouds their minds and hearts. Perhaps they may insist, “I have no choice. Life has put me in this situation, making me jobless, sick, depressed…” and continue to repeat that to themselves and others.

A second group may be encouragingly saying to themselves, “Let’s take a leap of faith!” They had taken the first leap, but the second time around, they look at the bridge, thinking, “What if one day I take another step on this invisible bridge and it’s the end of the path?”

Instead of moving on, they return to the edge of the cliff and behave like the first group. They say, “I have tried. I did my part in trusting, but I’m still depressed.” Nothing will happen after that, because they didn’t continue their journey. It’s as simple as that. They had trusted halfway, then stopped and turned back. They then blame life.

There is a third group. They will go all the way like the man in the story. They move forward, be it rain or shine, and even when everything seems lost. Picking themselves up, they courageously move on with trust in life, and faith in the Universe that they will arrive at a greater height in life.

Faith Is Taking The First Step To Action

For some people, following the heart is not an issue – it’s taking the first step to listen to the heart and really acting on it that is difficult. Yet, action is the key, and that is what many dare not do. Taking action reduces your fear because you stop feeding the fear, thereby making it easier to move. And most of the time, thereby making it easier to move. And most of the time, the fear doesn’t materialize, making one more courageous step to move even faster.

Taking the first step is important in matters of faith and to continue action without stopping. If you stop you will stay on the invisible bridge or make a U-turn. The journey of life is a continuous one. Life is like riding a bicycle. Keep moving to stay balanced. Once you stop pedaling, you will fall, so don’t even think of stopping.

Faith Is Trusting People

Can we have faith in people when people sometimes disappoint us?

I would say yes. Trusting life and people are the same, because without people there wouldn’t be life. Society is part of the system of life. When you trust life, you trust anything and everything that happens, that comes your way, and you know that everything is happening for your highest good. And that’s it.

Faith Is Faith Itself

The funny thing is people rather choose fear than faith. People ask me, “Why put my trust in faith when it is something I can’t see or prove?” But I ask them, “Can you see fear? Yet you place your trust in fear! And you don’t question that!”

People don’t question fear. They do not ask, “Why should I fear?” Instead it is always, “Why should I have faith?” They cannot “see” fear just like they cannot “see” faith but they choose to be fearful rather than to be faithful. That’s funny.

You tell people, “You should forgive, you should love.” But they will ask, “Why should I forgive?” Yet when they are angry, they don’t ask, “Why should I be angry?” People don’t ask “Why should I be angry?”, but they will ask, “Why should I love?”

How To Have Trust & Faith

There is no “how” to it, just do it! That’s the very meaning of faith. Take the leap of faith yourself or something will happen one day that is going to push you off the cliff… and that something is called life.

In short, your two choices are jumping off the cliff first and letting life unfold itself, or sitting at the edge of the cliff, paralyzed with fear.

People don’t trust. We stubbornly cling on to things that we are used to. And so we just stand at the edge of the cliff, not taking any action and not being able to move forward. That’s why sometimes the Universe will say, “Just let go.” That’s what we need to do. But people resist.

Faith is so abstract, and yet so amazingly beautiful when experienced with a realized mind.

Embracing Self-Love in the Face of Addiction

In a society where addiction silently weaves into the fabric of everyday life, my brother’s story is a stark echo.

The Invisible Chain of Habits

As a child, he was my hero, an acclaimed cyclist with two German championships under his belt. His later years in Munich, though less connected to our family, seemed successful on the surface, marked by love and stability, even owning a home. Yet, beneath this veneer, a relentless addiction to alcohol quietly eroded the foundations of his life.

His relationships, while heartfelt, cycled through hope and despair. Each partner sought to anchor him, to be the beacon guiding him away from the storm of his addiction. They built a family, welcoming a child with love— a love that briefly steadied him. But the relentless tide of dependency returned, sweeping away his partnership, his fatherhood, and his place in the world.

As his life began to crumble, the condominium was lost, and so were the ties that bound him to a stable existence. He drifted between the streets and rehabilitation, a specter in the family’s life, present only in sparse messages, leaving us grasping for whispers of his well-being.

The Subtle Descent into Dependency

I often pondered why his path led to addiction, while mine did not. After taking him in during one of his lows, he recovered quickly, and we cherished our time together until he vanished once more. The hidden bottles revealed the silent burden of his departure. He never intended to trouble anyone with his addiction; he would quietly withdraw, avoiding the impact of his struggles on those around him.

It started with a harmless beer after work, which turned into a habit, a balm for his unaddressed issues and desires. This routine deepened into an addiction, a loss of control he didn’t seem to resist, for he, like every addict, had his reasons.

It was later I learned that addiction stems from a search — a search that, in one way or another, we’re all undertaking…

The Power of Inner Fulfillment

During a retreat, I grasped that happiness isn’t about external searches—it’s recognizing the abundance within. Perspective is reality; see your life as half-full, and you embrace joy. We all possess happiness, attention, and love internally; realizing this shapes a resilient life.

My brother, once robust with triumphs, also faced his shadows. Recognizing the negatives is essential, as is finding love within to shield against life’s pressures. Yet, we must stay conscious of our current desires and their roots.

Seeking happiness through others, valuing oneself by wealth, or mistaking attention for love, can lead to dependency. Unseen addictions, even to money, hint at deeper voids often filled with vices. Addictions often intertwine, leaving the inner void unfulfilled.

Therefore, find love within, and it will reveal itself to you. Once discovered, you can fully love and accept yourself. True self-love allows you to offer love to others unconditionally. Harmonized with your essence, you can give genuinely, for all you need resides within you.

A Path to Love, Gratitude, and Self-Discovery

Revisiting our initial query: Are we all addicts in some way? Modern economies capitalize on those seeking external joy. Products promising attention, exclusivity, or satisfaction feed this quest. Yet, the joy they offer is fleeting, always leaving us wanting more.

Happiness shouldn’t hinge on material possessions to avoid dependency. When it does, we miss the true wealth of life’s experiences, consumed by envy and dissatisfaction, causing suffering in various forms.

Social media confuses attention with love. ‘Likes’ and comments are fleeting, not equating to love. True love offers something deeper than perpetual attention.

The answer to our deepest yearnings lies within reach, yet it can feel distant. Social media’s fleeting ‘likes’ and the temporary joy from material possessions highlight a deeper longing for something more fulfilling. To find this fulfillment and embark on a path of love and gratitude, consider these steps:

1. Meditate and Practice Forgiveness: Regular meditation helps clear the noise of daily life, allowing us to forgive past grievances, fostering a deeper sense of inner peace and self-love.
2. Connection with Your Higher Self and Your Heart: By attuning to our higher selves, we tap into an innate wisdom and love at the core of our being, guiding us towards authentic happiness.
3. Breathe in Universal Love: Take moments to breathe deeply, visualizing the love of the universe entering your heart with each breath. This practice can fill you with a sense of connection and wholeness.

Embrace these practices and you may discover that the true wealth of life’s experiences lies in the love and gratitude we cultivate within ourselves. As I continue to appreciate life’s splendors and share love and zest, I hope you too will find your own path to a fulfilling and gratified life.

WAKING UP TO INNER PEACE

Volume 16

Seizing The Day

To remain sane and balanced in today’s hectic and fast-paced world, we need to learn to embrace life and its many challenges. Incorporating a simple daily mindfulness practice will help us be in the present moment, feel more calm and peaceful, to handle every situation and every person that we come into contact with.

During our TTDI Park Sunday sessions – we call them “Wake UP” sessions because we want people to wake up early (obviously!) and seize the day – we get wonderful feedback from participants. Through these sessions, participants become aware of where they are in life, where they want to go, and their true desires. They also get to identify their blockages and action plans to manifest their goals.

After completing mindfulness exercises and meditating in nature, the participants would find that they have better focus, tend to be more creative and have smoother relationships with others.

They get clearer on issues whether at work, with their health or with their families. Mind you, some of these are serious issues that have been plaguing them along time.

A lady who had trouble getting a good night’s sleep claims that after the previous week’s mindfulness meditation, she managed to sleep a lot better. The benefits of our “Wake UP”sessions go on and on.

The Path To Inner Peace

When I started my daily mindfulness regimen a few years ago, I too started experiencing a plethora of benefits. There are far too many of them to list here but the most important was the deep sense of inner peace, something which I (and many of you reading this), have been wanting so desperately.

And I dare say that this has been one of the most significant milestones in my life: achieving an “unshaken sense of inner peace” that seems to reverberate throughout my being with the knowing that “All is Well”.

When we start to “live mindfully”, we hold our lives and the lives of others in the highest reverence. We see no difference between us and the rest of the world.

We begin to appreciate and embrace the interconnectedness of everything on our planet. We feel more love and compassion for each other and soon, with peace and joy in our hearts, we set the stage for world peace to become a reality in our lifetime.

Here are 4 simple steps to Inner Peace:

1. Sit comfortably in a quiet place, preferably in the outdoors (bare feet firmly on the grass). Take 5 slow but deep breaths, by this time your heartbeat has slowed down and you feel gentle and calm, but alert.
2. With the next in-breath, instruct all your pores to breathe with you. And with your out-breath, your pores “exhale” with you. So now, your whole body is breathing as a unit. Do 5 sets of this “inhale and exhale whole body breathing”, in a calm and relaxed manner.
3. Now, imagine that there are thick solid roots growing from the soles of your feet connecting you to the core of the planet, to the heart of Mother Earth. Feel the intensity of the support and love that shoot up from the core to your feet right up to your heart. Allow that energy to flow into your whole body. Be in this moment. Revel in this sensation.
4. When you are done, gently open your eyes. How do you feel? Charged up? Alert, with a sense of calmness? Feeling supported? Are you experiencing a deep sense of inner peace? Imagine your everyday interactions being infused with harmony, peace, love and happiness!

Do share the above visualization freely with everyone you meet!

*Join us for an invigorating experience at the newly rebranded “Nature Connection” (formerly “Wake-Up”), happening on 17th December 2023 at Bukit Jalil Recreational Park. Immerse yourself in nature’s embrace and rejuvenate your spirit. Registrations are now open! Secure your spot for this exciting outdoor event by visiting . We can’t wait to see you amidst the beauty of nature!

The Wisdom Of Patience

Patience is the ability to accept and tolerate delays, problems or suffering without anxiety or annoyance. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, all of which require the passing of time.

Many people around me, especially at work, sees me as an agreeable, “patient” sort of fellow although I don’t feel that way at all. My wife complains that I am like the “slow mo” version of her, and my sister gets all worked up because she says I am too tolerant of things.

The funny thing is that I have never considered myself to be a patient man despite all the feedback that I get. Maybe I’m selectively impatient; or maybe I’m impatient but I keep it all bottled up in me. Or maybe I have high expectations of myself.

What I hear from people about my patience and what I feel inside don’t sync for me. I still feel I’m still kind of impatient although I have improved tremendously since I started practicing meditation.

Here’s a list of what used to my pet peeves when it came to triggering my “impatient” switch and with it, how meditation practice has helped me realize important things about waiting, patience and myself.

Traffic Jams That Never End

I can still remember the tension, and even anger, that I felt as I sat there in the car waiting for some movement – any movement – so that I could get out of those traffic jams and back to my life. Why the jam? Why did the entire city population have to come out and drive when I was driving? Why did life have to have so many obstacles to where I want to go?

What meditation taught me about patience in traffic jams:

• Waiting forces us into the present moment. The zooming in of our attention on how we are “wasting” precious seconds now actually makes us mindful of the moment, which is something we should take note of.
• Waiting patiently is practicing peace. Patience is the peace in our hearts regardless of the external situation. Where there’s peace, anger finds no space to occupy.
• Reasons are not needed to be patient. In fact, reasons hamper patience because reasons seek to justify. Patience, like love, needs no justification for someone or something to be there with us.
• Patience is unselfish and generous. Everything and everyone around us have the right to exist just like us, sharing the same space with us. We should acknowledge and honor their presence.
• Obstacles in life do not block us but take us higher. The destination is really not as great a reward as the journey itself because it’s the journey, with its wonderful obstacles, are what makes us grow to be bigger and stronger. And that’s the true reward.

Reptition

I was never been a fan of sameness. I found sameness boring, like watching television re-runs. I liked the excitement and freshness of the new. Why repeat? Why did it have to be the same day after day? Why did life have to so boring?

What meditation taught me about patience in repetition:

• Meditating in itself is repetition, repeating moments of “doing nothing”. And that’s what’s so contradictory about it because meditation has shown me that in that nothing is everything. Questions have been answered, noises have been quietened and peace has been restored.
• Repetition is learning. The process of repeating something over and over is how we learn. When I first started to meditate, I had the problems that almost all beginners have: restlessness, can’t concentrate, unable to sit cross-legged for long, etc. But through repetition I had overcome all those difficulties and today I can sit for hours meditating without problem.
• Repetition disciplines and refines us. Doing something repetitively somehow disciplines us. It helps build mental and emotional strength and endurance thereby shaping character. Repetition refines us into the perfect diamond that we can be.
• Repetition changes us. To make a change in attitude or behavior, we need to repeat the emotion, thought and action over and over until our old attitude or behavior is replaced by the new one. This is why it is not enough to do something once to change (there are however exceptions in the case of very wilful people). If we are serious about making a change, then we must repeat the attitude or behavior until the new one becomes ingrained in us.

What in the end was I impatient about? Did I have so many things going in my life that I didn’t have time to stop and smell roses or give time to other people? What was I saving time for? Was it to do the same thing that I had been doing for years? In the end, isn’t time being in the moment with people and events, with love in my heart, time well spent?

Patience never rushes, neither does wisdom. Wisdom is the aggregation of all that we have experienced in time and with time. Like patience, wisdom is a child of time.

Patience is a great teacher. Like wisdom, it changes us. And great patience can change not only one individual but the whole of humanity. This is its wisdom.

THE NEW GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN
Volume 7

There are new generations of very gifted children here on Earth today who are paving the way to a more evolved global consciousness. These children of a New Age will live, and lead with more love, peace and harmony to reshape the world in ways we thought were not possible. Could you be possibly be one of these children? Or do you have such a child?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead.

A Revolution In Our Midst

We remember differently how we were brought up. We recall the ways our parents taught us, and we had been told stories of how their parents taught them. Try the same methods on kids today and chances are those same lessons we know so well will bounce right off them.

Take a good look around you and talk to your friends who have children. There is a revolution that you may not be aware of. In the past few decades, there has been a dramatic transformation amongst children born. Many parents, teachers and those who deal with children are very aware that the children of today are extremely different from those of generations before.

A New Age Of “Super” Children

These children are known as New Age children because they perceive things very differently from their parents. They “feel colors” from words, “hear emotions” from speech and “see” the world in numbers and energy.

Their uniqueness is also reflected by how quickly they master technology, how they can “pick up” other people’s emotions or “read” minds and how they adapt to new environments at a drop of a hat. Some even defy traditional rules and systems imposed on them; they do not easily conform to conventional views of how someone should be and behave.

Observe how these conceptual children see the world in a different way. Note that you can never lie to them, because they instinctively pick up the energy of your words as you utter them.

Is New Age Parenting Needed?

Most importantly, these new children teem with compassion and love. They instinctively want the world to be a better place, and they have big dreams of changing the world to what it can be, to what it should be – full of hope and love! With that, these children will make our planet vibrate at a higher frequency.

But how do we live with them, and help them flourish in a world that perhaps is just still preparing itself for the higher energies that these extraordinary children are bringing with them? When the old ways of punishment, yelling and denial are clearly not effective on our children anymore, perhaps then, it is time to truly understand and see them for who they are – the new generations of children on earth – and allow them to change us instead of we trying to change them.

There is nothing more important than our children… because they are the future of this planet.

Indigo, Crystal Or Rainbow?

Indigo Warriors build a better earth.
Wise Crystals are caring.
Fearless Rainbows are born healers.

Which one are you?

Or do you have such a child in your family?

THE FIRST WAVE: THE INDIGO CHILDREN

These New Age children started arriving between the 1970s and the 1980s. Indigo children have distinct warrior personalities, making them stand up and fight for what they think is right and what they believe in.

Some parents call these Indigos rebellious. With zero tolerance for dishonesty, they are here to show us that archaic traditional systems are no longer healthy and must change. They are passionate about tearing down these old systems and erecting new ones – for a better earth. Their energy is a deep spiritual blue which carries highly-psychic abilities.

Traits

• They require a high degree of stimulation and excitement in their lives.
• They have zero tolerance for lies, plus they don’t react to their parents’ guilt-trips.
• They don’t conform to societal systems and often rebel.
• Indigos have felt old from when they were born; often feeling older than their parents.
• Being highly creative, they easily think out of the box.
• They may carry their parents’ fears and karmic attributes.
• They bond easier with plants and animals than with people.

Raising Indigo Children

• Treat Indigos with respect. Never ever belittle them!
• Give them a voice and choices, making them feel included in the family.
• Always explain the “why” of your instructions.
• Be collaborative when setting boundaries. Allow the child to determine her own limits, and be surprised how easily this works!
• Never instill fear in them with regard to the external environment. Continually expecting the “worst” to happen fills their hearts with fear.

THE SECOND WAVE: CRYSTAL CHILDREN

Crystal children have very bright crystalline energy and they seem much wiser than their age. The first thing you notice about them are their big soulful eyes and their forgiving nature.

The most affectionate of all New Age kids, they love peace, are very sensitive and caring. As they are very intuitive, they can see through words and lies. They feel the energy of the words more than listen to what their parents say. This makes them very sensitive to the energy of your vibrations and actions.

Traits

• Crystal children are among the most communicative, caring and cuddly of all children.
• Their large communicative eyes reflect their deep knowing and spiritual understanding.
• They tend to be very connected to nature and animals.
• They begin to speak much later in life, preferring silence or talking in their own language.
• These children are extremely artistic.
• Being very sensitive, they dislike loud noises, bright unnatural lights, and high-stress environments.
• They dislike arguments and fighting, and forgive very easily.
• They do not react well to sugar, caffeine or processed foods. Some of them prefer a vegetarian diet, often refusing meat.

Raising Crystal Children

• Respect their preferences, although it may go against the grain of how to raise “normal” children. E.g. allow them to eat vegetarian meals.
• Do not expose them to any stimulating activities a few hours before bedtime.
• Give them space and do not pressure them to speak if they do not want to.
• Let them explore their intuitive abilities by giving them crystal pieces to use.
• Ask them questions on what they feel are appropriate to do, instead of telling them what to do.
• Take them out to forest reserves to let them recharge and reconnect with nature.

THE THIRD WAVE: RAINBOW CHILDREN

Coming to the world with little or no karma, Rainbow children most likely have not been incarnated on Earth before. Because of that, Rainbow children are only born to peaceful, loving families. These children give off vibrant rainbow energy, the natural pure energy of the universe, to others, hence their label. Rainbow children are different from Crystal children because they are entirely fearless. They feel protected and safe at all times, knowing intuitively that the Divine and Mother Earth will care for them. Their natural healing abilities spread unconditional love and joy to all around them especially their parents. Healing themselves and others is their purpose on Earth.

Traits

• Rainbow children are born to smile.
• They recover from negative emotions quickly; and have a sense of emotional mastery.
• They are hyperactive, have high energy and do not tire easily.
• They thrive in colorful environments and love bright clothing.
• They possess strong will and personalities.
• They are passionately creative and are very expressive.
• They are intolerant of processed food preservatives, meat, wheat and dairy.

Raising Rainbow Children

• Be mentally and emotionally fit!
• Feed these children with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Do not feed them fast food and over-complex carbohydrates.
• As they are sensitive to perfume, make sure that their body and bath care are perfume and paraben-free. They love natural things.

References:
The Indigo Children (Ten Years Later) by Lee Carrol & Jan Tober –
The Crystal Children by Doreen Virtue –

THE HEART OF LOVE

Never have I thought that one day I would lose touch with my heart.

Ever since I started my spiritual journey of self-discovery and self-realization, building a strong bond with my heart has been my utmost priority. You may ask, “What does connect with your heart mean?” I had the same question when I first started. My personal explanation would be our instinct or gut feeling. When I’m deeply connected with my heart, I feel safe and oftentimes I can make decisions with clarity and confidence. We are all born with not only 5 senses but also an extra sense. The 6^th sense is the gut feeling/instinct which some feel is too good to be true or too scary to be used.

From Mind To Heart

Being a wedding and event planner for more than 20 years had equipped me with the skill to anticipate potential problems or hiccups and come out with creative solutions. As I reflect back on my past profession, I realized that I had developed a natural attitude of using my mind to think, function and execute. Why? You see, as a wedding planner, I had also witnessed hundreds of couples expressing their deepest love and exchanging vows with each other. Almost every time I found myself asking this question in my mind in a rather condescending tone: How long can this love or vow last?

In my self-discovery journey, I started to change and slowly, things around me changed for the better too. I learned to recognize certain looping emotions which had not only prevented me from feeling love but also had me doubting love. Since then, I have had a better understanding about my character, behavior, thought patterns and much more. I had also began to feel the love that had been shut in my heart for years.

Just when I thought life was clicking into gear, unexpected and unpleasant news and events happened around me in quick succession in the recent few months. These developments created drastic changes in my life, threw me off-equilibrium and had me questioning everything about life all over again.

Disconnection

I felt lost. I was lost. Lots more fear surfaced. All my intuition, passion, motivation and even my life vitality seemed to just go “poof”. Losing the feeling of love and the connection with my heart frightened me. It scared me to my core. I could feel a shiver coming out from deep within.

I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit and do nothing. As a problem solver, I told myself there must be a solution for this; there must be something that can fix this situation and find my way back into my heart. There and then I decided to go on a water fast.

In my past experience, the water fast impacted my growth positively. I remember feeling lighter, brighter and even clearer after a 7-day water fast. Let’s do that again, I told myself. Let’s get the connection back — the connection with the love I used to feel within.

What Went Wrong

But this time it wasn’t the same. I struggled to even get through my first day of the fast. So I pushed myself further. I instructed my entire body and mind to pull this off together. On the second day, I felt really weak and suffered a bad headache. I felt drained emotionally. It was worse than when I wasn’t fasting. Yet, being a stubborn one who goes strictly by the book, I forced myself through even harder.

That’s when my body snapped. I couldn’t function. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything at all. I just wanted to lie in bed and give up everything – all my roles, responsibilities, dreams and purpose. I felt so suffocated.

From my perspective, swimming against the current makes me stronger. For me, this was me loving me. But why wasn’t it working this time?

After a discussion with my peers, I realized that I had been pushing my body and myself against my true wishes. I could have exercised a little more love and be gentle with myself but I did not. Instead, I chained myself down even more by wanting to get back to how I was before I became “lost”. What if I’m not supposed to go back to how I used to be but rather, be different from before?

Then I saw this beautiful quote from the Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh: “You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”

Love Is Free

Though loving myself, I felt suffocated, I didn’t feel free at all. Suddenly, it hit me and everything became clear. I realized I was overlooking the part about listening quietly and patiently to my body.

All the while, I was living my life with force. I was loving myself “forcefully” because I felt the need to do a lot of things, I felt the need to fix myself in many ways – physically, mentally, and from the aspect of my personality. I had never once trusted myself to be who I am. I had never trusted my heart when she whispers lovingly to me that “I am more than enough. I’m beautiful, I’m magnificent.”

Then I decided that it’s time to let loose and let go of all my wants, even the want to love myself, and just sit still quietly to listen to my heart. And that was when the magic happened. I felt my heartbeat once again. I felt the divine love flow through me again. It flowed through everything that was happening to me. Through a conversation with a friend, through a quote that popped up on my newsfeed, or through a gentle breeze from Mother Nature brushing against my face. I felt loved.

I know I am again a changed person. All along, I thought I knew what self-love was, and what the heart of love was. I have to admit that I missed the blind spots due to my self-proclaimed smarts.

What brought me back to my heart was taking a pause to drop everything and allowing myself to not do anything. I found myself a great spot in Nature (it’s best to be in Nature for these moments), where I sat very still and quiet, closed my eyes in meditation and just LISTENED to all the conversations that my heart wished to share with me. All that was needed then was to just allow the magic to happen. And it did.

My heart of Love beats once again,
Pounding stronger and louder,
With grace and ease,
Knowing all is well,
All it is.

“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

YIN, YANG & YOU
Volume 2

Fire and water! Day and night! Male and female! Life and death! We live in a majestic Universe of duality.

The ancient Chinese understood this concept of Yin and Yang, which became the foundation of many of their classical sciences as well as philosophy. The most well-known symbol of Yin and Yang (not merely a religious symbol), shown above like two opposing “tadpoles” in an eternal harmonious dance, reveals a subtle secret: in the sea of black, there is the seed of white, and vice versa. One can seemingly understand it on a rational level, and yet continually find new expressions of it in everyday life. You may be curious and ask, “What has this got to do with me?” and “How does this benefit my life?” And the answer to that is… “Everything!” Let’s find out how.

But before we begin, let’s get familiar with Yin and Yang using some examples:

While Yang represents movement/activity, heat, masculinity and assertiveness, Yin represents stillness/rest, coolness, femininity and nourishment. Think of the honeybees – they are full of Yang energy compared to the Yin flowers that they visit.

The bees provide the “male” aspect in this equation, spreading pollen to fertilize the flowers and get them turning into fruit, while the flowers, in the Yin role, attract and yield to the bees, providing sweet, nourishing nectar, which is eventually turned into honey by the bees, said to be nature’s most complete food and classified as a Yin nutrient in traditional Chinese medicine.

Now keep in mind that Yin and Yang are always relative and contextual.

So, for instance, if we compare Arnold Schwarzenegger to say, Steve Jobs, we could say that in terms of physical presence, Arnold is more Yang and Steve Jobs, more Yin.

But if we’re talking about techno-savviness, then Steve is more Yang compared to Arnold. But wait. Before one gets the idea that Yang is “better” than Yin, let’s be certain about one thing: there is no “better”. Both Yin and Yang are equally important, just different, opposing and complementary.

Fire is Yang and water is Yin, but each has its role. For instance, a car engine is all about internal fire; moving pistons and gears. But too much fire and what happens? The engine overheats. This is why a car engine has pipes running around it containing moving water, which is the radiator system.

Fire and water working together – both are opposite sides of the coin, yet equally important.

The above introduction now brings us to how the Yin-Yang duality affects your life:

1. Harmonious & Complementary

Yin and Yang are inseparable, and need each other! At first glance it looks like they are opposites that just don’t get along. But if we look at the symbol again we notice that the two “tadpoles” are actually rotating in the same direction.

They are complementary opposites, like night and day. The warmth, brightness and energy of day allows living things to flourish and thrive, but the cool, dark and peacefulness of night allows them to rest, heal and grow. There is harmony, with both sides participating in an eternal dance.

Picture a cow chewing grass. In this context, the cow is Yang, being more active, assertive and “destructive”, while the grass is Yin, being dormant, yielding and nourishing. The grass nourishes the cow, and… the cow nourishes the grass in turn, with its manure! Here’s another example: after her chicks hatch, the female eagle (Yin) stays at the nest and does most of the feeding of the chicks, while the male eagle (Yang) does most of the hunting to provide food. The male also stands guard nearby to protect the nest and territory. Harmony in duality.

A key lesson here is to realize that in one way or other, we are part of this eternal dance of duality, and it is helpful for us to realize the role(s) that we play in our everyday life. There is a time for giving and there is a time for receiving. Knowing how to receive is as important as knowing how to give, allowing us to flow in harmony. Seek to enjoy both the Yin as well as the Yang moments of your life, for both experiences are essential to the fullness of life.

2. Balance

A natural force of the universe is balance; all things are constantly striving to achieve this. For instance, if you are working in a highly stressful job which sacrifices your health, peace of mind, and relationships, you will feel “pain” as a result, which manifests itself in various ways. It is simply the Universe trying to reel you back into balance.

Honoring natural cycles is part of this idea. For instance, day is the time for work, and night is the time for sleep. One can do the opposite, but not in good health for very long – many studies show that long-term night-shift workers are at higher risk for many diseases. Other studies show that using back-lit devices (bright screens) before bedtime will affect your sleep quality – this makes sense if we recognize that bright light belongs to day and not to night. Our ancestors had only candlelight or oil lamps before they went to bed!

The principle of balancing Yin and Yang also plays out in our diet, for instance. Yang foods like spicy foods, alcohol and meats, need to be balanced by Yin foods like vegetables, fruits and honey.

Too much Yang will burn out Yin, and in fact this is what we are seeing on a large scale in modern, stressed-out lifestyles – much like an engine burning up all the water in its radiator system, and then melting down.

Excessive or extreme effort in any endeavor if not balanced with an equal and opposite amount of rest builds up tension and stress in your body. Yin and Yang energies ultimately balance out and you should seek balance regularly so that the tension and stress do not build up to the point where they manifest as illnesses and disorders. There is a season for everything in life: a time for birth, a time to grow, a time to labor and a time for rest.

3. Continually Transforming

Yin and Yang give us comfort in the knowledge that nothing lasts forever – neither good times nor bad times. This is because Yin and Yang are not static, but they actually transform into each other. As pointed out before, summer changes into winter, day changes into night, life into death, joy into sadness, and vice versa. You can see this gradual “blending” happening in the Yin-Yang symbol too.

It is only by embracing the natural cycle of things, in recognition of this principle, that we can find peace no matter what our circumstances may be. Peace is simply the letting go of the idea of permanence and accepting that the environment and things around you are constantly changing like the ebb and flow of the tides. Embracing change aligns you with the great forces of the universe and results in synchronicities of events which makes for a more harmonious and successful life in the universal flow.

4. Interconnectedness

Finally, Yin and Yang teach us about the interconnectedness of all things. Even though they seem to be opposites, at odds with each other, they are really “one house”. This teaches us the universal principle of Oneness. A passage from a commentary of Zhuangzi (an ancient Taoist text) illustrates: “There are no two things under Heaven which do not have the mutual relationship of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’. Both the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ equally desire to act for themselves, thus opposing each other as strongly as East and West. On the other hand, the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ have at the same time the mutual relationship of lips and teeth… therefore the action of the ‘other’ on its own behalf at the same time helps the ‘self’. Thus, though mutually opposed, they are incapable of mutual negation.”

When every human being sees that we are all interconnected and interdependent in this bio-energetic system known as “Earth”, we will become more trusting and compassionate towards each other instead of harboring the mutual fear and suspicion.

Now wouldn’t the world and you be more loving, peaceful and happy if seemingly opposing views recognize this interconnectedness?

The Long & Short Of It

Even though Yin and Yang seem quite simplistic, the applications of this concept are endless. Through understanding the harmony of duality and the principles of balance, constant transformation and interconnectedness, you can realize the ancient wisdom of the sages, and apply these universal principles to the attainment of love, peace, happiness and abundance in your life.

THE POWER OF BARING YOUR SOLES TO THE EARTH

Barefooting For Your Wellness

Surely you have already experienced, in your lifetime, numerous moments of how good it feels to take off your shoes and put your feet on the grass, or just stand still in the rain (yes, barefoot). Don’t many people go vacationing or on holiday just to walk alongside the ocean barefoot on a sandy beach?

In my case, the barefoot journey began when I met a friend who introduced me to barefoot running at the beach. I had no clue it was a thing for adults to do; for children… of course but not for adults.

Like seriously, who can actually get a child to stop running barefoot all over the place? And how many adults do you actually encounter that are avid marathon runners who bare their soles on to the road with no need of running shoes? Not many I would have said, at that time, but now, after researching it for myself and giving it a try, I have encountered another lifestyle, a practice for wellness called Earthing.

Earthing It

Have you ever heard of Earthing or Grounding?  This age-old practice involves connecting your body, mind, and spirit to the planet. The approach is about the effects that this direct physical contact with the electrons of the earth’s surface has on our health.

How does this happen? Well, when walking barefoot in nature, or walking on the sands in the beach you are automatically connected with the earth’s surface. You probably have done this and have been unaware of that.

Personally, I decided to walk, not run, barefooted every day as a way of reconditioning my feet to the earth. That turned out to be a fortuitous decision, as I have now found out. You might like to give it a try! Just bare your soles to the Earth with no specific theory in mind and just as simple as standing barefoot or laying in the grass-anything that allows your body to connect directly with the ground has you now Earthing.

The Lost Connection

In prehistoric times, people walked either barefoot or in footwear made of animal skins to better protect their feet. In addition, prehistoric people slept on the ground, usually on animal skins or furs, to better protect themselves from the cold. At that time, humans were always in direct contact with electrons on the earth’s surface.

By wearing shoes with thick soles, living in massive houses or walking on asphalt surfaces, we are nowadays almost completely cut off from the flow of electrons from the earth’s surface.

The foot is naturally made to walk barefoot. Unfortunately, we modern-day folks are no longer used to walking barefoot. Often, we can’t even walk for more than 10 minutes without footwear, as muscle tension or even pain occurs after a short time. People who have been walking exclusively in modern footwear for years have to get used to it and recondition their feet to get the muscles developed, and the ligaments and tendons more flexible again.

Feeling Good With It

But why does it feel so good to touch the surface of the earth with bare feet?

Quite simple, when walking barefoot there is an exchange of energy with the earth. Our body is electrically charged just like the earth. By earthing, we connect with the earth’s energy. By walking barefoot, unwanted electrons that cause stress and fatigue are set free and beneficial energy is charged.

There is no general answer to how often you should do earthing in order to feel the positive effects. It is important to listen to your own body. Once you have consciously experienced the benefits of earthing on your own body, you will know best when you need the healing earth energy again.

By the way, it is not absolutely necessary to always walk barefoot. Earthing can also be done comfortably in a garden chair, simply by placing your bare feet on the natural ground and reading a book. To achieve a greater effect, you can lie down on the grass with your whole body or do exercises such as yoga, qigong or taiqi.

Other Cool Benefits

A growing body of research online have found numerous health benefits resulting from the physical body being grounded. Here are 6 of them:

1. Better control of your foot position when it strikes the ground.
2. Improvements in balance, proprioception, and body awareness, which may help with pain relief.
3. Better foot mechanics, which may lead to improved mechanics of the hips, knees, and core
4. Maintaining an appropriate range of motion in your foot and ankle joints as well as adequate strength and stability within the associated muscles and ligaments.
5. Relief from improperly fitting shoes, which may cause bunions, hammertoes, or other foot deformities.
6. Stronger leg muscles, which support your lower back region.

The immediate effect people describe from being grounded is that they “feel better with a greater sense of peace, calmer, and reduced stress”. Reports also indicate that walking barefoot on the earth or sustained contact with the earth boosts immunity and promotes health and well-being.

So it makes sense to reason that when we are barefoot regularly, the sensory feedback from our feet become more detailed and refined, just like anything else done habitually.

Head Outside Now & Soak It In!

Let us remember that we are part of nature and belong inside this web of life, it does not take much time nor energy to bare our soles to the earth and connect.

Today, we walk with our feet cushioned in shoes and sleep in beds. Yes, while life has gotten more comfortable, over the past 50 plus years chronic diseases, immune disorders and inflammation in the body have also increased. So why not try a bit of Earth healing energy?

Head outside, lay in the grass and enjoy the beautiful breeze. Take a walk barefoot, if you are able. Take time to connect yourself with the Earth and soak in all these natural benefits to your mental and physical health.

Much peace and blessings to you all.

UNPLUG YOUR ANGER
Volume 8 

What Anger Really Means

Anger is like a fever. Just as a fever is an indicator that there is something wrong with your body, anger in itself is a powerful indicator that there is something wrong in your life. It shows that something in your life is not healthy or good for you anymore, be it a relationship or the level of stress in your work.

Anger & Your Relationship

Who you get angry at also tells you about the condition of your relationship with this person. Some would hold back their anger until they get home, only to take it out on their loved ones because they feel (regardless of whether they realize this or not) that no matter what they do, these people would still love them. Or perhaps they feel that they somehow “own” their family and thus have the right to do or say anything to them.

Anger Can Be Useful

Anger can make us learn and grow. Without it we would not feel the full range of human emotions, for example, we would not appreciate peace and forgiveness. It is needed to trigger important changes to be made in certain aspects in our lives. It may also show that we need to set up boundaries. Doing so ensures we don’t give too much to others without taking care of ourselves first. Anger may be an indication that we have taken too much on our plate resulting in stress and exhaustion.

The Futility Of Suppressing Anger

Often people suppress their anger, especially women. But that merely turns it inwards, letting the power of this emotion attack your spirit, as well as chip away at your self-worth. It is time to admit that anger cannot be contained. Doing that merely traps it, just waiting to be released again. The good news is that you can “depower” it, reducing its impact on your decisions, behavior and life as a whole. In fact you can even pull the plug totally after you have mastered this strategy. But let us take one step at a time.

Making Room For Anger

So is it better then to let it all out? Or have a cathartic experience second-handedly by watching a really violent show? Violence is then  glorified and justified as being needed to save the day and make everyone feel better. This strategy has made “Anger Rooms” all the rage.

Lest you think they were the brainchild of a typical hormonally-charged male, you should know that they were created by an American woman named Donna Alexander, and has since 2008, become a phenomenon across Serbia, Russia and Canada. In fact, as reported by The Edge, 80% of the customers are women, aged 18 to 40 years, in all professions, from students, housewives to professionals.

You Are In Charge, Not The Anger

A while back, I joined an organization where I was often made to feel small, inadequate and powerless by a highly-placed group of people. At the same time, I was told that I was an important asset to the company because of my experience and credentials. I was never given any decision-making power or recognition because I was told that the rewards I received as personal satisfaction and personal development should be enough. However by not being allowed much say, I could not grow.

It took me awhile to realize that I was being manipulated by these persons, because I had a fear of abandonment. I was afraid that my friends would not need me anymore if I did not give them what they asked for – money, time, contacts, etc. I felt that they were not concerned about my personal development and success.

My confusion at the situation soon turned into anger. I suppressed this feeling because I mistakenly assumed that expressing this anger would show that I could not control my emotions. That it was a sign that I was never going to be good enough for them. I was small and powerless but that was because I made myself so. So, the first step always starts by taking back your power. Empowering yourself. Believe that you are in charge, not your anger.

One Day At A Time

Always remember that there are ways to handle anger and anger has some beneficial lessons. Make your peace with anger, one day at a time.

4 Step Strategy To Pull The Plug On Anger

Let this strategy become your daily practice so that you can MASTER your anger and thus your emotions. When you can master all your emotions, you can – pull the plug on your anger!

1. Stop feeding your anger by giving it too much attention. Tell your monkey mind to stop chattering as you have important stuff to do. Live in the NOW. The anger you are feeling, was “just now”, meaning it’s over. Do not carry it over and affect other things in your life.Easier said than done, sure, but remember the energy you wasted by re-running the negative thoughts in your mind is keeping you from working out solutions for NOW!
2. Allow in-formation – say what? Accept that things are exactly the way they are supposed to be. Life events will play out regardless of whether we become emotional or not. Trust that the Universe will work its course and do its job. For example, accept that “I do not follow instructions well.” Admit that it makes you sad and angry, but it is the way things are right now. When you admit something, it can’t be used against you; your anger can’t harass you about it. You can’t change the cause of that but you CAN change the equation involved.
   

   Emotions + Thoughts = Behavior.

   By changing your emotions or thoughts, you will change your behavior and thus the outcome.

3. Ask, “SO WHAT?” If your friend was late picking you up, so what? If it leads to being scolded by your boss/ lecturer, so what? If you then lose points on attendance or it will affect your GPA/KPI, so what? When you do this you will slowly release the hold your anger has on you, bit by bit. Continue on, till you reach a point where you realize that it really doesn’t matter in the big picture of your life. De-power your anger, face it and ask it… so what?
4. Listen to your body. Feel the pain in certain areas of your body and breathe out the anger with the following techniques:
   • Find a peaceful place, where you can relax, close your eyes and breathe normally at first.
   • Let the pain fill your heart and imagine a container collecting this. Deepen your breathing, and blow out your breath as long and hard as you need to. Let your breath take the pain out of this bowl and out of your body with your breath.
   • If you feel any aches while doing this, massage the affected area. Apply pressure on it and breathe out the pain. Imagine it being released with your breath, as you breathe out.

FROM BREAKDOWN TO BREAKTHROUGH
Volume 30

The Slow Descent

It was a slow descent into the darkness. I did not understand what was going on at that time. Even though I am in the healthcare industry, I did not realize or truly comprehend that what I was experiencing was depression.

I have always had the tendency to be moody and anxious since I was young, so I was quite familiar with my low moods and instability. I had learned the basics of depression and anxiety medically from my studies, however experiencing depression firsthand felt like a different beast altogether.

The term “Dark Night of the Soul” had not gotten into my vocabulary yet, but that was probably the closest thing to describe what I went through for almost 1½ years from May 2017 until October 2018.

Inside The Pit

By the time I realized what was happening to me, I was already at the pit’s bottom, not knowing how to climb back up. Some days were better, where I could get out of the bed, feed myself and turn on my phone (with a manageable degree of dread). However, most days I would be lying on my bed all day, in the dark, too terrified to turn on my phone and step out of my room, let alone the house.

I tried to sleep as much as possible, willing the days to go away as I braved the blizzard that swirled around my head, obscuring my clarity regarding any thought or feeling. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Every day I prayed to either feel differently or not wake up at all. I was neither living nor dying. It was my personal “Groundhog Day” – to wake up feeling the exact same unexplainable dread and terror without any indication I would feel better that day.

Several times I thought I should take matters into my own hands seeing that my body still survived despite severe neglect. All I did every week was plan when and how I should take my own life; it gave me small comfort to know I only had to endure the struggle for just one more painful week. However, as D-day came and went, I simply could not do it. And the cycle of self-loathing amplified more as I felt I couldn’t even do that right.

I deactivated my social media, and stopped all contact with friends and family. It was as if I had disappeared from this planet. There came an endless flurry of messages which I completely ignored. I shut down entirely and retreated into my personal cocoon.

I did not have it in me to “reassure” everyone that I was fine, because I was not. I felt ashamed that as a health professional I had let myself descend to such levels of mental anguish. Besides, I simply didn’t have the energy nor the capacity to articulate how I was feeling. I was also afraid that if I spoke up, I would become a burden to others.

It Does Not Discriminate

I had always been seen as a bubbly, cheerful and happy-go-lucky person. I had a job with a good and stable income, a healthy and capable body, a loving and supportive family, and an active social circle. I was not what one would consider the poster child for a depressed person.

All my friends and colleagues were shocked when they found out later about what had happened to me. I was the last person they expected to be depressed. But depression does not discriminate – regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, education, socio-economic background or any other factor. If anything, my life’s profile fed more darkness into my mental state as I kept thinking I had no right to be sad or depressed, and felt extremely guilty to be so.

The Slow Ascent

What helped me re-connect to reality and ultimately heal was the unconditional love and amazing patience of my family and friends. Family members were very patient and none took it personally when I went silent and not reply anyone for days and weeks. They always let me know that they were there whenever I was ready to get back to them. In addition to one close and genuinely concerned friend, I also had a couple of other select friends who would gently check in on me from time to time without any pressure on me to get better.

During my “good” days when the storms within weren’t so furious, I began to get out of the house for visits to the close friend’s house. She never expected anything from me and would just let me play with her then 2-year-old daughter whilst she went about her normal busy life.

Instead of seeing a face of sympathy, it was refreshing to see someone’s face light up when they saw me. The little girl didn’t care that I was not a contributing member of the society, she was just happy I was there to play with her. During those playtimes, I saw my presence and existence bringing joy to the child, making that an extremely healing experience for me. When my thoughts at that time were mostly pre-occupied with simply surviving, the time I spent with this beautiful 2-year-old helped me remember what it was like to really laugh and be happy with the simple things in life.

Light Of Hope

A huge breakthrough came when my friend organized a camping trip, which was something I hadn’t done in years. I will never forget the sensation I had the first morning. Waking up to Nature, I felt normal. There was no tightness in the chest, no fluttering butterflies in the stomach, no fog or heaviness in the head, no more sense of impending doom or looming darkness. The world did not look grey, black, and white anymore and I felt something I had not felt for a long, long time – hope.

Thereafter, I became obsessed with camping and did it as often as I could to make sure the breakthrough was not just a one-off happenstance.

Making It Back

After so many camping trips, I slowly re-engaged with the outside world and went back to work at the end of 2018, not as a health practitioner but still in the same industry and within a clinical setting.

At the start, I still had to deal with panic attacks when something did not go right during my shift. However, I learned to manage by being gentle with myself, taking slow deep breaths and allowing the panic to ride instead of trying to fight or resist it. But there was still the lingering darkness inside of me which I feared would re-surface and re-engulf me. That doubt stopped me from seeing patients again as a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner. I was not yet prepared to re-live a full life.

Transforming Within

In early 2020, I joined a life transformational program which I thought was just an ordinary meditation retreat. However, that program gave me the most lifechanging and truth-revealing experience I ever had in my life. Post-retreat, I continued to do the work and used the tools given to me, and slowly, I was able to see the bigger purpose of my depression and how it was actually a blessing.

I used to be a people-pleaser, prioritizing others but never honoring what I needed or wanted for myself. I became angry and resentful when my actions and good deeds were not reciprocated.

Most times in the past, I had been a cheerful and easy-going person but I could turn to rage and indifference in a split second. Due to my extreme behavioral swings, I could not believe I was a good person although people might have thought I was. I was rejecting and suppressing those parts of myself which I felt not good about. I lived in fear that one day the “real” me would be exposed and people would abandon me when they saw who I actually was.

During a time of isolation and breakdown, I stripped away everything that didn’t serve my life anymore. I unlearned habits, thoughts and beliefs which were self-destructing and had stunted my personal growth.

Blessings From Depression

My depression has given me many blessings.

Today I am back practicing as a TCM practitioner, specializing in treating anxiety and depression. Because of my own personal experience, I am in the unique position to understand my clients’ conditions and what they’re going through.

I have also re-connected with family and friends and am having much more authentic and meaningful relationships with them. I have become more truthful with myself and others. I please and serve me, first and foremost, because I know by filling my own cup, I will be able to share the love better with others when my cup overflows. It’s a system which allows for win-win and is a lot more sustainable.

Today I know how to set healthy boundaries and how to say no from a place of self-love. I surrender and trust in the flow and process of life, knowing that even when I don’t feel fully in control I am well taken care of, and everything happens for me, and not against me.

I know now that I am not alone and that I am loved and supported in every aspect of my life. I have turned my pain into power so that my burnout episode becomes my breakthrough story.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Phoenix Arises

As a continent that is both very dry and hot, Australia is ravaged by bushfires every year. Indigenous Australians have a tradition of using fire to manage and mitigate the problem, known as controlled burning or prescribed burning. This practice not only reduces the risk of future hazards, but it also allows for the regeneration of native ground cover which is less flammable.

This traditional deliberate burning, done to preserve the balance in the land, gave me an insight into the higher purpose of my burnout and depression. Like the proverbial phoenix, the old me has burned for the new me to emerge from its ashes – authentic, self-loving and powerful!

4 WAYS TO MANAGE SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
Volume 29

On Any Given Day

We journey on this planet around our galaxy with two constant companions – our physical body and mental perceptions. While society has placed a high value on physical health, and rightly so, it is only more recently that mental health has been given the serious consideration it deserves.

Unstable biochemical processes can play a part in causing many diseases of the mind  Including depression, anxiety, personality disorders and dissociative disorders – sadly, the list is long. These conditions can afflict people like you and me, just doing our best on any given day. Some are high functioning “successful” business people, some are homeless, some are stay-at-home moms, and some may even be your kids, partners or parents.

Thankfully our web of resources in the 21st century is vast and diverse, offering sustainable
long-term positive effects. For some the journey with depression and anxiety will last a life time, for others it is seasonal, situational and transitory. Either way, there is always hope and help – always.

Befriending This Mind

For centuries Eastern philosophers, sages and saints have taught the priceless wisdom of befriending and exploring the mind. They already knew that a stable mind leads to a stable body and a stable life.

By now we have possibly come to accept the view that our thoughts create our reality. I am by no means saying that we consciously go around wishing and wanting disease in our days. There are bigger cosmic and divine forces acting upon our lives that we will never truly understand or know. I am saying we can, with consistent practice, begin to change our inner dialogue about what is happening in and around us.

Like An Unending River

Like the flowing rivers on our planet, our thoughts never stop, ever. It is the nature of the mind to think, but it is what we are thinking that can play a crucial role in the quality of how we spend our days on the river. Are we going to throw our garbage off the sides of the raft or stuff it down at the bottom of our bags? Are we going to leave our dirty laundry on the shores? Will we taunt and strike the creatures and fish going about their daily business or catch and release?

Thinking Ourselves Into Despondency

Yet this is how we treat ourselves – we bully, shame, judge, neglect and berate ourselves and/or others until we are caught in the vicious rapids of melancholy, despondency,
dejection and misery. If we could just make it to calmer waters then we could catch our breath, we could start dealing with the urgency of the disease, right?

Nevertheless, once we make it back to the peaceful shallows, we fall back into our habits of either numbing out or acting out. Drugs, alcohol, food binges, endless hours in front of the TV, shopping sprees all bring a small amount of temporary relief -until the next rapid, the next rock bottom. If we are honest, we will do anything not to sit with ourselves and our thoughts for too long. It is too uncomfortable, too disturbing even. But this could be the very thing that saves us.

We Are Not Bad People

Instead of turning away from the depression and anxiety, what if we could lean onto them with a curiosity and enquiring mind? We stick a foot into the water instead of just jumping in, we start opening the clenched fists and releasing the fingers bit by bit, we learn to float instead of sink and we get comfortable with discomfort. We see that we are not bad people, we are just dealing with a “bad” untrained mind.

Depression, as a spiritual crisis, could simply be this – utter disappointment with yourself and life, unmet expectations and a deep disillusionment.

This is similar but different to the dark night of the soul. Going deep into the experience of depression – bypassing the prescribed labels – we come to find anger, rage, sadness, regret all sitting just under the surface of the river.

Anxiety swims on the waves as doubt, restlessness, stress and fear. Anxiety is simply the discomfort of uncertainty. At this stage we probably just want to jump ship, sink to the bottom of the river and stay there for along, long time.

If we do not understand our mind’s role in creating our moods, emotions and experiences, then this lack of awareness will leave us feeling helpless without any strategy to help us.

Using a metaphysical and mindfulness approach, we can begin to unpack these all too common dis-eases and find relief. We come to a place where we don’t feel like we are broken, useless, undeserving, or that there is something wrong with us.

For at our deepest core, we are all made perfect, whole and complete. Our true nature can never be damaged, broken or affected by anything in this world. Though there are days when it seems so.

Lifting The Weight Off Depression & Anxiety

Let us examine 4 practical and easy ways that can start lift the weight of these two specific mental disorders.

1. Get To The Bottom Of It

If you are suffering from any mental disorder, please see a professional immediately to assess your condition and medical needs, if any.

Should there be no indicators of a biochemical imbalance, look to nutrition, exercise, lifestyle habits that need changing. We are constantly consuming views, information, opinions, etc. all day long and we need to be aware of what we are feeding our bodies and minds.

We need to address these mental disorders from all angles, leave no stone unturned. There is so much information to absorb -tips, tricks, trends to follow that sometimes throwing in the towel before we start seems easier.

2. Get Quiet

There is just too much noise out there, in here and everywhere in between. We need to shut down from all the outer distractions so that we can actually hear our own thoughts for a minute without checking our emails or social media pages for a second.

Just stop, put all devices down, turn off the TV, put your phone on silent. So simple, but so hard to do. Start with just 3 minutes. Or start when you boil the kettle and instead of dashing off to do something else, just sit there. Doing nothing. Get really quiet. If you can create a comfy spot or have a great sofa then just sit there and gaze out a window or close your eyes. It is just crucial that you have some silence during your day.

3. Get Mindful

Your mind is so full of stuff, that once you get quiet you will not be able to stay quiet for long, or you won’t be able to stick with one thought for very long.

Mindfulness is simply becoming aware. It is noticing what is there. Like opening up your closet and just looking at all your clothing. Taking it all in. You don’t need to make a decision on what to wear, you are just aware that you have choices, of all the different colors, styles, etc… This is being mindful, you are aware of reality as it is in the moment – not what you want or think it to be. Your clothes are your clothes, nothing more, nothing less.

4. Get Involved

Chronic self-involvement is paradoxically detrimental to our healing process. Placing too much emphasis on the “I” can lead to keeping one stuck in a victim mentality with little joy and hope. Our worlds become small, constrictive, solitary and selfish. I can assure you that you were not born to live this way.

Focusing, even if for a small part of your day, on helping someone, or becoming interested in contributing to or getting involved with a cause even if online for now, will help break the mental pattern that keeps swirling around the ego’s selfish needs.

A Place Where Your Breath Returns

I am well aware that you may not feel like doing any of this at all. But what will another day of sitting on the sofa agonizing over your troubles do for you? To repair and liberate mental suffering could be the most important job of all at this time in humanity.

The time is now. The river never stops flowing and neither do you. Step out onto the raft, float gently out onto the waters, trust that the current will carry you to exactly where you need to be. A place where the darkness lifts, peace prevails and your breath returns.

*Should you suffer from any mental disorder please do see a qualified expert to assess your condition immediately.

BIRTHING THE NEW BEAUTIFUL ME
Volume 26

The Ugly Duckling

“When I was just a little girl I asked my mother, ‘What will I be? Will I be pretty, will I be rich?’” ~ Lyrics from the song “Que Sera Sera”

The lyrics reflect how I have always felt about my looks ever since I was young. The words “Will I be pretty?” touched my heart the most. I  remember growing up loving the story “The Ugly Duckling”. I especially loved how the unique and “ugly” duckling, turned into a beautiful swan when she grew older. It nurtured the hope that such a change would also happen for me.

I was labelled a fat girl and all the nasty names related to size that you can think of, since primary school until high school. I was bullied mercilessly by a group of seniors because of my looks. I remember my bosom being ridiculed by my female classmates when I was 12, simply because I was more shapely than the rest of the girls. I started to hunch my shoulders to minimize my “assets” and avoid attention but was sternly reprimanded by my uncle for my bad posture later in high school.

I had never felt comfortable with my body. As an adult, I might seem confident, presenting a positive outlook as much as possible, but deep within me, I nurtured a “low self-esteem seed”, that could not be uprooted so easily.

I’m fat.
I’m ugly.
I’m not pretty enough.
I’m not lady-like enough.
I’m not good enough.
I’m not smart enough.

These were my constant thoughts, statements that played like a broken record at different times on a daily basis. I was never good academically compared with my younger siblings and even with my cousins. I was always the odd one out. This fueled my desire to make extra effort to shine in other areas of my life. I was very active in co-curriculum activities, active in areas where quantitative scores or results could not be used to determine my worth.

All these experiences slowly built a strong protective wall around my heart as I was too afraid to get hurt over again. After graduating from college, I sought success and material wealth to feed the emptiness within me. With event management as my chosen career, I worked day and night without break, chasing after money, reputation, praises and recognition. I wanted to prove the fact I didn’t need to be beautiful to be successful. What I didn’t realize was there was nothing to prove.

One day, I worked with a client who was voluptuous by most accounts. Her beauty radiated brightly and powerfully from within. She smiled with confidence, walking down the aisle with her life partner. That event made me wonder why I couldn’t feel contented and cared so much of how others felt about me. She inspired me to start seeking the true meaning of “beauty”.

A Wake-Up Call

I worked so hard until my body finally collapsed. I was emotionally-drained and I had lost my drive and passion for my work. I felt a serious imbalance in my life from the countless sleepless nights and gastritis that I consistently had.

It was then that I decided to drop everything and start my healing journey. I started by visiting the gym frequently, setting a target to lose those extra pounds. Thinking that once I achieved an ideal weight and ideal outlook, everything would be great again. Little did I know, it wasn’t losing physical weight that I needed. I needed desperately to release the emotional weight from my heart. A journey that started with shaping my outer beauty eventually turned into one to master myself.

Along the way, I attended a program called “Awaken – The Divine You” and it all started from there. It was in that course that I had my very first experience of listening to my wounded heart. Doing that made me realize how much I was rejecting myself.

I wish I’m a boy, not a girl.
I wish I’m thinner.
I wish I’m prettier.
I wish I’m smarter.
I wish I’m not loud.
I wish to speak gently.
I wish ….

I had a long negative “wish list” of all that “I was not”. I could not accept myself for being who I was. One of the exercises which I eventually came to experience was to look into the mirror for 1 minute. But I couldn’t look into my own eyes for more than 10 seconds!

It was a strong message about not liking what I was seeing in myself. It explained why I hardly ever wanted to have my own photograph taken. I couldn’t stand seeing myself in it.

I wept when I realized this. How could a person feel so much hatred towards herself? I had never appreciated my character, nor my physical appearance. I made a decision at that moment to seek the truth, following which the healing began…

The Turning Point

Wearing a bikini was something I would never do as I was ashamed of my body. I was my own worst critic. I felt that I couldn’t wear a bikini as I wasn’t as good looking as the models in magazines. The turning point came when I was on a retreat where all the ladies were encouraged to claim our own unique beauty by walking down the beach in a bikini. It wasn’t coming from an angle where we were asked to flaunt our figure. There was a lot of respect and honor for the feminine side of ourselves.

In our current society, we women have rejected our femininity due to various situations and circumstances. Perhaps, we feel the pressure of constantly having to be strong at work and we forget the grace, softness and gentleness that we were born with. We no longer honor this side of ourselves. And wearing a bikini is usually something, only women do!

I remember that it took a lot of encouragement and support from my retreat mates to decide to honor myself in this way at the beach. I recall feeling so embarrassed, blushing and constantly trying to find a hole to hide myself in, or something to cover myself with.

But a gentle voice from my heart said, “My love, take this opportunity to heal and honor every part of your body that you hate so much. It’s time to love and love all parts and pieces of you now”. It was then, I made a choice to just focus on breathing and allow whatever emotions that needed to be let out do so. I cried but I also felt so much joy within my soul in that unforgettable moment.

Time To Say Goodbye

I took a picture of myself in a bikini again recently and I rejoiced that I felt so comfortable in my own skin. It was an entirely different experience from that retreat. I’m accepting and embracing myself more and more.

It was then I knew. It was the plan that I was given a beautiful journey to experience. A self-love and self-worth journey that I had to claim on my own. All the thoughts that I once endured when I was little, longing to become the beautiful swan, had driven me to seek the true
meaning of “beauty”.

The Universe has been very kind and is constantly reminding me, that I always have a choice. The choice has always been in my hands and is not for others to make. In the past I decided to believe that I wasn’t beautiful. I chose not to see the beauty in me. I allowed others to decide what beauty was.

Today, I decide and choose to see, to feel, every part of me inside and out, as beautiful. The power is within, the confidence is from within. I finally understand the quote from Kayla Itsines (a well-known fitness coach) – “Work out because you love your body, not because you hate it.”

To all of you who are reading this, whether you are a man or a woman, let’s do this together. Look into a mirror and affirm how beautiful and worthy you are, every day. Allow we ourselves to love ourselves endlessly as we are our own best partner in life! See the flaws within  ourselves, with deep gratitude as each flaw has a story behind it. Let us bid goodbye to our old beliefs and allow ourselves to experience life
beautifully. It’s time to march forward to the year 2021 with fewer self-judgments and with a lighter heart. Welcome, 2021!

I dedicate the poem below, to all of us. The magnificent us who were once hurt by judgments or who doubted our own beauty and worthiness.

You are worthy now,
Not when you get that job,
Not when you lose twenty pounds,
Not when people know who you are.
Now.
Simply because you exist.
~ Nina Parker

EARTH ENERGY PREDICTION: JUL-SEP 2020
Volume 25

 

A New World Begins!

~JULY~
The New Normal

Matrix: For many people, news reports will begin to get really surreal. Even if they do not care, the political agenda will start to affect people’s daily lives. When a new norm is introduced and people get used to it, the new norm will collapse and people have to get used to another new norm. Those who rely on mass or social media to get information will be bombarded with confusing news.

There’s a lot of false information circulating on social media.

Many in this group will react with very unstable emotions, as what they have always believed in is shaken. We suggest to reduce exposure to too much electronic entertainment. And connect with simpler physical hobbies to keep yourself entertained. Quit feeding your mind with unhealthy images or those that resemble violence. The duration for manifesting our thoughts has shortened, we need to be careful with what we ingest mentally.

It’s time to bridge the understanding and receive positive messages from lightworkers, so that people go through less mental struggle.

Many people are presently stuck in extreme polarities and the situation is about to escalate over the coming months. The impulse may direct you to make a mistake, especially if you are a negative oriented person. The key is to connect back to your heart and not get stuck in the past or imagine too much of the future. We need to focus on the NOW.

The anchoring energy at the beginning of July will start powerfully with a Pluto-Saturn conjunction. This will force changes on the economic front. There will be more changes in your career paths and the structure of your careers.

Opportunities For Manifestation

In July, the transformation energy from the previous quarter will reach the physical plane and manifest in political events that directly affect us.

Although events may appear seemingly bad, there is a glimmer of light in that these events will stimulate positive growth with people coming together for a common good.

Lightworkers: The core light team begins to stabilize in terms of the ratio of light vs attack. For those who are really connected with their soul mission, and have attained a certain mastery inward, you will realize that a lot of galactic support is starting to reach you, and you may already have heard the call and you are in the perfect position to be ready to serve a bigger crowd.

You will be surprised to know that, with clear intentions and if aligned with the Universe, that which is set to move, will manifest quickly. Remember, the goal has to align with the Universe to have this Super Corridor Effect. For those who are focused on self-upliftment, we have good news, the galactic codes are ready for the selected ones to download and connect with their Higher Selfs. Set clear intention on what you want to create for your life and for Earth.

Remember to utilize high frequencies to clear any residual energy that you accumulate on the surface. An easy way would be to meditate with this intention: “I want light to form around me.” Keep doing this until light pillars form around you.

The peaceful energy at the beginning of July will quickly turn into action. Powerful breakthrough energy is available to all. If you use it wisely, you can turn your career and spirit into gold.

~AUGUST~
A Surge Of Awakening

Matrix: Those who are in denial will start to experience a third wave of forced awakening at the end of August or at the beginning of September. This will create a need for those who have awakened to hold the grid ratio at this time. People tend to get agitated, upset and will have all the usual reactions of those depressed.

They then turn to doctors for help or the energy will manifest into domestic violence. In fact, since April, hospitals and TCM clinics have reported more patients with psychological symptoms and emotional problems. We can prevent this if we learn to be spiritual. You can learn meditation and yoga online.

If you want to participate in the surge of awakening you may want to pick up any one of the many spiritual courses available in the market. In disorder, opportunity dwells. We can’t see it because we cling on to the old system and have not upgraded ourselves. Learn to meditate and stay healthy.

Lightworkers: The first activation wave will be available to humans – as a beta test, like the wave in 2014-2015. The activation wave allows some to activate the third eye, and for most, it’s to connect with the Higher Self. It fluctuates between very intense energy patterns, so you may experience sudden peace and being connected to your Higher Self for one day and the next day, you are challenged with erratic emotions.

If your lightwork hasn’t gained clarity yet, don’t rush. Stay tuned to your inner guidance. Take each step consciously. Good work takes dedication and time to craft. Truth about reality will seem to be quite messed up coming from the media each day. If you want to get clear on this, connect to the right source and get educated and insights of what is truly taking place behind the geopolitical situation. But we recommend you to go inward. There are two ways to do it, externally or internally. If externally, connect to the right source on YouTube channels and blogs. If internally, it is to connect to your Higher Self. Both ways will enable you to find light.

~SEPTEMBER~
Focus On Self-Mastery

Matrix: The pressure on society will begin to reach the next level because of the political and  economic dramas. Events that trigger surreal feelings will once again surface. Many physical syndromes will emerge and there will be people falling sick, getting healed, getting crazy, getting confused, having extreme excitement – all happening at the same time.

But if you quiet down, you will realize that reality has shifted again, and again. What we have been feeling nostalgic about is no more. In fact, the old reality will never come back. The entire reality has shifted, it will be even more so from now until December. Things begin to ‘boil’ inside the matrix.

People who are stuck in old belief systems may start to get very uncomfortable with the events that are happening this month and the coming ones.

It’s important we unlock ourselves from our old belief systems and focus on the Now. Know that because we are alive, all possibilities exist. It’s time we learn the real mastery in life – investing in ourselves. Manifesting our dreams holding on to limiting belief systems is bound to create suffering.

Self-mastery is the key! Stop chasing dreams before you learn to manage your mental, emotional and physical bodies. All things project from our mind. If you are suffering and confused, it’s never too late to take the rubbish out from your mind. Don’t cling on to the events that are happening outside,  which are merely a reflection of your own mind.

There are many realities that we can choose. How effective we are in life depends on our mind and EQ.

Lightworkers: Calling Terrans for origins recognition! You can do this by meditating, flipping inward, doing everything based on heart, and reality will be uplifted. Continue to appreciate goodness. Remember, your focus determines your reality. Stay focused on what you want to manifest. Do meditations and affirmations in the morning.

There are abundant energies coming from the Universe. Tune in to these energies. The primordial Universe is starting to become abundant with all things, propelling you forward to see the chosen manifestation. It only depends on what your mental body chooses to see.

A Greater Capacity For Wellness

This forecast comes with the focus on helping those who are stuck in the matrix. The matrix construct is of the mind. What we perceive with our 5 senses is a very limited reality. Right now, all the 5 senses – sight, smell, taste, touch and feel – are loaded with different realities, dreams and imaginations. It may make you very tired at these times. Because the success that we are chasing is built around 5 physical senses – chasing money, cars, beauty. But the depth of what we can appreciate of this life is beyond the 5 physical senses.

See, those who spend a lot of time indulging in sex during this Covid-19 pandemic may get bored. It’s because we are not focusing on building the light and wealth inside our spirit. We depend on physical senses to “give us happiness”. Happiness must be built inside; that way, it will last. Understanding from here, you have a greater capacity to manifest wellness.

Some people spend too much time on digital technologies which may drain them. They then feel tired, unfocused and unable to work on what they want. If that’s what happened to you, then you need to clear yourself of all the EMF residuals from your body and feel happy again. Please pick up meditation tutorials to speed up this process. Take epsom salt baths. Limit yourself from physically meeting negative-oriented people.

The trash that we are experiencing is projected from our mind, so remove them. Learn the way of the heart. Learning mastery over the mind will allow a wider bandwidth to choose our reality. Everyone experiences different realities and each person will experience the reality he or she resonates with.

A Summary Of Coping Strategies

1. Learn to clear energy from your space. Use white sage, palo santo and smudge to clear the space. Maintain your energetic hygiene. Note that as you begin to cleanse, you may already experience the negativity clearing up.
2. If you have anxiety, use meditation, exercise and yoga to help you regulate it. If you want to solve the root of it, learn the way of the heart, or pick up a result-based energy healing modality.
3. 2020 may be a bumpy journey for you. If you want it to be smoother you need to first modify the way you see things.
4. Do you have bouts of stiff neck, strained muscle, panic attack or are you unable to focus? You need to reduce the EMF pollution inside the body. Meditation is recommended as a primary solution.  Taking epsom salt baths is good.
5. Use only wood-based essential oils such as cedarwood, lime, melaleuca. These essential oils are mostly affordable and rich in energy.
6. If you feel suppressed energetically, participate in group meditations or take up energy healing to break through.

5-minute Simple Chakra Cleansing & Activating Technique

1. Relax and take a few deep breaths.
2. Start to focus on the base chakra.
3. Visualize the base chakra filled with light, and being cleansed and energized by the light. Do it slowly and with intent. Repeat 3 times.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the 2nd to 7th chakras in turn.
5. After you have finished with all the 7 chakras, focus your attention on an area of the body that is still feeling tight and do the same. Stay relaxed.

Do this cleansing and activating before your meditation, yoga or bedtime.

THE HEART OF COMMUNITY

Have you ever imagined a place so perfect that you and your family and loved ones wouldn’t want to be any place else in the world? A place where you can enjoy love, peace, happiness, while basking in the glowing goodwill of people around you who are so in tune with you that you all have lots and lots to share and be joyful about?

The bodymindsoul Carnival is the H-E-A-R-T of Community because it

• Inspires HOPE that all things are possible
• EMPOWERS your community with awareness of your potentials and possibilities
• Attracts ABUNDANCE into your lives
• REUNITES hearts in celebration
• TRANSFORMS your community positively

OUR PROMISE

The bodymindsoul Carnival brings the promise of a new day. We hope for a better tomorrow for all members of the community big or small, young or old, female or male. We hope, strive and work for a better tomorrow where people share love, information, happiness and joy with each other. As the saying goes, “sharing is caring” and this is what we are all about. That we realize the Carnival’s Vision to live and breathe as One Community, growing eventually into One World with One Heart, One Soul and One Vision.

WHY A CARNIVAL?

The bodymindsoul started off as an idea in the bodymindsoul Magazine team to widen the Magazine’s reach in the Community by direct engagement with our readers and the public at large instead of just through the glossy pages of the Magazine. We wanted to meet people, because people matter to us. Our reason for being as a Magazine is to bring the message of goodness, wellness, hope and positivity to people so that people can live more empowered and happier lives.

Gratefully, the overwhelming response and positive feedback that we have had from visitors and vendors of our 8 bodymindsoul Carnivals so far has proven our decision, to roll up our sleeves and work to reach out to all the beautiful people out there like you, is the right one.

There are no strangers at the bodymindsoul Carnival, only friends.

UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR INNER LEADER!
Volume 14

Acknowledge Your Own Power

What do you see when you look at You? Do you see the judgments you have of You? Or do you see the beauty, the strength, the kindness, the benevolence and the joy of You?

Sometimes all you need is a reminder that each and every one of you is born to the greatness of your embodiment. Each and every one of you is born to lead.

Every day you make choices that lead your life. Whether you are in school or university, teaching or guiding others, managing people, running your own business, making financial decisions, standing up for what you believe in, taking responsibility for a family, etc. you are being a leader. Are you acknowledging yourself right now?

What if you are the gift that the world has been waiting for? What if every day you can make a difference in the world?

Look At Where You Are Yourself

Most of us are not looking at what we can create, for something greater to show up in our lives. We’re operating from what we “think” we have to function as. We end up functioning from an auto-pilot mode of existence. We exist merely to function. How many of you recognize this as your life?

To some extent we know what our abilities, talents and capacities are but we fail to acknowledge them and we look towards others to acknowledge and validate the value of us. The problem with seeking validation is – do they ever validate you? No.

People relate to you from their own judgements of themselves and of you. This is why so many get disappointed with “feedback” of any kind. It never shows up as intended and the party at the receiving end is left disappointed. Who knows you better? You or them?

Look At Past Leaders

Leaders who created massive changes in the world like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela to name a few, all had something in common – the courage to be themselves and to choose what is going to create something greater. There is a kindness and benevolence to their vision and creation. Their legacy continues to inspire and empower generations of people today.

The world is lacking in leaders who inspire and empower people. Who are our role models today? What if it can begin with you?

If you were to inspire and empower people who worked for you, or who lived with you or who looked up to you; what change could you create?

Look In The Mirror And Seeing…

When you look in the mirror do you truly see You; the greatness of You, or do you see the judgements you have of You? Most people only see what is wrong about them or what is not right about them.

You can spend your whole life never knowing who or what you are. Some of you may be lucky enough to know what your talents and abilities are but as soon as you become aware of yourselves you go into doubt. Sounds familiar?

At some point in your life, you may have bought a lie or was told that you are not good enough, smart enough or talented enough. What if all that is irrelevant and it is only someone else’s points of view? What if you made a demand that no matter what, you are going to be a leader, someone who the world is interested in?

People are afraid of showing up and being seen and heard, afraid to speak up, afraid to be themselves around others, afraid of being judged, afraid of being wrong, afraid, afraid… sounds familiar too?

Fear is a distractor. Fear distracts you from every possibility that shows up in your life. It distracts you from choices that are present and it distracts you from you and everything about you. Doubt and fear, besides judgment, are major distractors you want to eliminate from your life.

Looking At YOU

What if there is nothing wrong with you at all? Perhaps, you don’t believe that you can do something different because you decided you cannot be something different. Your point of view creates your reality. Change your point of view and your reality changes.

Being a leader requires the courage to be YOU and to never discount you no matter what, to choose what works for you always, to be kind and benevolent to you. When you are willing to be all of this; you can be the invitation for others to be more and choose more.

Being a leader is not about creating followers. Being a leader is about inspiring people to realize the greatness in them. To be kind and to empower people, not disempower them; to recognize potential and hidden abilities and empower those too; to never take away someone else’s freedom or choice; to have a vision of the future and make choices that include everyone else.

The choice now lies in your hands. Perhaps it’s time for us to acknowledge the leader in each of us so we can change with the world too. We have the option of cutting through fear, judgement and more to release the leader in us. We get to decide what we want to say to that face in the mirror.

Questions Leaders Ask Themselves

Being a leader is about being in question about everything and never coming to conclusion about anything.

When you ask questions you activate the quantum entanglements of the  universe to bring you everything that is possible. Play with this! Ask questions about everything for one hour, without expectation or going into conclusion and see what shows up.

If you are willing to continue playing with this dynamic tool, eventually the “work” of it ceases and you will be the question. Until you ask you cannot receive. Until you choose you cannot change.

What would I choose if I knew I couldn’t fail?
What contribution can I be to my life and the world today?
What would it look like, just for today, if I chose to be greater than yesterday?
What would it take to change what’s not working?