Prayer, specifically intentional prayer, can create simple connections to the Divine, ourselves and each other. Prayer can help us feel centered and more at peace. This "Open My Heart" prayer, which I created with intention, is one I use when I begin a session with my clients. Many of us recite prayers we have learned at mealtime, bedtime, or during a church service. These, too, can have desirable affects on our state of mind and fullness of heart. At mealtime, my own family sings blessings, including: Give thanks to the Mother Earth, Give thanks to the Father Sun, Give thanks to the plants in the garden Where the Mother and Father are One. - Rudolf Steiner Unfortunately, we often sing our mealtime blessings in a "let's hurry up and eat" kind of way. Feeling the prayer or blessing as you say it (or sing it) and infusing it with intention can add power behind the words. Experiment with your prayers; try enunciating the words carefully, bringing your full attention to what you are saying, or try adding hand gestures... or even a dance!
Creating your own prayer can be both fun and empowering. Imagine creating a prayer that you use before you start your day - whether or at work or at home. To Whom (or What) are you praying? What intention do you want to offer? What do you want the Divine to offer you? Sometimes I imagine what each of my relationships might look like if I said the prayer I use for clients with everyone in my life! What prayers call to you? For more info: There are many books which have blessings and prayers for all occasions and religions. My favorites for children: In Every Tiny Grain of Sand, by Reeve Lindberg; One Earth, One Spirit by Tess Strickland and A Child's Book of Blessings by Sabrina Dearborn.
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 Do you ever feel inspired to do something creative? Perhaps you feel the urge to create something, dance, sing, or melt into an art project. Creative expressions can be extremely joyful – they can relax our bodies, soothe our minds and help us feel more connected to our spirits, as well as to the Divine.
To be “inspired” is to be in-Spirited! Inspirations can not only move us to do creative things, they can produce amazing results. Artists, authors and athletes often talk about being in the “zone” or “flow” when their activity becomes nearly effortless and they do their best work. Regardless of how or why this happens, it feels so good it truly feels like Divine inspiration! Sometimes, after merging with this “zone” we try to figure out how it happened, so we can re-create it at will. Other times, however, we approach a “creative project” with an agenda, time limit, self doubt and perhaps a load of other baggage (like an obsession to re-create that “zone”). In these cases, the creative endeavor feels task oriented, empty or even frustrating. Likely, the results aren’t so desirable either. Some of us may have turned our artistry into our profession. The pressure of making money from our creative work can instantly squeeze the joy right out of it. Yet, when it works – when time, space, and creative inspiration all come together with great results – the monetary rewards an added bonus since we are getting paid to do that which we love. Whether you enjoy creative moments for your hobbies, or have relied on your creativity for your profession, here are ten suggestions for working with your creative impulses, rather than against them:
Imagine yourself as an instrument of God, playing God’s music, then open your heart to allow Divine inspiration to flow through you. With this kind of approach to creative projects – or even Life – you will discover this IS the flow, and soon whatever you do will become more effortless and joyful! Alternate nostril breathing is a form of Yogic breath work, or Pranayama. You can practice this breathing exercise on its own or integrate into your yoga routine by adding it to your practice, perhaps after a series of asanas (poses) , and before you relax into Savasana. Like other yoga techniques, alternate nostril breathing doesn’t just benefit your body – like clearing out your nasal passages – it can also bring clarity to your mind and calmness to your soul. To prepare for alternate nostril breathing (called Nadi Sodhana): By bringing awareness to your breathing with exercises like alternate nostril breathing, you begin to become more aware of your breathing patterns at other times of the day. Thus, you can learn to expand your breathing to become fuller, more complete breaths on a regular basis, helping you feel more centered in your life.
Begin alternate nostril breathing:
 Mother, may I walk upon your earth?
Yes, you may. Mother, may I find a soul family once I get there? Yes, you may. Mother, may I find joy, purpose and fulfillment? Yes, you may. Mother, may I make choices - good or bad? Yes, you may. Mother, may I mess up my life? Yes, you may. Mother, may I redeem myself? Yes, you may. Mother, may I trash your world? Yes, you may. Mother, may I take care of you? Yes, you may. Mother, may I learn to find peace and harmony within myself? Yes, you may. Mother, may I make a difference in the world? Yes, you may. Mother, may I love and be loved? Yes, you may. Mother, may I die upon your earth and dissolve into your bosom? Yes, you may. Thank you, Mother. Happy Mother's Day! Thank you, my child, and know each and every day I am happy being your Mother.  It's sad to think there is no "purpose" to my life.
At times I relish in this thought, it helps me release all feelings of responsibility! Yet, the knowing "it doesn't really matter" worries my ego. "Of course it matters!" *sigh* So, my ego struggles with the knowing and the not knowing, the grasping and releasing, the desires and contentment. It's odd to be experiencing this awakened middle place. Where "both" worlds are clear, and clearly in opposition. Yet, this state allows me to see a third view... the place where duality disappears and all is one. Such an odd place... where ALL IS ONE and ONE IS ALL. The beauty, the knowing, the human mind's confusion over which "side" to pick. Pick neither, my dear. Choose just ONE  Whether we are doing something that is joyful or miserable our bodies can experience stress. For example, planning a wedding or birthday celebration can be joyful to our emotional bodies, while our physical bodies undergo stress. In fact, we don't have to be doing anything at all; our bodies experience stress simply because we exist. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life.” Between the combination of external forces (life’s demands) as well as internal expectations (our should’s and To Do’s), our bodies can spend more time in a stressful state than not. Is it possible to invert this ratio?
Obviously, one thing we can do to reduce stress is eliminate, or at least decrease, the factors that cause it. Most of us have room to substantially simplify our lives. Maybe we don’t engage so often with negative influences including unpleasant media, angry people or overly hectic schedules. Imagine creating a To Do list which is prioritized by things you actually enjoy! To counteract the effects of stress, and to create more balance in our lives, many have discovered relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation. These practices allow us to relax our minds while nurturing or resting our bodies. But what do you do if you find yourself feeling stressed and have to skip your meditation class or don't have the time or space to dive into a Sun Salutation? Since stress can overwhelm you at any time or place, I am offering five techniques you can do that are simple, quick and require no props. You can do these exercises independently or in various combinations. Maybe you take just five minutes for yourself and do them all!
Although it may not be possible to completely eliminate stresses from our lives, it only takes a little time and willingness to nurture ourselves through them.  Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was an Austrian social and spiritual thinker during the time when the New Thought Movement was in its early stages. He founded a spiritual movement known as Anthroposophy, as well as many practical arts including biodynamic agriculture, Eurythmy and Waldorf education.
In addition to introducing his new manifestations into an educational system, Steiner’s intention was to educate the whole child; to cultivate children’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual capacities so they would grow into confident individuals and be of service to the world. Although there are numerous aspects that create the educational and social structures of the Waldorf school, one integral part is the celebration of seasonal festivals. Children of all ages, parents and friends gather to observe and celebrate the changing of the seasons, reminding them of the natural cycles of life, their interconnectedness with the earth and the importance of taking joy in the world in which they live. As April showers pass with the wind and daffodils proudly raise their trumpets, Waldorf schools throughout the world make preparations for their annual May Faire. At the heart of this festival, a Maypole will stand tall with colorful ribbons attached to the top of it. After the grand entrance of the May Queen, dozens of children will offer beautiful, yet simplistic folk dances around the Maypole as the ribbons they hold get woven into an intricate pattern of pastels. Live music – perhaps flutes, violins and recorders – will fill the air with melodies of joy, laughter and springtime! Simple celebrations like the May Faire bring together community in ways that are both reverent and delightful. Dancing around a Maypole isn’t the only way to celebrate the middle of spring when everything is in full bloom. In fact, we don’t have to celebrate anything at all. However, I must admit my soul savors those times I am in community with reverence and delight, no matter what the season or reason! Imagine welcoming every month in celebration with community! Additional Info: Today there are over 900 Waldorf schools in 83 countries. In North America, there are greater than 160 member schools and 14 teacher education institutes. According to AWSNA, the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, in 2009 there are 144 private Waldorf schools in the United States.  Our senses are crashing! Our sense of self, our sense of direction, our sense of what's right and wrong... all crashing! So, what is the value of this? "What is a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" "I don't know... I don't even remember how I got here." Someone shake me awake! Some One Is. As we awaken, all of who we thought we were begins to fade away with the dream. The intense feelings, the complete absorption about the storyline, the strange-yet-familiar characters all begin to fade.
Yet in that middle place, in the stretch of existence that lies between the dreamstate and the awakened state, there is confusion. Which reality is real? What's happening... oh, no!.. the dream is fading. Where is it going? Who am I? Where am I? I think I'm in bed. I feel my bed. Wait! What day is it? What DAY is it... think, think... I think it's Wednesday. Is is Wednesday? All day I drift in and out of the knowing of the day. I only know it is TODAY, and that's good enough. In my daily activities, I feel myself fading with the dream, and sometimes it feels like I'm crashing!  Are you feeling a bit vulnerable, stressed or worried about your survival right now? Most of us acknowledge the outer influences that may be stirring up these feelings – including mass lay offs, foreclosures and our overall economy. As human beings, we are deeply affected by the everyday experiences of others and when experiences are happening at such a large scale it is easy to feel vulnerable in hard times. As spiritual beings, we can feel the effects of intense times in deeper ways. Our inner gifts of compassion and spiritual oneness connect us to others on a soul level and this can be both a curse and a blessing.
When we go through life without recognizing our spiritual connections to others, this can make us feel more unstable if the collective is experiencing instability, or more fearful if the larger masses are in fear. This is the part that is the curse. Bringing awareness to this innate spiritual gift can help transmute it into a blessing. One simple thing you can do to soften the intensity of the feelings you experience when negativities abound is to “disconnect” from the collective (fear) consciousness on both the human and spiritual levels. I suggest you literally disconnect by turning off unpleasant news (or even your TV), or don’t answer the phone when caller ID tells you it’s that whiny neighbor calling to complain about life. Disconnecting from fear on the soul level is actually reconnecting to your heart! A simple exercise is to breathe deeply into your heart center. With each in and out breath, focus fully on your heart and allow peace encompass you. Ah!... Try that for a couple of minutes a day! As a calmer, more heart centered human-spiritual being, it becomes easier to see that our qualities we perceived as our curses or weaknesses are actually our blessings and gifts!  What is spiritual living?
Since spiritual is something of or affecting the spirit (while spirit is the vital principle which gives life to physical organisms) and living means having life, then spiritual living is actually a redundant term! Since spirit and life seem to be inseparable, let's take the bi-being approach and recognize us as human-spiritual beings for the rest of this post and those to follow. As human-spiritual beings, we experience life in many ways. Our physical senses allow us to see, smell, taste, hear and feel. We also experience thoughts and emotions. Interestingly, when we combine our thoughts or emotions with our senses, we develop a multitude of preferences (aka likes and dislikes). Our spiritual aspect is yet another avenue to experience life. It is likely a combination of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies that form our spiritual preferences. Many are drawn to specific religious paths, while others enjoy meandering through the unclaimed territories of “spiritual.” For those enticed by the idea (and reality) of spiritual living – whatever the direction – the attraction is likely their intention to live a spiritual life. As human-spiritual beings, one of our primary intentions (conscious or not) is to satisfy each of our aspects. We routinely supply our physical, mental and emotional bodies with things that nourish us. When we nurture all parts of our beings – including our spiritual body – we begin to feel “whole.” Perhaps the intention of spiritual living, then, is to be lead by our spiritual natures because we agree with Sufi mystic Rumi: “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” For many, spiritual living means living in joy! What does it mean for you?  Sometimes the idea of power can be viewed in a negative light, which is completely understandable when we see the numerous ways power has been misused in our world. Many of us love the quote from Jimi Hendrix: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” (My heart smiles when I see this on a bumper sticker!) Yet, the power I want to embrace isn’t about power over anything or anyone at all; it is our inner power – our essence – where Love and Power are One. Whether I’m doing one-on-one Spiritual Mentoring or speaking to large groups, it is my intention to empower others by acknowledging the powerful beings that we all are. It is my vision that we individually and collectively step into our Power as human-spiritual beings; to reunite Love and Power in ourselves as well as in our world. When I explored the word power there were many descriptions that really stood out for me:
Viewing Power from these perspectives, we can begin to see it in a more neutral, if not positive, light. Using these impressions, I want to further illuminate the significance of Power, as well as offer simple ways to tap into it. We can become our own official authority by first recognizing that we have the capacity to accept our Power, and that it is our birth right to be powerful beings. Since we all have the ability to act, we all have Power. Ironically – as well as metaphysically speaking – we often use our Power to produce an effect that makes us believe we don’t have any Power at all! (It’s the dramatic part of the play.) When we get caught up in our everyday lives as human beings living on this dense, three dimensional earth, we can easily forget that we are the one having such power. When we feel powerless or forget our Power, we can feel that we are not of, relating to, or utilizing strength in any way. This is good, because it is not our personal strength that will align us with true Power anyway. Complete vulnerability and helplessness can often lead to the acknowledgment that “God is my strength.” Consciously connecting with God/Goddess allows Source to be the means of supplying energy to ourselves. We can align with Source in many ways; we can use meditation, yoga, prayer, breathwork or any other sacred tools that speak to our hearts. The method isn’t important; the intention is. By establishing a consistent practice – by allowing the time rate at which energy is emitted or transferred to our human selves on a regular basis – we will start to realize that we are the product itself. We don’t simply access, or have, Power; we recognize that we are Power.
 In near blackness, a spiral of evergreen winds across the floor circling inward to the center of the room. The light of a tapered beeswax candle shines alone at the heart of the spiral, offering comfort as our eyes adjust to the darkness. The aroma of freshly cut pine permeates the room as a singing harp fills our hearts with “Hallelujah!” The whispers of eager children remind us why we are here; December means Advent-time at our Waldorf school. One child is beckoned by the teacher and silently approaches the mouth of the spiral. An unlit beeswax taper, stemming from the top of an apple, is handed to the youth. The child looks to the flickering light and begins the journey to the center of the spiral. One careful step at a time, the child is lead inward by the modest beacon. We watch in awe as our voices join the singing harp. At last the child meets the flame and tips the taper to receive its gift; there are now two flames. The new glow illuminates the path; we can see there are stones, shells and crystals nestled in the branches of evergreen. Young hands rest the apple carefully alongside the pathway. One by one, each child takes the reverent journey to the central candle, accepts its offering and sets the lit taper amongst the evergreen, beautifully illuminating a once blackened room. Despite the abundance of radiant candles, it is hard to see through the joyful tears that are welling up in my eyes. Every year, Winter cloaks us with darkness. She beckons us to meet her at the mouth of her evergreen spiral and travel inward to find the flame within. In spite of Holiday bustle, some accept her invitation and create a season of quietude to seek the Light of their Souls. By surrendering to the tranquility Winter offers, we, too, can take that inner journey. Perhaps we light a candle each night, and snuggle up near the fireplace with a journal and pen. Maybe we allow Winter’s stillness in our homes, keeping the TV and radio off for an evening – or possibly the whole season. Imagine picking up that old instrument, dusting it off and learning a new song. We can listen to a clear, crisp morning call to us, then bundle up and take a private walk – around the block or in nature. Whatever we choose, we can let this season of darkness lead us to our inner Light. Similarly, we are cycling into a darker period in our lives and are encountering the shadows of our Being. Many are experiencing old, unresolved emotions, deep feelings of unworthiness, or primal fears related to survival – literally or financially. Relationships are challenging and our feelings of being lost and powerless can overwhelm us. Our darkness is longing for illumination. Sometimes the intense blackness may be discouraging, so it is essential to remember there is always a Light at its core. Whether we are walking an Advent spiral, experiencing the depths of Winter, or enduring the shadows of our Being, these are invitations to go into the darkness. There, we must seek the Light to receive its gift, no matter how long the journey or small the flame; it is our beacon and our Source. To reach the Light, we simply need to walk the pathway that leads us to our hearts. It may be a solitary journey – and possibly a profoundly beautiful one – yet our Angels are always there watching us in reverence. And, if we listen carefully as we make our way through the darkness, we may even hear them singing “Hallelujah!” Then, when we emerge as enlightened Beings, we can truly help illuminate the rest of the world.
 Right now you are likely feeling completely split over just about every decision in your life. Do I do THIS or THAT? You listen, ponder, analyze and even wait for a sign from the Universe. Yet, the “answer” is far from clear and confusion reigns with an iron fist! As we move closer to Oneness, we find ourselves more confused than ever as we try to find the “right” way to live our lives. We want to make more conscious choices, listen more carefully to Source, and help, in some way, contribute our gifts and/or services to the betterment of Life. A beautiful offering; so, why are we utterly confused about how to do this? Upon agreeing to awaken, we successfully passed the threshold of making more conscious choices. And, generally speaking, this has been a reward in and of itself. Thankfully, most of us feel we have been Divinely guided along the way. Sometimes it was our intuition, other times we prayed for the answers, or maybe a friend or two helped in our decision making processes. Likely, we used a combination of methods to be really clear about what to do next. These days, however, Life seems to be a bit more foggy. Decisions seem to be demanding our attention and many of them are pretty big ones at that! Our intuition is on summer vacation, praying has turned into begging for an answer to knock us over the head, and our faithful friends are just as baffled as we are and offer conflicting advice! For some unsettling reason, we seem to have lost our “guides” and feel we are all alone as we try to make these conscious and important choices. Did I mention the importance of breathing? As you feel the anxiety around all of this, just take a nice, deep breath – and even another one, right here, right now – before reading on. (Ah, that’s better.) Well, the good news is, we are not alone! We still have Divine guidance; and as we awaken to our own Divinity, we are being asked to “fine tune” our inner listening skills and strengthen our trust in ourselves. And, it is helpful to note, as we release duality “either-or” decisions become much harder to make! Increasing trust in ourselves includes realizing the perfection of any choice we make and releasing the beliefs around “right” or “wrong” decisions. Although we may understand this on a deeper level, we always want to do what is “right” anyway! As the pendulum swings from the Divine Masculine realm of analysis, logic and linear thinking toward the Divine Feminine realm of intuition, knowing and feeling, our souls are urging us to expand these inborn gifts in ourselves. We do not have to abandon our tried and true left-brain activities; we do have to nurture the right-brain ones, however, if we want to create more balance in our lives and have an easier time with those looming decisions. There are a number of ways to cultivate our intuition, creativity and emotional energies including (but not limited to) free-form journaling, dance, music and art; as well as more structured formats such as intuitive skills classes, learning through books, heart-centered group gatherings and numerous healing therapies. Trusting ourselves can be a life long pursuit; it can also be highly developed to allow more ease in our lives. One way to develop any skill is through practice; the more you practice, the faster you develop the skill. And, it can be very helpful to have a teacher along the way. Teachers come in all forms: ministers, therapists, parents, friends, spiritual counselors, and life coaches to name a few. They can also appear as self-help books or other inspirational sources. Allowing someone to support us can be an empowering step toward self trust. During this time of rapid expansion, when decisions can often overwhelm us, it is important to be gentle with ourselves. Here are some simple guidelines to assist us:
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