Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

This 4th of July got me to thinking: What does it mean to be patriotic?

Everyone has their opinion. Here is mine (and that is all it is - my opinion. Opinions are not necessarily agreed upon by everyone and everyone has a right to their opinions...):

A patriot is defined as: "a person who is devoted to and ready to support or defend his or her country." Being patriotic, then, could mean your intentions are aligned with the support and defense of your country.

I was born and raised in Texas. I love this country for many, many reasons. It is beautiful. Its borders are open (mostly) to people from anywhere on the globe. It strives to offer its citizens "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." I interpret those founding words of the US Constitution to mean 1) you won't be killed for your beliefs, 2) you have a right to freedom, to live outside of captivity and 3) you can pursue things that enable you to feel positive about yourself and your life. Of course, "you" means every single person who lives here, not just some people who live here...and that is where my patriotic feelings start to waver.

As an example, consider this: Just one week ago, many Americans celebrated the US Supreme Court's epic decision to allow same-sex couples to legally marry. I would say this decision upholds all three basic Constitutional rights, yet there are also many American citizens who are outraged and feel imposed upon by it.

While I understand not every person is homosexual, it is also true that not every person is  heterosexual. To uphold America's basic Constitutional rights, all citizens - whether heterosexual or homosexual or someone in between - must be free to live the life that is most aligned with their truth, period. Setting up protections to make sure that happens equally for every American citizen does not mean anything is taken away from anyone else. It means that to honor the founding principle of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in America, what one citizen has access to, all citizens have access to.

To allow one group of citizens to enjoy certain rights and privileges but disallow other groups of citizens those same rights and privileges is called discrimination (i.e, "unfavorable treatment based on prejudice") in this country. And rightly so.

Historically, we've had a lot of that going on around here. And it persists today. Just listen to any right-wing, conservative radio talk show and you will find yourself blasted with all kinds of discriminatory ranting. The interesting thing about these shows is that most of what is said is not based in truth or fact. Instead, information is distorted and manipulated into conspiracy theories of amazing sorts and spun into political and violent outcries in the name of patriotism.

Patriotism...really? Let us not confuse patriotism with an aggressive fear of losing (sharing, really) what all citizens in America have a right to and are striving for. You guessed it: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

the HEAT is ON!

  

In Central Texas, we had a magnificent Spring - pleasant temperatures, fresh rains and cool breezes all the way to June! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have because Summer is a-knock-knock-knocking at our door.

June brings a turning of the seasonal Wheel on the 21st - Summer Solstice - the official arrival of Summer. This is when the Sun is at its peak. It is hot, it is dry and the HEAT is ON.

If you dread the Summer heat, consider this: Heat is a generating power; it creates energy. Heat is also a transforming power; it creates alchemy. This is great news for us in Summer. It means we have access to one of the strongest sources of energy and alchemy in the Universe!

So what, you ask? Here's what: use the Sun's energy to purify and refuel your own energy body and also use it to transform and release your burdens. To purify and refuel, draw the Sun's energy into your body and let it clean out your energy system and feed new vibrancy into it. If this is all new to you, call me for a session and I will walk you through it.

To transform and release your burdens, try any of these using fire (Sun energy). If you are not sure what to do or how to do it, call me and I can coach you:

• Write on paper what you want to release; then burn it safely and with clear intention of letting it go.
• Light a special red candle every evening or at the end of a week and meditate on it. Imagine giving the candle all you want to release from the day or week. Let the candle flame burn and transform what you give it. Blow out the candle when you feel complete and watch your burdens drift away to Source.
• Light a small, safe fire outdoors. Speak what you are releasing into the flames. When you are ready, jump over the fire and leave your burdens behind, where they are burned and transformed.
• Find a small stick. Hold it in your hands and breathe into it what you are releasing. When you feel complete, wrap the stick with red thread or cloth and safely burn it to ash, inviting and allowing your burdens to be transformed.

As energy Beings, it is important to attend to our energy bodies, lest we wind up energetically polluted and clogged up. If we ignore our energy bodies, we will ultimately wind up sick or crazy - out of balance in one or more areas of our Being. Take advantage of Summer's hot intensity and empower yourself rather than ignoring yourself.

aMAYzing time to blossom!

How are you feeling these days? Is your energy high or low? Are you feeling vibrant or dull? May is a great month to revitalize your energy and your life by taking in all the beauty that nature puts forth to stimulate your senses. Look around you. There are brightly colored flowers, birds, baby animals and grasses about. The trees are green with life. Even the Sky seems more blue and the clouds more white!
 
May is about blossoming. If you've followed the seasonal changes with me, you've planted your seeds of intention for the year, and they may be beginning to open in your life. Now is the time to enjoy the ride as they come into more full bloom! They are likely not all complete at this stage yet you may see changes happening, movement, more activity, color and life around them. Take notice of even the tiniest sign of growth...
 
If not, apply your attention and your energy on them more consciously. Review what nourishment they need to thrive into full bloom and then provide it for them. Remember, this is a co-creative process: you breathe life into the things you want to take form in your life. They probably won't survive without your LOVE to fuel their journey into being.
 
Enjoy the things that are in full bloom already and allow the rest to "simmer" for later. Take in the color, flavor, perfume, texture and energy of the ripe blossoms - how they change your life for the better - and set the others aside with anticipation. There's nothing wrong with allowing things to enter your life in their own time - the time that is perfect for you and aligned with the Divine. There's no need to rush things. Instead, use your energy to appreciate what is here for you today and surrender the rest to the possibilities of the future.
 
Open to what's here for you now with gratitude. Gratitude is powerful fuel for co-creation! Then open to what is still ripe with potential for your future. The more you honor the goodness in your life - what is here already and what is yet to come - the more goodness will come your way...
 
Enjoy this aMAYzing time to blossom!

Spring Open!

Now that Winter's cold is receding and the Sun is strengthening, things really begin to pop open! Leaf buds open, flower buds open, eggs open, cocoons open as life springs forth all around us this month.

April is about opening. Whereas March officially kicks off the Spring season in Central Texas, April opens it up and gets it moving. Just as a new born chick having cracked open its egg, you may find yourself wanting to move and be free! April is a great time to get your body moving and to do things that feel freeing to you, especially following the more indoor, sedate climate of Winter.

Everything is filled with freshness during April. As new life itself opens up, the time is ripe for you to open in new ways too. Consider doing any of these opening things this month:

• Perhaps last month you consciously planted seeds for what you want to grow in your life. If you did not, plant them now. Consider what it is you want to bring or add to your life this year. Now is the time to begin nourishing those seeds with actions. Make a list of the actions needed to grow the things you want. Then break each item on the list down into small, do-able steps. Then prioritize the steps and commit to getting things moving forward in some way, one step at a time.

• Get yourself outside to the Sun or by the water this month. Take a walk or a hike in a State park or out in the woods. Visit a wildflower center or other natural gardens. Sit by a river or lake and allow yourself to open to the natural things around you. Near the Austin area, we have Pedernales State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, Natural Bridge Caverns, Lady Bird Lake, Enchanted Rock State Park and many other natural places to support you in opening.

• Open yourself to something brand new this month - something you may be curious about or interested in but have never tried. For instance, try a new class at a local Studio such as yoga, Nia or other movement class. Or eat at a new restaurant you've heard of. Or finally do that creative project you've been thinking about for so long! For example, just after the Spring Equinox, I made a throw blanket that was on my list for years! Doing new things can open you in beautiful ways. Take advantage of the energy this month and open to something new.

• Create a wildflower garden in your yard or more simply, plant some flowers in colorful pots and put them where you can enjoy their beauty (and scent if they have one) every day. Flowers attract Hummingbird moths, butterflies, beetles, Ladybugs, bees and other critters that bring life and movement to your yard space. As you watch new flowers open and interesting critters appear, allow your senses to open even more to the life inside of and all around you. Invite yourself to blossom and bloom in colorful ways this month, too.

• Buy some sad-looking plants from the "Clearance" section of the store, take them home and give them new life. Plant them where they will get the nourishment they need to thrive and watch them flourish back to vibrancy! Let them remind you to give yourself what you need to thrive and then do those things for yourself. Watch yourself flourish back to vibrancy, too.

 

HAPPY SPRING OPENING!!