Small Businesses as a Sign of Hope

In this time of shift and change, the naysayers are telling us that economically everything is bad. I agree that things are hard for many people right now, especially for some of the large corporations. Greed seems to be rampant. I could go on and on with fear-based talk, but the truth, or so I have read, is that far more jobs are created by small and medium sized businesses than by big corporations. I also believe that more of the money spent at small and medium sized business stays in the local area as opposed to money spent at big box stores. I have to confess that I do not know why I believe this to be true other than I think I read it somewhere.

I was talking to friend recently about this. She lives in New Hampshire and read that 90% of businesses in New Hampshire are small businesses and because of this, New Hampshire has suffered less during the recession than states where there are more large businesses.

I have noticed around me that many small and medium sized businesses are quietly operating, apparently making enough income to stay open and employ a few people. I have also seen an ad by American Express a number of times touting Small Business Saturday. I am not quite sure, but I believe that it might be a once a year event. My thought is why are we limiting it to one day a year? Or, even if it is every Saturday, why one day a week?

I would like to tell you about three small businesses:

Val’s Halla, Oak Park, Illinois: http://www.valshalla.com/

I used to live in Oak Park. When I moved there I was told about Val’s Halla. The owner, Val Camiletti, started work for capital records in 1962. She then managed a small record store chain starting about 1967 and opened Val’s Halla after the chain closed. Val’s sells excellent condition vinyl 45’s and LP’s as well as new CDs. You can call or email to order. They do ship. You can also purchase online.

One of the special things about Val’s is the Elvis Shrine. If you are anywhere near Oak Park, go visit, see the Shrine, and talk to Val. It is worth the trip.

The Vermont Herbal General Store: http://www.vermontherbal.com/

Sivvie Lio is the owner of The Vermont Herbal General Store. I met her after I saw an ad asking for readers for an event at the store. Sivvie studied at the Boston College of Pharmacology, but chose to work with herbals rather than work in a regular pharmacy. She makes all her own tea and herbal blends. The store also carries crystals, jewelry, books, and the like. It is a pleasantly funky space. You can order online. She will also compound something specifically for you.

Follow Your Art: http://www.follow-your-art.com/site/

I met Kris Rodolico when I took her adult art class called, of course, Follow Your Art. Kris is an artist, art teacher and art therapist. I remember that she always found something good about the piece of art a student was working on, yet was able in a gentle way to suggest new ways of looking at the piece or changes that could be made. If you live in the Melrose, MA area and want to explore art, this is the place for you. If you have a family member that could use art therapy, I would recommend Kris based on seeing her interact with adult students.

These are only three of the small businesses that I know about. I wanted to choose three that are in different locations to show that there are local businesses everywhere that deserve our business and support.

I also wanted to talk about them and small businesses generally because they are a sign of hope to me in this day of gloom and doom. I shop at big stores and order online, but I am, more and more, trying to patronize local businesses.


If you would like an angel reading with channeled messages from your angels and guides, please go to:  http://www.explorebeyondtheusual.com/Navigation/ExploreReadings/KathyrnSamuelson.html

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn Samuelson is an intuitive who channels messages from your angels and guides through spiritual or automatic writing. She is also a life coach certified by the University of New Hampshire through its Professional Development Department. Kathryn does workshops based on the set of meditation cards and book called Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be that she created with her friend, Linda Lewis. For more information: http://www.kathrynsamuelson.com/, klsamuelsonATyahoo.com, or 781-799-7332

Other Blog Posts by Kathryn Samuelson: When is Enough Enough?, Just Because We Can, Should We?, Choosing a Slower Path, My Journey with the Angels, Odds and Ends, Dissolving Limits, Brave Spending, Mindful Spending, Would You Have the Courage to Act?, Growth in the Winter, Book Review: Find Your Spirit Animals, As We Grow Through the Season, Simple Ways to Give, Turning Left Rather Than Right, Giving Thanks, Nurturing the Ego, Letting Things Go, Real Energy Book Review, Living with Doubt and Uncertainty, Bardo - The Things In Between, Musings On Mindfulness, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps, The Choices We Make, Beyond: Buddhist and Christian Prayers CD Review, Riding Out Irene: A Practice in Maintaining Balance,

What Did You Do Tomorrow? A Hay House Radio Show Discussion

This article is dedicated to my friends D. and A., friends with kind hearts who deserve only the best in life.

I tuned into Hay House Radio show The Answer is You on my lunch hour today and found radio show host and author Michael Bernard Beckwith discussing Prayer and Praise. The messages I get from Spirit never surprise me anymore. The topic couldn't be more relevant to what I had been dealing with all weekend and into this week.

Personally, I had been in meditation and prayer several times this weekend trying to move the energy on some issues in my own life. Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra say that anytime you are in dis-ease or a crisis, go into prayer and meditation. As expected and hoped for, I experienced a few miracles and was truly grateful for the shift.

As A Course Miracles says (in different words than I’m using now), once you put the spiritual oxygen mask on yourself, others will be sent to you for help. And surely that is what happened to me this week.

Before I started listening to the Hay House radio show, I had just hung up with a friend (the second friend in 24 hours) going through a crisis with a work situation. She is one of the thousands being laid off by Hewlett Packard this week. The severance package options she was given were confusing (I told her to be grateful she has one). She has some serious health issues so she was getting the jitters regarding her health insurance coverage continuing. She had interviewed with another firm a month ago who told her they were doing reference and background checks before they would make an offer. That was two weeks ago and she was in a panic--to a point of almost passing out. She was in the mall a few days ago and had to be taken to the emergency room in an ambulance because of a stress related panic attack she had in the store.

Over the last two days, I had been talking to another friend in panic. He just got laid off too. It was completely unexpected. He had been working diligently on a project for six months and thought it was going well. Now, he was angry at his bosses and in shock. I did my best to coach him to peace to get him through the moment.

For both of my friends, I had reiterated what Michael Beckwith said so eloquently in his radio show. There are times in our lives when we are shaken to our core. It's not enough to just believe in God. It's a time to know God...really KNOW God. If you know there is a higher power working in your life and a divine plan, then these are the times when you lean on your Faith--to trust that another door is opening when one closes. I call it a Re-Direct. The Universe is Re-Directing you because you're needed elsewhere. It's time to trust that there is a better situation awaiting you. It’s also time to make peace with your current situation through forgiveness and move into the unknown with trust and faith that your life will be better.

Uncertainty has knocked on my door many times in life. What I know for sure (as Oprah says) is that you may come close to the cliff but Spirit will never push you off. Something always happens. You always find a way. Miracles happen.

Michael Beckwith said that when things are going wrong...loss of job, money, home, relationships, disappointments, health issues...all those things that bring pain and fear into your life, "It's Time to Go into Prayer!"

Prayer to me is getting quiet even if it’s for 15 minutes. When in pain or crisis, you may have to do this several times a day. Once you get quiet, have a conversation with the divine. I always remember Deepak Chopra saying God speaks to you in the silence and gives you the next steps for your life plan. I have found this to be true many times.

Michael says that you can not receive something better unless you lift your vibration through prayer. So, ask the Divine for assistance...but he says, take it one step further. Don't be content with asking for the status quo. He says we need to have "Audacious Prayers." We need to not only ask for peace but we need to think big. Ask for the impossible.

He used the example of an Alice in Wonderland conversation where a character was asked, "What did you do tomorrow?"

The character said, "I don't know. It's not tomorrow yet."

To which the other character replied, "Well, we always think of at least six things by breakfast."

Michael says instead of just getting through your day, think of 3 or 4 seemingly impossible things that could happen immediately and include them in your prayers--your audacious prayers.

Michael says that when you come out of prayer, your vibration has been raised. You start to see Spirit work in your life with blessings. Momentum occurs. Look for real evidence of this. He says that when you pray, you start to see results--sometimes big, sometimes small. You acknowledge those results with gratitude--Praise it! Your spiritual practice then becomes an opening into another dimension of time/space which moves you from stagnation to momentum. You begin to feel and see that your needs are being met.

Who wouldn't want to see momentum in their lives right now?

Michael says that you go back and forth in a cycle between prayer and praise. When things are getting rocky, go into prayer. When you start to see evidence of prayer moving things forward for you, praise it. It is not unexpected that we will need to move back and forth between these cycles throughout our life.

He suggests that you start your day by saying, "I'm going to have a great day today. Anything that comes into my realm of experience is conducted with grace and ease."

Peace to those who need it now. New and better experiences await us all!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Ann Rousseau writes about metaphysical, spiritual and astrology topics on her blog Explore Beyond the Usual. She is author of the new novel Portsmouth, A Love Story.  Follow R. Ann Rousseau on Twitter @RAnnRousseau or Facebook and www.facebook.com/PortsmouthALoveStory

Other Blog Posts by R. Ann Rousseau: Yes! Energy Book Review, Are You a Women’s Libber? Oprah’s Next Chapter with Gloria Steinem Discussion, What is Spirituality? - Oprah's Life Class Tour with Deepak Chopra, I Believe - Book Review, Do You Have a Paralyzed Will? Hay House Radio Show Discussion, Living On Purpose - Oprah's Life Class Tour Discussion, My Titanic Family Legend, Pearls of Wisdom Book Review, Enough Already - The Power of Radical Contentment Book Review, Astrological Forecast April 2012, What Do You Really Love to Do? Wishes Fulfilled - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion with Wayne Dyer, A Facebook Message from a Friend in Spirit, Are You Having a Life Crisis? Do You Know What Integrity Is? Wishes Fulfilled -  Mastering the Art of Manifesting Book Review, Authentic Power - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, KEM - Sophisticated, Sexy, Soulful and Spiritual, Are You Out of Alignment? Choice Point Book Review, The Middle Lane, Clean Your Mirrors, Three Feet From Gold - Book Review, Do You Need a Most Benevolent Outcome?, We Are All Connected Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Release the Anger: Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, One Big Global Blogging Family, Book Review - Psychic Exploration A Challenge for Science, Hay House Radio's New Show SoundWave A Bit Hit!, Do You Believe in Soul Mates, The Future of Astrology, You Always Had the Power- Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Love Doesn't Hurt - Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Unconditional Love of Animals-Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Your Life is Whispering to You. Pay Attention. Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Power of a Second Chance: Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Aging : Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Connecting the Dots- Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech, The Truth Will Set You Free, Discussion of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Premiere: The World Beyond, A Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Moment, Breaking Out the Top Shelf Advice for Rough Times, Eat Dessert First -The Art of Extreme Self Care, Queen of the Law of Least Effort-Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Book Review, The Secret of Instant Healing Book Review, Transforming Fate into Destiny Book Review, Awakening the Lightworker Within Book Review, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review, Trust Your Gut Book Review, The Spirit Whisperer Book Review, Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain Book Review, My 9/11 Story, How to Be Inspired Book Review, Infinite Quest Book Review, Biology of Belief Book Review, The Morning Breeze Has Secrets to Tell, The Gentle Way II Book Review, Do You Fear or Respect Mother Nature?, You Can Heal Your Life Movie Review, Hereafter Movie Review, North Wind Blowing -Time for a Change, Presence University, Impossible Situations are Great Opportunities, Do You Have Enough?, Moon Tides Soul Passages Book Review, Compromise with the Varmints! Yankee Doodle Discord Book Review, A Wright Brothers Moment! The Sacred Promise Book Review

Walk-ins: Lightworkers that Skip Childhood and Incarnate as Adults (Part Two)

In my first column about Walk-ins, I wrote about how the process works. In this column, Sara, a Walk-in, shares with us a little bit about her journey and her mission on planet Earth.

Q. Sara, thank you for being part of this column and sharing your journey with my readers. Can you tell my readers exactly what a Walk-in is?

A. Walk-ins are high-minded entities who, pre-birth, have a contract with another soul. It is an agreement between souls that when soul No. 1 has completed his/her development and is ready to move on, soul #2, the walk-in, is then allowed to enter. There is an urgency at this time on planet Earth. In fact, a Walk-ins’ work will often involve several worlds. Walk-ins are usually involved with a council comprised of souls/entities from other worlds. I personally work with the Council of 12. [Note: The Council of 12 is a group of ascended masters who are assisting us with our spiritual growth.]

Q. Do you know when you arrived in this body?

A. I arrived March 10, 1991. Two weeks prior to the transition between the two souls, a braiding between them took place. That’s something that takes place where the Walk-in is, so to speak, testing the waters. In my case, just as the transition was about to be complete, the outgoing soul began struggling with the finality of leaving the body, and the “deceased” grandmother of the outgoing soul appeared to assist in the exchange.

Q. What was it like when you woke up in your new body?

A. When I woke up in the morning, I was very confused; and I remember thinking, “Where is this room?” and “Who is this man laying next to me?” A young, blonde haired boy walked past the room, and said, “Hi, Mom.” He was about 14 at the time, and this child, I knew I could relate to, and I thought he might be the key to what was happening to me.

Q. Wow. Sara, what were you feeling during those first days and weeks?

A. My relationship with my family changed; my relationship with my spouse was difficult, I knew in the near future that I would have to move on from it. I left the relationship in 1998, and it was difficult because I had all the memories of the original soul that inhabited my new body. My responsibility is to complete the host soul’s Karma, for I entered with none. I watched mankind, and what was happening to Mother Earth, and I just wanted to scream to the world WAKE UP PEOPLE, look at what’s happening to your (our) planet, look at your relationships with one another. It was very frustrating for me and I had to communicate with Council on the other side.

Q. Do you know what your mission/path is?

A. Yes, my mission is to assist mankind in their awakening, their life purpose and with life after "death." I’m here to provide comfort for those going into transition, and comfort the families after their loved ones have gone into transition. My feeling is that if you’re not on your path, and you have come to see me, then you were sent to me for assistance on your journey. I work as a Medium and Channeler, and earlier today I was participating in a workshop with a great teacher whom I respect immensely. He told me that I’m not really a Channeler, because I have a direct line and that I’m a clear channel for healing energy and for the truth to be told to others. The bottom-line answer to your question is this: my mission is whatever is put in front of me.

Q. Sara, thank you so much for sharing this information, I know your words here will help many people who are also Walk-ins, or know someone who is a Walk-in, figure out what’s going on in their lives. Is there anything else that you would like to share?

A. One thing that I would like to share is I that surely started to feel welcome upon arrival when I would walk down the street and see signs on the outside of a beauty salon or dentist office that said, WALK-INS WELCOME! I’d laugh every time I saw one of those signs!

Sara is a Medium/Channeler, Reiki Master/Teacher and Life Coach. To learn more about Sara and her mission, and/or to schedule a healing session with Sara, please contact her at saraslight444@hotmail.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherri Cortland, ND is the author of two metaphysical books, Windows of Opportunity and Raising Our Vibrations for the New Age, and is currently working on her third book, tentatively titled, Wake up! It’s time to put on our BIG Lightworker Pants!

Sherri’s website: http://www.sherricortland.com

Sherri’s Examiner.com twice weekly column: http://www.examiner.com/metaphysical-in-orlando/sherri-cortland

“Like” Sherri’s Facebook Author Page for daily postings, wisdom from her Guides, and contests: http://www.facebook.com/#!/SherriCortlandAuthor 

Other Blog Posts by Sherri: Walk-Ins: Lightworkers that Skip Childhood and Incarnate as Adults Part One

Step Out of Your Own Shadows onto Centre Stage

Note: This article is one in series of tips from Inspired Entrepreneur Nick Williams

Tip 19 - Step Out of Your Own Shadows and onto the Centre Stage. 

“Shadow artists often choose shadow careers – those close to the desired art, even parallel to it, but not the art itself.” Julia Cameron in The Artists Way 

One form of resistance is to be close to what you’d love to do, but not quite doing it. You are in the vicinity of it, but standing in the shadows. 

My own example was when I was involved in running one of the world’s premier mind body spirit lecture series in London, called Alternatives. I loved it for many years, and then became a little bored. “How could this be?” I thought. 

I had dreamed of being immersed in the world of personal development and spiritual growth. I was organising talks for many of the world’s leading voices, such as Dr Wayne Dyer, Dr Deepak Chopra, Susan Jeffers, John Gray, Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle. Then it dawned one me, “I don’t want to be the one organising the talks anymore. I want to be the one giving the talks!” 

It was a moment of inspiration and realisation followed by massive resistance. “Who would want to listen to me? What have I got to say?” etc etc. But it led me to step up my fledgling speaking career, to have the courage to pursue my own talent and write my first book. Then the world began to open up for me. But it took enormous courage for me to recognise that I was living a shadow life and then to confront my own resistance to truly showing up. 

So where are you hiding out? What talent of yours are you not fully supporting? Where are you playing small? 

Freedom project: Where are you believing in and investing more in the talent of others than your own talent? Invest in yourself. Believe in yourself. Value yourself and show up with your talent.

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Click Here to read Nick Williams book Resisting the Soul

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Williams travels the world sharing a life-affirming - and profoundly spiritual – vision of work and entrepreneurship. A sought after speaker, best-selling author and broadcaster, Nick is on a mission to help people move beyond their fears, play-bigger in their lives, and transform their passions into profitable businesses. He is the author of six books including the best selling The Work We Were Born To Do and most recently The Business You Were Born to Create. He lives in London and his web site is http://www.inspired-entrepreneur.com/, @nickwilliams1, http://www.facebook.com/entrepreneurclub

Books By Nick Williams:

        

Other Blog Posts by Nick:  Own Your Fear so it Doesn't Own You, Become the Initiating Force in Your Life, Have Long Term Goals, Recognize the Real Purpose of Resistance, Become a Servant of the Great Mystery, Do Believe in Heaven, You Can't Take All the Credit for Your Brilliance, You Are the Custodian of Projects and Gifts, Who Did I Promise to Be in This Life? You Are Here to Do Something Beautiful, Are You Resisting Your Own Life Purpose?The Battle for Your Brilliance - Will Resistance Win? Were Your Talents and Abilities Used Today?Resistance Can Be Your North Star, Do You Know the Difference Between Resistance, Necessity and Intuition? Something Wonderful Came Before Your Resistance, Can You Recognize Your Own Resistance?, Your Precious Impulse, Does Your Soul Want a Renaissance Career, 5 Tips if You're Afraid of Losing Your Job, Why I Really Quit My Corporate Job, Comunity and the Inspired Entrepreneur, Beat Your Resistance and Honour Your Creative Impulses

Yes! Energy Book Review

After reading Loral Langemeier’s new book Yes! Energy The Equation to Do Less, Make More, I understood why it hit #1 on the Australian Best Seller list. Since Australia has been the only country to escape the Great Recession, perhaps we need to do as Aussies do and embrace the concepts in this book.

When I read this passage in the Intro,

If this economy has been brutal to you and you feel physically, emotionally, or spiritually wounded, you need to engage the Energy Equation. If you are making it, but it takes every inch of everything you’ve got and you know your life can have more ease, grace, and clarity, then you need to find your Yes! Energy.

I got excited. Even though the recession hit back in 2008, there are still many who are struggling to get back to where they were before the rug was pulled out from under them. Day to day living has turned into survival of the fittest. In many parts of the world today, the recession is still in play and people are looking for answers and inspiration. It’s one of the first books Hay House has put out since the recession hit that really energizes the reader to get out of the JOB mentality and get the creative business juices flowing. It’s not just a Rah, Rah Go Team book. There’s practical step by step guidance to help move the reader in the direction of their own business. Loral shares personal war stories about business and her personal life and shows you how she used the Energy Equation to turn things around.

The book breaks down the Energy Equation into 5 parts:

Part One is called the Energy Equation where she talks about the energy needed for forward motion in getting you back from the edge of broke.

Part Two is called A New Conversation where she helps you to examine your own self talk to shift your boat around and focus on success.

Part Three is called Faith, Confidence, Certainty, and Dreams where she talks about the importance of having faith in yourself and partnering with a higher power to achieve better results in your life.

Part Four is called Honoring Your Gifts where she helps you to kick the tires on your own talents and gifts and challenges you to offer those gifts to the world.

Part Five is called Team and Sequencing where she talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people who will allow you to spend more time on the things that are important to you. She talks about the power of sequencing which is a form of visualization to plan out your day, meeting, or creative project in advance of starting the day.

What I Liked About this Book 

I hate to admit it but my whole book is underlined in pencil so choosing my favorite is tough.

I always love when an author shares their personal stories instead of parables or Bible stories. I like real life examples and Loral delivers. The reader gets to learn from her business mistakes and successes which makes her Energy Equation more credible.

Loral uses the word CASH throughout the book. Cash is not a dirty word. It’s inspiring! How often do we really use that word in our everyday lives anymore? With debit and credit cards, and EFTs, do we even know what it feels like to hold cash in our hands? Yet, the word just feels good and motivates you to want to generate more and treat it with respect. With Loral’s honesty and spiritual approach to businesses, she focuses YOU on generating more cash in your life using her Energy Equation to get you moving in the right direction. Who wouldn’t like more cash in their lives?

Her section about sequencing also stuck with me. I liked her practical, usable way to incorporate a visualization practice into your daily routine. Many people may have a vision board or visualize on occasion. Loral shows how to incorporate visualization to sequence your day. I’ve started using it myself.

In Loral’s no non-sense style, she encourages people to use their God given talents and envision a new and freeing life for themselves through self employment. She motivates the reader to create, develop and build something in their lives and get out of the work mindset. Nothing can be more freeing than creating something and offering it to the world. This book helps to light a fire under you and get you going.

What I Didn’t Like About this Book

To be honest, there was nothing I didn’t like about this book. There is a section I wanted more of though—Section 4-Honoring Your Gifts. Many people are lost in this area and would start a business if they could only pinpoint the product, service or innovation to focus on. I feel like Loral only skimmed the surface here and didn’t give away the Secret Sauce. I believe she could do a whole book on this topic. She could call it Mining Your Gifts and Talents to allow the reader an in-depth experience of uncovering what it is they have to offer. Loral could include mining stories from other entrepreneurs who took a deep dive into who they really are and how they leveraged their talents into a business.

All in all, I loved Yes! Energy The Equation to Do Less, Make More and look forward to more financial coaching from Hay House. The world needs this type of inspiration now more than ever. Loral Langemeier’s contribution to this conversation is much needed and long overdue and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

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Disclosure: I am a Hay House Book Reviewer which means I may receive a book free of charge for review. My credibility is extremely important to me. This site is independently owned and the opinions expressed here are my own. Sometimes that's very obvious. I am also an affiliate of Hay House Publishing and Amazon. This means I receive a commission if you purchase Hay House or Amazon products linked from this website. True Story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Ann Rousseau writes about metaphysical, spiritual and astrology topics on her blog Explore Beyond the Usual. She is author of the new novel Portsmouth, A Love Story.  Follow R. Ann Rousseau on Twitter @RAnnRousseau or Facebook and https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthALoveStory

Other Blog Posts by R. Ann Rousseau: Are You a Women’s Libber? Oprah’s Next Chapter with Gloria Steinem Discussion, What is Spirituality? - Oprah's Life Class Tour with Deepak Chopra, I Believe - Book Review, Do You Have a Paralyzed Will? Hay House Radio Show Discussion, Living On Purpose - Oprah's Life Class Tour Discussion, My Titanic Family Legend, Pearls of Wisdom Book Review, Enough Already - The Power of Radical Contentment Book Review, Astrological Forecast April 2012, What Do You Really Love to Do? Wishes Fulfilled - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion with Wayne Dyer, A Facebook Message from a Friend in Spirit, Are You Having a Life Crisis? Do You Know What Integrity Is? Wishes Fulfilled -  Mastering the Art of Manifesting Book Review, Authentic Power - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, KEM - Sophisticated, Sexy, Soulful and Spiritual, Are You Out of Alignment? Choice Point Book Review, The Middle Lane, Clean Your Mirrors, Three Feet From Gold - Book Review, Do You Need a Most Benevolent Outcome?, We Are All Connected Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Release the Anger: Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, One Big Global Blogging Family, Book Review - Psychic Exploration A Challenge for Science, Hay House Radio's New Show SoundWave A Bit Hit!, Do You Believe in Soul Mates, The Future of Astrology, You Always Had the Power- Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Love Doesn't Hurt - Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Unconditional Love of Animals-Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Your Life is Whispering to You. Pay Attention. Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Power of a Second Chance: Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Aging : Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Connecting the Dots- Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech, The Truth Will Set You Free, Discussion of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Premiere: The World Beyond, A Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Moment, Breaking Out the Top Shelf Advice for Rough Times, Eat Dessert First -The Art of Extreme Self Care, Queen of the Law of Least Effort-Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Book Review, The Secret of Instant Healing Book Review, Transforming Fate into Destiny Book Review, Awakening the Lightworker Within Book Review, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review, Trust Your Gut Book Review, The Spirit Whisperer Book Review, Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain Book Review, My 9/11 Story, How to Be Inspired Book Review, Infinite Quest Book Review, Biology of Belief Book Review, The Morning Breeze Has Secrets to Tell, The Gentle Way II Book Review, Do You Fear or Respect Mother Nature?, You Can Heal Your Life Movie Review, Hereafter Movie Review, North Wind Blowing -Time for a Change, Presence University, Impossible Situations are Great Opportunities, Do You Have Enough?, Moon Tides Soul Passages Book Review, Compromise with the Varmints! Yankee Doodle Discord Book Review, A Wright Brothers Moment! The Sacred Promise Book Review

Protect What You Love

I have just come back from the rainforests of Costa Rica. While I was there I booked a guided tour of San Manuel Antonio National Park, on the pacific coast. I was fortunate enough to see laughing falcons, sloths, bats, lizards and fireflies, but my trip wouldn't have been complete without some monkeys.

I could hear the cries of the howler monkey. Howler monkeys are vegetarian yet they still manage to be the loudest and the largest of the “New World Monkeys'.

Manuel, our guide, stopped under some trees where a group of howler monkeys could be seen with a telescope. With his help I was able to take photographs of these with my camera.

My favourite photo from this trip is of a mama howler monkey holding her baby.

When I look at the photo I can feel the serene love she has for her baby. The words that came to me were, 'protect what you love'. I copied and pasted the photo into a folder on my desktop.

Off the plane and back home in Canada, I was preparing lunch. I wanted to listen to something inspirational so I tuned into www.hayhouseradio.com.

As usual they had lots of tips on nutrition, dealing with change and then they had an interview with a singer. Her name was Jen Hannah. She had released her first album 'Grateful'. They played one of the songs from the album; “Anything is Possible”and as I listened I knew I needed to hear that anything is possible for me.

She had been nominated for a Positive Music Award in Orlando in 2011 and had won the 'Music that Matters' category'. She was soft spoken and was asked why she wrote the kind of music she did.

She said that she was a dreamer and that she had always loved music. She was also shy and had to learn to believe in herself. As her dreams started coming true she could see the power of having dreams and she wanted to share this message with those who needed to hear it. My favourite lines from “Anything is Possible” are,

Hold on to what you love
Hold on to what you dream of
And you will be unstoppable ...

For me these words are the perfect soundtrack to the image of the howler monkey gently holding on to what she loves, protecting what she loves.

Together they remind me that my dreams are messages, keys to my soul. I need to protect my dreams. I need to hold on to them gently and with love.

With Love and Blessings

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/howler-monkey-loudest-land-animal.html

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/SmallMammals/Exhibits/HowlerMonkeys/LoudestAnimal/default.cfm

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Regina Eustace is a contributing author to the books The Gratitude Project - Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude and Divine Inspirations - Stories of Awakening and Empowerment by Everyday Lightworkers and 

Other Blog Posts by Regina: Where Does My Intention Lie?, People With Passion Lady Gaga Interview with Oprah, Fair Play To Those Who Dare To Dream, My Train has Come, My Cat Knows What She Wants, I Am Human, Surprise!, In Love with Me, We Can Become One, I'm Over That, The Wild Woman of Zumba, The Attitude of Success, Come In, My Love Plant, My Tears, The Room of the Past, Lady Bugs are Lucky, Welcome Home, Shattering Beliefs

Whose Astrologer Are YOU?

I’ve been pondering how we belong to others, to our parents, children, other relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, ancestors, nation, clubs, religions, etc. These folks share a bit of our identities due to common bloodline, passions, hobbies, experiences or ideas. Astrologers can add clients to who we belong to, and the Astrologers who taught and mentored us. And in posting to this fine Blog at R. Ann Rousseau's gracious invitation, so starts a new belonging in this online community.

To answer the above question about me, takes us back to 1966, Brookline, Massachusetts. Picture an exhausted single Mom of 2 teen girls, coming home to her apartment after work. The older girl, age 16 is out with a boyfriend. The 14-year-old is alone in her room musing over a word she’d put on her chalkboard, which she changes whenever the word stops resonating in her psyche, which may be days or weeks. She’s eager to return to Beacon Hill to skateboard with her Hippie friends, spend money she earned babysitting to treat friends at Brigham’s ice cream shop and find new subjects to draw on her sketchpad. Alienated from her parents due to harsh family events, most of the adults who know her are clueless about what's on her mind. She and Mom seem to be mostly ships passing in the night.

Not that evening! Mom informed me that she spent her lunch hour that afternoon visiting an Astrologer, who said unexpectedly good things about me and wanted to meet me! Surreal curiosity made me agree to attend a Friday night class, and Isabel Hickey soon became the guiding light in my life. I was her protégée at her Boston School of Astrology for the next five years and couldn’t get enough. Fortunately for me, “Issie” was happy about that. As I’ve said many times, if Issie had been a cobbler, I’d have become a cobbler too, just to be in the Light and Love that she radiated to all who came within her aura.

As many of you know, Issie was the pioneer of spiritual astrology. She spoke throughout the U.S. and was renowned as a counselor, healer and metaphysical teacher whose guidance lifted thousands of lives. She explained reincarnation and universal laws in her third book, It Is ALL Right. Issie left the body in 1980 yet has touched many thousands more lives through charts I have done in her tradition. Mom too has now left this Earth, and – like Issie -- lives on in my heart.

The rest of this story and more on Issie is coming soon in her fourth book, called Never Mind, held posthumously by her grandson Jay, with whom I am publishing it with our memoirs. And after a long delay, her Astrology: A Cosmic Science will soon be a natal report, a project conceived in 1998 with her daughter Helen who has since passed onto the other side too.

If longing precedes belonging, then the kind of Astrologer we each are stems from who we emulate, not just what we know. That’s been true for me.

Blessings, Amy Shapiro

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For 40+ years, Astrologer Amy Shapiro has nurtured soul growth with skills and services drawn on her training with Astrologer Isabel Hickey, William Swygaard, Jo Onvlee, John Chung Li and Dr. Oskar Adler. Amy was the first Clerk for NCGR and an early President of NCGR- Boston. She co-discovered a technique with Astrologer Ron Davison called The Relationship Chart or as she calls it The Conception Chart of the Relationship due to its esoteric implications.

Her TV and radio show, "Good Heavens!" won her wide acclaim with the public and her Good Heaven’s column appeared monthly in Dell Horoscope Magazine. She founded the Cape Ann School of Astrology and has been a consultant, editor and writer for Para Research, Astral Research, Cosmic Communications and Dell Horoscope. After earning her MA in Education and Psychology, she earned an M.Ed. in Counseling, and trained in stress management, T’ai Chi, meditation, visualization; reincarnation, hypnotherapy and nutrition. She has been as a Head Start Advisor, taught at Wheelock and Endicott Colleges, and trained at Harvard’s Mind-Body Institute and New England Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

She has dedicated 20+ years to The Testament of Astrology, a 7-volume course by Austrian Astrologer Dr. Oskar Adler, and has now published a comprehensive Curriculum Guide for the entire 7 volume series. She has also written and published Dr. Adler's biography called Dr. Oskar Adler: A Complete Man. Her other books include One Sex to the Other – Reincarnation and the Dual-Gender Soul, The Dis-Appointment Book –A Human Therapy Guide to Conquering Disappointments. She coauthored the book Questioning the Oracle—The IChing and The Gift of the Tortoise-New Insights into the I-Ching.

Her newest book with Jay Hickey called Never Mind, is Isabel’s last book, never before published. Along with the book, she has written an Astrological Natal Report adapted from Issie’s Astrology A Cosmic Science, called “Your Cosmic Blueprint: A Seeker’s Guide.” The Natal report and program are available at http://www.newagesages.com/.
With her husband, Ed Kaznocha, Amy raised two sons in Gloucester, MA, where they enjoy gardening and landscaping.