2/6/2012

Bulbs that were planted in the days of fall are beginning to send their shoots above ground.  They announce their presence as they stand at attention, straight and tall, reaching for the light above.  I love spring.  It is not spring yet.  It is still winter for many days to come but the green shoots announce it is coming.  For me, they represent hope, the hope that even when all appears to be dormant and still that there is still life and movement and new birth.  It is from the death of the old, the passing away of that which is over, that new birth comes.  Bulbs will produce better flowers if they are dug up and separated.  Otherwise, in time, they form large clumps of multiple bulbs that are too crowded.  By separating them, many more new flowers can be birthed.  Sometimes, in our lives, it is time to dig up our own bulbs and even though it may often be painful, it is time to separate them, let go of some of them so that we can produce new and better blooms.  It is work to go back and dig up bulbs.  Some must be separated every year and others can go for longer periods of time.  What within you has become crowded?  Have you been holding on to too many old thoughts, fears, expectations, people, things, or ideas?  Do you feel as though you have dreams that are still dormant and lying in wait for too long?  Consider whether or not it may simply be time to let go of some things.  If you are not quite ready to let go of some of them, perhaps they are those bulbs that can lie underground a bit longer.  But, think ahead to the fall, make some kind of commitment to let go, to separate, so that you can create beautiful blooms in your life.  In the meantime, enjoy the winter days and remember that everything is not always what it appears to be.  The dead looking tree is simply sleeping, dreaming its way back into spring.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/30/2012

As a child, I remember standing on a chair so that I could see out my bedroom window at night.  In the distance there were hills and I would look beyond those hills to the starry skies and feel the presence of God.  I do not remember there being a time that I did not believe in God and my memories go very far back in time.  As I grew older, I would hear a scripture in my mind as I gazed into the hills.  "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."  Psalm 21.  It is referred to as a song of ascent.  I know that for me, it was a psalm of comfort and inspiration from the age of six on.  Lifting my eyes up reminds me that there is so much more to life than this earthly existence.  The starry skies were always a reminder to me of a greater power than my own.  They still are although I also see the divine in every single thing in existence from the lowliest piece of soil to the rocks and trees and the most magnificent sunsets.  I still lift up mine eyes to remind myself not to get mired in the mundane issues that face me day to day.  I lift up mine eyes to remind me that there are greater powers and greater purpose to existence than I can possibly conceive.  My own problems and worries shrink and I feel part of a greater whole.  I can feel my place in this intricate web of existence.  I know that I am as important as anyone or anything else.  My pleas for help shake the web as easily as those of any other.  I draw comfort in this.  I hope you do, too.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/29/2012

Yesterday, I accompanied my daughter and son-in-law while they looked for a house to rent.  We met with one landlady who I talked with while my daughter and her husband checked out the house.  In the course of the conversation, I shared that I was a medium and she immediately said that she wished she knew if her mom had something to say to her.  I explained that sometimes I am aware of those on the other side and sometimes I am not.  At one point, as we were talking, I did become aware of her mother.  It was not a particularly strong connection but I definitely had strong impressions.  Just prior to us leaving, I turned and asked her if she was artistic.  I told her that the message her mother gave to me was to tell her to get back to her art, to not neglect it.  Her whole face lit up and she said that yes, she is artistic but she had no idea that her mother thought anything of it.  I wish I could talk to this woman again because what I would tell her is that her mother sent her that message, not because her daughter's art is important to her but because she recognizes how important it is to her daughter.  I believe that when we pass out of our bodies, we have such a bigger and clearer view of our loved ones.  So much of our own garbage is now out of the way so we can see them more accurately.  This is what it felt like with this mom and her daughter.   I think that this message did more than one thing for the woman hearing it.  One, it was a message that made sense to her since she is artistic, therefore making it more likely that it really was from her mother, not just something I made up.  Two, it was a message that may have made her feel more seen by her mother.  Too often, we do not share with others what we see in them or how we see them.  It is a wonderful moment when someone we care about sees us for who we are not just for who they might want us to be.  Is there someone in your life that may not know how you see them or value them?  Tell them what it is you value in them or see in them that is uniquely a part of who they are.  You never know how it might brighten their day.  You never know the ways in which it might strengthen your relationship with them.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/27/2012

I consider myself very blessed because I know that there is life after death of the body.  I know this because I am a medium and so there are times when I am able to communicate with those who have left their bodies.  As a young child it frightened me to hear the whispers and see the flickering shadows in my room at night.  Yet, there was also comfort at times when I communicated with beings of light.  I would now call those beings ascended Masters and or angelic beings.  As a child, I loved Jesus fiercely and knew he was an agent of love and light.  The shadows that came and went in my bedroom were of different vibrations than the beings of light.  Those souls who visited me were not necessarily bad but they often were coming to me because they understood that I could sometimes see and hear them.  Those souls who have died and who wish to communicate to their loved ones here on earth almost always wish to convey love.  They may also come asking for forgiveness for acts of unkindness they committed while still alive.  There are times when they have a very practical message such as look behind the hot water heater and you will find the paper you have been searching for.  Sometimes they will bring helpful advice and guidance for their loved ones.  Those who have passed out of their bodies have a very different perspective on life here on earth than do we, who are still in this form.  We can gain access to this different perspective through prayer and meditation and in our dreams.  Because I often will feel those from the other side present, it brings me great comfort.  I absolutely love it when I can share their message with those they love.  It brings such healing to others when they know that life is infinite and that those who have died have only changed their form.  Someone once asked me how I envision life after death.  I have learned several different versions of what it might be like.  I believe that there are many different levels of existence and that being in our human bodies and living here on earth is the most dense.   As we develop our souls we are able to pass into higher and higher realms of existence.  What makes sense to me is that the first level of existence after death is similar to life here but is of a higher vibration.  Therefore, we have structures, buildings, schools, libraries and more but they are made of more etheric substances.  I see them as not being somewhere far away but close to us.  We have productive lives even after we are out of these physical bodies.  We can choose to take form but it is not as dense as what we have in the physical world.  If this were not so, I could not see spirits with my physical eyes.  I could not hear them speak to me with my physical ears.  It is true that the majority of my communication occurs more inside of me in a psychic manner.  But, this is not always the case.  I also see, hear, smell, feel and even taste things from the spiritual realms.  There are reasons why those "on the other side" do not always come when people ask for them.  They are often busy.  People are surprised to hear that and then I ask them what did they think their loved ones were doing?  Floating around on a cloud for all eternity sounds pretty boring to me.  These are just some of the reasons why I do not fear death.  Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that I do not fear my life after death because I know it will be rich and full.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/24/2012

I went to a memorial service last week for a man that lived in the small town I grew up in and I now live in again.  He was a member of the Lions club and was a very hardworking member.  He was one of my father's peers as my dad had been a member of the Lions Club for nearly sixty years and this man had been in the same club for over forty years.  Both of these men were hard-headed, stubborn, strong-willed men.  They were also good-hearted, hard-working men who cared about their community and wanted to make a difference.  They were what I would call the salt of the earth.  They did not always see eye to eye.  One of the stories told at the service was about a time when my dad went and built some shelves in the storage room at the back of the Lions Club.  Evidently, the other gentleman did not like them and he promptly tore them out.  I had to laugh inside, seeing the two of them battling over how these shelves should be built.  It was not the only time they butted heads.  However, I know that my dad respected Mr. Davis.  He recognized parts of himself in the other man.  Seeing ourselves in someone else can be illuminating and it can also be irritating.  When we see those qualities in them that we admire and agree with we feel good about our connection with that person.  When we see aspects of ourselves that we are not so keen about we have a very different experience.  I know that if my man could have been at the service he would have said something positive about Mr. Davis.  If he was in attendance it would have had to be in spirit since he died in 2009.  The gentleman telling the story about the shelves shared that he sees the two of them in heaven at some big, old Lions club working things out.  I think that is a wonderful thought and I am sure that wherever they are they are smiling and laughing over a good story.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/21/2012

Tonight I watched part of the Betty White 90th birthday party celebration on television.  My mother and I sat and watched the last half together.  It was a lovely, heart warming program.  At the very end, they sang the theme song from Golden Girls which was a song about friendship.  After the show was over, I found myself thinking about my own life and my friends and what I would want to hear from them if they were helping me to celebrate my 90th birthday.  What was so lovely about the program is that it was an opportunity for people to express how they feel about her, much as people often do at funerals, but she was able to be there!  What would you want people to say about you if you lived to be 90?  For that matter, what would you want people to say about you if your life ended right now?  What would you want to be remembered for?  What I realized as I thought about these things is that all of those things I would want to be remembered for have little to do with money or my appearance or what I do for a living or any one of a number of things that have occupied my mind at different times in my life.  No, I would want to be remembered as a person who cared for others, who listened with open ears and an open heart.  I would want to be remembered for my sense of humor and how it helped brighten someone else when they were feeling down.  I would want to be remembered as someone who made a difference in the lives of others.  I would want to be remembered for some of the ways in which my words may have inspired others and given others new ways of looking at the world.  I would want to be remembered as someone who made the world a little brighter and as someone who helped instill hope in others.  Reflecting back on how I want to be remembered gives me a game plan for my life.  I can set goals for every day, every week and every year.  My goals are created from how I want to be remembered.  If I want to be remembered as someone who listened with open ears and an open heart, then that must be part of my daily living.  At the end of the day, as I reflect on my day, I must ask myself, "Did I listen to someone else?  Did I listen with open ears and an open heart?"  If I can answer yes, it was a day well spent.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/20/2012

Yesterday I spoke about living from love or from fear.  Today I would like to talk about finding the balance between compassion and judgment.  In truth, I am not truly speaking of a balance between the two as much as a marriage of the two.  Compassion and mercy for another requires that we open our heart to them and allow ourselves to feel what they are feeling or to have greater understanding of another person's situation.  The highest form of compassion is the understanding that we are all truly One and that we are all connected.  Therefore, what happens to one person happens to all of us, in a sense.  The highest form of compassion has the ability to see another as truly being our self.  All of the major religions teach that we must love and treat our neighbors as we love and treat our selves.  To me, this is the Golden rule because it recognizes and describes this highest form of compassion, treating others as if they were us, because in the greatest sense, they are.  Judgment is the ability to see and discern the truth in our own lives and in the lives of others.  Judgment that is not tempered with compassion is harsh and critical and blaming.  This form of judgment does not recognize we are One but instead encourages the illusion of separation.  This allows us to look at another person's weaknesses with disdain and we are able to say that we are not THAT.  Judgment in its highest form is able to discern truth without harshness, criticism or blame.  It is tempered by mercy. Mercy without judgment may cause us to overlook another's behaviors and not hold them accountable.  What does that look like in the real world?  I believe that judgment and compassion together allow us to look at another person, see their weaknesses and poor choices clearly but we are not harsh and critical.  We still have within us the understanding that we are all connected.  It is understanding that whatever choices and behaviors this person has made, it could have been us in different circumstances.  In this understanding and compassion we do not see them as separate from us but as making different choices.  In our society when people make choices that are against our rules, they are punished in many different ways.  They may have to pay a fine or even be incarcerated if they break the law.  How does judgment tempered with mercy apply in situations like these?  Judgment includes holding people accountable.  Compassion for someone who has broken the law includes holding them accountable because ultimately when we are in our highest self, this is what we would wish for ourselves.  Why would we wish this for ourselves as well as for others?  We would do so because that is how we learn and grow, by having consequences to our choices.  If a person consistently abuses those around them, at some point it is compassionate to remove them from the lives of those they are hurting.  It is compassion for those being hurt and it is compassion for the abuser, even if he or she cannot see that.  This highest form of compassion requires that we hold the person accountable because ultimately that is what we would wish for ourselves if we were in their place.  It is not about a lack of forgiveness.  We can still forgive the person for hurting us but at some point, compassion for everyone calls for a consequence.  Whatever that consequence may be, it is important to understand that this is what the other person has created and called to themselves.   Compassion and judgment for myself includes everything that I just described above.  It means that I discern the truth about my choices and my behaviors and I see them clearly without harshness, criticism or blame.  Compassion for myself means that I remember I am part of the whole and that the choices I make affect everyone including myself.  Compassion for myself includes accepting that there are times I will have unpleasant consequences to my choices and that I created these consequences.  Some of these consequences could include being excluded from the lives of others.  True compassion means that I forgive myself and understand that I can love and forgive myself even as I experience those consequences.  It has not been an easy journey for me to learn these lessons.  I have spent a great deal of my life going from one extreme to the other, swinging like a pendulum from judgment and blame to feeling sorry for someone else.  When I find the center and live from that place, I experience some of the greatest moments in my life.  I pray the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/19/2012

I have shared many times in my daily messages that we can live our lives from fear or from love.  Many people would say that the opposite of love is hate but my own spiritual teachers have taught me that the true opposite of love is fear.  At the heart of hate, you will find fear.  Ever since I first heard these words, I have been working on changing myself so that I can indeed live my life from love and not fear.  Yet, what does that look like?  How do I make that happen in day to day living?  What are those changes I would need to make on a practical level?  Noble words are wonderful but until they are given a practical application they are just words.  One of my animal totems is a black panther and the energy of the black panther is connected to reclaiming my power and to a willingness to go into the unknown.  What does that mean to reclaim my power and to go into the unknown?  Over the years, there have been many many times when I have had to push through my fear in order to accomplish certain goals.  There have been many occasions when I have been called upon to do things that were very frightening to me, including stepping into situations that were completely foreign to me.  In order to push through my fears and anxieties, I had to tap deep down inside of me to a place of love and trust.  It was in this place of love and trust, that I found the strength to do the unthinkable.  Step by step, bit by bit, I learned to go inside and find that inner strength that told me I was safe.  I did not stop and tell myself that I was reclaiming my power, I simply knew that I was compelled to move forward and I would not settle for second best.  I have come to realize that reclaiming my power can only occur when I first go into my heart.  It is in my heart where love resides and it is love that gives me power and strength.  True power has nothing to do with domination but with compassion.  Compassion for myself is what has been the underlying driving force to push myself through fear.  Fear and compassion cannot exist at the same time.  Therefore, when I face my fears, I create more and more space for compassion.  What makes another person our enemy?  At the heart of hate is fear. so we fear someone and that is what makes them our enemy.  Compassion makes it possible to see them differently and compassion creates an opening for a different relationship.  The best part is that I have not had to wait for someone else to have compassion for me in order to alter our relationship.  I have the power within myself and the choice to use that power.  Reclaiming my power has truly been a journey into my heart.  There is nothing more powerful than forgiving our perceived enemies.  There is nothing more powerful than loving another, including our own self.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/18/2012

I am grateful that even though we have a substantial amount of snow, our power never did go out.  The crock pot filled the house with the aroma of pot roast and potatoes today and we were warm and snug inside.   I found myself thinking of days gone by when long winter days were spent inside without televisions, computers or stereo systems.  I am reminded of the series, Little House on the Prairie, and how Laura Ingalls' family members would spend the long winter nights doing needle work or playing a musical instrument or playing simple games or reading a book by candle light.  Reading the bible together and praying as a family took up a fairly large portion of their evenings.  The blessing in the snow storm that is here in my life is the opportunity to have life slow down and to take the time to reflect.  The pristine beauty of the snow brings an inner sense of peace and quiet.  Last night, I looked out upon the silent, white streets and pondered how soft the world looks in snow.  There are no sharp edges in the snow and even the dirtiest and most humble of homes becomes adorned with a lovely billowy gown.  Street lights send their glow to illuminate crystal sparkles that gleam from trees and streets alike.  It is magical when the snow comes.  Yes, there  is something unique and special when snow comes to the Pacific Northwest.  It is not common for us to have this kind of snowfall.  Another day, I will be grateful to have the use of my car back.  Another day, I will be more than happy to be out and about running errands and having the freedom to go where I please.  But, for today and tonight, I pause and reflect on the gift of this snowstorm.  For today and tonight, I accept the simplicity that life offers me.  In the middle of the night, I will once again stand outside in rapt delight and listen to the silence of the snow.  This night will not come again.  Another year, another time, it will once again snow like this but I will not be here in this house, I am sure.  Therefore, I accept the gift of this day, this night, this magical snow.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/17/2012

I live in the Pacific Northwest and we are having snow showers right now.  There have been storm advisories and storm warnings because we are possibly going to have the most serious snowstorm tonight that we have had in decades.  Of course, it could just turn out to be nothing.  However, to prepare for the worst, I went to the grocery store and bought necessary items in case we did have a power outage or could not get to the grocery store for some length of time.  If I was just on my own, it would not be quite as important that I have certain foods on hand, however, I care for my mother who is 86 and diabetic.  We must be prepared.  As I was putting the groceries away and thinking about some of the storms we had when I was a child, I remembered how it was so different back then.  I live in a small town and for a great deal of my childhood, we shopped at the small local grocery store.  We bought our gas at the station in our town instead of going to the larger city next to us.  We had our own police, volunteer fire department, city hall, library, post office, restaurants, pharmacy, hardware store and more.  You could get the majority of what you truly needed within walking distance of your home.  Yes, the prices were a little higher than if you shopped at a bigger store but most people wanted to shop locally and support their friends and neighbors.  Plus, not everyone drove their own car and many needed to go to stores within walking distance.  No, we did not have a department store but you could order from the JC Penney catalog or the Montgomery Ward catalog and pick up your order over in Aberdeen.  Most of the time, I do not wax nostalgic about the past  because I know that there are some great advantages to how we live life now.  The choices available at Safeway are phenomenal compared to the choices we had at our small local grocery store.  You can go to special places now to just buy your tires or to get your oil changed or have your car washed or any one of a dozen different specialized services.  There are more selections and options today.  However, when a snow storm hits and the bridge is too icy to cross without snow tires, suddenly those days of having everything so close seem mighty fine.  Part of the beauty of living in this community as a child was that I knew my neighbors and my neighbors knew me.  Most people helped each other when they could.  I remember many a cold snowy or icy night when my dad would go out to help someone whose pipes had frozen.  I am grateful to be here, waiting for this potential huge storm.  I know that even if I forgot something, I have neighbors I could call on and I know that if they had what I needed, they would share with me, just as I would share with them.   My prayer is that everyone has someone else they can ask for help if they need to.  My wish is that the small town spirit of brotherhood I experienced as a child and still experience to this day will spread to others no matter where they may live.  Good will and generosity is not confined to small towns but is a part of the human condition and can be found anywhere.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/16/2012

Today, my mother fell and she had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance.  She is home now and I am so grateful that she was not seriously hurt.  She is 86 and so it is much easier for her to be seriously hurt by simply falling.  Sitting in the hospital room, waiting for her x-rays to be read, I meditated while she slept.  It is a Buddhist meditation that I learned a long while ago and it is called Tong Lin.  In this particular meditation, with every inward breath, you breathe in whatever it is you wish to relieve.  In other words, if you wish to relieve pain, then you breathe in pain, starting with your own.  With every outward breath, you release light.  I breathe in my own pain and release light.  I breathe in my mother's pain and I breathe out light.  I breathe in everyone's pain that is in the emergency room and I breathe out light.  Eventually, at the end of the meditation, I breathe in the world's pain and I breathe out light.  When I first learned this meditation, I thought it was backward because I had always learned to breathe in light and breathe out my pain, anger, or whatever it was I wished to release.  Over time, I came to realize the power and sheer perfection of this meditation.  Instead of simply releasing pain, the pain is being transformed to light.  This is an affirmation of the Divine Light and Divine Love and Power each and everyone of us has within us, if we choose to access it.  The next time that you feel pain or anger or fear or anything that you wish to release, instead, first transform it into light and then release it.  You can do it for yourself.  You can do it for those that you love.  You can do it for anyone and everyone.  Ultimately, we all win when one person transforms their negativity.  Let's light up the world.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/8/2012

Are you someone who spends a lot of time in their head?  When you make decisions do you sometimes have difficulty deciding because your mind is filled with so many options?  I have so much going through me at times that I definitely get to feeling crowded in my mind.  There are a couple of techniques that help me to make decisions.  There are times I muscle test to make some decisions.  There are times that I use my pendulum to make decisions.  I am not referring to life altering decisions but some of those day to day decisions we need to make on a regular basis.  For example, if I am making a to do list for the day, I could easily make a to do list that would require a 72 hour day!  Using my pendulum hastens the process of thinning down my list.  I simply place my pendulum over each item and ask if this is a good thing for that day.  If the pendulum says yes, it remains on the list.  If not, I cross it off.  It is also a helpful way to prioritize the list.  I certainly do not use this method every day.  It is not necessary as I am able to make those decisions easily and quickly when I am in calm and clear state of mind.  I am most likely to use my pendulum when I have been overwhelmed with a deluge of responsibilities, changes, challenges, etcetera.  I highly recommend learning to use a pendulum for this kind of decision making.  The pendulum can tap into our subconscious and into other subtle influences that we cannot easily access with our conscious mind.  I also recommend doing an energy clearing prior to using your pendulum.  This can be as simple as a prayer or invocation where you are stating to the Universe that only that which is for your Highest good may remain on or near you.  I always release any energies that may be present that are not for my Highest good into the Light to be transformed.  If you have any more questions about using a pendulum please email me at shirleyairhart@yahoo.com  Love and Light, Shirley

1/7/2012

I had a massage and some energy work done the other day.  It was so wonderful.  I had not had a full massage since I left Reno in 2009!  That night I felt very exhausted and the next day, I cried and cried when I watched a sad scene in a movie.  I knew why I was crying so hard and that it was connected to the massage.  Our emotions are stored deep in our muscles and when those emotions do not get released enough, the emotional energy builds.  The massage and energy work was a way of opening up the gates to those emotions.  I cried again today watching another sad scene in a movie.  It is good to cry even if my sinuses get plugged up, it is good to release those stored emotions.  Emotions are meant to flow through us, flowing through us and then out.  It is when we are flooded with many emotions at once or have emotions rise in circumstances where we do not feel free to express them that they end up stored in our body.  This is something I have dealt with all my life.  Because I also feel other people's emotions so keenly, I often retain them without even having a conscious awareness of that.  There are times that I have to ask myself if I am feeling my own pain or someone else's?  In truth, it doesn't matter whose pain or emotion it is, I need to release it back into the Universe.  When I do consciously release, I pray that the emotions are transformed into positive energy.  If you find that you store emotions in your own body, find ways to release them and envision them being transformed into beautiful light.   Love and Light, Shirley

1/6/2012

I would like to share an experience with you that happened in my life.  Back in 2006, I was living in Los Angeles.  I had moved there at the end of 2005.  Other than the first six months of my marriage, I had never lived more than four miles from my parents and when I moved away I was 51 years old.  I had been divorced the year before after 28 plus years of marriage.  I had enormous changes occurring in my life.  The hardest part about leaving was that I had to leave my grandson who was only 8 when I left for Los Angeles.  Because of him and because my parents were aging, I would come home every three months or so.  On one of those trips home, I found that I had lost my driver's license at the airport on the way back to WA.  I was sure I had left it in one of the gray plastic tubs they use when your go through x-ray.  When I discovered this, I called my friend in Los Angeles who was cat sitting for me and asked her to mail my passport so that I would have identification to come home with.  She sent it overnight express.  I waited and waited for my passport to arrive only to discover that it had been lost en route.  I was very upset because now I had no driver's license and no passport and I certainly was not going to have my birth certificate mailed!  I sat in prayer and meditation and I became very aware that there was a greater meaning to these experiences.  I lost my identification.  I was without identity.  When I left Washington behind, I left behind so much of what had given me my identity.  I had been gone from WA for nine months and I intuitively knew that the los of my two forms of identification had to do with something else I needed to let go of from my past.  I knew that when I had accomplished this, my passport would return to me.  Most people would think that was crazy thinking but it came from a place deep inside of me.  On my way home from WA to Los Angeles, I was able to retrieve my driver's license from the lost and found in Los Angeles.  I thought that, in itself, was pretty amazing.  LAX is so huge and yet, my driver's license was still there.  The following month I went on a trip to Sedona, Arizona for a reunion of some fellow spiritual seekers and hypnotherapists.  When we gather, we have a lot of fun but we also do personal work.  After I did a particularly powerful hypnotherapy session, I told my friends that now, my passport could return.  They all said that they believed me because I had had such extraordinary experiences before and I had been right about my intuitive information.  Two hours later, my friend, Maggi, who lives in WA and who lives where the passport had been mailed to, called me on the phone.  Before she could say anything other than her name, I told her that my passport had arrived.  She said I was right.  She also told me that if it had been someone else, she would have been more likely to doubt what they said.  It was very validating to have my friends believe me.  It was the most validating to believe in myself.  How did the passport get lost?  I don't know.  How was it eventually found and returned to me?  I don't know.  I do know that I knew deep inside of me that I had released some old aspect of my identity that no longer applied to me in that session.  I knew as soon as the session was over that my "identity" would be returned.  It is all symbolic, of course.  In truth, my old passport returned from not my old personal identity.  I had emptied myself sufficiently so that I could move on to the next leg of my journey.  It was also within that week, that I came to realize that I was moving from Los Angeles to Reno, Nevada.  I was ready because I had finally truly released enough of who I was in Washington.  When we listen and pay attention, we can find answers in some of the most mundane and seemingly unimportant experiences and circumstances.  I have had many more releases and letting go experiences since that fall in 2006 but that was one that was memorable.  I am so grateful.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/4/2012

Our minds are very powerful.  Did you know that when you are thinking of something that could happen your mind is capable of making it so real that you can begin to experience it in your body as if it was real.  Your heart can begin to pound and your pulse rate soars as you envision a dangerous or frightening experience.  You can literally fool your body into thinking that it is in danger.  The brain does not know the difference.  I think that is very amazing.  Fortunately, we can also do the opposite and we can think about something nurturing and healing.  Our heart can calm down and our pulse rate slow down.  Our adrenalin levels can return to normal and we can feel warmer and more relaxed.  Just taking ten minutes a day to stop and envision a peaceful, happy, relaxing scene can make a difference.  Obviously, the more we can do this, the better.  My own guidance reminded me the other night of a guided meditation I used to share with others when I led a meditation group.  In the meditation, we are floating in the ocean and it is night.  The heavens are filled with stars and a full moon so that the water is illuminated by its silver glow.  In some meditations we are floating in a boat but in many of them we are simply floating in the sea, held by the loving waves of the ocean.  The water is neither hot or cold but is a comfortable temperature.  It is almost as though we are in bodies but they are more ethereal and not as affected by the physical world.  Floating in this ocean, all time is suspended.  All thoughts of our daily life are temporarily on hold and we are immersed in the present moment.  As we float, gazing at the brilliance of the heavens there are times that we cannot differentiate between floating in the ocean and floating in the sea of stars in the heavens.  We are infinite, without form and time has no meaning.  All has ceased to matter except the existing moment.  A shooting star captivates us or a moonbeam undulating upon the ripples of the sea. Timeless and formless, we become the ocean, the moonbeam, the shooting star and we are one with all of creation.  In that moment of unity, our heart is at peace and our muscles are soft and relaxed.  We no longer have racing thoughts and when we return to what we call our current reality, we are better able to face the stress and challenges of living.  This is my assignment from those spiritual beings who connect to me and teach me so much.  I am to enter this sea of tranquility at least ten minutes a day.  I highly recommend you join me and together we can sail the starry seas.  Love and Light, Shirley

1/2/2012

The other day I received an email from a friend who was very down in the dumps.  He was very unhappy with nearly all aspects of his life.  As I read the email, I was formulating what I would say to him.  What I actually ended up writing was quite different from my first thoughts.  Sometimes people just need to be heard.  I realized when I composed my first email, the one that I never sent, that it was full of wonderful suggestions and ideas but perhaps he wasn't truly looking for advice.  Quite likely, in as negative a state of mind as he was in, advice might be the last thing he needed.  So, I deleted the email and started over.  I shared that I could feel his pain, frustration, hurt and anger and that I was sorry he was feeling so poorly.  My email reflected back to him that I had read his email and really listened to what he had to say.  I know that there are times when I don't always do this.  I know that there are times when I am so busy creating the right answer that I might be missing a golden opportunity to simply be present for someone else and witness their struggles.  Thankfully, there are more times that I am able to do this than not.  If you find yourself in the position of listening to someone else, remind yourself that they may or may not be looking for a solution.  In truth, most people have the solution within themselves and it is in the expressing of their thoughts and feelings that they may find it.  By having the opportunity to express ourselves and discharge our emotions, we can better cope and are better equipped to find our own answers.  Certainly, there are times when people are asking for answers as well as the opportunity to vent.  Listen carefully and if you are not certain whether someone simply needs to express themselves or whether they are looking for an answer from you, simply ask them.  By asking, you demonstrate that you wish to be respectful.  In truth, isn't that all you are looking for at times when you share your struggles with others, to be heard and to be respected?  Love and Light, Shirley

1/1/2012

It is a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest, at least for now.  The weather can completely change in a manner of minutes so I have learned to thoroughly enjoy the blue sky when it does appear.  I have been busy taking down Christmas decorations and cleaning as I go.  In the past, I would often feel a let down when the holidays were over.  Today is New Year's Day so it is still a holiday in my mind.  However, since I am not doing anything special today, it seemed like a good time to start dismantling the decorations. I do not feel the same let down that I have in the past but I am very aware that this holiday was significant in my life.  My mother turned 86 and is not in good health.  I have several aunts and uncles that are elderly and in poor health.  The odds that they will all still be here next year are probably not very high.  There are so many things in our life that come and go.  Some like the weather or a holiday will eventually return.  In truth, the holidays return but each is completely unique.  The weather changes and appears to return but if you watch the sky closely you will find that every moment is truly unique.  I live with my elderly mother and she sits every day and watches the sky.  She often gives me a moment by moment report on what the sky is doing.  There are times I find myself getting irritated and then there are times that I stop what I am doing and I look at the sky through her eyes and see what a marvel it truly is.  This is what I am striving to cultivate in my own life, more time spent truly seeing the sky, people, experiences and everything in my life with open eyes and an open heart.  So, in this moment I am grateful for the blue sky.  I will put away the Christmas finery knowing that the holidays will return once again and like the clouds in the sky, they will be unique and beautiful and then, once again, blow on by.  It is all good.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/31/2011

Things got pretty hectic during the holidays and so I have missed writing here for some time.  I am glad to be back.  New Year's Eve is a good time to be sitting here in front of the computer trying to decide what to write.  There are so many different ideas and issues that would be pertinent to the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new.  I know that for many this is a time to make your New Year's resolutions.  In the past, this is one of the ways that I spent my time on New Year's eve, creating a list of my resolutions.  This year that really does not resonate with me.  This past year has been so intense and complex and challenging in many, many ways.  This is true for me on a personal level and it is true on a much larger level.  For me, the very best thing that I can think of to write about at the ending of this year is gratitude.  I am grateful that through all the challenges of this year, I have had the spiritual support of the Universe.  This spiritual support has manifested in a huge variety of ways.  Sometimes it has shown up as people in my life.  There are other times that the support has come in the form of spiritual messages of love and encouragement.  These messages have arrived in various and diverse ways.  Dreams and visions have carried messages of hope and renewal.  Birds, animals and nature has brought me the wisdom I needed when I needed it.  People have helped to hold me up when I did not think I could stand or have supported me in taking one more step when I truly felt as if I was out of steam.  The support of the Universe has come in the form of abundance so that my needs could be met.  New ideas and new inspiration have nourished me when I felt as though I was parched and starving.  I am grateful for everything in my life.  2011 was not an easy year but its challenges have helped me to learn and grow and transform.  I am grateful for those opportunities.  I pray that 2012 brings us all more joy.  I pray that 2012 gives us all a multitude of reasons to be grateful.  I pray that 2012 brings us our heart's and soul's desires.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/22/2011

Tonight I went to a Seeker's meeting.  We are a diverse group of spiritual seekers that meet once a month.  Every month has a different focus.  Tonight's focus was on spirit guides and using crystals to work with your chakras.    I am very grateful to have these new connections with people and new opportunities to share and learn together.  It is also fun!  Tonight, one of the women gave me a beautiful bracelet that she made.  It has moonstone and banded agate.  The moonstone is very translucent and reflects the light a great deal.  I am reminded of the two ways that we bring light into our lives and the lives of others.  One is to be the light, the sun has this particular energy.  A second way is to reflect the light which is one of the functions of the moon.  Being the light and reflecting the light have very different energies but they are both beneficial.  It isn't as though one is better or of more value.  It is the same with people.  Some of the people in the group are there to be the light and others are there to reflect it.  Often the quietest person in the room may be overlooked but he or she is as valuable to the group as those who are natural born leaders.  The soft reflection of the moon can calm us and help us to go inward.  So it often is with people as well.  Some people naturally inspire and enlighten us.  Others have a less direct influence but it is no less useful.  The still quiet of the moon can help us reach places we might never find in the bright light of busy day.  Embrace both aspects of light and be open to either expression.  Celebrate your own special gifts and never underestimate the myriad of ways in which you are the light or you may be reflecting the light for another person.  Just like the beautiful bracelet I received tonight, it is often the contrast of the sun and moon that helps enhance the other.  The moonstone next to the banded agate appears even more luminous than it might on its own.  The banded agate looks so rich and colorful next to the moonstone.  Are you more often the sun or the moon?  Are you more comfortable in one aspect?  Celebrate and embrace your natural essence and remember that you contribute to the whole in your own beautiful, unique way of being the light or reflecting it.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/21/2011

Change is often difficult and painful even if it is long overdue.  I remember my first Christmas after my divorce and how painful and sad it was for me.  The divorce was the absolute right thing for both my ex-husband and I but it was still very painful for me.  That first Christmas was not just the first Christmas after my divorce, it was also the first Christmas I was not living in the same house I had lived in for 25 years.  It was the first Christmas in 29 years that I did not celebrate with my ex-husband's family.  It was my first Christmas where I decorated the tree and I noticed all of the ornaments that were missing because we had split up the decorations.  In the big picture of life, having fewer decorations is hardly earth shattering but in that moment it was hard.  Life as I had known it for a long while was over.  So many of the traditions that had brought me such joy in the past became chores that I did because I knew my grown children needed to have some semblance of the holidays.  In truth, if it had not been for my children and my grandson, I would rather have skipped the whole season.  I am grateful that I did not.  Each year after that had its own gifts and changes.  I spent one more year in the same house I had lived in since my divorce and then for the next four years I was in a different home every Christmas.  Three out of those years I spent part of the holiday season packing up to move somewhere else.  Looking back, I realized the other day that out of the last eight years I have had my own Christmas tree only three times.  Wow.  There was a time in my life when I could not have conceived that I would one day not have my own tree.  I know that some day I will once again have my own tree and my own home.  In the meantime, I find cause for celebration.  I focus on what is present as much as possible.   By releasing so many of my attachments to what I thought I had to have in order to celebrate the holidays, I have a freedom that I did not possess before.  I feel somewhat like the Who's down in Whoville from "When the Grinch Stole Christmas".  Even though the Grinch had taken the decorations, the food, the presents and everything normally associated with Christmas, the Who's down in Whoville still gathered together on Christmas morning and sang.  No, I have not had everything stripped from me as the Grinch did to the Who's, but I have had to release a great deal over the past 7 years or so.  In that process of releasing what I had previously been attached to, I created space for new traditions, new decorations new people and new ways in which to celebrate this holy season of love.  After all, the reason for the season is love.  Love can be found any time, anywhere.  Even when my decorations are boxed up in storage and I don't have a tree, I can't find my favorite cookie cutters because they are also in storage, I don't have the financial means I would like and everything seems to have changed, I can still find love, create love and be love.   I can accept the way things are now but I can also dream of the future.  If you are in the midst of change and are struggling to find your balance, hang in there.  Find whatever is present in your life that you can celebrate and allow yourself to dream.  Remember that eventually, the Grinch returned the gifts and baubles and bows to the Who's.  No, life is not going to return to what it once was for me, I wouldn't want it to, however, I look forward with excitement and curiosity to see what will come.  I pray the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/20/2011

Last night, I helped my daughter decorate her Christmas tree.  We watched one of the many wonderful versions of "A Christmas Carol" as the evening went on.  It is one of my favorite tales of redemption.  Ebenezer Scrooge,  bah humbugged the holidays because he had insulated his heart from pain, therefore he had insulated himself from nearly all feelings including happiness and joy.  Do you have a Scrooge in your life?  Perhaps you have a Scrooge within you.  If you know someone who says bah humbug to the holidays perhaps he or she has been deeply wounded in some way.  For those people who are struggling with financial issues, poor health, divorce, loss of a job, grief or any other painful experiences, the holidays may not bring them good cheer.  Behind their bah humbug there may be a person who is alone and lonely and sad deep down into their bones.  Many people have traumatic memories associated with the holidays and the sights and smells and sounds of the holiday season are painful for them.  This is a time when they need our compassion and understanding.  If you have a Scrooge within you, ask yourself what is it you truly need?  If you are in poor health, it is obvious that what you need is good health but you may also need someone to listen to you.  Perhaps you may not have someone in your immediate world who listens to you.  Ask God to listen to you and ask God to please send someone your way who can listen.  Sit in meditation and listen to God and you may find answers that have been eluding you.  No matter what your needs may be or the needs of others, pray that these needs be met in ways that are for the Highest Good of those involved.  By praying for the Highest Good you are opening doors to infinite possibility.  When we pray and ask for very specific answers we may not always receive the answer we want.  Open up the doors of possibility by asking that Divine Will be done.  If you do not have a Scrooge within but you know a Scrooge, pray for them.  Extend your hand and heart this holiday season in ways that are meaningful to that person.  They may not want holiday greetings or lights around their door.  They may not appreciate the colorful cards and ribbons and bows but they may feel moved by simple gestures of kindness.  A cup of coffee and half an hour of your time may be precious to them.  Help with stacking their wood or shoveling the snow off of their walk may be priceless in their world.  You will never know what they most need unless you ask.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/16/2011

I remember reading once that our memories are most keenly connected to our sense of smell.  When we smell a familiar scent, we are more emotionally and powerfully connected to those memories than if we saw or heard something that also connected us to that same memory.  At this time of year, we are surrounded by an abundance of opportunities to use our sense of smell to reconnect to some of our favorites memories.  I love the smell of an evergreen Christmas tree or cedar boughs that fill a room with their pungent scent.  I am flooded with positive memories of my dad bringing in the Christmas tree and setting it up in the living room.  As a child, it was a magical time.  Looking back on old photos of those trees, I was surprised to see how less than perfect they were.  According to today's standards, they would not have made it to the Christmas tree stands!  It did not matter because with the lights and ornaments they were transformed.  I strive to keep the memories of those less than perfect trees as a metaphor for dealing with the holidays.  They do not have to be perfect in order to be beautiful.  In truth, it is sometimes in the so called imperfection that some of the best memories are created.  Do you remember the year that the power went out and we could not cook the turkey in the oven, so we chopped it up and made soup on top of the wood stove?  That was the best soup ever.  Do you remember the time that no one had a lot of extra money so we just came up with silly gifts to exchange?  That was so much fun, we laughed and laughed.  Do you remember the time that the chocolate fudge would not set up and just stayed a big gooey mess?  We had no idea how yummy it was until we put it on ice cream.  This holiday season, no matter what you are planning and striving to create, leave some room for so-called disasters.  Create space for something unexpected and that way you will be just fine when it happens.  Make room for a Charlie Brown Christmas tree experience because they are opportunities for transformation.  Do you remember the year that Aunt Edna lit her hair on fire?  Remember how no one knew it was a wig and the shock we all felt as she flung it off of her head into the air?  We laughed and laughed.  It was not a perfect moment but it was memorable.  Whether you are lighting a menorah, an advent candle or the fire in your fireplace allow the warmth and light to fill you.  Breathe deeply and allow the aroma of this time of year to fill you and sustain you.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/15/2011

My two year old grandson was here tonight for a brief amount of time.  What a delight to have a little one around again.  My older grandson is 14 and he is a wonderful young man but he no longer wants to sit on my lap and give me kisses.  We have a beautiful nativity at our house with a light where the star is and it also has a part of it that is a music box with angels on it.  As it spins around, the angels dance and the music plays.  David's face glowed in the light of the "star" and his smile was so bright as he watched the angels go round and round.  In that moment, I remembered my children's faces when they watched the same angels dance and listened to the same music.  My memories then shifted to the nativity we had when I was a girl.  It was not nearly as fancy as this larger nativity.  My childhood nativity was about the size of a lunch box and it was designed so that the grass portion of the nativity could be pulled up and fastened at the top of the nativity.  Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the three wise men and a few barnyard animals could all fit into the nativity and once the grass covered cardboard was fastened, the whole nativity could be carried like a lunch box.  It was made out of some kind of hard cardboard and I am sure it was very inexpensive.  However, to my young eyes, it was a beautiful thing to behold.  The three wise men were in beautiful robes with golden highlights.  Two of them had dark skin which was very exotic in my eyes.  The back of the nativity was painted to look like the background of Bethlehem and the night sky had small stars painted on its deep blue.  I loved that nativity.  I loved its simplicity.  I loved what it represented.  God made manifest in His Son.  A gift to humanity.  I am no longer a traditional Christian in the sense that I once was.  I believe that we are all sons and daughters of God made manifest in the flesh.  I believe that Jesus did come for very special reasons.  His teachings and his life exemplified the best that mankind can aspire to.  I believe that Jesus ascended into the heavens and is part of a grand number of elevated souls who help us all.  I love Jesus and I know that Jesus loves us.  I also believe that he is not alone.  There are many elevated souls, also known as ascended Masters, who love humanity and help us to evolve.  The focus on the nativity may be the infant in the manger but for me, it is also the star, the Divine Light, the guiding Light  that led the three Wise men, that I focus on.  The Guiding Light is available for each and every one of us and not only at Christmas time but all the time.  Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, or no religion at all, it makes no difference.  We all carry the star within us.  When we follow that guiding light within, we find the Christ within.  We are home.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/12/2011

During this time of year there are many complaints about how commercialized the holidays have become.  It isn't that I don't agree that there is a tremendous amount of commercialism but I also believe that we can choose what we focus on.  Do you want to focus on all of the negative aspects of the holidays?  Well, go for it, but please keep it to yourself.  For me, listening to all the complaints is far more aggravating than the commercialism.  I choose to focus on the positive aspects of the holidays.  There are so many different religious holidays at this time of year as well as pagan celebrations.  This is the time of year when the nights are longest and a time when the light is especially needed and is very powerful.  This is what I choose to focus on, the light that is created when people are celebrating whatever holidays are theirs.  I choose to focus on the goodwill and the generosity that is present at this time perhaps more than any other time of the year.  I believe that part of the reason why there is more charity and kindness is that it is most needed now.  The natural tendency for humans is to slow down when the winter months come.  More time is spent indoors and more time is available for being quiet and going within.  Just as nature has slowed down and has gone within, so does mankind.  We cheer ourselves at hearth and home, grateful to come in out of the cold.  Having more time to reflect, the awareness of others is stronger.  Somehow, when the ground is stiff with frost and the leaves lie dead and brown, the plight of our fellow sojourners on this planet becomes more clear to us.  In the silence of winter, we can hear their cries more keenly.  It is our response to what we find within ourselves that brings the light.  The Christmas lights and the candles on the menorah and the candles on the mantle are but a meager representation of the true light that comes from an awakened heart.  It is this Divine light that illuminates and makes the holidays holy.  I choose to see this light in the holidays decoration and to hear this light in the Christmas music and to feel this light in the warmth of the fire and the warmth of my fellow man.  I choose to share this light through my holiday cards, phone calls, gifts, baked goods, singing, smiles and hugs.  I may not have the financial means to share as I have in the past but I can share my self.  I can pray for peace on earth and goodwill amongst men.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/10/2011

It is almost 12/11 but I am getting this message in under the wire.  Have you ever had a time in your life when you had so many unknowns that you truly had no idea what direction your life was going?  During those times, we can sit and try and figure out the future but it all remains a shadow, a blank page.  Some would argue that that is always the case, however, there are certainly times when we feel as though we are headed in a certain direction or following a particular plan.  Right now, in my life, there are so many unknowns, so many aspects of my life that are not in my control.   People ask me what direction is my life headed or what are my plans after I am no longer living with my mom.  I simply tell them that I have no idea, that I am living in the moment because that is all I can truly do right now.  For most of my life, I have always been working on something.  A pregnant woman may not know all the details of her unborn baby or what her labor is going to be like but she does have a direction.  She knows that most likely she will be a mother within a certain amount of time.  A person going to college may not know what their grades are going to be or how challenging some classes might be but there is usually a plan for their degree.  They have something to work on in the present that is hopefully helping them move on into their future.  My life is not like that in the current moment.  In truth, I can only plan for the near future and I must be ready to change those plans easily.  I cannot think my way into my future and I cannot work my way into my future.  I can feel my way.  I can pray my way.  I can meditate and receive information.  I can trust that I will know what I need to know when the time comes.  I can trust that when it is time for me to think, I will indeed think and when it is time for me to work toward a new goal, I will know it is time.  In the meantime, I still strive to be present, to release the past, to trust myself more completely every day.  When I speak of trusting myself, I truly mean trusting my Divine Self, my Goddess within.  I pray the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/9/2011

Tomorrow there is going to be a full lunar eclipse.  If you live on the west coast it is supposed to be quite visible.  It will begin at 3:33 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Aside from being an interesting visual phenomena there is a lot of power in lunar eclipses.  This is a good time to create some sacred space for yourself.  The energy of the lunar eclipse is strongest when it is actually occurring but the energy begins prior to those moments.   Today is a good day to create some quiet time for yourself and spend time in prayer and meditation.  This is a good time to ask questions of the Divine.  This is a good time to evaluate your life and determine if you need to take a new direction in any area of your life.  Today, tomorrow and Sunday will all be good days for reflection.  What inspiration and information do you desire to receive from the Divine?  Allow yourself the time to reflect on all of the areas of your life and see what comes to you in the ethereal mirror.  For myself, I love to go to the marsh and to the slough to reflect.  Yesterday, the sky was partly sunny and there was little wind.  I stood at the edge of the slough and gazed out at its beauty.  There is a finger of land that appears like an island in the middle of the slough.  It is covered with trees and other diverse forms of vegetation.  Even in the late fall with much of it dormant there are enough evergreen tree to retain much of its green.  However, the moist conditions of the marsh and slough create the perfect environment for many varieties of moss and lichens.  The pale green lichens create ghostly and ethereal trees and the moss hangs down like ghostly beards of men long passed.  In the stillness of the marsh I hear birds calling.  A large fish of some kind leaps out of the water creating a splash and ripples emanate out from its brief contact with the slough's surface.  A pair of snow geese glide upon the still waters creating a silver sheen of droplets as they take flight.  Their young remains behind, calmly and slowly floating upon the water, seemingly unaware of my presence.  The reflections of the trees upon the edges of the slough are clear and shimmer as they move  in the gentle ripples.  Gazing into the reflection, I cannot move my eyes away.  I am mesmerized by the shimmering beauty.  I am called by this reflection to go within it, to know that often our reflections can be more real than what we perceive in the physical.  In that moment, the reflection felt more real than the physical trees that loomed above the water's edge.  Go within.  Find your own reflection of God for this is more real than your physical self.  Find your own shimmering self and immerse yourself in this beauty.  Allow your shimmering reflection of God to emanate out and create ripples in the lives of those around you.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/8/2011

I looked back to see when I started writing my daily messages and ended up reading a message from January of 2010.  The message was about the importance of saying whatever it is you need to say to someone and doing it now.  Two days ago I wrote the story of how a simple gift I had given had meant a great deal to a girl that I did not even know.  We do not know how our actions and our words can truly affect other people.  A kind gesture, a simple act of courtesy, a smile, an honest compliment can turn someone else's day into something special.  Do you have someone you could thank?  Is there a person who deserves an apology from you?  Can you think of someone who may need a hand up from you?  It does not have to be a grand gesture but something from the heart.  When is the last time you told your loved ones how much they mean to you?  Have you hesitated in the past only to lose the opportunity because someone moved away or your relationship changed or they died?  Personally, I don't wish to have regrets.  Yes, I know that we are infinite and that I will always have opportunity but there are good reasons to not wait for eternity!  The other day in the post office, a woman that I do not know first told me how nice I looked and that she liked the colors I had chosen to wear.  Before leaving the post office, we exchanged our names and I smiled as I left.  She told me what a beautiful smile I have.  I have been told that many times, that I have a beautiful smile.  I am very appreciative of that because I do not have very nice teeth.  I used to be self conscious of my teeth although it has never prevented me from smiling. It still surprises me when a person tells me that and yet I know they are telling me the truth.  She had no reason to say otherwise.  A simple kindness and yet it created such warmth inside of me.  Go ahead, create a bit of warmth in someone else's life.  Help an elderly neighbor stack their firewood.  Call an old friend just to tell them how much you appreciate your years of friendship.  Apologize if you are aware you have hurt someone else's feelings.  Even if you don't receive a response, know that you have done a good thing.  Feel the heat.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/7/2011

This morning in meditation, I asked Spirit what I should be focusing on in my life right now.  I have certain constraints to deal with in my life because I live with and help care for my mother.  It is not feasible for me to work full time or even have an office at this point.  It is a strange place to be in at age 57.  My personal desires are to be building my spiritual and counseling practice.  However, I must be satisfied at times with working on that on spiritual levels and trusting that I will manifest more into the physical as my life changes.  The answer I received was to focus on NOW.  The message was to focus on whatever is in front of me in the moment.  If I need to spend time taking my mom to appointments or researching medical insurance for her, then that is what I should focus on.  If I have an opportunity to spend time with other spiritual seekers then that is what I should focus on.  NOW.  In other words, dwelling on the past is not the answer unless there is something from my past that presents itself in the NOW.  Spending too much time thinking about the future is not the best use of my time unless there is something connected to my future that is right in front of me, NOW.  It sounds easy.  For me, it is not easy but I can say that it can be simple.  It is like mindful meditation, bringing the attention back to the present, again and again and again.  One of the necessary ingredients to being able to focus on NOW is trust.  Trust that the future will unfold in the very best way for me without me having to be at the wheel.  Trust that if there is something I need to be doing, I will have that awareness and do not need to be overly concerned about doing things right.  Trust that whatever is in the present moment that it is deserving of my attention and that when something else is important for me to focus on, it will also present itself to me.  I have found that when I feel at loose ends and I cannot seem to find a focus it is because I am trying to look too far ahead.  When I stop and breathe and ask how I could best spend my day, I find the answers and they are always rooted in NOW.  I do not need to concern myself with finding an editor if my book is not finished.  That is not the best use of NOW.  Writing the book is the best use of my time unless something else presents itself and lets me know that it needs my attention NOW.  There are days I muscle test to determine how to spend my day.  This is helpful because it gets me out of my head.  What is also helpful is being willing to go with the flow.  What may appear to be most important in the early morning may change by noon and change again by the afternoon.  Being willing to go with the flow is another way of being in the NOW.  And, now my attention is being called to breakfast!  Love and Light, Shirley

12/6/2011

The Christmas Caboodle

For many years, at Christmas time, my children, my husband and I would choose Angels off of an Angel tree with which to share our abundance.  The Angels were children who were living in poverty and for whom there would be no Christmas except for people like my husband and myself who were willing to share.  I wanted to share with others less fortunate and I wanted my children to be a part of that sharing.  Every year, they would choose Angels from the tree that were their age.  I remember that as the years passed and my children became older, it became more challenging to choose gifts for unknown adolescents.  The year that my daughter was 14, we chose a 14 year old girl as one of our Angels.  I put a lot of thought into her gift.  I asked myself what would I have wished to receive at 14, if it was my only gift?  I decided that I would have wanted to receive many small gifts instead of one large gift.  I bought a Caboodle for her which is a carrying case for cosmetics and other items designed for fixing up one's appearance.  A Caboodle, which was the brand name, contained all kinds of compartments and drawers in various sizes.  I carefully shopped for small items to fit into each compartment.  Makeup, jewelry, hair accessories and other inexpensive items that I hoped this girl would like went into the Caboodle.  It was not an expensive gift but I truly put my heart into it knowing that I would never know who received it or if she liked it.  We eventually finished up our shopping, wrapped our gifts to the Angels and deposited them at the Angel tree.  I left behind the gifts but I still remembered the Caboodle.  Somehow, it felt so important to me and I did not truly understand why. 

At that time in my life, I worked as a FRS therapist, a Family Reconciliation Counselor.  I went into people's homes and helped them to resolve family conflicts, especially those involving adolescents.  Every year at Christmas time, it was one of the busiest times of the year for me.  The holidays are stressful and especially painful for those who lack enough money to meet some of their basic needs, much less have money to celebrate.  Several years had passed since I gave the caboodle and it was once again Christmas time.  I received a call that there was a family needing my counseling skills.  I met with them and one of the family members was a lovely 16 year old girl.  She seemed wise beyond her years and she was such a pleasure to work with.  Her parents were stressed from their lack of money and the pressures of the holiday.  They had no money for gifts and did not even have the extra money for a holiday meal.  I asked the girl how she was doing and she said that she did not mind getting no gifts but she worried about a younger sibling.  Suddenly, she looked up at me and with shining eyes, she told me about a magical Christmas they had had two years before.  She told me how people had showed up at their door bearing gifts for everyone, including her parents and a huge basket of food with everything they needed for a Christmas feast.  She said it was the best Christmas ever.  I listened, holding back my tears as I reflected back upon my own history and acknowledged within myself that I had nothing to compare to this sweet young woman.  She proceeded to tell me that the gift she received that year was the best present she had ever been given.  It was a Caboodle and every compartment was filled with something new.  She smiled a big smile and told me that opening that gift was like a treasure hunt and even though she isn't getting gifts this year, she can remember that year and still smile.  As she told me what she found in each drawer and compartment I knew, without a doubt, that she had received the Caboodle I had so carefully shopped for.

 My tears were threatening to cascade down my face.  I knew that it was not appropriate for me to tell her that it came from me.  I left the session and cried all the way home.  I cried knowing that I had made a difference in her life.  I cried knowing that it really does not have to take a grand gesture to bring joy to someone else.  I cried for all the children who would not be remembered at Christmas.  I cried out of gratitude that I was given this gift from her.  She has no idea how much her words affected me.  I received far more from her than she possibly could have received from my gift, at least that is how it felt to me.  In truth, gifts do not have to be measured.  They are there to be given freely.  They are there to be received and appreciated and given thanks for.  And so, I gave freely and I received and I still give thanks for her shining face, her bright eyes and her grateful heart.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/2/2011

This holiday season is often referred to as the season of giving.  Personally, I think it would be better named the season of giving and receiving.  After all, no one can give unless there is someone there to receive.  It is said that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  Many people interpret this to mean it is not ok to receive but that is not so.  If something is more blessed than something else it means that the something else is also blessed.  Therefore, it is also blessed to receive.  When I look at Universal Laws such as the law of reciprocity, I see giving and receiving as more equal.  The Law of reciprocity shows that all of creation is giving and receiving.  The tree sheds its leaves and they rot into the soil, enriching the soil.  In time, the tree's roots reach out into the soil and draws its own nourishment from that very same soil it gave its leaves to.  There is reciprocity.  Giving and receiving in a natural flow.  A reluctance to receive is not a spiritual strength.  It is usually connected to feelings of discomfort or unworthiness.  Often the very same people who refuse to receive are very giving people.  However, this imbalance between giving and receiving is not from a spiritual source but from ego.  Ego can manifest itself in many ways.  Often, ego is interpreted as someone thinking they are better than others but ego can also manifest as low self esteem or a need to be separate from others.  Certainly, being reluctant to receive from others can create separation.  A refusal to receive from someone can cut the flow of love and rapport.  After all, no one always wants to be on the receiving end.  To be able to receive what someone else has to give you whether it is a material gift, their time or their help is a form of giving.  You are giving them the opportunity to share.  Receiving is not the same as being selfish because true receiving is from a spiritual source, a recognition that everyone has something to offer.  It is important that they have the opportunity to do so.  As you open your hearts and wallets to give this holiday season, keep your hearts and hands open long enough to also receive what others wish to give to you.  It is all blessed.  Love and Light, Shirley

12/1/2011

Prior to meditating today, I drew a card from a deck of cards I have that are called Soul Cards.  They are paintings of different subjects and they are designed to help take you into your subconscious mind.  I find them useful tools to use in conjunction with my meditation.  Today's card showed a man lying on the ground and to his left was mostly gray color and that side of the card was lacking most other colors.  Above him was a lovely yellow and he was gazing at his hand suspended above him.  The hand had red painted over it in a pattern that resembled a flower.  I gazed at the card prior to closing my eyes.  At one point during my meditation, I was in a celestial garden and the image of the card came to me.  In the garden, I was working to release negative thoughts and worries.  I would bring in light and have it infuse my being to release negativity.  I then remembered the hand with the red coming out of it and what came to me is that, in addition to the light, I can release negativity by tapping into my own creativity.  By tapping into my creativity, I am not merely releasing negativity but I am transforming it.  I do not have to send it away although that is perfectly valid.  I can send my negativity, for example, into Mother Earth to have it neutralized.  Yet, to transform the negativity through my own creativity is even more empowering.  It reminds me of the old saying that if you get lemons, make lemonade.  This is my goal for the next few days, to focus on the "lemons" in my life and create with them.  Everything is energy.  Everything can be transformed or transmuted into something else.  So, if I encounter what feels like an obstacle or challenge, I can tap into my creativity and allow all the energy of feelings overwhelmed or disappointed or frustrated to be transformed into creative problem solving.  Instead of fighting those feelings, I can harness them and channel them into something positive.  I feel excited!  I don't normally drink lemonade in December but I have a feeling I may be this year.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/30/2011

Sunlight shines on the yellow-green leaves of the rhododendron outside my bedroom window.  It is a lovely finger of sunlight sending its golden light through the dark storm clouds surrounding it.  Its light is perceived as ever more bright because of the accompanying darkness.  Shadow and light, dance across the sky, landing upon the landscape below.  It is rainbow weather.  Rainbows can only exist where there is sunlight and rain.  I sit and ponder on the rainbows in my own life.  Those magical moments when in times of darkness and shadow, a bright light pierces the darkness and amidst the rainfall of my tears, a rainbow appears.  The rainbow is said to be a covenant from God that Earth would never again be covered by flood waters.  For myself, it is a promise from God that no matter how stormy our lives can appear, that there is always a shaft of golden light.  There is always the promise of God's rainbow.  However, in order to see a rainbow in the sky, you must look upward.  In order to see the spiritual rainbow amidst the storms of my own life, I must look upward to God, to Spirit, to my Higher Self.  When life is mostly sunny, it is easy to be grateful.  When life is stormier and more challenging, it takes greater strength to find true gratitude, it takes keen clarity to see the rainbows.  If you are in the midst of your own life storm, look higher.  Expect miracles, expect a finger of light to illuminate your darkest days.  Expect a rainbow and remember that you cannot see it if you are not looking.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/29/2011

I just wrote a long message only to have my computer go screwball and I lost it all.  I had to decide whether to write that message over again or write something new.  I decided to write something different instead.  Sometimes when we are attempting to create something in our lives and things don't go right, it is simply a message that there is something we are missing or something that needs a little adjusting in order to make it work.  Other times, the obstacles we meet may be calling for a complete do-over.  This is the time that we are meant to go back to the drawing board and begin anew.  Naturally, part of the challenge in our lives is figuring out what is being called for.  Are you running into obstacles in your own creations?  Perhaps it is time to sit and get quiet and ask for a sign of some kind.  Am I on the right path and simply need to adjust part of what I am doing?  Am I on the right path but need to release part of my creation in order to add something new?  Or, am I running into roadblocks that are truly meant to steer me in a whole new direction?  Ask for confirmation or for signs that help you to assess where you are in your creation.  In my own life, I have found that when I asked for signs and then paid attention, they always came in one form or another.  There are also those times when I forge on ahead, feeling battered by life and by the struggles, until I stop, go within and ask for the wisdom to see my choices clearly.  I love the scripture from the Bible that states, "Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened, ask and it shall be given."  I believe that when I seek from spiritual motivation, I do indeed find, doors are opened and I receive.  When I seek from my lower self, out of frustration or fear, I also find but it isn't what I want to find.  When I knock on doors from frustration and anxiety, the doors may open but they can still lead to dead ends.  Therefore, when I seek for my highest good and knock on spiritual doors for answers and ask for my highest good, I always receive what is best for me.  When I consistently pray and seek from this inner core, I know that the obstacles I face are meant to help me learn something not necessarily that I am on the wrong path.  I then seek further illumination about myself and ask for insights as to what those obstacles are bringing to me.  Again, if I am asking out of doubt and frustration, I often continue to butt my head and continue to cultivate more doubt and more frustration.  When I ask out of a true desire to know the truth, I am able to receive the gifts inherent within those obstacles.  May we all stop and listen to know whether our obstacles are meant to steer us in a totally new direction or simply to make some corrections within ourselves.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/28/2011

I connect to a group of spiritual beings that are what is known as a collective.  The best why I can describe them is that they are individual beings but they speak with one voice.  I have been in communication with them for a long while.  Some have been with me since birth and others have come in more recently beginning in 1999.  I hear them inside of my head and I write down what they are saying as I hear it.  I occasionally share a message from them in here.  That is what the message for today is going to be,  a message from this collective.  "Shirley, thank you, once again, for this opportunity to share with you and your readers.  You have called us your guides and you have referred to us as a collective.  This is fine for these are terms that you and others can more readily understand.  You have come to realize that we are not truly your individual guides for you have not needed individual guides for a very long time.  We are what could be called teachers and communicators to you and to others.  We are a collective of beings that have varied origins.  None of us had our origins in earth or in this solar system.  Your solar system is a newer system and we come from systems that have been longer in existence.  We, too, were once at a point in our development as beings, that was very similar to where you human beings are now.  We had help from other spiritual beings that were more advanced than us and now we have the privilege of working with you.  By you, we mean the collective you, not just Shirley but all of the you's.  We tell you that it is indeed a privilege to be privy to the inner workings of your race.  We applaud you.  We salute your courage and your willingness to step forward into unknown territory.  You see, we did not have to contend with many of the challenges that beset you on your planet.  This whole concept of free will is very different from how we function on our planets of origin.  You create a world where you forget who you really are and then spend your lifetimes striving to remember.  Along the way, you have all kinds of adventures and what could be called misadventures.  For most of the journey, you have forgotten that this is not true reality and you take it all so seriously.  You created free will so that you would be able to experience your choices and results in a very different manner.  Because of free will, you are much more likely to break Universal laws and learn the hard way.  Yes, this is what we could easily label your way of doing things here on earth.  Earth's motto for her people could be: We do things the hard way.  There is reason and purpose behind all this and you are able to have unique experiences that we have not had.  We watch what you are doing and it is exciting to us.  Oh, look, just see what those humans are up to!  We watch and we learn so much from you.  Few of you are aware of us and few of you are aware just how much impact you are having on the rest of creation.  If you think of creation as being a play at the theater, think of Earth as one of the great acts, one of the great mysteries.  The audience is held spell bound, waiting to see what its most interesting characters choose next.  No one knows the end, not even the actors themselves.  We watch this play, our breath suspended, so to speak, as we wait to see what mankind chooses.  The most fascinating part of all is that mankind does not understand that they are writing the script themselves.  No one else is writing the script.  The only outside force are the forces of Universal Laws.  There is no Being outside of yourself determining your personal fate.  You are the God that you look to for help.  You are the magical Ones that creates such beauty and grace right here on earth.  You can also be your own enemy.  It is all up to you.  Truly.  The lucky ones amongst you are the ones who have finally understood this.  It is a terrible responsibility to become your own God.  It is also the most freeing experience you can ever have.  Embrace your own divinity.  Trust yourself and then create whatever world you wish to be in.  We hope to see you there, applauding you all the way through the last act.  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share with you.  Thank you to Shirley for being willing to post this message to you. We love you, Shirley.  We bring the message of love and light to all beings.  Love, US"  Well, I never know what will come out of my communications with this collective that just refers to itself as "US". I pray that you all found it helpful.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/25/2011

I almost did not get today's message in.  It was a busy day putting away all the china, glassware and getting the house cleaned up after yesterday.  I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.  I am very grateful for my own.  My brother and his wife gave me my birthday present yesterday.  My birthday was on the 11th and my sister-in-law's birthday is on the 7th so I gave her her gift as well.  I was so blessed by a beautiful gift of several different stones.  I have spent hours searching to find out what the different stones are.  Not only does each stone have its own unique beauty, each has its own unique properties that can be used for our benefit.  One of the stones is called a picture jasper.  It is said that it is the Earth Mother speaking to her children.  Each stone is said to contain messages for those who can read them.  I have not had the time to see if I can read it but my intuition tells me that I will be able to.  I don't believe that things are random and that there are very specific reasons why I received the stones that I did.  I also find it very interesting that I had already received an aquamarine stone from a friend as well as a aquamarine bracelet.  Another friend made me a beautiful rose quartz and amethyst stone necklace, bracelet and earring set.  I had already renewed my interest in stones and crystals and renewed my relationships with some of my crystals.  I am excited and I am looking forward to the coming days and weeks to see what gifts come from using these "friends" that come from the earth.  I sleep with a kyanite and ruby sphere.  I hold it in my hand and I am amazed how I can wake hours later and the sphere will still be in my hand.  This lovely stone brings peace of mind, helps with meditation, helps to calm our dreams and helps us to connect to our spirit guides and other spiritual connections.  I was guided to start taking it to bed with me a few weeks ago.  I sleep better when I do.  Sometimes I forget and I do not wake as rested when I do.  I highly recommend that you begin exploring the gifts of stones and crystals if you are not already doing so.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/24/2011

Happy Thanksgiving!  To give thanks is one of the most powerful things you can ever do.  When we give thanks and we are truly grateful for what is in our lives we send out an energetic wave of love into the Universe that has a boomerang effect.  I envision that boomerang gaining momentum as it passes through the Collective Unconscious of Earth, passing through the atmosphere and on out into the far reaches of our galaxy.  Beautiful sparkles of gratitude glitter in the deep dark bringing light and love.  Like magical fairy dust they transform anyone and everything that they touch.  Your gratitude can lift the spirits of everyone and everything here on earth.  Your gratitude can go beyond the reaches of Mother Earth.  And all those beautiful sparkles that glisten like frost illuminated by a full autumn moon return to you many fold.  The more you are grateful, the more you will find that you have to be grateful for.  For just as tiny metal filings are drawn to a magnet, so are the sparkles of gratitude drawn back to you and your magnetic self.  For just a moment, imagine the amount of gratitude that is glittering our world and beyond on Thanksgiving Day.  As millions of people give thanks, the heavens are illuminated.  Every day can be Thanksgiving Day.  Every day we can feast on the bounty of life and give thanks for our abundance.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/23/2011

Yesterday, I was listening to my guides and writing what they were saying.  They were talking about the importance and significance of praying for my Highest Good.  They told me that it is the best prayer I can pray because whatever is for my Highest Good is automatically what is best for everyone's Highest Good.  This may not always seem to be so when viewed through the eyes of our lower self.    Often life appears to be unfair and what may benefit one person can seem to cause suffering to another.  Yet, viewed through the eyes of our Higher Self we can see the perfection in all things.  We can see that what we perceive as suffering is often something we have called to us either by disobeying Universal Laws or because we know that there is a greater purpose to the suffering.  When anyone prays for their Highest Good, they are automatically praying for the Highest Good of ALL.  It may not be a conscious prayer but we are all connected.  In truth, we are all one, therefore my Highest Good IS your Highest Good as well.  Our Highest Good may not always be recognized as such because we can often have narrow definitions of what constitutes good.  Losing every thing a person owns in a house fire may not seem as though it could possibly be for that person's Highest Good.  Yet, perhaps, the soul has been longing for that person to release his or her attachments to material belongings.  Perhaps by losing the material, this person turns back to the spiritual after a long separation on their part.  Perhaps they are in need of learning how to receive from others and this gives others an opportunity to reach out to them and share some of their belongings with them.  Perhaps they have been so tightly clinging to the past that there is no room for the present and they are literally living in the past and missing what is.  Whatever the reasons may be, there is a Higher Purpose and it is always for our Highest Good.  We are all moving on a spiritual path to wholeness and reunion.  Some may not be conscious of this and others are very conscious, however, we are all on a path.  Some souls will take much longer to reach that reunion but I believe all will eventually make it.  Each time we receive our Highest Good and we are able to recognize it, whether we perceive it as pleasant or unpleasant, we are one step closer.  As each soul climbs higher and higher, it is a gift to the whole.  It helps bring ALL closer to wholeness.  My prayer today is for my Highest Good and for the Highest Good of everyone.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/22/11

Yesterday was my brother, Doug's birthday.  My brother was born on 11/21/1951 and I was born on 11/11/1954.  We were very close growing up together and on into our adult lives.  His life was cut short on 1/1/1990.  His death was the most heart-rending, devastating experience in my life at that time.  I mourned on such a deep level for so many years that I could not conceive that I would ever get over it.  It is true.  I never "got over it".  We do not get over someone's death but we can learn to live our lives without their presence on the physical plain.  Because my birthday is ten days before his, my mom and I used to go shopping on my birthday for my present and for his.  In those first few years after his death, I simply could not go shopping on my birthday because it was too painful.  Mom and I never did celebrate my birthday in that particular way again.  Instead, over time, we created new traditions and celebrations.  Sometimes, this is the way we can cope with loss.  Instead of trying to recreate a tradition that no longer fits, we can create something new.  With the holidays approaching, this is something I wanted to share with my readers.  So often, people keep trying to recreate holidays because of childhood memories or because of the media created version of what the holidays mean.  For some people, this may work just fine.  However, for many others, it is not working.  In families where there are addiction issues the holidays can be a frightening roller coaster ride.  Will Uncle Harry come to Thanksgiving all tanked up as he did last year?  How can we have a family celebration and not invite Betty's sister, even though she frequently ends up having an emotional tantrum that upsets everyone else?  How can we have Thanksgiving dinner when dad has left the family and is living with his secretary?  How can we have a "normal" Thanksgiving when grandma died last summer and she always cooked the dinner?  Perhaps for those families, the goal is not to create Thanksgiving as it was but to create something new.  There is nothing wrong with setting boundaries and letting Uncle Harry know that this is an alcohol free dinner.  There is nothing wrong with letting Betty's sister know that her tantrums are not welcome, therefore she needs to make other plans.  If dad is not there to carve the turkey and mom is overwhelmed with being a single parent, there is nothing wrong with buying a turkey breast or better yet, how about pizza and a handful of fun movies?  If grandma is not there to cook the meal and no one else wants to step up and take her place, why not have a potluck?  Memories are wonderful to have but they are not there to attempt to recreate.  For myself, my life has morphed and changed so many times that I have had to let go of what once was in order to enjoy what is.  I am divorced and living at my mom's house right now so although we are having dinner here, it is not the same as when I once had it at my own home.  My son is now living in Mexico and has not been home for Thanksgiving since 2004.  My brother Steve has remarried and my daughter is in the process of adopting a little boy.  Losses and gains, shifts and changes are all a part of life.  My dad passed away in 2009 so this will be the third Thanksgiving without his wonderful presence.  Wow.  Just writing that down makes me more aware of how life has changed.  Thanksgiving.  Giving Thanks.  I can give thanks even in the midst of my losses because something is only lost or missed because it was important.  I miss my brother Doug.  I miss my dad.  I miss much about my old life but I give thanks.  Thank you to Doug for the 35 years you were in my life.  Thank you to dad for everything you did for me and for the strong foundation you laid in my life so that I could have a good life.  Thank you to my ex-husband for our children and grandchildren and for all those years we were happy and productive together.  All of you may not be sitting in a chair at the dinner table but you are a part of my past, which is a part of me, which can never be taken away.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/18/11

Listening to our intuition can often pay off in unexpected ways.  I was getting ready to go to an agency over in the neighboring city of Aberdeen.  I live in a small town of approximately 1500 people and Aberdeen is the "big" city of 16,000 people.  As I approached the main street and was preparing to turn left, I felt compelled to turn right instead and go to City Hall.  I have friends who work at City Hall and numerous times that I have been guided to go there, it has been because one or more of their family members on the other side of the veil have had a message for them. I am a medium and have communicated those messages.  I have learned in the past couple of years since I moved back here to just follow my intuition even if it makes no sense.  I went into City Hall only to discover that they were leaving for a ribbon cutting ceremony down on the main street in town.  I had not heard about it.  I was invited to come as there was free food and it was an important celebration for the town.  We had had some beautification work done on the main street which is also a highway that runs through town.  This was a project that had been in the works for over eighteen years and had finally come to fruition through the hard work and determination of many people.  At first, I was so focused on what I had originally planned to do that I declined and I told my friends I would see them later.  As I drove away, I realized that, no, it was more important for me to go to the ribbon cutting ceremony and I could accomplish my other task next week.  I was so glad I did.  Living in a small town is a unique experience.  There is a closeness and friendliness that is heartwarming.  I grew up in this small town and remembered what it was like to go to the grocery store or the Corner Store and have everyone know each other.  People used to make a conscious effort to buy from merchants that lived in our small town.  However, over the years, things changed and many of the businesses closed.  Small grocery stores became a thing of the past as larger grocery chains came in and smaller stores could no longer compete.  When I was growing up, we had our own pharmacy, grocery store, two restaurants, two service stations and more.  Back then, they were called service stations because you did not simply buy gas, your cars could be serviced in town.  People did not have to go to Aberdeen for many of their daily needs.  Small towns were more self-contained back then.  As the grocery stores closed, the libraries combined with Regional libraries and more and more of what we needed was found in the neighboring city, some of the sense of community was diminished.  Today, I felt some of that old community spirit and pride alive in Cosmopolis.   We now have two small restaurants that sit across the street from each other.  They are both fairly new and one of them is brand new.  The new coffee shop also had its ribbon cutting ceremony today.  Both restaurants made absolutely delicious food that was free to all who participated.  After the ceremony was over, I sat at the coffee shop and talked to the new owners.  This was the third time I had visited with them and they are such a blessing to our small town.  In the meantime, the owner of the restaurant  across the street (who is also a wonderful benefit to our town)  came over and they talked about joining together to create a discount coupon for each restaurant.  It was wonderful to listen to them talk.  Instead of viewing each other as competition, they were finding ways to enhance each others businesses and create a united effort.  This is how we will survive and thrive through the economic challenges many of us face.  By joining forces with each other and creating community efforts we will be reflecting the true energy of the Age of Aquarius.  Aquarius is the sign of the humanitarian.  Cooperation and community will create a new abundance unlike that of "rugged individualism" and competition.  I am excited and enthusiastic and filled with positive anticipation to see how my small community unfolds in the coming months and years.  What a rich way to end my day.  Thank goodness, I listened to those inner stirrings to go to City Hall even though I could think of no rational reason why I should.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/17/2011

I just finished a phone session with a woman where I am teaching her how to use a book called "Cards of Your Destiny" by Robert Lee Camp.  I have mentioned this book before as I have found it to be a very helpful tool for myself as well as my clients.  I love teaching!  I find myself getting so excited as I share the different ways that she can use the book.  I love giving her the shortcuts and pointers that I had to learn for myself.  I do believe that the best things we can teach to someone else are those things that we have learned for ourselves firsthand.  There is a great deal of value in our individual personal experiences.  Not everyone wants to be a teacher but I believe that everyone is a teacher.  We all have something to share with others and others have something to share with us.   When I am able to teach someone else about something that I am passionate about, I can feel myself coming to life!   I can feel that excitement and passionate energy run through me especially as the other person gains understanding.  There are times I am not certain which "aha's" excite me more, my own or someone I am sharing my knowledge with.  When that light bulb turns on in my mind or another person's mind, I can feel a rush of energy.  One of my goals for my life is that I am able to increase the amount of time I am able to spend teaching others.  I also desire more people who are interested in what I have to offer.  This is part of why I write these messages.  I wish to share with others the experiences, information, wisdom and lessons that I have learned for myself.  If one person learns something new from reading my messages, I am a happy girl.  What do you have to share with others?  When I have asked that question to people in some of my workshops, I have often heard others say that they don't really have anything to teach others.  That never proves to be true.  In the class or workshop, I, as well as the other participants, help each person explore and discover hidden gifts and talents.  For example, one woman said that she was just a housewife.  She had spent the majority of her life caring for her husband, children and home.  She did not see what she had to teach others.  Part of why she discounted so much of her own knowledge is that much of her life was spent doing things that came easy to her.  She was someone who was a natural good cook.  What I mean by that is that she was able to quickly understand how to cook and was a good cook at a young age.  She had natural instincts and so cooking, for her, was something that she rarely had to concentrate on in order to produce good results.  Because it came easy to her, she did not think of it as a gift but more as a commonplace skill that most women have.  She was so wrong.  There were other women in the group who did not have the natural instincts to be good cooks and one woman shared that she struggles to make the simplest meals tasty.  During the break, I could hear the women talking and watched as the woman,  who is the good cook, came to life and her face lit up as she shared some cooking tips with the woman who was struggling.  We all have something to share with others.  I would love to hear from others on this subject.  You are always free to email me at shirleyairhart@yahoo.com  Love and Light, Shirley

11/16/2011

Have you ever been around someone who was so wound up over something that they were literally breathless?  Perhaps you have found yourself in that state yourself.  What do we usually say to them?  We tell them to slow down and take a breath.  Take a breath.  Breathing is something that we do every moment of our existence, yet, there is much more to our breath than simply keeping us alive.  Our breath can slow us down and relax us, if we become conscious of our breath and learn to slow it down.  Most people living in the United States are shallow breathers and do not even know it.  If you watch a baby breathing you will notice how he breathes with his whole body.  The same is usually true of small children although children being raised in highly stressful environments develop shallow breathing at a much younger age.  Why is that?  Our breath connects us to our emotions.  Therefore, the deeper we breathe, the more connected to our emotions we are.  What do you do if you are fearful or nervous about something?  Often, people will hold their breath.  We hold our breath because it is a mechanism to dull our anxiety.  If there is too much anxiety, then holding our breath occurs more often and shallow breathing becomes more common place.  By breathing deeply, we are allowing ourselves to access more of our true self.  As a therapist,  when I am working with clients and they are sharing painful experiences, I will often remind them to breathe as they talk.  I do this so that they will allow the muffled and often buried emotions to emerge.  Buried emotions are not truly gone.  They are stored in our cells and affect our body in many damaging ways.  Breathe your way back to yourself.  I encourage you to do deep breathing five minutes a day.  Just five minutes of deep breathing will create greater consciousness and help you to access your true emotions and true self more easily.  Allow yourself to express your feelings.  If your feelings are simply too overwhelming, please seek professional help.  You deserve to be happy.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/15/2011

I mentioned yesterday that I have been moving things out of my daughter's house and putting them into storage.  I also decided to go through the things in my bedroom and simplify my room.  Now that I have storage and can access my belongings, I can keep less in my bedroom.  I live with my mother which is why I have so many things in my bedroom.  It is my bedroom/office/library all in one.  I am by nature someone who loves order and space and simplicity.  Living in such cramped quarters has been a challenge for me.  Therefore, I am very grateful that I can now fill up the storage room and release more space in my room.  I am almost done with reorganizing my room and it feels wonderful.  I am reminded of other times when I have cleaned out and let go of excess.  Sometimes even the smallest changes can create a larger effect.  Do you have areas of your life that you need to change?  Does that sometimes seem overwhelming?  I know I do.  However, I am going to apply some of the same principles that helped me organize my room to some of these other areas.  For example, I need to eat healthier.  I believe that by reorganizing the kitchen, I can make it easier to fix healthier food.  Clutter in the kitchen can result in cluttered eating.  By organizing and creating more structure and simplicity, I will have more motivation to take the time to fix better food.  Simplify, simplify, simplify.  If you have an area of your life where you are not as successful as you would like to be, take an honest look and see if there are ways you can simplify and let go of things that do not truly matter.  There are many areas of our lives where we can be hanging onto something that is no longer necessary.  Budgets, relationships, bedrooms, kitchens, careers and more often benefit from a good spring cleaning at any time of the year.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/14/11

I have been busy and have missed writing some of my daily messages.  I have been moving my stuff that has been stored in my daughter's attic for the last two years and putting it into storage. It has been strange to have most of my belongings packed up in boxes and tubs and stuck away for such a long while.  Some of my things are packed in clear plastic tubs so I am able to see some of them.  It is as though I am looking at bits and pieces of my life.  I know it is still not time to unpack the boxes and create my own home again. There is something reassuring and comforting about seeing some of my familiar things.  I know it is important to not be too attached to things.  Buddha talked long and often about the importance of not being attached.  I am all too aware as I have had to detach and let go over and over and over.  I would like to say that I am completely nonattached to my belongings but that is not true.  If I was, I would not miss them.  I do know this much.  I am not as attached as I once was.  I have left go of so much in the last several years of my life that I know I can detach.  I would recover if I had to let go of more.  My guides once told me that I must let go of everything and have nothing in order to have everything.  At first glance, that does not appear to make any sense at all.  However, I do understand what they meant.  If I can detach and let go to the point that there is nothing I can lose that really matters, then in a sense I have everything because whatever the Universe provides is more than enough.  If I do not require my own home, then I can be happy without one.  If I do not require having certain belongings, then I am not held hostage by my desire for them.  If I do not require that I be married, then I can be content as a single woman.  It is the wanting or needing or believing that I require certain things in my life that brings me disappointment and suffering.  Do not misunderstand me.  I am not speaking of detaching from having my most basic needs met.  It is usually the manner in which those needs are met that becomes what we are attached to.  I strive to find a balance between having dreams for the future at the same time that I am at peace with today.  I guess that those tubs are a good symbol of that for me.  I accept that today, most of my belongings are in tubs in storage at the same time that I dream of one day having a home of my own and a reason to unpack them. I can dream and accept at the same time.  Acceptance means I am reconciled to the present and dreaming leaves room for change.  What are in your tubs?  What dreams or goals do you have in storage?  Are there reasons why some of them must be on hold?  Don't despair.  Find a way to accept what is as best you can.  Then, take some time and look inside your boxes and tubs.  Remind yourself that many possibilities still lie ahead.  Go ahead and dream even as you put the lids back on and lock the storage door.  Who knows?  Perhaps, moving day is sooner than you think.  Love and Light, Shirley

11/11/11

Today is a very special and blessed day for Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants.  There is an extra influx of spiritual light that is being sent to us today.  11 is a Master number and represents many different things but one of the energetic qualities of the number 11 is that it helps the physical transform into the spiritual.  For those people who have 11 in their own numerology, they have abilities to help in this transformation.  However, the 11 energy is not found in people only.  Anywhere and everywhere that the number 11 can be found, this hidden potential exists.  Pythagorus, was the founder of one of the greatest Mystery schools that was based on mathematics.  Pythagorus stated that everything can be reduced to numbers and eventually down to one number.  However, in the case of what is called Master numbers, those double digit numbers of the same number, such as 11,22, 33, 44 and so on, these numbers are not reduced down to a single digit but remain double.  This is because of the spiritual energy contained within them.  Many who study numerology base their lives and many of the decisions in their lives on numerology, just as many people use astrology as a guide.  In truth, they are both metaphysical sciences that are separate systems both expressing similar concepts.  One of those concepts is that there is a Divine plan, a blueprint to our lives and that nothing is truly random.  There are certain events in our lives that were predetermined and can be found in our astrological charts and our numerological charts. I have found this to be true in my own life.  Much can be learned about ourselves by studying our astrological chart.  Much can be determined by the exact moment of our birth.  Numerologists use the birth date and our name given to us at birth in order to create our personal numerological chart.  It is important to understand that just as each of us, as individuals, have our own unique birth date and blueprint for our lives, so does Mother Earth.  Mother Earth is an expression of her birth date and her numerology.  Divine events and interventions were set into motion eons ago.  One of those Divine events is being expressed today through the Master energy of 11/11/11.  Spiritual light is being sent to Mother Earth to be absorbed into her core.  Many call this the Crystalline Grid.  For myself, I think of it as her heart.  The heart of Mother Earth is being filled with an enormous influx of love and light.  As inhabitants upon the Mother, we are also receiving this influx of light.  All beings upon the Mother are receiving this influx of light whether they are conscious of it or not.  If you wish to experience it more consciously, simply envision that Divine light is coming in through your crown chakra at the top of your head.  This light is going to every part of your body.  Every chakra is opening up and receiving more Divine Light.  Your pituitary gland, your pineal gland, indeed all the glands of your body are opening to receive.  Your brain and your nervous system is opening to this influx of energy.  Envision this light running through your nervous system and your blood going to every organ, every system and every cell of your body.  As you fill with this love and light, now envision this light coming out through the bottoms of your feet, the palms of your hands, your root chakra and your heart chakra.  With your love and intention, send it down into the core of Mother Earth.  By sending this light with love and gratitude, you are now multiplying its energy.  Do not ever underestimate your ability to be a transmitter of Divine Light and Divine Love.  As you envision this process, now expand your vision and see and feel that there are people all over the world that are doing the same thing.  Millions of people are consciously transmitting this light to Mother Earth.  Billions more are transmitting this light unconsciously.  What a miracle.  What an amazing time to be alive here on Earth.  My own spiritual guidance is telling me that even if you are reading this message and it is past the 11/11/11 date, to not worry because by simply reading this message you are still participating.  In the spiritual realm, time and space have completely different meanings and are not linear.  Therefore, any time a person reads this and still participates in envisioning this influx and influence, it will enhance that reality.  I wish you all a very blessed 11/11/11.  With this new influx of light, it is as though Mother Earth is being born anew.  She and all of her inhabitants are being given a new birth, a fresh start as new beings.  Today is my birthday, so I am very familiar with the 11/11 energy.  I wish us all a very happy birth day as we move into a new light filled reality.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 10, 2011

I have mentioned before that I live with my mother and that part of what I have been doing for the last two years is cleanup on a massive scale on four different pieces of my parent's property.  My dad had his own junk yard and for as long as I can remember, he was always saying that he was "gonna clean up the yard."  My dad was a master at gathering and collecting things but not so good at getting rid of them.  He died in 2009 at the age of 84 and he died doing exactly what he loved, loading his truck with more scrap iron!  He left behind a scrap yard, acres full of scrap iron as well as two warehouses stuffed full.  His shop at their house was so full inside and out that it took me five months just to clear out enough stuff so that we could have a sale.  I have made over 100 trips to the dump and countless trips to the recycling yard, hazardous waste and the Salvation Army.  It has been a long and often exhausting journey.  It has not been without its blessings.  My own guidance has talked to me often throughout this process.  They have told me to regard all of the mess as my own.  Of course, they are not simply referring to the physical items and the physical messes but are referring to them being my own garbage on emotional, mental and spiritual levels.  There is reason and purpose to everything.  There are very good reasons why it is primarily me who is doing this massive cleanup.  I have been told and I know it is true, that I committed to this task before I incarnated.  I made spiritual agreements to take care of the massive chaos left behind by my dad but also created by my mom and one of my brothers.  I have had people ask me, why would I commit to this?  My answer is two-fold.  First, there are difficult circumstances that arise in our lives and they may be karmic.  In other words, we are somehow balancing the scales of karma.  Since few of us can remember every lifetime and every moment of our existence, then few of us can know if we are the "victim" of our circumstances or we are balancing the scales of justice.  My second answer to that question is that we often make spiritual agreements prior to incarnating because it is part of what we wish to give to the world.  This is sometimes called selfless service.  In other words, we agreed to carry out difficult tasks in our lifetime and they may be thankless tasks.  They may be tasks that wear us out clear down to our bones.  They are tasks that we would like to run from.  However, if we stay the course, and try our best to release all feelings of being a victim, if we open our minds and hearts to the possibility that whatever we are challenged with may be part of a spiritual agreement, we can be victorious.  A friend of mine sent me a lovely email today.  He made reference to what I have been doing.  He had been an important part of some of the cleanup back in the beginning.  He said that few would make that journey with such intent and determination.  Thank you, Cliff.  You made my day.  Those are important words for all of us.  Intent and determination.  It is so helpful to examine our intent and to open our minds to the possibility that we have an even higher intent than we may be aware of.  When I tap into that awareness of higher intent, it strengthens my determination.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 9, 2008

If you did not read yesterday's entry, you may wish to read it first, as this is a continuation of yesterday's story.  I have already shared part of the magical wonder of how I listened to my guidance and was able to see the full lunar eclipse on 11/8/03.  I would like to now share some other events of that night.  When I was dressing to leave the health spa, I broke one of my bra straps.  I had nothing to mend it with and I had very little extra time so I simply removed my bra and left the spa braless.  I am a queen-size woman with a large bust, so this was quite uncomfortable for me.  I would normally not be seen in public without a bra.  However, I felt I had no choice.  I left the spa and had the experience at the park and ride that I already shared yesterday.  Following my time of prayer and meditation, I realized that I was very hungry.  First, I thought I would go to the Subway that was located at the end of the parking lot where I was parked.  However, I then remembered that I did not have a bra on and I knew I did not wish to walk around Subway in such a state.  Instead, I decided to drive back towards home.  I knew that at 7:30 p.m. I had plans to go to a spiritual event in Montesano, a small city that was located ten miles from my home.  I drove back towards Montesano and arrived at 6:45.  I knew I was 45 minutes early and I thought I would go and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant.  Then, I remembered that I did not have a bra on! I then thought that I would go home and put a bra on as I had just enough time.  However, something inside of me told me not to do that. It was not a logical decision but I decided to park in front of the house where the event was scheduled and wait.  I knew that it was most likely going to be an event with all women so I was not concerned about my braless state.  I sat and watched and began to notice there was a lot of women already gathered so I went inside even though it was still early.  To my surprise, the woman leading this event soon announced it was time for us to take our seats.  It turns out that I had the time wrong and it was slated to begin at 7:00.  I looked back and realized that had I not broken my bra strap and listened to my intuition about going home to change, I would have been late for the meeting.  This spiritual event proved to be a very powerful spiritual initiation that was pivotal in my spiritual growth.  I have had people ask me if I think the bra strap was somehow broken on purpose so that the sequence of events happened the way that they did.  I don't know although I do think it is possible. Had my bra strap not broken I might have eaten at Subway and been late.  I don't think that is what would have happened.  Most likely I would have received another one of those irrational confusing messages that would have eventually led me to the meeting early.  I believe that the most important part to the events of that night had to do with me listening to my inner voice even when it did not make rational sense to me.  After all, why would I not go home and put on a bra?  It makes no rational sense when you look at the situation.  I believed I had plenty of time before the meeting started.  Yet, something told me to stay.  Because I listened, I had one of the most meaningful nights I had had in years.  When people come to me for help with learning how to listen to their intuition, I share some of these kinds of stories with them.  Listening to our inner voice often means that we have to set our rational mind aside or at the very least, we have to reduce its importance in some situations.  This is not always easy especially when we have been trained to be rational and logical.  To be irrational and illogical for no reason is not the solution.  I am speaking of those times when irrational decisions are accompanied by powerful urges to comply.  Obviously, I am not referring to any irrational urges that could hurt ones self or others.  Those urges are not intuition but are derived from mental health issues that would need to be addressed.  For anyone reading this that may have irrational urges to hurt themselves or others, please know that that is not coming from your spiritual guidance.  Please seek professional counseling if this may apply to you.  Our intuition, our connection to the Divine can take us down pathways we might never have found without listening to our inner voice.  This is what I wish for myself and this is what I wish for all others: that we listen to our Divine guidance and follow whatever pathway opens for us.  This pathway may not always appear to what we thought we wanted but it will always be what we needed.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 8, 2011

I am reminded of November 8, 2003, the day of the Harmonic Concordance.  It was a magical and mystical night for me and I would like to share that story.  Prior to that date, I had received numerous emails from various spiritual websites explaining the importance of the Harmonic Concordance.  The Harmonic Concordance was an astrological phenomenon where there were six planetary orbs that would form a perfect star of David on 11/8/03.  According to my sources, this had never happened before in recorded astrological history.  In addition to the star of David, there was also going to be a full lunar eclipse at the same moment.  Because of this alignment, an influx of spiritual light would be coming to earth.  Many spiritual and metaphysical leaders were encouraging people to sit in meditation and prayer during this time.  We were instructed to pray for world peace.  The specific time for my time zone, Pacific time, I believe was 5:23 p.m.  On that day, I had agreed to meet with some girlfriends at a health spa.  I had already told them that I would not be joining them for dinner but finding a quiet place to meditate and pray.  That afternoon, as we sat in one of the pools relaxing and talking, I found that I could not stay focused on the conversation.  It was as though my body was in the pool but my mind and my consciousness was in another place.  My original plan was to find a quiet place in the spa to meditate but I soon was feeling compelled to get out of the pool and get dressed.  I did not know why but the feelings were so strong that I knew I had to listen.  My friends wanted to know why I was getting out so early and all I could say is that I did not know why, yet.  Fortunately, they were accustomed to me following my intuition, so they accepted that I must know what I was doing.  I quickly showered and dressed, feeling rushed without knowing why.  Once dressed, I listened and heard that I was to go outside.  This surprised me greatly because this spa was in the middle of an industrial area, not exactly conducive to peaceful meditation.  However, I followed my instructions, trusting what I was hearing.  I was instructed to get in my car and begin driving back towards home.  My home was an hour and one half away and there was not enough time to get home before the time for meditation, so I had no idea why I was doing this.  I began driving down the freeway and I kept looking to see if I could find the moon.  It was a cloudy overcast night and the moon was nowhere to be found.  After driving for a time, I was instructed to take the next exit, which I did although I was not familiar with the area.  I was told to find a place to park and I found a park and ride lot.  I was able to park and turn off the car with just moments to spare.  As soon as I turned off the car, I could hear instructions to turn my car and face the other way.  This made absolutely no sense to me as I was parked in a parking lot and the only thing in the other direction was a series of business buildings.  I turned the car around and shut off the engine.  As I stared ahead, wondering why I was told to turn the car around, I watched as the clouds parted and revealed the largest moon I have ever seen in my life.  It was a full lunar eclipse and I knew why I was told to turn the car around.  I would never have seen it had I stayed parked facing the opposite direction.  It was so beautiful and amazing that I cried tears of joy and gratitude.  My prayers for world peace were heartfelt and filled with passion and gratitude.  There was much more to the evening and many more examples of what happens when I listen to my inner voice even when I cannot make logical sense of it.  I will share more of my story tomorrow.  In the meantime, have a blessed day and remember that on Friday, we all have another wonderful opportunity to usher in extra spiritual light and another opportunity to pray for world peace as others all around the world are also praying.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 7, 2011

The holidays are coming.   The holidays can mean many different things to people.  When I was growing up, I loved the holidays, especially Christmas.  I loved everything about it.  I loved the lights, the candles, the smells, the music, the religious significance, the gifts and so much more.  I loved the rituals that helped to create the magic of Christmas.  One of those rituals involved going to get the Christmas tree.  When my children were small, my husband and I would make hot chocolate and put it in thermoses.  We would pack snacks and get bundled up in our warm winter clothing.  We would usually go to a Christmas tree farm where you cut your own tree down.  Hours were spent trudging up and down the rows, looking for the perfect tree.  I loved to decorate our tree.  Every year when I would open up the boxes, it was like welcoming old friends that were once again back for a visit.  However, over the years, life changed.  I was divorced in 2004 and the boxes of decorations were divided up.  Some went to our grown children and we each took a portion of what we had gathered over nearly 29 years together.  I decorated my trees in 2004 and 2005 but it was not the joyous occasion it had been for so many years.  Just as my life had been shattered and turned upside down, so had my Christmas traditions.  Somehow, opening up the boxes of ornaments no longer seemed as though I was welcoming old friends.  It felt more as though I was looking at the remnants of something long gone.  This weekend I was reminiscing with my cousin and telling her that I realized this will be the third Christmas in a row that I will not have had my own tree.  I live at my mother's home and help care for her and that is one of the reasons.  Out of the last six years, I have had my own tree once, in 2007.  There was a time in my life that I would never have been able to imagine this.  I know that I am not alone when I say that the holidays can be a mixed bag of sweet and bitter.  How do we cope when we have had large scale loss?  How do we find ways to create meaning and joy when much that was once so important to us has gone away?  For myself, I have had to go within myself and find meaning in my holidays that is not dependent on the external circumstances.  I can still light candles and I can find the warmth of spiritual light that shines in all things.  I can remember that this is the season of giving and I can give something to those who are in need.  Even if I do not have money, I can give much.  I can give encouragement.  I can share my sense of humor and make people laugh.  I can share my own experiences and my own heart with those whose hearts are freshly broken.  I can still find joy in the colors and smells and music.  It doesn't matter where I live or whether or not my holiday decorations are still in boxes in storage.  I can decorate my surroundings with garlands of laughter, a wreath of compassion and my eyes can twinkle like stars.  I can create new memories and honor my old memories whether I have my own tree or not or live in my own home or the home of another.  It is all my choice.  If you are also finding yourself experiencing the holidays as less than sweet, I encourage you to do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 4, 2011

It is only one more week until 11/11/11.  I have a collective of spiritual beings that bring me information.  I usually refer to them as my guides although, in truth, they are not truly personal guides but bring me Universal information.  I asked them to talk to me about 11/11/11.  This is what they shared.  Shirley, we are more than happy to speak with you today about 11/11/11.  As you are already aware, the universe is much more ordered and structured than what many believe.  There are certain events that are structured and planned for by Universal Mind.  We are referring to what many others would call God as Universal Mind.  Universal Mind sees All and knows All.  It is Universal Mind's desire that Earth and her inhabitants go through a shift in Consciousness which results in a shift of energy.  This shift that has been the subject of many channeled messages has been in process for quite some time now.  Universal Mind has structured certain supports to that shift.  There have been influxes of spiritual light to Mother Earth that have served as jump starts and accelerants for her shift.  One way of looking at it is that if you were operating a piece of machinery and you wished to increase its efficiency you might add additional fuel or give it extra lubrication depending on how it operates.  You might add something to the fuel to make the fuel more efficient.  In a sense, Mother Earth is a portion of that machinery as are all her inhabitants.  You, Shirley, are part of this finely tuned machinery as are all others.  Universal Mind has been sending you fuel injections for quite some time.  Your internal workings are being altered and fine-tuned.  Some refer to this as the ascension process and others refer to it as the shifting of your DNA.  Since this is a short and simple message, we will simply refer to it as the fine tuning of your own personal motor as well as the collective fine tuning.  Your DNA is shifting and changing to make you a more efficient and expansive being.  This is not a small accomplishment and has been occurring over a span of time.  You are aware of other astrological occurrences where extra Divine Light was funneled to Earth.  There have been many but two of the most commonly known for people who are currently on Earth are known as The Harmonic Convergence and The Harmonic Concordance.  11/11/11 is another event or occurrence that is meant to "fuel inject" you.  This is an opportunity for you to accelerate your transformation into what your friend, Mary, calls homo illuminus.  In order to become homo illuminus, which essentially means that mankind is transforming into more of a spiritual being, there are changes that must take place in all of mankind's bodies, their physical bodies, spiritual bodies, mental bodies and emotional bodies.  As mankind becomes more and more attuned to the Light and less attuned to the Earth, mankind will transcend homo sapien and become homo illuminus.  11/11/11 will bring additional spiritual light to Earth.  All of humanity will be affected whether they are conscious of it or not.  However, for optimal transformation, it is always best to have a conscious awareness and to consciously participate in that process.  Meditation and prayer are two of the best tools to help you receive this Light more fully.  Dancing, singing, drumming and joining together with others in joyful celebration are others.  Above all, an open heart filled with gratitude will be like an enormous Cosmic sponge taking in and holding all the gifts that Universal Mind has for you.  This is a time for gratitude and celebration.  We join with you in this wonderful transformative time.  We look forward with anticipation for this individual and collective shift.  We love you.  US  I have not decided what I am personally going to be doing but I do know it will be filled with gratitude and joy.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 3, 2011

I love the fall.  I love it because of the beautiful fall colors and the changing of the season.  I love it because of the fullness of the harvest and fall contains within it the promise of the holidays to come.  Fall is also the signal for the time to go within.  My own guidance had been telling me to tie up loose ends and get back on track with my spiritual studies and meditation.  Fall is a time for me to finish up those last few tasks in the yard and put away the shovel and rake for winter.  It is time to put the patio furniture in the shed and cover up the barbeque.  To me, it signals a time to cease most outdoor activities and move my focus into the house.  Spiritually, it means the same thing.  Now is the time to move the focus of my attention away from my external life and move inward.  It does not mean that during the summer I never focused inward.  However, as I spent more time working outside in the yard and spent more of my energy on external tasks, some of my inner work was put on hold.  My meditation became more sporadic as opposed to being daily.  Looking back on my life, this was common.  I have learned that life truly does move in cycles and perhaps this is simply part of my own cycles and it is not a bad thing, it is simply what is.  I made a promise to really commit to my spiritual practices by my birthday which is 11/11.  My guidance encourages me not to wait until then so I won't.  Where are you in your spiritual studies and practices?  Do you have any?  Do you have some but are sporadic in your involvement?  There are no right or wrong answers, simply an opportunity to reflect upon our lives.  Fall is an excellent time to begin exploring our answers.  As the weather cools and we are inside the house more often, we have more time to read, study, surf the Internet, go to classes, meditate, listen to music or do whatever it is that feeds our soul.  As I spread out the last of the mulch for my mother's flower beds, I feel as though I am putting that work to sleep, as though the mulch is a blanket which signals it is bedtime, time for the long winter's sleep.  Life is slowing down in many ways.   Fall is the time to bring in the firewood, mend the warm winter quilts and bring out the soup pots.  It is time to let go of those outdoor tasks that simply must wait until spring.  Unless they are absolutely necessary, cross them off your list, put them on the back burner and breathe  a sigh of relief.  Open your mind and heart to the stillness of fall.  Allow the autumn wind to whistle through and clean out all the cobwebs of unfinished tasks.  Go within and find the true harvest.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 1, 2011

The sunshine makes its way in through my bedroom window and warms the side of my face.  I sit in silence allowing the light and warmth to seep deep down into my bones.  I am all too aware that sunny days are becoming a less common occurrence as the autumn days make their way towards winter.  With my eyes closed, it could still be a warm summer day.  However, there is no buzzing of lawn mowers or whirring of weed-eaters that are commonly heard in the summer.  There is a stillness outside that mirrors the stillness within me.  With my eyes closed, sitting here in the house that I was born and raised in, I feel as though I could be any age.  There is a timelessness to the silence, only broken by an occasional car that softly announces its arrival and quick departure.  How essential it is to my well-being to simply stop all activity and be.  How it restores my body and soul to simply receive the gifts of the sun.  In my adult life of obligations and responsibilities and often seemingly, insurmountable challenges, how valuable this simple moment is.  It is free for the experiencing.  I can't make the sun shine but I can choose to more fully appreciate it and to allow the sun shine in.  And, on those days that the sun is nowhere to be found, I can light a candle and receive the light and warmth it offers, reminding me of this precious moment in time.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 31, 2011

Sometimes life is hard and can wear us out.  Even the most spiritual of people will still hurt if they have a pebble in their shoe.  For myself, I work on detaching from needing certain outcomes to much of my life.  It used to be that I had a certain vision of what I wanted my life to be and I thought that once I attained it, I would be happy.  Over the years, I have achieved certain aspects of that vision but then life would shift and change.  It was always my resistance to change that caused the most grief, not the change itself.  The more I am able to move into acceptance and detachment at the same time, the more my life flows.  I still set goals and dreams for myself but I am much more fluid in how I achieve them and when I achieve them.  Instead of having a goal that I systematically work towards, I accept that there will most likely be detours along the way.  Not only that, but there may be some goals that I decide to release.  By being more open to change and more fluid in how I approach my life, Spirit can work more easily with me.  With less resistance on my part, I can receive the information from Spirit and assimilate it more easily.  When certain life events take a detour, I can more easily shift and adjust.  This can apply to daily goals as well as those more long term goals I set for myself.  We are all living in a world that is shifting and changing rapidly.  The best way to navigate life right now is to pray for our highest good to occur.  When I set a goal, I pray for guidance regarding that goal but I also pray that I achieve that goal if it is for my higher good.  In the long run, I know that this prayer is the best I can pray.  When I pray for others, I pray the same.  If someone is interviewing for a new job, I pray for them.  I pray that they are hired but I also pray for their higher good. In some cases, it is not always for their higher good to be hired.  That is hard to understand when seeing through our limited vision.  Our lower selves cannot always see a situation fully and so we pray for a certain outcome, not always knowing if it is truly what is best.  I encourage you to add this to your prayers if you are not already doing so.  It helps to shift disappointment in an outcome to more acceptance that whatever was lost may not have been for our higher good.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 30, 2011

I have been out of town and I am very tired but I wanted to write something for today.  A friend of mine is in tremendous pain.  She has been in pain for quite some time.  It is very difficult to love someone and to know that my love is not enough.  I cannot love her pain away for her.  Ultimately, she must find that source of love inside of herself.  There are some things that we must do for ourselves.  I remember when I was young and had been married for ten years or so.  I had a great deal of anxiety and I had issues with low self-esteem.  My husband at the time was very sweet and loving to me.  He told me repeatedly that, to him, I was beautiful.  He told me, again and again, how much I meant to him.  I could only take so much in.  It did not matter how many times he told me or how he told me.  I simply could not receive it fully because I did not fully love myself.  Over the years, I was able to work on my self-esteem.  I was able to love myself more and more.  Eventually, our marriage ended for a multitude of reasons.  Later, as I reflected over my marriage and my life, I recognized how frustrating that must have been for my husband to repeat himself over and over, knowing that his love was not enough.  I love myself now more than ever.  I am single but I know that when I meet someone, he will not have to work so hard to love me because I can receive love so much more easily.  This is what I wish and pray for my friend and for all people.  I wish and pray that we all can love ourselves and see the amazing beauty and unique gift that we each are for this world.  We will then be able to receive love more fully.  And, as we are able to receive more fully, this opens the door for others to love more fully.  Instead of fighting our fear that there may not be enough love, there will love filling us all up and flowing out.  We will swim in love.  For anyone who is in pain and who doubts they are worthy of love, I am praying for you.  I am praying that you will feel a glimmer of light and love inside of you.  I am praying that you can tap into this glimmer of light and give it enough fuel that it begins to burn a little more brighter every day.  I am praying that the glimmer will become a glow and then become a light so bright that you cannot ignore it.  This is my heartfelt prayer for my friend and for everyone in pain.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 28, 2011

The other day I picked up a book that I have had for years and started reading it.  It is called, "Heal Your Body" and was written by Louise Hay.   I have used examples from this book many times in my writing and my classes as well as with clients.  It is a book that helps us to understand the metaphysical causes and connections to many of the ailments we experience in our bodies.  I read the pages of ailments and diseases and their metaphysical causes.  As I stopped and pondered those conditions that I personally have experienced or I am still experiencing, I thought about how I have created these conditions through my own choices.  A great many of these choices were not made on a conscious level, however, they still reflect choices of mine.  For example, a number of years ago, I was having tremendous pain shooting down my neck.  I thought I had an infection in my ears causing the problem.  It turns out that my ears were fine but I was having problems with my jaws clenching.  It is connected to TMJ and in Louise Hay's book, it stated that it was created from rage, anger and a desire for revenge.  Whew!  My first instinct was to deny that I could have that much anger inside of me.  Fortunately, my denial was short-lived and I prayed and meditated on this issue.  I soon realized where the anger was coming from and I worked very hard to resolve the issue and to release my anger and resentment.  It took about three weeks for the pain to completely leave.  After a few months, it returned but I immediately worked on the underlying cause and this time it was gone in three days.  I am happy to say that that particular issue never did return.  Choices.  I can choose to hold onto my anger and blame and create pain for myself.  I can choose to look at a person with more compassion and forgiveness and release my anger and blame and free myself of pain.  I believe that we choose our parents and siblings.  We choose our sex and our physical characteristics prior to incarnating.  We choose the moment of our birth knowing that the astrological energies of that moment are what will serve us best.  We choose far more than what we may realize.  Obviously, this is chosen by our Higher Self, our I AM presence or our Soul, however you wish to describe that Spiritual aspect of our self.  I chose, therefore, what I make of this life, this body, this incarnation is up to me.  I am not a victim of circumstance because somehow the circumstances of my life exist because of previous choices I have made.  This is difficult to accept, especially when my life is painful, challenging, exhausting, disappointing or otherwise negative.  It is difficult to accept the physical challenges of my body as my own creation but that is exactly what they are.  What I am choosing today is helping to create the body and the life I experience tomorrow and beyond.  I can consciously make better choices than those made unconsciously in the past.  I can release any lingering victim consciousness knowing that it was just a choice and I can change my mind.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 27, 2011

Knowledge is power.  I have a seeking mind and there is so much in this world to learn.  When I think of libraries and bookstores, I think of them as huge storehouses filled with treasure, treasure with inestimable worth.  When I think of the knowledge and wisdom that we can access through our minds, it is amazing and wondrous.  When I consider the knowledge and wisdom that can be gained when we access it directly from Source or The Light or God or Spirit or through the Great Mystery or whatever we wish to call it, there are no words to describe its power.  There are many words in the English language that I could use but they all fall short of the mark.  Indescribable power and beauty, wonder, grace, bliss, illumination, miracle, magical and pure are just a few of the words I could use to attempt to describe the information that comes from the Divine.  The library of Alexandria was said to be one of the largest libraries ever known prior to its destruction.  Yet, that famous library filled with some of the most beautiful texts ever written could not fill one small room of the celestial library that can be accessed through our own Divine connections.  When I sit and do automatic writing or channeled writing as some refer to it, I am often overcome with tears and joy and pure bliss.  In those moments, I feel the power of Divine knowledge, Divine wisdom and I know that there is truly nothing else like it.  Each and every person has the key to this library of infinite knowledge and wisdom.  Each and every person can gain access if that is their heart's desire.  It is not through our intellect that we gain entry to the Divine library but through our intuition.  I believe that the key is contained within our hearts.  When our motives are pure and we are seeking from our heart, we can find our way.  The heart is the gateway to our higher chakras, our higher intuition.  Therefore, in order to go through the gateway to higher wisdom, we must pass through the heart.  If you are having difficulty accessing your intuition, it would benefit you to go into your heart and stay for a while.  Is your heart open?  Is your heart crowded with old emotions, old resentments and pain?  Is it time to release some of the clutter in your heart?  You will be amazed what a good, spiritual spring cleaning of the heart can do for you and for your intuition.  As your heart clears and opens, so do your intuitive pathways.  When your heart closes down, so does the road to your intuition.  Come and sit for a while on the hearth of your heart.  Let the inner fire warm you and fill you with love and peace.  Ahhhhh.  Feel that quietness fill you and feel the pathways to your intuition open up.  Receive God's love and God's words of wisdom.  You don't need a library card.  You don't need a kindle.  You just need an open heart and an open mind and a willingness to receive.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 26, 2011

The Sounds of Silence was a popular song back in the 70's.  I still think it is a beautiful song.  Some would argue that it is an oxymoron.  After all, if there is sound then there is no silence.  For myself, I know that when I sit in silence, there are "sounds" I can hear that I would otherwise never hear.  I remember back in 2005 when I went to a Vipassana silent retreat.  We were taught how to sit in silence and direct our consciousness to different parts of our body and see what sensations we could feel.  When I would pass my consciousness in front of my eyes, I would see an increase in bright light.  When I would pass it over my ears, I could hear the OM sound of the Universe.  So, yes, I did hear the "Sounds of Silence".  Recently, it was suggested to me by some of the spiritual beings that I am in contact with, that I should sit in silence more often.  These are some of their words: "Sit in silence and ask to connect.  You always do and it is from this place that answers and blessings come.  It is from this place that you Seek from your Higher Self not from your Lower Self.  It is from this place that your knocking is heard on celestial doors and it is from this place that you truly, truly receive.  It is from this place that living waters flow out from you and give sustenance to yourself and many others.  It is from this place that you embody the Ace of Cups, the overflowing cup, the cup that runneth over.   It is from this place you have the ability to heal yourself and others.  It is from this place that the Light of God can become the laser beam and illuminate even the darkest of places and the most frightened and desperate souls."  I share these words because they are Truth.  If you do not already sit in silence, I encourage you to do so.  Learn how to slow down your conscious mind through meditation and relaxation.  If you struggle to be still, find where it is easiest for you to do so and go there.  For some people, nature facilitates this quiet stillness within.  For others, it may be a private room with soft music or a spiritual or religious sanctuary that helps them to become still within.  I know some people who say that they love to drive their car and feel the wind in their face and that this is what quiets them.  It does not matter as long as you find your own silence.  Sit in silence and wait patiently for your own "Sounds of Silence".  They will come.  Answers and blessings will flow from this place of silence.   Seek and ye shall find.  Knock and the door shall be opened.  Ask and it shall be given.  When we sit in silence, we are seeking, knocking and asking from a higher part of our self.  We are aligning ourselves with Higher Will.  This is why I was told that my knocking was heard on celestial doors.  Yours will be heard as well.  When I can state, "Thy will be done" and truly mean it from the Highest part of myself, this is when miracles happen.  This is when life becomes magical.  This is when the "Sounds of Silence" are music to my soul.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 25, 2011

In the study of numerology all numbers have specific energies and meaning.  11 is what is known as a Master number.  All double digit numbers are called master numbers and are considered to be very spiritual.  11 is an important number in my numerology chart because I was born on 11/11.  As I studied numerology and learned more about master numbers, I began to see how often they appear in my chart, aside from my birth date.  2009, for example, was also known as an 11 year because when you add all the digits together, they add up to 11.  Therefore, in numerology, my birthday in 2009, was on 11/11/2009 or 11/11/11.  That particular year, my solar return time was at 4:11 a.m. and I turned 55.  2009 was also a 33 personal year for me.  This is calculated by adding my month, day and the year, reduced to an 11. With all those master numbers present,  I knew that that year was going to be a very powerful and spiritual year.  It proved to be so on a scale that I had not imagined before.  It was a very difficult and challenging year, one of the hardest in my life.  Yet, I persevered and went through a number of large scale transformations.  Why am I sharing this with you?  Because I know that all of humanity is going through large scale transformation.  Some of us are transforming on a very conscious level and others on more subtle and unconscious levels.  Yet, transformation is occurring all the same.  There has been a tremendous amount written about 2012 and what it means.  There are many different versions.  I align with what I have personally heard from Spirit and from other spiritual leaders that I respect.  We are in the midst of what many call an ascension process.  We are increasing the amount of spiritual light that we can carry within our own bodies, our own DNA.  This spiritual light is altering our humanity.  We are becoming more spiritual beings.  I do not fear what is happening.  I have heard so many times from my own guidance and from other spiritual beings of light and love that fear has no place in this lifetime.  We can choose to live life from fear or from love.  As each person steps away from fear and steps into love, that increases the vibration of the whole.  At some point, there is a tipping point and when this occurs, love will reign.  I believe that this potential exists right now.  We have the potential to achieve this tipping point.  This is what 2012 is all about.  In November of 2011, there is an important date to be aware of.  Because we often abbreviate our years, 2011 is often referred to as '11.  Therefore, on November 11, we again have an 11/11/11.  Spiritual leaders all over the world are asking people to join together in prayers and meditation and celebration on 11/11/11.  There are prayers circles and drumming circles and all manner of spiritual groups that are going to pray for Mother Earth and for humanity.  I encourage you to do the same.  Even if you do not have a group to join with, you can join in your prayers.  It has been suggested that excellent times for prayer are from 11:11 a.m. until noon and again from 11:11 p.m. until midnight.  Let us all pray for peace and unity.  Let us all pray in gratitude for all the abundance we receive.  Let us all pray for compassion for all.  Let us all pray together that love may reign supreme.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 24, 2011

I would like to share part of a message that I received while doing automatic writing on an airplane flight home a while back.  Spirit was talking to me about part of my purpose as a messenger and a spiritual teacher.  They were speaking to me about me finding my own true essence, my true self and the Light that is within me.  "Why are you here to be an inspiration to others, to help guide others with this Light, this sacred Holy Light?  Because this is your purpose and it is also the road back to yourself.  With each birth and death and rebirth you find your self.  More and more parts of your true self.  As the misconceptions and illusions die off and are shed from you like the snake sheds its skin, you find more and more of YOU, the true you.  There is no longer a need for unworthiness, for fear, for limitations.  You are free to shine your Light.  You are eager to shine your Light.  As you celebrate your true self without ego, without fear but with humility and bliss, you light the way for others to do the same.  They are drawn to your Light, Shirley, for you are no longer afraid to shine it.  They believe it is your Light they are drawn to but you are able to help them understand they seek their own true self.  You can help with this because you have already transformed again and again and again.  The Holy Spirit is for everyone.  The Holy Spirit is not selective.  The Holy Spirit does not require anything but that you ask and open to receive."  There was much more to the message but this was an important part.  It is so important for people to realize that the Light they may see in me or in others is the same Light that is contained within them.  Many spiritual seekers look outside of themselves for Light, for love, for truth.  Ultimately, when we come to realize that we are One with the Light we see in others, our seeking is no longer needed.  Instead of seeking, we are now Becoming, we are Being.  Instead of seeking Light and Love we embody Light and Love.  When I am one with this Light, this Love, this Bliss, there is no Shirley and others, there is only Us.  There is no past and future, there is only Now.  I am a droplet in the vast ocean of endless love.  Find your own inner Light.  Release any part of you that tells you that you are unworthy, not good enough or that you are not divine.  Release and detach from anything which prevents your Light from shining.  The world needs your Light, your Love and your true Self.  With each self-realized being, the ocean of Love becomes more attainable for all.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 12, 2011

I was thinking this morning that there are a great many paradoxes in life.  Everything is not always what it seems.  A bully appears to be someone who feels they are bigger and better and superior to others.  The truth is that a bully has very low self-esteem and is filled with a lot of fear.  Often people who appear very selfish and self-absorbed and vain are truly very insecure and do not like themselves.  It is important to not assume that how a person appears on the outside is how they truly are inside.  We may not always know when a person is in pain or in need of kindness and support.  I have known people who appeared very self-assured and confident but in reality they were anxious and terrified that others would figure out just how scared they really are.  I have overheard women who are overweight talking about a slender, attractive woman quite disparagingly.  They were making assumptions about her simply based on her size and pretty face.  In truth, they were doing the very thing that angered them about others.  They did not like people making assumptions about them because of their weight and yet, they were doing it to someone simply because she did not appear to have a weight problem.  I would rather err on the side of kindness than make an erroneous assumption about someone.  That is not always easy.  When I have someone being nasty to me or to someone else that I love, it is easy to jump to judgment.  I remind myself that I do not know everything about this person.  What appears to be nastiness may be fear and insecurity in disguise.  If I respond with the same then no one wins.  If I discipline myself to not be reactive I may bring an energy of tolerance into a challenging situation.  If I pray to have compassion and pray for the higher good, I may be in a space to receive insights about this person.  I may not necessarily like them or agree with what they are doing but I can hold space for them in my heart.  Inside every person is a part of that person who is longing for love and for connection and for acceptance.  Even if I find the outer person unappealing, I can connect to that inner part and send out positive thoughts.  If I am really struggling with someone, I envision that inner part of themselves as a very young part of them, a little boy or a little girl who is hungry for love.  I can love a child, even a difficult one.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 10, 2011

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of what is termed 9/11.  I remember many things about that day and the days to follow.  What I would like to share is some of what my own guidance shared with me.  They told me that it would be easy to spend all of my energy trying to figure out who the enemy is.  Who are the terrorists?  They suggested that instead I do something that would be much more difficult.  They told me to look instead, for the terrorist within.  At first, I did not like that idea.  I certainly am not a violent person, definitely not the kind to perpetrate violent acts against another human being.  However, they asked me to look at my thoughts and feelings towards some of the people in my life that I did not like.  Who was irritating to me?  Who did I judge?  Who was the sort of person that I wanted nothing to do with?  What were some of the feelings I felt towards these other people?  Did I feel anger, indignation, aggravation or even hatred?  I was encouraged to go within and find the true source of those negative feelings.  It was a painful but enlightening process.  If I have hatred towards another human being that hatred affects every other human being including myself.  If I am intolerant of another's beliefs that intolerance is a poison that infects myself and all others.  Instead, I was guided to find mercy within for myself and every other human being.  I was to extend compassion towards those who I do not like or who do not share my values.  It is not easy to extend kindness to the unkind, mercy to the unmerciful, tolerance to the intolerant and forgiveness to those who are filled with hate.  Ten years later I am grateful to find that I have been able to extend forgiveness and tolerance and mercy towards many in my life.  I still have work to do and I remain cognizant of my guides words.  Look within.  Find your truth.  Release all judgments.  Forgive all including yourself.  My heart aches at all the loss and pain that was created on 9/11 ten years ago tomorrow.  I may not understand all that compelled those men to carry out such hatred.  I only know that I do not wish to perpetuate it.  I pray for them and their families, in addition to those that they killed and their families.  I pray that I be vigilant and when negative thoughts of blame and anger and hatred rise up in me, I remember to go within and find their true source.  Love is the only thing that will ultimately save this world and all that resides upon her.  As long as hate resides within one human being, there is still work to be done.  There is still one person left to find out that love is all there really is.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 8, 2011

Yesterday I took my 22 month old grandson to the park.  I loved to watch his face as he explored the play equipment that was there.  Sheer joy shone from his face as he went down the slide.  Laughter from deep within him bubbled out as I pushed him on the toddler swings.  A child is so present.  They are almost completely living in the moment.  When he fell, his cries were loud and his tears plentiful but they soon stopped.  Once he was comforted, he was off and running again with his delightful squeals filling the air.  We have a lot we can learn from children.  Being present is just one of them but it is of such value.  When we are in the moment, we are not trailing back to the past nor are we attempting to step into the future.  For many of us, this is not a common way of being.  We are often immersed in the past, either reliving happy times or ruminating over negative experiences.  The past has much it can teach us but not if we live in it.  Living in the past does not help us to get a healthy perspective on our lives.  Dreaming and wondering about the future is not a bad thing, in itself.  Our dreams are what can ignite our imagination and encourage us to explore new ideas and new opportunities.  However, we cannot reside in the future for it has not yet arrived.  There needs to be a balance in the amount of time we spend in the past or future.  The vast majority of our time is best spent experiencing the present.  Even when the present can be unpleasant, we are best served by allowing ourselves to feel the feelings and express the emotions of the present just as my grandson did when he fell down.  He expressed them, released them and moved on.  When we do not allow ourselves to express our emotions, we are not truly benefitting from the present and the unexpressed emotion becomes the baggage we carry on into the future.  This is one way in which the past can intrude our present in a negative manner.  Unexpressed emotions reside in the very cells of our body and are still calling out for expression.  The more we ignore them, the louder they call.  The more I can give myself permission to express the emotions I am feeling right now, the more I can also release the past that is stored in my very cells.  One of the reasons that our emotions can be so intense is that we are not just feeling the emotion created by an event in the present but all of that emotion may be activated that is also stored in our body.  One of the best things we can do is express, express, express.  This does not mean we have permission to express all over others but we have the right to express what we are feeling even if no one else hears us.  For some people, there is too much pent up rage or fear or grief for them to express in a healthy or safe manner.  If you are one of those people, please see a therapist.  He or she can help to teach you ways to begin expressing and releasing your old pent up feelings.  You deserve to be filled with the same sheer joy that I saw on my grandson's face.  We all do.  I cannot fit into the slide at the play park but I can let my past slide on by.  I cannot fit into the toddler swing but I can push my dreams and creations out into the Universe, knowing that what swings out will eventually swing back in.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 6, 2011

Ahhhhhh, it feels so good to get back to my writing!  I pray that everyone who is reading these words is finding light and joy in their lives.  A long time ago I remember having a meditation where I saw a copper lamp.  It was an old-fashioned copper lamp, the kind that has a wick and uses oil . In my meditation, the copper was extremely tarnished and was dark and green and had no brilliance that was visible.  I envisioned myself as the copper lamp.  There have certainly been enough times in my life that I have felt tarnished, beat up, old and worn out.  I have certainly had times when I had difficulty feeling or finding my own brilliance.  I saw a pot of copper polish and a cloth and a hand.  The hand would scoop up the polish and gently but consistently rub and rub and rub on the surface of the lamp.  After quite a time, there would appear a very faint glimmer of copper, as though it were attempting to peek out from behind dark clouds.  The hand, patient and tireless, continued to rub.  Soon, the faint glimmer became brighter and brighter until I could see the original copper surface filled with warmth and glowing as if already lit.  As the copper lamp, I, too, began to slowly feel the polish working on my tarnish and my long neglected self.  I could feel the love coming through the hand which held the polish.  I became aware of what had created such dark tarnish.  Years, in truth, lifetimes, of fear, unworthiness, guilt, shame, doubt, anger, resentment, uncertainty and other negative thoughts and feelings had created tarnish, covering up my true self.  As the polish worked its magic, I could feel these negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs begin to fade and slowly disappear.  Years of neglect began to dissipate beneath the gentle working of the hand and cloth.  What kind of polish can create such a powerful transformation?  And, whose hand is it that so lovingly and diligently is bringing forth my brilliance?  The polish is filled with sacred ingredients: love, forgiveness, patience, compassion, tolerance, courage, strength, patience, understanding, harmony, joy, creativity, unity, gratitude, bliss, wisdom, kindness, peace and grace.  The hand that dips into this polish is none other than my own.  There is no other hand that can do it for me.  I must dip into my sacred polish and apply it to my own tarnished self.  I must have compassion for myself and rub away the unworthiness for it is masking my true worthiness.  I must have forgiveness and clear away the stains of shame and guilt.  I must have understanding so that my self doubt dissipates.  I must have courage and strength to persevere, knowing that the tarnish was not accumulated overnight and it is through patience and faith that my brilliance is revealed.  I continue to rub away.  I refuse to give up even when I come to stubborn places where I rub and rub and nothing seems to happen.  Those areas of my life where I seem to keep hitting the same stone wall are the very places that I must return to again and again, until I break through.  I look around and see so many other copper lamps!  Everywhere I look I see copper lamps in varying stages of tarnish and brilliance.  Some sit, completely tarnished and dark and the hand is a tightly squeezed fist, unable to grasp the cloth and unaware of the need for polish.  Others have their hands open and are reaching for the cloth but have difficulty finding the cloth or polish.  It is deceptive to look at the dark and dull lamps for they appear inferior.  I know this is not true for beneath each surface gleams a pot of warmth, brilliance and beauty.  I know that each lamp must polish itself and I cannot do it for them.  However, I can share my own journey with them.  I can send love and encouragement and inspire them to find their inner strength, to find their own polish.  We are all connected.   When you shine, you are helping others to shine. Love and Light, Shirley

July 22, 2011

I live with my elderly mother in the same house that I was born and raised in.  It is a large house with a large yard and many flower beds.  Unfortunately, over a number of years, much of the yard has been neglected.  It was hard for my mom to allow others to trim back many of her plants and they have overgrown their space.  Trees and bushes were covering up windows and there were portions of the sidewalk that were completely grown over and no longer visible.  Rhododendrons that had once been magnificent were dying.  Some of the rhododendrons had become so burdened by the weight on their branches that they had fallen to earth long ago and rooted.  The original trunks were back on the fence line and the ends of the branches were as much as twenty feet or more from the original stump.  They had covered over large areas of lawn and were a tangled mess.  The original rhododendrons had died and all that was left was the bits of green at the end of twenty feet arms.  It was long past time to let go.  My nephew and I began pruning and cutting out dead trees and bushes and my mother finally agreed to allow us to remove all of the rhododendrons that were past their use.  Justin and I cut and trimmed for a week and by the end of the week we had enough piles that we filled two commercial dump trucks!  That is letting go on a grand scale.  In this process of cutting out dead and half dead trees and bushes we began to discover smaller plants that had no longer been visible.  It was like a treasure hunt and we found unexpected beautiful treasures in some of the most unusual places.  My guides have been working with me for a long time, teaching me that every mess I clean up, every time I take a load to the dump or I let something go, I am cleaning up my own messes.  It doesn't matter if someone else created them on this earthly plane, the fact that I am the one doing the cleanup means that somewhere there is a corresponding mess that I did create.  Therefore, as I cut and prune and create piles to be removed, I am metaphysically cutting and pruning my own mental and emotional and spiritual dead wood.  When I think of it in that way, I smile a very big smile because I helped release two dump truck loads.  I helped to find beautiful treasures that are now visible because the dead wood was removed.  I created space for new life in my mother's yard.  I created space for something new in my own life.  What have you allowed to become stagnant in your own life?  What beliefs or resentments are you still allowing to flourish?  What ways of life that were once good and right for you have become faded and no longer are appropriate for you?  Nothing remains the same forever and change is inevitable.  Sometimes we need to take our life and our fate in our own hands and start cutting out the dead wood.  When we are brave enough to say good-bye to some cherished dreams or ideas of how we thought our life "should" be, we find hidden treasures and new dreams and ideas.  Maybe it is time for you to clear out something old.  It may be as simple as changing your hair style or buying clothes in a color you do not normally wear.  Maybe it is time for a major cleanout on the scale I just described.  You be the judge.  Whatever you find, don't hesitate but act on your instincts.  Remember that life is a treasure hunt and beautiful treasures are just waiting for you.  Beautiful treasure is there for all of us.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 28, 2011

I remember when I was studying Kabbalah through the Kabbalah Center and my teacher told me that as we progress spiritually, we are often faced with harder and harder challenges.  Many people who open up to being on a conscious spiritual path have the idea that life is going to be much easier now that they are more spiritual.  Connecting to our spiritual self and to All That Is completely alters our life but that does not automatically mean that it will be smooth sailing.  When I became aware that I have spiritual guides, a whole new world opened up to me.  As I learned to listen to my guidance, I found that the way I make decisions changed.  Instead of relying so much on my cognitive mind, I learned to tap into my intuition more and more.  Often, the guidance I received was not easy to follow.  I would like to say that I always follow my guidance but that is not true.  What I have found, however, is that when I do follow my spiritual guidance, it may not be easy in the short term but it is always right for the long term.  I have also found that as I mature spiritually, I do not face fewer challenges and the challenges I face are often greater than what I think I can initially endure.  Tapping into my guidance helps me to move through the challenges and obstacles.  With each victory, I become stronger and more capable of handling more.  Are there times when I long for a simpler, easier time in my life?  Yes, but it doesn't last long because what I remember as simpler and easier was not truly so ideal or I would never have needed to seek for more and more meaning in my life.  If you are on a spiritual path and you are facing big challenges, you can rest assured that you are progressing.  Find spiritual support wherever you can and know that you are NEVER alone.  You have a support network in the spiritual realm that loves you and is cheering you on even if you cannot consciously hear them.  Seek out like-minded souls and share your struggles as well as your victories.  Remember that every spiritual victory won by one person benefits everyone.  Every time you cross the finish line with your torch held high, we all win.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 22, 2011

Have you ever been so clear in your mind about what you wanted in life, set goals, started working towards them and then found yourself going in a completely different direction?  This has been a fairly common occurrence in my life, especially in the last seven years or so.  When this would first happen, I would wonder what I had done wrong.  I would ask myself, how could I be so far off?  I would question my own intuition and clarity and get very discouraged.  I do not feel that way any more.  Our world is changing at a very rapid pace and so are we.  It only stands to reason that as we change and the world changes, so do our goals and ideas and wishes.  This is one of the very important reasons for being in the moment.  Rapid, unexpected change is the norm for most people now.  What is appropriate and comfortable one day may change virtually over night.  Does that mean that we do not set goals and have dreams and wishes?  No, but it does mean that we move into a more fluid way of being.  It does mean that we may have to let go of so many of the markers that we have used to identify who we are and how we are.  For example, for many generations now, one of the markers of being on track in life has been  connected to what one did for a living.  A doctor or lawyer or someone making a fairly substantial amount of money was considered to be successful.  Another marker for success has been owning your own home.  In this world of change and collapse, those markers are disappearing for many people.  People who have had jobs and careers that seemed dependable and long-lasting have had these careers and jobs abruptly end or change.  The financial status of many people has collapsed, thus altering their perception of themselves and their lives, especially pertaining to being successful and secure.  People who never would have considered living in a house that they did not own are now renting their home.  These are just a few examples of the markers that we have used to identify who we are and how we are doing.  In my life, the markers have been removed over and over again.  What are some of these markers that have changed again and again?  My marital status changed in 2004 when I divorced and I have been single and alone, in a significant relationship, single and alone, in a relationship, alone again, relationship again and then back to single and alone.  I changed my career  more than once and have moved  nine times since February 2004.  Three of those moves were from Washington to California, California to Nevada and Nevada back to Washington.  Moving back to Washington, I moved in with my friend, Maggi, thinking that I would be settling in the Renton area for several years.  I was only there four months when I moved back to the small town where I was born and raised to live with my mother.  People ask me what are my goals and wishes for the future.  I reply that, in this moment, I have no clue.  I am letting go and trusting that whatever comes, will be exactly what is meant to be.  I let go of the familiar markers, knowing that not only I, but all of us are now living in a strange land, a new world, so to speak.  Part of my letting go and trusting in the Divine is the inner knowing that when I truly need to know something, I will.  If you are experiencing any of your markers disappearing, do whatever it takes to tap into your Divine self, your inner knowing and ask for guidance and support.  Do your best to release those markers.  Detach, detach, detach.  Be open to new possibilities and miracles.  If the changes are overwhelming you, you may wish to seek professional help of some sort.  Most of all, remember that the more fluid you can become, the easier your life will flow.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 24, 2011

A number of years ago I bought a book called "Coloring Mandalas" by Susanne F. Fincher.  I created a class where I combined hypnotherapy with coloring mandalas.  I love to color the mandalas because it is relaxing and I love connecting to the different colors.  There is nothing keeping me from coloring them for the pure joy of it except some of my own limiting beliefs.  Somewhere inside of me, there is a part that is very work-oriented and very much connected to getting things done.  My inner child can only tolerate that for so long and she begins to tire.  I am learning to bring more balance into my life and there is a healthy balance between work and play.  Play is a very important component to being human, yet it is often very neglected.  Lately, I have been honoring my inner child much more.  I have colored more mandalas in the last two weeks than I did in the previous two years.  I have no idea what I will do with them, if anything.  It really doesn't matter.  In the past, I have used some to decorate three ring binders.  The most important part is that I am creating for the pure joy of it.  What brings you joy? Are you able to tap into that on a regular basis?  Is there something that your inner child longs for?  Can you give it to him or her?  Think back on your childhood and remember those things that you loved to do.  When is the last time you did whatever it is?   Give yourself and your inner child a gift.  Take the time to retrieve your memories and then honor them by doing at least one of those things that bring you joy. 

May 6, 2011

There is a special place at my mom's house.  It is a corner of a side yard that is now quite overgrown and wild.  There are stone steps that lead out of our family room and if I sit upon those steps, I am in the middle of this place that I love and I have always loved.  You see, I am back living in the house that I was born and raised in, so there is a great deal to stimulate my memory and many of the nooks and crannies of my mom's home and yard are places I have loved for nearly all of my life.  There have been some changes to this space since I was a girl.  There was once a fuschia bush growing to the left of the stairs right next to the house.  Its beautiful purple and crimson blossoms were so lovely and it is now replaced by ferns that have seeded themselves.   The ferns have been there for many years and once they grow back in the spring, some of their fronds cover the sidewalk leading from the stone steps.  There is oxalis, also known as shamrock, and it blankets that portion of the yard that is directly to the right of the steps.  This year it is particularly beautiful with such vibrant bright green tones and its tiny white flowers are more plentiful than in years past.  Ferns also grow in amongst the shamrock and it is a miniature marshland or woodland scene.  The camellia is now more of a tree than a bush and has grown above the roofline.  Rhododendrons and azaleas have also outgrown their space and sitting behind it all, there is a feeling of safety and a quiet stillness that replenishes me.  As a child, we once had a wisteria that grew in such a way that I could crawl into the middle and I was surrounded on both sides by its fragrant lavender blossoms.  The wisteria is long gone, but that feeling of being in a magical place remains when I sit on the stone steps.  The lily of the valley which once grew in such profusion is gone but the trillium have remained. Year after year, they mark the coming of spring and Easter tide.  I know that in the marsh many of the trillium have ceased their blooms but my mother's trilliums are still showing their lovely white and lavender colors.  Just as the marsh calls to my soul, so does this corner of the yard.  It is not surprising that it contains many of the same plants that are found in the marsh and in the woods because I connect to those energies in such a profound way.  Do you have a sacred space?  Do you have a place where you can go even when life appears to be crazy and unpredictable and challenging?  Do you have a place where you can reconnect to nature and your inner child and to the God that is in all things?   I hope that you do and that you go there as often as you can.  If you do not, I pray that you find one.  When all else may be difficult or unpredictable in my life, I know that I can count on the ferns unfurling their lovely sleeves of green.  I know that even in the deepest and coldest of winters, the shamrock sleeps, and will once again waken when spring returns.  I know that ancient energies exist even when I cannot see them.  I know that God is present even when the trilliums are but a waiting bud.  I know and I am grateful.  The stone steps call to me.  I must go.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 2, 2011

In the midst of all that is going on in the world, there are times that I just have to stop and take a look at my own life and remember that I am a powerful being capable of transforming and transmuting my own negativity.  I have the ability to choose what I focus my thoughts on.  This does not mean I am in denial of those difficult aspects of my life but that I strive to bring balance by remembering the positive and the beautiful as well.  It is true that this is easier on some days.  We are each a microcosm of the macrocosm.  Whatever we are able to shift and change within ourselves and our own lives affects the macrocosm.  Never underestimate your own ability to bring positive change into your world and the world at large.  Every single time I am able to be compassionate with anyone, including myself, that compassion spreads out like a ripple in a pond.  The ripples we create emanate out far beyond our conscious awareness.  Every single time I choose to overlook someone else's weaknesses and see them for their greater self, another ripple goes out.  Every time that I share a part of myself with someone else, a ripple flows out from me and extends far beyond the person I was sharing with.  Are you feeling overwhelmed in your life?  Do you listen to the news and think that the world is hopeless and frightening?  Turn your attention elsewhere and begin to create positive ripples in this pond we call life.  Focus your eyes on the beauty and majesty of life as much as possible.  Turn off the news.  Remember that it is always slanted towards the negative.  Do you really want to make that your reality?  One of the reasons I love to go out in nature is that it is one place where it is simple to get in touch with the Divine.  Do whatever it takes to help elevate you to a more positive state.  Are there challenging and difficult circumstances in the world and perhaps in your own life?  Yes.  Are there also beautiful and magnificent circumstances in the world and your own life?  Yes.  If you doubt that, please keep looking.  Look at everything possible.  Ask for the beauty to be revealed to you.  Seek with as open a heart as you are able.  And, when you find it, keep bringing your focus back to whatever it may be.  Every time you do, a ripple goes out into the pond of life and touches all others.  I will do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

.May 1, 2011

For most of the past two days I have been cleaning out old files from my mental health practice.  It is a long, tedious job because I must make sure that there is nothing left to identify my clients or any of their information.  As I go through each file, there is a kind of closure even though I have not worked with these clients for many years.  I always found it an honor to work with people and to learn some of their most intimate secrets.  I was honored that they would share their pain and struggles with me as well as their victories and dreams.  I still feel honored every time I work with someone.  My work is different now as I work more as a spiritual counselor and I also do psychic work that I did not do in the past.  However, my desire to help people transform themselves has not changed over the years.  As I clean out, I am reminded of the large number of people that came through the door of my practice.  Children, men and women, singles, couples and families all sought help from me.  The work I did over the years changed as I also changed.  Play therapy, art therapy, hypnotherapy and a wide variety of other therapeutic modalities could be found in my therapeutic tool box.  As the years passed I added meditation and began to move into a more spiritual orientation in my work.  The spiritual aspect of what I do is now at the forefront.  I do not have a traditional practice right now because I primarily spend my time caring for my aging mother.  Most of the work I do is on the telephone.  I occasionally see clients in an office setting but it is infrequent.  I miss seeing clients on a regular basis but I know that I will eventually return to the work force full time.  Even after all these years, when I have a client express deep appreciation for the help they have received from me, I feel such a deep sense of happiness and gratitude.  To me, there is something so rewarding and soul-satisfying about helping someone to shift their life.  My gratitude is immense because I am able to do work that I love.  Even though my traditional mental health days are over I remember those days with gratitude.  I may not remember every single client by name but I do remember how much I cared and how hard I worked to do the very best I could.  I have been blessed in my work.  My clients may have been grateful and are still grateful to me but I am also grateful to them.  Thank you to each and every person who found your way to my door.  Thank you for helping to give purpose and meaning to my life.  Thank you for sharing your life with me.  I pray that wherever you are, your lives are rich and full.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 26, 2011

I was corresponding with a client today and she was talking about how she doesn't know where she is going in life.  She was divorced after many years, retired from the job she had worked for many years and has been feeling as if she is in limbo.  I shared with her part of the message that my own guides had given me earlier today.  They spoke of how it is very important right now to be as completely present as possible.  With all that is going on in my life and in the world, this is a time to not be journeying too much back into the past nor is it time to be moving too far ahead into the future.  It is time to be present NOW.  They shared that so much of my life has been connected to doing but that this is a time to do what is necessary but to allow a great deal of time to just Be.  Thinking and doing seem to go hand in hand.  Feeling and Being are also good together but are not always so easy to allow when one is accustomed to thinking and doing.  By allowing more time to feel and be, I am also creating space in which I am more receptive to my inner voice and to spirit.  It is not through thought and doing that I will find my new path as much as through feeling and being and allowing myself to receive.  This cannot happen if I am over thinking.  I believe we are moving into a time when our thriving and even our surviving may be more dependent on our intuitive skills than our analytical abilities.  This does not mean our analytical mind does not have its own place, it does.  However, for centuries, in a great deal of the world, the analytical mind reigned supreme at the sacrifice of the feminine receptive mind, the intuition.  Yet, it has often been my intuition that guided me down paths I would have never taken otherwise.  By releasing the need to do and opening to the state of being, I can receive valuable information.  In uncertain times, spiritual wisdom becomes even more necessary.  Therefore, those times in our lives when we do not know the direction we are going can be some of the most blessed times in our lives.  Release the need to know.  It may not be time to know.  Surrender yourself to the unknown and open up to new possibility.  Open to curiosity and stifle the need to feel in control.  That is an illusion after all.  Surrender to the unknown and I will meet you there.  love and light, Shirley

April 20, 2011

During my meditation today, I had asked for help letting go of some negative thoughts that seem to linger.  One of the messages that came through is that it would be beneficial for me to give away something that is precious to me.  By releasing and letting go of something that is important to me, it will aid me in releasing and letting go of other things that I have held on to for far too long.  I certainly had made the connection before between releasing things in the physical world in order to make room for the new.  And, in all the cleaning and sorting and letting go of the massive amounts of stuff from my dad's shop and other places connected to my mom's estate, I had also learned that I was cleaning and sorting and letting go of things inside of me.  As I have made many trips to the garbage dump, I have consciously released and let go of much of my own "garbage".  This garbage was composed of faulty beliefs, negative thoughts and feelings, old outmoded ways of being, and so much more.  In the past seven years I have released and let go of the majority of my belongings and knew that it was with great purpose.  Since most of my remaining stuff is in storage and I live in one bedroom at my mother's house, the things that I have with me are important to me.  I don't have room for anything that is not important because of little space.  So, I know it is from my bedroom and those things that I cherish that I will find something or several things to release.  Recently, my guides told me to detach from everything.  They first congratulated me on having detached and released a great deal in my life.  They then told me to detach from anything and everything that may have become new attachments. Detach from where I am to live or if I am to live with someone.  Detach from how I will make a living.  Detach from where I live.   Detach, detach, detach.  Surrender, Surrender, Surrender.  Someone once asked me why it would be bad for me to want my own home.  This was in response to me sharing about my many messages regarding letting go.  I told her that it is not bad for me to want my own home.  It only becomes a problem if I am attached to that idea and feel unhappy without it.   Or, if I eventually have a home of my own again and cling so tightly to it that I miss out on more important issues in my life.  It is not in the having but in the clinging that we encounter pain.  Since I have obviously been clinging to old resentments and negative ways of thinking, it is time for me to release all clinging.  I will take a deep breath and let go and share something precious to me with someone else.  As I do, I pray to release whatever else needs to go.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 18, 2011

This weekend I was blessed in that I was able to spend part of the weekend with a good friend of mine.  She lives in an apartment over a garage which is located at the back of a house situated out in the country.  It is a charming apartment with French doors that open out to a deck which looks out over a fruit orchard and beyond the orchard lies the woods.  To my delight, I discovered in the morning that when I looked out the bedroom window I could see the sunlight reaching through the trees as far as I could see.  The railing around the deck is festooned with a flowering vine which was already blooming in spite of the unusually cold spring weather.   A flower pot with daffodils and hyacinth brought a spot of brightness to the otherwise gray deck.  The woods were filled with all manner of new life and the chorus of frogs echoed throughout the day and night.  We sat on the deck as the sun came in and out of hiding, contented to read our books and eat leftovers for lunch.  Simple pleasures but they filled me deeply.  Grateful for the brief respite in my life, I know I will carry the beauty and restful essence of that time with me during the coming days and weeks.  Even now as I type these words, back in my bedroom at home, I can close my eyes and see the majestic evergreens, smell the pungent new life emanating from beneath those trees and hear the frogs refrain.  It is essential in our lives of demand and stress that we find ways to carry respite within.  It is after all within us that we can find our true residence.  It is within that the hearth of our home never loses its warmth and light.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 15, 2011

On April 11, Mars in Aries squared Pluto in Capricorn.  My dear friend, Mary, who is an astrologer had told me about this powerful astrological lineup and had suggested that I meditate when this occurred.  I can give a simple explanation of what this means and why she suggested I meditate during this occurrence.  Pluto is in Capricorn and has been since, I believe, late summer of 2008.  Pluto is the planet of transformation and Capricorn rules structures, both man made structures and earth's structures.  Therefore, transformation has been occurring on a structural level in many different ways.  One of the first and most noticeable transformations was when the money world was impacted in 2008 and so many banks went under.  This was definitely one area that needed shaking up and there will still be shakeups in this arena.  Just look at our national debt and how this has become one of the foremost concerns for us.  We must change our ways.  Pluto comes along and asks us how we are doing with our structures and if the answer is not positive, Pluto may simply bring out the wrecking ball and declare that it is time to restructure.  I am reminded of my own guidance telling me that change is needed in my own life and I can do it easy or I can do it hard.  It is all up to me.  Pluto will remain in Capricorn for a total of sixteen years so we still have a lot of restructuring to come.  Mars in Aries brings a heightened powerful moving forward energy to help us break loose those areas of our life that no longer serve us.  When you combine these two very powerful energies you get the energy that is very similar to that of the Tower Card.  The Tower Card in the Tarot is the card of unexpected, sudden and profound change.  The tower represents a person and the lightning that is striking the top of the tower is so powerful that it runs down through the tower and one can see a man and woman falling off of the tower.  Many people regard the Tower Card as negative or frightening but in truth, it is simply a card that states change is due, quite likely overdue.  That lightning is also representative of the spiritual energy that comes in through our crown and runs down through all the chakras, literally burning through those limitations or places of rigidity where we have stubbornly clung to our old ways.  The lightning strike is usually necessary because more subtle ways of communication have been ignored and it is now necessary for the Universe to get our attention.  This is why Mary asked that I be in meditation at 1:39 p.m. Pacific Time on April 11.  I found myself in the marsh, sitting upon the huge root of an old sitka spruce tree that I have befriended.  With my eyes closed, I envisioned the tower, with me, of course, being the tower.  I prayed for myself and for my friends and family, that we are all able to embrace change and release that which is no longer serving us.  I prayed for my country and our leaders to do the same.  I added in all the countries of the world and all the leaders.  I prayed that every single one of us is able to embrace change and listen to that inner voice that tells us where it is we need to change.  I prayed that we all stop and listen to our inner voice and begin to make those changes so that we can move into a new and better world.  I was very aware that for those who cling to the old, the kind of change that is coming may feel as though their world is being shattered.  I prayed that this not be necessary.  As I prayed, I saw the lightning strike me on the top of my head.  I then saw myself as a tower with a stone or brick wall built all around me.  I watched as the lightning passed through me and hit this wall.  Slowly, it began to crack and as the cracks grew, chunks of the wall began to fall to the ground.  It was as though the cracks took on a life of their own and soon the entire wall was cracked to where it looked like crackled glass.  I knew that the wall would eventually come down but it was doing it in a slower, less traumatic manner.  This is my vision for Mother Earth and her inhabitants.  I pray that our walls come down in a less traumatic manner.  On a personal level, part of my restructuring that is long overdue has to do with my eating patterns and weight.  As I saw the pieces of wall fall off in bits and pieces, I realized that this is exactly what I am doing.  I am releasing old habits in bits and pieces knowing that ultimately the whole wall needs to come down.  I know that if I do not do this and do it NOW that I may be facing the hard way that my guides spoke of.  Illness often occurs because we have not listened to our inner voice and our body finally says it is time for a great change and if we won't do it, our body will do it for us.  My prayer for you is that you sit in silence and listen to your own body and your own guidance and ask what is it that you need to restructure in your life.  The wrecking ball is always an option but a remodel can be a gentler way to go.  Either way, the more we can embrace change and know that ultimately it is for our higher good, the more we can move forward, knowing that everything is in Divine Order.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 13, 2011

Our body is speaking to us all the time.  It is always 100% present.  Our thoughts may travel back into the past or muse into the future but our body is 100% present.  There are times that our awareness of our body is not present but our body itself is still present.  Our body records everything and our body tells the truth.  We can fool ourselves with our minds and even with our feelings but our body is always present, recording every event, every thought and feeling.  So, what exactly does that mean?  It means that this information is being stored in our body's cells.  Therefore, every thought, every feeling is affecting the cells of our body every time we think or feel them.  Different feelings can affect different parts of our body.  This is especially true if we are working hard to ignore the feeling and we believe we have buried it or that it has disappeared.  The longer we ignore our feelings, the more they can be stored in our bodies.  In general, we do not usually find a need to suppress feelings such as joy or gratitude or happiness.  The majority of those feelings that are stored in the body are what we call negative feelings.  We are more likely to suppress pain, anger, grief, sadness and fear, just to name a few.  Over time, these stored feelings can begin to affect the cells they are stored in.  This can create body pain, tightness, lack of mobility, hair loss and any of a number of physical issues.  If we continue to neglect our feelings, it can ultimately lead to illness and even death.  There are many books on this subject to help us with these issues.  I have two that I reference often.  The first is called "Heal Your Body" by Louise Hay.  The second is called "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman.  They are both excellent resources to help me identify some of the underlying causes of issues in my body.  I have overcome many physical problems this way and continue to work on my body, mind, heart and soul.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 7, 2001

Today is my dear friend, Maggi's 50th birthday.  I was going to travel to her home to cook dinner for her and her family and friends, however, my daughter ended up having emergency surgery so I had to cancel those plans.  I will help her celebrate later.  Celebrate.  I believe it is very important to have celebrations as often as possible.  Every time we celebrate something whether it is the birthday of a friend or family member or our own,  the first time we owned our own home, the birth of children, a mortgage burning or a raise at work, we are giving thanks.  We don't have to wait for those larger events in life to celebrate and give thanks.  Giving a blessing at each meal is a mini celebration.  What can make it even better is to create something special in addition to giving thanks.  Perhaps a fresh new bouquet of flowers on the table, lighting a candle or using the good china just because.  We can celebrate anything and everything that brings us joy.  I love May Day because it arrives at about the same time as the rhododendron blooms.  Here where I live, the rhodys are spectacular and definitely worthy of celebration.  Today, find at least one thing in your life that you can celebrate.  Take five minutes at a minimum and devote it to celebrating whatever it is you choose and however you feel led to celebrate.  Celebration and joy raise our vibration.  Up, up and away!  Love and Light, Shirley

April 6, 2011

I was looking at some photos of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  The damage and loss of life is overwhelming.  Yet, in the midst of all that trauma there are stories of good.  One story was about a 44 year old man who is helping to get the nuclear plant stabilized.  He is fully aware that he will not emerge from this unscathed.  When asked why he is there he said that he is single and has no children and believes he needs to be there instead of his workers who have dependents.  He also referred to his fellow workers as his sisters and brothers.  Stop for a moment and consider your own workplace.  Would you consider your fellow workers your brothers and sisters?  Would you be willing and able to make the kind of sacrifice this man is making?  I am very aware that it is almost impossible to answer those kinds of questions when I am not faced with those decisions.  The most horrible and devastating experiences can bring out the best in all of us.  Even if deep inside we are afraid that we might not be able to do it, we may find a different answer if the situation truly presented itself in our lives.  What we can do is ask ourselves if we are doing all that we can to promote the kind of workplace where we could call our fellow workers brothers and sisters.  We can ask ourselves if there are small sacrifices we could make in order to create a better work environment.  These same principles could apply to any group we are involved with, our families, our friends, neighbors, churches, synagogues, temples, service clubs and more.  What kind of small sacrifice could I make in order to transform this environment?  Perhaps it might be something as simple as being willing to pick up after someone else because you know they are overwhelmed or forgetful or any of a number of other reasons.  A simple act of kindness can bring a greater sense of well-being to both the person extending it and the person receiving it.  It might be something simple but more difficult as keeping quiet in a situation even though you know you are right.  I am not referring to those times when it is important to speak your truth but those times when it is not necessary and could just cause conflict or hurt.  Biting our tongue at times may cause us temporary discomfort but help to create an atmosphere of positive fellowship.  So, today, I salute the gentleman in Japan and all the rest of those who have joined him in working at the nuclear plant.  I honor all those who are risking their lives and their health in order to help others, not only in Japan but around the world.  I also honor those who are making the world a better place in less dramatic ways but not necessarily less important.  I honor everyone being who is willing to sacrifice for others.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 29, 2011

The house across the street from where I live from my mother is being demolished.  My parents owned it for many years but my 85 year old mother recently sold it.  I remember when my parents bought it.  I was 10 or 11 years old and they were buying it to use as a rental property.  The house was most likely built around the turn of the century and certainly has seen many owners and tenants and provided a home for people for over 100 years.  However, as my parents aged, they were less and less able to keep it up and it fell into disrepair.  The house is fairly small but it has a reasonably large yard, although the yard became very overgrown by blackberry brambles and all kinds of bushes and plants tangled together.  The man who bought the house has been cutting down the brush and burning it in huge bonfires.  He is slowly dismantling the house so that in a few weeks, the volunteer firemen in our small town can come and burn it down.  I have felt a great deal of pleasure as I have watched the brush being cut down and burnt and the house slowly being removed.  What is it about this process that makes me so happy?  I realized that in many ways, it is a cleansing of that piece of property.  There are times when we must accept that there are things that have lost their usefulness and it is time to let them go.  These things may be ideas, beliefs, emotions, material goods and even people.  I use sage smoke to cleanse my body at times and my bedroom.  As I have smelled the pungent smoke being produced by the brush bonfire, it has occurred to me that this smoke is cleansing the whole neighborhood.  I have used my awareness of this cleansing as an opportunity to further examine my own process of releasing, surrendering and letting go.  What has outlived its usefulness?  What needs to be thrown into the bonfire and allowed to be consumed?  As the brush is being cut and burned, it is amazing how different the land is beginning to look.  What was once overgrown, tangled and could barely be seen through is now disappearing and the light of day is beginning to shine in places that before were always in shadow.  My desire is to bring into the light all aspects of myself that may still linger in the shadows and underbrush of my consciousness.  I pray to burn away everything that is keeping me from shining my own light everywhere.  love and light, Shirley

March 21, 2012

Acceptance is the first Law of Spirit.  I once had a card that had that written on the front.  I have written about this before.  I have also written about a message from my own guidance where they talked about accepting that what is, is.  In some sects of Buddhism it is taught how man creates his own misery through his desires and aversions.   It seems that we are either trying to avoid something that we perceive as unpleasant or seeking after something that we may not have that we believe will bring us pleasure.  We may have so many of those things that we do desire and then we become attached and fearful that we will lose them.  Yet, so many spiritual teachers have said repeatedly that acceptance of where  life is in the moment is one of the secrets to creating a spirit-filled life.  Let go and Let God.  This was a very popular phrase back in the seventies.  I am sure I have said that phrase dozens, perhaps even hundreds of times.  Yet, I frequently find myself back in the position of needing to say and do it all over again.  Acceptance is the first Law of Spirit.  Accepting is not the same thing as settling or giving up on your dreams.  It is a state of mind where I am able to say to God that I am doing my best to know that whatever is happening in my life is just exactly what is meant to be.  Acceptance releases us.  If I am able to accept, for example, that I have less income than I once did, this frees me of self-blame, guilt, anger, feeling sorry for myself, feeling like I have somehow been victimized or cheated and a host of other thoughts and emotions that just keep me stuck.  Acceptance helps me to stop wasting precious time and energy on regret, obsessing about the past or on what I did or did not do right.  Acceptance helps me to tap into the Universal flow of life that imparts higher knowledge to me.  Acceptance helps me to open my mind and heart to new ways of looking at life.   I am more able to see the lessons in life and able to experience them as lessons, not punishments or something forced upon me.  In order for me to accept whatever is in my life, I must first trust God.  If I do not trust God, then how can I have acceptance?  This can be the God self within me or God the creator.  For myself, trusting God means going beyond the small self in order to find wisdom.  If I try to make sense of life with my mind only, I have great difficulty moving into acceptance.  My ego screams out NO.  My ego screams out WHY ME?  By asking God to fill me and help me to release my ego, I am able to understand from my Higher mind.  I am able to see that there is purpose for everything in my life.  I can accept whatever is.   I pray the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 3, 2011

Life has been extra busy and challenging in the last several weeks.  I regret that I have not written in here for so long but I am glad to be back!  I was speaking to a friend of mine the other day and we were talking about how important it is to connect to our spiritual self, especially when life is difficult.  Unfortunately, there are times when we can get so caught up in the drama of life that it is more of a struggle to take the time to quiet ourselves and connect.  Yet, every time that I do take the time out to meditate or write in my journal, connecting to my guidance, I am always grateful that I did.  Prayer is one of the ways of connecting that people usually do NOT neglect when they are in crisis.  In fact, many of the most fervent prayers uttered were done so because of crisis and challenge.  Prayer is good, of course, however it is a one way dialogue where we speak to God.  It is when we quiet ourselves to listen that the dialogue from God can be heard.  I don't know about anyone else but it is obvious to me that it is God's voice that I most need to hear when life is difficult, not my own.  It is my God Self, my Higher Self that I need to tune in to and connect with when I am faced with circumstances in life that wear me down.  Today, no matter what the current circumstances of your life are, find some time to connect to your Higher Self.  Ask to connect and then create a quiet space inside of you where it can happen.  There are ways in which we can help facilitate this process.  By creating a quiet space in your home or somewhere in nature, it makes it easier to create the quiet space within.  Water is a wonderful way to create calm.  Sitting by a river, lake or pond can be so beneficial but even listening to the rain or a water fountain is good.  Incense can help to raise the vibration of a room, especially when used specifically for that purpose.  More than anything, it is the willing heart that creates the connection.  By devoting as much time to silence as we do to our prayers we create the opportunity for dialogue with the Divine.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 12, 2011

It is stormy today.  The wind is blowing so hard that some of the bushes are being blown all the way over to the ground.  Fortunately, they are resilient and are able to stand back up again.  I am reminded of a card from my Osho Zen deck.  It shows the trunk of a tree and a  stalk of bamboo.  The card is about being flexible and resilient even in the midst of the storms of life.  Weather like this can topple some of the biggest trees in the forest and leave some of the smallest trees completely intact.  Are you resilient or do you get flattened when adversity comes your way?  Do you blow this way and that but end upright when the storm passes?  There are ways to increase your resiliency.  My guides are frequently reminding me that my true home is within.  It is by going within that I find the warm hearth of my heart.  There is always quiet and peace within as long as I allow it.  Yes, there are days when I can barely slow myself down enough to listen to my heart beat, much less go within.  Yet, every time I do, I am glad.  I am always reminded that God is present with me in all times, in all weather, even in some of the darkest, most turbulent storms of my life.  I am grateful to be inside today.  I will build a fire in the woodstove and heat myself beside it.  I will also go within to my inner hearth where the fire never goes out and there is always warmth and love. 

February 10, 2011

Listening to your intuition can be such fun.  Yesterday, I was trying to decide what to do and it just kept popping in my head that I should take my mom to the beach.  A part of me kept thinking that I had other things to do but when I truly quieted myself, I knew that we were going to the beach.  We had a late lunch in a restaurant that overlooks the beach and ocean.  The sky was beautiful in soft pastel colors and where the sun peeked out, there was a beautiful silver light upon the water.  We watched as the sky slowly changed color and the clouds softly and gently moved about creating a different scene every few minutes.  After lunch, we went to the beach and drove our car out onto the sand.  We were able to sit and watch the waves and listen to them as they crashed upon the salty shores.  Next to us, there was another car and the people inside were feeding the seagulls.  My mother laughed in delight as suddenly, the seagulls converged from all directions.  The call had been sent out that there was food!  We enjoyed watching their antics and listening to their unique call.  It is a lovely drive from our home to the beach.  It takes about forty minutes and there are many places along the way that are filled with incredibly beautiful landscapes.  One of the predominant colors to be seen is green.  All hues and shades of green dominate the view and can be found from the pastures and meadows to the brush and trees of the bordering forests.  At one point, all the green was interrupted by a flash of black, brown and rust as a bobcat ran across the road in front of us.  I do not know which one of us was more excited, my mom or I.  It's velvet coat was spotted and lush.  Bobcats live in this area but they are solitary and they are one of the hermits of the animal kingdom.  To see one in full view was such a gift.  I am so grateful to have listened to my inner voice.  We both received such rich gifts.  Have you been listening to your intuition?   Slow down, breathe and listen.  You never know what you might be missing.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 8, 2011

In the past few days I have been writing a great deal about some mystical experiences that have been occurring in my life.  I spoke of returning to some of my ancient roots.  We are infinite beings and so, in truth, I have no idea if we even have an inkling of our most ancient roots.  I believe that we are creations of God that were brought into being so that we could have experiences.  The wisdom and knowledge gained from those experiences are then brought back to the whole, to the Creator.  We are all truly One but we are living in a temporary reality where the idea of true Unity is very difficult to comprehend with our minds.  I should say that it is difficult to comprehend with our cognitive conscious mind.  It is with our Higher Consciousness that we are able to not only comprehend but to experience being One with all that is.  It is during those times, in meditation, in our dreams and those times when we are able to still our thinking mind that we access the truth about Oneness.  When I am able to Be in that state of Unity there are barely words to describe it.  It is like floating in a sea of light.  I am aware of myself but in a completely different way.  In that state, it is not a question of going back to ancient roots or re-discovering past lives or connecting to my ancestors.  No, in that state there is no such thing as past or future, there is only NOW.  There is not truly any such thing as ancestors or others because I am immersed in a state where I am One with all things and all beings.  There is no separation, therefore no need to identify or recognize individual beings.  However, because I am not currently able to remain immersed in that state, I return to this current reality where I experience physical separation, I experience myself as a separate being and I do have ancestors.  I find great value in both states of Being.  The experiences I have as a human being are infused with the memory of my timeless  floating in the sea of consciousness.  I may return to this physical reality but it is forever altered.  Somewhere within me there is always that awareness that I am One with all I encounter.  It is no longer nearly so easy to judge another because at some level, I am judging myself.  It is no longer possible to think that what I do only affects me.  No, every thought I think, every emotion I express and every action I take affects ALL others.  That is an enormous responsibility to realize.  It is also a powerful realization.  Every time I whisper a prayer of gratitude, it affects everyone.  Every time I sing or laugh those tones emanate out into the sea of consciousness.  Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, every single choice we make is affecting everyone and everything else in creation.  What are you contributing to the whole?  Love and Light, Shirley

February 7, 2011

I know that I have shared before that everything has its own vibration and meaning.  I have several books that I use almost every day that were written by a wonderful man named Ted Andrews.  He was a prolific writer and I would love to have more of his books.  The three that I use are called: Animal Speak, Animal-Wise, and Nature-Wise.  When I am guided to find out the meaning of something in nature I usually find my answer in one of these books.  The cypress tree had already come to me in a meditation and I had already looked it up.  The first time it appeared I was mystified because I did not even know what a cypress tree looked like.  I saw the tree in meditation, did not know what it was but then was told it was a cypress.  Nature-Wise told me that cypress represents finding comfort in the home; new understanding of a crisis.  The cypress grows in the wetlands and swamp.  Going through a swamp was a means of facing ones fears, sacrificing for a greater cause.  The cypress tree encourages us to explore the sacrifices that we are making within our life.  Also, that cypress will help us manifest opportunities of healing.  In order to understand the significance of what I am writing, I suggest that you read the messages from February 5th and 6th, starting with the 5th.  It will make more sense.  As I reread the information about cypress I understood why I was guided to really allow the information to sink in.  In so many ways, I am going through the swamp in my life right now.   I am sacrificing a great deal in order to care for my elderly mother and to deal with her estate which is a chaotic mess.  I have been working on clearing and cleaning up massive messes on four different pieces of property for over 17 months.  There is still a great deal left to do.  So much of my personal freedom is gone for right now.  I do not have much time for my business, friendships, recreation, my boyfriend and more.  I do not have the financial abundance I am accustomed to.  However, I know that everything is in divine order and I am just exactly where I need to be right now.  I love my mother and she needs my help.  The cypress is calling to me.  The swamp is calling to me to help me gain deeper understanding of what is happening on all levels.  I looked up ferns next.  Ferns energy reminds us to keep our hearts open to the Faerie realm and to look for wonders.  In Ted Andrews book he also talks about how we can experience wonders if we remember how we believed as children.  The nature deva that came to me in my meditation, which ultimately brought me to the marsh, is not my imagination, she is real.  The faerie realm is real and it is calling to me.  A few months ago, a centipede came into my meditation and I knew it was not there because I imagined it.  I was in a beautiful celestial garden and a centipede is about the last thing I would imagine being there.  Centipede's metaphysical meaning is: new psychic relationships and psychic protection.  The centipede was one of the heralds for the nature deva.  She is one of my new psychic relationships.  I know that a whole new world is opening for me.  My maiden name is Luark, which is Welsh.  I have strong Welsh and Irish ties.  The Welsh and Irish have some of the strongest connections to the faerie realm.  I am returning to some of my deepest and most ancient roots.  An adventure awaits.  My heart sings.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 6, 2011

If you are reading this message and you did not read yesterday's message please read that message first and then come back to this.  If you have already read yesterday's then proceed reading.  Yesterday, I shared my story of how I ended up on the walking trails in the marshland two miles from my house.  I walked the trails which wind through marshland, and forest.  The evergreen trees are very tall, especially those located above the marsh and there are thousands of enormous ferns everywhere.  On both sides of the trails are marshes filled with both decaying and live vegetation.  I looked for cattails but finally came to the conclusion that was not necessary.  The cattails in my meditation served to signal me to look for a marsh, not necessarily to look for more cattail.  After walking a great deal, I sat upon a log and was very still for quite some time.  I did not see or hear anything out of the ordinary.  However, when I began to write in my journal, I instantly was connected to my guides and they had plenty to say.  This is part of what they had to say:  "Everything out here is good for you, fresh air, the rotting vegetation as well as the new, the trees and the ferns.  Look up ferns, Shirley.  Let it soak in.  Read cypress again, let it soak in.  You have nothing to fear, dear one.  Being out here is the beginning of a healing process.  Do whatever it takes to have more time out here; warmer clothes, blankets, whatever it takes.  You are in the process of releasing many of your own judgments and limiting beliefs.  As you walked down these trails, you had the thought that you are dying unto your self.  This is very true.  You are learning to release and surrender and you are beginning to recognize when your control issues come up.  Release- let go- surrender.  And just what does it mean to die unto self?  It means to allow your lower self with its never ending baggage and need for control, its anger, fear, doubt and inadequacy to die out.  By releasing the issues of the lower self and connecting more and more with your higher self, you "die", your lower self dies.  Every time you acknowledge to God that you are NOT in control, a part of you dies.  Every time you surrender your life, life's situations, a part of you dies.  Every time you face a decision and let go of the outcome a part of you dies.  And it is in the dying that you can find new life.  In the Chehalis River Surge Plain, the fast moving waters of the river diverge and become slower and slower and eventually they become still.  The ground and vegetation sit in the still water, slowly rotting, decomposing, creating rich silt, black soil.  The air is sometimes filled with the putrid, frequently pungent odors of decay.  And, yet, from that decay comes new life, fresh green shoots of new plants.  The soil eventually dries some and the marshes and sloughs teem with life.  From the decay of your own death, your lower self's demise, you will eventually send forth your own green shoots.  DO NOT DESPAIR.  DO NOT DESPAIR when you feel that you are surrounded by death and decay.  It is the decomposing of your self that fills your nostrils.  You can be like the Phoenix that rises from its own ashes.  Remember that there must first be a fire before there is ash.  There must first be death and decay and rot and stench before the bright new day of green shoots."  Everything speaks to us if stop and listen.  Even the land itself brings us wisdom.  I am the marsh with my own still waters, decomposing self and green shoots waiting for the sunlight of my own rebirth.  Love and Light, Shirley  Tomorrow I will share the messages of the cypress tree and ferns. 

February 5, 2011

Whenever I follow my intuition I am glad.  Every time I follow my guidance even if it means going into the unknown or doing something that is uncomfortable for me, I am filled with an inner peace and joy.  There are times that I receive messages that are strange or odd to my logical mind, yet when I override my analytical chattering mind and listen to my intuitive mind, I win.  The other day during my meditation a nature deva came to me and asked me to meet her where the water meets the land.  Prior to her appearance I had seen tiger lilies, trillium and cattails.  I knew that the cattails, in particular, were a clue as to where she meant for me to go.  I also knew that this was not my imagination but was an actual encounter with this spiritual being.  I had been receiving messages up to this point about swamps and marshlands.  I also knew that she was not speaking of a metaphysical marsh but an actual physical marsh.  I live where there are many marshes but I did not know exactly where to look so I looked on the internet and found a salt marsh about 11 miles from my home.  I fully intended to visit and then I became ill.  There was a sequence of events that followed my meditation that verified I was correct about the message.  I was telling the story of my meditation to my friend in Reno, Sienna Marie, and before I could tell her that it was a nature deva in my meditation, she excitedly said that it was a nature deva!  She then told me about a book called MAP: The Co-Creative White Brotherhood Medical Assistance Program.  I had never heard of it but I knew of the White Brotherhood.  They are a group of highly evolved spiritual beings who assist us here on earth.   Some of them have come to me in meditation or through channeling.  Some of the better known members of the White Brotherhood would be Jesus, Kuthumi, El Moryea, St. Germaine, Mother Mary and Quan Yin, just to name a few.  Sienna Marie proceeded to tell me that the White Brotherhood work in conjunction with nature devas, Pan and our Higher Selves to facilitate healing in humans.  As I listened to my friend, I was covered in goose bumps.  A few days prior to my meditation I had been asking my guides a question.  I had asked them why I did not have the money right now to obtain medical attention when they had told me over ten years ago that my needs had always been met and always would be.  I made it clear that I was not complaining, simply trying to gain clarity and understanding.  It was a day or two later after I asked the question that the nature deva came in my meditation and a few days after that that Sienna Marie told me about MAP.  I ordered the book as soon as I had read about it.  I was very excited to learn about a new way to heal that anyone can do and it costs you nothing other than the price of the book.  I even found the book for $.99 plus shipping!  There is more to my story but I was so happy and grateful for such a swift and amazing answer to my request for clarity.  They were showing me that my needs can be met but I needed to expand and include a new method of gaining balanced health.  Okay, now back to the marshland.  As I said, I found a salt marsh that was located 11 miles away but I was also waiting to get well and for the weather to clear up.  A few days ago, my nephew had been staying at my mom's house, where I also live, and he left on his motorcycle to go home.  Soon, I received a phone call that he had run out of gas and could I please bring him some gas?  He told me that he was about two miles down the Blue Slough road.  Soon, I saw him beside the road and I turned off the road onto a small short road that ended in a parking area.  Even though I have driven past this place hundreds, no, thousands, of times I had never noticed it before.  As he was filling his tank I noticed a sign behind him.  It stated that this was a natural preserve and was called the Chehalis River Purge Basin.  Included in the land that was preserved was marshland.  Not only was there marshland but there were walking trails that I could take right through the heart of the marsh.  I was sure this was no accident.  I asked Justin why had had waited until his gas was so low and he told me that it was the strangest thing because normally he would have at least 16 more miles left when his gas gauge read what it did.  He said he could not understand why it had happened.  I did.  I told him about my meditation and the message and why I believed his gas ran out just as he reached this place.  I came back later and walked the trails.  Come back tomorrow and I will share what happened on the trail.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 2, 2011

I started to write today's message and realized that I had written the wrong year for all of the messages written in January and February!  I had to laugh at myself.  The ability to laugh at oneself is so important.  It is not good to put oneself down in a hurtful or painful way, this is not what it means to laugh at oneself.  I think that my ability to laugh at myself comes from that part of me that is mature enough to know that I am not perfect.  I am going to make mistakes, small and large.  In truth, my guides once told me that they are not really mistakes but opportunities to learn.  By whatever name we call them, they are still those things that occur that I do not plan nor do I particularly want them to happen.  I cannot tell you how many times I have locked my keys in my car trunk.  I did it again today. So, I have learned to carry a spare key in my purse.  Most of the times that I make errors such as those described above, it really isn't all that important.  I might feel a little foolish but there is no harm done.  These are the type of errors that I can laugh at.  Where was my brain when I kept putting the wrong date?  What was I thinking about when I, once again, locked my keys in my car?  I believe that these kinds of errors often are reminders to me that I need to get grounded.  I need to find a way to slow down my thoughts, slow down my breathing and become aware of my body and my physical presence here on earth.  When I am securely grounded, I make fewer errors and my mind is less distracted.  If you find yourself making frequent errors, you may wish to ground yourself.  One of the best ways to get grounded is to focus on your breathing.  Get outdoors and feel the earth under your feet.  Do some drumming.  Dance.  Drink water.  Be in or by water.  Touch a tree.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 1, 2011

It is a beautiful morning here in Cosmopolis, Washington!  The sky is blue with just a few light clouds and the sun is shining.  I am so grateful for those rare winter days when the sun is out.  I do my best to not complain about the weather and to just accept whatever comes.  After all, I can do nothing about what weather comes, only how I respond.  The truth is that the sun is still shining every winter day, high above the clouds!  I do a meditation where I come out of my body and travel up through the house and on up out into outer space.  I can first see myself sitting there in my chair, looking down on the top of my head, next I see the top of the roof of my house and I move on up through the clouds.  High above the clouds I see the sun shining down on Mother Earth and it is so spectacular.  Whatever the weather conditions are close to earth, there is always this same radiant light high above.  I am reminded that this is a beautiful metaphor for life and spiritual light.  In my immediate surroundings I may be experiencing stormy weather which can come in the form of financial issues, health problems, problematic relationships, faulty plumbing or any of a myriad of challenges that we face as humans here on this planet.  Yet, when I give myself the time and opportunity to travel within and find my own radiant light, it sheds light on my challenges and they change.  What I should say is that my ability to cope is what changes, not necessarily the circumstances.  When I am more able to cope and my attitude is sunnier, the outer circumstances can also change in response to my thoughts and what I am attracting to me.  Our challenges can teach us but we can also lessen their impact by bringing our own inner warmth into whatever situation arises.  Shine on!  Love and Light, Shirley

January 26, 2011

Did you know that the brain cannot differentiate between what we call reality and what we call our imagination?  Or perhaps I should clarify that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between the two.  One of the reasons why guided imagery is such an effective way to help us relax and change how we feel about things is that it essentially feeds the subconscious mind all these wonderful images and our body and our emotions respond as if the images are reality.  Do you want to get over shyness?  Listen to guided imagery or hypnotherapy CD's that have you behaving in social situations with all the confidence in the world.  When I first started learning this, I thought of how powerful the mind can be at the same time that I considered how easily it can be manipulated!  It was exciting and alarming all at the same time.  Some people have an easier time envisioning certain sights, sounds and even smells than other people do.  Some people have an easier time simply feeling into a vision as opposed to actually seeing it.  Our imagination is engaged in either circumstance.  I had a professor in college who was teaching a class about anxiety.  He said that worry is the misuse of our imagination.  Years later, I don't remember much else he said but I still remember his powerful statement.  Worry is the misuse of our imagination.  In other words, worry is just us imagining all kinds of negative or frightening situations.  We are making a choice to create these negative scenarios in our minds.  We can choose otherwise.  I can imagine myself on a lovely stone pathway and I am surrounded by beautiful flowers of all kinds.  Their sweet scents fill the air and their colors are a feast for the eyes.  Birds are calling softly to one another in the distance and a iridescent dragon fly whizzes by creating a beautiful but brief path across my eyes.  Or, I can imagine that I am on a barren pathway surrounded by colorless, bland stones.  The sun is beating down on me and my sweat drips off my nose leaving a salty, metallic taste in my mouth.  My skin burns and my eyes ache with the unrelenting glare of sun on stone.  Our words are powerful and they evoke such deep feelings within us.  What are the words that you are using to define your own life?  If your life is not exactly what you desire, use your imagination to create a better world.  It is a good start toward manifesting one.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 25, 2011

What we resist, persists.  Have you read that before?  I have read and heard it many times.  For so many people who are searching for happiness, they believe that they will be happy when they finally have something they have been longing for or when something that is troublesome in their lives finally goes away.  Yet, if we focus on what it is in our life that we want to go away, it often persists.  The other day I received an email with a small teaching from a Buddhist teacher who basically stated that instead of resisting those things in our lives that we find difficult, we should put our focus and attention on those aspects of our life that bring us joy.  By doing so, we can have joy even in the midst of our challenges.  What is it in your life that you resist, resent or just plain don't like?  Perhaps you are in a job you don't like, or your home is not quite what you would like it to be.  Perhaps you have weight issues or you are married and feeling discontented, yet not ready to leave the marriage.  As long as we keep our focus primarily on what is wrong, that is what we will get.  If you believe you cannot leave the unfulfilling job, do your best to find what positive aspects there are to your job.  Do you like your co-workers?  If you like one and dislike another, put your focus on how grateful you are for the positive relationship.  There is a great deal in our life that we cannot change but we can change how we look at our life.  Right now, it is cloudy and raining outside.  Looking out one window of this room I can see a bare tree covered with lichen, gray and barren.  Growing right next to it is a beautiful andromeda plant that already has fresh new green leaves and is budded with new blooms waiting to burst forth.  I can focus on either plant and have completely different experiences.  I can also look at both and enjoy the interplay of their contrasts.  I can do the same in my life.  I can focus on the fact that I live with my mother right now and nearly everything I own is in storage and I don't have a home of my own.  Or, I can focus on how fortunate I am that at this stage of my life I was able to move in with my mom and care for her.  Not everyone can do that.  Many people are forced to have their parents move into nursing homes because they live across the United States from them and cannot leave their jobs and home.  They may still be in their own homes and their belongings are not in storage but they have a different set of circumstances and sad or guilty feelings that I do not have to experience.  Today, I choose joy.  The joy of the simple pleasures and blessings in life.  I choose to enjoy the pleasure of a good cup of coffee in a beautiful mug given to me from my daughter and son-in-law.  I choose to appreciate the smell of a lovely scented candle.  I choose to look at the beauty and possibility in my life, knowing that change is inevitable and that some of the very things I struggle with will one day pass.  I encourage you to do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 23, 2011

Grace.  I looked up the meaning of grace and there are more than one definition.  One definition speaks of divine energy coming from God to someone who has not merited it.  Therefore, if someone is in a state of grace they are in a position to receive an outpouring from the divine whether they deserve it or not.  I must confess I find this concept a bit confusing since I have always believed that we are loved unconditionally by the divine all the time.  Unconditional love implies that we are therefore always in a state of grace since God loves us no matter what!  Perhaps part of what makes a state of grace unique is our ability to open and receive this outpouring of unconditional love.  God is always gracious but we are not always receptive.  Our baggage filled with guilt and shame and inadequacy and lack of self-love weighs us down and we may struggle to conceive that we are loved unconditionally.  Perhaps it is those moments when we are willing to set the baggage aside and open ourselves to receive the love, light and blessings from the divine that we experience God's grace.  We must be willing to receive.  Just as the sun shines down and lights up the world, we must be willing to open up our curtains and shutters and doors and let the light in.  We are already loved unconditionally.  God's rays are always shining.  We must choose to open up the blinds of our own making.  Gratitude is one way of opening up to the light.  When we are grateful we are acknowledging the grace and love of God, making it possible for ourselves to receive even more because we have opened up to that flow. Love and Light, Shirley

January 20, 2011

Last night I participated in an energetic activation of the pineal gland through a webinar online.  The webinar was offered by Jo Dunning and was free to those who wished to participate.  I owe a debt of gratitude to Jo for following her guidance and offering this activation.  I had a very spiritual and mystical experience.  It did not hurt that it was during a full moon as so many of my most meaningful spiritual experiences have occurred during a full moon.  As a matter of fact, I was born during a full moon!  What I want to share regarding this event is about the importance of following your intuition.  I had signed up for the webinar on the recommendation of a good friend.  Then, I accidentally scheduled an evening with a good friend who will be moving from the area in two weeks.  Oops.  I had to sit and get quiet within so that I could decide what to do.  Once I did, I knew that I needed to reschedule with my friend and participate in the webinar.  It was the right choice.  Had I gone with my analytical mind, I might have chosen otherwise convincing myself that there could always be another webinar.  Not all webinars and spiritual events are equal.  I feel a renewal within myself that is so wonderful I want to sing.  In truth, during the activation I was compelled to begin speaking and singing in my Spirit Language and Spirit Song.  The tingling in my crown and the movement in my pineal gland was amazing.  The joy that I felt last night is still present and expansive.  There were 30,000 people participating last night.  The exponential energy that is created when two or more gather was truly present last night.  Are you feeling alone in your spiritual path?  Do you not have a spiritual community where you live that you feel drawn to?  Do you live in an isolated area or an area where the community simply does not offer what you desire?  There is always more than one way to connect to a spiritual community.  I highly recommend you check out Jo Dunning's website.  I know that she offers other spiritual webinars and some are free and some are not.  What I can tell you is that I will be joining you in some of them.  I resonate with what she is bringing to the world.  I am grateful for her presence in this world.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 18, 2011

Recently, I have been receiving an unusually large amount of emails containing channeled messages from one spiritual being or another.  I have read some of them and glanced over others.  A great many of them are focused on the year 2012 and some of the messages are fairly similar regarding that time and others are quite diverse.  I have had people ask me what do I think?  What have my guides had to say on the subject?  Is the world going to end?  Are some of the people on earth going to be transported to a different reality?  If only those who have been awakened and activated are going to survive, what about the rest?  When I have asked my own guidance they have told me that it is mankind who is primarily determining what will happen.  We are responsible for raising the consciousness of our world and thereby shifting the physical by first altering the spiritual.  Every thought we think and every action we take helps to create our new world.  Yes, there is spiritual help and assistance for all of us.  Certainly, there are some people who may play a more public role but all human beings are part of the shift.  We each have the opportunity and the responsibility to change how we think and how we live our lives.  The world was once so immense.  It took weeks and months just to deliver a letter from one part of the world to the other.  The telegraph changed that and later, the telephone made it even easier to connect to someone across the world.  With the advent of the internet, we moved into a new age in many ways.  Information is being shared every instant and is being communicated all over the world.  People can connect to thousands of others in a second.  Obviously, whatever is being transmitted can either be of a positive nature or not.  When an email is sent out asking its recipients to pray for world peace at a specific time and date, it is creating a powerful opportunity for people to shift their consciousness.  In that moment of unity in prayer, a powerful force of love and light is magnified and affects everyone whether they participate or not.  2012 heralds the potential for a new age.  Astrologically we are supported by the Universe to make quantum leap shifts in our consciousness.  Spiritually, we are supported by a host of different spiritual beings who have devoted their existence to helping us evolve.  In this physical realm, we have been given many different tools to help us, the internet being one of them.  However, we must pick up the tools and implement them ourselves.  We must connect to the spiritual help that is ours and follow their wealth of advice.  We must make the commitment to raise our vibration to higher levels of love and light.  No one can do it for us.  We must choose to empower ourselves.  I must choose every day to empower myself, to reach for higher and higher spiritual aspirations, to release my fear and embrace love.  I must do this, not merely for my own upliftment but for the upliftment of all humanity.  In the midst of all the differing information, I must quiet myself and go within and find my own truth.  I must take responsibility for how I shape the events in the world today, tomorrow and in 2012.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 5, 2011

2011 is a 4 in numerology.  Having a 4 as the Universal Number for this year is a very good thing.  4 is the number for foundation.  A building is usually considered to have four corners, although in reality it can be structured differently.  However, it is considered to be a very solid structure when it has four corners.  4 can represent stability.  A chair with four legs is considered to be more stable than a three legged stool.  At the very least, it takes much more effort to create stability in the three legged chair.  I believe that the Universal energy of 4 is here to help us build a new foundation.  There is much that has been chaotic and unstable, especially in the past year.  We are being called upon to restructure much that we have come to think of as "normal" or the way it is.  I believe that one good example of this relates to finances.  Many financial institutions have been in chaos and some have ceased to exist.  People's lives have been thrown into instability, chaos and widespread change.  We are being given the opportunity to change how we view money, how we deal with money and experience money.  There is a new show on television called Downsized.  It is a show about a family who were overextended and ended up losing almost everything they owned.  It reveals the ways in which they have had to restructure their lives in order to get their needs met.  2011 is bringing some of that energy to all of us.  We cannot continue to operate as we have for so many years.  We must bring balance back into our financial dealings.  Overextending ourselves, living on credit, buying far more than what we need are all symptoms of a greater issue.  I believe that 2011 is here to help us to reassess what our values are and how are those values expressed financially?  For myself, this journey began six years ago and I am still learning but I have learned to release attachment to what I thought I needed in order to be happy.  I have learned to not overextend myself in order to satisfy an immediate desire.  I still have lessons to learn, I have no doubt, but I know that my experiences can help those who are also having financial troubles.  I pray that together we all raise our consciousness to move beyond our immediate desires and financial fears and we discover the true meaning of abundance and prosperity.  Mother Earth is a treasure trove of abundance and it is here for everyone.  When we can move into a way of being and living that reflects that truth, we will have conquered our financial imbalances.  I pray that this year provides the impetus for that truth to become a reality in our physical existence.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve.  Again.  A lot of people complain about the holidays.  People eat too much and drink too much and spend too much.  I have a different view of the holidays.  I believe that they can perform a vital function in our lives if we are open to it.  They are important because they contain rituals within them.  Even the dates of the holidays themselves can be part of that ritual.  New Year's Eve is always December 31st and it heralds the completion of one cycle and the beginning of another.  New Year's Eve is not necessarily a spiritual holiday but it can be.  It is a time of reflection, looking back on the year that is ending.  It is also a time of looking ahead to what is coming.  To me, it is a time of creation.  What do I wish to birth in the coming year?  What dreams, goals and wishes are still gestating within me and waiting for the right time to emerge?  It is a time to count my blessings.  It is time to THINK BIG for 2011.  I pray that all people everywhere are able to count their blessings and that 2011 brings so much abundance and goodness for everyone that at this time next year, we have to write down all of our blessings because they are so plentiful we wouldn't want to forget a single one.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 28, 2010

A number of years ago my guides told me to stop watching the news on television.  They also recommended that I no longer read the newspaper unless I was specifically guided to do so.  Their main reason was that the news is primarily negative and slanted and its primary function is to increase fear.  I was told that I would get enough of the news off of my computer and that anything I truly needed to know would find its way to me.  Because my guides have never steered me wrong, I did as they suggested.  I do hear more of the news and read the paper more now that I live here with my mom.  I primarily look for local news in the paper.  Most of what is in the media is negative.  There are a few heartwarming stories here and there but most of it is not heartwarming.  No wonder there are so many people who are convinced that the human race is ready to sink into oblivion.  I do not.  Yes, there is much that is indeed negative and terrible in this world.  However, I find that by focusing on the positive and looking for the divine in all things, I see the world differently.  There are more and more people in the world who are praying for world peace.  The internet gives us the ability to connect with others around the world and we can do so instantaneously.  There is an old African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child.  Well, I say it takes a group of loving committed people to raise the consciousness of humanity.  There are more and more "villages" of like-minded souls who are determined to bring more light and love into this world for everyone.  Certainly, people have prayed for their families, their countries and their religions all throughout mankind's existence.  I truly believe there are more and more people who are praying for all families, all countries and people of all religions than ever before.  This gives me such hope.  Please join me and others in envisioning a world where we can all live in harmony and peace.  Do not worry about how that can all come about.  Let us just envision the what and leave the how to God.  By establishing peace and harmony in our hearts and opening the door to that possibility for all humanity, we are one huge step closer to that reality.  On New Year's eve, on the stroke of midnight, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, take a few moments to envision world peace and unity.  Feel that vision in your heart even as you kiss your sweetheart or toast the New Year in.  I will do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 24, 2010

Today is Christmas Eve.  Everyone has different traditions and over the years, my family's traditions have had to shift and change with the addition of more and more family.  The holidays become more complex as children grow up and marry and must accommodate other families as well.  We once had our Christmas dinner on Christmas Day and opened our gifts on Christmas morning.  When I was growing up, Christmas Eve was reserved for my dad 's side of the family.  Now, Christmas Eve is the day that we have the big Christmas dinner and gifts are opened in the evening with my parents, siblings and my siblings' children.  On Christmas morning, I celebrate again with my daughter and her family.  I am very aware of how blessed I am to have so much family.  It is not just that I have a lot of family but so much of my family lives close by.  Many of my friends have family but they are spread out all over the United States and so they do not see them as often or as easily.  I can relate to that, too, since my son is in Korea.  Christmas with Michael is a phone call.  Wherever our friends and family are, we are fortunate to live in a time when we can connect electronically even when we cannot connect in person.  The telephone or email or internet chat is a substitute for being together in person but it is still a modern miracle that we can talk to someone across the world and wish them a Merry Christmas.  I carry the ones I love in my heart every day of the year but especially so at Christmas.  I pray the same for you.  Even if you cannot connect in person, connect in whatever way you can.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Love and Light, Shirley

December 23, 2010

I was once guided to start a gratitude journal.  I kept it for nearly four years.  Every day I wrote down five things I was grateful for.  That is 5,475 times that I was grateful in the first three years.  In truth, that simply represents the five things I was grateful for that was written in my journal, I had other times I was grateful but did not write them down.  Writing in my gratitude journal transformed my life.  I became so aware of how rich my life was instead of what was going wrong or what I thought was missing.  I no longer keep a daily gratitude journal but I am still aware of the power of gratitude.  If you are feeling that there is something lacking in your life, change your focus to what is present.  For myself, the holidays can bring up such powerful emotions that I work doubly hard to be grateful for life as it is.  I am aware of those who are no longer in my life, whether due to death, divorce or other reasons.  Instead of focusing on my losses, I count my blessings.  My life is filled with family and friends.  I am aware every day of the presence of God and spiritual beings such as my guides and teachers.  I am aware of angels and of the loving help they offer to us freely.  I still miss those who are no longer with me physically but by being grateful for all those who still are, I can remember the past and feel good about it.  I still cry at times but I am able to laugh, too.  If you are struggling during this holiday season with loss of any kind, try to find what is good in your life.  Count your blessings, too.  My wish for you is that in the midst of your tears you can still find your smile.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 22, 2010

Tonight I was watching the movie "The Sixth Sense" with Bruce Willis.  It is a movie about a little boy who sees and hears dead people and he is ridiculed for being so strange.  He is terrified of the spirits and has difficulty telling people what is truly going on for him.  As a psychic and a medium, I can certainly relate to part of what he was going through.  Some of what is depicted in the movies has never happened to me.   I have never had spirits pinch me or scratch me.  I have not had some of the terrifying experiences this little boy had.  However, I remember the knocking and rapping and how scared I was as a little girl.  I remember the visitors at night and how I had a hard time sleeping unless the hall light was left on.  I remember the whispers and the shadows moving in my bedroom.  When I was very young, I was not frightened.  I sensed that the spirits around me were positive.  What began to frighten me was other people's reactions to what I told them.  I began to understand by a very young age that I was different from other people.  I had so much confusion about myself and my world.  I needed so desperately to be loved and accepted and I knew that being different was not a good thing, so I began to keep more and more to myself.  I began to hide who I really am.  It took a lot of energy to keep hiding.  It has taken a lot of energy to stop hiding.  I share who I am even if I have no idea how other people will think about me.  It is liberating to be able to be myself and know that I am different and that is ok.  It is more than ok, it is great.  I am not responsible for what other people think.  I am responsible for sharing my gifts with others.  I made a promise to God that I would share what I see and hear if it would help someone else.  I would share even if it made me uncomfortable.  For the most part, I have found that when I have shared, it has been helpful.  Even people who were skeptical have been grateful for what I shared with them.  We all have gifts to share.  When one person pushes through their own discomfort and shares their authentic self, we all gain.  Are you holding any part of yourself back?  Is there something you have to offer the world that is still silent within you?  I hope you find the courage to share all of who you are.  The world needs you.  All of you.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 20, 2010

The other day I overheard someone complaining about the weather.  They were upset that it was cloudy and raining.  I found myself thinking that we waste too much time being upset by those things that are out of our control.  After all, I live one hour from the rain forest.  This person that was complaining about the weather lives one hour from the rain forest which gets 150 inches of rain per year!  Can you imagine how many days out of the year that we have clouds and/or rain?  Plenty.  When I find myself complaining or worrying about those things that I have no control over, I do a releasing technique.  One of these is simply envisioning that a beautiful iridescent bubble is floating over my head.  It hovers there waiting for me to fill it with those thoughts and emotions that I wish to release.  I envision these as gray clouds floating up out of my head and filling the balloon.  As the balloon then rises higher and higher, I say to myself that I am releasing all that is not for my higher good.  As the bubble floats higher in the sky, I can feel myself getting lighter and lighter.  There are many things that are in my control or that I can affect.  Those are the things I can focus on and put my energy towards.  If not, I release it to the Universe knowing that someone or something much greater than me is at work.  As for the rain, I wanted to tell that person that he needs to make friends with the rain or find somewhere different to live because the rain is not going away any time soon.  For myself, I learned as a little girl to not allow the rain to stop me from doing anything.  An umbrella, boots and a raincoat give me the ability to do much in the rain.  What are you complaining about?  What conditions in your life are challenging?  Can you do anything about them or are they like the rain?  Can you put on your spiritual raincoat and boots and wade on through?  If all else fails, release them to God.  Send them up in an iridescent bubble and let go.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 19, 2010

Are you enjoying the holiday season?  For the most part, I definitely am.  Part of why I am able to enjoy it so much is that I have learned to simplify over the years.  I remember one year when I was especially busy and I felt overwhelmed at the thought of all the holiday baking left to do.  I decided to ask my husband and both of my children what their favorite cookie or dessert was.  I was going to make everyone's favorite and limit my baking to those four favorites.  I was surprised by each person's answer but I did just exactly as I had promised and each person was assured that their favorite sweet would be there at Christmas.  Every year has varied since then but I have never returned to the amount of baking I once did.  It was unnecessary to have so much and it did not affect how we enjoyed the holidays.  I did the same with outdoor lighting.  When I was younger, my husband and I would make cedar boughs and hang them around the outside of much of the house.  It was lovely but it was also very time consuming.  I remember the first year that I did not hang them above the eaves.  I thought I would really miss them but it turns out that having the garlands around the front door and the boughs on the porch railings was lovely.  As my life became busier, so many of those extras began to disappear.  And, yet, Christmas came just the same.  I have had years without a Christmas tree.  This is something I could not have even conceived years ago.  No Christmas tree, why that would be terrible!  Yet, circumstances sometimes dictated that for me to have a Christmas tree was not the best idea.  One year, I was moving just a few days after Christmas and taking down a tree was the last thing I needed to be focusing my attention on.  Another year I was living in such a tiny apartment that there was no room.  I strung some lights on my bookcase instead.  Last year I was just moving in with my mother and I was too exhausted to put up a tree.  This year I was going to put up a tree but my mom was not interested in having one so we decorated the house in other ways.  I am reminded of the poem by Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  The Grinch hated Christmas so he stole everything from Whoville that had anything to do with Christmas.  He stole the Christmas trees, the stockings, the gifts, the food and the lights.  Yet, when Christmas morning arrived he could hear the Who's down in Whoville singing Christmas carols. Even without all the trappings of the holiday, they were still celebrating.   It was then that the Grinch figured out that Christmas was more than just gifts and decorations and special food.  Christmas is something from the heart.  Whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, winter solstice or the New Year, they are all truly something that comes from the heart.  Even if the Grinch, himself, came to my house, I would sing.  I know that what resides deep within me exists without all the exterior trappings.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 14, 2010

When I was a little girl my mother would cut out Christmas stories from the magazine called "Family Circle" and save them year after year.  I grew up reading those stories to my younger brother, Gary, and when he was no longer interested, I read them to myself.  I loved them.  I still do.  I read them to my own children and to my grandson, Brendan.  I would be reading them right now but they are packed away along with most of my belongings.  I can close my eyes and I see the stories and their illustrations.  Many of them were written by Pearl S. Buck, who was a wonderful story teller.  One of the stories was about a little boy whose family had recently moved into a new house.  Well, the house was not new, just new to them.  Down the road there was an elderly man who lived in a cozy little house.  His wife had died years before and his children were all gone and he now lived alone in the house where he had been married and raised his family.  The little boy's family now lived in the house that had once been occupied by the elderly man's best friend and his wife and family.  One night, the little boy saw a shadowy figure walking down the lane and he thought it was a ghost.  He put on his coat and hat and ran to see.  Instead, he found the elderly man out for a late evening walk.  When the little boy shared that he thought he was the ghost of his old friend, the old man smiled.  He explained that to him, there were ways in which his old friend was still alive.  He shared his memories of Christmases past and how his wife and his friend and his wife all remained alive in his heart.  Even as a young child I understood this story.  I had not lost anyone to death, yet, but I had an understanding beyond my years.  Since those early years, I have lost many dear ones to death.  It is at Christmas that I most miss those that have already gone before me.  At the same time, I am in accord with what the old man said to the little boy.  There are ways in which my loved ones are still alive.  They are alive in my memories and in my heart.  I miss having them here in their physical bodies.  I would still give anything to hear my brother, Doug, giving us one of his wonderful belly laughs.  I would love to hug my dad, feeling his whiskered face and smell the faint scent of "Old Spice".  For now, I will have to settle with my memories and be grateful for every one of them.  I am rich with memories.  I am rich with the love of those who are here and the love of those who are no longer here in the physical sense.  One day perhaps I will write my own Christmas stories and illustrate them but for now they remain within me, whispers of sweet Christmas times.  May you reflect upon your own memories and smile.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 12, 2010

I have been very busy with a house full of company.  It was absolutely wonderful even though it was a lot of work.  I love the holidays with the special food and decorations and beautiful lights.  I am grateful for my friends and family.  This particular part of my family had not been together at my mom's house in many years.  We ranged from 14 months to almost 86 years old.  We sat around and talked about our favorite Christmas memories.  One of my uncle's favorite memories was that of a miniature village that he and his wife had up for many years.  One cousin's favorite memory was about travelling to our grandmother and grandfather's house and how it was all lit up with colored lights.  One of my favorite memories revolved around a set of outdoor candles that my dad had made for my mom many years before.  They were made out of pipes and had flame shaped bulbs.  They were red with white plaster of Paris on them to resemble snow.  For many years my mom placed all five of them in amongst a low growing juniper.  One year, I awoke in the middle of the night and discovered that it had started snowing.  I put on my boots and wore  my coat over my pajamas and I went outside.  I was probably around twelve years old or so.  Because it was in the middle of the night, in a small town, there was no traffic.  The snow fell softly and silently blanketing the ground until it was completely covered.  The snow gathered on the juniper's branches like white cotton candy, soft and delicate.  The light from the flame shaped bulbs cast a golden glow, bringing thousands of crystal sparkles to light.  I stood in silence, filled with the beauty and the magic of the moment, flooded with inner peace and gratitude.  I softly sang Silent Night and sent a prayer to heaven, thanking God for such a gift.  I can still close my eyes and see the diamond like sparkles as they danced on the snow's surface.  I can feel the coolness of snowflake kisses and the chill of the night air finding its way through my coat and pajamas.  The cold did not matter because I was warm inside.  The candles lie right now in disrepair.  The juniper grew too large and is no longer there.  It does not matter to me because the candle light still burns within me and the scent of the juniper still wafts on the night air finding its way to my heart.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 7, 2010

Is there something that you have been trying to create and it just doesn't seem to happen?  Perhaps you have been working on creating something different in your business or looking for a certain job or working on a relationship that just doesn't seem to come together.  There are times when it simply means that we must persevere and have the strength and courage to push on.  There are also times when we need to stop, quiet ourselves and ask if we are on the right track.  Are we banging on a closed door?  Is our Divine Self striving to give us the message that we need to change direction?  These are not easy questions and the answers are sometimes unclear.  More and more, when I encounter those kinds of problems for myself, I ask for help and guidance from the Divine.  I also ask myself if this is truly part of my heart's desire.  When we are open to fulfill our heart's desire and we encounter obstacles, those are often the roadblocks that are there to help us clear out issues within ourselves.  Examples of this might include low self-esteem, anxiety, feelings of incompetence, fear of doing something new and fear of success.  Obviously, those deep-seated faulty beliefs can interfere with fulfilling our dreams and the obstacles created by them need to be worked on.  Those roadblocks are not there to steer us away from what we want to do but to revealing the truth about who we truly are.   Are the roadblocks in your life there to steer you down a different path or are they there for you to persevere and break through them?  Have they been created because of underlying fears and insecurities or is it the Universe truly telling you that there is a different path for you to take?  If you cannot honestly answer, don't worry, but take it to the Divine in prayer and meditation.  Go within your heart and ask if you are truly pursuing your heart's desire.  The heart always knows the truth even if the mind can deceive.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 5, 2010

As I sit here writing this entry I have my eyes closed and I am remembering all of the Christmases spent in this house.  I was born and raised in this house and I have many memories.  I am 56 years old and even when I lived in other states I have always made it home for Christmas.  Technically I have 56 Christmases to draw from although I do not consciously remember my earliest.  I have an incredibly rich and varied mental Christmas album.  As I flip through those pages, I smile as I remember the people that have passed through my life.  Of course, I also remember the music, the colors and lights, the gifts and the beauty of Christmas.  I remember my spiritual devotion and the devotion of others.  I remember the love and the laughter most.  Whether it is my love of God or my family or friends or of humanity in general, it doesn't matter.  Love is love.  There are reasons why there are so many lights at Christmas and Hanukkah.  I believe that light and candlelight especially are the physical representations of our inner light which is love.  Candelabra and menorahs are so beautiful and powerful because they reflect the light of love multiplied.  This is what I wish for everyone, that their inner light be that of a menorah, love multiplied.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 4, 2010

Years ago I was directed by my guides to build an altar and have it in the waiting room of my office.  At the time I had a mental health practice and rented a house for my office.  The living room was the waiting room and it was quite spacious.  I did as I was directed and I had a rather large altar on one wall.  I was guided as to what needed to be placed on the altar.  I was told that it was very important that I have candlelight or oil lamps burning the whole time I was there.  My guides explained that the flame is a way to connect to higher spiritual energies, to call in the angels and to sanctify the space.  Over time, I found this to be true.  People would comment on how peaceful my office was.  I have always had candles or votives or oil lamps wherever I have lived ever since.  Lighting a candle and praying for the angels to be present is such a simple act, yet a powerful one.  I also use sage to cleanse my space.  I have a beautiful shell with sage in it and I simply light the sage, subdue the flame so it is smoking and use the smoke to purify and cleanse the room of any kind of negativity.  That takes a little more time than lighting a candle but it always creates such a profound change in the room and a change in me.  It is especially beneficial if I have been sick or negative or experiencing something stressful.  You can even buy sage spray if you do not wish to use the smoke.  By combining the sage and candle light, you are truly sanctifying your space.  There are many reasons why mankind has always been drawn to fire and candle light.  They are reminders of our true essence which is light and love.  I always end my messages with this same reminder.  Love and Light, Shirley

December 1, 2010

I am going to go and hopefully finish my Christmas shopping for this year.  I did not buy nearly as much as I used to and this year is definitely a year to be more frugal.  There was a time in my life that I would have been upset because my finances were not what I wanted them to be.  This year, I am not upset, in fact I am grateful for what I do have.  I love my family and friends and I show that all year long.  Yes, I would love to be able to surprise them with some fantastic gift that they would just love.  However, I will instead give what I can financially afford and then give them something else, the gift of my words.  I remember when I wrote my dad's eulogy and how many people told me that they just loved it.  Not too long ago I wrote a letter to one of my aunt's telling her how much she has always meant to me.  Year's ago before my Aunt June died I had sent her a card telling her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me.  I heard from one of her sisters that everyone was deeply touched who heard it.  We do not have to put ourselves in financial jeopardy in order to have a wonderful Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever we may celebrate.  A coupon book good for a car wash or a free back rub or a home-cooked meal is a wonderful thing to give.  Better yet, give the gift of your heart and share with others what they mean to you.  It doesn't have to be fancy but a simple letter telling some of your favorite memories connected to that person is priceless.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 30, 2010

I love Christmas music.  It doesn't matter whether it is deeply spiritual Christmas music or if it is silly and fun Christmas music.  I don't care who the artist is.  It can be some old country music rendition of Winter Wonderland or Johnny Mathis with his rich, warm voice, Bing Crosby or Ann Murray.  It does not matter because I love it all.  It lifts my spirits.  It takes me to places of happiness and joy.  There was a time when it also made me feel sad because my brother, Doug, died on New Year's day in 1990 and he loved Christmas music, too.  We had the organist play Christmas music at his memorial service instead of more traditional music.  Thankfully, as the years have passed I primarily have retained the joy of Christmas music and Christmas memories.  I grew up in the Methodist church and every Christmas eve we would have a candlelight service. I mostly remember going with my brother, Doug.  I remember holding the white candle with its holder and singing Christmas carols.  I also remember learning Hanukkah songs and I love them, too.  Music has the potential to raise our vibration.  When I sing Christmas songs I am filled with happiness, joy, peace and fun!  Let us not ignore the fun factor.  Alvin and the Chipmunks may not be spiritual in the usual sense but they are fun!  They make me smile and laugh.  That is spiritual.  Rockin' around the Christmas tree...........dance is said to be the first spiritual ritual.  So, let's all rock on.  Let's all celebrate this time of year.  This time of Light and Love.  People complain about the commercialism but I say to just ignore it.  It is only a problem if people choose to participate and come from a place of commercialism.  I choose to do most of my shopping online and I also buy much less than I used to.  I like to go to a shopping mall, not to shop but to enjoy the lights and glitter and the Christmas music.  What a pleasure it is to have a cup of coffee and watch people as they go by.  Silently, I wish for others a joyous holiday season.  I wish for others to be filled with internal music and happiness and fun.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 29, 2010

I have been helping my mom decorate for Christmas.  As I have been going through the boxes I have noticed how many of the decorations are broken, faded or just plain worn out.  In my mother's eyes they are still beautiful.  It made me think of how we often cling to things from our past even though it is long past time to let go.  In my mother's case, she is almost 85 and it is highly unlikely that she is going to let go of these old faded decorations and it isn't truly important that she do so.  However, when we cling so tightly to old memories, old ways of doing things, old resentments and old ways of thinking, we limit our possibilities.  I have now lived at my mother's house for almost a year.  I can tell you that in the last year I have had many old issues from my past surface and make themselves known.  If you think that you have resolved all of your issues from your childhood and your past, move back into the house you were born and raised in, with one of your parents.  You may have some surprises. smile.  I realize that most people will never have this experience and therefore don't need to.  Obviously, it is something that I called to me.  So, as I go from day to day and as these issues surface, I am given the opportunity to make a decision.  Am I going to keep what is old and worn out and no longer needed?  Am I going to release what has outlived its usefulness?  This time of the year is a wonderful time for reviewing our life and deciding if there are aspects of our life that need to be updated, healed or released.  As we revisit our Christmases past and as the positive and negative memories surface, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves, "How does focusing on this memory serve me?"  Even a good memory is not helpful if we use it as a comparison by which all other Christmases pale.  Going back to negative or painful memories only serves one purpose.  We then have an opportunity to release and heal.  One technique is to envision a bubble floating above your head.  You fill the bubble with the negative memory and then allow a breeze to carry it higher and higher into the heaves until it is no longer visible.  Just release it and let go, like a child who lets go of his or her balloon and watches as it becomes smaller and smaller in the sky.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 26, 2010

This morning as I came outside of my bedroom I was surprised to find a small mouse sitting just outside my door.  He or she did not move at first and then went into a tiny hole at the bottom of the wall.  I went to find my live mouse trap and when I came back the mouse was back out again.  It just sat there and did not move so I went and found a cardboard box and a dust pan and I was able to scoop it up and take it outside.  I am guessing that maybe it was sick since it did not run away.  The odd thing was that it could still move.  I could hear it moving inside the box.  It was almost as though it sat there making sure that I would see it and have to do something about it.  I left the mouse under a fruit tree in our back yard.  I felt bad thinking that it might be sick.  At the same time, I certainly don't want a mouse in the house!  I found myself thinking about how we are connected and how life is precious, even the life of one small mouse.  I am not vegetarian although I have been at times.  I still feel conflict over eating animals yet I do better physically when I eat some meat.  My main objection to eating meat is my belief that we are connected and life is sacred.  I don't like to kill anything unnecessarily not even a mouse or a spider or a fly.  I looked up mouse in my Animal Speak book and it talked about mouse bringing the energy of attention to detail.  Am I not paying attention to small details?  Or, am I paying so much attention to small detail that I cannot see the bigger picture?  I do know one thing for sure.  I am paying attention to the animal kingdom and its messengers.  A raven came and sat outside my window the other day.  He stayed for  quite a long while. A mouse came and sat outside my bedroom door without moving.  I thank them for their messages.  Today in my meditation I will ask for further clarification of mouse.  If you are interested in learning more about animals and nature and what it all teaches us, I highly recommend the books, Animal Speak, Animal Wise and Nature-Speak.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 24, 2010

It is almost Thanksgiving Day.  In 47 minutes it will be.  I have a great deal to be thankful for.  I am reminded of something that my guides had me start doing back in the summer of 2000. I had been very stressed and I had realized I needed to make some radical changes in my life but I truly could not figure out how and when I was going to find the time to do the necessary changes.  I was overworked and anxious and I knew something needed to give.  My guides told me to start keeping a gratitude journal.  They told me that I could certainly find the time to write down five things every day that I was grateful for.  I could be grateful for anything.  The only rule was that I could not repeat myself within a week and if I missed a day I had to make it up.  I began to write down the usual things that people would state that they are grateful for: good health, family, friends, a good job, a home, etcetera.  Over the weeks and months to come I had to truly open and look at all the abundance in my life.  I began to give thanks for so much that I had not given much thought to before.  I was grateful to have running water, hot and cold.  I was grateful to have eyes to see and ears to hear.  I was grateful for toilet paper and Q-tips.  I was grateful for a broom to sweep my floor and a toothbrush to clean my teeth.  The months turned into years and my gratitude journals filled the shelves of my book case.  Thank you for sunsets and blue jays, a child's toothless grin and the twinkle in an old man's eyes.  Thank you for the rain and for umbrellas.  Thank you for popcorn.  I wrote faithfully in my gratitude journals for over four years.  I went to write in my journal one day and I realized that I no longer needed to write anything down.  It wasn't because I was no longer grateful.  On the contrary, my life had become a gratitude journal.  I understood why my guides had told me to write down what I was grateful for.  By doing so, I came to realize what an abundant life I have.  Any time that I would start feeling down, I could pull out any one of my journals and just begin to read.  Before I knew it, a smile was on my face and joy filled my heart.  Gratitude filled me to overflowing.  In the years since I started my journals I have had a lot of loss.  My life has taken many twists and turns and it does not even remotely resemble what it once did.  As I get ready for another Thanksgiving Day, I am aware of the people who are no longer with me.  There is some sadness when I think of those people whose lives were once intertwined with mine but who are no longer here.  Mostly, however, I feel grateful for the richness that everyone has brought to my life.  I feel so thankful for the people who are still here with me.  I know that those who I have loved are always with me in spirit.  Thanksgiving Day is a time to remember our abundant lives.  Thank you to everyone who has helped my own cup fill to overflowing with love, joy and gratitude.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 22, 2010

I do not usually miss a whole week!  I have had a lot going on in my life but I so enjoy writing my daily messages.  Perhaps I should rename them.....almost daily messages.  It snowed last night and has been snowing off and on but now I see the water beginning to drip off of the trees.  Here in the Pacific Northwest the weather is unpredictable.  I love the snow for its beauty but it is quite inconvenient if one has to be outdoors.  I was thinking as I looked out the window at a few breaks in the clouds that life is a lot like the weather.  We cannot always predict what life will bring us, storm clouds or clear skies.  The one thing I do know for sure is that just like the weather, one thing we can count on is change.  Unless one lives in Antarctica or the equator, most of the world experiences changes in weather.  We may have times in our lives where it does not appear that there is a great deal of change.  People often refer to those times as stable times.  I have come to look at it differently.  Just as I have no control over the weather, I have no control at many of the external situations in my life.  I can view the weather with aggravation and hostility such as when it rains on a previously predicted sunny day.  Or, I can shrug my shoulders and adjust what I do with that day.  It is still going to rain either way but I feel more calm and at peace when I can just go with the flow.  It is the same with life.  We can make our plans and make our own predictions as to how our life will go.  However, the more fluid and flexible we are, the more our life will flow.  I had plans for today that are not easily carried out in the snow.  So far, the other people who are involved still want to attempt it in the snow.  We are starting two hours later than scheduled which means it will be dark sooner than we had planned.  Oh, well.  I guess we will see how it goes.  I will go with the flow.....or perhaps I should say, go with the snow!  Above all, my stability does not come from the external events in my life but from my internal reaction to those events.  I choose to be calm.  I choose to be flexible.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 15, 2010

I would like to share some of what my guides shared with me this morning.  They were talking about karma and how it is greatly misunderstood by many.  They told me that karma is a Universal law of Cause and Effect.  It is not truly reward for good things done or punishment for bad things done.  They spoke of how it is more directly related to a state of being.  One of the reasons that it is not a reward for being good is that WE ARE ALREADY GOOD.  That is our true and natural state of being.  Universal Laws come from God, the Source, some might even say that they are truly one and the same, God and Universal Law.  Because Universal Law comes from God, it cannot be reward or punishment.  It is not a prize because it comes from a source of Unconditional Love, therefore merit truly has nothing to do with it.  You do not earn karma.  It may be referred to as having earned good karma but, in truth, it is more about a state of Being, first and foremost.  From that state of Being comes all else: thoughts, beliefs, words, actions and feelings.  How can you truly be rewarded for a state of Being?  For it is in that state of Being that you find the true reward: happiness, peace, bliss, joy and certainty.  One of the reasons meditation is so important is that you can find that inner state of Being from which flows all else.  Find your inner state of peace and your beliefs, words, thoughts, actions and feeling will follow.  As you inhabit this state of Being more and more, your physical world will have to alter.  It is another Universal Law.  As above so below.  As within, so without.  I have had people tell me that they need to have inner peace so they can meditate.  It is the exact opposite.  In order to obtain inner peace, we meditate.  Do not worry if when you meditate your mind wanders.   It is your intention and your attention that will eventually bring you what you desire.  Inner peace.  Tranquility.  Abundance.  Certainty.  Trust.  Love.  Answers.  Go to the inner plane of your true and authentic self.  I will meet you there.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 14, 2010

I helped a friend of mine do some packing and moving today.  As she was deciding what to keep and what to let go of, she offered me some different items.  Most of them were things that I can use.  In particular, one of the items was a Himalayan salt lamp.  Salt lamps are used to help ionize the air and help to energize your room.  A number of months ago, when a friend of mine was helping me move, I had given him my salt lamp.  At the time, I was moving into my mom's spare bedroom and I had minimal space.  I was more than happy to give it to my good friend, Cliff.  Since that time, I have changed my bedroom and more than once found myself thinking that I would love to have a salt lamp again.  Imagine my delight when Mary Pat offered me an extra one of hers.  Earlier in the day, I had attended a healing circle and we had discussed during the circle that when we let go of things, we are trusting the Universe that we will truly have what we need when we need it.  So, I once again have a salt lamp which is all the more precious to me because it came to me because of someone else's generosity.  I look forward to going to sleep tonight with the soft glow of the lamp illuminating my room and the soft glow of friendship and gratitude illuminating my heart.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 13, 2010

Do you honor your inner child?  I have done a lot of work with people helping them to honor their inner child.  I continue to work on those same issues myself.  In our subconscious mind, there is no time.  The events that occurred during our childhood and the emotional reactions to those events are just as fresh in our subconscious mind as the day they occurred.  This is why people overreact at times to seemingly unimportant events.  When there is something in our current life that triggers old memories or emotions to surface, we do not always know that the deep emotion we are feeling is connected to something other than what is happening in the moment.  Usually, this deeper pain goes back to a much younger age.  It is this child part of ourselves that is truly in need of love and healing.  Most of our fear and limiting beliefs begin at a very young age.  One of the ways that you can honor your inner child is to simply ask what he or she needs from you.  An easy way to do this is with dominant and non-dominant hand writing.  Your adult self asks the question, writing with your dominant hand.  In my case, I am right-handed so I would write the questions with my right hand.  My child self exists in my subconscious mind and it is my subconscious mind that can answer through my left hand.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I will do that right now.  Be right back................................  Well, I asked my inner child, little Shirley, what she wants from me.  She wants to color and draw and write stories.  I had better get going.  Do yourself a really big favor and just try this.  You might be surprised at what you get.  As it turns out, she told me that she also wanted to go to the pumpkin farm but it is too late for that.  We will have to go next year.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 12, 2010

I have been studying the Silva Method which is a method which teaches you how to better use your mental and intuitive abilities in order to manifest the life of your dreams.   One of the things that they teach is when you are manifesting a particular desire, you end your statement of whatever it is you are wishing for with the words, "or better than this".  In other words, by adding those words, or better than this, you are acknowledging that what you want above all else is to manifest what is for your higher good.  By adding, or better than this, to our prayers and wishes, we are giving the Universe more leeway to bring to us what is best for us.  For example, let us say that there is a young woman and she is in love with a man.  She prays that he will love her and she is putting all of her manifesting energy into this man loving her.  He may or may not be the best person for her.  He may or may not love her.  However, if she prayed for him to love her and added,  or better than this, she is opening up so much more possibility for love to come to her that is for her highest good.  We do not want to limit the Universe.  I am divorced and I would very much like to meet someone that I am compatible with.  Instead of creating a long list of what I want him to be like, I simply pray to meet the man who is for my highest good.  I focus on how I want to feel when I am with him.  This creates space for the right man to enter at the right time.  If you are praying for a job, maybe even a specific job, add "or better than this" to your prayers.  Perhaps this job you desire is good but maybe there is something even better coming towards you.  Which one would you really want?  The job that is good enough or the job that is fantastic?  You can apply this to anything you wish to manifest in your life, financial abundance, good health, relationships, homes, careers, and so much more.  I wish you all an abundant day............or better than this!  Love and Light, Shirley

November 11, 2010

Today is my birthday and I turn 56.  In numerology 56 is also an 11.  So, in a sense I turn 11 on 11/11/10!   For anyone interested in numerology it is a fascinating and helpful system to study.  In the beginning of my metaphysical studies, numerology was one of the first things I learned about.  11/11/10 is an important date for everyone because of the 11/11 energy.  11 represents a higher frequency of energy because it is what is called a Master number.  All double digits carry a special energy.  11/11 has been considered a special time for sending out love and healing for Mother Earth and for her inhabitants.  If you are interested in participating in a world wide effort to bring peace and healing to the planet, I would encourage you to be in prayer and meditation for world peace at 11:11 eastern standard time tonight.  I will join you!  Collectively, let's bring more peace and abundance and harmony to all of us!  Love and Light, Shirley

November 10, 2010

Ho'oponpono means to make right.  It is a Hawaiian ritual for forgiveness and reconciliation.  I first heard of it when I was sent an email with a story concerning it.  In the story, a psychiatrist was hired to work in a mental hospital that had a wing for the criminally insane.  It was a very hard place to be and the hospital had great difficulty retaining doctors, nurses and other workers for that floor.  The new psychiatrist came in and he spent all his time in his office going over the files of each patient.  He never saw the patients but over time they began to get better.  Soon, people did not mind working in that ward nearly so much.  Eventually, every single one of his patients made a complete and full recovery from their insanity.  Impossible!  Of course that would be a natural reaction to such a story.  However, it is not impossible and the story is true and documented.  The doctor was not simply reading each patient's files, he was telling each client that he loved them and he was asking for their forgiveness over and over and over again.  He did not tell them in person but was consciously telling them this. According to his beliefs, he is responsible for everything and everyone in his life.  In other words, just because those patients were in his life he was taking responsibility for part of their pain and suffering.  This is why he would ask for their forgiveness.  We are all connected and therefore we are responsible for each other's pain.  Whatever exists in our world is part of our creation.  This is why he asked for forgiveness.  This is why he told them he loved them over and over.  This is a very powerful story and I have recently began doing the same in my life.  When I become aware of someone's pain, no matter who they are, I ask for forgiveness for anything I may have done to contribute to their pain.  This does not mean I, Shirley, consciously hurt them.  What it does mean is that I acknowledge and understand that everything I think, do and say affects everyone else.  Every time I have spoken words of anger or I have had thoughts of jealousy, anger, disgust or whatever it may be, I have contributed to the negativity that is in existence.  I do not know where my words land.  I do not know everyone who has been affected by my dark thoughts.  I am responsible for what I have created.  I tell people I love them even if I do not know them.  I send this love out over the ethers because I know that everything is connected and they will receive it even if they are not consciously aware of it.  I know that this is a very potent form of healing.  This is most difficult when it is someone that you have felt wronged by.  Why should I be apologizing to someone who owes me an apology?  My ego resists.  Yet, there is another part of me, a higher aspect of me that knows this is truth.  Everything I have ever thought, said or did has helped me create my world.  Therefore, I am responsible on some level.  This does not mean I apologize in person to everyone.  There are times this would not be appropriate.  It does mean I apologize and send love from my heart to theirs, knowing that as they heal, we all heal.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 9, 2010

Yesterday I was babysitting my daughter's adoptive foster son.  He is one year old and he was sick so he could not go to daycare.  It has been a great many years since I took care of a sick, fussy, demanding baby.  I essentially was unable to do anything other than hold him the majority of the time.  There were times when I would think about what I could be doing and then I would just let it go.  After all, I could always get things done after he went home.  As I sat there holding him while he slept, I remembered what it was like to be a young mom.  There were times when it felt like it would be forever until my babies grew up.  But, it wasn't.  The time truly did fly by.  My grandson is now thirteen.  Those early baby years flew by even faster than my own children's did.  I don't want to blink and find out that I missed something very precious because I was too focused on some task.  I want to savor the sweetness of holding him.  It isn't that I did not savor holding my own babies because I adored them.  However, the demands of raising small children can also create a desire to be on to the next step.   With my grandson, Brendan, I had the awareness of how quickly the time can go by, so I spent as much time with him as I could.  I was better able to live in the present when Brendan was a baby.  I did not have a need to constantly be looking ahead for the next step, the next accomplishment.  With this new baby, I want to be in the NOW.  Perhaps it is even more imperative than with Brendan because there is less certainty that he will still be with us in the future.  I realized as I thought about all this that the truth is we never know who will be with us into the future.  There are no guarantees about my children, my grandchildren or anyone still being here in the future.  I choose to celebrate Now.  I choose to take the time Now to inhale the sweetness of baby David.  I choose to be grateful for the warmth of his small, chubby cheeks against mine.  I choose to take the time Now to hold him and rock him because Now is all we truly can count on.  Now is the only true reality.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 6, 2010

Yesterday, I went to the ocean with a dear friend of mine.  It was overcast but there were places that the sun still shone through.  There was a silver cast to the sky and to the sea.  The waves were especially large and loud.  Walking along the ocean's edge, I was filled with gratitude.  I have so much to be grateful for.  The area where I live is rich in nature's beauty and abundance.  Prior to going to the beach we had stopped for a bite to eat at a restaurant that is located on a river in Aberdeen.  At the edge of the river there stood a magnificent blue heron.  The blue heron is known as the king of the marsh and I could certainly feel his majesty as I gazed at him.  At the beach, scores of tiny sandpiper scurried about, their high pitched peeps alerting each other to the sandworms below.  They formed such beautiful patterns as they danced in and out of the waves seeking their sustenance.  Sandpipers are rarely alone.  They are usually in community.  Such diversity in Mother Nature.  There are times we must be like the blue heron, standing alone on our own two feet, knowing that we are strong.  There are also times when we must unite together for a common cause, sharing what we have with others, sharing the bounty of our own abundance.  A pelican glided, barely skimming the water's surface, looking for its own sustenance.  There was such a calmness and grace to the pelican, equally at home in the water or in the air.  To me, it is a reminder to us that we can be at home in many dimensions.  We are, after all, spiritual beings having a physical experience.  We are earth, water, fire and air.  We are the sandpiper looking for its bounty in the earth.  We are the blue heron standing and waiting patiently for what it needs.  We are the pelican gliding along the water's surface knowing that it will find what it seeks.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 5, 2010

I have been reading an excellent book called "A Happy Pocket Full of Money".  It is a book on how to manifest the life of your dreams.  It speaks about Being whatever it is you wish to manifest.  If you would like wealth, then become wealth in your Being.  If you would like to be successful then become successful in your Being.  The author speaks of the importance of knowing that everything is possible Now.  We should never want something because wanting depicts lack.  We can desire it and there is a difference to the energy.  The first step is to accept where we are right now.  In other words, I first accept that I am where I am right now without resistance to what is.  I project my desires out into the Universe at the same time I accept what my reality is in this moment.  In all of my thoughts I continue to experience wealth, good health, increased business, having my books published, etcetera.  In other to help me sustain the positive images and feelings, I have created vision boards and a meditation CD containing my visions and affirmations.  I have created a vision journal and I work on the resistance inside of me to release old limiting thoughts and beliefs.  There is much more but I encourage you to read the book if your life is not now exactly as you desire it to be.  Love and Light, Shirley

November 4, 2010

I don't know if I have ever done two messages in one day before so this may be a first!  I was communicating with my guides this evening and I was asking them some questions.  One of my questions had to do with karma.  There is so much written about karma and much of it is contradictory.  My understanding is that karma cannot be removed by an outside source but must be worked out by the individual.  It was interesting because my guides talked to me about passive karmic completion and active karmic completion.  They explained that passive karmic completion occurs when someone is completely unaware of Universal law and is paying karmic debt but primarily experiences it as a challenge.  Often someone who is completing passive karmic completion may feel as though they are somehow being victimized.  Active karmic completion occurs when a person has an elevated awareness which include an understanding of Universal Law, in particular the law of Cause and Affect.  When this person is experiencing karmic completion, they are aware of what is happening and rather than blaming or feeling victimized, they are taking responsibility.   They understand that this is their own creation.  Based on what my guides said, our karmic completion can be accelerated by our own awareness and acceptance.  They also stated that meditation is another way of burning karma.  I remember hearing this from Amma, a spiritual woman who comes from Hindu to teach about Universal Love and to help people become spiritually liberated.  Amma had said repeatedly that it is through meditation that we can burn our karma.  I never quite understood why.  My guides explained that when we are in a meditative state, a true meditative state, we are in contact with All That Is.  When we are One with everything else, there is no right or wrong, no karmic debt of any kind.  After all, how can One owe One?  The more time we spend in this enlightened state, the more our karma is discharged.  One who reaches Self-Realization no longer has karmic debt.  They no longer owe karmic debt nor are they owed.  I found this to be very interesting but also encouraging.  I have read different sources that claim they can eliminate your karmic debt through energy work or other means.  That does not resonate with me.  I do believe karmic completion can be speeded up and perhaps that is where this work would help.  But, the prerequisite is still that the individual have an awareness of Universal Law and a willingness to take accountability for what they have created.  More later, love and light, Shirley

November 4, 2010

I do not normally miss so many days in a row!  I have been very busy but I was surprised to see I had missed this much.  I have been immersing myself in some very wonderful studies.  I joined an online program called Boundless Living Elite that was created by Bob Doyle.  Bob is one of the men who were involved in the movie, The Secret.  This program is designed to help people manifest the life of their dreams.  There is so much of it that I already know but it is very helpful to have more information and to have the support to make changes.  I have really been learning a lot.  Included in the program are mastermind groups that were each created with a particular focus.  This gives us an opportunity to share what we are working on, get ideas from others and to give and receive support.  Bob also began what he calls the 30 Day Challenge.  We are encouraged to choose a goal to pursue that could be accomplished in 30 days.  We then share our goal and keep others informed of our progress.  I love it!  There is a certain amount of power in stating your goal in front of others and being accountable.  Are you working on some challenging goals in your life?  If you can, find someone else that you can work with even if their goals are different.  It is good to have support and encouragement.  A group would be even better.  I am thinking of starting a group here where I live based on the same concept.  If you don't have someone to share with, feel free to email me and I will do it with you!  shirleyairhart@yahoo.com  Love and Light, Shirley

October 30, 2010

Tomorrow is Halloween.  To me, it is a time of imagination and fun.  For children, it is a time that they can dress up and be someone or something else for a few hours.  Children love to dress up.  I remember my own children and how we had a dress up box filled with all kinds of clothes, hats and accessories to create all kinds of personas.  They could be a fireman or firewoman, a monster, a doctor, a pirate or a princess if they chose.  I believe that for those adults who also love to dress up and be something else it is a wonderful way of honoring their inner child.  I have not dressed up for a number of years because I have not had a reason to.  I honor my inner child by having a small ceramic pumpkin and ghost by my computer.  I have a larger ceramic pumpkin with a yummy pumpkin pie scented candle in it.  It is not necessary but it is fun!  I don't have most of my things with me because I live with my mom and so I only have a bedroom.  However, when that day comes that I have my own place again, I will haul out the Halloween plates and fun kitchen towels and other Halloween decorations because it is fun.  Fun.  Fun is a very important part of life and sometimes it is easy to set it aside for other more important things.  Or perhaps I should say for other things that are perceived to be more important.   There are times that fun lightens our load.  Fun ignites our creativity and helps us to cultivate new ideas and opportunities.  Fun makes a dreary day brighter.  The other day I colored a mandala just so that I would have something pretty to put in the front of a three ring binder that I am working on.  Of course, it turned out to be so much fun that I have decided I may do another one!  Just for fun.  Just because Little Shirley deserves to be honored in the best ways I can.  She would love to go to Disneyland but that is not very likely right now.  She would love to completely redecorate her bedroom but that is not the most practical today.  She would love to buy a whole new wardrobe of brightly colored clothes.......she thinks I wear too much black.  Again, that is also not too possible right now.  I can give myself permission to color another mandala just for fun.  Or make Halloween cookies.  Or ????  What is your inner child longing to do?  How long has it been since you had some fun?  This is the perfect time of year to have some.  See you at the Pumpkin Patch.  Maybe this year we will finally see The Great Pumpkin.  love and light, Shirley

October 29, 2010

Do you know the power of your imagination?  Our imagination is an incredibly powerful tool that is often under utilized.  When you get stuck at times in your life, you can use your imagination to help get unstuck.  For example, I am writing a book and there are times that I get stuck.  I just can't seem to get motivated to write.  What helps me is to envision the whole process of writing.  I see myself making myself a nice cup of coffee or tea.  I am sitting down at my computer opening up my book file.  I read the last chapter or so to get myself reacquainted with where I am at.  I see myself with a big smile on my face and my fingers fly as the words come to me effortlessly.  I imagine this scene several times and then, finally, I go and make myself a cup of coffee and I sit down and open my book file, read a chapter or so and I am once again writing!  Instead of focusing on how long it has been since I wrote or how stuck I have felt, I imagine what it is I want to be doing.  Go ahead and give it a whirl!  What is it you have been postponing?  Is it something that would give you joy and a sense of achievement if you just did it?  Exercise your imagination and you may be surprised at how easily your accomplishment can become.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 27, 2010

I remember a number of years ago I received a message from my guides telling me to quit watching television.  Well, actually, they suggested I stop watching the news and any programs that were filled with negativity.  They explained that I would know everything I truly needed to know even if I stopped watching the news and quit getting the newspaper.  I followed their suggestion and for the next six years I did not watch the news except for what little news I saw on my computer.  In that six years, I have known everything I needed to know.  I came to realize that the majority of what is on the news is negative, sensational and very anxiety producing.  It is the rare news that is positive and uplifting.  I watched virtually no television during these six years, instead I watched movies.  We live in an amazing time in so many ways.  We can know almost instantaneously what is happening on the other side of the world.  Unfortunately, we primarily receive negative news which only serves to increase people's anxiety.  Not only that but it creates barriers between people.  We get a slanted view of those people who live in other countries and other cultures.  What is so often missing is the positive and good side of humanity.  People are portrayed as stereotypes and we lose our ability to relate to them.  I want to cultivate positive thoughts about myself, about life and about others.  I do realize there is tragedy in the world and many difficult circumstances.  In my work, I often help people deal with their own pain and difficulties, fears and challenges.  I give them the same suggestion my guides once gave me.  Make a conscious choice of what you wish to cultivate in your mind.  It is your choice.  Negativity begets negativity.  Negativity does not reduce negativity.  Positivity can reduce negativity.  Healing pain is possible.  One does not heal pain with more of what caused it to begin with.  One heals pain by finding a balm to soothe and calm and heal one's wounds.  I pray to help others find the balm that heals them.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 25, 2010

Yesterday, a friend of mine, my mother and I drove to Astoria, Oregon.  Astoria is a small coastal town about 72 miles from where I live.  It was a stormy day and there was rain, wind, thunder and lightning.  We ate dinner at a restaurant that is right on the waterfront.  As we sat there eating very delicious food, I looked out and saw a seal swimming and diving in the water.  I loved it!  I so love seeing any kind of wild life and we had already seen two deer.  I looked up seal in my Animal Speak book after we got home.  Seals and sea lions are connected to active imagination, creativity and lucid dreaming.  Wow!  Does that ever fit my life right now!  I love the synchronicity of life.  When we open to spirit and allow ourselves to receive there is such an outpouring of blessings.  I was the only one of the three of us to see the seal.  A part of me knew why.  The seal energy was for me at this point in time.  All three of us saw the deer and the deer energy was for all of us.  Deer represents gentleness and a gentle luring to new adventures.  Isn't that exciting?  Remember that God speaks to us in many voices.  Sometimes we can hear God in the wind or the rain.  Other times we can hear God in our dreams and meditations.  And, there are times that God swims right into our lives in the form of a seal.  God has such a great sense of humor.  love and light, Shirley

October 22, 2010

I have been working on curriculum to help me with my own manifesting.  Imagination is listed as the greatest tool we have to manifest our deepest wishes.  The subconscious mind does not know the difference between what we call reality and imagination.  It will respond to either in just the same manner.  Therefore, if you wish to increase your abundance, using your imagination is an easy and fun tool to use.  Imagine how you would feel to have more abundance.  What would that look like?  Perhaps you would have a new car.  What kind of car would you have?  What color?  What make and model?  What would the interior look like?  Be very specific and create this car in your imagination.  Find a picture of it, if you can and post it where you can see it.  Imagine yourself sitting in the driver's seat.  How does it feel to be driving this beautiful car?  How does it smell?  Allow your senses to be engaged as well as your imagination.  Feel your joy!  The more you can engage your imagination and truly live in that realm the more quickly you can manifest your heart's desires.  Imagine that!  Love and Light, Shirley

October 21, 2010

I have signed up to participate in an online program called Bountiful Living Elite.  It was created by Bob Doyle who is one of the people who were involved with the movie, The Secret.  I became aware of the program after participating online in a seminar called Mind Mastery World Summit.  I was so grateful at the power of the seminar and each speaker was very inspirational.  However, it was the very last speaker, Bob Doyle, that I resonated with most.  He offered his program and it sounded exactly like what I needed at this point in my life.  I prayed about it and muscle tested since I am on a fairly stringent budget.  The answer was YES!  I have been working on the curriculum ever since I signed up.  I know a lot about manifesting.  I have experienced it at different times in my life.  I have had to overcome a great deal in my life and I understand everything that I heard in the seminar and everything that is contained in the curriculum, at least, so far.  However, I needed something to help me integrate and synthesize what I know.  I needed something to help me expand my vision even further and to speed up the manifestation process.  I will share more of some of the steps I have taken but I would like to talk about one of the most important aspects to the Law of Attraction.  This aspect that must be addressed is our resistance to receiving.  We all have a litany of limiting beliefs and fears that prevent us from living the life we dream of.  Some may experience certain aspects of their dreams and others do not even have that.  I am now working even more diligently to root out the limiting beliefs that still remain within me.  There are many methods but a simple one is called EFT.  If you want to learn more about this simple technique you can check out www.thetappingsolution.com  This website is a great resource for learning about EFT.  Tapping on certain meridians while addressing our underlying issues helps to release old beliefs and clear up our inner pathways for new empowering beliefs also known as truth.  I hope you check it out.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 20, 2010

I would like to share with you a quote from Louise Hay that I love.  Louise Hay is a marvelous spiritual teacher and healer who has brought so much to the world.  Included in her many gifts to us are inspirational cards that come in little boxes.  I bought a box of these several years ago and loved sending them in cards that I sent to other people.  Some of the cards I would tape near or on my computer to remind me of important messages.  This message is about abundance.  It is phrased as an affirmation that you can say everyday.  I now receive my good from expected and unexpected sources.  I am an unlimited being receiving from an unlimited source in an unlimited way.  I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams.  The only change I have made to this when I say it to my self is that I say I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.  It is so important when we are looking to manifest our dreams that we keep an open mind and a willingness to receive from many sources.  Too often people think primarily of money when they think of fulfilling many of their dreams.  Instead, focus on the dream itself.  If you want the home of your dreams, focus on the home.  What would it look like?  How would it feel to be in it?  Be open to receive.  Sometimes our dreams can be delivered to us in mysterious ways but only if we are open to that possibility.  I was speaking with a friend yesterday and we were each sharing what we had been learning lately.  She was telling me about this wonderful book that she was reading and about a set of DVD's that were very powerful.  As we spoke I felt very sure that I would benefit greatly from this book.  I asked for the name and the author and as we spoke I looked the book up on Amazon.com.  I was disappointed to see that it is a fairly expensive book.  I decided I would keep the information on the book and order it at a later date.  She had already told me the cost of the DVD's so I did not even consider those at this time.  As we continued to share she told me that she bought the book and after she started reading it, she discovered that she already had the book on her shelf.  She had forgotten about it, had started to read it and then did not finish it.  She told me that she wanted to send it to me as a gift.  I was so delighted!  Then, she went on to say that when she bought the DVD's they had sent her doubles of one of the sets.  When she called the company to return it, they told her to just keep it or give it away.  She shared that she knew she would give it away but did not know who would be the recipient.  She is sending the set of DVD's to me. I am so grateful.  I now receive my good from expected and unexpected sources.  I wish the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 18, 2010

I love pumpkins.  I love their shapes and their color.  I love the wonderful memories that I associate with pumpkins.  Harvest time when the fruits of our labors are so bountiful.  Golden harvest moons that warm up the night sky just at the time when it is getting colder.  Memories of trips to the pumpkin farm with my children and my grandson.  The excitement of riding on the back of a hay wagon on our way to the pumpkins.  Pumpkins remind me of pumpkin pie and the spicy aroma of them baking in the oven.  Pumpkins bring to me the warmth of family gatherings, crackling fire in the fire place and the comfort of being inside while the outdoors rains and blows.  There is a sturdiness to pumpkins that I like.  I love the feel of them.  In the right conditions they can last for months and months.  Halloween would not be the same without the candle light glowing from within the carved faces of jack o' lanterns.  Such a simple thing, really, a pumpkin.  Inexpensive and easy to find but it brings to me a wealth of happy memories and positive associations.  The little girl in me loves pumpkins.  It is time we went shopping and brought one home.  I have a ceramic pumpkin with a candle in it on my desk.  My room fills with the sweet scent of pumkin pie.  It makes me happy.  Happiness raises our vibration therefore a pumpkin can be a very spiritual vegetable!  Just for today, think of something simple that you can do to bring you some joy.  Find your own pumpkin or whatever it is that when you connect with it, you connect with your heart.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 17, 2010

I love October!  The last few nights the moon has been absolutely beautiful.  Even though it is not yet full, its radiance has lit up the sky.  Hmmmmm.  I am reminded of how often I hear people say that when they have more money they will live their dream.......when I am slender......when I have the right job.......when I have children......when my children grow up.................when I go back to school......when I finish school...........and so on and so on.  It seems as though it is part of our humanness to think that we have to have our life a certain way or we have to be just right before we can manifest our dreams.  That is not so.  That is an illusion.  The partial moon sent out her brilliance and lit up the sky.  I am good enough to share my gifts and live my dream NOW.  I do not have to be perfect in order to begin to live my dreams.  What are you waiting for?  What part of you has been put on hold because you are waiting until you are a full moon?  Don't wait.  The world needs you just as your are.  Even a slender crescent moon illuminates and brings light into the blackness of night.  Never underestimate who you are and how much you have to offer.  Just as your are in this moment.  Shine on!  Love and Light, Shirley

October 16, 2010

There is a tremendous amount of information out now about The Law of Attraction and how to create the life you want.  I have shared a great deal before.   I think that what I would like to talk about today is discipline and consistency.  If you truly wish to manifest your heart's desires there are many different paths but all of them include being disciplined.  To me, discipline is all about creating a structure where I consistently follow a plan, whatever it is, unless I am guided otherwise.  It is about following through on challenging aspects of that structure even when I do not feel like it.  The truth is that when we follow through and make our way through resistance and obstacles, we then feel empowered and we have even more motivation to move forward and retain our discipline.  I have found that it is through consistent meditation that I develop my intuition and ability to hear my guidance.  This often requires discipline since it can be easy to get distracted and tell myself, I will do it later.  Whether it is meditation or envisioning what you want, breaking through resistance or putting your inspirations into action, they all require a certain amount of discipline and consistency.  I am writing a book.  Those times in my life that the words have felt as though they were writing themselves occurred because I was in the creative flow, listening to my intuition, breaking through my resistance and putting my inspiration into action.  There are many reasons why the book sometimes sits and gathers dust but I do know that some of the time it happens because I am scattered, lacking discipline and consistency.  It is not just about discipline towards the writing but discipline and consistency in my spiritual practices that help unlock my creativity and release resistance.  I have recommitted myself to my plan for my life.  I am more committed toward developing ALL of who I am and finding new and better ways of sharing with the world.  I pray the same for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 14, 2010

I was talking to a good friend of mine today and I was sharing many of the insights I had been gaining about myself and my life and many of the shifts and changes.  He asked me what I was going to do with them.  It caught me by surprise when he said that but I then proceeded to share with him what I was doing differently.  I realized as we talked that insights in themselves really don't do too much unless we find ways to incorporate them into changing our behaviors.  Unless the insights lead to sustained change then they really aren't worth all that much.  If a person gains an insight into why they act the way they do that has value because it can become the catalyst for change.  However, if it is not used as a springboard for change, it is empty and meaningless.  For example, I am the sort that can feel overwhelmed because I always seem to have a long list of things I want to do and don't seem to have the time for everything.  I gained the insight that part of why this happens over and over is that I have an underlying belief that there is never enough time.  This belief creates the feelings of overwhelm.  Now, I can use this information to tap into my subconscious and change the faulty underlying belief.  There is always time for what is most important.  I can work on healing the underlying belief so that I reduce the overwhelmed feelings which can lead to procrastination and/or sabotage.  I think that one of the reasons talk therapy is not always effective is that it can create great insights for people but does not always incorporate action.  It is the combination of the two that can alter lives.  I am taking action to release deeper layers of negative thinking.  I have released a great deal of negative thinking in my life and I just keep going deeper and deeper.  I refuse to settle for good enough!  Do you have insights into yourself and your life?  Have you used these insights to create change?  Just envision that as more and more of us release our old negative beliefs we are bringing more love and light into the lives of others.  Our transformations stimulate others to do the same.  It is a chain reaction of great proportions.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 13, 2010

This morning as I was writing with my guidance, they were speaking to me about me getting to the point where I am now.  I was reflecting back on the past year and thinking about how I could have done things differently.  What they said to me was that I certainly could have done some things differently.  However, they also said that I would have arrived at the same point, I would have just had a different journey to it.  Hmmmm.  That is an interesting thought.  They also told me that I should quit worrying about missed opportunities and that if I looked at EVERYTHING as an opportunity to learn then I have not missed anything.  I know that much of what I hear when I write is not new.  There are often messages that I have heard many times but for some reason there comes a point where I not only hear it but I can feel the message.  Everything is an opportunity to learn.  As long as I am learning and growing, I have not necessarily missed anything.  Regret simply wastes precious time and this moment is what is most important.  This moment is truly the only thing that exists.  It really is not important what I may or may not have done in the past year, month, week or day.  It is already gone.  What matters is this moment.  So, for yourself, let go of the past other than to learn from it.  Decide what you wish to create and create from NOW.   What do you wish to create?  I recently joined an online program called Boundless Living Elite.  I am very excited about the new possibilities now available to me.  I release whatever past disappointments I may have had and start from today.  I hope you join me in creating what you wish.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 11, 2010

I spent most of the past weekend participating on an online seminar called Mind Mastery World Summit.  It was excellent!  There were so many different speakers and they were all good.  I was already familiar with almost all of the principles presented but it is always good to hear them again.  One of the things that was mentioned numerous times was the importance of having a support group or a coach of some kind.  The main focus of the seminar was on how to manifest the business you desire, however, the principles could be applied to anything; health, relationships, weight release, spirituality and more.  I thought about my own life and realized that whereas I have wonderful supportive friends and family, I do not have a support group for my business.  No matter what your life circumstances are it is important to have support in the most important areas of your life.  There are reasons why weight loss groups exist and people desiring to learn something new often join a group of people with similar interests.  So, I am going to take this issue seriously and meditate upon a solution.  Is there an area of your life where you need support?  Remember that we are not here to live in isolation but in community.  The energy of one person can be powerful but the combined energy of several people all striving toward a similar goal can be powerful indeed.  I will let you know the answers I found through meditation in the coming days or weeks.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 10, 2010

If you were to abbreviate today's date, it would be 10/10/10.  For those who like numerology this is a great number!  10 in Tarot is the Wheel of Fortune.  Amongst other things, the wheel indicates forward movement. The 0 always represents spirit and 1 represents new beginnings, leadership, initiation and anything having to do with being first.  For me, I think of the 10/10/10 as an opportunity to begin a new spiritual journey.  Sort of a time to wipe the slate clean and begin anew.  Spirit in new beginnings.  What do I want to take forward with me on this new leg of my journey?  What do I want to release and let go that no longer serves me?  Where do I want to go where I may have not been before?  What is my intention?  I wish to release judgments and criticism of myself and others.  I wish to journey into the deepest part of my heart and find unconditional love, not just for a moment or an hour but for the rest of my life.  I wish more than ever to have an open heart.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 8, 2010

Sometimes I think that for many of us on a spiritual path, we try too hard.  We get so serious that we forget that it is also spiritual to laugh and to find pleasure in simple things.  I can be a very silly person at times and I have to remind myself that it is good for me.  Lighten up!  I have heard those words from my guidance many times.  Yesterday, I was shopping for a glue stick and the fall decorations caught my eye.  Normally, I would not pay any attention.  I am living at my mom's house for now and most of my stuff is in storage.  Therefore, I do not buy much that is not necessary.  But, yesterday the pumpkins caught my eye.  I love pumpkins.  I think they are such a bright and happy vegetable.  I love pumpkin fields and jack o' lanterns and just plain pumpkins.  I bought a small ceramic pumpkin with a pumpkin pie scented candle in it.  Its sweet smell fills my bedroom and the flame reflects off of the orange pumpkin.  Candle light connects me to spirit.   The candle's aroma brings me a feeling of contentment and peace.  Simple pleasures that help to raise my vibration.  What simple thing can bring you pleasure?  Raise your vibration through simple pleasures.  A favorite piece of music.  Candlelight.  A warm bath.  A walk in nature.  Birds.  It can be so easy.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 7, 2010

I think I shared before that I have had to take the last month off from doing any hard physical work.  I had been doing hard physical work for months and I was exhausted.  Plus, I pulled tendons in both of my wrists so that eliminated doing much of anything.  As a result, I have done much more going within, reading, studying, etc.  One of the things that I have realized in the past month is that part of the manifesting process includes making sure that we have space in our life for what it is we wish to manifest.  For example, if we state that we wish to manifest a love relationship with someone and yet, throughout our day we are continually bemoaning the fact that we barely have time to breathe, we reduce the odds of meeting someone.  For one thing, if we barely have time to breathe, how will we have time for a new partner?  I look back on the past ten months and I completely understand why my business has been very slow.  There was no space in my life to expand my business because I had so many other obligations.  I am resting more now and I have created space inside of myself that was not there before.  With that space, I am proclaiming to the Universe that I am now more receptive to something new coming in.  This new may come in the form of new people, new knowledge, new opportunities and more.  Well, I am happy to report that this NEW is already manifesting and unfolding.  When you decide what it is you wish to manifest, be certain that you truly have created space for it to come into.  I remember I had a client come to me once who wanted to know if she was going to meet a man who would love her for herself.  She was in a very unhappy marriage.  I told her that if she truly wanted to meet the man of her dreams, she needed to first leave her husband.  This would signal to the Universe that she was truly serious.  She did not want to leave her husband until she had found a replacement!  She was not happy with the answer that I gave her.  I told her that until she let go and trusted that the right man would come, he would not come.  She might attract another man but most likely, he would not be a man who would commit to her.  She asked me why?  I explained that as long as she is truly not available she would continue to attract men who wanted a woman who was truly not available.  She simply became angry and left the reading.  She did not want to hear about how she needed to do her part in order to manifest her dreams and wishes.  Do you want to manifest your dreams and wishes?  Makes sure that there truly is room in your life for whatever that is.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 6, 2010

Meditation is one of the most important aspects of developing your spirituality.  Prayer is another.  When we are praying we are sending out our thoughts to God.  When we are meditating we are creating an opening for God to speak to us.  I use the term God because it is a Universal term and everyone knows what I am talking about.  I could also use the term Spirit or Higher Self or Inner Self or the Buddha within or any of a number of other names.  In essence, I am referring to the spiritual realm and not the physical or mental realm.  Our intuitive self is vastly different from our intellectual self.  Through meditation our intuitive self is better able to pick up the subtle vibrations of Higher Realms.  By quieting the mind, we are able to slow down and eventually eliminate most of the mind chatter.  This can be accomplished in different ways because there are many different forms of meditation.  For some people who have great difficulty sitting still, I recommend they begin by doing walking meditations.  This is best accomplished by being in nature.  Walking through a park or around a lake.  Early in the morning is a good time because there are fewer people.  Nature helps us to connect to God.  God's spirit is in everyone and everything.  As you walk, focus on your breath and on gratitude for the beauty you are seeing.  Another form of meditation is to simply gaze at a tree's leaves and watch the dancing leaves while breathing deeply.  Water can help us clear our minds.  Sitting in silence by a calm lake helps to induce stillness within.  Silent meditation is the most advanced way to clear the mind and for some people it is nearly impossible to achieve on their own.  I recommend meditation CD's for people who are just learning or attending a guided meditation group, if possible.  Quieting your mind while in a warm bath can be very effective.  Soft music without words can help to slow down your body and prepare you for more stillness within.  Above all, your intent and your patience will pay off.  By attuning to higher vibrations you can gain answers to your questions, increase your knowledge and above all, embrace serenity and freedom.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 4, 2010

I love greeting cards.  There is a tremendous amount of beauty and inspiration that can be found in simple greeting cards. They are such a simple way to bring color and happiness to others.  Often, I would buy cards not knowing who they were for but knowing that I would eventually know who the cards were meant for.  As the cards waited for just the right people to be sent to, I would read through them and enjoy them myself.  One card remained for a long while before I finally sent it on its way.  On the front of the card was a picture of the ocean.  Beneath the photo were the words: Acceptance is the First Law of Spirit.  Perhaps part of why I had the card for so long was that I needed to read that message for myself.  Acceptance is the first law of spirit.  Buddhism teaches that human pain and misery comes from attachments and aversions.  We are either unhappy because we do not have something that we desire or we are unhappy because we have something that we do not want.  When we obtain that which we desire, we then hold on to it afraid of losing it.  When we have something in our life that we do not want, we try everything in our power to get rid of it.  When we are able to bring acceptance into our life, it becomes easier to release attachments and aversions.  I know that I am practicing acceptance when I can say that in this moment I have peace.  In this moment, I am releasing attachment to my desires.  In this moment, I am accepting those things in my life that I once ran from.  In truth, often what we desire is not always for our higher good and those people, conditions and circumstances that we have an aversion to can be the very things that help us to transform.  Having a lovely home is not an issue in itself.  Being grateful for a lovely home raises our vibration.  Being attached to our home and thinking that we can only be happy if we have a beautiful home is when it becomes a problem.  Acceptance is the ability to be happy in spite of external conditions.  For myself, when I accept my life as it is right now, I am able to do so because I trust that whatever is in my life is what is meant to be.  Trust and acceptance go hand in hand.  By being able to accept my life just as it is right now and by trusting that this is exactly where I am meant to be, I free up a tremendous amount of energy.  I create space for Spirit to work with me and through me.  I pray you find your own acceptance and peace.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 3, 2010

I attended a healing circle this morning and we had a wonderful meditation.  Following the meditation, both Quan Yin and Mother Mary came to me with a message for the group.  It was so wonderful to have both of these loving beings present at the same time.  I would like to share part of their message because it is a message for everyone.  They reminded us not to always look outside of ourselves to find the Divine.  We need to look within and find the Divine.  They said that the Divine is not always a bird flying to us but that it is also the bird seated on the nest within.  What a beautiful metaphor.  I envision this beautiful bird on a nest that is located right in the center of my chest.  A beautiful bird that is just waiting to take flight.  For whatever reason, I see a blue and white bird.  When I look at others I see their bird, patiently waiting to be discovered.  Perhaps I see a blue and white bird for myself because blue is the color of the throat chakra and is the color of expression.  For many years, when I had my aura pictures taken, blue was usually missing.  I began to understand why.  Blue was missing because I was afraid to speak my truth.  I am different from most people in my community.  Oh, heck, to be honest, I am different from most people!  It took me many years before I learned to release my fears about who I am and what I believe.  My aura pictures now would most certainly contain beautiful shades of blue.  Are you aware of your own Divinity?  I pray that you are.  I pray that your bird takes flight and fills the sky with its glory.  Envision a bird in flight with its wings spread out and it is soaring effortlessly.  What joy and freedom in flight.  What a view can be seen when we step into our Divinity.  Love and Light, Shirley

October 2, 2010

I wrote my last article for an online magazine called Sibyl.  If you are interested in reading it you can go to www.SibylMagazine.com  I was very honored to be chosen as one of their writers for the past year.  I love to write.  I love to talk.  I love to share the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years.  What do you love?  What is it that when you have the opportunity to do it, you are filled with joy?  It doesn't matter what it is.  What does matter is that you do it.  I love doing readings with people.  I am always appreciative when I get paid for sharing but it is the sharing that brings me joy.  My plan is that I will eventually have plenty of opportunity to both share with people and get paid for more of that sharing.  In the meantime, I still share.  So often I will hear people tell me that what they love to do is not really practical so they don't do it very often.  My response to them is that any time we are able to find joy we are being very practical.  Joy strengthens our immune system.  Joy attracts positive people to us.  Joy attracts resources and opportunities to us.  Joy connects us to our authentic self.  Joy is our natural state.  If you question that statement simply look around at young children.  See the radiance shining from a baby's face.  You, too, have that radiance within you.  Just imagine if we all allowed ourselves to do that which brings us joy?  Imagine the same radiance that you can see in a baby's face shining out from every human being.  We wouldn't need to light so many lights because we would light up the world.  Does that sound farfetched?  Is that an unrealistic goal?  How about we start within our own circle of friends and family?  I challenge you to find your joy and let it out.  Let your radiance shine so that your friends and family can see it.  We can get to the rest of the world later.  This is a wonderful start.  Shine on!  Love and Light, Shirley

October 1, 2010

The other night an advertisement came on for a new television show.  I don't remember the name but it was about a family of nine who have had to completely change how they live their lives because of financial problems.  It appears that the parents were professionals and had always made good money but then the recession affected them.  It is interesting times that we would have a television program with a theme such as this.  In different times, this would never have been of much interest.  I do believe that as a society we have been long overdue for changes in how we deal with money.  When revolving credit was originally created, it was intended for emergency use.  It was never intended to become a way of life.  If you could not afford something you saved your money until you could afford it or you did without it.  If it was something truly necessary than you did without other things so that you could have it.  Over time, credit cards joined revolving credit accounts as a way for people to have what they wanted without having to wait for it.  Mortgages have certainly been around for a long while, however, the ability for people to buy homes that should be out of their reach has increased over the years.  I personally have been guilty of spending beyond my means and I have had to alter my lifestyle a great deal.  My own guides told me when I was going through some rough financial times that this was an opportunity for me to change how I view money.  They also told me that what I was going through was going to help me help others at some point.  They explained that huge changes were coming to the world and that some of those changes have to do with how we deal with money.  I understood more fully what they were talking about when the worldwide financial crisis began.  From a spiritual standpoint, money is a type of energy that can be exchanged for other forms of energy.  It is a good thing.  It is only when we create unequal exchanges or use it inappropriately that it becomes an issue.  Where do you stand in your relationship with money and your finances?  Have you overextended yourself?  Have you deprived yourself when you do have the means to take care of yourself?  If you view it as energy, do you have an excess of stored energy?  Are you depleted of energy?  Are you using your energy wisely?  There is unlimited energy in the Universe.  However, there does need to be an energy exchange and a willingness to receive.  I would also state that to be spiritually balanced there must be a willingness to share.  When the willingness to receive is balanced with the willingness to share and is accompanied with gratitude, the Universe sends an endless supply to us.  If this is not happening, it behooves us to examine where we may need some work, on receiving, sharing or gratitude.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 29, 2010

I have a beautiful box of angel cards called Angel Blessings.  They were created by Kimberly Marooney.  She explains how she had an illness for eighteen months and that it was during those months of illness and recuperation that she received many messages about what she was to do.  I don't remember how long it took her to pull it all together and finally get the cards published but it seems that it was not a short amount of time.  These angel cards and the book with them have been a huge blessing to me.  On one hand, it is unfortunate that she was ill for so long but such good came out of it.  I wish I could thank her in person!  So often, we have a challenge in our life and we just want it to be over.  Yet, that challenge may be the very thing that brings us blessings.  When our lives are going along smoothly we may not stop and take the time to listen as closely to our guidance.  It is often in the darkest night that a flash of brilliance comes and lights up the whole sky.  That same flash seen during a bright day would seem less significant.  It might barely be noticed.  Inspiration can come at any time but it is those messages that I have received while in pain or struggle that continue to echo in my mind.  Those words that have helped to lift me up out of some kind of darkness are words that remain embedded in my heart.  There are reasons why so many different spiritual teachers recommend praying and meditating in the middle of the night.  I believe that one reason is that in the darkness we can more easily perceive illumination.  If you are in the midst of challenges my wish for you is that you have courage and hope and a deeper understanding of what those challenges bring to you.  I pray that you, too, find illumination in the darkness.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 28, 2010

I believe that God is speaking to us all the time.  His/Her voice comes to us through many other voices.  The animal kingdom brings us the voice of God if we choose to look, listen and learn.  I have a book called Animal Speak that was written by Ted Andrews.  It speaks of the metaphysical meanings of animals and the energies and information they bring to us.  I love it.  He is now on the other side and I just want to tell him thank you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wealth of information he left as part of his legacy.  I notice when animals come to me and when I am guided, I look them up in Animal Speak for I know it is one way of listening to God.  I have a tree outside of my bedroom and birds often come there.  Early spring robins.  Blue jays.  Chickadees.  Lately, I have had a flicker come and feed off of the insects he or she pecks out of the branches.  I was guided to look up flicker.  A flicker is a member of the woodpecker family.  I read what it means if flicker comes into your life.  It states that when a flicker comes into your life it will reflect new bounding leaps of spiritual growth.  Wow.  It also symbolizes a new sensitivity of the heart that is about to be awakened.  The other day a grasshopper came into my car and I had a hard time getting it out.  I was guided to look up grasshopper.  Grasshopper represents uncanny leaps forward.  When grasshopper shows up, there is about to be a new leap forward - one that will probably carry you past the others around you in your life.  Within one week, I receive two messages about leaping forward.  I am experiencing a resurgence of spiritual desire and spiritual energy.  I love it when I don't even have to work hard to hear God's voice.  I simply followed my intuition to look up the grasshopper and the flicker.  They are not the only birds or animals I have seen recently but they were the ones I was guided to read about.  If you are interested in learning more about animal totems there are many books out there to help you do so.  I highly recommend Animal Speak because it is such an easy tool.  To start you can simply look up all the birds and animals and insects you encounter.  If you already have a finely tuned intuition, you will know which ones to read about.  God's voice is never completely silent.  We just need to stop and listen.  We are never alone in this journey on earth.  Even when we are physically separate from other people we are always surrounded by God in all His/Her varied and beautiful forms.  Even the ground we walk upon has an energy and a voice.  Every blade of grass has a voice.  Every stone.  Every thing.  Everything.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 27, 2010

I remember a message I received from my guides a number of years ago.  They told me that when I would feast on the fruits of truth, I would no longer need to feast on food.  As someone who has struggled with eating and weight issues for most of my life, that statement really means a lot to me.  The fruits of truth.  At the same time that they had told me this message they had also told me about a tree that bore many different fruits at the same time.  One tree but many fruits.  They later explained that some of the different fruits were Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Zoroaster and many, many more.  I understood what they meant.  There are many different religions and spiritual and mystical teachings.  They may look and feel and taste different from each other but they all came from the same tree.  I do not have to pick one and one only.  Many people do and that is perfectly fine and good but I don't have to.  I can explore and learn as many different fruits of truth as I am drawn to.  This drive to "feast on many fruits" tends to come in waves at times.  There is rarely a time in my life when I am not pursuing some kind of truth but there are also times when one fruit is simply not enough.  What I will tell you is this.  The more different spiritual fruits or truths that I study, the more free I feel.  I see more and more the ways in which they are alike.  There are certain threads that are interwoven into all of them.  First and foremost is the belief that everything else becomes unimportant if there is no love.  Love is supreme.  Love is what matters most.  Love is the bedrock of every fruit I have explored so far.  It might be called love or loving kindness or compassion or respecting human dignity.  It does not matter because it all boils down to the same thing.  Loving your neighbor as thyself reigns supreme.  The Native Americans have an old saying that in order to understand another human being you must walk a mile in his moccasins.  By placing ourselves in someone else's shoes or circumstances we can find compassion and respect other's dignity.  I remember I once had a beautiful spiritual woman in Mexico tell me to have more understanding of my parents because they had not had the same opportunities I had had.  I had never really thought of that before and then I realized that my life had been filled with rich experiences.  Some of them were made possible because I had grown up in a middle class family and we had the financial means for me to go to church camp, retreats and other spiritual events.  Even before I left home I had beautiful spiritual and mystical memories.  I needed to walk a mile in my parents' moccasins.  I continue to feast on those different spiritual fruits, full of gratitude that I have had and continue to have so many opportunities to learn and grow.  I am grateful to live in a country where I am not limited as to the number and kind of fruits I can feast upon.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 25, 2010

Yesterday I went on a Tall Ships cruise with my 84 year old mother and her classmates.  It was a part of their 67th class reunion.  The ship, called the Lady Washington, is a replica of the sailing ship that brought Captain Robert Gray to discover Grays Harbor, where I live.  We sailed down the Chehalis river and even though I have lived here for the majority of my life, I don't remember ever going down this river.  There were places going down the river that I had never seen from that view.  I had only viewed them from their side of the shore.  I realized how much I had missed.  This morning as I was thinking about the trip and trying to decide what to write about, I decided to write this.  I realized this is a wonderful metaphor for relationships.  How many relationships, even those that I have had for most or all of my lifetime, have I only seen from one side of the shore?  Of course the one side of the shore would be mine.  Going into the river and traveling down the middle is like entering a place of neutrality and being able to see both sides of an issue.  How much am I missing because I have stayed too long on my side of the river?  How do I enter the river and explore a relationship from another point of view?  I don't really have any immediate grand answers but I do know that our intention is a powerful factor any time we want to create change.  I am stating my intention to find a way into the river once again.  I am praying for inspiration for a way to truly see my relationships with others from both sides of the river.  I know I am missing out on richness and surprises.  I can't wait.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 24, 2010

I have a small booklet that was written by Paramahansa Yogananda.  It is called "The Law of Success".  I have had it for years and last night I found it again and reread it.  I would like to share part of what he wrote about as my message for today.  "You should sit in silence before deciding about any important matter, asking the Father for His blessing.  Then, behind your power is God's power; behind your mind, His mind; behind your will, His will.  When God is working with you, you cannot fail; every faculty you possess will increase in power.  When you do your work with the thought of serving God, you receive his blessing."  I believe that Yogananda's words are not only powerful but they are a lamp before my feet.  They help to guide me on my path.  I hope you find them as illuminating.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 23, 2010

I once asked my guides why they hardly ever told me predictions for the future.  After all, I read a lot of other people's writings and they are filled with all kinds of information they received from the spiritual realm.  I received a simple answer from them.  They told me that I had not asked.  They also shared that their primary reason for connecting with me is to help me transform myself.  Therefore the majority of what they have to say to me is of a personal nature.  When I do readings with other people, the information my own guides give me about them is often very similar.  The information tends to be less about what person they are going to meet or how their finances are going to be and more about what they need to do in order to create a better life for themselves.  They will often give me insights as to what a person's life purpose is or what their main issues are that need to be addressed in this lifetime.  Certainly, they will give me some information about the future but that is more in the minority.  I get enough information about the future to know the main direction I am headed or the main direction someone else is going.  The most important part of my guidance is truly about this moment.  Knowing what I should be working on in this moment is the most valuable guidance I receive.  We do not transform ourselves in the future.  We transform ourselves in the here and now.  This truly is the most important moment we have.  Right now.  This moment.  What we do with each moment is our choice.  Those choices then make up our life.  Having some insight about the future can be very good.  It is more important to remember that we are creating the future right now.  In this moment, I am creating some aspect of my future.  That is why it is helpful to know I am on track or not right now.  Is this behavior in this moment leading me into the future I desire?  Are my thoughts taking me into the future of my heart?  If not, then I had better change my thought patterns now.  I had better change my behavior now.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 22, 2010

Change is never easy especially when one is being called to change personal habits that have been around for a very long time.  I have been suffering from fatigue.  Because of the fatigue, I am not able to do so much of what I have been busy doing for months.  I decided that I needed to rest for three days.  I had reduced what I was doing for the last two weeks but it wasn't enough.  As a result of my decision to rest, I have had much more time to read and write and simply be quiet and go within.  I know it is time for a fundamental change in my life.  I have always been prone to workaholism and the circumstances of my life right now have given me great opportunity to deal with the underlying causes of being a workaholic.  I truly believe that most of the underlying reasons are connected to fear and anxiety.  If I can just get this project done, then I can relax.  When I am completed with these particular chores, I can rest.  Instead of listening to my body which is calling out for rest and relaxation NOW, I kept responding to a voice calling me to push myself more and more.  My body finally had to scream at me to STOP and LISTEN.  I could be embarrassed sharing this with you because with all that I have learned, one would think I would be past this.  I am willing to push past my embarrassment and share because I know I am not the only one who is experiencing old issues.  I am not the only one who feels overwhelmed right now with so much of what is happening in their life.  Pluto is in Capricorn.  Pluto is the planet of transformation.  Capricorn rules structures.  Hmmmmm.  Pluto comes in and asks how we are doing with the needed changes in our lives.  How is your life structured?  Do you have a solid foundation?  NO????  Pluto brings in the wrecking ball and flattens the faulty structure so that we may rebuild a better one.  This is what I am in the process of.  It is not easy but it is time.  I cannot get away with pushing myself any more.  I need to create more balance in the structure of my life.  Whatever challenge you are facing, understand that no matter how hard it is, you do have support from the Universe.  It may not always feel like it but we do have support.  Pluto in Capricorn is supporting us in making the necessary changes.  Those changes vary from person to person but we all have something that needs to shift and change.  The more we can listen to our inner voice and create change, the less need there is for the wrecking ball.  I know that if I did not create the necessary change right now, the wrecking ball would be swinging and my health would be affected.  I am choosing to change and make those changes NOW.  I support you in looking at your own life and deciding where you are in your journey.  Do you need to make some fundamental changes?  Have courage and the strength to make those changes knowing that the Universe supports you.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 20, 2010

We are fast approaching the fall equinox.  This year the fall equinox falls on September 23rd at 3:09 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time.  Many people will be celebrating the evening of the 22nd.  For me, the fall equinox has always heralded one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the fall.  I love the changing colors and the crispness of fall air.  It is in the fall that the sky is the bluest here in the Pacific Northwest, especially in October.  Harvest time is in full swing and for many people, the fruits of their labors are never more apparent than in the fall.  It is a time to ready your house for the coming fall and winter months.  I have my list made already.  Make sure the gutters are cleared out before the rain comes in full force.  Insulate some of the pipes better because I have heard we are supposed to have a colder than usual winter.  Make sure the firewood is hauled into a dry place.  Make certain that the patio furniture is clean and dry before putting it away.  There is more but I won't bore you with the details.  I am sure you have your own list.  I have another list, too.  It is a different kind of list because it is a list of things I wish to accomplish during those cold, wet days when outdoor activities are limited to running through the rain to get into the car.  The fall signals to me that I can now spend more time reading, studying, writing, working on indoor projects and artistic endeavors that just never seem to happen during sunnier times.  I overhear people complaining that it is the end of summer and that they dread the coming months.  I am not without some regret that the sun and warmth of summer has wound down.  In truth, we had very little sun this year and so there is some disappointment.  However, I don't believe in wallowing over something I have no control over.  What I do have control over is how I deal with the summer's end and the approach of autumn.  I choose to embrace the change.  I am already anticipating the warmth of a wood fire, the comfort of hot homemade hearty vegetable soup and the pleasure and company of a good book.  I have already had one glorious day when the rain beat mercilessly against the family room windows and the wind made the branches of the trees dance in wild abandon.  Under my warm afghan, curled up on the couch, I read my book, knowing that I was safe and warm.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 18, 2010

Today is a special day in my life.  My daughter has applied to be an adoptive foster parent for her son's half brother.  He is ten months old and I will meet him today for the first time!  She will be here soon.  I hope and pray that his biological mom is able to conquer her problems so that she may parent him.  However, if that does not happen in time I know that my daughter and her husband would be wonderful parents.  My grandson is 13 and he adores his baby brother.  He has two stepbrothers but they live in New York.  Being able to connect with his half brother is very important and precious.  We never know where and how we can find family.  Sometimes there may not even be a biological connection between people but there are connections of the heart.  In my biological family I have all brothers.  In my family of the heart, I have many sisters.  In truth, when it comes to sisters and brothers of the heart, my cup runneth over.  I am very blessed.  Family of the heart is family that I have created by being open to others.  I am open to give to others and open to receive.  When family of the blood is also family of the heart, it is indeed a blessing of great magnitude.  Often, our family of the blood can bring us some of the greatest challenges we face in this life.  When we can move through the challenges and see them as blessings, this creates more openings in our hearts.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 17, 2010

Yesterday, I referred to a time in my life when I was receiving messages about being more like a jelly fish.  Part of the message was about letting go of the concept of struggle.  I spoke about that yesterday.  Another aspect to becoming more like a jelly fish pertained to being transparent.  If you have never seen a jelly fish in person, most of them are very transparent and you can see right through them.  My guides were speaking to me about allowing myself to be more transparent to other people.  They explained that I do not have to keep myself hidden and that it is safe for me to be more visible.  At the time, this meant that I could be more honest about who I am, my thoughts and feelings, my strengths and weaknesses.  I was encouraged to share ALL of who I am with others not just selected parts that I deemed acceptable.  Part of the message of the jelly fish is that nothing is hidden, everything is visible to everyone.  At the time of the message I had some aspects of my life that I had kept secret.  Secrets are almost always created from fear.  I knew that it was time from me to move from fear to love and from secrets to honesty and more integrity.  I would like to add that my guides also spoke to me about discernment.  They shared that I needed to use discernment about what I revealed and who I revealed it to.  At first, this was confusing to me.  Be transparent but use discernment.  What helped me to determine when and how to be transparent was the need to examine why I had kept something hidden.  In other words, if I kept something hidden to protect my ego, it was most likely time to be more transparent.  If I was holding information that could harm another person, I used discernment about when I revealed it and who I revealed it to.  As I explored these issues I found that most of what I kept hidden was unnecessary and was connected to issues of the ego.  I was also told that as I pushed through my fear and insecurities and shared more and more of myself that I was helping others know that they can do the same.  There is a freedom that comes with being more transparent.  With nothing to hide you are able to float through life more freely.  Fear finds less and less to attach to.  You are immersed in an ocean of love, acceptance and peace.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 16, 2010

I work with an ancient system of divination that I found in a book called Cards of Destiny.  The book was written by Robert Lee Camp.  It predates the Tarot and is very fascinating and at times so amazingly accurate.  I have learned a great deal about myself and others by working with this system.  The system uses a deck of regular playing cards and everyone is assigned a card based on their birth date.  We each have a birth card but also a planetary ruling card, except Scorpios who have two planetary ruling cards.  There are spreads for every year and the year is also broken down into seven 52 day periods.  I have found it very helpful to understand much of what is happening in my life.  The Queen of Spades was a very strong influence in my life in 2009.  She speaks of the need to let go of the concept of struggle.  She talks of the importance of opening and allowing.  When I began to read about the Queen of Spades I was reminded of a message from spirit many years ago.  I was participating in a hypnotherapy training which also contained many spiritual aspects.  We were doing a rebirth in a swimming pool down in Mexico.  During the rebirth I had an absolutely transformative experience.  I began to receive messages about the benefit of being more like a jelly fish!  The jelly fish does not sit and worry about having its needs met.  The jelly fish floats in the ocean trusting that its food will come to it.  I was told that I do not have to work so hard to get my needs met.  My guides were helping me to release old ideas of what I had to do in order to be successful.  This was nine years ago and I have, at times, been able to slowly become more like the jelly fish.  The Queen of Spades is a reminder of the jelly fish message.  Open and allow.  Release struggle.  Recently, in my life, these issues have surfaced again in a very big way.  My life is challenging in ways I have never had to face before.  Yet, I continue to receive the same messages.  Trust in God, trust in yourself, open up to receive and allow yourself to receive, surrender.  I wish for everyone reading this message to know that when we surrender to the Divine, we receive far beyond what we can begin to imagine.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 15, 2010

Do you have unspoken words lingering inside of you?  Is there someone that you love and admire but you have never truly expressed to them all that you feel?  Over the years there have been times that I sat and wrote about my memories, experiences and feelings towards another person.  Sometimes I shared those words with the other person and other times I did not.  What I can say, in all honesty, is that I have never regretted any of those times that I shared.  My words have moved others deeply.  I know the importance of expressing myself.  I have an aunt who keeps coming into my consciousness and so I know it is time for me to once again tap into my memories and my heart and share with her.  You do not have to be a writer to share from your heart.  Perhaps you are better at speaking.  What matters is that you express yourself and share it with the other person.  When you feel it bubbling up inside of you, don't wait.  Allow it to bubble up and out of you in whatever form suits you.  You never know what your honest words will mean to someone else.  I had better cut this message short because my letter to my Aunt Laura really can't wait.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 14, 2010

To be in the world but not of the world.  This is an important aspect to many religions and to spirituality.  There are many interpretations of what that might mean.  For some, down through the ages, it has meant that they needed to be cloistered away from most of society.  Many religious institutions have encouraged their most devoted spiritual seekers to abstain from the world and live in a religious or spiritual community only.  Others have interpreted this to mean that they should be in the world but keep themselves separate from those people in the world whose views are not the same as theirs.  They create their own neighborhoods, stores, schools and businesses that are primarily geared to their own community of believers.  I think that any of these choices are just fine for those who choose them.  I also have my own interpretation of what this might mean.  For myself, I think of it on more of an individual basis.  For me to be in the world but not of the world really has little to do with other people.  It has to do with how I identify myself, how I spend my time, how I set goals and what is ultimately most important to me.  I am in this physical world and so I must participate in it or perish.  How I choose to participate in it is determined by my mindset.  It is my mind and my heart that can leave this physical realm and become united with the spiritual.  When I make my decisions from my heart and soul, I am in this world but not of this world.  When I dwell primarily in my analytical mind and my physical body, I am in this world.  When I can join my mind, body and spirit, I function at the highest level possible.  I am then in the world but not of the world.  I have brought the spiritual down into the physical domain and it is heaven on earth.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 13, 2010

Living in the moment is not an easy thing to accomplish.  Those times when I am truly able to do so are so wonderful.  I am not retreating back into the past and attempting to relive something that has long since vanished.  I am not projecting ahead into the future seeking something that may never be.  I am, instead, relishing whatever is present in the moment.  Yesterday, I took my mom down to a festival that has been held for a number of year in the small town that we live in.  It is called Festival in the Park and was originally held in a lovely wooded park that had a large pond.  Three years ago, the dam that had created the pond broke and the park was flooded and damaged a great deal.  The festival had to be moved and this year was held at the grade school.  My mother was one of the original founders of the festival and had been the organizer for a great many years.  She is now 84 and it has been some time since she was involved but I took her down to the festival for lunch.  She was having a good time connecting with different people from our town and I could overhear several conversations.  Some people were having a great time visiting with their fellow townspeople, enjoying the entertainment and good food.  Others were complaining to my mother that it just wasn't the same any more.  More than one kept comparing the current festival to those in the past and the current festival came up short, in their opinion.  It is not easy to let go of the past.  I would be the last person to criticize since that is something I have struggled with and still do, at times.  Even as I write these words, I think of recent holidays that did not remotely resemble those same holidays in the past.  Circumstances change.  People come and go.  There are times when it is truly best to simply let go of what was.  Perhaps the time for the festival to end has come.  I don't know.  A part of me thinks that rather than ending it, it may be time for it to transform into something new.  A fresh name.  A fresh start.  A redefinition of what it is and an insertion of new energy.  This is what I have had to do with the holidays.  They have the same name but I have had to redefine how I celebrate and who I celebrate with.  This is not a bad thing once I let go of what once was and live in the moment.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 11, 2010

Last night I wrote my last article for an online magazine called Sibyl.  I was privileged to be accepted as one of their writers for a year.  The October/November addition will be my last.  If you are interested you can find it at www.sibylmagazine.com   I wrote about my experiences doing a firewalk a number of years ago.  A firewalk is where you walk through a bed of hot coals.  In my case, it was an exercise in learning to listen to your intuition.  Leading up to the walk, we had done other exercises learning how to tap into our intuition.  We were to use our intuition to determine whether or not we should walk through the coals or abstain.  I was in the interesting position of having participated in the exact same ceremony one month before.  The firewalk was part of a two year internship I was in and because I was going to have to miss part of one weekend, I was permitted to attend the training on the east coast which was identical to mine but was exactly one month earlier.  When I was at the first firewalk my intuition told me to not walk.  This was a very good exercise for my ego because most of the people walked and they were so jubilant after walking.  However, I trusted the answer I was getting and so I did not walk.  The following month was the firewalk with my fellow interns.  As I walked in silence around the bonfire, I listened to my inner self for my answer.  Soon, I was surprised and delighted to hear my own guidance, my deceased brother and a host of other people on the other side all yelling at me.  They were yelling one word.  Walk.  Walk. Walk.  Soon, they were chanting loudly.  Go. Go. Go.  The fire was not even out and my teacher had not even finished raking out the coals when I swept him to the side with one arm and I tromped through the coals.  I did not walk, I tromped.  I was the only person in our group who did not receive a picture of myself at the end of the firewalk.  Evidently, no one had ever walked so soon before and they were not prepared.  The disappointment of not having a picture was minute compared to the joy of having walked.  Most people who walk through the coals do not even get red feet but occasionally someone will get burnt.  My feet developed some pretty ugly blisters and I was in pain.  I had people ask me if I thought I had made the wrong decision.  I told them no.  I knew I had made the right decision.  Another woman who was blistered was very upset and kept asking me why I thought I made the right decision if my feet were burnt.  I remember telling her that no one ever told us that we were guaranteed not being burnt if we made the right decision.  No one ever said that being burnt was a punishment for making the wrong decision.  I listened to my inner self again and I understood the message of my blisters.  Sometimes making the right decision or doing the right thing can still hurt like hell.  We somehow believe that if we make the "right" decision that everything is going to be smooth and easy.  That is not always true.  There are times that the right decision is exactly what can bring us all kinds of challenges and difficulties.  The next time that something appears to blow up in your face, be open to the possibility that you are still doing it right.  Challenges and difficulties can be overcome and worked through.  Blisters heal.  Trusting in one's self  can last a lifetime.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 10, 2010

Tomorrow is 9/11.  I remember it clearly.  A friend called me early in the morning and at first I could not understand what she was saying.  I turned my television on and finally understood.  It was such a shock to have an invasion of that sort here in the United States.  Having been born in the fifties, I certainly grew up with information pertaining to the Cold War and the Soviet Union, however that seemed far away and disconnected from my personal life.  It made me realize how much of our life we live in illusion.  My guides had a lot to say to me during that time and in the weeks to follow.  Primarily what they talked about was the terrorist within.  Some of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in this life are about taking responsibility for my thoughts, feelings and actions.  They are what create my life.  Understanding that we are all connected ultimately has helped me accept that every time I move into thoughts and beliefs that keep me separate from others, I am moving into illusion.  Every time I look at someone and see myself as completely separate from him or her, I am missing the boat.  It is not difficult to identify with others and claim Unity when you like or love them or you see admirable qualities in them.  It is far more difficult when the person or persons are exhibiting qualities and behaviors that you abhor.  When my guides spoke to me about the terrorist within, they were cautioning me to not create too much separation between myself and the terrorists.  Instead, they encouraged me to look at the ways in which I have a terrorist within.  Do I have parts of me that have difficulty tolerating others?  Do I have a part of me that wishes I could take control and make others do what I think they should do?  Do I ever wish someone would just disappear?  It is our fears that create intolerance and the desire for control.  It is my own fears that create the terrorist within.  It is my fears that create the illusion of separation.  This is true whether I am speaking about terrorists from other countries or people in my own life that I have differences with.  I do not believe that peace will come because of government policies.  I do not believe that we are "safe" just because they created the Homeland Security Act.  Peace will come when we are able to conquer our own fears.  When we get to the root of our fears and heal them, then there can be world peace.  Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.  Those are words to a song but they are the road map to first internal peace and then external peace.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 9, 2010

I decided to clean out my bedroom today.  In truth, because I live with my mother, it is my bedroom/office/library/storage.  When I moved to Washington, I first lived with my friend, Maggi, in her guest bedroom.  I also had some room in her home office and the rest of my stuff was in storage and I could access it easily.  After I moved to my mom's house, I did not rent a storage unit but I downsized what I was saving and put most of it in my daughter's attic.  Because of that, I do not have easy access to anything in storage.  When I made the decisions about what was to come to my mom's house and specifically to my bedroom, it was hard to choose.  After living here for nine months I have come to realize how much of the stuff I chose to put in my bedroom is not necessary.  I am once again, reducing, simplifying and clearing out.  It feels good.  I can already feel space beginning to grow in my bedroom and in my life.  Now, I want to consciously decide how to fill the space in my life or whether I want to leave it open and unfilled.  There is a part of me that knows I could use some space.  I could use some space between my thoughts.  I could use some space between my thoughts and my spoken words.  I could use some space between one chore and the next.  I could use some more space between my breaths.   Whether we are aware of it or not, we are creating our lives every moment that we are alive.  If I want more space in my life, it is up to me to create it.  It may not always feel that way because it is often external conditions that appear to be intruding into our space.  Yet, somehow we have invited them in, whether we are consciously aware of that or not.  I intend to be ever more conscious.  I want more space to breathe, create, have fun and to just be alive.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 8, 2010

I have been going through a great many intense challenges in my life for quite some time.  I know that everything is in divine order but it can still be challenging and tiring.  There is within me a voice that will not be silenced.  It is the voice of my higher self, my soul, my God self or whatever you may wish to call it.  This voice is what helps me to come back to what is truly important in life.  When I breathe deeply and bring that breath to all the cells of my body, I can hear my inner voice more easily.  Right now, I live with my elderly mother and I have many responsibilities.  There are times that I crave the freedom that I experienced for so many years.  After all, I am 55 and my own children are long grown and even my grandson is now 13.  I had many years, especially after my divorce in 2004, where I set my own schedule and created my own life.  If I focus too much on the external conditions of my life, I can feel trapped and feel the lack of freedom.  I chafe and strain at my constraints.  However, if I breathe and travel within to my inner sanctum, I can experience perfect freedom.  I will sometimes hear words and phrases floating up at me, words reminding me that nothing is permanent.  This, too, shall pass.  If I define my freedom by my external environment then I am at my external life's mercy.  If I define my freedom by my ability to go within and connect to my true self, there is no end.  That which passes is in the external realm, the physical world of impermanence.  That which is forever can only be found in the spiritual realm, the world of infinity.  Therefore, in order to cope with the physical world and its challenges and its impermanence, I must connect to the infinite realm of spirit.  This is my truest and most important challenge.  Will I remain too connected to the physical realm, only to be buffeted about by the never ending changes?  Or will I choose to be in the world but not of the world?  Will I choose to connect to my true self?  It is a choice.  It is a choice for every single human being that is on this earth.  It may be difficult at times and it is may be more difficult for some but it is still a choice.  I have a host of spiritual tools to help me connect but just like a physical tool box filled with tools, it does no good to have the tools unless they are taken out and used.  I choose to open my toolbox and give thanks for each and every one of those tools.  And, then, I am going to build something new in my life to help me connect spiritually.  Just what that is, I do not know, yet.  I will let you know.  In the meantime, how is your toolbox?  Are there any unused tools?  Are there any old familiar tools that have been neglected?  Is it time to build something new?  Is it time to reinforce something that is already built and in use?  I would love to hear from you.  Remember that you can always email me with questions or comments.  Love and Light, Shirley   shirleyairhart@yahoo.com 

September 7, 2010

Do you remember the expression about catching the gold ring?  Years ago when carrousels were very popular, there would often be gold rings that hung on the outside of the carrousel.  If someone could catch the gold ring as it circled around, there was often a prize.  That is why catching the gold ring became synonymous with winning.  I was thinking about the importance of keeping our eyes on the gold ring, the gold ring being a representation of our hopes and dreams.  I know that for myself, it is sometimes challenging to keep my own gold ring in front of me when there seems to be so many obstacles or distractions.  I have decided that I need to create a new gold ring for myself.  Something new that I can focus on to remind myself of my dreams.  Something that I can continue to reach for as I cycle around and around in this carrousel of life.  I have not decided what it will be just yet but I acknowledge its importance in my life right now.  In the past, I have made affirmation cards, collages, drawings and other types of reminders of what I want and where I want to go.  It is time to get creative.  Time for a new shiny gold ring to remind me that no matter what else might be cycling around in my life, there is still room for hopes and dreams.  I can still reach out with positive anticipation and excitement for my own gold ring.  How about you?  Where are you in your own journey?  Have you already grabbed your gold ring?  Have you forgotten that you even have one?  If you are more connected to the latter, find a way to rejuvenate yourself, to remind yourself that it is not too late for you.  Create your own gold ring and reach out knowing that you can do it.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 6, 2010

Today is Labor Day.  A holiday that was created to honor the laborer and was set aside for a day off from work.  For many people it is also a day that is designated as the herald of fall, the last day of summer.  Yesterday, I drove to Hood's canal and as I drove past the many campgrounds, motels, beaches and hiking areas, I could see many people enjoying themselves.  For those people who work in the tourist industry, Labor Day is certainly not a day of rest.  I have been fortunate in that most of my Labor Days have been a time for recreation or rest.  I have a wonderful group of women friends that gather every year for three or four days.  We meet the end of August or first of September and we part on Labor Day.  It is a time to reconnect, share what the last year has been and to look forward to a new year.  This year I was only able to go for one day because of other commitments.  Therefore, I am not there today to hug and part and wish the others a safe journey home.  Instead, I send my best wishes through the ethers, through my heart and thoughts.  Fall does not technically begin until September 21st or so but for me, summer is over.  I woke up to rain this morning and that seems appropriate.  When the season begins to transition to the next one, I always feel a shift within me spiritually.  In the physical realm, spring and summer are very active times filled with physical labor and outdoor activities.  Fall is the shift from the outward to the inward.  I spend less time outside, in part, because the weather does not permit it.  It is also a shift from the outward to the inward, spiritually.  Instead of feeling sad that summer is over, I find myself looking forward with positive anticipation to going inward more often.  It is harvest time and I pray to reap a good crop of new insights and revelations that will help me in my own life and help me to help others in theirs.  Honor your own labors and create some time of rest today.  You deserve it.  Love and Light, Shirley

September 4, 2010

I was thinking today of the many ways in which we often impact other people's lives and we are not even aware of them.  Sometimes it can be the simplest of gestures, a kind smile, a sincere compliment, a bright card or a caring touch that we share with others that can make such a difference in their lives.  Then, of course, there are the other ways in which we can impact other's lives, a frown, a critical comment, forgetting a special occasion or withdrawing our affection that can make such a difference in their lives.  I realized that I would not wish to have someone's last memory of me filled with hurt or disappointment or dislike because I was careless.  I do believe that many, if not most, of the times we hurt another person that we are being careless.  I do not intentionally set out to hurt someone's feelings but when I am being too self-absorbed with what is going on in my life, I can be careless.  My intention is to be more aware.  I want to be more aware of others and of the opportunities I am presented with to touch their lives with kindness.  Those opportunities are there but we must notice them and take advantage of them.  My mom and I went for a brief vacation to Oregon to visit with family.  While visiting, my cousin, Sharon, gave me a ride to find some perfume that I had been looking for.  We found it and when I went to purchase it, she gave me some money and told me to buy the larger bottle because it was a much better value for the money.  I was very touched by her generosity.  I did not need the larger bottle and she knew I would not pay the difference right now because I am on a budget.  Just buying the perfume was a special treat for me.  However, having the larger bottle is wonderful because it will last me twice as long.  Every time I spray that perfume I will remember her kindness.  Every time I get a whiff of its scent I will feel blessed by her generosity.  Today, make someone else's life sweeter by reaching out even in the simplest of gestures.  I will join you in that endeavor.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 30, 2010

If you were to make a list of those things that you like about yourself and a second list of what you do not like, which would be longer?  Years ago, I was in a self-esteem class and we were given an opportunity to make those two lists.  The first time I made my lists, my list of dislikes was very long indeed.  I had a list of likes but it was relatively short.  Over the years as I have worked to heal so many faulty beliefs, the length of my lists have greatly changed.  I have a long list of what I appreciate about my self.  It feels so good to be able to say I like myself.  As a therapist when I have worked with clients on these same lists, I have noticed how often people are so unaware of their positive characteristics.  It is as though they have on glasses that distort what they see.  I used to say that instead of rose-colored glasses, many people are wearing gray-colored glasses.  The truth is that we are all amazing human beings with our own unique personalities, gifts and abilities.  We live in a world that is strongly focused on the external characteristics such as physical beauty, youth, physical fitness and wealth.  Success is measured by an external measuring tape.  The external is part of a person but it is only a part.  I have also found that even with people who are externally beautiful to others, they may or may not see their own beauty.  We need to discard the faulty filters, rose-colored, gray or any color.  It is a good goal to pray for clarity.  I pray to see myself and others clearly.  I pray to see the truth about myself and all others.  I encourage people to look at all aspects of themselves and their lives.  I remember one client who was so entrenched in her belief that she was completely worthless.  She had pages and pages of what she didn't like.  I think she had two items on her like list.  I asked her what she thought constituted a good friend.  She named off several qualities such as good listener, kind, helpful and generous.  I then asked her if she had any of those qualities.  She stopped for a moment and it was as though a light bulb went on in her head.  She wrote down those qualities on her like list.  I then asked her what makes a person a good worker.  Again, she created a list and by this time, I did not need to ask her if she had those qualities.  She added them to her list without being prompted.  All she needed was a different perspective to begin seeing more of who she is.  Her like list grew and grew.  My wish for you today is that you look at yourself with clarity, honesty and love.  See all of who you are and celebrate.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 26, 2010

Growing up, my dad's shop at the back of our house always held a fascination for me.  It is quite large and yet, there was an intimacy to it.  There was an old barrel stove that he would burn trash in and keep a warm fire during the fall and winter months.  On the other side of the shop, the air was cold and carried none of the warmth found next to the stove.  I am sure it was a very inefficient stove but it was better than nothing.  My dad was very good at accumulating all sorts of wonderful things but not so good at organizing and letting go.  It was amazing to me that he could find anything in the jumble of metal, wood, tools and all sorts of electronic parts and miscellaneous doodads and gadgets.  Yet, he could find whatever he needed and people soon knew that if they needed something and could not find it elsewhere that they could ask my dad and it would be quite likely that he would have what it was they needed.  I would sit in the shop and take apart an old alarm clock or spend hours sorting through the buckets and boxes of screws, nails and other assorted small items.  My dad had many cupboards that he had built to store specific items.   He had a cupboard with dozens of small drawers for all the smaller items such as screws, paint scrapers, drill bits and more.  However, as over the years, he accumulated more and more, the drawers were soon filled to overflowing and the boxes and buckets I once sorted through began to stack up in front of the cupboard.  I have been in the process of sorting through and cleaning out his shop since January.  We have had several sales and yet, still, so much remains.  So, I am once again sorting through and beginning to let go of even more.  I am aware as I do this that some of what I am letting go of has been in that shop for years and years.  I am aware of the years of hard work that my dad put into nearly all that he did.  There are some items that are still new in their original box but the years of damp air have taken their toll and they have rusted into uselessness.  So, now they go into a bucket to be recycled.  At first, I felt sadness when I would find these things that were once new, never used and now are being recycled.  Then, I decided to view it differently.  Everything is destined to change, one way or the other.  Ideas, once new, sometimes never get out of the beginning stage of creation and eventually, they too, rust and are out of date.  Yet, we can review old ideas and see if there is something still of value there, something that can be recycled, changed into something more usable.  Relationships can also become stagnant, never moving past a certain stage.  We can review those relationships and determine whether or not to release them or to recycle them into a more wholesome and meaningful relationship.  As I go through this very long, tedious process of cleaning out, my own guides have told me to look at each item as a part of me.  What do I need to let go of?  What do I need to recycle into something new?  What is still useful for me?  Right now, Mercury is retrograde.  This is an excellent time for everyone to do some review and decide what needs to stay and what needs to go.  Reflection and closure is easier when Mercury is retrograde.  It is not the best time to be starting new projects or creating new ideas but a good time to reflect back on those projects and ideas which need to be released or brought to fruition.  This is not a good time to be signing a new contract but certainly a good time to be reviewing those you already have.  As I return today to work in my dad's shop once again I will release sadness.  As I recycle those things still worth recycling and place those items in the garbage that are truly no longer useful, I will say thank you to my dad for all that he did.  As I reflect upon myself and my own values and relationships, ideas and beliefs, I will release what is no longer useful and recycle that which is better altered.  I will release sadness and regret for those unfinished projects and ideas and I will thank myself for all that I have done.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 25, 2010

Last night, my neighbor, Brad, across the alley had a neighborhood barbecue.  People came from blocks around and it was a fun evening.  He has lived in this neighborhood for 17 years and has been a wonderful neighbor to my mom and dad.  My dad died a year ago but had lived here with my mom for over 60 years.  This neighbor is now moving to California so this was his last neighborhood barbecue.  Evidently, he has been having them for a number of years.  I met a lot of people that I had not known before since I only moved back to this area last December.  I was re-acquainted with some neighbors that were living here when I grew up.  Because he took the time to make the invitations, hand them out, buy some hamburger and hotdog makings, purchase paper plates and plastic silverware, make some lemonade and haul his barbecue out into the street, a lot of people had a wonderful evening.  The police blocked off both ends of the street so we had a large area in which to gather.  The policeman on duty had a hamburger along with the rest of us.  I found myself thinking that it really doesn't have to be difficult to connect with others.  Brad isn't necessarily any less busy than the rest of the neighbors and he might be busier than others yet he took the time.  He is in the middles of selling off property and packing up to move to California, yet he took the time and energy to do this.  I am already thinking about next year.  Perhaps, if I am still here, I will organize a neighborhood barbecue.  Connecting to others is part of why we are here.  Knowing your neighbors helps to create family no matter where you live.  Today, find a way to connect with others.  You don't have to throw a barbecue in order to connect to others but you do have to do something.  Pick up the phone.  Write a card.  Send an email.  Take a shut-in a flower.  Connect.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 22, 2010

This morning I led a meditation for a healing circle that meets every Sunday.  It is usually led by another person and I was honored to be asked to substitute for her since she is out of town.  Doing a guided meditation is one of my favorite things to do.  It is more than just guided, it is channeled.  Other than choosing a piece of music, I never know ahead of time what the meditation will be.  I love the energy that gets created when meditating with a group.  There is a synergy that helps each and every person to access deeper parts of themselves.  Even though I am speaking, I am still able to enter into a very deep state.  I become the channel through which the words and the energy and the love can flow.  I am blessed every time I have the opportunity to do a channeled meditation.  What brings you joy?  What do you do that while you are doing it, you feel complete?  I love teaching, writing, leading meditations, doing sessions with people, creating beauty and peace with words and images.  I know that this is a part of who I am on a very deep level.  I know that there will come a time in my life when I will be doing more and more of this kind of work.  The time is not here, yet.  I have other tasks and obligations to fulfill first.  I cherish those times that I can share with others.  I believe that the greatest gift we can bring to others is our authentic self.  Find what brings you joy and know that when you are feeling that joy, whatever you are doing, you are most likely in contact with your authentic self.  I love disseminating information.  Sometimes I have to restrain myself because when I am sharing something I am passionate about, I can go on and on.  When I find someone who is as interested in what I have to share as I am in sharing it, it is true bliss.  Find your bliss and you will know why you are here.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 21, 2010

I woke up this morning with a feeling of positive anticipation.  I have been very, very busy lately and so I decided that today I am going to get caught up on everyday chores.  Some people might find that an odd thing to get excited about but I don't.  I am a very tidy and organized person by nature.  I like to keep my home and car clean.  However, when my life  becomes filled with too many demands that must take priority, I have to let go of my standards and live in a less than tidy home and drive my car which looks like a bomb went off inside it.  I can tolerate the messes  because I have to but not because I like to.  Therefore, when I can take a day and dedicate it to laundry, cleaning my car, vacuuming, organizing and washing dishes, it feels like a treat to me.  I have had many people tell me that I should take the day off and go and relax and play.  Their suggestions have merit but I know that I will feel more relaxed after I accomplish some of those tasks that have been postponed over and over.  Everyone is different in this regard and I can respect those differences.  When I think of my spirituality, I can see a similar theme.  When life brings big challenges, especially when they arrive simultaneously, I have to prioritize some of my spiritual practices.  Some of my daily spiritual rituals get set aside for a time.  It isn't that they are not important, just as cleaning my car is not unimportant, but they are lower on my scale of priorities.  I miss them.  I feel better when I have time to make affirmation cards and collages.  I am happier when I have time to light candles and listen to some of my favorite CD's.  I enjoy working with my cards and other divination tools.  They are not essential but they bring joy into my life. Today, I will alternate my chores with some of these fun spiritual rituals.  I am grateful for the break in my life's storm.  Ask yourself if you have been postponing doing something that brings you joy.  It doesn't matter what it is or whether it is the same thing that brings someone else joy.  Just do it.  If you truly don't have the time, set a date and a time when you can do it.  Perhaps you are someone who experiences great joy from a trip to the beach.  Or perhaps you are more like me and would enjoy a trip to the beach but would rather weed your garden first.  Just do it.  Create the time and enjoy whatever it is.  As for me, I am signing off so I can vacuum my car out.  I am already smiling.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 20, 2010

I received an email today.  It was one of those emails that contained an inspirational message all about the "good old days".  It was referring to the fifties and sixties and was talking about all of the wonderful aspects of being raised during that era.  I found myself thinking as I read it that it is really easy to focus on all the positive things from the fifties and compare them to the negative things that today's children are experiencing.  There is a part of me that wants to remind the person that created it about the other side of the fifties that wasn't so superb.  There is much that was not positive from that era.  The Cold War.  Sexism.  Racism.  A whole lot of other isms.  Opportunities for nonwhite people and for white women did not begin to compete with those opportunities for white males.  Men had rigid roles and ways of being assigned to them that were not any more fair than the roles assigned to women.  I think it is fine to have positive memories from growing up.  I do not believe it is helpful to promote the belief that the world that children are living in today is somehow deficient compared to the world that most baby boomers grew up in.  There are spiritual freedoms present today that were not present when I was a child.  It is still not a perfect world but having computers replace tinker toys is not a travesty.  Children did not have to contend with drive by shootings, it is true.  But, for many children, the violence and abuse that occurred behind closed doors was worse. It just wasn't talked about.  Let's focus on what is positive about our world today.  Let's pay attention to what still needs healing and strive for wholeness.  I was born in 1954 and I remembered every single one of the "wonderful aspects of living in the fifties and sixties".  I also see much that is wonderful now.  The Internet is an amazing gift.  I can share information and someone from across the world can access it within seconds.  Children are able to access information and learn in a totally different way than what was available to me as a child.  Different does not necessarily mean deficient.  I am reminded of the song, "The Age of Aquarius".  Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of genius and electricity and new ideas and inventions.  I certainly see that reflected in our world.  The pogo stick has been replaced by the motorized scooter, the gyroscope by the light saber.  We now have electronic books.  The tin can and string phone has given way to the cell phone.  Yes, our lives are faster and there are times that a slower pace of life has its appeal.  However, I believe that everything is in Divine order.  We are accelerating on purpose.  I feel anticipation building inside of me.  That Aquarian electricity is buzzing.  Can you feel it?  Love and Light, Shirley

August 18, 2010

Yesterday, I was speaking with a couple of my neighbors.  I live in a small town and I have returned to the home that I was born and raised in, to care for my mom.  Nearly all of the neighbors are new to me, so I have slowly been introducing myself and getting to know them.  There is a young couple that lives next to mom and I and a middle-aged couple lives directly across from them.  I was speaking to the husbands of these two couples.  The older man was explaining to me that he mows the young couple's lawn with his riding lawn mower and in exchange the young man weeds his yard because weeding is hard on his back.  Isn't that just delightful?  This is what I love about community, people sharing and exchanging with each other.  It brought to my mind a relationship that I had many years ago when I was raising my children.  I had a good friend named Jan and her three children were close in age to my two children.  We would take turns going to each other's house and cleaning house.  The work seemed to just fly as we talked and laughed and our children played together.  Two nights of the week, I would cook dinner for both families and two nights of the week, Jan would cook dinner for both families.  Our cooperative efforts made life a lot more fun and easier.  It really isn't any harder to cook dinner for nine than it is to cook dinner for four.  I had two nights out of each week that I did not have to cook at all.  Jan eventually moved away and I did not have another friendship such as hers again.  I have had many friends and we have helped each other many times but the kind of cooperative sharing I had with Jan was truly unique.  I believe that the relationship I had with Jan was closer to what is intended for us as human beings.  Independence is a good thing but interdependence is even better.  Let us all look for ways that we can help each other and be helped as well.  There is a Universal Law of equal exchange that shows an ebb and flow of energy going in and out as people give and receive.  In my mind I see that energy in the shape of the infinity sign or the figure eight.  I encourage all of us to create more and more of that dynamic in our lives.  More ebb and flow.  More sharing.  More freedom.  More abundance.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 17, 2010

Are you aware that the early morning hours from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. are the best hours to meditate and be in contact with the spiritual realm?  This is the time when the veil is the most thin.  At a different time in my life, I used to get up at 4:30 a.m. to meditate every morning.  This habit has come and gone over the years depending on what was going on in my life.  There have also been many times when my own guidance has woken me up at 4 a.m. because they wanted to communicate with me.  This early morning hour is also a common time when those on the other side have communicated with me.  I know when I am awake around 4 a.m. that there is a greater reason then simply being restless.  This is one of those mornings.  I believe that my guides and teachers have something to share so I will give them the opportunity.  Thank you, Shirley, for the opportunity to share with others.  We wish to speak to those who are reading these words.  Many of you who are reading these words are thinking that you wish you had guides who spoke to you as we speak to Shirley.  We are here to tell you that you do.  It is true that some people, such as Shirley, have an easier time hearing their guides.  However, with work and with your own intent, you can also begin to "hear".  There are many different ways in which to receive your own guidance and support.  Before any of those things can happen, however, you must ask.  We can find different ways to capture your attention but for the most part we do not intervene in your life without an invitation.  Ask for us to reveal ourselves and we will.  Ask for help with certain issues in your life and we will.  Be open to the possibility that we are real and not just imaginary.  Shirley can tell you that it took us a long time to finally be able to convince her that she was not imagining us.  You can ask her why and how she finally accepted that we are real and that she is hearing us.  Her awareness of our presence completely changed her life.  Not only does she access us for her own growth and spiritual awareness but she accesses us and other people's guides in order to help them with their personal growth and spiritual awareness.  Since 1999, Shirley has been on an accelerated spiritual path.  In many ways, she is a newcomer to a great deal of the spiritual wisdom that is being shared today.  In truth, she carries within her all of the information and the wisdom that is being brought forth as new.  Many of you do, even some of you who are reading this and believe that there is no way we could be talking about you.  Yes, we are talking about you.  Do not underestimate your own powerful self.  Understand that the majority of human beings do not have an inkling of how powerful and magnificent you truly are.  One of us, one of Shirley's guides calls himself Magnificent.  When Shirley first became aware of this, she thought it was quite strange and funny.  In truth, there is reason and purpose behind him calling himself this name.  It is a reminder to Shirley about an aspect of herself that she has forgotten and needs to remember.  She needs to remember her own magnificence.  As do you.  We wish to leave you with this thought, this awareness, that you are a magnificent being.  You are a radiant, powerful being.  Your natural state is that of love and light.  As a moth turns to the flame, so you naturally gravitate to the Light.  Your instincts lead you home.  Ask for reminders of who you are and where you came from.  Ask for help on your spiritual journey.  Ask for help in mundane matters.  There is nothing too great or too small that you cannot ask help for.  You are never alone.  Never.  Thank you for this opportunity to connect.  Thank you to Shirley for giving us this space.  Blessings, US  Thank you to my guides.  They never used to call themselves anything in particular except for Magnificent.  Then, they began to sign my automatic writings with US.  I have a diverse group of guides.  Some came in with me at birth and they are a collective of guides who speak with one voice.  They do not identify themselves as individuals but merely have a group energy.  I have other individual guides who have come to me at different times of my life.  Some of these have names and some do not.  Some have names that merely refer to their function such as Pathfinder.  Remember that what they said is true, everyone has guidance and love and support.  We are all connected.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 16, 2010

What kind of people are you surrounded by most of the time?  The people in our life are mirrors for us.  When we are surrounded by negative, critical people, we are seeing our own negativity mirrored back.  When we are surrounded by loving, supportive people, we are seeing our own loving, supportive nature.  Often I have read where people are recommended to only surround themselves by positive, loving people.  There is a lot of merit in this suggestion.  However, if we use someone else's negativity as a springboard to examine our own, then there is also value in having that person in our life.  For myself, I recommend that people find ways to create balance in their life.  It certainly is not helpful or healthy to be surrounded by negative people most of the time.  I think it is essential tin our closest circle of friends and family that we have positive, supportive people.  If that is not currently the case, then find the support where you can.  Find ways to create balance and remember that you have helped to create your relationships.  If there is a preponderance of negative people in your life, it may be time to do some inner work.  Perhaps your own negative parts are calling out for healing and wholeness.  I remember going to a therapist years ago.  He had me do all kinds of tests and at the end he told me that I really did not have anything significantly wrong with me.  He did say that I have a lot of perfectionism and that tends to make people critical.  He also said that a perfectionist is critical about themselves but also holds high standards for others.  At the time, I was sure that I was only critical of myself.  Ha.  Before too much time had passed, as I took an honest look at myself and at my relationships, I realized that he was right.  I held unrealistic, high standards for myself and for others, too.  As a result, I was disappointed a great deal.  In the years since that time, I have worked on myself.  I call myself a perfectionist in recovery.  It is not easy to change deep-seated aspects of ourselves but it is possible.  The next time that you have someone challenging in your life, ask yourself if they are reflecting back aspects of yourself that you may not wish to acknowledge.  Even if your first answer is no, ask again.  If there is more than one person reflecting back similar characteristics you are probably guaranteed that you are seeing a part of yourself.  It is okay.  We all have aspects of self that need acknowledgment and healing.  Remember that when you have people in your life that you enjoy and adore that you are also seeing aspects of yourself, those aspects you love and adore.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 14, 2010

Today was a very hot day.  We went from 60 degree weather to weather in the 90's.  Whew.  I am sitting here at my computer and it is finally cool enough outside that I could open my windows and sit here in the cross breeze.  I just finished watching an inspirational video that someone sent me.  It was very beautiful and totally lifted my spirits.  I sat here and remembered a story that I had read many years ago.  In the story, a father is teaching his son the importance of choices.  The father was telling his son that a pencil can be used to create great beauty or it can be used to create great ugliness.  The choice of what is created depends on the person who is holding the pencil and what he or she decides to do.  The same is true whether we are talking about a pencil, our words, our thoughts or our deeds.  We choose what we create.  Whoever created the inspirational video I watched tonight chose wisely.  The words and pictures and music raise people up.  Many people curse the Internet and complain about the negative aspects of what can be found online.  I cannot deny that the Internet can be an instrument of great harm.  However, just as that young boy's pencil could create ugliness, it could also create beauty.  We choose what we create and we choose what we pay attention to.  If there was no one interested in online pornography, it would eventually cease to exist.  If we choose to focus on inspirational videos and uplifting stories, more will become available.  Ask yourself what you are creating with your pencil, your words, your thoughts and deeds.  Would you want what you are creating to multiply?  If not, remember that it is always your choice.  I wish I could say that I always make good choices but that would not be true.  What I can say in all honesty is that I continue to strive to make good choices, to add beauty and love to this world.  Even the small choices we make can impact the whole world.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 13, 2010

Endings are not easy for most people but they are definitely harder for some.  Some of us tend to hang on for dear life to things, people, places, jobs and even memories.   Yet, endings are a necessary part of our existence.  If physical life never ended, we would have populated ourselves right off of the planet by now.  If some relationships never ended, people would miss out on other relationships and other vital experiences.  For those who study numerology, they know that 9 is the number for endings.  For those people who have significant nines in their numerology charts, there are going to be significant and probably numerous endings in their lives.  I am one of those people.  I am also a person with several planets in both Scorpio and Cancer, two of the signs known for having difficulty in letting go.  Go figure.  So, one of my life lessons is to learn to let go and trust that whatever or whomever I am letting go of is supposed to leave.  Not everyone and everything is meant to be forever.  I believe that it is fear which interferes with us letting go and yet, it is fear that truly is the most important thing to release.  This is hard to remember when one is losing a job, moving from family and friends, getting divorced, breaking up with a lover, losing someone to death or any one of a thousand other ways in which we have to let go.  Remember that whenever something leaves, it now has created space for something new.  I am not referring to losing someone to death because people cannot be replaced.  However, jobs, homes, ideas, beliefs and ways of being can be replaced.  It is only by saying good-bye that we have often created space for the new.  Trusting that no matter what happens, we will be ok is not easy.  For myself, it is essential to living a spirit-filled life.  Trusting that my good-byes are in Divine and Perfect Order helps me to release fear and to turn my face toward God, expectantly waiting for what comes next.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 12, 2010

We are having an unusually cold summer here in Grays Harbor County.  I know that a couple of the days were record breaking cold.  A part of me is not very happy about the cloudiness and lack of sunshine.  However, I am someone who strives to find the silver lining even in the gray clouds that permeate the sky.  I have had to do a tremendous amount of physical labor since moving back to Washington State.  I realized yesterday as I worked that the sunshine is beautiful but the cloudy coolness makes for a much better work environment.  I am 55 and not in tiptop physical condition.  I know that if it was a more typical August I would be unable to accomplish the same amount that I have.  I thank the clouds for the gift of their coolness.  There have been several days that by late afternoon, the sun has peeked its way through the clouds.  I am so appreciative of those few hours of golden light.  It is such a delightful respite and a reminder to me that the sun is still there even when obscured by the clouds and the thick gray fog that often descends and covers the land.  It is so important to be grateful for everything that we can.  It is so important to focus on the positive and not dwell too long on those things we have no control over.  It is so important to remember the sun and the light that is always present even when it is not obvious.  There is an old saying that you must make hay while the sun shines.  In my case, I might say that I must get hard work done while the clouds gather.  There is a time for everything.  Perhaps one of the secrets to happiness is the willingness to be more fluid and to see the gift in whatever is present.  Soak up the sun's rays when I can and revel in the coolness of the summer clouds and the gifts that they give to me.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 11, 2010

I remember in 2004, after I had separated from my husband and moved into my own place, my guidance suggested that I not buy cable tv.  They had already told me to stop watching the news some time before.  Now, they added that I did not need to buy the newspaper.  Their primary reason is that the news is very negative and is slanted.  It is designed to feed our fears.  They reassured me that I would know what I truly needed to know because I would still see a certain amount of news on my computer.  I did as they suggested and until I moved in with my mom back in December, I did not hear the news or read the paper.  In those six years or more, I have never had one reason to regret my decision.  I have known what I needed to know.  I have also had much less negativity and anxiety-producing information bombarding me.  This does not mean I live with no awareness of what is going on.  It does mean that I am aware without being inundated.  Of course I know about the oil spill in the Gulf.  I pray about it often.  However, I am not confronted with negative information and negative images over and over.  I especially recommend that you limit how much you expose yourself to the news media if you have anxiety.  If you must watch the news, please do not watch the evening news.  Before going to sleep, it is most beneficial to have positive, healing thoughts, not thoughts of all that is wrong in this world.  Remember that what we focus our mind on is very important.  By focusing too much on the problems we can sometimes create more problems without meaning to.  Have an awareness of a problem but focus on a positive outcome.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 9, 2010

In the Bible it tells of how the Israelites were stranded out in the desert for forty years.  God reassured them that they would not perish and that they would be sent manna from heaven.  However, there was one stipulation and that was that they were not to save any from one day to the next.  They were to trust God that the manna would arrive as promised.  Even though, day after day, the manna arrived, by the end of the day the people would start worrying about what would happen if there was no manna the next day.  Of course, the purpose of God only sending the manna one day at a time was for the people to learn trust.  There are so many times in my life when I have reflected back upon this story and thought of my own relationship with the Divine.  I say that I believe in God and that I trust in God.  I say that I believe in the abundance of the Universe.  Yet, it is much easier to say those things when I have a regular income, money in the bank, my own home and more.  In the last six years, I have lost my home, moved away from the regular source of income, had to use up my savings and I have moved nine times.  I have taken leaps of faith and not had them turn out as I thought they would.  I am learning more and more about true trust.  I do not diminish the courage it took me to give away two thirds of what I owned and leave my small community that I had lived in for over fifty years and move to Los Angeles.  It was a huge leap of faith for me.  However, at that point, I still had money in the bank, money in my retirement and I believed I was going to establish a practice in Los Angeles and do well.  As it turned out, that was not why I moved to Los Angeles.  I only lived there for one year and it was more of a sabbatical, a time for me to heal from my divorce and let go of my old life.  Each step along the way, I have had to let go of what once constituted stability and security.  I have had to look deeply into myself and find the truth about my own level of trust in the Divine.  Yet, each step along the way, when I would be in circumstances that were financially challenging and I could not see how things were going to work out, I would find a solution.  I learned to become more fluid and to live in the moment.  I learned how to focus on the abundance of the moment, the daily manna, and to trust that tomorrow would also be sufficient.  I have learned to balance being fiscally responsible with trusting that my needs would be met.  People ask me what I think I will be doing in the future since I am currently living with my elderly mother and caring for her.  I am frequently asked where I think I will be moving?  Where do I think the next step of my journey will take me?  I tell them that I have absolutely no idea.  None.  For perhaps one of the first times in my life, I do not need to know.  Once in a while, I think it would be nice to have a clue but I let that go.  I trust that when I need to know where I am going and what I will be doing, I will know.  In the meantime, I trust that everything is in Divine order.  Today is enough.  Tomorrow will be enough when it becomes today.  Today I will feast on the manna.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 8, 2010

Yesterday I was cleaning some plastic lawn chairs out on the patio.  They have been sitting, mostly unused, for five years so they are pretty dirty.  It took me quite some time since there were 17 of them.  As I was cleaning them, I noticed how tall the grass and weeds have grown behind the patio where my parents once had a compost pile.  Part of the patio is covered and there are two walls and the old compost pile is behind the end wall, therefore it is not readily seen.  However, there is a window and once I moved the chairs from in front of the window, I could see the grass and weeds.  I remember sighing deeply and thinking that I needed to add it to my already full list of chores to do.  I looked more closely to see what all needed to be done.  In the midst of all the tall grass and weeds and blackberry vines there was a beautiful orange flower growing.  It is orange and yellow, to be specific, and it seemed to glow.  I stood for a moment and took in its beauty and its perfection.  I know that there are other flowers just like this growing on the side of the house, yet this flower seemed even more lovely.  Perhaps the old compost pile was giving it extra nutrients.  Perhaps it was more sheltered from the wind and rain.  Perhaps its beauty was more welcome because it was blooming in the midst of such chaos.  Instead of viewing the compost pile as just one more chore to be completed, I saw it as a gift.  Had I chopped down the weeds and grass earlier in the year I would have missed that solitary, glorious blossom.  When we are in the midst of chaos and overwhelm it is tempting to only focus on what is going wrong.  We must find the joy and beauty in life even when it is challenging.  My life is challenging right now.  In many ways, the compost pile is a metaphor for my life.  I have tremendous responsibilities and an overwhelming amount of tasks to be completed.  I do not simply have a list of things to do.  It is an immense list and it is a revolving list that does not appear to become shorter over time.  More is added to the list before I have even completed something already on it.  Therefore, I cannot focus too much on the whole list but must narrow my focus to what I can handle.  In the midst of chaos I must find the orange blossoms that are present.  I must remember that underneath all the tangle and weeds there is still rich, black soil.  My "compost pile" which nourishes and strengthens me is within me.  It is the love and support of God.  It is my abiding belief that even in what appears to be chaos and overwhelm there is still Divine Order.  I must remember to focus on that which sustains me through whatever life brings.  The orange blossom is but a physical reminder of the truth within.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 7, 2010

I have an affirmation that I found on the back of an inspirational card that was written by Louise Hay.  Ms. Hay is a medical intuitive and a writer and publisher and I am sure she is much more.  The affirmation reads: I now receive my good from expected and unexpected sources, I am an unlimited being receiving from an unlimited source in an unlimited way, I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams.  I repeat this affirmation on an almost daily basis and I have for a number of years.  The only change that I made is that I say my wildest dreams instead of my fondest.  I believe in affirmations.  When we can say affirmations and feel the emotions connected to them coming true, we are powerful indeed.  I can honestly say that since I began making this affirmation part of my daily rituals that it has indeed been helpful.  I have received abundance from both expected and unexpected sources.  I have been blessed in such amazing ways.  Does this mean that I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams?  Not yet, not yet.  I can tell you that there have been many instances where I have felt I am very wealthy.  I am not wealthy in the sense that most people understand it.  In fact, the past six years have been more financially challenging than most of the previous years.  However, there have been huge shifts inside of me and I have found great treasure within.  Time and time again I have had physical needs met in such unexpected ways.  I have had money given to me from people I barely knew.  I have had items come to me, things I needed such as a bed, and I would not have anticipated the source.  I acknowledge that there is an unlimited source known as the Universe.  The Universe is not limited in what it can bring to me.  I am the only source of limitation.  That is both the bad news and the good news.  The bad news is that I have no one else to point the finger at.  The good news is that I can change myself.  I can release the faulty beliefs that keep me limited.  I can tune in to my intuition and discern for myself if there is greater purpose to me not having something or if I am merely creating lack for myself.  I do believe that when some of our dreams do not come true it is because they are not in alignment with our Higher Self or Higher Will.  When we become aligned with our Higher Self and Higher Will and we eliminate limiting beliefs, magic happens and indeed our wildest dreams become reality.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 6, 2010

I read a quote this morning or rather a portion of a quote.  "This too shall pass."  I have used that phrase many times to remind myself that no matter what is going on in my life, that it too shall eventually pass.  There are so many times when that is absolutely the perfect reminder to us that nothing remains the same, everything changes.  However, I am also aware that there are times when it is NOT the right thing to say to someone.  There are times when the most important thing we can do for another human being is to simply be present.  When someone is losing the love of their life to cancer, this is not the time to remind them that this too, shall pass.  It is too glib and too lacking in empathy.  Yes, it is true that everything passes but in a moment of great grief, it is the wrong thing to say.  We are here in these human forms having deep emotions and we cannot discount that.  The sorrow of a parent whose child has been abducted is so massive and almost unendurable, that to tell them that this too shall pass is not only inappropriate, it is cruel.  We must use discernment as to whether or not someone is ready or able to hear our words.  If they are not, the words fall on deaf ears and can often increase their pain.  What is the best thing to say to someone who is encountering great pain? " I am so sorry that you are in such pain.  I don't even have the right words to tell you how sorry I am.  I am here for you.  I care about you."  These are words that may or may not be heard by someone immersed in great pain but at the very least they are not harmful.  They are kind words.  Kind words can heal and can be received even by those who cannot receive anything else.  Love and Light, Shirley

August 5, 2010

My apologies for having missed so many days.  My computer received a virus and needed to be fixed.  Life has been a whirlwind for quite some time.  My list of things to do does not seem to diminish as the months go by.  I am reminded of something very important as I sit here writing this message.  That something important is our breath.  It is very important to pay attention to our breath.  Our breath is the gateway to relaxation and also to our subconscious.  Our breath has the ability to connect us to all the parts of who we are.  It can ground us into the physical reality of being here on earth in this physical body.  Our breath can also take us into altered states and other dimensions of reality.  You do not have to do anything fancy or technical in order to benefit from your own breath.  Simply by breathing in deeply, holding your breath, breathing more in and holding it, then slowly releasing, you have already accomplished a great deal.  Repeat this procedure and feel as your body begins to relax.  You can also sit with your eyes closed and simply follow your own breath, breathing at your own pace.  Merely by following your breath as it goes in and out can assist you.  Our breath can help us to connect to our emotions and aid us in expressing and releasing them.  I have often shared with clients that the reason we hold our breath when we are feeling intense feelings is an attempt to reduce that intensity.  It may work in the moment but the emotion is not released, merely subdued.  By breathing deeply and allowing the emotions to surface, we can breathe through the emotions, releasing them into Mother Earth and thereby releasing ourselves.  Breathe on!  Love and Light, Shirley

July 30, 2010

Just a quick reminder about what I wrote yesterday.  Today there are strong astrological alignments that could bring up anger and frustration for people.  Keep that in mind with your interactions with others.  We are being pushed to change our patterns of behavior, old patterns that no longer serve us.  That is never comfortable.  I also highly recommend that this is a day when you find some time to be in nature, if possible.  Just being out in your yard or a park is sufficient.  Having your feet on the earth is beneficial.  I am referring to having your feet on soil, not cement or blacktop.  Remember that good smells can help raise your vibration as does beauty and music.  If you do feel yourself becoming angry, take a few minutes to breathe and envision bright white light coming in through your crown chakra.  If there is someone in particular you are angry with, envision them standing a distance away from you.  As the white light expands and fills you, have it expand your heart.  Direct the white light right into your heart chakra.  Envision a beam of white light going to the person you are struggling with.  Send that beam of white light into their heart center.  Do this as often as you can even if for a few minutes.  I have had people tell me that they cannot forgive this person and are struggling with whatever the issues are.  I tell them, I am not telling you to forgive them just yet.  I am suggesting that you merely allow yourself to receive the white light and send some to them.  Often, those who cannot yet forgive do find that they can receive and send the light.  At least begin by allowing yourself to receive.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 29, 2010

I have a dear friend who is a wonderful astrologer.  I am so grateful for her presence in my life.  The other day she was explaining that right now there are several astrological alignments that are affecting us a great deal.  Part of the energy that is present right now is the opportunity to break through old patterns, to clean out old beliefs and patterns.  For those people who are resistant to changing, a lot of frustration and anger can come up right now.  This is not a time to be confrontational with people or to have reason for someone to be confrontational with you.  Tomorrow, July 30th, is an especially powerful day for this energy.  To make the most of it, allow yourself to look at your life and to look at those areas that may not be working as well as you would like.  Ask yourself if there are patterns of thinking or acting that may be contributing.  Mark Twain once said that the true definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result.  This is a time for all of us to look at those patterns that are not working.  The energy that is present can help us to release old patterns which are usually fear-based and move forward into love-based beliefs and behaviors.  For a great deal of my life, I avoided being in any kind of conflict as much as possible.  Sometimes it is a mature decision to avoid confrontation.  Sometimes it is an immature decision to avoid confrontation because of fear.  This week I have had to deal with several difficult situations where I needed to be assertive but not confrontational.  I had to push through any residual anxiety and approach the situation from the mature perspective of being compassionate at the same time that I am holding someone accountable for their actions.  When I was younger, I would have ignored much of what was happening so that I did not have to confront someone.  There is a difference between being confrontational and assertive.  Being assertive is when you speak from your own truth and integrity.  Being confrontational is when people speak from anger and fear.  Releasing fear and changing your old patterns benefits you as well as everyone else.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 28, 2010

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine.  I was telling her about a difficult situation in my life and she made the comment that a lot of karma was being created.  She was referring to some of the people involved.  I responded that we don't really know that.  She asked me what I meant and I said that we don't know if this unpleasant situation is a result of my own karma or karma that the others are creating for themselves.  She agreed that we don't know.  Therefore, if I don't know if this situation is the result of my karma or not, I can't truly judge what is going on.  Often, we go through situations and experiences that are very challenging and painful.  It is easy in those circumstances to feel as though the other person or people are at fault.  Yet, from a higher spiritual perspective, until I can trace back and go to the very beginning, I do not know whether it is a karmic situation where I am experiencing what I created long before or it is a situation where someone else is creating karmic debt for themselves.  I do know that this is a karmic time for me.  I have received information from more than one source that I am currently in the process of repaying karmic debts that have accumulated over many lifetimes.  I agreed prior to incarnating in this lifetime, to have completion with my karmic debt, especially to my family.  Knowing that this is a large part of what is going on in my life does help me to keep from going into self-pity or anger.  This does not mean that my life is not challenging because it is.  This is probably one of the most challenging times in my life.  However, understanding that I am completing karmic debt lightens my load.  Everything is truly in Divine Order.  Everything is in Divine Timing.  Someone once asked me if there is any way to alter our karma and my answer is yes.  Amma Karunamayi taught me that we can burn karma.  Meditation is one way of burning away karma.  I believe that selfless service is another way.  However, it is not merely being of service, but selfless service.  Being of service is very positive and is part of why we are here on the planet.  Selfless service takes being of service to a higher octave.  The moment we have any attachment to being of service it is no longer selfless.  Selfless means to have no thought of self.  Not an easy thing to do but something that all spiritual seekers can strive for.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 25, 2010

World peace.  Praying for World peace.  I cannot even begin to imagine how many times I have prayed for World peace.  As long as I can remember I know that I have been praying for World peace.  As a child, growing up in the Methodist Church, we prayed for World peace.  As I explored different Christian churches, church camps, retreats, youth groups and other Christian organizations, we prayed for World peace.  When I grew older and began to participate in different religions ceremonies and rituals, we prayed for World peace.  It is truly not difficult for me to pray for World peace.  I can envision it in my mind and heart.  Pray for your enemies.  I can even pray for my enemies.  After all, I don't truly even know who my enemies are, at least not in the global sense.  Pray for those who have wronged you.  Ah, now this is something that I can identify more clearly.  I can make a list of people that I perceive have wronged me.  My emotions are rising as I think about this.  I can feel pain and anger and grief.  Can I envision peace within me when I remember those wrongs?  Can I release the pain and anger and grief?  The answer is yes.  I can release all of those emotions and I can bring peace into my heart.  It is not easy for me but I will continue to strive to do so.  Because until I release and achieve inner peace there can be no world peace.  World peace is just a hollow phrase until we achieve inner peace.  If I can stand hand in hand with a roomful of strangers, it is truly lovely.  If I can stand hand in hand with those who I perceive have wronged me, that is where I will find true peace.  I can begin by envisioning this in my mind and heart.  I can envision embracing those who have hurt me.  I can.  I must.  The whole world waits.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 24, 2010

When I was still in bed thinking about what I want to talk about in my radio show, I started thinking about the body/mind connection.  I remember when I first started understanding how our body will manifest what our mind is thinking and how I found it so amazing.  I bought a book called, "Heal Your Body" by Louise Hay.  There is a lot of wisdom and information packed in this small book.  Ms. Hay goes through all the different parts of the body and the different issues that we can have with our body and connects them to thought patterns that may be affecting them.  I say, may be, because I found over time that my physical issues were not always caused by what she had in the book.  I later bought a book called, "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman.  It is truly an amazing book.  I highly recommend both of these books if you are interested in learning how to listen to  your body and heal yourself.  I have used them on many occasions and healed myself of physical issues that were painful and difficult.  I have also used them with clients to help them determine what may be an underlying factor in their own health issues.  Eventually, I learned to combine muscle testing with the books and I was always able to find the metaphysical connection between my mind and my body.  For example, I remember having pain in my feet.  I looked up feet pain in both books and I wrote down the possible mind connections.  Now, in Louise Hay's book, it states that feet are connected to our understanding of ourselves, others and life.  I muscle tested to see if that was why my feet hurt.  The answer that came back was no.  I then sat in meditation and asked myself what purpose do my feet serve?  Of course, they allow me to stand and walk, to navigate and move in all directions.  I muscle tested and asked if it was connected to movement.  The answer was yes.  I muscle tested if it had to do with moving forward and the answer was a loud YES.  I then knew that my feet pain was connected to my reluctance to move forward in some area of my life.  I immediately knew what it was.  Usually, if we have reluctance to move forward it is because of fear and insecurity.  That was absolutely the case at that time.  I forced myself to face my fears and I began to move forward.  The pain stopped within a fairly short amount of time.  I had been going to the podiatrist and he had told me I might have to have surgery.  How grateful I am that I had these wonderful tools at my disposal and I never had surgery.  Nothing else changed except what I was thinking.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 23, 2010

Take time to smell the roses.  That is a phrase that has been around for a long time.  At face value, it means to not get so busy that you don't even have time to stop and relax.  To me, there is also a deeper meaning connected to our sense of smell.  Smell is the number one sense for being able to evoke deep feeling.  Our sense of smell can transport us to past experiences more quickly than any of the other senses.  Obviously, our sense of smell is very powerful.  There are reasons why scent is used in so many spiritual rituals and ceremonies.  Certain smells can raise our vibration, lift our spirits, transport us to a heightened state.  There are also smells that can nauseate us, irritate us and lower our vibration.  I am sure you are already aware of scents that are pleasing to you.  Most people can associate certain memories with scent.  The smell of lavender may remind them of their favorite grandmother or the scent of cedar may remind them of Christmas.  Figure out what scents bring you the sweetness of life.  Even when you may not have time to stop and read something inspirational, you can smell.  You can smell when you are doing anything.  I love to burn incense when I am praying or meditating but I also love to burn incense when I am doing just about anything.  Even in the midst of some very dirty work I burn incense and I can stop and inhale its sweetness and everything seems better.  Bring some sweetness into your life today.  Inhale the scents that elevate you.  Breathe in the smells that connect you to the beauty in life.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 22, 2010

I woke up to the sound of the wind blowing through the bushes and trees next to my bedroom.  Lately, there has not been a great deal of sun and the weather has been cloudy and cold.  It is not that unusual to have clouds here on the west coast but it is not normal to have such cold weather in July.  I find it disappointing, yet I do not want to base my happiness on the weather.  I find that when the clouds do part, my spirits are brightened, and I am so appreciative of the blue sky and sun.  I have read several different articles that have talked about global warming and how the temperatures are going up world wide.  So, it is even more interesting to me that we are colder than usual. A lot of people have been complaining about the cold.  I am reminded of what Buddha said about unhappiness.  He said that unhappiness comes from desires and revulsions.  When we desire something and we do not have it, we are unhappy.  When there is something that we do not desire and we have it, we are unhappy.  If we can become detached and simply accept whatever is in our life, we can be happy.  This is a tall order at times, especially in a culture that promotes having all your wishes come true.  One of the advantages of moving into a place of more acceptance is that there is far less energy wasted being upset over something that you have absolutely no control over.  I have decided, therefore, to move into a place of acceptance about the weather.  Normally, in the fall and winter, I love a good wind storm.  It always seems to bring in freshness.  I love the energy of the plants moving about as if they were ready to dance their way across the lawn.  Today, I will not only accept the wind and cold, I will embrace them.  I will haul my warmer clothes out of the closet and warm myself.  I will stand with the wind against my face and feel the fresh, cleansing gusts.  After all, I carry the sun in my heart and blue sky in my mind's eye.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 21, 2010

In Buddhism, forgiveness is important for many reasons, but one of them concerns mental well-being and mental karma.  To hold thoughts of resentment, bitterness, hatred and pain does not create peace and harmony within a person.  To forgive another and be able to release all thoughts of resentment and hatred helps to create inner peace.  Naturally, by establishing inner peace and harmony, one's mental karma becomes positive and harmonious.  In order to accomplish this inner peace, one must change their thoughts.  It is not a decision one makes and instantaneously achieves.  Forgiveness is a process.  It is the willingness to confront the negative thoughts over and over, releasing them and replacing them with more harmonious thoughts that eventually accomplishes forgiveness.  It is the willingness to do no harm, even with one's thoughts.  It is the stubborn refusal to give in to hatred or resentment and the ability to bring in more positive thoughts.  I read something yesterday and it impacted me a great deal.  It spoke of how our thoughts create an identity and this identity continues to be reborn with our thoughts.  Lack of forgiveness creates an identity of pain and anger.  Every time we think those thoughts that are connected to a lack of forgiveness, we once again resurrect that identity.  By choosing to change our thoughts, that identity begins to fade away until it is no longer reborn.  When I read this, I realized that I do NOT wish to keep resurrecting an identity that is connected to lack of forgiveness.  That identity is filled with anger, hurt, grief and blame.  No thank you.  Have you ever met someone who had a terrible loss of some kind and they have created an identity around that?  I have.  I met a woman once who had lost her only child.  This is a terrible loss.  It is one of the worst kinds possible.  However, her entire identity had changed to that of the woman who lost her child.  Everything she did was connected to this loss.  Almost everything she talked about concerned the loss of her son.  It had been ten years or more and she still was immersed in her grief.  I understand why.  She focused her thoughts continually upon the loss and so this identity of loss and grief became reborn again and again.  She refused to let go.  This happens a great deal with forgiveness or rather the lack of forgiveness.  In the long run, it is the person who will not forgive who suffers the most.  What identity do you wish to have reborn again and again?  I choose inner peace and harmony even though it means I will have to release all thoughts of having been harmed or wronged.  I choose that golden warmth that steals over me when I feel one with all others.  I choose the cool still waters within me that refresh and revitalize.  I choose forgiveness.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 20, 2012

I would like to share about one of my favorite books.  It is called "Astrology For The Soul".  It was written by Jan Spiller, who is a well-known astrologer.  Ms. Spiller writes about the north nodes of the moon and explains that whatever node the moon is in when you are born has a very profound effect on you.  I can look up a person's birth date and read about their north node and gain tremendous insights into them.  I have used this book on a personal level to help myself and others gain wonderful insights into why we are the way we are.  I have also used it with clients to help me gain a better understanding of who they are and how best to help them.  Each section contains rich information about each node and how we can develop the attributes we came in to embody.  In Kabbalah, the north node is often referred to as our correction.  It shows the tendencies that we need to leave behind as well as the attributes we need to develop.  In the book, each node lists one specific tendency that is the greatest challenge for the person to overcome.  I have found that this is always consistent.  Most people, when given this information, will nod their head and agree.  Once in a while, someone will not agree but this is usually someone who is very unaware of their internal state and unaware of how their behavior impacts others.  I highly recommend it to anyone.  You do not have to be familiar with astrology to get a great deal out of this gem of a book.  It helps to have an open mind and the willingness to look at your own need for improvement.  Remember to spend the most time reading your own and not checking up on everyone else!  Love and Light, Shirley

July 19, 2012

I overheard a brief conversation yesterday while in the grocery store line.  A young man was telling the cashier that he had taken his black belt test but had failed miserably.  He talked about the reasons he believed he had failed and then cheerfully stated that he gets to take it again this weekend.  What a wonderful thing to overhear!  I was reminded of a quote by Thomas Edison when he reminded others that it took him 1,000 experiments to get the light bulb right.  How often do we attempt something and fail and then waste so much precious time feeling like a failure?  I prefer to be a Thomas Edison and get right back out in the laboratory of life and just do it again.  Of all the struggles I have faced in my life, one of the most tenacious has been my weight issues.  I refuse to just accept failure.  I cheerfully strive to accomplish weight release and better health, once again.  I let go and release all other attempts, just counting them amongst my experiments, as Edison did.  Recently, I embarked on a weight release program that seems to work very well for me.  I have released 17 pounds.  My instincts tell me that I may have finally created my own light bulb after many, many trials.  What are you working to create in your own life?  Have you felt discouraged because your efforts fell flat?  If you really know in your heart that it is something for you to accomplish, keep on striving.  Remember Thomas Edison and how he just couldn't let go of what he knew was possible.  Ask your guidance and the angels for support.  Pray for your highest good and keep on keeping on.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 18, 2010

Karma is one word that describes a universal law.  Other words that describe this same law are: what goes around comes around.  You shall reap what you have sown.  You have made your bed now you must lay in it.  So often when people have talked to me about karma, they only speak of it as something to fear.  The truth is that every single one of our thoughts and deeds result in karma.   I think of it as a boomerang and so whatever I send out comes back to me.  I do not have to regard it with fear as long as I am thinking positive thoughts and living my life with integrity and kindness.  Over the years, my own guidance has helped me immensely with this issue.  They have taught me not to question what is happening in my life.  They have told me repeatedly that when something seems unfair, it is only because I cannot remember all that I have thought, said and done throughout my existence.  The universal laws are consistent, just and fair.  What may appear to be unjust may simply be a karmic completion.  There are reasons why some people are born with wealth, good health, beauty and fewer obstacles.  This lifetime may be a huge karmic reward for them.  Other people may seem to have struggle written on their forehead.  This lifetime of struggle could be karmic completion for them.  It could also be a choice of the soul in order to learn something, to develop inner strength perhaps.  What is important to me is that I quit resisting whatever is presented to me in my life and move out of any kind of victimhood.  If large obstacles are presented to me, I strive to regard them as obstacles that my Higher self has placed before me for very good reasons.  Sometimes I know that they are part of my karmic completion so I am learning to be grateful.  I am striving to say, "Hallelujah! I am releasing and letting go and I am thankful to be completing something so important".  It is not easy.  Karmic completion can be painful, hard work.  Someone once asked me how did I know if it was karmic completion or not?  I responded that I don't always know but I do know that whatever is before me is part of a greater plan.  It is not something being done to me without purpose.  I don't have to like it but I can accept it.  The less resistance I have, the more my life can flow.  Eventually, I can flow, unimpeded, right on into my destiny.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 17, 2010

Today I would just like to share some of the words from one of my favorite songs from childhood, "Accentuate the Positive".

You got to accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with Mr. In Between

You got to spread joy up to the maximum.  Bring gloom down to the minimum. Have faith or pandemonium is liable to walk upon the scene. 

If you google the words Accentuate the Positive, you can find videos where it is recorded.  One is with Bing Crosby and Bette Midler.  I highly recommend it for a quick pick me up!  Love and Light, Shirley

July 16, 2010

Yesterday, I was doing a dirty, icky job.  I was sorting through piles of stuff that contained garbage, things for the recycling center and occasionally, something worth keeping.  It is someone else's stuff and the space that I am working in is smelly and dirty.  I opened the door to the outside and sat near the door as I worked.  The sun was shining and on the edge of the property are massive wild blackberries that have grown to about eight feet high.  The sun on the blackberry blossoms was very beautiful.  I had to look beyond the piles that were accumulating in the yard in order to see the blossoms.  I just trained my eyes to only look at the blossoms.  For brief moments, here and there, I would take the time to gaze at the blue sky, the blackberry blossoms and the green vines.  Amazingly, my work seemed lighter and I was lighter.  There are times that we simply must find a way to look beyond the garbage and chaos in our life to find the beauty.  Something as simple as blackberry blossoms can bring us back in touch with the beauty in life.  It brings us back to the divine.  May you find the blackberry blossoms in your life today.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 15, 2010

Recently, I reconnected with someone that I was close to in the past.  More than ten years had passed and we had not spoken.  Yet, he was never far from my thoughts and certainly not far from my heart.  He kept coming into my mind and so I finally found his phone number and contacted him.  It has been so wonderful.  It has been as though time never passed and we never spent years without talking.  I pay attention when someone comes into my mind.  If it happens several times, I listen because I believe that there is an important reason why that person comes to me.  Our conversations have been deep and rich and I have been helping him to understand many of the experiences he is currently having.  There are no accidents in my world and I know that there is great purpose to us having reconnected.  Do you listen to yourself?  Do you pay attention if something keeps coming to you?  Often, what appears to be random, odd thoughts are really messages from spirit.  I often wonder how many experiences I have missed out on because I ignored messages or explained them away with my rational mind.  I am grateful that I listen to my intuition.  My life is richer for it.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 14, 2010

Today I am going to turn the keyboard over to my guides and see what they have to share with you.  Shirley, thank you for once again giving us an opportunity to share with others.  There is a great deal of turmoil in the world right now.  Truth be told, there is always a certain amount of turmoil and strife going on in the world, but there are times when there is more.  Let us share with you today about some of our views on why there is turmoil.  The earth is shifting.  When the earth shifts and changes, so must all of her inhabitants and everything else upon her.  The reverse is also true, that as the inhabitants shift and change, so must the earth.  Change is inevitable but it is still challenging.  Think of earth as going through puberty.  Puberty brings with it hormonal changes and mood swings.  For a young man, his voice changes and there are times when he cannot seem to find his voice.  Males and females alike swing back and forth between wanting to be children again and having their parents care for them and wanting to be independent and grown-up.  In a sense, this is similar to what earth and her inhabitants are going through.  Growing pains.  Earth and her inhabitants have spent thousands of years in ignorance and illusion.  Fear and hatred have often governed her people's decisions, far more than love and compassion.  This is changing.  This is the beginning of the age of enlightenment.  Oh, there are some who will say that you have been through the beginning already.  Yes, it had already begun before we wrote these words.  However, when you are able to take a look at earth from our perspective, you are still in the beginning.  In the greater scheme of things, there is much more that will occur  before you can say that you are truly immersed in the age of enlightenment.  Every time someone chooses mercy and kindness over fear and control, you move closer to the age of enlightenment.  Even one person making choices from the heart brings all of humanity closer and closer.  One person's prayer for peace is powerful.  So, be of good faith and continue with your prayers and hopes for earth and her inhabitants and all else upon her.  Continue to pray for those who are still at war.  Continue to pray for the oil spill.  Continue to search your own heart for any seeds of hatred and fear.  You can eradicate them.  Send out the intent into the Universe that you desire to eradicate them and tap into your own vast resources of love and forgiveness.  Remember that just as you are an infinite being, you also have an infinite well of love from which to drink.  Thank you for allowing us this brief opportunity to share with you.  Remember that you are never alone.  Love, US  Thank you to my guides.  May their words bless you.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 13, 2010

There is a movie called Amish Grace and I watched it yesterday.  It is based on the true story of a man who gunned down 10 Amish girls while they were at school and the Amish community's response to this tragedy.  The people of this community chose to forgive the killer and to reach out with compassion to his grieving wife and children.  The movie centered around the family of one of the girls, especially the mother, who was struggling to forgive.  I highly recommend watching it if you have the opportunity.  It is a beautiful opportunity to experience love, courage and forgiveness of the highest order.  How does someone forgive the unforgiveable?  In the movie, one of the mothers said that she MUST forgive the man, not only because it is God's way but because she cannot bear to feel the pain of hatred.  She lost two little girls in the slaughter and yet, she fought back her hatred.  They are right to want to forgive.  Hatred and lack of forgiveness hurt the person hating more than the person hated.  How difficult that is to remember when we have been hurt or betrayed or suffered tremendous loss.  I applaud that small Amish community and include them in my list of teachers.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 11, 2011

Reincarnation was a foreign concept to me while I was growing up.  I grew up in the Methodist church and we did not believe in reincarnation.  However, when I was 28, I had an experience that changed my whole belief system.  I was at a women's retreat at a lake cabin and we were all in a circle.  The circle was meant to be a time to be quiet, to go within and to bring in some healing energy.  As we stood there, I felt compelled to start toning, simply emitting one single tone at a time, slowly.  Soon, others were also toning and it was beautiful.  What happened next was incredible.  I lost all awareness of the room and the women there and I felt myself shoot up out of my body.  I travelled and at some point, I was drawn down into a body.  The body was of a young male monk and he was standing out in a courtyard.  I remember every detail vividly, what I was wearing, the cobblestones on the courtyard, the moss growing in between and so much more.  I somehow knew I was in England and it was the 1200's.  I was 21 and slender with light brown hair and blue eyes.  I had on a simple robe and nothing else.  I could feel the coolness of spring and it was a beautiful day.  I was filled with gratitude for the day and for my life as a monk.  In back of me was a large stone building and I could hear my "brethren" singing.  My joy was too great to be contained and I, too, broke out in song.  After a time, I could hear a voice calling me but not by my name as a monk, the voice was calling me, Shirley.  I shot up out of my body and it felt as though I was flying.  Once again, I was drawn down into a body and when I opened my eyes, I was standing in a circle of women.  The women were all staring at me and I was somewhat in shock, trying to figure out what had happened to me.  I was speechless until one of the women asked me where I had learned to chant like that.  Puzzled, I told her I don't know how to chant.  Another woman spoke up and said that it was Gregorian chanting and it was absolutely beautiful.  I told her I don't know Gregorian chanting.  Encouraged to share my experience, I told them what had happened as best I could.  Several became very excited and talked about astral flying and past life regression and a lot of other things that I knew nothing about.  I had never considered that I might have had previous existences, much less one as a man.  I became very curious and began to read everything I could about reincarnation.  My world shifted and has never been the same since.  I do believe in reincarnation.  I believe we are infinite beings and that reincarnation is just one part of that infinite existence.  Twenty years after I had that experience, I was having a Reiki session and the woman was holding my head.  She began to speak to me about how much "monkness" I have about me.  She began to share about this lifetime I had as a monk and how happy it was.  I was amazed and grateful for her words.  I knew they were true.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 8, 2010

God is speaking to us all the time but we are not always listening.  Those who live close to Mother Earth know that she is a living being and that everything upon her is also living.  Everything has awareness and its own vibration and purpose.  The Native Americans have always known this and have respected Mother Earth and her inhabitants.  A tree has its own spirit.  Animals have their own spirits.  Stones have their own spirits.  When I first began opening to this possibility and I began listening and paying attention, a whole new awareness opened up for me.  I had already learned that life is not random and that if I pay attention, I can see patterns and important information in the most common of places.  I began to learn about animal totems and how each and every one of us has animal spirits that are connected to us and to our life purpose.  One of my main animal totems is the black panther.  The energy of the black panther is diverse.  Part of the energy of the black panther is going into the unknown.  Another part of her energy is reclaiming your power.  A third aspect of her energy has to do with psychic energy.  She epitomizes so much of what I have been learning to do in this life, especially in the past ten years.  I have been reclaiming my own power.  Someone once asked me what does that mean?  I shared that to me, when we reclaim our own power, we are letting go of fear and making a statement to the Universe that we are innately powerful.  Every time I have pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, I am reclaiming part of my own power.  Every time I have stood up to someone else because of my beliefs and values, I have been reclaiming my own power.  Every time I have faced my fears and told them NO, I have reclaimed my own power.  Every time I have withstood other people's criticisms with dignity and no retaliation, I have reclaimed my own power.  There is another side to reclaiming our own power.  It is also reclaiming our own power when we can apologize and admit we have made a mistake.  It is reclaiming our own power when we make amends.  Three of the most incredibly powerful words in the Universe are: I am sorry.  Today, ask yourself about your own personal power.  Is your personal power in balance?  If not, ask for help from the spiritual kingdom in whatever way feels right for you.  If it resonates with you, call on black panther.  You can read more about her in the book, "Animal Speak".  Love and Light, Shirley

July 6, 2010

I have written about this before but I believe there are some messages well worth repeating.  The message is about the importance of being in the Now.  Being in the moment can be one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself.  When life is stressful and challenging and at times seems too overwhelming to handle, simply ask yourself how things truly are, in this moment.  The majority of what we feel anxious and fearful about are events that are in the future.  What if??????  What if I lose my job?  What if my boyfriend breaks up with me?  What if I get sick and have no medical insurance?  What if, what if, what if?????  In moments of stress, if instead we would remind ourselves that in this moment we are not dealing with all the what if's at one time, we would become more calm and less fearful.  The majority of our fears never manifest in the ways that we are most afraid of.  Yes, people do lose their jobs and that is a challenging situation.  Yes, people have relationships that break up and it can be very painful.  Yes, people do get sick and are without medical insurance.  However, it is the rare person that manifests all of their fears.  By bringing ourselves back to the present, we can do a reality check.  The majority of the time, we may be facing some challenges but not all of those we have manufactured in our minds.  In this moment, I can pay my current bills.  In this moment, I am still in a loving relationship.  In this moment, I am healthy or my health issues are being addressed.  Even if what we are saying is that in this current moment I have lost my job, it is hard and challenging but it is not necessarily the end of the world.  By focusing on the Now, we can deal with what is currently on our plate and use all of our energy to resolve what is, not a series of what if's.  This is not about sugar coating life's challenges but it is about putting them in perspective and dealing with what is really on our plate.  It is about bring us back to the present so that we can more clearly deal with the present and move forward.  In this moment, I have multiple challenges but I can deal with them one at a time, one moment at a time.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 3, 2010

Change is something that most people resist even though change is the one thing we can count on.  It is not always easy to let go.  Tomorrow is the 4th of July and I find myself reflecting back upon past Independence Days and I realize just how radically different my life is now.  I grew up with a fair sized extended family on both sides of my family.  Many of my holidays were spent with one side of the family or the other.  I have countless wonderful memories of family gatherings at the beach, or at my dad's parent's summer home or trips to Oregon to visit my mom's family.  Camping trips and picnics, barbecues and fireworks seemed to predominate my growing up years.  My oldest brother was born on the 4th of July, so that always added an extra element of fun, not to mention yummy peanut butter cake because that was his favorite.  Once I married and had children, there were still picnics and barbecues, usually at my parents camping lot or my husband's parent's home.  Eventually, after my own grandson was born, the festivities moved to the home I shared with my husband.  The 4th of July was a time for friends and family, lots of activity and fun.  In 2004, I was divorced and that ended the big joint family barbecues at my home.  It was very painful that first year.  I felt as though I was cast adrift.  We had a barbecue at my parent's home but it wasn't the same.  More than half the people who would normally come were not there.  Divorce is never between two people.  It affects so many more.  I did my best to make the most of my life and the changes that had occurred in my life.  Every year since then I have had very different 4th of July celebrations.  None of them have resembled what I had known for most of my life.  Some years I was living out of state and had no family available.  Instead, I celebrated with my friends.  This year, I am living with my elderly mother and the rest of my family is going to be gone.  My boyfriend is coming down and the three of us will go and find some festivities.  I  remember past Independence Days with gratitude and fond memories.  I accept that life is ever-changing and I seek to find the good in those changes.  Perhaps a more quiet holiday will be more relaxing.  Less distraction gives me more time to reflect upon what the holiday was originally intended for.  A celebration of our Independence!  A ringing out of gratitude for our freedoms.  A time to hopefully soak up the sun's rays and feel the warmth of knowing that I live in such an amazing country.  If you are alone this year, get out of the house and go to any kind of celebration.  Instead of focusing on what you don't have, focus on all the amazing ways in which being in America has blessed you.  Smile at strangers.  Watch the colorful fireworks and let them light up your life!  Love and Light, Shirley

July 2, 2010

A number of years ago my own guidance instructed me to build an altar in my office.  At the time, I rented a house for my mental health practice and the altar was to be placed in the waiting room.  I received some very specific instructions about what I was to place on the altar and I was told that I would eventually understand what each item meant.  At the time, I was nervous about putting my altar in the waiting room.  I still had fears about what other people might think.  However, I had promised I would do as I would instructed so I built the altar.  People were curious about it but I never received any kind of negative repercussion because of it.  I was instructed to have certain stones placed on the altar, jade, obsidian, rose quartz and amber.  Amber isn't truly a stone but is usually found with stones and crystals.  At the time I was instructed to build the altar, I had not studied anything about stones.  As time went by I began to learn more and more about the properties of different stones.  I began to understand that it was the properties of the stones and what they brought to me energetically that made them an important part of my altar.  All of the stones have more than one property but I will just give a brief summary of those qualities that I knew were helping me.  Obsidian is an excellent grounding stone.  It helps with root chakra issues and is designed to help you be connected to your physical body and the physical plane.  Rose quartz is a stone that helps to fill the heart with love.  Amber is an excellent substance for protection against negative energies.  Jade has many qualities but it is a healing stone and it also helps open the heart chakra, as does rose quartz.  I eventually was guided to add clear quartz, which is excellent for opening and clearing the sixth chakra, our chakra for higher intuition.  Over time, I not only used these stones but I learned about others.  Everything on earth has awareness and is ultimately connected to everything else. The properties of the stones corresponded to properties that I already had within but needed strengthening.  Rose quartz does not create love where there was none but it can enhance the love that is there.  Sometimes I think of the stones and crystals as amplifiers.  I believe we all have the capacity to self-heal but we have forgotten it or we are so consumed with what is going on in our lives that we don't stop long enough to listen to our body.  Healing stones can help us remember who we truly are and what we are capable of.  They can awaken what is asleep within us.  What do you wish to awaken or enhance?  You might consider learning a bit about crystals and stones in order to help you.  There are a multitude of books available to you.  Love and Light, Shirley

July 1, 2010

I was reading today about the cause of man's misery.  The words were written in a book by Swami Sri Yukteswar called The Holy Science.  In it, he speaks of man's desire and of his aversion being the causes of his pain.  When we are immersed in desire for something, we are attached to having whatever it is we desire.  When we attain the object of our desire we are temporarily happy but it is not permanent because everything is temporary that stems from our egoistic desires.  When we have aversion towards another person, object or experience, we are in misery because we wish it to be gone.  We are basing our happiness on certain things either being present or not present in our lives.  When I first read about desire and aversion, I had a very hard time conceiving how I could not have desire.  It was difficult to envision life where I did not have an aversion to certain experiences or people.  I still struggle with much of this although I have learned to let go of many desires and aversions.  I continue to work on this.  What Swami states is that it is only when man turns his thoughts and desires inward towards spiritual enlightenment and realization of the true self that man can find true happiness and true peace.  I do understand the words.  I acknowledge that I am still very much immersed in the physical world.  I know that for myself, I have experienced much pain and misery in the past when I defined what needed to be present in order for me to be happy.  I see this evident in most people's lives.  I must be married or have a love interest in order to be happy.  I must make a certain amount of money in order to be fulfilled.  I must work a particular kind of job in order to be content.  I must have children.  I must not have children.  I must live in a certain place or a certain area.  I must not live in a certain place or a certain area.  The list is endless.  When we go within and our thoughts and desires go inward, we have less and less attachment to our physical lives having to be a certain way.  We have equanimity within and more tolerance with whatever exists in our physical realm.  For me, acceptance of what is helps me to release my desires and aversions.  Living in the moment helps me to go within and seek that which is eternal.  I long for that day when I no longer have desires and aversions at the same time that I acknowledge I have a long way to go.  I refuse to give up.  Where are you in your own journey?  Do you have equanimity and peace within?  Examine what it is that prevents you from answering with a resounding yes.  Most likely you will find somewhere that you have unfulfilled desires and aversions not yet released.  I pray we all move closer and closer to the truth within. I pray we all strive for liberation.  Let freedom ring!  Love and Light, Shirley

June 30, 2010

I have a deck of cards called Osho Zen cards.  They are Zen Buddhist tarot cards.  I love working with them and they have beautiful imagery on them.  One of the cards is called courage and it depicts one solitary daisy that is growing up between two stones in a stone wall.  There is no visible dirt and yet, somehow, this courageous beautiful flower found a way to grow.  Sometimes, we have to be just like that daisy.  Even when our life is filled with difficulty, heartbreak and disappointment, we have to find a way in which we can flourish in the midst of it all.  Yesterday was one of those days filled with stressful situations, one after the other.  It was the sort of day where I felt as though I had barely put out one fire and another was already raging.  Surrounded by difficulties and challenges, I had to find the "hidden" dirt in which I could still flourish.  There are times when the external environment is not the place to look for it or certainly not to look for it there exclusively.  I did find something to nourish me in the physical world but it is primarily by going within that I find my sustenance and nurturance.  There was a beautiful sunset last night.  The sky was golden and the gilded clouds looked magical.  Fingers of light spread out across the sky in a lovely fan of gold.  Gratitude for this gift of nature filled me.  It is those moments that help sustain me.  An outer image of an inner experience.  The true gold is within me, my own spiritual essence fanning out in fingers of gold.  For today, find something to nourish you.  It can be something as simple as a flower growing where none other dares.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 29, 2010

I have already written many times before about the importance of paying attention to our thoughts.  If we are thinking negative thoughts, we are drawing negative energies to us and negative experiences.  This morning as I reflected upon what I wanted to write about, I thought of two things.  First, I remembered the saying that what you resist, persists.  The second thing I thought of has to do with being the Observer during meditation.  In some forms of Buddhist meditation, one is encouraged to simply observe one's thoughts and not react to them.  By simply observing, there is no emotional charge attached to the thoughts.  The thoughts flow in and the thoughts flow out.  Ah, I am having this thought of revenge against someone who has harmed me.  I allowed the thought to flow in and now I allow it to simply flow out.  I observe that I had this negative thoughts but I do not react to it.  There is no resistance, simply observation.  What I have realized recently is that when I become aware of my negative thoughts, I tend to have two distinct reactions to them.  One is that I get upset with myself for still having the undesirable thought.  The second reaction is much closer to simply being an observation.  Ah, so I still have not eradicated that thought, I choose to let it dissipate.  Sometimes I do Tong Lin meditation, breathing the thought in and releasing white light.  When I get upset with myself and have strong emotion regarding the thought, I am actually empowering that particular thought.  By not having a strong emotional reaction, the thought dissipates more easily.  There is no way that I can simply say I am not going to think a certain thought because the moment I say it, I have already thought it.  Instead, I can calmly observe and transform it.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 28, 2010

I have received some wonderful energy healing sessions from a woman named Mary Pat Marshall.  She is the owner of Soul Picnic, a healing center in Aberdeen, WA.  She has many wonderful healing modalities but one of my favorites is sound healing with Tibetan singing bowls and tuning forks.  She plays the singing bowls right on my body and I am transported!  Music is one very quick way to change your vibration.  If you are feeling down, just turning on the right music can cheer you.  If you are tired, the right music can energize you.   I love to listen to music before I go to sleep at times and it induces deep restful sleep and lovely dreams.  I am also aware of how there is some music that creates disharmony within me and music that is discordant to me.  For today, find the music that resonates with you and brings you to a better state.  Even five minutes of the right music can help bring you back into balance or raise your vibration.  So simple, yet so powerful.  Feel the music.  It can stir your soul. Love and Light, Shirley

June 27, 2010

A tiny vibrant hummingbird darted in and out of the mock orange at the corner of the house.  Sunlight heightened the sheen of its tiny colorful feathers.  Hummingbirds represent joy.  Whenever I see a hummingbird I am reminded to find the joy in life.  Hummingbirds are the only bird that can flow up and down, forward and backward and can literally fly in place.  This ability reminds us to look for more than one way to do things, to be willing to "fly" in different directions when necessary.  Sometimes we may have to "fly" backward in order to get to where we need to be.  Sometimes, we have to "fly" in place, not appearing to be going anywhere at all in order to accomplish what we need.    This flexibility and willingness to go in different directions is not always easy.  I know that for myself, there have been times when I was so certain that I was going in a certain direction.  I had divine inspiration and guidance.  I had deep certainty.  Yet, there turned out to be far more twists and turns than I had anticipated.  There were times when everything appeared to be at a complete and total standstill.  I have become far more accepting of Divine Order and Divine Timing.  I listen to my inspiration and guidance but I also keep in mind that my ego still can get in the way and interpret some of my messages incorrectly.  I worry less about "getting it right" and focus more on being in the moment.  Okay, so that particular venture did not turn out as I had thought.  I can back up, just like the hummingbird, I can "fly" in place for a while until I figure out the next step.  Or better yet, I can figure out this moment, trusting that whatever the next step is, I can handle it.  And in the midst of it all, I can find joy.  I can find the joy no matter what the circumstances are in my life.  Certainly, some days are easier.  But, I can find joy everyday because the ultimate source of my joy is within me.  It is when I connect to the infinite source of joy that I know I can face whatever life brings to me.  I not only connect to the hummingbird, I am the hummingbird.  Today, connect to joy.  Look for the hummingbird in your own life: a blue sky, a baby's laugh, the sound of grass being mowed on a warm, sunny day, a friend's loving voice or whatever it is that brings you joy.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 26, 2010

Yesterday I spoke about the Swami Sri Yukteswar bringing the East and West together.  He wrote his book about the universal truths that were written in Hindu scriptures and those in Christian scriptures.  One of the scriptures that I am aware of that speaks of Universal truth is found in John 1:1.  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  There have been many different explanations about what that means.  What is the Word?  Many esteemed spiritual teachers have explained that the Word was OM, sometimes spelled AUM.  This AUM also corresponds to the word AMEN.  In Sanskrit, OM is referred to as the seed sound, the sound from which all other sounds come.  I believe the Word, or perhaps even more accurately, the sound, OM, is what is being referred to in John 1:1 as well as many other sacred texts.  This sound can be heard when one is in deep meditation and one is attuned to higher vibrations.  I remember when I was at a Vipassana retreat and had been in silence for six days and I began to hear the OM.  There is nothing else like it.  It is more than hearing the OM, it is hearing and feeling the OM that can transport a person.  While at this same retreat, as I directed my consciousness to different parts of my body, I not only heard the OM when I passed my consciousness over my ears, but I saw bright white light when I passed my consciousness over my eyes.  In this state of heightened awareness and silence, I was closer to my true essence than ever.  I believe we carry within us the light of eternity and the OM of creation.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 25, 2010

I am currently reading a wonderful book called "The Holy Science" by Swami Sri Yukteswar.  Swami Sri Yukteswar was the guru of Yogananda.  For those of you who may not know Yogananda, he was the first person to introduce Yoga to the United States.  He was also the founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship.  His guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar  taught Yogananda while Yogananda was still living in India.  He foretold Yogananda's coming to the United States and he knew that it was very important to create a connection between the East and the West.  In his book, "The Holy Science" Swami Sri Yukteswar writes of the unity between the Christian scriptures and some of the Hindu scriptures, specifically Sanatan Dharma.  He was able to show in his book the fundamental harmony between the book of Revelation and the Sankhya philosophy of India.  My heart soars when I read books like this.  There is a fundamental truth that resonates with me whenever someone shows the connection and unity between religions.  I remember going to a service several years ago which was led by a Jewish Rabbi from the United States and a beautiful muslim man from Israel.  The purpose of the service was to show the commonality between the religions and to celebrate unity.  At this service there were Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and people who had no particular religious affiliation but who were spiritual seekers.  We sang and danced and prayed together.  It was such a joy to celebrate God and love with such a diverse group of people.  I highly recommend this book, "The Holy Science" to anyone who is interested in its wisdom.  I also recommend Yogananda's book, "The Autobiography of a Yogi".  It is transformative reading.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 23, 2010

In 2006 I lived in Los Angeles.  I was only there for one year but I met some absolutely wonderful people while there and had some amazing experiences.  While there I participated in some wonderful classes taught by a young man named Jason Nelson.  Jason is a channel and a spiritual teacher.  During one of his workshops he took us through a meditation where we journeyed up the chakras.  It was the first time that I had gone above the crown chakra.  First, we went into a chakra about a foot above the head that Jason explained was a chakra for connecting with our guidance.  Farther above that was what he referred to as our Soul chakra and the chakra above that was our God chakra.  It was easy for me to go up the chakras and while in the God chakra, I had an amazing experience.  At first, all I could see was bright, white light.  I felt euphoric and weightless.  Then, I could see my hand holding a mirror.  I gazed into the mirror and saw my own reflection.  However, soon my reflection disappeared and others began to take its place, one after the other.  At first, the images were faces of people that I know and love.  They soon gave way to faces of people that I did not know, faces of what I would call ordinary people.  The faces began to come faster and faster like a slide show on fast forward.  I began to recognize faces here and there.  At one point I saw Adolf Hitler and shortly after him, a face of Mother Theresa.  Soon, the images came so quickly that they were just a blur and eventually all returned again to bright, white light.  When the meditation ended, I found that my face was wet with tears even though I had no awareness of crying during the meditation.  I understood why I had cried.  My heart center was so open and was radiating with love.  In that moment, I understood the message.  Everyone I see is a reflection of me.  They are not a carbon copy of me but a reflection of an aspect or aspects of me.  Those aspects I have rejected I see in those people I wish to reject, such as Adolf Hitler.  Those aspects I embrace I see in those I love and in someone revered such as Mother Theresa.  Because I was in the God space I also understood that each and every image I saw in the mirror is also a part of God.  In the God space there was no separation between you and I.  There was only us.  I pray to hold that God space within me to remember the truth.  I hope you join me there.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 22, 2010

Today while working with a client, I was reminded of something that a woman from Sedona had told me back in 2006.  Her name was Darlynn Bowman and she was very helpful to me. She was giving me an intuitive reading and during the reading she shared that a number of years previously, she had been in a terrible car accident.  After the accident she had to learn how to do everything over again.  She had to learn how to talk and write and brush her teeth and comb her hair and everything else that we have had to learn to do in order to function in this world.  She shared that one of the reasons she was able to do as well as she did was connected to the fact that every time, before attempting a task, she would tell herself that it is so easy to comb my hair or brush my teeth, whatever the task was.  It is so easy to __________.  In my session she was telling me that I have a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom stored from previous lives and that I am able to access tremendous amounts of Universal Wisdom.  I told her that I had been told this many times but I was frustrated because I did not know how to access it. She suggested that I say to myself, it is so easy to know what I know.  I began using that phrase every day.  It is so easy for me to see clearly.  It is so easy for me to know what I know.  It is so easy for me to hear clearly.  It almost became a mantra.  Instead of focusing on how I did not know how to access information, I was focusing on how easy it is.  It did not matter that I was unsure whether or not it was really true.  I just kept affirming that it is so easy for me to know what I know.  Over time, that no longer was an empty phrase because it was becoming easier and easier to access hidden knowledge.  My ability to hear from other dimensions became easier and easier.  My inner vision became more acute.  I still use the phrase for whatever I find challenging in my life.  It is so easy for me to find solutions to problems.  It is so easy for me to forgive myself and others.  It is so easy for me to be in the moment.  It is so easy for me to surrender to Divine Will.  It is so easy for you to use this same method.  Change does not have to be difficult.  It is so easy to change.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day to all men who father others!  It isn't only men who are biological fathers that I honor today.  I also honor those men who have chosen to father others because their heart compels them.  I honor the teachers, coaches, Boy Scout Leaders, stepfathers and all those who choose to be in a fatherly role for others.  For myself, this is my first Father's Day without my own father as he passed away last July.  I was blessed to have him here on this earth for over 84 years.  Happy Father's Day, dad.  I am divorced and so I no longer celebrate Father's Day with the father of my children.  Happy Father's Day, Tony.  Happy Father's Day to my grandson's biological father, David.  Happy Father's Day to my ex father-in-law, Leonard.  I honor so many of the men who influenced my life while growing up.  Uncles, grandfathers, neighbors, teachers and local businessmen.  Growing up in a small town, I had the fortunate experience of having many adults in my life that knew me because we lived in a small town.  I had many neighbors that I could count on to watch over me and help me if my own parents were not around.  I honor Wes Rhodes and Marvin Moyer for the loving way they treated me as one of the children on the block.  I pray that everyone has someone they can honor on this important day.  Even if your own biological father was not present in your life or was not a positive presence, I pray you can recall another adult male who gave you his fathering energies.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 19, 2010

Counting our blessings is one of the best things we can do to raise our vibration.  Having an attitude of gratitude creates abundance because we are focusing on what we already have or have already experienced, instead of feeling lack.  Today is my daughter's birthday and so I count my blessings for having such a wonderful daughter.  I have two wonderful children but today is her day.  Whenever someone celebrates a birthday, I try to remember to count my blessings for having that person in my life.  July 4th is coming up and that is another important birthday.  I like to count my blessings on our nations birthday, too.  Instead of focusing on all the things that are wrong with the United States I would rather focus on what is right and there is a great deal that is good.  We live in a nation of abundance.  Our garbage dumps are filled with refuse that many people would love to have in their homes.  Most people have more than enough to eat and we have food banks and meal programs to help those who do not.  We are a nation of volunteers.  I remember reading once about the percentage of people who volunteer their time and service in one way or another and the United States had the highest percentage of their people volunteering.  I think this is a wonderful statement about our people.  I don't recall all of the countries that were included in the survey but I do remember that they were all well-to-do nations.  When disaster occurs around the world, people from the United States are often amongst the first to respond.  Count your blessings and write them down.  You may find that you need a bigger piece of paper than what you might have guessed.  Feel the abundance of your own life.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 18, 2010

Last night I was doing a card reading for a good friend of mine.  Because I do a fair amount of readings for people, I will often see that there are patterns which can connect one reading to another.  In other words, there are cards that will often show up in reading after reading, even if it involves people from all over the country.  This has happened many times and I finally realized it is because, in addition to our individual lives and individual issues, there are universal issues that are connected to all of us.  One of the cards that has been very predominant is a card called Letting Go, out of my Osho Zen tarot deck.  Letting Go shows a beautiful green plant with a drop of water poised at the edge, just ready to let go.  I have received this card so many times that I could almost say it is the theme for this part of my life.  Letting Go.  The drop at the edge of the leaf sits waiting for perhaps a slight breeze to propel it off the edge or for another drop to join it in order to gain the weight or momentum to finally drop.  What is it you need to let go of?  What would it take for you to do so?  Do you need help, a slight breeze to come your way to help you let go?  Perhaps you need someone to join you in your efforts so that you may receive encouragement and support in letting go.  Letting go can be expressed in many ways.  Cleaning out our excess material goods is one way of letting go.  This is easier for some people than others.  Letting go of resentment and blame is another way of letting go.  Our resentment and blame hurts us the most in the long run.  Letting go of lost hopes and lost dreams such as those which occur when we suffer loss through divorce, death and other losses.  Letting go of the need to be right.  Whew.  That can be a challenging one for many of us.  Letting go of the need to know.  That is also a challenging one, too.  Too often, we want to know what is happening, where are we going, what are we supposed to do, what does the future hold, etcetera, etcetera.  The need to know is often a side effect of anxiety and lack of trust.  Letting go is the opposite of fear and anxiety.  Letting go is a manifestation of trust.  I trust the Universe for its abundance, therefore, I can let go of excess.  I trust the Universe that all is in Divine Order so I can let go of the job that I did not receive or the job that I lost.  I trust the Universe that I am here to make decisions and learn from them so I can let go of needing to be right all the time or needing to be perfect.  I trust that in this moment I know what I need to know and that when there is something else I need to know, I will.  I trust.  I let go.  Love and Light, Shirley

 June 17, 2010

There is a lot of talk about a New Earth.  This New Earth will be so much better because it will be governed by love and not fear.  There are millions of people who are holding this New Earth in their hearts and vision.  I am one of them.  However, I also recognize that the seeds of this New Earth are contained within me.  I have the potential to embody this New Earth even before it manifests outwardly.  I have the choice whether or not I am going to live my life from love or fear.  Not only is it possible to live life from love instead of fear, it is possible right now.  That is not to say that it is easy.  Changing one's outlook requires work at times.  Releasing old beliefs and thought patterns requires diligence.  It is possible.  It is very possible.  Going within and finding that inner well of peace and well-being helps me.  Being in nature and feeling the vibrations of beauty and peace are helpful.  Finding other people who also share my beliefs is extremely important.  Connecting to my inner guidance and to the vast spiritual realm of love and support that we all have is of paramount importance.  My guidance suggested long ago that I no longer watch the news or read the newspaper on a regular basis.  They shared that the news is slanted and is primarily negative.  It is an agent of fear for the most part.  They promised me that I would know what I truly needed to know.  They were right.  I do occasionally skim the paper since I am now living at my mom's and she subscribes to the newspaper.  I still do not watch the news on television.  Those things that I truly need to know are rarely found in the newspaper or the television.  They are found in my day to day interactions with people.  They are found when I go within and connect with my guidance.  They are found when I read inspirational stories and articles written by others who are also on a similar spiritual path.  When I do hear about world news such as the oil spill, I go within and pray.  I do not immerse myself in all the drama around it and tap into all the fear.  That does me no good and it does nothing to help with the oil spill.  There are some events that I can help by contributing money.  Local events I can sometimes participate in.  For the most part, I can pray for those who are hurting and who are immersed in fear and difficulty.  I can continue to hold my vision for a New Earth even in the midst of war and violence, oil spills and unemployment.  I can continue to find the well of love within myself and allow it to spill over into all that I do.  In the meantime, I can clean up my own personal "oil spills" and find more and more ways to embody and express love.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 15, 2010

I remember when I was learning about the chakras and I was interested to learn that there are two chakras connected to the heart or two aspects to the heart chakra.  Chakras are wheels of energy that are connected to us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  When the chakras are open and functioning optimally, so are we.  When we have mental or emotional issues, the chakras can close down or become sluggish.  Over time, this dysfunction can show up in the physical body.  One of the areas where these chakras are located is along the spine in the center of our chest.  This chakra is called the heart chakra and its energy is connected to love.  The chakras vibrate at different frequencies and produce different colors.  These colors compose what we call our aura.  The heart chakra produces two different colors, green and pink.  This is why some say there are actually two different chakras.  Others say that the heart chakra simply increases in frequency to the point where a different color is produced.  Green is the beautiful healing color of the heart chakra most of the time.  Pink is produced when unconditional love is present.  This is why both green and pink are such calming and healing colors.  If you are in need of loving energy it is helpful to bring those colors into your environment.  Green and pink stones carry the healing energy of love within them.  Painting a room with soft green or pink paint will improve your mood and bring healing energy to you.  Wearing those colors helps bring those vibrations closer to you.  Meditating upon those colors will bring peace and calm into your being.  I love rose quartz, not only because it is a beautiful stone, but because I can feel its calming and loving energy.  I love to hold it when I meditate.  Bring some love into your life through color.  Sometimes even simple changes can bring lasting change in us.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 12, 2010

What is your passion?  How much of your time are you able to devote to your passion?  I remember the first time I heard those words.  I was working around 65 hours per week in my mental health practice.  I was a very busy person and I was not living a very balanced life.  When I stopped and thought about what I was passionate about and how much of my time was devoted to that passion, there was very little time.  Through the years since that time, I have worked to change that percentage of time.  In truth, I have passion for more than one thing.  There are many things that bring me joy.  It is important to bring more and more of what brings you joy into your life.  Right now, I have many challenges in my life and demands on my time.  Some of those cannot be altered for the time being.  Therefore, I must strive to find time every day for what brings me passion even if it is only a portion of that day.  I love to learn new things and share them with others.  I love to communicate through writing, teaching, sharing, singing and guided meditations.  I am not able to do that full time right now but I still find time every day for at least one of those and often more than one.  I have a radio show that I do every week.  This is part of my passion.  I have clients that I work with and share and teach with them.  I love to write here and in my journals.  I have co-workers that I exchange services with and I am able to share my passion with them.  Is the greater percentage of my day filled with what I am passionate about?  No, not right now.  But, I believe, firmly, that there will be a day when it is.  In the meantime, those moments filled with passion and joy help to sustain me.  In those moments, I feel fulfilled and that fulfillment brings positive expectation into everything else I do.  Bring your joy forward!  Find your passion and begin to live it as much as you can.  If you would love to be an artist but you currently find you must keep your current job, then doodle in a sketch book during your lunch hour!  Devote one hour per day to your passion.  Set your intention for that hour to grow over time and it will.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 11, 2010

I don't have a lot of time today so I asked my guidance to please share something today.  "Shirley, we are always happy when you ask us to share with you and with others.  We know that you do not have a lot of time so we will make this brief.  What we want everyone to know is that each and every person on this planet is never alone.  You all came in with spiritual support.  There are a host of spiritual beings who are here to aid you in this journey on Planet Earth.  Everyone.  Too often, you see others as better than yourselves but that is not true.  Each and every person is equally important.  No one is greater or lesser.  You all have different gifts and roles to play in this grand adventure of human life but no one is without spiritual resources.  State your intention that you wish to begin connecting more and more to your support system and you will.  There are so many of you that make it so difficult.  Do you know why?  It is because you expect it to be difficult.  It may be subtle, the communication you receive, but subtle is not necessarily difficult.  Pay attention to your environment.  Ask for signs.  You will receive them.  You may not receive the burning bush or other dramatic phenomena but you will receive.  Set your intention.  Raise your expectations.  Receive.  Remember that some of what you receive will be conveyed in feelings and not words.  Ask your Guardian Angel to be with you and you may feel love, sweetness and warmth.  You may feel a tingling or goose bumps.  These are just as real as words.  We hope to share with you again, soon.  Until then, blessings.  US"   Until tomorrow, have a wonderful connected day!  Love and Light, Shirley

June 10, 2010

Everything that exists has its own unique energy and vibration.  Everything has an affect on us whether we are consciously aware of it or not.  A few years ago, I learned about psychometry for the first time.  Psychometry is the ability to gain information about something through touch.  I participated in a class where we would hold an object and then simply report what information, images and feelings we were getting from the object.  I was amazed at how much information I received from simply holding someone's ring or keys or any of a number of other objects.  I held one woman's ring that had been her sister's ring for many years.  I primarily shared the images that I received and it was a little confusing to me until the woman told me that I had just described her deceased sister very accurately.  After I learned that I am quite good at psychometry, I began thinking about how often I have had times when I would have fatigue or emotions crop up, seemingly out of nowhere.  I began to realize that I pick up other people's vibrations from something as simple as pushing a shopping cart.  It takes a bit of sustained touch so simply opening a door may not do it although if the the last person before me was feeling very strong emotions, it might.  I had noticed several years ago that I am often very fatigued after shopping at Walmart.  I thought it was so strange and could not figure out why.  After learning about psychometry I believe I have the answer.  A great many of the people who shop at places like Walmart are on limited incomes.  They have a fair amount of anxiety regarding money and getting their needs met.  I would pick up on this anxiety without being aware of it.  By the time I would leave Walmart, I would feel drained.  Since figuring this out, I am very careful to release any energy that is not mine after shopping there.  When I go to doctor's offices or any places where people are in pain and frightened, I am conscious of what I touch.  After leaving, I release anything that is not mine.  Pay attention to yourself especially if you are psychically open and empathic.  Some of the fatigue and emotional stress you are feeling may not even be your own.  A very good way to release energy that is not yours is to take a sea salt shower.  Put some sea salt in a glass and dilute it with water.  Take a shower and pour the sea salt water over your heard making a declaration that you are transforming any negative energy and releasing it back into Mother Earth. Envision the neutralized energy going down the drain and ending up in the earth.  Envision the sea salt purifying your energy field.  You can then wash your hair with shampoo.  I love the image of the negative energy being neutralized and transformed.  It is so much better than releasing negative energy out into the world.  We can transform negativity into something positive.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 9, 2010

Never underestimate the power of one person bringing in the Light through their prayers.  It is easy to become numb when you hear about disasters such as the Gulf oil spill.  At a time when so many people's lives are challenging, news of the oil spill can simply seem overwhelming.  What can I do?  Some people can actually go there and help.  Some people can perhaps share financially in some way.  However, for the great majority, this may not be the case.  We can pray.  I received an email today from someone who has asked us all to pray and bring light into the Gulf.  The email referred to the Net of Light to which we are all connected.  We can, through our prayers and intentions, connect to this great Net of Light and bring Light and healing to the Gulf.  Envision this Light helping to bring healing and harmony to the land, the minerals and plants, the animals, the water and humanity.  As you pray, allow yourself to be aware of the others who are also praying and bringing Light into this catastrophe.  We are all connected.  All of the kingdoms are connected.  What is done to one is also done to the others.  This disaster does not only affect the Gulf of Mexico, it affects all of us.  Our prayers do not only heal the Gulf of Mexico, they heal all of us.  Please join me and others in praying and drawing this beautiful Net of Light over the Gulf.  Remember that our true essence is the Light.  We are a part of this Net of Light.  It is our true and natural state.  Let us restore Mother Earth to her true and natural state.  Thank you.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 8, 2010

In 2000 I received a message from my guides.  They told me that there is no place for fear in this lifetime.  At the time I received the message I did not understand exactly what they meant.  I came into this lifetime with a host of fears and negative beliefs.  Even as a very young child I had anxiety.  I carried so much anxiety and fear in my body that my hands shook with a slight tremor.  At twenty-eight, I went to a hypnotherapist for my weight issues and I did not release any weight but I did quit shaking.  Over the years I have conquered so many of my fears and phobias.  Bit by bit, I have challenged my fears and insecurities and have refused to be ruled by them.  It has been a long and arduous process.  Ten years ago, it was still inconceivable to me that I could one day be free of all fear.  Over the years I have conquered most of my severe allergies.  I have conquered bulimia.  I have conquered and healed self-hatred.  I have conquered my fear of heights, claustrophobia and other phobias.  I have healed myself of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  Every step along the way I have confronted my fear and refused to allow it to rule me and rule my life.  I continue to work on releasing all fear.  I wish I could say that I am fear-free but I am not there, yet.  However, I do understand why my guides told me what they did.  Fear is a choice.  It may not feel like it but it is.  I can choose to be in fear or I can choose to release it.  Better than releasing my fear, I can transform it.  I can take that energy and own it and then transform it into something that truly serves me.  It is not always easy especially when I am surrounded by people who live in fear.  It is not easy but it is not impossible.  It is my choice.  My guides told me that I can live my life from fear or love and that it is my choice.  I choose love.  What do you choose?  Love and Light, Shirley

June 7, 2010

It is a shame that there is conflict between people because of religious differences.  I believe that there is truth in all religions and that this truth lies in their essence rather than their particulars.  A few years ago I came upon an article on the Internet which shared one of the basic tenets that was found in nearly all religions.  In Christianity it is referred to as the Golden Rule.  Do unto thy neighbor as you would have thy neighbor do unto you.  The wording might be phrased slightly differently for each religion listed but they all conveyed the same basic message.  I remember once when a Jehovah Witness came and talked to my dad about religion and asked my dad if he had a church.  My father said that if he had a church it would be the Lion's Club.  The look on the woman's face was priceless.  The answer was a perfect one for my dad.  He was not a religious man but he lived the Golden Rule.  He lived a life of service to his fellow man.  One of his vehicles for providing service to others was the Cosmopolis Lion's Club.  When my dad died, the Methodist church where my mom had attended was packed.  During the time of the service when people stood up and shared stories about my dad there was a common theme.  Generosity.  Service.  Selflessness.  Kindness. Hard worker.  I heard many stories of times when my dad had helped people secretly and without any need for acknowledgment.  This is what we are here for.  We are here to be of service to one another.  We are here to look beyond religious differences, racial differences, political differences and personality differences.  We are here to be generous to one another and to be kind to one another.  Let us all shed the clothing of separation and celebrate in our naked unity.  Whether we are members of a church, temple, mosque or Lion's club, let us all rejoice in our commonality and allow our differences.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 6, 2010

I just finished recording my radio show.  The topic for that show is surrender.  The last portion of the show is a meditation which is intended to help you experience surrender.  I shared in the show some of the different times and ways in which I have surrendered to the Divine.  In those moments that I have truly surrendered, I have experienced a kind of weightlessness, a buoyancy and freedom that is so delicious!  I have felt as though I had become liquid and I could flow everywhere with grace and ease.  Grace and ease.  I often include those three words in my prayers.  I pray to move through life with grace and ease.  I pray to deal with others with grace and ease, to have fluidity instead of rigidity.  This is my prayer for you today.  I pray that you move through your life with grace and ease, surrendering to the Divine flow of the Universe, knowing that whatever comes your way you are safe and you are beloved.  I pray to surrender to my Divine Self, letting go of the petty beliefs, thoughts and behaviors that create fear and rigidity.  I pray to become more and more of who I truly am.  I pray the same for you.  As each of us returns to the truth of who we are, we create space for others to do the same.  Just envision the world, filled with billions of people who have all surrendered to the Divine Flow.  Imagine billions of people moving through life with grace and ease.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 5, 2010

I remember learning a number of years ago that a very good way to find answers is to ask your body.  Our bodies are very wise and they live completely in the present.  Our emotions can go every which way and we can fool ourselves mentally into believing almost anything.  The body is totally present and available if we but listen.  When I first started learning this, I already knew how to listen in a subtle way.  If I felt a stirring in my gut or goose bumps, I knew that I needed to pay attention.  But, what I did not realize is that the body can give us information in very concrete and less subtle ways.  I learned about muscle testing and that you can test your muscles for answers.  When I first learned about muscle testing, the method required that someone else do it to me.  Over the years, I have learned other methods that I can do for myself.  I have even learned how to use my body like a pendulum in order to obtain answers.  If you stand with your feet shoulder width apart, slightly bend your knees and relax, you are ready to be a pendulum.  An easy way to try this is to find food that you can hold against your abdomen.  Ask if this food is good for you.  Stay as relaxed as you can and wait to see what your body does.  If the food is good for you, you will fall slightly forward.  If the food is not good for you, you will feel yourself falling backward.  If the food is neutral, you will simply stand there with no movement.  The falling forward or backward can be subtle but it can also be quite dramatic.  I have used this method to see what foods are good for me as well as supplements and medications.  I eventually used this method for other answers, too.  I always encourage clients who wish to use this method to start with foods.  The body can give you accurate and easy information.  It seems to react more strongly to food and more subtly to other questions.  Start with the food responses and then it will be easier to get your answers when the body is reacting more subtly to other kinds of questions.  I have learned other methods of muscle testing but I still like this one best.  You should see me at the grocery store!  I am often testing foods before I decide to put them in my cart.  What a hoot.  Happy testing!  Love and Light, Shirley

June 4, 2010

I am very aware of my own guidance most of the time.  I feel very blessed to have this in my life.  I have had many clients who are striving to listen and follow their own guidance.  By guidance, I am referring to spiritual guidance.  I am aware that I have a Higher spiritual self who guides me.  I also am aware that I have a collective of spiritual guides, as well as other guides and teachers that come and go.  I will occasionally encounter someone who is longing for a sign, some kind of proof that they are being listened to and that they are truly in connection with the Divine.  I tell them to pay attention to everything that they can that is currently in their environment.  God speaks to us in so many different ways.  Back in 2000, I was told that I would start finding small white feathers and that this indicated angels around me.  I did, indeed, begin to find small white feathers.  I found them in the most unusual places and ways.  I knew over time that it was not coincidence when I found them.  Certainly, if one is at the beach and finds a feather, that is not surprising.  After all, the beach is filled with birds.  However, I would find my feathers in places where one would not expect to find a bird.  I also paid close attention to the timing and why I was finding a feather at any one given moment.  I remember going to a psychic fair and I had a session with a lovely woman named Cherry Divine.  When I sat down and we began the session, she gave a start and said that now she knew why she had kept something that she had found that morning.  I had no idea what she was talking about.  She reached beneath her table and pulled out  a small feather.  She told me that she had found it that morning and was almost ready to place it back on the ground when she heard she was to keep it because someone was coming that she needed to give it to.  She looked at me and stated that I was that person.  She continued to inform me that "they" bring me feathers so that I always know I am surrounded by angels.  I had been finding feathers for several years when she gave me that small feather, however, it still thrilled me just as much.  Just for one moment, envision yourself surrounded by angels.  For myself, it is like being wrapped in beautiful light, colors and warmth.  Ask for signs from the Divine.  Be open to them coming in all different ways.  You are listened to.  You are loved.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 3, 2010

It has been quite rainy and overcast here where I live in the Pacific Northwest.  I am hoping to do some work outside so hopefully it will not be quite as wet.  It is spectacular here in the spring.  The rhododendrons love the cool moist environment as do the azaleas and other plants.  There is something about the rhododendrons, however, that produce such beauty.  Their blooms can be enormous and even an old straggly bush can produce a mass of blooms.  I have seen rhododendrons in other states, Nevada for example.  However, there is simply no comparison.  The rainfall produces the lushness.  I keep this thought in my mind as I ponder my life.  Sometimes it is those very things in our life that can annoy us, make our life more difficult and challenging, that are the very same things that help us to bloom.  It is often only after our feet have been muddied and we have been greatly inconvenienced that we receive wonderful results.  What is the rain in your life?  What is it you may feel you are slogging through?  Be of good courage.  Know that whatever it is, it is not forever.  Know that it may be the very thing that helps you to grow the most.  In the midst of the deluge in your life, find a way to take a break from the rain.  Put up your spiritual umbrella by taking some time to pray, meditate, listen to music, talk to a friend, read something funny, take a walk, take a nap, pet an animal or simply reach out to another human being.  Buy yourself some flowers and immerse yourself in their beauty.  Remind yourself that you are like those flowers and that you, too, have to go through certain stages before you can fully bloom.  Be patient with yourself.  Be kind to yourself.  If the rain isn't slowing down right now, put on your rubber boots and raincoat and immerse yourself in it, knowing that you can make it.  Love and Light, Shirley

June 2, 2010

I was listening to a presentation by a woman named Carol Steinel who channels a being named Carruch.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every time I have connected to them, whether through a live class or a phone session or through her website www.CosmicLaugh.com  Carruch was teaching last January about this coming year.  He called 2010 the year of the 10th chakra and explained that we have our individual chakras but we also have chakras that we share collectively.  The 10th chakra is located far out beyond Mother Earth and we can see Mother Earth from there very much like the earth shots that were taken from the moon.  He recommended that every day we go to our 10th chakra and view Mother Earth from afar and as we return back to Mother Earth that we envision her as we want her to be.  I have been practicing this.  What has occurred to me is that this is a useful tool to use in other areas of my life.  For example, if I am encountering challenges in an area of my life, I draw myself back so that I can view it from a great distance.  As I come closer and closer to the situation, I envision it just as I would like it to be.  This has been very helpful.  Sometimes, we are so caught up in what is directly in front of our face that we lose perspective.  Sometimes, we just need to back off and back up and see things from a different view.  As we return to the situation or relationship we can bring with us our new vision.  Whether it is a new Earth, a new relationship or a new job, creating some distance between the old reality and returning with a new vision is helpful.  Where in your life do you need to create some space in which to see things from a different perspective?  Where in your life do you feel stuck and that you just keep going around and around without making effective change?  I suggest you try this exercise.  Envision yourself going far, far away from whatever it is.  You can see it but it is so much smaller than what you thought.  Now, decide what it is you truly wish to create and as you come back, keep this new vision in your mind.  Practice this daily, at least once a day.  For myself, I know that I feel calmer and a sense of hope and excitement every time I return.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 29, 2010

The other day when I was talking on the hone with a good friend, he asked me if I was still there.  I said yes, that I was listening.  This has been happening more often to me while on the phone with people.  It made me realize how much better I am at listening.  It is a great gift to be listened to.  For myself, I know that when a friend allows me to just talk and vent and process with them, I receive a great deal from them.  I am not asking them to solve my problems or tell me what to do.  I simply need someone to listen to me.  Sometimes having someone else listen to me aids me in listening to myself.  I am so pleased that I am a better listener!  I have always cared about people and it isn't that I have not listened in the past.  I have listened for many years but the quality of my listening has changed.  I am not quite as quick with the advice or my interpretation of what is going on for someone else.  I am more receptive and reflective so that they can interpret for themselves what it is they need to do.  If they ask me for my advice, yes, I give it.  I am more likely to wait or ask them if they want it.  Sometimes, it isn't the advice that people need or want.  It is the receptive ear.  It is the friend who listens and by listening is giving the person an opportunity to reflect.  The gift of listening is also the gift of time.  By listening to someone you are telling them that what they have to say is very important, therefore they are important.  Happy listening!  Love and Light, Shirley

May 28, 2010

For a great deal of my life I struggled with finding the balance between being too judgmental of others myself and being so compassionate that I allowed them to cross over my boundaries in one way or another.  The truth lies somewhere in the middle.  I have learned that there is a difference between discernment and judgment.  Judgment means that I am looking at a person's behavior and labeling the person with that behavior.  Discernment occurs when I am able to assess a person's behavior and know that there is much more to the person than their behavior.  Having too much compassion or sympathy creates a situation where I allow someone's behavior to violate my own boundaries or the boundaries of others.  I have been in the process of learning how to love others and still hold them accountable for their actions.  As a parent, I knew that I loved my children no matter what they did.  I had expectations of them and I held them accountable if they violated rules or behaved in an unacceptable manner.  I must hold others to the same standards, including myself.  Loving others unconditionally does not mean I allow them to behave in ways that are hurtful to myself or others.  Loving others unconditionally means that I love others no matter what they may do at the same time that I hold them accountable for their choices and behaviors.  When I am loving myself unconditionally, I apply the same standards.  I love myself no matter what my choices may be but I also hold myself accountable.  If I make a poor choice, I do not beat myself up but I also accept that I may receive certain consequences as a result of my choice.  We all are creating our own reality, including how we allow others to treat us.  Take a boundary check for yourself.  Do you hold others to the same standard that you have created for yourself?  Do you allow others to violate your boundaries?  Do you hold yourself to the same boundaries that you have created for others?  Do you violate the boundaries of others?  Remember the Golden Rule: Love your neighbor as Thyself.  Do you understand that this means you must first love yourself?  When I love myself I know that I deserve to have my boundaries respected.  I also know that to allow someone else to violate my boundaries has nothing to do with love, no matter what my relationship with them might be.  Today, remember the Golden Rule and love yourself as well as your neighbor.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 27, 2010

I was talking on the phone to a friend last night.  He was telling me how he had been sitting there thinking about the state of the world.  He mentioned a long list of negative events and circumstances that were occurring all over the planet.  It was fairly late in the evening so I realized as he told me that he needed to get ready for bed that he was going to sleep after having a lot of negative and sad thoughts.  I was reminded of what my guides had told me back in 2004.  They told me to stop watching the news on television and to stop reading the paper.  They reassured me that I would know what I needed to know and that most of what was on television and in the news was negative and it was not for my highest good to be filling my mind and heart with all that negativity.  I followed their guidance and I never bought cable television again nor did I purchase the newspaper after that.  I would occasionally look at the news on my computer and that was about it.  That was over six years and my guides were right.  I have always known what I truly needed to know.  I have had less problems with anxiety.  I have had fewer feelings of hopelessness.  I have had less times where I felt overwhelmed with the state of the world.  I don't regret following my guidance.  My life is different because I now live with my mom and she gets the newspaper and has television.  However, I leave the room if she chooses to watch the news.  I glance at the newspaper briefly but rarely truly read it.  Do I think I am sticking my head in the sand?  No.  I believe that the news is lopsided and primarily is negative and fear-producing.  Of course there are difficult things in the world.  I have difficult circumstances in my own life.  But, that is not what I want to read about, hear about and focus on.  I want to read words of inspiration and encouragement.  I want to focus on those circumstances that are improving and those that bring me hope, love and joy.  So, for today, in the news flash of my own mind, I am hearing laughter and joyous clapping, people celebrating the victories in their life.  The headlines in my ethereal newspaper state that more and more people are turning to their spirituality and are discovering their true selves.  In my own want ad, it states that I want to share with others and that I am looking for others who are willing to receive what I have to share.  What does your want ad state?  How does your headline read?  Remember that we always have a choice as to what we focus on and experience.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 25, 2010

When is the last time you had a belly laugh?  You know what I am talking about.  The kind of deep laughter that rises up from within you and takes over your entire body.  Your eyes water and you can barely catch your breath as you give in to the delicious sensations of out of control laughter.  Laughter is good medicine.  When I used to have problems with depression, I would go to a local drug store and look at silly greeting cards.  Eventually, I would be laughing and laughing.  Somehow there just wasn't room for depression when reading The Far Side.  If you can't remember your last belly laugh, it is time to lighten up!  It is time to rent a funny movie or read a funny book, check out funny greeting cards or call a friend that can usually make you laugh.  Perhaps it is time to laugh at yourself.  I always know that I am taking life too seriously if I have not laughed at myself recently.  When I am going more with the flow of life, I always seem to find humor in my life, including laughing at myself.  When I laugh at myself, it is not in a demeaning way, but is a way of telling myself to lighten up and quit being so hard on myself.  I remember one time I discovered that I had been wearing two different earrings all day long.  In the past, I would have been embarrassed.  Now, I just look at things like that as golden opportunities to help other people laugh, too.  Bring some levity into your life today.  Laugh.  It is good for what ails you.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 24, 2010

I learned a type of Buddist meditation that I like to practice.  It is very simple and yet very powerful.  When you breathe in, you breathe in whatever is distressing you at the time and you breathe out white light.  You may breathe in anger, your own anger, and breathe out white light.  Then, you breathe in the anger of those close to you and breathe out white light.  You breathe in the anger of larger groups of people and breathe out white light.  You breathe in the anger of the world and breathe out white light.  Most of the meditations I had previously learned had people do the opposite, breathe in white light and exhale the toxins.  At first, it felt foreign to breathe in anger or hatred or fear or pain.  However, it is very powerful to breathe out white light and to be the agent for change.  In this new kind of meditation, you become the transformer, the spiritual magician who transforms dark to light.  The truth is that we too often place God outside of ourselves and we miss out on the inherent spiritual power that we all possess.  The God in me is a powerful transformer and healer.  Every time I breathe out white light, I am affirming my own ability to bring positive change into the world.  Just for today, breathe in whatever it is you are struggling with and breathe out white light.  Lighten your load and therefore you lighten the load of the world.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 22, 2010

This morning while I was listening to my guidance and writing what I heard, they talked to me about my channeling.  I have channeled many times but I am still hesitant at times.  They shared with me that I still need to trust myself.  Ask.  Open and receive.  So that is what I am doing right now.  "Shirley, it is truly so simple.  You have opened and received from us countless times before and will do so countless times into the future.  What is it we would most like to share with you and with those who are readings these words?  We wish to share that you are loved.  You are loved and cherished far more than most of you can truly comprehend.  You live in a world of conditional love, which isn't truly love at all.  It is a distortion to say you love someone if.  To be loved unconditionally means that you are loved no matter who you are or what you do.  To love someone else unconditionally is to love them no matter who they are or what they do.  This includes all people even those who have committed heinous acts.  This is a very difficult concept for most human beings to embrace.  You live in a world of duality.  Good and bad. Black and white.  Hot or cold.  True or untrue.  Let us just look for a moment at the last pair of words, true and untrue.  It is not as simple as what one might think.  What is true for you may not be true for someone else.  Therefore, how can you definitively state what is true or untrue.  You can only share what is true or untrue for you.  Billions of people inhabit this planet at this time.  That equals billions of truths.  When you move into a higher state of being, you have more tolerance for all these different truths.  You no longer need to prove whether or not you are right or wrong because you truly do not care.  When you move into a place of more tolerance and compassion you are able to love others even those who have chosen paths that are divergent from yours.  What they may believe to be true is true for them.  They may never be able to see your point of view.  As you progress spiritually, this will matter less and less.  Therefore, you do not have to prove yourself.  Others do not have to prove themselves to you.  It is enough to say to yourself that that is their truth and I have my own.  You allow space between themselves and you.  You allow.  Allowing others to have their own truth is a huge gift to them and to yourself.  This is especially important in this world that is filled with so many different religions, philosophies, political parties and racial and cultural differences.  So, for today, allow someone else to have their own truth even if it is the opposite of yours.  Make no move to change their mind.  Waste no effort to convince them of their folly.  Allowing others to be themselves is one aspect of unconditional love.  Through the generosity of your own heart you increase your ability to love yourself unconditionally.  Thank you for allowing us to share with you.  US"   My guidance just refers to themselves as US when I channel and write with them. Love and Light, Shirley

May 21, 2010

I have a wonderful friend, Cliff, who is driving two hours to come and help me with some clean up I am doing.  He has a pickup truck and has been helping me for months.  My appreciation is enormous.  We have made countless trips to the dump, the recycling center, the hazardous waste drop off and more.  I was laughing at myself as I realized I was feeling such excitement and anticipation this morning about what we would be getting rid of today.  So much to choose from!  Cliff has also been great about fixing some things at my mother's home.  He is a handy man extraordinaire.  There was a time in my life when my father was still alive and much younger that I could count on him to help me with all kinds of projects.  Before my divorce, I was married to a very talented man who could also fix all kinds of things.  My life is very different now because I am divorced and my dad died last summer.  I am learning to ask for help from other people.  I am learning to accept help when people offer it.  In truth, after I moved away from Washington State and lived in places where I was not surrounded by old friends and family, I already have had to do that.  Especially when I lived in Reno, I was blessed to have the assistance of so many different friends.  My friends, Mary and Michael, were particularly supportive in a huge variety of ways.  I have always been someone who helped others without hesitation.  It has been important for me to allow others to be there for me.  It has not always been easy.  Yet, every time I accept someone else's help I am giving them the opportunity to give.  Every time I receive from someone else I am helping to reinforce the belief that we are here to be of service to each other.  If I only allowed myself to be of service, I would actually be quite selfish.  Universal law demands that we give and receive.  Equal exchange creates balance.  Thank you to all of my friends and family, especially my children, Michael and Amy, and my son-in-law Blake, for all your kindness and assistance.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 20, 2010

The weather today is very unpredictable.  One moment the sun is shining and the sky is blue and then a short time later, dark gray clouds cover the sun and it rains and hails.  I can look out the windows in the back of the house and it looks like a beautiful spring day.  If I move to the front of the house, the sky is dark and the clouds look ready to burst.  This is not uncommon for the Pacific Northwest.  If you wait for the perfect weather to do something, you might wait a long time.  Instead, we have umbrellas and rain bonnets and rain boots and rain coats.  I realized as I watched the weather change so abruptly that there are ways in which I have postponed doing certain tasks waiting for the "right" moment.  I guess I have been waiting for the perfect weather.  I cannot do that.  I must put on my spiritual raincoat and bonnet, my spiritual rain boots and grab my spiritual umbrella.  It is time for action.  I might get a little wet or uncomfortable but I will eventually have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it in spite of less than perfect conditions.  I read not too long ago a recommendation that you always start off your to do list with one of the hardest things you have to do.  Once you check that off your list, you feel so good that everything else seems simpler.  That is what I am doing today.  Maybe what I have needed all along to do some of my spiritual work is not the perfect day but the perfect storm.  Keep on splashing!  Love and Light, Shirley

May 19, 2010

If you died today would you have any words left unsaid?  Something happened today and it reminded me of the importance of telling people what is on our hearts.  I know that eventually I will be reunited with my loved ones but I don't want to pass over and leave anything unsaid or undone.  It isn't always easy.  Sometimes there are relationships that have been very challenging and difficult.  There are times that it seems easier to just let them lie and do nothing and say nothing.  That, however, is the lazy person's way out.  It is a cowardly way and is not the way of integrity.  So, today, I will write that difficult letter and express myself.  I will speak my truth with kindness so that if I die tonight, I leave nothing unsaid.  Do you have unspoken words?  Is there someone you need to reconnect with?  Is there something not yet complete in one of your relationships?  Step into your integrity and do what your heart is telling you to do.  Never mind about how the other person responds.  You are only responsible for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 18, 2010

Yesterday, when I was preparing myself to sit and write with my guidance, I had an interesting experience.  I took a deep breath and I said the words, I surrender, inside of my mind.  When I did that, I saw and felt a unique vision and experience.  I saw myself changing from a solid presence into millions of tiny particles.  These particles then dispersed themselves out into the world.  When I breathed in again, the particles re-assembled and formed a solid body once again.  Not only did I see this in my third eye but I could feel it physically in my body.  I tingled all over.  It was though I became liquid and flowed out everywhere and then flowed back into my self.  My guidance talked to me about my experience.  They asked me if I truly grasped the significance of my experience.    Shirley, do you truly grasp the importance of this?  This dispersing, this dissembling of yourself and then re-assembling yourself is part of being in the flow.  You become a part of that flow.  When you are surrendering, you are saying, I let go of control.  I let go of my boundaries, my rigidity, my fear.  You disperse yourself out into the flow of the Universe, knowing that you are both One with the Universe and One with yourself.  You flow back, you re-assemble so to speak but you are not the same, you are new.  By surrendering to the Divine, by letting go of the need to control, you flow out and your vibration of trust, love and surrender attracts new elements to you.  Re-assembled you are made new, a brighter version of you.  A new improved you.  Surrender everything to the flow, to God.  For when you do, the world as you know it today will be forever altered and she will no longer exist.  The more you harmonize with your Higher Self, the less that the You, you identify with today, will exist.  The new improved Shirley will take her place.  Life will flow more, less struggle and less tension.  Quit worrying, Shirley.  Quit worrying about what you will do when??????  Have you not seen that you are taken care of?  Have you not seen that whatever happens is truly best?  It is always good when I connect with my guides and write their words of wisdom but some times are even better than good, they are wonderful.  This was one of those times.  Every time I surrender I move closer and closer to being in that flow.  I pray for the day when I am in the flow all the time and there is no longer a need in my vocabulary for the words, I surrender.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 17, 2010

I sometimes get information about the future.  For a long time, I would receive the knowledge that someone was going to die.  Usually, this would come in the form of dreams but sometimes I would simply have that knowing spontaneously.  It is not a very pleasant experience to wake up from a powerful dream in which someone passed into the other realm.  I would wake up nauseated and my heart would be pounding.  Usually within the next 24 to 48 hours that person would die.  I used to cry and wonder why this happened to me.  I used to be anxious because I thought that perhaps I was supposed to do something to prevent those deaths.  Now, I don't worry about having them, I just understand that this is a part of the experience I chose to have in this lifetime.  It helps me to understand my own connection to life and death.  I believe it has helped me to trust what I get and not discount the revelations that come to me.  I have had other information about the future imparted to me that is much easier to receive.  The other information is filled with hope and love.  Death is not the end of our existence but the end of our physical existence in this plane for a certain period of time.  When I connect to those who have passed to the other side, it is usually joyous.  Whether the connection is for me or for other people, I still experience such joy.  How sublime to help people connect to loved ones that they believed were gone forever from them.  How blessed to share their messages of love and encouragement.  No matter what happens in this physical plane, ultimately we are all fine.  That is information about the future that is truly useful.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 16, 2010

Yesterday was a very busy day and I spent most of it taking loads of junk to the garbage dump and a load to the recycling center.  I am in the midst of helping to clean up from years of accumulation.  The interesting part is that none of it is personally mine.  It is from other family members but I am in the position of needing to be the one to clean it up.  I have had others tell me how unfair it is that I am "stuck" with this huge job.  For the most part, I do not agree.  Certainly, from the worldly perspective, that is what it appears to be.  However, from the spiritual perspective it looks very different.  My guides have told me that I am cleaning up garbage from my past.  They are referring primarily to past incarnations.  I am paying my karmic debt to those involved.  When I keep this in mind, I do my best to clean and organize and throw things out with a deep sense of accomplishment and freedom.  Every load I take to the dump I remind myself that I am unloading old stuff that is no longer needed.  Since my guides have told me to think of it as my own, I say a prayer of thanks that I am letting go of what I no longer need to pack around.  It does not even matter if I know exactly what it is I am letting go of!  I simply trust that I am.  I also must trust that everything will get done in divine timing and divine order.  I do my best to focus on whatever the task at hand is.  Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and go into self-pity.  When I do that, then I am defeating the whole purpose!  I have learned to trust that everything is in order even if it does not feel like it.  I do believe that ultimately, everything that happens is for my highest good.  I have already learned in the past six to seven years to let go of a great deal of my own physical belongings and trust that whatever I truly need will come to me.  I have learned that our physical belongings are a reflection of much of our inner self.  Are you hanging on too tightly to your stuff?  Is your life cluttered and disorganized?  Everything is connected.  When you are able to let go of excess baggage inside it will eventually be reflected outside.  When you let go of excess baggage outside, it will create space within you for something new.  Are you ready to go to the dump?  Whether it is a physical dump or a psychic dump, it will benefit you.  You will lighten your load.  Let go, let go , let go.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 14, 2010

There is a corner in my mother's yard that is overgrown to the point that the bushes overlap each other and have obliterated the sidewalk.  I can go out the back family room door and sit upon old stone steps that are covered with moss and it is as though I am in the forest itself.  To the left tall beautiful ferns grace that corner of the house, their lacy arms gently waving in the breeze.  The andromeda bush has grown to where you can see through it but not easily and the sidewalk disappears into its middle.  Trillium bloom beneath and oxalis covers most of the remaining ground with its bright green lucky leaves.  Tiny white blossoms peer above the leaves, their delicate presence bright amongst all the green.  The camelia bush to the right has grown to an immense size and height and I can stand beneath parts of it.  Hidden behind, surrounded by these ancient plants, it is not difficult to leave the city behind.  I can smell the dark, rich pungent soil.  The air and soil are cool and moist and speak of ancient times and of old, deep roots seeking sustenance.  These are the steps of my childhood where I often sat amongst the ferns and trilliums and leaves.  The lily of the valley are gone but I can still narrow my eyes and see them blooming so cheerily amongst the rest.  The fuchsia bush is also gone but the memory of its brightly colored blossoms remains.  I travel back realizing how deep my own roots grow.  There is a part of me that is connected to this corner of the house.  There is a part of me that lives within the rich, black soil and the leafy green bowers.  Just as the lily of the valley still remain in shadow, so, too, will a part of me remain long after this corner has gone.  We are ancient.  We are indestructible.  Our essence remains intact long after the body has dissipated.  I feel the spirits of those who have passed, human and plant alike.  Sitting in my sacred corner, my brother Doug is once again with me, his broad bright smile lighting up my life.  My dad with his twinkling eyes and funny quips is once again making me laugh.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who have passed join me in my leafy sanctuary, their own sacred blossoms sweetly nestled in amongst the antique blossoms of white.  Do you have a sacred corner to visit? A place where you can smell the soil and breathe in the green?  Perhaps yours is a rocky place devoid of green but filled with a different essence.  Perhaps yours is a sandy place where salt air fills your lungs and body.  It does not matter as long as you have one.  If you do, find some time to be there.  If you do not have a sacred sanctuary, find one or create one.  When life is hard and challenging, a sacred space can revive you.  You can leave behind your worries and difficulties and simply be.  You leave that sanctuary renewed and a part of it goes with you.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 13, 2010

God is everywhere and in everything.  I remember the first time I heard those words or ones that were very similar.  I could wrap my mind around the concept of God being everywhere but I had not really thought about God being in everything.  I certainly thought of God creating everything but not being in everything.  That was many years ago and my beliefs have changed many times since then.  I do believe that God is in everything.  I believe that we are all connected because we are all part of God.  Therefore, God can speak to me through many different venues.  If I listen, I can hear God everywhere and in everything.  I especially find God in nature, in the plant, mineral  and animal kingdoms.  One of the most profound times that I connected to the bird kingdom was when I was at a friend's house.  I had been praying and asking for answers to some troubling questions.  I was sitting in a lounge chair and suddenly, a large hawk swooped down and ran its talons through my hair.  I could hear the hawk even before I felt it or saw it fly into a thicket.  I was astounded.  I had never seen a hawk do anything like that before.  I knew that hawk signified a message was coming.  I kept my eyes and ears and my intuition open for whatever that message might be. I soon began to receive answers to my questions.  When I was still living in Reno, one of the ancient crystal skulls named Max came to The Spiritual Element.  I had a private session with the skull and it was very profound.  We had been told that sometimes the skull will reflect yourself back to you.  In other words whatever messages or emotions are coming from the skull actually originated from me.  As a result, I had the opportunity to feel my own compassion.  I wept tears of compassion for myself and for the whole world.  I received so many messages of love and my heart was filled to overflowing.  Today, for just a while, give yourself some time to listen to God.  If you can be in nature, so much the better.  Listen to the river, the trees and flowers and the animals.  Listen to the wind and rocks and soil.  What do you hear?  What do you feel?  Sometimes the messages do not come in words but in feelings.  Do you feel loved?  Do you feel cherished?  If not, keep listening until you do hear or feel the love of God.  That love is ever present in everything and everyone.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 11, 2010

I have often shared with my clients some of the ways in which we continue to manifest experiences in our lives even though they are not what we want.  We all have deep, underlying beliefs which feed our thoughts.  Our thoughts feed our emotions and it is this combination of beliefs, thoughts and emotions that create magnetic energy.  This magnetic energy then attracts to us those people, experiences and situations which match in frequency.  Once those people and experiences come to us, they reinforce the original beliefs, whether the beliefs are creating what we want or not.  When we challenge those beliefs and begin to create new healthier beliefs, that is when we begin to experience change.  For example, if someone believes that no one will ever want to marry them, this underlying belief creates negative thoughts about their ability to be married.  The negative thoughts stimulate emotions of sadness, unworthiness, loneliness and more.  This person is now magnetized to a vibration that matches sadness, unworthiness and loneliness.  This makes it unlikely that he or she will put themselves in a position to meet people or to attract someone to them who could be a potential mate.  They continue to live alone and lonely, which reinforces the original belief that no one will want to marry them.  For this person to change their vibration, they must find a way to challenge the underlying, faulty belief.  It is not always easy but it is possible.  So many of our beliefs are false and were created when we were quite young and we were so open to everything and everyone in our environment.  Small children are like sponges and soak up whatever they hear.  If they hear words of love and support, they create beliefs that are positive and supportive of them.  If they hear words that are unkind, untrue and demeaning, they create beliefs that do not support them.  Whether the beliefs are positive or negative, they all feel true.  Is there something that you are longing for and you simply cannot seem to make it happen?  Are there areas of your life that seem to yield the same results no matter what you do?  Examine your thoughts, especially those that are recurring.  Ask yourself what the underlying belief might be that supports and creates those thoughts.  Be open to the possibility that the belief and therefore the thoughts are false even if they feel true.  Tell yourself that your feelings are just feelings and do not necessarily reflect truth.  Ask your Higher Self to reveal the truth about you.  Make a decision to find new beliefs that are positive and supportive of you.  Decide that you are going to focus on these new beliefs. Don't worry if you don't "feel" that these beliefs are true.  Keep on bringing yourself back to the real truth about you.  In time, your feelings will shift and your vibration will change.  You will begin to draw to you, those people, experiences and positive feelings that are in tune to your new vibration.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day.  Here in the Pacific Northwest Mother's day was absolutely beautiful.  After taking my mom to lunch, my boyfriend, my mom and myself went for a drive to the Quinault Rain Forest.  For anyone who has never been to the Quinault Rain Forest you are missing something truly spectacular.  Some of the largest trees in the world are found here.  Some of the last old growth timber can still be found growing amidst primeval ferns and horse tail.  Moss hangs down in magnificent abundance and everywhere you look there is evidence of the richness and abundance of Mother Earth.  After stopping for a cup of tea and a late afternoon snack, my mom and I waited out in the parking lot of the restaurant.  Across the road and on up into the hills were stands of evergreens as far as the eyes could see.  High above the trees a bald eagle soared and swooped, its white head glistening in the afternoon sun.  It was a magical moment.  I hope you had a wonderful day, too.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 8, 2010

Tomorrow is Mother's day.  I want to make sure and write something because I may get too busy and not write tomorrow.  I have heard some people complain about Mother's day and how it is just a day for commercialism.  I guess I am always amazed at some people's ability to focus on the negative and thereby miss the goodness inherent in every day.  I am aware that Mother's day is also a day that people often spend money.  I believe I read once that more flowers are sent on Mother's day than any other day of the year.  I prefer to focus on the reason the day was originally created.  It was created to honor mothers.  I have honored many different mothers throughout the years.  I am very blessed to still have my own mother, who is 84.  I was very blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law for the 28 years that I was married to my ex-husband.  I still honor her in my heart every Mother's day.  I honor my grandmothers even though they are no longer here in the body.  I honor my daughter who gave me one of the greatest joys in my life, my grandson, Brendan.  I honor those mothers who have touched my life in so many different ways.  Mothers of friends who became like second moms to me.  I honor Ruth Moyer who lived across the alley from me when I was growing up and who opened her home and heart to me.  I honor Grace Rhodes, another neighborhood mom who always had a dimpled smile and soft words of welcome.  I honor the aunts who brought their motherly love to me as well as to their own children.  I honor the teachers who brought motherly love and energy into their work in the classrooms.  I was blessed to grow up in a small town where everyone knew each other and I honor Pat Bloomingdale and her mother, Lillian Carlson for the mothering energy they brought to The Corner Store.  I honor Mrs. Gill, the librarian, who mothered in me a love for reading.  I honor the women who worked in our small grocery store.  I honor Mrs. Church, who was flamboyant and bigger than life, yet who also showed caring for everyone who came across her path.  I honor the countless women who mothered me, each in her own way.  I honor Amma Karunamayi, a Hindu saint who brings her message of unconditional love to the world.  I honor her for seeing beyond my ego and smallness and loving me.  I honor Mother Mary and the essence of her deep, abiding love. Last, I honor myself, for I, too, am a mother.  I honor myself for my own mistakes, sacrifices, courage and love that I worked to share with my children.  I see such imperfection within myself and I know the many ways in which I did not always succeed as a mother.  But, then, I look at my two children and I know that I did the best I could.  Mother's day is not about honoring perfection.  It is about honoring the love and work and sacrifice that is present even in the midst of imperfection.  Happy Mother's day.  Celebrate!  Give thanks!  Rejoice!  Love and Light, Shirley

May 6, 2010

I love synchronicity.  I love it when two seemingly random events can collide.  In yesterday's message I talked about a book from my childhood called "The Secret Garden". Last night I was watching a movie and in the movie a child is introduced to a book called.........."The Secret Garden".  I have had people ask me whether or not occurrences like this have any meaning.  My response is that I believe everything has meaning.  Now, as to the importance of any particular events that are synchronous, that depends on the person involved.  Often when I have had clients who came to me hoping to receive messages from spirit, I have encouraged them to pay more attention to their everyday lives and what happens to them throughout each day.  What previously may have been ignored could be found to have greater meaning.  For myself, I have learned to pay attention to most everything.  I pay attention to synchronicity, I go within and ask myself if there is a message there for me.  I especially pay attention to anything that comes in threes.  I pay enough attention to yesterday's events that I have already stopped and thought about the story and what might pertain to me, in my life, at this moment.  The story is about a sour little girl who is orphaned and goes to live with her uncle who lives in a huge, forbidding mansion.  She discovers that there is an invalid young boy, her cousin, who also lives there but is in seclusion most of the time.  When he was born, his mother died in childbirth and the father can barely be around him because he has not healed from his own grief.  Bit by bit, the cantankerous little girl proves to be a match for the equally spoiled and unhappy cousin.  Together they begin to form a bond which is aided by the interventions of a happy go lucky neighborhood boy who helps them when they discover a secret garden hidden behind a wall.  The garden had been the sickly boy's mother's garden and had been neglected since her death.  The three of them secretly enter the garden and diligently work together to bring the garden to life.  In the process, both the boy and girl become healthier and happier.  As they work their magic within the garden, digging, weeding, planting and pruning, the garden works its magic on them.  I thought of the parallels in my own life.  I am living with my elderly mother and I am cleaning out years and years of accumulation.  I am having to deal with years of neglect and things that have been saved long past their usefulness.  This is not just at my parent's home but my dad had his own scrap yard and there is several acres of junk there.  There are other properties that are covered with junk and things that need to be hauled to the dump or the recycling center.  My mother's yard is overgrown and neglected.  My own guides have told me to think of everything as my own garbage and to be grateful that I am letting go of that which is old and no longer needed.  They have instructed me to clean out everything with joy.  I understand what they mean.  As I sort out and ponder why did my dad save some of what he did, I reverse my thoughts and ask myself what have I hung on to that no longer is needed?  Every time a truckload is taken to the dump or recycling center or every time something is sold and someone else hauls it away, I give thanks.  I pray that I am releasing old negative thought patterns.  I rejoice that I am releasing and cleaning out issues from past lives that I no longer need to pack around with me.  Every time a space is created, I smile knowing that I have also created space within myself, within my life, for something new and better to come in.  This time of cleaning, sorting, organizing and simplifying is one of the secret gardens of my life.  It is a very big one.  A monumental task but I have learned to tackle it one day at a time, often one task at a time.  When the children transformed the secret garden, it must have seemed insurmountable in the beginning but they just started scratching at the soil, freeing the flowers from their entangled prison.  Little by little, the flowers bloomed and raised their faces to the sun, grateful for their reprieve.  Within myself, I can feel the entangling of old, old vines and brambles.  Each time I create a space it is a victory.  It will be exciting to see how the coming months unfold.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 5, 2010

Appearances can be deceiving.  The other day I went to a friend's house and she took me on a tour of her garden.  She bought the house five years previously and the garden had been completely overgrown.  It was enchanting to walk down the pathways and see the beautiful plants and trees that she had slowly been discovering as she removed the weeds and brambles.  There was still much work that needed to be done but I could see the beauty unfolding in front of me.  She showed me bushes that had previously been completely hidden from view.  For her, it was all a labor of love.  It reminded me of a book I read as a child called The Secret Garden.  In the book, there is a garden that is walled off and hidden from view.  Some children find their way into the garden and secretly they slowly transform the garden into a lovely, fragrant treasure.  People can be just like those gardens.  Sometimes they are walled off and hidden from years of pain and grief.  Others may be overgrown with disappointment, lost dreams and hopelessness.  Yet, their true beauty remains, hidden but still intact.  What does it take to restore a neglected garden?  It takes patience, love, hard work and a vision for the future.  What does it take to help restore a neglected human being?  I believe it is much the same, patience, love, hard work and an ability to see them differently.  In truth, it is about helping to instill patience, love and a vision for the future within others, more than yourself.  That is, unless, you are the secret garden.  It is never too late.  What can you weed out today?  What needs pruning?  Where do you need some new seeds sown?  Bring some beauty into this world by allowing yourself to bloom more fully.  Love and Light, Shirley

May 3, 2010

I missed writing on May Day, May 1st.  I loved May Day as a child.  I remember making May Day baskets and filling them with lovely spring flowers, in particular I remember the grape hyacinth and the bluebells.  Bluebells always remind me of May Day.  I think the part of May Day I loved was that I would ring a neighbor's doorbell and then run so that they never knew who it came from.  That was how it was done when I was a girl.  The excitement and fun of bringing joy into someone's life and having it be anonymous.  It has been a long time since I rang someone's doorbell and ran to hide.  My guess is that if I tried that now, I might not be able to move fast enough!  However, I can bring some joy and beauty into someone's life in other ways.  I can do it anonymously knowing that I do not need to be recognized for my efforts.  Bring some beauty and happiness to someone today and keep it a secret.  You may be surprised at how much fun it is and how rewarding it can be.  The most important person to be aware of what you have shared with someone else is you.  Go ahead.  Ring someone's doorbell.  You never know how much it can mean to someone to receive without any expectation on their part.  A gift freely given blesses both the giver and the one who receives.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 30, 2010

Pennies from heaven.  I used to wonder what that phrase meant and several years ago I received an answer.  I was living in Cosmopolis, Washington at the time and a lovely man named George Phelps was having a spiritual circle at my house.  We were raising money for a friend of ours who had had a stroke.  George is a wonderful medium and he went around the circle giving people messages from their loved ones on the other side.  There was an elderly woman who had recently lost her husband and she was upset because every time she turned around she was finding a penny.  George told her that they were pennies from heaven.   They were signs from her husband that he was around her.  She evidently knew that and wanted him to stop leaving them so often.  For her, they were not always comforting.  I had received feathers from spirit for a long time but I had not heard of people receiving pennies.  Then, a few years later when I was living in Reno and I was going through a challenging time, I began to find pennies.  I did not just find one or even two a day.  There were days that I would find six or seven pennies.  I would find them in very unusual places and I knew that they were pennies from heaven.  One time, my boyfriend, at the time, and I were sleeping.  He is also a medium and that night before going to sleep we both were aware that we had an unusual amount of people who had died in our bedroom.  I don't remember exactly what was going on at the time but we both figured they were showing up en masse to support us.  The next morning when we woke up, the bed was filled with pennies!  Steve and I just looked at each other and laughed in amazement.  To this day I still find an unusual amount of pennies and I find them in interesting places.  I have had someone ask me if every time I find a penny it is from someone on the other side and I answered no.  There are times I find a penny because someone dropped it on the ground.  My dad passed away on July 29th and since then, I have noticed an increase in pennies.  I know my dad is around me a lot whether I find pennies or not but every time I find one, I smile.  In that moment I know I am never truly alone.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 29, 2010

Yesterday, I drove to the river and sat and watched the sunlight dance upon the surface.  It is very calming to me, to see the interplay of light and dark as it ripples its way down to parts unknown.  I was reminded of other times, other days of sun and water.  Once, while in Moss Beach, California, I was at a friend's house.  She lived in a charming little house that was perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean.  While there, the sun shone brightly most of the time.  I loved standing at her kitchen window and just watching the sunlight glint off the ocean's surface.  The light and motion was mesmerizing and at one point, I lost all awareness of anything but the light and water.  The walls of the house vanished.  My body disappeared.  Even the land itself became nonexistent.  All that remained was the light, the water and my awareness.  I was immersed in the light and floated in a sea of calm and peace.  It was true bliss.  I have no idea how long I was a part of the light.  I was brought back to the awareness of my body and my surroundings when my friend spoke to me.  I returned with some reluctance.  I knew that what I had just experienced was more real than anything I had ever experienced.  I knew that for that brief period of time I had returned to my natural state.  I was one with all existence.  I was floating in the eternal sea of love and light.  This has happened to me on subsequent occasions and every time I am overwhelmed with peace and bliss and love.  And so, I am drawn to the river and the sunshine.  I am drawn home.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 28, 2010

On 5/5/2005 I attended a dinner and a mini psychic fair in Kenmore, Washington.  It was sponsored by a center that was operated by a mother and daughter.  I cannot remember the names but I do remember the name of the center had the word angel in it.  I had not realized until I arrived there that the mini sessions offered by different practitioners were free, included in the cost of the dinner.  It was an enchanting day and evening.  During one of the sessions, a woman told me that my guides and angels wanted me to know that they were preparing an oasis inside of me.  It was a place for me to retreat to when the outside world was chaotic and I needed some peace.  Over the years, time and time again, my guides have reminded me that my true home is within.  We are spiritual beings encased in this physical body, living in this physical dimension.  It is important that we remember there are other dimensions of existence and that we also belong in those.  Our true home is not in this body nor is it in this physical world.  I am someone to whom home has always been important.  My home has been important to me.  I am a good housekeeper and I love to decorate.  I have always taken a certain amount of pride and comfort in my home.  Yet, in the past six years I had to move nine times.  During those moves, in addition to living in three different apartments and two houses,  I have lived in a couple of friend's guest rooms two different times, I have slept on a blow up mattress in one friend's dining room for five months and I am now living in the spare bedroom at my mother's house.  Needless to say, for someone who has always found security in her home space, I have had to face challenges.  I have had to redefine what constitutes home.  My true home is within.  I understand now why my guides kept reminding me to go within and find my oasis.  I know that someday there will come a time that I remove my boxes from storage and unpack them in my own home.  I know that even if I continue to move around in the future that there will come a time that I have a home base to which I can return.  In the meantime, I comfort myself at the hearth within.  I bask in its warmth.  I rejoice that there is nothing that can take it away from me.  When all else may change, it remains.  Go within and find your own oasis.  It is there waiting for you.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 27, 2010

When is the last time you were silly?  Or that you laughed so hard that you could barely catch your breath?  I have several different funny friends and when I am with them, we almost always laugh.  I miss seeing those friends in person as they live all over the United States.  I am grateful that we can still connect through the telephone.  I have to agree with someone wiser than myself that once stated, "Laughter is the best medicine."  Laughter helps us to connect to our inner child and to the inner child of others.  Laughter lifts our spirits and reminds us that even in the midst of difficulty we can have a reprieve.  Years ago when I suffered from depression, I would go to the local drugstore just to read the greeting cards.  My favorites were called The Far Side.  The cartoonist had the quirky kind of sense of humor that resonated with me.  I would begin to read them and a smile would come to my face.  Soon, a faint giggle would emerge.  After two or three cards I would find myself laughing more and more.  I didn't care what the other people thought about me.  I only knew that when I laughed, I knew I was going to be okay.  I usually would buy several of the cards with the best of intentions to send them to others.  I eventually did but I often would save my favorites for a time, bringing them out to remind myself to laugh and not get too bogged down with the challenges of life.  I always seemed to know when it was time to send one on to someone else.  I was sending more than a card.  I was sending them a treasure from my heart, a reminder to laugh and lighten their spirits.  Hmmmmm.  I am not depressed but I think it is time to go card shopping anyway.  A good belly laugh is better than candy.  Treat yourself and find a reason to laugh, truly laugh.  Love and Light and Laughter, Shirley

April 25, 2010

Yesterday, my boyfriend, my mother and I drove down to the Columbia Gorge to have dinner in Hood River.  What a spectacular drive!  The scenery was so beautiful and the weather was quite cooperative.  As I looked at the gorge, I pondered what it must have been like eons ago when the glaciers carved their way through and created the gorge.  It reminded me of the power and majesty of Mother Nature and of the earth herself.  It also reminded me that there are more than one way to create change.  Sometimes it is dramatic such as when the dinosaur age turned to the ice age and the dinosaurs were rapidly killed off and the earth changed from humid tropical weather to glacial land of white.  Then there are other places where the change has taken place over long, long periods of time, such as in ancient caves where the slow perpetual dripping of water and minerals creates such fantastic formations.  In my own life, I have had both kinds of change.  The life altering changes where my whole life seemed to turn upside down over night or even in the time it takes to breathe one breath.  My divorce was one of those kinds of changes.  I have also had the slow drip, drip, drip of striving to change a habit or a way of thinking.  I have had to persevere in order to create my own fantastic formations.  Most change is of the second kind.  Perseverance.  Tenacity.  Stubborn (in a good way, of course).  If you are feeling discouraged because change is not happening in the time frame you would wish, don't give up.  Whatever it is, promise yourself that you will not give in to discouragement.  Remember it was the tortoise that won the race, not the hare.  Be the tortoise.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 22, 2010

Today is Earth Day.  Therefore, it seems most appropriate to give a prayer of thanks to Mother Earth as today's message.  Beloved Mother Earth, thank you so much for all the abundance that you bestow upon us.  Everywhere my eyes look I see evidence of your loving generosity.  The trees and plants and flowers all bloom and grow because of your goodness.  The birds dance your praises in the sky and call out boldly, Mother, Mother.  From the lowly earthworm to the majestic whale, all of the animal kingdom extends their gratitude.  Even the rocks and sand and soil are aware of their Mother. I listen to the sea as each wave crashes upon the shore whispering your name.  Please forgive us when we have forgotten you and neglected you.  I pray to be a better steward of all that you have given me.  I pray to use less, to be more wise and for my heartbeat and your heartbeat to be one.  I pray to remember that everyone and everything upon you is my sister, my brother, my child.  I pray to have the loving generosity towards others that you have towards all of us.  Thank you.  So be it.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 21, 2010

The wind is blowing outside of my windows forcing the bushes to dance unexpectedly.  I love the sound of the wind.  Even though I am inside, I can close my eyes, listen to the wind and almost feel it on my face.  Memories of other windblown days pass through my mind and body.  I can almost smell the salty sea air that once caressed my face as I stood at the ocean's edge.  My tongue licks my lips in expectation of its salty essence.  I revisit windy nights when the air moaned and groaned like ancient voices calling to me of other worldly existences.  Mountain air, cold and brusque, brings its revitalizing presence to me as well as clarity and alertness.  Soft meadow grass gently bends in unison as a summer breeze lightly passes over.  There is warmth and sweetness to this breeze which speaks of romance and lazy indolent days of youth.  Autumn winds bring the crisp crackle of leaves beneath my feet as I scurry on my way to school, torn between the desire to dance with the leaves and the need to be present in class before the final bell rings.  I welcome the winds of time.  I cherish the memories that sweep through me bringing their timeless gifts.  I am reminded that I am always surrounded by beauty and treasures if I but stop and receive.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 18, 2010

Looks can be deceiving. Outside of my window stands an old bush that has grown for so many years, it is more like a small tree now.  The branches look old and dried out and are covered with lichens, usually a sign of old age or disease.  I thought it was dead for a while.  Then, I looked closer and I saw tiny green buds at the end of its gnarled and tangled branches.  Even in the midst of what appears to be old and dead, I can find new life.  I am so happy.  The birds come and sit in this bush frequently.  I would miss the birds if I had to cut it down.  Somehow, it is a reminder to me to remember that even when people may appear to be old or dead, hopelessly stuck in a negative way of being, that there is still the potential for new life.  There is still the possibility of change in a positive direction.  Even when there are situations that are negative, stressful and have existed for long periods of time, I can still hope for change.  Never give up believing that things can change and shift for good.  I have had numerous people talk to me about all of the negative people and negative happenings in the world today.  I agree that at times it can feel pretty overwhelming.  Yet, I still hold within me that knowledge that even in what appears to be dead, there is still new life just waiting to sprout.  There is new opportunity for growth and change.  I keep this eternal spring in my heart and soul.  I pray you are able to do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 16, 2010

I have a dear friend who lives in Brooklyn, New York.  We met in 2005 at a Kabbalah Pesach/Passover celebration in Florida.  We met the last night of the event and yet, we connected on a very profound level.  Since that time, I have lived in Washington, California, Nevada and back to Washington.  She has lived in Florida and now New York.  We communicate through email, letters and on the telephone.  We have not been in each other's physical presence since that brief time in 2005, yet I consider her one of my best friends.  Our connection, of course, goes back into previous lives and it is a profound spiritual connection.  Our relationship is unusual at times because my guides will often come to Holly with information for me.  She is a very clear channel and there are times they can make themselves known to her when I am not listening quite as well as they would like.  The other day this happened while we were talking on the phone and one of my guides, a being who simply calls himself Magnificent, came through and talked to me about asking.  He was pretty frustrated with me and was reminding me to ask for help.  Ask.  Three little letters that can really pack a whollop.  Seek and ye shall find.  Knock and the door shall be open.  Ask and it shall be given.  I have heard similar words so many times.  I remember someone telling me that I am surrounded by angels but I must ask for their assistance.  We live in a free will Universe and therefore, I must ask.  Magnificent went on to say that he would love to see me have all that I want.  Hmmmmm.  He also told me that my ancestors want to help me but I must ask.  It is a sticky wicket in some ways, this manifesting business.  If I state that I am in need and the Universe gives me more of what I put out, then I could receive more need!  So, how can this work better?  I decided that what I am going to do is create a shopping list.  I will put on my list whatever it is I desire.  A shopping list implies that I already have the means to shop.  Why would someone create a shopping list if they had no resources?  So, I am accepting that my "Cosmic Bank Account" is full.  I have earned it through my thoughts, my intentions and my actions.  It is now time to begin using my resources even if they are not always immediately visible.  They are still there.  I must acknowledge them and acknowledge that I have earned them and I deserve them.  I can ask for help because I have earned it.  That help is part of my Cosmic Bank Account.  I asked my guides for a sign regarding my online radio show.  I really have been questioning whether I should continue because there is a fee and my finances have been challenging since I moved from Reno back to Washington.  I believed my radio show was of value and something I should be doing, yet needed those resources for other things.  I talked to a friend of mine and she shared that it seemed as though I should let it go for now.  I wrote the owner of the online radio station and I received a surprising answer.  She stated that she is canceling my subscription but wishes to retain me as a host because my radio show contains valuable material.  I was amazed and very grateful.  Ask.  Three little letters with enormous significance.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 14, 2010

Sometimes it is challenging to be on a spiritual path.  It often requires us to step out of our comfort zones.  I remember back in 2002, I received a message from my guides during breath work when I was at a hypnotherapy training.  My guides were telling me that I needed to build an altar and put it in my office.  At the time, I was a traditional mental health counselor and operated out of a house.  The living room was my waiting room.  When they first told me to build an altar, I envisioned it inside the portion of the house where I had my desk, the true office portion of my space.  As soon as I had that thought I could hear a loud, resounding NO.  They told me that I was to build it out in the waiting room and they proceeded to tell me some of the items that I needed to place upon the altar.  Please understand, that at the time, I was living in an area that was not exactly the metaphysical center of the world.  I was very nervous as to how my altar would be perceived and received by my community.  However, I had promised my guides that I would follow my spiritual path and my guidance to the best of my ability.  On the way home, I stopped at the hardware store and purchased what I needed for the basic altar.  Little by little, I began to seek out the items that I had been told were needed on my altar.  They told me to have candles burning on it at all times because candle light draws in angelic energy.  I brought in an image of a black panther, for she is my main animal totem.  I was given a beautiful statue of Archangel Michael.  Within two weeks of my altar going up, the energy in my office began to shift.  The focus of some of the therapy began to change.  People would ask me about the altar and I began to share more about my own spirituality.  Clients began to bring up issues around their own spirituality.  I did not receive any negative feedback about my altar and it readily became apparent that people were hungry for more spirituality in their lives.  People began to bring me items for the altar.  I remember one woman brought me a lovely wooden star of David from Israel.  Several brought me crystals.  Little by little, the office was truly transformed.  People would tell me how good they would feel just sitting in the waiting room.  I was so grateful that I did not allow my fears to rule.  I am so grateful every time I do what I am called to do in spite of fear or discomfort.  What is it you are being called to do on your own path?  Push past your discomfort and just do it!  Love and Light, Shirley

April 12, 2010

A friend sent me an email yesterday describing some very difficult people in her life.  She is currently surrounded by many people who have significant emotional and mental issues.  She asked me, "What is this all about?  I have to wonder what are the lessons?"  Sometimes it is very challenging to be in the middle of painful situations and still retain the faith, hope and enthusiasm that everything truly is in Divine Order.  It can be almost impossible when one is exhausted, disappointed and lacks clarity.  I do say, ALMOST impossible.  I do believe in Universal Laws.  In the Bible it states that the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  Therefore, somewhere in this long chain of infinite lives and experiences, even the chaos has meaning.  When I was younger and my spiritual beliefs were different, I struggled with why some people were beautiful, wealthy, healthy and happy while others had deformities and were poverty-stricken, living meager lives of existence.  It made no sense to me.  The only answer to my questions was that I must have faith and know that God's ways are not my ways.  Somehow, that just never quite worked for me.  My beliefs are different now and it makes more sense to me that we have numerous lives in which to experience all the aspects of being human.  We have the opportunities to experience being different races and the opposite sex.  It makes more sense to me that on a soul level we might choose poverty or other adverse circumstances in order to balance out karma or to learn a certain lesson or to bring awareness into the world that others might also learn.  My own guides have reminded me on more than one occasion that there is no true injustice in the Universe.  Everything is in check and balance.   This does not mean we do not fight the oppression and abuse that we witness in our current existence.  While I am helping others who have suffered, I also retain a different perspective.  This perspective includes the understanding that this, too, shall pass.  In another existence, one who suffered greatly may live a life of beauty, wealth, good health and happiness.  In my own life, when I experience hurt from another, I strive to remember that I do not know the long chain of connection I may have with this person.  If I only focus on the moment, my hurt remains.  If I allow the possibility to exist that this may be karmic and I am balancing out my karmic debt, it becomes easier.  I do not remain in a position to be hurt but the pain dissipates more quickly.  Even if something may not be karmic, I can still learn from it.  Sometimes the lesson is simple.  Perhaps it is an opportunity to learn forgiveness.  Perhaps it is an opportunity to learn self-care and I choose to no longer be in relationship with this person.  Perhaps it is an opportunity to practice compassion, compassion for myself as well as the other.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 11, 2010

I am living back in the home that I grew up in with my elderly mother.  Today, I went outside to pick some roofing paper out of one of the bushes growing outside of my bedroom window.  Such a simple thing, to pull the piece of black paper out of the bush and I have been meaning to do it for months!  I would look outside my window to enjoy the sky, the clouds, the birds or the raindrops on the leaves and I would see that darn piece of roofing paper marring the beauty.  Now, I look outside and there is no junky pieces of paper hanging in the bush.  Such a simple thing and yet it makes such a difference to me.  Now, someone might ask me why I waited so long to do it since it obviously was bothering me.  I am not a lazy person, in fact, I have struggled with being a workaholic in the past.  No, that is not why.  My mother has lived in this same house for over sixty years.  There is much that needs to be done because a great deal of the house is in disrepair.  The yard is in sad need of help.  Nearly everywhere I look there is something that needs attention.  Overgrown bushes cover some of the sidewalk on one side of the house.  There are leaks out in the family room.  We have already had the plumber here five times and the electrician twice.  The list is a very, very long one.  I have to prioritize and focus on one thing at a time in order to prevent feeling overwhelmed.  The black roofing paper just never seemed to rise to the top of the list until this morning.  A few minutes of my time, however, and I feel so much better.  I was thinking of my own self and how there are ways in which I am like this house.  I have some parts of me that I have neglected for some time and they need attention.  Physically, I need some attention.  I need to eat better, drink more water, stretch more, walk more, meditate more, soak my feet more, let go of coffee and the list goes on and on.  Because I already have a very demanding life right now, the list to care for myself seems endless, too.  That is when I remind myself of my need to prioritize and focus on one thing at a time.  What do I need to focus on first?  And, what are those things I can do for myself that are simple?  What is the black roofing paper on my list of self care needs?  Something simple perhaps such as putting lotion on my dry feet, doing five minutes of breathing or brewing some delicious smelling tea instead of defaulting to coffee.  If you find yourself in a similar place don't give up!  Create your lists and then prioritize.  Be realistic about what you really can accomplish and don't forget to put yourself on the list.  Do something good for yourself today.  You deserve it.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 10, 2010

Wings of Truth

I cried to God to reveal himself in my hour of need

A bird flew by my window with gracefulness and speed

I cried to God to speak to me, to feed my hungry heart

I heard the rustle of the leaves, their secrets to impart

I cried to God to soothe my fears, my pain and loneliness

A person came to me whose heart was filled with even less

Less faith, less hope, less strength within

My heart burst open wide

I reached to her with love and care

And found my God inside

God is the bird, the wind, the leaves, God is all that I seek

God is the sea, the earth, the sky, God is the love inside of me

God is my breath, my tears, my light

How can I ask for more?

All that is and ever was and evermore shall be

Are gifts to me from God above, within, below and all around, for all eternity

I cannot stay in pain and fear for my heart is nudging me

To look beyond these worldly trials and see the Truths that be

There is much more beyond the veil, much more than eyes can see

But, I can look within my soul and find the truth I seek

I close my eyes and still my thoughts and slow my breathing down

I wait expectantly for light to fill my crown

What joy, what bliss, what endless happiness!

Floating on a sea of love, I become the Truth

I am the sea, the sky, the earth,  I am the bird, the wind, the leaves

I am the source of all that is for all eternity

I am God and God is me, I soar on wings of love

I rustle in the wind and sing my songs above

I am God and God is me and God is also you

You are the bird, the wind, the leaves and I am also you

All is One beyond the veil, beyond illusion where truth prevails

Oh, take me there on wings of love away from all this pain

I long to feel the inner peace of Oneness once again

From deep within my soul replies with patience calm and sweet

Are you not the bird, the wind, the source of all that is?

Fly yourself on wings of love and share the truth you find

Bring back into this worldly place the source of Light, of Love Divine

Heaven and peace are not a place but are a state of love and grace

You have within all that you need to calm your fears and pain

You have within all that you need for liberation endlessly

Break through those chains of fear and doubt

With silence within your heart can shout!

Freedom, freedom is my choice!

Unity, Oneness is my recourse!

April 9, 2010

Following your intuition is not always easy.  The analytical mind gets in there and interferes with the process.  For example, the other night, some people were coming to my mom's house to buy some stuff in my dad's shop.  I have a couple of men who are handling the sales and I don't need to be out in the shop when they are occurring.  However, I felt compelled to go out into the shop, an intuitive hit that I needed to be out there.  My analytical mind struggled with that idea, telling me that it did not really make sense to be out in the cold shop, wasting time, when I have so much I could be doing.  Fortunately, I have learned to set aside my analytical mind in times like these and so I put on my warm vest and stayed out in the shop.  A married couple was there, who had been at the previous sale.  I felt drawn to the woman and we began to talk.  At first, we just spoke about the shop and the interesting items my dad had accumulated over the years.  My dad had died in July and so it was time to clean out his shop.  At some point, the conversation changed and we were talking about the spirits of those who had passed on to the other side.  I shared that I was a psychic and a medium and she revealed that she was, also!  We had a wonderful time together sharing our stories and talking about our spiritual paths and spiritual beliefs.  A like-minded soul is such a gift.  She asked for my business card and said she would be in touch.  I hope she does.  She is a beautiful woman with a lot of light around her.  I know she is the reason I was drawn to be out there.  I don't know all the reasons why and I don't need to.  I just trust the process.  Perhaps someone else there needed to hear our conversation.  Perhaps she and I have reasons to connect that will be revealed.  I may never know or it may turn out to be one of those wonderful gifts that unfold over time.  Had I not listened, I could have missed a wonderful opportunity.  I wish the same for you, a listening inner ear.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 8, 2010

The raindrop landed on the leaf and woke up.  One lone lovely pearl balanced on the edge of the leaf.  The drop became aware.  I am all alone.  I am just one lonely raindrop.  The breeze came along and laughed at the raindrop, shaking the leaf and causing the raindrop to fall upon the ground.  No one could see the drop, it appeared to be absorbed by the soil.  The raindrop sighed, sad with the thought that no one even knew she was there.  Soon, the sun came out and smiled warmly down upon the drop.  The heat made raindrop drowsy and slowly raindrop began to evaporate, rising high above the soil, the plants and the trees.  Higher and higher, she rose, until she floated so high, she began to reform once again into a drop.  The sky was cool and she began to see other drops that were forming.  As they bumped into each other, the drops combined to create bigger drops.  Soon, she, too, joined with other drops, growing larger and larger until they formed a cloud.  The raindrop was so happy.  I am not alone!  I am a part of something bigger.  The cloud grew and grew and soon it was located over a dry and dusty region.  The cloud was bursting at its seams and soon could no longer contain itself.  Opening up, the cloud sent forth many raindrops that landed on the earth below.  Raindrop was one of them.  She landed on a leaf, a very dry thirsty leaf.  Listening, raindrop heard the leaf sigh, very softly and gently, "Thank you, raindrop".  Startled, she told the leaf, "You are welcome!"  As more raindrops joined her on the leaf, she could feel the leaf's gratitude multiply.  Raindrop became aware.  I am never truly alone.  I am a part of a greater whole.  I am just as important as all the other drops.  I make a difference.  Together we make a tremendous difference.  Raindrop fell to the ground.  She could no longer be seen as she was absorbed by the soil.  She smiled to herself, knowing that this state is temporary.  It does not matter whether anyone else knows I am here, because I do.  And, besides, soon it will all change again.  This is just a time of rest.  Life is a series of cycles and I go with the flow knowing that everything has its proper time and place.                                  Love and Light, Shirley

April 7, 2010

I am a lover of words.  I love to read them, write them, speak them and sing them.  I even love words that are in foreign languages and I don't know what they mean but I love the sound of them.  Words have the ability to affect us in very deep and profound ways.  I remember as a child that there was a rhyme about words, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me."  Even as a child, I thought it was a stupid thing for people to say.  I would have rather been hit by a stick then by cruel words.  Words can be weapons that instill life long wounds.  Words can also be the sweet balm that soothes and heals even traumatic wounds.  Words can uplift us.  Words can inspire us to be better than we have been.  Words give us hope.  Words are a treasure that we as human beings have been gifted with.  Share some loving words with someone today.  Tell someone that they are a gift to humanity and that you are so grateful to know them.  Tell someone how they have enriched your life with their presence.  The words don't have to be fancy, just true.  Thank you.  I appreciate you.  I love you.  You are an amazing person.  You have  beautiful eyes. Begin by looking in a mirror and saying these words to the reflection that looks back.  The one person you are guaranteed to have in your life is you.  What is your relationship like with your self?  Is it loving and grateful?  Is it appreciative?  The more you love yourself and see yourself as a truly amazing person, the more your words will flow.  Write yourself a thank you card.  What would it say?  What would have meaning if someone else said it to you?  Write and say the words.  Don't worry if you struggle to feel them.  Do it anyway.  Make a habit of it.  One day you will realize how easily the words flow and how your emotions are elevated.  That is what happens when we eventually recognize truth.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 6, 2010

Have you ever had a time when you felt as though there was so much going on in your life that you were going to spin right off the planet?  I have.  When I have experienced those times, I have known that I needed to make a change of some kind but even making a change seemed so overwhelming.  What has helped me is to pick one thing, even one small thing and work on changing that.  I am living with my mom right now and my bedroom is in the room that used to be called the office.  My dad had his desk in there and it is a room that was probably paneled back in the early 70's.  The curtains were definitely late 60's and early 70's.  The curtains were too old and had to be thrown out.  I still have not replaced them.  The walls are paneled in the old wood style that was popular in the 70's.  I am guessing that it has darkened over the years.  I am someone who needs light and color and lots of it.  So, now I am staying in a dark room that has very little color.  My mom doesn't want me to paint the walls because she likes the paneling.  Where I live is quite overcast most of the time so that adds to the darkness and gloom of my room.  My brother, Steve, gave me a beautiful miniature yellow rose in a peach-colored ceramic container.  Every time I look at it, it brightens my spirits.  I realized that I need to bring some more color into the room.  Ok, so I can't paint.  That doesn't mean I can't make some bright curtains or a few pillows to bring in a more elevated vibration.  It has been a good reminder to bring change in where I can and when I can.  Just the thought of having more color in here makes me smile.  For today, consider if there is one area where you can create change on whatever scale possible.  Let go of thinking that it must be on a grand scale to make a difference because it doesn't.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 4, 2010

Today, a plump red-breasted robin perched on the branches outside my window.  It is not the first time, hopefully, it will not be the last.  I read in Animal Speak about the metaphysical meaning of the robin.  It is, of course, a harbinger of spring in many different places.  The book also spoke of how the robin's egg is a beautiful blue and that this blue helps to open the throat chakra.  The robin is said to help people sing their own song in order to create something new.  What a lovely thought!  I sing channeled songs of healing and so today, I will sing my song of healing for the world.  I envision this beautiful robin's egg blue surrounding Mother Earth helping to open all of our throat chakras.  Are you singing your own song?  Or has your song become muffled by the challenges of life?  Each and every one of us has a unique song to sing.  If we all opened up and shared ourselves with the world what a chorus that would make!  Singing your own song isn't just about singing musically, it is about expressing who you are in whatever form calls to you.  Opening your throat chakra to your own song is about speaking your truth and expressing your unique truth in whatever way is right for you.  Happy Easter/Passover/Spring.  Love and Light, Shirley

April 2, 2010

A Ray of Hope

A brilliant ray of sunshine pierced through the murky sky     Midst wind and cold, it warmed the earth below

For miles around its radiance could not be missed                  Within the waiting soil, the seed was kissed

Awakened by the ray of sunshine's heat                                  It grew and grew until it was complete

Where once a tiny seed did lie, there stands a tree of oak     A mighty tree which grew because it felt a ray of hope.

Love and Light, Shirley

April 1, 2010

It is Passover and Easter weekend.  People all over the world will be gathering together to celebrate.  I sat here thinking about some of the Easter traditions that I grew up with such as the Easter egg.  Easter is about resurrection and eternal life.  It is about hope and believing in something beyond what you can see.  I remember reading some of the reasons why the early Christians used the egg as a spiritual symbol.  The egg can be found in other spiritual texts and teachings as well.  There are references to it in Buddhism and in esoteric texts they refer to us as having an auric egg.  Some pictures of our aura show an egg-shaped field around us.  I have even read how the egg is a perfect food, how it contains all of the nutrients that we need.  The egg is a symbol of new life and new beginnings.  So, when I look at Easter eggs, I remind myself that this is a time for renewal.  I remember that I am like the egg and that everything I need is already within me.  I may need to crack my own shell and go within but it is all there.  All the spiritual nutrients are already here, I merely need to slow down, crack myself open and receive untold treasures.  I pray for everyone in the world.  I pray that we can all crack our outer shells and find the beauty and truth within.  Only then, will we be able to see the beauty and truth in everyone.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 31, 2010

Changing our thoughts is not easy.  If there is something distressing in your life, it is challenging to not think about it.  So many of the books say that we must only think about what we do want, not what we don't want.  However, when you are sitting in the midst of a challenge, those thoughts of what you do want may be difficult to find.  For myself, sometimes it is just too great a stretch, so I modify my thoughts.  First, I envision the challenge lessening.  If it is a financial challenge, I envision it getting better and better each and every day.  This works better for me than to jump right into abundance and prosperity.  I still keep those in my mind, too.  I still envision being debt-free and able to share great abundance with others.  I just know when it is the right time to hold the full vision and when it works better for me to see it clearing step by step.  If we bring a thought into our mind but it truly is not believable for us at that moment, I don't think it is too beneficial.  Years ago, I was losing weight.  I was quite overweight and I was attending a weight-release class taught by a hypnotherapist.  She told us to close our eyes and envision a mirror.  In the mirror was the image of our slender self.  We were then directed to step into the mirror, into the slender image.  At the time, it was just too much of a stretch for me.  So, I envisioned myself about 60 pounds lighter.  I found that I could easily step into that image.  As time went by and I released the weight, I could eventually step into the slimmest image.  I eventually reached my goal weight.  So, when I create my vision boards and manifestation posters, I put exactly what I want.  However, if on a day to day basis, that may sometimes seem too far away, I create images in my mind that are moving me towards my goals, that encourage and sustain me and bring me hope.  Today, what kind of vision do you need?  Have you created wonderful goals for your life?  Hold those within your mind and create reminders for yourself such as a vision board that you can look at.  Hold onto your dreams and when you are feeling discouraged, envision them unfolding piece by piece.  Envision yourself taking down your vision board because you need a new one as you have accomplished all that was on the old one.  Remember to have fun!  Love and Light, Shirley

March 30, 2010

For a number of years, on my drive home, I would pass a house where an old woman lived.  The trees and bushes around her home had grown to the point that nearly all of the windows were covered by them.  The front door was barely available because the evergreens on each side were almost touching each other in the middle.  I was fascinated by this house.  I would wonder to myself why someone would choose to live in a cave?  I love the sunshine and I am someone who needs a lot of light, so the idea of living in a house where virtually no light came in was very strange to me.  I have seen other homes like this and they are usually inhabited by older people.  I used to think that maybe they could no longer afford to have someone trim their bushes and they were no longer capable of doing so themselves.  That is not always the case.  Often, they simply cannot bear to have the trees or bushes cut.  There is something comforting to them about the size of the bushes.  Perhaps, something comforting about being in a cocoon.  As long as they are inside, they feel safe and secure.  I would feel claustrophobic but others would feel secure.  I began to ponder what would be the overgrown bushes in my own life?  What is it time to trim and let go of, so that I can let in new light?  What has become too entrenched and is strangling me?  There are times in my life when I have needed to clear out physical things, clutter, no longer needed items.  That is not the case right now.  Instead, I need to prune some outdated ways of thinking.  I need to trim some old ways of being that are strangling me.  I need to uproot old resentments and clear them out.  Bring in some more light so that I can grow upright with arms stretched out to embrace the world.  Just for today, consider your own life.  Do you need to do some pruning and trimming?  Are there old ways of thinking and being that need to go?  Have the courage to open up your own windows and let the light shine in.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 29, 32010

In this moment.................   This is a common phrase that I use when I start to become anxious over something.  The majority of issues that people become anxious over are rarely in the moment.  Most of the worries that people express concern the future.  Often when I am working with clients or even my friends and they are talking about something they are concerned about I will ask them how they are in this moment.  For example, if someone is worrying about their finances, I will ask them how they are doing financially, in this moment.  Are their needs met..........in this moment?  The majority of the time, the answer is yes.  Do not misunderstand me, please.  There are times in our lives when we are faced with enormous challenges.  If your loved one is dying, it may very well be, in this moment.  Certainly, there are times when, in this moment, our hearts are breaking or we are facing health issues, loss or other difficult circumstances.  What I am referring to is what is true the majority of the time when we are worrying.  The majority of the time when we worry, if we were to stop and ask ourselves where are we, in this moment, the answer would reduce our anxiety.  In this moment..............my needs are met.  In this moment................there is nothing that is too big for me to handle.  In this moment.................I can close my eyes and know that I am safe.  If I live my life in the moment there is truly rarely anything to worry about.  I find that even those painful, difficult challenging moments are more tolerable when I stay in the moment.  Why?  Because then all I am dealing with is in that moment.  I encourage you to just try it.  The next time something comes up that seems too big for you to handle, just bring yourself completely and totally into the moment.  In this moment.......................I can handle what is present in my life.  I let go of the past knowing it is just shadows.  I let go of the future knowing it is still a mist.  In this moment......................I breathe and connect to my body and to my spirit knowing I can truly do anything one moment at a time.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 26, 2010

There is a lot out in the media about manifesting.  The Secret, both the movie and the book, have been viewed and read by millions.  I agree with the ideas that are presented.  There are a few things that I believe are missing.  There is a lot of talk about changing our thoughts but I believe that more emphasis on feeling is important.  There is something else that I have pondered and I believe is missing or underestimated from some of the literature on manifesting.  It has to do with time.  Many of the people that I have encountered who are using the principles or who have attempted and been discouraged have been discouraged because they are not seeing the results that they expected in a short period of time.  You can get the impression from some of the literature that if you are doing it "right" you will see results fairly quickly.  This is not always the case.  What I understand from my own guidance is that I am currently experiencing what I have already composed through my thoughts and actions from all of my previous life.  It is a culmination of everything.  Yes, in order to change what I am currently experiencing, I must change my thoughts, words, feelings and actions.  This does not automatically guarantee a quick reversal in my circumstances.  I do believe that every change is valuable and is altering the totality of who I am.  Every time I let go of negativity and immerse myself in positive thought, I am altering the whole of who I am and my life.  However, that does not mean it will instantaneously be apparent in all areas of my life.  It is important to remember that whatever steps you have taken to create change in your thoughts, emotions and actions are still working even if you do not see the evidence.  I believe in Divine Timing and so I remind myself that my previous actions were not in vain even if they did not result in what I expected.  Patience and trust in the process are also part of manifesting. Often, our heart's desire will finally come to us when we least expect it.  If that moment is not now, do not give up, have faith that your efforts always matter.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 25, 2010

Seeking

Longing, I seek myself in the reflection of another's eyes  Hungry for an old familiar feeling of belonging  I wait

Yet, deep inside, I know there is purpose in my aloneness  Everything has order and reason  Nothing is random

My aloneness envelops me at times, like a brand new blanket  Still stiff from its package  Unfamiliar, not yet fully mine

My heart yearns for an old familiar quilt  Worn soft from years of use  And togetherness

But, this is not to be  Not now  Someday perhaps

Discontent to feel discontented  My eyes change course  Hunger, still voracious and demanding, calls to me

I cease looking to others for reflection  Eyes turn inward and in the great, luminescent mirror of my inner eye  My own reflection blinks back

Smiling, serene, fully fed  With the knowledge that I am love  Fully surrounded by the ancient, velvet quilt of belonging

I am love  I am belonging  I am the reflection I seek in another's eyes

I am

March 24, 2010

Yesterday I took my mother's car in to be detailed.  I spoke with the man who was doing the work to ask him when it would be finished.  He asked me if I could please leave it another day because he really wanted it to shine.  His enthusiasm for his work was infectious.  He explained in detail how he cleans the car and he wants it as good as it can be.  He had me smell the leather cream he puts as a finishing touch on the leather seats.  This is a man who takes pride in his work.  I left knowing that my mom's car was in good hands.  What a difference it makes when someone loves their job.  I have no idea what kind of money he makes from detailing cars but I am willing to bet that it isn't a great deal.  Yet, this man is a rich man because he loves what he does.  When we do what we love everyone benefits.  We benefit because we are happy and others benefit because the work we do reflects our own happiness.  I left a thriving mental health practice in 2005 and moved from Washington to California and eventually Nevada.  I worked as a hypnotherapist, psychic and spiritual counselor.  I loved my work even though I made much less money than I did as a traditional mental health therapist.  I believe that the joy in my work touched many people's lives.  I am currently starting over again having moved back to Washington State.  I believe I will eventually have more abundance doing what I love.  By having had less money than what I was used to, I have learned many lessons along the way.  So much of what I previously would have described as needs eventually revealed themselves as wants.  I found that by simplifying my life, I created a different way of being.  Do you love your work?  Do you think that your enthusiasm about your work is infectious?  Do you think that people would describe you as a rich man or woman, regardless of your financial status?  I pray that when people encounter me and my work that they leave me with the same kind of impression that the car detailer gave me.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 23, 2010

I asked my guides once why they didn't tell me all kinds of prophecies about the future of the world.  It seemed at the time that there were so many different people channeling all kinds of information, yet my guides primarily focused on what I needed to learn or change or do.  They gave me more than one answer to my question.  First, they said that I hadn't really asked them to.  I thought about that for a while and I realized it was true.  I had never asked them what was going to happen in the future.  Second, they told me that they could give me information about the future based on the patterns of energy and thought that were present in the current moment.  They laughed and explained that we are creating the future right now.  Yes, there are certain things that are already set in motion because of previous thoughts and actions.  However, a great deal of the future is yet to be determined.  With the current energy patterns and with what is already set in motion they could give me some prophecies but that those prophecies could change.  I asked if this was part of why some prophecies came true and others did not.  They said yes that even a very good seer can have one vision be remarkably accurate and yet another never comes to pass.  They shared that it is more important for me to focus on the present and leave the future to itself.  It is valuable for me to envision a positive future and hold it in my mind because that increases the likelihood that it will come.  However, to live in the present is vital for my own welfare and my own development.  There have been times that I asked them about myself and whether or not I was on the right track.  In my mind, being on the right track meant I would eventually get what I want.  They reassured me and said that as long as I was learning and growing, I am on the right track.  Not exactly what I was hoping for.  I can be learning and growing and not have what I want!  I am better at living in the present now than at any other time in my life.  The present may not be what I want but I have learned to accept that it is what I need.  Instead of looking to the future for what I want, I change how I look at the present and find those elements of my life that do bring joy and appreciation.  A little bit of joy can help me deal with a whole lot of challenges.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 22, 2010

The sun is out today.  Yesterday it rained so hard that you could hardly see.  I live where there is an old saying that if you don't like the weather wait for five minutes.  I was just thinking about that saying and realized that it is a metaphor for life.  Life can be unpredictable and one day it is sunny and warm, the next day storm clouds gather.  Certainly, this is not exactly an original thought!  There are poems and stories and sayings that all allude to this metaphor.  Change is always a guarantee just like the change in weather.  Granted, when I lived in Reno this metaphor would not be quite as evident.  We would have day after day of beautiful blue sky, often week after week.  However, when the weather did change you really noticed!  So, how do we weather the storms of life?  I believe it is by going within and finding what is constant and never-changing.  In my inner sanctum I find the eye of the storm.  There is a calm and a hush like nothing else I have ever experienced elsewhere.  In my inner self I find what is changeless.  Love is infinite and does not change.  My true essence is eternal and does not change.  When I go within and found this peace, this eternal promise of peace, I can cope with the storms of life.  I may not like them but I can draw from my inner strength and ride out the high winds of chaos.  I can trust that whether I am facing sun or storm I am safe.  I have the strength to endure.   I pray that you find yourself in the eye of the storm when necessary.  I pray you enter your inner sanctum and find peace.  I will meet you there.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 21, 2010

I remember the soda fountain stools at The Corner Store in Cosmopolis where I grew up.  The wood was so smooth and shiny that as a little girl I could almost go sailing off if I twirled too fast. The old fashioned soda fountain with its antique mirror and beautiful wood shelves was warm and inviting.  It was always difficult to make a choice when ordering. Milkshakes, ice cream cones, malts, sodas ( the real kind), banana splits and so much more was mine for just a little money.  A child could also choose from the candy display case if ice cream or a soda did not appeal.  Row after row of delectable penny candy could keep a child occupied for hours just trying to make a decision.  We had our own pharmacist and all the sundry items that a pharmacy requires.  There were gift items for birthday parties, weddings, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Christmas.  My precious dollar could buy my mom a beautiful lipstick that came with its own special case.  Rain or shine, the store was open and in the chill of winter, you could warm your cold hands by the old stove that stood at the back of the store.  There was a rocking chair and I don't remember anyone ever sitting in it except an old, fat lazy cat.  But, the greatest appeal of The Corner Store was that it was community.  People gathered and shared their stories.  No one need be lonely if they could get themselves down there.  It was a rare day that the stools were empty.  Community.  I believe that part of the success of the coffee shops of today is not just the coffee but the community they provide.  Their bulletins boards become filled with flyers and cards announcing various and sundry events.  Even people who do not know each other begin to recognize each other as they gather at their appointed times.  Connection is a vital part of being a human being.  It reminds us that we are not truly alone.  Whatever grief and sorrow and burdens I may carry, community helps me to remember that I am not alone.  I do not have to bear my burdens alone nor do others.  No matter where you live you can find community.  You can create community and connection.  The next time you buy your grande, soy, decaf latte, look around and notice the people.  Make eye contact and smile at someone you may or may not know.  You never know when someone might need that little bit of connection.  It might even be you.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 19, 2010

Spring is just around the corner.  Today, the blue sky was occasionally visited by small white clouds and the sun sent its golden warmth to cheer all the dark corners of my small town.  We have been blessed with an unusually sunny winter this year.  I love to watch the bees as they busily gather the nectar from the andromeda bush outside of my bedroom window.  The andromeda blooms late in the winter and early in the spring, its cascading white blossoms a sweet herald of what is to come.  Along with daffodils, grape hyacinths, forsythia and flowering quince, the andromeda seems to defy the winter months by bringing its blooms into being when all else still appears to be dead.  I find myself going within and looking for my own late winter blooms.  What part of me challenges the inner chill and the bare branches from the tree within me?  What part of me is courageously defying the lethargy of fear and doubt?  What part of me is awakening to an early spring within?  My inner self knows that this season of fear and doubt is coming to an end.  My true self knows that there is indeed a blossoming within, a sweet tendril of hope curling its way around my heart.  Trust opens its buds to the ever present sun within.  Surrender's sweet fragrance fills my garden within and I inhale deeply.  I trust in the invisible sap running true even in what appears to be dead branches.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 18, 2010

A number of years ago I was experiencing a great deal of stress and anxiety.  I was working too many hours and was on overload.  I knew better as a mental health therapist but it was an old pattern that I had fallen back into.  I knew I needed to make a change but I also knew that I was so busy that I did not have time to bring anything into my life that would also demand my time.  I quieted myself one morning after meditation and listened to my guidance.  They recommended that I buy myself a journal and begin writing down five things daily that I was grateful for.  That was all I had to do.  The only rules were that I could not repeat the same thing within one week and if I missed a day, I made it up.  I was to write down 35 things I was grateful for each week.  I wasn't sure how that would help with my stress and overwhelm but I trust my guidance and so I began.  Over the weeks and months I noticed that I was happier.  I worried less and I was able to let go of much of my anxiety.  I began to see the richness in my life.  Writing down what I was grateful for required me to expand my view.  I started out with those things that most people would include such as food, shelter, family, money and good health.  As the weeks went by I began to include such simple things as toilet paper and Q-tips.  Have you stopped to think how your life would be if you did not have toilet paper?  I began to understand how much I had been taking for granted.  It seemed as though the more I was grateful for, the more I had.  I wrote in my gratitude journal for over three and one half years.  I quit writing in it on a regular basis when I went through my divorce.  I did not quit writing because I was no longer grateful but because my routine and my life was so disrupted.  The truth is that after the years of writing it down, I truly no longer needed to.  My life had become a gratitude journal.  If you want to expand your vision of yourself and your life begin to write a gratitude journal.  And, when you are having a rough day, just open your journal to any page and begin to read.  It will help you to remember everything in your life not just the difficulties.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 16, 2010

I remember one time when I was hearing my own guides very clearly.  It was during a breathwork session in 2000.  I was asking them a series of questions and receiving some very interesting answers.  In the middle of the session, during a pause in the questions, they began to speak about a tree.  They told me that there is a tree, a tree of many fruits.  In my third eye, I could see an immense tree growing up out of water.  The tree had a large variety of fruits growing on it.  They went on to say that the fruits are truths.  One tree, many fruits.  One tree, many truths.  There was a hesitation and then my guides began to speak a list of names: Abraham, Jesus, Buddha, Zoroaster, and many more.  I began to understand that the fruits represented different spiritual truths brought to humanity.  After they finished the list, they began to share that I could eat the fruits, as many as I desired and that when I feasted on the fruits I would no longer need to feast on food.  I did not completely understand at the time but in the time since, I have come to understand so much more.  I do not have to choose one way to God.  I do not have to be exclusive and declare that this is the way to God!  There are many pathways and many expressions of the Divine.  I do not have to choose only one.  I can have a feast.  I can taste of the sweetness of the Divine through as many different wines as I please.  What a relief to know I am not limited.  What a wonderful sense of freedom to taste the Divine nectar from so many beautiful flowers.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 13, 2010

I was thinking about what it must be like to live to be very old.  Most people say how wonderful it must be to live to be in the nineties or even to a hundred.  In many ways, this could be true, but it could also be very challenging.  Imagine that you have lost your grandparents, parents, siblings and all of your friends that you have had most of your life.  You may have lost some or even all of your children.  When I think of the amazing amount of losses and grief that some people have had to endure in their life it is quite humbling.  I think of my own grief which is not minor and I am only 55.  Then, I am reminded of those people who have endured unspeakable losses and yet have endured and even flourished, people from the Holocaust, people who have been persecuted, oppressed, executed and imprisoned unjustly.  Why is it that some people simply collapse or will themselves to die because of great pain and others are able to survive and eventually thrive?  The human spirit can be very strong.  The will to live can be tenacious.  Many people who share their stories tell of an inner voice that urges them on, an inner cord of strength that seems to sustain them even in the midst of desperate events.  I believe that these people are tapping into something greater than themselves.  Call it their soul, their Higher Self, God or love.  It is available for everyone.  It is the invisible thread that binds us all together whether we are aware of it or not.  If you find yourself in a place of grief and loss, remember that this love is here for you, too.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 12, 2010

The clouds pass by my window quickly in this brisk winter wind.  As a child I watched the clouds in wonder.  How did they get up in the sky?  Where did they come from?  To me, they were mysterious and magical.  Their soft shapes filled the sky and filled my mind with imagination.  A sailing ship.  An elephant.  A woman's face.  As an adult, I know the scientific explanation for clouds.  But, for just a moment, I choose to gaze at them in wonder.  Viewed through the eyes of a child nothing is ordinary.  Everything is amazing and mysterious and intriguing and wonderful.  For just a few moments, the wind outside my window speaks to me of where it has been and where it is going on its grand adventure.  For just a short time, the faint tones of a train whistle beckon to me and I climb aboard and travel to unknown parts.  Who is to say what is real?  Perhaps the Queen of Clouds floating past my window is just that and she is as real as anything.  My child within says she is.  For just a few moments suspend your adult judgments and feel the freedom and joy of seeing the world through a child's eyes.  Feel the magic and smile.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 11, 2010

Everyone is a mirror for me.  I have talked about this before but there are circumstances in my life that have brought it up again in a very big way.  How do we connect to this principle when we have people in our lives who are living lives that seem so far removed from our own?  How do I find my reflection in a drug addict when I don't take drugs?  How do I find my reflection in a thief when I do not steal?  My ego wants to call out and say that there is an exception to this principle.  I am not a drug addict!  I am not a thief!  I am better than that.  Yet, from deep within I know that this is still a reflection of me because we are all One.  It does not mean that I am doing the same things although perhaps I may have in a different incarnation.  But, that is too far removed from this moment.  Instead, I ask myself what aspect of myself is a drug addict?  What is my drug of choice?  In my case, I have overeating issues.  So, what is my motivation for overeating and how does that relate to a drug addict?  What aspect of myself is stealing something if only from myself?  What would I be a thief of?  Perhaps I am stealing precious time.  Perhaps when I slip and talk poorly about someone I am stealing from their reputation.  Ultimately, in order for me to look into another human being and see their light even in the midst of great darkness, I must do the same with myself.  This is not about condoning drug addiction or thievery.  I do not and cannot.  It is about moving out of judgment into a place of discernment and compassion.  It is about finding a balance between compassion and holding people accountable.  Beginning with myself.  It is about moving out of pity or anger into a place of acceptance of another human being.  Acceptance, not of their behaviors, but of their essence.  The wise parent treats the wayward child with both love and discipline recognizing that ultimately this is what children must learn for themselves.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 10, 2010

For anyone interested in astrology, today is the day that Mars goes direct.  It has been retrograde since December 20th.  This means that the normal activating energy of Mars has been reversed since then.  People have had feelings of blocked energy and frustration, more than usual.  It has taken twice the effort to accomplish the same amount as before so discouragement has been prevalent amongst many people.  The good news is that our efforts are never for naught and that the efforts we have been making will begin to manifest once Mars goes direct.  Anger is also an issue when Mars is retrograde.  Mars is in Leo, so some of that blocked energy may have manifested as anger.  Roaring lions is a good image.  But, now, we can breathe easier and watch as our efforts begin to pay off!  I have already been feeling that shift energetically for about a week or so.  So, let's all get excited and keep our motivation to manifest our heart's desires.  I have not done a manifesting poster for some time and I think it is high time.  I simply get out my paper and felt markers and begin to draw pictures of what I wish to manifest.  I have also done collages but there is something about actually drawing the pictures that seems to facilitate the manifesting more quickly.  What do you wish to manifest?  What is a symbol that would represent that to you?  Draw a picture of it or pictures if you have multiple things you wish to manifest.  Place it where you can see it every day.  If you want more money in the bank draw a piggy bank filled with money.  Don't worry what it looks like, it isn't about art.  It is about the art of manifesting.  Then, after you draw the poster, think of one action you can take towards manifesting your desires and then just do it.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 9, 2010

I just returned from a hypnotherapy session that I gave in my new place of work, Soul Picnic.  It is such an honor to be able to work with people on such a deep and profound level.  Every time I am amazed at the beauty of this work.  Helping someone trace back to the roots of a faulty belief and replace it with the truth about themselves is amazing.  So many limiting beliefs created because our young minds came to certain conclusions based on our interpretation of events.  With hypnotherapy, I help people reclaim their true selves and their true potential.  Are you aware of your own limiting beliefs?  I have had people tell me that they don't have any.  I simply smile.  I am sure there might be a few people in the world who may not.  The Dalai Lama, perhaps.  Since most of us are not the Pope or the Dali Lama or Mother Teresa, odds are we still have some limiting beliefs.  Any belief that is motivated by fear is limiting.  Any belief that diminishes my sense of self is limiting.  We are all such amazing beings.  We all have brilliant lights to share with the world.  Not the same light but our unique light that brings its own brand of illumination.  If your beliefs stem from love they are on the mark.  If you are curious about your own limiting beliefs, simply begin to notice the dialogue in your head.  What do you say to yourself when faced with a challenge?  What do you say to yourself when facing a disappointment?  What do you say to yourself when you are sad?  Your inner dialogue is filled with information.  Just for the coming week, pay special attention to your inner dialogue.  Write it down.  Ask yourself if it is true.  Then, ask yourself what you would say to your very best friend if she or he was sharing this as their internal dialogue?  Would it still be true?  Be your own best friend and listen for the real truth about who you are.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 8, 2010

Spring is here early this year.  The sunlight is reflected in the yellow daffodils heralding the newfound warmth of spring.  Camellias are blooming, their bright pink and rose blossoms mimic the rosy cheeks of coatless children lifting their faces to the spring air.  The blue sky a surprising backdrop for unfurling buds of green on tree branches barely over winter's chill.  Not far from where I live there is a bulb farm and every spring its fields are painted in beautiful shades of yellow, red and white.  Their doors opened three weeks early as the insistent flowers would not wait.  There is an underlying sense of urgency in nature's song.  Hurry, hurry, hurry.  There is something coming that cannot wait.  I resonate to the melody I hear in the spring breeze.  Something within me stirs to an early spring.  Bulbs of dreams planted during bleak, cold, autumn times of my life are pushing up through newly warmed, wet soil.  Expectations held still by winter's chill are waking up.  There is something within me that cannot wait.  An early spring created by the warmth of my inner sun unexpectedly shining in the midst of winter.  I know I am not alone in this spiritual early spring.  I see it in the faces of others who share this journey towards light and love.  Something is coming.  I don't know exactly what it is but I do know I want to be ready.  I want to be like those brave daffodils reflecting the sun.  I want my inner sun to be reflected so that anyone who sees me will know that hope and faith bloom early this year.  I want those who feel as though winter will never leave the icy caverns of their hearts to know that spring is coming early.  I want those who feel bleak and barren to know that hope's tight buds are unfurling to reveal their inner beauty early this year.  I luxuriate in the cherry blossom sweetness within.  Their pink blush whispering of ripe fruit to come.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 6, 2010

Last night I did mini readings at Spa Night at Soul Picnic in Aberdeen, WA.  It is a beautiful holistic healing center that I have been invited to become a part of.  I provide a variety of services but last night I was doing mini card readings.  I love doing them.  It is not always fun but always rewarding.  There were many tears as I shared the information that was coming in.  Tears often come when talking about painful or difficult circumstances in people's lives.  Tears also come from joy and from recognition of deeper truths.  Throughout my career as both a mental health therapist and a spiritual counselor I have encountered many tears from people who have low self-esteem.  Those tears may fall because someone put them down or they put themselves down.  However, those tears that often flood down their cheeks are after hearing words of kindness, encouragement and praise.  Last night, I acknowledged people's gifts and who they truly are.  Most people barely begin to see the truth of who they are.  Most of the time we are blinded by false beliefs, limiting ideas and emotional baggage.  As I shared about their true essence and how much they have to offer the world eyes glistened.  Somewhere deep inside truth rang a bell and that bell resounded and reverberated creating a shift in their awareness.  Their bell had been muffled far too long.  Today, remove the muffle from someone else's bell.  Tell them about something good you see in them.  A true compliment from the heart is like a summer breeze whose soft warmth gently moves.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 5, 2010

I am a Scorpio.  For anyone familiar with astrology they may know that Scorpio is represented by four animals not just the Scorpion.  There is the Scorpion, the snake, the eagle and the Phoenix.  Scorpio energy is in part the energy of death and rebirth.  The scorpion represents the lowest aspect of Scorpio.  Often this is the part that people recoil from when they know someone is a Scorpio.  Uh oh, the vindictive, vengeful, stinging words and actions of the scorpion!  More than once, someone has said to me after finding out I am a Scorpio that they would not want to make me mad.  The snake represents transformation.  The snake sheds its skin when it is ready to grow.  Snake represents moving up from the scorpion and being in a higher state.  That potential of transformation also allows the snake to eventually move up to the eagle.  It is representative of our ability to die and be reborn.  We can die unto the ego and be reborn anew.  We can let go of the lower aspects of being and rise up.  The final animal is the Phoenix who can only be reborn through fire. This fire can be experienced in many ways but it is the rare Scorpio who makes it to Phoenix.  Only someone who is truly willing to die to self can become the Phoenix.  It is important to understand that whereas the Scorpio may embody these characteristics that everyone has a bit of Scorpio in them.  We have all twelve of the signs within us somewhere.  Therefore, everyone has times when the scorpion may raise its ugly stinger.  Everyone has the opportunity to allow their too tight skin to be shed when it is time to grow.  Everyone has the ability to move beyond the snake and to soar like an eagle.  Everyone has the potential to rise from the ashes.  Where are you in your own process of death and rebirth?  Perhaps you are in a place where everything seems to be going right and life is good.  Enjoy it and know that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  Perhaps you are in a place where everything seems to be going wrong and life is very difficult.  You may be in the process of rebirth.  You may even be in the fire.  I will not ask you to enjoy it because that is too much.  I will ask you to consider that you are in an important part of your journey.  Birth does not come without its labor pangs.  It is the wise mother who learns to relax and breathe and flow with the labor pains instead of fighting them.  The baby will be born either way.  The mother who learns to go with the flow has less pain.  She is accepting the temporary pain knowing it was inevitable.  The ending of her pain is also inevitable.  So for today, if you are in pain, breathe and let go knowing that even pain has its purpose and nothing will last forever.  Envision yourself with shiny new skin or better yet envision yourself as you rise up and spread your wings knowing that you have earned them.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 4, 2010

I was reflecting back on a session I had with a woman in Reno.  She was a delightful woman from India who was reading for me.  At one point, I asked her about relationships and whether or not she saw me meeting a man in the near future.  She said yes but she also said that he would not be exactly what I wanted.  I was to allow the relationship to slowly develop over time and I would find the companionship and partnership I wanted.  In addition, she said I was to enjoy every person who came across my path.  Those are very wise words.  Enjoy every person who comes across your path.  I am, by nature, a very friendly and outgoing person.  I love people.  I love to meet new people.  I love to talk to strangers and connect even if only for a short time.  So, for me, to be told to enjoy every person who comes into my life is not a totally strange or foreign concept.  It was still helpful to hear it.  It affirmed what I already believe.  I believe that every person we encounter is not by accident.  Every word we speak is significant.  Every gesture, every action is important.  It is significant how we speak to the grocery cashier, the gas station attendant, the waitress, our neighbors and everyone we encounter.  It is important to have an awareness of the impact we have on others when we least expect it or are aware of it.  Have you not had someone reveal to you how you affected them at some point in their life and you did not know it?  I have.  I have had people share with me how I impacted their lives and I was unaware of it.  In order to enjoy EVERYONE who comes across our path, we must let go of judgments and barriers and be open to our differences.  I pray this for myself often.  I pray to be open-hearted towards everyone who comes into my life.  It is not always easy.  I do not always succeed but I intend to.  I pray for this to eventually be such a part of me that I don't have to consider it, it simply is.  In the meantime, I did meet someone and he is not exactly what I thought I was looking for but I am enjoying him and I am willing to see where our relationship goes.  I can be patient and remember Usha's words, to enjoy everyone who comes across my path.  I encourage you to do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 3, 2010

I had a phone session with a woman today.  In preparation for the session, I set up my table, lit candles, placed my quartz crystal ball on the table and brought out my decks of cards.  I love to do intuitive sessions with people.  I sat and prayed prior to my client calling me.  I almost always say the same prayer.  I pray to be an open vessel and to only bring through that which is for my client's highest good.  I invite and thank my own guides, teachers and angels for their help.  I invite and thank my client's guides, teachers and angels for their help.  By the time that my client calls, I can feel my crown chakra opening and light coming in through my third eye.  I can feel tears come to my eyes as I am steeped in gratitude for the opportunity to do this work.  I love my work.  I love helping my clients.  Today's session turned out to be different.  She did not want a card reading, she merely wanted to talk and get my perspective on what was happening in her life.  I sat back in my chair and listened to her for a while.  As the session proceeded, I could feel how quickly the information came to me.  The words flowed and the energy sparked.  I knew in my heart that I was helpful to her and that the information I shared with her was not only helpful but very significant in her life.  To be a vessel for the Light brings me some of the greatest joy I have ever felt.  It brings me purpose and joy and gratitude.  I feel gratitude to everyone who has ever supported me in my journey.  This includes beings on both sides of the veil.  I could not begin to list the number of people who have encouraged me and believed in me.  Are you aware of what gives you joy and purpose?  Are you aware of those who love and support you?  Understand that no matter what you may see in your immediate physical world, that there is always a multitude of supporters for you on the other side.  Guides, angels, teachers are all here to help you in your journey.  There are also family members, perhaps friends and others who have passed over to the other side who are also part of your support network.  If you are not experiencing joy in your life, perhaps it is time to ask why not?  It may be time to ask yourself, what is my purpose?  Everyone single person has a divine purpose.  Not everyone is aware of what their purpose is but they still have one.  Each and every one of us is just as important to the world.  The more that people can tap into and begin to fulfill their purpose, the more the whole world benefits.  If you are not aware of your purpose, simply opening up and asking for clarity helps to create a chain reaction of events that eventually leads to you knowing more.  Ask for clarity.  Ask for your purpose.  Ask for more joy.  Ask and you shall receive.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 2, 2010

What does it mean to surrender?  I have been thinking about that quite a bit, lately.  To surrender to my Higher Self, to Divine Will is something that I meditate on, pray about and long to do.  There are some areas in my life that I have surrendered, or at least I will think I have until I realized that I am still holding on.  One of those areas is connected to my weight issues and my eating habits.  I have received many messages about what foods are not good for me.  I will vow to surrender them and will do so for a while, until some stress comes into my life and I revert back to my old eating habits.  In truth, I did not really surrender, I merely let go of them for a time.  To surrender means to completely let go and trust that whatever happens is for your highest good.  When I tap into my guidance I know that they are calling me to surrender sugar.  To surrender sugar and find sweetness elsewhere.  My body is calling out to me to surrender sugar.  Until I sat down today and started to write this daily message, I had not truly resolved to do so.  I am surrendering sugar because I know it is Divine will and my body deserves the best I can give it.  As you read these words, what in your life do you need to surrender to your Higher Self?  Is every aspect of your life aligned with Divine Will?  I encourage you to choose one thing, one aspect of your life and surrender it to Divine Will.  I look forward to the freedom that I know comes after surrender.  The more I surrender, the more I experience true freedom.  Some would say it is the opposite, that by surrendering I am letting go of my freedom to do as I please.  That kind of freedom is ego based, what we call free will and is, in truth, limiting.  The freedom that follows surrender is much greater.  It is a divine freedom and is expansive and infinite.  Love and Light, Shirley

March 1, 2010

Today would have been my parent's 63rd wedding anniversary.  My dad died in July so they were married for over 62 years.  That is a long time to be committed to one person.  They were married longer than some people live.  My mom still lives in the same house that all four of us children were born in.  Commitment of that kind is very admirable in this time of so many broken marriages.  I asked myself what am I committed to in my life?  My marriage ended after nearly 29 years, so I can't answer my marriage.  I am not deeply committed to my community because even though I lived here until I was 51, I left it and lived in two other areas before returning home.  I do not believe I have returned permanently.  I could say that I am committed to my children, however, they are grown and have their own lives.  They have my love permanently and forever, but that is still not the same as a marriage.  I would have to say that the one constant in my life, the one commitment that stays whether or not I am married and stays wherever I live, is my spiritual commitment.  My spiritual commitment is that I want to fulfill my spiritual goals and purpose for this lifetime.  I want to be able to say that I am done before I pass from this world to the next.  I want to be of service to my fellow human beings.  I don't have an anniversary date for my spiritual commitment.  No fancy cards or flowers mark the occasion.  But, there are times along my journey when I stop and reflect and I recommit myself to my spiritual goals.  Just as couples often will say their vows again as a way of affirming and recommitting themselves to their marriage, I will vow again to my commitment of love and service.  There is no silver anniversary or golden anniversary to mark the occasion but instead an internal celebration that has no end, no limitation.  I feast on the cake of spiritual awareness.  I drink of the sweet wine of spiritual delight.  Where are you in your own spiritual journey?  Is it time to recommit?  Is it time to celebrate? Party on!  Love and Light, Shirley

February 26, 2010

A friend of mine sent me a picture today of a snow scene from Reno, Nevada.  It was so beautiful with the bright blue sky and the pristine purity of the snow.  For a moment, I looked out my bedroom window at the gray, cloudy sky and felt a brief pang of disappointment.  Then, I noticed the raindrops covering the rhododendron leaves like tiny crystal pearls.  They slowly gather together creating one glistening pearl on each leaf's edge until one drop too many draws them down to earth.  I remember how much I missed the raindrops when I lived in Reno.  I remember how much I missed the vast stretches of green when I lived in Reno.  I choose to delight in the raindrops of today.  Every place we live and every aspect of our life has its own gifts and they are not all the same.  Childhood is not the same as young adulthood.  Being the mother of small children is very different from being the mother of grown children.  Being married to one man for a long time is vastly different from being divorced and dating several men.  I choose to focus on the raindrop pearls of today instead of feeling I am missing out somehow.  Nothing is permanent.  Change is inevitable.  I want to savor each place, each person and each circumstance that comes into my life.  By savoring each moment, I never really lack when that moment is gone.  I carry it with me in my heart.  I carry the blue sky and snowy peaks of Nevada within me.  Instead of feeling pangs of disappointment, I choose to feel grateful for the experiences I carry with me.  I can close my eyes and see the mountains.  And, if some day, I leave where I am now, I can close my eyes and see the rain and count my blessings with each drop.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 24, 2010

Today, I went down by the river to sit for a short while and reflect.  As I was sitting there, I noticed something odd moving about in the river.  I watched and soon I could see as it dived and whirled and floated about on its back.  It was a river otter, just having the time of its life.  If you have never watched a river otter, let me assure you that they are some of the most playful animals in the animal kingdom.  I looked otter up in my book, Animal Speak, and the keywords for otter are playfulness and sharing.  The book states that if otter has surfaced in your life, to find some play time, some creative activity and to treat yourself to something special.  The book also shares that by honoring otter, otter will teach us to have fun and to help us reawaken a new sense of wonder.  I totally believe that we are being spoken to all the time by nature, by all aspects of nature.  In the last few days, I have had bees show up in my bedroom, deer show up across the street and now, a river otter.  Bees teach us to savor the sweetness of life.  Deer brings us gentleness and the opportunity for new adventure.  Hmmmmm.  I hear the message loud and clear.  Quit being so serious and lighten up, Shirley.  Don't get so focused on getting things done that you forget to savor the moment.  Be gentle with yourself and others and have some fun!  All three of these beings, the bee, the deer and the otter speak to the lighter side of life.  Joy, gentleness, fun and sharing.  Time for me to tap into my inner child, little Shirley.  Are you in need of some sweetness?  Are you savoring the sweetness of life?  Are you gentle with yourself and others?  Are you having fun?  If any of these questions resulted in a no, I encourage you to tap into your inner child and ask, what do you want from me, the adult?  Listen and then respond to whatever comes back.  Listening to our inner child frees us.  Bringing our inner child out brings so much joy, sweetness, gentleness, innocence and fun to the world.  Well, I had better get going.  Evidently, I need to go and find some Mr. Bubbles, among other things!  Love and Light, Shirley

February 23, 2010

I love to do guided meditations for other people.  I have had more than one meditation group and it has always been such a privilege and a pleasure to lead them.  One of the first things I have people do is close their eyes.  I tell them to begin paying attention to their own breath.  Just follow their own breath and notice the rise and fall of their own chest and abdomen.  Other than being guided to choose a certain piece of music, I never know what the meditation will be until I open my mouth and the words flow out.  I know they come from a source other than myself.  Beginning with the breath is very important.  Our breath not only connects us to life but it connects us to everything in existence.  By learning to breathe deeply, we can access parts of ourselves that may have been previously hidden.  By breathing, we can bring new life to our tired bodies.  By breathing and letting go of thought, we can enter new realms.  By breathing, we can remember who we truly are.  We can connect to everything and everyone else in existence.  We can hear the infinite breath of God, breathing us into existence.  Today, even if just for five minutes, close your eyes and follow your own breath.  Just notice the rhythmic fall and rise of your breast.  Follow the breath in and out of your nostrils.  As thoughts come in, simply breathe them out gently, allowing your mind to rest, even if just for seconds.  Envision that you are not only breathing in fresh, pure, oxygen, you are breathing in love.  Breathe in love to every cell of your body.  Breathe in love and breathe out love.  Permeate yourself and the room around you with love.  Create a sanctuary within you.  A place you can retreat to any time you need to.  All you need do is breathe yourself into your sacred space within.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 22, 2010

For most of my life, I have been an early riser.  When I was growing up, we lived one block from the train tracks.  Every morning at 6 a.m. there was a train whistle and this whistle was my alarm clock.  One whistle and I was instantly awake and ready to start the day.  Even though I am now living back in the home I grew up in, the train tracks have been long gone and with them, the early morning train whistle.  I was thinking of the train whistle as a metaphor for spiritual awakening.  What have been the spiritual train whistles that have helped me to awaken spiritually?  Why is it that some people seem to live their lives with little or no spiritual awareness and others live lives permeated with their spirituality?  Why is it that some phases of my life are more representative of the first category instead of the second?  Some of the spiritual train whistles are easy to identify.  Pain and loss have often helped me to open more spiritually.  Grief has propelled me to travel down spiritual tracks seeking relief, seeking understanding.  Beauty has also served as a spiritual train whistle for me.  Beauty has stirred me to such depths of emotion and passion that I could not but travel on that train to spirit.  Deep within me, there is a train whistle that blows sweet and low from such a distance that it is barely perceptible.  Unless I quiet myself and hold myself still, I may think it is but a breeze whistling by.  Stilling my body and slowing my breath, I hear its tones, echoing through the midnight of my soul.  Come home.  Come home.  Come home.  Stop.  Listen.  Can you not hear your own spiritual train whistle?  Can you not also come home?  Love and Light, Shirley

Februrary 20, 2010

I was reading a daily message from one of the teachers at the Kabbalah Centre, Yehudah Berg.  I like receiving his messages because they are short but are always meaningful.  One of the main teachings from the Kabbalah Centre is that we are here to share with others.  When we share with others and give to others, we are connecting to the Light.  The Light is another word for God, Source or Creator.  When we connect to the Light, we are also connecting to our true essence.  Spiritual leaders of all persuasions have taught this for centuries.  It is more blessed to give than to receive.  Giving enhances the receiver and the giver.  I would like to note that it does say it is also blessed to receive.  How could we all be giving if there was no one to receive?  I personally see giving and receiving as a flow of energy, similar to the infinity sign.  Giving, the energy flowing out and receiving, the energy from the other flowing in.  I know that when I am feeling low or discouraged, I change my vibration when I give to someone else.  I feel lighter and less burdened.  By extending my hand or heart to someone else, I am also sending a powerful message to the Universe.  This message states that I am strong, I have much to give and that when I tap into my heart, I receive unlimited strength and courage.  If you are feeling down, ask yourself if you are open to receiving?  Are you open to giving?  We must be open to both for the Universal flow to occur.  By being open to receive I am giving someone else the opportunity to tap into their heart and find their strength and courage and love.  Let's get that flow going!  It doesn't have to be big to be important.  A kind word, a gentle smile, an offer to help someone with their chores, a moment of listening are all ways in which to give.  A thank you, a smile back, allowing someone to help, being willing to open up are all ways in which to receive.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 19, 2010

It is late in the day but I decided to write a brief message anyway.  Today was one of the days that I took a truckload of scrap iron and other recyclables to the recycling center.  My friend, Cliff, and I have been cleaning out my dad's shop for weeks.  My dad died in July and left behind an amazing amount of stuff to be cleaned up, organized, recycled, thrown out or sold.  Cliff drives here from two hours away and brings his truck and his hard work ethic with him.  I am very grateful for his help.  There are times as I sort through the massive amounts of tools, electrical fittings, and every kind of doo dad and gee gaw you can think of, that I remember being in my dad's shop as a little girl.  I don't ever remember my dad's shop being organized.  It was always a mess, heaps of miscellaneous stuff everywhere.  Yet, my dad knew where almost everything was.  As a little girl, I thought it was a treasure trove.  Alarm clocks just begging to be dismantled.  Old gears and mysterious electrical parts that still clicked or had a dial where unknown energies registered on its numbers.  Years of hard work and sweat are in that old shop.  Years of generosity towards my dad's neighbors, friends, family and even strangers.  My dad was a rich man.  Not in the sense that many people consider rich.  He was rich in the respect and love of his fellow man.  A lot of people have told me what a shame it was that he left such a mess.  I tell them that it is ok.  My dad was generous and helpful to me my whole life.  I can clean up his mess.  I can take trip after trip to the dump and to the recycling center.  I can hold sales and slowly dismantle what he left behind.  Every screw, every tool, every spare part reminds me of my dad and how hard he worked for all of us.  How could I measure my debt to him?  How could I ever really repay him?  Dad was not someone who asked for help and had a hard time receiving it.  I know he knows what I am doing.  I know he knows I really don't mind.  I know he knows how grateful I am for who he was, even his messy shop.  Today, be grateful for some challenge or hard task in your life.  Find the gift in whatever life has placed in your way.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 18, 2010

It is a beautiful day today.  The sun is shining and the trees and plants all grow towards its warmth as if lifting up their faces to be blessed.  Even though it is still February it feels like spring outside.  This is quite unusual for the Pacific Northwest.  Normally, this is a time for rain, rain, rain.  I know that it is not permanent and that the rain will return but, in this moment, I bask in it.  It is as though I am taking that sunshine and drinking it into myself so that I may tap into it when the rain returns.  I believe that this is part of what being spiritual means.  Tapping into that spiritual sunshine to warm myself and to illuminate myself when darkness comes.  I am then able to share that sunshine and warmth with others.  It is unrealistic to hope that the sun will always shine.  We need the rain, too.  They each have their job to do.  It is the same with life.  What we call good and bad or easy and hard is just like sunshine and rain.  They both have their purpose in our lives.  By strengthening ourselves spiritually, we can withstand whatever life brings.  We can shine even in the midst of great darkness.  Just as the rain nurtures and sustains life, we can find ways in which even the difficulties in life have something to offer us.  So, for today, lift your face to your inner sun.  Bask in the warmth and golden glow.  Open your arms to the rain, knowing that nothing is permanent and that you can survive all the storms of life.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 17, 2010

Our thoughts create our reality.  All that we are is a result of what we have thought.  As a man thinketh, so he goeth.  You are what you think.  Change your thoughts, change your body.  These are all fairly common quotes that can be found everywhere.  What once was a rather obscure concept, that we create our own reality through our thoughts, has now become more mainstream.  The Law of Attraction can be found in movies, books, classes and cd's.  Even people who are not particularly metaphysically minded are now watching videos on the Law of Attraction.  Workshops have sprung up all over on how to create the life you want by changing your thoughts.  As a mental health therapist, I certainly became aware of the power of thoughts and words when I studied cognitive therapy.  Cognitive therapy is one method of coping with depression and anxiety.  It requires an examination of the words, thoughts and beliefs that predominate a person's life.  By changing those words, thoughts and beliefs, anyone can alter depression and anxiety.  So, I have been learning those concepts from a variety of angles.  First, on my own, as I worked to heal my own issues of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bulimia and multiple phobias.  Second, as I trained to become a mental health therapist.  Third, as I trained to become a hypnotherapist, working with the subconscious where those beliefs and thought patterns exist.  Fourth, as a spiritual seeker, seeking to evolve and grow in as many ways as possible.  Over the years I have found a very important component that is sometimes overlooked or downplayed and that is our emotions.  Our emotions, our feelings also create our reality.  Therefore, as I strive to change my reality, to bring into manifestation those aspects of life that I find pleasing and fulfilling, I must also use my emotions as part of my creative effort.  The Universe is magnetic and just as our thoughts will magnetize and draw to us what we are thinking, so will our emotions.  As you become more conscious of what you wish to create, don't forget to stop and allow yourself to feel that creation.  How does it feel to have good health?  How does it feel to have an abundant flow of money? How does it feel to be in a relationship with someone?  We are too familiar with how it feels to NOT have those things in our lives.  We must practice feeling in order to speed up the manifestation process.  Feeling healthy or wealthy or successful will magnetize and draw those experiences to you much more quickly than just thinking them.  Allow yourself to luxuriate and bathe yourself in those feelings.  Give thanks to the Universe for your good health, wealth, or whatever it is your heart desires.  Feel the joy, give thanks.  Your magnetic feelings enhance and amplify your thoughts.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 15, 2010

I live in a small town in Washington and it is the same small town where I was born and raised and lived most of my life until I moved away in 2005.  I recently moved back in with my mother and so, not only am I back in this town, I am back in the home I was raised in.  It is truly quite an amazing experience.  We live three blocks from the river.  I love rivers and although this is not a particularly lovely river, it is still a river.  There are industrial sites along the river which is why it is not the prettiest.  The water is frequently churned up and brown.  Yet, I am still drawn to it.  The water calms me.  The flow of the river resonates with something deep within.  I love to park my car down next to the river at night.  When it is night, the lights, from the bridge at the far left end, shine on the water creating beautiful shimmering ripples of gold and white.  There is a loveliness to the interplay of light and shadow.  The darkness hides the murky water and only reveals its liquid beauty.  I find myself thinking how the night can be a metaphor.  Often people think of the night as hiding things, keeping secrets, its darkness something to fear.  I experience the night differently.  Yes, there are some things hidden that you can only see during the day, but there are other things revealed, other beauty exposed that would otherwise never be seen.  In the quiet of the night, you can hear subtle sounds, the river's voice is more easily revealed.  Much like the night, when we close our eyes and quiet ourselves, we can see previously hidden sights, we can hear previously mute voices, we can delight in the liquid beauty of our inner selves.  We can flow with the inner river and sigh with sweet relief.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 14, 2010

Are you someone who has had spiritual or mystical experiences that you knew were profound and real?  Did you then try to share those experiences with others only to be looked at strangely or to be teased and ridiculed?  It is challenging to be different.  It is not always fun to see the world and experience the world through a different lens.  I am one of those "weirdos".  I experience reality very differently from most people.  For all of my life, I wanted to be loved and accepted so I kept huge secrets about myself and my world.  As I grew older I worked harder at being honest about my beliefs, my experiences, my feelings and my reality.  At first, I began to find a few like-minded people that I could share my experiences with.  It was like a breath of fresh air.  Ahhhhh, I don't have to explain myself and wait for the sideways glances or the barely suppressed laughter.  Over time, I found more like-minded people and open-minded people who were willing to listen.  My own guidance encouraged me to begin sharing with others who were not necessarily on the same path but who might listen.  Bit, by bit, I began to share with people, all kinds of people.  Their responses varied.  What I learned over the years is that it really was no longer about other people's acceptance or lack of acceptance, it was about my own acceptance.  The more I learned to love myself and embrace all the wonderful quirky parts of Shirley, the more readily I could share with others.  If you are afraid to share parts of yourself with others, ask yourself if you have truly embraced them yourself?   Working on self-acceptance will help you to let go of your fears of rejection.  After all, if we reject ourselves of course we will experience other people's rejection as well.  As within, so without.  Whatever is inside of us will be reflected outside of us.  As we learn to love and accept ourselves we will begin to experience more acceptance from others.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 13, 2010

When people ask me what I do for a living I usually tell them that I am a counselor, a hypnotherapist and an intuitive reader.  Many times people do not know what an intuitive reader is, so I use the word psychic.  What I do not always explain is that I am also a medium.  A medium is a person who can communicate with those people who have died and passed to the other side.  I have been a psychic and a medium as long as I can remember.  I spent a great deal of my life trying to make it all go away but, fortunately, it did not work.  I accepted that this is who I am and now I embrace those aspects of myself.  In the last few years I connected with the Spiritualist Church and it was while attending Spiritualist churches that I learned more about mediums.  I learned that there are mental mediums and physical mediums.  A mental medium primarily sees or hears those on the other side.  A physical medium can help those on the other side create physical phenomena.  Some of this phenomena can include knocking, rapping, lights going on and off, electrical appliances turning on and so much more.  I had had those kinds of things happening around me all of my life.  I remember as a little girl spirits knocking and rapping on my walls, objects moving, lights going on and off in my bedroom at night.  As I got older, there were times that the rapping was so loud it would wake me, pictures rattling, doors opening and closing, my stereo coming on by itself and playing a CD.  The other night I walked into the living room and suddenly the television began to change from the channel it was on to On Demand.  It clicked on Free Movies and then it clicked on A-L.  I watched as it scrolled down the movies and clicked on a movie.  It then had to have clicked on OK because the movie began to play.  This was amazing and yet not surprising to me.  I am living at my mom's house and there has been a lot of activity from those on the other side.  My mom came into my bedroom and asked me why I had changed the channel if I was not watching it.  I explained what had happened.  She was amazed naturally.  She asked me if it was my dad and I quieted myself.  No, it was her sister, June.  Then, I could tell that there were others.  All three of my mother's deceased siblings and her mother were all there.  She asked why they were there and I said that they were there to tell her that even if she feels abandoned, she isn't, that they are there to love and support her.  We are never alone.  No matter who you are and who you have lost to death, you are never alone.  They come and visit us often.  They are in their eternal bodies and it is only us that are limited by our physical bodies and our physical senses.  Remember that even though our bodies are not eternal, our spirits are.  Perhaps more importantly, love is eternal and never dies.  The next time you feel abandoned or lonely, remember those you have loved and draw them to you.  Wrap yourself in the warm blanket of that love.  Bring those people into your mind, one by one, and know that they are there in spirit, not just memory but spirit.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 12, 2010

I received an email today from a friend of mine with an inspirational message attached.  The message was from a fairly well-known spiritual teacher, someone who has helped many people.  Contained within the inspirational message was a prayer but it was quite long and fairly wordy.  Now, I am someone who loves words!  I like to speak and teach and I love to write.  However, for some reason, as I was reading it, I found myself skipping over a great deal of it.  It was too wordy for me today.  Another day I might want all those words but for some reason, today, I did not.  Some days I just want simplicity.  I thought about those messages that really stick with me, the ones that roll around in my head and resurface time and again.  They are rarely wordy.  They are simple and to the point.  One of those is a quote from the Dali Lama.  When asked what his religion is, he simply replied, "kindness".  So simple, yet so incredibly powerful.  His religion is kindness.  No dogma, no required belief, no essential ritual, just being kind to others.  Today, I pray to be kind.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 11, 2010

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  There are a lot of different opinions about why we have Valentine's Day.  Some say that it is just another commercial holiday.  Others say that we do not need a special day to tell someone that we love them.  I am sure there is truth in both of those statements.  But, I will tell you why I love Valentine's Day.  First, it falls in February, which follows January and I find both of those months a little dreary weather wise.  There is all the excitement and glitter and lights and fun of the holidays and then January is so plain!  I realize that this may vary in different parts of the country but in the Pacific Northwest, it is very gray.  February is pretty much a repeat of January.  Yet, right in the middle of February comes some sweetness.  I remember making homemade Valentine's as a child.  I loved the red, white and pink paper doily hearts that I pasted onto pink, red or white construction paper.  If I was really fortunate, I would have some red foil heart stickers or red foil hearts to paste on my Valentine's.  In school we were allowed to have a Valentine's party and the classroom was filled with cereal boxes covered with construction paper and lots of hearts.  We learned how to fold paper over and cut out half a heart, unfold it and ta da, a perfect heart!  Cupcakes and candies were adorned as well.  Heart shaped boxes filled with sweet, creamy chocolates.  Red vases filled with red roses or carnations.  Some say that Valentine's Day is primarily for sweethearts, lovers or married people but I disagree.  Valentine's Day is for bringing some sweetness into anyone's life.  There is an emphasis commercially on buying something for your sweetheart but many of the original Valentine's Day cards were sent from women to their female friends.  Many Valentine's Day cards were a way of celebrating the bonds of friendship.  Not everyone has a sweetheart but most people have a friend, a sister or brother, parents, co-workers, children, grandchildren or an elderly person next door, who could use a little sweetness in their life.  Go on, be a sweetheart and send someone a card.  You don't have to make it yourself, the stores are filled with ready made cards.  It is the thought after all, the sentiment.  Do you need to have a special day to tell someone you care?  No, of course not, but it doesn't hurt!  Love and light, Shirley

February 8, 2010

I remember the very first time I went to a psychic.  It was in 2001 and I was attending a training held in Mexico.  There was a woman at this resort who could read people's auras and she also would do card readings.  My friend, Angie, and I decided to do both.  The only reason I agreed was that this same woman had poured our sweat lodge the night before and I knew her to be a very spiritual person.  I trusted her and it felt like the right thing to do.  I was amazed at how much she told Angie as my friend stood up against this white wall.  Then, it was my turn.  There are some parts of the reading that I still remember almost word for word.  One of the things she told me is that I have always worked very hard to be a good girl.  She then told me that I needed to stop being such a good girl.  I was surprised at her words.  She went on to say that I needed to say no.  I needed to say no, especially in my work and to only do what I love.  Her words went around and around in my head.  Stop being such a good girl.  I really didn't think I was such a good girl, in fact, I could have given her a big long list of all the ways in which I was not good.  Hmmm.  Yet, she was so accurate in almost everything she had told me that somehow I knew there was some truth here for me to learn.  Three years later I was at a meditation retreat with a holy woman from India called Amma Karunamayi.  Being in Amma's presence was amazing.  She was truly unconditional love in a body.  Once while getting a blessing from Amma, she looked into my eyes and softly said, "You are good.  You are a good daughter."  The tears cascaded down my face.  Of all the people that I had ever met in my life, I knew I could believe Amma.  If Amma said I am good, then I am good.  Hmmm.  So, now two spiritual teachers had told me the same thing.  You are good, Shirley.  Which means that any part of me that doubts my goodness is not the spiritual part of me or the wise part of me.  The part that doubts is still in illusion.  Being good does not mean I am perfect in the sense that the world might measure.  Being good means that I am being seen through eyes of love.  When I quiet myself and go inward, I see myself and others through eyes of love.  I remember the truth.  Today, remember your own goodness.  Then, you can remember the goodness of others.  love and light, Shirley

February 7, 2010

Today I have been installing shelf paper in my mom's kitchen cupboards.  I am somewhat of a perfectionist so I love it when the paper uncurls without a wrinkle and lies flat on the shelf with little effort.  But, of course, there are also those times that no matter how carefully I unroll the backing and slowly allow the adhesive to cling to the shelf, it seems to go on a little crooked or there are slight wrinkles on the surface.  When I first started doing this the other day, I would roll and reroll the paper until it would lie perfectly flat.  This was quite time consuming.  Finally, I had one piece of shelf paper that would not  co-operate no matter what I did.  So, I finally left a few wrinkles, smoothed them as best I could and placed the dishes over them.  After I finished, I realized how ridiculous it was to take so much time over a few small wrinkles that are covered by the dishes anyway!  I had to laugh at myself.  How often do we get so caught up in minor details that we lose sight of the whole picture?  In Native American culture, when they weave a beautiful basket or a blanket they intentionally weave in one small flaw.  They do not truly consider it a flaw but understand that it is a more accurate representation of nature, of reality.  Our manmade conception of perfection is sometimes flawed because it considers something a flaw when it is not, it is simply a difference.  So today, as I install the shelf paper, I am much more relaxed and easy on myself.  Those small wrinkles are simply a slight difference.  I can apply this same philosophy to myself and to others.  Instead of regarding parts of myself as flawed, I choose to see those parts as merely different.  Instead of seeing others as flawed, I will choose to see them as more accurate representations of nature, of reality.  Today, if you struggle with judgments and perfectionism, weave a small difference into your basket.  You will find yourself in a much better space.  Allow a few wrinkles and see the bigger picture, the bigger picture of your own and other's unique beauty.  love and light, Shirley

February 6, 2010

In order to get the best benefit out of reading today's message, you may wish to read yesterday's message first.  Yesterday I spoke about the wisdom of our physical body and how we can learn a great deal from our body.  I spoke of muscle testing as one way of listening to our body.  For any of you who may not be familiar with muscle testing, it is a simple procedure that anyone can do.  When I first learned about mechanism it was when I went to a nutritionist many years ago.  She explained that my body can tell me which supplements were good for me and what food was good for me.  The procedure she used involved me holding my arm out from my shoulder in a straight line to one side.  She would place a bottle of a supplement at my solar plexus, tell me to hold my arm in position and then she would push down on my arm.  I was amazed to see how there were times I could hold my arm up and other times it was so weak, she could easily push it down.  She explained that the substances that were good for my body kept my arm strong and those that my body did not like created a weak arm.  So, I started using that technique in order to find out information.  The only problem was that it required a second person to do it.  Over time I have learned other procedures that I can do by myself.  I will share two of them and hopefully one of them will work for you.  The first technique involves standing up with your legs shoulder width apart.  Bend your knees slightly so that your knees are not locked.  You should be standing in a relaxed position.  If you are checking a food or substance, place it on your solar plexus area.  Simply stand and your body will usually begin to fall forward or backward.  If you fall forward, your body is telling you, yes, this is something good for me.  If you fall backward, your body is telling you no.  If you just stand there, this is a neutral position and it is neither good or bad, it is neutral.  Another way of muscle testing involves one arm.  Hold your arm out straight in front of you with your palm down.  Make a true statement such as saying your name out loud.  After you speak the statement, gently turn your hand over until it naturally stops.  Notice how far the hand turns over.  Make another statement that you know is not true and turn your hand over.  Your hand should not turn as far over and you will feel some resistance in your arm.  Everyone is different and some techniques work better for some people.  It is important that you are making statements not asking questions.  For example, let's say that you are trying to make a decision about how to spend some money.  Don't ask should I spend money on a certain item?  Instead, state that it is a good choice to spend money on a certain item.  If it is a good choice your hand will easily turn over.  If it is not a good choice, you will feel some resistance to your hand turning over.  It takes practice, so be patient.  The more you do it, the better you will become at getting information.  At one point in my life, my guides told me that I spent too much time in my head trying to analyze everything and figure everything all out.  They suggested that I use the wisdom of my body to help me make decisions.  I spent months making very few decisions without doing some muscle testing.  I was amazed at the accuracy of my muscle testing.  I would also add that it is helpful to say a quick prayer before using muscle testing, especially if you have a strong desire for a certain answer.  I always pray that I am able to learn whatever is for my highest good and that I will listen even if I am not hearing what I desire.  Good luck and remember that you can always email me if you have any questions.  love and light, Shirley

February 5, 2010

Did you know that your body is filled with wisdom?  A number of years ago while I was going through a very painful divorce and in the years following it, my guides talked me a great deal about the wisdom of my body.  They suggested that I could learn much from my body if I would just take the time to listen.  I had learned about muscle testing long before and I had used muscles testing to determine whether or not certain foods were good for me or what kind of supplements I would benefit from taking.  What I had not realized is that muscle testing can tell me so much more than that.  My guides explained that I have a mental body, an emotional body and a physical body.  I also have a spiritual body but they were mostly talking about the other three.  In our mental body and our emotional body we are often living in the past or the future.  In truth, it is often quite a challenge to remain in the present when dealing with either of those two bodies.  However, our physical body is always 100% in the moment.  It might have side effects from food eaten earlier or it might have physical reactions to anxiety connected to future events but the body itself is completely in the present.  The anxiety regarding the future is created by the mental and emotional bodies and the physical body is simply reacting to those thoughts and emotions.  The body tells the truth about what is going on in the physical body and also what is going on in the subconscious.  In other words, we may be able to fool ourselves mentally but in our subconscious mind, the truth remains and it is that truth that the body will respond to.  For example, let us say that we are in a difficult relationship but we do not want to have to deal with conflict.  We can mentally convince ourselves that everything is fine.  It is called minimizing and if we get good enough at minimizing, it is called denial.  We can mentally deny and we can emotionally deny.  However, in our subconscious the issues remain and fester.  It is this that they body responds to.  It is this mechanism of denial that gives us the ability to say that everything is fine even when our body may have headaches, stomach problems or any host of other issues connected to what we are denying.  Therefore, when we muscle test, our body will give us a straight answer.  What we can deny mentally, we cannot deny physically.  I can create the lie inside of my head but my body will tell the truth.  I began to use muscle testing for all kinds of answers, answers about relationships, answers regarding my work, answers regarding my personal work and growth.  The results were often surprising and not always what I wanted to hear but they were always what I needed to hear.  More tomorrow on muscle testing and how you can access the wisdom of your body.  love and light, Shirley

February 4, 2010

I have a dear friend, Holly, who lives in Brooklyn, New York.  We met at a Kabbalah event in 2005 and have remained good friends ever since, communicating by email or phone.  Holly is an amazing intuitive and spiritual woman.  She will frequently be visited by my guides, which she refers to as my "cast of characters".  I have a large group of guides and they are quite varied and interesting.  One of the more recent times we talked on the phone, Holly shared that my guides want me to surrender.  I had been talking about letting go and how I have had so much to let go of, especially in the last few years.  Holly shared that my guides want me to do more than let go, they want me to surrender.  There have been times in the past when I have surrendered, even if only for brief moments of time.  So, what is the difference between letting go and surrendering?  I guess when I think of letting go, I think of letting go of specific things in my life.  I have let go of being married.  I have let go of my mental health practice that I had for many years.  I have let go of living in certain places or not living in certain places.  I have let go of people, places, things, ideas, ways of being and so much more.  To me, surrendering means going beyond all that.  To surrender is to let go on such a scale that there is no longer anything left to let go of.  Once when I was driving down the freeway going seventy miles an hour, my truck's steering went out.  I could not hold the steering wheel steady and I turned from the far left lane and crossed over the three lanes to my right.  I had been driving in very heavy traffic, much of it semi trucks and other large trucks.  I had lost all control and as the truck turned, I remember saying, "Jesus, help me, Thy Will be done."  In that moment, I did surrender and I felt little fear.  Miraculously, I made it across all four lanes of traffic and there was no accident.  This is what I am being called to do but on a bigger scale.  I am being called to let go of the steering wheel of my life and surrender to a Higher Will.  I am being called to trust that whatever happens in my life, it is all good.  No fear, just trust.  Certainty in the Divine.  I pray that I am able to surrender and sustain it for longer and longer periods of time until one day there is no longer a need for me to surrender because it is my way of life.  love and light, Shirley

February 3, 2010

This morning I finished reading "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse.  It is a beautiful story of one man's search for his Self.  I highly recommend it.  One of my favorite parts of the book is when Siddhartha is seated next to a river and listens to the river.  He looks into the river and begins to see thousands of faces, each one coming and going, merging and flowing, just as the water of the river comes and goes, merges and flows.  Siddhartha can feel the unity of all life as he gazes into the river.  I am reminded of one of the experiences I had a few years ago when I was at a workshop taught by Jason Nelson, a young man in Santa Monica.  We were learning how to go up the chakras and enter and experience each one.  He had us enter a chakra above our head which helped us to communicate with our guidance.  Following that we were to enter what he called our chakra of the soul or Higher Self.  Once I entered this chakra, I remember seeing myself and I was looking into a mirror held in my hand.  As I gazed into the mirror I could see my own reflection as I appeared on that day and then slowly, my own image disappeared and I began to see the images of other people that I knew and loved.  The images of those I knew and loved began to disappear and soon I saw the reflections of people I did not know.  The faces began to come and go so quickly that it was like a slide show going at the speed of a strobe light.  I would periodically recognize a face or two, Mother Theresa, Hitler, my second grade teacher, the boy who sat next to me in high school biology.  The parade of faces soon blurred together until all I saw was white light.  I was unaware of the tears flowing down my face.  I was unaware of the room that I sat in or that I was surrounded by forty other people.  I was only aware of the white light and the bliss of Oneness I was experiencing.  In that moment I understood what Illusion means, the Illusion of separation, the Illusion of good and evil, you and me.  There is no you.  There is no me.  There is only One.  I have experienced this before and I know I will experience it again.  My goal is to one day live in this space, knowing that we are all One and that any time I perceive myself as separate, I have forgotten Truth.  For me, this also means that whatever I see in another also resides in me.  If I see beauty, it is also the beauty in me.  If I see avarice, hatred or fear, it is the avarice, hatred or fear that resides within me.  If I reject another, I am, in essence, rejecting myself.  If I love another, I am also loving myself.  I pray for acceptance, that I can accept all others just as they are.  Then, I will truly know self-acceptance.  Love and Light, Shirley

February 2, 2010

I receive all kinds of inspirational email almost every day.  There are some days that I do not have the time to read them but I eventually do.  Sometimes there will be one sentence or one phrase that sticks in my mind.  It is the same with the guidance I receive from my guides.  They may tell me all kinds of things but there will often be one word, phrase or sentence that echoes in my mind, again and again.  Today I received an email that talked about the health benefits of kindness.  I know that there has been scientific proof of the health benefits of prayer and the benefits of gratitude so it only makes sense that there is also a benefit for kindness.   I believe that all acts that are in alignment with our Higher Self, in alignment with our Divine purpose have health benefits.  I often do readings with people, either in person or over the phone.  I love my work.  As I quiet myself just prior to a session, I always say a prayer.  I call it the invitation because I am inviting the other person's spiritual support network to connect to me and help me bring in whatever is for my client's highest good.  I invite my own guides to help in this work.  And, of course, I always include thank you to everyone.  During the sessions, I feel energized and uplifted.  By the time we are saying good-bye, I have such an awareness of how good I feel.  This work is in alignment with my purpose.  Being kind to others is in alignment with ALL of our Divine purposes.  I believe that ultimately our divine purpose is to love and be loved.  Kindness is a lower octave of love.  It is treating others as we would wish to be treated.  Just remember that every time you are kind to another human being, you are also being kind to yourself.  The benefits are many, including better health.  So, here's to your health!  Today, do at least one act of kindness.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 29, 2010

When I lived in Reno, Nevada, I worked at a wonderful place called The Spiritual Element.  We had a beautiful crystal meditation room and I would occasionally attend the Thursday morning meditation.  This particular group welcomed different people to lead meditations which was very enjoyable.  One of the women shared a Buddhist meditation and I regret that I cannot remember what it was called but it was very powerful.  So often, in guided meditations, we are instructed to breathe in white light and breathe out and let go of whatever it is we wish to let go of, negativity, stress, anger, pain, or whatever.  In this meditation you are instructed to do the opposite.  For example, if you desire to let go of anger, you breathe the anger in and when you exhale, you release white light.  After breathing in your own anger and releasing white light, you breathe in other people's anger, usually people you know, and breathe out white light.  As you continue, you expand the number of people whose anger you are breathing in and breathing out white light.  The goal is to eventually breathe in the world's anger and breathe out white light.  I benefit from both kinds of meditation but this particular meditation is very powerful.  It is showing that we already have the white light within us.  We are the white light.  When we acknowledge our true selves and our true potential, we CAN breathe in the world's anger or pain or fear and still breathe out white light.  We can breathe the light in and release the anger to be neutralized by Mother Earth.  Or we can breathe the anger in and release the white light.  We are acknowledging the power of the white light.  The white light is outside of us.  And the white light is inside of us.  We are the white light.  Next time you feel as though something is just too big for you.  Breathe it in and breathe out white light.  Remember you are bigger than any struggle that comes your way.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 26, 2010

Last night I had a session with a woman and she was talking about how she felt disconnected from God.  She said that there were times in her life when she felt connected and could see the synchronicity in her life but that right now she felt stuck.  I, too, have had those times when I felt less connected.  I reassured her that she would, indeed, feel more connected again in time.  Of course, God never disconnects from us.  Our spiritual self, our Higher Self never disconnects from us.  It is our ego that creates this illusion of separation.  When life does not go as we thought it would, especially when we have received what we believed were signs from God, it is not difficult to become discouraged.  After all, if we were not receiving what we thought were signs from the Divine, what where they?  If we cannot trust what we believe is coming from the Divine, what then?  I shared with her that it has been at these times, when my life has hit one brick wall after another, when I have received what I thought were signs and then life did not follow as I thought it would, that I have surrendered.  In other words, I have said to my Higher Self, to my guides, to God, I surrender.  I have quit trying to figure it all out and "feel" in control of my life.  I have acknowledged that I do not have all the answers.  I remain open to answers and I still look for signs but I acknowledge that it is my interpretation of the signs that is most likely the issue.  I believe we are surrounded by messages from Spirit all the time.  First, we must see or hear them.  Second, we must let go of our ego in order to understand them.  Our egoist desires distort our interpretation.  Many times my own guides have said to me, "Shirley, what is, is."  It has taken me a long time to understand what they mean by that.  Acceptance of what is.  I have spent way too much of my life trying to interpret, analyze and figure out why things are the way they are.  For me, surrendering means, in part, that I accept what is.  Acceptance facilitates trust.  I accept what is and I trust that whatever is, is here for my higher good.  For me, one of the best prayers I can pray is to pray that whatever happens is for my higher good and that I can recognize that.  When I pray for my higher good and the higher good of others without dictating what I think that means, I am surrendering to a Higher Will and a Higher Authority.  I am trusting which leads to a stronger connection with the Divine.  Love and Light, Shirley

 

January 24, 2010

Yesterday, I went on a lovely drive with a friend and my mother to Mt. St. Helen's.  It was a lovely day with good weather which is unusual for western Washington, especially in January.  The skies were filled with clouds, interspersed with sunshine and patches of blue.  As we approached the mountain herself we were met with a most spectacular view.  I had seen the mountain before but never in the winter months when she was snow covered.  I had forgotten how breathtaking, not only the mountain herself is, but the surrounding peaks and valleys.  There are places that as far as the eye can see there are evergreen trees, lush, green and vibrant.  It was only thirty years ago that this same mountain blew her top and devastated these same peaks and valleys.  Looking at the vast size of the portion that blew up and out of the mountain is an amazing experience.  It is while I gazed at Mt. St. Helen's missing peak that I thought about my own life.  I thought about some of the time's in my own life when I have felt such devastation.  I have had time's when I felt as though my own life had blown apart, taking parts of me and scattering me in places unknown, leaving the rest of me to never feel the same.  The landscape of my life had erupted and was no longer recognizable.  Yet, I remain.  Just as the land surrounding the mountain slowly reclaimed itself and began to grow new life, so did I.  Tiny seedlings blown in from other places found a home in the gray, rich, ashen soil.  The dust had settled and with it, had created a new landscape.  In my life, the dust eventually settled and I, too, planted new seeds of life.  I, too, eventually began to experience verdant growth.  As humans, we try to avoid the volcanos in life, yet they are unavoidable.  We cannot control Mother Nature any more than we can often control the events in our lives.  Instead of trying to avoid or control, we must stand our ground, tap into our deep reserves of strength and courage.  We must affirm that the landscape may have altered but the majority of the mountain remains, the inner core of who we are remains.  We must look to the new seedlings within and allow them to mature into lush, prolific and majestic forests.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 16, 2010

I was laughing at myself as I sat down and prepared to write today's message.  The title of this page is Daily Messages.  Perhaps it should say, Almost Daily Messages!  Yesterday, in the morning, as I was making coffee and getting ready for my day, the lights kept flickering.  It was raining and the wind was blowing a great deal.  Each time the lights flickered, I found myself holding my breath and praying that they did not go out.  I found myself planning in my mind what I would do if they did go out.  I live with my elderly mother, so she is my first consideration.  We do have a fireplace out in our family room and plenty of dry wood, so I know I could get that room warm.  Depending on how long the electricity would be out, I could keep food cool by not opening the refrigerator often and if necessary, I could get ice.  As my mind raced through the possibilities, I found myself thinking how much we depend on electricity and how many people would not have the warmth of the fireplace or a way to cook their food.  We have become a society where we are not very self sufficient.  If we get disconnected to our source of electricity, we are limited in so many ways.  When I was studying kabbalah on a more regular basis, they referred to God as being the Light.  Being connected to God was described as being the same as being connected to the Light.  A light bulb that is not connected to power is just a useless object.  Once it is connected to electricity it can light up an entire room.  When we are connected to God, we light up the world.  When we are disconnected, we are much like that light bulb, without much use.  I thought about my own connection to God and I asked myself if my light was flickering, threatening to be disconnected?  The answer is no, I am not disconnected.  However, it did make me think about what helps me to stay connected.  Prayer and meditation help me to stay connected.  Being of service to others helps me to stay connected.  Loving myself and caring for myself helps me to stay connected.  Spending time with other people who are also connected helps me to stay connected.  Reading inspirational messages and stories helps me to stay connected.  Gratitude expressed every day helps me to stay connected.  Writing and sharing with others helps me to stay connected.  Today, stop and ask yourself, what helps me to stay connected?  Then, love yourself enough to do at least two of them.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 13, 2010

I live in one of the wettest parts of the United States.  Even more than high rainfall, we have so much cloud cover.  I live in Cosmopolis, Washington and I live approximately one hour from the rain forest.  The rain forest is beautiful.  The moss hangs down off of the trees like an old man's untrimmed beard.  It is green and lush and the ferns are enormous.  Washington is known as the Evergreen state because of its enormous and majestic trees.  Part of why they can grow to such heights is because of the rain.  Some of the largest trees in the world are found in this rain forest and in other places in Washington.  As I was sitting down to write today, I looked out of my window and I saw a patch of blue sky.  This brought such a smile to my face and so much pleasure.  Because we do have so much cloud cover, seeing a patch of blue in January is a wonderful treat.  When I lived in Reno there was blue sky almost every day.  People who lived there and who had always lived there would laugh at me because I would get so excited about another day with blue sky.  I remember thinking that they take it for granted.  When I moved back to Washington in August I found that I absolutely was thrilled to see the evergreen trees again.  Everywhere I looked there was green, green, green.  I realized that to a certain extent I had taken the evergreen trees for granted just as the people in Reno took the blue sky for granted.  It is easy to be grateful and notice something that is less common, such as a patch of blue in January.  It is not always as easy to notice that which is right in front of our nose, day after day, week after week, month after month.  Just for a moment, look around and see your life as it is right now.  Notice your environment, your circumstances, the people in your life.  Is there something you have been taking for granted?  Is there something you need to be grateful for?  Find the evergreen trees and the blue sky in your own life.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 12, 2010

For a number of weeks now, I have been cleaning, organizing, sorting and letting go of some of the stuff at my mom's house.  My mom has lived in the same house for over sixty years and my parents both were collectors.  They were raised during the depression and I believe that a part of their drive to save so much stems from those early childhood experiences.  I am not, by nature, as much as a collector or a saver as either one of my parents, although I have certainly saved much over the years.  In Feng Shui, it is very important to not have clutter.  It is also very important to not have items that are broken.  Letting go of clutter opens up space for new things to come in.  What comes in is not necessarily material, it could also be new people, new ideas, new opportunities.  As I help my mom with her home, I find myself thinking about what it must be like to have so much to let go of.  The other day my own guides were talking to me about the gift of me doing this work, not a gift to my mother but a gift to myself.  As I clean and organize and get rid of garbage or no longer needed items, to ask myself what do I need to clean and organize and let go of within myself?  What old thoughts, emotions, habits, or beliefs are cluttering up my insides?  What is broken and needs to be discarded?  What needs to be polished?  What remains from the past that no longer serves me?  Any old resentments lingering?  Any old hurts that still need to be forgiven?  I encourage all of you to stop and consider whether or not it is time you cleaned house.  Whether it is your physical house or your internal home or both is an answer that only you can give.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 7, 2010

I have taught classes on how to develop your intuition and how to connect to your Spirit Guides.  One of the most common issue that people ask about is how to tell the difference between their conscious thoughts, their ego and their spiritual guidance.  It is not easy.  Even for many spiritual teachers and spiritual seekers of all kinds, this is a common problem.  How do I tell if it is me or them?  How do I discern the difference between my lower self and my Higher self?  How do I know if this message or guidance is truly for my Higher good?  What I have taught in my classes is that our motivation, our intent is the most important aspect of listening to messages.  What is your intent?  Is it to receive whatever is for your highest good?  Or, is it to receive whatever will make you happy in the short term?  I know that for myself, when I receive messages and they are not comfortable because they are calling on me to do something I don't want to do, they are often those messages that are for my highest good.  For example, I was living in Reno and I had just moved into a house that I absolutely loved.  I had cleaned and painted and planted flowers and moved my business into my home.  I was all set.  However, my business was not going as I thought it would.  Plus, I kept having dreams that indicated I might be moving back to Washington State.  In addition to the dreams, when I would look at my Cards of Destiny spreads there were many indications that I would be moving my business and my home and that I would also be changing what I did for work.  When I read the spread that truly spelled out what was likely to come, I closed the book and put it away.  I did not want to move, plain and simple.  The thought did not make me happy.  So, I ignored the messages that I was getting.  Well, I ignored them for a while.  In the beginning of July, I simply could no longer ignore what I was getting.  The dreams were nightly and were becoming more urgent.  My aging parents lived in Washington State and I was feeling more and more concern about them.  I finally called a very good friend, Mary, and we talked about what I was going through.  By the end of the conversation I knew I was leaving Reno and moving back to Washington.  I was not happy.  I loved Reno.  I also knew that there were many reasons why I was returning to Washington, including my parents.  On July 29th, my dad died, leaving my 83 year old mother alone.  I am now living with my mother.  Everything that I was receiving and trying to ignore has now come to pass.  Change of location for business and home.  Change of occupation since I am now looking to work online.  I still do not know all of the reasons why I am here in Washington.  I believe I am completing some very large cycle.  I am now sleeping in the same bedroom I slept in until I was two.  I do not need to know all the reasons right now.  I simply have to pray that whatever happens is for my highest good and then trust in God, trust in myself and be willing to listen to the messages I receive.  I pray you are able to do the same.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 6, 2010

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something important but you didn't and the opportunity passed you by?  Perhaps they moved away or even died and you were never able to let them know how much they meant to you or perhaps that you were sorry for something you said or did.  I know that we are eternal and that it is always possible for those messages to eventually be expressed.  However, we are still here in human bodies, having this human experience, and eventually can seem a very long time away.  Say it now.  Tell someone thank you or that you appreciate them.  Tell someone you are sorry if you have a reason to.  Make amends now.  Tell someone how much you admire them now.  Tell someone that you love them now.  You never know how much your words can mean to another person.  Not only can speaking them now save you regret later, you may touch another person's heart to the core.  Never underestimate the power of truly spoken words from the heart.  Some of the most powerful words in the Universe are thank you, I appreciate you, I am sorry, I love you.  Is there a reason for you to use some of them today?  Be bold and be honest.  Be free.  Love and Light, Shirley

January 4, 2010

Heaven on Earth.  That is a common phrase that I have heard for as long as I can remember.  What exactly does it mean to have heaven on earth?  Whenever I hear it, I am reminded of another phrase.  As Above, So Below.  My guides have taught me that everything begins in the spiritual realm and eventually makes its way into the physical world.  We are integrally linked with the spiritual realm and owe our very existence to it.  If we wish to experience heaven on earth, we must draw from the spiritual realm, pull those things into our physical realm that are heavenly.  I also use the phrase, As Within, So Without.  Whatever I am experiencing internally will be manifested externally.  My thoughts and feelings will eventually manifest in my physical body and my environment.  Therefore, if I wish to experience good physical health, I must create positive thoughts and feelings within.  If I wish to live in a positive environment with harmony and joy, I must first create harmony and joy within.  Discord with others begins with some kind of discord within me.  My ego would like me to think otherwise and to blame the other person.  However, I must always look at all aspects of what is happening in my life.  How do I contribute to whatever is happening in my life?  If my life is chaotic and scattered, what part of me is still chaotic and scattered within?  If we wish to have heaven on earth, we must all look within and root out all parts of ourselves that are not heavenly.  We must connect to the highest and best parts of the spiritual realm, ask for help in our endeavors and strive to bring those spiritual energies to ourselves.  As we each become a citizen of heaven here on earth, we help to transform earth to a heavenly place.  Love and Light, Shirley

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