Traffic jam in the Throat Chakra

You are happily driving along, on holiday when the traffic stops suddenly.  What do you do?  Do you send curses and evil words to all these cars and drivers ahead, or do you take time for a quick restorative meditation, listening to your favourite music?  You have the power to choose your words, emotions and energy...

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Imagine this: the Throat Chakra is a very busy bridge between the divine source of life and Love, and your physical body.  Circulation is intense but flowing.  Then, ego's voice gets in the way and decides to send its own messages of fear.  Divine communication and intuition officers see the bump in the road, and re-route traffic.  But then there's an other bump, a gaping hole in the pavement, then an other.  It's like every negative thought  creates traffic havoc.  The bridge is in disrepair on the lower heart-side of the bridge.  Negative thoughts keep jack-hammering away at their side of the bridge with the belief that you are unworthy of the bridge which brings Love, divine guidance and intuition in your life.  Soon, you can't even see the other side of the bridge for all the dust and destruction.  Does this mean the other side does not exist anymore?  Does this mean that Love can never get to you? Nothing is further from the truth.  

Truth is, if you feel your bridge is in disrepair, you don't even have to work hard on rebuilding it; you simply have to allow yourself to put your destructive tools down (and that can be tough work in itself).  Allow the divine communication and intuition officers to flow back in and rebuild this bridge with you. Once the dust settles, you will see the abundance of Love and divine guidance on the other shore, waiting to cross and come to you.  

The traffic jam is your own doing - do you want to allow it to continue, or do you want to allow the flow to resume?  The choice is yours, and you choose through your words.

Take a moment from your busy day, and breathe deeply.  

Clear the traffic jam and the dust, and with each breath choose to reconnect to Source.  When you hear ego's voice trying to get through, say: "Ha! I hear you and recognize you ego.  I acknowledge the fear and hurt from which you are speaking, yet I choose loving words instead."  Go so far as giving ego a traffic ticket - something along the line of for each ill word, speak three words of love.  Keep it fun! :)

Here are a few affirmations to help you along the way:

• I speak from the heart and let the truth be my guide.
• I am worthy of Love.
• I am worthy of relaxing and enjoying life.
• Instead of trying to figure everything out, I allow God's grace to guide me and I trust my intuition.
• I use the power of words to make the world a better place.
• I choose to activate my highway of Love and Abundance.  

The healthy and abundant divine circulation will soon resume, restoring joy and happiness in your life.  Your main action is to Allow.

Happy trails!

How do you speak to yourself?

What is your typical mental dialogue with yourself?  Does it run along the lines of: "I'm not good enough, not skinny enough, not lovable, miserable, stupid...  Why did I do that? Think that?  I'm so worthless.  Nothing do can succeed; I am doomed to poverty and misery...  I am so alone in this world feeling this way..."

Even reading such lines - how does it make you feel?  Do you feel joyful and connected to all life, or do you feel rejected and apart from the good life?  Be in this moment for at least three breaths as you reflect on how you speak to yourself...  Really notice how you feel, and where are the aches and pains in your body as examine these feelings...  Breathe...

Most people who hold such negative self-talk will feel a burning or stinging in their throat; they may find they miss a note when they sing or their voice gives way or crackles as they talk out loud.  They likely have recurring ear, nose, throat and respiratory ailments.  Over time, the sourness or burning in the throat will descend into the heart and lungs, as if the whole body is being contaminated by the negative thoughts.  Depression may settle in as the connection between Source and the heart thins out and the thought that they are unworthy of divine attention becomes prominent.

The words we choose influence our emotions.  Our words, and the emotions we choose to create for ourselves, influence how connected we feel to something greater than ourselves.  We co-create our world with our words, as our words both reflect back the energy we send out to the world AND they plant the seeds of the fruits we will harvest.

The Throat Chakra is the place from where we can speak or sing our love for ourselves, our partner, our world, our Source.  It's also the place from where we can use our voice to speak words that hurt or slander, speaking words that harm and destroy.  Know that energetically, the Throat Chakra can not work properly when we choose negative self-talk and negative narrative of our world.  Our whole system, therefore, will not continue to receive sustenance from the sacred ether unless we make the effort to choose our words and thoughts wisely, aligned with Love.

What would change in our inner world if we would say to ourselves:

• I am a divine child of God, and I am loved unconditionally exactly how I am
• I am worthy of love
• I love myself unconditionally
• I am beautiful
• I am capable
• I am resourceful, and I am empowered to work towards my dreams
• I am part of the divine plan 

What would change in our outer world if we spoke these beliefs:

• I live in a beautiful, wonderful world
• I feel safe
• I am surrounded by wonderful people and gifts of Nature
• When I take time to honour Nature and take care of people, pets and places on a small scale, it has a ripple effect in sending Love out to people, animals and the environment on a large scale.
• Life is beautiful, and full of opportunities

Are you ready for this positive talk experiment?  Try it, and notice how you feel in your mind, emotions and body.  I invite you to share your experience with at least one person in your community, or in a comment to this post, or with me in a private appointment.  

Peace and Joy to you.

Throat Chakra: overview

The throat chakra, with its placement between the head and the heart, acts as a bridge between mental aspects and emotional aspects, between thoughts and feelings.  It is also a link between the material and the immaterial or spiritual worlds, as it bridges the higher and lower chakras.

A well balanced throat chakra enables us to overcome duality and have a more global or centred approach to life; we learn to balance times when we listen to our head, and those when we listen to our hearts.  More importantly, we learn to communicate clearly our ideas and emotions.  By developing our throat chakra, we also learn to speak and act our inner truth and inner wisdom without being swayed by either the strong opinions or emotions of our environment.

You will notice an imbalance in the throat chakra, whether it spins too strongly or sluggishly, when:

• you have a hard time expressing yourself, your thoughts and your feelings; 
• you suffer from shyness; 
• you say things you later regret; 
• you suffer from speech defect; 
• you often find yourself telling little white lies; 
• you have a sore throat or thyroid issues; or 
• if you constantly talk people's ear off.

If you want to work on harmonizing this chakra, follow your inner guidance to gauge whether it spins too fast or too slow.  If you want to activate it, start by humming or singing quietly to yourself.  See if you can put your thoughts and feelings to song.  Make it silly or dramatic - as long as you vocalize what needs to be said.  As you sing, place your hands on your throat and feel the vibrations of your voice.  Feel also how your mood changes as you sing.  And if you have a sudden clear vision of a solution to your issue, write it down!

If you need to calm this chakra, practice silent observation of nature; if you can, stare into a calm body of water.  I'm sure even staring at an image of a calm turquoise sea would work.  Practice yoga breathing - touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your upper teeth and practice opening your throat as you inhale and exhale slowly.  Feel your breath in the back of your throat.  Listen to its sound - doesn't it remind you of the sea?

I can help you harmonize your chakras; book an appointment in person or through Skype.  It is the expression of my inner truth to serve and help heal people, pets and places.  I would love to help you feel more in harmony with your true feelings and with your unique divine plan.

Rest stop along the journey...

I find it quite interesting that my journey almost halted just as I was starting to share tips and wisdom for healing and balancing the Throat Chakra.  As this chakra is responsible for self-expression and the speaking of our deeper truth, acting as the bridge between the knowing from our head and that of our heart...  I suppose I had quite some work to do in this area before continuing my journey with true authenticity.  ;)

I have been working diligently over the past few years at clearing and balancing mind, body and soul to be the best Light I can be, and a clear channel for the Divine acting through me.  I knew that somewhere down the road I would have to let go of my work as federal employee -- but the great salary and benefits kept me hooked.  I felt that everyday I worked, I was loosing energy.  I was getting pulled in an unwavering cesspool of repeating negative patterns.  No Reiki clearing or energy medicine techniques would help me.  And then, it happened.  I broke down.  Like the Phoenix at the end of its incarnation I went through the fire and became no more than scattered ashes.  During my last departmental meeting in March, I couldn't even order coffee without having the urge to cry and it took all my might to remain compassionate with that weakling I had become.  I had to take an extended leave, and that has been one of the greatest gift I have ever given myself.

For the first month of leave, in April, I slept almost 16 hours a day.  I could not do any chores around the house and had to keep activities to a minimum.  In this state of exhaustion, I could not read or write.  A 20-minute period taken to wash the dishes necessitated a 40-minute rest period.  How frustrating!  Yet on the same token, I knew that I needed this rest to rejuvenate and to truly embody all the wonderful mental, emotional and spiritual changes I (and my team of Guides!) had been working on for so long.  I took the exhaustion in stride and truly nurtured myself.  I had to learn to listen to the cues my body gave me - did I need a nap, time in the sun, a slow walk on the hiking trails or a luxurious bubble bath scented with essential oils?  Did I need to listen to music or meditate?  I took great care of me.

By May, I was feeling much better and my energy level was higher.  As I was finally ready to reenergize my routine, I received the mailout from the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) for the e-learning group titled "Energize the Healer Within" - I couldn't ask for a more synchronous offer ;)  I enjoyed the exercises and the wisdom shared.

Also in May, I had the strong feeling that I should stop by the pet store on my way back from my acupuncture treatment.  My family had been discussing the pros and cons of adopting a puppy for about 8 years, but without firm commitment.  When I saw her, I knew she was the one and the time for talking about having a dog was over.  This was it.  Maya came home with me and has added joy to my days ever since.  Puppies do have their own unique energy and "love medicine".  I am gaining lots of wisdom by taking care of her and watching her grow and develop.  I am learning about self-appreciation, joyful living and a deeper appreciation of others who are more group-minded.  I am also learning how cats and dogs can get along... literally and figuratively, since both my cats are still getting used to the new addition to the family.

And so in June, with a lighter heart feeling more centred and aligned with Spirit, my leave came to an end and I returned to work.  Within five minutes of day 1, I felt my Inner Child was having a wild tantrum.  I felt I was walking into the past, reliving something I thought had died but I was forced to keep doing against my belief that working there was not for my highest good.  Then and there, I had the firm knowledge that this is not how I want to co-create my life.  Then and there, I knew I had to quit.  It's like for the puppy - the time of talking and thinking about it is over; it's time to transcend into action.  The time is right to move on.

The transition has begun - I am working 3 days a week only until my last day which will be in September.  I am renting space twice monthly for my Reiki clinic, and am looking for a space to rent full-time.  I still feel the anxiety and the panic coming from my ego (what will I do without that paycheque??), yet I have learned to trust Universe and have faith.  After all, it is my Guides who are pushing and nudging me in this direction.  As I have learned to surrender to God's will for me, I have to have faith in the continued flow of prosperity.

Through these challenging months, I have been able to complete my Reiki Master's Degree - I graduated from the program yesterday.  It's like the past few months were the final testing and trial before I received my "pass" on this soul lesson.  It sure feels good now!  I find that looking at life's events with a higher perspective always helps me see them through, however difficult it is to live and fully feel the present moment while observing from higher ground.

And so, onward and forward I go.  The journey is far from over - but the rest stop is.

Maybe now I can get back on track and share tidbits on chakra work?  There are so many more projects in store for me...  One step at a time; who knows what I'll uncover?

Phoenix rising... about to take flight

As I contemplate this moment in time, I am like at a crossroads at a mountain pass. Looking back, I can see the valleys and the ridges; the swamps and the crystal clear brooks; the fields of flowers and the dark shadowy forests in which I have travelled. The journey has been arduous and I know, even as I contemplate and celebrate all that has been, that the journey is not complete. The journey ahead might be muddier; its gullies deeper; its mountains more difficult to climb... yet I smile. I know I am not alone walking on this path, taking this journey. Others have been here before clearing some of the path, as I will clear the path for those following me. I have limitless resources in the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical realms – except those limits I impose on myself. Going forward, I know I am more aware of my footings. I better understand the promptings of my guides. My light shines just a bit brighter than before. And I know that the next trials will involve my ability to keep my light shining from my inner centre of unconditional love, peace and harmony – whatever the journey brings my way.

And so I sit on a boulder at this crossroads on the mountain pass, and I contemplate how my life has changed since my first shaky steps on this path. I always knew I was guided to do something different. I allowed that strong spiritual urge in me to manifest itself... periodically, followed by periods of self-doubt and repressed self-expression to try and fit the norm. I feel now that I embody my thoughts and my feelings. The bridge between lower and higher selves has been built and is getting stronger every day. Now, I not only wish – I am. I not only think – I manifest. I not only hope – I have faith.

Allowing myself to truly become me and accepting and working with both the shadow and the light sides of me has been the greatest gift I have ever given myself. As I sit on this boulder, I give myself a hug. I embrace my Inner Child, who is teaching me how to co-create the life I want and still keep it fun. I embrace my serious self, the one who takes care of business and will always ensure that fun ideas and creations are manifested in the greatest way possible for the highest good of all. I embrace my spiritual self which in turn embraces the world as one and teaches me about the interrelationship of all. I am uplifted by the knowledge and deep feeling and understanding that we are all facets of the One, manifested in our own unique way.

As I sit here, I am still gathering up courage and strength to continue on my journey of authenticity, like the Monarch allowing its wings to fully unfurl and dry before its first flight. I take this time to truly tune in to my true north. Having transformed, I know I can not go back. I do not want to go back to my previous form.

As I look to the paths ahead, rising and falling through gentle mists, I wonder how I’ll keep up the faith and the courage to continue. Then I remember that truly being me is the best I can do for myself and others. I remember those around me who have been celebrating my uniqueness even before I acknowledged it. I remember the encouragements received so far – and they urge me to continue. I know that the feelings of isolation, rejection and fear of abandonment were illusions from a wounded ego. I’ve nursed that wound and calmed the ego. I might feel the scar every once in a while, but it will not be sufficient to stop me anymore.

I am me, and I celebrate the freedom of being me. Blessed be.

Learning & Unlearning...

I am learning to really take care of myself. I am learning to really listen to the cues I receive and perceive with my body. I am learning to let go of ego's fears while tuning in to, and allowing, Spirit's freedom. I am learning to see life differently - not just with my physical eyes, but with the eyes of my heart and those of my soul. I am learning to be me, fully, completely.

I am learning to unlearn... Unlearn patterns borne of ego and ideas of self-protection; patterns of judgment and judging imposed by society, family circumstances and ego; patterns of emotions and reaction; patterns of self-deprecation; patterns of unhealthy attachment and control... I am learning to unlearn and release what does not serve my higher purpose, my Spirit, my holistic wellbeing. I am learning to just be.

Namaste.

Happy New Year :)

Happy New Year! How do you plan to celebrate the Spring Equinox? 

The Persephone in me is certainly emerging from Hades, feeling the joy and promise of the new season, a renewed anticipation for the fulfillment of dreams and wishes, and soaking up as much sunshine as possible! The seeds and ideas I am planting have the promise of a bountiful harvest.  :)