Happy New Year! Intuitive Insights for 2016

In my last article, I talked about the Solstice and a few of the practices I love to do at this time of year.  I take advantage of the long nights to go within and reflect.  I dance, I paint, I read Tarot.  This year, Universe even had the sense of humour to send me the flu to make sure I took time off and rested - gee, thanks Universe!

I never know what my paintings will look like, what colours will be prominent, and what the message will be.  I just tune in, pick up my brushes, paint and see the result unfold - at the same time I receive messages from my Higher Self and my Guides.  This year, I was quite surprised that the colour scheme was so bright and yellow, although the night sky is on the baby's cloak whereas it was the main colour for previous years.

Here's an overview of my paintings - and of my spiritual evolution - since 2012 (from left to right, top to bottom).  Do they resonate with you, too?

So, what are the messages for 2016?

I am looking forward, and at the same time am a little bit nervous (ok, I'll admit I'm a little scared!) of what this year will bring.  Why?  Because it's brand new energy - and we can't embody this new energy the same way we've been living with the "old" energy.  This is the year of being born again and although this is very exciting with so many new opportunities presented to us, it also means we need to learn to surrender to the Divine.  Since the Solstice, I received many messages that the Divine is ready to support and nurture us as we grow and transform -- but we need to accept this help through the act of surrender.  And damn that's a tough thing for me to do!  I'm more often than not in my head, planning, thinking, learning, holding back mentally until I know it's safe to proceed...  Allowing myself to be taken care of is new and very foreign, and I'm not sure I'm going to like it; at least that's what my head says.

Since 2012, many of us have been hearing the call to change.  Many of us have actually made significant changes in our lives, on so many levels.  For me, it was quitting my government job to start my spiritual work full-time.  For others, it was ending relationships, changing jobs, trying new spiritual practices, dealing with emerging health issues...  It felt like a lot was happening, yet at the same time everything was on hold.  You could feel the great potential, and yet the time was not quite ripe yet to get the anticipated results. Can you relate? Well, the time is now.  What was on hold will unblock.  What you have sowed these past few years, you will harvest. No wonder I had a bit of the flu and stayed in bed for almost 3 days, sleeping.  My body was resting from all that journey and getting ready to embody this new energy!

When I look at the series of paintings, I clearly see the evolution from feeling lost, making my way "home", finding the portal and taking a whole year transitioning through, ready to manifest magic and miracles... and now having fully arrived but wrapped up and needing to be taken care of as I grow in strength and wisdom.

Notice that the blanket has 11 stars along with the Triple Moon on the crown, and look at all the guides shaping up to receive us and help us grow!  This year, we are asked to grow our awareness of, and our relationship with our Guides and spiritual mentors, and especially with the Goddess.  This year, we are asked to consider ourselves as apprentices to the Divine - and this means discipline, focus, and application of our spiritual tools.  We need to find the help we need to understand and apply our spiritual gifts.  We must take the time to meditate, to look for signs, to ensure we are energetically aligned with what we do.  We must be vigilant about our own self-sabotaging and aware of our patterns of resistance, so that we can stop those behaviours and become more receptive and open to Spirit.

Notice also the prominence of the colour golden yellow.  This is a masculine colour and it vibrates with the Solar Plexus Chakra.  It is a joyful colour, and it stimulates us to action.  It is the colour of the Divine Masculine, our power centre, our time to shine and to say, "hey, world, here I am, and I'm ready to shine so I can happily serve for the highest good!  I'm ready to contribute my gifts!"

This year, we will likely be presented with many challenges to help us balance our feminine and masculine energies.  We need to cultivate our ability to listen to our spiritual insights, AND implement them.  We need to rest AND take action.  We need to surrender AND keep journeying forward.  We need to seek how to serve the highest good AND ensure our own true needs are met.  We might travel AND cocoon.  We need to find the help that is required for us to fulfill our soul's mission.  Our actions will be questioned; our lifestyle might go topsy-turvy; we might experience ups-and-downs of radiant joy and heavy resentments and anger...  Ah! Transformation!

In numerology, this year resonates with "9" (2+0+1+6=9).  This means we are at a year of completion.  Many cycles will come to a head or to an end.  You will see the results of your efforts and work from the past 3 years.  It's a year of karma where you will experience the consequences of past actions and decisions.  You don't like what you see?  Don't blame others/society/your upbringing...  see where you can take responsibility for your own actions and choices, and plan to do something new and better for the next cycle.

The more we resist the changes, the more difficult life will be.  If you can develop your resilience through meditation and mindfulness, then it will be a year of extreme growth, learning and transformation.  You get to choose how you will experience this new energy!

How?  Here are a few ideas:

• Often, when we go through a big transformation process, we don't feel like moving.  There is the risk for weight gain and health issues linked to a sedentary lifestyle.  When we don't move our bodies, our emotions and thoughts can't filter through our energy field; instead, they stagnate.  Our body becomes unable to hold on and embody the new energy, and we become sick or depressed.  For your overall wellbeing and for your spiritual development, consider sticking to an exercise routine.  It doesn't need to be complicated, but make sure to get a good cardio workout on a regular basis.
  
• New thoughts and perceptions have a hard time germinating in a stiff body - so stretch your body every day!  Stretch mindfully, affirming that as you stretch your body, you also stretch your ability to receive new insights, or to embody new energy.
  
• Practice a few inverted poses, like downward dog, and keep your eyes open as you do so.  See the world from a new angle; it will help sharpen your mind and creativity!
  
• Open yourself to new experiences.  Try new foods.  Try a new haircut or colour.  Change the route you take to work or to the grocery store.  Buy some fruit or veggie you never tried before, and taste it.  Join a new social group or volunteering organization.  It will destabilize your taste buds or your routine for a short while, but will do you much good by teaching you about how you can handle change.  Your resilience muscles will be strengthened!
  
• Consider taking classes and workshops that will hone your spiritual skills.  Find a mentor or two.  I offer a wonderful coaching program and amazing classes and workshops.  I'd love to journey with you.  Click HERE to explore your needs and how I can best support you.
  
• Want to clear old karma and patterns of choices that aren't serving your highest good?  Consider booking a Soul Profile & Realignment session, where we'll explore your soul's matrix, your gifts, and clear some old negative stories your soul has been holding on to.  

I am surrounding you in Love, and wishing you much Joy in this new year.  Remember to be very gently with yourself this year - great changes and great possibilities are available to you, but it's all about the baby steps!

Hello Sunshine! New vibes for a new season.

I want to apologize, for I have not been very present this past month and a half…  All this business of solar flares, planetary alignments, and Mercury Retrograde brought up the rebel in me and I have been questioning many of my practices, from meditation, to nutrition… to writing weekly blog posts to my tribe.  Picture that inner two-year-old AND the inner teen within me questioning everything with the heavy “WHY?”  Why am I doing this?  Is it bringing me joy?  Is it contributing to the wellness of others?  Is it uplifting?  Am I doing this just because someone tells me I “should”, or because there’s something bigger inside of me that needs to be expressed?  And when I’m in the middle of whirlwind questioning, I tend to retreat within myself and find it very difficult to reach out.  It’s tough to be an introverted Gemini (ascending Scorpio!), with so much to share and yet so many questions that demand answers from deep within! ;)

I know I'm not alone in this transformation.  I have noticed a skyrocketing of restlessness and anxiety in my clients this past month.  A few new clients have come to me in panic: spiritual gifts are manifesting without conscious forewarning, and without prior training, leaving them wondering if they just suddenly woke up crazy one day, or if there’s actually something “going on out there” to make this shift happen.

How about you?  Has the past month or so been crazy, rebellious, draining…  or have you been feeling joyful and blissful?  Or going back and forth between that spectrum?

Here are a few of my observations to help us all navigate in this changing energy:

YES: there is a major shift going on on Earth at this time.

• The geo-magnetic activity of our planet is shifting, and this shift is having an impact on our consciousness.  Not only are the birds and the insects changing their usual routine (have you noticed?), there’s like a beacon light activated within us telling us that it’s time we change our routine, too.  Many have just been disconnected from their instincts for too long that they don’t know what to do, and how to cope.

So, how do we cope?  

• Make time everyday to connect with Nature.  Even if you live in the middle of a city, you can take time to look at the sky, the clouds, the flower beds…  Take your lunch outside.  Remember to breathe in deeply to your belly.  
• Get in touch with your true values and your life’s purpose/mission.  When I evaluate everything in my life, I weigh it against the value of “JOY”.  This value might be different for you - for some, it’s empowerment, love, belonging, connecting, courage…  If you’re in the fog, I can help you identify your key value(s) by looking at your Akashic Records. 
• Inventory your activities.  Once you know your key value and your soul purpose, it’s easier to ask yourself, “Is this activity bringing me (JOY)?”.  And if it’s not aligned to your core value, then it’s time to develop the courage and let it go.  Yes, it’s often easier said than done…  but trust me, you will reap the benefits with an increase of energy, focus… and financial flow!
• Take time to rest and tune-in.  All of these changes in our spiritual, mental and emotional bodies are having an impact on our physical body.  Have you noticed that your body reacts differently to foods you’ve been eating your whole life?  Have you noticed your cravings are shifting?  Those are signs, baby.  Signs of the shift.  Listen to the wisdom of your body, who is working extra time to keep up with the higher vibes available to you at this time of transformation.  Treat your body with kindness, and you’ll see the transition will get smoother.

As part of my realignment, I realize that I do love writing to you; it does bring me joy.  And although I enjoyed the rhythm of the past few months creating articles and videos pertaining to the chakras, I find that I was perhaps playing it too "safe"... and my joy comes from being a bit more edgy...  So I'm stirring up my creative "witch's cauldron" and am waiting to see what will come out of the brew. ;)

I’m wrapping you up in White Light and sending you blessings of JOY.

Does anyone else have a headache?

Your body might be detoxing during this time of important energetic transition.

If you read my articles this month, you’ve learned that opening up your Third Eye or Brow Chakra to intuition is not just about woo-woo New Age ideals on spiritualism, and it’s not just about increasing psychic abilities.  A strong and balanced Brow Chakra is opened to physical and metaphysical information.  It seeks to fuse its understanding of the physical world with a deep inner knowing that comes from being spiritually connected.  We become aware of energy - motivations, emotions, ideals, “hidden agendas”, forces - beyond what can be perceived by the physical senses.  This knowing can help us make decisions that are more ethical, enlightened, and aligned with the highest good.

So when I wake up almost every day for a week with a headache, and I meet clients and colleagues who are also suffering from headaches, body aches, nausea, and tiredness…  When my guidance and Oracle Readings all have the same theme of R&R to prepare for a new beginning, I start thinking that it is not just me, not just the time change, not just the fact that I might not have been drinking less than my 2L of water daily, not just the change in weather; there must be something else going on in the Energy Field.

I did a bit of research to supplement my meditations, and found that, indeed, the Energy Field is changing.  Just last Friday, we experienced a New Moon, the Equinox, and a solar eclipse.  Earlier last week, we experienced the magnetism of various big solar flares.  There are also big astrological changes with signs and planets pointing to personal transformation and reevaluation .  Spiritually, Doreen Virtue summed it up well on her Facebook page:

From Doreen Virtue's Facebook page

"If you feel tired right now, it could be a positive sign of your sensitivity to the powerful shift in energy which has occurred. (…)  Any blocks were blasted open.

Now it's time for reassignments for us all, and promotions to a higher purpose. We are guided to rest, take naps, and take it easy. During sleep, rest, prayer, and meditation is where you receive the new information about the higher path that your life is taking.

With this energy shift, your body will likely ask you for a cleaner diet, and gentle forms of exercise. Sensitivities or allergies to processed foods, gluten, and chemicals might be affecting your body right now. Headaches, illness, and body pain can arise from detoxing or from allergens in your diet. Your body is literally rejecting toxins right now. You can expect increasing sensitivity to harsh energy, which might mean that career and relationship changes will come about sooner than expected."

What have you been praying for in the past few months, especially since the Solstice?  Where have you been focusing your thoughts and energies?  What is the gist of your inner talk, and your conversations with the divine?  Your prayers have been heard, and your spiritual helpers are coming up with a solution - it’s not quite ready yet, but they will surprise you soon with their answer.  They are working hard - so what is your role now?

Rest.  Meditate.  Smile.  Don’t worry; be happy.

Doing nothing seems like a tall order when ego wants to run around in circles with so much to do and so little time to do it.  Meditating might feel counter-intuitive when you feel the need to plan, think, analyze.  Praying might feel irrelevant when you feel the call to action.

Remember: having an open and healthy Brow Chakra involves listening to these urgings of the soul!  By resisting these whispers from spirit, you risk increasing physical symptoms of discomfort such as those listed above.  Balance both sides of your brain; balance logic and intuition; balance planning and analysis with creative activities.

Remember also: a healthy Brow Chakra involves trust in Spirit and in your creative mind.  This trust relationship develops over time, and in moments of quietude - not in hustle and bustle.

Now that you have more information about what is happening in the Energy Field, the choice is yours: will you resist the changes and try to ignore your soul’s callings, or will you find some moments of quietude and rest to joyfully welcome the new, higher-vibrational energies coming your way?

For myself, I am increasing meditation time, walks outdoors with my dog, and am becoming more disciplined in my daily self-Reiki practice.

To what meditation practice, energy medicine or rest time can you commit?  I’d love to hear from you.  Remember to reach out to me by private message or email if you need help.

Surrounding you in Love & Light.

The troll on the bridge

The Throat Chakra is, obviously, located at the centre of your throat.  Its associated colour ranges from a light sky-blue to deep turquoise.  Its associated element is ether, or sound vibration.  As I mentioned in last week’s article, it is the place from which we can express our Truth.

The Throat Chakra acts like an energy bridge between the physical and emotional world, and the mental and spiritual world.  Through this energy centre, ideas and spiritual sparks can flow down to the heart centre then to the lower chakras so that ideas can become manifest.  The flow of energy also goes up from the lower chakras to the upper chakras to feed the imagination, nurture spiritual rituals and transmute raw physical energy and drive into an expression of the divine. It is important that this bridge has good two-way traffic.

Visualize this bridge - take a good look at it and notice your thoughts and feelings.  Is the circulation of energy, thoughts, or emotions fluid between both physical and spiritual sides, or is there gridlock?  Or worse… is everything in chaos due a resident troll? Most of us are familiar with this troll:  he’s the one who makes us doubt the thoughts or insights we receive.  He makes us doubt that proper abundance in the physical world can help sustain a rich spiritual life.  He shoots words out in anger without thinking of the repercussions.  He would have us believe that our plans, our heart desires or soul purpose is not good enough; or that WE are not good enough, smart enough, talented enough to fully express our soul purpose in the “real world”.  He takes all our inspired ideas and jumbles them up or rips them apart until we feel stuck in utter inner and outer confusion and chaos.  You might even feel him at work when that beautiful brain of yours won’t stop chatting away at night; or when pressure builds up in your head and causes severe headaches; or when stress accumulates in your mind and body that you even forget how to breathe.

Do you know this troll?  Are you familiar with his work?

Like all magical creatures, trolls have a vulnerable side.  There is something you can do to put him to sleep, make him smaller and retake control of your bridge.  This secret is:

Your vibration.

And you’re in control of your vibration - don’t let the troll make you believe otherwise.

Know this: when you’re in harmony, when your vibrations reflect your Truth, when you feel aligned body-mind-spirit…  it’s like you’re singing a lullaby to that troll and he can do no harm anymore.  What can you do to retake control of your vibration and banish the troll from your sacred bridge?  Here are a few quick tips:

• OHM:  practice chanting this mantra outloud.  Play with it; find the tonality that resonates in your whole body - it’s really cool when it happens!  Finding your own OHM tonality will bring all your chakras back in balance, and then watch the magic happen in your life.
• Change your tunes:  Just like the troll, our bodies, mind and emotions react to vibration.  The vibration of music can enhance our mood or keep us in a depressed state. Choose your music wisely by being aware of how each song makes you feel.  Make a special playlist with tunes that make you feel good, and play it the moment you feel your mind is going down the “not good enough” path, or to perk you up when you feel down.
• Positive vibes:  Words have strong vibrations on many levels.  Practice saying good things about you.  Look at your reflection in the mirror and state 1-3 things you appreciated about you.  State your love for the world out loud.  Praise others, and praise Spirit.  Trust me, these word vibrations will nourish your soul at a deep level.

Do you feel you’ve given over control to the troll and need help regaining your power?  I can help you change your vibes.  My sessions are intuitive as I tap into what your soul wants you to know.  I connect to higher realms using Reiki, an energy that can help shift and deeply transform how you feel.  Click here to book an appointment.

Surrounding you in Love & Light.

Solar Plexus Chakra & Winter Solstice: Celebrate Your Inner Light!

This is the time of year where most cultures and religions - at least from the northern hemisphere - are celebrating Light on Earth.  This celebration takes on many forms, and most traditions include lighting candles and sharing wishes of joy and prosperity.  It is no coincidence; most religions have modelled their celebrations of light upon the very ancient traditions of observing the sun’s cycles.  You see, this is the time of the Winter Solstice, where the Sun appears to come closer to the Earth and the days start to get longer.  For the Ancients, this was a time to reflect upon and celebrate divine Mystery.

My kitchen island dressed up as an
Altar to the 4 Elements

To me, the Winter Solstice is the perfect time to meditate on my shadow aspects and also on the projects and energy I want to bring forth in the coming year.  I typically stay up the whole night of the Solstice painting, dancing, meditating and enjoying the company of like-minded friends.  At sunrise, we go outdoors near the beautiful St. Lawrence River and we ring bells to welcome the sun and the new solar year.  We finally go to bed at around 8AM.  The deeper significance of this night of vigil is that there is always hope, even in our darkest of times.  There are many nuggets of truth and wisdom to gain from meditating on our darker aspects.  These lessons help grow our Soul and reconnect us to the source of Light and Love.  These lessons help us understand what is truly important to our Soul, and help shed light on how we can make the world a better place by being more authentic and empowered.

This year's Winter Solstice
Meditative Painting

Looking at this time of celebration through the lens of the Solar Plexus Chakra, it is a perfect time to tend to our inner light, where we store our vital life force energy.  Take this quick quiz to check in on your Solar Plexus:

Simply answer YES or NO to each of the statements below.

• I feel confident in most situations. 
• I am able to laugh easily. 
• I see projects and commitments through to completion. 
• I feel I have a healthy digestive system. 
• I speak up for myself. 
• I have the courage to take risks when necessary. 
• I establish appropriate boundaries for myself. 

How did you score?  If you answers “NO” more than four times, it may indicate that your solar plexus chakra is lacking in energy. If you score four or more YES answers, wonderful! You are balanced in the solar plexus centre.

I love a good Sun Meditation to help balance my energy and boost my confidence, joy and personal radiance.  Use this visualization to enhance your inner peace and sense of self-worth.  When possible, do this meditation while standing in sunlight, offering your forehead and solar plexus to the light and warmth of the sun.

Take a deep breath, and gently close your eyes.  Imagine yourself standing at the top of a mountain. With your inhale, imagine you are breathing in the golden light from the sun.  With your imagination, bring this golden breath to your stomach area, where it ignites the spark within your own fire centre. You are filled with this brilliant solar energy. Your power centre is radiating with vital life force.  Imagine that with each breath, you are bringing golden light to your entire body, especially to areas that feel cold or achy.  When your body is filled imagine that, with your exhale, you are sharing this golden light to your projects, to your relationships, to your finances…  Envelop them in golden light, and know that this light will energize them and will help them grow.  When you feel complete, gently open your eyes and give thanks to the Sun.  Take this calm and restorative power into your life and move forwards with confidence and courage. 

Surrounding you in Love & Light.

Emotional Baggage? Try clutter clearing.

I once worked with a client who felt extremely overwhelmed and stressed, and the holiday season had several triggers for her that would bring her spiralling down into sadness and depression. She missed how her family used to get together at Christmas. She missed her parents who had crossed over. She missed the parties, the sing-alongs, the cooking and the traditions. She loved decorating for the holidays and was an avid collector of snowy village scenes, and she mentioned that her house was filled with boxes upon boxes of decorations.

We started disentangling her thoughts and her feelings through Holographic Reiki sessions. One image that really stood out for me was that when I placed my hands over her Sacral Chakra, I received a clear image of my client in a place that looked like an airport. She was trying to go somewhere, but she had too much baggage. Looking around in this vision, I saw hundreds of stacked boxes that belonged to her. All this baggage was overwhelming for the airport staff; there was no way to catalogue or scan all of these boxes of stuff and memories. A feeling of panic and hopelessness accompanied the vision. I knew that this vision was a metaphor for the emotional baggage she carried, and I knew that a Reiki session could only go so far without her taking action to clear physical clutter in her life.

My mentor, Denise Linn, teaches that clutter clearing is modern-day alchemy: it's the fastest way to transform your life and shift energy in a space. According to Feng Shui principles, clutter stops good energy from circulating in your home and as a result you will feel bogged down, disorganized, stuck and even depressed. It can even manifest physically as excess weight! Think of it: if your clutter constantly reminds you of all those old emotions, beliefs and hurts weighing you down, you'll find it very difficult to find joy and to create abundance in your daily life.

Are you ready to take action and shift toward greater joy? Your task this week is to de-clutter one area of your home or office. Start with one drawer or one closet. Decide how much time to want to spend de-cluttering, and set a timer. Use the following 3 principles to help you go through your stuff:

• Love it: Pick up an item and determine if you really love it, and if your energy goes UP when you touch it. Does the item still fit who you are, and who you are becoming? If you really love it and it brings you joy, make sure it's in good shape. Make necessary repairs and find a way to display it in your house without creating clutter. If you can't repair it or if it will create additional clutter, pass it on to someone who can love it as much as you. 
• Use it: Are you still using this item? Will you miss it? Does it support you in your personal and business arenas? Does it support your dreams and desires? Are you using it with love or with a feeling of "having to"? Is it in good repair? 
• Release It: If you don't love it and don't use it, then it’s time to pass it on. Discard, recycle, donate. 

I have been de-cluttering my entire home since August - when the dishwasher decided it was time to renovate the whole kitchen... I love the feelings of joy, empowerment and creativity that are increasing in my household. I can feel stagnant energy leaving the house, and I can feel my inner heart-space shifting and expanding. It's not always easy work to get rid of old stuff... but the exercise is well worth it!

Are you up for the challenge? You'll soon find that your joy increases and your soul sings! Share your experience with me.

Surrounding you in Love & Light.