Own Your Power!

I have a pet peeve.  It's driving me nuts, and I want to do something about it.

My pet peeve is victimization.  When I see people suffering from acute victimitis (yes, I even made a word for it!) my stomach squeezes tight, and if I had the super power to create special effects, you would see the super wind-fan blowing my hair around me, lightening zapping in the background, and the temperature would go up as I reach for my magic sword and speak with a deep echo...  (yes, yes, almost like Lady Galadriel when offered the One Ring...)

...Your life experience is the result of YOUR past choices.  

If you don't like, learn to make different choices.

Yes, life throws us curve balls.  No, it's not always fair.  At times, it even sucks.  Big time.  And you just want to curl up in a ball and yell to the world, "Why is this happening to me??".....

Ah -  and that is the question, my dear.

And the answer to that question is not found in others.  Blaming and pointing fingers is not helpful.  Shaming yourself and allowing that self-talk to tell you how insignificant, how stupid, how much of a looser you are is not helpful either.

I know those thoughts.  They've been in my head my WHOLE LIFE.  I think I was 7 years young the first time I wished my brain was taken out of my skull for those thoughts to just stop talking and making me feel so bad.  I was crying myself to sleep almost every night, and I don't think anyone ever noticed my distress.  Even at 7, I was able to keep it in during the day - although I tended to retreat in my imaginary world where things were quite different.  As a teen and young adult, the pattern was deeply ingrained.  I suffered through anxiety and panic attacks.  My first burn-out was at age 18.

I blamed my parents, for their lack of emotional care.  I blamed society, for its twisted values.  I blamed myself, for... well so much.

My saving grace, I suppose, is my strong desire to create something better for myself, and for others.  I still hear those thoughts, I still experience those negative feelings - and I CHOOSE to perceive them differently.  I choose to learn from them.  I choose to go to the root cause of the issues and clear them once and for all (and that's why I love Akashic Record Readings!).  I choose to get help and find actions that will bring me OUT of that darkness.  I choose not to languish in a puddle of self-pity.

I took me years to develop this inner strength.  Why I chose to leave my cushy government job (where I was crying every day) and start my own business?  It's not luck.  I accept the consequences of my choices, including the very very tight budget I am currently experiencing.  I chose to create a life with more joy, more freedom, more creativity, and more ME.  It's a choice.

I am sharing this story with you today because I have heard so many of my clients say, in the past weeks, how scared, how lost, how sad, how unhappy they are with their life situation at this time.  Some feel the victim of life circumstances.  Others feel they're the victim of some spooky dark forces or even angels with life-changing advice. Some people come to me and unload their story and feel better for it... and yet don't want to take any steps to own their story and change their beliefs or decision-making patterns.  They go back to their life and do the same thing all over again. Those are not my ideal clients.

The choice to create a better life is a choice available to everyone.  That includes YOU.  I can show you how.

If there is a super power I can share with you, it's the power to regain your strength, your free will, your freedom of choice.  No matter what life throws at you, you will know that you have a choice as to how you respond to the situation, and what you can make out of it.  That's who I am as a coach: I hold the space for you to express your pain AND to grow into your own super powers.  If you don't want to change and want to stay in acute victimitis...  I'm sorry I can't help you.

But if you're ready to move and groove; if you're at that point where enough is enough; if you're ready to take responsibility for creating the life of your choice... then I'm your gal.  Thankfully, I don't really change into Lady Galadriel when we meet (teehee) but I can summon up some pretty cool energy vibes and guides to help you through your own transformation from puddle on the floor to full-on goddess.

Please don't stay in acute victimitis...  Let's talk.

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

A setback or an invitation to learn and grow?

The dust is settling from the kitchen reno: the new cupboards are ordered and I was able to clear a square foot of countertop where I can prepare basic meals. The menu is closer to the ready-made diet I favoured as a University student rather than the healthy gourmet I’ve become. Oh well - sometimes we need to take a step back to be ready to leap forward.

Life’s path is circular rather than linear. It winds up and down valleys, retraces its steps to gain better perspective and often moves in a spiral up and around a mountain instead of taking the most direct route. What feels like a setback is often part of this curvy journey. Stepping back allows for us to take stock of our strengths and of what still needs work. It helps us realize how far we’ve come. It helps us use tools and knowledge in a new way, for a new purpose.

In our fast-food, make-it-quick, I-want-it-now society, we often feel that a setback is a failure. We loose patience with the learning process. We want to know it, apply it, be proficient with it right away. This need to understand it all, and to “get it right” is a big source of stress, anger and frustration. We forget that some things take a lifetime (or more!) to truly understand. We also forget that there are many layers to understanding and that knowing with our heads or with logic is only a small piece of the puzzle.

I have been talking with a lot of people recently who are experiencing setbacks. It takes longer than they thought to reach their goals, and then they find out that they didn’t really like their chosen objective anyway - so what now? Others have a complete life or career do-over to deal with, and not always through conscious choice or decision. Many women feel sad, anxious and depressed because they are realizing that the life they have built for themselves is just not fulfilling - “was the last 15 years a lie? How do I deal with this?”, they ask.

If this sounds like you, I want you to take a look at my Programs. I teach from my own experience what works to get away from the drama of a setback. I help you gain a new perspective, so you can keep focusing on the moment and on the future your heart really wants to manifest. I help you get away from the superficial git-er-done-now and into the flow of your soul purpose. The process takes time - no fast-food about it! - but it’s well worth it. I know, because my clients tell me so, and not just out of politeness, teehee. I see the changes in their eyes and in their energy even before they become aware of it. I am so privileged to be a witness to such transformation, and I am happy, from the bottom of my heart, to be able to serve in this way.

Just as I know that the kitchen will be gorgeous when it’s done, with its splash of red and double the original space to cook and bake delicious meals and treats, I also have faith that this spiritual reno we are going through will have results beyond our expectations. I can see beyond the mess. It’s important, when we feel a setback, to get the tools we need to refocus, to learn the lessons, and get our sense of direction. When we’re done reacting and fretting and cursing… it’s easier to stay centred and plan the way forward toward what we really want.

Do you need help seeing beyond the mess? Talk to me.

Sending you blessings of Love!

The kitchen reno of Awakening

Denise Linn
"Soul CoachingOracle Cards"

For a moment, standing here in the midst of my kitchen reno, I feel like the Grinch who stole Christmas. It comes with boxes and labels and strings. It comes with dust and odours and furnishings. And oh the noise, noise, noise, NOISE! I'm loosing my poise, poise, poise, POISE! OK, so I'm no Dr. Seuss, but like the Grinch, I feel it would be easy for my heart to become two sizes too small.

I've been talking to several beautiful souls this past week, and I realize there are many of us feeling the same way. Stalled. Angry. And that feeling that's hard to put into words but that is between the "oh no you didn't" and "fine, what now?". There's a bit of "are you really listening, God, or are you just toying with me?" thrown in the mix too. It's quite the recipe we're mixing.

And then comes the aha moment.

We're undergoing a spiritual reno at the moment, and we're deep in the messy part of deconstruction and making choices for the outcome. 

From this point on, would you like your life to have a pop of colour? To have easy glides? Would you like to stand tall? Would you rather blend in with uniform colour? Would you like a serene space? What would you like to stand on? How big a space do you want? What are you willing to pay? Are you willing to upgrade everything or just a portion?

Those questions are being answered by your Soul at this time, and you may not even be aware of it. You may be too busy sorting out the dust. You might be angry at the inconvenience or with the bad timing. You may feel confused because your spiritual utensils are now in the living room and the metaphysical cookbooks in the basement. Nothing is the same anymore, but we're trying to make sense of it all based on what we know; on what used to be.

Hmph. The in-between phases are always the most difficult. They're filled with doubt and worry. They're filled with insecurity. All renos go through a period of icky mess before things can be put together again in a way that is better and more beautiful than before. Just watch a few home shows to the OMG reveal, and you'll know it's true. Watch a few life makeover shows too, and you'll notice how the process is similar. Let's blame the contractor or the designer...

Hmmm maybe not. Now that we are fully aware of the spiritual reno going on, what can we do to stay sane and centered in this mess? We have to take responsibility for our own awakening and make mindful choices because the decisions we make now will have long-term ripple effects. We have to stop viewing this situation from a victim point of view (aka "it's happening to me and it's not fair"). We are invited now to be mindful co-creators and rise above the dust and the noise and the mess (aka "I'm lovingly choosing how I live my life, and Spirit and the angels are my contractors and labourers. I'm in good hands.").

How to stay peaceful in the mess?

• Getting out in Nature, or at least taking a 15-minute break to look out the window and breathe deeply.
• Spending at least 10 minutes a day in mindful meditation - that's as easy as listening to your favourite tunes and allowing yourself to daydream.
• Dust off that vision board, and make necessary adjustments. This is the plan for this next phase of your life - and you want to make sure you can live with its colours.

Do you need extra help to work through life lessons or to release anxiety about the past, present or future? I can help! We can work on your vision board together. An Oracle Reading will help you understand what your Soul wants you to know, and what plans Spirit has for you. I'll ask you about your goals and your energy, and I'll give you tailored-to-you tips to move forward in your heart's direction.

Sending you blessings of Love!

New video: About me, and my mission to help you shine your Light!

I'm playing with my camera and my computer's video editing software...  One day, my videos will be professional, but if I wait for everything to be perfect, I'll wait forever in my shadow!

In this video, I share my mission and my passion to help you shine your Light.

I am wrapping you up in White Light and sending you much Love, from my heart to yours!

Clarity - Strategy - Confidence... and the "spiritual money" conundrum

In his Facebook status today, Brendon Burchard wrote:

Be patient with people, especially when they are not making the decisions or progress you wish for them. Realize that people often struggle with clarity, competence, and confidence. First, there is clarity. People often don’t do what you want or change their lives because they lack the clarity for why a change would be beneficial or important for them. If they don’t fully understand why something is positive and a priority, why would they take action? No clarity, no change. Second, people struggle with competence – they simply do not know how to do something. Their confusion on the ‘how’ prevents them from succeeding even if they know the why. No plan, no progress. Finally, there is an issue of confidence. Never underestimate how fearful people are of uncertainty… and of themselves. Some people were never taught that they are smart enough to figure things out given enough time, learning, and hard work. Others are simply afraid of the power they sense within themselves; their divine strength and magnitude frightens them because they feel that amplifying their true identity and spirit would alienate others. So, understand that a surprising majority of the people you meet are truly fearful they won’t figure things out, or that they might alienate others if they stepped into their strongest self. Either way, it’s a confidence issue, an inability to trust in their intelligence or magnificence. No internal trust, no external transformation. Knowing that people struggle with such things helps you understand, honor, and, ultimately, help them. Personally, it’s given me more patience, presence, and purpose with others. Let us be patient and kind, for the journey is difficult for all.  Brendon Burchard - Live. Love. Matter.

Clarity - Strategy - Confidence...

I am coming back from an intensive week of training first in Boston with Margaret Lynch then in Toronto with Doreen Virtue and, with the help I'm sure of this Virgo Full Moon, many emotions, old programmings and "tribal" ways of thinking are coming to the surface.  I'm spiralling down a bit here...  trying to feel my way through this "spiritual money" conundrum.  I am here to serve Souls.   I want to help you succeed in shining your Light brightly, because it gives me a sense of deep fulfillment to see the world become a better place -- more bright, joyful, peaceful and loving -- one person at a time. Every time we share our Light, it inspires someone else to shine a bit brighter if only for a moment.  Am I serving better with a higher price-point?  Or a lower price-point?  Am I serving better through packaged options?  One thing is for sure, I will not be serving anyone very well, including myself, if that worry about paying mortgage and rent for my new office space, worry about how I'll pay the bills and put food on the table keeps looming over my head.  If I'm in fear of lack, and if I'm in a space where I don't dare charge more for my services because I undervalue my gifts or feel not good enough, not ready enough, not vibrant enough...  my Light can not shine very brightly.

I will be reworking my services, packages, and blog site to bring more clarity of purpose and of strategy. It's a tough one for me; as a true Gemini, I enjoy the freedom to do this and that in no particular order. As a Rising Scorpio, I also understand the need for forethought and strategy, and a deep commitment to the highest goal through both action and reflective work.  I also work from my heart centre and find it difficult to put the feelings and spiritual perceptions into words that would be as meaningful to you as they are to me.  And since my goal is to help you shine your Light for the highest good of the world, I must work on better communicating why I think it is important - indeed urgent - for you to shine your Light, and how we can work together towards this goal... This is taking me out of my comfort zone, yet I know that out of the comfort zone comes great healing and soul growth, right? That's what I teach my students, and now it's time for me to apply this lesson yet again. 

...and I thought I was way out of my comfort zone when I quit my government job.  It was just the beginning!!  I'm feeling vulnerable, and as much as I dislike it, I know I can use this space of discomfort to reorient myself to a greater, more authentic, soul-centered goal.

Much Love from my heart to yours.

There is no heaven

Oops...  did I write this with my outside voice?  This can be so triggering and so very evil to say for a Catholic girl...

I do mean it though, and I'll explain why.

I believe that Heaven is a state of mind; an awareness we cultivate, live and experience every day of our life.  With all the various events and circumstances thrown our way, we have the power to choose how we want to experience them.  Do we want to linger in anger, bitterness, sadness or disempowerment, or do we want to transcend these feelings to joy and understanding?  I believe we are meant to create our bliss, our peace, our highest good here on Earth during our lifetime. We are not meant to procrastinate until we die to reach our good.

We are the spark of God, of the Creator, Spirit, Universe, Love-with-a-big-L. We can choose every day to be a reflection of this Love, or to experience its flippant flip side.  Heaven is not, in my view, something to aspire to for later; it is a promise to our self and the divine, a promise on which we work everyday to fulfill, a choice we consciously make with every breath.

Since I was a pre-teen, I made myself the secret promise not to go to heaven when I die. Imagine for a moment that you're back in your teenage skin and heaven is "sold" to you as a place where you go sit all day and sing with the angels who, incidentally in my upbringing, were more of the stock of fairy tales than reality.  I had taken First Nations study and I thought it would be way cooler to hang around in the forest, meet my ancestors and help family members and friends still in the living world.  And spook the bleep out of them occasionally too.  I've studied many world religions and read many spiritual texts since my teen years, and somehow my crazy (and up to now secret) decision about my after life has become more clear and real.

Today, as I sat near a pier in Boston, watching the sun go down and the tide come in; as the wind was blowing strong and chilly, refreshing me after a long conference, I whispered into the salty wind to clear away beliefs, judgments and emotions that don't serve my highest good.  I truly felt a strong presence surrounding me and wrapping me in Love.  I asked for Love to be carried upon the wind to my family, friends and readers.  Then, these words and sentences started to form in my mind and I knew I had to write them down.  I have that clear feeling that this is part of my mission in life - to bring that notion of heaven-on-earth closer to everyone; to share tips for making better choices for our life - choices that empower, bring happiness AND serve the highest good.  Heaven is now.

What will happen to my soul after I die?  I don't know, and I choose not to worry about that.  What is important to me is how I live my life and share the Love.

My heart overflows with Love in this moment. I invite you to take a moment, if you choose, to turn into the wind and breathe it in.

**SALE** Oracle Reading, Year-at-a-Glance

Using the Medicine Wheel spread, gain insights as to the flow of the coming months.  Learn about the energies and life lessons that will be most significant for you in your near future to help you gracefully navigate the ups and downs of daily life.  Tune into your inner compass and allow Spirit to guide your actions and decisions.  Connect to the flow of Nature and the seasons.

Each reading includes a 12-month Medicine Wheel spread, followed by a monthly reading (13+ pages).  You will receive it by email in .pdf format.  It takes me a minimum of 10 hours to lovingly prepare each document and meditate on Spirit's guidance for you in the months ahead.

When you order this Reading, please specify whether you would prefer the Oracle Reading in English or in French.  Also specify if you have specific healing intentions, e.g. family, health, work, relationships, etc.

**SALE**  more than 50% off the price of monthly Spiritual Guidance-in-your-inbox readings!

Medicine Wheel Year-at-a-Glance, Oracle Card Reading
On sale for $299 until February 28, 2014

For a one-hour reading, without the printout, fees are $80/hour:
In person, on the phone or via Skype.

Today, joyfully celebrate life!

Pompon when he was a kitten.

Today is definitively wintery.  It has snowed all night and through the day.  Everything is covered with a thick white blanket of snow.  While some are delighted with Nature's gift this morning, others are cursing...

Does the snow bring out the grouch in you?  Do you allow the weather, world events and social interactions dictate your mood and outlook on life?  Are you bent on seeing the negative?

Remember that you can always choose how you meet and greet every moment of your day.  Just for today, choose to celebrate life.  Just for today, choose to have fun!  Just for today, focus on the qualities of others - especially those who annoy you the most!  Put aside the grouch that is telling you that because things aren't going your way, you will make life miserable for yourself and others around you.  Just for today, embrace life and your silly side.  Invite your creative inner child to play and guide you to a higher vibration.  Let your doubts dissolve, for in reality, all is well.

Remember the fun you had as a child building a snowman or a snow fort.  Remember how cool it is to be the first person to leave footprints in fresh snow.  Remember how wonderful it is to catch a snowflake on your tongue.  Remember the joy of curling up with a cozy blanket and a hot chocolate, reading a favourite book.  Close your eyes, and smile for a moment.  Allow those endorphins to flood your body.  Breathe.  And now take time away from this computer and go do an activity that brings you joy!

As I often tell my clients and students, our purpose in life is to connect with this essence of Joy.  It's important to look for the positive and for the lesson in every situation.  The Law of Attraction states that what you focus on gains in energy...  Choose to focus on the areas of your life that bring you delight, and find delight in other areas of your life that you consider a bore.

Today, I am taking delight in writing once more in this blog.  I do feel a tad rusty after leaving it aside for a few months...  but I'm not letting those feelings of "not good enough" stop me!  I choose to focus on all the wonderful activities I am creating and will bring to the world in 2014...  I am not allowing the fear of change and other people's negative vibes put a damper on my spirit!  I bring loving energy to all my relationships and business partnerships, knowing that all clouds will move on.  I am also taking delight in catching up with house chores, knowing how I love the energy of my house when the laundry is done and the dust bunnies have gone away.  I will also take a walk in the fresh snow, enjoying the crunch of fresh snow under my boots.  Maybe I'll even catch a snowflake or two on my tongue...

What joyful activity will you bring to your life today?  Share the Joy - leave a comment!