But change is also healthy.  Say you decide that you want to change your bedroom around. You could start by cleaning out your closet.  That is usually a monumental task for many folks so start small.  Set up 3 boxes in your room.  One for items to keep, one for items to donate, and one for items to possibly sell in a yard or garage sale.  While you are doing this remember that when you release something for give-away, you are creating space for something new to come into your life that will serve you better.  Give yourself no more than one hour to do this work.  After that stow them back in your closet for the next time you are clutter clearing your closet.

After one of the boxes is full, say the donation box, go ahead and take it to the local donation center or shelter right away.  Be sure to bless these items before you hand them over.  If your “keep” box is full then begin to put these items in their new space.  For items to be sold see what can be sold on-line or in your local papers so that you don’t start building up a huge pile in your garage or other locations in your home.

The same rules apply to cleaning out your dresser or drawers in your kitchen.  Don’t tackle the whole dresser at once.  For most women, this is at least a 2 day project.  Men usually get off with being able to complete it in a one hour session.  If you are cleaning drawers in your kitchen, just do one drawer at a time.  One drawer per day.

If you are facing changes of other kinds it could mean that you have an idea or thought that could bring about some changes in your future.  Even the smallest changes can bring about large impacts in our lives.  You may wish to start by slowly integrating a new concept and allowing for sufficient time for the new concept to be digested before releasing and onld concept that no longer serves who you are today.  You will know when the time is right for complete release.

If you have been holding on to old patterns and thoughts you may find that they weigh you down and hold you back from being your true and authentic self that you could be today.  Maybe it is time to sit quietly and ask yourself what needs to be done about this.  Listen for that quiet inner voice – it will never lie to you.  Meditate on it.  After you come out of the meditation(s) you may have a whole new perspective on life.

Change is something that we all experience in our lives.  However, for many of us change can be frightening.   Change can come in many forms such as emergencies, unwelcome surprises, health challenges, or in relationship crises.  These changes are usually beyond our control, and physical and emotional stress is trying to get our attention. When we are asleep to what is happening in or around us, the universe will send a loud  wake-up call (usually in the middle of the night) to get us back on track. Usually, these are not in the form of a gentle nudge, but more like a shove.  They are not pleasant, and they bring about at the very least a little discomfort.

Fortunately, the discomfort only lasts as long as we resist to change.  That which we resist, persists.  And personally I think the price is tiny compared to what it would be like to wander around in an unconscious life.

We can minimize or avoid the universal shove in two ways. First, we can develop our inner knowing or intuition so that we can recognize our lessons when they are first introduced to our consciousness as a gentle nudge rather than waiting until they become the royal pain of a shove. Become aware of the red flags when Source/universe sends you a warning whisper to duck and avoid injury.  As you gain more experience with going into the silence of meditation you will be able to open your mind and heart to hear the words of your Higher Spirit.   Through these soul lessons you will be able to play out your life the way that is best intended for you.

Secondly, we need to each be grateful for the lessons and bless them.  Remember to always look for the lesson in everything that comes your way.  Become the victor of the lesson rather than the victim.  Besides, an attitude of gratitude eases the medicine of challenging lessons.

Life will only be as difficult as we choose to make it.  We can make a conscious choice to bless the changes that present themselves to us or we can fight the whole universe and try to prove it wrong.  I prefer to avoid the drama and make life as easy as possible.

Namaste’

Brooke

I think what was the easiest for me was to take Baby Steps.  When I started thinking about becoming a vegetarian/vegan I started out with doing a vegetarian meal once more per week than what I was already doing.  An example would be to have an apple or two for lunch instead of a meat or fish based sandwich or salad. Then when you are more accustomed to eating a plant based diet, have a whole day of meatless meals.  At that point you can decide if you are comfortable staying where you are with your diet or slowly working your way into more of a vegetarian lifestyle.

Millions of animals are slaughtered yearly just in the U. S. alone so that we can continue to put meat on our plates.  Believe me when I say that animals anticipate their death every bit as much as we do.  If you watch the video “Food, Inc.” you will learn where you food is coming from.  Yes, it is a bit gruesome but this is stuff that we all need to know about.  When we become aware of something then we are able to make conscious decisions and choices that will affect not only our immediate well-being but the well-being of everyone.

You will notice many changes as you become more vegetarian.  The first changes that I remember happening were the digestion and elimination.  It is hard to believe just how your body will respond to going veggie.  There are so many positive benefits and absolutely no negative benefits… except right at the beginning as your body begins to flush out all the toxins that you have been a home to for so long.

More to share soon!

Brooke

Just around the corner we came upon a store that sold furniture that had been hand made from salvaged wood from old buildings in the area.  It is called The Wooden Duck, 1823 Eastshore Hwy, Berkeley, Ca 94710.

I will say that just like the surrounding shops in the area, it is pricey but most certainly a one-of-a-kind store.  The people that work there are friendly and thankfully don’t hover while you are taking in the experience.

If you are ever in the area, stop by and see the shop.  It may take a while to browse because they occupy more than just one building.  Be sure to touch the beautiful grain in the wood.  It is a fabulous tactile experience.  It is a shop that you are not likely to soon forget.

Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith

Life is all about the choices that we make and how conscious or aware we are when we make those choices.  We have choices when we pick a life partner or not, when we choose to bear off-spring or not, what food we will or will not eat today, where we will or will not go today.  It’s all about choices and for me it’s about doing what’s right – - not just for me but for my family, my home, my environment and my planet.

Earth is a living, breathing entity and so far she has been a beautiful home for many species for millions of years.  So why is it that our species in this day and age is so destructive to Earth and ultimately ourselves?  What sets us apart from the billions or trillions that have travelled on Earth before us?  My belief is that they lived consciously, and with revered gratitude each and every moment that they existed.  What is it going to take to get the attention of the human race of today to start taking care of the hand that feeds us?

And what about us?  What makes us so destructive towards ourselves?  From what I can see, the human race is far more self-destructive today than ever before.  For reasons which elude most of us we are compelled to ingest unhealthy foods, consume mass quantities of alcohol or drugs, surround ourselves with toxic relationships and believe that we are not the captains of our own ships.  What’s up with THAT??

Every day we have an opportunity to create our day and our universe.  Several years ago I used to describe myself as a tumbleweed – I would just blow where ever the winds took me.  Now I see myself as a conscious creator in my universe or my movie of my life.

Did you know that you can make a conscious choice to have an excellent day filled with miracles or you can choose to create a day of misery?  Your brain sends out actual frequencies that can be measured by sophisticated machinery and medical instruments as it sends out this information and your universe will begin to shape itself to respond to the nature of your song that you have created.  When I was a teenager my grandmother shared some of her wisdom with me.  She said quite simply, “What goes around, comes around”.  So if I make up my mind in the morning that I am going to go out and be a conscious member of humanity and be the very best that I can be, then I am going to have an awful lot of power behind me to see that it happens.  But if I have even the tiniest bit of doubt, that will come to fruition as well.  I can’t say, ‘Yeah, but what if… “.  I have to believe with all of my being and know that it is so.  That belief is what will propel me to move in the direction of creation. Believe it and know it.

I have a favorite quote that I would like to share with you.  I have a copy of this on my bathroom mirror that has been laminated.  I read it in the morning and at night when getting ready for bed.  I love to take this into dreamtime with me.  I hope you enjoy it.

“I believe that you are great…  I know that there is something magnificent about you.  Regardless of what has happened to you in your life.  Regardless of how young or how old you think you might be.  The moment you begin to think properly- – this “something” that is within you… this power that is within you… that’s greater than the world, will begin to emerge.  It will take over your life.  It will feed you.  It will guide you, protect you, and it will sustain your very existence if you let it.  Now THAT is what I know for sure.”

Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith

Quote from the film “The Secret”

So as you begin the rest of your day and the rest of your life, go out and be the magnificent creator that you are meant to be.  I believe that you are great…