Stepping up our game

We need to step up our game for the people in our lives. . Use the gifts we have to help us elevate ourselves, and to powerfully aid the people around us. Just by being the best ‘us’ we can be. Not stretch ourselves too thin, but to be strong enough to support and lift others, and wise enough to respect and set our own boundaries. It really is time for gentle warriors  - strong in themselves, supportive of others. 

Connections

Every now and then I feel overwhelmed by what I can't do.

I can't solve the budget crisis. I worry about the people who need heating assistance or food assistance when those programs are being cut. I resent the amount of money spent on overseas wars, when our own people have unmet needs like the aforementioned heating and food assistance. I mean really, why is anyone in America going hungry?

You may feel this way too - substitute the topics that overwhelm you.

But, I can bring my gifts to the table. I'm a connector. I connect people to what they need. If we're playing Trivial Pursuit, you want me on your team, because I have a gift for knowing where to find information, and retaining arcane pieces of it.

That seems small . Those gifts won't cure cancer, but a smile might lift someone's spirits. Knowing the answer to someone's question might point them in the direction to solve their problem. Listening fully might make someone feel that God is listening too. You never know how positively you impact people. But as small as this seems, it gives me the sense that I do have power over my life, that I do make a difference (and you do too.)
And that uplifting someone uplifts us all.

Mercury Retrograde

Which typically means communications can go awry and issues from the past - that you thought were settled - come back.

Are you able to ride out Mercury Rx? Does the 'knowing it's MRx' make it easier?

My friends are split on this. Some say if your vibration is strong enough and you're confident in yourself, it should have no effect. And others are cautious about doing card card readings.

For my part, I say having a heads up never hurts, even if you are settled energetically, perhaps others are not.

I AM

Back in the (Catholic School) day, we sang a hymn called "Here I am, Lord." Basically, you were telling God you were ready to serve Him. "I have heard you calling..."
I think it was Dr. Wayne Dyer who said to start each day thinking "How may I serve?" And for years I adopted this as my morning that. That, and gratitude.

But, what if you repunctuated that hymn so it became "Here, I AM?"

Recognize that you are answering/activating/accepting your own divinity.

Power

You love it, hate it, fear it and want it. Power. At one time or another, we've all dealt with the effects of Power. It's been abused, misused and talked about since time began.

We talk about empowerment. Standing in our power. Taking back our power.

And those are all true statements. The bottom line is, most women are afraid of power because we fear abusing it. We are overly sensitive to someone disliking our use of power. 

At some point, we have to accept that someone else may not like our decisions, but that doesn't make us wrong. "They" may be wrong and want "their" way.

Most women I know who are hesitant about "standing in their power" are really saying "I don't want to hurt someone, maybe they're right and I'm wrong, it's easier for ME to stand back and make 'them' happy, then there's peace."

True, there may be peace - and we all ultimately want peace - but at what cost? Surrendering to another person's demands/desires doesn't always mean peace. Short term, yes. But are you setting yourself up for continually backing down? Are you going to feel peaceful down the road, when you no longer have any say in the matter? I think not.

The women I know who worry about misusing power, are never the ones that abuse it. They've generally over-thought their decision and have looked at the issue from everyone's point of view. And by the time they do make a decision, they're exhausted. 

This is a good time to use the "Let go and let God," phrase. You've thoughtfully considered options, and your decision is valid.

Cleansing!

My guides were loud this morning, very adament. Clean, Cleanse!

I've been laying low, caught up in mid-winter blahs and some low, negative and recurring thoughts. You know. Like the record's stuck.

This morning, Ohio caught a break. It's sunny and 50.

Boy, I've really had it with the neighbors, too.

First, I smudged. Thank you Spirit of White Sage. You graced my garden for two years and you hang in my bedroom, a fragrant reminder of the protection you offer. I started with myself, concentrating on my back area, to release the past thoughts that are keeping me stuck in the present. I felt like I was surrounded by dense thorny hedges, and as I smudged and asked AA Michael and Raphael for release and healing. I sensed giant hedge clippers, hacking through the mess.

Smudged the upstairs.

Opened windows in all four directions and asked the spirits of each direction to cleanse the space, keep the energy flowing.

Now, my north windows face a neighbor. Their house is 15 feet from mine. They have a high wattage light that illuminates my entire house, all night long, three dogs they ignore, and a bad habit of slamming their truck door so hard, that my windows shake.

And on this side, I felt such heaviness. I *saw* the North Mountain and Hawk, soaring.
"Hawk what is your message this morning?" "Rise above daughter"
"Mountain, spirit of the North, I ask your protection!"
When I held out my hands, I could feel the heaviness of the neighbors energy - very intrusive, and clearly in my space. The Barrow Wights came through for me. First time. They helped me push this energy away, and shrink it.

This may take several applications, and stronger measures may be called for.

To close the energy, we took the dog for a long walk.
Result: I feel much clearer. I hear messages better, including the one that says I don't have to fix other people. (Stay in your own energy).

Manifesting (still)

We're always manifesting. Whatever we're focused on, grows. Good or bad, worthwhile or worthless.

I just realized that my focus on "having less so someone else won't feel bad" manifested just that. A small decrease in my income, ostensibly due to taxes. In my case, it was a specific situation that I was afraid of confronting honestly. So - lesson learned.

It's true - it serves no purpose to pretend "small". Not one more person will be fed, clothed or housed because I do not accept my good, my abundance, my gifts.