Abundance

I'm working outside the home full-time now, so have less time to write. But, stuff is still happening that makes me shake my head in wonder.

A few weeks ago, I had over 5 garbage bags full of laundry to wash (I won't get into the details of why). On a Sunday morning with little free time and what I hoped was enough cash, I headed for our local coin laundromat to knock it all out in one fell swoop. Turned out the change machine was broken and when I tried to buy a candy bar to get quarters from the convenience store next door, I was abruptly told to find a bank.

I drove to the next town over, to find the only other laundromat I knew of was gone. Not sure what to do next, I headed up a main street with little luck. I found another place, but it was closed. Called my husband who gave me a place out of the phone book, but judging by the address it was at least 20 minutes away. Even tried a check cashing store, but discouraged by the long lines and the fees, got back into the car and almost headed home. I thought to myself, "Maybe I'm not meant to do this. Maybe I'm supposed to spend the next three days at home doing all this wash."

Took a second to think quietly and ask for help, then saw an image of a roll of quarters being handed to me from a cash register. It didn't feel like a bank, but it was enough to keep me going. So, instead of turning toward home, I drove in the opposite direction and while searching, the name of the next next town over came to mind. When I got there, I stopped in a familiar shopping plaza, went into the dollar store and asked the first clerk I saw if there was a laundromat close by. She said, "Why, in fact there is one. Just around the block on the next side street." I followed her directions and found myself in front of a small coin laundry tucked back on a little street directly in front of a sign marking the entrance to the town that popped into my head.

It gets better. Not only did the change machine work, but when I needed to break a ten-dollar bill, the cashier at the convenience store next door gave me $6.00 in change as quarters without my asking for them! When I went back a second time, the same cashier pulled out a roll of quarters and gave that to me! At that same moment, a woman standing beside me who was buying lottery tickets and heard my request for quarters said, "You need quarters? I worked last night. I have tons of them." She reached into her purse and pulled out two overflowing fistfuls of quarters saying she collects them and had plenty. I stared at this woman's hands in disbelief. This is when I started to get that, "This is surreal is this really happening" feeling. I never have cash on me - who carries around this kind of cash anymore?!

I finished that boatload of laundry in record time, happy and relieved.

There was no crisis, I could have easily gone home and buried myself in wash. But, here was this gift - a clue, some change, and a couple nice people willing to help. Even with the smallest things in life, guidance from the Universe is available when we need it. You just have to ask.

The Perfect Portal

A few friends and family members have been asking about contacting their loved ones who have passed. And their loved ones have asked me to help them learn.

All my life, I've felt a little strange. I love to learn, I love to read, I soak it all in, but if someone were to ask me what my hobbies or interests are, I always draw a blank.

My husband and I laugh because I can watch a movie and shortly after watch it again as if I'd never seen it before. I'll have a vague recollection of the movie, but I can't quote any of the lines and will enjoy it like a first viewing.

It's as if the center of my mind is an empty vessel and everything I've taken in is tucked away somewhere deep. It's all there somewhere but not in the forefront of my mind. Sometimes, I feel like my brain is a sieve. Where did it all go?!

The best advice I can give is that you have to clear your mind. You can't be thinking about what to make for dinner or who said what on last night's tv show. Your mind can't be wandering to this or that. In order to perceive that something outside yourself is coming in, you have to wipe the slate clean and bury your own thoughts so you can recognize the thoughts and emotions of others.

When you've finally reached that place of zen and your mind is quiet, it's time to go fishing. Drop the line and then wait, watch, listen. It will come. Maybe not right away. Maybe not even the same day. But, eventually it will come. And how do you know? Something calls out to you. Something feels different. Something is unusual. You're perceiving not what's within, but what's around.

You might tap into what people refer to as your "inner voice." But, hearing outer voices feels different. Words, images, thoughts that are not your own are captured and it truly does not feel like it comes from you. It feels like it is coming from outside of and through you.

Start out small. Take 10 minutes of quiet a day. Ask for guidance and protection. Pose your question or reach out to your loved one. Chances are good, you will hear from them in some way. It could be a sign of some sort, a pattern, a quote in a book, a photo, a conversation with a good friend, a song playing on the radio. It's often subtle and can be easily missed.

Once you start to recognize the signs of contact, you'll be able to receive signals and messages outside your meditation time. It's a matter of practice.

A few of the books I've read on this topic give concrete examples of ways that spirits try to communicate with us. Check out the booklist (it's one of the postings) for my favorite reads.

Be patient. It's different for everyone. But it can be done!

Hold On Tight To Your Dream

Hold on tight to your dream because it is elusive.

Without energy, it has nowhere to go.

Even in our busyness, we need to pause and remember what it is we want.

And if we can't act on our dream at the moment, we can think on it.

Keeping it alive.

Generation A

Recent conversation with eight-year old daughter in car, her sitting in the back, me driving:

D: Mommy, do you believe in ghosts?
M: Slight pause. Do you mean ghosts or spirits?
D: Mommy, I mean ghosts. I know there are spirits!
M: Sigh. Yes, I believe in ghosts and spirits.
D: How do you know?
M: Because mommy talks to them.
D: Really?! I hear them!
A: What do you hear? Do you know what they are saying?
D: I don't know what they're saying. Well, I hear what no one else does. Like this. I hear, "(daughter's name)." And, I'm going, "Huh? Wha?"
A: Next time, ask them who they are and what they want. (Mom thinking to herself, am I really having this conversation?!)

Yesterday's conversation with daughter in car, her sitting in back, me driving:

D: Mommy, my friend at camp can see spirits. And I know they're there. I can go into their world.
M: Oh yeah? What's it like?
D: Kind of like here. And they sing, kind of like this (daughter makes high pitched sounds). They have their own language and they talk in English.
M: Oh, really. (In a matter of fact, this is a completely normal conversation kind of way.)

This is not the first I've heard my daughter refer to other worldliness. She has said of one of her dearest friends that their imaginary worlds are connected. "We share the same imaginary world and Mom, our hearts are connected."

Who talks like this?! Tell me, I'm not the only parent out there dealing with this. I don't remember talking this way when I was a kid, do you?! When we were growing up, this kind of talk was just us kids being imaginative and creative. But this seems different. I don't know exactly what generation we're up to X, Y, Z whatever, but these young ones are AWARE and AWAKE. Never mind tech savvy, computer literate, mature for their age, etc.... And, we have to raise them?! Yikes.

Seriously, though. Our children are going to need help understanding the world around them and by around, I mean ALL around. When my daughter first showed signs of "awareness," I kept quiet, wondering how much I would share about my own experiences and when would be the right time. But, as her interest in the topic continued, I decided to be more open, mainly to let her know it is okay, and that she is not alone.

We can listen. We can accept. And we can help our children hone their skills by sharpening our own. Yes, we can do this!!

God is All of the Above

It’s well past time I wrote about my feelings or thoughts about God. I don’t think of myself as an overly religious or spiritual person, and yet I am inspired by God and Spirit every day. I wanted to have a full out well-developed idea about who and what God is before I wrote, but that will just have to wait. For now, this is what comes to me:

God is...

Light
Life Force
Energy
Loving Creator
Larger than Life
Always on
Always here
Around us
Through us
Within us
Dependable
True
Leader
Accessible
Awesome
Eternal

All of the above.

Here's the thing. I haven't analyzed God all that much, but what I do sense is that we as humans are limited in our capacity to fully understand God and what all God entails. I can't speak for anyone else, but all growing up I imagined God as a very large person with super talents - all knowing, all seeing, etc...but a person like us. I don't know exactly how I feel now, but I no longer think God is some super duper human-like entity. God is so much more.

Letting Go

“Letting go” seems to be a recurring theme in messages from the Universe. Letting go of fear; letting go of pre-conceived notions; letting go of your past; letting go of anything really, that might be holding you back. Life is about letting go.

Had a big lesson in it this week. Last fall, I enrolled my daughter at the ballet school where I dance. The school offers formal training for girls who might want to pursue a career in dance, with an emphasis in ballet. I thought it would be good for her to receive solid training, just as I did growing up. Even if dancing was just a means for my daughter to stay physically active and improve her balance and coordination, it would be well worth it to start her in the “right” place.

She attended all year long, but never seemed overly excited about it. She kept asking if she could take jazz and hip hop. My answer was always, you have to wait until you have a couple years of ballet under your belt before you can try the others, as that was the rule at her school. As it came time to plan for the coming fall, she showed even less interest as talk of a twice a week requirement seemed to dampen her enthusiasm even more.

I am a precise, detail-oriented, rule conforming person that can easily fit into this type of ballet school. But, as I took my free-spirited artistic daughter there every week and looked around at the older girls, with their tightly fitted hair buns while her messy one was constantly falling out, I couldn’t help but think, “I’m not sure I see my daughter in these girls.”

With our family’s new commitment to financial responsibility, I had to take a hard look at the feasibility of continuing to send our daughter to this school. With her current level of interest, my full-time job, and her other activities, it was going to be tough for us to get her there, as well as pay for the increased tuition. But, wanting to provide her with “the best,” it was hard for me to just “give up”.

Began looking at other studios again and happened upon one where I take occasional classes. I vaguely recall my daughter asking me about this one as if she might be interested in attending it. “Coincidentally,” this studio offers tap, ballet, jazz and hip hop once a week during a two-hour block where students can pick and choose what they want to take based on their interests. The studio aims to instill a joy of dance for any age and any ability. This studio was calling out to me, or rather, calling out to my daughter.

I went to sleep troubled, not sure what to do. Worried about pulling her from a school were she has friends and familiarity. Worried about pulling her from the school where mommy goes. Worried that I was giving up too quickly.

In the middle of the night, songs kept playing in my head. Someone was calling and was quite persistent. It turned out to be one of Leilani’s Spirit Guides. Here is an excerpt from the next morning’s meditation and this is what she said:

Q: May I ask your name?
A: You may call me Myra.
Q: What words of wisdom do you wish to share?
A: Your daughter is a talented dancer. Do not give up on her so quickly. She needs good technique to take that creative next step.
Q: ABC is expensive.
A: It is not within your means now, but it will be.
Q: Is it okay to switch her to another dance studio?
A: Perhaps that is best for now while she is still young. She will enjoy taking other forms of dance. She is too creative to be boxed into learning only one form, even if it is the basis.
Q: What do you think of XYZ?
A: She will enjoy it there. There is too much pressure at ABC. Your daughter already feels it. Listen to the little things she says, she does not feel secure there. It is too formal for her. XYZ has a freer more fun feel to it, she will like it better.
Q: XYZ is more practical for us at this point. We just want to expose her. We are not quite ready to specialize. But if we leave ABC, she will have to return to the lower level to catch up.
A: She will only be one year behind. She will receive good training. Do not worry. You can always speak to her ballet teacher to make sure she receives the same basics so she will not be too behind should she wish to return. By then, money will not matter.
Q: That is encouraging (the money part). I was feeling very sad about letting go of our shared connection to dance. ABC is precise and formal in a way that suits me, but not her. I thought I was letting go of dance all together. Is that why you came?
A: There is no reason to “let go” of dance. You only need to “let go” of your current way of doing it and letting your daughter’s natural inclinations lead the way. She knows what she wants. Listen to her. She can still get basic training and have fun with freer forms of dance. Don’t let go of the dream, just yet. It’s okay to make it fit with your life as it is.
Q: Thank you so much for coming and sharing your guidance. I’m so grateful. It’s so hard as a parent to know the right thing to do.
A: You’re welcome. God bless.

That same day, I spoke with the director of the new studio and felt better about the prospect of moving. I was nervous to bring up the subject with my daughter for she can be quite the contrarian and like any young child, resistant to change. Myra kept popping in throughout the day to let me know she would help and that my daughter would be okay with this decision. Found a way to ease into the conversation by talking about “mommy’s other studio.” All I had to say were the words tap, jazz, hip hop, and ponytail and her face lit up. Even found another friend who might take class with her, easing any anxiety she might have had about leaving her friends at the old school.

I was shocked at how easy that was, but then again why should I be? I listened to my heart, listened to my daughter’s, sought guidance, got the okay, and voila. Everything lines up like magic.

Letting go was hard. Letting go of my own aspirations so that my daughter’s could take flight. Letting go, hoping for a good landing and trusting that all would be okay, maybe even better.

Who would have thought that free falling could actually lead to falling into place?!

Method to the Madness, Part 2

I’ve been thinking but not writing about the concept of irony. Mainly, because I believe I’m supposed to read a new book that just came out called, “The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life" by Colette Baron-Reid. But, feeling as if I've left an idea dangling out there, thought I’d better try to write something in the meantime.

This one is hard, partly because the idea is complex and partly because I’ll have to go deep to explore it. So, decided to ease in to start. Here goes....

Life is ironic on purpose.

Let’s take the example of the number 3. I am the oldest of three children. We were a family of 5 which meant that someone was always the odd man out. Always. Amusement park rides, table settings, you name it – we were always one short or one too many. I’m providing what seems like a trivial example, but the dynamic of 3 was frustrating for me. There is truth to that saying “Three’s a crowd.” I swore that when I had a family of my own, I would have an even number of children, either two or four but NEVER three!

So what happens?! I end up with one child resulting in a family of three! Odd for a lifetime!! Having mostly friends with two children, we are constantly dealing with the threesome play date. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s always something to consider. This may seem inconsequential, but circumnavigating life around the number three can be tricky. When I was a kid, my response was to withdraw. As an adult, I am faced yet again with this challenge. But if I disengage like I did when I was younger, there is much to lose.

Somehow we’ve made the threesome family work. My husband, daughter and I are in constant motion to keep the balance. Everyone gets a turn at being a pair. When we’re all together, the triangle becomes a circle, expanding and contracting its sides to avoid sharp corners. The threesome has become a ring.

As far as Leilani’s friendships, this is something she will have to work out, learning to get along with siblings, making room for them in her play. She’s done this with a few of her relationships, but can continue to develop a dynamic that is comfortable for everyone. As she gets older, I suspect it will become easier and less of an issue. For me as mom, I just have to go with the flow, rather than try to control it. Just let things be.

Rather than curse the number 3, what else can I do but embrace it?! Make the best of it. Make it work. Something I fought all growing up, would serve itself up as a lesson later in life. Once I recognized and acknowledged the irony, things more or less fell into place. The ink spot faded, becoming less noticeable. I’m finding out that once you’ve discovered and resolved a life lesson, you’re done – time to move forward and take on something else.

Look for the irony in your life – there’s a lesson just around the corner!

You've Gotta Play to Win - Follow-up

Folks, that Lucky 7 raffle ticket was a sign for all kinds of good coming our way.

On May 5th, the scheduled date of the raffle, 3 significant things happened. First, we agreed to re-finance our mortgage saving $300.00 a month. Second, I submitted my first application for full-time work in over ten years. Consequently, I am being promoted to full-time status in my current job with a raise! And third, the pageviews for this blog hit 300. Many thanks to those who keep reading!

To top it off, remember the ticket no. 0702067? The more I stared at it, the more it looked like a date to me, especially the first part 0702. I thought for sure, something good is going to happen on or around July 2nd. Then today, it became clear. Two things that got started on May 5th will come to fruition on July 2nd. That day marks the first pay period of my new position and the day after our first new mortgage payment. Could there be a third wrap-up? That remains to be seen....

Lately, my cousin has been telling me about things that call out to her or things she feels drawn to in a special way. I didn't know what she meant, until I bought this ticket. A few days before, I heard an advertisement on the radio. Then, at the grocery store checkout, I remembered the lottery. I even bought some candy just so I would have the cash needed to buy the ticket. After I made the purchase, the woman at the register handed the ticket to me with a big beaming smile and wished me luck. I felt drawn to buy that ticket as if guided to it. I have purchased lottery tickets in the past, but never with such purpose. And when I left the store, I felt as if I'd already won. I usually give the tickets to my husband, but this time I kept it for myself and propped it up so I could see it every day. I liked looking at it, wishing upon it - weird.

My husband connected the raffle date of May 5th to Mexico's Independence Day, Cinqo de Mayo. Could this day have marked the beginning of our own freedom, that of financial independence? And with my birth year included in the ticket number, a re-birth of sorts?

Wonder what else could be on this ticket? So many clever ways to receive clues from above. Whatever you want to call this, to me it was a true Lucky 7 win!!

All Roads Lead to Zion

Doing some serious searching these days regarding work. Should I take on something new or can I accomplish the same by staying put? Here’s what the universe shared with me in this morning’s meditation:

“There is no one path to meet your goals. It is the essence of what you are doing on any particular path that will lead towards attainment of your spiritual achievements in this lifetime. Some paths are easier and smoother than others. Some paths provide more friction. But if you persist in seeking your true purpose, that purpose will become clear to you, whichever path you take.”

Don’t worry so much about the path. Focus on what you’re doing while on it.

It's All Around You

My husband has a “sense” about things. Before the “big bang”, we attributed his keen sense of awareness to street smarts from growing up on the streets of Naples, Italy. Now, we’re not so sure. In the beginning, he did not believe in what I was experiencing and told me flat out he was not interested. Finally, months later he agreed to listen. Then, he began reading my blog. And now, he recognizes his own psychic awareness for what it is. Sometimes, you might not realize you are doing something because you haven’t labeled or identified it. But once you see it described and talked about, you realize you’ve been doing it all along. How funny is that?! To go from non-believer to “I’m the same way” – seems like quite a stretch, but maybe that’s what being open to things does to a person. Once you agree to open up, the sky’s the limit.

My husband recently negotiated a new car lease. He came home with a nicer model than his previous lease without having to pay much more for it. As always with big purchases, he questioned whether or not he made the right decision. Even though we ran the numbers and determined he got a great deal on the car, he still felt unsure.

A few days later, he was sitting in traffic and looked around him. He was surrounded by a ring of black cars. All different makes and models and all black. Where we live, cars are mostly white and beige. Then, he picked up a single black stone in our walkway. The black stone was the only one of its kind in a sea of white rocks and coral. And finally, while rollerblading he noticed a black hair band on the sidewalk in front of him and picked that up as well.

He came to me with these coincidences and said that he notices when things are unusual. All of these findings were unusual to him. He asked me to interpret their meaning. He also recalled that he had been in car accidents with the two white cars he’d owned in the past.

I took the circular black symbols to be a sign of protection and reassurance. I told him he made the right decision to lease his black car and that it was a symbol of protection. My later meditations confirmed these interpretations. In metaphysics, black is considered a protective color.

The higher-ups send us signs all the time. Once you become aware of them, you’ll begin to notice them pop up here and there. These signs are clues that can keep us on track, let us know we are making decisions that will serve us well. I suspect it works the other way, too. When things are not going well, it’s time to re-evaluate what we’re doing.

Sensing - just another level of awareness that can help us navigate the game called life.

You've Gotta Play to Win

It's been awhile, I know. Dealing with family and friend illnesses the past couple weeks and it's difficult to be introspective when you're busy. Now I know why Buddhist monks live such quiet lives - staying in tune with one's soul requires it.

So, just another quickie today.

I bought a Lucky 7 Raffle ticket. There will be only one million tickets sold for a chance to win 777 prizes from $70 to $700,000. Those are better odds than usual and my family could surely use a little luck in the financial area of our lives.

The ticket number is interesting. It has the number 7 (part of the Lucky 7), the number 2 (and anyone who has read my blog knows the power of 2 for me), and it also includes my birth year. Even if I don't win anything, maybe something else good will happen as a result of buying it.

I've read that God does not help us win the lottery. But, I thought it can't hurt to wish good things, so I kissed the ticket for luck and placed it below my computer screen where I can see it and actively think on it. At the very least, as in anything in life - you've gotta play to win!

Method to the Madness, Part 1

Life is ironic. And in the irony are life’s greatest lessons. Think about it.

When the Dancer Becomes the Dance

It will be three years in June since I returned to dancing. Dancing not freestyle in a club or an aerobics class, or a ballroom. Dancing as in ballet and jazz when we were kids. I’m not that motivated to maintain an exercise program although every year, I make an attempt. I’ve tried home videos, yoga, aerobics, tai-chi, zumba. While I like each of these to some degree, for one reason or another I failed to keep it up. Finally, after a twenty-year pause, I re-found my thing.

I started with an intermediate jazz class. The class is difficult. It is taught by a former professional dancer and attended by other professionals and/or dance teachers. I wasn’t quite up to snuff, but didn’t care. I liked the teacher and her choreography, the music,the company of like-minded women, more than enough to keep me going.

One year later, I added a ballet class. Fumbled a lot at first, couldn’t remember the sequence of steps, and hid in back of the line when we had to dance across the floor. Although it was a struggle, again, I didn’t care. The teacher wonderful, fellow dancers supportive, music relaxing, and the dancing pure joy.

When the whole psychic thing kicked in, I was having trouble learning how to switch on and off, knowing what to listen to and what to block. Being able to quickly discern and sort through my senses became of utmost importance. If I was going to continue with my “training,” I needed help.

Following ballet, is an intermediate/advanced jazz class taught by a principal instructor of the school. It is filled with children – teenagers 14-17 years of age who can slide into the splits and sit there forever - they probably watch tv in that position, take flying whirling leaps through the air, all without an ounce of jiggling body fat. Intrigued, but dubious, I tried the class under the suggestion of my Guides. They felt it would be good for my reflexes.

Well, I humiliated myself. I felt ancient around these young girls, they move so fast. In a combination where we had to slide across the floor on our knees, I just stood there, my mouth agape, while all around me bodies dropped to the ground with ease, nothing bruised or broken in the process. No way was I doing that!

During this particular challenge, I began to doubt myself. I just didn’t think I was good enough. I considered dropping out, but my Guides insisted that I needed this faster workout.

At my lowest, a Spirit – an African dancer by the name of Rommuel came through. I could see a tribe of African dancers moving behind him - strong, tall and quick. I thought more to myself than him, “Let me take a guess. I was an African dancer in a prior life, right?!” Rommuel never answered that question, but he did say, “Your teachers can see the dancer in you.” He encouraged me to stick with it.

Rommuel never came back, but I took his advice and continued with the class. I decided just to tackle the first half – the warm up. It would round out my morning with emphasis on different parts of the body, loosen up the mind with loud club music and add strength with sit-ups and other muscle building exercises.

Shortly after, I was reading John Holland’s "Psychic Navigator". He encourages dancing to balance the root or base chakra. This class was perfect for that. Soon, I began to see progress with my psychic work. I became stronger and quicker in my sensing. Quicker to identify what was happening, quicker to block when I wanted, and gained confidence as a result.

I still show up for class every week. I look around at all that young blood, feel their energy pulsing, and draw upon it to muster up some of my own.

To be our very best, all parts of us need to be in good health – mind, body and spirit. These parts work in tandem, benefit in one area leading to good things in another. And sometimes, what we think we don’t have time, energy, or confidence for can be what actually keeps us going.

The Power of Our Intentions

I dream of hiring someone to clean the house. I actively wish for it. At least once a month, I say to my husband “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone come in just to scrub down the bathrooms and mop the floors?” As our financial situation does not quite allow for this luxury, he just laughs. And I always reply, “It could happen, one can dream.”

It’s just a dream.

Then recently, I changed my wish slightly from desiring a housekeeper to merely wishing for a cleaner house.

Almost instantly, I started to see a difference. I find myself sweeping the bathroom floor at odd hours; wiping down the kitchen counters more so than usual. Last week, my husband created a cleaning routine for our daughter which is working. And today, he helped with the laundry. My daughter’s bedroom stayed fairly neat after two playdates back-to-back. What is up?!

The Secret is probably one of the most popular books on the power of intention. I think the secret is in not only making your wishes known and channeling your energy towards fulfilling those wishes. The secret is also in knowing what to ask for!

Maybe at this time of my life, asking for a maid is a bit unrealistic. I could be wishing for a long time. But wishing for a cleaner house and then watching myself and my family become our own maid service – now that’s what I call progress!

The Proof of the Pudding Part 4 – Tying it All Together

Synchronicity is pretty neat. Little moments when looked upon individually seem small and insignificant, yet when tied to other similar events, they become awe-inspiring and miraculous.

So far, my psychic training has consisted of reading, lessons from my Spirit Guides, and first-hand experience. Often, I will read about a new concept in a book and then find it playing out in real life. I thank my Guides for providing me with these experiential lessons.

Case in point: John Holland, James van Praagh, and Rebecca Rosen all mention Spirit’s ability to manipulate coins as symbols of communication. If coins appear in re-current patterns or combinations, take note! Rebecca Rosen says the coins tend to be new and symbolize prosperity. This made no sense to me. Although, I secretly wish magic were involved, how can Spirit make coins appear out of thin air?! Well, within the past week I’ve picked up 3 shiny new pennies. The weird thing is that I once complained about never getting new pennies! Mine are always dirty and old. My daughter noticed the first one laying on our car’s front passenger seat. The second one came to me through change given by a cashier. And the third was found sitting by itself on the coffee table in our living room. I vaguely recall the first one coming in with a batch of change at a drive-through. I saw the second one as it landed in my hand. And the third must have been lying on the floor of our living room and found during clean up. Light bulb goes off in my head – pennies are made of copper that is a metal that is a conductor of energy! Spirit must be able to manipulate coins using energy – of course!!! I’m hoping more new pennies will show up, but wouldn’t be surprised if that’s it – after all, we’re working with the number 3 these days (see past posts for details).

A couple days ago, I marveled at the size of our growing mangoes. This is the first year for our tree to bear fruit so we are super excited. These babies grow exponentially every day! We’re not exactly farmers so maybe this is how all fruits and vegetables grow, but I’ve truly never seen anything grow this fast. On a whim, I decided to count the mangoes, only including the ones that are bigger than buds. Guess how many? 32 or 33 – there’s that number 3 again!!

Our baby doves are doing so well. They still feed in our front garden, but like to spend their day hanging out on the telephone line above our driveway. Yesterday, my neighbor and I were in the church gift shop browsing when she looked up and saw birds that reminded her of our doves. I agreed they were dove garden sculptures and then she noticed how many there were – yes, there were 3!!

Pure coincidence? Not one to make assumptions, but finding such delight in making all these connections.

Shortly, after blogging about the doves, my Spirit Guide Serena, showed herself (in my mind’s eye) gently placing the doves in our garden. Then after I counted the mangoes, she showed herself again, but this time standing next to the tree touching the fruit as if blessing them. The last image I received was of a sales clerk pulling the dove statues from their box and Serena nearby nodding when the correct number was placed on display.

All I can say, is Spirit has a really fun job! Finding all these cool ways to communicate and get our attention. In my eternal lifetime, I so want to be a Spirit Guide.

What this valuable lesson has taught me is that we are never alone. Here I was given this nail-biting message several weeks ago about a letter from a publisher that was due to arrive in “3 days” or at least, that is what I thought. And instead of Spirit leaving me hanging to tough it out on my own, I’ve received numerous signs of encouragement. Hugs from the Universe, if you will. Gentle and subtle reminders that are tied together, their truth waiting to be revealed. Pay attention to the small things in life – you never know what you’ll find.

Today’s Message from the Universe:
Open your eyes to the wonder that is life

Balancing the Tight Rope

In their books, well-known mediums tell stories about passing messages from Spirit to their clients.  They write about people who have come to them seeking advice or wanting to connect with a passed loved one.  These people are primed and at least slightly open to hearing what the medium has to say.  Celebrity medium Rebecca Rosen doesn't share information unless she is doing a reading. She draws a line between her professional and personal life which she feels is fair.

For me, the boundary lines are little more blurry.  Since I don't do readings, most of the messages I receive are unsolicited. When I'm asked to pass along a message, the feeling or need to share doesn't go away, until the message has been sent.  Often, it is one of love and peace and there is no harm in sharing; it's just, the receiver isn't expecting it.  

Some times, a person wants to know why Spirit has come to me and not to them directly.  I'm guessing that Spirit has tried to connect in numerous ways to let a person know they are around. I just happen to be able to hear and Spirit is so eager to make contact they will use any portal available.  Think of me as a receptionist, taking the calls and passing on the messages.  Ironic that I’ve done administrative assistant work on and off throughout my life and one of the things I dislike the most, is answering the phone for others!!

In this case, I don’t mind "taking calls" from Spirit.  Just wish I could find a way to do it without catching people off guard. It's like walking a tight rope trying to balance between two worlds, aware of both, communicating with both, and just trying to stay on the line.

You know one great thing about passing messages along?  Spirit always comes back to thank me for connecting them with their loved one. When Spirit returns, my work is done – mission accomplished.  Whew!

I used to be afraid to share messages, but not anymore.  I know eventually this type of communication will become commonplace. Like the Internet and email, it’s just a matter of time.

The Proof of the Pudding Part 3 - The Messengers

Guess, what?  The doves I mentioned last week are still in our front yard!  And there are 3 of them – a mother and two baby doves.  As each day passes and they continue to stay with us, I can’t help but wonder if they are here for a special reason.  Yes, the nest is most likely up in one of our trees.  Yes, our newly planted garden is the perfect place for doves to hang out.  Yes, the babies wait in the protection of our yard for the mother to feed them.  But, why our yard and why now?!  

They are so not afraid of us.  We sprinkle bird seed, we watch them, walk past them, we photograph them, drive up and park in front of them.  And, they just keep hanging out.

The more I contemplate their presence, the more I sense they are related to the letter in some way.  Then, today while watching them, I heard the faintest voice say, “When the birds fly, the letter will come.”   And that’s when I realized there are 3 of them!  THREE.  So, the number 3 is legit.  The letter could come in any number of days including or related to the number 3 – 13, 23, 33, 43, 113, and so on… But, the doves are a sign of reassurance, they are messengers, they are symbols of peace and love.  And, they too are waiting.

Waiting until they are old enough to fly on their own. Waiting until they are old enough to eat on their own.  Waiting until they are old enough to survive on their own.  These doves tell their own story, apart from the role in my other worldly tale. 

Some days, I feel like I’m living in a twilight zone.  Everything is interconnected and interwoven in amazing ways.  Life will never look the same again.

Hazards of Being a Plugged In Mom

I’ve heard that moms have this extra sense about their children, especially when their kids need help.  It’s as if we’re still connected to them by an umbilical cord of sorts.  So, what happens when mom radar is amped up?

Some months ago, one of my first premonitions involved my daughter.  In my mind’s eye, I saw a full-color vivid image of her being hit in the stomach with a ball.  I couldn’t tell if she had been hurt and I assumed it was an image of something happening at that moment.  I knew she was playing kickball at after-care, so fully expected to hear about it when I arrived for pick-up.  Nothing.  Another day went by and nothing.  Realized the vision was a foretelling, but had no idea when it would play out.  No sign of danger so I wasn’t overly concerned.

About two weeks later, my daughter came home from soccer practice and told me she had been hit with the ball in the stomach. When she showed me how, it looked just the same as I had seen it in my mind.  She wasn’t hurt.

The second time something like this happened - my daughter was at a small entertainment park celebrating her cousin’s birthday.  I was getting ready to pick her up when I sensed something was happening with her.  I saw her standing with other kids around her.  I couldn’t tell if there was an altercation, but the feeling went away with no signs of apparent danger, so again tried not to worry too much.  Shortly after, I texted my brother to say I was on the way to pick her up.  My brother texted back to say they were heading to our house, so I turned around and went home.

I met them at our house, a little anxious to find out if anything had happened.  The minute my daughter got out of the car, she complained about having to leave the park before she won this DSL she wanted from one of those games with the mechanical arm used to grab prizes.  Apparently, she spent a good portion of her afternoon at this game and was upset that she didn’t win.  Later, I realized that I had seen her standing at this arcade game and the reflection on the glass showed other kids standing around behind her.  

Yesterday, it happened again.  While my husband and daughter were out rollerblading together, I missed a call from them on my cell phone.  I tried to call back several times but no answer.  It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been called to come get my husband for one reason or another, so I kept trying to reach them.  Then, I saw this vision of them rollerblading on the path and sensed something to do with running into a bike.  Mom worry set in and I imagined one of them had collided with a bike and needed help.  But, no signs of danger, just the normal nervousness any mom might feel if they thought something might have happened to their family.

Turns out a guy on a motorbike recognized my husband and pulled up onto the bike path to greet him.  They had lived together 25 years ago in a town 1 hour south and had lost touch. My husband thought the biker was crazy for riding up onto the path, until he saw who it was – small world. He had called to tell me about his exciting reunion with an old friend.  He did explain that if something urgent happened, he would have left a message.  Of course, I was using extra sensory perception, not logic, so that thought never occurred to me.

Well, as “informed”, my daughter did get hit with a ball; she did experience some trouble at the game park; and she did “run into a bike.”  Nothing out of the ordinary – just regular every day stuff.  So, what’s a mom with a hyped up antenna to do?!  After all, my daughter is only eight years old – we’ve got a LONG way to go!

My first thought was okay – she’s definitely getting her own cell phone when she’s old enough, so I can check in whenever I get a weird vibe.  I’m going to drive her crazy!!

My next thought was okay – I need to get way better at this so I know what’s really going on.  Now I have even more reason to be accurate! 

Even considered honing our mental telepathy skills - maybe we could practice!!

And then my final and most practical thoughts were - have confidence that if a true emergency were to happen, I will know about it when I need to.  Use all my senses, including the first five, to assess a situation.  And like any mom, trust my gut, as complicated as that may be.

Today's Words of Wisdom from The Universe:

Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Trust and you shall have it all.

The Proof of the Pudding Part 2 - The Telephone Game

Lots of incoming traffic ever since news of the manuscript hit the "Spirit Net."  So many messages, I became a little unsure of what was really going on. Planned to just watch events unfold.  Then yesterday, curiosity got the best of me and I asked for some clarity.  Decided to meditate briefly to get re-centered and back on track.

To get ready, used Rebecca Rosen's White Light Protection Meditation from her national bestseller, "Spirited: Unlock Your Psychic Self and Change Your Life.”  Surrounded myself by a protective white bubble, invited my Spirit Guides, passed love ones, and Archangel Michael to protect and guide me as Rebecca Rosen suggests, and began to meditate.  Thought it might be interesting to post the conversations I had with Spirit:

Q: I am seeking advice from my Spirit Guides, particularly Serena and Milton if you are available.  I would like to know if the messages I’ve received all week about the manuscript are true.  I seek your help in re-centering my thoughts and maintaining a strong, positive outlook.

Serena answered first.

A: There is good news on the way.  You will hear very soon.  Fill yourself with positive light and wait.  Enjoy the moment. 

Q: Does the publisher like the manuscript?

A: They love it.

Q: Will they publish it?

A: That remains to be seen.

Q: Will I need to send it to another publisher?

A: Possibly.

Q: Why all the congratulations prior to my receiving the actual news in earth time?

A: Good news is hard to contain.  Because you are aware, you can perceive in real time. Once the news is solidified, it has been sent through the Universe and you are able to pick up on it.  Enjoy.

Q: Serena, is Milton there?

A: He will come. Listen for him.

Q: Thank you so much for your words of wisdom.  I am grateful for your presence in my life. I have to go now. 

A: God Bless.

Later this morning, Milton stopped by and our conversation went something like this.  I wasn’t at the computer so this is what I remember:

Q: Milton?!

A: Dear, your bubble is working quite well.  (He’s referring to the white light protection bubble.)

Q: Milton, do you have any news about the publisher?

A: Pause.   

Q: Milton did the editor read the manuscript?

A: Pause. 

Q: Did the editor review it?

A: Yes, she's reviewed it. It’s on her desk.

Q: She hasn’t read it?

A: Not sure how to proceed.  There is good news!  Live in the moment.  Enjoy. 

Q: So what about the letter coming in 3 days?

A: It might take a bit longer.  You really should be more careful of your sources.

Q: Thank you, Milton.

A: There is good news!

Spirit tends to talk in code.  It’s like the oracle in Rick Riordan’s Lightning Thief or Delphine the snail in Barbie’s Mermaidia.  They talk in riddle and sound just like Chinese fortune cookies! 

And then the whole mental telepathy thing makes it even more confusing.  When I’m not meditating the interaction happens within seconds. Thoughts transmit so quickly you’re not sure who said what.  Did you say it or did they say it?  Are your transmissions overlapping? It’s easy to jump to conclusions.  Thoughts, images, emotions and words all coming through to form what you think is the message.  And even then, it's a best guess.

Shortly after the conversation with Milton, my husband came home from lunch and saw a dove sitting in our front walkway.  He was able to walk past it into the house.  It just sat there, letting us look at it through the window.  My daughter and I even walked past it as it continued to sit.  Then, it casually walked around the driveway and off into the yard. I felt it was sent as a positive sign, a reassurance or validation of some kind.

Later in the day, an airplane flew above us, crossing our path.  As I looked up, FEDEX came to mind.  Another sign or clue perhaps?

This will hopefully all make sense sooner than later.  Guess it's part of learning, right?! Maybe communication with Spirit will always be like this.  Continual guidance is provided without set answers so that you can still live your own life making your own choices.  In the end, we’re all just trying to reach out and connect with one another as best we can.

What's in the Title?

I'm having one of those goose bump moments - a huge AHA - so decided to add this extra post for the week.  Several times when writing this blog, the title of the post came out of the blue.  I never give much thought to the titles, but in several instances I used them without truly getting the meaning.

Here are a few posts with ambiguous titles (they tend to be the more creative ones):

THE POWER OF TWO
This blog describes how I am connected to significant people and places by the number two.  Questions arise about the meaning - are we super-linked?  Since then, I've noticed that the psychic connection to these people is more powerful than my experience with others.  The ability to connect with their Spirit Guides, deceased family and friends, with their souls is very strong and very clear.  There is power to the connection!

CROSSING WIRES
In this blog, there are messages coming in that don't make sense.  Originally, I thought the title referred to an inability to hear or listen to what was coming in.  But later, the meaning of the "non-sense" messages became clear.  Two different messages were coming in at the same time - crossing one another!!

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING
This most recent blog about testing a premonition was originally titled, "There's Proof in the Pudding." Curious to know the true meaning of the phrase, I googled it discovering the actual saying to be "The proof of the pudding is in the eating".  In other words, some things can only be tested through first-hand experience.  You can read about it, hear about it, theorize about it, document it, but only when you hear it, see it, sense it for yourself will you truly understand it.

So, what's in the title? Apparently, an answer.  How cool is that?!

The Proof of the Pudding

My husband and I were talking at dinner last night about the difficulty in scientifically proving the validity of extra-sensory experience and ability.  Studies have been and are currently being conducted, but the concept is still considered out-of-the-norm.  

Yesterday, I woke up to some very excited voices.  The Spirit Guides in my life were going on about a letter that was on its way.  I knew at once, they were referring to a letter from the publisher about the manuscript.  I asked Serena, my writing Guide, how long it would take for the letter to come - knowing that time for Spirit is not the same as earth time.  She said DAYS!  Several cheers and words of encouragement from the Universe ensued throughout the day.  It’s pretty cool when Spirit applauds!  You know you’ve done something right.

Well, here we have a premonition. I couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to prove that my sources are not from the earth plane.  Can I show that this is not just wishful thinking on my part but real communication of the “otherly” kind?  

Let’s say we could prove I’ve had no prior contact with the publisher except for submitting the manuscript via US mail.  My cell phone calls are logged, land line calls are logged, emails can be tracked.  We can verify that I have no acquaintances or friends of friends at the publishing house who could have called me ahead of time. And no, I do not have the letter in my hand!  Is there any other way to sound-proof this validation “experiment”?  

I was about to post this blog last night, but something held me back.  This particular publisher only makes contact if they are interested in your work.  I assumed their letter would state their interest in the manuscript I sent them.  But, something didn’t gel.  Besides, how much of an experiment is this if there is a 50% chance of being right?  A letter is on the way or it's not.  Not much different than tossing a coin.  We need more detailed information.

Went to bed without posting and in the early hours of the morning while half asleep, I heard someone whispering in my head.  She (no idea who) said that the letter would come in 3 days time.  The publisher loves the manuscript but feels it doesn’t quite meet their needs.  They are inviting me to submit something else to them. (!) The manuscript is worthy of being published and they will encourage me to submit it to niche publishers (the manuscript has a strong ethnic bent).  The voice told me the letter will come from an editor named Susan M. - I couldn’t quite make out the last name.  

To complicate matters even more, Lola Rea keeps referring to some surprise and she won't tell me what it is. 

Much of this feels like a blind leap of faith. It’s SO much fun believing that our "imaginary worlds" are real - I think they are.  With it come comfort, hope and even joy. BTW, this stuff still gives me the chills. I never cease to be amazed by the power and brilliance of the Universe.

What's going to happen next?  Not sure, but stay tuned!!

What's Up with the Stones?

I felt somewhat blue last week, maybe coming down off the high of submitting, and felt a lot of negative thoughts and energy coming my way.  I think it is related in some way to the manuscript, but I don’t want to over-analyze the source of negativity - doing that just gives it more power.

Months ago, when first learning about all of this “stuff,” I visited a New Age bookstore.  I spent a long time just browsing the aisles, studying the book titles and various divination tools.  It was all so new to me, still is.  To support the store, I bought a variety of gemstones.  I picked out ones that were used to protect as I was a bit scared of what was going on in my head. 

The employee was knowledgeable and helpful.  He told me to wear them within my energy field.  Some women carry the stones in their purse, some wear them on a pouch around their neck and some even wear them tucked inside their bra.  When I got home, I put the stones in a dish of sea salts to cleanse them (googled how to take care of crystal/gemstones), and forgot about them.  I dismissed them as purely symbolic.

Well, guess what?! They work!  After several days of feeling like a dart board with a bull’s eye on my forehead, I remembered the stones and decided it was time to try them out – anything can help, right?  I rinsed them with cold water (another cleansing method) and put two black onyx stones, one on either side of my bra.  Turns out that one of my favorite colors to wear, black, is protective.  Side note: I wore so much black in high school, a friend nicknamed me the “girl in black.”  And this was all before goth became popular.  I wasn’t goth though, just liked wearing the color.

Maybe it’s psychological, but I could feel the protective power of these stones shortly after I started wearing them.  I immediately felt “lighter” as if energy was bouncing off, as if there was a force field around me, acting as a repellent.  I felt more positive, like I could be myself without being affected by the thoughts and behavior of others.  Nothing bothered me! 

Having said that, I don’t think the stones can work alone.  But, I do think they make it easier for one to stay positive and not take in surrounding negativity.

The color black absorbs light, so rather than reflecting energy, perhaps the black stones absorb it, therefore drawing outside energy towards it and away from you.  I used to wear a simple black onyx ring. Maybe it's time to find a new one.

There is so much to know.  People have written about the properties of crystals and gemstones and how they conduct and interact with energy.  It’s time to hit the books again.  Learning is never ending.

Just Do It!

Two days ago, I submitted to a publisher my first manuscript for a children’s picture story.  Anyone who knows me - knows the meandering path my life has taken over the years, and knows this is a BIG deal!

Looking back, I have always been a writer.  Kept a journal since high school; wanted to be an English major in college; even wrote as part of my professional work.  Although I enjoy writing, it was never crystal clear that my life’s purpose revolves around it.  In fact, many little obstacles presented themselves along the way.  I realize now that all those roadblocks were just challenges in the game of life.  And in the end, all can be overcome.

Do you ever wonder how some people manage to achieve their goals?  Why them?  Why are some people able to accomplish what they want?  The many self-help books out there share the same concept – think positive, set your mind to something, actualize your potential, anything is possible.  It seems easy, right?  Not for all of us.

But, if your life purpose is clear and you are connected with your inner self, you will catch the wind in your sail and take off.  Nothing can really get in the way of your true life’s purpose.  Doubt, fear, envy, guilt – all fade away as the driving force in your life takes hold.

Those sayings – “get in the groove”, “get on track”, “get with the program”, seemed elusive in the past.  I thought it was up to us, to create our own track.  But it’s not.  “Get” is the operative word.  You don’t have to make the pathway – it’s in front of you. You just have to find it and GET ON. And once you’re on, nothing will stand in your way.

All that’s left is to do it.  Nike has the right idea - Just do it.

Validation

Validation comes in many forms and in many ways.  And each of those moments act as beacons to help light the way to our life’s purpose. 

I had just arrived for my shift at the bookstore and was straightening an area when I overheard a young girl ask another bookseller for a title.  I recognized the book because we bought them for my daughter a week ago at a used book fair.  Turned out the book was out of print – Japanese anime from the late 1980s, early 1990s.   As I explained where we purchased ours, the young girl looked up at me and asked, “Are you -----‘s mom?”  The friend who showed this girl the books was none other than my daughter!  The girl’s mother went on to explain that her daughter who is a bit of an artist saw the drawings inside and liked them.  Another light bulb went off and I asked if the girl attended art camp this summer.  And yes, she had.  She was the one other girl at that particular week of camp that attended the same school as my daughter.  Meanwhile, the other bookseller noted the oddity of our meeting on the only night of the week that I work, right when I started.  She said it was the weirdest situation she had ever witnessed and the mother proclaimed, “It was meant to be.  It’s destiny!”  Our chance meeting served as a sign to the mother that her daughter should have these books so promised to find them.  As she walked away, I could hear her saying to the daughter, “How cool was that?!”

Just as I was thinking this event could be the subject for a blog posting, the bookseller unknowingly said, “You could write a short story about that.”  Yes, I could and in fact, I will!

What I found most interesting was the awareness of all three adults of the incident’s synchronicity.  The bookseller thought the whole thing was strange, the mother immediately chalked it up to fate, and I’m thinking – of course, this happens to me all the time now.  The incident affected each person in its own unique way.  Perhaps the mother will continue to encourage her daughter’s artistic development, the bookseller will become more aware of “coincidence”, the young girl and my daughter may grow their friendship, and I will continue to write. 

While each of us is on our own path, our lives are interconnected and dependent upon our interactions with each other.  The greater our awareness, the more each of us has an opportunity to grow.  We don’t have to make direct contact with Spirit to find our way.  But we should take heed of the signals that come along to aid us.  Not one, but four beacons lit up during that single moment in time.  Think back, look forward, and be aware now!

Learning to Drive Like a Jedi Knight

One of the first things my Guides taught me was how to drive on the highway.  As I approached the entry ramp, Sam who was around at the time said, “Now, feel the energy.”  So, I tried to “feel” rather than see my way onto the highway.  Before looking into the mirror, I would practice by guessing where other cars were located.  

Anyone who knows me, knows I drive like grandma – very slow and timid – which can actually be dangerous.  I waited interminably at intersections unable to judge the distance of oncoming cars and being afraid my own car would stall while turning.   

A week later, our family rented the first Stars Wars movie – Guides truly have a sense of humor.  Obi Wan Kanobi tells Luke to “feel the Force” while he’s flying a jetfighter against Darth Vader. Luke closes his eyes and senses where he must go.  Now, I don’t close my eyes (!), but sometimes I'll squint in order to tune in and get into the zone. 

I must admit that feeling your way around the road has its own unique hazards.  One time, I “heard” this car approach from behind.  I looked in the mirror and saw this highly animated woman talking to her passenger.  She became louder as she got closer, I worried she would rear-end me. Annoyed about her riding on my bumper, I flipped her the bird!  Immediately afterward, I realized my mistake and judging by the looks I got from that car, was totally in the wrong.  Yikes.  I sensed her quick and robust energy, could feel her car approaching mine, even hear her talking, but in reality she was driving just fine.  I felt a little bad about that one.

Another time, I was driving on the highway in the far right lane and felt an incoming car.  The driver was aggressive and as he entered the highway he drove with an intensity that said he was not going to yield to me.  He was so strong, that I swerved when our cars were directly beside one another.  Again, in reality all was okay – he was in his lane, I was in mine, but I over-reacted to his energy.  Swerving at 70 miles per hour is not a good thing.

Why am I telling you about this?  Well, despite those two transgressions, overall I’ve become a better driver.  These days, I easily merge onto the highway and drive with a lot more confidence.  How cool is that?!

John Holland suggests this very exercise in his book, “Psychic Navigator.”  He refers to it as “energy scanning” which can be used in a variety of ways to read auras, scan the body for health issues and to drive!  It’s about learning how to sense energy fields.

Now, don’t go all Luke Skywalker.  But if you do try it, “may the Force be with you.”

Crossing Wires

Last week, I had a major fiasco with the car – still recovering from the trauma.  The “check engine light” came on just as I got to dance class.  Before heading home, I checked with the auto repair shop and my husband, determined it was okay to drive, and cautiously opted for local roads versus the highway.  All seems good, right?  Being careful, thinking first, etc…

Then, before taking the car in to be checked later that same afternoon, I brilliantly decided to run a few errands further from home than usual.  This is when common sense flew out the window, never to return.  On the way, I made a wrong turn – the first of many, and I heard a faint voice telling me not to go to the store, “don’t waste your time.”  But, I wanted to go anyway and proceeded with my plans.  The entire time I ran errands, these voices kept telling me not to do what I was doing (but the reasoning was not clear, and frankly, made little sense) and I kept making wrong turns!  Come to think of it, I made several wrong turns the day before, but attributed those signals to some other issue.  “Something’s wrong, something’s wrong!” my Guides were saying.  

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Why did you keep going?  Why aren’t you listening?” Well, I thought I was listening and hearing correctly, I just didn't get it.

Finally, I’m in the car line to pick my daughter up from school.  I’m putting something in the trunk and a friend pulls up behind me.  I walk over to say hello and end up chit chatting for 5-10 minutes with the car still running. All of a sudden, clouds of smoke start billowing from the hood of the car!  Ends up being steam that stopped, so I thought it was okay to drive.  But, when the pedal and gearshift began to feel hot, I started to worry that the car might catch on fire.  

This is where you’re wondering, “Why is she still driving?!”  Truthfully - I have no idea!  By some small miracle, we stalled out at a couple intersections but made it home safely – car died as soon as we reached the driveway.   

Despite my failing to check the temperature gauge or use any amount of common sense, my Guides never stopped trying to help.  Later, I realized all those wrong turns were their attempt to get me to “pull over” or pause what I was doing and figure out what was wrong.

During next day’s meditation, a new Guide named Charles (some sort of practical guide - mechanic comes to mind), appeared.  He said the next time something like this happens, take a moment, a time-out, to ask what is wrong. He said that guidance will come not only for mental and emotional matters, but also practical.  He also said that if the warnings keep coming, then my initial interpretations are incorrect. 

As I anxiously waited all weekend for the verdict on my car (possibility the engine was trashed), a friend asked why weren’t my Guides more clear?  Why not, “You’re car’s overheating – hot, hot!”  I could hear that as well as any of the other messages I received.  Well, perhaps that would have been too easy.

Although indicators suggest a grand life plan is in place, I don't think we are simply puppets playing out a script.  We each have our own lives to lead and our own choices to make.  No one is going to spoon-feed us.  Ultimately, we make our own decisions.  Ultimately, we have to find our way.  If we can hear, more power to us.  If we follow what we hear, even better.  If we learn and grow along the way? That’s what it’s all about.

Luckily, the radiator was all that needed to be replaced.  I’ve never been so happy to have my car back! Both of us a little bruised, but still intact.

Turning Down the Volume - "Ade" Version 2

Well, this is what happens when one does not consult their guides before making a big change.  David A. Philipps, PhD cautions that hastiness in numerology can lead to errors in judgment, but then goes on to say, “Such slips should not be regarded as mistakes or failures (either of the person or the system), but rather as lessons intended to develop our understanding.”

It was as if I had let an animal out of its cage.  I saw an image of a young girl baring her teeth, growling (!), and throughout the day, I could feel this surge of energy and determination.  Adee is ferocious!  The second “e” in the name increases intensity of drive and feeling.  And then, I remembered all those great things “Addie” did years ago, accomplished with dogged determination.  She was a little scary.  Adee might get what she wants, but to what end?!

This morning, I received counsel from my ancestral guide, Lola Rea.  She said that Adee was too much  - she would succeed, but my family might suffer.  She suggested removing the second “e”, using the first three letters of my original middle name, and creating a more Filipino nickname “Ade”, which I like.  Tacking on the second “e” was an attempt to help others sound out the name, but better mispronunciation than an uncontrolled beast!

I already feel calmer, gentler, and a little more “soulful”.  

Thank you Lola Rea, Ade it is!

Re-birth of Adee

So, I'm on this numerology kick.  It's the coolest thing.  For anyone who knows me and wants to know  why I'm attributing posts to "Adee Riccio," here is the reason.  I analyzed my birth chart and name chart and found a huge imbalance between the two!  The book's author suggests that when such an imbalance occurs, a modification to one's name can remove blockages and create greater harmony.

The author, David A. Phillips, PhD, also mentions there are people who dislike their name and want to change it, as if they know something is wrong.  I am one of those people.  As a child, I tried to alter the spelling of my name, threatened my poor parents with a name change - just really felt it didn't fit me.  I thought my middle name, Adelaine, which is based on the street (Adel Lane) where my parents met, had more potential.

Years ago, when I was still a young single working professional, a former boyfriend chose to call me by the nickname, Addy or Addie (not sure on the spelling), based on my middle name.  Looking back, those were some of the most prosperous and productive years of my life.  I got my dream job as an educator, traveled extensively for work and pleasure, wrote professionally, attended graduate school, and purchased my first home.  All in the span of three years. 

After analyzing my middle name, I discovered that it not only creates a better balance with my birth chart but its numbers better describe my personality.  I slightly modified the spelling and decided to adopt the revised nickname "Adee" as a pen name. 

Now, in order for "Adee" to work, the name must be used.  So, while you're reading, think "Adee, Adee, Adee..." and power it up!

Book List

Months ago when all this started, I wasn’t going to read anything - just let the Spirit World inform me of everything I needed to know.  That was nice in theory, but when the experience became too overwhelming, I gave in and found countless books on the topic – who knew?! 

Here is an on-going list of books I’ve found helpful on the topics of personal development, psychic development, mediumship and spirituality:  

Allison DuBois

            We are Their Heaven

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

            Living the Wisdom of the Tao: The Complete Tao Te Ching
            and Affirmations

John Holland

            Spirit Whisperer

            Psychic Navigator

David A. Phillips, PhD
            The Complete book of Numerology: Discovering the Inner Self

Rebecca Rosen
             Spirited: Unlock Your Psychic Self and Change Your Life

James Van Praagh

            Talking to Heaven

Gary Zukav

            The Seat of the Soul

           

Learning the Language

Books on the topic of psychic development describe the various forms of awareness and also describe the different ways spirits communicate.  These books have helped me understand how spirits “speak” and recognize when spirits make contact.  A future post will list the books I’ve found most useful.

I sense spirit in several ways.  First, I get a feeling of a presence nearby.  My head might get very cold, near the top and back.  I usually receive an image in my mind’s eye next.  If I know the person, the image might be a photograph of them or they might look as they did during our last encounter.  If I don’t have a good visual in my mental storage bank, then I might see an image of someone they know or a related object.  If it is a complete stranger, the spirit will reference the person with whom they wish to connect.  This is the spirit’s way of introducing themselves to me, letting me know they are calling.  Once I acknowledge and welcome their presence, the spirit will speak.  I am clairaudient, which means to “hear clearly.”  I also see, but mostly in my mind’s eye.  Images appear in front - the spirits themselves appear in front, directly behind, or slightly behind just to my left or right.  When this first started to happen, I also felt a little shock on my skin, like a mosquito bite or pinch.  In those early days, the shocks were constant and unnerving.  Once I learned to turn everything down a notch, the shocks stopped.

Do I talk to spirit?  Absolutely!  Do spirits answer?  Absolutely!

The voices in my head are pretty clear, but at times the words will sound muffled, as if hearing them from a walkie talkie or cb radio.  If you cover your mouth and say something, that is what the words sound like.  I also understand intent behind the words, so if I get bits and pieces of a message, the rest is picked up, assumingly, through mental telepathy. The spirit may produce an image if clarification is needed.  In one instance where the spirit named a country and I didn’t get it right, he then offered a geographic map of that same country.  Unfortunately, I don’t know my geography well enough and still messed it up!

Contact in the early days was overwhelming, sometimes thirty times a day, now usually once a day and mainly when I meditate or seek guidance.  Controlling contact is important for one’s sanity and balance.

When not meditating, I can still receive messages from my Spirit Guides and Teachers.  They come as faint words in the distance or in other ways - a song playing in my head or on the radio. Recently, I turned off the alarm, rolled over and continued to sleep.  Shortly after, a pop rock song came into my head, “So many things, so little time, what will I do? So many things, so little time….” Needless to say, I woke up. How creative are my Guides?!

Synchronicity is another way my Guides communicate.  I’ll have a question or dilemma and something will happen in real life that provides the answer such as a sermon at church, or a discussion with friends. In Gary Zukav’s “Seat of the Soul,” (amazing book, btw), he speaks about great souls with the capacity to affect large groups of people, even whole nations.  I tried to think of people who had this ability and came up with nothing.  Then later that day, a discussion in dance class turned to influential people - classmates start naming off larger-than-life figures like Oprah, Bill Clinton, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, etc.... I think to myself, “Oh, that’s what Gary meant.” Sometimes, when the answer is given this way, one of my Guides will appear to let me know they just “spoke".  The key to synchronicity is paying attention and connecting the dots.  Coincidences are my Guides’ way of reinforcing ideas or nudging.

Here’s a more humorous example.  I am extremely sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others.  I seem to pick up or absorb their emotions and then internalize them causing needless stress and anxiety. I started taking a more difficult dance class and had a hard time with the floor work.  I couldn’t tell if the instructor wanted me to continue attending the class, I wouldn’t if I were him – I was that bad.  Well, not bad so much as unfamiliar with the steps and not up to par with the other dancers.  He seemed mad.  I heard this voice say, “You have it all backward.”  I still didn’t get it, so for the next few days whenever I got dressed, my shirt ended up inside out and backwards!!!  Despite all the efforts of my Guides, it wasn’t until the instructor smiled the next time I saw him, that I realized how wrong were my impressions. This hypersensitivity lessens as I practice protection against negative thoughts and energy, thanks to the works of John Edwards, “Infinite Quest” and John Holland, “Spirit Whisperer” and “Psychic Navigator.” 

Recently, my Guides have started using the body to signal me as well.  I made a wrong turn while driving the other day.   Still driving ever further from my destination, the whole left side of my head and arm went numb like it does when you have pins and needles.  “Hello, wake up!” my Guides were practically shouting.  I have no idea how they did this, but it worked!  That was cool, but a little strange.

I continue to learn the language of Spirit.  It’s all truly amazing.  I read over and again that our Guides are ready and willing to assist us and provide constant guidance.  We just need to listen, pay attention and be open to their wisdom.

The Power of Two

Somewhere in my readings (apology to the author for improper citing), I learned that each of us have numbers associated with our lives.  These numbers repeat themselves and have significant meaning.  Being a numbers gal myself, I picked up a book on Numerology, although it is still on my to-read list.

In the meantime, last week I had lunch with a dear friend of twenty-two years (please note the number two here).  We have always shared a deep connection from the beginning and so I asked the universe, “Why are we so connected?”  Various images and thoughts were offered to me.  It appears we have shared multiple lives and may have been dance partners of various sorts.  One image showed us as ballet partners, but ice skating also came to mind, so not exactly sure which one is correct, perhaps both.  The dancing would account for our physical closeness as well as the “coincidence” of our relying upon one another as dates for several college formals.  But, what about everything else - the “soul-to-soul” connection we share?   

    

Then, the most amazing concept was revealed to me.  I say “revealed,” because there is no way I came up with this all by myself – thank you, Guides!!  I met my friend in a college English class - he was sitting two seats behind me.  TWO.  And as a I recall, TWO months after our first date, we attended his formal together.

Mind starts doing a quick replay of my life, like an adding machine, click click click click click, and I begin seeing the number 2 pattern in all of my significant relationships and experiences. 

My best cousin, whose mother was my godmother and catalyst for my spiritual awakening, is a SECOND cousin.  My sister, who often shows up wearing the same color and sometimes the exact same shirt as me whenever we get together, is my SECOND sibling.  I live in my SECOND state since college, in the SECOND neighborhood we found in the area we wanted, in a TWO-bedroom house, bought just after my husband took his SECOND job down here, and moved into TWO months after our arrival.  My neighbor, who is a great interpreter of Spirit language, lives TWO doors down.  My job at the bookstore came to be after applying TWICE.  My other part-time job came about after being approached TWO times.  And, nearly all of my closest long-time friends are the SECOND sibling in their family.  One of them, who I met during the SECOND round of SECOND sets during our sorority rush, is connected by numerous TWO’s.  We are TWO years apart in age, our birthdays are TWO days apart, our girls’ birthdays are TWO days apart, and in high-school, “coincidentally,” we dated TWO brothers who were also TWO years apart.  I became very close to another friend from my SECOND job out of college when we worked TWO floors apart.  Another dear friend from that same time period worked TWO cubicles away.  When I was finally ready to settle down, I unexpectedly married the SECOND man I had a relationship with and got engaged after dating for only TWO months. I attended my number TWO choice of college.  I could go on and on and on…but, just one more…the year of my “awareness” is the same year that my daughter entered the SECOND grade.

Not sure what all this means, but the term “sharing the same wave-length” comes to mind.  Do I share the same “frequency” with all of these people, making us super linked?  Is this only from my perspective, or are these people connected to one another, not only through me, but in their own separate way?  What about all the events and experiences that fall along the same multi-directional grid? Can knowledge of number patterns in your life help in future decisions, or does it only appear important when looking back? 

I’m sure we’ll return to this as we learn more.  Your guess is as good as mine!

1-13-11  Postscript

I didn’t give much time for the importance of numbers to percolate before posting.  The numbers associated with our lives not only have meaning, but they create a map of some kind (this was alluded to in the descriptive summary for “The Complete Book of Numerology: Discovering The Inner Self” by David A. Phillips, PhD - based on the teachings of Pythagoras).  In my life, the 2 is related to who and what; 6 with inspiration; and 3 and 7 with place/location.  Although distinct, these numbers are interrelated and create a picture of our life plan.  Recognizing the numbers and patterns, even sub-consciously, can help keep us on track, just like our “gut instinct” can help us make decisions.  How cool is this?!  Time to open that Numerology book, eh?