Day 365 - Lesson 364

This holy instant would I give to You.  Be You in charge.  For I would follow You, certain that Your direction gives me peace.

When I reflect on this past year....this being the last night of 2011, I am astounded by all that has occurred.  Mostly, I am in full on gratitude for the transformation my life has become.

This past year:

• My youngest daughter moved away from home
• My life-partner and I attended Seduction of Spirit
• I was appointed to the board of directors for the community health center, and shortly thereafter elected as board president
• I became a Chopra Certified Instructor of Perfect Health / Ayurveda
• I became a Chopra Certified Instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation
• I bought a house
• I began a regular 'Sunday Gathering' (where we honor the Law of Pure Potentiality and participate in an Active Meditation)
• I began teaching Primordial Sound Meditation
• I developed a three-minute, twice per day, radio program devoted to inspiration

I asked Source to allow me to be a vessel of Spirit in my thoughts and actions.  I asked God to allow me to be immersed in the philosophy of Vedanta and of Love.

I am in deep and abiding gratitude for the blessings and lessons of this year.  I am setting my intentions for 2012 - you can bet they will include being a vessel of Spirit and being immersed in all that is Love.

Day 364 - Lesson 363

This holy instant would I give to You.  Be You in charge.  For I would follow You, certain that Your direction gives me peace.

I completed my enrollment packet for the Seven Spiritual Laws Yoga Teacher Training course today.  It includes eight months of study, pre-tests, two trips to the Chopra Center - one in August and one in November, practical tests and written tests - lots of philosophy, lots of Sanskrit, lots of anatomy.  After my Perfect Health teacher certification, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to get my Primordial Sound Meditation teacher certification.  This wasn't true about the yoga training.  I had to think about it in more depth - it wasn't automatic or natural for me.  I really like yoga, but I was hesitant to sign right on to the teacher training.  I think part of it is because I don't, or didn't, see myself as a yoga instructor - and that made me believe no one else would see me that way either.  Which, of course, they wouldn't if I didn't see it.  However, over the past few weeks that image in my head has changed.  I have embraced the idea that I can be a yoga instructor and now I'm really excited about it.  Plus, I will have achieved certification as a Vedic Master.  This is extra-special to me - I have committed to these certification programs, I've paid for them on my own, I haven't sabotaged my own success, and my life is truly transformed thanks to the lessons I've learned and because I've paid attention along the way.

I am actually following, listening to, and paying active attention to God's direction and there is peace in my heart.

Day 363 - Lesson 362

This holy instant would I give to You.  Be You in charge.  For I would follow You, certain that Your direction gives me peace.

Yes, this lesson repeats itself - beginning with 361 and ending with 365.  It's hard to believe that the year is nearly up.  I was just sitting here reflecting on how I felt today and then started thinking about all the events, feelings, emotions, and transformations over the past year....more on that later this week.

Today, today, today....I was feeling irritable, out-of-sorts, short-tempered, fat, out of shape, even my hair was bugging me.  I actually got a hair cut today; I had several inches cut off.  I like it and it feels good.  It was a beautiful wintry day today.  I was cold all day though - I just couldn't warm up.

I really need to do my vision board.  I know I will feel better when it's done.  I need to clean out some clutter, organize, and get back on track with a good exercise routine.  All of those things combined will help me feel better.

The good news is: I follow love and that brings me peace.

Day 362 - Lesson 361

This holy instant would I give to You.  Be You in charge.  For I would follow You, certain that Your direction gives me peace.

I had an experience today that initially made me want to cry.  It felt painful and I observed my thoughts that went from that old, "Fine, whatever, I don't care" to "Look at this situation with love in your heart."  I did not have an overt reaction.  I silently acknowledged and observed my thoughts and my feelings.  While it wasn't an enjoyable experience, it is progress.  I recognize the importance of not judging my feelings, just feeling them, and knowing that they will pass and move on.  I may still feel some pain and some sadness, but not to the extent that I lash out, withdraw, or create negativity.  I know that I have meditation to thank for this - and this ongoing study (and the other studies I've been consumed with for the past couple of years).  By being consciously aware of love and responding with love, I am honoring this lesson.  More importantly, I am honoring resolution.

Day 361 - Lesson 360

Peace be to me, the holy Son of God.  Peace to my brother, who is one with me.  Let all the world be blessed with peace through us.

This lesson brought me comfort today.  This Christmas holiday was beautiful and also a bit bittersweet.  I had the great pleasure and honor to spend the holiday with incredibly special people in my life.  However, I also reached out to a couple of people that I've lost touch with - hoping that it would kindle a re-connection.  It hasn't.  That makes my heart sad - though I also recognize that relationships ebb and flow, and sometimes they stay and sometimes they go.  I know that sounds kind of corny, but it's true.  This is why this lesson was of such comfort to me.  No matter what is happening, even when my heart is sad, peace still resides there. And the world is blessed....

Day 360 - Lesson 359

God's answer is some form of peace.  All pain is healed; all misery replaced with joy.  All prison doors are opened.  And all sin is understood as merely a mistake.

For some reason that I can't explain, my thoughts have turned to a person who passed away a few months ago - in October.  He died just a short time before his birthday, also in October.  I didn't know this person well and, in fact, he had every reason not to like me much.  I met him in another place and he was the focus of an investigation I was responsible for conducting.  We never really became friends, but we seemed to like to each other.  I moved away, then he moved away, and then we connected on facebook.  On his birthday, I received a facebook reminder to send him a birthday wish.  I opened his page to do that and learned that he had just recently passed away.  He died while commuting to work on his motorcycle in a city famous for wet roads that are heavy with traffic.  I remember staring at his page and my heart breaking for his family.  I have prayed for them every day since.

This situation reminds me that our lives really can change in a mere moment.  I hope that they (his family) turn to God and their pain and misery is turned to joy - that their pain is healed.

I feel so very blessed by this life.  I am blessed that my pain and misery has been healed and turned to joy.

Day 359 - Lesson 358

No call to God can be unheard nor left unanswered.  And of this I can be sure; His answer is the one I really want.

There was a stretch of years, of time, when I would have poo-pooed this statement.  After the past couple of years, however, and directly due to my meditation practice, I now know that this is indeed the truth.  Once I was able to quiet my mind and really listen; once I became disciplined in living a cleaner life - not drinking, not smoking, and being mindful not just of what I was ingesting orally, but also what I was ingesting through all of my senses.  In addition, I became more conscious in my choice-making - much more.  All of this has only enhanced my life in the best possible ways.  I had no idea how wonderful life could be - that it can mostly be stress-free, that it is full of love and possibility!  What's interesting is that becoming 'disciplined' hasn't been difficult or challenging.  Once I let go and embraced the rituals of greater reverence, it all just happened - this seems to be exactly: letting go and letting God.

On that note, Merry Christmas, what a miraculous day!

Day 358 - Lesson 357

Truth answers every call we make to God, responding first with miracles, and then returning unto us to be itself.

Well, it's Christmas Eve and it's beautiful.  We had a fun day of present wrapping, feasting, walking in the crisp, cold, snowy weather, story-telling, sharing - all the things that make this time of year so special.  We also had a situation in which one family member wasn't forthright about something with another....I reflected upon this lesson and just loved that family member - believing in my heart that the right thing will happen, the right conversation, the right openness, the right healing.  I believe that a miracle is going to happen.

Day 357 - Lesson 356

Sickness is but another name for sin.  Healing is but another name for God.  The miracle is thus a call to Him.

I thanked God all day today.  I had the whole day off and it was filled with all things wonderful.  I got my daughter's room ready for her arrival home.  I baked and everything I baked was something that I hadn't ever tried before.  Some things turned out well, while others weren't the greatest.  I picked up two special girls at the airport today and watched my grandsons complete fascination and joy at watching the planes land.  We had wonderful family time today.  My special guy and I took a walk with our beagle.  The walk started our picture-perfect, but on our way back a blizzard struck.  And it was a doozy!  There were plenty of parts of my day that I could have been disappointed or frustrated, but there was just no reason to look at anything that way.  It was a beautiful day, filled with joy and laughter and love.  Lots and lots of miracles to be thankful for!

Day 356 - Lesson 355

There is no end to all the peace and joy, and all the miracles that I will give, when I accept God's Word.  Why not today?

Deepak Chopra says if we were to give just one percent of our attention to God each day we would be the most enlightened people in three months time.  I'm not sure how he came up with that statistic, but I'm going to believe him.  I am striving to live a life in which I am a vessel of spirit in all my thoughts and actions.  I don't want to be a nun or 'a professional God person' I just want to live a life devoted to honoring Source.  So, that's what I'm doing....

Day 355 - Lesson 354

We stand together, Christ and I, in peace and certainty of purpose.  And in him is His Creator, as He is in me.

A conversation came up today that reminded of a spot in my heart that is hurting.  Mostly I am able to acknowledge the sore spot without much judgment, but I haven't come up with a solution to heal it.  It feels like an open wound that won't heal until it gets the right medicine.  During the conversation, I felt the sore spot, I poked it and smooshed it around, I caressed it, and, as always, allowed it to be.  Since the sore spot occurred, I have asked for higher guidance in finding a resolution.  I'm not sure if I've been given the answer and I'm ignoring it, but nothing has come to me that seems all that clear.  I have nothing but love in my heart for this sore spot.  I am ever hopeful that it will be healed.  I will repeat this lesson over and over; I will chant it, say it, pray it, and meditate with it....maybe then....

Day 354 - Lesson 353

My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today have but one purpose; to be given Christ to use to bless the world with miracles.

With this thought in the forefront of my mind all day - my perspective of events was completely different.  I was more patient, I listened better, I focused on the tasks at hand with greater clarity. 

I had a delightful lunch with three of my coworkers today - the topic: meditation.  It was wonderful.  This is not a topic that would have been discussed a year ago without some ridicule or jokes or a just a quick acknowledgment before someone changed the subject.  It is true that when I change me....I change the world.

Day 353 - Lesson 352

Judgment and love are opposites.  From one come all the sorrows of the world.  But from the other comes the peace of God Himself.

....You have given me a way to find Your peace again.  I am redeemed when I elect to follow in this way....

When I elect - when I choose.  I always have a choice.  I can focus on what I don't like or I can focus on what I do like.  In every moment I have the opportunity to choose my perspective.  I can choose a miracle or I can choose a grievance.  My choices impact others - I can choose to impact others with love or I can choose judgment.

I choose the way of peace....

Day 352 - Lesson 351

My sinless brother is my guide to peace.  My sinful brother is my guide to pain.  And which I choose to see I will behold.

The message that speaks most clearly to me in this is I project me - what I see in others is how I see myself.  My projections are a reflection of my state of internal health.  When I look upon others with judgment, with a sense that I am better than or less than, I diminish the holiness - the expression of the infinite - from which we are all born.

More and more I am seeing love and releasing fear....Moksha (freedom, liberation).

Day 351 - Lesson 350

Miracles mirror God's eternal Love.  To offer them is to remember Him, and through His memory to save the world.

This reminds me that I always have choice - I can choose miracle or grievance in every single situation presented to me.  Today, I got caught up in a situation in which I went on auto-pilot instead of just stopping, breathing, and accepting.  I lashed out, got angry, and became visibly irritated.  Of course, that response helped no one and nothing.  In fact, it just made people feel bad.  In the end, it made me feel bad too.  I would have gotten a great deal farther ahead and with less frustration had I simply stopped, breathed, and accepted. 

Day 350 - Lesson 349

Today I let Christ's vision look upon all things for me and judge them not, but give each one a miracle of love instead.

And then it says:

Our Father knows our needs.  He gives us grace to meet them all.  And so we trust in Him to send us miracles to bless the world, and heal our minds as we return to Him.

Getting clear about love and the fact that until we find love, and stop struggling, fighting, judging, blaming, fearing....well, there is only 'limited life.'  When I push back, when I take things personally, when I get into the mode that, "things are being done to me, because of me" I am unable to fully experience the glory of life. 

I read this more as universal God energy than a traditional 'he - God' because that is what makes sense to me and my soul.  I've come to realize that I can appreciate and find great value and instruction in the message without assigning a traditional visual or context. 

When I settle upon the truth that, "There is no resolution where love is not present,"  I have all the answer I need.  And what's more: I see miracles.

Day 349 - Lesson 348

I have no cause for anger or for fear, for You surround me.  And in every need that I perceive, Your grace suffices me.

This lesson seems especially meaningful today.  Our community tragically and unexpectedly lost a long time member.  In times of shock and grief it can often be easy to lash out at God, Spirit, the universe because it feels so unfair.  However, I recognize now that we are guaranteed nothing and we really should strive to make the most of our time in physical form.  I am comforted in knowing that my spirit does not die and the 'real' world is far more expansive than this physical experience I am having.  While the family and close friends of the man who passed today feel the deep wounding pain of loss, I hope they will soon be comforted in knowing that his spirit lives on with great strength and presence.

Day 348 - Lesson 347

Anger must come from judgment.  Judgment is the weapon I would use against myself, to keep the miracle away from me.

The final statements in this lesson are:

Listen today.  Be very still, and hear the gentle Voice for God assuring you that He has judged you as the Son He Loves.

I spent a number of years being angry and judgmental - especially towards myself.  I still catch myself thinking things that are judgmental and angry - towards myself and others.  I'm trying to be better about observing those experiences without berating myself, but really asking myself: what is causing this reaction?  what is it about this situation, person, etc. that is causing me to feel fear, irritation, anger?  Sometimes I have immediate answers and sometimes I don't.  In each case I ask the universe, God, Source to help me to be a vessel of love and to release feelings of fear and negativity.  This has made a big difference in my life.  Making conscious choices, living in the moment, and being open to other perspectives and points of view without feeling such a strong desire to defend myself have all really made a tremendous difference in my quality of life (and the quality of life in those around me as well).

Days 344 - 347 Lessons 343 - 346

Being without internet service and being on the road in an intermittent mix over the past several days has put a real crimp on my ability to post.  While I was able to review my daily lessons, I wasn't able to blog about them.  I don't think any of us missed much.  I've been in a blog slump for awhile.  This 'break' may have been some sort of blessing....guess we'll see.

Lesson 343 - I am not asked to make a sacrifice to find the mercy and the peace of God.

Lesson 344 - Today I learn the law of love; that what I give my brother is my gift to me.

Lesson 345 - I offer only miracles today, for I would have them be returned to me.

Lesson 346 - Today the peace of God envelopes me, and I forget all things except his love.

I find that I am at a loss for words....after re-reading all of these lessons, I'm just not sure there is anything more to say.  When I maintain in my awareness the reality that God only wants my happiness, that I was created exactly as I was meant to be, that every gift of love is mine and that I don't need to force any solution and I don't need to struggle through life - well, that's all I need.  The tricky part is maintaining that awareness without allowing auto-pilot to switch on and slip back into the fearfulness that exists in much of our surroundings.

My life has been swinging between my home here and my new home there, my day job now and my dream job on the side....I'm feeling a bit discombobulated, but I know this for sure: I am loved, I am safe, and the shining light of the divine will guide me along the path I am meant to travel....

Day 343 - Lesson 342

I let forgiveness rest upon all things, for thus forgiveness will be given me.

This is such a great line:  I thank You, Father, for Your plan to save me from the hell I made.

How true is that!  I had made hell in my life and felt in a pretty constant irritable tail-spin for a lot of years.  It feels like it was so unnecessary.  However, it was necessary apparently for me to get here.  I had to go through that stuff and the journey will continue and the lights will keep coming on.  How exciting is that!

Well, yet again, I am completely worn out.  I've been busy with a whole lot of physical labor in getting moved into our new house.  It's so much fun - but since we're here only a short time - it's fast and furious. 

I have so much to be thankful for and I truly am thankful!!

Day 342 - Lesson 341

I can attack but my own sinlessness, and it is only that which keeps me safe.

I am so tired, I'm delirious....I'm having a hard time framing in words what this means to me.  However, I love this part of this lesson:

I am he on whom You smile in love and tenderness so dear and deep and still the universe smiles back on You, and shares Your Holiness.

I am just so thankful to know that I am of divine light, that I am protected by the loving energy of the universe, that miracles occur all day - every day.

Day 341 - Lesson 340

I can be free of suffering today.

I love that this lesson says (in part):

Be glad today! Be glad!  There is no room for anything but joy and thanks today.

I can attest to the fact that this is true - completely, 100%, authentic, true!  I can be free of suffering (excluding the heels I wore all day - ugh) and I was, and I am!  Today was such a glorious day!  It was cold here, in the teens cold, but the sun was as bright and abundant as it can be on a crisp wintry day.  We donated to an important cause - contributing to the community that will soon be ours.  We continued to get organized for our new house.  We took care of medical and dental appointments.  The day was filled with potential, with good work, with love and care!

I am glad today, glad and thankful!!

Day 340 - Lesson 339

I will receive whatever I request.

This sure does seem to be true lately!  Synchrodestiny, divine energy - all of it seems to be flowing in my best interest.  I am amazed, humbled, and grateful beyond measure at the blessings bestowed upon me.

I am exhausted after the late night travels and all the activities of this glorious day.  However, I recognize in each moment all there is to be thankful for and all there is to appreciate.

When I acknowledge and honor being a vessel of spirit and focus my life's activities and thoughts with that awareness - divine energy unfolds a path of glorious existence.  OMazing!

Day 339 - Lesson 338

I am affected only by my thoughts.

I have been flying all night and throughout this recent journey (not quite there yet), I have reflected upon my thoughts and have tried to observe them without judgment.  I also practiced an exercise all night, every hour or so, I would ask myself: "What can I appreciate about this very moment?  I came up with an answer - actually more than one answer every single time I asked the question.  This is a terrific exercise and I plan to continue to practice it.  When I do, I am positively affected by my thoughts.  It helps me re-frame from potential frustration and negativity to remembering that there is always something to be thankful for....in every single moment.

Day 338 - Lesson 337

My sinlessness protects me from all harm.

This lesson is amazing.  However, it's a good thing there's all sorts of - nearly a year's worth - of prep for it.  Those of us who were raised with traditional teachings struggle quite a lot with the idea of sinlessness.  So, I especially love the prayer for this lesson:

You Who created me in sinlessness are not mistaken about what I am.  I was mistaken when I thought I sinned, but I accept Atonement for myself.  Father, my dream is ended now.  Amen.

I am so thankful this lesson arrived on a Sunday for me.  The day in which I honor the Law of Pure Potentiality.  The day in which I gather with other like-minded souls in an active meditation.

Today was an incredibly beautiful autumn day.  There were a couple of inches of snow on the ground that fell during the darkness of morning.  The sun came out in amazing radiance.  There were tufts of white clouds billowing about and it was calm.  I took a walk and reveled in the crisp air.  I couldn't find my 'being outside' ear buds for my i-Pod and, at first, I was kind of irritated over it.  But then as I walked I realized I wasn't meant to listen to anything on my i-Pod.  I was meant to experience the walk.  It was quiet but for birds (and a few vehicles), but I could plainly hear each footstep in the crunch of the snow.  I was so inspired by this walk that I developed a guided meditation.

The meditation ended with.....and as I reached the summit, I lifted my face towards the sky and felt the sun's radiance kissing my skin where it was exposed.  A gentle breeze came along and tickled my heart and whispered to my soul the ancient wisdom and primal knowledge that had always been there: "Aham Brahmasmi" (I am the universe).

Day 337 - Lesson 336

Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined.

I am truly thankful for forgiveness and for the ability to feel the collective energy that connects us all.  It is a relief to release fear, and judgment, and expectation; to let go of the need to defend my point of view and to stop taking things so personally.  Not that I do this consistently and not that I am perfect - it is a constant practice.  However, having this in my awareness and being a conscious choice-maker is what has allowed me to see this.

Let go....reach into your heart and take out your shades of love as you gaze into your next challenge or obstacle - you will see a miracle.

Day 336 - Lesson 335

I choose to see my brother's sinlessness.

As I was recording my radio spots this evening, I used a passage from Dr. Wayne Dyer's book The Power of Intention - Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way, that made me think and reflect upon this lesson.  I was reading the section on how our energies impact others and this particular passage was especially powerful for me:

Your presence aligns others with beauty. When you're connected to intention, you see beauty everywhere and in everything because you're radiating the quality of beauty.  Your perceptual world changes dramatically.  At the higher energy of intent, you see beauty in everyone, young or old, rich or poor, dark or light, with no distinctions.  Everything is perceived from a perspective of appreciation rather than judgment.  As you bring this feeling of beauty appreciation to the presence of others, people are inclined to see themselves as you see them.  They feel attractive and better about themselves as they circulate that high energy of beauty.  When people feel beautiful, they act in beautiful ways.  Your awareness of beauty impacts others to see the world around them in the same way.  The benefit, once again, is twofold.  First, you'll be helping others become appreciators of life and be happier by virtue of their immersion into a world of beauty.  Second, your own intentions receive the assistance of those people who have acquired newly enhanced self-esteem.  Beauty proliferates in others just by virtue of your presence when you're connected to intention. 

Once I let go of taking things personally (striving for that) and allow people to be who they are, this lesson and Dr. Dyer's advice work - and they work miracles.  This lesson says this: What could restore Your memory to me, except to see my brother's sinlessness?  His holiness reminds me that he was created one with me, and like myself.

That is truly aligned with beauty and a beauty I pray to always remember....

Day 335 - Lesson 334

Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives.

I will not wait another day to find the treasures that my Father (Source, Spirit, Love) offers me.

I added the Source, Spirit, Love part....the traditional images still affect me with a negative twinge.  I'm not entirely sure why, but they do.  My heart, however, recognizes the vital energy source to which we are all connected.

This evening I've been in that funky spot where I feel like I have too much to do, but I'm thankful, but still a little concerned about getting everything done and getting it done well.  I'm not hungry, but I want to eat.  I feel heavy, but I also feel joy (lightness) in my heart.  My mind is racing, but I want to rest.

I do recognize the treasures and gladly accept them.  Even when I am going back and forth between the swinging pendulum of life - it's all about balance and allowing life to happen and appreciating this moment.  It's also about letting go and allowing the funky spots to just be what they're going to be....because they always go away - usually sooner than later.