​It’s such a wonderful feeling when we have trust in the Divine and hope for the future. It brings light into our lives and makes us feel secure and held by a higher power. It brightens our day, making us feel lighter, happier, and peaceful.  
When you cultivate a sense of trust and hope for the future, you begin to realize how you’re a part of a greater universe. You come to know, truly know deep down inside, that you’re part of the Divine. You have faith. 

​In this state of faith, you know that you’re whole and that you’re love. You trust that you have everything you need to manifest your soul’s plan and to be an active part of creating good in the world. You know that there is good in the world. 
 
"Trust that your soul has a plan, and even if you can't see it completely, know that everything will unfold as it is meant to." — Deepak Chopra
You may experience pain and challenge and you may see this in others who are suffering too. But you come to find the meaning in these difficulties, as you and others around you learn and transform this suffering. You gain wisdom. 
You begin to have a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life and commit to moving forward on your path in life.

How do we cultivate trust in the Divine and hope for the future, especially in moments when it isn’t easy? 
 
Here are 3 ways to cultivate a sense of hope and trust that builds a strong foundation to support you in darker moments. 
 
1. Be Grateful - By focusing on what’s good in your life and being grateful for it every day, you send your energy there.  You cultivate a sense of abundance and happiness and open a doorway to the Divine Source

2. Practice Positivity – Negativity is everywhere and can negatively affect you more than you may realize.  Distance yourself from negativity. Take responsibility for your own thoughts and strive to see the good in a situation. When you have a positive outlook on life, you see obstacles as opportunities for growth and are able to experience joy for others’ good fortune.   
3. Celebrate – Take time to celebrate a moment of accomplishment and meaning in your life.  Even a small one. Maybe you finished that project that you have been working on for many weeks. Maybe a loved one was accepted into a desired course of study. Or a friend started that new business venture.  Take a moment to honor and celebrate this moment of excitement and joy, bringing light into your life.   

Take time to cultivate trust in the Divine and a sense of hope in your life today. Then in those inevitable times of darkness, you’ll be able to tap into this wellspring of strength. 
 
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh


Do you struggle with cultivating trust and hope for the future? Discover how to shine the light on what you are experiencing and transform it into something that supports you. ​

​Here in Colorado, as I recently watched the snow fall gently from the sky blanketing the earth, I took in a deep breath and prayed that the much-needed moisture would support the heroic firefighters working day and night to contain the devastating wildfires that were raging across the state. 

​Many neighbors, colleagues, friends and family members experienced tremendous loss of their homes, animals, and belongings. People northwest of where I live had to evacuated so quickly to save their own lives that they did not have time to relocate livestock. They simply opened stalls and gates and released them, hoping they’d run to safety. 
An elderly couple who lived in their beloved home at Grand Lake for years, which was heaven on earth to them, refused to accept help and evacuate as the fast-moving flames approached. They soon died together in their home, a personal choice made together. 
Our hearts are heavy here in Colorado as we pray for moisture and reach out to help our neighbors if we’re able to.  

This amid the pandemic that continues to ravage our country, reaching our highest numbers of coronavirus cases since March. Many of us have had dear ones who have tested positive and even some who have become quite ill or even died.
So many aspects of our normal, day-to-day life have been uprooted whether it be work, time with family and friends, traditions and celebrations, travel, school for our children or more. 

What loss are you experiencing right now?

Discover how to shine light upon this loss and find the support you need at this time here. Access my free gift of "10 Healing Songs and Practices".

Song #7 "Shine The Light" and the accompanying practice will especially support you.

Dealing with loss, no matter what kind, isn’t easy. Even if you haven’t experienced a death of a loved one, you may experience grief. Grief arises at the death of a person, but also at the death or loss of such things as a home or relationship or job. You might grieve the life you once had. Or the loss of the plans and life you had anticipated having in the future.  

In this time of such loss and uncertainty, it’s important to take the time to process the grief we feel. Here are 4 steps to support you in beginning.

1. Allow your emotions to arise and feel what you’re feeling. So often we don’t allow our feelings to be felt. We push them down. We ignore them. We tell ourselves we shouldn’t feel that way. Then they’re bottled up inside to be released in a tidal wave later. You’ll feel better and able to move forward if you let your feelings rise and be experienced.    
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” – Vicki Harrison 
 
2. Connect with others. In the time of a pandemic and social distancing, this is more difficult to achieve but sometimes all that is needed is a connection on the phone or a videocall or even a cup of tea or walk at a distance.  
“Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope.”
- Elizabeth Gilbert
 
3. Ask for divine support. I like to use this practice and you may find it supportive too. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to the song, "Shine the Light".

Ask the Divine to shine a light on your grief and to give you guidance on how to move forward. When the song is finished, keep your eyes closed and sit in silence listening for any divine guidance.  

4. Find meaning in the experience. An important milestone of processing your grief is when you’re able to emerge from the grief and find meaning within the loss that occurred. It doesn’t have to be a grand, philosophical idea.  Even small moments help. That moment when you notice Mother Earth benefiting from less traffic and pollution during the pandemic. The recognition of the loving, elderly couple so determined to leave their life together on this plane on their own terms, not on someone else’s. 

Of course, there’s no right way of grieving and no direct path to moving through grief. It’ll unfold in the way it needs to for you. It’s something that lives within us and moves through us, as it has for thousands of years, truly a human experience.  
What loss are you experiencing right now? Discover how to shine light into the grief you feel and find the support you need at this time. 

Well, here we are, its presidential election in the USA. It’s a stress-inducing day for most, in the midst of other challenges- the global pandemic, racial tensions, loss of loved ones and our normal ways of daily life and more. Even the calmest of people may be feeling a little anxiety this week!
 
Although we’re not living in the conditions that our ancestors did where the fight/flight response was needed for survival on a daily basis, we can recognize that this response is wired into our nervous system. And for a good reason! It takes care of us and makes sure our families and lineage survive into the future.
 
Today, though, in times like this week when we feel that anxiety may be creeping into our lives and the fight/flight response isn’t helpful, let’s remember we have some very supportive practices to calm the body and the mind, bringing us to a place of being grounded, centered and peaceful.

In addition, here are some practices that I’d recommend to support you this week:

1. Take a deep breath
Breathe in, breathe out. We often forget to breathe! Yet it’s our source of life. Inhale deeply into your belly and help your blood be nourished. Exhale slowly through your nose and let go of the waste the body doesn’t need. At the end of the exhale, open your mouth and blow out any remaining air in your lungs until they’re empty. Breathe in deeply again through your nose and repeat. Pause regularly throughout your day to do this, supporting health and well-being in your body. 

2. Ground yourself in nature
​Going outside to be in nature will help you stay calm and grounded, supporting you to center yourself in this stressful time. The relaxation and negative ions will positively affect your brain and body, improving your mood and boosting your immune system. Take off your shoes and put your bare feet on the ground for a short time. Breathe in the fresh air. Look around at all of the beauty in natural world.

3. Remember to meditate
​Meditation is a space and time to come back to your true self. In quieting your mind and being present to the moment, you can connect to your Higher Self. Meditation is a time for creating a space that is attentive and mindful of the present moment with an openness to listening. It supports you in remembering who you are and why you are here in the world at this time. Even 5 minutes a day is helpful!

4. Surrender to the moment
​As stress and anxiety creep in, the world can seem dark and hopeless. It can be difficult to find a spark of light. Take a moment and just let go. Allow the present moment to just be. Surrender to what is. Don’t resist it. Flow with it, not against it.
 
In this moment in time, what new vision could arise? What new creation? What spark of light?
 
Warm yourself by this spark, and let it strengthen your whole being. Trust that this is divine light shining into life. Let your stress and anxiety dissolve into the warmth of flame. Let hope for the future rise from the flame.

5. Be open to the mystery
​Allow yourself to be open and curious. What if this is our darkest hour before the dawn? What may dawn in this time?  What is being transformed from the old into something new?  What spark is being kindled for the future for our children and our planet? How are we, as humanity, evolving and growing at this time? What is important and meaningful for this moment in time? Be interested. Be open. Be curious.
 
Remember now is the time to make use of the practices that support you. And may you have  grounded and calm days this week, no matter what unfolds in the world outside. 
 
Are you feeling anxious or stressed about this week? Discover how to shine the light into what you are experiencing here.  

​A few weeks ago, David and I held a wonderful event where we launched a dream of ours – The Good&Sharp Studios.  Wow!  I still am amazed that it all came together!  We hired an 8-piece band, performed our own music and the 30 people who attended the launch party live were also treated to a delicious meal courtesy of Black Belly Catering. Given we’re still in a pandemic, and we really wanted to hold this launch in person, it was a huge endeavor. There were countless times we encountered walls of fear either in ourselves or others. But, with perseverance and a lot of flexibility and faith, we pulled it off.

What obstacle is standing in your way of manifesting and sharing your gifts with the world? Find the support you need to persevere and realize your dream by accessing my "10 Healing Songs and Practices that Will Give Voice to Your Creativity". Click Here to access these free healing songs and practices.
 
David and I have such gratitude to all of you who were able to attend our Launch Party in person or online as you participated in our first steps of manifesting a dream we’ve had for a long time, a way for us to share our gifts with the world. 
 
How are you doing in manifesting your own dream right now? Are you encountering a difficulty or challenge in doing so? Is there an obstacle standing in the way of you sharing your gifts with the world right now? 
 
If we think back to just a year ago – October 2019 – we probably wouldn’t have even come close to imagining all that has unfolded this year in 2020.  And yet, you have a higher purpose, a divine path that you are meant to unfold even at this time. Yes, even in these extreme conditions. Because the world is needing it right now. 
 
What are you meant to bring to others at this challenging time?  What’s standing in your way? 
 
I want to share with you a healing song and practice to support you in “shining the light” on a difficulty you are having in your life right now. Click here to access "10 Healing Songs and Practices". The Song "Shine The Light" is #7.  And it's free!

After you have accessed the songs, take a moment and write the difficulty or obstacle that is standing in your way on an index card. Place the card in a special place in your home.
 
Now, take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to this song, Shine the Light.
 
Ask the Divine to shine a light on your obstacle and to give you guidance on how to move forward. When the song is finished, keep your eyes closed and sit in silence listening for guidance.
 
Write down whatever comes to you and place this next to the index card in your special place too.
 
Over the next few weeks, revisit your written words and add any further guidance you receive. Listen to the song again and see what arises for you. 
 
Here I share an excerpt from the lyrics to inspire you. 

Shine the Light
 
Once I thought I knew my way
Now I’m in the darkness
Looking for a light that shows
my way, a path uncharted…
 
Shine the light
so I may see
shine in me
show me the way clearly...
Still how will I know?
will it shine in the dark
will it glow, will it spark -
will it light up the sky in the night of my heart?
 
Searching through my empty faith
trembling at the choices
to put the fear behind me
and silence all the voices
 
of doubt, despair, defeat...
I must not let them win...
so I declare I believe that God does care ... for me.
 
Shine the light
so I may see
shine in me
show me the way clearly...
Still how will I know?
will it shine in the dark
will it glow, will it spark -
will it light up the sky in the night of my heart?
 
……shine O light
shine O light
shine O light
Now l can paint the light of my heart
 
Now I see... I  know my way...

​Summer’s beginning to wind down, and we can feel a chill that has come into the air. The fruits of nature are ripening in this wonderful time of harvest.
 
During this season of autumn, a picture of the Archangel Michael who battles the evil dragon always comes to me. This archetype has appeared in mythology since ancient times. 

Ancient Hindu texts speak about Indra slaying a dragon while the ancient Babylonians told stories of Marduk who slayed Tiamat. The archetype that holds true here is of one who overcomes or transforms evil through courage in action.  Having the courage to take action to transform the world.
 
Archangel Michael has been one of the most important guides and healers in my life. You may have heard me mention this before!
 
Who are your key spirit guides?  Access the healing song and practice "I Wanna Get To You" here to discover one of your key spirit guides who can support you.  
 
Every year, at this time, we can reconnect with this image of Archangel Michael. We are given the opportunity once again to rise to this call to overcome our own inner dragons. These can show up in our lives as fear, anxiety, or even in a longing to stay in our comfort zone, taking an easier path by not taking action. 

​Yet with the impulse of Archangel Michael, we can overcome this tendency and courageously find our strength to take action in bringing forth a new and healthier vision for living in our communities together.
 
In this season, we can also take a moment to honor the courage that we see every day in those around us. We can recognize and encourage each other to move toward our full potential as human beings. And in doing this, we can bring transformation in the world.
 
At this time in the world, this becomes an urgent call for us. We’re being called to be courageous and take action to make change in the world. Also to join together and support those around us who are doing the same.

Take a moment and read these words to support you in letting go of your fear and finding your courage to take action in this time.
 
For Courage
 
We must eradicate from the soul
all fear and terror
of what comes toward us out of the future.

We must look forward
with absolute equanimity to everything that may come.
And we must think that whatever comes
is given to us by a world directive full of wisdom.

It is part of what we must learn during this age, 
namely to act out of pure trust 
in the ever present help of the spiritual world; 
Truly nothing else will do if our courage is not to fail us.


Therefore let us discipline our will, 
and let us seek the awakening from within ourselves, 
every morning and every evening.
-Rudolf Steiner
 
 
Who are your key spirit guides?  Who helps you to find your courage and strength to take necessary action to make the world a better place? Access the healing song and practice "I Wanna Get To You" to discover one of your key spirit guides who can support you now.  Click here.

​The year 2020 continues to bring us more surprises each and every month! This past week, here in Colorado, we had a summer snowstorm – yes, summer snow!  Our trees were just starting to show a little yellow as autumn approaches and yet we had a few inches of snow right after a day of 90 degree temperatures!

This has truly been an unforgettable year. And it’s not over yet. As we move into the time of the year when daylight decreases and surprises seem to be around every corner, do you have spirit guides supporting you? 

My song and practice: "I Wanna Get To You" will help you connect to your key spirit guide.
 
Access a full meditation here to discover one of your key spirit guides who can support you right now.

St. Hildegard’s Feast Day is this week, September 17th.  She continues to be an inspiration to me, and I call upon her regularly for support in finding my own courage and strength in challenging times. 
 
I often think of the time in the 12th century when St. Hildegard, at age 42, heard a divine voice commanding her to speak and write about her experiences. She shared what it said to her,
 
“… speak and write what you see and hear… according to the extent that you see and hear those things in the heavens above in the marvelousness of God…
Write those things not according to yourself or by the standards of another person, but according to the will of the one knowing, the one who sees and arranges all things in the secrets of His own mysteries.” 
​

St. Hildegard didn’t want to act on this at all. I can certainly understand!  
 
She was frightened and anxious. She felt insecure and inadequate. I feel like this from time to time. You probably do too!
 
To share her visions with the world was going to be a big step. It was going against the culture and traditions of the time. Women weren’t part of the clergy in her time.  Women didn’t preach, speak publicly, or write.  Certainly not on controversial topics such as visions from God!
 
St. Hildegard had to muster her courage and hold on to her faith that it would be okay, since she was being guided by the Divine. 
 
“…. I put my hand to writing. Once I did this, a deep and profound exposition of books came over me. I received the strength …. and under that power I continued to carry out the work to the end..”  - St. Hildegard of Bingen

​Sometimes we see obstacles in our path that stop us from moving forward. Really they are just illusions. Illusions that are our own fear creeping in and stopping us from taking action. But if we stay connected to the Divine, we are able to move forward on our true path in life. Then we’ll be able to bring to the world what we came here to share, even if it’s new and different. Our hearts open and we engage in manifesting our work in service to humanity. 
 
“Humanity, take a good look at yourself. Inside, you’ve got heaven and earth, and all of creation. You’re a world – everything is hidden in you.”  -St. Hildegard, Causes and Cures
 
On your current journey in life, does fear or anxiety rise up within you? Does it become a stumbling block to moving forward?
 
Fear that maybe you’re inadequate or not enough?  Fear that you’ll fail or that others won’t want what you have to offer? 
 
Does this cast a shadow that stops you from moving forward on your path? 

Now’s the time to gather your courage to move beyond any fear or anxiety. To overcome your own inner dragons that may manifest particularly during this time of year.
 
 
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson
 
With this impulse of courage to let our own light shine, we can bring about new and powerful ways of thinking and living in our communities that will be fruitful. And others will find their strength to do the same!
 
I can hear St. Hildegard’s words from her Second Vision in Scivias, as she shares, “And again I hear that one speaking: ...For when the land is tilled with a great deal of labor, it brings forth a lot of fruitfulness. It is similar with the human race because after the fall of humanity, many virtues rose up to help...”

​My song and practice: "I Wanna Get To You" will help you connect to your key spirit guide.
 
Access a full meditation here to discover one of your key spirit guides who can support you right now. 
 

​Summer’s all around us in its glorious splendor. What beauty!
 
The lush green crowns of the trees sway in the breeze as the warm sun shines down upon them. Flowers are bursting forth with the bright colors of yellow, pink and violet. What a lovely celebration of life and growth! Of Viriditas, as St. Hildegard would say.

The warm summer brings to mind images of the gentle lull of the ocean and the seashells found upon the beach.  I’m reminded of the Hindu goddess, Durga, who holds on to the conch shell, a symbol of the Divine that existed in the first sound of creation and still resonates in the sacred word, Om. 
 
In Hinduism, the goddess Durga is considered the protective Mother of the Universe.
She protects all that is good and harmonious in the world and, sitting upon her lion or tiger, battles the forces of evil in the world. She’s a powerful and invincible force.
 
In these challenging times that have continued into the summer, have you found your own inner power? 
 
Or have you become overly critical or judgmental of others?  Has anger bubbled up inside of you and been directed toward others? 
 
Or maybe you feel completely powerless and ineffective to meet your current life challenges? Do you feel like you have no energy to take them on? 
 
If you’re experiencing this, then take some time to focus on your solar plexus chakra.
The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra and located between your navel and the bottom of your sternum. It opens in a forward direction and is the source of the light that radiates your personal power and strength out into the world. ​

​It’s the awe-inspiring energy of the sun that ignites your power, burning away any blockages that may be getting in your way. It empowers YOU to be confident, responsible, and reliable. Opening new doors in your life. 
 
It supports you in finding the strength to meet challenges and move forward. To take up action, with a strong will and warmth. 
 
You can call upon the goddess, Durga, to support you in balancing your solar plexus chakra and to help you discover your strength and courage within.  
 
I invite you to join me in chanting the Healing Durga Mantra in my Free Healing Library as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my solar plexus chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I may shine with my own radiant power and strength while I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self. “
 
Then, begin the Durga mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

May you discover that the strength and courage you need is within. You’re more powerful than you realize! 
 
Interested in learning more mantras to support you in accessing your inner power in this challenging time?  Check out my guidebook and audio recordings, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.  

Our words have great power. Greater than we even realize. They express our thoughts and our feelings in the moment. 

​Our words have the power to heal and power to create anew. 
 
And when we listen to the words of another, truly and deeply listen to the words of another, without wanting to respond, without judgement, without trying to fix, we can enter into the world of the other. Here, with our attention and presence, we can participate in the healing of their pain or in the creation of their new idea that is needed in the world. 
 
Deep listening connects us.

Using the Voice to Heal
There’s a section of the Kalevala, the great epic of Finland that illustrates the incredible power of the voice and illuminates the possibility that exists for all of us.  I’ll share it here with you, in story form. 
 
Vainomoinen opened his mouth and began to sing. 
 
He sang a most powerful song that only the wisest and the oldest upon earth could sing. 
 
It rang with eternal wisdom that stretched to the farthest depths of the sea. Across the wide expanse of land.  And to the heights of the sky. 
 
He sang of life and death and the origin of all that was created upon Mother Earth.
 
He sang of the waters, the mountains, the animals. 
 
And of himself, the first human being. 
 
He sang of love and hate. 
 
He sang of creation and destruction, of ease and pain. 
 
He sang of all such matters of importance in the world.  
 
The words of song traveled across the land as seeds do in a breeze.  The Earth came alive and shimmered like the leaves of a birch tree.
 
For She remembered her Origin. 
 
The sunlight danced. The streams bubbled. The mountains trembled.  The flowers swayed. 
 
All creation sparkled in this knowledge

​Vainomoinen sang on.  He sang of the origin of the sledge. Then the runners of the sledge became branches of a willow tree.  Then disappeared into a seed in the earth….
 
He sang on.
 
Soon Joukahainen’s sword rose out of its sheath at his hip and sunk into the ground becoming a rock as a flash of lightning struck it…
 
Joukahainen was now terrified as he saw the power of Vainomoinen’s song.  He stood there helpless.  Off flew his wool coat and hat, back to the sheep who disappeared into thin air…
 
Then suddenly, Joukahainen felt himself moving toward the nearby lake!  He stumbled at the edge and found his feet sinking in thick mud.  Though he tried, he could not pull himself up out of it…
 
……for Vainomoinen deeply understood that the healing of the pain and suffering comes from the power of remembering and voicing its origin. 
 
Vainomoinen continued singing, but the melody changed significantly.  
 
Now, as he sang, Joukahainen moved upward out of the muddy bank and onto the dry land.  His wool coat and hat returned to him…
 
Vainomoinen continued, now with the sweetest song of creation. Joukahainen’s wool coat and hat returned to him. His sword returned to its sheath. The runners on his sledge appeared once again. 
 
All of the land glimmered with the life of creation. 
 
 
May we remember that our words have great power. 
 
Power to heal and power to create anew in our lives and in the world.
 
Bearing witness to another’s words with deep listening lets us participate in their healing and in their creation in the world. 
 
The Throat Chakra
This is at the foundation of the fifth chakra, the throat chakra. 
 
It’s located in the throat area that includes the neck, jaw, shoulders, and also ears. It’s the source of your speaking, listening, and ability to express yourself authentically. 
 
When your throat chakra is balanced and you speak your truth, it’ll be experienced as authentic and compassionate. 
 
You’ll be able to be open and honest.  To stand up for what you believe, yet not be hurtful toward others. 
 
You’ll also be able to listen deeply to others, giving them an experience of being heard and understood, a profound human need.

​The main obstacle within the throat chakra is self-doubt or the negative voice within your thinking. You may fear how others may respond to you or judge you. This may interfere with your ability to express yourself or speak your truth. You may shake or stutter as you speak. Or speak words before you think. 
 
Balancing the Throat Chakra with Mantra
Chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with this chakra can help you to bring awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in finding your voice in self expression and in communication with others.
 
To help balance the throat chakra, we can call upon the goddess, Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess, of abundance, wealth, and beauty. She is depicted wearing red clothes embroidered with gold thread, indicating activity and prosperity – both material and spiritual.  She can support you in your efforts to speak your truth with compassion and to listen deeply to others, bringing abundance to all. 
 
You can find the Healing Lakshmi Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my throat chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I can express myself authentically and with compassion as I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self.”
 
Then, begin the Lakshmi mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

One of my favorite flowers is the radiant lotus blossom. This flower pushes through the muck and mire of the waters reaching toward the light.  It opens its blossoms of beauty, untouched and unsoiled.  Connected, yet hovering just above the mud below.  A pure and radiant beauty. 

​As we are in the midst of the muck and mire of the pandemic and the pain of bringing more awareness to the continued systemic racism in our country, I try to bring the image of the lotus flower to mind.
 
I take time to contemplate what is the divine opportunity that exists in this moment and how I can be of service. 
 
I focus on my seventh chakra, the crown chakra. That’s what gives us the ability to “rise above” and access higher states of consciousness, as we open to that which is beyond ourselves. 
 
It’s located at the top of the head and slightly above the head. It sits like a crown, opening upwards.
 
It’s the source of our connection to the divine energy of creation and to our higher self.  Also to the experience that we are one with everyone and everything in nature. 
 
So, I take time to bring my awareness to my crown chakra so that I’m able to feel grounded and connected to the divine. I open myself to the experience of unity with others and the world, endeavoring to discover the deeper meaning of life and feel a deep peace in this current time. I seek to experience the Divine within myself and within the world. 

​Opening the Crown Chakra with Mantra
 
Are you, too, pondering the higher meaning in our current circumstances?  Are you wondering how to understand this and how you can be of service to the world in this moment? 
 
I invite you to join me in chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with the crown chakra that can help you to bring awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in connecting to the divine and feeling at one with all that is. 
 
With the crown chakra, we can call upon Brahman. Brahman is not to be confused with Brahma, the Hindu deity. Brahman’s without a beginning and without an end and yet is within all. Brahman is cosmic spirit and infinite consciousness. The universal principle and eternal truth. 
 
You can find the Healing Brahman Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in fully accessing my crown chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies within this energy center so that I feel a deep peace in life and unity with others as I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self.”
 
Then, begin the Brahman mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

Interested in learning more mantras to support you in accessing the divine in this unusual time?  Check out my guidebook and accompanying audio recordings, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.  

​In this unusual time, our hearts are heavy with grief and pain. We see how much work we still have left to do in the world to relieve human suffering.
 
What suffering of the heart have you experienced recently? Have you felt the loss of a loved one or isolation from those you love? 
 
Have you felt the pain of our country with the recent protests against police brutality and racism? 

​Are you able to open your heart to compassion, love, and understanding – for yourself and for others? 
 
Opening the Heart Chakra
 
Chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with the heart chakra can help you to bring awareness to this chakra, healing your hurt and pain and opening your heart to love, compassion, and understanding.
 
The fourth chakra, the heart chakra, is located at the center of the chest.  It’s the bridge between the lower chakras of matter and the upper chakras of spirit. It’s related to the element of air.  We can use our breath and movement, within the air, to feel deeply connected with all that is around us, harmoniously exchanging energy with it. 
 
When this chakra is open and balanced, you flow with love, empathy, and compassion.
 
You accept others and yourself. You forgive easily. 
 
You have unconditional compassion for yourself and others.
 
Your heart is free from past hurts. You are open to love. 

​I love the old tradition in Japan that is called Kintsugi, the mending of broken pottery with gold. It reminds me of how our pain and suffering can be transformed. 
 
A lovely piece of pottery glimmers with cracks that are filled with gold. Giving the piece an appearance that is unique to itself.  Unlike any other piece of pottery. 
 
The artist, instead of hiding or disguising the past, has transformed the piece’s damage and history into something beautiful.
 
The original piece now becomes even more stunning and unique than before it was broken.  Creating a glorious, new life.
 
In this art form, I’m reminded of how we don’t have to hide the pain in our hearts, but we can transform it into something new that serves the world. 

​To help transform the pain of your heart, we can call upon the god, Krishna, the Hindu god that radiates love and compassion. His playful nature also reminds us to remain good-natured through the challenges that come our way in our life’s journey. 
 
You can find the Healing Krishna Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my heart chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I can open my heart to love, compassion, and understanding while I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self. “
 
Then, begin the Krishna mantra chant.   Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection

May you transform the pain within your heart, filling it with gold, so that you may open to love, compassion, and understanding to serve the world!
 
Interested in learning more mantras to support you in accessing your inner strength in this unusual time? Check out my guidebook, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.