Sometimes, the trauma that we experience in a past life can carry on through future incarnations. I grew up swimming in pools, lakes and the ocean - it was something I enjoyed. I remember about 14 years ago I was in Greece and had jumped off the boat I was on and into the water. I was treading water and realized that the lower portions of my body were really cold, whereas the upper part of me was still warm. This made sense as I was in deep water, but all of a sudden, I was struck with fear. That fear didn't leave me. Every time I would swim in the ocean over the next few years, I would have this petrified fear take over. I don't like fear very much, so I decided to face it by learning how to scuba dive - in the Great Barrier Reef of all places (full of fish and jellyfish that can kill you). This did help me a little bit with my fear, but the nagging sensation was still there. About 9 years later, I was in a past life regression where I felt myself die while swimming in the ocean. My fear became clear to me and made sense. Something about that day back in Greece had triggered a past life trauma memory and it affected my experience in this life. There was also a time in my late 20's when I would wake up in the middle of the night and see a spider hanging over me. To my mind, it was very real and very terrifying. After what felt like an eternity, the spider would disappear into thin air. This went on frequently for over a year. It was so frustrating because I couldn't figure out why I kept seeing this. Fast forward about 1.5 years later, I was having a Reiki session and had mentioned the spider issue. My Reiki practitioner was able to see into a past life where I had been imprisoned and starved to death. There were spiders all over my cell. I had been left there by a lover. It turns out the past life lover was someone I was close to in my present life at the time of the spider visions. In this case, the spiders were acting like a warning - to be careful of low self-esteem and to draw my boundaries - both of which were issues from the past life and my present life. When I got this message, I never saw the spiders again. I've learned a lot from my own past life experiences and from working with clients. I have learned that time travel is possible. I have learned that we actually can change the past - not the events per se, but the fallout from the events. It has occurred in many sessions where I will see a client's past life and we will have to do emotional repair work that ends up helping the past incarnation as well as the present one. Often, we will use visualization where I describe the situation of the past life to the client and ask that they visualize that they are there. Usually I ask them to comfort or hold space for their past incarnated self while we release the emotional trauma. I remember one time when a client and I were in one of these visualizations and the past incarnated self looked at me and said, "I can see him" (meaning the client). This left me dumbstruck. I'm used to the past incarnations seeing me, but to see the client as well, it blew my mind. Through these sessions, it became clear to me that we can travel to past lives and that by doing the emotional release work, we can change how it affects both the past and present incarnations of the person I'm working with. It just goes to show that the wonders, perplexities and mysteries of life never cease to amaze. Love, Adrienne :)
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There is a new movie coming out in January of 2017 called A Dog's Purpose. It's about a dog that reincarnates multiple times and ponders whether there is a purpose to life. I find it interesting that we are seeing this theme play out in Hollywood. Cloud Atlas is another excellent film that revolves around reincarnation. Many different people hold many different beliefs. To some, this is the only life we have. When we die we either disappear or we go to be judged and sent to Heaven or Hell. To others, we come back to live out our karma (fate based on our past actions in other lives). To others, we come back to live out our dharma (life purpose) and grow our Soul some more. Many people on this planet do believe in the possibility of having multiple lives. More than a third of major religions and belief systems believe in reincarnation. There are many books out there which speak on this topic. Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Weiss is well-know. I just finished reading Dr. Dyer's last book, Memories of Heaven, which shares stories of children remembering Heaven and some of them speak of past lives. It is not uncommon for children to remember their previous lives. Over a period of 40 years, Dr. Ian Stevenson looked into over 3,000 cases worldwide of children claiming to have past lives. He is internationally recognized due to his research on reincarnation. If this is something that interests you, you can read about past lives or you can even have a past life regression which takes you into your past lives. It took me a full year before I worked up the nerve to have a past life regression. I still remember that regression quite clearly and a lot of things in my present life actually made more sense after the regression. I know some people firmly believe that there is no such thing as past lives and that's o.k. For those who do believe and for those who are curious to know more - it can be a life altering experience. I've seen people cured of their phobias due to past life healing work. While it's interesting to know more about our past lives, it's also important to remember that our primary focus should be on this life. Past life regressions and healings are just another way to help us along on our path during this incarnation. Love, Adrienne :) I love when I'm able to see things in a different way. Shifting your perspective will most definitely shift your life. I've come across some neat statements that have helped me see exercise, age, time, selfishness and issues in a new light. I thought I would share them here. Perhaps one of them will help prompt a new way of thinking for you... The topics that are touched on in these posters are usually held in a negative light. If you have to drag yourself to the gym, you may not be going for the right reason. Shift your mindset and exercise can even become a celebration of how amazing the body is. Growing older is something many people fear and dread. We all get older, so why not be more lighthearted about it? By changing your words to 'it's not a priority' instead of 'I don't have time,' you are inviting in more clarity and self-empowerment. It is not selfish to live your own life how you choose - it is your life. Viewing our problems and issues as opportunities places us in solution mode and we aren't as dragged down by the ego who says it's impossible. Be open to seeing things from a new perspective - doing so will most likely increase your joy factor in life. Love, Adrienne :)
I love this video with Oprah. In just 3 minutes, she touches on some profound, life changing wisdom that we can all apply to our own lives. Have you ever felt like you're not on track? Like you took the wrong fork in the road? That you made a mistake? Or, maybe that you completely failed at something? I know I can identify with these for multiple choices I've made throughout my life. It would really bother me as I wondered - did I take the wrong path? Did I screw up and miss out on something in my life due to the decisions and choices I made? Am I not even living the path that was meant for me because I kept taking "wrong" turns? These thoughts really weighed me down. As I've been doing my Spiritual work, and as Oprah states in the video, I've learned that there are no wrong paths. You can get side tracked, take different paths or end up on a detour - but there are no wrong paths. Whew! That really takes the pressure off. So, now that we know that ultimately there is no wrong path, how do we try to stay on the path that resonates most with our Soul? Luckily we've been given road signs - such as how we feel and what life is reflecting back to us. If you feel uneasy, agitated or unhappy with how your life is going, then you've stepped off your Soul's path. It's an indication to move in another direction. Failures and losses are another big road sign. As Oprah says, they are there to wake you up, to redirect you and point you in a different direction. Losses and failures are some of the biggest and toughest, yet most rewarding growth lessons there are. What feels like a lose-lose, is actually a win-win as it provides direction and growth for your Soul. Another thing that Oprah talks about that I love is that our life is bigger than the moments. How often do we let certain moments define us? We are so much more than any singular event or circumstance or ordeal. They may be defining moments, but they do not designate who we actually are. They do not define our entire life or our Essence. In order to make our way through life we must become aware of the signs, learn from the hard times and focus on what the next right step is. We often tend to become overwhelmed or focus solely on the problems instead of on the solutions. Oprah offers great advice: 'What is the next right move? From that space, make the next right move and the next and the next.' If during those steps, you find it's not the right move, then you know it's time to change course and start again with the next step that resonates and feels right to you. It's all about the steps, resonating with your path and understanding that, ultimately, there are no wrong paths. Love, Adrienne :)
"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 doesn't serve the world. There's 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 subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" This is such a beautiful quote by Marianne Williamson. You might recognize it as it went around social media for a while erroneously attributed to Nelson Mandela's inaugural address. It brings up a very interesting perspective - that we actually fear our brilliance more than we fear our inadequacies. How often do we play small? Why do we hold back when it comes time to play big? What is it that we're really afraid of? We tend to focus so much on our humanness and all of the ego aspects that get in the way - fear, rejection, discouragement, procrastination, etc. If we could focus more on the real part of us - our Light, our Essence - how different would our lives be? Kids really do just shine their Light. I can see it in their eyes, their smiles, their laughter and their curiosity. As we grow up and follow our ego and its script, that Light becomes hidden. It is up to us to reconnect to that part of us - to grow that spark and shine our Light out into the world. To BE who we really are. We are all Source. We all have and are this Light. We just have to dig through the layers and walls our ego has created to let that Light shine through. How do we do that? Meditate, do emotional release work, work with a professional who can assist you with tapping into your unconscious and help you change your ego's script. Most importantly, set the intent to connect to your Light, your true Essence - and be committed to it. Ask for guidance along the way from Source, the Angels, your Guides or whoever you pray to. Your Light is waiting for you - tap into it and SHINE. P.S. - If you are drawn to the image above, Erica Sooter is offering it as a free printable on her website along with a lovely and heartfelt blog entry. Click here. Love, Adrienne :)
We all want to be liked, accepted and respected. It’s human nature. All too often we allow other people's opinions to shape who we are or who we think we should be. We cater ourselves to be what others want or expect so we will be liked and accepted. We begin to identify, or even over identify, with what others think. To have to look a certain way, to have to act a certain way, to have to be a certain way – where’s the freedom in that? It’s like putting on masks and stepping farther away from your true self all for a false sense of belonging. It hurts when someone holds a negative opinion of you. Instead of taking it personally, which I know can be very hard, try to look at it from two different angles: 1. Someone’s opinion about you says more about them than it does about you. 2. Look at it as an opportunity to get to know who you really are. Let’s say someone calls you stupid – are you stupid just because they say so? Do you know for a 100% fact that you are, indeed, absolutely stupid? Of course not. Maybe you did or said something that was “stupid,” so learn from it, remedy the situation and move on. It’s not who you are. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is “It’s none of your business what anyone else thinks of you. It’s only your business what you think of you.” My life has become a lot more freeing since I started to follow that advice. I was always easily hurt when someone would say something mean about me. Now, it doesn’t get to me as much. I’m empowered because 1. What they say tells me more about them than myself. 2. It’s another opportunity for me to question my identity and get closer to the core of who I really am. It’s beautiful and freeing to be who you truly are. Your Soul knows your authentic Essence. Meditate and connect with that aspect of you. Get to the heart of your true identity and allow that part of you to unfold in your daily life. You are not your body. You are not your mind. You are not your past. You are not your mistakes. You are not your emotions. You are not the opinions of others. You are your Soul. You are a part of the Divine. You are more than you could ever have imagined. Love, Adrienne :)
Recently, I had a surgical procedure done. I asked the anesthesiologist how long it would take to knock me out and he replied that it would only take a few seconds. I didn't believe him. Turns out, he was right. I remember him saying, "we're starting now" and they put an oxygen mask over my mouth. I think my last thought was - 'we'll see how long...' and I was out. It was a very disconcerting feeling for me to wake up in recovery and realize that during that time, I had absolutely no idea where "I" was. Did "I" hunker down and rest? Did "I" leave my body? Was "I" visiting with spirits that still roam the hospital or was "I" meeting with my guides? I'm well aware that we are able to leave our bodies. You can read just about any near death experience where they describe how they left their body and could see and sense what was going on around them. Yet, in my case, I have no idea where "I" was during the 1.5 hours I was knocked out. From this experience, I can better understand some people's fear of us just ceasing to exist when we die. A few weeks ago, I saw a post on Facebook that caught my attention. A man took a photo of the scene of an accident in KY and captured something quite interesting. Snopes is convinced it's just dust, some say the photo is altered (Saul swears it isn't) and others believe it could be the victim of the accident. If you look at the photo above, you can see an image above the state trooper between the two ambulances. The man who took the photo, Saul Vazquez, posted this along side it: Charles Deadman did pass from the injuries he sustained. Some say he may have died on scene, others say he died at the hospital. The naysayers challenge that the image couldn't be him since he died later away from the scene of the accident. What they don't realize is that our Spirit can, and often does, leave the body during times of trauma. Regardless, I think this photo is a beautiful reminder that we don't just disappear into nothingness/blackness when we die. We continue on. We just take a step out of our body, from this plane to the next. Love, Adrienne :)
There is a story they tell of two dogs. Both at separate times walk into the same room. One comes out wagging his tail while the other comes out growling. A woman watching this goes into the room to see what could possibly make one dog so happy and the other so mad. To her surprise, she finds a room filled with mirrors. The happy dog found a thousand happy dogs looking back at him while the angry dog saw only angry dogs growling back at him. What you see in the world around you is a reflection of who you are. - Author unknown I love this story. It makes a very valid point. Though, I would like to clarify that what you see in the world around you is a reflection of who you are as a human with an ego. Who you really are is your Soul/Essence. Most all of us wear the tinted glasses colored by our beliefs and thoughts. Every event and situation that occurs in life is neutral - it is not bad, it is not good - it just is. A situation takes on meaning for us when our thoughts, beliefs, emotions and conditioning define it for us. Hence, as Anaïs Nin says, we do not see things as they are, we see them as we are. Most of the time we are not even aware of how we're seeing a situation as we are conditioned to react. The unpleasant and hard times in life are our greatest teachers. They let us know that something is not right, not aligned since we are experiencing misery. They are an indicator of a lesson for soul growth. We can ignore the lesson, dwell on the negatives of it, or we can use that lesson to learn and grow. Your perception of the world is dictated by what you hold internally. As within, so without. If you see the world as a horrible place where people are cruel and someone's always trying to screw you over - it's not the external world that needs to be changed - it's you, at an internal level, that needs to change. To see change in your life, you have to shift your perception. This is easier said than done. To change your perception, you have to first become aware of it. You have to figure out how and why you even think or feel the way you do. Then, you have to shift from the old thought patterns to new ones. I know very well that this is no easy task. But, if you want your life to change - you have to change. Your emotions are the perfect guide to lead you to what your thoughts and beliefs are (which are often subconscious/unconscious). Then, you need to choose new beliefs. How we see the outer world is a reflection of what we have going on internally. If you don't like what you're seeing in your life, it's time to make the internal shift. The next time you're in an unpleasant situation or find yourself reacting negatively to something, try to stop yourself from automatically reacting and ask - what is this situation trying to tell me? What can I learn from it? What beliefs, thoughts and or emotions are coming up that are coloring my perspective of this situation? How can I see it differently? As you begin to practice shifting your perception, your life will most definitely start to reflect that change. It's how we grow. It's how we begin to take those tinted glasses off. Love, Adrienne :)
In light of the recent tragedies of police murdering citizens and citizens murdering police, I expected that things would get ugly again, especially on social media. I shed a lot of tears this past week, but it was due to all of the love I was seeing. Some of the posts were from last April and were being passed around again. Some of the posts are recent, but they all carry the same message - let's give our attention to love. I'd like to share a few of these beautiful posts: These tragedies are providing us with the opportunity to change - to be more human to each other. To see each other as a person - not as a color, sex or religion. We are allowed to be angry, we're allowed to be furious - let's let that motivate change in our society, not propagate more hate and division. The bottom line is NO ONE deserves to be targeted. What does deserve to be targeted is hate and that is brought down by love. What deserves to be targeted is racism and ignorance and that is brought down by dialogue and getting to know others for the people they are. Change must happen and it starts with each and every single one of us. At the end of the day it is more important that we "don't hate evil more than we love good" because, quite frankly, #LoveMatters. Love, Adrienne :)
I used to work as a substitute teacher a few years back. I have a few degrees in education, but I am so beyond disillusioned with our "education" system that I barely put those degrees to use. I know a lot of teachers who are amazing at what they do. They really care and they do their best to be creative and try to keep the attention of their students - many of whom were raised on sugar and video games. Yet, the teaching field is becoming more and more challenging as teachers are being forced to teach to tests, they are dealing with serious behavioral issues, they have to put in their own money for supplies and their job goes home with them. How many teachers can get all of their papers graded, teach full schedules and plan their classes while filling out non-stop paperwork for the state before the end of their work day? Not too many. While on a trip to Antarctica, I met a man who worked for the State Department whose job was promoting our education system abroad. I couldn't fathom this. I've attended schools in other countries and can tell you, their education systems are far better than what we're doing here. This is a person who never taught (yet his mother was a teacher) and considered himself an expert. I think we have too many "experts" in the higher up positions and not enough people with the ground experience to say this is what works and this is what needs changed. I can remember when I subbed for a home economics class, the lesson plan was how to use a microwave - SERIOUSLY??? No wonder the high school kids were so bored and despondent. How about teaching them real life skills like how to balance a check book, how credit cards work, how to do your taxes, how to balance your diet and grow your own food...? Another time I subbed for a high school science class and the kids had a group test to take. The fact that it was a group test boggled my mind. I caught them cheating as they were able to find the test online and were using their smart phones to tell them the answers. They all laughed when I took their tests away. How about teaching ethics in school? During a language class that I was subbing, a boy made the comment that he was going to beat the crap out of another student at lunch. I had a quick talk with him about what the consequences would be if he did it and how it wasn't worth it. After the kids left for lunch, I called the office to give them a heads up. When the students returned from lunch, I asked where the (angry) student was and they said he was taken away in handcuffs for punching another student. How about we teach kids how to resolve their problems without resorting to violence? How about we teach our kids how to deal with their emotions? My last story is about the time I subbed for a social studies teacher. The A.P. classes played on their phones, talked to each other and refused to engage in the classroom discussion. These are our future "leaders." Yet, the "degenerate" class engaged in a meaningful conversation about present day politics. These were the "misfit" kids, yet they showed more intelligence, respect and critical thinking than any of the other classes. A classic case of never judge a book by its cover. These are the kids who are shunned. Why aren't we teaching kids how to engage in dialogue with those different from them? To understand that their views matter too? Our education system needs a massive overhaul and more testing is not the way to go. We need to bring humanity back into the picture. We are more than our brains. Bringing back the arts, teaching critical thinking, allowing for the expression of creativity, teaching empathy, teaching techniques on how to handle the stresses of life - these are all things that would put our children on a better path for a better tomorrow. How much further are we going to go down this slippery slope before we decide to generate real change? Forever learning LOVE, Adrienne :)
Do you have a go-to song that just seems to help you get through things? Or, when you hear a song, it immediately transports you back to the event or situation it reminds you of? We have our playlists that help us get through our breakups and our workouts. We have songs that soothe us and songs that get our bodies moving. There are songs that speak to the plight of humanity and there are songs that raise our spirits and bring us back to our humanity. It’s amazing how powerful music is. Over the past months, as I’ve been going through a lot of transitioning, there is one song in particular that I turn to. It’s called "Countless Roads" by Swiss singer James Gruntz. His music is a fusion of blues, jazz, pop, soul and beats. I was fortunate enough to see him live and have his CD. The first song on the CD was a little annoying to me because he’s repeating the same words over and over and over. Then, I really listened to what he was saying and that song has become my mantra. The lyrics are: Countless roads Countless roads Shadow and light Shadow and light All is mercy All is (in) mercy So don’t be afraid Don’t be afraid I can’t tell you how much I love this song and sing along to it when I need that boost of inner strength. This life takes us down countless roads filled with shadows and light, but in the end – there really is nothing to fear. We, as an essence of Divine energy, are greater than our fears. We are never really alone as we go down these roads. The shadow and light are there to show the contrast, to help us learn - it’s how we choose our roads and find our way. This is one of the greatest lessons I’m learning – to not be afraid. Love, Adrienne :)
I recently heard the saying: "We can either allow something to destroy us, define us or strengthen us." I get the point that's trying to be made - we should persevere by allowing our traumas, trials and tribulations to strengthen us instead of staying stuck in them. As I usually do, I thought about the quote to see how it applies to my life. I realized that all of the hardest experiences I've been through have in some way destroyed me, re-defined me and strengthened me. My confidence has been shattered, my trust in people became nearly nonexistent, my fears have maintained me in a chokehold, I have felt rejection at every level of my being, I have felt worthless and yes, my heart has been broken - multiple times. I have been abandoned, I have been put down, I have been misunderstood, I have been ignored and I have been defined as someone I am not. All of this has come about through different circumstances throughout my life. I have felt utterly destroyed. Yet, I realized that it was the false parts of myself that needed to die off. I have had to dig deep to find the healing and compassion that is innately me. I have had to stop looking outside of myself for something I've had inside all along. My happiness is internal. My love is internal. My confidence is internal. It's not out there or in someone else. It's like the Phoenix rising from the ashes - I was destroyed and through that destruction, I was renewed. For as long as I can remember, I've fought against the confines that I'd been placed in by myself or others. I was in an imaginary prison of who I was supposed to be and how I was supposed to behave and act. If I wasn't a certain way, how would so and so love me? I have learned that I can re-define myself - that I am not how others define me or even how I define myself - especially if it is contrary to the True Essence of who I really am. I do not have to live up to the expectations that others hold in order for me to be loved. I am loved because I AM. All of the hard times in my life have absolutely strengthened me. That's what the hard times are for. They are meant to grab our attention to make the necessary changes our Soul needs to grow. It's during these hard times when our hearts must be more expansive than ever. The ego may want to wallow, play the victim or the coward, yet we must take ownership of who we really are - an Essence of the Divine who is innately love and compassion. That's who I am, that's who you are, that's who the person who hurt you is - we just keep forgetting or are completely disconnected from that Truth. The events that occur in our lives can hurt us profoundly as well as introduce us to a pain we never knew possible. Be compassionate with yourself. Work to open your heart instead of the knee-jerk reaction of shutting it down. Let go of the emotions, thoughts and beliefs that hold you back. When life knocks you down - let it destroy you. Let it destroy all of the false aspects of you that no longer serve you. Let it define you - by re-defining YOU. Your ego may feel like it took a huge hit, but your Soul remains undamaged. You are your Soul, not your ego. And yes, let it strengthen you. We grow from every experience we have - in small ways or by leaps and bounds. When life knocks you down, take the time to acknowledge where you're at and how you're feeling. Take the time you need to heal and forgive. When you're ready, dust yourself off and stand back up - preferably with your heart more full of compassion and love. Love, Adrienne :)
A lot of unsettling things have happened in the past week or so. Brock Turner's mild slap on the wrist, voter fraud and the massacre in Orlando have been quite the hot topics. Social media can be an incredible tool to promote awareness and move us towards change in a more positive direction. Due to the Brock Turner sentence, people are having a deeper discussion on rape culture. This case is a perfect example - he was the perpetrator, but his father, his friends and he himself tried to convince us that he's the victim - I guess they convinced the judge. This case brought to light the injustice that pervades our legal system. People should feel uncomfortable, they should get riled up - it's something that must change. It is NEVER o.k. to sexually assault another - yet it's occurring every day. There have been so many instances of voter fraud. One person filmed that every time they tried to vote for Bernie Sanders, their electronic vote would go to some other candidate whose name I haven't heard of. There were personal stories of people going to multiple polling places, but they all had run out of ballots. The system is either massively flawed or it is rigged - I'm guessing it's a combination of both. This should stir people up, it should get them talking - it's something that needs to change. Our vote is meant to count. The Orlando massacre is another sad and tragic situation. A lot of people, who were out for a fun night of dancing, leave behind grief-stricken family and friends. This should shake people up - it is something that needs to change. It is NEVER o.k. to hurt other people to satisfy a vendetta. On all of these topics, people have taken to social media to express their views and opinions. What's disheartening is so many are contributing more energy to the ugliness. The victim blamers and shamers added their 2 cents. A good deal of Trump, Clinton, Sanders supporters had their say, mainly by bashing each other. The anti-Muslim, anti-LGBT and anti-guns are all finger pointing. People are so caught up clinging to their beliefs and going at each other that we're ignoring the bigger picture that needs to change. We must stop grouping people and labeling or defining them by their gender, ethnicity, religion, social caste, sexuality, political view or culture. A person, is a person, is a person. What motivates someone to walk up and kill another or go into a crowd and open fire? What motivates a person to physically and sexually harm another? What we're seeing in the news today are not isolated cases. We've seen them in the past and we'll continue to see them in the future until we, as a society, do better. We need to acknowledge how desensitized we have become. All you have to do is turn on a movie, t.v. show or video game - most of which propagate physical and sexual violence. As I was doing some research for this blog entry, I went to the BBC site. Their top stories: the Orlando massacre, violence at the Euro 2016, a Dutch woman convicted by the Qatari court for sex outside of marriage (her drink was spiked and she was raped) and a Canadian hostage killed by a militant group. Yes, it is time for us to do better, to BE better. We must hold each other accountable, promote the best of our humanity and we must come from a place of LOVE - not hate. I leave you with Lin-Manuel Miranda's beautiful words from his acceptance speech at the Tony Awards. Love, Adrienne :)
WWJD was quite the trend a while back. When you came across a situation, you were supposed to ask yourself, What would Jesus do? and act/react more like he would. Jesus was an amazing teacher and example of compassion. It seems that he truly practiced what he preached. I recently read an article about a lady who came across a young man holding up a sign asking for assistance. He'd been laid off and couldn't find work and could no longer afford housing or even a cell phone bill. She helped him out. What stuck with me is something that she said, "extend your hand, don't point it." When it comes down to it, many people will judge or look the other way instead of lending a hand. I love the image above because it reminds us that we're all here for a reason and a major part of that reason is to love, be compassionate and help each other out. I can see why people turn to God as some of the things we face individually or as a community are simply overwhelming. The issue lies in that people are either waiting for God to fix things or they just accept what is and say it's all part of God's plan. Isn't it possible that we are here to have this work done through us? That we are the ones we've been waiting for, but haven't realized it yet? That through our own individual and united actions, we can and do change the world for better? If we want this world to be a better place it all starts with loving ourselves. Then, that love and compassion we have for ourselves spreads out to others in a genuine way. It's time we start seeing the world and others through Source's loving eyes. I'm pretty sure that's what Jesus would do. Love Adrienne :)
Sometimes, you can find some real gems on Facebook. I came across a post of this story from Tales of Hasidim by Martin Buber. It's quite a poignant story. So often people turn to their religious teachings and miss the point of acting from compassion. Our Source, God, whatever name you choose to define it by, is the essence of unconditional love - pure and beautiful. Unfortunately, some bend religious teachings to support and or justify their hate, their fear or to control. The media has been drumming up the issues of refugees, transgender rights and politics to name a few. It is disconcerting how much hate and fear is flying around these topics. How can someone be cruel to someone else (face-to-face or not) and then feel they're a good person just because they went to church/mosque/synagogue/temple? For those who preach that God hates gays or is against them, they truly do not know God. How can we preach that God is love, yet only for certain kinds of people? We're applying conditions to what's actually unconditional. The story above is a great reminder to live from a place of compassion and love - for self and for others. We all have the capability to do so. It's all about choice. We are innately good, we are innately love. It's time we start recognizing it and owning it. In helping ourselves and others, we're actually more in alignment with our Creator and we live from a space of Truth - whether we believe in a God or not. Namaste, Adrienne :)
I recently read Dying To Be Me, by Anita Moorjani. It's about her NDE (near death experience) when she had stage 4 cancer. Not only did she have an NDE, within 6 weeks of that experience, her cancer was gone. It's a fabulous account and is full of wonderful wisdom gleaned from the other side. This book is definitely worth a read. In her story, she discusses her childhood in Hong Kong. Of Indian descent, she was raised in the Hindu traditions, yet her early education was in a Catholic school run by nuns. She talks about an instance when a classmate of hers asked why she and her family didn't attend church on Sundays. When she replied that her family is Hindu, he said, "You need to tell your parents to take you to church to pray to God every Sunday, otherwise you won't get to heaven when you die." When Anita got home, the following dialogue occurred with her mother: "Mama, my friends and the Sisters at my school say that I have to go to church on Sundays, and I have to study the Bible if i want to go to heaven when I die." Her mother replied: "You don't have to worry about that. Just tell everyone at school that we're Hindus; and when you're a little older, you'll study our scriptures, the Vedas. People from different places have different faiths. You'll come to learn that after we die, we're reincarnated into other circumstances." Anita: "I don't think the kids in my school are going to buy that, And I'm scared. What if they're right? They can't all be wrong. How can the Sisters be wrong?" (My favorite part) My mother pulled me close and said, "Don't be scared, Beta. no one really knows the truth - not even Sister Mary. Religion is just a path for finding truth. Religion is not truth. it is just a path. And different people follow different paths. " Anita came to realize the truth of this statement during her time on the other side. There is no one religion where we go after we die. She learned many other truths as well and shares them with others, as she experienced them, in her book as well as in speaking engagements. I once heard the comparison of a bicycle wheel and religion. God/Source/Creator is the wheel and the many spokes are the different religions. Different spokes, same wheel. Instead of spending our energy trying to convince others that our spoke/religion is better or is the only way to Source, we should be directing that energy to actually getting to know Source, the God within and the God without. Religion is a tool, a path - it is not the end all, be all. We're all on our own paths, our own journeys - but no matter the path they all lead us back to the same space. Love, Adrienne :)
I once attended a presentation on vinegar and wine given by a wonderful man named Kurt Ammann who has a vineyard in S. Africa. I really enjoyed his talk and trying the different types of vinegar that they make on his property. He made a comment about wine that was a "hmmmm" moment for me. He said, "The same wine tastes different to each person." As I let that sink in, it got me thinking about how in life, no two people see it, experience it or live it the same way. Each experience we have collectively "tastes" different to every person involved. Some savor the experience, others dump the wine out of the glass in disgust, while others chug it down and go looking for more. What one may find as sweet, another can find too sour. This little anecdote is important because we sometimes need to be reminded that not everyone sees things the way we do. Back in the day when I used to drink, I very much enjoyed sparkling white wine. I'd been told that it's not "real wine" or that red wine was way better (I never tried a red I actually liked). Who cares? I'm the one drinking it and enjoying it, thank you very much. Why do people feel the need to impose their own experience onto mine? More importantly, why would I let them? Besides understanding that we all experience the same things differently, it's important to remember that the only time other people's opinions dictate our own experience is when we let them. We all have our opinions - some are just way more vocal and pushy when offering theirs. Your experience is yours, their experience is theirs. How much their opinion changes your experience is up to you. If you let them, some can ruin your experience or, on the flip side, they can direct you towards a new way to experience that you hadn't tried before. At the beginning, middle and end of the day - it's your life. By becoming more cognizant of how others impact your experience, along with the understanding that we all experience life through different eyes, the more conscious and aware you'll be - which will bring about a whole new experience unto itself. Wine anyone? Cheers! - Love, Adrienne
I've taken some flack for the work I put into myself as I make my way along this journey of self-discovery. I've been told it should be less about me and more about others; that I'm selfish. I disagree. There are times where you really need to make it all about you and there are times when you really should put others first. The difference lies in if what you're about to do is for the purpose of your ego or for your Soul/Essence/True Self. For example, if you decide to run a stop sign just so you can get in front of a line of traffic, only to then turn 1/4 mile down the road - you're catering to your ego. There is no thought for the others in traffic - whom you have now just slowed down - only your need to hurry up, get ahead and put yourself first. That's the Ego: me, me, me. Now, let's say you have a ton of responsibilities that are demanding your time, yet you go out for an hour or so to walk in Nature. You're taking the time to decompress and reset your rhythms so you can go about the rest of your day without the threat of burn-out looming over you. That's self-care and looking out for the "I." There is nothing selfish about walking your spiritual journey. There is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself and giving precedence to your relationship with your Soul. The most important thing we can do is get to know who we truly are, to break down the falsehoods of the ego and stop living as how others have defined us . As we connect to our Real 'Self' - we begin to live out the compassion and love we truly are. We begin to see others with different eyes. We begin to act instead of react. The ego is all about reacting - it thrives on emotional triggers and playing out drama. If it's all about your ego - put others first. If it's about your Soul connection - put that first, every time. There's a Zen proverb that I love: You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour. This world is in the state it is because we're letting our egos run the show. Imagine if we all worked on our Soul connection and lived in the truth of who we really are - it would be a much different reality. I encourage everyone to take the time to quiet the mind and connect to your real Essence. Take some time each day to consciously breathe, reflect and connect. It's a life changer! Much Love, Adrienne :)
Last week I had the happy opportunity to take part in my cousin's special day. It was a joyous wedding and I was brought to tears quite a few times due to the amount of love that abounded. Being the sentimental somewhat crafty one in the family, I came up with an idea for a slightly unique wedding gift. No matter how much we care about or love someone, we will inevitably hit some rough patches. Without those rough patches, how can we grow? I approached her guests during that down time after the wedding and before dinner and asked each one to write down a piece of wisdom/encouragement for the couple. I folded all of the flower shaped papers and placed them in a decorated Mason jar with the sign: "The... who needs Dr. Phil when you have... Wisdom Jar. " While I was considering what advice I'd offer, this project got me thinking about relationships in general - friendships, romantic, familial, you name it. It occurred to me that there are 3 C's for successful relationships:
Have a beautiful week! Love, Adrienne :)
Life really does seem like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you're slowly climbing your way uphill with something, sometimes you round one curve to only find another, sometimes it's a series of loops and twists, sometimes you end up going through dark tunnels and sometimes it's straight downhill. Like life, a roller coaster ride can be thrilling, scary, heart-stopping, terrifying or exciting - usually it's a combination of those feelings. The past few weeks alone have been quite the ride, especially for people in Ecuador and Japan. There has also been a number of pets crossing the rainbow bridge as of late and it's hard not to be sad when you lose a fellow passenger. Recently, for myself, there have been some highs, quite a few lows, some new twists and turns and I've been thrown for a couple of loops. What I've come to realize is it's up to me as to how I see this ride. I can tightly grip the handle bars and and brace myself for what might come next, I can allow the ride to terrify me, I can smile and enjoy it as much as I can or I can throw my arms up in the air for the duration. It's totally my choice how I'm going to react to this ride called life. I can scream, I can laugh, I can cry, I can be pissed off it's not going the way I want it to, I can sit and observe or do all of the above. While there aren't any wrong choices, each choice does affect how I perceive the ride. There's a photo of my nephew when he was little and it was his first time on a kid's roller coaster ride. The photo captures the sheer bliss and joy on his face. To me, it's a magical moment caught in time. It's a reminder that we're all capable of experiencing that bliss, that joy - when we let go and enjoy. I also love the photo you see below. Take a close look at the passengers. The women in the first two cars seem to be having a great time. The women in the third car look bored and irritated. The women in the last car look like they're too busy worrying about their valuables to even enjoy the ride. This is your life, your ride - you have the power of choice too. Life will definitely throw some twists and turns, some curves and some huge ups and downs - the question is, how are you going to ride? Here's to enjoying the ride as much as possible - Love, Adrienne :)
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January 2024
AuthorHello! I'm Adrienne Almamour, an empathic intuitive conduit. I assist people by detecting and clearing their subconscious emotional energy blockages. This blog is a commentary and reflection of life from an intuitive standpoint which also incorporates ways that allow us to be from our heart. |