One afternoon last week, I felt the unrelenting need to go spend time in the woods. I decided to go to the Nature Center near town. When I arrived, I was the only car there - until right when I was getting on the trail, a truck pulled in. There are multiple trails to wander, yet this person and his dog seemed to be on the same brain wave as me. I was randomly taking trails with the idea of arriving at a new trail that I'd been wanting to check out. I walk pretty fast and figured I'd lose them and could relax and just be one with Nature. It seemed that I had succeeded as I made my way to the new loop trail that takes you up and around a small hill. At the top of the hill is a very small patch of pine trees. I love pines, I always feel peaceful in their presence. I very much needed to experience that peace. As I made my way up to the patch of pines, I noticed a group of 6 deer. Of course, once they realized I was there, they started to run off. I stopped to take it all in and realized that the largest of the deer was maybe 25 feet away, opposite me and staring right at me. Whenever I've encountered deer, they always stand sideways and eye me up that way. This one was staring head on. We locked our gaze for what seemed like a minute and I instinctively dropped my head and looked to the side so as to not be perceived as a threat. I didn't look away long as my gaze was drawn back to its eyes. The deer just stood there and moved its tail a bit. I knew that this was all a message for me, but I also sensed that it might be thinking of charging - standing its ground. That's when it turned around and the whole group ran in the opposite direction. I walked a couple more feet and stood amongst the pines, reveling in my deer experience and breathing in that peace, when I was interrupted by that man with the dog walking by. Jeez, not only did he interrupt my peaceful moment in the pines, he must have been the one who scared off the deer as he had come up the part of the loop they were on. He ruined two magical moments! Since my face is an open book of whatever I'm feeling, I'm sure he thought, what a grumpy, unpleasant woman. He continued on his way. I stayed there with the pines for a while trying to sort out and gain clarity on some of the challenges of life that I've been facing. I didn't see the man and his dog again, nor did I see the deer. As I hiked out, I realized - there are no coincidences. There are many trails, yet he took the ones that led him up that hill, interrupting - yes, a magical moment - but also a potentially dangerous one. I was upset my peaceful alone time in the pines was interrupted, yet thanks to them - no harm came to pass with the deer. I tend to receive a lot of messages via Nature. It's one of my favorite ways to receive guidance. It always brings me joy when messages come through via a butterfly, a duck, a bird, a rainbow or whatever shows up when I'm having a session with a client. There's such an energy about them, that you just know they're there for a reason. That day, I received quite a few messages that provided me with greater clarity and I also re-learned a very important lesson - sometimes those who disturb our peace, are there for a greater purpose. When I made it back to the parking lot, his truck was gone. I closed my eyes and sent him and his dog many thanks and blessings for playing their role - a role that perhaps they weren't even aware of. I was reminded that we react to situations from our experiences and the emotions that we're holding. There is always a bigger picture and other view points. I realized that I need to do more clearing work on the emotions that I'm holding as they are disrupting my peace. I'm grateful I was able to recognize what happened that day for what it was. Instead of just an interrupted walk where I saw some neat things, it was one full of beautiful messages and lessons. Find your peace. Love, Adrienne :)
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In a little over a week, Star Wars: Episode VII will be released. As many of you know, the internet is abuzz with everything Star Wars. I recently saw a poster of Yoda with a quote that I loved which prompted me to do some research and see what other sage advice the films have offered over the years. I was mostly drawn to the conversations between Yoda and Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. I've included VII quotes and a brief take on the wisdom they offer us today. 1. All his life as he looked away to the future, to the horizon, never his mind on where he was, what he was doing. - Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back Yoda said this as Luke was trying to convince him he was ready for Jedi training. Yoda is reminding us how important it is to be in the present moment. It's o.k. to think and dream about the future, but not when that's all you do. If you live in the future, you're missing out on the now as well as the power to create the future you desire. These next quotes are from The Empire Strikes Back where Yoda was trying to train Luke by freeing the ship from the bog: 2. You must unlearn what you have learned. - Yoda Often we learn things that really don't serve us. We learn to be judgmental and critical of ourselves and others. We learn that we must be the very best or we must be perfect. We learn that we are better than others based on our race, religion, wealth status, etc. These are all learned behaviors that must be unlearned if we are to come back to who we truly are. 3. Luke: All right, I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. Yoda is correct in saying there is either do or don't do. The word 'try' does not allow us to fully commit. We either do something or we don't. Stop using the word 'try' and commit to doing - see how it feels. 4. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. - Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back Yoda was trying to explain to Luke how powerful the Force is. It's also a beautiful reminder that we are more than just matter, we are also luminous beings. We are not just our physical body, we are so much more. He notes that energy is everywhere - in all things. Life/creation energy is indeed everywhere in everything. We, as a species, need to come back to that knowledge. 5. Luke: I don’t, I don't believe it. Yoda: That is why you fail. This quote is also from The Empire Strikes Back, spoken after Yoda raised Luke's ship from the water. There is no way we can achieve anything unless we believe in it. If some aspect of ourselves doesn't believe, if we hold doubt, then it's unlikely it will come into fruition. Belief in ourselves is the most powerful, yet perhaps one of the hardest things to do. 6. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. -Yoda, from The Phantom Menace. Most would say that the opposite of love is hate, but it's not - it's fear. Fear is at the root of everything that is not love. Anything that is fear based will lead to suffering. Just look around at what's going on in the world today and tell me that anger and hate do not lead to suffering. 7. Luke: How will I know the good side from the bad? Yoda: You will know when you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. This conversation was held during the Jedi training in The Empire Strikes Back. This is great wisdom for our time as most people so readily take sides. People allow their anger, their fear, their resentments to stir them up and they become aggressive either in their words or actions. A lot of people are in attack mode. No matter how justified one may feel, this is participation in "the dark side." It is always better to come from a place of love, a place of peace. If Yoda was a real person in our reality, I'm guessing he would be one of the top personal coaches of all time. We can still learn a lot from him. His wisdom take lightly not... ;) Love, Adrienne :)
According to Matthew 22:39, Jesus said: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." He's obviously not referring solely to the neighbors who live in your area - he means everyone. We all share this planet. Anyone who is not you is your neighbor. Yet, people seem to be quite selective about which neighbors they will love and be kind to. Pretty much everywhere we look we can find examples of people not loving their neighbor. War and terrorism are the obvious ones - yet so is turning a blind eye to the plight of others such as the homeless, refugees, sex slaves, girls fighting for the right to an education and the list goes on and on. How about all of the detrimental comments people post on social media against others? How about bullying? How about the simple act of gossiping about others? How about being rude, snarky or nasty to someone? Looking at the state of the world today, it's really important we make the effort to love our neighbors. I believe the primary reason we do not love our neighbors is because we don't know how to really love ourselves. Think about it - if we truly loved ourselves as Creator loves us, our heart would have no room for any emotion other than love. Love and fear/hate/etc. cannot occupy the same space. We either feel love or we feel other than love. If we connected to the unconditional love that we truly are, we would have zero desire to hurt another. In fact, we would have little problem living the law of loving your neighbor as yourself. If we really want to see change in the world, we have to start with ourselves. If we are to really love others, we must know unconditional love of ourselves. It can be very challenging to love ourselves when we depend upon external factors. People will love me if I'm thin, smart, successful, a top athlete, a famous musician, etc., etc., etc. Too often we try to fill our hearts with love from other people - but it's almost always a conditional love. They will only love me if... And we all know what happens if they take their (conditional) love away - it hurts like no other and invites in a huge sense of rejection and unworthiness. Instead of searching out people to love us, we have to fill our hearts with a deep love for ourselves - otherwise, we're just inviting in suffering. It can actually be a huge challenge to really love ourselves. We have to love and accept our flaws. We have to break down our heart walls. We have to be gentle with ourselves and really treasure who we are. We have to remember that we come from love and that is our true nature. Are you able to look yourself in the eyes, in a mirror, and say out loud, "I love you (insert your name here)?" Are you able to actually feel a deep love for yourself? Do you feel a strong sense of connection with your heart? If any of the answers are no, then you have work to do. Egoic love is not what we're shooting for. We're looking to reconnect to the essence of unconditional love - a love Jesus embodied. A love available to all of us. We are all branches of the same tree. What we do to another is ultimately what we do to ourselves. Learn to love yourself and do your best to open your heart and love others - ALL others. Do the necessary work to remove the blocks and obstacles that keep you from that unconditional love of self. For when we can truly love ourselves, it will become second nature to also love our neighbors. With, in, from LOVE - Adrienne :)
“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted – a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” — Rabbi Harold Kushner Thanksgiving - a day where we join together with our families and friends and eat A LOT of food while supposedly being thankful. When I was younger, we would go around the dinner table and say what we were thankful for. I have found that it's very easy to say you're thankful for something - but if your heart doesn't swell with gratitude when you say it, then there's a disconnect. The feeling of gratitude warms and moves your heart. As I was walking one evening, the very large, stunning full moon stopped me in my tracks. I felt such gratitude to see this magnificent site. My heart was happy and a smile immediately formed on my face. The feeling of gratitude aligns us with the ALL that IS and brings us into the present moment. That's powerful stuff! We all, each and every one of us, have much to be thankful for. Yes, a lot of people are facing dark times - all the more reason to align with gratitude. It's very easy to complain, but that doesn't get us anywhere. Light is the answer to darkness, gratitude is the answer to lack, love is the answer to anything and everything. It's a good start to think of the things that we're grateful for - to count our blessings. Now, take it to the next level and sincerely FEEL it. Feeling gratitude allows us to be in a state of higher vibration. Gratitude does indeed nurture our Soul and it enriches our life. We have been given and blessed with so much. How can we complement our gratitude? By giving. You can start small or you can go all out - but GIVE. You can give someone your time, your expertise, your help, your smile, a hug, your prayers, an encouraging word - there are indeed so many ways we can give. Each time we give from our heart we are also providing someone with the opportunity to receive and feel that wonderful emotion of gratitude. It is a beautiful cycle as there is gratitude in giving as well as in receiving. It is time to bring more light to our lives and to this planet. It is time we take responsibility for our vibrations. We always have a choice with how we feel - whether we are low vibratory or high vibratory. Gratitude and giving are fantastic ways to raise your vibration. May your holiday (and everyday) be one of deeply felt thanks/gratitude as well as giving from your heart. In Love & Gratitude, Adrienne :)
It seems everyone has something to say about the attacks in Paris. The trails of thought I saw in Facebook posts alone went from pray for France - to don't pray for France - to why are people only focusing on France when something horrific happened in Beirut - to it was a false flag - to the West only cares when it happens to white people - to it's time to close the borders and the mosques - to warmongering. What was even more disturbing was how people would full out attack each other over whatever opinions were expressed. Those, such as Isis, who are about destruction and harming others thrive on hate. If they're able to invite people into that negativity then they've succeeded. Allow me ask you this very important question: are your words and emotions contributing to the darkness that you're so opposed to? We need to keep in mind that saying all Muslims are terrorists is like saying Westboro represents all Christians. We need to remember that the majority of the refugees are fleeing violence. It's horrific what happened in Paris, but we also need to acknowledge that this type of horror is something that many are experiencing on a regular basis. The refugees are fleeing for their lives, yet we're allowing our fear to close borders. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if you were displaced from your country and no other country would take you in due to perceived association with the very people you're fleeing from? I hear the cries of war and I wonder how many innocent people have died and will die because they're caught in the crossfire? Below is one of Human of New York's posts when he did his series on the refugees:
Instead of listening to the news barrage and getting into arguments over Facebook and with each other, I invite every person to take a moment and bring the good side of humanity back into the picture. Where there is darkness, let there be light. Send some light to all of this darkness. Get out of the ego (fear, anger, resentment...) and into your heart (LOVE, peace, compassion...). Send your loving energy to and pray for those who stoop to the lowest levels and commit these acts of atrocity. Those who only know hatred are the ones who need our prayers the most. It comes down to each one of us either being a part of the solution by raising our vibrations to those of love and compassion or being part of the problem by feeding the darkness with our own negativity, fear and hatred. It really is your choice. It stands true: be the change that you wish to see in the world. I close with this beautiful video: In Love and Peace, Adrienne :)
During the 2nd Annual Global Meditation for compassion, led by Deepak Chopra, I heard him say something that really got me thinking. A woman asked him a question about the environment and he said to stop using that word. When you use the word "environment" - it means you and the world are separate. He said that the Earth is our extended body – if the trees don’t breathe, we don’t breathe. He's tweeted out the phrase: "The trees are our lungs, the rivers our circulation, the air our breath and the Earth our body recycled." This is a beautiful way to see the Earth in a new light. We are doing a lot of harm to the Earth and therefore to ourselves. Perhaps the best way forward is to help others become aware of this perspective that Deepak has provided us, as well as invite everyone to hold the vision in their heart of a healthy, vibrant and healed planet. Where our mind goes, our energy flows. The best way to create change is to start with ourselves and direct energy towards that which we desire. As more and more people hold the same vision, that vision will become our reality. Now is the time to reawaken to the fact that we are not the dominant species - we are interconnected - we all affect each other. It is time to create the reality where the Earth does not need protecting because she is already protected, honored and loved. Will you join me in that vision? Love, Adrienne :)
If you watch small children interact with the world, you can learn some very important lessons. One of which is racism. One morning, while having breakfast at a hotel, my one year old nephew was ecstatic that the gentleman at the next table was waving and smiling at him. When this man returned his attention to the people at his table, my nephew did his very best to babble at him and try to carry on the conversation that he'd been very much enjoying. My nephew did not care one bit that this man's skin was a darker color than his. Why should he? The color of their skin has no bearing on who they are - as humans, as Souls. Here was a man with nice energy being friendly to my nephew and that's all he cared about. Later that morning, a little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old, was in the lobby watching cartoons. She and my nephew hit it off. Again, they didn't care that their skin color was not the same. Skin color has become a label, a category, a separatization that humanity has created and perpetuated. It is learned - we are not born with it. We grow up learning that those who look different from us are (insert whatever divisionary commentary you can think of here). These beliefs have created a lot of injustice, a lot of harm and a lot of separation. No matter what we look like on the outside, we all bleed, we all have a heart and we all wish for love and happiness in our life. We have a lot more in common than we think. When we judge people by the color of their skin, it creates an us vs. them mentality which invites problem after problem after problem. There is a phrase that I love: You are no better than me and I am no better than you. We just ARE. It is time we strive to be more like little children, looking past what's on the outside - for it's what's on the inside that matters most. Be very aware of your words and your actions because little ears are always listening and little eyes are always watching. What are YOU teaching them? Love, Adrienne :)
It's nearly Halloween. When I think of Halloween it conjures up images of witches and ghosts, vampires and monsters, trick-or-treating and jack-o'-lanterns... It's a night where spooky and creepy are the norm. I remember once dressing up as a witch for Halloween. When we think of witches, we tend to bring to mind the black hat, black cat and broomstick, among other things. What does a witch do? She casts spells. If she's a 'bad' witch, she casts harmful spells like curses or hexes. What if I were to tell you that you most likely cast curses and hexes yourself? For full effect, please play the 3 second video below. Words are very powerful. They carry a frequency that's either loving or not. Have you ever had some crazy driver cut you off or go way too slow and you curse at them? The words that you're using carry energy and that energy affects the person saying the words as well as the receiver of the words in most cases. How often do you say the phrase "damn it?" Think about what that means, you're actually damning something. I saw a quote that said: words can be forgiven, but not forgotten. Our words can have a lasting effect on people in negative as well as positive ways. I love the image below. If your words appeared on your skin as you spoke them, would you like what you see? Words can stir inspiration, break hearts, move people to joy, cause them to cry, boost confidence, cause psychological damage... words have power. Be leery of the curses and hexes you send out into the world. Just having a bad thought about someone sends out that energy. If you find yourself doing this, do your best to send loving, compassionate thoughts and energy to them. Remember, what you send out - sooner or later comes right back at ya. Happy Halloween! Love, Adrienne :)
Today marks the day that Marty McFly arrived in the 'future.' The second part of the popular Back to the Future trilogy was released in 1989. This movie envisioned a future where everyone was using flying cars, hoverboards, food hydrators and futuristic clothing that still looked a whole lot 80's. Though a lot of their predictions didn't come true, some were pretty close. It will be interesting to see if the Cubs win the World Series. Since the 1990's we've been introduced to DVDs, iPods, the World Wide Web, Google, iPads, smart phones, Skype, GPS and an onslaught of social media platforms. All kinds of technology to make life easier, yet we still don't seem to have enough hours in the day. All of this technology to connect us with others around the world, yet people are becoming more isolated. Video games have become so realistic that the line between fantasy and reality can easily become blurred. I'm not slamming technology, I think it's pretty amazing, but I do question our reliance on it and usage of it. The gist of Back to the Future 2 is the characters travel to the future and the past to make changes allowing for a different outcome. It got me thinking, if we could travel to the past, or the future, and change something - would we? Since DeLorean time machines aren't readily available, is there anything we can do in the meantime? There are many people out there who spend a lot of time trapped in the past and there are those who spend a lot of their time worrying about the future. We forget to be in the present moment. The present is where we have the power to no longer allow the past to control us. The present is where we create our future. If we wish to have a different outcome, it is in the present moment where we have the power to set that intention and act upon it. The future will arrive soon enough. Why not enjoy the present? By enjoying the present, you're also creating a better past. Love, Adrienne :)
Tell everyone you know: "My happiness depends on me, so you're off the hook" And then demonstrate it. Be happy, no matter what they're doing. Practice feeling good, no matter what. And before you know it, you will not give anyone else responsibility for the way you feel - and then, you'll love them all. Because the only reason you don't love them, is because you're using them as your excuse to not feel good. --Abraham What an amazing statement! Take responsibility for our own happiness and stop using the people who should be adding to our happiness, but aren't, as our excuse to not feel good. This is empowering. It's a lot easier to blame people and situations for our unhappiness, but it just leaves us as victims and happiness will continue to elude us. I know it will take some practice as it is very contradictory to ego, but the results will be worth their weight in gold. How often do we just try to get through the days? How mundane have our days become? People seem so intent on living longer, yet they're really not focusing on living fuller. Every single day is a gift - even the "bad" ones. We have a choice each day of how we're going to live it. Don't wait to live your dreams until (insert excuse here) - time goes by so quickly. Unwrap each day as the PRESENT that it is. What experiences, large or small, would lead you to a fuller life today? So much love to you all, Adrienne :)
"What if I told you that the left wing and the right wing belong to the same bird..." The Left vs. the Right, them vs. us, this religion vs. that religion and it goes on and on and on. I saw the quote above on a Facebook poster and it made me stop and think - it makes a lot of sense. Society and the media is so busy pitting us against each other and drawing divides that people forget to REMEMBER that each wing is part of the same bird. Yes, we have differing opinions and views, but we're all human beings who all come from the same Source - no matter what name you attach to our Source. We all want the same basic things - food, water, freedom, happiness, etc. The us vs. them mentality only creates division. If we could stop pitting ourselves against each other, this human race would find harmony and peace. Division is based on fear. People are killing each other, treating each other inhumanely because of fear - fear of loss of power, fear of loss of food, water, oil, freedom, you name it. Division is a power play used by groups who wish to be in control and many people buy into it due to fear and societal demands. I saw another Facebook poster that said: You, a banker and a refugee are sitting at a table. There are 19 cookies and the banker takes 18 of them and then turns to you and says - be careful not to let that refugee take your cookie. This is such a perfect example of how there is plenty, yet people are controlling it. Each person should receive 6 cookies with an extra left over, but there's someone who feels the need to take as much as they can just for themselves. It all boils down to greed and control from the "banker" and fear of me losing my cookie to the refugee and the refugee fearing that they will not get a cookie at all. If we all shared and helped each other out - there would not be such lack. I am a huge fan of Humans of New York. Brandon has done amazing work to bring humanity back into the picture. He reminds us that the person we see in the photo - who may seem so different from us - is, at the heart of it all, just like us. Lately he's been doing a series with the Syrian refugees. If you haven't been following him on Facebook (under Humans of New York), you can also see his photos and stories here. I highly suggest you take some time to read a few. It's not just the stories of the refugees, but also of those helping them. It's time for us to remember that we are all part of the same bird. It is definitely time we started acting like it. It can be as simple as thinking before you post a negative comment about that other political party or that 'terrorist' group. Stop allowing yourself to be part of the us vs. them mentality. Love, Adrienne :)
One of the ways I make sense of things and work through my pain is I write. I find writing is essential to my healing process. I have gone through a lot of loss and transitioning over the past few years, but one event in particular really shattered my world. I ask that you indulge me as I dedicate this week's blog post to "The Ride" and to all of you who have gone through or are going through similar circumstances. If we decide it to be, the ride does get better. It was you and me. We’d been on the road for 6 years. Wow, did we have some amazing adventures! Yes, we had hit potholes and construction and had wrecked a few times, but we were still moving along. You were my buddy, my lover, my travel mate, my confidant, my best friend, my safety net and the person I most trusted – you were my world. Though I knew I might not be your permanent co-pilot, I always assumed I’d have a place in your car. I mean, we were friends forever, right? That is, until the day you slowed down, stopped the car and kicked me out – slamming the door and locking it. Instead of giving me some warning and at the very least – dropping me off at a roadside rest – you left me stranded - barefoot, in the middle of nowhere, on a gravel road. As you began to drive away, I turned my back on you until I realized that you were serious. In anger, in horror, in disbelief - I screamed and I ran after you. I threw handfuls of rocks hoping one of them would knock some sense back into you, but you just kept going – refusing to look in the rear view mirror. Turns out, you had a different route in mind and a new passenger waiting for you to pick her up. You decided that while you still had space in the car, there wasn’t any room for me. All you needed was distance and the scrapbook of memories that you had stuffed somewhere in the trunk. So, there I was, watching you fade out of sight and there was nothing I could do. As I began to walk, a million unanswered questions continually went through my mind: Why did you just ditch me? How could you just ditch me? Did you really even care about me? Why didn’t you keep your promises? How could you just abandon me after everything we’d been through? Didn’t the last 6 years mean anything to you? How could you just drive away and leave me the way you did? How could you call yourself a friend??? With each excruciating step I took, the sharp stones of betrayal, of anger and of hurt; of resentment, of despair and of disbelief; and most especially of loss - cut deep into me - leaving me bloody and bruised. I kept thinking: “He’ll come back. At some point he’ll worry and he’ll come back to at least check on me and make sure that I'm o.k.” – but, you never did, did you? I thought about just lying on the side of the road and giving up. I almost did. But, I kept walking. Some days the pain was so intense and consumed me. Other days, I’d see a mirage of you coming back and apologizing and saying it was all a big mistake – but, it was just an illusion – or perhaps I should say, delusion. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, my calloused feet became stronger. I became stronger. As time passed - I worked through my pain, I begrudgingly accepted what was and I walked deep inside myself. Eventually, I hit asphalt. That is where I gained momentum. My feet have healed, but the scars will always be there as a reminder. Yes, a reminder of the pain, but more importantly, a reminder of the blessings that occurred as I rose up out of the ashes. I have forgiven you - and myself. Even though you are no longer a part of my life, I am grateful for the 6 years we journeyed together. I am grateful for you, but I no longer dwell in the past and the might-have-been's of a present that doesn't exist. Now, I’m driving my own car. Top down, wind blowing through my hair, my favorite tunes on the radio and a smile on my face. I know that my happiness comes from within me. I know that I am stronger than I ever imagined and can navigate this world just fine on my own no matter what obstacles pop up. I know that I’ve been through Hell, yet my bumper sticker reads: “Made it out alive & THRIVING.” I'm driving in the direction of my dreams and aspirations. I plan to enjoy the ride, no matter how bumpy it may get. I will stop along the way and smell the flowers and take in the sights. I even look forward to meeting a new co-pilot who is going in the same direction as I am and would love nothing more than to enjoy, along with me, this ride we call life.
I saw this poster on Facebook and thought, "hmmm, that’s an interesting idea," but I couldn’t think of anything that resonates with me in that way. For some reason, though, this poster jumped out at me. I would find out why the very next day. A friend had liked someone’s comment about Burning Man and there was a photo of a sculpture. When I saw it, my jaw dropped and I could feel so much energy and emotion moving inside me. I thought back to Björk’s comment and said, "this is it!" I couldn't believe how this sculpture was conveying so many of my feelings - some of which even I didn't understand, until I saw the photo. I connected with this beautiful work of art on so many levels. The sculpture is called LOVE: I went to the Burning Man website to find out more about this piece that is the brainchild of Ukranian, Alexandr Milov. The description reads: It demonstrates a conflict between a man and a woman as well as the outer and inner expression of human nature. The figures of the protagonists are made in the form of big metal cages, where their inner selves are captivated. Their inner selves are executed in the form of transparent children, who are holding out their hands through the grating. As it’s getting dark (night falls) the children start to shine. This shining is a symbol of purity and sincerity that brings people together and gives a chance of making up when the dark time arrives. So beautiful. To me, LOVE says it all. Click here to see a photo where the inner children are illuminated at nighttime. If you’re unfamiliar with Burning Man or would like to see more photos of the art installations, I recommend the following links: http://geometria.tv/blogs/events/87060 http://burningman.org/event/brc/2015-art-installations/ Love, Adrienne :)
I saw this video the other day and it really got me thinking. There is a huge difference in how we interact with people in pain if we are empathizing with them or just sympathizing. This video has some important points, so please take the next 2 minutes and 40 seconds to perhaps garner a new way of understanding how to better connect with someone who needs it. How often do we use the phrase "at least?" It would make me upset when people would use that with me as if my pain held no validity because "at least there was (insert whatever here)." I understand that it helps to see the bright side, but the pain needs to be acknowledged and felt so you can move through it and move on instead of just stuffing it down inside. "Rarely can a response make something better, what makes something better is connection." It's often difficult for people to know what to say to someone who's going through something really painful. Our heart may be in the right place, but we tend to let our head take over. Instead of listening for the sake of allowing them to be heard, we tend to listen to respond. Sometimes, hearing them out, offering a hug and saying I care about you, I'm here for you is the best gift we can offer. Love, Adrienne :)
Even though no one can replace him, we can follow in his footsteps by listening to what resonates with our hearts and by watching our thoughts and what we project out into the world. We can honor him, his life's work and ourselves by being the best version of ourselves that we can be. He shared a lot of wisdom and shined a lot of light into this world. We too, can shine our Light. I send gratitude to Wayne for sharing his heart and Soul with the world. I send prayers to his family and close friends for comfort and peace at this time. I am grateful to be one of many whose life was touched by the work he did here on Earth. Thank you Wayne. Thank you for being such a beautiful beacon of Love and Light. In tribute to him, here are a few of his quotes that I really resonate with: Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worthy. Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about. Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you. Extra Extra!!! How cool! Hay House just put up the following link to watch Wayne's movie The Shift for free! The link does expire in a few days so take advantage. I absolutely loved the film. What a wonderful gift! Click here to watch The Shift. Love, Adrienne :)
You'll find it in pretty much every store, every household, nearly every landfill and unfortunately, in pretty much any waterway. You'll find huge floating islands of it out in the oceans. You'll find it in the stomachs of sea animals and the bloodstream of your children. Plastic is prolific. Do we really need so much plastic? What's inexcusable is how a lot of people tend to dispose of it. Recycling should not be viewed as something some people do - it is something we ALL should be doing. It is our duty, our responsibility as citizens of this planet. There's no excuse for schools, companies, airlines or sports arenas (just to name a few) to not recycle. The following TedEd video is very eye opening. I had no idea that there was more than one garbage patch until I watched the video. It spells out for us what happens when we do and don't recycle. It's a fantastic video that is worth 4 minutes of your time. Please pass this along to your family and friends - it's one way to do your part to help our health and our environment. Love, Adrienne :) As I was driving one day, I noticed a mountain that was being strip mined - the site of it absolutely jarred me. It is unfathomable to me how man can be so destructive as a means to an end - that end being greed. The floating garbage patch, the destruction of our forests, endangered animals needing armed guards to protect them from poachers, factories violating our air, land and water with their toxic chemicals - where is consciousness? It does no one any good to put blinders on and pretend that "it doesn't affect me." Guess what? If you live on this planet - it affects you, it affects all of us. The U.S. government requires that my mattress must be labeled telling me what it contains, yet I can't know what's in my food. People tend to cite studies that this or that is safe, yet the studies they're citing were funded by the corporations themselves who are promoting it - that alone should raise some red flags. All you have to do is open your eyes and observe - look at what's happening around you. Use your power of observation, question and think for yourself.
They say, that which we resist, persists. For years, I've found myself disheartened and angry about how our planet, our home and its inhabitants are being treated. I've signed petition after petition and have locked heads with people of opposing views. Lately, mainly through what is known as Abraham, I'm learning a new way. Instead of focusing so much energy and attention on the the destruction, we need to visualize how we would like the world to be. Focus our energy on the positive. I choose to see a world full of healthy forests and their ecosystems. I choose to see humanity living sustainably using renewable resources. I choose to see a civilization living in compassion instead of greed. This is a practice that resonates with me. For those who are tired of the damage and destruction and would like to implement change, here are 6 steps we can take to help make this world a better place: 1. Be aware and acknowledge what's going on - take the blinders off. 2. Educate yourself and then share that information with others - do your due diligence with research. 3. Change your habits - how are you contributing to the destruction? Can you reduce, reuse or recycle more? 4. Let your voice be heard - it does matter. Let your wallet also speak for you. Walk your talk. 5. Visualize - take time in meditation and envision a world that you would like to live in (clean air, clean and abundant water, nutrient rich land, one where we are compassionate with all beings on Earth, etc). 6. Practice compassion - towards every living being and most especially towards yourself. Through compassion we open our hearts - with open hearts we can create miraculous change. These steps are very doable. Change starts with each one of us. As we raise our vibration, it will inspire others as well whether consciously or subconsciously. I'm already seeing more positive change and awareness - let us focus our energy there. Love, Adrienne :) It's hard for me to fathom that people still negate that we are destroying the planet we live on. Denying it doesn't change what's still happening right in front of our noses. Unless we all start doing our part - well, I hate to think of what the outcome will be. I love the comics that I've included in today's post. If anything, they beg for a moment of reflection. The biggest lie we can tell ourselves is that "it doesn't affect me." The destruction of our planet affects every living organism including the planet herself and we are all contributing to it whether we realize it or not. Just last week, 3 MILLION gallons of wastewater escaped from an abandoned mine in Colorado contaminating the Animas and San Juan rivers which have now been declared disaster areas. Perhaps you've seen the photos of the orange rivers? How long and to what degree will this latest man-made/caused event affect Nature as well as drinking water? While this does affect a large area and a lot of people, the vast majority won't care as "it doesn't affect them." Thankfully, social media is bringing what's happening to more and more people's attention. Those who are inspired then act. Some sign petitions, others join organizations, while others make more conscientious decisions. Conservation International has put out some very interesting videos where Mother Nature speaks from "her perspective." What do you think about this take on our role and that of Nature? Love, Adrienne :) A wonderful friend of mine and I were talking the other night. We were discussing letting go and moving forward. She proceeded to hold out her hand and said, "imagine I'm holding a pencil. It's light, not a big deal. Now, imagine how it feels to hold it for a long time - it gets heavy. So, what do you do? You let go." I'd heard of this analogy before and it's a great way to understand that the longer we hold onto something - the heavier it gets. With all of the work I've done with releasing trapped and blocked energies, I get it. But, truth be told, there are just some things that are really hard to let go of. It could be our greatest desire to let go, but there's something that's holding us back from dropping that pencil. My wise friend said, "that's easy, the key to letting go is to reach for something else." Light bulb moment: reach for that which brings your heart joy.
I'll admit, I have some issues that I have not been able to let go of. Even with the box of tools I have to release this kind of stuff - I still couldn't get there. Using these tools have helped lessen the grip, but there's still a grip. While working with people, I've noticed energetic shackles that we've actually had to unlock and take off of their feet or wrists. These "shackles" had to be removed before the clearing could take place. Recently, I found myself going through the following steps to let go of a persistent issue. It involves visualization and actual motion:
So, if you're looking to let go of a stubborn issue remember to R.E.A.C.H. (Release Energetic Attachments by Choosing Happiness). When you make that conscious decision to choose happiness, it will be easier to drop "the pencil" and take the necessary action to obtain that which brings you joy and happiness. If you give this process a try, let me know how it goes. |
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April 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. |