In fact, there is a wonderful meditation I like to do with my Dance for Parkinson’s clients at the beginning of each class, but it is a meditation that can be shared, enjoyed and valued by all. So you may like to try this at home.

Firstly find a comfy chair and sit with your feet connecting strongly with the floor and your hands resting on your lap, making sure you feel comfortable with good back support and that you are nice and warm. Then simply breathe in and out really deeply, feeling all the goodness of the world pouring into you as you breathe in…….1, 2, 3 and then let all the worries and concerns you currently have leave you as you breathe out…..1, 2,3.

Repeat this action over and over.

And as you do this imagine you are a tree.  But not just any tree. A strong,  proud, formidable, powerful tree, that has been in this forest for a very long time. Your body is your trunk  - standing tall and proud, your arms are your branches, reaching out to the light and swaying gently in the breeze. And most importantly – you can feel the energy, the sunlight from above, pulsing down through your body or tree trunk from head to toe – top to bottom. Lighting you up from within and sending energy right along your trunk and branches and down into the root structure you have set up over the years.  When this energy reaches down to your feet – imagine it going out through the soles of your feet and into the floor like tree roots – anchoring you to the earth and providing a conduit for sustenance and life. Breathe in all the goodness of the world. Breathe out any negativity and let a wonderful calm come over you. Simply bask in the sunlight and breathe in all the goodness that surrounds you.

This is a wonderful meditation to ground you at the beginning of each day, or to use if you suddenly feel overwhelmed or unsettled during your day. Stay with it for 10  - 15 minutes if you can and really settle into that grounded feeling and imagine the sunlight on your leaves [ arms] and the stability you feel through your feet making such strong contact with the floor. Sending those tree roots [your life force and energy ] out into the world to keep you grounded and centred.

Why does this meditation work so well? I think it is perhaps that there are so many elements that are relatable when you see yourself as that tree.

Firstly, as human beings we all like to take root somewhere and create a sense of stability in our lives. Sending out our energy into the world, grounded through the earth, gives us a sense of belonging and these tree roots also represent what bring us sustenance. The roots we send out into our communities represent all the connections we make through different social groups, family, friends, and the like. They feed us what we need as humans – love, compassion, friendship, guidance, human interactions and a sense of belonging.

Then we have our body and our sense of self – our tree trunk. And much like a real tree it needs to be at all times both strong and centred, but also flexible to sway with the changes and winds of life.

Then we have our branches and leaves. To me these represent the seasons of our life. Sometimes in full bloom and then at other times shedding all our leaves, to cast off the old and make room for the new. The new shoots. The new leaves. The new way of being and doing. A simple and repetitive cycle that is seamless, effortless and unavoidable. It is just “how it is”. A constant cycle of casting off, resting and then rebirth.

So imagine you are just like a huge and glorious tree.

You take root, ground yourself and rejoice in your very existence. Planting roots in all directions that on one hand ground you to yourself, the earth, the forest around you and your life experience here and now. But also these very same roots feed you, nurture you with everything you need to grow, flower, expand, contract, weather the storms and sway with the winds of change.You rest in the Winter, flower in the Spring, bask in the glory of Summer, allow your leaves to fall in the Autumn, and then continue your cycle of rest and rebirth and fulfil the true potentiality of your existence.

Magical in its simplicity and design.

As this glorious tree, you breathe in all the good and release all the negativity. Constantly cycling through the positive and negative energies that surround you. Keeping all that is good and releasing back to the Earth all that is not productive or nurturing for your particular tree. You feel strong and proud and naturally able to cope with all seasons and all times. You go with the weather and all it brings easily and effortlessly. And most importantly, you have taken root and assured yourself a constant and reliable support system and root structure that runs deep to support you through it all, supplying you with constant nutrients and a physical connectedness and centred-ness to all that is.

So welcome to your very own Tree of Life.

Enjoy it.

Love it.

Feel it.

Send out your roots in whatever direction will bring you the most stability and joy.

Allow your trunk to weather all storms and bend with the winds of change that can sometimes push you around.

Produce the flowers and blossoms that best show off your unique nature.

Bask in the glory of your summer. Rest in Winter. Enjoy the frivolity of Spring. Allow Autumn it’s time and place…….being open to fully experiencing all Seasons of your life.

For through it all – you shall remain constant, grounded, swaying in the breeze and taking in all the sunlight, rain and nutrients that comes your way to give you all you need to survive and flourish and grow.

#Discover You. #Love You. #Be You

Christine

Before I continue on, please rest assured that all is well in my world and I can already see huge improvements in my health, with symptoms diminishing daily. My chronic health issue that tends to raise its head whenever I am “out of whack”, has done its job – I have taken notice and attended to my health, lifestyle and mindset. My health being that of mind, body and spirit.

So my questions to you are these:

1. Are you attending to your health on a daily basis?

2. Are you ignoring signs that your body or mind are out of balance?

3. Or are you waiting for your own personal health crisis and challenge to wake you up to a life that is not in balance?

For the past 20 years I have had a keen interest in health, well being and the power of the mind when it comes to health challenges, so today I would like to share some of these insights and developments with you.

There is a myriad of information now accessible to all, that explains the connection between your physical health and your state of mind…….and vice versa. In fact the ancient wisdom traditions, going back thousands of years knew all of this, but with the advent of modern science and our need to prove everything from a scientific stand point, this ancient wisdom and knowledge was put to the side – on the back burner if you will – and considered ” not worthy of consideration” because it could not be proven and seen through scientific demonstration.

The exciting thing now, is that much of this ancient wisdom can now be proven through scientific means and it is flying back into the forefront of modern medicine and consideration. Many of our medical practitioners are now looking for a more “wholisitic” approach that melds modern medicine with ancient wisdom traditions.

For instance did you know that:

1. Stress and lifestyle are major contributors to illness

2. A sense of community, human connection and a sense of belonging, contribute much to our wellness

3. Meditation is a key , scientifically measurable and well documented component to healing the physical body and general health and well being

4.  Many so called “incurable” and “chronic” diseases have been cured through changes in diet, lowering of stress levels, and a change in attitude to self and to life in general

5. Belief in your ability to heal yourself is crucial in bringing your body back to a state of health and balance

6. Yes – you can carry genes and a genetic predisposition to a certain illness, BUT – you have to “flip the switch” and turn the gene on to manifest the disease. Flipping the switch is done by exposing yourself to a toxic environment through poor diet, living in a toxic area, and/or thinking toxic and negative thoughts

Now – I am not a scientist and it is not for me to tell you what to believe – but what if what I am saying is true?

What if there is another element to healing that you can use to support any healing journey?

And what if the greatest healing power on the planet is simply within you?

Would you want to give it a go?

Well today – I simply want to point you in the direction of some fantastic resources and from there you can make your own choices as to what is right for you.

Having gotten my own physical body back on track, at least three times now through change of diet, the use of meditation and a change in attitude to myself and to life in general with a lowering of contributing stress factors, I can only say from my experience that there is certainly something to this.

But as with all things in life – what you choose to investigate, implement and believe is up to you.

So here are some of those great resources to get you back on a road to health and well being:

1. The Biology of Belief – by Bruce H Lipton PHD

This is a great read for the scientifically uninitiated and explains a lot about the scientific proof, research and data to support this theory. It contains stunning new scientific discoveries about the biochemical effects of the brain’s functioning, that show that the cells of our body are effected by our thoughts.

2. Mind Over Matter – by Lissa Rankin M.D

Using extraordinary cases of spontaneous healing, Dr Rankin shows how thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can alter the body’s physiology. She lays out the scientific data proving that loneliness, pessimism, depression, fear and anxiety damage the body.

3. The Connection – Directed by Shannon Harvey

The Connection is a feature documentary that uncovers the latest science in mind body medicine and proves we have much more to say about our health than we thought possible.

I have included the film trailer for this and invite you to visit the website and grab a copy of the DVD if you are unable to find a screening near you.

I was lucky enough to see the film last night in Sydney at Govindas, and have to say that it was more than thought provoking. What struck me though, is how much of the content I have heard before. But I do not say that in a ” oh – I have heard it all before way”, but rather in a ” wow – so many people are saying the same thing, there must be some merit to it all” kind of way.

But like I said – you decide for yourself.

If you are suffering from a serious or chronic medical condition, I strongly advise you to seek medical advice, before undertaking any other course of action. I am not a doctor of any sort and it is not for me to advise you in medical matters………but I am saying that perhaps you can also harness the power of your mind, a change in diet and a change of attitude to yourself and your life to accelerate and/or compliment any traditional treatments you may now be using.

And if you are not experiencing any health difficulties at this time?

I encourage you to investigate these resources anyway,  have a look and see what you think – as prevention is always the better option………let me attest to that ha ha ha!

Dis-ease is a signpost.

Dis-ease is simply your body telling you that something in your life is “out of whack”

Dis-ease is a wake up call that your body, mind and spirit are not “at ease”

Your job is simply to activate your mind, body and spirit to get everything back in alignment, so that it is reflected in good health.

Mind – Body – Spirit – it all goes together as one.

So on that note – I invite you to start your journey of self discovery, into the true power that lives within you

The true power of your mind

The true power of your beliefs

The true power of You

Discover You. Love You. Be You.

Christine

“If you want to lead a happy life –tie it to a goal. Not to people or things ” – Albert Einstein

For me there are two elements to the message of this quote. The first being that if you tie your sense of joy and self worth to a goal – you are in control. You can control your steps towards this goal.You can decide to change course and reach for a different goal at any time. You are in the proverbial driver’s seat and so you are not likely to come unstuck by the opinions and criticisms of others.

You are the captain of your own ship – setting course and sailing towards the destination of your choice.

Should you decide to tie your happiness to other people, you will be forever trying to please them. Forever trying to fit into their idea of what is good, what is worthwhile and what you should be doing with your life – and as you will all know – this approach is doomed to failure and little joy will be found there.

When tying your happiness to a goal – remember too that it is not the achievement of the goal necessarily that will be bringing you the joy. It may just be the working towards the goal. As once one particular goal is achieved we tend, as humans, to set ourselves another goal post to reach.

It is a continuing cycle.

It is a circle that never ends.

It is our constant source of fulfilment – the setting of and working towards various goals.

Reach one – work towards the next.

Decide its no longer for you – change direction.

Struggle with the process, keep on trying, and finally make it to where you have been aiming.

Whatever the situation – the process of having the goal and working towards it, is what will bring you the joy you seek in life.

And what are these lofty ambitions I am encouraging in you?

They can be the smallest, most trivial thing or the grandest scheme and notion you can come up with. The size of the goal is not important. It is the feeling you get as you work towards it that counts.

Perhaps you try a new recipe, you have always been wanting to try.

Perhaps you learn a new language.

Perhaps you set up a charity to raise money for a cause dear to your heart.

Perhaps you determine to finally get healthy, lose some weight and adopt a more active lifestyle.

Perhaps you book a cruise and travel the world.

Perhaps you decide to write a blog, or a book, or a movie script

Perhaps you begin a daily meditation practice

Perhaps you volunteer to assist the homeless or elderly in your area

Perhaps you learn to sing.

Perhaps you take that investors course you have always been interested in.

Perhaps you decide you are going to shower your new baby with love each and every day and be the best mother you can be.

Perhaps you are determined to make a co-worker feel good that day and have planned a series of compliments to give them a boost.

Perhaps you are planning to buy groceries for your elderly neighbour.

The list is endless – and there is no right or wrong.

The goal can be long term or short term.

The happiness and joy comes from simply following your heart, taking action and tying your joy to the actual movement towards the goal – rather than other people’s attitudes to that goal and your pursuit of it.

Which brings me to the second part of this puzzle.

I believe that our sense of happiness and joy rest in two places: our sense of self worth and our sense of contributing to something. And having a goal and tying our happiness to it, is a sure fire way to feel content. To feel worthwhile and purposeful.

Why?

Because – you are in control.

Because  - you can control your work towards the goal

Because – you are in the driver’s seat

Because  - you are contributing to a bigger picture.

Because – you have a reason to be where you are.

Let me be clear though.

You must avoid being attached to the outcome – it is the process, that should be your driving force. The feeling you have as you reach for the goal and follow the path – not the perceived riches or accolades that lie at the end of the journey – but the journey itself, that will bring this happiness.

For as I said – as one mountain is conquered, we set ourselves another to climb. That is the nature of life and what brings joy and happiness. The understanding of this fundamental principal may pay great dividends.

A sense of purpose

A reason to get up in the morning

A path to follow and goal to reach

It is the goal and pursuit of it, that can bring the joy you seek.

But tying your joy and happiness to people is a dangerous thing to do.

Why?

You can not control other people

You can not guarantee their interest in your set of goals

You can not control or guarantee their reaction – or lack of it – to what you do

You can not control their attitude to you and your goals or the contribution they make to your life.

You can not expect them to be as invested in your life, set of goals and dreams as you are.

Only you can be 100% excited, motivated and driven by your life.

Everyone else is too wrapped up in their own.

It is simply not reasonable, to expect everyone else’s lives to be about you and your goals too.

And you simply can not rely on others to set the tone for your existence.

You set the tone for your existence.

You decide your worth on the Planet.

You decide what is important to you and how you are going to get there.

You and only you are the Master of Your Destiny.

Everyone is out there chasing down their own specific goals, and what is of value to you may not be of value to someone else – and expecting them to support all your ideas is simply not fair or reasonable.

We all need to be free to pursue our own particular goals.

Now – if other people around you intersect with you here and join you on your path – great.

But often times you may find that many people really close to you, in fact, do not share your views  and goals.

That is OK.

As I have written before both support and criticism from others ,are crucial in helping you determine what it is, that you do want.  And help you determine exactly what goals are important to you. So take on board both, set your course and then sail off in the direction of your dreams.

Claim your goals.

Claim your life.

Claim your right to be you………and tie your happiness to your goals and the process of attaining these – not to the people around you, their opinions, or the rewards you perceive that may come from attaining your goal.

So simple.

So perfect.

So easy.

Just do your thing, have a reason to get out of bed every morning and happiness can be yours.

And on that note I shall sign off for today.

Discover You. Love You. Be You.

- Christine -

What if we could choose a different way?

What if the societal constructs that run much of the world could be rear ended and  new models and expectations built in their place?

What if there was so much more?

What if women could be seen in other ways – past their role as appendages to men,  sexual objects for the gratification of men and nurturers to all?

What if it was once a different way?

What if?

And this brings me to a wonderful book by Shirley MacLaine, that certainly poses a lot of interesting questions. The book is entitled simply: WHAT IF…

Today I would just like to share with you the final few paragraphs on Page 52

How you react to these words is fodder for your own consideration and I will not be giving my opinions here, as I feel the value in this small excerpt, as it rests in the context of this page of writing, is for you to examine your own personal response to the words.

No doubt your marital status and experience thereof will impact upon your mulling over of these words.

I found them quite thought provoking and as you can tell from my introduction they set me off on quite a few tangents of enquiry. My hope is that these word take you to your own place of self reflection and self discovery-  untainted by my own personal journey through these words.

So now – over to the incredible Shirley MacLaine:

“ After my husband and I split, I made it a point to dodge the marriage bullet. From then on, I had loving sex without commitment. I loved to work hard, and feel I have earned all I have, which is enough for the rest of my life. But mostly I am content. Content with my surroundings, my friends, my family (whom I see when I want to), and my life.

Many women friends of my age are finding exquisite happiness on their own. None of us feels alone. On the contrary, we feel free and creative to be who we are. We often have celebratory lunches (too hard to find a parking place at dinner), reveling in our freedom of aloneness.

Wake Up, women of the world! You have earned the right to be free of taking care of others. Perhaps it isn’t even your nature. Perhaps you are the true warriors of peace.”

As is always the case when I present someone else’s words for reflection, I invite you to go back and read the passage a few more times.

Let it sit with you.

Let it quietly roll about in your mind and consciousness.

Let it guide you to where you need to be – for You.

Discover You.

Love You.

Be You.

- Christine -

-       Unknown –

All the quotes in my blog have had a powerful impact upon my own life, which is why I share them here with all of you today. And this particular quote is one of the most poignant. Sure, we have all had moments that we wish had played out differently. Things we have said. Actions we have taken. Moments that highlight our imperfections and inadequacies, rather than our strengths and our virtues.

But that is ok.

That is just how life is.

It is often these “less than ideal” situations or moments that push us to define what we truly want from ourselves. It is these moments that push us to discover exactly who we are – the light and the dark. The good and the bad. The wise and the not so wise. It is these very moments that create our identity, sense of purpose and sense of who we are. What we can do better. What we want to achieve. Where we want to head. So in my mind, we should be as grateful for these moments as we are for the ones that go swimmingly well and leave us basking in the fabulousness of who we are.

Along with this has also come the realization, that most moments that linger with me as “ gee – I wish I could do that again” – tend to be the moments I missed.

The opportunities that I didn’t capitalize upon.

The moments that came and went.

The experiences that passed me by as I either sat in indecision, or fear, or some other form of immobilization that stopped me from participating.

Some of these things were really simple things like not going abseiling because I thought my bottom would look big as I came down the side of the cliff. How ridiculous. How sad. How completely stupid. I hasten to add that years later I did have the opportunity to go Indoor Rock-climbing and this time no such worry stood in my way and I had a fabulous time.

The message here is quite simple – loud and clear.

Go out on that limb. Follow the path to new experiences.

Dare to try.

Dare to be different.

Dare to give it a go.

Why?

Because quite simply, the opportunity may not come your way again. You may miss the chance to meet some interesting people or do something new and worthwhile.

Of course – there are opportunities that present themselves daily that may represent a most unwise choice that could seriously harm yourself or the people around you and of course these are not the opportunities to which I am referring here. Anything that represents a clear and present danger to you or those around you should be avoided and declined at all costs.

What we are talking about here, are the things we let slip by that could take us on a new course, with no real danger to life and or limb. Things that float past our reality, beckoning us forth to a new adventure. Things that are on our “bucket list” perhaps but never quite happen. Things that we always dreamed of doing.

It is funny but true, that we will most likely be disappointed by the chances we didn’t take than by the ones we did. At least when you follow through on an idea, a wish, a dream, a plan – you know the results of your efforts.

But if that dream, that vision, that idea, that plan, that promise, that invitation is left unanswered – then you will never and can never know what might have been.

Would have  – could have – should have – are the most destructive and fruitless words in our vocabulary. They take you on a very short ride to nowhere.

Been there and done that are far more satisfying, even if the doing of the action cements firmly in your person that you have no intention of ever taking that course od action again. This could be said for my decision to go whale watching one wintery Sydney day. It was flat out the worst 3 hours of my life. The seas were incredibly rough and there was not a whale in sight. In fact, the only creature that made a brief appearance was a random seagull that happened past for but a moment.

To add salt to my wounds, whilst I was being violently ill over the side of the boat, making my reacquaintance with the bacon and egg roll I unwisely chose for breakfast, a Canadian couple were canoodling madly nearby. The scene was quite surreal. My sister and I beyond ill at one end of the boat whilst the Canadian Bear Grylls and his girlfriend were having a “love in” at the other ha ha ha.

Now – the point is. At least I went on that whale watching trip.

Would I do it again? Certainly not. But I am not sitting around wondering what it would have been like had I gone.

I have also been offered the opportunity to go sky diving  – twice no less.

However this is something that I have never done. And I must admit that I do sometimes sit around thinking what it would be like to jump put of a plane into oblivion at thousands of feet above land ha ha ha. So I do wonder if that is one thing I shall be disappointed in, within myself as I head to great beyond at the end of my life on the Planet.

As I said – we all have to way up in life what represents fair risk in our lives. And I am not suggesting you all run out and do crazy, risk taking activities, like sky diving or whale watching ha ha ha. I am simply recommending that you take life by the proverbial horns and get out there amongst it.

There is no longer the excuse of not having anyone to do things with, as there are oodles of social groups through which you can meet likeminded individuals and join up with them to try out some new things. Meet Up is a wonderful way to find kindred spirits of all kinds. They have groups for dancing, attending music, concerts and bands, discussing literature, watching films and documentaries that can change the world, dinner groups, drinking groups, non drinking but still having fun groups, hiking and bush walking groups, scientific groups, philosophical groups, foreign language groups etc etc . This list goes on and on -  so you can always jump on line and find some other people to enjoy some new things with you.

At the end of the day:

Only you know what is on your “bucket list “ .

Only you know what dreams live within your heart.

Only you know what opportunities you have let pass you by in the past

And only you can make a change into the future to seek, explore and discover all that you are, all that you want to do, all that you want to learn, all that you want to be and all that you want to experience.

So – make time each day to think about you. Make time each day to honour you and your dreams, your ambitions and your wishes.

Make that “bucket list” and start ticking off the items.

Make a decision to take opportunities as they come your way.

Get out and about and do some of those things you have always dreamed of doing, as one day, your time will be up.

So now – go back to the quote at the top and re-read it.

Then slowly close your eyes, listen to your heart and see what comes to your mind.

Imagine yourself dreaming, exploring and discovering.

Where is your little boat taking you?

To where are you sailing?

What adventures are you embarking upon?

What opportunities  and invitations will you not miss again?

Let your soul speak to you about what is lying dormant inside you waiting to be awoken.

Now – go – reread the quote again and I shall wait for you here. Do not open your eyes again until your heart is full of joy, full of ideas, full of excitement and full of possibilities.

Welcome back.

Now grab and pen and paper and write down exactly where you saw yourself.

Where was your soul drawing you to be?

What opportunities, activities and experiences have your name etched upon them?

Where are your sails taking you?

I can say that doing this little exercise and reading this little quote once a week or once a month can inject some purpose and drive into your life. Re-evaluate where you are at all the time, as we constantly change our minds and ideas and feelings – and that is OK too. That is simply growth.

So take the plunge and launch yourself headlong into life.

Organize those ukulele lessons. Book that trip to Machu Picchu. Catch up with that long lost friend for dinner. Accept the invitation to that seminar. Go out salsa dancing even though you are 70 and people say you are too old. Start that new cupcake business. Go hiking with a new group of like- minded people.

Just do it!

Like diving into a sea of possibility – if you don’t go in the water, you can’t experience the sweet caress of the waves or the sand beneath your feet.

As we all know. Life rewards action.

This is your time.

This is your moment.

This is your chance to move.

Discover. Love. Be.

This is all there is.

- Christine -

Not one other.

There is no one else who is 100% You.

I mean – how cool is that!?

What it really means is that no matter what you do in life, no matter what choices you make, no matter which path you take – you can not fail at being You.

It is simply impossible.

Nobody can be “Youer” than You!

When you think about it, that is pretty crazy stuff. In fact, it is so crazy, and wonderful that I wonder why we all take life so seriously.

I mean, how simple can it be?

All we have to do in life is be who we are, with the added bonus that there is actually no-one else in the race ha ah ah ha!

There is only one of us at the starting line.

Kaboom!

Everyone’s a Winner!

You would think that given this knowledge we would all be running around the place with huge grins on our faces. But no – quite to the contrary, we seem determined to make life so much more difficult than it is meant to be.

The main culprit here is constantly comparing ourselves to others. Pushing away all the unique traits and attributes that make us who we are, in favour of “towing the line” and fitting in with some pre-ordained notion of how we should be.

And whilst I may sound like I have my own unique little life perfectly in balance, I have spent much of my time in the past doing exactly this and creating a whole world of pain and anguish for myself that just did not need to be there.

In retrospect it all seems so foolish. Because it is ha ha ha!

We are here on the planet, I believe, to simply figure out who we are and express it joyfully to the world at large, giving them the opportunity to either join in our celebration or run to the nearest hiding place.

Either option is fine as long as we are being true to ourselves and not impinging upon anybody else’s right to be who they are in the process.

True to You.

Loving You.

Unashamedly You.

That is all You need to do.

So why is it all so difficult sometimes?

Because we live in a world that is constantly trying to convince us that our little brand of who we are – that is, your little brand of You – doesn’t cut the mustard. That we don’t measure up.

Measure up to what I ask?

I prefer chutney to be honest.

Who set these standards and conformities?

How about just measuring up to your own set of rules, morals, ethics and standards?

Like I said. As long as you are not wilfully and deliberately impacting upon another person’s life and liberty in a negative way, you should be free to live your own life and run your own race.

And the benefits are huge.

So consider this.

If you can stop listening to the Peanut Gallery……. who always have an opinion on everything and a seemingly unending bucket of nuts.

You can Find you.

You can Be you.

You can Run Your own race.

And guess what?

The bonus is that you are a dead set certainty to win this race, as you are the only one in it!!!

Can you believe how easy life is meant to be.

Job Done.

Happy Days.

And with that knowledge, I ask you to go full throttle into life.

Discover you.

Love You.

Be You.

Live Your life.

Because there is only one You.

-Christine-

Imagine a woman who trusts and respects herself. A woman who listens to her needs and desires. Who meets them with tenderness and grace.

Imagine a woman who acknowledges the pasts’s influence on the present. A woman who has walked through her past. Who has healed in the present.

Imagine a woman who authors her own life. A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf. Who refuses to surrender except to her own truest self and wisest voice.

Imagine a woman who names her own gods. A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness. Who designs a personal spirituality to inform her daily life.

Imagine a woman in love with her own body. A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is. Who celebrates its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who honours the body of the Goddess in her changing body. A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom. Who refuses to use her life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life. A woman who sits in circles of women. Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

Imagine yourself as this woman.

Patricia Lynn Reilly

Taken from the book: The Strength of Women

There really is not very much I can add to the profound wisdom of this passage and I thank Patricia Lynn Reilly from the depths of my being for writing it. It is funny how certain words find you at the perfect place and time and give you exactly what you need in that moment.

I happened upon the little book that contained this writing, one sunny day in a Post Office queue in Mackay, North Queensland. I have a tendency to shop in Post Offices and Airports, so it was not surprising that my eye wandered whilst waiting in the Xmas throngs. But what was surprising was that it was a book of this nature that caught my eye. It was unusual that this little book took my attention for some reason.

I was not there to buy a book.

I was not needing to read a book.

I just saw the book and felt immediately drawn to it.

For most of my life I have lived with a certain amount of annoyance at having been born a girl. In a world that is so heavily weighted towards men, it just seemed like an uphill battle sometimes. Apart from having to deal with a whole list if issues that come with the simple reproductive capacity we bring to the world, it just seemed like men had all the fun. Made the rules. Called the shots. Had less to worry about.

Then one summer’s day – I found this book and read this insightful passage and the world of my womanhood opened up like a brand new book, waiting to be explored and read for the first time.

The impact each verse had on me was quite overwhelming.

For the first time in my life I felt like part of an incredible Sisterhood!

Part of a wise council of elders.

Part of an incredible group, blessed with the role of giving life to the planet.

Part of a special force for good.

Part of a sensual, beautiful, loving and nurturing energy.

I actually felt glad to have been born a woman.

This was a huge leap for me, and one that has been gradually unfolding over the past few years. Whereas in my younger years I always preferred the company of men, I found myself meeting more and more incredible women.

Strong women.

Inspiring women.

Fun women.

Really funky, and cool women.

Headstrong, and opinionated women.

Compassionate women.

Women who set their own course and knew their own value.

Women who stood their ground and made their own way in the world.

Sexy, smart, empowered women who supported the other women around them.

And the oh so very wise women who took me under their wing and guided me to pastures new.

It is interesting to me that I chose two very male dominated professions on which to build my earlier life: tap dancing and drumming. Perhaps there is something in that? Perhaps I set myself a struggle that I need not have had?  But like all things in life, perhaps it was these very experiences that have informed who I am now and guided me to the work that I now find so enjoyable and empowering?

Who knows?

Time will tell?

But what I do know – in this moment – is that the passage above in pure gold!

It will no doubt mean different things to different people – and that is the beauty of the written word. It can be digested and reviewed in any number of ways subject to the readers experience and expectations.

So I invite you to go back

Sit quietly.

Read it again.

Take from this wisdom whatever it is that feeds your soul in this moment.

Revel in being a woman.

Revel in the women around you.

Find strength and courage and heart and fire in the sensuality and assuredness that is your right as a woman on the planet.

Discover You.

Love You.

Be every inch of the Woman that is You.

- Christine -

Ponder life. Ponder myself. Ponder my interactions with the world around me. Ponder questions to which I may never have an answer. But nonetheless, ponder I do – as it feeds my soul and renews my energies.

It was during one such “pondering moment” that I started to meditate upon celebrity and the effects it has on our society.

In a world that celebrates celebrity and fame and so many other things, perhaps we have lost sight of our true value in the world. And that is in the interactions and impact we have on those who are closest to us. We can create such wonderful moments of joy and caring and laughter and sharing and togetherness and help and appreciation and life in every single day we are on the Planet.  And yet we seem to have lost sight of the intrinsic value in this. We seem to be oblivious to the power that lies at our very own fingertips each and every moment of every day.

Perhaps it is better to be truly, madly and deeply loved and cherished by the few who are closet to us, those who love us, and do so knowing all our flaws –  than to be idolised from afar and shallowly, by those who do not really know us, or genuinely care for us at all.

Why do we perceive “celebrity” and “fame” as some sort of Holy Grail?

Why are so many of our youth now aspiring simply to be “famous”?

Why have so many of us we become slaves to celebrity? Lapping up every inane story that the tabloids put out about the people who have reached this exalted status?

Do we really care what they ate for dinner?

Do we really care what clothes they wear?

Why do we buy into the charade?

Certainly, I am someone who loves to celebrate excellence. I love celebrating all the good in the world and appreciating anyone who has  created something of beauty or merit.

But why do we undervalue some things and put others on such a ridiculously high pedestal?

Can we not celebrate the barista who makes us a fabulous coffee every morning?

Can we not value and appreciate the cleaners who keep our pathways clean and looking beautiful?

Can we not honour all the gardeners of the world who surround us with the beauty of nature?

Can we not smile in gratitude and appreciation for the teachers who educate our youth?

Can we not applaud the efforts of our nurses, firefighters and emergency personell who put their lives on the line to keep us safe?

This list goes on and on and on.

We are all heroes to someone.

We are all heroes in our own lives.

We all have the potential to impact greatly the lives of those around us, in a positive and nurturing way.

And wow – that is a gift.

We should all feel empowered and excited by our ability to effect those around us in whatever way we choose and in whatever way is applicable to our own unique abilities and gifts.

Like a little pebble thrown into the lake of our own lives, the ripples can be huge.

Life changing.

So why do we not value ourselves and the enormous ability we have to make a difference in a positive way to those close to us?

Why do we obsess over people who are not actually in our lives at all in any real and meaningful way?

Again – it is fantastic to be inspired bzy people from afar and we all have our mentors. But surely we could also value those people closest to us and realize the huge potential that exists at the very borders of our own lives to make a huge difference.

Famous or not………..

We all matter.

We can all make a difference.

We can all have an impact.

We are all the leading lady or leading man in the film that is our life.

So, now is the time for you to focus on You.

Focus on what you can do in your immediate surroundings, to make a difference.

Realize that you do matter.

You are important.

You are intrinsic to the lives of those that matter most to you.

Those who bask in your sunlight and feel the breeze of your intention each and every day.

Those people who share you time, your thoughts and your space.

Those people who know you inside out and back to front and love you just as you are.

These are the people who inform your life and whose life you influence too.

So never ever think you do not matter – because to someone you do.

Even if that person is the most important person of all – You.

So go out into your own life today and send out ripples of love and support and hope and joy to all those around you.

Because you can be sure that you really do matter to them and perhaps this is the true essence of life, that we have left fading in the shadows of our “celebrity obsessed” existence.

Discover Your Greatness. Love Your Greatness. Be Your Greatness.

- Christine -

Recently I have been hearing and reading a lot of talk about Animal Communication. It just seems to be popping up everywhere and even though I do not have a pet of my own, I do have a huge love of nature and believe 100% that we are all connected to nature and all other animals on the planet. I often marvel at what close connections all my pet owning friends have with their various animals and love that feeling of unconditional love that they seem to bring with them to their owners.

For this reason, I thought I would take the opportunity to have a chat with my friend, and animal communicator extraordinaire – Faye Fletcher – and get her to answer what I assume would be most people’s questions regarding this incredible gift.

I trust that those of you with animals in your life will find this blog useful and insightful, and that it will open your mind to the possibilities of communicating with your animal in a new and exciting way.

Christine: First of all Faye, can you explain exactly what you mean by animal communication? How exactly do you speak with or communicate with someone’s pet, when you are clearly both speaking a different language?

 Faye:  Well that’s just it, we are not “speaking a different language”…… Telepathic or silent communication;   imagery, emotions and feelings are tangible senses.

 Animals use a telepathic or silent language.  They send and receive images along with their feelings and emotions.   In fact we were born with these abilities it’s just that we’ve forgotten how to use them.

 When I see a photo of someone’s animal I will “get present or still my mind” and then ask a question. The animal transmits, and I receive, very strong feelings, emotions and see pictures, in my mind, of what the animal wants to communicate.  Let’s do a little exercise to demonstrate…..

If I asked you to “describe your front door to me”  firstly, you would think I was nuts, however, give it a try………when you start describing your front door you will have a vision of it in your mind.  You will visualize it in order to describe it.  You will not be thinking about cleaning the car while trying to describe the door.  It is with this imagery in conjunction with feeling and emotions that we use to interpret what your animal is communicating to us.

Christine:    OK then. So if someone wanted to have a session with you to discover a little more about their particular pet, what would the process be?

 Faye:   They would contact me either by phone or email.  I would take them step by step through the communication process.  They would attach a photo of their pet in an email to me, or if they prefer, post it to me. 

I would make an initial connection with their pet and gather information that the person would verify as their pet.  We would set up a time that suited them and they would call me at the pre-arranged time.  At this point they can verify that I did make a good connection in which case they could ask questions and I would deliver the answers.  If a good connection isn’t made we stop and don’t continue.

Christine:   What is one of the most memorable experiences you have had connecting a person with their pet?

 Faye:  Oh boy, there have been many however one did touch my heart.  It was a little dog called Amber and her owner, Maria, lost her to illness in just 3 short weeks.  Ambers passing affected her greatly and she found it difficult to accept Amber had gone and felt particularly guilty for having her put to sleep. 

During the communication Amber had expressed her gratitude for the release because she had had enough pain and said she felt the pain Maria was going through by having her put down.  Amber said she was in Maria’s life to bring joy, love and “to fill a gap”….that Maria had lost someone in her life and Amber was there for her. I told Maria that this loss felt like an extension of Maria, “like a child”….. Maria then told me that what Amber said “hit her to the core since she did lose custody of her child”.

Something else that touched Maria was when Amber spoke about a “pink blanket” that was so special to her. Maria explained that the pink blanket is what Amber had when she was a puppy and then when she was sick before she passed.  It was what Maria had kept to remember her by.

 Maria told me that this information along with the rest of the communication was very healing and gave her the peace of mind she needed and helped ease the pain, grief and guilt that she’d carried with her for months.

Christine:  Given that this is quite a new area for most people to venture into, some people are sure to have their doubts. How can the animal’s owner be sure that the reading they are getting is authentic and not just a “generic” reading that you might give to any pet owner? What specifics are given to prove to the owner that you are communicating specifically with their pet?

 Faye:  Yes, good question.  The initial communication I do before talking with the animals owner is where I ask questions of the animal that only its human might know.

This can be anything from “why it’s human had gone away and that they didn’t like the person minding them” to small stuff like what it likes to eat.  I have had a cat tell me, when asked that question, that its favourite food was “toast”…..now that sounds odd but the human confirmed their cat did indeed love toast yet not ALL cats like toast.

 I have heard some sceptics say “well if a cat says it like/wants fish to eat that is because every cat would like fish”…..however, that is not true.  I have had 7 cats over the years and only 2 of them liked fish.

Christine:    Is there any animal that you would not be prepared to communicate with and why?

 Faye:      No.  That’s like saying “is there any person you would not be prepared to communicate with”….. The process is the same for every animal.  Some animals are quite basic in their ideas and needs and some are very communicative.

Christine:    Why do you think Animal Communication has taken a little longer to become mainstream in Australia then in some other countries?

 Faye:    I’m not sure.  We seem to take our time with new concepts here but that is changing. 

Christine:    What are the most common reasons people seek you out to communicate with their animal?

 Faye:  Some of the more common reasons are:

• Their animal has suddenly changed  behavior and the Vet has established that it is not a physical problem…..The behavior changes can have to do with the animal losing another pet or human in the family, either through death or perhaps a divorce and so the animal is grieving
• It has become very bored because of a lack of exercise or some change within the family dynamics, a new baby coming into the family, a house change etc
• The human simply wanting to know how the animal is feeling, is it happy, does it like the new animal that has been introduced to the home, why has it suddenly gone off it’s normal food….?
• Their animal has become aggressive?
• Their animal has been adopted from the pound and want to know why it behaves the way it does?

Christine:    And finally – what advice would you give to someone who is having their first ever Animal Communication session?

 Faye:    Be prepared for their animal to tell you things you didn’t even know yourself, like why:

• They don’t like where they have to sleep
• They had a nasty altercation with another animal or human that you hadn’t witnessed
• They want you to know things that are important to them

 The best thing to do is to have no expectations and be prepared to be surprised.  Having a chat with your animal can bring a real sense of understanding into your relationship because you are hearing from the animals’ perspective, not yours.

 Wow.  There was just so much information there about the entire process and what to expect.  Faye I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to join me for a cup of tea and a chat about Animal Communication.

 If you would like to have a session with Faye or discover even more about this modality, please visit Faye’s website and/or drop her an email.

Website:www.animalspeak.com.au

Email:     faye@animalspeak.com.au

Our animal friends bring such a unique and comforting energy to our world and it really is a blessing to have people like Faye amongst us who have such a passion and caring for them, that they have learned how to communicate effectively with them.

As I said at the start – I trust this blog was insightful and I look forward to bringing some other messages to you from Faye in the future.

 -Christine -

Blame the past.

Worry about the past.

Wish to change the past.

But let’s face it. The simple fact is that there has never been a more futile endeavor than sitting about contemplating our past failings…..or successes for that matter.

We live in the now.

We live in the present.

And the only thing we can really control is how we choose to act in the here and now.

If there is one thing I am striving to delete from my experience at this present time, it is regret.

It is the most futile of emotions.

The most futile of places to be.

The most ridiculous waste of time, when all is said and done.

As the great saying goes:

“What’s done is done and can not be undone”

So all we can do is focus 100% on the present.

Create actions and thoughts in this present moment, that can take us through to the next moment in a positive and empowered way. Positive actions today can certainly become the positive habits of tomorrow – all you need to do is let go of the past and swing full throttle into the present.

I must confess that I used to be very much a “regret laden” individual. This is a fact that any of my family members will attest to. Constantly asking –

“ But what if I had done that?”

“ Did I miss my opportunity by not taking that job?”

“ Should I have accepted that offer or that project?”

“ My life could have been so much different if only blah blah blah”

Well you know what!

You didn’t. And it is not. And it won’t be.

I am sure you all know someone who suffers from this condition.

This What if, If only, It should’ve been this way disease.

And it is painful to listen to in the extreme. I know because I had to listen to myself for a good number of years ha ha ha ha!

But enough is enough – I can’t go on  – I can’t go on – no more! [cue song and dancing girls]

I certainly do not have the answers to all of life’s big questions, but I do know this.

Spending your time basking in the unanswerable and unquantifiable world of “what if” is a sure way to nowhere but misery with a capitol M!

So – if this is you. Stand up right now. Look in a mirror and say simply:

“Enough is enough. You didn’t. You’re not. It’s not. It won’t be. You aren’t”

Now wave Bye Bye to that whinging, complaining slave to the past…… and be free!

Too easy!

That is it! Simple!

Decide right here and right now to move forward. To be present.

Now go forth and create a new reality, based on what you can actively do today to get where you want to be – today.

Start where you are now. Right now. And just build on it one little step at a time each and every day.

You might be surprised at just where you end up. But you have to start from where you are now, without regrets and without looking back at every missed opportunity, or misread adventure in a negative light.

We all have them.

Things that we perceive as mistakes.

Mis-steps.

Mis-haps.

Mis-adventures.

Missed opportunities.

Mis-calculations.

But perhaps – just perhaps – all these so – called unfortunate, regrettable incidents in our lives are the ones that we have learned the most from. Perhaps many of these things are what have brought us to where we are today. Perhaps these are the things that have forged understanding and compassion within our souls. Perhaps they are things that we actually really enjoyed, if we were honest with ourselves. Perhaps these “regrets” are what build our character and inform our mission and purpose in life, as we go forward. Perhaps they should be relished, cherished and used, as a force for good in our lives -their work already accomplished and done in the past.

We are after all, the sum of all we have experienced. And every moment of our lives has brought us to where we are today! Every moment whether perceived as good or bad, right or wrong, positive or negative has brought us to where we stand right now at this very minute. And perhaps we need to simply trust the process. Trust a higher order of things.

Perhaps regret really stands for:

Really

Easy

Growth

Reserved

Especially for

Today

Like I said earlier. Regret as we know and perceive of it, is a wasted emotion.

A road to nowhere.

An empty boat.

So the choice is yours.

Either move forward and give regret the flick. Or move to a place where your perception of it takes on a more positive and helpful connotation.

- Christine -