Hitting Send

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.

~Buddha~

Do you know what your mind is telling you? Are you able to watch your thoughts as though they were a crawl on CNN? The way our brains are able to quickly take in information, analyze it, and assess what we should do or say in a given moment is awesome! Truly. However, as the only thinker in our minds, it is up to us to be mind~full, and to change our own thinking and programming along the way. What old tapes are you letting run? How are those affecting your everyday experiences of the World around you?

Thoughts have power; thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break it by your own thinking.

~Susan Taylor~

Let’s face it, how you interpret events in your life effects your mood. If you are letting old mental tapes run, you could be using your energy in an unproductive way which could easily be leading to lowered self-esteem, cynicism, pessimism, and negativity. Don’t waste your energy getting caught up in the story of how it was, or you fear it will be. You are in control and it is time to take back your Power! The inner creates the outer. All~ways. So, whether it’s an old program which tells you that you are not good enough, intelligent enough, or attractive enough, these old thoughts and belief systems will not only be reflected in the energy you put out into the World through your word and actions, but it will also be mirrored back to you in those around you. These negative tapes could have come from trash talk on the elementary school playground, the lockers after gym class, in your home or work environment or elsewhere. What’s important is that you become Aware of them, and compassionately change them into positive thoughts. This will not only help you, but contributes positively to collective consciousness as well, assisting the whole.

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

~James Allen~

How does one change one’s thinking from old negative tapes to positive, healthy thoughts? I have found that putting positive affirmations in plain view for myself is a great way to begin. Tape some affirmations on your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator, in your car, and at work. This sets in motion an awareness that you are in control of your thoughts and that it is only a thought and a thought can be changed. Be Aware of your thoughts. Watch them throughout the day, knowing that you are more than your brain, and in fact, the one in the driver’s seat.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

~G.K. Chesterton~

Be Grateful. If you are not yet making a Gratitude List, I would Highly recommend that you begin. This is a Fantastic way to change your thinking. The power of gratitude is an extremely important aspect of attracting to yourself the abundance and happiness that you desire and deserve. Your thoughts, feelings and actions result in your circumstances, and by being in a state of gratefulness, your positive thinking will be reflected in your moods and actions, which will bring about even more things for which to be grateful.

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious.

~Unknown~

Positive affirmations can take different forms, but I prefer to always keep them framed in the positive, present tense. I AM statements are wonderful! I AM strong, beautiful, confident, smart, creative, etc. Fill in your ‘I AM’ statement for the areas in your life where you wish to consciously shift your thinking patterns. I also like ‘I CAN’ statements. I CAN write an Awesome, Inspiring post which motivates my BeLoved readers to shift their thinking! But, I would recommend against using too many future tense statements, such as ‘I WILL’ proclamations, as I believe that putting energy out in the future results in the desired creation always being out there… in the future. Bring it into the present tense and affirm that you already have that which you want, bridging the gap between desiring and reality. For example, instead of telling yourself, “I WILL have a Beautiful, Peaceful home”, say “I Have a Beautiful, Peaceful home.” Can you feel the difference when you say each one? Allowing your energy to be in the present tense brings the energy into being in the present tense, where you want your creations to occur. I think it is very powerful to write one’s own affirmations, but here are some of my favorite examples to get you started.

*I Love and appreciate myself just as I am.
*My life works Beautifully.
*I am strong and healthy.
*My life is blossoming in total perfection.
*Everything is working out for my Highest Good.
*I always have enough of everything.
*I Love having plenty of energy.
*I deserve the best and accept the best now.
*I prosper wherever I turn.
*I am a brilliant and successful artist.
*I value who I am.
*I love and cherish all aspects of myself.
*I radiate health through every cell and system in my body.
*I have the courage and self-confidence necessary to put my solutions into practice.
*I honor myself and treat myself with respect.
*I am the prime decision maker in my life.
*I trust my feelings and unconscious thoughts.
*As I own my power, I recognize the strength and beauty of who I am.
*I accept responsibility for all decisions I make in life.
*I treat each new problem I encounter as a new door to be opened, and an opportunity to be creative.
*I Love creating joyful, creative relationships.
* There are beautiful things happening in my life daily.

Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.

~Henry David Thoreau~

Why do affirmations and changing your thinking patterns from negative ones to positive ones work? Because they reflect the Truth. You are Perfect just as you are! You came in that way. All else is ego bullsh#t. Don’t let old tapes control you and your life. You deserve the best and it is time to accept the best *now*! Love yourself enough to become aware of what you are telling yourself and compassionately change the old, unhappy scripts into Beautifully written, constructive ones.

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.

~Lewis Grizzard~

Happy first day of Spring! Granted, it doesn’t particularly look or feel very Spring-like today in my neighborhood, but the seasons did officially change at 4:44am PDT this Friday 20 March 2009; known as the vernal equinox or Spring equinox for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. As the Earth is tilted on its axis, during the Winter months we are tilted away from the Sun, and thus have cooler months. On the vernal eqinox, also known as Ostara, the Earth tilts towards the Sun, bringing warmer days and new growth. While the word “equinox” roughly translates to “equal night”, today will not have a day and night of equal length, as the true day-night equality occurred prior to vernal equinox. In any case, Spring has been celebrated for thousands of years as a time of hope, for it is the growing season and replenishment of food sources. Mother Earth is awakening from her slumber, renewed energy waiting to burst forth in the form of new life, and I shall rejoice in this and the return of warmer days.

Yesterday was Glorious, and felt like the first day of Spring, so I went out into my new neighborhood to capture signs of its arrival. A local explained that this is fertile land, which brings with it many, many birds and various other creatures. Their morning cacophony of chirping is Lovely! I delighted in watching two birds preparing their nest. Sparrows, perhaps? But, could I capture a pic?

Granted, you cannot see its cute little face past the mouthful of nesting materials!

I Love this sweet lone bulb at the base of a Gorgeous tree

Speaking of renewed hope.. what might these bulbs blossom into?

Alstroemeria

The Freesia smells Wonderful

Citrus fruit abounds! Look at these! Lemons..

Grapefruit

Wow! What a Gorgeous lemon tree..

Pomelo? Or really big Grapefruit? My big cell lends contrast.. seriously, folks!

Lush rose bush full of buds..

The wood is decked in light green leaf.

The swallow twitters in delight.

The lonely vine sheds joyous tears
Of interwoven dew and light.

Spring weaves a gown of green to clad
The mountain height and wide-spread field.

O when wilt thou, my native land,
In all thy glory stand revealed?

~Ilia Chavchavadze~ Spring

A Beautiful Camelia tree

Nothing says, “California” like our state flower! The California Poppy!

More Beautiful bulbs..

ooOOoo! Daffodils!! It must be Spring!!!

Forget not that the earth likes to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.

~Kahlil Gibran~

Spring/Ostara marks the rekindling of life within the Earth and the renewal of fertility, not just in the physical form of the plant life displayed above, and baby animals soon to be born, but also in our spiritual lives. Whatever your religious beliefs, I would encourage you to utilize this renewed energy in forms which call to your heart. Spend time in the garden, encouraging the birth of new life by planting seeds. Or birth forth your own creation in a favourite artistic endeavor! As always, I would encourage partaking in an activity which brings you further into balance with nature and fellow humankind, for we share this Beautiful Earth, and journey of Season’s changing.

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

It can be so easy to get caught up in the day, what needs to be done, moving forward, looking back, anything but being in the here and now. I like to begin my day by getting centered and grounded, and when extra stressors show up, whether it be traversing traffic, or an important meeting ahead, I once again ground myself, releasing the stressful energy and center myself in the present moment so that I can be the best me possible to face the situation.

Many of the Amazing and Beautiful womyn in my life seem to be needing this very practice, and it is advice I have shared with quite a few of them of late. “Sweetheart, take a nice cleansing breathe,” I have said to a few stressed-out friends. When I ask if they are grounding, or using any form of meditation, most are so busy doing remarkable things with their lives that they have forgotten to center themselves. I remind them that it doesn’t take very long and offer suggested methods. Just prior to my move, a Dear SistAr, shared a Lovely story with me. She is incredibly gifted at bringing people together and in being out in the World, but tends to take on too many energies, losing herself in the process. She shared that she had walked to the local park, found a tree to ground in with and was told, “Once you are grounded, you can no longer be swayed by others.” Yes! Yes! Yes! Exactly!

Five days after my recent move back to Northern California, I received a phone call from my Beautiful mother with very sad news which tested my inner resources, requiring me to utilize all of the tools I had been sharing. “I have some shocking news,” she told me, explaining that her Amazing and BeLoved father had crossed over. As soon as I was off of the phone, I put on a coat and went outside. Being outdoors to grieve, ground, and heal has been so helpful during this time. It took two days for me to feel comfortable driving, but as soon as I knew I could do so safely, I drove myself into the mountains, found a tree, and after asking its permission, I sat on its roots, my spine against the trunk, and sent my sadness down into the ground.

I had already planned to drive north to my mother’s house later in the week for her birthday celebration, which in true mother form (i.e. self-less, giving) she had changed to a Birthday/Welcome Home, Daughter party. Beautiful, yes? I am Blessed. She had planned for the top of the cake to read, “Full Circle Celebration” with two candles, but now will be adding an additional candle, one for our Dear Patriarch whose life on this side has come full circle, but remains with us in Loving memory and lineage. I chose to depart for mom’s a day early; an incredibly Beautiful journey along the CA coast.

Yesterday, mom and I had our own adventure, to the Sacred Redwoods. It was a Gorgeous journey through the pine tree covered mountains, Sun shining brightly. Wow! After driving for about fifteen miles through the curvy roads, we finally arrived at the redwood forest! WOW! They are so special and so very, very Magnificent! While it was a tad cold to sit and meditate, we listened to the Lovely babbling creek, and grounded in with the trees. It was a Wonderful journey, which was healing for us both. This weekend we shall share her birthday, my return, and fondly remember my Dear Grandfather with BeLoveds; a Full Circle Celebration.

Below are two grounding techniques which I use and would recommend to assist in getting focused and centered. They will help you in decreasing your stress levels, clearing your mind and make you feel better quickly.

A Simple Grounding Technique:

This can be done indoors, but having your feet against the Earth in an outdoor setting is always best.
Take a deep breathe and with the exhale send energy through your legs and feet, imagining that there are roots growing from your feet into the ground beneath you. Continue to take slow, cleansing breathes, sending the roots from your feet into the center of the Earth, wrapping the energy around the very core of Mother Earth, releasing any negative energy and grounding yourself. This need only take five to ten minutes to be very effective. Enjoy! It feels good to be centered in the now and you shall be a better, more effective you!

Bonus tip: If really stressed, you can use this technique while hugging a tree. It works!

Chakra Grounding Technique:

Once again, indoors or outdoors, have your feet flat on the floor. Take a cleansing breathe into your belly, allowing it to expand, and with the exhale imagine a cord from your root chakra into the center of Mother Earth. With each breathe watch the cord grow bigger and brighter as you ground. You can envision either a cord of white light, or you can use the corresponding color for each chakra as you move up your body. Next move to the sacral chakra, sending a cord into the center of the Earth. Continue with each of the chakras until you are at the crown chakra. Then, imagine yourself in a bubble of Golden Light. Lastly, send Light up from your crown chakra towards the Heavens. (One need not believe in any particular faith to do this, as all is energy, we are simply connecting with energy around us in a Loving, conscious way.) You are now centered and grounded!

I’m sure that you can imagine why after uprooting myself to a new area then facing grief so soon thereafter, continuous grounding would help me so much in dealing with both processes. I hope that the techniques I have shared are helpful to you as well, Dear Reader. And, if you are already using your own grounding/centering/meditation techniques, please feel free to share them!

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

The Cake

The Beautiful Womyn Gathered

I suspect that it was a Blessed gift that I hadn’t the time to fully integrate the big move I was making; it all happened very quickly, yet so instinctually at the same time. If you read my Rainbow post, then you know about my trip to Northern California to share in the Christ~mass Holiday with my BeLoved mother. As there are no accidents, my usual plane ride from Burbank to San Francisco became a last minute train-bus-bus journey through California, with a stop-over in San Jose. As I stood, gazing upon the Beautiful green mountains, I just knew, as much as I resisted it, that I would end up there, or its surrounding area. Admittedly, I pushed these thoughts aside until the very last minute possible (ummm, as in about ten days prior to my move! *giggle*).

Upon my return to Los Angeles I immersed myself in work, Grad school applications, packing and finding a place to live in the North Hollywood area. With the last task, I found myself rather going against stream. It just did not feel right. Ironically, my social life and connections with Amazing people actually blossomed in my last two months there. As I said in another post, once one makes claims, the Universe will test you! “Hey, Antonia, are you sure you’re supposed to leave? What if I throw this at you, or tempt you with that?” So, I turned inward, and the answer was very clear, “Yes, I am quitting my job and moving across state, sight unseen!” hehe When called…

The Mountains calling me home again

Before I go into Womyn Power mode, (appropriate, as this weekend is International Women’s Day) let me say that there was one male who helped me with this transition, and I am very, very Grateful to him. Gotta Love a male friend with tools, right? Haha He fixed my car! After questioning my intention to drive my car to Northern CA, he knew it was going to need help and he came through for me, fixing it up for the journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you, my friend! Truly!

Now, that said, when it came to the actual move, it was done by the womyn. YAY SistArs!!! This feels so in keeping, as I am very clear that my return to Northern CA is tied with my work in returning the Goddess energy to our BeLoved and Beautiful planet, which I feel needs that nurturing energy for it’s rebalancing. My best friend, whom I now call “The Superhero” kept me on track, and supported me through the journey, going beyond the call of duty! She told me that we should fly her friend down to LA to drive the truck. Huh?! But, I trusted her and purchased the plane ticket to bring the Awesome Glynda down. I Loved her from the start! She eyed the 17 foot truck with No apprehension, explaining that she had driven various vehicles far more challenging than this cake walk. (Did I mention I Loved her from the start? ;-))

For two weeks I pushed through a hectic schedule and some procrastination to sort through my belongings and get things packed and into the room closest to where the truck would be parked. On Saturday The Superhero and her Amazing friend helped me pack the last few boxes, and pack the truck. They returned Sunday morning and off we went, up the long, Beautiful state I Love! Let me just say that I have Never been happy to follow a truck in my life, but I was SO Grateful to do so this journey. I kept a healthy energetic figure eight around the truck and car, looking down at the Kwan Yin (Goddess of Mercy, please let us make it safely) on my dashboard, crystal in hand. I have never felt so safe and protected on a trip. Blessed. Blessed. Seven or eight hours later, and more Starbucks than I want to admit to, we arrived at my new home, where the Best Friend for whom anyone could ask, helped me unpack the truck! Not surprising that she could handle 14 hour days on sets better than I, and should you be in the position, you should hire her immediately for your upcoming show/movie/etc.

Last night I attended a Women’s Alliance Group where various Female/Goddess figures throughout history are discussed. In town less than a week, I am already being led and finding my way. As I gazed around at the Magnificent Womyn gathered, I just knew that I was in the right place, and that by trusting my instincts, I had been led to my perfect home. What’s in your heart, and where are your instincts leading you lately, BeLoved Reader?

Love and Blessings,
Antonia