Hitting Send

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

I Love the above quote, and like to believe that Aristotle was suggesting that we watch not only the external voices, but internal as well. In my last post I invited you to watch your thoughts and recognize the negative voices which may be holding you back from living your best life. Our thoughts make up our experience of the World, moment to moment, and being aware of our thoughts, and consciously rewriting the messages we are telling ourselves is very important. This time I am going to recommend that we dig a little deeper, as I believe that there is another tool we can use to expedite the process of internal positive change which will then allow us to be even better Creators/Creatrix’s of our lives.

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

I Love this Rumi quote and very much agree with him. I actually believe that it is our job to look inside and find the barriers within that we have built against allowing ourselves to live our best life. To the best of my ability, I actively live The Four Step Path: show up, pay attention, tell the truth and don’t be attached to outcome. I have been thinking that it could easily be applied in another way, assisting one in finding the barriers within. After all, how can we ask ourselves to do any of those things for others if we are not first doing them for ourselves? I was reminded of such recently when a dear friend flaked on me and our mutual friend remarked, “But, sweetheart, she isn’t able to be there for herself! Of course she can’t show up for you.”

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.

Ack! I shall break through my own barrier and agree with Reagan! haha The man was right on this one, and hey, he was an Actor turned President, so he certainly knows about breaking through constraints, right? It’s time to Love ourselves enough to not only watch our negative thinking patterns, but to courageously face the underlying emotions holding us back. For this exercise, you need to set the mental programming aside. First, we can show up for ourselves by turning inward. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and turn your attention to inside your body. Secondly, we can pay attention to what is going on within by naming it. What is the emotion behind the negative thought? Thirdly, tell the Truth. If the emotion is fear, embrace it. Our emotions are simply there doing a job, often to protect us. Be honest with yourself about what is behind the emotion. The fourth and final step is not being attached to outcome. The opposite of attachment is release, and it is through release that we can get to the other side. Know that the emotion served a purpose, thank it, hug it, and say, “You are no longer needed. Goodbye.” When done with intention, it works surprisingly well.

You cannot be wimpy out there on the dream-seeking trail. Dare to break through barriers, to find your own path.

Spring has sprung, the pioneer energy of Aries surrounds us, and it is time to take back our own Power and Courageously face our barriers head-on. Know that you are so worthy of having the best life you can live. I invite you to dig deeper to look at what you are letting stand in your way. By courageously facing that which is holding us back, embracing and releasing those blocks, we free ourselves to move through life harmoniously and successfully on our true soul journey.

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

There is nothing like a dream to create the future.

~Victor Hugo~

As we go about weaving the tapestry of our lives through our words, thoughts and actions, it is of the utmost importance that we have a very clear vision set forth for ourselves. We are the Creators of our reality and we are going to consciously magnetize our future by taking our goals, infusing our own energy into them, and birth this into a visual form. This is an incredibly powerful process, which also happens to be a lot of fun! No matter who you are or where you are in life, you have yearnings, desires, and, hopefully, clear goals stemming from that deep voice within which wishes to express the very best of it’s True Self. What do you Really want for yourself in all areas of your life? Personally, professionally, or even goals you may have for the Globe. It’s time to let that inner voice speak of what makes your heart dance, so you creatively (and consciously) manifest your goals and magnetize your future. It’s time to bring the vision to life.

Sample Vision Board, but not mine!

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

~Henry David Thoreau~

I find the act of bringing goals into a visual, feeling form so inspiring and motivating! It’s a very powerful creational process in and of itself, and has been given quite a few names: Vision Board, Vision Collage, Dream Board, Treasure Map, Mission Map, etc. My board reflects both my personal and professional desires, but I’m here to tell you that there are no rules. That’s right! This isn’t about anyone but *you* and what *you* want for yourself and putting that into a form which inspires you and allows you to Feel your future. When embarking on this Beautiful Adventure, ask what communicates and motivates you. I began with a large poster board, colored pencils and clipped images. Draw, paint, collage, or add stickers. Don’t rely just upon images from magazines, find the exact image you want on the web and print it out. Be specific and clear. May I tell you that there were images I had clipped which I manifested prior to even getting them glued to the poster board? Yes! Awesome! And, for those of you on the go, may I suggest an Attraction/Vision Book?

Another Sample Vision Board, also not mine! *giggle*

Your Vision Creation is going to be a tool allowing you to enter into your future in a Feeling way, so specifics are very important. What does your dream home/car look and feel like? Where do you want to go on vacation? Do you want to be making X amount of money by a certain date? Seeking a book deal, new business partner, or business successes? Step into this new reality, experience it as though it has already occurred and then set that into a visual form which will allow you to bring it into a tangible form. Add certain words or phrases as well, such as “Let your life speak” and “Sacred Peaceful home”, which are among the words on my board. I chose to section my board into the more masculine/yang (right) side of myself and feminine/yin (left) side of myself. At the heart of my vision board sits the image of a Beautiful pink lotus blossom, a symbol mirroring the importance of, and desire for, my continued emotional and spiritual growth, expansion, and development. I have a corner devoted to the Beautiful, Harmonious, Loving relationship I am already creating, as well as a corner devoted to the travel I desire and will manifest for myself. But this isn’t about my vision, but yours! What is it that calls to you? Be patient with yourself and be willing to revise the vision as you go along until it represents the best of you and your deepest innermost desires.

Resolve to succeed. The greatest discovery one can make is that nothing is impossible.

~unknown~

Once your Vision Creation is completed, and Feels like a reflection of the goal, you are going to use it daily to envision and magnetize that future. Spend time experiencing the reality in as great a depth as possible. The magick lies in knowing that you can and will create the Best life for yourself, and Trusting that it will manifest. That said, we are co-creators with the Universe and sometimes what we think we want and what are best for us are not in alignment. I consciously energize that which I wish to bring forth, but ask for my Highest Good and Trust that this will be brought forth. What more could we ask for than that? You Can do it!

Love and Blessings,
Antonia

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

My favourite Los Angeles radio station, KROQ, organizes some amazing concert line-ups, and back in November of 1995 they announced that their annual event, Almost Acoustic Christmas, would include the likes of Depeche Mode, Coldplay, The White Stripes, Jack Johnson, The Bravery, Death Cab for Cutie, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf, and more! Seriously?! I HAD to be there! But, alas, I was at work when the tickets sold out in a quick hour or two. A quick web search located a couple of tickets being sold upwards of $500 apiece. Hmmmm, a bit out of my price range, yet I could not shake the feeling that I was supposed to be in attendance!

You create your own universe as you go along.

When I was a teenager in high school, my mother had taught me that where there is a ‘ticket will’, there is a way! She and I had driven from Marin County up to Ashland, Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival (which I highly recommend) and desired tickets to ‘A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream’, but discovered upon arrival that they were sold out. This did not affect mom’s spirit one bit. We were going! When, the night prior to the performance, we came across someone selling a ticket, (as in singular, one ticket) mom swooped it up. The next evening we returned to the amphitheater, determined as ever, and came across a different group of tourists/Shakespeare lovers who also had one singular ticket. Imagine the admiration of our manifestation skills when we learned that the singular tickets we had purchased (from two completely different sets of people) were, in fact, seated next to each other!!! Love it!!!

Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.

I began my Almost Acoustic Christmas concert ticket manifestation process by carefully copying down the names of the bands onto a small piece of paper, which I placed by my bedside. First thing in the morning and just prior to bed I read the list of bands. Okay, there was far more to it than that! I heard the bands playing, felt the crowd around me, saw the lights shining brightly upon the stage before me, and experienced being there. I faithfully continued this practice each day as the concert date grew closer.

Whatever you create in your life you must first create in your imagination.

On the day of the concert I made a sign to take with me. hahaha On a large piece of paper I wrote out the word “HELP” in all capitols, but in bubble form so that I could make red candycane lines in the letters; after all, it *was* Christmas! Then beneath that I wrote in smaller letters, “PLEASE”! LOL Simple and to the point! Upon arrival at the venue I found quite a few couples also looking for tickets. I stood with my sign, undaunted. This was made a tad more challenging by the fact that there were NO scalpers at this event. It was held at a small venue and the lucky few who had managed to obtain tickets were happily attending, not selling. At last one couple arrived to sell theirs; asking price, a cool grand even. HAH! This was the point where the self-talk came into play. “I am supposed to be at this concert! I am certain that it is meant to be! I’ve seen it come to pass and so it shall be.” I barely finished when I saw a woman swiftly approaching me, thus barely registering that she had just handed me a piece of paper and walked away. I looked down at my concert ticket in amazement and then back up to see my Christmas angel, already gone. What a gift!

Our life is what our thoughts make it. A man will find that as he alters his thoughts toward things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.

Since we are the creators of our life, constantly manifesting a reflection of our inner thoughts and beliefs, I like to remind myself of occasions such as my ticket manifestations. It’s so fun to be reminded of the ways that asking and believing lead to receiving.

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.

When I think back to my decision to take a semester off from college to backpack across Europe by myself I must call it a premeditated impulsive choice (yes, I know this is an oxymoron). The desire to return to Holland had been building in me for a long time, coupled with an intense longing to see more of the Northern European countries. This came to light when a friend told me he had cancer and all he wanted to do was study as much as he could. I thought to myself, “If I had cancer, all I would want to do is go to Europe.” Which immediately led me to, “Why do I have to be dying to go to Europe?” I made a split second decision not to return to college as planned, but to take time off to travel. After all, if not now, when?

I would use my mom’s house in Mendocino as my interim base camp between my college dorm life and my backpacking trip. Prior to this relocation, I sent out a number of resumes with cover letters explaining that I would be in Mendocino for a specific time period and was looking for a job utilizing my skill set. Considering that it was a small, economically depressed area, I was blessed to be offered a position working for a local Inn/Restaurant as their Hostess. Not exactly what I had in mind for myself, but I would have to take what I could get.

Once I and my few belongings were safely resituated at mom’s house, it was time to get to work; after all, I had no money saved and a trip to pay for! I donned the pre-requisite black skirt and white top and anxiously went to my new Hostess job. This was when fate intervened on my behalf. The sole bookkeeper for the Inn/Restaurant had seen my resume and knew potential when she saw it, as I had a great deal of office and customer service experience. She set her sites on making me her new assistant. I was asked to return the following morning to meet with her and the business owners. Needless to say, they decided to hire me as bookkeeping assistant, despite a lack of prior experience in the field. In fact, I think my high school math teachers would have had a good chuckle at this!

The bookkeeper immediately set out teaching me every aspect of what her job entailed. She began with tallying restaurant totals, emptying the safes, and organizing deposits, but soon moved to what would become my new misery: spreadsheets. Ugh! I hated them immediately! First of all, they were dreadfully large and awkward. Secondly, making numbers total across *and* down was just not my forte at all. And yes, if you’re wondering, we were doing all of this by hand and on paper at the time. I needed motivation to help me get through this headachy torment and keep me focused upon the ultimate European goal. Besides, my friends were all saying something akin to, “You have an open-ended ticket and no money?! How are you going to pay for the trip??”

In my heart, I knew I was doing the right thing, so I stayed focused upon the dream. I found every picture I could of European countryside, trains, villages, and any other images that I found inspiring and pasted them all together on a poster board which I then hung above my desk at work. I would take breaks from my spreadsheet to gaze up at it longingly, transporting myself into this future, and allowing myself to experience what being there would actually feel like.

A few weeks before I was to leave for my trip, the bookkeeper quit without notice, leaving me the sole bookkeeper in charge. Hahaha! I somehow stumbled upon the fact that she hadn’t done a backup of computer files in almost a year! So I purchased computer disks with this goal in mind. Inside the box of disks was a scratch-off ticket which I scratched off only to discover a losing ticket. In addition, they were the wrong disks. Without any rational thought, I proceeded to open the second box of disks. You know? The ones which should be getting returned to the store! I scratched off the ticket and stared in disbelief at the three matching totals. I reread the directions which clearly stated that if you match three like amounts, you win that amount. Heart pounding in my chest, I counted and recounted zeros. Ohhh my God/Goddess!!! I had just won $10,000.00!!! My bosses were kind enough to allow me to keep this, and I reciprocated by not only returning the money for both boxes of disks, but also buying them each a case of their favorite fine wines. After all, I now had the money I needed for my trip and then some!

There is presently a great deal of attention going into the concept of creating one’s own reality. Whether you call it “Law of Attraction”, programming the subconscious mind, or simply setting goals; it’s all the same thing. It begins with setting the intention, stating the goals you wish to accomplish. It’s helpful to then look at what it will realistically take to achieve these goals. But, in my personal experience, it is focusing on that end result and feeling what it feels like to already have it that aids in the process of attaining what you want. What do you want most in life? Focus upon it, see it, feel it, dream it, and it can be yours.