December Herb of the Month: Calendula

December is all about going within. This year it seems that with the extreme temperature drops going within is more welcomed than usual. Much like November, December is filled with the "ickies" as germs and allergens abound. The continued use of elderberry is always recommended However, myy discoery a few months ago that Calendula actually increases white blood cell counts, made it my immediate choice for December.

Calendula officinalis or "marigold" is a particularly potent combatant for issues surrounding skin and inflammation. I often recommend it to client who have skin issues with acne and psoriasis. It is an excellent external and internal cleanser and its dazziling yellow color adds to its healing energy. David Hoffman offers this list of indications below:

Calendula is one of the best herbs for treating local skin problems. It may be used safely wherever there is an inflammation on the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage. It may be used for any external bleeding or wound, bruising or strains. It will also be of benefit in slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers. It is ideal for first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds. Local treatments may be with a lotion, a poultice or compress, whichever is most appropriate. Internally it acts as a valuable herb for digestive inflammation and thus it may be used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. As acholagogue it will aid in the relief of gall-bladder problems and also through this process help in many of the vague digestive complaints that are called indigestion. Calendula has marked anti-fungal activity and may be used both internally and externally to combat such infections. As anemmenagogue it has a reputation of helping delayed menstruation and painful periods. It is in general a normalizer of the menstrual process.

(Source: http://www.healthy.net)

Calendula products abound and can be found in everything from my "Autumn Leaves" tea blend to soaps, ointments and even oils. To purchase calendula loose or in its varied form log onto: www.smileherb.com

Re-Communing with Spirit

I remember my mother being quite the witch growing up. It was her answer to our childhood inquiries on how she always knew things like when we were lying, or upset. She would say, "You know I'm a witch," in answer to our awe and dismay. As her child, I accepted this answer and quite honestly felt somewhat empowered by having a mother who was a self-claimed witch. I remember thinking she was just naturally powerful. It wasn't until I was older that I realized that while she had natural leanings, it was the ritual of prayer that kept her fortified. It was also the lack of ritual that eventually led to her dimmed inner light that shone brightly when I was younger. Those moments of "dimness" happen to me from time to time and when I become aware of this fact, I realize that I have "fallen off" and must re-engage with Spirit.

At one point, I started each day with a tarot pull to help ground me in "the now". I do a simple three-card spread where each pulled card represents: the dominant energy for the day, the players involved and how I might be affected. The ritual was less about "prediction" and more about awareness and intention setting. The pulls empowered me with the information to gauge the people and happenings around me, it was like the first time I put on prescription glasses and wondered, "Did I always see so clearly?" As I slipped away from this particular ritual, I became foggy and unorganized. In not carving out time for this very simple ritual, I lost focus.

This is not to say that before tarot pulls I was clueless, but I am finding that as I expand in my higher self, there are tools that become a necessary part of my journey. While I can sense things without having used a pulled card, to start the day without my ritual is the equivalent of not stretching before a run. While I will be able to complete the run in both cases, the instance where I didn't stretch beforehand, means more soreness and pain later.

"Falling off" is a very common thing and very much part of the human existence. The issue of consistency is one that has been a lifetime struggle. I know that without consistent ritual I lose my ability to be active in the spiritual realm, but it doesn't make staying the course any easier. When we don't engage Spirit actively, we lose the ability to tap into Spirit easily, especially when we most need it. This is something I am learning and in doing so, understanding what it takes to re-commune when I have lapsed.

In September, things sort of "fell apart" for me. If I had been doing my daily pulls consistently, I probably would have pulled the Tower card at some point. There was drastic change that affected me in so many ways and I had a bit of a breakdown. Whie this breakdown was not necessarily visible to those around me, it profoundly affected my ability to tap into Spirit. There was fear and anger and a host of other emotions that I found very difficult to engage. I just shutdown and shifted to autopilot. It wasn't until recently that I was able to step back and breathe a little. I looked up and my space was dim, light was not being created from the inside and I was relying on Spirit for EVERYTHING. I was just trying to survive and in those moments of desperation, I let go of those rituals that had previously kept me awake and aware. I essentially, fell asleep.
I "woke up" in early December as I prepared a presentation on my life story, or at least part of it. I looke around and noiced how dull everything was. My altars were not as clean as they should be. I wasn't burning candles like normal and my spiritual work station was collecting dust. That morning I cleaned, did yoga and pulled three cards. Just like that, I felt renewed and energized. In reviewing my notes from previous pulls, I noticed I had not consistently pulled for over a month. The first pull of my renewal, spoke of an end of a cycle and new lessons to be learned.

While I am still working my way back to center, I see how the cards inform and how ritual pulling, much like wearing bindis, forces me to focus. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. I have endured life without her physical presence for 16 years and I want to honor her on her birthday with a special initiation ritual that will humble me before Spirit and renew my path on this plane.

Re-Communing with Spirit is not hard, but it does require humility and the acknowledgement of how your spiritual absence affects your abilities. Everyone is diffrent, but here are a few suggestions:

• CLEAN: Spiritual work of any kind cannot be properly done in an unclean environment. Wash ritual clothes and tool, empty incense holders of ash, clean away dust, etc. Sage is a great way to cleanse with smoke, but sometimes things need physical cleansing as well, so use a little elbow grease and remember that energy must flow throughout. A cluttered or unclean space = stagnant energy.
  
  
• REESTABLISH RITUALS: Whether it is daily tarot pulls, seated or walking meditation, bring back those personal rituals that you used to do. Focus on those rituals that left you energized and focused. Communing with spirit is different for everyone, so find those practices that speak to you and jump right in!
  
  
• FORGIVE: Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves that we can't get past our own egos, which is really what forgiveness is allabout. So you slipped up, so what? Once you awaken, forgive yourself and keep it moving.
  
  
• ENJOY: There is joy in a good yoga practice, a sweet smelling incense, a beautifully cast spell or heartfelt prayer. Spirit should not be treated as this brick wall that you must smack yourself against. Instead view Spirit as a non-judgemental force that gives you what you ask for. Nothing done is nothing received, so enjoy the love and energy that is Spirit and you will find that it will be easily returned.

SIDENOTE: I started this post two days ago and am just now finishing it up. Right now, I should be in Florida visiting family. I had a standby ticket and the flights which were open two days ago, were oversold by the time I arrived . After two failed attempts to get on a flight, I decided to go home. Before I left the house, I felt compelled to light a white candle on my personal altar to serve as my "beacon" while I was away. I did my three-card pull and the card representing the dominant energy for the day was The Hermit. It was hard to be frustrated by the day's outcome with such prior knowledge.

IA

Personal Responsibility: Energy Shifts With a Punch!

I met with some of my students today as they prepare for their impending final exams. As a community college instructor, I am constantly aware of the energies of my students and often have to guard myself in the teaching process. It can be very taxing being around people, who essentially and genuinely "need" you. The neediness increases or decreases depending on the student, but I find that the closer we get to the final submissions, the more spent the teaching and meeting sessions leave me.

Today, I met with a student who about two months ago sent an email expressing just how desperate she was to pass the course. We set up a meeting and she didn't show. She had had a family emergency and was unable to attend the meeting. In her previous email, she was concerned about her grades and made it clear that she didn't have the money to take the class over, so she really wanted feedback. I told her to reschedule when she was ready and we never met--until today. Tomorrow is the last day for her and her peers to submit the assignments which will determine their final grades. The last assignment was assigned about two and a half weeks ago and has been the focus of the class ever since. Throughout the assignment process, I have repeatedly asked for drafts and offered in-class help to students with questions. This student along with a few others, never once produced a written draft of any kind.

As we were reviewing her paper, I could feel her tension and anger as I pointed out all of the errors and made it very clear that she was in danger of failing the assignment. At one point, it looked like she was going t o cry. I stopped and looked at her and said, " I have to say I am very disappointed that the day before the final is due you are just now bringing me something to look at." I went on to remind her of her email, failure to reschedule and the weeks that passed by with me reviewing papers in class, none of which, were hers. She of course had no response, but it struck me in that moment how her energy changed. Before I made my appeal, there was outward irritation towards me as I reviewed her mistakes. When I pointed out her lack of effort, there was a change, a shift that landed the previously outward energy squarely in her center core. She, in that moment, realized that if she failed it was no one's fault but her own.

We are our own responsibility. Ultimately, failures and successes are largely determined by how much of ourselves we put into a situation. True failure is not a simple "A" or "F" as in the above case. It's about genuine effort. Too many times, we try to look to Spirit as if to say, "How could you let this happen?" As if Spirit told us to buy shoes instead of pay a bill, or stay out late when we knew we had an early flight. We live in a world where personal responsibility is easily dismissed in an effort to shift the blame (insert government bailout example here). However, in keeping things true and honest, too many times WE are the reasons for failed relationships, unpaid bills, unfinshed projects, etc. The key is to accept and take responsbility for how much effort we put forth, and work towards the center.

Tomorrow that same student who experienced that brief moment of clarity will submit her final papers. From now until 9 am tomorrow, the difference between her success and failure will depend largely on what she does with the feedback she was given. In the end, will it be an issue of blame or responsibility? Time will tell as with all things, but in the short term, so will her final grade.

IA

November Herb of the Month: Elderberrry

November can be a little deceiving because it's technically the month of Fall, but be careful! While the leaves are turning (in some parts of the U.S.) and folks are getting into the long-sleeved gear, mold and bacteria are gearing up for flue season. Don't be caught off guard, with a weakened immune system.

Elderberry is a dark blue or purplish looking berry from the elder bush. Found in various parts of North America and Europe, it is known for it's immune boosting properties. The berries have been proven to aid in the resistance to viral infections (particularly influenza and herpes) and is also a great anti-inflammatory herb.

Source: The Pocket Herbal Reference by Rita Elkins, M. H.

Elderberry can be made into a tea using the loose berries, as a tincture (herb is extracted via alcohol infusion) or my favorite, as a concentrate. As a preventative measure, take elderberry as a daily tonic. I actually add the concentrate, which is sweet and tangy, to what ever tea blend I am drinking in the morning. You can also add it to water or juice. I try to get in a morning and evening dose. At least once a day, I make an effort to get about two tablespoons mixed into about 10 oz of room temperature herbal tea, into my system. It tastes great chilled. All of the various elderberry forms can be found at Smile Herbs in College Park, MD (www.smileherb.com), for those of you in

If you decide to steep the berries alone in hot water, try to drink at least two cups a day to stave off colds and flu. If you do get sick, double the dose to help speed recovery. Tinctures can be taken in a little bit of water or juice; follow the recommended dose on the label.

The key to good health is awareness and prevention. Get your immune system ready for winter ailments by starting now.

Take Care,
IA

ReNewed Focus and Change: Ascension Plan

A few months ago a sister friend of mine was in turmoil. What on the surface seemed like a case of the pre-thirty crisis, revealed to be more of a downward spiral related to spirit. Essentially, the "Higher self" that is commonly referred to as the "soul", or "chi" was in sever conflict with the "physical self". This conflict was showing up in all manners of dis-ease. She was miserable! She came to me and asked for help. What came from that request is what I now call the 21-day Ascension Plan.

This plan is designed to create compromise between the two selves by releasing the heavy energies of negativity, doubt and fear. The plan, which involves a combination of liquid fasting and raw rood consumption and has three very important week-long tasks with exercises. The goal is to remove the blocks by:

1. Assessing
2. Accepting
3. Acting

The key to the success of the plan is not in not eating or drinking certain things, but in getting through each week without self-judgment. The results so far have been pretty amazing as clients leave the plan feeling "lighter" and grounded. I am now opening up the plan to everyone and wanted to share some thoughts regarding its content and practice.

Why fast?

We spend a GREAT deal of time eating as a substitute for EVERYTHING. It is always interesting for folks who are not fasters to realize how much of their lives revolve around food when they begin the process. By removing food, you are able to see just how much time you actually have. You also uncover habits that may hide behind food consumption. Ultimately, when you go without food, you are forced to realize how blessed you are to be right where you are.

Who should/n't fast?

This is a decision you should come to on your own. If you have any health restrictions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, IBS, etc. you should let me know so that I can create a modified plan to accomodate your concerns. This plan is not medical advice and is really at your own risk. I work from a place of spirit, but live on the earth plane. As a result, I am forced to recognize that there maybe some people who might attempt this plan without revealing their complete status. Be mindful that Spirit works from a place of balance, so what you put out there does come back. Your intentions should be clear before embarking on this plan, if for nothing elese, honesty is where true change lives.

Why 21 days?

I am big on numbers and "3" and "7" are particularly powerful. The plan is essentially conducted over 3 weeks. The number 3 for many refers to the Holy Trinity,but I have recently discovered that it also refers to the past, present and future, which lines up quite divinely with the work that is done within each week. Each week last for 7 days and the number 7 is often viewed as a magic number of completion, which again lines up with the point of each week's task.

Are there any restrictions?

The plan does list what each week entails in terms of consumption and there are "restrictions", but ultimately the plan serves as a guideline. The founding element of the plan is that in order to ascend, you have to let go of judgment. Even if during the plan you eat a cooked meal or drink fruit juice, it's okay-- there is no judgment. If you go astray, get back on track as soon as possible. The reason for this is quite simple: this is your journey. You have guidelines, but only you can walk your path.

Will I lose weight?

This depends on you, however, I want to state now: This is not a weight loss plan! Fasting is a way to detoxify the body and change behaviors. I am always leery of weight-loss fasts, because starving yourself just to lose weight is not only unhealthy, it lacks humility. In this plan you will rid yourself of unwanted energies which can manifest into physical weight, but that is not the point or the goal. The lightness associated with the completion of the plan, is ultimately energetic.

How involved are you in the plan?

I offer various stages of help. At the basic level I am a coach of sorts. I encourage you to stick with it, but in a way that works for you. There are daily email reports and once the fast begins, clients have access to me 24 hours a day. Some clients will call me while they are at a restaurant and ask for help on menu choices, or ask how to supplement their liquid portion if they are feeling light-headed or uncomfortable. Usually, I am just a receiver of information, here for fasters to vent.

Is there a cost?

Yes there is a base fee of $35 for the plan itself. Depending on the client there can be additonal fees associated with custome tea and bath blends. I am also an herbalist, so I can create blends for clients that are specific to them. I also make bath salt blends that are great for additional detoxing and expunging negative energies. I am a healer and while I am driven by spirit, I too have to meet my earth-plane needs.

If 21 days seems like a bit much, stay tuned for details on my group fast for the end of the year. I started this last year as a way to introduce fasting to clients and the group aspect proved to be quite successful. Fasters check in online and receive tea and bath salt blends customized for whatever intentions each faster has set for the seven days. This is a transition into the new year that works similarly to the Ascension plan.

If you are interested in fasting or other spiritual assistance, feel free to contact me.

Brasil Diaries: Rewind to Boa Merte

So sorry, I just realized that I failed to upload my post about Boa Merte. There were serious internet problems in the hotel yesterday and so I typed everything out, with the intention of uploading today. After reviewing my thoughts, I have decided to just start fresh, so here we go....

Boa Merte is a three-day (that we know of) festival that takes place in August from the 13th-15th. The Sisterhood of Boa Merte are responsible for holding this festival which literally translates into "the festival of the good death". It commemorates those ancestors brought over to Brasil from Africa as slaves and the end of their suffering either by dying en route, during enslavement in Brasil, or surviving until the abolishment of slavery in 1888. Some of the key elements include the rituals that are conducted by the sisterhood which are not always public, a procession to the river that re-enacts the assumption of a Virgin Maryesque figure and specific details on clothing, food and jewelry. The ceremonies are amazingly syncretic with the marriage of Catholic and African religious practices and aesthetics. There is nothing I can write here that will replace seeing it for yourself, so go to Brasil and see it for yourself. Side Note: NOTHING beats dancing in the rain to a samba percussion band!

I will say that there is a heightened sense of duty and purpose. People gather from all over the world if for nothing else, than to be a part of this special time. I felt completely at home and all of the "coincidences" of the day were no more than examples of the synchronicity that can occur when spirit is given its full space to exist. The children were especially fascinating as they participated, dressed in ritual clothing. I think that what I loved most was the continuity. Every face I looked at, reminded me of a family member or friend. Language, ethnicity and "race", were not strong enough to divide us. We were one people on a mission.

Living in America where these types of practices are vilified, creates a schism that is sometimes hard to get over. It's like one is forced to live a double life. Much like who you are "at work" versus "at home", people's spiritual practices and selves are often fragmented. Brasil does not force that separation and I think that is why it has been so underwhelming in terms of what I expected. I am not different here. I am actually quite normal. No staring, no bindi questions, no comments or romanticizing, it and I-- just are. The ancestors roam free here and show up as they please. The little girl in the picture to the left, agreed to be photographed by me in a separate photo. When I drew closer to show her the photo, she just kept staring at me. She wouldn't leave my side, so I asked if we could taeke a picture together. She leaned into me as I kneeled down and a friedn snapped the photo. When I looked at the picture I didn't see the same little girl, but my sister Sofi who transitioned in 2001. All day long, I felt her presence. The picture, for me, was final proof that Sofi was there and had just as much fun as I did.

Tchau

Brasil Diaries: Oshun said....

I woke up this morning feeling VERY heavy. Brasil is supercharged with truth sayer energy and some underlying fears have started to come up and out. The big one.....MONEY. I am sitting in another hemisphere and all I can think about is my wallet. As a goddess, I can manifest things as I need. However, it takes a great deal of honesty and faith. I find that lately, it's harder for me to exist on the earth-plane from a material standpoint. There are always shortfalls when it comes to my financial situation, but in the end everything always works itself out. I know this and believe in it, because I live it, but this morning it was pressing on me hard. I am not sure what triggered these feelings, but I decided to deal with them openly and honestly.

Our hotel is situated on the coast , so I decided to visit the ocean and commune with Oshun, who is the goddess of large bodies of water in Yoruba religion. In Brasil the orishas, play a heavy role in the fabric of Brasilian culture and society. You see symbols of them everywhere and it is not treated as a "thing" to be separate from everyday life, but a necessary part of everyday life that is revered and respected. That being said, it only made sense to go to the water and have a conversation with Mama Oshun. As a fire sign, I find water to be helpful, especially when my fire is out of control. Depending on the tide, one can go out into what is essentially the ocean bed. I found this beautiful spot not too far from the hotel where there was this amazing rock formation that built up into what I assume was once a high point for viewing ships at sea. Sitting at the top of this formation, I could see pretty far out and it had the added benefit of feeling very throne like. I sat for a while just thinking, because I find it difficult at times, to speak to spirit out loud. At one point all at once there were these strong breezes and crashing waves that all seem to say, "I'm here and I'm listening." With that I began to speak of my fears, my uneasiness, my desires and my dreams. I gave thanks, asked for advice and sat still in a repeating cycles.

In the midst of my moment on the rocks, Oshun spoke to me and she said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine. You have to have faith and just learn to be. Enjoy the slow time and the distance from all that you know. You have much to do when you return, so use this time wisely. Don't take things so seriously." I had to smile at such simple advice, because the truth of the matter is that I do need this break Brasil has afforded me and no matter what awaits me when I return, I am up for the challenge.

The Orishas act as agents and in the larger scheme, at least from my perspective, are "pieces" of the divine energy that is in us all. They are those that choose to stay in spirit form and work on our behalf in the spirit-plane. They must receive offerings when their help is requested and this is often presented in all manner of ritual related to many indigenous religions, including Yoruba. At that moment, I didn't have much to offer. I had already decided to fast when I woke up, so I offered that up as I submitted my "petition". I figured sun up to sundown for three days was a small price to pay in return for the lightness I felt afterwards.

For me fasting is a straight forward way to ease challenging paths and according to my mother, a means of offering to God. I plan to repeat the ritual tomorrow and Wednesday just to re-affirm my faith in Spirit and myself. I have to say, I spent the rest of the day a lot lighter. I finally found a machine that would take my card and the fasting worked out nicely, despite the slight headache I now have. I took the picture to the left at the end of the day while my travel mates dined at this beautiful restaurant in Pellehurino. I took a few self-portraits, but this one is my favorite because a beautiful thought crossed my mind as I snapped the picture. When I look at it, I see a different me, the one longing to just be.


Oshun said to relax. Who am I to argue?

Brasil Diaries: Seat Numbers, Connections and the Goddess with the screw face...

This is me on the train to JFK. I have to go back in order to tell this story. This is before the countdown post (below). Even with all the spontaneous crying that happened before I got on the plane, a Goddess was feeling pretty good. Me and my travel mates boarded our plane to Sao Paulo, excited for the journey to begin. Well, humans have a way of taking the pep out of anyone's step and I am only writing about this because I promised myself I would.

We flew TAM Airlines from JFK. I usually love traveling non-American airlines, because the customer service always seems better and the amenities in coach always seem so much more interesting. Well, not to soon after we got on the plane there was a problem. One of my travel mate's seat had been taken by a man who decided to sit with his family even though he was assigned elsewhere. It took about 20 minutes of round robin discussion to assess the situation only to have no one do ANYTHING about it. My travel mate ended up having to fend for herself and basically getting her own seat wherever she could find one. The flight attendants passed out water and mints.

We finally settled in, but didn't leave for almost two hours, during which I was knocked out. The night before and "crack of dawn" tripping up to New York had finally gotten to me. I awoke to dinner service and decided to watch a movie. That's one of the things I love about international travel. It's a great way to catch up on my, "would never pay to see this nonsense" movie watching. It was a good idea until, it became very clear that I, as an American, or English speaker was not the airline's target audience. Each customer had their own entertainment unit, which had three language options: English, Spanish and Portuguese. They had French and English subtitles for the safety video, but guess what? When I tried to watch ANYTHING that they had been programmed for the flight (movies, tv shows, cartoons), there were only two languages options: Portuguese and Spanish. Now I am not normally irritated by such things, but I couldn't understand how they could show nothing but American-made films, have the Portuguese and Spanish-dubbed versions, but not the original English versions. It took me about 30 minutes and confirmation from the flight attendant to realize that my console wasn't broken. After my moment of "What the hell?" and a smirk at the irony of it all, I decided I could do without watching "Made of Honor" or "What Happens in Vegas" and went back to sleep.

When we finally landed, I was ready to get off the plane! It was way too cold, extremely noisy and I had been bumped so many times I had to sleep on a slant, which resulted in a serious neck cramp. I figured, well at least the 10-hour leg was over, which was the bulk of the traveling. We just had to get through customs, re-check our bags and board our connecting flight to Salvador. STOP! Do not proceed forward, instead run through this maze like Algernon, just to be able to pass through the "Nothing to Declare" line. BUT WAIT! Now you have to recheck your bags by sitting in another enormous maze-like line where no one cares that your flight is boarding or that you don't speak Portuguese. "You missed your flight to Salvador, there is another one at 10:35 am."

This is what I looked like when I finally boarded our connecting flight to Salvador. Yes, I am a little puffy. Notice the lips and the eyes, I am a finger snap away from going off. To top it off they served ham and cheese sandwiches on the plane. I don't eat ham, so I was puffy, hungry and dehydrated. I curled up and went to sleep, disgusted and just breathing in my geranium essential oil which really helped to take the edge off. I just kept telling myself, "we are almost there, just take deep breaths and everything will be fine."

---

Two hours later...
This was the view from the plane as we descended into Salvador. I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of this image. It was a sign that everything would be fine because we had finally made it! So, I just smiled, thanked God for our safe arrival and buckled in to brave baggage claim. We are all now safely and cleanly in the hotel (pics will be up tomorrow) after having traveled for over 30 hours. Bahia is beautiful. I told a friend that from the sky it looks like Morocco, but on the ground, it reminds me of Nigeria.



These were the lovely ladies that greeted us as we walked into baggage claim. I got all fluttery in the heart chakra. Tomorrow is Boa Morte, which commemorates the Africans brought to Brasil as slaves. I am especially excited about what that trip which is two hours up a mountain side, will entail.

Our travel guide who picked us up from the airport, assumed that I had been to Bahia before. He said I "looked" like I knew the area. In a way I suspect he's right. I told him it was my first time to Brasil, but I should have probably said that it was the first time in this lifetime.

Stay tuned...

Brasil Diaries: Countdown to Takeoff

I will be in Bahia from August 14th -22nd. I have decided to actually keep a running diary of things that are happening. This first post was actually written on Wednesday, August 13th around 7pm. I was unable to send it via mobile uploading, but have published it here censor free.

The trip to Brasil, is now upon me and I am filled with a mixture of apprehension, joy, fear and disbelief. I believe that we have the power to manifest our destiny by simply stating and believing things to be. I manifested this trip and as I sit at the gate, waiting for boarding to begin, I am really shocked at my reality.

The night before was spent with good people and amazing conversation. It was just the send off I wanted and some needed. It lasted into the wee hours of the morning and it is all I can think about while I work thru all of these feelings. The messages for me have been about becoming more emotional. I have been working to understand what that means, while all along trying to wade the shaky waters that that type of openness brings in me. I am love and it is reflected in all of the people in my life. Old and new, people have expressed genuine happiness for me and it makes leaving harder, but coming back so much richer.

As the tears of pent-up emotion stream down my face, I finally understand that message. So, I am going to Brasil carried by my abilities to manifest a destiny that has always been mine to claim.

Obrigada...

Message for the Stagnant and Heartbroken

Recently, I have been running into several people experiencing high degrees of dissatisfaction with regards to their personal lives, specifically within the scope of partners and mates. Regardless of the language you use, we are all in some way, looking for love. The price is often way higher than it should be because there isn't an agreement between body and spirit. Instead of coming to an understanding within, we tend to look without our whole selves intact. The body and the spirit must agree, otherwise there is conflict. That conflict leads to dis-ease and then it's all down hill from there.

The saying goes when discussing love, "If you look for it, you won't find it." I tend to agree and think that "If you are ready and open for it, love will find you." But what does that mean to be ready and open? How can you tell if you are ready to be in a relationship, or when it's time to leave one? The key to these questions lie in how committed you are to ensuring your human success. The earth plane requires a great deal more attention to detail than most people are willing to acknowledge. It all boils down to honest self-evaluation and awareness. The following are things that I have learned and observed in the past few weeks, use them as you see fit.

*Who are you? There is no way to create effective and functional relationships with others, if you have no clue as to who you are. We are living in a time where masking our feelings, desires and even ourselves, is the call of the day. Like any lie, after awhile, it starts to unravel, until the truth is staring you right in the face. Be honest about who you are. You will attract the person that most reflects you on the inside. (Scary isn't it?)

*Be faithful. The universe does not want you to fail, but who is to say that you don't? We receive messages all day long, that are only of any real use, when listened to. Your spirit lies within certain parts of your body, your gut is one of them. You need to trust yourself and have faith in spirit. If something feels wrong, don't think it out to be right. We all have communities that love us and hold us dear, even when we screw up. Let the love of those that are true to you be your measuring stick, not the fear that comes in when faith is lacking.

*Be honest. There are a number of folks out there who are not being honest with the people they are with and there are several folks, taking shit from people in return. You have to take charge of your life and be clear on what you want and what you don't want. Any relationship worth having is worth working on, BUT to what extent? Don't confuse compromise with martyrism.

*Be consistent. We tend to be very inconsistent and then wonder why we have relationship issues. We say we want someone who is affectionate and then date people who are cold. We say we want someone who will accept us for who we are and then marry a critic. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Strike a balance between what is possible and what really matters to you and be consistent.

*Relate on your level. This is the biggest hit that I have gotten throughout the course of the past two weeks. "Level" in this case, does not relate to hierarchy, as much as it relates to self-awareness. As people come together there is a vetting process that should take place. At some point in every relationship, we all realize that someone is either on or not on, our level. It is not rocket science and it usually glaringly apparent. Even if you can't see it, your friends and family usually can. A functional relationship is functional because both parties share more than similarities, they have a mutual understanding about their place in the world and see a common goal that is attainable regardless, of whether that other person is in his or her life. When you are with someone on your own level, you are able to be a whole person, instead of the "two halves" rhetoric that is often associated with relationships, particularly marriage.

Heartbreak, disappointment and loss are part of life, because they teach us the lessons we need to learn in order make life on the earth plane fulfilling. Unfortunately the lack of communication between body and spirit keep us making the same mistakes over and over again. If you really want love in your life, open your eyes--it's all around you. Bring your body and spirit to the table and agree on a path forward, the rest will work itself out.

Humbly,

IA