A friend wanted me to help her do some projects. She kept telling me that she wanted to make sure I was comfortable helping her. ‘I want to make certain you agree to do only what you’re comfortable doing’, she said. I was puzzled at first. ‘Why does she keep saying that’, I wondered. Finally it hit me. She knew that someone who agrees to do something whole heartedly will be more likely to follow through. She was aware that a small job done joyfully will probably be done better than a large job done half heartedly. The idea of ’selfish giver’ is alive and well here. A ’selfish giver’ is someone who gives or does only as much as they are willing to, rather than saying they will do something and then not following through (because they never really wanted to do it in the first place).

If it returns, it’s yours; if it doesn’t, it never was. I have been thinking of possessions a lot lately. Sometimes I have tried hanging onto things much longer than I needed to. This might have taken the form of ideas, items or relationships. When something causes me more sadness than joy, or it is harder to maintain than release, I take that as a sign to let go. It isn’t always easy, but the thing about doing this, is that whenever I release something I no longer need, something more wonderful comes in to replace it. The I Ching says that simple and easy are best. When I simplify, things always seem easier all around.

I was printing some copies for a class I am giving, when my printer ran out of ink. Luckily, a friend was able to help me print my documents. I looked at this experience, however, as a valuable lesson. The I-Ching, or Book of Changes, discusses focusing on our Higher selves. This process involves (among other things), refusing to be sidetracked by the part of our personality (the Inferior Man) that wants results right now. Sometimes it is better to go with the flow. I decided that perhaps I was being slightly rigid in my teaching; perhaps I needed to trust the process by being more spontaneous. Go less with the handouts and trust my intuition to lead the class in the direction it needed to go.

I love the I-Ching! An ancient form of divination, it dates back to Confucius (over 5000 years ago). By throwing coins, the seeker is able to connect with their Higher Source, receiving answers to questions. What I learned recently (after 20 years of I Ching study), is that it isn’t necessary to have a specific question. Indeed, if one allows themselves to be led (asking ‘What do I need to know at this time’). The guidance is even more accurate and helpful. For those interested in learning more about the I-Ching, simply go on line, type in ‘I-Ching’, and the rest will be clear.

I am reading about the I-Ching. The I Ching (pronounced ‘E Ching’) is a form of Divination, dating back to Confucius, over 5000 years ago. One of the things discussed in the book I am reading is the inheret goodness of everyone’s personality. Through meditation, one is able to tune into that innate part of themselves and minimize negative thoughts and emotions which sometimes impede peace of mind. This idea corresponds to the I-Ching hexagram #52 (Keeping Still). The message behind this hexagram is: to be truly still is to be solidly grounded in the moment. The calmer you are, the greater clarity and self-reliance you will receive to draw on.

A woman I know has a television show. ‘Ask her whether you can be on it’, Spirit said. ‘You can talk about your spiritual experiences and give mini readings’. At first I was reluctant. ‘What did I have to offer?’, I wondered. Courage, however, caused me to go back to where I’d just seen her and ask whether I could be on her program. ‘Certainly’, she responded. ‘If you just call me, we can arrange it’. Just goes to show…the net will be there if you jump.

Without letting go, there can be no opening for the new to occur. I may long for the comfort of mundaneness, but when all is said and done, I prefer to be one who is able to claim they accomplished everything they every wanted. Keep in mind, that if you jump the net will appear…

I’m sitting here tonight in my new purple office chair. The interesting thing about this is that two nights ago I was using a different chair which was not the right size. Realizing that a change was needed, I decided to ask the Universe for help. ‘I need a new chair’, I said, “one which is the perfect size for my desk. I’m going to leave it up to you to help get me one, and by the way, thank you’. Later that morning I was having coffee with friends. I mentioned that I wanted a new chair. ‘I have one I’m not using’, one of the woman said. If you want it, it’s yours. By the way’, she added, ‘I didn’t pay much for it, so you can just have it’. The point is that when one puts out an idea with intention, chances it will occur are strong. The secret is to focus on the idea with feeling and belief

There’s often a tendency to push for results. Some times it seems as though taking a short cut is easiest. The only problem doing it this way is, you sometimes miss ideas which you receive when you’re patient. Sure, the results might take longer to attain, but when you you are willing wait, the outcome is frequently more satisfying (especially since you’ve had time to discover what works and what needs changing).

A friend recently told me abut the three second window. ‘You see’, he explained, ‘when you find yourself thinking negatively, you have about three seconds to shift this energy before it starts to affect your mood’. Keeping this in mind, I found myself shifting my thoughts frequently the rest of the day. Whenever I caught myself worrying or dwelling on something which caused me to feel badly, I would shift my mind to something which raised my vibrations. This process could be as small as noticing and appreciating the weather, or just thinking of a song I love. By the end of the day, I was feeling pretty good. So good, in fact, that I am doing this again today. This is such a quick process, and, best of all, it works!!