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A good way to see your goals realized with more ease and less over-exerting effort is to get in touch with your Inner Guide. People sometimes call this a "Higher Self," although I don't generally use that term because it implies a part of you that is separate and above, maybe even better than the you as you are here, in this world. It is something that is both with you and beyond you, interwoven in you and through you. The part that sits beyond you is not above you, but inside you, connected to the inner dimension that leads to moments of coincidence, gut feelings and brilliant flashes of spontaneous inspiration. Be sure not to scroll ahead - this requires you not to know what's coming.  In a moment I'm going to ask you to a pick a number and then a letter. Whatever you pick is going to help you to receive a message from your Inner Guide, which I also like to call the Eternal Self, and others like to call it the I AM presence. Having an intimate relationship with this part of yourself takes practice. It requires listening to your own inner voice, your intuition, which may contradict what you consider "rational" or "reasonable". The best way to develop this gift, or any gift, is to approach it playfully. If you come at something too serious you will be looking for certain results. You will approach it as a pass/fail scenario and therefore attach positive and negative feelings to it. Seeing it as a playful learning experience will help you not to judge what's happening, but to explore it with curiosity and wonder. After you pick your number and letter read the associated message below. If the message feels like you were meant to receive it at this time congratulations! You've used your intuition, or your inner guidance. If it doesn't resonate with you and you think, what is this? I don't get it... then don't worry. It doesn't mean you don't have intuition or you're blocked. Intuition needs to be developed, just like a muscle. So if it doesn't resonate, no problem. The important thing is you've opened yourself up to the possibility that you can do this, and that is how you acquire any skill - by first opening up to the idea that you'd like to test the waters. There are a lot of ways to further play with this, such as picking a daily word card, or with E-squared, a fun book of short exercises by Pam Grout.  Okay, here we go. Take three deep breaths and focus on your heart as you do so. Think about where you are, your situation, and what it is you're hoping for. When you're holding that clear and strong in your mind think to yourself, "Eternal Self, give me the message that will serve my highest and best good for me today. Not the message I expect to see, nor the one I think I should see, but the one that You choose." Keep breathing slow and deep. Send a gentle message through your body to relax. Smile soft, and smile into your heart. Picture white fluffy clouds in your mind. The clouds pull apart, and as they do so, you see a number in the blue sky between 1 and 5. Go with the first number you see. Write it down and trust it's right. Clear your mind, relax and smile. Take another deep breath while focusing on your heart. Once more picture white fluffy clouds. The clouds separate and there is a letter there, A or B. Write the letter next to your number. Now, with your letter and number in mind, scroll past the stars below and read below to see what you go. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1: The Tree A: This is a time for you to seek greater balance in your life. Whichever way you swing the pendulum of your focus, be sure and let it swing fully the other way. This will keep your energy, or momentum, always flowing naturally and will help you to feel the most zest and vitality in your life. If you feel yourself immersing too much in work, ensure you take time to sing, dance and play. If you feel yourself losing your focus and always out socializing and neglecting your long term goals, take time in to nourish your career goals. This balance also applies to spiritual and earthly pursuits. If you are embarking on a spiritual path, remember to balance your mediation practice with things that are grounded, such as time with friends. A spiritual path is one that takes us up and out into the Unknown, as our Souls reach for the Sun and the stars in all corners of the Universe. But remember, a tree's roots always grow in proportion to its limbs. Otherwise it would loose its ability to be secure and steady in this world. Let yourself ground and connect to this world in proportion to the height of your soul growth. Both are limitless. Conversely, too much stress in your life might be the result of a need to bring in something spiritual, even just long walks in the park where you breathe deep and enjoy the wind flowing through the trees. B: It's time to move! Either literally or metaphorically, your Soul is asking you to pull up your roots and plant them somewhere else. Have you become stuck in a place or a feeling, despite a deep yearning for a new perspective? Do you stay where you are out of fear of change? This fear is natural, and one all people experience as they contemplate big changes in their life. However, holding onto the fear and staying in a place you've outgrown is causing your more pain and anguish than the actual process of going through the change. It's as if you're a plant that's grown too big for the pot it's in. At one point, this pot was the perfect size for you, it held you safe as you grew from a seed and planted roots in the soil. But your roots are ready to expand, and that which was once perfect is now holding you back, even hurting you. Ask for help in embracing this process of change and the help will show up. Know that fear is not a sign you are weak or that you can't do something. We all feel fear, and all it means is you're about to be put into a bigger pot that is going to encourage your growth rather than hamper it. If you open up to the idea that you can turn your fear into excitement you will take the first step in embracing this change. And remember, this growth and move might be on the inside. It might be something that only you know you go through. Whatever it is, you are ready for it, or you wouldn't be reading this. You are fully supported in your efforts, and your Soul is ready to hand you the keys to your new home. All you must do is say "Yes!" 2: The Mountain A: It's now time for you to take action. We often use the expression, "I'm going to move mountains to make it happen," and this is what your soul is craving now. You have taken the time to build your inner strength, to prepare, to train, and you know what it is you want to do. You have a clear idea of what you want to do or experience next, but it's not going to be something that falls into your hands. It's going to be like climbing a mountain, and require you to use your full energy and strength to get to the top. But once you're there, you will realize you are even stronger than you know, and this new vantage point will give you a majestic and higher perspective over yourself, your life and the world like never before. To reach the top of a mountain is rewarding in and of itself, because you know that what you've accomplished was no easy feat. What lies before you is not a stroll through the meadow, but that's okay. You're ready for this, and you know deep inside that no matter how many times you think about turning back, you'll get to the top of this mountain. Your Soul is telling you 'I'm ready', and that what you need will be found along the way. You may not feel you have everything in your hands now to reach the top, but trust in the complex and varied richness of this world, for support and surprises lie around every corner of the trail. You will return from the top a new person, and ready to share what it is you've seen and experienced. B: It's time now for you to build your self-confidence and see yourself as the majestic mountain of strength and grandeur you really are. Your Soul is calling you to remember your innate self-worth. You don't have to do, be, say or experience anything in order to be invaluable. Just by being born, you changed the world. You impacted lives and enriched the experience of those who raised you, and if you were adopted or raised in a unique circumstance, all of those involved were enriched and had their souls expand by your coming into the world. If you are feeling insecure or insignificant, know that you are a mountain. You may feel small, but imagine how an ant or spider would see you. To some creatures you are the mountain, and at the same time, you can see a mountain and reflect on how it metaphorically reflects you. The fact that you can look at something outside of you, contemplate it with your mind, and complete a series of complex inner tasks in your mind, is proof that you are a dynamic and special being of this world. Look for reminders in your life of how important and amazing you are. Try not to look to your relationships with other people to validate you. Consider instead that a mountain isn't valued because it creates or partners with other mountains, but simply because it adds to the varied landscape of our world. The relationships and families you have are important, but they aren't what makes you special. They are factors in increasing the way you experience and appreciate love and connection, but even without them, you are a whole, complete and valuable person. Think about your passions. Think about what makes you different, and also what makes you like others. What have you tried in your life? To have tried anything takes a great amount of courage because you stepped into the unknown. And you have certainly tried things - at the very least you tried to read because you're reading these words. What can you do today to feel better about who you are, as you are? Do you tell yourself positive things? Do you take time for yourself? Do you have people in your life who reflect love back to you? Do you feel that you are the mountain? Because you are, and your Soul is shaking you by the shoulders, asking you to wake up and see how magnificent you are. 3: The River A: It's time for you to let go and surrender to the flow of life. You are desperately trying to control too much about your life and the world. You fear letting go will make you lose control, and that if you lose control you will no longer enjoy life. But fighting the current, as you are now, is in fact a far greater burden on you than you realize. Trying to control as many facets of your life as possible is preventing you from truly living. It's as if you are in a river and fighting with all your strength to swim upstream so that you can stay in one place. All of your focus is on staying where you are, with things as they are. What are you so afraid of downstream? You don't even know what's down there. Imagine you let go and drift with the current, and suddenly your entire world is opened up. You go by a deer drinking from the water's edge, a frog singing on a rock, a butterfly lands on a log that floats by you, wild flowers come and go, a willow tree, and so much more you would have missed had you continued to fight something you could never control to begin with. Perhaps you are afraid if you let go you'll come to something you can't handle. But you can handle it! This is the blessing of having worked so hard to maintain control. You have learned an incredible amount about self-discipline, will power, and inner strength. It's impossible not to be strengthened by swimming against a river's current. You have all the will power and strength you need to face what comes with the river's flow. All you must do is let go and trust yourself. Trust the flow of life. Enjoy going with the flow. Enjoy life! Only you can make you happy. Only you can say, "This isn't where I want to focus my energy. I'm going to put my energy on watching the sunset instead." And what if you let go and you come to a waterfall? Then you trust yourself to grab onto a rock and stop before you fall over the edge. You trust you'll find a safe way down and not just go cartwheeling over the edge without thinking. Letting go doesn't mean you give up and stop caring about what comes. You will still be alert and involved in life, you'll be able to steer yourself in the water. You just won't be fighting the flow. What you need is to arrive at the middle point: know that you can control some things, and that you have the will and desire to do so, but let go and know there are more butterflies and willow trees than there are waterfalls. No matter how much swimming upstream strengthens you, if you do it too long you'll eventually run out of energy and have to get out of the river. If you don't choose to let go and relax now, it will be forced upon you to keep you from drowning. Choose instead to flow with life. There's so many beautiful and amazing things waiting for you downstream. B: You need to pick up your oars and get to paddling. You have let go too much and have become a passenger in life. Perhaps you are even sleepwalking through life, like a zombie, feeling zero passion or excitement for your life or this world. You must remember at this time that you are the director of your life. You are the one steering the boat. When the river goes calm, it's up to you to paddle and move through the stagnation. When heavy rapids hit, you must use your oars to move yourself around the rocks. If you just sit back and crash into the rocks, you can bemoan the river and its rapids all you want as making you a victim, but you deserve so much more from life than that. You deserve to live a fully lived and expressed life, a life full of happiness and conscious direction. Learning to put your oars back in and turn your boat as you want it to turn is something that will benefit not just you, but everyone around you. You are a unique person, there is no one in this world like you. You came into this world to share your unique perspective on life, your gifts that can be shared only by you in your own way. No one can do what you feel you're here to do. No one has lived the life you have, and so if you are feeling uninspired and bored by life, remember that no one will ever walk this earth like you again. It's literally impossible, because no person will have the parents you had - which you might consider a good thing, but whatever pain or difficulties your parents caused you are things only you can learn from. Therefore, these things might be directly related to what you are here to teach and share with others. But only if you choose to. No one can learn from the past for you, and no one can share the wisdom you gain from that learning but you. What is it you're here to share and do? Whatever it is, it's important. That's why you're reading this. Your experience is special, and to feel that to the fullest, it's time for you to open your eyes, look at where you are on your river of life, and act accordingly. 4: The Desert A: Your Soul is asking you to now take timeout to rest and just be. This is a time for you to get quiet, to turn inwards, and to reflect in your inner sanctum. Life has been busy for you, and you've been soaking up all that you can for a long time. Because of this you have lost touch with your heart, and you may feel that your inner compass is spinning in every direction. The desert is a wonderful metaphor for a quiet, calm and soothing place. It's a very open place where nothing is crowded. Energy flows freely, and the plants and animals there connect to the earth and sky in a very sacred way. It's a quiet place, a place where you can begin to hear your inner voice again. It's a place for you to heal mind, body and soul. Take as much time as you need in the coming weeks to meditate, reflect and enjoy the zen of this highly spiritual place. In this world, we often feel guilty or worthless if we aren't constantly going, doing and achieving. This mentality is counterproductive however, and causes us to fight our natural rhythms. Even the strongest elephant must take time to rest and rejuvenate. This time of rest and reflection will allow you to go forward with increased agility, energy, and inspiration. It will reconnect you to your Inner Guide, the part of you that knows exactly what you should do next and when. The muse of inspiration will not shout to you over the noise of a jam packed life. She is waiting for you to get quiet, heal and be ready for what she has to say. She will wait forever if she has to. You can power forward as much as you want, but if you seek to take inspired action for the next step in your life, it will only come to you when you get quiet, turn inwards, and listen for the whisper of Spirit. This might also be an excellent time for you to engage in a sacred ceremony. It can be one of your own design, such as writing a letter about what you want to let go of and then burning it. Or you might feel called to go somewhere, such as Sedona or Peru. You know what's right for you, and the more you resist this need to rest and rejuvenate, the longer it will take to get out of the desert. B: For one reason or another, you have been isolated in your life. Perhaps you were on a spiritual quest, and going quietly about your life, exploring the inner mysteries of who you are and what your soul is. Or perhaps you are in a relationship that makes you feel alone. You may even be physically isolated, spending your time alone in your house, avoiding people and the world. Whatever it is that's been happening, your Soul is urging you to once again go back out, reconnect, and rediscover all of the variety and richness of people and the world. Soak in the splendor and color of life. Find people who you connect to and that make you feel loved and supported. Hug people, enjoy the delicious feeling of touch, and the irreplaceable joy of hearing your laughter merging and dancing with someone else's. Being quiet and isolated has its time and place, and is one of the best ways to grow and learn about contrast in this world. There is beauty in a desert, because it teaches us about our ability to be strong and survive. Only the hardiest of plants can make the desert a home. They have deep roots that find every last drop of water. They appreciate the rain in a way few will ever understand, and feel their size in comparison to the vastness of the stars at night. However, life need not be a barren desert that you merely survive in. Life can be enriching, full of color, vitality and lush resources. Go find what nourishes you and soak yourself in it until you feel overflowing with that which you've been missing! You are ready to leave the desert now and to go explore another landscape. You will forever know you can survive on your own like the cacti, and this inner faith is priceless, but there is no need to prove anything to anyone. Go play in the rain, be free, love, hug, laugh, enjoy being supported, and hold in your heart the wisdom you gained from the desert. 5: The Flower A: It's time for you to bloom and share yourself and your gifts with the world! You have an artistic Soul, and it's yearning for you to fertilize the grounds of your creativity. Putting our own creations out to the world is scary, but you are ready to embark on this journey. You can begin by first trusting yourself and believing in your talents, which you do have, and that is why you are reading this. You have something to say, do or create, and the time is now to begin exploring that. You might feel overwhelmed by the idea of putting yourself and/or your creations out to the world, but keep in mind all flowers bloom in the time that is right for them. Some germinate, or take root, quickly, and then bloom months later. Others germinate slowly and bloom fast. Trust that your path will take root, grow and blossom in the way that is perfect for you. However, so long as you refuse to water the seeds of your dreams, and keep them (and yourself) forever out of the light, you will never see the delightful and colorful results of your dreams. And what you have to offer the world truly is a flower. It is a beautiful gift that brightens and enriches a world that is focused on order, control and the status quo. You came here to teach people through your art, whether that be music, singing, acting or something totally new. Your gifts help people to wake up from a zombie like existence. Art, although scary to create and share, is essential in stimulating the Souls of others. It moves people and resonates with them in ways they often can't explain. It sometimes gives them a feeling of solace, that someone else gets them, or helps them to remember something cosmic they didn't know they knew. Your Soul is telling you that you are ready to open up and share your gifts with the world. Take the first step today, plant a seed, and water it each day, knowing that a beautiful garden awaits you. Try not to worry about success or failure, because it doesn't matter how many people stop to admire your garden. What matters is that you enjoyed digging your hands into the soil and knowing that what you created was totally yours. B: You have lost your sense of wonder and appreciation over the mysteries of life and that which can't be seen or explained. Instead, you are focused only on what you can see and believe to be true. You may even fall into harsh patterns of judgement because of it. This can lead to being so focused on the tangible to the point where you become obsessed with physical appearance and the accumulation of wealth. It's possible you consider what can be seen about a person to be what's most valuable, either in yourself or in others. There is nothing wrong with caring for our bodies and seeing them as the miraculous creations that they are. Taking good care of your health and valuing how you present yourself to the world are wonderful ways to feel happier and more vital in this life. There is also nothing wrong with appreciating beauty, either in yourself or in others. And just as beauty is something to be enjoyed, there is a lot to be appreciated and enjoyed about the material world. The design and creation of clothing, cars, toys, games, phones and tech gadgets is something that inspires many people. In order for them to fulfill their passion they need people to appreciate what they do - people like you! We didn't come into this world to be rocks - we are here to touch, play, explore, and use all of our physical senses, and it's wonderful that you are so in tune with that. However, it's important for you now to try and connect with that which you cannot see or hold in your hands. In a way, you are being called back to the simple wonders of life. This calling can add a great deal of richness and meaning to your life. It will help you to see yourself and others in a new light, and perhaps to appreciate yourself and others in a way you did not before. It may also help you to tone down fears about looking youthful and perfect and to embrace all facets of your being. At this time, your Soul is asking you to remember your childlike wonder. What made the world special before you knew anything about how others perceived you? What delights a child? Notice the small things about life, like a bird gliding across the sky, and ask yourself why it inspires awe and wonder in children. What is it about a leaf blowing in the wind that seems like magic to a child? We know how the wind cycles work, but consider for a moment where that leaf came from. Where did the tree come from? Where did the seed that made the tree come from? How can one leaf teach us about time, nature, and the mysterious and unknown source of the origins of the first tree? What does that say about your own life? Reconnect with your inner child, with your ability to question, wonder and feel curiosity at what you now take for granted. You will feel yourself brimming up with new feelings of excitement and appreciation for yourself, this planet and the precious time we have in this mysterious and magical world. If you enjoyed this little exercise and you think someone else would too please share! It is possible to do this again, even if you read all the letter/number meanings. Write each letter and number on its own piece of scrap paper. Fold them up and put them in a bowl. Return to the instructions above, but instead of picturing clouds, close your eyes and choose a piece of paper. Make sure to do the numbers first, and then the letters separate, so that you don't pick two letters or two numbers. I don't think this is the kind of guidance you'd want to use daily - it's more general, and something you'd use as you go through different phases of your life. So perhaps every few months or so, as you feel yourself in a new place, return to this little practice. But again, this is about listening to You, so do whatever feels right! Don't forget to bookmark this page if you'd like to try this one again someday! Thank you for playing along with this little experiment. I wish you much love and joy in your coming year.
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