When we are really honest with ourselves, we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us.  So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are.  César Chavez

A few weeks ago, when I was in the studio painting, what came to me in a moment of inspiration was the following: your life is a love letter to God!  I was struck with incredible ahhhness….and found the statement so powerful.   I to this day, I continue to ponder these beautiful  and powerful words….God for me is this universal energy of love available to each and every one of us…it’s in everything, it’s in you!

So take a moment, to reflect on your life which is your masterpiece. Are you so busy running the treadmill of life that your life feels out of control and therefore have no clue what your masterpiece looks like? Or perhaps you keep searching for that proverbial life purpose rather than choosing to live your life on purpose. While you are searching, you are missing out on many precious moments?  Living your life on purpose means being present in your life, making choices that are in alignment with your values, your beliefs etc….it means coming from a place of love rather than simply wanting to be right or to get it right. For me, it means showing up authentically though others may not like what they see or hear. Will you have the courage to do so anyways, knowing that it may very well be rejected for one reason or another? Will you choose to inject fun in what you do or will you choose to postpone it because it’s simply not the right time? There is always tomorrow..yet tomorrow comes and the cycle of busyness starts all over again.

Your life is like this big blank canvas before you….it is highly possible that there may be some stuff on the canvas that you have chosen to put there along the way…maybe it’s a brand new canvas and you are starting anew…you can choose .  The masterpiece, your life that is, is constantly unfolding one moment at a time. In each of those moments, you are choosing what is going on or what you are inserting in your masterpiece. Are you aware of the choices or are you asleep or somewhat asleep at the switch or perhaps you have given over your paintbrush to another to have them fill in some parts of your masterpiece because you are too tired, too scared to try because you are afraid of making a mistake. Is that in alignment with where you would like to go?

With your paintbrush in your hands, you can consciously choose to create your life masterpiece. If you make a mistake, need not fear…it’s totally ok…totally normal….and honestly in some way , it’s totally expected that we do so as human beings…as Mae West states “ to err is human…it feels divine”. So go ahead, explore, make mistakes…scribble on the canvas if you so choose. It will simply add some colour, texture to your canvas of life! Enhance it in its own unique way. Make is more intricate, more beautiful in some ways. In a world that often tells us or reinforces that mistakes are not ok yet, if we are perfectly honest here,  we all make them, each and every one of us. Isn’t  awesome to know you can have them in your life masterpiece to enjoy. Remember, it is only one small, tiny piece of the picture…it’s not the whole picture. The whole picture is still unfolding before you.

In closing, my question to you is will you fully engage to be the artist of your life masterpiece and choose to create accordingly what you desire or will you let someone else paint it for you? You get to choose!  What will you choose? Know that it’s totally ok to sometimes throw stuff at it….trust it is all part of the unfoldment of the journey.

Do you need some help in creating your most beautiful masterpiece? As a consulting hypnotherapist & Intuitive Spiritual Coach, I help you navigate changes  in your life so that you may experience more love, peace, joy and contentment.

I love this quote…it is simple yet incredibly powerful. Are you being true to your heart? To your Spirit?  Your spirit is your soul’s essence and it’s important to know her/him well and let him/her shine as brilliantly as she can. Your spirit lies deep within you…it is you…the very core of you…..do you let your Spirit shine through or do you put a mask on it…afraid of showing others who you truly are for fear they may judge or reject it? Do the opinion of others sway you ….meaning, you put more importance on their words, thoughts and perceptions rather than searching your own heart to discover what is innately yours to begin with.

We are all similar in some ways yet unique ourselves in that regards also….it’s that uniqueness that is meant to shine in your own special way. I recently heard a story about a woman who loves to paint ….a way for her Spirit to express herself. She expresses herself uniquely in her paintings meaning that she is not painting landscapes or something that we may recognize per say. Her expressive gift is uniquely hers….what shows up on paper is not found in the mainstream art route. Therein lies the problem for some..usually those who see the piece of art through their eyes and judge it accordingly.

She can and does paint what would be considered acceptable mainstream art by society yet, her soul, her unique expression of who she is, is not the mainstream art. Yet, her family members like the mainstream stuff and dislike her unique expression of her art. This unique expression of her art flows naturally for her and one can easily tell this when seeing it…there is a different energy to this piece of art.

However, she continuously tries to force herself to go against what flows naturally to her because she is not getting the acceptance on some level that she is seeking on some level with her unique expression of art. Stop seeking the acceptance of others on your journey. You are the best authority on you. Self- acceptance is so important….why question how your spirit wishes to express itself?…why not let it out of its cage, and let her soar freely to express herself in the way that seems so  natural to her ? why do the opinion of others matter so much to you?  the opinion of others is simply that. It belongs to them and is based on a number of different factors including the total of their life experiences thus far, their beliefs, some of which I am are likely limiting in some way….and their perceptions.

Let your Spirit express himself/herself in her unique way.  How do you know…it flows simply, easily and you honestly don’t have to work at it really hard….when you do it to “conform” it does not flow as well…if you pay attention to what is going on within you at the time you are expressing yourself…if you are going against the flow, you can so feel the resistance within you…stop then…ask your Spirit where it wants to go…and follow it….

I do believe we are all connected and that we are all special and unique.  We are one heart, one love- all a big part of the human family. We are love. You are loved. Wherever you are, love finds you.  It can be felt in the touch of another, it can be heard and felt in music, it may be in the warmth of the sun kissing your face. It may be found in the gentle breeze of the wind or the ocean air. It may be found in the giggles, the laughter and the tears.  You may taste love in the deliciousness of the food you choose to put into your body (your sacred vessel for this earthly plane).  It is everywhere! Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you hear it? Can you taste it?  Are you aware that love abounds everywhere around you or are you seeking it, awaiting for it to show itself in that one special person rather than choosing to experience it right now?

Will you choose to see where love abides? It is in you, not outside of you!  It is in my view meant to be shared, to be cherished, to be savoured and to be embraced. Thought I often witness with a few of  my clients that they are somewhat reluctant to let love flow freely into their lives because they are afraid, so they put this protective barrier around their hearts with much passion. What if, what if you let this “baggage” go and chose to experience love that is in you and all around you? What if you chose to experience all of its nuances and colours? How would that look like and feel like for you?

Remember, wherever you are, love will find you (inspired by a beautiful children’s book by Nancy Tillman).  Love is you! Love is magical…will you choose to invite her into your life totally and completely so that you may bask in her warm loving embrace?

Let love seep into every crevice of your being. Let love guide your choices. Let love light the way!

You might wonder about this ache deep within me when I had everything I could possibly ask for in life. I was married to my high school sweetheart. Together, we raised two incredible young women. We owned a home, had an abundance of food, and took regular family vacations. All of our personal needs were met. I never did without. For this, I am eternally grateful to God for the continued flow of abundance into our lives.

I graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration-Accounting. At that time, I was offered a full time position with the Canadian Federal Public Service. It was a good position with great pay benefits and flexible working hours.

At that time, there were very few women in the field of auditing. I worked in an environment that was considered an old boys’ club; more significance and privileges were given to men than women in vast areas. I chose to hold my own in a world that was slowly changing, allowing more women to hold positions that were previously held mostly by men. These were the days before harassment policies were created and incorporated into our workplace. For many of us, daily doses of chauvinism and belittlement were par for the course. I remained in the federal public service for approximately 18 years.  Over the course of my federal public service career, I changed positions every 18 to 24 months, seeking the proverbial perfect job in an environment that was filled with bureaucratic processes and little personal reward or recognition.

For years, I considered the idea of leaving my job − but it was known as one of the best-paying gigs in town! I knew for a fact that many would have loved nothing more than a permanent full time job in a government department. To me, it felt like I was selling my soul. Could I continue to be disloyal to myself and to silence the stirring that kept reverberating beneath the surface? Could it be that my heart was whispering to me that there was something more out there for me? Was I ready and willing to take a leap of faith and trust that God had something different in mind for me?

In 2005 – not knowing, yet fully trusting in the magic of the universe – I chose to take that leap of faith.  I decided to take a leave of absence from the public service. Now, I asked myself, what will I do with all of this spare time on my hands? It might seem like a funny question to ask but since I had been used to filling my days with so many things (work, errands, raising a family, taking classes etc), I did not know what I would do with all of this time. Who am I without this career, which has been a big part of my life and of me for such a long time? I did not know the answer yet, so I chose to trust.

In the beginning, I indulged in the time off to play, to explore, to delve into a deeper part of me – I worked with life coaches and spiritual teachers attempting to figure out what my purpose in life was. I searched the crevices of my heart to seek the treasures that lay within waiting to be discovered. It took some time to adjust, as I had been running on the treadmill of life for so long and, in the process, I had attached myself to the identity I had created for myself.

I slowly came to realize that I am here to live my life on purpose rather than to seek ‘my purpose’. I believe we all have unique gifts and that my role is to choose every day to fully show up and seize the moment. I believe I am the heir of endless miracles that flow into my life − yet am I awake enough to see and embrace them? Life is filled with so many precious moments to be cherished − yet am I able to recognize them if I am too busy trying to achieve, say, a career goal, a bigger house, a new car? I am not saying that setting goals is not important. What I am saying is; am I taking the time to savour the moments, the journey, the process along the way to reaching my goals? I choose to bask in the full experience of it.

Leaving the public service six years ago was the best gift I could have ever given myself. Since 2005, I have learned to fall madly and deeply in love with the woman I am. I have chosen to embrace her entirety, warts and all. I am learning to accept that everything I need is within me. I have chosen to live my life on purpose rather than engage in the endless pursuit of ‘my purpose’. I have learnt to reconnect with my beautiful inner child, to be more playful and to let go of things, people and beliefs that no longer serve my best interest. Most of all, I have chosen to take the time to get to know and trust my heart. I honour its longings for my heart truly does know what is best for me.

After much soul searching, I have finally embraced my childhood dream of teaching, which I had long denied myself, and I merged it with my adult dream of creating and building my own business. My mission is to evolve the consciousness of humanity by teaching others to know, trust, love and embrace their brilliant, beautiful selves. I now define success as a heart overflowing with love and joy; it is helping others embrace their magnificent self; it is trusting that my heart knows the way; it is basking in the love of the divine and knowing all is perfect in this moment in time.

For me, LOVE is the key ingredient in the recipe of success. Love is all there is. So I ask myself: How do I choose to inject more love into my life? How do I let my light shine brightly for all to see?  From my heart to yours, may love flow easily into your life, may your joy be contagious and may you find the courage to be you in all that you do.

Until we meet, may you bask in the warm embrace of love and may you know that you are loved deeply for the magnificent being you are.

Namasté

REFLECTION

What thoughts and beliefs do you have about success? Which of them limit you? Which of them empower you?

There’s a genie deep within you;
He’s been there from the start.
He’s not in some old dusty lamp;
He lives within your heart.

He’ll grant you all your wishes;
Make every dream come true;
For you alone command him–
He does what you say “Do!”.

You tell him through your feelings;
Not just through words you say;
For what you truly feel within
Sends genie on his way.

So when your thoughts are fearful,
Instead of full of faith,
He still must do your bidding;
He knows no other way.

For he can only give you
What you believe is true.
No matter what the Truth may be–
Life gives your truth to you.

Now since you know this genie
Has always obeyed you,
You also know why all your dreams
Have never all come true.

But now you know the way to make
Your every dream come true;
You know what all the sages knew–
That genie, friend, is you!

 Charles David Heineke, 1996

Some things to ponder on:

Are you walking towards the direction of your dreams or are you letting your fears dictate your next steps? What are you so afraid of?

Name them. Then, call on your divine team of angels and guides. Surrender it all to your team.  Your team is to serve you. Yes, you heard me they are here to SERVE YOU. So why not make use of them as much as you can.

 Imagine yourself handing over fears to your divine team of angels and guides and see them whisking them away into the magical and abundant universe which is here to support you.

In my experience, many of your fears are merely a construct of your mind…meaning you have made it up based on a number of different things such as cultural spells, pick them up from school, from work etc..so why not make your imagination work for you in a totally different way! set yourself free from the constructs of your mind!

Take some time today to reflect in silence. As you sit quietly,  take at least 3 deep breaths ( this connects you with your Spirit) and then ask yourself the following:

What is the one thing that I can do today to take a step forward towards my heart’s desires? 

Now comes the true test, will you TRUST and BELIEVE what you’ve heard from within and take action.

BELIEVE IN YOU , BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS!

All you need to do today is take one small step forward and then continue to listen to your inner guidance as to the following steps

For me, ringing in the New Year is time for inner reflection, a time to let go of things/beliefs that no longer serve me or to let go of the many things I’ve been holding on tightly that my be holding me back. It’s a perfect time to sit, contemplate and look back at the year that just went so that I can take a full inventory of the things I am most grateful for and to fully embrace with love and gratitude the incredible gifts/lessons that were bestowed upon me. All with a view that each of these assist me to move forth in this new year deeper awareness of self as well as a greater appreciation for life’s most precious things/people/places.

This newsletter will differ a little from the ones I have created over the past year…I thought to kick off this new year that I would share a prayer that came to me for each of you. May your hearts and minds be open to receive the endless blessings and abundance the Universe is continuously sharing with each and every one of you!

From my heart to yours…here are my wishes for you for this New Year:

May you walk with your head up high and know that you are worthy of a most incredible life.

May you remove, let go of the masks you’ve been wearing and embrace your beautiful authentic self.

May you speak your inner truth with love, compassion and grace.

May you let go of the fears that are holding you back from claiming the life you were meant to live.

May you choose to embrace your light and let it shine brightly for all to see.

May you see the bountiful beauty of your soul reflecting back at you when you see your reflection in the mirror.

May you listen to the whispers of your heart. Embrace, trust and see yourself take flight!

May you know that you are loved more than you will ever know. The love of the divine is always with you and within you.

May your heart overflow with love and joy.

May you play and laugh until your heart is content

May you make meaningful connections to add to the richness of your life

May you say yes more often and take risks that will make your heart sing.

May you create special moments to be cherished for years to come.

May you plant seeds that will nourish your heart all year long.

May you take the time this year to fall in love with YOU!

For Love is all there is!  

Spirit has shared with me that 2011 is a year of self mastery. Are you ready to embrace the journey ahead or are you struggling with some issues that may be holding you back on your journey? If so, I would be happy to help you with my new Own Your Power program…a powerful coaching program designed especially with you in mind. In this dynamic program you will gain clarity, embrace a new found level of awareness, excavate the gems buried deep within so that you can live a purposeful life filled with love, joy and peace.   You are worthy of a beautiful life. Interested? If so, call me today to explore the possibilities.

This article appears in the current Winter 2010 issue of Reiki News Magazine.

“Oh God, I’m paralyzed,” my mind screamed.

I lay in bed unable to move. I had awoken and tried to get out of bed when the pain in my upper body hit. It had been so sharp and so severe that I just lay there trying to calm myself and manage my rising panic. Eventually I was assisted out of bed and taken to the doctor by my husband.

I was not paralyzed, though I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my neck. I lived in pain, every hour of every day after that, for almost four years. Weeks after my diagnosis, a friend suggested I take a Reiki class along with the pain medication and physiotherapy. Listening to her describe it, I got really excited. This first level was primarily for self-healing though I would be able to use it for others. At this point I was most interested in it for me, but I figured I would practice on family and friends, too.

I learned that Reiki, pronounced ray-key, promotes overall balance—balance of the mind, body, and spirit. It is a very simple healing practice where the practitioner laysher hands on the body to be treated. It is a painless, non-invasive treatment that can be used in conjunction with any other medical treatment . As told to me then, the reported benefits of Reiki included relaxation, less anxiety, less depression, and even pain management. There waslittle research to back these claims but the belief was (and is) that if you are relaxed then the physical body is better able to heal. It sounded promising so I took the Reiki Level I class shortly after my initial diagnosis.

The class was small, about ten, and a combination of men and women. The ages ranged from a teenaged boy to a lady in her seventies. Sitting through the first evening of description and discussion was physically painful, but I left feeling very excited about Reiki and its possibilities. Could I really heal myself? The next day we practiced inpairs. I lay on the massage table, face up and fully clothed. My partner laid her hands on my face and then in a series of positions around my head and body, ending at my feet. She stayed in each position, without movement, for five minutes. Her hands were warm and the whole session was very relaxing.

When it was my turn to practice, I found that my hands tingled a lot and were very warm on her body, but my own physical pain made it difficult for me to give her a session. Happily, our last class discussion was all about self-Reiki, with the instruction to practice on yourself everyday.

I didn’t use Reiki for long. I found it difficult to understand how this simple act of placing hands on the body could help with healing, and it didn’t seem to be working on me. Assomeone with an accounting background, one plus one must equal two, and this did not equal anything I understood. Three years later, and willing to try just about anything to ease my now chronic pain, I took a second level class.

If Level I was all about hands on me and hands on you, the second level taught me how to use Reiki for someone not in my presence. I wasn’t sure I would use that feature much but it brought Reiki back into focus for me.

The class was in May and my friend, Tracy, was having thyroid surgery in July. I asked if I could practice by giving her one session a week for eight weeks leading up to surgery. She agreed. Her surgery was very successful, and the doctor was so pleased that he discharged her early. My sessions with Tracy had been fun. She often chatted through the session as I moved from one position to another. Other than the usual warmth, I never felt anything significant in my hands so I was pleased to hear the comments from her doctor.

Tracy called me six months later to say she needed more treatments. Her period pain, usually medicated, had been almost nil since her first treatment. The only thing different was Reiki.

Just after finishing Tracy’s treatments, I had decided to practice Reiki on myself, in conjunction with chiropractic sessions. After each session with the chiropractor, I went home, lay down, and gave myself thirty minutes of Reiki. This was in addition to the Reiki I gave myself every night before I went to sleep. I was very diligent, though I discontinued seeing the chiropractor after eight months. Four months from my first application of self-Reiki, I noticed pain-free breaks in the day—short ones, at first, but the hours became days, which then became weeks.

To me, being pain-free was like a breath of fresh air, and I wanted to share this joy. I was now seriously considering how I could help others. Between what I was feeling, and Tracy’s experience, I reasoned there had to be something to this Reiki. It was now over four years since my diagnosis; I was almost pain-free and continuing daily self-Reiki when I decided to take the third level class. This class was all about teaching Reiki. At this point, I was not really interested in teaching but I was also still uncomfortable explaining Reiki, and I was hoping this class would change that. It did.My confidence soared, and I set up a room in my house where I could offer sessions to the public for a small fee.

Bob was one of my first “public” clients. I had heard Bob had stomach cancer, and I had never worked on anyone with a serious medical condition. Bob agreed to come for some sessions. He told me his cancer was in remission, and we never spoke of it again. Bob, a large man, filled the small room. Near the end of the first session, he started to mumble incoherently. Slowly his voice rose and the mumble became words.

I realized he was not speaking to me, he was dreaming. His words grew into sentences, and I became aware that in his dream, he was a soldier and his unit was trapped. His voice rose and displayed panic, as he ordered their movements andcalled for help. I worried he might think I was the enemy and attack me. Suddenly, he sat upright and I jumped back.

It took a moment for him to get his bearings and calm down. Me, too!

About three sessions later, with no recollection of dreaming in my presence, he was amazed at the detail I could relate to him. It was, in fact, a real incident in his life. Since it had happened, three years before, he had not slept more than two or three hours a night because of the nightmares. Over a period of three months, Bob had twelve sessions of Reiki. At the last one, he said he was now sleeping about five to six hours a night and had very few nightmares. He said it had changed his life and told me how grateful he was, but after that day, I never heard from him again. I understood that somehow Reiki imbued a sense of peace. Bob needed to quiet the nightmares so that he could sleep. I needed the quiet, too. By slowing down and giving myself regular sessions of Reiki, my physical pain diminished, and people started to comment on my calming presence. This peaceful aspect of Reiki was really amplified for me through Glen.

Glen’s wife approached me to ask if I could help Glen’s psoriasis, which was aggravated by stress. I had seen psoriasis before and knew it was a skin disorder in which the skin dries and flakes off in small patches. The man who arrived at my door horrified me. He hobbled in, bent over and smelling like rotting flesh. I had to put two blankets on him to stop his shivering despite the heat of the small room, and when heleft I had to sweep the flakes of skin off the floor. He came consistently three times a week for four months but I saw no change and felt despondent. I finally asked him why he kept coming back.

“Because when I leave here, I have such a feeling of peace that I’m able to get through the day,” he replied.

A year after beginning the Reiki sessions with me, Glen had no more flaking skin. He stood up straight and walked normally. The stress that had induced the psoriasis was gone, and he had learned to take regular “time-outs.”

Everyone, including me, continued following medical recommendations, but added Reiki. In the end, that feeling of peace was the number one effect that clients reportedas the benefit of Reiki. It seems to me that Reiki doesn’t heal in itself but that the body’s nervous system appears to respond to Reiki and relax. When one is relaxed, centered in peace, miracles happen and healing begins. I cannot ignore the miracles I have seen while using Reiki, though truthfully, in my accounting brain, it still doesn’t add up. But I can live with that.

just to let you know that I will be at Soul Matters today. Soul Matters is a beautiful wellness from within boutique located in Old Ottawa South.  Interested in having a conversation with your soul? Searching for some answers and not sure which steps to take next? ….if so, why not call 613-730-7685 to book an intuitive reading with me…Amazing Di….there’s one spot left to fill…..

as you move forth with your day…ask yourself…what is one thing that I can do today to love  and honour myself ? maybe it’s simply taking a step back from your chaotic life to take a moment to appreciate all of the greatness in your life? maybe it’s taking time today to step out of your office and nourish your soul with some delicious and nutritious food rather than sitting at your desk working through your lunch hour!

Dare to love yourself with all of your heart!