please notice when you are happy.

Briefly touching on crystals and stones once more, up until yesterday, I was wearing an amber pendant and a turquoise pendant around my neck. Yesterday morning I was encouraged to test the purity of wearing just the turquoise and I need to reflect on just how amazing I have been feeling...

The moment I decided to write this post was yesterday evening. After an amazing day of feeling happy and balanced and grounded, I was invited to have dinner with my lovely, lovely housemate and beautiful friend of hers at this friend's new place that she has only just bought and now lives in.

These girls radiated the most amazing energy, and the night was just perfect. Dinner was perfect, the wine was perfect, and the company and conversations were perfect, too..! I took the time to head outside for a minute, and it was while I stood outside on the street, watching the first autumn leaves fall from a tree in the park across the road that I noticed just how happy I am.

So, on that note, please notice when you are happy... xx

crystals, formations, creating balance

I have recently moved into a new house in a lovely place in Bristol, UK. It is a two-storey house, and I have been blessed with the beautiful energy that this place holds. Needless to say, I want to nurture this energy and create a space for everyone in this house to feel balanced, happy, connected, and 'at peace'.

So yesterday I walked myself to an amazing crystal shop in Bristol, and in this shop was the most lovely, helpful girl, who was able to talk me through some of the crystals and stones in store that would help me create the energy that I hoped to achieve in my new place. After taking all of her advice on board, I took my time to really look at the crystals and see which ones I felt the most drawn to.

My amazing friend had suggested that I 'grid' the bottom floor of the house in the form of The Star of David, so I chose six crystals to place around the house, creating the six points of the star. The girl in the crystal shop also suggested that I place a clear quartz 'cluster' in the centre of the star because the various points in the cluster will direct the energy of the crystals in a clear, balancing way.

So we now have five citrine crystals and one black tourmaline crystal placed around our house (simply in corners, on the floor) in the shape of The Star of David. And we have a beautiful clear quartz cluster sitting in the middle, which just so happens to be next to where we keep our keys.

The reason why I chose citrine was because they carry a clear, calming energy that will encourage a clear, balanced frame-of-mind for everyone in the house. I also chose one black tourmaline crystal because it radiates an intense energy that will cleanse, purify, and transform any stale energy within the house.

I will need to cleanse my crystals regularly so that their energy remains pure and strong. Ideally, I will cleanse my crystals and stones through running river water or in the waves on the beach. But you can easily cleanse your crystals with salt or tap water at home. I also cleansed my black tourmaline overnight by placing it in the middle of my five citrine crystals.

Already the place is feeling amazing... :-)

michael franti

I cannot go a day, let alone an hour, without listening to music. Music fills my heart, my soul, and my head with love, light, motivation, thoughts, and ideas. Just yesterday I stood in my back courtyard, outside in the sun, listening to the beautiful Holly Throsby, singing and dancing with my shadow on the wall...

Music simply brings out a love in me that lifts me to higher spirits, and this is because I choose to surround myself with music that is filled with beautiful melodies and inspiring lyrics. Throughout this blog I will continue to introduce you to songs and artists who will fill your heart with joy through their alluring melodies and lyrics.

This entry will be dedicated to the ever-so-inspiring Michael Franti. Michael Franti is the very first artist who inspired me to really listen to the lyrics. Through his music, Michael chooses to reach out and 'touch' each of us on a level that we can choose to be touched by. His songs are about family, love, life, politics, and, in general, about how we can be a better person in this world.

Playing his music will encourage you to either sit in a meditative state and 'listen', jump around and dance, or socialise and laugh with friends!

http://michaelfranti.com/

 

 

Michael Franti & Spearhead | Soulshine

a simple chakra meditation

As promised earlier in this blog, I would now love to share with you all a simple meditation I work through every day. I usually put my alarm on for 10 minutes earlier than needed so that I can move through and open my heart and my chakras. I've attached a link, which will walk you through your chakras more intimately.

I do this meditation because it increases my intuition, grounds me, makes me feel relaxed, calm, and happy. I often find myself smiling after I've completed the process, too, which is perfect xx

We have seven basic chakras that run through our body. The first is our Base or Root Chakra, which is red and lies at the base of our spine. Our chakras then move through the seven colours of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green (Heart Chakra), blue, indigo (Third-Eye Chakra), and purple (Crown Chakra).

Each morning, and sometimes more often, I will lay on my back in bed and begin by opening my Base Chakra. I see a red light beam through the front of my chakra, through my body, and out the back. I create a pin wheel effect, where I see my chakra spinning around, along with the light as it beams through. I then bring an intense red light up from the centre of the earth, through my feet, spinning my base chakra as it passes through, all the way to the top of my head and the tips of my fingers. And then, finally, I visualise the red light beaming through my chakra once more, and on my final 'out' breath I turn the chakra into a beautiful lotus flower on either side of my body. This process takes me five deep breaths. I continue this process through each of my seven chakras, using the relevant coloured light and place for each of my chakras.

I then finish by bringing a radiant beam of white light up from the centre of the earth on my 'in' breath, through my feet, and I acknowledge each of my seven chakras as it moves through my body, once again, to the top of my head and the tips of my fingers. On my 'out' breath, I push the white light out of my heart (I sometimes visualise a small door opening from my heart to let the white light out) from the back of my spine. I continue this once more, then work through the same process twice with a warm indigo flame. Then one final breath, bringing up the white light once more, radiating it out through my heart.

So, using your breath:

1. Breath in, breath out x2 - Bringing the coloured light through your chakra in a pin wheel effect

2. Breath in, breath out x2 - Bringing the coloured light up through your body from the centre of the earth

3. Breath in - Spinning the coloured light through your chakra

4. Breath out - Spin the light and chakra into a lotus flower on either side of your body

move through each of your seven chakras using this process

5. Breath in - Bring the white light up from the centre of the earth, acknowledging each chakra as you move this light through your body

6. Breath out - Push the white light out through your heart (x2)

7. Breath in, breath out x2 - Do the same as the white light, but with a warm indigo flame

8. Breath in, breath out - Finish process with white light.

I not only do this meditation every morning, but I do it whenever I feel unbalanced or uncomfortable. So, on the train, in the park, in the shower, or maybe in an awkward social situation (in this case, I would just work through steps 5-8, white-light-ing myself).

http://www.chakraenergy.com/seven.html

the ringing cedars

More and more often these days do we cross paths with books that not only challenge and change our thoughts and ideas, but change our lives, too!

Someone who will continue to amaze me with their natural spiritual growth and knowledge introduced me to this series - 'The Ringing Cedars' - by buying me the first book, 'Anastasia', and posting it off to me saying, 'I saw this book, and you need to read it'. Thank you, dear friend xx

The first book will draw you in like no other book you have ever read. I only just had a conversation not so long ago with some beautiful friends, and we were trying to capture the beauty of this book through conversation, concluding that it simply needs to be read. However, I will try and give you all a brief explanation about the story behind this series, just so that you have some sort of an idea...

The author, Vladimir Megre, comes across this beautiful, intriguing lady in the Siberian forest. Her name is Anastasia, and her knowledge of this world we live in is awe-inspiring because she has had very little contact with society, living in the Siberian forest on her own. He writes the first book based on her thoughts, views, ideas, and knowledge of society, raising children, gardening, communicating with energy beyond the earth, and connecting with people in society on a completely different level to what we know. This is a true story...

As I say, it may be hard to believe these words I have written here now, but you must at least treat yourself to reading the first book. The rest will then follow, I promise... :-)

http://www.ringingcedars.com/

cards, spreads, answers, and direction

I own a beautiful, amazing, inspiring deck of angel cards that I use daily, asking relevant questions, asking for direction and insight into various shifts that I may be experiencing or am about to move through. Now, I know that not all of you will own a deck of your own, but this website I am sharing here will give you the opportunity to create a spread of cards for yourself.

Obviously pulling cards for yourself like this is not as authentic as placing your own energy into your own pack of cards and asking whoever it is you ask for guidance, but I have used this site a couple of times, and I have found that the cards that I have pulled for myself have been quite relevant to whichever question I had put forward - everything is what you make of it, after all ;-)

Pulling yourself a spread, simply...

For those of you who already own a pack of your own or choose to buy a pack of cards, simply choose the pack of cards that you feel drawn to because that will be perfect for you. Before you pull yourself any cards, hold them in the hand that you use less often (if you're left-handed, hold them in your right hand), clench your fist, and put some force down onto the pack. This will release any energy from the cards that is not yours. Then shuffle the cards, asking whatever question you'd like answered - any cards that fall out must be part of your spread. Choose three cards and place them in front of you. The rest is up to you xx

And now the link...

http://www.lightworker.com/inspire/cards.php

crystals...

And now on to crystals and stones and the beautiful, radiating energy that they hold...

You may often find yourself drawn to the beauty of different crystals and stones whilst wandering through stores, staring into windows, or when visiting a friend who happens to be wearing some of their own or has placed them somewhere special in their room. This is because crystals and stones hold different energies and this energy will reflect on a particular 'place' that you may be in your life.

Look into the particular crystals and stones that you find yourself drawn to - it is as simple as looking it up on the Internet... And you will find that this particular stone or crystal actually holds elements that are relevant to you.

I began by wearing a beautiful rose quartz and purple amethyst pendant and these crystals nurtured my heart and spiritual progress. Later on, I then became drawn to amber stones and I bought myself a ring in Spain with an amber embedded in it and a special friend of mine - who also appreciates the power of crystals and stones - gave me a beautiful amber pendant to wear. After researching the properties of the amber stone, I realised how well it reflected that particular time in my life.

Now I am wearing turquoise, which, once again, is perfect for this time in my life.... xx

Interestingly, I am constantly amazed by how intrigued children are by the crystals and stones that I have around my neck. Being a teacher, I am always in the presence of children, and these children are drawn to my crystals, always wanting to touch and ask questions. The reason for this is because they are 'Crystal Children' - an amazing, amazing generation of people who have gifts that need to be recognised and nurtured by those around them.

I have attached a link to a YouTube clip that goes in to this a little more for those who choose to delve a little more into this phenomenum x

YouTube | Crystal Children

difficult times...

Some advice to share...

Since meeting an amazing lady who is now a dear friend of mine, my outlook on life has certainly changed dramatically. In fact, the following advice I have to share has been created from time spent and conversations had with her and special other few.

Life is beautiful. And life wouldn't be 'life' unless we experience times that appear to be more difficult than others. These experiences can sometimes feel to last a lifetime, and sometimes last for a single moment. Small moments in time are simple to move through and most of the time we look back and reflect on what we have learned. But it is these longer spells of feeling defeated and overwhelmed that we begin to question if we will ever make it through, and we even begin to doubt our strength, abilities, and gifts.

Use this time to reflect on your current thoughts and ideas and think, 'How am I being challenged right now? What do I need to change/ know? How do I want to feel once this is all over?'

I want you all to know this - You will always make it through these tough times and once you make it out the other end you must first be so proud of yourself. But don't just stop there. Look back and reflect on what you have learned and how you have grown as a person. I am now at a point in my life where I reflect on how I have grown spiritually and nurture whatever gifts I may have become more aware of during that time.

As we live and as we experience, we begin to build 'concrete barriers' around ourselves either to protect our self or hide from certain situations. These concrete barriers stop us from be our true, authentic, organic 'self'. And we must, therefore, thank whoever it is we 'thank' for the more challenging times in life because only 'cyclones' can break down 'concrete barriers'........... x

meditation.

Ah xx  Mediation. Time to be in your own head space, surrounded by the thoughts that you choose to create and manifest. It has taken me some time to feel comfortable and content with my meditations, and I will soon share with you all one meditation that I move myself through everyday.

But, for now, I want to share with you a link, which will beautifully talk you through a simple meditation. So find yourself some time - you deserve it - sit or lay down in a comfortable space, and allow this meditation encourage some beautiful thoughts to enter your mind and your heart.

http://www.meditationmovie.com/

how to be alone...

I think that it is so important for us to feel happy and content in our own company. While it is important for us to surround ourselves with nurturing and loving relationships, our primary relationship is with our own self. This relationship is meditation, thoughts, beliefs, ideas, happiness, love, and light.

A beautiful, beautiful friend sent me this link not so long ago. It is, what I think to be, one of the the most amazing YouTube clips I have ever come across. This clip has been created by a beautiful, inspiring lady, Andrea Dorfman; Treat yourself. Click here...

Andrea Dorfman | How To Be Alone

some music

Music is such an important part of my life, and I have begun to discover various songs and artists who really influence my way of thinking, causing inspiration and beautiful thoughts to flow through my mind. I am currently listening to the beautiful Holly Throsby. She creates sounds that manifest a calm, yet exciting energy. I'm not sure if it's the head-space that I am currently sitting with, but she has been putting a smile in my heart for the last couple of days as I've pottered around the house...

I'm going to share with you a link to her MySpace. Put her songs on 'Shuffle' and 'Repeat' while you continue to cook, clean, read, write, meditate, or explore.... However you have chosen to spend your next hours xxx

 

http://www.myspace.com/hollythrosby

my current favourite... 'On Lonely' ...

to begin with... make light work.

These first few blogs are inspired by links to music, images, and pages that I have chosen to share on a more intimate level with my close friends. I want to make these discoveries more public, though, so that I will hopefully 'touch' someone out there who has chosen to explore and browse, and happens to come across this page... Everything is prefect xx

The first site I will introduce you to is called 'Lightworkers.org' and is dedicated to creating a personal profile and sharing ideas about light and energy work, which has begun to intrigue and resonate with me...

http://lightworkers.org/