The Gift of Parenting

Dear beautiful souls,

This weekend is one to mark down in my journal, for yesterday was the official day my son, my first-born moved out of home. Left the nest, so to speak. As any passionate parent may understand, it is a huge event in one's life journey, as much as giving birth, getting married, or unmarried, my child's 1st birthday, 18th birthday and 21st birthday.

Even more so when my children have always been my good friends as well, and share laughter and tears, ups and downs, and healthy connections.

Whenever one of my children leave home for a holiday, there is always a 'hole' for they are so much a piece of me, but in a peaceful way I also send them away with love and protective blessings as I embrace and welcome with them, their journey of growing and exploration into their own world. "You're the first one to leave the nest..." I said to my son this week, happy to share the excitement of his new venture. "But we've all been away and traveled lots before mum..." he replied. "Yes but you're the first one to take your bed with you!" I added.

This kind of milestone in my children's lives always heightens the reality of how quick, brief and transient our lives are. I always get a flashback of the span of their lives from then till now, and how that was almost just like a blink of an eye.

Let us always realize and remember that being a parent is a gift, a gift of one of the greatest services in a lifetime. In the past when I have had moments of "Oh I would love to be like a Mother Theresa, to be able to give my life up in service, by helping to feed the hungry and destitute of the world" or "Oh I would like to achieve incredible feats like summit Mt Everest." Then Life would always bring me to my knees with the profound realization that, I am already living one of the greatest services, as a parent, in bringing up 3 beautiful human beings, to be in a position to mold them and evolve together with them as souls.

Our true purpose in this life journey is to evolve as a soul. This short span of physical existence is most significant but just a blink. Our children are a gift to us as much as we are to them. Sometimes they are more evolved souls than we are, as such we are here to mutually learn from each other. Sure, as a parent we have the responsibilities to help equip them with knowledge to survive and function in this world, but as soul parents, are we also bringing them up through our heart center? where they too learn to love not just others but themselves unconditionally, where they become human beings that connect, have joy, passion, wisdom and the ability to give. Or are we just parenting frantically in keeping up with the Jones', to bring them up so they can meet those school grades like everyone else, get that supposed prestigious jobs like everyone else, have a home with the picket fence and the two and the half children, like everyone else. Do we parent from the wholeness of our hearts or from the limitations of our heads?

Children learn from what we are and what we do, not from what we say and teach. If we want respect, we have to show them respect. If we want love, we have to love them. Do we connect with them on a soul level, or do we know how to? I have personally found that as I have grown and changed in the course of my life journey, my children have grown and changed magically on their own accord too, it seemed less effort. Abuse of our children does not just mean the obvious physical and sexual abuse that we all deplore, but abuse also sneaks in with the guise of unconscious parenting, if we parent without unconditional love. For our role as a parent is to unconditionally love. For it is in doing so that our children can remain in their core of unconditional love, for themselves, which then grows and branches out into love for others, and the ability to thrive in their world.

Unconditional love means to love them for who they are, to take time to nurture their beauty and to guide them through their pains; to make the efforts to say those special words "I love you" "I'm sorry" and mean it. To know when to let go and allow them the freedom to explore and to learn from their own mistakes, to be there without expectations, judgements and demands, to know when to reach out and when to give them space. Parenting is the hardest task one can ever undertake, it is a continuous dynamic balancing act. That is why it can only be done most effectively and is most rewarding when we ourselves do so from our heart center, our center of connection with our higher source of wisdom.

So treasure your children. And realize that those exhausting sleepless nights, challenging toilet training, tiring school runs and sports events, teenage hormones, worrying late nights, and ups and downs of life are very brief windows for you to connect, help shape and grow with your child's soul. For before long, that window will be gone, and your gift and privilege will be gone. As parents we form their family base and roots for establishing in this physical life and world. As with any plant, without its foundational roots, there will be no ability to grow, let alone flourish, bloom, flower and bear fruits. They will take with them into the big world whatever has been molded into those formative years. Let us treasure this privilege and honor our role.

Here's a great video I shared recently, a powerful reminder for us parents, to stay conscious that "Our children learn most from what we are and do, not from what we say, teach or expect.


Love, Light and Blessings to you,
Patsie xo
Would love you to connect with me on my fb page www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin and coming very soon on www.spiritpond.com

Patsie Smith is a spiritual author of the book Awaken Our Spirit Within  avail on all online bookstores or through www.patsiesmith.com. She is a spiritual guide and speaker, bodyworker and energy healing facilitator, meditation and yoga teacher. She lives in Perth, Australia.

The Sacredness of Tears and Pain

Dear beautiful souls,

In the course of my work I am very honored to have been given the privilege to work with many clients through their healing journeys. In helping to facilitate their own inner awakening and guiding them in their healing journeys of their mind, body and soul, I almost always encounter in them the blockage of resistance and withdrawal from facing one's own sadness, grief or pain. These are undoubtedly very intense human emotions that tear us to the core, especially when facing an intimate loss, end or empathy. Along the way we have also allowed society and our life conditioning to somehow imprint upon us this notion of unworthiness and subtle shame or even disdain at being sad, depress, low, down and hurting. Unconsciously, we have generally grown up being told to "toughen up", "stop being a baby", "don't be silly"...... etc. I've even witnessed some parents throw a big smack onto their toddler's backside for crying. These days it is not uncommon for adolescents, teenagers, young adults and adults who decide to consult a medical doctor when experiencing extreme sadness, only to be immediately prescribed with antidepressants or sleeping tablets. Could it not be that perhaps it is simply as simple as allowing ourselves to feel and process through our sadness, pain, depression? Have we allowed and given ourselves full permission to honor and release those emotions?

All emotions are simply energy at the very core. Minus the thoughts attached to the energy of that emotion, it is simply energy. Sadness and happiness share the same intensity on the scale of magnitude, only differ based on the thoughts attached to them. Energy can flow and is dynamic if we allow it to flow, so it arises,comes, and passes. But if we grip it by attaching or block it by resisting out of fear, we prevent it from flowing, processing through and clearing. Fear is dominant for we fear the vulnerability, exposure and openness of our heart. We fear we may totally crumble to bits like Humpty Dumpty and not be able to be put back together again. That may be the case for awhile if one is a lost soul with no inner awareness of self beyond mind and body. But if one has an awakened inner awareness, the anchoring and trust in our higher reality allows immense growth and transformation to emerge after the storm of sorrow and pain passes. Life will show us and teach us, insights and deep peace will reveal if we remain open, seek and learn.

Crying, sobbing, heaving and curling up in a ball in utter sadness and pain, in our own aloneness allow us to shed all the hardened layers of our inner self. I have heard a beautiful saying once, "Crying and sobbing is decalcification of our Heart". The heart is the seat of our soul, the center of unconditional love for our self, and others. Not love only when we are happy, chirpy, all hunky dory, up and skipping, but also love for when we are soft, hurt, in pain and breaking up on the inside. Tears are like the buff that polishes our soul on this journey of life. Every tear we shed goes toward polishing us on the inside to allow our inner glow to shine.We should honor and be proud of every tear we allow ourselves to shed, if we could bottle them, they would be worth the glow and growth of our soul.

Trust in your life's higher purpose, anchor in your inner spirit of love and compassion, and the weather will change. It always does. Nothing remains the same. The sun will shine again, but the wisdom and peace comes from allowing yourself to embrace the rain too.

With Love, Light and Blessings,
Patsie xo
Namaste !

Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, guide and self-healing facilitator, energy healing practitioner, meditation and yoga teacher.
She lives in Perth, Australia.

Learning to Receive

Dear beautiful souls,

For some of us, a major lesson in life is to learn to receive. Our cultures, morals and religions have all taught us to "freely give" and such is noble and should be cultivated. But realize also, to receive is an art we should learn to honor and embrace. Receiving, not in the selfish and greedy sense but receiving in the graciousness and gratitude sense.

There are a few reasons why some of us may have a blockage with receiving:

1) In general, most of us have had an upbringing of being instilled into us the importance of giving, so much that we may unconsciously have fallen into the notion of feeling guilty and wrong if we receive, for subconsciously we have come to perceive and equate giving = good, receiving = bad.

2) Our life circumstances and upbringing thus far may have been one where we have always had to play the role of 'giving', hence it is an ingrained pattern that we have learned. We simply don't know how to receive for we have never been in the position to receive.

3) Our life experiences may have been such that every time we have been given something, people have always expected something else in return. Hence, we refuse to receive as we do not wish to be obligated or in debt.

4) We may have grown up with lack of self-worth, as such both consciously and subconsciously feel totally unworthy to receive anything of beauty, worth, joy and abundance.

Some people may find themselves in positions of constant lack and dissatisfaction, viewing life as unjust for they never have enough to eat, love, create and enjoy. Examine closely, is one's lack  because we have not allowed ourselves to receive? The universe is abundant and if we are in tuned and flow with the infinite source, there is more to receive than we can ever imagine. We are wholeness and worthy as we are the manifestation of the Divine here to experience, enjoy, create and thrive. Receiving is part of the karmic cycle of flow, as much as giving is. To receive with a gracious heart the good things, events and people into our lives is to honor this cycle and allow its natural flow. When we receive graciously from another human being, we are honoring their privilege to be able to give, so they too will be able to receive from the abundant universe. Giving and receiving do not necessarily entail a linear passage where giving by one entails a debt and a return to the same other, but rather large infinite cycles of giving and receiving with everyone in the universe through our connectedness.

We freely give and offer thanks, services and prayers to the Universe/God but do we allow ourselves silence and an open heart to receive love, healing, lessons and directions, and hear answers? Let us never be afraid to allow our hearts and minds to be open, and our soul to blossom, as we receive graciously and with deep gratitude, for "The more we receive, the more we can give." Such is the joy and privilege of this human journey.

With Love, Light and Blessings,
Patsie
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Patsie Smith is an energetic healer, spiritual author, remedial massage therapist, meditation and yoga teacher.
She lives in Perth, Australia with her three young adult children and a dog, a tortoise, 2 birds and a fish.

Soul Living

Dear beautiful souls,

Most of us have been conventionally brought up and conditioned from early childhood, throughout  adolescence, teens and young adulthood in the typical belief and value system of our current social, education and economic model. This idealized model is growing up fitting into the expectations of a society that is geared toward the conventional system of education - preschool, to primary to high school, college, university, then get a well-paid job, get married, have a home, a mortgage, the picket fence, family wagon, the average two and the half children, a loving spouse, more successful income, retirement and live happily ever after. Thrown in amongst all that, of course we must always make sure we keep up with the Jones'. But then what? Perhaps for some this may be their life purpose. Some souls however, become conscious of this trance of limitation earlier in their life journeys and try to opt out. They may tend to make different choices, have different outlook and head down different paths. Others may come to some kind of awareness at mid-life crisis point, and sadly many others get to the end of their lives before realizing the futility of a model that is unrealistic and empty, that do not follow their soul path and purpose - their reason for being here in this world as a human being. 

Regardless of where and which point you are at in life, it is time to look within. For that is your whole purpose for being here. You are not here to be a daughter/son, parent, grandparent, friend, lover, teacher, butcher, baker, candlestick maker. These are your roles in this play and journey of life, for you to grow, learn, experience and evolve as a soul. When you know and honor your soul path, life naturally flows with joy, magic and purpose.

Q: So how do I know my soul path? How do I know my purpose?
A: By knowing your inner spirit.
Q: How do I know my inner spirit?
A: By being awakened to it.
Q: How do I awaken to it?
A: By returning to that silence deep within yourself, that powerful silence that has no name, but that you know.
Q: How do I know whether or not my spirit is already awakened?
A: As a human being we do feel a whole array of emotions, part of the whole beauty and tapestry of life. So we are not referring to emotions. When you are sad, unhappy, exhausted, unwell, are you still at peace? When you are well, are you at peace? Does your heart smile and dance on the inside? In general, do you feel your heart and spirit soaring with love and connection for all living beings and this journey of living?

When you know your silence within, and it is fully awake within you, you can't help but transform. A living spirit will naturally flush waves of change, healing, growth and learning into and through you, bringing with them excitement, new frontiers, possibilities, spontaneity and purpose.
Similarly, when you come to forks in the road on your path in life, check in with that silence. Put the mental brain on the back seat for a short while and listen to the intuition and silent wisdom of your heart. The right path will reveal itself and you will know, for you will have peace and feel a soaring within. Spirit resides in the heart, not the head.

Thank you for connecting.

With love, light and Blessings to you,
Patsie
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, health and healing facilitator, energetic kinesiologist, remedial massage therapist, meditation and yoga teacher. She lives in Perth, Australia.

Reflection 2013 and Transformation 2014

"When we know who we truly are, we know that life is infinite. It never had a beginning and will never have an end. Life continues in infinite cycles. We have intuitively known this from the beginning of human times. The symbol of life in all cultures from the Celtic to the Tibetan, is infinity in various forms, all amazingly depicting no beginning and no end. Such symbols emanate from that infinite space that is the real us. Life will continue. It may express itself in various forms or non-forms, but it will always find a way to endure. Try pulling out weeds and they continue to grow, kill germs with antibiotics and they mutate. Life transforms but cannot end." 
Excerpt from Ch17,  Awaken Our Spirit Within by Patsie Smith

                                                    

                                                       Dreamstime stock photos


Dear everyone,

The end of another year brings with it a time of reflection on what has come, is going and will be gone. And new beginnings and possibilities as we embark onto 2014. Linear time is a concept created by human beings, our true reality is simply continuous infinite cycles. Ask any other life form e.g. a dog or a tree "How old are you?" "What year is it?" and it is irrelevant to them. At the end of 2012, there were fears and anxiety among the general masses, spurred on by mainstream media, of the end of the world - catastrophic end for humanity. The awakened and conscious beings of the world however, were far from fearful. They celebrated the turning point into the start of a new era, of awakened consciousness. So now we have come to the end of 2013, one year on, and we're all still here. The world has not ended!

However, 2013 has been year of major shifts, both on an individual and a global level. As we review all the events that have occurred in our personal lives and the world around us this year, I would like to invite you to come on a journey of reflection with a heart of wisdom and love. To do this let us view this year from the angle of gratitude, be it just quietly in yourself or physically writing them down on a gratitude journal. As you reflect on all the events and experiences in your personal life this year, some might have been very obvious ones to be thankful for, e.g. got the dream job you wanted, fell in love and in a happy relationship, gave birth to your beautiful baby, recovered from an illness, went on an amazing holiday trip abroad, etc. etc. List down all those obvious wonderful events, for they are indeed blessings to be grateful for. Then comes the other side of the coin, the events and experiences that were sad, stressful, traumatic or tragic. Reflecting on them with wisdom through the eyes of gratitude means viewing what lessons resulted from them, what events and people those 'negative' events/experiences led you to, which contributed to something 'good' after, or which has brought you to where you are today, or to the growth of your inner strength and spirit. Similarly, view what transformation and growth these life events have contributed to the inner spirit of those you love and who are close to you. You will realize that there is so much to be grateful for, beneath all those 'unfavorable' events. For that is our true purpose in this life journey -for our soul to evolve, create and experience. 

In reflecting on the bigger picture in line with our oneness with all of life, our world has undoubtedly been experiencing some major shifts this year. Our natural environment appears to be at crisis point with about 80% of the world's forests having been degraded or destroyed, and we are experiencing the worst rate of species extinction (of plants and animals) since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. While the natural rate of plant and animal extinction rate is about 1 to 5 species per year, we are now witnessing the loss of species at 1000-10,000 times the natural rate, and the major cause is human impact. Our current world population at 7 billion continues to grow at the rate of 1.14% p.a. leading to increased food demands and consumerism. This leads to further pillaging of our limited natural resources. Deforestation in the Amazon (Brazil) had risen by 28% over the last year and continues to be on the agenda in every other part of the world from the British Columbia forests in Canada to the South East Asian rainforests. Corporations are choosing to drill for oil in the pristine Arctic instead of investing in clean sustainable energy. Planet earth consists of 70% ocean but only 1% is protected. Everyday unwise politicians and corporations are continuously making short-sighted and ignorant decisions by signing up bigger and more profitable fossil fuel projects, contributing further toward depletion and degradation.

Our plant-based food sources are threatened by power and money controlling corporations with more widespread use of pesticides, genetically modifying our foods and controlling our seeds. The conventional medical system is being shaken, as they are unable to cure people as they continue to get sicker with chronic degenerative and inflammatory illnesses from younger ages than ever before. Chronic stressful living from continuous striving toward endless material wants, the high consumption of processed foods, sedentary and anti-social lifestyles of technology-driven cultures have all led to the decline and loss of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Conspiracies and corruption are rife in all traditional areas of power and trust - political leaderships, financial and banking, media, medical and pharmaceuticals, food and water. Meanwhile wars, crimes, violence, social and family dysfunctions, and homelessness continue to climb, the impoverished continue to starve, and humans continue to spiral into despair. This absolute global disarray and disharmony is a reflection of the individual's dysfunction. The illusion and hypnosis of 'separation' is the underlying root cause of our current state, as humans in general have become disconnected from their spirit, their source, essence, God. Those who worship a 'God' but only know it as a separate belief, concept or entity is still caught in the 'separation' disorder. Separation from our source entails separation from each other, which breeds fear, rivalry, greed, anger, hatred and destruction. Only a reality shift within each one of us through oneness with our source will result in unity and harmony with everything around us. We may wonder, "how then do we feel gratitude?" 

The current state of our world and lives, though tragic, are major shifts. Let us view again from the other side of the coin. This physical life and our physical world consist of polarities. We can't have one without the other, and for every action and choice, there is a consequence. Without night there would not be a day, without light there will be no darkness, without up no down. This period is distinct in that the polarity seems to have somewhat reached its crisis point. As with any crisis point, what follows naturally is a total overhaul, or a break down of the existing and the emergence of a new, for cycles to continue.

We have gratitude for despite the apparent despair, this year has seen the culmination into the peak of spiritual growth and awakening in humankind. Spirituality is growing as an inner reality and not just an outer and separate belief system. Awareness is as astute on one pole as the imbalance of ignorance is on the other pole. The rising vibrations of love and compassion by all awakened and conscious souls are as powerful as the fear and destruction on the other pole. Although technology may be misused for fear, control and false propaganda, nevertheless it is also the mean that is accessible for freedom of knowledge, information and research when used with conscious and wise discretion. Hence, corruption, exploitation, injustice and potential devastation can and have been exposed. We have gratitude, for in a paradoxical way, this crisis point brings with it a major re-education and revolution in human rights, medical, foods, environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, political, financial, and religious systems. All the old systems are breaking down. Increasingly, we are waking up to truths and getting ourselves objectively informed, educated and united toward transforming ourselves, hence, our world. By reclaiming our own spirit, using our intelligence and individual discretion, and making our own conscious choices - we are healing ourselves and others, and helping to protect, rejuvenate and heal our planet and all species that live upon it.

Armed troops are putting down weapons and marching with the population in solidarity against political corruption. People from all walks of life are voicing out, taking actions, educating and uniting others, and working toward change. The organic and bio-dynamic food industries are sweeping across the globe, people around the world are voicing out and taking a stand against GMO foods, growing foods in their own backyards, returning to simple lifestyles and working together as communities toward sustainable living. People are taking responsibility for their own health by making wise food choices, cooking wholesome foods and taking time to exercise, connect with family, friends, local  and global communities and with their natural environment. Natural health and medicines are the preferred choices to chemicals and drugs for health and healing.

Environmental protection organizations are at the fore front with the work for our nature conservation. This year The WWF has successfully stopped oil exploration in Virunga National Park in Africa, worked with African And US leaders in stronger enforcements for wild life crimes, curbed the sharks fin trade, increased Nepal's tiger population by 63% since their protection in 2009. Earth Hour 2013 has seen the Russian government making amendments to forest legislation and the Argentine Senate to the creation of a 3.4 million hectare marine protection area. Wetlands in Peru were rehabilitated and wildlife returned after the pollution caused by oil drilling was cleaned up. The Sumatran tigers and rhinos of Borneo have been saved through sustainable palm oil programs. For these and more, we are thankful.

The world communities rallied together and donated millions to help victims of  natural disasters from floods to earthquakes.. Various organizations like Make Poverty History, Oxfam, Unicef, and the Red Cross continue to get food and water to those in need through every penny that is donated by all generous souls. Every day there are countless souls working tirelessly and unconditionally out there in Medecins Sans Frontiers, Mother Theresa Hospital in Calcutta, various orphanages and refuges in Burma, Laos, Africa, the Middle East. Even here in our own backyard, the many many souls who quietly contribute their time and care in soup patrols, youth centres, animal shelters, etc. or simply helping the lonely neighbor in need. Our spirit and essence is pure, unconditional love and compassion. And we are grateful for the evidence of that all around us.

Spirituality is evolving from institutions and rituals into a personal reality deep within each heart. A return to this stillness is the shift that transforms the individual which then ripples into the collective. Every single one of us is a drop that causes a ripple in the ocean. Every day people are awakening and enlightening. Many highly evolved souls live among us from all walks of life, from scientists, doctors, musicians to 'average' man or woman down the street. All bringing forth with them wisdom, new creations, ideas and innovations to take us into a new era where we will not just survive and live, but thrive - in unity, harmony and oneness.

We have gratitude for this and so much more. For while humanity and our planet appears to be at a crisis point, it is also a turning point, 2013. Turning points may entail an unnerving sense of stepping into the unknown, such is the nature of shifts and transformation. If we stay fully anchored in the source of our being, we have the courage, trust and wisdom to embark into 2014 embracing conscious transformation. Let us move from fear-based to love-based consciousness. Let us not get engaged and caught up in sensationalism and fear-based mainstream media hype. Humanity is always faced with all sorts of challenges and our world is constantly changing and evolving. If we keep our spirit centered and our minds intelligently informed, our higher and pure intentions will guide us in making conscious choices everyday. The bigger picture is never simply 'black vs white', 'right vs wrong' or 'good vs bad'. Our best intentions will allow the bigger picture to take care of itself and spin its own cycle. May we continue to grow and foster our already awakened spirit on its journey of infinite possibilities - to create, experience and evolve, in facilitating transformation. May we continue to integrate our inner reality of truth into our outer world. Once the collective higher vibration reaches critical mass, transformation will ripple through into waves, and this is already starting to happen. Remember, it has been said, "There is no darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light." Humankind may have consciously and unconsciously chosen the absence of light for far too long. The key to transformation is for each and every soul to awaken into their spirit and essence, their light.

I would like to share this beautiful video as we carry this beautiful mantra/prayer into 2014....please read the words in the video, enjoy !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeLzR7ufuUA

With Light, Love and Blessings for 2014,
Patsie

Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, remedial massage therapist, energetic kinesiologist, meditation and yoga teacher.
She lives in Perth, Australia.
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

 

The true spirit of this festive season

Dear everyone,

It's that time of the year again, when I shudder to go out on the streets, let alone walk into a major shopping complex. And I live in what is known as "the most isolated city in the world"! Imagine what it would be like in the big cities of the world. Stressful and frantic energies seem to surface at this time of the year for the average and affluent population of the western world. We get ourselves caught in a frenzy of spending and over-consumption. People rush around, pushing and shoving, buying up endless consumable goods to partake in this commercialism of Christmas.

As any true Christian will tell you, Christmas is sacred, as the real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ (though the exact date of his birth is very unlikely not the 25th Dec). Christ along with many great spiritual  masters of our times, lived, taught and espoused unconditional love, oneness, giving, forgiveness and peace.

So while we can embrace and celebrate this time of the year as a joyous and happy event, let us not lose our perspective and get too caught up in the materialism and commercialism of the festivities. It is a wonderful opportunity where good friends and family may gather together to connect, share and catchup. Some some may return home from long trips far and wide, others may find time to partake in foods, laughter and play together - and share joy and fun in giving each other gifts.

In amongst all this joyous activities that we are fortunate to partake in, let us always try and remember, be conscious, aware and practice - the true spirit of Christmas. The spirit of oneness and unconditional love extends not just to our immediate family and friends that we are celebrating with. It includes all of life on planet earth, all other humans, animals, plants and our natural environment. When we purchase gifts galore, and foods that spill out of our refrigerators, let us learn to be modest and somewhat frugal - do we really need more than too much? Before we reach out to purchase the third expensive present for our beloved offspring, let us stop and reconsider - does he/she really need that too? In purchasing material gifts and foods, let us make conscious choices based on how the goods and foods are sourced and obtained. Are they 'fair trade' where products were sourced and manufactured through ethical means? where other humans were not exploited and harmed in their making. Better still, buy from and support your local crafts maker and organic farmer's markets. Are they cruelty free? where countless animals have not been tortured, tested and killed. Are they environmental and sustainable? Nature is limited and diminishing even as we celebrate, if we do not remain conscious in our choices of spending. The amount of increased spending on consumables, packaging and discarded wastes triples and quadruples over the festive season in the affluent west, so our choices have effects on our environment. Are we giving others a gift of health? with natural ingredients or are we giving hidden toxins and synthetic substances in foods and products?

In celebrating, before we fill ourselves up excessively with foods and wine (to the point of bursting), let us remember those who never ever had a Christmas, those who have hunger in their stomachs, not just on Christmas day but every day. To restrain ourselves from over indulging does not curb our joy but is a small honor for those less fortunate. Instead of material consumable gifts, perhaps gifts of services, education and awareness are a better choice. For many that we often find "have everything and too much" perhaps gifts in the form of a donation or voucher to an aid abroad or nature conservation foundation is a wise option. Many organizations such as Oxfam, Unicef, World Vision, Rotary, WWF, etc. have vouchers where we can buy a 'goat', 'seed' or a rehabilitation program for a rescued turtle - all nicely gift certificated.
The spirit of giving and unconditional love does not have to take the form 'purchasing'. Giving time, love and sharing joy and happiness may extend to giving a little something to or lending a hand at a Christmas event for the homeless, the women's refuge, the orphaned and injured animals shelters, planting some seeds and tress etc.- all are true forms of unconditional giving. Giving more time, attention and presence to each other, hugs, laughter and connection, being forgiving, open and accepting, are all in line with the peaceful spirit of Christmas.

Finally, let us remember that while is it a ritual and a celebration, the true spirit of Christmas is that it is our true innate nature that should shine every day, not just on a particular assigned day. Every day should be a celebration within our hearts for the beauty and gift of life. Every day let us bear gratitude in our hearts for all that we are and have. Every day let us connect and consciously work to make this world a better place for all that live upon it. Every day let us also continue to give back to Mother Earth and all the elements, that provide and sustain life on earth. Every day let this peace be the core of our being.

May you have a conscious, joyous and peaceful holiday season :-)

With Love, Light and Blessings,
Patsie

 Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, remedial massage therapist, energetic kinesiologist, yoga and meditation teacher.
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Healing Emotional Wounds

                       
                                                 "May I hold myself with compassion,
                                                            As I forgive and let go.
                               May I meet the ignorance and suffering of others with compassion,
                                                            As I trust and let go.
                                                                  - Patsie Smith

Dear all,

As you journey on this wondrous path of human living, it is inevitable that you may become the casualty of emotional wounds at one time or another. For you are an emotional being - part of the joys and gift of being alive. The emotional brain is your limbic system, a primitive part of the brain that has evolved for survival and growth. When you feel emotions, whether mild or intense, rapid or prolonged - all physiological effects occur in your body. Hormones and chemicals are produced into your bloodstream, blood pressure rises, breathing rates increase, muscles contract, vital energies are shunted away from your internal organs toward peripheral limbs ready for fight or flight. If emotions are intense, the physiological effects are intense. If emotions are prolonged, the physiological effects kick into chronic overdrive. Except in cases of rapid emergencies, where thoughts are by-passed initially, almost all emotions include a simultaneous cycle of thoughts. If you entertain and allow the thoughts to be of negativity, disempowerment, fear or destruction - this will continue to feed into the vicious cycles of emotions. This creates an endless loop of emotions - thoughts - more emotions - more thoughts - ........until they become uncontrollable, embedded into your subconscious, or until they spiral out of control, to total break down, or total explosion!

Emotions are carried and stored in every part of your body from rigidity, postural misalignment, blockages to energy flows, to memories in every single cell of your body. This coupled with the simultaneous subconscious planting of a thought or belief system in your brain creates an auto pilot response in both mind and body that continues to drive you through out your life, if you are unconscious to break out of it. For example, if when you were a child, you were constantly beaten and punished for petty misbehaviours and then told "You are a bad child, good for nothing" - that program gets locked into your subconscious and cellular memories. For some it might not be as obvious a dysfunction, perhaps as a child you perceived yourself as being loved less than your siblings, or felt and believed you were unwanted and abandoned when one of your parents left home and never returned. You can spend endless time analyzing, discussing, blaming and trying and find the answers to all your emotional pains - but that will just drain your energies, use up precious present time and keep fueling that busy, already patterned brain that keeps believing the same chatter.

True healing from emotional wounds involves transcendence. This involves a few processes:

1) Self-realization - this might sound irrelevant if you are stuck in a pattern of disempowerment, for your perception is that the other persons, the situation, or life itself is to blame. You are merely the victim. You fail to see that it is your very own destructive subconscious and energetic patterns that have attracted and continued this pattern throughout your life. Self-realization involves an awakening within you to the reality of who you truly are i.e. a spiritual being having a human experience. It becomes profoundly clear to you that as much as your wounds are painful, they are your reason for being here, and your true journey in life is to learn and evolve into your ultimate spiritual self.

2) Having realized your own empowerment and lesson to learn in this lifetime, you make the conscious and courageous choice to step out of the pattern that imprisons you by:

Releasing safely all relevant emotions i.e. feeling it and experiencing it physiologically through every single cell of your body viz. crying, aches & pains, nausea, headaches, memories. Being conscious and aware, you process these turbulence with strength and compassion while staying anchored in the reality which you have realized in Step 1).
   
Along with Step 1) also comes the innate wisdom and knowledge that helps you to see profoundly the lessons of growth beneath each wound, hence the opportunity to reprogram your body and mind on a new slate.You feed your brain every day, hour or minute with empowering affirmations to rewire new neural pathways.

Finally, after the turbulence or the emotional release storm is over, and the 'dust settles' you will find yourself drained, but profoundly at peace. For you have emerged out of the storm with a lighter body and a new thought pattern. You no longer carry that baggage in your mind and body. You are ready to move forward, recreate and enjoy!

Step 1) is crucial as without your inner shift in spiritual awakening, you will only have the capability and strength of a limited human, which is insufficient for transcendence. But the awakening of your inner spirit beyond this limited mind and body is the key to going beyond human strength and wisdom.
When you cut yourself, you naturally wash the dirt and blood off the wound, then dress it with antiseptic etc. to allow it to heal. If you leave your wound unattended it may fester, grow, get infected filled with pus, possibly poison your blood through septicemia. Likewise to leave emotional wounds unattended will eat you up on the inside despite sabotaging your outer lives from happiness and peace. You need to wash all that 'blood and dirt' off your emotional wounds by releasing and purging. Then dressing it with new thought patterns and wisdom that are already innate within your higher Self.

Healing is a gift, for it is through such that you have the opportunity to grow stronger and wiser and open up the doors to new frontiers that you have the power to create, as a spiritual being on a human journey.

Thanks for connecting.
Love and Blessings to you all,
Patsie Smith
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin