Archive for April, 2013
Rise and Shine
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
I sit.
The sun rises.
I sit.
The sun shines.
I sit.
The sun goes in.
I sit.
The sun sets.
(Instagram photo by Mary Anne Flanagan)
Moment by Moment. Breath by Breath.
Monday, April 29th, 2013
What Is Your True Nature?
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
Mind breathing Heart
Heart breathing Love
Love breathing Love
What is your true nature?
Breathe and open your eyes to your true nature.
Breathe your mind.
Breathe your heart.
Welcome home.
Meditation on the Peace Within
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Book Review: The Power of Starting Something Stupid
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Paulo Coelho, Author of the Alchemist
What if we realized that in order to accomplish our dreams, we will sometimes have to start something stupid?
After reading Richie Norton’s new book, The Power of Starting Something Stupid, I learned that the smartest people in the world don’t run away from stupid ideas; they lean into it. What if we let go of excuses and gave into our dreams?
If anyone has ever told you that your idea was crazy, then you would be in good company. Richie Norton reminds us that many brilliant minds before us were labeled as crazy: Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Sara Blakeley, Ben Horowitz, Walt Disney and William Shakespeare.
In The Power of Starting Something Stupid, Richie Norton redefines stupid as the new smart and explains that life-changing ideas are often mislabeled stupid. What if the key to success, creativity, and joy in your life lives in the potential of your stupid ideas?
As Norton says, “Projects allow us to experiment and determine what works and what doesn’t. They allow us room to fail and modify our ideas to achieve eventual success.” The important thing is to make room for the experiment – the stupid idea.
Isn’t it better to look back years from now and not have regret for what we didn’t do? There will always be an excuse of why we didn’t start something. Norton points out the three most common excuses: the lack of time, the lack of education or experience and the lack of money. Even if we had all of these, there is still no guarantee that our idea will work. How liberating to just go ahead and live out our stupid idea!
This book is rich and inspiring. Norton shares a very personal story about how he came to live his stupid ideas. After great losses in his life, he learned from grief what he calls Gavin’s Law: Live to Start. Start to Live.
No more excuses. Start something stupid — the smartest thing you can do.
Open to Grace
Saturday, April 20th, 2013
Stewards of a New Earth
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Excerpt of a channeled message about stewardship:
Dear Ones, there is an opening, for Oneness for all who aspire to rejoice in the grace and beauty of a New Earth – an Earth that is connected and alive. The Earth is alive within you! Rejoice at the accomplishments of the many warriors of light here to pave the way and make a path for all who care to follow you into the expanded realms of infinity. Truly, you too are the warriors of light and undoubtedly this path has been challenging.
Each of you who chose this journey into unity came to earth with a motivation, a desire to uplift all who embody this great planet. You chose to create new pathways to open the possibilities for all who wish to follow in your very courageous footsteps. Because of your achievements there is a light shining brightly around Earth and there is hope for all willing to wake up.
Now is the time to release yourself from the dark, and call forth the fruits of the Earth to sustain you. The Earth Mother cannot do your work for you. Instead, Earth Mother will simply be with you to be observers, while also being present when you call to her to feel freer.
Yes, we have called upon you as warriors of light because Earth and Heaven wish to wait no longer. Earth is constantly changing, is constantly evolving and as such, so too are you. Your Heaven on Earth is always growing and you may be feeling yourself stretch beyond your normal comforts. Keep stretching yourself.
The question to you now is: Could you put down the plow even if you wanted to? Knowing what you know now about Heaven and Earth, could you turn your back and close your eyes on the work you are called to Be in the world?
Many wonder how the separate parts of the whole can rejoin after centuries of separation and discord. We assure you that there has been enough suffering and strife for the whole to realize that there is a better way. We are calling to you to be a part of this new way for a New Earth as Stewards. Stewardship will be represented by union, connection, service, and shared intention for the highest good and you are the forefront of this new and unfamiliar journey.
(Photo and Channeling Message by Mary Anne)
Love as Our Ally
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
In Pema Chödrön’s book, Taking the Leap, she invites us to use our breath to remind us how to stay and accept our present moment.
Pema Chödrön writes, “We might ask, Given my present situation, how long should I stay with uncomfortable feelings? This is a good question, yet there is no right answer. We simply get accustomed to coming back to the present just as it is for a second, for a minute, for an hour—whatever is currently natural—without it becoming an endurance trial. Just pausing for two to three breaths is a perfect way to stay present. This is a good use of our life. Indeed, it is an excellent, joyful use of our life. Instead of getting better and better at avoiding, we can learn to accept the present moment as if we had invited it, and work with it instead of against it, making it our ally rather than our enemy.”
As we attempt to make sense of recent tragedies in Boston and beyond, let us remember to come back to our breath and listen to our present moment. Let us work together to be more peace and love in the world. The gift of love is more love – perhaps that is an ally worth inviting in.
They Told Me I Couldn’t…
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
They told me I couldn’t draw and I became an artist.
They told me I couldn’t play an instrument and I became a drummer.
They told me my essays were mediocre and I became a writer.
They told me I couldn’t carry a tune and I sang my heart out.
They told me I was an average student and I started my own business.
They told me I couldn’t and I did it anyway.
How about you?
Speaking to Nature
Monday, April 15th, 2013