Develop Self-Love and Discover Your Own True Path in Life

We have all been placed on earth to discover our own path. We will never be happy if we live someone else's idea of life. ~James Van Praagh.

The best way to discover your own path is to develop a relationship with yourself, to cultivate self-love and to spend time in solitude.

There is a brilliant five minute video called, "How to be alone." Filmed by Andrea Dorfman and written and performed by poet/singer/songwriter, Tanya Davis, it explores the idea of nurturing and developing the skill of being alone.

We are not really taught that it is okay to be alone."You'll find, it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it" a quote from the video.

Tanya suggests we start by making a list of acceptable places to be alone. The bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Prayer and meditation are more acceptable places.Then, her poem invites you to take yourself to dinner with linens and silverware. Take yourself dancing and dance like no one is watching.
In one of the scenes she is sitting on a bench alone and opens you to the idea of how this creates a space for an unexpected conversation. She says, "It may never have happened, if you weren't there sitting by yourself."

More quotes from the film, "If you're happy in your head, then solitude is best and alone is okay. It doesn't mean you're not connected.Take silence and respect it."

There is a tendency to look outside of ourselves to fill time that could be spent alone.

During the last year, I spent many hours in solitude. Walking on the beach, sitting in coffee shops by myself, going to plays in small theaters and finding the joy in getting to know myself better. I have more clarity, joy, wisdom and feel a sense of grounded freedom. I encourage everyone to go on this journey with themselves. You are a magnificent being. Open to this discovery.

There is a wave of self-love appearing in events and on the internet. The Agape Spiritual Center in Los Angeles sponsors an event on Valentine's Day with music, conversation, good food and hand massages. Self-love is encouraged and celebrated.

"The deep love you seek starts and ends with the love you have for you" ~Christine Arylo
Feb 13 has been declared an annual celebration called, Madly in Love with Me Day. Some of the suggestions for developing self-love first:

• Love yourself, all of you, especially the parts hard to love
• Settle for nothing less than your heart and soul desire
• Have only relationships full of unconditional love and respect
• Be nice to yourself (stop being so hard on you!) Develop compassion for who you are.
• Take care of yourself, without guilt (you give from the overflow)

Let's all send ourselves pure unconditional love and open to the true path we are guided to follow. Knowing yourself will heal inner loneliness and the fear of loneliness.

Open to the gift of who you are and Celebrate!

Creating Environments for Children to Learn About Loving Themselves

On Valentine’s Day, many women hope that their true love will appear in their lives with candy, flowers, a dinner reservation and a flowery card professing love to them. Then, the story goes, they will be truly valued, have worth and be loved. For some people, this is a holiday that feels like a death because once again, there is no one arriving on their doorstep with gifts of love. They may put on a brave face about it, but at some point,in almost every woman’s life she has experienced her worth based on someone else loving or not loving her.

Somehow, as a society, I think we have missed the opportunity to create environments for our children to learn the path of self-love. To create environments where they feel encouraged to discover things about themselves and have the opportunity to either fail or succeed, as a life exploration.

Almost every morning, I wake up with a song playing in my head. I lay in bed and I listen to the words. It is the springboard for my day. It is a clue and a message of what is stirring within me. I have learned to listen and to learn.

The song this morning was a Stevie Wonder song called As. The words begin: 

As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving

And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May,

Just as hate knows love's the cure,

You can rest your mind assured, 

That I'll be loving you always.

The song was released in 1976 during a time when I was healing my heart. I felt lost not knowing what was next for me. I was working as a maid, a summer job in between my 1^st and 2^nd year of college. It was the perfect job for me. Hard work and lots of time by myself to reflect on my life. Phil Donahue was the talk show host I listened to, as I changed the bed sheets and cleaned the bathrooms at the hotel.

One of the things I love about this song, is the way I feel about it. When I heard the song this morning, I felt so much love for myself. It is a love song I have sung to myself, professing my love and telling myself, I'll be loving you always. 

Looking back to the beginning of early grade school, I can see a conditioning when we ask children who their boyfriend or girlfriend is. Or we validate their exclamation about the love of their life. They are rewarded for having this love relationship. Sharing Valentine’s in grade school. There is an expectation.

How often does an adult ask a child, how is your self-love going? How is that relationship right now? Are you spending enough time nurturing yourself?

I had a boyfriend in the first grade who gave me a bubble gum ring. I also played wedding in the neighborhood. I remember throwing my shoe at a boy I had professed love to and we were having a pretend wedding. I am not sure why I got angry and ran away from the pretend wedding ceremony, but maybe deep down inside I knew that something was missing.

As crazy as this may sound, I did not go to my 5 year high school reunion because I was not engaged or married. I had graduated from college, I had a full-time job I loved. I was living with my boyfriend of almost three years, but I wasn’t engaged. And for some crazy reason, I thought I had not accomplished enough to go back to high school for a reunion. I did not value myself enough. In this moment, I have so much compassion for myself that I had so little self-love at that point to think that.

In every transition in my life, the end of my first marriage, the autoimmune condition I had, the loss of loved ones and all of the every day challenges, the path to recovery and healing has always been self-love.

I think we need a movement of self-love in grade school and talk about nurturing that relationship, then spreading the love to be of service in the world. The romantic love will develop later as a natural part of life. We don't need to encourage it with young children.

I proclaim a self-love movement now!

Reverence and Living Life

In case, you are new to the blog, here is a brief summary: I am on a journey with my apartment. Will we generate the money to stay here or will we have to leave? I have been honoring my sisters (and now brothers) who have blessed me with prayer, money and resources to continue my sacred work.

On the second day of gratitude to the Sisterhood of Blessings, I stood at the altar and prayed from deep within my heart for the women who stepped forward in support. In the moment of prayer, I saw another gift in my life. The opportunity to create a sacred space and honor others.

Living in a variety of places for the last year, with little space for creating an altar, I had forgotten the power of having a space to kneel or stand in prayer. When I lived in Baltimore, people told me my house smelled like a church. I had several spaces for altars and burning candles. I am so grateful for this opportunity to light candles, say an inspired prayer and see the essence of each woman. It is a powerful gift and I receive it with wide open arms.

We are all brilliant shining lights at the core of who we are. We are Divine Essence.When I see the essence of a person, I can feel my heart expand with love. And that love fills me, as I radiate it back to the world.

I am feeling the reverence for everything in my life. The range of feelings, the life events, the people and their spirits that appear throughout my day. I am living life consciously.

Below is the letter from a woman who felt the honoring. She sent this to a variety of e-mail lists. I share this with you as part of the journey:

"Greetings Wonderful Women!

I am moved to share some thoughts about support. After Andrea's first blog post (and one tiny reference to it on Facebook), I called her and encouraged her to spread a wider net so more people could be given the opportunity to support her.

I read her blog and donated with the 'easy' button. I sent the donation with no expectations other than being happy to support a sister. I was surprised and delighted when I received a "Day One- Gratitude" post from her and yesterday brought a "Day Two" post.

This wonderful woman was moved to create ritual and give support to all of us who are helping her. She sets specific intentions for each day. She is weaving a customized, as spirit moves her, evolving energetic support for us. WOW.

When we light a candle in a church, we give a donation. When we ask for a mass to be said, we make a donation to the church. We give donations for blessings and ceremonies. It is an exchange of energies. I love that this process has evolved from Andrea's call for support. I love that what she began with the Conscious Choices book process, the altar, the ritual, is continuing now for creating a new chapter in her life. I love that I am a beneficiary of her faith and love.

How many years have we been saying that we create our realities? How long have we been talking about the shift to new economies and structures? Andrea is living the shift. Her living it 'out loud', talking about it is stirring up a lot. A dear friend who believes in Andrea voiced fear for her, saying that 'people don't get paid for what Andrea does'. As long as we live within these beliefs and with these fears, that will continue to be our reality.

I know Andrea is a wayshower. I know that she is living the edge we have anticipated. I know that most of us are having HUGE issues to deal with, whether it be health, family or finances, and for some of us all areas are being taxed. I think that the only way we can all get to the other side is to end the silence and ask for the help we need. Fear and shame stop everything- growth, action, creation and love.
I believe in Andrea.

Thank you for the space to voice these thoughts. Blessings.
Karen"

Open to the journey, my loves. Dance with the adventure of life. Feel all of the feelings.

In gratitude,
Andrea

Creating Sacred Space

(The picture is the sacred jar of stories and altar I created during the writing of the book Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life. It was created to honor each woman's voice.)

I am in a deep process of change. Opening to the experience of possibilities for a living space with my daughter. Will we be able to stay in our apt or will we be moving soon? It is a day to day exploration.

The first night I received donations on this blog, I felt love and support. The love offerings from women, many of whom are living moment to moment financially themselves, filled me with gratitude. I sent love to each woman, heart to heart.

I created an altar space and wrote each woman's name on an index card and placed it in a gift bag. Around the bag, I added candles, an angel holding a lamp, a golden quartz crystal, goddess cards, and symbols of gratitude and support. I lit the candles and stood in front of the altar saying a heartfelt blessing for them all.

Maybe the instinct to do this comes from my mother and her lessons on writing thank you notes throughout my childhood. Maybe it comes from a soul connection to honoring and ritual. Whatever it is, the instinct to do this is as natural as breathing, sleeping and eating to me.

At the end of the night, I sent an e-mail titled Day 1: A gratitude blessing. These are the words I shared with the women:

Blessings to you all,

This morning, my Divine assignment was to step into clarity and asking. When the first gift arrived, I could feel another step on this sacred journey.

I was awakened the other morning with the words in my heart, "We have to let go of things in the way we know them." I rolled the words in my mind and they came again. As I reached in the dark for paper and pen to write them down, I heard, "It is time to walk through the looking glass." I lay back down and asked to be shown more and I saw a shimmering field like a stargate and I could see through it. I was told again, it is time to walk through it and I could see a whole world of people on the other side. It felt like leaving one world to enter another, like a paradigm shift.

This was the day after going to the courthouse to fill out paperwork to respond to the eviction.

I will continue blogging with each guided step. I am intrigued by the journey and curious as to the deeper learning and teaching emerge.

I have created an altar of gratitude and have placed each of your names there. I am saying a special prayer blessing that your gift is multiplied and returned to you tenfold. Be ready for unexpected blessings...

In deep love, honoring and gratitude,
Andrea


More to the unfolding story in the blog tomorrow...

We are never given a Divine Assignment without...

There's an opportunity to view what looks like a problem to us, as we would view a child’s difficulties. When we can see a child’s difficulties from the adult perspective, we know the child will get past it. We know that with new learning and understanding we get a bigger paradigm. ~Mary Manin Morrissey

We only get what we can handle. We are never given a Divine Assignment without receiving the support we need. Have you ever had an experience where even though you know that the last two statements are true, you want to throw your hands up to the heavens and say, "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

In case you have not been following the last few blogs, I am in the process of creating a financial bridge from now until April 2011. The bridge is necessary because although I am working, I will not receive the next flow of money until March or April. It is the nature of the work I am in at the moment. I have a trickle of money from social media clients and counseling clients who can pay me. But, the larger projects...(links to the first two blogs are at the end of this blog.)


I want to share some of the support that has shown up for me in the last two weeks of this journey.


1. Kathryn Yarborough: Kathryn and I have been collaborating together for the past six months and are about to launch a collaborative community project that will support people emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally and for some, financially. She keeps me connected and focused on my life purpose.


2. Anna Stookey: Anna and I have been book support buddies for over two years. She listens, supports, and helps me find the answers that are inside of me.


3. Ann Taylor: www.innerhealing.com A healer who offers free calls and healings at least once a week. She is on free tele-summits, radio shows and has a free healing audio on her website.


4. A blessing call appeared through an e-mail. A free astrology update from a friend (Saturn is on my Sun until March 24- for the astrology lovers)


5. Liz Draman: www.lizdraman.com Liz decided to offer a 30 day challenge of the Violet Flame and has offered free tele-seminars almost every night since Feb 1 with healing meditations and community support.


6. My buddy in an Enwaken program who does energy readings on me once a week. I serve her and she serves me.


7. Agape Spiritual Center Services are on-line and FREE! http://agapelive.com/


8. Grandmother Speaks Blessing at the beach. http://grandmothersspeak.com/netoflight.php


9. LaVonne Rees, the creator of http://www.waterconvergence.com/ offered a walk on the beach with an hour discussion about possibilities which helped me to find the next steps.


10. A free download from Jean Houston talking about our Higher Purpose http://purposeanddestiny.net/download/

11. Prayers and words of encouragement and financial blessings from women who believe in me!

12. Seminarian Students and The Beloved Community and the reminder of my purpose daily.


13. A community at the local coffeeshop.


14. Numerous inspirations on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, BlogTalk Radio and through e-mail.


So, if you are going through a challenging time, my first suggestion is to find something or someone in your life who is demonstrating the God presence of support. You may or may not have a strong community around you at this time. I remember 25 years ago, leaving my first marriage with no support from family and friends. But, even then, there were simple messages that appeared to tell me to keep going, it would get better, I was strong enough, I would survive and look back at this time as amazing. 


Some of my strongest emotional muscles were developed during that time and they have served me well in many situations, including now.


So, look around you and see the God presence of support.


1. A flower blooming, a tree, a bird flying or anything else that demonstrates Mother Nature's presence in your life. 


2. The smile from a stranger.


3. A bumper sticker or license plate sending you a message of blessings.

4. Unexpected support from someone.


5. A new idea.


6. And after spending time processing your situation, your feelings, the soul calling, turn your attention to the possibility of something shifting now.


Even when we may not feel support from a large community. Even when the support does not immediately change our circumstances. Even when we think we are out of hope or options:

We Are Never Given a Divine Assignment Without Receiving the Support We Need. 

Listen for the inner guidance on what to do next everyday and then Take Action! I believe in you!

The Blog Links for Face to Face with an Eviction and The Power of Surrendering to Feelings of Terror and Fear.


(Blog 1: http://livingontheedgeblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/face-to-face-with-eviction/
Blog 2: http://calltoinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/02/power-of-surrendering-to-feelings-of.html)

The power of surrendering to the feelings of fear and terror

I woke up in sheer terror on Saturday morning. This is an unusual experience for me. I experience a wide range of emotion but rarely terror. I took out my bag of tools. Violet flame and working with St. Germaine. Listening to Ann Taylor from www.innerhealing.com about releasing old patterns. More inspirational speakers and music. I worked with the energy for over an hour and then I surrendered. I surrendered to the intense feeling of terror that would not leave and I began to embrace it as a teacher.

First, I explored the thoughts that had been pouring into my brain. The theme was decisions and safety. If Hannah and I have to move where will we go? We have a car and a half of personal belongings, and Hannah's bed and dresser. Do we go back to Baltimore and stay with friends? Is there a place that Hannah can stay in California without me for a few months? Is there a place I can stay in California to lick my wounds and recover? Is there a place for both of us and our two cats.

I feel like I am Kevin Costner in the Field of Dreams in the scene at the end of the film when the brother-in-law is yelling at him to sell the property and the young daughter is saying that people will come. And then Earl Ray Jones speech where he says, people will come, Ray, people will come.

I ask myself, "When is trusting a fantasy and when is trusting a walk of faith?"

I spent about two hours in surrendered process. Meditation, journaling, took a shower, focused on the day and drove to Long Beach, CA for a ceremony at the beach. In the ceremony, there were prayers, song, a community of women, heart chocolate, and a meditation. After receiving a blessing of Empowerment with hugs from each of the women, a friend of mine led a simple water blessing. I stood by the water feeling bathed in love and a flow of healing from me to the water and from the water back to me. The two hour ceremony was based on the Net of Light from Grandmothers Speak. http://grandmothersspeak.com/netoflight.php

On the drive to Long Beach, an insight came. I could see my radio show that had been bubbling in my mind for Feb 14 and the idea of Self-Love. The title came, "Loving Yourself When Everything Appears to Be Falling Apart." I began to see how the experience of terror was something to talk about, write about and to discover the nurturing we must do for ourselves even in the midst of chaos. I have been blessed this week to receive healings and blessings every day this week. I feel supported and loved by the Universe in this experience and I am discovering a rich pool of treasures.

At the beach, a friend offered to walk and listen to the thoughts that were swirling in my head. She held a sacred space and read the energy of infinite possibilities. She was unattached to my choices and decisions. She reflected words that came to her. We processed the deep calling my daughter and I had to travel to California. We felt into the energy of moving back to Baltimore and staying in California. After 45 minutes of holding the space, we both agreed. I have work to do that provides a service and I need a space to do that. I have work I am doing that is generating money for the future. My daughter's reconnection with life after moving through a mild depression is important for both of us. I need to find a bridge of support to stay here in this apartment. It was clear.

To do that, I need to generate $4,400. For now, there is a paypal button on this blog. If you are called to donate, and to even think of it as buying me lunch or a cup of coffee and a muffin, the paypal button makes it easy. My friend talked about her daily cup of coffee and breakfast at Starbucks times two. One for her and one for the man she passes on the way to work. She encouraged me to write and post this blog in a variety of places and to allow people to love and support me.

All is well. I appreciate the words and the prayers. 

Tomorrow, I will post some of the work I do for money. Spread the word if it calls to you.

Blessings on this journey of transition all over the World.

Link to blog about an Eviction Process:

http://livingontheedgeblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/face-to-face-with-eviction/

The inspiration to host 44 Grief Transformation Radio Shows Nov 21, 2010-Jan 7, 2011

An inspiration bubbled up from within me in November that led to coordinating and hosting the 44 shows. The idea emerged out of a heartfelt desire to provide a place of information, sharing and support over the holiday season. Through my own personal experiences of losing a brother, son, husband, friends and pets, as well as the loss of my first marriage to divorce and a life threatening illness, I have learned about the ups and downs in grieving and the opportunity to heal and transform a life. Sharing my own stories and finding other people who were willing to share their stories was the focus of 44 radio shows between Nov 21, 2010 and Jan 7, 2011. 

On the day of the last show, I was sitting quietly letting my mind wander to the beginning of this idea. What was it that led me to the first show on Nov 21?

The root of it began 50 years ago when my brother died of SIDS. And maybe there were more losses even earlier, but I can trace it back to that moment of the loss and disappearance and lack of conversation around the baby.

And since then each step, each experience of loss and joy and healing and loss and joy and healing wove a story that emerged as 44 radio shows.

I want to talk about honoring the deep calling from within that calls us to step into a greater part of ourselves.

I was thinking back to when I first received the inspiration to host a Grief Transformation Radio Show over the holidays. It was one of those moments I know we have all had, a wake-up call in the middle of the night to do something or be something. And when the call from the inspired place within emerges, there is a knowing that this is something that demands deeper listening. The first night it arrived, I was curious. I remember thinking what would that look like. Originally, I thought I was going to record a series of articles I wrote about grief transformation, 33 nights of reading to be a voice of love in the dark over the holidays.

When I was awakened the next evening, I imagined myself on the radio as a support. I had a heart expanding moment when I imagined who might listen to the calls. What I felt was heart break. I had a wave of emotion feeling the feelings of loss and grief. Remembering what it was like over the holidays when I was in a transition or had recently lost a loved one. In that moment I made the commitment to be on the shows.

Then, people showed up or names appeared in my mind of different losses. As I shared the idea, people offered or I asked them to be on the show.

From asking Kathryn about hosting the shows on our Living on the Edge channel, to posting the idea on Facebook, to scheduling guests and organizing topic shows, it has been an opportunity to transform and heal.

Michael Bernard Beckwith quote: God does not call the qualified. God qualifies the called.

The guests shared their stories, their journey and I shared mine and somehow in the midst of the conversations, I became a radio show host.

I know that every night, on every show, with each one guest, something in me was profoundly healed and a shift occurred. I know that from the Facebook “Likes” and posts and notes that were shared, this was occurring for others as well.

There are not enough thank you’s in the world for the gratitude and love I feel for each guest, for each comment of support, for each blessing and love sent. And for each listener who sent me a note letting me know the shows were making a difference in their lives.

And just as God, Spirit, a greater Source emerged through each guest, I experienced that, too. Over half of the guests had never been on a radio show. For many of them, the format of a conversation vs an interview was new and different. We played and weaved a powerful healing energy through words, passion, tears and laughter.

I feel new again, waiting for the next assignment, the next mission.

www.opentoinspiration.com 

Blogtalkradio.com/livingontheedge 

Infinity: Learning how to flow from joy to sadness to joy to ...

Infinity: Learning how to flow from joy to sadness to joy to ...
Wed, August 25, 2010

Today I was on Lynn Serafinn's Garden of the Soul radio show. I was a guest to discuss the topic Transforming Grief. 

We were discussing how grief is a process of self-discovery and the gifts that appear as we heal. I talked about the experience of the death of my son and two weeks later the birth of my daughter, Hannah. It was one of the most powerful moments of experiencing the teeter totter of emotion. Cooper died on Jan 15, 1993. His memorial service was 8 days later on Jan. 23 and Hannah was born on Jan 30, a week later.

I was 8 1/2 months pregnant when my son died.

The idea bursting forth was similar to a blog I wrote a few weeks ago about the experience of the caterpillar dying while the imaginal cells of the butterfly begin to awaken. It is a common theme in our world right now. If you are not personally experiencing a death or rebirth within yourself, you are probably witnessing it in a friend, your community or the world.

Anytime we experience a death and a rebirth, we go back and forth between positive and negative emotions. I hesitate to label them with those words, but in our linear world it is the way we understand and view them. Negative emotions would be sadness, loss, disappointment, grief, anger. Positive would be joy, excitement, happiness, hope and freedom.

A few years after my son died, I was exploring and healing more of the grief.  I saw an acupuncturist who told me I needed to stop associating the death of my son and the birth of my daughter together. He thought that was the answer to my healing. As brilliant as he was in many of our conversations, I disagreed then and I strongly disagree now. The more I have experienced and learned about grief I know the answer is to learn to embrace and flow between the various emotions, like the sideways 8, the infinity symbol. A never ending flow.

There will always be moments of joy and sadness present as part of each day. The death of my son can make me sad. The thought of his laughter makes me happy. In a matter of seconds I can move to the sadness and back to the joy and to the sadness and to the joy and ...

The gift of that time period was a lesson in exercising an emotional muscle. It was the muscle of the heart. I could feel great loss thinking about my son and then shift into joy as I looked at the little angel face of my daughter. I began to learn to appreciate the richness in each experience and to dance with the contrast.

We are all experiencing this contrast right now and more than ever, it is time to learn the dance.

If you are interested in listening to the radio show, here is the link. http://bit.ly/dDjFvb

An Inspiration Reawakens: 10,000 Get Clean Kits

An Inspiration and a Passion for the Earth Reawakens to the Next Level
August 23, 2010

Three years ago, I was on a mountaintop in Aspen, CO. I was overcome with a wave of deep love and an idea came rushing into my heart. I took big action for a few months until I realized I had some things to clear in my life first. I kept the idea tucked away close to my heart only sharing it with a small group of close friends. I had a strong knowing that some day it would emerge again in full force.

The Time is Now.

Here is the story:

I was in Aspen, Colorado at Seminar of the Century:  Woodstock for the Mind.  It was an event that was created and organized by T. Harv Eker from Peak Potentials, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.  Three days of motivational speakers and inspiring, passionate musicians.   We were sitting on the grassy ski slope of Snowmass with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, listening to one magnificent, motivational speaker after another.  On Friday, July 6, we made a list of 10 goals for the next year.  I easily came up with my list.  Number one was to share Shaklee products to bring health, harmony and balance to whoever needed it.  

On that day, thinking about Shaklee, my own testimony of health, Dr. Shaklee's inspiration, and the cleaning products, it was easy to find a passion and an emotion of gratitude.  But, what was the goal filled with passion?  I thought about this throughout the day on Friday and went to bed that night thinking about who I wanted to help and where I could make a difference in the world.

The next day was Saturday, July 7, 2007.  07/07/07.  LiveEarth day.  The day began with T. Harv Eker, Mark Victor Hansen and Art Linkletter all doing promotional spots for LiveEarth. The crowd was included in the filming background. We all jumped up and down with excitement for the Earth.  (There were 4,000 people in attendance at Seminar of the Century)  This event would be seen all over the world.  As I looked at the mountains, I felt a passionate desire to do something that would have a global impact.  My love for the Planet was bursting my heart wide open.  I kept thinking what can I do to really make a difference for my dear Mother Earth?

During the next hour, an idea began to bubble from my heart to my head.  It came to me. Create a wave of people using environmentally safe cleaning products. Shaklee had introduced a Get Clean Kit with everything you need to clean your house. The numbers rolled around in my head until 10,000 popped into my head.

Teach 10,000 new families to use environmentally safe products by using 10,000 Get Clean Starter Kits as a baseline demonstration.

Here is a small piece of the impact on the environment when 10,000 families switch to the products:

1. Reduce garbage in landfills by 1,800,000 lbs of garbage (Products are concentrated)
2. Eliminate 2,480,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions

Now that is exciting!

This is why I am choosing Shaklee and the Get Clean Kits:

1. Everything you need to clean a house is in the kit. It will make it easy to switch everything at once.

2. The products work. This may sound silly to you, but I have met people who were committed to using environmentally safe products and then either gave up because the products didn't clean or did things like wash their clothes twice to try to get them clean.

3. It is a measurable goal
       a) Each kit reduces garbage in the landfills and eliminates gas emissions.

4. This will create a baseline of information and education. If you decide to switch to products and buy products from a local store or another company, you will know what it means to use concentrated products that work.

****

For now, I am looking for 10 people who will buy the kit, watch the Youtube videos I will create with information, ask me questions about the products and find 10 people who will also commit to finding 10 people

I am committed to providing an ongoing education. I will have a launch of informational video clips on YouTube, blogs, and updates. You can begin to participate anytime. I will be doing a promotional launch beginning on 10-10-10. I would like to reach 10,000 new families by 11-11-11.

I will be making a monthly donation from the sale of the kits. The donations will go to organizations with themes of the environment, children and education. If anyone has ideas, please e-mail me: opentoinspiration@gmail.com

Next Monday, I will share the details of WHY this is reawakening in me now! It was a WAKE UP: Call to Inspiration.

http://www.shaklee.net/andrea-hylen

Day Dream with God

Day Dream with God
August 18, 2010

On a walk with God this week, the inspiration to start a new twitter account came to me. Day Dream With God. (www.twitter.com/daydreamwithGod) I made the commitment to tweet a minimum of 24 times per day between Aug 12 and Sept 11. One per hour. I am using Hootsuite to schedule most of the tweets in advance. The tweets are devoted to inspirations from spiritual leaders, music, art, billboards, bumper stickers, and inspirational quotes.

The first time I remember using the words, Day Dream with God was sitting at my friend Kate Foley's house. We were sitting at her dining room table drinking coffee at 6:30am. I described the way I felt about opening to inspiration. I called it Daydreaming with God. As I was getting ready to leave Baltimore in January I wrote: I am leaving the safety and comfort of my home and community to go out into the world and explore life in a new way. I am Daydreaming with God, Opening to Inspiration, and Living a Life Worth Celebrating.

I have been actively daydreaming with God for 8 months. I have meditated, walked, trusted, listened, opened and waited. I set a boundary with friends and family that has limited phone contact as I peel away layers to discover the new parts of me that want to emerge. I spend more time in silence than ever before. In my commitment to allow a new part of me to emerge, I am finding the path one step at a time.

Now, when I daydream with God, it is God's voice and my voice. When I feel squirmy and fearful and doubting, it takes less time to find a centered place within me. I am learning to filter and find the inspirations. I see the discomfort as a sign I am stretching and continuing to grow.


After 6 days of tweeting on the day dream with God account, another inspiration came to me. It was a wake up call. I have been ignoring something I am passionate about. The Care of Mother Earth.

A dream, a vision I received on July 7, 2007 on a mountain in Aspen has been reawakened. Teach 10,000 families and organizations to use Shaklee Get Clean Kits by Dec 2011.

Over the next few Mondays, I will share the vision, why this has emerged now and continue with sharing about the care of Mother Earth.

Step 1-Write a blog about the inspiration. Every Monday, this blog will be devoted to the environment.


Step 2- Find 10 people who will commit to finding 10 people in 10 months to use the Shaklee Get Clean Kits.

I am grateful to be awake! See you on Monday!

Day dreaming with God,
Andrea

Open to Inspiration: A unexpected new job

Open to Inspiration: An unexpected new job
August 12, 2010

Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus. ~Robert Brault

Yesterday I went on a job interview. A family of four has a daughter, age 10 and a son, age 4. The son has had six surgeries to correct a birth defect and he has a G-tube. He is bright, physically active and is expected to live a full, productive amazing life. (For those of you who do not know, my son was born with a congenital heart defect, and died of a neuro-blastoma cancer at the age of 19 months.)

The main caregiver for the family has been there for six months but is leaving to go care for her ailing parents in San Jose. The mom e-mailed me on Saturday. I replied on Sunday. We talked for 15 minutes on the phone on Monday and set up an interview for yesterday, Wednesday. When she answered the door, both of us moved towards each other for a spontaneous hug. We both hesitated, took a step back and she reached out her hand to say hello. I commented that I had been moved to hug her. She said, "Me, too." So, I stepped forward and we hugged. In that moment, I was home.


If you had told me two years ago, that I would sell my house, release my personal belongings and furniture and move to California to take a job as a caregiver, I would have thought you were crazy. My thoughts would have been, why would I do that? Why wouldn't I just stay in Maryland in my loving supportive community and become a caregiver there, if that is what I am guided to do? Why do I have to go through this death process of releasing my life to do a job I was already qualified to do? I could have easily found a job like this. There is a deeper reason...

A few months ago, my daughter, Hannah suggested I sign up on-line with care.com, an organization that connects people for babysitting, pet sitting and more. It sort of made sense to do this as a part-time job. I love children and have years of experience. It is flexible, part-time and would bring some money into our lives. Hannah and I both have dreams. I want to focus on writing . I am developing my craft, discovering my interests and allowing the inspiration and thoughts to emerge. But, I am not independently wealthy, and I needed to find something to pay the bills.

Every week, for the past few months, I have applied for a variety of babysitting jobs. Each time I filled out the job application, I observed my feelings. I chose the jobs that were close to where we were living and would fit into my writing schedule. But my heart hurt as I applied for each job. A wave of sadness would appear. My soul was not soaring with joy. For the past month, I have had numerous conversations with God. Really, God? This is where you are guiding me? Is there something I am missing? Is there another job that makes more sense?

My internal dialogue was to continually commit to do anything in my integrity to financially support my family and our dreams. My inner guidance system was encouraging me to apply for a variety of jobs as action steps that would lead me to the real job. They were part of the process. I would be led to the job, the money, a place I would make a difference. I knew it would feed my soul and feed my family.

Before I found this new family, I was rejected by several of the postings because I was too old! What? I am 53 years old and last summer I drove 24,000 miles in 11 weeks and went to 45 concerts (another story). I think I can keep up with children! I used this as an opportunity to process feelings about my skills, my age, and unpaid volunteer positions for the last 15 years. No fancy job titles. No pay. I was reminded of my mother's struggle to find work when my brother was the last child at home and her painful journey with that, "age and no marketable skills crap." Many feelings were stirred up and I did a variety of writing, meditating, and processing to discover the truth of who I am. I have worth and value.

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a very successful (her words), single mom who is bi-coastal and wanted someone who could travel between New York and CA and care for her infant and toddler. That was intriguing because I have a daughter who lives in New York City. Most of the time in the next six months we would be in California with an occasional trip to NYC. But, she wanted someone who was available 24/7. I would have a few hours to myself each day but I wouldn't be able to plan anything. Her new ad, after I had turned down the job, said she wanted someone who basically had no life! (That was my line to her. Are you looking for someone who basically has no life?) Yes! Indentured servant and slave. The interview experience and sifting through this brought more clarity.

Enter the ideal job. As I talked with the mother for three hours yesterday, I could see and feel the grief within her and the family. Change, uncertainty and all of the feelings when you live life with someone who has been in and out of hospitals for almost five years. It stirred personal memories that I will write about. I will not be writing the personal details of the family unless I am guided to write and have their permission to share this publicly. I will write about my own memories reawakening from my own life. Yesterday, I had several memories burst forth from me. My experience will help the family. Being there with them will help reawaken the words within me. I will write about them and this will help other people, too.

After the interview I drove to the ocean for my weekly walk. It was a walk of gratitude. I thanked the ocean, the sun, the sand and the birds for holding me so beautifully. I have walked on the beach almost every week since February. And every week, I have received the gift of an inspiration that has emerged within 24 hours of my walk. The title of my book, the idea to speak about inspiration, posting FREE articles on the internet about grief transformation, and more that is emerging.

As I continue to climb a mountain of exploration, this is a pause on one of the cliffs. There is more to see here.


One more piece of Divine perfection:
The most important practices in my life are preserved. My morning routine of Tai Chi, mediation, and journal writing. The article and book writing for 3-4 hours at Priscilla's. Supporting Hannah with studying for her GED and a ride to her babysitting job several times per week. Time to develop other projects, do radio interviews, create youtube videos. Time for a walk and a short nap to enter the evening refreshed.

I will be working from 4-9pm Mon-Fri. I will be there to help with homework, meal preparation, playing games, reading books, eating dinner with the family and helping with the little boys medicine and healing. The original idea was for me to work the shift to drop the kids at school, run errands for the family, and hang out for the son's nap. As we discussed the details yesterday, I told the mom I thought that would be a waste of what I could really offer the family in emotional support and counseling. She agreed. I can be a calming influence during an important part of every day.

This is also bringing more balance to my life. Sharing my unique gifts to the family, awakening the words I must write and supporting my soul's growth. I will learn-teach and teach-learn in this job of care.

The journey continues...

Grief Tranformation: Five years ago my husband, Hurley Cox, died

Grief Transformation
July 28, 2010

Five years ago, my husband died.

Just as with any anniversary there is an opportunity to reflect, looking into the past, present and future. In case you are new to my blogs, I want to lay a foundation. I believe that life goes on after we physically die. I feel my husband with me on a regular basis. Any crap that might have been a part of our relationship is gone. I feel support, love and blessings from him. He is one of my guardian angels. When I speak of loss or sadness, I am talking about loss of the physical presence. I miss his physical presence.

I am feeling deep sadness this year and I just want to sink into the feelings and be with them, talk about them, and allow the process to unfold.

Five years.

At the 1st anniversary of Hurley's death, a group of 40+ family and friends gathered at our home. I had been ordained as a minister of spiritual peacemaking a few months earlier. We had a ceremony with peace prayers and created an emissary wheel with rocks. When it was complete we stood in a circle holding hands in silence. Even the dogs who had been running back and forth across the rocks came to a halt and sat in silence.

After a short break, we gathered once more that day for a simple ceremony in the garden.  I read a Hopi prayer.  It starts with, "Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep... After that I placed a handful of the ashes of Hurley and Cooper (my son who had died 13 years earlier) into a hole for the planting of a peace pole.  The garden in that area had roses all in full bloom.  Passionate kisses, Love's Promise, Peace, Glowing Peace, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Mary Rose.  After I had placed the ashes into the ground, my brother shouted and pointed, "There is a hawk."  Sure enough, on cue, a hawk approached our location flying from the east to the west.  It flew straight toward us, circled over our heads and turned to fly into the north.  Amazing! We finished by singing Let There Be Peace on Earth and saying a short prayer.

Hurley was a falconer and Cooper was named for a Cooper's Hawk.

2nd Anniversary: Hannah and I drove two hours to Philadelphia. The next day was our first Jonas Brothers concert. Little did I know that that was the first of many JB concerts (78 so far)! I felt Hurley with me as we watched our baby girl connect to life again.

3rd Anniversary: Hannah and I drove 10,000 miles that summer.  I felt so connected to Hurley that summer.  I felt like he was leading me to incredible sacred places and was right there cheering me on to live life fully. On the anniversary we were back at the house for a few days and I was surrounded by four weeks of mail. I sat quietly that evening and felt the deep connection.

4th Anniversary: It was a magical day, a hummingbird day. Hannah and I were in St. Louis on a summer tour of 45 Jonas concerts. We won tickets to the concert that day, met people we still keep in touch with on Facebook and Twitter, received meet and greet passes. I thought about all of the things I appreciated about my husband and felt the glow of a magical day.

5th Anniversary: This feels like a milestone marker. How could five years have passed already? I think the sadness is deeper because Hannah and I moved into a new apt and Hurley isn't moving in here with us. My name is on the lease. This is not a hotel or a hostel or anything connected with traveling. This is our home. And he is not here.

I think any loss is hard. I have lost a brother, a child, grandparents, friends and a husband. It always hurts. There is always pain.

As I reflect today, I feel that the most difficult losses for me are when the loss of the person turns my entire life upside down. Losing my life partner meant that everything changed in my life. When Hurley died, I let go of his business and our home. I let go of Girl Scouts and Destination Imagination and all of the other things I coordinated with home schooling. I let go of community gatherings at my home. I needed to think about getting a job or building a business that would support my family.

The foundation of who I am is still inside of me. I am who I am.

And my life is changing radically. I moved across the country because I felt a deep calling to do that. I continue to peel away the grief to discover the parts of me that want to emerge now. I connect on Facebook but I am giving myself the time and space to feel empty. Open and willing to welcome the new.

 I have been in California for six months. I love it in the same way I have always loved it when I have visited. I was born in Oceanside in a Naval hospital. We moved away when I was 3 or 4 years old. I have now returned to the state of my birth. Hannah feels a strong connection here. And interestingly enough, Hurley was exploring moving to California to become an actor when I first met him in 1989.

I will walk on the beach in Santa Monica and Venice today and go to the Agape Spiritual Center for the Wed night service. Hannah does not want to talk about the loss of her Dad. She will find her own way, in her own time. Liz and Mary have their own lives in Arizona and NYC and will grieve in their own way today, too.

I end with one of Hurley's favorite songs from one of his favorite movies. Many metaphors in the words and the film. I always thought it was curious that Hannah would watch this with him when she was only five years old. Although this has the world blowing up, there was a rebirth on the other end of it. The hummingbirds survived.

Blessings to you all in love and life. Embrace the adventure.

Click here for song: I don't wanna miss a thing

Challenging the Tradition of Food Choices

Challenging Tradition
July 21, 2010

Every month I receive a DVD in the mail from Spiritual Cinema Circle. There are four films on the DVD. Three short and one feature film. This month the topic is"Challenging Tradition."

 One of the short films, (10 minutes) is called Gefilte Fish. A young Israeili woman is getting married. There is a list of traditions for her to do before the wedding. One of the traditions is to prepare gefilte fish following a traditional recipe handed down through many generations. There is a photo album filled with each bride in the family, holding the platter of gefilte fish. She is told that when a woman cooks a meal for a man wholeheartedly it stays in his stomach forever and if she does not respect this tradition, her marriage will be cursed.

Step 1 whack the fish over the head twice with a rolling pin to kill it.(And her fiance is a vegetarian and doesn't even eat fish!)

 Below is a short film trailer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgmsRDEkpD0&feature=player_embedded

                                                            *******

The film and a recent blog brought up the topics of tradition and food. Before moving to California, I was an occasional vegetarian. When I had an autoimmune condition in 1995, I drank green drinks and cut out animal products, as part of my recovery. I liked vegetarian foods but I had excuses as to why I could never give up meat.

*I grew up eating meat at home and in the school cafeteria.
*It was hard to find vegetarian choices when I traveled.
*What would I cook to meet nutritional requirements for my body?
*I need meat for protein and energy.
* I didn't want to offend anyone when visiting their home.

*And of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the turkey.

Now in California there are so many new choices. When I crave a burger and fries, I go to Paty's or Bob's Big Boy, (the original!), and order a vegetarian burger. A whole wheat bun, soy patty, fresh veggies and sliced avocado. It is delicious. When I crave a burrito, I can order it with tofu, black beans and a whole wheat tortilla. And there are numerous vegetarian, vegan and raw food restaurants.

Shelly Rachanow, author of If Women Ran the World, Sh*t Would Get Done has a wonderful blog called Celebrating the Wonderful Things Women Do. She recently interviewed Melanie Joy, author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows. Here is a piece of the interview that stirred me to think about the tradition of eating animals:

"Carnism is the reason humane people can participate in inhumane practices without realizing what they’re doing. The whole system is set up to keep us from thinking for ourselves; when it comes to eating animals, most of us don’t even realize we’re making a choice, following the dictates of a deeply ingrained belief system. We’ve been taught that it’s only vegetarians who bring their beliefs to the dinner table. But when eating animals isn’t a necessity (as is the case in the majority of the world today), it is a choice—and choices always stem from beliefs."

The link to the full interview and Shelly's blog is below:

Celebrating the Wonderful Things Women Do

                                                             ***********

Another opportunity that is challenging the tradition of my food choices comes from my daughter, Liz, age 25. Liz is a vegan. Her minor in college is animal rights. She has been researching the ways we treat the animals we eat. With the influence of Liz, and other vegans, like Jason Mraz, the singer, I am opening my mind. One meal at a time.


The reflection questions at the end of the Spiritual Cinema film are: 


Which traditions in my life limit me? Which traditions set me free?

My call to inspiration is to become awake and aware of the food choices I am making each day. Food is another opportunity for me to make conscious choices. I leave you to answer the questions for yourself.

Now on to the holidays. I have four months to plan the new Thanksgiving menu.

Give 67 Minutes to your chosen social cause

Give 67 Minutes to your chosen social cause

July 14, 2010

Sunday, July 18 2010, is International Nelson Mandela Day. There was an official UN Resolution declared in Nov 2009, to celebrate the legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of South Africa. This is a truly significant historical moment because it is the first time that the UN has designated an international day in honor of one person. Nelson Mandela is turning 92.

There was a 90th Birthday celebration in London 2008. In NYC in 2009, the tradition of hosting an event continued. This year, 2010, is the first official international event and is hosted by Spain.The focus is on serving, community, education, music and more...

Nelson Mandela has given 67 years of his life to fighting for social justice, and to celebrate his birthday he is asking you to give 67 minutes of your time in service. He has asked that we do not focus our love on one man's birthday but to work in community to make the world a better place.

Some of you might say that you already volunteer for 67 minutes every week. Consider doing your volunteer job as if it is the first time you have ever volunteered. Bring something fresh to it. Feel a deeper connection and more enthusiasm.

Be creative with the 67 minutes. Maybe you will help a family member or a neighbor. Open to inspiration and let the opportunity to serve come to you. Be ready to serve!

If you don't know who Nelson Mandela is, here are a few details of his life.

* he was born in South Africa on July 18, 1918.
* he protested against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid is racial segregation.
* he was jailed for 27 years on a charge of sabotage and was called a terrorist.
* he became a hero to anti-apartheid groups.
* he was seen internationally as being responsible for helping to end apartheid, a 46-year era
* he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, three years after his release from jail.
* he was the first democratically elected South African President.
* he served as President from 1994-1999

Mandela Day is a call to action for people everywhere to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time, just as Nelson Mandela did. 

If you want to know more about it and the myriad of activities, here is a link:

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/foundation/mandela-day/category/mandela_day_2010/

I highly recommend the film Invictus. It is the true story of how President Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of the South African rugby team to help unite the country. Brilliant film. Here is a link to the movie trailer. It is now on DVD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZY8c_a_dlQ&feature=related

It is a film of leadership and vision. Powerful and inspiring!


One last thing to think about: Isn't it interesting that Spain, a country that has been planning Nelson Mandela Day with the focus on serving, just won the World Cup? Could this be a demonstration of the flow of giving and receiving in the Universe? An example of serving with an open heart and the overflow of generosity?

Just a thought...

A Call to Inspiration

A Call to Inspiration
June 30, 2010

After 5 months in California, I am inspired to begin a new blog in a new space. My intention is to share reflections of ideas, music, film, books and spiritual reflections about life. This is my way of connecting and supporting the great awakening that is happening in the world.

After spending several hours writing and researching information for the first blog this morning, I added a picture to the blog and all of the words were lost. For a moment, I sat here with my mouth open in shock and then opened to a new inspiration. Change is like that. Awakening is like that. Walking down the path, adjusting to a change, finding new answers and living in the moment.

I will re-write that blog in the future. For now, I am going to change direction and share a simple song from John Denver.

Looking for Space was released in Feb 1976, during my first year of college, almost 35 years ago. The words have expanded in depth over the years. As I meet people in person and on-line, I see the song as a theme for the world. The words connect with all ages, genders, and cultures. We are living in extraordinary times. Music is one of the healers and awakeners.

I found a beautiful video on Youtube with the song and nature scenes. The words remind me that we are on a journey of life. All of us have moments of soaring like the eagle and weeping in despair. We can connect with the center of our heart, Spirit, and nature to awaken and remember who we are.

Here are some of the words:

On the road of experience, I'm trying to find my own way.
Sometimes I wish that I could fly away
When I think that I'm moving, suddenly things stand still
I'm afraid 'cause I think they always will

And I'm looking for space
And to find out who I am
And I'm looking to know and understand
It's a sweet, sweet dream
Sometimes I'm almost there
Sometimes I fly like an eagle
And sometimes I weep in despair

All alone in the universe, sometimes that's how it seems
I get lost in the sadness and the streams
Then I look in the center, suddenly everythings clear
I find myself in the sunshine and my dreams


Link to John Denver's Looking for Space:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWfxuzJYNgY


Embrace the adventure,
Andrea