Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Spiritual Living Center!

Are you Enchanted with Life?

I learned something cool in one of my classes the other day.  The professor was explaining that when French people are introduced, instead of saying, “pleased to meet you,” they say, “enchanté,” which is short for “I am enchanted.”

What I got out of the professor’s explanation of enchantment was that being enchanted with life is what spirituality is all about.

Spirituality is not about going to church.  Nor is it about believing in a certain way because you were told to believe that way.   Instead, consider that spirituality could be about being enchanted, no matter what.

In the dictionary, one of the definitions of enchanted is, “to delight to a high degree.  As in her gaiety and wit have enchanted us all.”

So how do you do that?  How does one remain enchanted, or delighted with life, no matter what?

Let’s face it: life happens.  Leading a spiritually based life does not mean that stuff we judge as bad or less than desirable is not going to  happen.  Doing spiritual practices everyday like meditation, contemplation or journaling does not guarantee that we are going to be immune from the ups and downs of life.  It just means we will be better able to handle them, and to respond instead of react.

But what if we took it a step further?  What if we made a decision to be enchanted, no matter what?  What if, instead of taking a walk and noticing how beautiful the fall colors were, we moved in a bit closer, to notice the minute changes in color of just a couple of leaves.

What if we used those minute changes in color as a metaphor for our lives?  What if we made a minute change in a behavior, or in a way of thinking?  Do you not think that such a minute change might result in the entire forest changing?

I think this is the way we can become enchanted with life, by making minute changes in our behavior and perception.  Just a little bit at a time, we can change our entire being, our entire lives.  And if you believe that you can be the change you wish to see in the world, think of how making a minute change in your life can contribute to changing the world.

So be enchanted today.  Change one tiny little thing, and decide to be enchanted about it.  And let me know what happens with that!

“…..water reaches its own level.”  Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind textbook

It is a scientific fact:  water does indeed reach its own level.  It’s also a scientific fact that our bodies are made of 90% water.

Then there’s the Law of Attraction, which states that whatever we think, whatever we believe, that is what we will attract into our lives.

Think about these truths in terms of  your own relationships.  I’m not just talking about intimate relationships here, but all relationships.  If you are attracting companions, friendships or intimate relationships that are not serving you well, the place to look is within yourself, not at the other people.   For you are indeed, attracting your own level.  If you wish to change what you are attracting, you will first need to change your level.

This isn’t about judgement. When we judge ourselves or another, we are limiting ourselves.  And if we are judging ourselves or another negatively, we are creating shame.  Remember, we attract our own level, so if we are judging another negatively, there will always be some aspect of ourselves that is causing that. And we will create more of that which we are judging, simply by the act of placing attention on it.  Whatever we are judging the other person for is something within ourselves that we do or behave like also, except that we don’t want to look at it. So instead, we turn our thoughts outward, judging another, paying attention to traits and actions that are negative, and creating more of the same in our own lives. 

Go within.  Look inward.  Look to the level of your own water.  Look to your own beliefs and thought patterns.  View them the same way you view the things in your home when you are getting ready for a garage sale.  Some items you want to keep.  Some you want to sell because you don’t use them anymore.  I doubt there will be any judgement attached to that.  It’s simply a matter of the item not being used.  It served you for a while, but now it doesn’t.  Time to get rid of it, to make room for something new.  It’s the same thing with behaviors and beliefs and thought patterns that no longer serve  you.  Simply remove them, make room for new thoughts and beliefs.  Change your level.

As with all change, there might be a grieving process associated with changing our level.  Contemplating, for example, selling that old piece of furniture in a garage sale might bring back memories of the experiences  you had with that piece of furniture.  It’s ok, desireable even, to go through the process of remembering, and of saying goodbye, and of thanking the ways you were served, and of then acknowledging that its time for something new.  Be gentle:  don’t judge, don’t go to a place  of shame or guilt, just release and move on.

When you change your level, the people and circumstances in your life will also change to match the new level.  This can be exciting, but might also be a bit scary.  This is a good place to acknowledge your oneness with the One, to remember that you are a being of Love and Light, and that all is well.  This is also a good time to reach out and avail yourself of the gifts that are there for you, all you need to do is ask.  Help and support from friends, loved ones, mentors, Practitioners can be invaluable in times like this.

Sometimes we might also need help in the very process of changing our  levels.  Again, a Practitioner can help with this.  Practitioners are specifically trained to  help people change the limiting beliefs and thought patterns in their lives.

Isn’t is wonderful that we have these great minds, and all these tools to use, to change the circumstances in our lives if things are not working for us?  Isn’t it wonderful to be empowered? 

Today, I know for you empowerment.  I know for you that if you decide to change your level, the means to do so will present itself effortlessly.  And when this happens, it’s called a demonstration, and I want to hear about it!

I’m hearing a lot of folks express lately that they feel challenged in their life. 

Some feel ashamed, some feel lost, some feel hopeless.  There is confusion and despair.

There is a way out of that, and it doesn’t have to do with changing the outside circumstances, although the outside circumstances usually change of their own accord when you do the work necessary to get out of feeling challenged.

The work starts within.  Within is where it always starts.  It starts with changing your thinking.  Sometimes that is difficult, I know.  The mind wants to always go to the worrisome stuff.  Don’t let it.  Bring it back to good, to positive.  And bring it back again.

And within is where our Great Reality lives, that One,  that Source that is All, that is part of  us, part of you and part of me and part of everything, in and through all, and as long as we have that connection, that knowledge, we can rest securely in the comforting arms of Spirit.

Make a gratitude list. Reminding oneself of the things one is grateful for will alwasy bring relief.

Make a phone call.  It’s not good to suffer in silence.   Call someone and talk with them, even if you don’t talk about the challenges in  your  life. 

Challenges happen in life, that’s part of  life I think.  But we have tools with which to deal with those challenges, and isn’t that great? 

Be with Spirit today, and Know.  Know that all is well.

Complaining sucks.

Really.

Eckhart Tolle says, in his book called the Power of Now, “For to complain is always non-acceptance of what is and it invariably carries an unconscious negative charge.  So when you complain you make yourself a victim.”

In the metaphysical world (what some folks call the Law of Attraction), what we place our attention on grows, so in complaining, we are placing our attention on that which we really would prefer not to have in our life and affecting just the opposite.

A while back at our center, everyone was wearing purple bracelets.  They got them from A Complaint Free World. The goal is to go 21 days without a complaint.  Every time one found oneself complaining, the bracelet had to be switched from one wrist to the other.  There’s also a book by the same name.  Here’s the web site:  http://www.complaintfreeworld.biz/index.html

So, the next time you find yourself complaining, see if you can’t turn that around.  Either  find something positive in the situation, or turn your attention to something else.  In that letting go process of placing your attention on what you want instead of what you don’t want, you are empowering yourself.

When we surrender, we allow for infinite possiblity in our lives.

Surrendering does not mean weakness.  It means that we no longer fight the battle.  

Take a look at your life.  Is there anything that feels like a battle to you?  Like you get up every morning, and feel as if you must armor yourself once again, and come out swinging, and defend yourself?  Give it  up.  Turn your attention to something else and refuse to engage in the fight.

In doing so, you will allow the Universe to operate in your world.  What you pay attention to grows, and what you resist persists.  So if you stop engaging in the battle and turn your attention to something else, not only will that battle diminish, but whatever you turned  your attention to will grow.

That is surrender, and it feels good.  It also gives a feeling of strength and power.  It’s a strange sort of paradox, but it’s true and it works.

Try it!

What’s the first thing  you think about when you wake up in the morning?

Is it positive or negative?

If you thoughts are not to your liking, you can change them.

It’s easy to change your thoughts, what is sometimes a bit more difficult is to keep them changed.  But you will want to make the effort if the pattern of your thoughts tends to be negative or pessimistic.

Why?  Because you will manifest according to the pattern of your thoughts.

You can change your thinking by replacing a negative thought with a positive one, or an affirmation.  You can also change your thinking by turning towards a positive activity.  For example, if you are worried about a situation in your life and have done everything you can possibly do to improve it, then move on and do something different.  Take your mind with you and engage in an activity that is productive, even if it’s a walk in the woods.  That will be more productive than worrying!

Try it today:  anytime you have a negative thought, turn it to a positive one and notice how you feel when you do that.  I’d love to hear your stories about how you changed your thinking!

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Do you truly believe that? 

Let’s look at it from a logistical point of view:  The planet we live on is a glorious physical space, but it was created with a dream.  It was created with a dream of a Spirit of the Universe, wanting to experience the physical.  Whether you believe the Genesis story, or whether you believe the Big Bang theory, or whether you believe in evolution or some combination of those, my point is this:  Somehow this world,  humans, mammals, birds, fish and other assorted critters, waterfalls, forests, deserts, mountains and valleys….all came into existence.

You came into existence too, and whether you believe this or not, know that I believe this for you:  you were made in the image and likeness of a powerful Spirit, and anything it has done, so can you.  If you can dream it, you can do it.

Don’t believe it yet?

Why don’t you try acting as if?  Why don’t you consider the possibility that you don’t need to go along with the race consciousness?  (Race consciousness is a term created by Ernest Holmes.  It refers to the general mindset of the general public)  It’s not flu season, you aren’t going to get a cold just because the rest of the world has it, you can buy into the recession if you want but it isn’t necessary,  just because you get old doesn’t mean you get limited and sick.  Dare to get quiet with yourself, know your own truth, and go for the gusto of life!

Who says you can’t start a new sport or change careers because you are in your 50s? If you want to do something new than do it!

Is something calling to you?  Remember the baseball movie called Field of Dreams?  The main character kept hearing:  “if you build it, they will come.”  It made no sense on paper to build a baseball field.  He was ostracized and ridiculed by folks who could not or would not see the possibilities in life.  He heard his truth, and followed it.  That motto, “if you build it, they will come,” is one of my mottos.  Perhaps you might like to make it one of yours.

Know that you are a powerful being, made more of Spirit than you might be aware of.  Connect with that Spirit and KNOW.  And go for it!

“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.”  Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

“If you spot it, you got it.”  Unknown

I’ve never thought I argued for my limitations, but I totally agree with the sentiment that if you spot it you got it.  What that means is that it’s one of those spiritual truths that if you are seeing behavior in someone else that is bothering you, most likely it is because you do the same behavior yourself, don’t much appreciate it, but are unwilling or unable to change it in yourself.

I can spot  limitations in people a mile away, it’s one of  the things that makes me an effective Practitioner.  But yesterday I was speaking to another Practitioner who told me I was arguing for my limitations.  And I have to admit that she is right, because I am experiencing some limitation in my life.

So, let’s say you’ve become aware of something in your life that you wish to change.  How do you go about doing that?  Well, I can tell you first of all that change always, without exception, starts within.  Not only does it start within, but that’s where the majority of  change occurs.  It simply is not effective to change outside circumstances if we expect a permanent change in our lives.  We must change the insides.  By changing the insides I mean the beliefs and the thought patterns.  Beliefs are a biggie.  Thoughts are a bit easier, at least for me.  Beliefs are deeply rooted and it takes some digging to get at them, expose them to the light of day, and change what is no longer working.  I don’t know about you, but I have never been successful at changing a belief without help.  I plan to hire a Practitioner to help me with this.  Thoughts are changed one thought at a time.  Simply change each thought as it comes, until you find that you are no longer having to do it.

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution and are already finding that it’s difficult to keep it, or perhaps you’ve not even begun implementing it in your life, perhaps it is time to look at approaching it from a different angle.  Go within.  If you need help digging, get it.  Then, expose that  belief to the light of day, and change it. 

We form beliefs usually based on happenings in our lives.  But we also form beliefs based on how we percieve things at the time.  Our perceptions change with maturity and wisdom, but our beliefs do not.  So we find ourselves in the position of having a belief based on the perception of an immature child!  One who views the world through the eyes of self centeredness!  I don’t know about you, but I would like to think that I’ve matured a bit since I was a child, and that I now percieve things a bit differently.  So why on earth would I base a belief on the inaccurate perceptions I had when I was a child?

This is the kind of exploration of beliefs that is needed in order to effect change in our lives.  I wish you happy digging, and happy excavating!

I belong to a spiritual organization that has no rules.  It’s one of the reasons why I belong.  I don’t do well with rules.  In this organization, I am free to do what  I want, when I want.  We have no dogma, no places one can’t go or things one can’t do.  We have folks of all religions attending our services and classes (HAH!  Bet you thought I was talking about a 12 step organization didn’t you?).  We don’t believe in guilt, or shame, or anthing else that would make anyone feel bad. 

We do believe in a Spirit of the Universe and Its creative  power, which we call the Law.  The Law always says yes.  However, there is a catch.   The Law can only do that which we tell it to do, nothing more, nothing less.  We tell it by our beliefs and our thoughts.   If we are not manifesting what we wish in our lives, we have a responsibility to look to our beliefs and our thoughts and change them.  And if we are not steadfast and firm in our beliefs and thoughts, if we are instead a bit wishy washy, the Law provides us with wishy washy results.

I love this philosophy.  It empowers me.  There is no victimization here, no kowtowing to the unknown whims of a God separate from me.  No catering to a God that says I am a bad person if I do such and such or believe so and so.  I am loved, cherished, honored no matter what.  I am safe and protected in the arms of a Power within me that is so vast and so powerful as to deny description (but we keep trying anyway).

And I love that the Law is mine to command.   I look at this philosophy I belong to and know that I am responsible.  It is in that responsibility that I am also empowered.   My job is simply to connect with Spirit through the use of daily spiritual practices (meditation, reading, journaling, others) and through practicing the presence 24/7; and to have beliefs and thoughts that are in alignment with my desires and wishes. 

Sometimes its a bit of a tall order, sometimes my mind wants to go in directions that are contradictory to my beliefs and thoughts, and when I allow it to go in those directions is when I get the wishy washy results. 

But for the most part, life is beautiful.  Life is wonderful.  Life is a series of great events and abundance and plenty and health.

If your life is not that way and you want it to be different, you might want to look at what your thoughts and beliefs are telling the Universe.  You might want to consider changing those thoughts and beliefs if you are not manifesting what you like in your life.

There are many ways to change thoughts and beliefs.  I think it is a cumulative process.  The more consistently we meditate and do other daily spiritual practices, the more our thoughts and beliefs are in alignment.  Each time we participate in a class, workshop, book study, service, we are more in alignment.  Each time we consult with a Practitioner we become more in alignment.

If you have made some resolutions from the New Year, and are already finding yourself, one week into the year, in a position of finding it more and more difficult to keep those resolutions, you might want to consider working from the inside out.  Take a class or a workshop or a book study that is designed to help  you go within to where the Power  lies and to where you can connect with that Power and that Law to manifest your dreams!

One such workshop coming up is the Treasure Mapping Playshop. I’m calling it a Playshop because we are going to play!  There will be some exercises designed to take you on a journey within and to help you connect with that Power within.  And you’ll get to color, paste, talk and laugh and create your own Map to your Destiny!

Come join us on February 6, Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City.  Cost is $34 if you preregister, $39 if you show up at the door.  It’s a potluck, so bring something yummy to eat as well!  Contact me to register!  I look forward to seeing you there!

At this time of  year, many of us have decided to do it differently.  It doesn’t really matter what “it” is, for the purposes of our discussion here today “it” could be anything.

But how many times have you decided this?  How many times has the New Year come along and you’ve made a decision to do it differently, and even acted on that decision for a month or two, then fallen back into old ways of doing things?

Let’s make this year different. Let’s make this year the year that you implement the change you wish to see in your life, then you become that change.

In order to make a change in your life, I believe it is necessary to examine yourself.  I believe it is necessary to know what makes you tick.  What’s your story?  What’s your history?  What are your beliefs and the pattern of your  thoughts?  It is your beliefs and your thoughts that create your outer reality, and if  you want to change your outer reality, you must first change your beliefs and the pattern of your thoughts.

There is one other piece of the puzzle:  it is easier to change beliefs and thoughts if you know that you are safe and well cared for.  You may think that this comes from a relationship.  You may think that a feeling of safety and being cared for should come from a partner, lover, spouse or parent.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Expecting our love ones to make us feel safe or happy or anthing else places an unfair burden on them, and turns us into victims.  Instead, try placing the responsibility on feeling safe and well cared for in the loving arms of the one power that is capable of handling it:  The One.  Whatever you want to call it:  Spirit, The Universe, The Force, Mother Nature, God.  Wherever that Power lives, connect with it, feel it, know it.  Then you shall know yourself, and then you shall be able to safely and effectively make a change in your life.

So the formula for successful change becomes this:

1.  Examine yourself, particularly your beliefs and fears and how  you react when you are in fear.

2.  Connect with whatever-you-want-to-call-god, or deepen that connection, so that you feel safe.

3.  Change your thoughts, the general pattern of them, and change your beliefs.   Do this through a daily consistent regime of connection with that Power, and a conscious effort of replacing those  thoughts that  don’t serve you with thoughts that do.

4.  Envision how you want the new you to be.  Then affirm that.  Use affirmations, visioning, meditation, whatever works for you.

Soon you will find that you have indeed, become the change you wished to see in yourself.

To help with the process, I have scheduled  a Treasure Mapping Playshop at the end of this month.  Join us on January 30, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City.  Cost is $34 if you preregister, $39 if you register at the door.  At this playshop we will go through the process of visioning the change we wish to see in ourselves, and then playfully make treasure maps to guide us through that change.  Contact me for more information and to register.

In the meantime, prepare by examining yourself  and deepening your connection with Power.