Come away from the periphery of life, the endless distractions of the outer world, to dwell in your Heart Center where God’s love vibrates unconditionally.

Happiness is our natural state. For those that have not been happy for sometime that may sound like a distant dream from another land. We have been living with high levels of unnatural stress and have come to some how think that is natural. It is nothing more than a by-product of our so-called modern world.

Peace and freedom are gateways to happiness. So why do we spend so much energy attempting to control forces outside of ourselves and so little energy consciously directing the flow of our own thoughts to align with inner peace and love? I think, in part, that we have been conditioned to look outside ourselves for peace, happiness, answers to our prayers and that has caused great confusion.

Two important things that will change your life:

1) Self-Correction

2) Self-Control

We cannot control anything outside ourselves. It makes us weary. As we grow weary we are less effective with just about everything we do. Attaining and maintaining the natural state of happiness becomes illusive.

Stop for a moment and consider what is worthy of your time and attention. This is where your energy will flow and if it is not bringing you toward happiness it is taking you away from it.

Some Practical and Basic Things:

We cannot function properly or feel happy if our life is devoid of peace. Quiet time, gentle exercise, healthy food, and proper sleep are basic human requirements for health and happiness. None of these cost much more than our time and attention. Even healthy fresh organic food is inexpensive when we look at the big picture. When we eat foods high in life force/nutrition we crave less and eat less and we are healthy. Disease is expensive.

Another way to arouse happiness is to surround oneself with beauty. This can be experienced as easily as getting out into nature, taking in a sunrise or sunset, looking at the moon, stars or beautiful art, listening to harmonious music, smelling fresh flowers, essential oils or taking in the aroma of spices from cooking, just to name a few. Making simple choices such as these positively affects our brain by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever. This in turn lifts our mood and we begin to feel peaceful.  Peace and freedom lead to happiness.

We must remember to play. If we take life so seriously all the time we will again become weary. Playtime can be with friends or alone. Anything that stimulates a carefree sense of creativity is playtime. Sing a song, jump a rope, doodle or draw a picture. Remember to keep it light, easy and fun. Happiness will surely find you and sink right in.

Quieting our outer reality, resting within, whether we choose meditation, yoga, a nap or a simple walk the reconnection of our body, mind, and spirit begins. As we feel more connected within we cultivate inner peace, which leads to happiness.

When the need for Change gets our Attention:

When it finally becomes important enough to make positive changes they will be made. When a person has had enough of the old way that has proven itself to be “less than” on many levels, the stirring begins to supply some energy to new possibilities.  Self-correction and self-control begin to receive attention and as it goes energy flows where attention goes. Self-correction is a key to our happiness. In the words of Buddha,” No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

Self-control is another key to our happiness. More words from Buddha, “What you think you become.”  Know your thoughts and exhibit enough self-control to maintain healthy positive thoughts. Allowing our minds to muddle in self-pity or fan the fire of anger and resentment is a path that leads away from happiness. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Doubting oneself does not lead to happiness. In fact, it drains the energy necessary to accomplish what you would like to do. When we are weary we do not make good choices. When our energy is drained self control and the ability to self correct go out the window. So you see our happiness is linked to some rather practical and basic things. (mentioned above )

Happiness paves the way to Manifest your desires:

When we are experiencing happiness we are on the threshold of manifesting our hearts desire. Don’t let the little things get you down. Choose some of the simple things I have shared with you here in this post and keep yourself up. Take care of the basic needs of the body; keep yourself up. Pay attention to the nature of your thoughts; keep yourself up. Nourish your spirit; keep yourself up.  Acknowledge the needs of the inner child; keep yourself up. In the words of Yogi Bhajan, “ Keep up and you will be kept up.”

I like this verse given to us in the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 6 verse 5)

Lift up the self by the Self
and don’t let the self droop down,

For the Self is the self’s only friend
And the self is the Self’s only foe.

Everything in our outer reality resonates with the strong steady vibration within. What message are you sending out into the world? Look around and you will see it reflected back to you. Master yourself by allowing love to flow through you unobstructed. When the strong steady vibration within is the vibration of love we experience happiness quite naturally. Happiness is our natural state.

Love Astara

Love is such a powerful and ever present energy. Love changes everything when we call it to us. Loves changes everything with grace when we allow it flow through us. When life is felt to be little more than one challenge after another love is still present, waiting to be received.

Love and Sex:

Too often sex is experienced in a state of denial. One can only love another to the degree they are able to love themselves. If unconditional self-love is not present denial is. Some people experience sex is an atmosphere of self-loathing and hatred. Some experience sex in an atmosphere of duty or as a way to obtain favor. Some experience sex fixating on the body parts they do not love and feel shame. And still others experience sex as a performance.

These are a few of the many ways people experience sex in a state of denial. In all cases what is being denied is the Source of love that never fails. In a perfect world everyone would experience sex in the presence of love. This makes for a very spiritual exchange of energy enhancing the life force of the couple as individuals and as a couple.

If love is present it is a worthy experience no matter how long they have known each other. Both people will feel the joy and powerful healing energy. If love is not present someone or both will feel shame, anger or perhaps nothing at all. This is a life depleting experience and one that comes with its own share of opportunities to learn about love. Some believe sex without marriage is a sin. Well that is for them to sort out. From my perspective sex without love whether you are married or not is a great imbalance that leaves both parties feeling depleted in a very short period of time. If we would only allow love to flow through us unimpeded we would be gifted with the experience of tremendous healing and life enhancing spiritual and inspirational energy.

Many deep wounds carried by humanity have something to do with sexual energy misused, abused and misunderstood because the true Source of love was not present.  Many people feel a need to voice their outrage at the choices some consenting adults make with regard to sex. Truth be told it is no one else’s business. Let love flow in your experience and make a difference in your life. When you allow love to flow through you and your life with grace there will be no room for judgments. The vibration you send into the world will be love and that is the most important thing you can do.

There is so much more one could say regarding this topic but I am certain you get the idea of what I am sharing with you here. Sexual energy is powerful. Misusing or abusing this powerful energy comes with consequences whereas enjoying the beauty of sex in the light of love comes with great rewards.

Love is ever present if you allow it.

Open to receive the abundant well spring of love and flow to your right place.

love, Astara

Self Care and Trust:

Those who give of themselves with no regard for their own well-being do not resonate with self love. A person who lives in the vibration of healthy self-love knows when to say no and when to rest, they know what is the best thing to do to maintain their own health and follow through with that knowledge exhibiting unspoken wisdom and vitality. Healthy self-love supports an open mind and an open heart with courage enough to do what is felt to be the best choice in any given situation. They trust their inner knowing. A daily spiritual practice of meditation and prayer helps to cultivate self love and the beautiful feeling of wellness and belonging that goes with it because it strengthens God Consciousness. Self-love is allowing the love of God to express through us unobstructed.

We are Whole Beings:

To care and nurture the physical body is an important part of self-love. A healthy body makes life easier but healthy self-love is more than taking care of ones body temple. Healthy self-love pays kind attention to the emotional body, the mental body as well as our soul and the spiritual body. We are meant to be whole and when one part is suffering it has a detrimental effect on other parts.

* If the mind is not light, free and positive it will energize negative emotions, which will affect the body even if the person eats all the right foods and exercises.

*  If a person has happy thoughts and is generally exhibiting an outward happy mood but has a poor diet and does not exercise sooner or later the vitality of the body temple will break down.

* If a person demonstrates a good nature but the nature of their inner world is polluted with regret, jealousy, fear or unresolved anger it doesn’t matter if the mask they wear each day is a smile, a balancing of energy will sooner or later surface revealing the disconnect caused by hidden feelings and thoughts.

 Drain of Inner Conflict:

When we are in conflict, our inner world and our outer world do not match, our dreams and desires are faded or possibly forgotten, we tend to treat our body poorly, we tend to treat others poorly, we wear down and wear out. Self-love will seem like a foreign concept at best. To begin resolving the inner conflict begins with recognizing the conflicts. It is worth the time to consciously discover what feels harmonious in your life and what doesn’t. Once you have a good handle on what is not working start making changes. It takes less energy to make changes than to remain conflicted.

Who is self consumed?

A person who does not exhibit healthy self-love is more apt to be self-consumed. The mental and emotional struggle one goes through attempting to make sense of life when they do not love themselves has a damaging effect on the spirit, the soul, the body and the overall nature of the individual. It also has a damaging effect on relationships. The negative thoughts and fears create separation from true Source and absorb much of their time and attention. This leaves little room for gratitude, concern for others, appreciation for the Creator and the awareness that we ourselves are creators of our life.

Self-love is not about identifying or obsessing over ones physical appearance, money, career or possessions. There have been people who had the perfect model body but had no body consciousnesses. In other words, they could not hear the true needs and nature of the body, which leads to disconnect and break down. If a person identifies their happiness and self love with a job, what happens when it is gone? Self-love holds us up while we walk through the trials and tribulations of life. We will see things come and go and still remember who we are. We are living in times of great change. Self love is essential.

 Let the Love Flow:

Self love is love that flows through the whole being, all aspects are cared for. Some of the delicious attributes are happiness, inspiration, vitality, a feeling of belonging, courage, trust and faith. Self-love opens the gateway for taking responsibility for our total well being with no need to expend energy blaming, shaming or judging. Self-love is freedom from the old way of living life with shackles and bonds. It is living life authentic, honest, and present.

Imagine what this world will feel like when we all vibrate at the rate of self-love.

It all begins with you and me.

Let’s allow God’s love to express through us.

Let’s vibrate at the rate of self-love.

love, Astara

When you know something to be true practice it until you have mastered it. We can see that humanity has mastered very low levels of consciousness vibrating fear, guilt, greed, denial and so on. There is mass unhappiness in our world because of it. It is time for us to practice and master higher levels of consciousness. see What is Conscious Mastery?

Below I have shared the principles of Conscious Mastery but as you can see they are some of the very basic principles of life. If we begin to dedicate our consciousness to the vibration of love, kindness and truth rather than dedicate our consciousness to fear, frustration and anger we will be practicing Conscious Mastery.

The process of practicing higher levels of consciousness requires us to be aware of our thought processes, aware of our actions and responsible for both. As we strive for higher thinking and evolved action we find ourselves dancing with our shadows. The old way rears its head demanding attention but for the old way to die a new way must be practiced. As we become aware of the old way and choose to change it, the practice of a new way begins with the conscious release of unhealthy thoughts and actions.

For our consciousness to rise up sustainably, we must support it with both healthy loving thoughts and positive, constructive actions. It is a combination of releasing the old and nurturing the new. To master levels of consciousness that are free of denial, guilt, fear and judgment allowing truth and love to flow through us, to us and from us we must practice what we to know to be true.

Principles of Conscious Mastery

Love and Kindness ~

Kindness is an act of love. Love is the essence of Source. We are beings of love created by a loving God. Where there is kindness there is harmony. Where there is harmony there is love. Where there is love there is peace. Be the love that you are. Allow the abundant supply of love to flow through you.

Faith and Trust ~

Faith will not die when questioned or looked into. Faith will not crumble if you explore expanded possibilities. Let faith live within you. A living pulsating sense of faith connected with Source ever expanding always current, mindful, aware and filled with love is the faith that will forever hold space open for our desires to manifest. It is such a faith that encourages direct experience, a true birth of deep inner knowing and wisdom. It is such a faith that moves mountains.

Truth ~

The truth does not need pressure to gain acceptance. It has substance and presence enough to be recognized by those that desire to know the truth and those that have experience enough to recognize it. Truth begins with the self. We must become purely honest with our motives, thoughts and actions. Speaking the truth is a simple matter. Twisted truth is complicated with all manner of polite avoidance, speaking politically correct, telling white lies and out right deception.

Truth can only give us what we are ready to receive. As such, the more we grow and evolve the more expanded the truth becomes.  Accept the expansion of greater truth into your heart and you will forever grow in love.

Forgiveness ~

Forgiveness is the key to freedom/liberation of the soul and the spirit. Planting the seed of forgiveness in the dark areas of our heart precedes the gestation and birth of a healthy open heart vibrating at the speed of light and love. Forgiveness is the starting point where heart essence can begin to heal. Expand with love, learn to forgive, practice forgiveness. Start with yourself.

Unconditional Acceptance ~

Accepting all of ourselves is key to our wholeness and our ability to truly love ourselves and others. Living life with complete and total unconditional acceptance of the self leaves no room for denial, judgment or guilt and thereby opens the door to the transformation/healing of our being.

Non-Judgment ~

Where there is love and understanding there is non-judgment. A wise person knows the difference between discernment and a limited consciousness brought on my judgment and denial. A mind free of judgment is capable of seeing the light of truth in any given situation. When our mind is free of judgment we can see a person or situation for who or what it is and not what a past experience dictates and limits it to be.

Recognition and Release ~

Recognition is key to transformation/healing. The acceptance of what is newly recognized brings with it the opportunity to release repressed/suppressed emotional energy. Becoming free brings an end to outdated and unhealthy patterns of behavior that no longer serve us or anyone else.

Creativity ~

All forms of creativity provide magical ways to learn and discover more about ourselves. Creative energy is unlimited. Allowing creative energy to flow through us unimpeded provides a wonderful way to expand our consciousness and tap into our true nature. Explore new creative expressions remaining free of unrealistic demands and expectations of perfection so you may be the recipient of a constant flow of love and untold wisdom.

Respect and Honor All Life ~

When we truly respect ourselves, we will naturally know what it is to respect and honor all life. For us to become who we have always been (a beautiful child of a loving Creator) we must learn to love, accept and respect ourselves. God dwells within us. It is up to us to make room within for the mighty love of God to express through us. Everyone has a right to be here and that includes the animal kingdom. Respect and honor all life. This includes our beautiful planet Earth.

Balance ~

Balance is fluid, never static, and is a gateway for trust and faith to grow and flourish within us. When our action oriented masculine aspects and our intuitive feeling feminine aspects compliment one another we are living a balanced life. Both our thoughts and feelings must be considered. Then our ability to sense the best choice on a deep level gives rise to compassionate decision making. Living a balanced life leads to a happy, healthy life.

 Live Life Whole Happy and Free!

Consciously practice all that you know in your heart to be the way of love.

If you do this everyday your life will transform.

love and light

Astara

A simple example: You know that saying mean things to your self about yourself is detrimental to your overall wellness yet when life presents an opportunity for you to change that dialogue you give obedience to the old way. Then something deep inside stirs and tells you ‘being kind and gentle with yourself is better and will lead you to peace rather than turmoil’. If we give our attention to the new way it is a way of us “moving our feet.” The very moment we find ourselves doing or saying something that is not resonating with love we have an opportunity to course correct. Rephrase that thought, make a better choice. Step back from an old action and readjust to a better way. We can put one foot in front of the other literally by choosing to take a walk instead of eating something to ease frustration or by praying for someone we don’t understand instead of cursing them. And yes, with a little practice it becomes easy. With a little more practice you will find yourself making good choices and entertaining healthy thoughts from the get go.

Time to Move our Feet:

The time is now to become interested and curious about life, what we can do with it and what we can do in it. Become curious about how it feels to experience positive changes through our ability to direct our attention and energy creating a life that makes us smile with happiness and joy.

We have heard “ God does not give us more than we can handle.” Another way of saying this is: The challenges life presents comes with the power to master it. God dwells within and as such everything we need to create the best life ever is within us.

So why do we see much of humanity stressed, angry, and unhappy?

This brings me to another well-known phrase “ Let Go and Let God.” Letting go is an action. It is not pushing something down pretending it doesn’t exist or forgetting that is exists. It really means “let go.” What we are holding must be released or let go of so the energy can literally lighten up.

Jesus said,” If you bring forth what is within in you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.” Old pain, out grown beliefs, shame, guilt and so on weigh heavy upon us, robbing us of our vitality, our joy, our health and our natural creative impulses. What we hold in the darkness of denial and forgetfulness is powerful energy that belongs to us but is not readily available. This repressed energy begins to work against us manifesting everything we do not want from ill health, disruptive relationships, to poverty.

Energy is meant to flow:

We are designed to fulfill our life’s passion, purpose and destiny. One purpose we all have in common is to be happy. Happiness is an expression of our true nature and is found in the deep acceptance of the self.

To allow energy to flow we must open up and remain open. Two keys to releasing energy and allowing it to flow freely once again are self-acceptance and forgiveness. Like the vessel over flowing, there is no holding, there is flowing and growing in the vibration of love. As we let go some things come to an end, others expand into something new and a shift in our perception of what matters to us comes into view. Addiction, attachments and possessiveness always lead to frustration and suffering. We must learn to let go.

The path of healing my emotional, mental and physical bodies is one I have taken for the past several decades and why I sub-titled my book Freedom from the Inside Out. We don’t fall into situations randomly. Our total being vibrates a message out into the world and outer reality responds to that with a like vibration. Our beliefs, patterns of thought and our emotional nature make this so. At any time we want to know what is going on inside of us we can look at our outer reality, bearing in mind it is a reflection of our inner world.

In my book “Conscious Mastery~Freedom From the Inside Out” I approach the topics of denial, judgment and guilt for the sole purpose of helping others discover ways to recognize these invisible forces and put an end to the vibrational patterns they produce. These patterns are seen in the disease of the body, stress, unhappiness, depression and so on. All of this is an expression of lost alignment with God and with our natural state. We forget our God Self, the God energy within, making our outer reality (money, relationships, possessions, position/career etc.) the source of our power and happiness. This misconception is what leads us to disease and unhappiness.

Let peace emanate  from your being:

One of the best ways to create consciously is to be at peace. The more peaceful we are the more likely we are to hear and understand the prompting of our quiet inner voice. Inner listening is a vital step to tapping into the guidance we all seek and many of us pray for. There is an inner teacher within us all as well as an inner healer. Listen to the message of your heart and get to know the divine teacher/healer within.

We have the power of choice. Our power to choose and to act is one of our most precious gifts. It is an asset given to all and when used in the light of love and kindness is immeasurably powerful. Our Will, when free and aligned with Divine Will, becomes an important attribute to peace. Peace within and peace all around us.

We can choose to look within and discover some amazing things about ourselves. Meditation brings peace of mind. As one thing follows another, a peaceful mind opens the door for inspired thought and the energy to put inspiration into action. These times call for action, conscious, well-guided inspired action. We must remain true to ourselves. Remaining true to ourselves will attract others who accept us as we are. We can trust our feelings and live according to our inner truth. It takes courage to stand up and believe God is working through us. It takes even more courage to move everything we have been holding out of the way so God may work through us unimpeded. We are not alone and never have been. Love has never left us nor abandoned us we have unintentionally prevented it from flowing through us.

The time is now to meditate, pray and move our feet.

in peace, love and light

Astara

When morning arrives there is this precious moment when we first realize we are awake. In this moment, sleep may try to pull us back into dream land or our soul may nudge us making the possibility of going back to sleep less likely. In this moment, before we open our eyes, smile and say a quiet little “thank-you” for the day that is about to unfold. This quiet little “thank-you” sends a wave of grace and appreciation out into the Universe. The vibration we emit is the vibration we attract. Getting into the flow of appreciation from the beginning of our day sets a tender tone. This is the perfect time to let our imagination paint a beautiful picture. After all, it is a brand new day unfolding. We can imagine ourselves courageous, well balanced and capable of handling anything that comes our way with Grace and ease. We can imagine ourselves experiencing peace of mind throughout the day and especially when we come up against something unexpected. We can imagine the very center of our being strong, fluid, and over flowing with love. Our imagination is a powerful tool that we can choose to use to assist us in creating our day.

Beginning our Day

As we slowly get up and begin moving into our day, we can choose to allow this delicious feeling to fill our heart center and our entire body. We can even imagine this feeling of appreciation filling all the spaces in-between the cells and atoms of our body and all around us. As the day progresses we can add to the vibration of gratitude and appreciation, emanating from our very being, by simply saying thank-you to people and experiences throughout the day, whatever they may be.  Developing a sense of gratitude for all our experiences, regardless if they are challenging or smooth, allows the energy of Grace and Love to flow through us unimpeded. The more our very being vibrates at the rate of appreciation and gratitude the more we attract situations and people that are happy and appreciative. Happiness is an expression of our true nature and is found in the deep acceptance of the self.  The more we align with appreciation the easier it is to accept ourselves just as we are with enough courage to change the things we see that need changing.

Ending our day

Each night before we go to sleep say a little “thank-you” for the day. It doesn’t matter what kind of a day we had, say “thank-you” for this day. To end each night with a quiet little “thank-you” sends a message of appreciation out into the Universe. You are ending the day on a wave of gratitude.

Gratitude and Appreciation = Good health

It has been brought to our attention through science, that the emotions of gratitude and appreciation positively affects our physical heart and brain function making us more creative, better problem solvers and even more intelligent. Frustration on the other hand, shows a marked decrease in creativity, problem solving and intelligence. For a person who indulges in frustration, the effects on the body are revealed by the production of harmful biochemicals that weaken the body and the immune system. A mere fifteen minutes of frustration can take nearly twenty hours for the body to regain a healthy chemical balance. With information like this at our disposal, who would want to miss an opportunity to choose appreciation and gratitude over frustration?

Yes, we live in challenging times.

I do realize we live in trying times and some may say, “It is not that easy to be happy or to choose gratitude and appreciation.”  It is my hope that you are curious enough to try this sweet easy way of beginning and ending your day. Be curious to feel what it feels like to be the instrument of setting the tone of your day before you even open your eyes and set the tone of your dream time as you end your day. You will find that one flows into the other. The gratitude you end your day with will greet you in the morning. The gratitude you start your day with will kiss you good night.

in the spirit of appreciation, Grace and curiosity

love , Astara

(I wrote this article for the November issue of Wild Sister magazine)  

Jesus said,” If you bring forth what is within in you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”

This is powerful and worthy of contemplation.

Good times and challenges:

If you are in a dark place~ know that there is an end. Do not feed the folly or give credence to the voice that says “this is all there is” or “this will never end.” That voice is deception. It is denial. It is the fearful wounded aspect of self and it is false.

Remind yourself of the truth.

The light is present and soon I will see it. It is within me. The light has never left.  I am simply finding my way home.  I will persevere. This is my choice.

Find …. yes I will Find my way Home to the light, where I can see the beauty that life is. In the light, life itself opens to me in such a way that I am able to see the love, wonder, and the possibilities.  I embrace life with all that I am. This is the truth.

The Voice Within:

This voice that soothes with love and honesty, with courage and patience in the dark and in the light is the voice of Mother/Father God speaking through the soul of our being that is awake and aware of His presence.

Remember, present actions have an effect on future desires. This includes the thoughts we entertain. We travel through the darkness clearing and making room for spiritual expansion. The light of spirit, the love of God, when called upon will illuminate our path and vibrate hope~ a positive expectation without attachment. This lifts us as we make our way through the dark passage, reminding ourselves that the dawn is coming and more will be revealed.

Renewed Power to Decide:

Greater clarity will fuel our decisions. Making decisions fuels our courage and inner strength. Our inner strength then fuels better and more courageous decisions and so it goes until a new pattern is born. One step at a time takes you somewhere. Walk toward love, walk toward light, starting with our thoughts as we allow our emotions to express honestly. With our thoughts, direct the energy in motion ( emotion) to rise up and come into resonance with love. Emotions free from repression raise our overall frequency. This is transformation, this is healing. Bring forth what is in you and it will save you.

The Journey:

As one walks through the underworld of their own subconscious, they face fears that may have been long forgotten.  Forgetting them does not rid us of them as the vibrational pattern continues to send a message out into the world whether we acknowledge it or deny it. The vibration is true. This is one of many reasons so many people are taking the time to discover who they are under all the pain and confusion. They are looking for the light within. This is a worthy journey indeed.

There are many things hidden within us that must be worked out. We can do this a little at a time and as we do we develop our intuition, skills of discernment and grow to gain emotional maturity. Our ability to love and be loved reaches new heights. Kindness becomes a way of living everyday life whether we are in the dark for a moment or two or standing in the light because we have begun to remember. With a calm contemplative mind the light of our spirit illuminates events in life and we can see them for what they really are.  This opens the way for making choices that are supportive and appropriate for our growth.

Phases of Growth:

Periods of growth are often followed by times of suspended activity. Times of suspended activity are needed for contemplation and review of ones life path. These times are typically not appreciated. Our way of life puts extraordinary emphasis on activity and feeling good. However, there are many other phases in growth and in life that must be nurtured and respected for evolution to be on going and sustainable. Time of suspended activity is one of them.

Emotions become quiet during times of contemplation, a time of shedding light on inner truths. When looking at our reflection in a still clear pool of water, with the light of the sun or the moon, we are able to get a good look at ourselves. When the water is murky or turbulent, no matter how much light is shining upon it,  we simply cannot see much at all.  This is true of our mind as well. In the calm one can truly embrace their spiritual path and bolster not only self-esteem but also courage to forge ahead when the impulse and inspiration of activity emerges from this quiet contemplative phase.

Those liberating themselves from old wounds find themselves in a dark place for a time. Do not despair. Instead Remember. There is light. The dawn is near. Let the pure light within guide you, speak to you, become you. Then each time you journey deeper you will not be afraid, you will be ready and steady because you will remember who you are. We are the divine children of a most loving Creator.

Will the soul that resides within listen and take heed of the inspired thoughts of spirit? Will the light of spirit within acknowledge the response of the soul and take all things into consideration? Contemplate, meditate, pray.

Hear the higher wisdom, listen to the message contained within, feel the response to this information truthfully and when the time is right act upon the inspiration.  Life is truly mysterious and magnificent. The beauty of life is simply waiting for us to find that original spark within and nurture it so it becomes a beacon, a true celebration of life, lighting our path with love and joy.

in the spirit of love, peace and light

Astara

Paramahansa Yogananda of Self-Realization Fellowship said , “You must not let your life run in the ordinary way; do something that nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world. Show that God’s creative principle works in you.”

I find this to be a wonderful and inspiring thought. So why do most human beings hide their light, their unique gifts and talents from others? Perhaps they do not know what gifts they have been given or how to access them.

With a world gone upside down with greed, fear and repressed emotions it stands to reason that many people have forgotten their own true nature. And at the same time this makes it all the more imperative that we come to realize and embrace who we are and the knowingness that God dwells within us.

The time is at hand to begin to express our true divine nature to help restore balance to our own lives and to the world. As we grow and heal through the transformation of our energies and the expression of our God given creative principle, we have a positive effect on others and our environment.

Discover what lies within you:

In what way is the creative principle of God wanting to work through you? What has been nudging you for your attention lately? We are living in times that are asking, if not demanding, us to be who we truly are and to share our talents with others. If you have a sense of what this might mean for you and find yourself hiding it because of self sabotaging thoughts such I am not good enough, I can’t really do That, only a fool would expose such ideas, I don’t have time and so on, NOW is the time to course correct. Begin to send love and thoughts that support God’s creative principle in you so it may work for you. When it begins to work for you, you will discover that you have simultaneously paved a path that serves and gives to others as well.

The simple fact that joy begets joy and peace begets peace offers ample inspiration that your happiness and the expression of your true nature is important to the whole of life. It begins one person at a time and it begins with you and me.  If our God given creative principle is not being given the love and attention it needs to express in this world, there is something missing. Our soul feels it, our spirit feels it. There is a lack of peace and joy and a heaviness we either ignore or haven’t yet put our finger on.

Self-Acceptance & Self Love makes for a better world:

Self-acceptance and healthy Self Love are keys to our growth. When we all come to realize that who we are is an important part of the whole of life here on Earth, we will begin to cherish and joyfully express the creative God principle within us.  Can you image what a beautiful world we would live in? Take a moment and imagine living in a world where everyone expressed the love and creative principle of God within. Everyone would have enough with no need to hoard resources out of fear of lack. We would have no need to be competitive, which only causes separation, preferring unity consciousness and love.

We know our thoughts create our reality but that is only part of the equation. We fuel our thoughts with our passion, our emotions, our feelings. If we entertain a healthy thought but the feelings regarding the thought are not supportive, our ability to create and express that creativity will be diminished.

An example : Yes I can do this! that is the thought and yet the feeling supporting the thought is dread or fear of failure. So what do you do? Do you ignore the feeling and push it down hoping it will go away as you cover it up over and over again with the thought ‘I can do this”?

The answer is “No.”

To deny the feeling will steal energy from the ability to make ” I can do this” a reality. I would suggest that you explore the feelings of dread and fear of failure and dismantle the false belief that is fueling it. Release the fear, open for the light of God and embrace more of your personal power. This in turn will provide fuel to the thought “I can do this” in the form of excitement, confidence, love and hope. Your thoughts and feelings will come into alignment, and unify to express God’s creative principle in you. And when you do, the whole world benefits and I bet angles sing on high! Remember, God has given you this gift, the creative principle, so you may feel the joy of discovering it and expressing it in your own unique way. You are supported.

One step at a time takes you somewhere. One step at a time accomplishes something.

Where are you going and what are you accomplishing?

Are all roads leading to your happiness and full expression of your God given creative principle?

Are you ready to show the world that God’s creative Principle is working in you?

We all desire to live in a world where peace and love radiate everywhere and from everyone.

Remember you are an important part to the whole of life.

in the spirit of love and peace

Astara

Within any seed lies the potential for great beauty, great strength and wisdom. All it needs is proper nurturing for it to burst forth in divine time and splendor.

Ponder, contemplate, nurture and discover more. Teachings are guidelines that assist us on the journey of finding our own way, our own heart, and our own true deep connection to All That Is. Recognition brings ignition. Once ignited, we can then lighten up just a little more.

Seed#4 : Expansion and Contraction

Much like the tides come in and go out, our own expansion and contraction is a natural flow or pulse of life.

Inhale, we expand, exhale, we contract. Daily, we have subtle experiences of our energy expanding and contracting. Our attention and focus varying and shift throughout any given day. We see our life expand and contract weekly, monthly and yearly.

Contract: When contraction is natural timely and healthy it will be experienced in the form of retreat and rest. We allow our mind to rest as well as our body. To consciously feel the need for such time and adhere to these needs results in great strides in ones growth. Every spiritual warrior knows it takes courage and strength to retreat when the need has been made know to him or her. Contraction is the process that precedes birth. This can be the birth of new ideas, inspirations, renewed energy, birthing new projects or more of your authentic self as well as the birth of a child.

Expand: Expansion follows a time of contraction  (or retreat ) expanding our consciousness and improving the health of our bodies. As we expand our consciousness; opportunities, understandings and insights are illuminated. Love is growing and life is unfolding in wonderful ways. To be attuned to subtle energy keeps us in the flow, trusting as we go.

A Bigger View:  From a larger scope, all of humanity has been contracting for a very long time resulting in increased denial, pain and suffering. The tides have changed and now expansion in our ability to perceive the truth and broaden our consciousness is upon us. Each individual has an opportunity to positively affect all of life during these changing times if they choose to open to the newly expanding energies currently being given to us.  It is time to give birth to more of who we truly are.

Expand our capacity to love and be loved: The physical world has no power over us unless we make ourselves dense by contracting our awareness, squeezing out love. This is not the natural contraction of rest or retreat but the debilitating contraction brought on by denial. The more an individual withdraws from love, prevents love from flowing through them or rejects love from others, the more dense and contracted the individual becomes. The denser the energy field of a person the deeper one goes into fear based mass consciousness. This painful contraction has many people obsessed with all things physical leaving little to no room for love, faith, trust and spiritual, soulful divine energies to expand. The more we expand in the vibration of love the greater our capacity to love and be loved.

The process of Expansion: Expansion is the process of being born into a new way of perceiving life. A higher vibration will bring new experiences, people and opportunities into our lives that match our new frequency. Life changes according to our vibration. When we accept the changes by flowing with them we can easily integrate and stabilize the new vibration. The more you love, the faster you vibrate. The faster you vibrate the less you feel the need to control anything outside of yourself. You become fearless during change and variety. Your experiences are deeper, more connected and loving. In a sense there is a slowing down that actually leads to rapid change. Time is not fixed but rather elusive when in the flow. There is always enough of it.

Enter the Contraction: Conscious releasing is entering into the contraction with intent to open space and give birth to more of who you truly are. Releasing old charge opens space for light and greater spiritual presence. We enter into the energies previously denied expression and movement due to misunderstanding, overwhelm and our inability to accept truthful feelings and experiences. This is a journey into the underworld of our own making. It has been designed by our adherence to denial, judgment and guilt. When diving into the “underworld” the feeling is unmistakably everything we have avoided.

As one moves into the contracted energy with intent to liberate oneself, acceptance is and must be your ally. Birthing more of all that you are will be more painful and take much longer than necessary if you find yourself fighting it, struggling with it or against it rather than surrendering to the flow. What we resist persists. The struggle only strengthens everything within that you are attempting to open and liberate. When entering into the contraction; breath, feel and open space as you let go of old wounds, memories, judgment and pain. Yield to the expansion process and trust that what you are giving birth to is more of the beautiful being you have always been. Spiritual awakening has begun. Spiritual awareness continues to expand our very being.

Healing way: When love and light enter where denial was, healing is occurring. Great understandings and expanding truth are made known to Man as he travels deep within. When the core of the contracted energy or pattern has ignited into the fullness of truth, reversals are no longer possible. This means you will not be repeating old patterns of behavior and creating the same old experiences. The expanding energy of light and love fill the opening created by it providing new perspectives, peace of mind and sense of purpose and belonging. Time is needed to tend, integrate and stabilize the new higher vibration. You will likely feel a slight contraction at this time. Honor the stillness; rest and retreat. Care for your newly expanded self ~ consciously. To do this is simple; eat light, drink water, write in your journal, be conscious of your conversations and entertainment. Keep them light and loving.

May you feel, honor and understand the natural flow of expansion and contraction and

                                       Live Life Whole, Happy, and Free!

love, Astara

Within any seed lies the potential for great beauty, great strength and wisdom. All it needs is proper nurturing for it to burst forth in divine time and splendor.

Ponder, contemplate, nurture and discover more. Teachings are guidelines that assist us on the journey of finding our own way, our own heart, and our own true deep connection to All That Is. Recognition brings ignition. Once ignited, we can then lighten up just a little more.

Seed #3- Truth

It has been said: The truth shall set you free!

Free from what you may ask?

Free from the bondage we have unwittingly created through the avenues of fear, denial, guilt and judgment.

Now that is a good reason to embrace truth, isn’t it?

The truth does not need pressure to gain acceptance. It has substance and presence enough to be recognized by those that desire to know the truth and for those that have experience enough to recognize it. Pushing our idea of truth onto someone else is not the path of unconditional love and acceptance. When we are at peace with the truth that is within us we come to understand that our idea of the truth does not need defending nor do we need to press for outside approval. As we evolve the truth expands.

Unveiling the truth begins within the self. One must become purely honest with their motives, their thoughts, their feelings and their actions. Speaking the truth grows to become a simple matter. Twisted truth is complicated with all manner of polite avoidance, dancing around the truth, speaking politically correct, withholding information, telling white lies and out right deception.

Are You Ready to Receive More of the Truth?

The truth cannot give us what we have no readiness or openness to receive. Truth can only give us what we are ready to receive. The time is now to prepare our growing ground to receive more of the truth. We can begin by exercising our ability to be honest with ourselves by writing more of the truth in our journals and allowing that truth to be felt. We can practice speaking the truth with others in areas of our life where we are most likely to cover it up or change it for various reasons. Some of the reasons seem noble, some are fear based but regardless of what part of the spectrum of “denying truth” we hail from it is still a deception.

Seek and Ye Shall Find:

If it is the truth you seek, it is the truth you will find. If it is truth you want from others allow the truth to unfold in you and from you. Then, as it goes a vibrational match will be made. Truth begets truth. As we grow and expand our consciousness, the truth expands revealing more of itself. This expansion of the truth spurs us to continue growing, expanding our consciousness, evolving our Will and our Spirit, expanding the heart and caring for our body. The truth reveals the importance of self-love and self-acceptance in a way that can not be ignored. This expansion initiates the release of old repressed emotions, which frees our Will, allowing us to feel the deeper meaning that lies within the insights and inspirations offered by our Spirit. This is a path of evolving and maturing our mental, emotional, and spiritual nature. See how the truth sets us free? It is lovely!

If Mans true deep intention is to align with God and with the Mother, and his actions move in that direction, he will. If Man’s intention is to accept all of himself with no exception, and his actions move in that direction, he will. In the presence of truth, the Will and the Spirit within us all will come into harmonious balance in the heart center resonating perfectly with All That Is. Together truth, peace and love abide. The Spirit inspires, the Will responds to the inspiration with truthful feelings. Both work together with heart to balance the outcome bringing about the appropriate response to any given situation. The truth is no longer hidden behind fears and secret agendas because there are no secret agendas and we have finally grown weary of fearing the truth. Truth and balance become the flow with gentle expansion and natural contraction. There is a beautiful cycle of growing (expansion) followed by natural periods of resting (contraction) to reflect and integrate. Life takes on a graceful quality, which was part of the Divine plan all along. The truth becomes simple as the twists and distortions lose their power and fade in the light of true Source. We come to realize being out of alignment with our divine truth causes much anxiety, pain and illness.  When we lie to others there is always a fear of being found out. When we live the lie of believing in our smallness we cut ourselves off from our own divine nature.

One today is worth two tomorrow’s — Ben Franklin

Don’t wait until tomorrow to begin your journey of discovering more of the truth that waits patiently within you ever ready to share more of itself.

Aad Such, Jugaad Such, Hai Bhay Such, Nank Hosee Bhay Such~ translates as~

True in the beginning, True throughout the ages, True at this moment. Nanek says truth shall ever be.

You can discover more of how to release consciously and safely, leading you to discover more of the truth that lies within you in my new book “Conscious Mastery~Freedom From the Inside Out”.  My book includes an on-line Bonus Media component that gives you free mp3 guided meditations, pdf worksheets and video to help you on your journey.

May the light of truth shine brightly from within you and all around you ~

We are meant to live life Whole, Happy and Free!*

The time to begin is now

love, Astara