One of the things I have really wanted to do is revisit the story I wrote last year, especially the section about Past Lives.  The Past Lives One Day Workshop is nearly here and I have been thinking about what I know, what I’d like to know, how to communicate that with others, and how much of what I have already written will end up being re-written in my current writing project. 

So, without further ado, here is Chapter 2 of Part 2 of “Me, My Self, I” …

CHAPTER 2

What I Have Discovered and Learned

The Basics

 In summary, I’ve discovered the following, through working from the checklist:

• I have reincarnated as both male and female sexes
• I have been married, single, ‘good’, ‘bad’, an only child, one of several children
• I have incarnated in many different geographical locations with a handful of places lived in more than once
• Each of my immediate family members have incarnated with me before, often many times, and in different roles, eg. husband rather than son
• My career or role in each lifetime could be, and often was, quite different in each incarnation
• My death occurred in different ways: natural, accidental, deliberate, old, young, diseased etc

Most of this learning is probably what you’d expect to have occurred, assuming you had thought about reincarnation at all.

What I also discovered, and learned about through discussion with other people, over the years, some ‘in the know’ and some with a fascination for metaphysical topics, is less obvious and will take a bit of getting your brain around.  As it did for me. 

Faith

 We have a concept of the world and how it works.  It’s what we learned from our parents and what was taught at school.  Those of us with enquiring minds, who sought more understanding, particularly during those turbulent teen years, as I did, would have searched further in a quest for understanding the Meaning of Life.

One thing I just didn’t get, when I was younger, was how people could have such strong faith.  My experience with religion was coloured by my mother’s attitudes (just I have coloured my kids’ perceptions) especially when she changed my religion on the school forms, each year.  I did attend Sunday School for a while, until I found out that I was changing groups away from my fabulous teacher.  I pretty much gave up on all things church related, after that.

We, my brother and I, were also encouraged to seek our own path, to explore our own ‘faith’, and to adopt an approach which worked for us.  This, of course, was very challenging for me because while I really wanted to be my own person, I found it really hard not being like everyone else.  It’s kind of like not being relaxed and laid back, going with the flow; rather I was driven, by an unknown something-or-other, always looking but not seeming to ever find it.

My feeling at the time was that the elusive ‘something’ equated to the same thing that the ‘Italian Grandmothers’ seemed to have: Faith. 

I didn’t have any Faith, in anything, at that time.

But, as time went on, and I explored more, and Mum introduced me to the concept of “Divine Order”, I must have gathered little gems of ideas and concepts which, when filed away into the “Michelle Box” came out, integrated, as a belief system. 

One day, I realised that I did have a Faith.

What is Faith?

I had a set of concepts and beliefs which Made Sense To ME.  My test for a concept’s validity was “Does this work for me?”  “Does this answer my questions satisfactorily?”  “Can I live according to this belief?”  If I answered in the affirmative, I knew it was a ‘stayer’.

The reason for elaborating on this concept of faith is because some of the other things I discovered through checking out my past lifetimes are very much connected to the process of engaging in a “Leap of Faith”.  I say that because whenever I have attempted to explain the concept of past lifetimes to someone with no knowledge, or limited knowledge about reincarnation, I am often met with a look of disbelief.  Or, alternatively, what I am suggesting is so far out of that person’s reality they can’t really even process the concept.  Just like I experienced when first told some of the more outrageous assumptions regarding time not being linear and lives all occurring at the same time.

On that note, other things I discovered in my research in to my own past lifetimes are:

• My lifetimes don’t always occur in a linear fashion ~ just because I lived in, for example, 1000 AD and 1200 AD doesn’t mean I lived in the 1000 AD lifetime, first
• Lives can occur in the future, chronologically speaking
• I have lived several lifetimes as different people, at the same time

There you go.  Do you understand how these concepts take a bit of time to process?  It was actually easy for me because all I wanted was to know who I was in a past life and how many of them had I had and who was there with me then and is with me now.  It’s like a quest. 

Constructive Feedback is always appreciated!

Being almost the end of the month, which means the end of the GRATITUDE theme, I thought I would list a lot of things for which I am Feeling Grateful …

I am Grateful for Signs ~ on the very first day of GRATITUDE month, I had a bit of an ‘epiphany’, a ‘light-bulb’ moment when I made a connection with something profound (not that I can remember exactly what it was, now ), and a song came on my iPod which is my ‘feel good’ song, the one which really gets me out of myself and into my sense of Spirit … it was confirming the awareness I had.  On my way to Angel Awareness Day, I was working on my Affirmations for the day, focusing on Success and Compassion and JOY and, most especially Protection (which I’d been having a few difficulties with).  Just as I was almost at the venue, my favourite song came on – the same song which confirmed my Bright Idea at the beginning of Gratitude month!  Thanks to Masters Apprentices for my “sign”!

I am Grateful for my Experiences ~ I have just ‘noticed’ or maybe ‘realised’ that WISDOM month has begun … I have had a dreadful week of dealing with issues from my past (childhood) and past life issues.  What’s most interesting about the process is that I recognise what’s happening because I have been there before.  And, I have had to Share that Awareness/Knowledge with some Dear Friends who have experienced similar ‘stuff’.  The most wonderful part of the journey has been my ability (which seems to be newly-found) to compartmentalise what I am experiencing – I can be emotional and rung out and ‘afflicted’ at the same time as being ‘detached’ and able to see what is actually going on.  It may be that it really is a Gemini thing, being able to see both sides of the situation at the same time, but I feel that I have reached a place where I can go through the trauma AND understand why it’s happening.  From there it’s just a case of managing the emotional fallout, with WISDOM and Care, and ‘filing away for future reference’ what the actual experience was.

I am Grateful for the Wonderful People in my Life ~ David and his LOVE and Support for me, even when I am Very Difficult; Kels and her passion for Cooking, and her wonderful conversations all around how she/we fit into this world; Josh for being 17 and a wonderful person to rely on when I have to be in 2 places at the same time and need someone I trust to be in charge of the place I am not able to be; Daniel for his enthusiasm while he’s away and his desire to Share his experiences and Keep in Touch; Mum for her Wisdom and ability to See Clearly when I am unable to; my Stampin’ Up! family for their excitement about the New Catalog (2 more sleeps! ); the I Can Do It! Gang for their Acceptance, Honesty, Integrity, Humbleness, Laughter and Wisdom; the NEW Facebook Friends who have reached out and welcomed me to their worlds; Lovely Mark in Spain who keeps me inspired even while I’m Otherwise Distracted from my writing;  and, Angel Julie, for her Wisdom, Awareness, Clarity, Reassurance and Unconditional Support.  Thank You.

No matter how crappy I am feeling, or how many challenges cross my path, when I think of these ‘Little Miracles’ which are in my life I Feel the JOY.

And, I am Grateful.

“Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.” – Wilfred Peterson

What are you wanting to achieve this week?

Being the beginning of a New Week, I like to take a little time to set some goals, or write my intentions, for what I’d like to ‘consciously’ create in my week.  I already have lots of commitments but I wonder if they are actively focused on what it is I really want in my life? 

I have the rare opportunity of changed routines, this week, so I figure there must be some opportunity to ‘achieve differently’ … what is it that I would love to see in my life on Friday, that isn’t there today?

One of the things which is high on my To Do List is to create my WISDOM Vision Board.  It’s almost the new month and the WISDOM energy has already begun drifting through my awareness.  I am still very much engrossed in GRATITUDE month and may well be in that energy for the next few months!  But, as has happened each month, so far, on the journey through my Medicine Wheel One Year Layout, the lines are blurred as to when each new energy arrives and the previous energy leaves … the BEAUTY energy began dissipating as the TRANSFORMATION energy entered; the TRANSFORMATION energy seems to still ‘visit’ at the most interesting times, through GRATITUDE space.  I wonder if the whole process of the Medicine Wheel means that the energies which are particularly focused each month are actually there all the time, just drifting in and out of awareness as they see fit?  Maybe it’s my awareness which is sharpened and I notice when they are ‘visiting’ or influencing my reality.

I have begun my week with a new display on my Manifesting Board.  The focus, as I look at it, is more on actively pursuing success.  I have my next workshop ~ Past Lives One Day Workshop ~ flyer on display next to my Angel Gathering List for Friday’s Lunch and the list of young ladies coming to the first Girlfriend Club Stamping Workshop.  They are surrounded by my Manifesting Mind Map and Quotes for Success.

I want to continue actively expressing GRATITUDE for as long as it takes to Share My Appreciation for all the wonderful things, people, and happenings in my life. 

That is how I am beginning this new week, and greeting the new month.

What are YOU manifesting in your world, this week?

I’ve had a bit of an ‘eclectic’ week with stamping and card making.  I loved the final Playing with Fairies! workshop so wanted to invite the ladies to a follow up Latte Morning, a time to catch up and reflect on what we’d learned and what we have put into place since the month of manifesting. 

My Stampin’ Up! Morning Cup stamp set  (p. 40 of the catalog) came in very handy ~ a little ‘lovely lilac’ (retired colour) coffee mug for embellishment was perfect!  In fact, I think I enJOYed the colouring process as much as the creating of the invitation!    I DO like mixing my worlds of Fairies and Rubber Stamping.

I have really loved the Morning Cup stamp set since I first saw it in the catalog.  I bought it but didn’t get a chance to ‘play’ with it, then when I had the time, I couldn’t work out how to use it!  Isn’t that so often the case?  Ahh, well. 

I ordered a box of catalogs and wanted to pop a little gift in with each new issue as a ”Thank You” (after all, that’s good business management and I’m making the most of GRATITUDE month!).  I also thought it would be great to share examples of the latest batch of Stampin’ Up! In Colours.  Lovely Jeanette has been inspired by the new Decorative Label punch which, in turn, inspired me to use it ~ a little bit of magic and the combination of GRATITUDE, In Colour Love Note sized cards and Becky Roberts (I used the Decorative Label design from her Back Pack & Birthday Card Tutorial) and I had a super cute card for the catalogs!

One of the things I really wanted to do, this month, was make a batch of Thank You Cards.  I indulged in my first Builder Wheel, from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalog, and LOVED the sentiment (“JOY, Gratitude, Gladness” etc) so thought it perfect for a Thank You card.  I was a little challenged with getting my wheel straight!

Supporting my need/desire to use up more of the ‘old/retired’ product in my stash, I grabbed my punches and Felt Flowers and came up with this simple design … it will be perfect for my Stampin’ Kids Workshop, too.

I got a bit more excited about using the Elegant Eggplant cardstock ~ gorgeous colour! ~ and checked out the SU! Colour Coach for recommended colour combos: Elegant Eggplant, River Rock and Melon Mambo.  LOVED this card!  Same builder wheels (which will now become a staple in my Gratitude Card-Making process) with the Butterfly Punch, Polka Dot Embossing and the last of my Melon Mambo Buttons from the FREE Gift with Purchase from Stampin’ Up! in July.

I was on a roll from then.  LOVED the Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White colour combo from the Colour Coach so tweaked it a little so I could use some more Confetti cardstock and repeated the pattern from the previous card.

I really enJOY the creative process and having a little time to explore colour combinations and then look at the embellishments I have available and which combination of buttons/ribbons etc ‘look the best’.  I feel that the last of the 3 cards I made using the Builder Wheels was more like a baby card although I would never previously have considered that colour combo for that occasion!

Today, my Stampin’ Kids are going to create a Birthday Card and then play with wheels and punches.  A couple of last minute cancellations actually gives us more freedom to ‘play’ with different designs … I feel a ‘Cupcake’ moment coming on ~ Cupcake Wheel, Cupcake Stamp, Colouring, Glitter … Ahh!  Fun times ahead, today!

It’s always a bittersweet experience when I reach the final hour of a workshop or, in this case, the final week of our 4 week course, Playing with Fairies!   We have had such a wonderful month of playing and exploring the manifesting process; but I am also ready for the rest period which is a little more elusive during such a long commitment.

Having completed two month-long workshop journeys, I have a much better concept of how hard it is to sustain what it is we have learned at a workshop, after the fact.  A day-long event is magical and often life changing but the inspiration gathered from it and the motivation to continue the process eventually wanes.  A comment the ladies have made at both of the month-long courses is how much easier it is to stay in that positive and vibrant energy with weekly sessions.

I agree.

Our morning, for the last session, was filled with FUN; we revisited the games we’d played each week ~ Dancing to Hot, Hot, Hot in a conga line, doing the Hokey Pokey, Clapping Game: Double Double This This (thanks to Kels for teaching me that fun activity!), and Singing Row Row Row Your Boat, in a group and in a round ~ and said our affirmation, “I Do Believe in Fairies.  I Do. I Do. I Do.”   And, FUN was an important part of the agenda for the workshop as the rest of it was filled with Hard Work. 

I’m very inspired by Mind Mapping, at the moment, and used some of my Writing Time at Breakfast that morning to create a Manifesting Mind Map.  I was amazed at how perfect the process was for our last session of ‘Fairies’.  Of course, I am still tickled pink by the synchronicity of the universe …

The Fairies really guided us with fabulous advice and helped us with our goals for manifesting: Spirituality, Confidence, More JOY, Decluttering and Writing.  We were able to reach that wonderful place of Spirit in ourselves, share Oracle Card Readings, discuss how to Feel Good (making it easier to connect with our own Heart Space) and how to maintain those Feel Good Feelings, be ‘mirrors’ for each other, and learn some strategies for Going Forward after the workshop month was finished.

I’m not sure the course was really traditionally “Fairy” focused, but I really enJOYed the influence of the Fairies when I was in the planning stages.  They reminded me of the importance of Having Fun.  They also reinforced the importance of Working with a Support Team, that manifesting or creating your own heart’s desire is so much easier when you share the process or journey. 

And, I am Grateful for that wisdom, reminder and magical essence.

Thank You, Fairies!  Thank You, Ladies!

Today,

go out of your way to

Say Something Nice

to someone

… at work

 … at home

… in the neighbourhood

… via their blog

… on Facebook.

HAVE A MAGNIFICENT DAY!

“Write your first draft with your heart.  Re-write with your head.” ~ from the movie Finding Forrester

“Introduction

So …

Thirty four years has passed since I first fell in love with the concept of reincarnation.

Twenty of those years was spent reading everything I could get my hands on about ‘past lives’ and ‘soul mates’.  Authors like Jess Stearn and Dick Sutphen and Ruth Montgomery graced my bookshelf – a shelf which lived in the sacred (and hidden) space of my bedroom.  After all, what would people say if they found out I had such outlandish interests?  (Society’s attitudes and multiple past lifetimes of persecution obviously coloured my life in those days!)

The next eight years were spent indulging  in as many clairvoyant readings as I could afford and justify.  My local New Age shop gifted me with amazing tarot readers, a place of sanctuary where I could ‘hang’ out and be “me” and, ultimately, the realisation that I could actually access my own past life experiences.

My tenth anniversary of being involved with the shop saw me sitting at that same table giving clairvoyant readings.

Year number thirty four brought opportunities I hadn’t had before: my eldest had left school and was organising moving out of home; my middle was at the end of his high school journey; and my ‘baby’ had graduated primary school, which meant no more school drop-offs and pick-ups.  Lots more flexible time was available to be able to reignite my passion for past life exploration.

Wow!

The journey started when I was thirteen years of age has finally reached the place I thought of as only a dream and, therefore, unattainable; I am forty seven years old and I am sharing my passion for past life exploration with friends and clients through angel readings and workshops.

Woo Hoo!”

That was my effort from Week 1 of my Wednesday Writing Process.  Thanks for telling me you wanted MORE!

Week 2 (last week), I spent my breakfast time Mind Mapping.  Deepak Chopra reacquainted me with this process at the Hay House Writer’s Workshop and I have found it inspiring.  In fact, not only did I create a Mind Map for my current writing project, I also began work on a couple of other ‘maps’ for other projects.  It’s such an easy way of brainstorming and collecting my thoughts in a more coherent manner.

The most interesting part of the process, with the first Mind Map, was how random my thoughts were.  But, from what I have written in the initial ‘brain dump’, I have several directions to pursue with my current writing project.  From here, I will create new Mind Maps with the intention of gaining clarity about what this writing is actually about, compared with last year’s NaNoWriMo story.

Today, at the final Playing with Fairies! session, we are talking about Manifesting.  I have so many things ‘on the boil’ that creating vision boards and mind maps have helped so much with.  I have a poster, a work in progress, which will have all the avenues available for my Writing commitment ~ partly a Mind Map and partly a Vision Board.  For me, manifesting is much easier when I have a Visual Representation of what I am trying to create.

The process of creating Mind Maps and Vision Boards for the workshop did ‘spark’ my desire to write.

Lovely Mark in Spain sharing his achievement of 50 000 words on his story has inspired me even further.

I think Wednesdays might become ‘breakfast’ days, even after the Playing with Fairies! course has finished.  It’s an easy way for me to really focus on one particular thing.  Writing Wednesdays ~ a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy!

Do you ever have one of those days where it begins with the thoughts of ‘lack’?   Those thoughts which begin with “Why can’t he …” or “What about me?” or other mental conversations and commentary about what’s wrong with life?   That’s the Cup Half Empty morning.

I was suffering with Cup Half Empty syndrome, this morning.

And, yet, the day is clear and bright and the sun is shining … I have a day to myself with no commitments until after school … and I can do anything I want to do.

Which brought me to the thought of ‘lack’. 

Hmm.

Not the way I want to be living my life.

How to change that feeling?

How do I get to a Better Feeling Place in my heart and head?

Gratitude.

Gratitude for the Little Things.

I am grateful for David’s support with All Things Technological.

I am grateful for the kids’ ability to manage their own health and wellbeing.

I am grateful for the birdbath outside my window where the Raven has soaked his morning bread and the lorikeets have bathed.

I am grateful for my freedom to choose what I want to do today.

I am grateful for my wonderful stash of Stampin’ Up! product which helps me indulge my creativity.

I am grateful for warmer weather which helps me Feel Happy (and allows me the ‘clothesline’ indulgence for my wet washing!).

I am grateful for my lovely home.

I am grateful for my iPod and all the fabulous songs I’ve put onto it!

I am grateful for Jonquils on my desk and Primulas outside my window.

I am grateful for fresh vegetables for our lunches today.

I am grateful for handmade cards which I can send for birthdays.

I am grateful for green socks which really inspired me, this morning.

I am grateful for the smile which now resides on my face, the happier feelings in my body, and the thought that with a little bit of time and reflection I can Fill My Cup.

I am Grateful.

What fills YOUR cup?

I’ve been reminded, during the Playing with Fairies! month, about the importance of noticing the ‘smaller’ manifesting successes we have. 

It’s really easy to notice the BIG things we’ve created; we feel excited and we can see with ease what we have been successful with.  But, everything we think and say creates our reality, even those little ‘thoughtless’ thoughts.  Thinking negatively attracts more negativity.  Being anxious breeds more anxiety.  These are things we are pretty familiar with.

What we notice less often is how thinking positively attracts positive experiences.  We don’t always really notice the Law of Attraction which occurs, just as easily with positive attitudes as with negative ones, when we SMILE at someone … and they SMILE back!

We do understand that when you do a good deed for someone it’s much easier to ask them to return the favour.  Or, if they do a good deed for you, you want to do a good deed for them, in return.

It’s the same thing with thoughts.  What we think attracts more of what we were thinking about.

On the weekend, I was discussing what makes people happy.  One of the lovely practitioners at YaYa’s said “Flowers”.  Flowers were the first thing which jumped into her head.  I thought about that.  I know what makes me happy – lots of things! – and flowers are definitely one of them.

Especially Jonquils.

And, I realised that after Jonquil season is over, Jasmine season begins.  During Jasmine season, Basil season enters the picture.  These 3 plants bring me Much JOY and Happiness.  I just LOVE them.  They tantalise my nostrils and aura with their magnificent perfume and I feel like anything and everything is possible.    When I am in that space/place/energy I notice the other things which make me SMILE and Feel JOY …

I notice the Little Miracles.

Little Miracles like … the delicate flower shape of the Jonquil and how much it looks like a Daffodil

… the way the Alyssum grows in the cracks around the bricks … and the Lavender (most unusual!) … in my back garden

… the JOY young children show when they are running into school

… little kids laughing ~ they laugh with their Whole Being!

… a SMILE from a perfect stranger

… someone paying me a compliment, out of the blue

… light switches which, when ‘flicked’, turn on light ~ making a dark space bright again

… connecting to the Internet via a palm-sized communication device!

Lots of little things around us are miraculous.  We tend to forget them because they are always there.  But, someone or something created them.   The Universe is a miraculous place.

Today is the day to Take Note of the Little Miracles around you. 

Go on. 

I dare you!

Today, I’m hosting a workshop where my lovely ladies are going to blitz out 10 Christmas Cards each.  Woo Hoo!

I seem to have gone on an embossing theme, for this Christmas Card Workshop.   I LOVED how the wreath turned out on the Framed Tulip Embossed Old Olive card.  I also LOVED being able to play with some bling!!

Most of all, I enJOYed the fact that I had 5 of these cards ready to create because my wonderful Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator (that would be ME ) prepared the kits for me. 

The second card we are creating, today, is based on a design I’ve loved for a while, from Andrea Walford … I really liked the idea of taking strips of Designer Series Papers, scalloping the edges, then layering the pieces to create an almost ruffled look. Again, a little embossing, then topped off with ribbon and button.  Ooh La La!

I do wonder how we will feel after doing the Scallop Edge Punch along 5 cards worth of strips?!

This month, demonstrators received the NEW Stampin’ Up! Ideas Book & Catalog (2011-2012) and I have been indulging in Visual Pleasure for a couple of weeks, now.  In the Sneak Peek options ~ the product we can buy before the catalog’s release ~ was some very cute Designer Series Paper called “Just Add Cake”. 

As it was David’s birthday, this week, I decided to try out the Scalloped Layers card in a different celebration colour combo.  I really like how it turned out!

I really can’t wait for the start date (September 1) for the catalog, to come!  There are so many wonderful papers and stamp sets and new embellishments to play with!  I will be offering more workshops just so I can play with the new papers (there are so many to choose from that even if I buy a new set each month I still won’t get through them all before the next catalog is released!).

All Stampin’ Up! product was used, unless otherwise stated.

Embossed Christmas Card ~ Cardstock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler; Stamp Sets: Welcome Christmas, Contempo Christmas; Ink: Whisper White; Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Rhinestone Jewels, Old Olive Marker, Old Olive 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder.

Scalloped Edge Christmas Card ~ Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper; Stamp Set: Contempo Christmas; Ink: Whisper White; Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Scallop Edge Punch, Very Vanilla 5/8″ Satin Ribbon, Old Olive Button, White Embroidery Thread (non-SU!).

Scalloped Edge Birthday Card ~ Cardstock: Early Espresso, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper (release date September 1); Stamp Set: Well Scripted (retired); Ink: Whisper White; Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon (retired), Scallop Edge Punch.