I had the BEST workshop, on the weekend.  I was really blessed with the ladies who joined me for the Medicine Wheel One Year Layout Initial Workshop!  Lovely Davine and I have journeyed together before so this time around was even more special because of the history and understanding of how effective the process is.  I received so much NEW insight to different Soul Coaching (R) Oracle Cards and even had a ‘visit’ from my dad … it was very special being able to share things which I usually play ‘close to my heart’.  Thank You, Ladies!

After the workshop, I was thinking about the coming month, in light of my year’s theme ~ IMPECCABILITY, and decided that my focus is going to be my Past Life research.  At the beginning of term, I was wondering what to do with my time and realised that it was the perfect opportunity to edit the 50 000 words of my book (written during NaNoWriMo 2010).  I thought it would be a good thing to ‘cross’ off my list and would also allow me to feel that I had spent my time wisely.

My intention was just to edit part 1 of the book, by the end of term.  That’s about 11 weeks and I thought it would be quite a manageable task.  Well … now it’s closer to the end of term rather than the beginning, I have realised that the editing process needs to move up a gear.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the ease with which the process has flowed.  I think that the distance between initial writing and now with editing has been sufficient enough for me to be able to read the story (of my life) without the emotional fallout.  I have also loved how easy it is to access the past lifetimes I have wanted to intersperse throughout the story.  My intention is to use Past Life experiences as connections to current life happenings.

This week, I have met “Beatrice Margaret”.  She was a bitter, spinster woman who was hard of hearing and, therefore, used an Ear Trumpet.  She was born in the mid-1800′s, was moderately well-to-do and seem to be quite judgemental, with a ‘sharp’ tongue.  She didn’t hesitate to tell her nieces and nephews how they should behave and how to live their lives.  Of course, the hearing problem caused all sorts of extra challenges for her.

Having ‘explored’ her life a little more over the last day or so, I realise that she was a very strong and independent woman who was also quite unhappy in herself.  She was very gifted at needlwork and I ‘saw’ her making something which looked like lace.  She was also very astute with numbers and did a lot of accounts and bookwork for the various small businesses around her.

The concept of “not being heard” is what led me on the journey to find ‘Beatrice’ … I researched Ear Trumpets (started off using the topic “very old hearing aids”!) and found a bunch of images of antique ear trumpets.  One of them ‘jumped’ off the page at me so I knew it was the right one ~ German Silver Ear Trumpet.  Then, I researched the time period and because I had a sense of her wearing a dress with a bustle, I checked out Victorian clothing options.  The dress I ‘saw’ her wearing was “1891 Victorian”.  I found a picture and popped it onto my New Pinterest Board.

So, the new journey of my upcoming year’s Medicine Wheel has begun with lots of enthusiasm.  I have found new eyes for an old favourite past time … and I have learned so much just from meeting “Beatrice Margaret”.

I LOVE Past Life research!

I LOVE Soul Coaching (R) Oracle Cards!

I LOVE creating Medicine Wheel One Year Layouts!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The beginning of a new week always inspires me ~ especially in the final days of INSPIRATION month!   I love seeing what new things are crossing my path, what ‘old’ things have become a little more vibrant and want revisiting, and I love planning what I am going to achieve for the week.  This is much easier when I begin my week with the Mastermind Monday girls!

After creating my NEW Medicine Wheel One Year Layout, on the weekend, I know what the coming year is about and why certain things have ‘changed’ in my world, over the last week or so.  The energy of a new month begins filtering through a week or so before the calendar date of the 1st so there is a beautiful mix of last month’s energy with the coming month’s influence.

As a result, I have already made a list of Things to Do, this week.  I jotted them down on Red Heart-shaped Post It Notes ready to share with the girls at our motivation session.  Because I have ‘insight’ into what June is focusing on, my choice of goals was much clearer than usual. That’s one of the things I really enJOY most about doing Oracle Cards.

With the Oracle Card Messages I’ve shared with my various Facebook Groups I noticed the theme of being focused and setting intentions was quite strong.  So, being the beginning of the work week, I have set intentions … clear, achievable goals … for the week.  And, I’ve decided to Be Supportive of others as they Set Intentions for the week.

Focus … Grounding … Success.

My mantra for the week!

What are YOUR Intentions, this week?

I was reflecting on how I’m feeling, this morning, and realised that the whole theme of PLEASURE is exactly what has been infused in my week.  I’ve woken tired but inspired – I know that this feeling will quickly turn into tired and possibly weepy, very quickly, as I come down off the ‘high’ I’m on – probably soon after my personal training session!

This week, I have had so many amazing experiences that there really is only one way I can sum it up – PLEASURE week in INSPIRATION month!

Our Sustenance for the Soul Gathering, last night, was the most perfect ending to a really, really busy and demanding day.  But, even through the challenges of So Much To Do the ‘sparkle’ and excitement of the evening kept its presence felt.  We spent an intimate evening with Gorgeous People, lots of Oracle Cards, a little bit of “Blues Brothers”, the most sublime journey through meditation, and our ‘learning’ segment: Tarot Cards.

I was excited before the Gathering began.

I was thrilled throughout the Gathering.

I was filled with gratitude at the closing of the Gathering.

I have woken, very tired, but still THRILLED and GRATEFUL and INSPIRED by the magic of the evening, and my life.

PLEASURE week has, each day, brought me a Gift filled with JOY and wonder: a new journey ~ Mentoring; new clients ~ two gorgeous people placing their trust in me to motivate, inspire and support them to get to ‘where they want to be’ in life; a new friend, and greater levels of friendship with old friends; a new format for the monthly Gatherings ~ lots of ‘playing’ with Oracle Cards, ‘sharing the wealth’ of knowledge with Amazing People, and a more formal presentation where we can ‘learn’.

Today, is my Gift to Me.  I have time to ‘catch up’ on breathing and nurturing.  I will stamp, create, be inspired.  I will organise the ‘little’ things for tomorrow’s workshop.

I am absolutely Feeling the JOY.

Being Inspired

Sharing My Passion

Helping others to Share their Passions

Realising that some of the things people around me find really hard to do are the same things that I find really easy

Being Creative

Creating a “Breakthrough” Goal which sets the tone for all the learning and discipline I need in other areas of my life

Wonderful Coffee and Engaging Conversation

Feeling Supported

Unexpected Warm Days

Going to bed tired and sleeping through …

The final week of INSPIRATION month and it’s all about PLEASURE!  It took me a few hours, yesterday, to even realise that I had entered a New Week but once my brain had reconnected with this journey, I realised that I had been engaging in Pleasurable Pastimes all morning.

Denise Linn’s affirmation for PLEASURE is “My Life Is Deliciously JOYous!”

My life really is!

In the few hours of day 1 of Pleasure Week I indulged in some collage work (lots of fun and very nurturing for my creative side), enJOYed a little book editing (and found another NEW past lifetime!), had lunch with a dear friend, and gained a NEW mentoring student!

In and around those incredible experiences, I spent lots of Inspirational Time in “Lilly” with “Cheryl” (Richardson, sharing her Finding Your Passion audiobook) and a lot of time laughing with Kels (to the point of Kels being on the floor in hysterics!) during dinner preparations.

Definitely a day filled with PLEASURE.

What does it take to ‘change’ something from being one way to become another?

A bit of wisdom I heard on one of my motivational audiobooks was that it takes 7 days of commitment to change a habit.  I achieved that when I went from ‘not walking’ (nor wanting to walk) to really ‘missing’ my walk when the weather is inclement or my body is unsupportive.    I am still working on the ‘commitment’ part to change my diet but I know, from experience, that just 7 days of Eating Well will become habit-forming.

I know that if I take a rectangular piece of cardstock and put it into a punch, I can change the shape and the energy of that cardstock.  It goes from being a ‘plain’ old piece of card to a shape with beauty and pleasing form which inspires me.  If I put a bunch of different ingredients – different shapes, aromas and textures – into a food processor I can ‘wave my magic wand’ (turn the processor on!) and within moments they become a beautiful paste …

“Alchemy”, according to the Dictionary means TRANSMUTATION – the process or act of change.

I can ‘change’ a plain piece of card into a shape of textured beauty by using a couple of tools.  I can ‘create’ a beautiful paste for curry by combining raw ingredients in a container and processing.  I can ‘adopt’ a new approach to life by making a commitment to change.

“Change” isn’t all that hard.  In fact, it’s super easy with the right tools.  And, it’s much easier with ‘objects’ like cardstock and food.  But, what about BEHAVIOURS?

What would it take to Commit an Act of Alchemy on an attitude or behaviour?

I guess, it takes Awareness, first ~ being Aware that something needs to change or wants to be changed ~ then the Act of Commitment.  That seems to be the hardest part of the process.

I think that changing lead into gold would be much simpler.

I Wonder … what the world would look like if everyone Accepted those around them for Who They Are?

I Wonder … what would happen if we stopped long enough to Slow Down and Be Present - all at the same time?

I Wonder … why the cockatoos clean out only particular sections of my gutters?

I Wonder … what it would take for every person who crosses my path, and the paths of my family, to be Fully Accountable for their choices and actions?

I Wonder … if the people to whom I sent Gratitude Cards, this week, will really understand how they have Changed My Life?

I Wonder … if the world will ever Live In Harmony – people with people; people with the planet?

I Wonder … what my life would truly be like if I was Completely Free?

What do you Wonder?

This week, I have sent out 4 handmade cards, so far, to people who don’t know me but who have profoundly changed my life ~ authors and speakers.

My travelling time, in “Lilly”, is engaged in All Things Cheryl Richardson … an audiobook recommended in the recent “Your Writing Life” newsletter has had me excited about going out (even when I’m really tired and want to get into bed but get a call from #2 son asking me for a HUGE favour) in the car so I can have another session with Cheryl!  Finding Your Passion is Inspiring and Practical and Funny and Thought-Provoking, all at the same time!  As is the way of the Universe, Cheryl shared a story about a man who had compiled a book of letters and commented about how the art of letter writing is dying … things are shared in a letter which are not shared in an email or a text message.  If I needed more ‘prompting’ about actually getting off my butt and writing to those people who have become a really important part of my life then this was it.  So, I wrote to them and said “Thank You”.

Listening to Cheryl Richardson’s audiobook has been a lot like going back to school but so much better.  I think it’s inspiration from Cheryl and being motivated by her practical strategies that has got me going again on my workshop planning.  The right motivation, and the right person turning up at the right time, makes a whole lot of difference!

I LOVE travelling with ‘Lilly’ and “Cheryl” and whomever she may be interviewing at the time (on my recently discovered Podcasts!)!

Topping off my “Feeling Good” energy were two beautiful women who really helped me out, yesterday, in a very practical way.  My gorgeous personal trainer, Sharon, copes really well when I walk in the door and burst into tears!  Life was just a little overwhelming, yesterday morning, and Sharon was wonderful.  Fortunately, she knew that I just needed to do some cardio and talk it out.  I have missed my walks, this week, and boy!  I am really noticing the difference to my well-being!!  I felt much better by the time I left Sharon’s.  Thanks, Sharon!

Then, I had a Hot Crystal Massage with Eve … my wellbeing appointment for the month was more of a therapy session as she ironed out knots in my body, adjusted my energy shielding and helped me to understand why I had been feeling so crappy.  The aromatherapy oils and herbal tea were the best start to the session, followed by beautiful massage and hot crystals placed on my back.  At the end of the session, Eve helped me to wrap myself with a beautiful energy bubble and shared some strategies for managing other people’s ‘stuff’.  Thanks, Eve!

I’m feeling good (well, much better, anyway) today because I spent some time honouring myself, asking for help, and receiving a couple of beautiful phone calls from a couple of beautiful people telling me how much they appreciate me and what I do.

I like Feeling Good.

I hope You are Feeling Good, today, too!

I Believe … in Fairies.

I Believe … that I can Be, Do and Have all that I want to Be, Do and Have.

I Believe … that there is only one person I am responsible for (apart from my not-quite adult daughter ) and that is Me.

I Believe … that it’s inappropriate to judge others if we haven’t walked in their shoes, and given that we can never actually experience life as if we are walking in their shoes, it’s not appropriate to cast judgement.

I Believe … it’s too easy to berate (beat up) on someone.  It takes much more effort and awareness to be supportive, affirming and to ’believe’ in them.

I Believe … everyone can access their own inner wisdom, and past life experiences.

I Believe … you know I’m thinking of you, when I have you clearly in my thoughts, no matter where in the world each of us may be.

I Believe … that absolutely anything is possible.

This week’s theme is BELIEVE; week 3 of INSPIRATION month.  Whenever I think about the concept/word “believe” I notice a kind of ‘unbelievable’ energy emanating from it ~ by its very nature, there is an almost magical quality to this word.

Day 1, of BELIEVE week, had me sitting down at my favourite coffee shop with my beautiful Soul Sister when a lady at the next table politely interupted us and asked if I was “Michelle”.  I looked at her, recognised her face, and she told me who she was: one of the mum’s from Josh’s Mother’s Group … we hadn’t seen each other in about 15 years.

Wow.

I really do Believe that anything is possible.

Life is a bit challenging in my world at the moment.  David is working on a huge project which means he is beyond busy and coping with the stresses such challenges present.  So, I am ‘holding down the fort’ and being mindful of where he is at.  It seems that the ‘project’ is a whole family event, to some degree.  As a result, I have found a lot of my thoughts, this week, running to how ‘not’ alright things are.

Today, I want to see the wonderful things I have happening in my life, instead.

This week, it’s BATCH OF JOY week, on my Simply Angels ~ Pay it Forward calendar.  That means 7 cards will be winging their way through the postal service to say Thank You to those people who have Made A Difference in my life.  But, I’ve changed it up a little from my usual approach.  This time, I am thanking people who I Don’t Know as well as those I know personally!

Cool, huh?

To begin with, we are having a Whole Family Cooking and Preparing Day because Daniel is turning 21, tomorrow, and we are having a family & friends dinner, tonight.  We have all Daniel’s favourite foods to create and then we’ll put them all out on the table at once!  Kels is decorating the living room ~ black and silver streamers and helium balloons; Sierra has made pavlova; Josh is baking muffins and cookies; and David and I will be on ‘savoury’ foods, this afternoon.

I am So Grateful that each person is happy to share in the preparation for this event!

I am Grateful that I have managed and survived 21 years of parenting Daniel!

I am Very Grateful to have such an amazing soul to share my journey with, in this incarnation.

Thank You!

I am also Grateful to those people who have helped us with the process of organising Daniel’s celebration ~ the lovely guy at our local bakery and the delightful lady who organised our balloons.  Thank You!

Other Snapshots of Wondrous Happenings, this week … I am Very Grateful to Lovely Amalia and Lovely Kate, my Mastermind Monday friends, who have managed to INSPIRE me with an awesome goal for 2013 … I am Very Grateful to the Guest Speakers who have committed to coming along and speaking about their Passions at the next Sustenenance for the Soul Gatherings … I am Very Grateful to a Dear Friend who has written an INSPIRED, profound and poignant visualisation for the next Gathering …

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.