Blog

August 20, 2015March 8, 2021

Can You Honor Your Father and Your Mother?

After my magical birthday celebration with friends planting rose quartz crystals all over New York City, I spent the next few days with my family at a rental house on Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania. What a nice surprise to discover that they were all there when I arrived on Friday! My older brother, my three older sisters, their spouses, their kids, and grandkids all heard the call to come together this year. I can’t remember the last time this happened. Sure, we have our rough patches, but we are one of those weird families that actually enjoys spending time together. The weekend was full of love and laughter. On our last day together, my siblings and I planned a road trip to see my Aunt Ruth in New Jersey. It had been at least 20 years since I had seen my dad’s sister. When he died in 1975, our connection to that side of the family was not as strong. Since they live in the Northeast, my siblings have been to recent weddings and parties with them. I moved to Florida in 1992, so I have been a little bit more “out of the loop” (in more ways than one!)

Having been immersed in the therapeutic philosophy of Family Constellations for the past 3 years, I understand how important it is to connect to the energy of both sides of my lineage. Like it or not, we are each “half dad” and “half mom.” Regardless of our relationship with them, we have to acknowledge this simple fact. If I reject a parent, then I am literally rejecting half of me. As a facilitator of Family Constellations, I see the effects of this disconnect all the time. A child who rejects or has a break in the bond with mom often has money troubles, or difficulty feeling safe in the world. A disconnect with dad can create challenges with direction or finding one’s ideal career path. Some lucky people like myself experienced a disconnect with both, for one reason or another, so we get a double strength growing opportunity! The good news is, with Family Constellations, you can repair the connection and allow the energy of love to flow again.

I had a feeling it would be a powerful moment when I saw my aunt for the first time that day, and it was. I can’t deny how much I look like my father as I grow older. That was the first thing she said to me when I arrived at her door. “Oh, you look so much like my brother!” She hugged me three times before we sat down in her living room. Those hugs were some of the best hugs I’ve ever had. It was wonderful to hear stories about her and my dad growing up. I learned a little bit more about their mother, who was ostracized from the family at a young age. I did my best not to ask too many questions, as I didn’t want it to feel like a Family Constellations intake interview. I told her about the work I was doing, and also gifted her a sun catcher made with purple amethyst and pink rose quartz crystals. I guess I picked the right stones because my aunt was wearing a purple and pink outfit that day.

My cousin, Sharon, outdid herself ordering several plates of sandwiches, assorted salads, and preparing 4 different flavors of homemade zucchini bread for dessert. It was delicious! Both of her brothers, various spouses, children, and grandchildren were there as well. It was a delightful reunion. Before we left, we all convened around the Mother Mary statue in my aunt’s backyard for a group picture. It certainly was a unique photo opportunity. As we waited for a neighbor to arrive to snap the photo, I took the opportunity to sprinkle a few rose quartz crystals in the foliage around Mother Mary. After the photo shoot, while walking back to the front of the house, I discovered a beautiful light blue and white feather in my aunt’s yard. It sure looked like the traditional colors of Mother Mary, and I was grateful for this gift of grace. As we said our goodbyes and shared more hugs, I had the feeling that my dad must be very happy to see this reunion. I know I certainly was. Before I got in in the car with my brother to head to the Newark Airport, my Aunt Ruth looked me directly in the eyes and said, “Thank you for the work you are doing.” It gives me God bumps just thinking about that moment. It sure felt like she was delivering a message from my dad and all of our ancestors. I am honored to be doing this work, healing hearts and helping individuals and families return to love, one constellation at a time.

If that sounds good to you, please visit the Family Constellations page on my website for more information. There you will find out when and where the next group sessions are being held. You can also set up an appointment for a private one-on-one session in person or over the phone. I look forward to sharing this revolutionary healing experience with you! Until next time, I invite you to take a few moments to find something about each of your parents to be grateful for, even if the only thing you can come up with is gratitude for the gift of life. It will be enough to get the love and your life flowing again.

P.S. If you feel inspired to start planting rose quartz to add to the Web of Love and Peace around the planet, you can share the experience by taking pictures and posting them on FaceBook and Instagram with #rosequartzgrid. Thanks to my creative friend, Caroline, you can also add the locations on this Google Map! Let’s watch the Love spread all over the planet!

August 12, 2015March 8, 2021

The Pink Apple

I have been sprinkling rose quartz crystals all over the planet since Valentine’s Day weekend of 2004. That’s when I met my rose quartz spiritual family. I learned that rose quartz holds the frequency of unconditional love and compassion. The intention is to create a web of love and peace around the planet that any of us can tap in to whenever needed. It has been a fun way to create miracles and interact with people wherever my travels take me. Of course, I could do this without the rose quartz, but it is nice to have something tangible. I will be forever grateful to my friend and teacher, Mac, for gifting me my first necklace made of these tiny pink stones and to all of the beautiful souls I met that weekend who share this intention with me.

I continued the tradition this past week in New York City as part of my birthday celebration with great friends. They joined me in planting rose quartz all over the city. We started the very first night we arrived after a delicious pizza dinner in Brooklyn and a spectacular walk across the Brooklyn Bridge gazing at the sparkling lights of Manhattan. Our first stop in Manhattan was Ground Zero. We sprinkled rose quartz at the base of the trees that surround the perimeter where the towers fell. Once we finished, I took a few prayerful moments to activate the grid and imagined peace washing over the hearts of all those affected by the events of that day.

There were plenty of places to plant rose quartz as we rode bikes through Central Park the following day. My favorite spot is the famous angel statue in the center of the park. A sweet couple from the UK asked what I was feeding the turtles when they saw me tossing the little crystals into the pond behind the statue. After explaining is wasn’t turtle food, I gave each of them some rose quartz to throw into the pond to make their own wishes. Fountains, rivers, lakes, and ponds are great places to plant crystals because the energy fills the body of water and radiates to all who pass by.

One place I knew I wanted to plant some rose quartz was Columbia University. This year marks the 50th birthday of my favorite spiritual teaching, A Course in Miracles. It was in 1965 while working in the Psychology Department at Columbia that Helen Schucman first heard that gentle, authoritative voice say, “This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.” It felt so right to spread rose quartz there as my way to say thank you to Helen, and to honor the teaching that has changed my life so dramatically. Little did I know I would have such an emotional reaction there. As I closed my eyes and held the stones to my heart before tossing them into the fountains in front of the old library building, an overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over me and tears welled up in my eyes. It was a feeling I will never forget.

The grand finale of the “pink love fest” was the beautiful mural we encountered in SoHo on our last evening in New York. The artist had painted the world with a red heart in the center and red lions marching around the circumference. To me, this symbolized the lion-hearted love we were spreading around the planet. If you read my Lion’s Gate blog from 2 weeks ago, you will understand the extra significance of the lions. While planting rose quartz and taking pictures by this wall, a photography student approached us to ask if we would be willing to be part of her class project. Her assignment was to find out what we thought of when asked about human rights violations. I told her how we had planted rose quartz all around Ground Zero and even scattered some outside a grocery store where there had been an altercation moments before we walked by. My friend George summed it up perfectly when he offered this suggestion. “Instead of looking for human rights violations, why not look for human rights affirmations?” Indeed, what you look for, you will find. She loved the idea and asked George to write it down so that she could show her professor.

After our heartfelt conversation, our new friend snapped some great photos of the three of us in front of that mural, and promised to send them to my email address soon. Once we said our goodbyes, another young man came over to ask what we were doing and why everyone was stopping to take pictures by that mural. Spirit gave us yet another opportunity to share our story and give away more rose quartz. Just like the ripples that are created when we toss a stone in the water, I have no doubt that the ripples of Love we created last week will keep expanding and touching hearts. I know the people we met and the experiences we had deeply touched mine.

If you like the idea of creating a web of love and peace around the planet, why not join us and start spreading your own rose quartz crystals? You can purchase them for less than five dollars at any craft store that sells jewelry making supplies. Or simply set the intention to create a ripple of love, peace, and joy wherever you go. That works too! If that seems like an impossible task from where you are right now, then perhaps it’s time to try Life Coaching or Family Constellations. Both will touch your heart and bring you back to that place of peace, love, and joy. I use A Course in Miracles as my foundation for both. Please visit my website for more information.

Until next time, may you always feel the waves of peace, love, and joy washing over your heart wherever you may travel…

P.S. If you feel inspired to start planting rose quartz, let me know where on my Peace Through Oneness FaceBook page. Take pictures and post on Instagram and Facebook with #rosequartzgrid Let’s watch the web of love spread all over the planet!

August 4, 2015August 13, 2016

Trashy Thoughts

Each time I go on my beach walk I pass an empty lot heading back to my car. It always makes me a little sad to see the plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers, and other trash scattered across the grass on the other side of the chain link fence. Sometimes I wish I could wave a magic wand that would make all the garbage levitate, collect into one solid mass, and then send it hurtling out to space on a collision course with the Sun. Alas, I’m not Harry Potter, but there is something I can do.

If I truly believe what A Course in Miracles teaches, (and I do), I know that what I experience on the outside is a direct result of what I’m thinking on the inside. If I am thinking predominantly fearful thoughts, then I am going to encounter many fearful situations in life. If I am thinking mostly loving thoughts, then I am going to experience loving people wherever I go. It’s really quite simple, although not always easy. So if there is a lot of garbage in my mind, then I am going to see a lot of garbage in my environment. Not that I’m thinking about banana peels and soda cans, mind you. I mean garbage like, “I’m never going to finish my book. I can’t believe that jerk didn’t use his turn signal! My belly is too fat. That man is taking forever to pump his gas. I’m not going to have enough money to pay my bills. I feel guilty I haven’t called my brother back yet. I am not worthy of love.” You get the idea. These kinds of thoughts never improve a situation.

Little by little, I am replacing them with more loving ones. “I have so much fun writing my book. I know it will be finished in the perfect time. No big deal. There are times when I have forgotten to use my turn signal. I am healthy and getting healthier every day. Great! I have time to send a text message while I wait for that man to finish pumping his gas. God is my Source and there is always enough. My brother knows how busy I am these days and that I love him. He will be happy to receive my call when he has my undivided attention. I am loved beyond measure. ” The more I think thoughts like these, the less trash I will see. For now, I will continue to monitor my “trashy thoughts,” and continue to monitor the beach and sidewalk. When I see bottles and wrappers, I simply pick them up and toss them in the can. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from A Course in Miracles:

“…seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world.”

Are you having a hard time removing the litter in your mind? Life Coaching and Family Constellations are both great clean up crews. They will help you see things from a different perspective and start putting the trash in the can where it belongs. Visit my website for more information and to view free videos that will help you clean up your thoughts. This week, I invite you to place the “No Littering” sign in your mind and watch what happens!

July 29, 2015August 13, 2016

Lions and Numbers and Miracles, OH MY !!!

Life has been a lot more fun since I started looking for messages and miracles in the everyday things. Last week I made a deposit at an ATM and noticed that the digits in my balance were all 8’s and 0’s. “That’s interesting,” I thought. “I wonder what it means?” I always like to think of 8’s as the symbol for infinity, so having that energy in my bank account made me smile. Later that day, a friend who also looks for messages and miracles, sent me a photo of her ATM receipt with 1111 in the digits. We like to text each other at 11:11 as a reminder of our connection and that we are all ONE. I thought it was interesting that we both noticed repeating digits in our bank statements that day, but that’s the kind of connection we have.

Just a few days later, a participant at one of my Family Constellations shared some information about an astrological, numerological event called the Lion’s Gate that occurs every year on 8/8. This year happens to be all 8’s because 2015 adds up to an 8. Instantly I thought of the three 8’s from my account balance. According to the email this participant received, the Lion’s Gate opened on July 25, will peak on August 8, and close on August 12. I’m not 100% clear what happens during this time other than things might get shaken up a bit, and it’s a good time to start a new chapter or project. If you are curious, you can do your own research and decide for yourself if it resonates with you. I found it interesting because I’m a Leo and I like the lion energy, and because of the 8/8/8 synchronicity.

After the workshop I had plans to go to dinner with that same 11:11 friend. On my drive home from Miami, I called her to discuss where we were going, and to tell her about the 8/8/8 coincidence. She was intrigued like I was. After much debate, we decided to go to our favorite pizza place, the Mello Mushroom, in Fort Lauderdale. If you love pizza like I do and haven’t tried their’s yet, I encourage you to do so! There was a ten minute wait when we arrived, so I plopped myself down happily in one of the two tall thrones in the waiting area while my friend took a seat on a nearby bench. We started being silly and she snapped a few pictures of me on the throne. Suddenly she screamed, “Oh my God! Look at the arms of the chair!” I hadn’t noticed that each wooden arm was carved into the shape of a lion’s head!

It wasn’t long before our table was ready. The hostess took us to the very back of the restaurant where we had sat the last time we were there. We weren’t thrilled because this area is kind of isolated against a wall and out of sight of the rest of the restaurant. We sat down and suddenly my friend’s eyes bugged out as she pointed to the wall behind my right shoulder. There hung a painting of a lion wearing sunglasses! It was part of a series of paintings by the same artist. There were other animals wearing sunglasses, but the lion was right behind me. Now we were a little freaked out.

I happened to know our server, and without us asking, he offered to move us to a better spot. We were so grateful to him that we didn’t even notice his T shirt. You guessed it. There was an image of a roaring lion on the front. Now that we were in the center of the restaurant, we soon noticed that most of the servers were wearing the same lion T shirt. Now we were a lot freaked out.

I could pass this off as mere coincidence. It’s true that when you have something specific in mind, you are likely to notice more of that specific something. For instance, if you are shopping for a new car, and you decide you are going to buy a Volkswagen Bug, all of a sudden you will see VW Bugs everywhere. When things like this happen we can give it whatever meaning we choose. My preference is to let it be a reminder of what A Course in Miracles teaches.

There is a way of living in the world that is not here, although it seems to be. You do not change appearance, though you smile more frequently.

I invite you to start looking for messages and miracles in the everyday things. Look for evidence that the world is a magical, joyful place, rather than a mundane, fearful place. Whatever you look for, you will certainly find. If this seems like an impossible task from where you are now, maybe it’s time for Life Coaching or Family Constellations. I use the principles of A Course in Miracles as a foundation for both. Please visit my website for more information, and for free coaching videos that will help you smile more frequently. Until next time, I will be looking for more messages and miracles. How about you? (By the way, this blog has 888 words!)

July 23, 2015August 13, 2016

Who Makes Your Schedule?

Who makes your schedule? If you answered anything other than “I do,” then I invite you to dig a little deeper. Even if you have an assistant that handles your calendar, or work at a job where someone else assigns your daily tasks, ultimately we each decide where we choose to be moment by moment. I can give a thousand reasons why I have to be somewhere, but in the end, I chose to be there instead of anywhere else.

Recently, while trying to schedule lunch and a movie with one of my best friends in Miami, I realized how full my schedule is these days. Little by little, all 7 days of the week filled up, leaving me with no days off. I didn’t even notice! Being self-employed certainly has its advantages, but it also presents challenges in finding balance. When do I turn off the computer for the day? When do I say “no” to another appointment? Last Friday when a meeting was cancelled, I had time for that lunch and a matinee with my friend. It was so freeing! After the movie, I noticed how strange it felt to not be rushing to another appointment. In fact, it was a little uncomfortable. That spoke volumes to me. So the next day, with grace and love, I stepped back from one of my weekly commitments in order to give myself a day off.

I realize that many of you reading this have schedules far busier than mine. It’s all relative. But if you are feeling overwhelmed, here’s a thought. Is there something in your schedule that you can let go of to allow for more breathing room? Perhaps it’s something you have been doing for so long that it may not have even occurred to you that you can stop. Take a moment to think about your weekday and weekend activities. Are you enjoying or dreading most of them? Do they bring you closer to your goals or distract you from them? Do they enhance your connection with Spirit or disconnect? Do you have free time in your schedule where you can just play? If not, I encourage you to claim some! Any kid will tell you how important that is. I’ve never heard one say, “I wish I had more homework.”

Everyday we are barraged with offers, opportunities, emails, and invitations all vying for our attention and our time. We couldn’t possibly do or read all of them. And if you are reading this right now, I am so grateful! That tells me something that comes through me and what I write is of value to you. I spend time writing from my heart every week because I enjoy it and I love to share what has helped me. If at some point it becomes a burden instead of a joy, I trust I will be guided to another way to extend love out to the world. As A Course in Miracles teaches, that’s really what all of us are here to do, no matter what our job or role.

I feel blessed that my job as a Life Coach and a Family Constellations Facilitator allows me to extend love by assisting others to find inner peace. Are you having difficulty finding peace in your schedule or letting go of something you know is preventing you from reaching your goals and a happy life? You will find free coaching videos on my website as well as information on A Course in Miracles and the programs I offer based on this beautiful teaching. It will be time well spent. Until next time, please remember one of my favorite quotes from the Course.

“Teach only love, for that is what you are.”

July 15, 2015August 13, 2016

The Power of Love and Intention

I had a lot of fun at Spiritual Summer Camp this weekend at Bridges of Wellness. Don’t worry if you missed it. We are planning similar events for the near future since this one was so successful. Not only did I have the opportunity to play, I also received some great reminders. One was the power of intention. We didn’t use logs to build a fire or stones to build a Native American Medicine Wheel. However, I would say everyone felt the energy we generated with our intention to create a sacred space. We drummed and rattled as we honored the four directions simply by placing a picture of an animal totem on each wall. Then we built a fire by lighting tea lights surrounding a large candle. I asked each participant to think of an intention or someone in their life who could use a little light as they lit their candle. One by one each participant lit a candle as all of us watching sent love and light to surround their intention or their loved one.

Humans have gathered around the fire to tell stories for thousands of years. Instead of ghost stories, I invited everyone to share a “most story” by describing one of their most memorable experiences. I started by sharing some of the unbelievable events that occurred at a Native American ceremony I was invited to several years ago. You will be able to read those stories when my first book is published next year. Until then, I will tell you that the ceremony was a “wiping away of tears” ceremony for a Native American elder named Grandmother Twylah. A year after someone passes, it is tradition to have a ceremony to release that person’s spirit from the Earth Plane. I always get goose bumps when I describe how the wind came sweeping through the pine trees towards the smoldering fire pit as the last person stepped in to sprinkle tobacco as an offering. Like a scene from Disney’s Pocahontas, the wind swirled the ashes around in a circle and fluttered the Cherokee elder’s skirt before rushing directly over me with a “whoosh!” I certainly felt Grandmother Twylah’s energy in that moment.

That story apparently set the tone for many to recall moments when they undeniably felt the presence of someone who had passed and the joy of knowing they were still around them. That was another beautiful reminder. The body may die, but the love that we have for someone never does. Their messages are always the same. “I’m fine. I wish you well. I’m watching over you.” Sometimes your loved one will tell you before they pass how they will communicate with you from the other side. I would have been okay with it if my mother picked something other than bird poop on my car to “bless me” with her presence. My car was covered last year on her birthday. Oh well. A sign is a sign. It was amazing to feel everyone’s heart opening with each new story and to feel the powerful presence of love in our circle. Our ceremony ended around 10PM, but the next day many reported being awake for quite a while after that because the energy was so strong. What a testament to the power of love and intention!

Do you need some assistance following through with your intentions or would you like to feel more of that loving energy flowing in your life? Life Coaching can help you stay on track and Family Constellations can reveal where the love may be blocked. Maybe it’s time to stop doing the same thing over and over expecting different results? Visit my website for more information on how you can break the cycle. Until next time, I invite you to ask a friend to share a most story and share one with them. Light a candle while thinking of an intention or a loved one. Then watch and feel as love fills the room.

July 8, 2015August 13, 2016

Joy and Sadness

Tears are interesting. They fall both when we are extremely sad and when we are extremely happy. I cried when my long term relationship ended and when two of my best friends got married. On the surface, this doesn’t seem to make sense. Yet when we look deeper, we see that joy and sadness have an intertwining relationship. This relationship is exactly what the creative folks at Pixar explore in their new animated film Inside Out. It’s brilliant! The movie takes place in the mind of an eleven year old girl named Riley. The emotions of Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness are personified as colorful characters running a control panel in her mind.

Joy does her best to prevent Sadness from touching Riley’s memories so they remain bright yellow and cheerful. She also keeps Sadness distracted and away from the control panel as much as she can. That’s what most of us are taught to do. We try to avoid pain and sadness at all costs. We distract or numb ourselves through various means so we don’t feel sad, angry, or lonely. I sometimes use pizza. Ironically, our attempts to avoid pain and sadness only prolong them. I’m getting better at allowing myself to feel these feelings in the moment, and then let them pass. Otherwise they get stuck. As the movie cleverly shows, past traumas get locked away in our unconscious mind where they can influence our decisions and experiences later.

Eckhart Tolle says in The Power of Now, “Every addiction arises from an unconscious refusal to face and move through your own pain.” Perhaps we all have an addiction of some sort. (See my pizza comment above.) As someone who has had many long term relationships and friendships with individuals suffering from alcohol addiction, including my mother, I can see the truth in his statement. There is no way around pain. I can only go through it. Sadness is not the enemy when I remember why I am sad. Usually I am sad because I feel like I have lost something that I love, but that implies I had the joy of loving something in the first place! That’s the nature of duality. I personally don’t believe that a heart can be broken, but it can be cracked open by a sad event. The good news is, once it’s open, love can flow in and out freely. I have learned and seen many times in Family Constellations that love cannot flow through a closed heart. When participants allow themselves to cry, it is incredibly healing for everyone.

When I cry tears of joy, it’s because my heart is completely open. Something has touched me so deeply that I can’t contain my emotions or my tears. Love is radiating in all directions. I feel connected. I remember my Oneness with all. That’s how I felt when I watched this 8 MINUTE VIDEO. If you have time, click HERE and have a look. Observe your feelings as you watch. If you feel like crying, is it because you are happy or sad? Can you feel your heart open? This video reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from author and theologian, Frederick Beuchner.

“Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.”

Does it feel like there is something locked away in your unconscious mind that is influencing your decisions or causing you sadness? Family Constellations is an excellent key to unlock that door and let it out in the open where it can be healed. Does it seem like joy is no longer lighting up your day to day memories? Life Coaching gives you plenty of matches to relight that fire. For more information or to book a session, please visit my website. It would bring me great joy to help you find yours. Until next time, may your heart be open wide to give and receive all the love that’s yours to feel!

July 1, 2015August 13, 2016

Butterflies and Turtles

This past weekend I was thinking about my mom a lot. I went to the same Asian restaurant where I had my “fortune cookie miracle” a few months after she made her transition. I shared with my friends how the cookie I designated for her said, “The one you love is closer than you think.” I still have that fortune taped to a photo of us, and after the events of this weekend, I know it’s true.

On Sunday I visited Butterfly World in Cypress Creek, FL with some friends from church. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it. It’s like being in another realm. Gentle notes of classical music waft through the air and dance with butterflies of every size and color as they flutter freely in a giant screened-in enclosure with trickling waterfalls, lush vegetation, and beautiful orchids. This place inspires a deep sense of peace and wonder. The only other time I had been there was with my mom on Mother’s Day a few years before she died. We had a wonderful, peaceful day together. It’s one of my favorite memories of the last years of her life, so of course, I was thinking and talking a lot about her that day. While we were there I also commented that the large white butterflies floating around reminded me of angels. After we left, one of my friends sent me a photo she had taken and pointed out that one of those white butterflies was directly over my head. She said, “Look! It’s your mom watching over you!” Yes, that made my eyes leak a little bit.

After Butterfly World I started feeling a headache coming on. I thought perhaps it was because I was hungry, so I stopped to get something to eat on my way home. The food didn’t help. The headache got progressively worse, forcing me to lie down with a heated bean bag on my tense neck muscles and a cold compress with a few drops of lavender oil on my forehead. It helped a little bit, but I still wasn’t feeling well enough to attend a small gathering at a friend’s apartment as I had planned. I finally acquiesced and took 3 ibuprofen tablets. When that didn’t work, I asked for guidance on what would make me feel better. The answer I received surprised me. “Go walk on the beach and breathe some salt air.” Although it was after 10 o’clock, I felt like that would help, so I jumped in my car and off to the beach I went.

I parked my car in my usual spot and headed for the healing waters of Mother Ocean. It was a beautiful, breezy, moonlit night, and as I walked along the shoreline, like magic, the rolling waves seemed to wash away my headache. As I continued, I noticed a plethora of staked off areas on the beach where sea turtles had laid their eggs. That’s when I remembered that one of my mom’s final wishes was to see sea turtles hatch at night. On her last Mother’s Day on Earth, I took my mom to see the Disney Nature film Oceans. I had seen it before and knew it contained a scene where they filmed sea turtles hatching and scampering to the sea. She loved it! Another beautiful Mother’s Day memory.

Now I’m thinking, “What is my mother up to? I’m not usually at the beach this time of night. Was that horrible headache just a way to get me to cancel my plans and follow hers instead?” I ended up walking for over an hour, all the while looking for signs of tiny turtles emerging from their nest. I sent my friend who took the angel photo a text message telling her about my realization of the two Mother’s Day memories. Were they connected? How cool would it be if that’s why I was at the beach that night? My friend told me about the time years ago when she saw a mother turtle laying eggs in the sand late at night. That seemed pretty cool too! I kept walking and looking, but the only thing spectacular I saw was lightning in the distance. Another one of my mother’s favorite things, a thunderstorm, was about to join the party. That’s when I decided it was probably best to turn around and head back. Even if I didn’t see any turtles, with the approach of the storm and my heart full of memories of her, I definitely felt my mom’s presence. That was enough. It was almost midnight and time to go home.

On my way back, I noticed strange looking tire tracks heading into the ocean. Wouldn’t the waves have washed away any marks from lifeguard vehicles or kids playing in the sand by now? Then it dawned on me. Those tracks weren’t heading in to the ocean, they were heading OUT! I followed the trail up the beach and there she was… a mama turtle just finishing up her work for the night. I stood there in awe and gratitude as I watched her cover up her nest before dragging her body back into the sea. I tried to take her picture before she vanished into the waves, but it was too dark and I didn’t want to scare her with my flash. That’s okay. I will never forget her. I see now it had to be a mama turtle so I could feel that mother energy. She did her job and then it was time for her to move on, just like my mom. It sure felt like a message from her, letting me know she is still close by, watching over me, guiding me, and reminding me that Love cannot die.

If you enjoy these stories, please feel free to share them with friends via email or social media. It brings me great joy to share them with you, just like it brings me joy to share what I’ve learned from life, A Course in Miracles, and Family Constellations in my coaching sessions and workshops. If you’re ready for some miracles of your own, visit my website to sign up for a workshop, Life Coaching, or a one-on-one Family Constellations session by phone or in person. Something tells me there will be plenty of miracles and messages from the Animal Kingdom at Spiritual Summer Camp at Bridges of Wellness on Saturday July 11 & Sunday July 12 as well. Click HERE for all the details.

Until next time, may you remember that the one you love is closer than you think…

June 24, 2015August 13, 2016

I Believe in Miracles!

I have seen and witnessed more miracles this week than I can count. When I use the word miracle, I’m talking about the kind described in A Course in Miracles, which defines a miracle as a shift in perception from a fearful way of looking at something to a loving way. This happened many times during the Family Constellations I facilitated this weekend. During both workshops on Saturday and Sunday, a theme emerged with participants who had been separated from their fathers for various reasons. Some were angry, some were confused, and some were fearful. It made my heart smile to see these participants become open to receiving a hug from the representative for their father by the end of their constellations. I believe in miracles and the power of Family Constellations.

Recently, I learned that a dear friend has gotten caught up in an addiction. I will admit I have had a few tearful and fearful moments thinking about this situation. However, I have also had lots of prayerful moments by myself and with trusted friends who held the vision with me that my friend’s light still shown brightly under all those clouds. This week a mutual friend shared with me that things were starting to turn around and that our friend was open to getting help. I believe in miracles and the power of positive prayer.

Yesterday I experienced a miracle myself. I started having fearful thoughts when my iPhone took a tumble and the screen went dark as I was rushing out the door to a meeting. I tried to reset it and let it charge for a while during the meeting, but no luck. My phone was unresponsive. I chose to stay with loving thoughts as much as I could while driving to the Verizon store after the meeting. When I explained my situation, they instructed me to take it to the Apple store. As I waited to see someone at the Genius Bar, I kept repeating in my head my lesson for the day from A Course in Miracles. “I trust my brothers, who are one with me.”

With no phone to distract me, I kept repeating this mantra and thinking about what it meant to me. There is no separation. We are all one. We all want to feel peaceful and happy. No one at this store is out to get me. Love is always on my side. No matter what happens I will be okay. I am not separate from my Source or anyone here at this store. It’s all just a big Sea of Love. I’m delighted to report my iPhone was still covered under warranty and they replaced it for free. I believe in miracles and the power of practicing the Course!

If you’d like to see more miracles in your life, maybe it’s time to try Life Coaching or Family Constellations. I base all of my coaching programs and constellations on the principles of A Course in Miracles, the teaching that has literally changed my life. For more information, please visit my website or send me an email. I’d be honored to help you shift your thoughts from fear to Love.

Until next time remember, “Miracles are natural. When they do not occur something has gone wrong.” (Miracle Principle #6 from A Course in Miracles)

Have a miraculous week!

June 17, 2015August 13, 2016

Messages from the Sky

Do you feel there is some sort of benevolent presence watching over you? Regardless of what you may call it, I believe it’s there for all of us. Some call it God or the Universe. Some identify it as their guardian angel or a deceased loved one watching from above. I happen to call this presence the voice of Love, or Holy Spirit, as A Course in Miracles describes it. Sometimes this voice whispers to us, and sometimes it sings!

One evening last week I decided to take a break from my computer work to enjoy my favorite time at the beach. The sun had less than an hour before it dipped below the horizon in the west. The temperature was in the mid 70’s. There was a slight breeze. The soothing sound of the surf washed away any cares I had. The sky started painting a moving picture with a magnificent mixture of clouds and colors. And then “they” started showing up. Happy couples cuddling on blankets in the sand. I can’t blame them for wanting to share this romantic, magical moment together. And since it is a public beach, all are welcome, even cuddling couples.

What was not welcome, however, was the voice of fear, my ego, telling me that there was something wrong with me because I was there alone. Instead of enjoying that beautiful setting, I started imagining how much better it would be with someone special. That led to other thoughts of things my ego would have me believe were missing from my life. As the sky got darker, so did my spirits. Luckily, I have been studying the Course long enough to know which voice was speaking in that moment. I could observe it, but it was still happening. So I just watched the sky and my thoughts.

Then I did what anyone would do in that situation. I went to my favorite Mexican Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, the Whole Enchilada, for a yummy tofu burrito. They are so good! I ordered my meal and sat down to send a few text messages while my burrito was being prepared. That’s when I noticed the catchy tune playing in the restaurant. I recognized the song but did not know the name, nor had I ever really listened to the lyrics before. Thank goodness for the Shazam app! When I opened the app on my iPhone, not only did it find the song, it started displaying the lyrics as they were being sung. How cool is that?!

To say that the lyrics were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment would be an understatement. It felt like Holy Spirit was singing directly to me in the dream, and my spirits and the corners of my mouth lifted immediately. A wave of gratitude washed over me. It may sound silly, but these little miracles help me to remember that this is merely a dream of separation. In Truth, we are all one. Nothing is ever missing, and only Love is real. (Love and maybe burritos!)

If it feels like something is missing from your life, and burritos don’t seem to help, why not try Life Coaching or Family Constellations? Both are excellent tools to bring you back to the awareness of Love’s presence. That’s why it brings me great joy to offer both. For more information please visit my website. Also, feel free to recommend this blog to anyone whom you feel would enjoy my stories. I love sharing them!

And for those wondering what song was playing that night, click HERE to find out!

Until next time, keep your eyes and ears open for those messages…