A Course in Miracles | John Harold Moore

June 5, 2023June 4, 2023

Do You Believe?

During my hiatus last month, the extraordinary singer and actress, Cher, celebrated her 77th birthday. That woman inspires me to keep creating and doing what I love no matter how many trips around the sun I’ve had. When I saw her birthday on my calendar, it reminded me of a fun and miraculous story that happened while I was living in Fort Lauderdale in 2014 right before her 68th birthday. It was such a great lesson, I thought I’d share it with you.

This story actually begins in the early 2000s when my longtime friend, Kate, received two complimentary tickets to Cher’s Farewell Tour. At the time, we did not know it really wasn’t her “farewell tour.” Cher has gone on the road twice since then. Farewell Tour or not, Kate had the right to give those tickets to whomever she pleased, and she decided to give them to her mother and sister.

A few weeks later at a backyard barbecue, I asked Kate’s mom and sister if they enjoyed the concert. They said it was okay. What? Okay. That hardly seemed like an appropriate word to describe an icon! I would have been dancing in the aisles the whole concert! They admitted that they liked Cher, but were not huge fans of her or her music. Stunned by this revelation, I asked Kate why she didn’t call me when she was looking for someone to use those tickets.

Kate’s defense: ”John, I know you love Madonna. But I had no idea you love Cher.”

My response: ”Kate! I’m a gay man. Of course, I love Cher!” LOL

Thus began a running joke that lasted over a decade. Whenever Cher came up in conversation around Kate, I would lament over never having the opportunity to see her in concert. Nor would I, since that was her Farewell Tour. “Oh, how I would have LOVED to experience her live!” Kate would shoot me a dirty but knowing look, and then we’d burst into laughter.

Fast forward to the winter of 2014. Kate had moved away but was back in Fort Lauderdale for a visit. Around the same time, Cher announced she was mounting another concert tour in the spring. I did not miss this opportunity to tell Kate that I’ve ALWAYS wanted to see Cher in concert. I’m laughing as I type these words remembering the look on Kate’s face when this topic returned to haunt her once again.

Realizing there was no statute of limitations on this joke, Kate decided to take action. She had worked as a producer in the entertainment business for years, so she had connections. One of those connections worked on Cher’s tour in costuming. Kate reached out to him and explained our long-running joke and asked if there was any way he could get 2 tickets to the show when it came to Fort Lauderdale. A few days later, he replied that he was pretty sure he could honor her request.

Excitement shot through me. After all the years of joking, it seemed like it was actually going to happen! The sad part was, I’d have to abandon the long-running joke if Kate managed to get me to the Cher concert.

Weeks, then months passed with no further communication about those tickets. Even if the concert hadn’t been sold out, the price of tickets was not in my budget at the time. As the date drew closer, it didn’t seem like CinderFella would be going to the ball after all. Oh well. At least I could continue to tease Kate about my love for Cher.

The day of the concert arrived, and I hadn’t totally given up hope that I would get a last-minute text message from Kate saying her connection came through. That afternoon, I facilitated a Family Constellations workshop in Wilton Manors. The miraculous healing that happens during these workshops always gives me a great sense of joy and satisfaction, so even though there was no message from Kate, I was feeling grateful and content after the workshop. I had made peace with the fact that I would not be seeing Cher that night.

I was probably home less than an hour when I received a text message not from Kate, but from my friend Tony. He said a client of his had two extra tickets to the Cher concert and would I like to have them? At first, I thought he was kidding because Tony is part of the circle of friends that participated in the ongoing joke. He assured me that this was not a joke!

Apparently, his client purchased a VIP box at the BB&T Center (as it was called then) and he had two tickets that were not being used. Not only were these great seats, the tickets included free parking! This all seemed too good to be true, but it wasn’t. I called my best friend from college (who loves Cher more than I do) and told him he’d better pick out an outfit because we are going to the concert tonight! He couldn’t believe it either!

What can I say? For so many reasons the concert was absolutely phenomenal. The costumes. The dancers. The set. It was all as fabulous as Cher herself. As were our seats! No jostling elbow to elbow with the crowds. We were safely tucked away in that box with a great view of the stage. What a gift we were given that night. I am so grateful to those guys (whom we had never met) for inviting us to share that experience with them. They even supplied drinks and pizza!

This last part about pizza was quite the cosmic wink from the Universe. My college friend and I often quote a comedy bit by Kathy Griffin where she makes fun of Cher for not knowing how to order pizza. Or as Cher called it, “make pizza happen.” Not only did Cher perform a stellar concert that night, she also made pizza happen!

What a lesson in the power of surrender! As soon as I gave up my attachment to attending the concert and replaced it with gratitude, peace, and contentment, Life delivered an experience better than anything I could have imagined. And in a way that I could never have imagined! I am extremely grateful to everyone who played a part in the making of this miracle. It certainly was a shift from fear to love.

If you are familiar with the lyrics of Cher’s 1998 chart-topping song “Believe,” you will understand when I say not only do I believe in miracles, I believe in life after love…after love…after love.

Would you like to experience a miracle? Could you use some help in surrendering? I would be honored to assist you with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Both can help you see things from a new perspective allowing you to get unstuck and move forward with love. Send me an email with questions or book a session with the automated scheduler on my website. Thanks to technology, we can meet virtually no matter where in the world you are. I look forward to working with you!

This week, consider releasing an attachment or an expectation, then watch for a miracle to take its place!

What you believe is true for you.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-2.VII.5:5

May 15, 2023May 14, 2023

Breathtaking Beauty

You may have noticed there wasn’t an email or blog last week. All is well. I’m just taking a little hiatus from my weekly stories and Family Constellations Workshops this month. However, I am still doing private Family Constellations Sessions and Spiritual Coaching Sessions. If you would like to break free of a repeating family pattern or could use spiritual support during a challenging time, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can also book a session directly on my website using my automated scheduler. I would be honored to walk with you and help you return to peace.

In the meantime, I encourage you to give yourself rest if you need it. One of my favorite places to recharge is the beach at sunset. Last night’s sunset was so breathtakingly beautiful, I felt inspired to share it with all of you. Perhaps you will feel inspired to rest for a moment, take some deep breaths, and enjoy the photo of Mother Nature’s beauty and the spectacular colors of the sunset reflecting in the waves and clouds.

Take time today to slip away from dreams and into peace.

A Course in Miracles ~ W-109.5:8

May 1, 2023April 30, 2023

Crossing Bridges

This week I felt inspired to share an experience I had in 2018 while driving home from Tampa, FL. I never would have guessed that 5 years later I would be living just 20 miles south of the sacred space I wrote about. The message I received back then is one I needed to hear this week so I’m trusting it will be helpful for you too. Here’s what I wrote in February 2018:

I had a wonderful time at the Empower Music Posi Awards last Sunday evening in Tampa, FL. What a blessing to meet musicians from all over the country who write and sing songs with a positive message. The awards show was more like a concert. Each nominee performed their song before the winner was announced. I was grateful to be there soaking up the loving energy and positive vibes.

My heart was wide open as I drove home to Fort Lauderdale the next day. I headed south on Interstate 275 crossing a huge bridge known as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This beautiful piece of architecture connects the gorgeous beach city of St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia Island. The bridge arches high above the waters of Tampa Bay. As I approached it, the road appeared to take off into the sky and never come down. The only things visible were the sun shining high above me, the road in front of me, and the thick steel cables supporting the bridge.

It occurred to me what a perfect metaphor for life this was, especially as I’m about to embark on a new chapter of my life. We often don’t know what’s on the other side of the bridge (aka what the future will hold.) We simply do our best to focus on the road in front of us, keep making choices from love, and trust that everything is going to work out.

As I made my way across the bridge to Terra Ceia, a flood of memories came back to me. Terra Ceia is where I attended my first Native American Ceremony in 2004. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I said yes to that invitation, but something in me knew I was supposed to be there. The powerful experiences I had and the heart-centered people I met that weekend altered the course of my life forever. The host became one of my first spiritual teachers.

During those 3 days, I learned about Animal Totems, the Native American Medicine Wheel, and how to honor the Four Directions. These are spiritual tools and practices I still use today. It’s also where I met my Rose Quartz Family and began the ritual of planting tiny rose quartz crystals wherever I go. The intention is to create an energetic grid of love and peace around the planet that we can all tap into. Needless to say, Terra Ceia will always have a special place in my heart.

I hadn’t been back to that island in over ten years, but now, quite unexpectedly, I found myself being guided to drive back to the house where my teacher once lived. I visited him several times after that first event, but those who know me and my sense of direction (or lack thereof) know it was a miracle that I found it!

Not wanting to alarm the new owners, I parked my car as inconspicuously as I could behind some trees at the edge of the property. I rolled down my windows and tossed some tiny rose quartz crystals into the trees as an offering to the land. Then I sat there in silence for a few moments feeling the gentle breeze pass through my car windows. The stillness and peaceful energy brought back fond memories of sitting quietly on the back porch with my teacher and friends. I could almost hear the gentle song of the wind chimes that used to hang from the trees on his property.

What a full-circle moment! I was grateful to be at the place where my spiritual journey kicked into high gear all those years ago. And thankful for the abundance of healing and learning I experienced on that land.

As I cross another bridge into the unknown, I can’t help but wonder where this journey will take me. This experience reminded me that I don’t have to know all the answers. I can trust that I will be guided on where to go and what to do in every moment. My job is only to keep my heart open and let love lead the way.

Are you having a hard time discerning if the road in front of you is taking you to peace, love, and joy? I would be honored to help guide you across this bridge with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Both can be done from anywhere in the world thanks to Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. Please look around my website for more information and to book a session with my automated scheduler. I look forward to traveling with you!

In the meantime, I encourage you not to get too far into the future. Let love be your guide, and focus on the road ahead.

For love can walk no road except the way of gratitude…

A Course in Miracles ~ W-195.10:6

April 24, 2023April 23, 2023

Shelter from the Storm

An interesting thing happened on my morning walk with my sister this week. We set out on my normal route along Sarasota Bay under clear blue skies with a few clouds floating overhead. About 20 minutes into our walk, we both noticed a very dark, ominous-looking storm cloud in the distance. And it was heading our way!

Since we were already quite a distance from where I parked my car, we decided to keep going and take a chance that we might get wet. No big deal. We have both walked in the rain before. A little water wouldn’t hurt us.

Well, things got ugly very quickly. The gray storm cloud got bigger and began releasing a few raindrops on us just as we crossed a large bridge. As soon as we walked underneath that bridge, the skies opened up and sheets of water pummeled the ground. Other walkers and joggers on the bridge scrambled to take cover, but we were already safely sheltered from the storm.

As we watched Mother Nature’s show, we commented on how lucky we were to be under the bridge at the precise moment when the torrential downpour began. Had we started our walk five minutes earlier or five minutes later we would have been drenched! I mentioned to my sister that this experience felt significant.

We have been waiting for some things to fall into place this week, but everything is moving slower than the sloths in Disney’s Zootopia. (If you don’t know this reference, click here to see the video for a laugh.) This occurrence under the bridge was a powerful reminder to trust that everything is falling into place exactly as it should. Events were timed perfectly so that we are protected from the storm.

Yes, we can do our part to keep things moving along, but once we’ve done our due diligence, it’s best to surrender and stop trying to push the river. Experience has taught me that there is a benevolent force in the Universe that is orchestrating every detail for our highest good and the highest good of everyone. When I remember that I return to peace.

After a few minutes, the storm cloud passed, the rain stopped, and the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds. We resumed our walk in the sunshine with a bit more pep in our step, grateful for the shelter and the message.

Perhaps some of you reading this are in a similar situation. Do things seem to be moving at a sloth’s pace when you’d prefer them to be sprinting through the savannah like a cheetah? As frustrating as that is, maybe my experience and message under the bridge will help you trust that everything is unfolding in Divine Time. I’ve certainly had to remind myself of this truth as we hit more roadblocks later in the week!

I would be honored to help you discern what’s yours to do and what’s yours to release with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Both are excellent ways to see the bigger picture and return to peace. Please look around my website to learn more or to book a session with my automated scheduler. No matter where you live, we can meet online to do this healing work using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. I look forward to working with you!

Your passage through time and space is not at random. You cannot but be in the right place at the right time.

A Course in Miracles ~ W-42.2:3-4

April 17, 2023April 15, 2023

Earth Angels

I was in second grade the first time it happened. My class went on a field trip to a local hospital and one of the stops on our tour was the blood lab. I did not enjoy seeing shelves of test tubes filled with blood. The next thing I knew I was laying on my back in the elevator with my entire class looking down at me while a nurse waved smelling salts under my nose. Apparently, I fainted shortly after leaving the blood lab.

For some reason, seeing blood outside the human body causes me great distress accompanied by a physiological reaction. It starts with sweaty palms and elevates to a full-body sweat as I become more and more light-headed. White patches start to form in my field of vision and then I pass out.

It happened again a few years later when I had to give blood during a physical exam to attend summer camp. The nurse took my blood, and as I walked back to the waiting room…down I went! I’m sure it was quite a show for the folks in the waiting room as it was for my second-grade class.

This aversion to giving blood also affects two of my siblings who also happen to be left-handed. My two right-handed siblings do not have a problem with it. I have since learned that my father also fainted when giving blood. What an interesting trait to pass down. I can only imagine what a hard time he must have had being poked all the time during his journey with cancer in the 1970s.

As for me, I hadn’t visited a doctor since I returned to Florida. With some nudging from friends and family, I reluctantly applied for health insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace again despite a very bad experience a few years ago. When my coverage began, I called to make an appointment with my new Primary Care Physician for a checkup. It was frustrating to discover that the doctor I chose worked in a hospital and did not see outside patients. Why was she an option on the health insurance website with a notation under her name claiming she was seeing new patients?

Immediately, I began questioning why I let myself be talked into getting back into this system that clearly still has issues. The woman on the phone informed me that not many doctors in the area are part of the health care plan I selected. This was just more evidence that I had made a mistake. However, she gave me the name and address of a clinic attached to a Walgreens that she heard accepted all insurance plans including mine. It was a place to start. And as luck would have it, this particular Walgreens was less than a mile from my home.

The next day, I decided to stop by that clinic to get a vibe on the place and see if they actually did take my insurance. What a pleasant surprise to discover what appeared to be a brand-new facility with a very clean and attractive waiting room. The receptionist at the front desk was extremely friendly and confirmed they accepted my insurance. She had an appointment for the following day so I booked it.

You can probably guess where this story is going. After answering a bunch of questions about my medical history and general health, it was time for the medical assistant assigned to me (I’ll call her Katie) to take my vitals and draw some blood. We had developed quite a bond by this time, and I warned her about my fainting history. She said not to worry. My chair would be reclined and she was prepared.

She began the task at hand while I looked away. I did my best to breathe deeply while Katie encouraged me to go to my happy place. “Go to the beach. Go to the beach!” she repeated. When that didn’t appear to be working, she switched gears and started asking what was in my oatmeal that morning. I did my best to stay with her, but by vial number four, my mind had had enough of that experience. Peace out!

The next thing I knew, there were at least three other people in the room, including the Nurse Practitioner who is my new Primary Care Provider. She was holding an ice pack to the back of my neck while wiping my sweaty forehead with a cloth. Someone was putting a blood pressure cuff on my arm to get my vitals. Poor Katie had to quickly finish the last vial and keep pressure on my arm while stretching her body several feet to open the sliding exam room door to call for help. I missed all of that!

Needless to say, I was a little embarrassed for causing such a scene. What a first impression I made in that clinic! They all assured me that it was no big deal. I wasn’t the first person to faint while having blood drawn. And I wouldn’t be the last. It was incredible to feel such compassion from these women who I knew for less than an hour. They took such good care of me during the whole experience. Gratitude swelled up in me like a tidal wave for these earth angels. It still does when I think about it now.

A Course in Miracles defines a miracle as a shift in perception from fear to love. By that definition, even though it was unpleasant, this was truly a miracle. The fearful thing I had resisted turned out to be a humbling experience where I received more love than I could have imagined. There is no doubt in my mind that Spirit guided me to the perfect place and the perfect caregivers so I could release my fear.

Is there something you have been resisting even though you know it will probably be for your highest good? I would be honored to assist you in shifting from fear to love with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a Private Family Constellations Session. Miracles happen all the time during these sessions. Please look around my website or send me an email for more information. You can also book a session with my automated scheduler. And thanks to the miracle of technology, we can meet online no matter where in the world you are. I look forward to working with you!

Around you angels hover lovingly, to keep away all darkened thoughts…

A Course in Miracles ~ T-26.IX.7:1

April 10, 2023April 8, 2023

Turtle Power Miracle

Several years ago, I wrote about a time when I encountered a mama sea turtle laying eggs on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It was unusual for me to be at the beach late at night, but a stubborn headache and an impulse that fresh salt air might help clear my head led me to take a moonlit beach walk. It worked!

Mother’s Day was coming up, and I had been thinking a lot about my mom that day. One of the things on her “bucket list” was seeing a nest of sea turtles hatching. The best I could do was take her to see the DisneyNature film Oceans where a camera crew captured the event. Although I didn’t see any hatchlings that night, seeing that mama sea turtle working so hard to prepare a nest for her offspring felt like a loving, nurturing message from my mother. There were more synchronicities that day. If you’re curious, you can read the full story by clicking this link.

Well, she did it again. This week marked the 12th anniversary of my mother’s passing. On the actual anniversary of her death, I had an unusually stressful morning. I won’t go into details about that morning now, but I will say it was one of those times when my mother’s presence would have been extremely comforting.

As I was preparing lunch, something caught my eye outside my window. Did I see dirt flying around the spot where my favorite tree once stood? When I looked closer, I realized there was a turtle digging a hole with her powerful front flippers. At first, I could only see her head and neck poking above the brown earth. Eventually, she emerged and began moving her rear end from side to side. I assumed she was depositing eggs. Once she finished, she began swishing dirt back into the hole until she was satisfied her eggs were covered. Her mission complete, she slowly made her way to the edge of the pond where she dove triumphantly back into the water. I shot a one-minute video if you care to watch Part 1 and Part 2 on YouTube.

Over the past two and a half years, I’ve seen many turtles swimming in the pond outside my window. I’ve observed them swimming under the fountain where the dancing water droplets return to the water’s surface. I wonder if it feels good on their head and flippers. But never have I seen one of these turtles on land, and I’ve certainly never seen one laying eggs! The fact that this event happened on the anniversary of my mom’s passing truly felt like a message from above. I think it was her way of showing me that she is still present and watching over me, especially on days when I miss her the most. You may consider it a mere coincidence, but I prefer to see events like this as winks from the Universe reminding me that love is always present if I look for it.

Could you use some assistance in seeing life’s events and circumstances from a miraculous perspective? I would be honored to share what has worked for me and how my life has changed since I began studying A Course in Miracles and facilitating Family Constellations. Perhaps now is the time to give yourself the gift of Spiritual Coaching or a private Family Constellations Session. Look around my website to learn more about these powerful opportunities. You can also book a session with my automated scheduler. I look forward to creating miracles with you!

Until next time, keep your eyes open for miracle messengers in Mother Nature. It sure is a fun way to experience life!

Miracles are natural. When they do not occur something has gone wrong.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-1.I.6:1-2

April 3, 2023April 2, 2023

Life’s Unexpected Twists & Turns

Last week, I met up with my sister, Judy, in Orlando for a much-needed break from our routines. The last few months have been challenging ones for both of us, so Judy decided to come to Florida to escape the cold and snow in Pennsylvania for two weeks. Her plan was to spend the first part of her vacation with me, and the last part with our older brother and sister on the east coast.

Neither of us has the stamina for multiple days in a theme park like we used to back when I worked at Disney World. Instead, we have found a nice three-day groove that works for us. We spend one day in a theme park, one day at a water park, and the final day lounging by the hotel pool to recover from all the walking at the theme park and water park.

Rather than go back to Disney’s water parks, this visit we decided to try something new and explore Volcano Bay at Universal Studios. Not only does this water park have a plethora of individual and group slides, but it also has a water roller coaster! Traveling up and down multiple times on a water ride was a new experience! If you love floating for hours in a lazy river, Volcano Bay has two versions. One moves you along quite briskly while the other is a more relaxing ride. We absolutely loved this park!

But before our day of floating, we visited Universal’s Islands of Adventure to experience the new Harry Potter rides. Fans of the books and movies will love all the details they put into recreating this world. Riding on Hagrid’s motorbike through the Forbidden Forest was a thrilling and comical journey.

At the recommendation of a friend who loves roller coasters more than anyone I know, we decided to try their fastest and newest roller coaster, the VelociCoaster in Jurassic World. Halfway through the cue, they show guests a computer-generated video of the rollercoaster doing its many twists and turns along the expansive track. After watching the video, we began to seriously question why we were in line for this ride. Was this really necessary?

Twenty years ago, I had a traumatizing ride on a roller coaster called Goliath at Six Flags in California. After that experience, I vowed never to go on another tall roller coaster with a drop like that. The VelociCoaster had many inversions and was incredibly fast, but it is much lower to the ground with no huge drops. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the experience, but I wasn’t worried about another panic attack like the one I had on Goliath.

A highly entertaining and humorous pre-show starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt from the Jurassic World films calmed us down enough to continue to the boarding area. Once we were strapped into our seats, it wasn’t long before we were shot out onto the winding steel track in the velociraptor paddock. The rest is kind of a blur! (Click here to watch a YouTube video of the ride experience.)

Over the years, I’ve been on a lot of roller coasters, but never have I ridden one that hurled me in so many different directions in such a short time. There was never time to get my bearings. As soon as my body registered which direction we were traveling, the coaster twirled, dipped, or spun around another curve. When we accelerated for the second time, I was completely disoriented and discombobulated! My brain could not process what was happening.

Knowing I had absolutely no control over where I was going, the only option was to completely surrender to the experience. As soon as I did, I began to laugh. Meanwhile, my sister had been laughing hysterically since the first launch! And she continued to do so throughout the ride and for about 5 minutes after the coaster screeched to a halt. Seeing her laugh like that after all she’s been through the past few months was one of the highlights of our time together. Most shocking of all, we both said we’d go on it again! (Not right away, mind you. But one day in the future.)

It occurred to me both during and after the ride how much my life has felt like this roller coaster lately. That may be why I started laughing. Over the past 5 years, there has been no shortage of unexpected twists and turns. Some exhilarating! Some not so pleasant. Yet through it all, I’ve kept going. And so have you!

Life is always going to have ups and downs and twists and turns like the VelociCoaster. A Course in Miracles teaches we don’t really have control over what happens, only how we respond to what happens. We either respond with love or fear. Those are our two choices.

It got me thinking about the twists and turns in my life. When they happen again, I’m going to do my best to remember being on the VelociCoaster where I stopped resisting and surrendered to what is. Who knows? Maybe it will help me to laugh at my situation and then remember to ask what Love would do. It’s a powerful question I ask my coaching clients all the time.

Does your life feel like a stressful roller coaster? I’d be honored to ride with you for a while with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Today’s technology lets us connect no matter where you are in the world. For more information, please look around my website or use my automatic scheduler to book a session. I look forward to riding with you!

Until next time, may the quote below from A Course in Miracles bring you comfort as life continues its unexpected twists and turns.

It takes great learning to understand that all things, events, encounters and circumstances are helpful.

A Course in Miracles~M-4.I-A.4:5

March 20, 2023March 19, 2023

A Touch of Serenity

I am still integrating the many blessings I received at Serenity Farm last weekend. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I felt inspired to let these photos from my visit tell the story and give you a touch of serenity.

A huge thank you to all who attended the live workshops and came to hear my Sunday message at Unity of Bon Air. I know we sent a powerful wave of healing energy out in all directions to our ancestors, descendants, and family members.

If I can assist you in bringing a touch of serenity to your heart and mind, please look around my website to learn more about Spiritual Coaching and Family Constellations Sessions.

Wishing you a peaceful and blessed week!

And it is this serenity we seek, unclouded, obvious and sure, today.

A Course in Miracles ~ W.300.1:3

Grateful to share the beauty of Serenity Farm with my friend Haydee for the first time.

March 15, 2023March 14, 2023

Sage Advice

Last week I wrote about some of the “Buried Treasure” I found while going through a trunk filled with memorabilia. It had been a long time since I put my hands and eyes on everything contained in that box. Some of the cards and letters I discovered were associated with hard times in my life or old agreements. It was time to let those go.

I built a sacred fire in a safe place and allowed the flickering orange flames to transform those paper reminders into something new. As part of my ceremony, I also sprinkled a dash of dried sage leaves into the fire to help clear the energy. The next day I felt lighter, but something was still off.

Whenever I have an impulse to make changes in my home, I check in with my dear friend, Dorena, the Space Doula. This is her area of expertise, and one of her superpowers is asking simple but profound questions. While discussing my journey down memory lane, she dropped this bombshell: How would it feel to release the trunk itself?

As I mentioned last week, I’ve had that trunk for almost 20 years. I was thrilled to find it for a low price at HomeGoods when I was starting a whole new chapter of my life. After massage school and finding Unity on the Bay in Miami, my spiritual journey accelerated quickly. As my inner world changed, my outer world had to follow.

After 3 years, I was leaving the party energy of Miami Beach to live with two dear friends in a residential neighborhood north of Fort Lauderdale. Their new house was not far from a spa where I was hired as a licensed massage therapist. New home. New career. Everything was lining up, and that trunk fit the “Pier 1” style vibe I wanted to create in my new space.

I have moved dozens of times since then, and each time that trunk has come with me. It went all the way to California at the end of 2011 when I moved there to help a friend open a spiritual retreat center. It came back to Florida later in 2012 when things didn’t work out as I hoped.

When I moved to Texas in 2018, I gave almost everything I had away. That trunk was one of the few pieces of furniture I kept and the only piece of furniture that returned to Florida with me in 2021.

As Dorena insightfully pointed out, that trunk has been a stable, familiar presence through it all. In a way, it also represented the core of me as it stored and protected all those memories. But how do I feel about it currently?

While pondering this question, I was surprised to discover I wasn’t attached to keeping it. It’s great for storage, but the trunk is heavy and clunky. It has been quite cumbersome to move it so many times. It also has very sharp corners which I have had the distinct displeasure of bumping into many times over the years.

As I looked around my space, it became apparent that my taste has changed. It now leans toward contemporary patterns and lighter colors. Simply put, the dark, heavy trunk no longer matches my vibe. The answer to Dorena’s question seemed obvious. In the immortal words of Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, it was time to “Let it go!”

Once again, I pulled everything out of the trunk, but this time I found new homes for all the contents. Most of the items now reside in two clear plastic bins from Target. Wow, are they light and easy to carry!

Then I pulled the empty trunk out onto my balcony where I used sage to clear the energy of the past 20 years. As fate would have it, we had a full moon this week. I felt inspirited to leave the trunk open and outside that night to release any lingering energy to Grandmother Moon. Then it would be ready for a new home.

The following morning, I carried that heavy beast one last time from the balcony, through my home, down the stairs, and into the back of my car. As if I needed any more convincing, the metal handle painfully pressed two fingers on my right hand into the side of the trunk as I lugged it down the stairs. Oh, yes. I was ready to release that trunk!

Trunk in a trunk! On its way to a new home…

The woman working at the Goodwill Donation Center raved about how beautiful the trunk was and asked why I was getting rid of it. Without going into detail, I told her the trunk had been with me for 20 years, and I was ready to release it. I had to laugh when she yelled, “That’s a long time. You should keep it!” It’s like the Universe was making sure I was truly ready to let it go. I was.

When the woman went back inside to get a receipt, I placed my hand on the trunk, closed my eyes, and thanked it for all the years it stored and protected my memories. I blessed it to find a new home and a new owner who would be just as thrilled to find it as I was 20 years ago. Then I released it with love. I look forward to seeing the blessings and miracles that fill the space made available by releasing that heavy piece of my past.

If you could use some “sage advice” (pun intended) on clearing and shifting the energy in your home and your life, I highly recommend working with my friend and colleague, Dorena Kohrs, the Space Doula. Her intuition and on-point questions have helped me connect dots I never would have connected. I am continually blown away by her knowledge, experience, and insights. Look for her on social media @Space_Doula or visit her website at https://spacedoula.com/.

And if there are thoughts, beliefs, or family patterns that you are ready to release, I would be honored to assist you with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Both can help you see things from another perspective to allow more peace, love, and joy in your life. Thanks to Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime, we can connect no matter where you are in the world. Look around my website for more information or to schedule an appointment with my automated scheduler. If you have questions, please send me a message. I look forward to working with you!

All healing is release from the past.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-13.VIII.1:1

March 6, 2023March 3, 2023

Buried Treasure

A Favorite Photo of a Trip to Key West with My Mom

This past weekend, I felt inspired to open the large wooden trunk I’ve had for over 20 years to examine and sort through what’s in there. The chest contains a few Christmas decorations and ornaments, blankets, old journals, my high school yearbook, and a plastic shoebox filled with memorabilia. Oh, the treasures I found inside that little shoebox.

Things like newspaper clippings reviewing shows I performed in at college. Ticket stubs from memorable concerts including Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour in 1990. I was shocked to see the price for a ticket was under $30! I laughed at what my coworkers wrote in the farewell card I received when I left the Arena Stage Box Office. At the time, it seemed like a crazy idea to leave a full-time job with benefits for a temporary position with Bob Brown Puppet Productions for just 5 weeks. It turned out to be Divine Guidance when that experience led to a full-time job at Disney World as a puppeteer a few years later.

Speaking of Disney, I also found my Disney name tags and a few sweet letters written by kids I met as a character performer. One little girl colored a picture of Pluto with yellow crayons letting him know he was her favorite. There was also a letter from a grateful mom whom I met at a Disneyana Convention. Apparently, I had sent her son a personal note with a photo of me as the prince from Sleeping Beauty because Prince Phillip was his hero. She thanked me for taking so much time to talk with her and for the note to her son, Garrett. Inside the envelope was a photo of Garrett dressed in his own Prince Phillip costume. It was an adorable photo, but also strange to think that little prince is now almost 30!

Another little boy wrote to Captain John Smith (from Pocahontas) asking if I’d like to play video games later in the game room at the Wilderness Lodge. It was accompanied by a second note saying he was sorry I didn’t show up, but if I still wanted to play video games, I could call him before 8:30. I had no way to contact him, nor would I have been able to join him as John Smith even if I had received his letter in time. But I do remember having a very long conversation with him at the Pocahontas character breakfast. He definitely touched my heart, because reading his note all these years later still made me smile.

Long after I left the Walt Disney Company, I had one of my best birthday celebrations there with 3 friends who also transform into big kids upon entering the theme parks. It brought back an abundance of joyful memories when I saw the mouse-eared “Happy Birthday” button I wore during our weekend visit. Any time one of the cast members or guests noticed the button and said “Happy Birthday,” the four of us screamed “HAPPY BIRTHDAY,” threw our arms high in the air, and spun around like idiots. I’m sure it will not surprise you that it happened quite frequently and, yes, we did it every single time.

I discovered many fond memories in that trunk, but the biggest treasure was a handwritten letter from my mother. She wrote it before her move to Florida during one of the brief periods where she was able to keep her alcohol addiction at bay. In the letter, my mom described how much she loved working as a hostess at the Red Lobster. I can only imagine how much the customers and servers loved her. It was the perfect job for her. My mother was truly a people person. She had a way of making everyone around her feel comfortable, and she could lighten any situation with her quick wit and that mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

Even though she was writing about everyday things, the letter was filled with her humor, and I somehow found myself laughing out loud while tears streamed down my face. I originally received this letter shortly after I left Orlando and moved to Miami Beach. She commended my courage for starting over in a new city. I must have inherited that courage from her because just a few years later, at the age of 75, my mom left the house in Upstate New York where she raised her children and had lived for over 40 years to start a new life in Florida. To me, that’s courage!

Toward the end of the letter, she admitted she wished she could spend more time with her children and grandchildren, but she was happy. She hoped I wouldn’t mind how much she bragged about me to her co-workers because she was so proud of me. As you can imagine, the tears were flowing pretty heavily by the time I got to that part. It was a well-timed message of love and encouragement from my biggest fan on the other side.

Even with all the struggles and chaos that accompanied her alcoholism, I feel incredibly blessed to have had the mom I had. I knew she loved me without question. It’s one of the reasons I can do the work I do now. Over time, I was able to find a way to receive the love as she gave it, not as I wanted it. It was a long journey, and I am grateful for the help of A Course in Miracles and Family Constellations.

It would be my great honor to help you uncover buried treasure and come to a place of peace with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions or a private Family Constellations Session. Both can help you remove the obstacles to the awareness of love’s presence, no matter what appears to have happened or is currently happening in your life.

Thanks to Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime, we can connect no matter where you are in the world. If you’re feeling a nudge to start the process or kick it up a notch, please look around my website to learn more or click here to book a session with my automated scheduler. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with you!

Until next time, perhaps there are some buried treasures waiting for you to uncover that will awaken joy and remind you that you are loved.

Light and joy and peace abide in me.

A Course in Miracles ~ Workbook Lesson 93

Tag: A Course in Miracles