Walt Disney World | John Harold Moore

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021

Birthday Blessings to an Old Friend

Today, October 1, the Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating its 50th Birthday. It’s hard to believe the park opened 50 years ago, and even harder for me to believe that 25 years have passed since we celebrated its 25th Birthday with a bright pink castle cake in the center of the Magic Kingdom. I happened to work there then, and that castle cake was the subject of many heated discussions. People loved it or hated it. I’m glad to see the Imagineers decided on a more subtle change to the castle for the 50th Celebration. As I look back on the role Disney World has played in my life, it seems appropriate to share a few stories to honor this magical milestone. I might not be where I am today if Walt Disney had not dreamed it into existence.

My first visit to Disney World was in December of 1975. My father died on January 1 of that same year, and my mother decided to take the whole family to Disney World for Christmas. She wanted us be able to create new holiday memories without the sad ones hanging over us from my dad’s last Christmas in our house. It was a stroke of genius, and it worked like a charm. We had a great holiday in Florida.

Honestly, I don’t remember much about our actual visit to the park, but I do remember the fun we had driving from Binghamton, NY to Orlando, FL in our orange Chevy station wagon, the “butterscotch car,” as my dad called it. We still tell stories about the hijinx that occurred on that epic road trip. I give my mother a lot of credit for surviving a trip like that with a college senior, 3 teenage girls, and an 8-year old me.

I do remember riding Space Mountain because it was my first roller coaster ever. Since I was the smallest, they sat me in the very front of the rocket with my siblings behind me. That little boy squealed with a mixture of delight and fear as our rocket twisted, turned, and dipped abruptly in the darkness. When we got off, I thought I was pretty cool braving Space Mountain as my first coaster. My 8-year old self did not know that Space Mountain is relatively mild compared to other coasters around the world.

I also remember my mother saying I could have just one toy from the gift shop, but I desperately wanted a plush Mickey and Minnie. I must have worn her down. That Christmas Eve, I fell asleep in our hotel room with Mickey on one side and Minnie on the other. Some might say I was spoiled, and they would probably be right. However, I certainly appreciated those mice because I still remember how much I loved them over 4 decades later!

In fifth grade, I returned to Disney World with just my mother. Two things stand out from that trip. While riding “Pirates of the Caribbean,” my mother and I both noticed the dirty foot and hairy leg of the animatronic pirate dangling from a bridge as our boat sailed underneath him. We thought those details were pretty cool and made him very lifelike. When I ride “Pirates” today, I still smile and think of my mom when I see that hairy, dirty leg dangling from the bridge. The things that get stuck in our brains!

But what I remember most about that second trip was the Main Street Electrical Parade. Something about the combination of music, lights, and beloved Disney Characters completely captivated me. I wanted to watch that parade again and again. My mother would ask me what I wanted to do next, and I would answer, “I want to see the Light Parade!” She would calmly reply, “Yes, honey. We can watch it again tonight. But it’s 11 AM. What would you like to do now?”

Ten-year old John never could have imagined that he would perform in that parade when Disney brought it back for the Millennium Celebration. I wish my mother could have seen me in it, but sadly, that was during the height of her alcohol addiction, so she never made it to Florida. That’s okay. She saw me dance in other parades. Performing in the Main Street Electrical Parade at the end of my Disney career felt like a full-circle moment. Today, it only takes a few notes of that parade music to send tingles all through my body and goosebumps to appear on my arms.

Dancing in the Main Street Electrical Parade in 1999

After that visit with my mother in 1977 or 1978, it was 13 years before I returned to Disney World with my best friend from high school. The Disney/MGM Studios had recently opened, and we loved the movie-themed attractions at that park as well as Epcot and the three “mountains” at the Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain. Ironically, parades and shows were of no interest. I remember we were annoyed that the 3 o’clock parade prevented us from getting across the park quickly to the next ride! I had no idea just a few years later I would be the source of annoyance for someone trying to get to the other side of the park! It still never crossed my mind that I would work there one day.

In the fall of 1992, I moved to Orlando with 3 good friends. All 3 of us wanted to work in the entertainment industry, but felt LA and New York were too big. At the time, some movies and TV shows were being filmed in Orlando, so we thought we’d start there. Worst-case scenario, we could work at one of the theme parks while we pursued our dreams. Well, of the four of us, I was the only one who stayed in Orlando, and my “backup job” became my dream job for 7 years. Believe it or not, before working in the Entertainment Department at the Magic Kingdom, I was painfully shy! I could never do the work I do now, sometimes in front of large groups, had it not been for my experience at Disney World.

When I look back, I can see how Life was preparing me step by step. My first roles were in character costumes so no one could see my face. I could take chances and act as silly as I wanted because no one knew who I was. It was incredibly liberating and fun! It also gave me a second chance at childhood since I had to be a grownup for much of my first one. Some days I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to play with my friends and get hugs from hundreds of little kids.

After my first year, show directors started casting me in roles where my face was showing. I’ll never forget the first time I stepped out on parade route without being able to hide in a costume. I could see the park guests clearly, and they could see me. It was a bit scary, but I was so grateful to be there that I just kept dancing. After a while, being in front of thousands of park guests as John became comfortable.

Dancing in Cinderella’s Royal Court during the 25th Anniversary Parade

A few weeks ago, I wrote about portraying Captain John Smith at the Pocahontas character breakfast. There was no room for shyness when my job required me to walk up to a table of strangers and start talking to them. Now I can initiate a conversation with just about anyone. During those 7 years, I also performed in a traveling drug prevention puppet show at elementary schools all around Orlando. For obvious reasons, doing that show was extremely rewarding. It was the first time I used my painful childhood experience as a catalyst to help others. Now, I get to do that all the time with Family Constellations. Disney World was the perfect playground to overcome my shyness and gain confidence. That’s why I say I might not be where I am today without that magical place. So Happy 50th Birthday, Disney World! And thank you for all the ways you comforted, enchanted, supported, and grew me.

I would be honored to share some of the magic and miracles I have experienced to support you and help you grow into the fullest version of you. Please visit my website to learn more about my Spiritual Coaching programs and Family Constellations. Both assist you in seeing things from an expanded perspective so you can break free of unhealthy patterns and live the happy, healthy life you were meant to live. To schedule an appointment or to ask a question, simply send me an email.

This week, may you find a moment to reflect on a happy place or time in your life that helped you become the person you are today.

Count, then, the silver miracles and golden dreams of happiness as all the treasures you would keep within the storehouse of the world.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-28.III.7:1

September 20, 2021September 19, 2021

A Magical Cosmic Wink

I took this photo from Artist Point at Yellowstone National Park.

The dictionary defines a synchronicity as “the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.” I like to think of synchronicities as cosmic winks from the Universe reminding me that everything is connected in Oneness, and I am always right where I need to be. One such convergence of elements happened last week while I was in Montana.

I had just finished teaching Donna Eden’s 5-minute Daily Energy Medicine Routine to a group of early risers at the Big Sky Retreat during the morning session called “Energize Your Day.” At one point during the routine, we marched in place, touching our knees with our opposite hands to connect the energy on both sides of our bodies. I made a silly reference to marching like a toy soldier in the Christmas Parade at Disney World, which I happened to do in 1993. After hearing this, my friend and co-facilitator, Michael Benjamin, teased me about always playing the “Disney Card” by mentioning my time there as a performer. “How am I supposed to compete with that?” he joked, and we all had a good laugh.

Afterward, I met up with my dear friend, Dr. Charles Geddes, at the only restaurant in the Big Sky Resort that serves breakfast. We soon discovered we weren’t the only large group at the resort. When we walked up to the podium, the hostess asked us if we were with Disney! Her question stumped me for a moment when suddenly I recognized the music playing in the restaurant was from Disney’s animated film Pocahontas. That’s when things got weird as a convergence of seemingly unrelated elements flooded my mind and took me back in time 25 years!

In addition to being a toy soldier, one of the roles I played at Disney World was Captain John Smith from Pocahontas. I portrayed him for a whole year in 1996 at a character breakfast featuring characters from the movie. Pocahontas, John Smith, Meeko, and Governor Ratcliffe went table to table at a restaurant called Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge. At the time, I did not know Artist Point was the name of a spectacular scenic overlook at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, nor did I know the Wilderness Lodges was themed after the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park. My first visit to that hotel in 2014 with Charles was strangely familiar, although I had never been there! This year prior to the retreat, my sister and I visited Yellowstone and our last stop of the day was Artist Point. I specifically asked her to take a photo of me next to the sign so I could send it to my beloved friend who played Pocahontas.

Here I was a few days later, standing at the entrance to a restaurant for breakfast hearing Pocahontas sing “Just Around the Riverbend” as the hostess asked us if we were “with Disney” moments after my friend teased me about working for Disney. It was almost too much for my brain to process! I reluctantly answered “no,” but I did share with her the synchronistic moment I was experiencing as she showed us to our table. It was a perfect, magical setting to reconnect with my magical friend, Charles, on his birthday. Disney tunes played throughout our meal and I loved every minute of it. What a wonderful cosmic wink from the Universe reminding me that I was right where I was supposed to be.

Has it been a while since you received a cosmic wink like that? Have you felt out of place or out of sorts with all the changes happening in the world? During these uncertain times, it can be very challenging to feel connected to something greater than ourselves. It would be my great honor to create a space where you can feel that connection again with a series of Life Coaching sessions or during a private or group Family Constellations session. Cosmic winks happen all the time during Family Constellations. Please look around my website for more information about one-on-one sessions and how to join my next online group session where we will take “A Fresh Look at Relationships with Family Constellations.” Feel free to send me an email with any questions you may have or to book a session.

Until next time, may you notice all the ways the Universe is winking at you to remind you that you are right where you are supposed to be and all is well.

A major contribution of miracles is their strength in releasing you from your false sense of isolation, deprivation and lack.

A Course in Miracles ~ T-1.I.42:1

August 9, 2021August 8, 2021

Why Did I Say That?

My birthday was this week, but those who have known me for a while know that I often joke about celebrating the entire month of August. (I know that is such a Leo thing to do.) I have been reflecting on my birthday celebrations from the past few years. One particular “birthday month” that stands out is August of 2014. It started at Disney World with the 3 amazing friends in the picture above. It’s hard to believe 4 adult men (and I use the term “adult” loosely) could have that much fun at a theme park. There were so many magical moments and miracles we lost count. Receiving a gift of free ice cream from my mother on the other side was one, but that’s a story for another blog.

The month ended just as magically as it began at my first Big Sky Retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Originally, I was only attending the event, but due to some last-minute scheduling changes two weeks before the event, I was asked to present a workshop on August 31. This opportunity was a gift of grace. I remember how surreal it was to see my name printed on the sign outside the conference room on the day of the event. I was nervous because it was the first time I had given a presentation to a group that large. I wanted to do a good job and offer something of value to everyone who attended.

As I do before every group or private session, I invited Spirit to be in charge of everything I say and do with a beautiful prayer from A Course in Miracles. This prayer helps get the ego and its relentless critic out of the way so the voice for Love can come through clearly. I wasn’t planning to talk about my “birthday month,” but I started the presentation by sharing how grateful I was to be a presenter at the retreat. What a fantastic ending to a fantastic month that started with friends and magical miracles at Disney World. I went on to talk about “Forgiveness & Miracles,” ending the workshop with a short demonstration of Family Constellations. My prayer seemed to have worked because I received wonderful feedback from many of the attendees.

Later that day, one woman asked if she could share something profound that happened during the workshop. I expected her to reference teachings from A Course in Miracles or Family Constellations. No. It was me talking about celebrating my “birthday month.” You see, she was born on September 11, and her brother was a First Responder at the Twin Towers on that fateful day in 2001. Due to complications from smoke inhalation, he passed a few days later. Understandably, she hadn’t felt like celebrating her birthday for the past 13 years. Hearing me talk about celebrating my birthday on a day other than the actual day of my birth was a lightbulb moment. Until then, it had never occurred to her that she could celebrate on a different day. She must have thanked me a hundred times for the opportunity to feel joy around her birthday again.

The next day was September 1. I purchased a blank greeting card in the gift shop and wrote inside, “Happy first day of your Birthday Month!” I also felt guided to write that I believed her brother would be happy to see her celebrate her birthday again this year. I couldn’t wait to give her that card and I think she was pretty happy to receive it. Seven years later, her story still touches me deeply. What a great reminder that our words can be more impactful than we might imagine. Experience has shown me that when I put Spirit in charge, I can trust that what I say will be exactly what needs to be said, even if I don’t know why I’m saying it!

Could you use some assistance getting the inner critic out of the way and letting the voice of Love speak through you? It would be my great honor to help you with a series of Spiritual Coaching sessions or a private Family Constellations session. Both can help you see a bigger picture allowing you to drop back into your heart center where love and kindness reside. Please look around my website or send me an email for more information and to book a session.

Until next time, may all of your words be kind and impactful.

As you step back, the light in you steps forward and encompasses the world.

A Course in Miracles ~ W.p1.156.6:2

October 13, 2020

What If You Already Have the Bare Necessities?

As many of you know, long before I started doing the work I do now, I was a puppeteer and parade performer at Disney World. Although that was over 20 years ago, once in a while I still have dreams that I work there. Because so much time has passed, in the dream, I don’t know where to get my costume or how to get where I need to be. Most of the time, I don’t make it onto parade route. If I do, I don’t know the dance steps so I just make stuff up and pray nobody notices. As you can imagine, these dreams are extremely stressful. They certainly don’t reflect the joyful experience I had while working there.

A few weeks ago, during one of our A Course in Miracles online study groups, we discussed the idea that each of us always has a Divine Presence accompanying us. Whether we call that presence a guardian angel, God, Spirit, or simply a loving connection to a benevolent Universe, with this belief life feels more peaceful, manageable, and hopeful. I invited the participants to consciously invoke this presence into their awareness before falling asleep at night in whatever way felt right for them. Truth be told, I often forget to do this myself, but that night I remembered. After putting my Kindle on the nightstand, I closed my eyes and imagined myself enveloped in a loving, golden-white light and asked Spirit to watch over me while I slept.

In my dreams, my mind once again wandered back to Disney World, but this time it was different. I was cast as Baloo the Bear from The Jungle Book in a brand new show at one of the theme parks. The stage was gorgeous with hundreds of live green plants and tall palm trees. It also had a magnificent waterfall cascading down over a stone wall into a flowing stream at the front of the stage. The lush greenery, the smell of the dirt, and the sound of the waterfall made it feel like we were actually in a tropical jungle. I remember feeling incredibly grateful just to be there. The fact that this was my place of employment was astonishing. It was a familiar feeling that I experienced many times during my 7 years at Disney World.

Next in my dream, the show director decided to stage the “Bare Necessities” scene with Baloo and Mowgli. I had the sense that the other performers were extremely nervous about this show and this scene. I, on the other hand, was feeling only confident and excited about this opportunity. When the director asked me if I was ready to start, I emphatically answered YES! Having heard and sung this song many times, I knew the words by heart (with the exception of the “prickly pear rap” that Baloo breaks into later in the song.) However, that felt like something I could learn easily with a relatively small investment of time and energy. When the music began, I strutted into the forest happily singing, “Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities. Forget about your worries and your strife!”

I woke up not long after that scene feeling so happy and hopeful. It felt like a clear message from Spirit that there are new opportunities waiting not only for me but for all of us. We already have all we need within us to start a new, beautiful chapter. True, we may need to invest a little time and energy to hone our skills, but the bare necessities are already there. What a different experience from the stressful parade dreams I usually have! I can only attribute this change to my conscious invitation to that Divine Presence and the remembrance that I never have to do it alone. Now, if I can just remember to do that more often!

Is there is a situation in your life that has you feeling stressed? Quite frankly, that seems like a silly question in 2020. Whatever your belief system, if you are going through an exceptionally challenging time, I encourage you to ask for help. Reach out to a friend, neighbor, relative, your Higher Power, guardian angel, a professional coach or counselor, or all of the above! You don’t have to do it alone. If I can be of assistance with a series of Life Coaching sessions or a private Family Constellations session, please contact me by email or look around my website.

Until next time, may you remember Baloo’s advice and remember that you are truly never alone.

As evening comes, let all my thoughts be still of You and of Your Love. And let me sleep sure of my safety, certain of Your care…

A Course in Miracles ~ Workbook Lesson 232

December 16, 2018

An Unexpected Ride at Disney World

Have you ever been on that ride at Disney World where you get in an elevator, the door closes, and unexpected things happen? No, I’m not talking about the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at the Disney Hollywood Studios. I’m talking about the elevator to the loading platform for the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. What was supposed to be a rather insignificant part of the attraction turned out to be one of the highlights of my recent visit to Disney World.

It was a very chilly day, so the wait time was unusually short for this ride that lifts guests 60 feet in the air in rockets orbiting colorful planets. We rode the elevator to the loading platform, and when it was our turn, we crammed ourselves into a rocket that was definitely not designed for two adults. We noticed another couple struggling too and it was quite comical. Once the ride started the view from up there was spectacular. When the ride ended we pried ourselves out of our rocket and headed for the elevators.

No one instructed us which elevator to take or how many people it could carry so we simply boarded the nearest one. A family of four followed us. The elevator door tried to close behind them but it hit the grandmother’s backpack as she leaned over to talk to her granddaughter. The door re-opened with a thud! Her son advised her to step in further so the door could close, but unbeknownst to us, it must have been knocked off its track. The elevator lowered about six inches and then stopped.

After a minute or two, the young woman operating the elevators pressed her round face to the glass window and shouted, “Is everybody ok? We know you’re stuck. Help is on the way.” Luckily, none of the 13 people in that elevator were claustrophobic. We were going to be there a while.

The atmosphere in the elevator was actually quite light. The granddaughter, who was probably about 5 years old, suggested we all hold our hands up and use our magic to open the door. I liked this plan! My guess is she will be a Science of Mind or ACIM student one day because she already knows the power of positive thinking. Sadly, our magical powers were not strong enough to open the door.

While we waited several other escape plans were suggested. The most obvious, hitting the “open door” button, only caused the door to open an inch or two. Another little girl told her dad to stick his hand in the small opening and force the door open. Although I applauded her faith in her father’s muscle power, the door kept opening and closing by itself. It probably wasn’t the safest idea if he wanted to keep all ten of his fingers.

After several more minutes, our round-faced elevator operator popped back into the window to tell us not to worry. She had called someone to get us out. The grandmother yelled, “Who did you call? Has this happened before?” We all laughed. She clearly wanted to know what the plan was to get us out. The conversation then turned to how Disney would compensate us for this inconvenience. The guy behind me chimed in, “I better at least get a churro out of this.”

Well, the fire department eventually showed up with an ax and a crowbar to get that door back on track. It sounded like it took quite a bit of effort, but once they succeeded, the elevator began an excruciatingly slow descent until it stopped a little below the first floor. By now a half hour had passed. Granted, it wasn’t as dramatic as the Chilean mining accident of 2010, but we thought perhaps there would be a cheering crowd when we finally emerged. No. They had cleared the area. Only a group of Disney supervisors were there to give us bottled water and collect our information. It was very anticlimactic.

So why was this one of the highlights of my trip you might ask? Well, for one thing, nothing like that has ever happened to me at Disney World. It was fun to have a brand new experience. Not only that, being trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes provided a very unique opportunity for connection. My partner likes to tease me that I’m always looking for ways to connect with people. He’s right. I love people. Perhaps my years of studying A Course in Miracles and its thought system of undoing the ego has slowly re-wired my brain to search for connections rather than give in to the ego’s constant search for separation. In addition, my work with Family Constellations has taught me how much more alike we are than different, so I enjoy discovering those commonalities.

True, it could have been very unpleasant had any of the passengers freaked out or been focused on why Disney shouldn’t have let that happen. Instead, we used our mental energy to entertain and support one another while trying to come up with a solution. We may never know why it happened, or what the ripple effects of that experience might be. I don’t even know the names of the people on that elevator, nor did I get a churro, but I did get an experience of laughter and camaraderie that I will never forget.

Wishing you unexpected joy this holiday season,

John

P.S. If you’d like to make 2019 your best year yet but are feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck, why not consider giving yourself the gift of a private Family Constellations session. During these sessions, you will uncover what might be preventing you from the happy life you were meant to live. Sessions can be done in person, by phone, or via the internet from anywhere in the world. Look around my website or send me an email for more information and to book a session.

I have also created three new Life Coaching packages to give you the tools and support you need to make lasting changes. Give yourself or someone you love the gift of transformation with a 3, 6, or 12 month Coaching package and watch miracles happen. More information about these packages can also be found on my website.

December 9, 2018

Celebrating a Great Dreamer

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901. I was so happy to have been in Florida at Disney World on December 5 this year to celebrate his birthday. To honor him, I planted a few of my signature rose quartz crystals in the flower beds around the “Partners” statue in the Magic Kingdom. That’s the statue in front of Cinderella’s Castle where Walt is holding Mickey Mouse’s hand. I joined the long line of people waiting to get a photo in that iconic spot wondering how many of them knew it was Walt’s birthday.

When I approached the statue I tossed the rose quartz into the surrounding poinsettias and said a prayer of gratitude to this man for all the joy he has given to the world and to me personally. Walt was a visionary and a master storyteller. He opened people’s hearts with his stories and beloved characters while weaving in lessons of courage, hope, inclusion, and love. Those same lessons are present in the attractions and shows at Disney Theme Parks around the world.

Speaking of theme parks, the 7 years I worked in the Entertainment Department at Disney World were some of the most joyful of my life. I cherish the memories and friendships I made during that time and I consider it a unique gift and privilege to have been part of the magic.

Whether you are a fan of his movies and theme parks or not, you can’t deny the impact this man had on the world. If you know his story, you also know before the success of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland, Walt had more than his fair share of hard times and failures. Despite those early setbacks, he held to his vision and assembled a team that not only believed in his vision but also in him. His remarkable charisma, strong vision, and unsinkable tenacity helped him create a legacy that is still creating magic and joy 52 years after his death.

So whatever it is that you’re dreaming of, I encourage you to follow Walt’s example. Get a clear vision of what you want and how it can benefit others. Assemble a team of “partners” that share your vision and can help you bring it to life. And whatever you do, don’t give up if things don’t work out right away. Keep dreaming! As Disney’s Cinderella sings to her animal friends, “No matter how your heart is grieving. If you keep on believing. The dream that you wish will come true.”

With Love and Disney Magic,

John

P.S. If you’re looking for a teammate and accountability partner who believes in you, it would be my great honor to give you the support and tools you need to make lasting change. Make this year different. Give yourself the gift of a 3, 6, or 12 month series of Life Coaching sessions to help you move through a particularly difficult time and closer to the life of your dreams. All of my sessions are based on the strong principles found in A Course in Miracles and other New Thought Teachings. Look around my website or send me an email for more information and to schedule a session.

June 9, 2018

A Healthy Dose of Nostalgia

The dictionary defines nostalgia as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.” One of those happy places for me is what some call the happiest place on earth…Disney World. My seven years in the Entertainment Department there were some of the most joyful times in my life. At the risk of sounding cliche, it truly was magical. Not only did I love being in the parades and shows, I met some wonderful people who remain dear friends today. Whenever I look at photos from that time in my life it makes me smile. Just the other day I was feeling a little tired during my morning cardio walk so I selected my Disney Parades and Shows playlist on iTunes. As soon as the first few notes of the SpectroMagic Parade trumpeted into my earbuds those familiar tingles and a surge of energy ran all through my body and off I went!

Thinking fondly of the past is not a bad thing in moderation. In excess, it can be just as much of a trap as regretting the past and wishing it were different. We’ve all heard people reminiscing about “the good ol’ days.” Yes, some of those days were really good, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have good new days. If you are constantly looking behind you at something that already happened, you will miss what’s right in front of you today. It would be like walking into a room backward and hoping not to bump into the furniture, or as my friend Radleigh Valentine says, driving your car while only looking in the rearview mirror. You obviously wouldn’t do either of those things because you could get seriously hurt. The same is true when we can’t release the past. By the way, helping people to release the past with love is one of the most powerful benefits of Family Constellations.

Despite my recurring dreams about performing in a Disney Parade again, I know that time in my life is done. As fun as it was, I feel like I did everything I wanted to do there, including dancing in the Main Street Electrical Parade when it returned in 1999. I am grateful for all the ways that job prepared me to do what I do now. I probably wouldn’t have the confidence to stand in front of 250 people in a conference room at the Big Sky Retreat had it not been for my seven years at Disney World. After thousands of parades as a performer and float driver, hundreds of shows as a puppeteer, and countless hugs from kids and kids at heart, my soul was calling me to do something else. My journey led to me from Central to South Florida where I went to massage school, started attending a Unity church, found A Course in Miracles, and eventually learned to facilitate Family Constellations. It has definitely been an E-ticket ride since I left Disney, and one I could not have imagined or planned. Had I not released what was, and trusted that more fun and magic were waiting for me in the future, I would not have the rewarding life I have today as a Life Coach and Family Constellations Facilitator.

So go ahead and look back once in a while for a healthy dose of nostalgia if it gives you a smile or a boost of energy. But don’t stay facing that direction. Your happiness isn’t back there. If you don’t turn around you might miss the beautiful opportunities and blessings that are before you.

“For in the holy instant, free of the past, you see that love is in you, and you have no need to look without…”

A Course in Miracles T-15.V.9

Are you having a difficult time releasing the past with love because it was either really good or really difficult? Please look around my website or send me an email to schedule a Family Constellations session. You will be amazed at how quickly you can release something you have been carrying for years in just one session. I look forward to working with you and sharing this truly magical process.

Until next time, remember the good ol’ days might have been good, but you can make today even better!

January 14, 2018

Running with a Mouse

Well, 2018 is off to a running start for me, both literally and figuratively. I was thrilled to see so many people at my first Family Constellations Workshop of the year this past Saturday. Thanks to everyone who made the event so spectacular. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful and transformative these circles can be. After the workshop, I cleaned and cleared the space, went home, grabbed my little suitcase that was already packed, tossed it in my trunk, and drove directly to Orlando. One of my longest and dearest friends was running the Disney Marathon the next day and I wanted to cheer her on. Participating in this event has been a longtime goal of hers, and this was the year she trained and made it happen. I’m so proud of her!

The one and only Carrie Stiers met me in Orlando that night because this marathon runner is a mutual friend. We got up early the next day to join the throngs of spectators gathered at the Walt Disney World Resort to watch more than 25,000 runners from around the world take part in the 25th anniversary of this event. Neither of us had been to the event before so we had no idea what to expect. Traffic was crawling as we approached our first cheering spot at the parking lot of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We ended up adjacent to the race route on Osceola Parkway and what a sight it was to behold! A sea of runners ran by us in all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels. It was truly a beautiful cross-section of humanity. To make things even more interesting, many of the runners were dressed as their favorite Disney character or wore running attire inspired by them. We crept along the road as various versions of Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Aladdin, the Incredibles, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Dopey, Yoda, BB8, Elsa, Ana, Olaf, and countless others passed us. Who knew runners were so creative? I guess I should have expected it at “the most magical race on Earth!”

Sadly, due to the traffic delays and detours, we missed seeing our friend emerge from the Animal Kingdom by just minutes! To avoid this happening again, Carrie brilliantly suggested we get someplace very early and wait for her to come to us. After perusing the map, we decided to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at mile marker 23 and wait for her there. Once we arrived, we immediately noticed the difference in the energy of the runners we encountered. A mere fifteen minute drive for us was a ten mile run for them. With just a little over three miles to the finish line, they were in the home stretch, but many were struggling. It occurred to us that we were exactly where we needed to be to offer a final boost of energy to our beloved friend.

There were lots of friends and family gathered here, as well as park guests that stopped to watch the unofficial parade of characters. I was moved by the amount of support everyone was giving these dedicated runners, whether they knew them or not. The woman next to us rang a cowbell as she consistently shouted things like, “Looking good runners! You got this! Nice job!” In fact, many people were doing the same thing. Carrie and I joined them by clapping and shouting words of encouragement as runner after runner passed by. My heart hurt for the ones that were limping and grimacing, determined to make it to the finish line despite their obvious pain. I hope our smiling faces and cheers of support were just the thing they needed to infuse them with enough energy to make it the rest of the way.

After the first hour of clapping, we understood why people brought cowbells. Our hands were stinging and our voices were getting gravelly, but we were just as determined to keep cheering as the runners were to keep running. We definitely had the easier job! So many of the runners thanked us for being there. Some simply smiled or gave us the thumbs up. Whether we exchanged words, a smile, or just a knowing glance, each connection I made with a fellow human being (whom I may never see again) added a little more joy to my heart until it was so full my eyes got watery. Being immersed in that supportive energy for two hours was an incredible feeling. If you are feeling blue, I highly recommend cheering on a complete stranger to fulfill a dream. It’s one of the best antidepressants ever!

In fact, that experience gave me the same feeling of Oneness I experienced on New Year’s Eve at the Burning Bowl Ceremony. It reminded me once again of the quote from A Course in Miracles that I shared last week:

Even at the level of the most casual encounter, it is possible for two people to lose sight of separate interests, if only for a moment. That moment will be enough.

It was more than enough! By the time our friend came jogging around the Sorcerer Mickey topiary outside the park entrance we were completely full of joy. Seeing her in the middle of all those runners manifesting this dream she had talked about for years started my tears flowing again. We were able to snap a few photos of her and with her before she trotted off to the finish line. What an honor it was to love and support not only our friend but all of our brothers and sisters in this marathon called life. I shall never forget that experience, or how inspiring it was to witness our friend accomplish this goal. She did it! She set her intention, took the required action steps, made the necessary preparations, and during the race stayed in the present moment and finished by simply putting one foot in front of the other.

Are you ready to accomplish a longtime goal this year too? Maybe this is the year you give yourself the gift of Life Coaching and get the support and encouragement you need to do it! I offer single sessions as well as four, six, and eight week packages. I would be honored to be your personal cheering section to help you get past whatever is keeping you from the happy, healthy, prosperous life you were meant to live. Please visit my website for more information or to purchase a session or sessions. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Until next time, keep putting one foot in front of the other and know that the Universe is cheering you on every step of the way!

October 28, 2017

Magic and Miracles

I experienced many magical miracles at Disney World this past week. It never ceases to amaze me what happens when I set my intention to be the presence of joy and also to be a conduit extending joy out to the world from there. My friend and I had so much fun with our server at lunch at the Disney Hollywood Studios that she gifted us a FastPass for the ride of our choice at that park. After lunch we bypassed the two hour wait for the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster and were twisting and turning at high speed in less than fifteen minutes.

Later in the week, another miracle happened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as we were heading to the Lion King show. It was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes and my friend asked if I thought we would get in to this performance or would we have to wait for the next one. I told him I was confident we would make it for this show. Not ten seconds later Ruby, a friendly cast member working outside the theater, asked how many were in our party and if we would like to sit in the front row. We most certainly would! My friend thought I knew this woman because I worked at Disney many years ago. No, we simply were in the right place at the right time. More importantly, we were in the right frame of mind and open to miracles.

A miracle is nothing more than a shift in perception from fear to love. If we had been running in panic to get to the show, or not taken time to get a snack for fear of missing it, we most likely would have missed Ruby and that gem of an opportunity. Because we trusted that all would be well no matter what the outcome, that left room for a miracle. That is what I call being in a miracle ready state of mind. Fear and worry are terrible conditions to grow miracles, but peace and joy are fertile soil for an abundant garden of them.

Speaking of gardens, we were having such a good time at dinner at the Garden Grill at EPCOT that Mickey, Pluto, and Dale all gathered at our table to have dessert with us. Chip joined the fun later when he tried to sneak up on me from the upper level of the restaurant. My friend almost jumped out of his skin when he looked over and saw a giant chipmunk reaching over the railing. Chip thought this was hilarious and came down to laugh and take more pictures with us. Being the presence of joy is a sure way to attract more joy to you!

The longest line we waited in was for the Flights of Passage ride in the new Pandora section of Animal Kingdom. That seventy-five minutes flew by because we started talking with the nice couple in front of us. Eventually the three girls in front of them joined our conversation as well. By the time we reached the loading area, the seven of us had become fast friends, so the attractions host let us stay together and ride in the same group. This breathtaking ride puts guests on the back of a dragon-like creature called a banshee flying through the mystical world of Pandora. It is definitely my new favorite ride, and it was even more enjoyable because we got to experience it with our new friends. Before we went our separate ways, I asked if we could get a group photo at the exit. They all enthusiastically agreed. Interestingly enough, I don’t know any of their names, but that’s not important. The seven of us will always be connected by that shared experience of the heart… and that’s a miracle!

Are you ready to Create Miracles like this in your life? Join me Sunday evenings at 7PM Eastern / 4PM Pacific for the next five weeks starting this Sunday, October 29 for an online adventure into A Course in Miracles. Each week I will share one of the main principles from the Course as well as personal stories of how I applied them to my life to create miracles. There will be time at the end of each class to ask questions and share your own miracle moments. All of the classes will be recorded so if you can’t join us live or would like to see them again you can later at your own convenience. You can take individual classes or register for all five weeks at a discounted price. Please visit JohnHaroldMoore.com/miracles for more details and to sign up. I would love to Create Miracles with you!

Until next time, may your garden be filled with magic and miracles…

April 21, 2017

My Beaker Runneth Over

Wednesday morning I awoke not feeling my best. I also had many preparations to make and people to contact before my trip to Virginia this week. Even so, I decided not to skip my hour long walk along Fort Lauderdale Beach. Getting my body moving always makes me feel better. That particular morning I decided to give myself an extra boost of joy. As I began my walk, I put on my “Disney Parades” playlist and listened to the songs I used to dance to down Main Street, USA when I worked at Disney World. Soon, I was marching down the sidewalk with plenty of fond memories and serotonin flooding my brain. Music has a powerful influence on me, and I knew these songs would not only elevate my spirits, but also help me stop thinking about all the things I had to do.

It reminded me of something I heard last month from a Science of Mind minister in North Carolina. She talked us through a spiritual science experiment that she had done for her congregation to demonstrate how to clear fearful and unhealthy thoughts from our mind. She placed a beaker of clear water on a table and then dropped a few drops of red and green food coloring into the water. After stirring the water, it became dark and murky, just like our minds do when fearful thoughts take over. Then she brought out a huge pitcher of clear water and began pouring it into the beaker, allowing the dark water to spill over the sides. As the steady stream of clear water entered, the water in the beaker became more and more clear. Eventually only crystal clear water remained. This simple experiment shows that the best way to clear our minds of fearful thoughts is by making the choice to add a steady stream of loving, positive ones.

If you could use some assistance filling that beaker with clear water, it would be my great honor to help you by sharing some of the tools and techniques that have worked for me. Please visit my website for more information about the four, six, and eight week Life Coaching programs I offer. They are based on the strong, loving principles found in A Course in Miracles. Family Constellations is another great way to clear that dark water. What happens in these group and private sessions is simply miraculous. Please join me for an upcoming group session or schedule a private session in person, by telephone, or via Skype.

Until next time, imagine that pitcher of clear water appearing over your head and let those loving thoughts pour in.

Tag: Walt Disney World