True Nakedness

My experience (almost) baring it all…

This recent full moon has seriously shown me that no matter how much I think I’m in control.. this world is still greater than I. The last few days has been so off for me. I have felt completely disconnected to everyone around me, myself, and the Earth. Even trying to do the simplest tasks have been nothing but challenging. Picking out an outfit to wear left me laying on the floor, making loud angry noises, finding something to eat resulted in an outburst of tears and an overwhelming feeling of pity for myself. Home all alone, and I am acting completely out of control.

What to do?

A good friend of mine and I had plans to have a beach day. In my state, I wasn’t sure how I was going to accomplish this… It was already mid afternoon and I was still at step 1 in my daily activities. I called him to tell him what I was going through, not really expecting him to fully understand what I was expressing.. but to my surprise he understood fully. What a lovely Universe to give me friends like this… So grateful.

He told me he was having the same issues today, I suddenly felt a little bit more love come my way. Even though I couldn’t exactly handle being in public, or in anyone’s company, I wanted to be in his. We proceeded to meet, and went out to Wreck Beach. If you are not from Vancouver, Wreck is the only beach you are free to bare all, if you so desire to. I had never been here before.

The second, and I mean the very second we got there, my inner and outer states did a complete 180. I felt at peace with all these carefree and accepting souls. I felt at home, and rejuvenated. I bought a dress as soon as we got there, from one of the vendors set up.. to me this dress symbolized a different world. I| was a different person here, I was natural here, I was just me.

I took off my dress and bared my breasts… the few nerves I had left me instantly. I could breathe. I felt inspired by everyone I was sharing this space with. Watching people walking around smiling, loving, and accepting everyone else, bodies and minds. What a fucking beautiful place. Looking into the eyes of my gorgeous friend made me smile, this is what life is about. Life is about peace, beauty, happiness, laughter, sunlight, nature, connection. I was hit with a profound realization I am in charge of all these things for myself. I do not need to succumb to anything less, I am a powerful force meant to exist in my highest form and capabilities. All those things that seemed heavy before, were now blessings along my path… bringing me to this point of change.

It became crystal clear that I must channel my creative and sexual energies to serve both others and myself. I am blessed with a beautiful body, and am surrounded by love everywhere I go. So easy it is to get lost and become weak.

I am carefree. I am pure love.

I have talents. I have two hands I can make things with. I have gifts to give to others, I am here to serve. I can live by serving. When there is passion, there is a path. I am taking the first steps towards an amazing future.

I live in a world where no limits exist. I am CAPABLE. I am FREE. Today I start living as I want to, living in my desires, and creating a world I thrive in and am in love with.

My eyes, heart, soul, mind and body are opening.

How You Spend Your Days, Is How You Spend Your Life

So about a month and a half ago I manifested myself a job that I wanted, or thought that I wanted, and while I learned just how powerful my intentions and manifestations can be, I also learned something even more valuable: the importance of staying true.

I’ve worked mostly in the service based industry throughout my working life thus far; the restaurant business to get a bit more exact. Being a vegetarian for pretty well all these years, and going vegan this last year, I’ve always had to make a sacrifice with the food I am serving, recommending (as in pretending to eat and enjoy), and surrounding myself with. I suppose it had never really bothered me, or I didn’t really think too deeply about it. I was used to being the odd one out and having to modify the crap out of everything I ordered. The place I have just started working at is a higher end restaurant, that prides themselves in the food they serve, which hey, I give them credit for and counts for something, as every other place I’ve worked at most of the staff gets sick of the food pretty fast.  But it was when I was cramming the menu in my brain, getting ready for my food test, when I realized, I don’t want any of this knowledge in my head.

Fast forward a bit… I can’t bring myself to enjoy working here. This job would be a means for me to make good money, but you know what? It’s just not worth the sacrifice. I feel like I am betraying who I am every time I go in for a shift, not to mention I’m required to wear heels for those 8 looooooong hours.

THE LESSON:

While the last few weeks have been tiring and only leaving me with achy feet, I am grateful for it all. What better way to realize the importance in how and what you spend your days doing? I have re-affirmed now that I am perfect as I am, and it is not only unnecessary, but unhealthy to try to force myself into a lifestyle and environment in which I don’t fit in.

I have a vision for myself and I am choosing today to stay true to that, keep my goals in sight, and to love the journey getting there . I am striving to be more impeccable with my word, so I will leave respectively and honestly. However, I have already begun manifesting new and more “me” opportunities. While it was never much of a concern of mine in the past, it is for me now to enjoy and love how I spend my days… and my work is naturally a large part of that.

It never feels good to lose alignment with yourself. It can cause you to feel heavy, depressed, confused, lonely and disconnected. At times I even had thoughts that there must be something wrong with me, and that I wasn’t cooperating as I should be. What nonsense! I could see that my progress and state was quickly spiraling, so I sat still, gave myself some love and positive feedback, and allowed myself to express. In a matter of minutes I had all the answers and solutions I needed. Amazing! I say “No!” to molding and doing internal “surgeries” on ourselves, and “Yes!” to some more self lovinnnnn’.

Love and Peace and Smiles,

J.

A Woman’s Essence: A Message and Poem.

She is made of earth
A fuel to fire
Part of that fire
She holds inside, and it burns.

Her fire embraces a life force
With wisdom and desire
The sparkle in her eyes
The understanding in her embrace

She walks along her path
Each one of us different
Sometimes she gets lost and
Struggles to find beauty within herself

The tears that flow
No one else sees
Held in private captivity
Each day a new beginning

Not locked in
But not quite free
She exists in a world
Obsessed with flaws and greed

Days have become personal battles
That line between too skinny
And too fat
Breasts too big, too flat

Our daughters don’t want “to be ugly”
Too scared to be themselves
Unique beauty is hard
Authenticity over-rated

A life where she thrives
A world that supports a girl
As she is, who she is
Is where I want to live.

Ladies:
Empower your feminine
She is your essence
She is your soul, your light
She is the solution of love

Love your face, love your feet
Taste your skin, watch it glow
Your breasts are life givers
Your energy needs to flow

Support your cause, your body
Be a ripple, please
Of change and balance
That our Mother Earth so badly needs.

Meditative Reflections

The view from where I was sitting.

A couple months ago I went on a trip down the coast of California, we stopped in a place called Encinitas to visit a Meditation Garden. It’s located near San Diego, right along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Most of this trip was a great experience for me to evolve, and recognize certain things I have been letting into my life. This day holds such meaning to me. Once we were there, I found a few places that inspired me to write and ponder, and sat alone only with my pen and notebook. As soon as I sat down, I had a surge of wisdom flow through my pen, I must have wrote this all down in a matter of minutes. I am posting it here simply because someone, like yourself, could possibly relate and benefit from it.

‘Meditative Reflections’

1. Balance yourself, and you balance your world.
2. Do the work to reach your goals and meaning.
3. Positivity = ‘+’, Negativity = ‘-‘
4. Strength comes from self- love.
5. Surround yourself with that and those which enhance.
6. Surround yourself with others who allow you to be you, and who help you be your highest point of self.
7. Everything is perfect.
8. You are more than enough.
9. Love is the only cure.
10. Know yourself, and be yourself.

“The thinking spot.

Every day do something for your goals.
Every day do something for your personal self.
Every day read.
Every day write/ journal.
Every day take care of your body, inside and out.
Every day have an interesting conversation.
Every day hold gratitude.
Every day go outside.
Every day learn something new.
Every day live in love.
Every day express.

Each day we face a thousand ways to jeopardize who we are. To stay true to yourself is one of the hardest things we are faced with. In each situation be you. Act as your highest self would act and let that person you are meant to be, be. Whoever you are, the world needs you naturally and organically, the people in your life need you; you must be of service.

Become Peaceful.
Be Love. Be You.
Be True To What And Who You Are.

I would love for you to share too some of the simple things you have learned along the way…

~Love and Peace, J.

Learning To Live Fearlessly

“There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry… Yesterday and Tomorrow.”
~Robert Jones Burdette

I want to start this off by asking: “how many of your worries and fears have actually taken place?” Most of our fears end up only happening in our heads, over and over, but never in reality. Does this seem as out of balance to you as it does me?

When it comes to my own life, I’ve been recognizing some of the fears I live out and believe subconsciously. A few times I have been able to see a hidden belief I’m living out, in turn creating it to happen. Having the ability to introspectively see myself clearly, I am able to shift my outlook in order to change my actions as well as the outcome. While there are many more ways to cut unhealthy fear from your life, here are a few that I personally find help me:

1. Think Positively. Ever heard of the saying “what you see is what you get?” well it’s the same with thinking. Thinking is envisioning something in our minds and whatever it is we envision sets the tone of what we are allowing to come into our lives. Do you want to make more money? Imagine making more money as something that is inevitable, instead of a slim possibility. In order for something to happen, we have to make it happen. Everything begins in our minds, which then vibrate out into the universe. Positive thoughts and reinforcement is invaluable in creating what we want to have and happen in our lives.

2. Have The Courage To Pursue. Courage is a key word when it comes to living fearlessly (or almost fearless anyway). Determine what it is you want to accomplish along with what kind of life you want to be living daily and then take action! Keeping fear in your mind and in your thoughts about who and what you are, is only helping you soak that fear up. Instead, focus on the fact that YOU hold all the power you need in succeeding. Believe in yourself and your capabilities; you might even surprise yourself!

3. Let Go. Worries? Who needs them? Letting go of all your limiting fear-based ideas and beliefs will not only help you feel incredibly lighter, but will also boost your mood and make room for positive, more confident thought patterns. Realize that it is not your responsibility to control every aspect of every situation, understanding that everything is as it should be. Let go of any expectations that were never fulfilled and move on! Staying in a place you know cannot change, is not self-serving, get out of there and create new outcomes with your new freedom.

4. Love Yourself. The first person we should give unconditional love to, is ourselves. If we don’t love ourselves, complete with our “mistakes”and “flaws”, how do we attract love and good things in our lives? Learning to accept who you are and loving your authentic self will help wash away a lot of fears you may not even know you had. Don’t let other people and your fears stop you from dancing to that beautiful song, stop you from taking risks, or stop you from speaking your mind. Whatever the outcome is, it is much better than limiting who you are, and who you can be. Loving yourself completely will prevent you from feeding into the worry if something does not work out as you hope. Results do not define who you are, you are defined by how you got there.

Fearful living takes a lot more energy than fearless living. At the end of the day, we just need to hold awareness of where we are sending our energy and focus. Once you start incorporating more of a fearless mindset, (if you haven’t already),  you will begin to experience life’s moments at a whole new level, one of lightness and enjoyment. Here’s to living on the lighter side!

-Love and Peace, J.

Are Your Friends, True Friends?

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” -William Shakespeare

A question I asked myself lately was: Are my friends really my friends? Do they enhance, uplift and bring positivity in my life? Or do they darken, drain, and leave me feeling angry or alone?

In some cases, the answer was a little unnerving. I found myself looking for excuses and fighting my own intuition and knowledge. What is it that makes us hold on to bad or un-serving relationships for so long? Well, this one’s easy: You have a heart! You my friend, are a true friend, one who fights for those out of pure love and promise. Naturally things and people that aren’t aligned with your path tend to wean themselves out, but what if they don’t? How can you tell if your friends are true friends?

If you have been asking yourself this lately, chances are there are a few changes you need to be making.

1. You leave feeling drained or angry. I have had this all too much. Even a simple lunch or movie date with a chronically negative or self-absorbed “friend” will have you feeling very undervalued, and unnoticed. How many times have you listened to this person rant, and complain about their lives and situations, but as soon as you feel like sharing or expressing yourself, they tune out? No matter how attentive or positive you may be, they end up taking all that energy away from you, leaving you feeling robbed. People like this could have been great friends in the past, which is why we hold on to the friendship, even though it has changed. No longer is this person bringing light in your life, they are stealing it! Understand that you cannot help them as they need to be helped, they must do that themselves.

Of course, it is a much different story if a friend is going through a temporary hard time. I am in no way condoning that you drop people out of your life because of temporary circumstance. Friends are meant to be there in those hard times. I am more or so, talking about that friend who has treated you like this for years, or however long you feel is too long!

2. You change the way you are around them. Finding yourself changing your personality with certain people is not a good sign. Friends are most likely the people you spend the most time with and if this time is causing you to alter yourself it is not serving you, and neither are they.  Gossiping when you usually don’t, dressing differently, not feeling free to express yourself or going against your personal and moral beliefs are all signs that this friendship will crush your spirit, instead of lifting it. It’s important to recognize who you are around these “friends,” and how it’s affecting your well-being.

3. You don’t feel they bring you closer to your goals. This is where they either “uplift” you or “drain” you. Any goals, dreams and aspirations should be understood and supported by your closest friends. Last week, I noticed that the person I see as my best friend, kept putting down or adding negative comments to everything I tried sharing. Comments like “that’s weird” or letting me know of all the obstacles I’ll have to get through, aka: “You have a slim chance of succeeding” are not positive or supportive in any way. If I chose to listen and buy into the fear she was trying to create, I would get nowhere. How long has this been unconsciously happening with this friend? Listen and notice how your friends choose to show you love and encouragement (or lack thereof).

4. There is constant friction. Friends who you frequently find yourself colliding with, or hard to be around, shows that neither of you are on the same page, or in the same place. What benefit is there of a “friendship” that holds more hard, stubborn times, than simple, flowing times? Either you, or the other is looking for one thing: Conflict. Choosing to have people close to you when you agree on nothing, have completely different outlooks, hold interests that clash or even receiving constant pain and disappointment are signs this relationship is toxic. It is perfectly fine and healthy to let go of friends who bring in drama.

“Never have a companion that casts you in the shade.” -Baltasar Gracian

Ultimately, if you take the time and commitment to look at the people closest to you, you will be able to decide what the best thing for you to do is. Using your inner and higher intuition will enable you to create the relationships and life you want. Remember, you cannot serve your friends, if you do not serve yourself. Allowing toxic friendships to remain, is not an act of self-love, it is self-draining. Look at your closest friends, as they are probably your biggest influences. Letting go of people who don’t fit with your life’s intentions, makes room for others to come in. Attract it!

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius

-love and peace, J.

Do Your Relationships Constantly Leave You Drained?

In my journey recently, I have been led to a place of having and wanting more awareness of who I hold close in my life and which of my friends are actual true friends. Understanding more about myself, and who I genuinely am when all the lights are off with no one around, has brought me to many personal realizations. I have been learning, and accepting the fact that by nature I attract people who in my eyes “need something.” As a giver, I put myself out there, sometimes at personal risk, to help and spend time with these people in order to bring them higher in their lives, whether they are aware they need it or not. This “addiction”of mine, often leaves me feeling deflated, and robbed of my energy after. I know now that how I help people, is by giving them my energy, and taking theirs, as an exchange. This is a common trait of natural born healers.

In order for me to benefit from my friendships and romantic relationships, I must stop seeing everyone as an “assignment” and start loving, accepting, and seeing them only as they are. No longer can I validate such a negative energy exchange, as it truly affects my well-being. It seems I am able to listen for hours on end, to others’ problems, but as soon as I need or want to share something about myself, they tune out, or turn it back around to themselves. This leaves me feeling very undervalued, unappreciated, and alone. I end up resenting my friend, instead of being able to come from a loving and caring place. A healthy relationship, is when both parties lift one another up, and the balance of “give and take” is reciprocated.

What can we do to keep our energy and happiness levels at a constant high? Here are some things I have been experimenting with whenever I find myself feeling drained or compromised.

Practice energy shielding. Shielding means visually creating a cocoon of light around yourself. This only takes a few seconds, and is recommended before you are about to help someone so they can’t transfer any of the toxins they’re releasing to you. Just by holding the intention to shield yourself, makes it happen and puts it into effect. You will notice when you consciously surround yourself with a protective layer of light, you leave feeling just as energized as you came. I learned this technique from Doreen Virtue, one of my favorite spiritual authors. She describes different colours of energy shields in her book “Earth Angels”:

• White Light: Invokes the angels around you to surround you without interruption. The angels protect you, and the ensure that you’re safe and guarded.

• Pink Light: Invoke if you’re with a negative person who’s obsessed with their problems. The pink light sends loving energy outward toward everyone who talks with you, and simultaneously send loving energy inward toward yourself. Nothing can permeate this pink shield except loving thoughts and energies.

• Emerald Light: See or feel yourself surrounded by this light whenever you want to heal some imbalance in your physical body. Your body absorbs this light wherever is needs healing energy.

• Purple Light: Imagine yourself shrouded in royal purple light, which elevates your spiritual frequency, enabling you to rise above problems and contact the highest level of Divine Guidance. This light also bounces away any lower energies, entities, or earthbound spirits.

• Rainbow Light: See or feel yourself wearing a coat of rainbow stripes, which boosts your ability to conduct energy healing work on yourself or others.

Practice energy clearing. In the possibility you forget to shield yourself before an energy exchange, you will want to regularly cleanse and wash away the fear from your own thought, or those of others you have absorbed. Fatigue is the most common effect of these lower energies. Learn to cut your cords. Each person in your life, attach etheric cords to you, when they need something from you. This means that after they leave you, they are still capable of drawing energy from you. In addition, they are able to send toxic energy towards you as well. A good way to do this is to visualize cutting each cord with scissors, or a large knife and feel how thick that energy is that you are releasing from your body.

Connect with nature. When feeling stressed or tired, taking a walk outdoors is one of the best things you could do. More effective than a cup of coffee, live plants and trees hold a gift of drawing toxins out of your mind and body, grounding you and bringing things back into perspective. The energy field in a forest or park, is much different than that of an office or workplace, filled with florescent lights  and stuffy air. There is not one situation where getting outside would not benefit you.

Take a Himalayan-salt bath. Himalayan salt helps draw out toxic energies from your pores. Make sure that the salt has no synthetic scents, or artificial colours, to prevent bringing more chemicals into your body. Works most effective in its raw form.”

“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.”
– Aldous Huxley

To be able to stay centered and energized in your daily happenings, and with the people who come into your life is a very important skill to learn to contribute to your well-being. However, this goes hand in hand with who you let come into your life, and what negative reoccurring things you have the power of releasing. Why go through all this trouble, with people and things that don’t enhance your life in any way? In this article I write about how to know when it’s time to let go of those who drain us, to make room for more healthy relationships.

-love and peace, J.

Forgive Yourself First

“It’s not just other people we need to forgive, we also need to forgive ourselves.”
Ourselves?
“Yes, for all the things we didn’t do. All the things we should have done. You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened. That doesn’t help you when you get to where I am.”
-Morrie, “Tuesday’s With Morrie”-Mitch Albom

Most of us know that forgiveness plays an important part of our lives and our relationships. We know that in order to continue flourishing, we need to let go of grudges, release past emotions, and conquer our resentments. But what about that person who so rarely receives your forgiveness? The one who deserves it most?

That person is YOU. Who else in your life is more deserving of your acceptance, understanding and love? Without self forgiveness, and letting go of all the guilt you may carry in your heart, you will be heavily burdened. The time is now to move on from the past. Nothing can be changed, but something can be gained. Gain the wisdom and knowledge by tackling those haunted memories that bring you fear, guilt, insecurities, shame, anger, disappointment, self-doubt and at times depression. Love and accept yourself as an imperfect being, and replace those negatives, with lessons that serve you.

We are all meant to make mistakes, it’s part of what makes life so interesting as without them, we would have no growth. Learn to appreciate your mistakes, and see them as opportunities to grow and improve yourself. Embrace your flaws and let those expectations disappear with the rear view mirror. We are headed towards a new path now!

Live in the present, and stop carrying the past with you. We cannot change or control what has already happened, our powers are effective only when used in the Now, which in turn set the path for our tomorrows’. Free yourself of all past energies that don’t bring value into your life and replace them with new thoughts of positivity and encouragement. Love can and will not exist, when you are focused on anything fear- based.

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”  Gandhi

Sometimes we can think of forgiveness as a weakness, as if we are saying it is “okay” to make that mistake, but the act of forgiving is quite the opposite, it is a sign of strength. To forgive, whether it’s for your own mistakes, or what someone else has done, is a gift to yourself; there is nothing more self-serving, than releasing the negative resentments we tend to hold on to for too long.
Let it go. Most of the things we have a hard time letting go of, weren’t initially intended to hurt us but somehow ended up as less desirable outcomes; people make mistakes. Love yourself in order to love others, try to develop the ability to see people and our experiences as lessons. Exercise your mind and heart to release self-limiting attachments, and anything you find stunting your growth.

-love and peace, J.

Setting Aside Time For Yourself

Trying to balance work, lunch dates, errands, cleaning, exercise, grocery shopping bla.. bla.. bla.. can make it seem almost impossible to have any left over time during the day for the most important person in your life…YOU!

When we spend most of our days running around, looking for more time, we miss out on what should be a HUGE part of our day: actually enjoying it! How often are you able to just stop, rest, breathe, appreciate, smile or drink that soy latte in peace? For most of us, it’s not often enough. In order to live healthy lives, think more clearly, and nourish our bodies, we need to take some time out for ourselves! I’m talking about calling in “sick” to work days, oh yes… to do absolutely nothing! What would you do if you had a day dedicated only to yourself this week? No errands allowed.

I usually spend most of my days off, as well as my evenings, just doing what I want to do. Sometimes it’s making tea and sitting on the balcony, maybe tackle a few chapters of my current read, sometimes I crave a walk somewhere, on certain long days it’s a nap, or even just sitting at home on the couch with a hot drink watching my wedding shows (guilty pleasure) feels amazing! Whether you are writing, reading, eating, sitting, watching tv, napping, walking, learning something new, catching up on your mani/pedi, getting that massage you’ve so badly needed.. you’re doing it for yourself.

Once you see the value in taking time out, you will never want to go without it again. You will wonder how you managed (I’m sure some of us are barely getting by) before, running such busy schedules without some “me downtime.” What serves you more: Sweeping the floors? Or having a nice hot lavender oil bath? One important thing to remember is don’t judge yourself. If all it is you want to do on a Friday night is order some Chinese, and curl up to a chic-flick, then do it! Be proud to be who you are, and part of that is listening to your desires. Sometimes my friends think I’m weird when I want to head down to the beach by myself, or take myself out to lunch; in my opinion they’re weird! What more important relationship is there than the one you have with yourself?!

Now I don’t know about you but I have a bottle of wine waiting for me…enjoy your “you” time!
I’d love to hear what it is you’re dying to do to cherish yourself more!

-love and peace, J.