A few years ago I was out having dinner with a good friend who was visiting from abroad. It was fall and we ended up at a restaurant with squash soup on the menu. We both ordered some, which the waiter brought in large white bowls. As we began to gobble down the yummy concoction, I started to see shapes forming in my bowl. I peered into the bowl and along the brim to see a clear shape of a swan, followed by a pumpkin, and then a baby. My main personal animal totem, the swan represents transformation and clairvoyance. The pumpkin jumped out at me, signaling Spirit wanted me to use the soup as a medium. And, I took the baby to represent something born new. Before dinner I’d actually promised my friend that I’d do a reading for her using coffee grounds when we got home, but it seemed Spirit wanted to speak to us through the soup instead. So, I told her we’d do the reading using our squash soup.

As our waiter looked on with curiosity, I prayed to Spirit to speak to us through the figures and reveal a message for my friend. Then I asked my friend to turn her bowl three times clockwise and then turn it over on her dinner plate. (At this point our waiters curiosity turned into obvious frustration!)After letting it sit a few minutes, I asked her to hand me the plate with the overturned bowl. Then I turned it over and proceeded to read the images on the bowl, just as I would have done with tea leaves or coffee grounds.

My friend was shocked by the accuracy of everything I was saying. Even I was amazed at how easily it was to connect with Spirit through the soup. We were both excited at my newly created oracle. But there was one thing that didn’t seem to resonate with her. I got an image of a stork and a cradle, which of course led me to ask her if she was pregnant or trying to have a baby. Flabbergasted, she vehemently denied this. She was seeing someone new and they’d only just begun a physical relationship. Babies, she said, were not on her mind. I saw the relationship had great potential, but didn’t mention more about a baby.

The next day, my friend called me in hysterics. After we left the restaurant, she couldn’t get what I said about the baby out of her head. So she bought three pregnancy tests on her way back to her hotel.  She took them one by one and they were all positive! She was indeed going to have a baby. The soup didn’t lie!

My idea for the soup oracle actually stemmed from tasseography, the sacred art of reading tea leaves or coffee grounds. Tasseography, which is also know as tasseomancy, has been used by cultures all over the world since ancient times as a way to seek deeper knowledge of the will of the Divine. My father actually used to practice tasseography with leftover coffee grounds. He used to tell me that the soul, and mind need to get together to know the whole picture. In the case of tasseography, your intuition combined with your capacity for symbolic thought and the physical substance and shapes can result in a profoundly accurate reading.

While substances like soup, tea leaves, and coffee grounds might seem so simple and everyday, they are still sacred mirrors through which you can connect with the Divine. Spirit is within them just as it’s within all of life. As long as you pray for a message, you can engage Spirit anytime and anywhere. I talk in more detail about this in my book Messages From Spirit. You can also use this method with any kind of thick liquid, such as thick hot chocolate, mashed potatoes with gravy, and even oatmeal.

Exercise:

Get an oracle from your soup!

Ideally you’ll want to exchange readings with a friend or get a group of people together for this exercise. In tasseography, the cup or bowl is traditionally read by someone other than the person eating or drinking the substance. It’s always better to have an objective perspective, and this also engages the bridge between the consciousness of the two people. Whenever I’ve taught this form of divination in workshops, participants always love passing their bowls around to each other for insight. So, get together some friends for a fun lunch of soup reading! (That said, if you’ve tried but are unable to get a partner this week, I invite you to try it on your own until a friend is free to join you.)

Here are the steps:

Get or make some pureed soup such as pea or squash. You can also use very thick hot chocolate. Next, get a white soup bowl or mug and put it on a plate.

Start with a prayer to Spirit and thank the soup for it’s nourishment. (I know it sounds funny to pray to the soup, but no laughing!) Remember Spirit is with all things. Envision the life energy within your substance and see it connecting with your energy and moving out to connect with all of the Universe. Then ask Spirit to reveal a message to you through the substance.

After you eat or drink your substance, turn the bowl clockwise three times. Then gently turn it upside down towards you and onto the plate. Let the bowl sit upside down for a few minutes until the contents have dried.

Now switch bowls with your partner or take turns passing the bowls around your group. You’ll see patterns along the bowl and plate. What do you see? Remember to allow your awareness to expand and engage your oracular consciousness. Your intuition will start to recognize the symbols. Use your intuition and tell a story as it unfolds through the symbols. If you’d like more insight into the meaning of certain symbols, my book Messages From Spirit includes an extensive symbol dictionary that will help you with your reading. And of course, chat about what you see with your friend or group!

Be sure to come and tell us what you experience with the soup oracle!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

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I thought it was time for us to spice things up and have a few laughs! After all, it is Mercury Retrograde, and I think we all could use a few chuckles. So, I’m going to share some funny tales of my own experiences as a psychic intuitive and talk about a few of the lessons we can all keep in mind during life’s ups and downs. Today, let’s the tackle the spicy subjects—sex and love! Ready?

Before I met my husband Marc, I kissed my share of frogs. Just as my career started to take off and my phone started ringing off the hook, my love life took the most bizarre turn.

First there was the conservative Jewish guy who seemed nice and down to earth. We could chat for hours and had the same sense of humor. Even though I was raised Christian, I was still worthy of his interest since my mother was Jewish. When we first got around to discussing my work, I told him I was a psychic. But, things took a dramatic turn when a few months later I mentioned that I was teaching a “You Are Psychic” class and wouldn’t be able to meet him for dinner. He threw a bit of a tantrum and said his parents wouldn’t approve of my work. I never heard from him again.

But don’t worry; I soon met a really hot firefighter. We saw each other from across the room just like in the movies, and that was it. He really, really liked me and he was cute. Yet, he turned into a frog the minute he saw some tarot cards on my kitchen table. He sped away saying that his mother also “saw” things and she was completely crazy.

Still I persevered! Next I met a wine steward. Though I’m a recovered alcoholic, I still somehow thought I could make it work. I mean he was so handsome and he did mention that he meditated and was into astrology; so of course we would fall madly in love. Ha! At first I thought it was great that he’d ask me about my abilities, but he and his friends soon began relating to me as if I was a 24/7 psychic hotline. He’d ask me what he was thinking or for insight at the most inopportune times. So, that was the end of that.

Then there was a smart and wonderful lawyer who would shower me with compliments, flowers, and chocolate. After several romantic dates, he invited me to his house in the Bahamas for the weekend. We sat at dinner planning our trip but things came to a dramatic halt when I mentioned I worked as a clairvoyant counselor. (Considering my recent dating experience at that point, I decided to avoid using the word “psychic” since it seemed to set off alarms!) The lawyer freaked out and I fled from the restaurant as he was insisting that he needed to save my soul.

And the singles parties! Don’t you love to hate singles parties? I usually avoided opportunities for small talk, but my well-meaning friend talked me into going to this swanky party one night. At this point, I was tired of the reactions people had to my work as a psychic. My friend said she told the other people I went to a private school growing up and had lived abroad for a bit. So, I tagged along. But then it curious partygoer got word that I was a recovered alcoholic who conversed with a giant angel and sometimes talked to dead people. All I could do after that was munch on the chips and pretend to be fascinated with a few pictures on the wall, until I could finally leave.

While talking with callers on my HayHouseRadio.com show, I often tell them to pay attention to red flags and the patterns in their lives. I’ve taught what I had to learn. At the time, the men I was attracting mirrored my inner conflict with being psychic and worthy of a stable committed man. You may also wonder how I missed the red flags. Indeed, my desire clouded my intuition. All of these frogs were also pushing me to do some work on myself. I go into detail of how you can clear you intuitive filters and get out of the haze of desire in my book Remembering the Future. When I finally paid attention and did that work, the payoff was beyond my greatest dreams.

By the time I had met my now husband Marc, I’d thrown my hands up in the air but was also comfortable with all of who I am. And, he was well worth the wait. Not only did he not run for the hills at the mention of the word psychic, he’s alright with doing dishes!

So, here are some of the lessons I’ve learned about love:

If you truly want an amazing healthy relationship, you need to love all of who you are.

When you keep attracting the same type of person, remember you are the common denominator. You have to take a look at YOU, not point fingers at them.

Have faith. Spirit knows what is in your highest good and has a plan for you that is yours alone.

Let go of attachment and trust. What is yours can never be taken away.

And, keep a sense of humor. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t taken all these men and their behavior so seriously.

Exercise:

What lessons have you learned about love? Take some time to journal about your partners, both past and present, and what message they have for you. Then look for a little humor in the experiences that didn’t turnout as you wanted.

Ask Spirit for a message: Close your eyes and get quiet for a few minutes. Then ask Spirit for a message for you about love. Write down whatever comes to mind through your intuition.

And, share your stories and lessons with us!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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So many of have been taught to measure our success through the accomplishment of goals. As a result, we get stuck on a goal-driven rollercoaster, feeling the highs when we accomplish something and the lows and frustrations when things don’t go as we plan. The problem is that goals don’t fulfill you on an ongoing basis; they either lead to more and more goals or crumble apart, leaving you to feel like you failed. While goals give you excitement and highs and lows, intentions provide you with enduring self-respect, purpose, and peace of mind.

Setting intentions is very different than goal making because it’s not focused on a future outcome. Rather, it’s a process that is focused on how you are being in the present moment. Your attention is on the “now.” The now is where ALL your power is.

Intention isn’t something you do, but rather a force behind everything in the Universe; it’s what makes an acorn a tree, causes the sun to rise, and gives us life. Intention is part of what I call the All That Is, the vast web of energy that flows through our Universe. This energy is always creating and is kind, loving, and inclusive. When you align yourself with that source—that intention—you tap into the profound power of the Universe. With intention, you also connect with your intuition and Spirit’s guidance for your highest good. In other words, with pure intentions, you step onto your highest path.

The most powerful intentions are grounded in your greatest values and purest desires. Many of us have been taught to treat intentions like goals and thus “intend” for a new car, more money, and so on. I used to do this myself when I first started working with intentions. But, ultimately, the best intentions are based on understanding of what matters most to you, such as love, kindness, reverence, and making a difference. You must make a commitment to align your worldly actions with your inner values.

It’s also important to consider the underlying emotions behind your intentions. For example, I recently had a client who wanted to know why she still hadn’t met the right partner even though she kept intending to have an amazing relationship. The problem was the emotions underlying her intention were grounded in wanting to gain approval outside of herself. I encouraged her to examine those emotions and set a new intention to love and approve of herself. Other common emotions that undermine intentions are manipulation, desperation, judgment, and fear.

Remember, intentions are a force behind everything in the Universe. If you want to tap into the power of that force and attract what’s in your highest good, then it’s important to ground your intentions in your deepest values.

Exercise:

What are your life intentions? Make a list of intentions that reflect your deepest values and desires. Remember to pay attention to underlying emotions and motivations. Create a list of your purest life intentions and read it each day.

For example, here are some of my favorite intentions:

I create my own happiness and nourish my soul.

I consciously choose thoughts and behaviors that create value and peace.

I love, value, and respect myself, others, and the world around me.

Set a daily intention: This week, make a habit of setting an intention when you wake up each morning. Ask yourself, “What do I need now? What is in my highest good today?” Use your intuition to get your answer and then set your intention to reflect it. Here are some examples:

Today, I am happy and light.

Today, I live in the present.

Today, I nurture my relationships and talk to new people.

Today, I trust my intuition above all else.

What are your favorite intentions? Please share them with all of us!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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If you would like to see more of Debra’s work, visit her YouTube Channel

]]> http://www.colettebaronreid.com/blog/astrology101/virgo-aug-23-22-analyst/feed/ 0 http://www.colettebaronreid.com/blog/new-thought/intuition-101-making-mercury-retrograde/ http://www.colettebaronreid.com/blog/new-thought/intuition-101-making-mercury-retrograde/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:49:29 +0000 Colette Baron-Reid http://www.colettebaronreid.com/blog/?p=2779 It’s that time again… Mercury Retrograde! If you just got frazzled at the mention of this planetary cycle, take a deep breath. Today I’m going to share my insight into the Retrograde and help you make the most of the next three weeks.

From August 20 through September 12, Mercury is retrograde at Virgo, the sign of fine-tuning. Mercury Retrograde happens three to four times per year, when the planet Mercury slows down and appears to stop and move backward. It’s an optical illusion, since there is forward movement, like speeding by a slow-moving train—as it recedes, it appears to go backward. The purpose of Mercury Retrograde is to review and revise our life and our connection with reality. In many ways, this time helps us prepare for the future by propelling us to re-align and re-evaluate our plans and ideas. Since Mercury rules communication, things most often go haywire in that area—computers go on the fritz, miscommunications abound, and the internet goes down. For example, right before my radio show yesterday, the internet went out in my house! Of course, we worked through it and the show went on, but frustrating things like this are common during the Retrograde. Communication impacts almost all areas of our lives, whether business, relationships, or health. So Mercury Retrograde can be a powerful and frustrating time.

Generally, retrograde planets present us with a series of events over which we seem to have little or no control, relating to the sign in which the retrograde occurs. For example, this Mercury Retrograde in Virgo presents different conditions from a Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn, which will happen in December. Virgo is an earth sign and often considered detail oriented, methodical, analytical, quiet, perfectionistic/critical, and work focused. So this retrograde is likely to bring up details in all areas—for example, past problems you need to reevaluate and let go of, business errors that need to be corrected, or details that need to be taken care of for the future. It’s a great time to tie up loose ends, go over things again and again, and read the fine print. It’s also important to be clear in your communication and not take any thing that’s said to you to heart. Minor frustrations may add up, especially in the work place. Delays are also common during any Mercury Retrograde—so give yourself extra time.

Ultimately, the next three weeks are time to focus on words that start with “Re”: review the details (even the small ones), reassess what’s happening in your life, relate to others in a clear manner, rest and relax (even in the midst of a frustration), and rejoice in the good fortune in your life now.

Exercise:

Review the details of your life! Take some time to journal today about everything that’s happening in your life now. What do you need to let go of? What things have you been putting off? What are you most thankful for? I also recommend doing some of the journal exercises in my book, Remembering the Future.

Create a new calming ritual for this retrograde. Perhaps you’ll commit to sitting quietly by a tree each morning or eating breakfast in bed. Or, you might decide to take a bath or go for a walk each night. Just choose something to commit to doing for the next three weeks that will help you stay grounded and at peace. If you’re “too busy” slow down, breathe. Make order in your home as a ritual exercise, breathing slowly repeating the affirmation “ all is well, all is well.” You’ll be amazed at how great you’ll feel.

And, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Mercury Retrograde. Please share them with us!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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Are you sometimes really hard on yourself? Do you have a tendency to dwell on your weaknesses or mistakes? Are you easily defeated by setbacks or criticism? Have you ever felt like you can’t openly ask for what you need? Do you sometimes unintentionally put others down?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time for a self-esteem tune up!

Healthy self-esteem is integral the enhancing your intuition. When you feel good about yourself, your intuitive filters are clear and you’re fully connected to the Divine. You’re able to cast your net into the world around you and thus move forward on your highest path. Conversely, when you don’t approve of yourself, your Goblin ego takes over and whispers more harsh and judging thoughts. Lack of self-esteem keeps you separated from the world around you and disconnected to your intuition. I talk quite a bit about this ego separation in my book, Remembering the Future. The more you disapprove of yourself, the more you end up stuck in a prison of your own making. And, you don’t want that!

Self-esteem involves making a choice to value and approve of yourself—no matter what. Many of us are so used to negativity that we’re more aware of our weaknesses than our strengths. While self-esteem isn’t about thinking you’re perfect— because nobody is — it involves knowing that you’re worthy of love, acceptance, and happiness. When you’re comfortable in your skin, you know you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. When you find that esteem from within, you’re also able to forgive yourself and others for mistakes. You don’t berate yourself for your weaknesses, rather you’re able to laugh at yourself!

Ultimately, when you love and approve of yourself, you’re awake and fully connected to the world around you. When you make a choice to cultivate your self-esteem, you strengthen your intuition and step onto your highest path.

Exercise:

Give Yourself a Pat on the Back!: Healthy self-esteem involves celebrating your strengths and achievements. So, make a LONG list of all the things you’ve ever done that make you proud. Include even the things that seem “small,” such as anything you’ve done for another person, how well you manage your time or money, etc. Then include all the attributes and qualities you have that also make you feel proud. Look at the list everyday this week and give yourself a pat on the back!

Take Charge of Your Mind!: Stop letting your mind dictate negative thoughts to you. Remember this is just your Goblin trying to rain on your parade and get you in separation mode. So, pay close attention to how you talk to yourself and keep negative chatter to a minimum. Anytime you catch yourself thinking something that is disapproving, take a deep breath and challenge it. For example, let’s say you find yourself thinking you can’t do something because it scares you. Catch the thought and ask yourself to find examples of when you did something that scared you. Likewise, don’t feed your mind with gossip, judgment, anger and so on.

Meditate: Quieting your mind is an extremely powerful way to stop negative chatter and connect with your intuition. So, even if you just count your breath for 10 minutes in the morning and again in the evening, this will have a profound impact on your self-esteem.

And, please share your thoughts on self-esteem and approval! I’d love to hear what you’re most proud of—remember we’re all connected and learning from one another. And, if there is a subject you’d like for me to write a blog on, please let me know.

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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Have you ever had a similar experience of neglecting your intuition in favor of your ambition? Is what you want right for you and the world? Are you willing to do what it takes?

The impulse to strive for what we want to achieve is as strong as the will to survive. I’ve always believed that we all can do anything we set our minds to, but so many of us get stuck and confused when it comes to moving forward with our goals. Lately while doing readings with clients, I’ve noticed a common theme—confused ambition. So many of you have asked me what you should be doing with your life or whether the new business idea you have will take off. So, I thought it was time to talk about ambition and right livelihood.

We live in a busy world that peddles the idea that everyone has to be an overnight sensation or instant success. We’re programmed to look for shortcuts and assume that if our goals don’t come to fruition quickly, they aren’t worth our time. We want it all NOW! Yet, when we have such a constant craving for the end result, we become disconnected with the present—where all of our power is. You’ve probably heard the expression that life is more about the journey than the destination. If we focus more on the destination, we lose touch with our intuition and the Divine and fail to see what’s being presented on our path to lead us to our highest good. We also often end up feeling unhappy and frustrated. Right livelihood starts with loving the process more than you want something.

So, if you could do anything, what would you want to achieve? Many of us aren’t completely sure how to answer this. In some cases, we were brought up thinking we “should” attain certain goals and we lose touch with our true desires. When you think about what you want to achieve, I’d like to encourage you to let go of the “shoulds” and think more about how you can be of service to the world. What skills and gifts can you give to others? And what are ways you can give them? Remember, Spirit is always trying to get your attention, sending you messages about what innate gifts you have to bring to the world.

It’s also important to look at the emotions behind our ambitions. Oftentimes, we long for the feeling behind a goal just as much (or more) than the goal itself. For example, a person might long to become a doctor because she unconsciously believes that it would make people respect her. Other underlying longings might be fame, money, success, love, acceptance, and so on. When you’re aware of that underlying emotion, you can let go of any desperation about the process becomes less desperate and find ways to nurture those feelings now.

Lastly, our lives aren’t meant to be a linear process. Even when our ambitions are authentic, we’re all going to experience ups and downs. We must take action towards our goals while we also leave the ultimate outcome up to the Divine. We need to live and learn in the now and trust in the future.

Exercise:

What are your gifts: Make a list of all the gifts you have to bring to the world. What are your talents and best attributes? What do people often compliment about you?

Then, ask yourself how you can use those gifts to be of service? What are some ways you can help others and the world?

Get clear about your ambitions? Make a list of all that goals you want to attain in your life. What will your life be like if you attain those goals? Paint a picture. Then, look over them and list the feelings that you want to get from attaining each goal. What are some ways you can start to experience those feelings even if you haven’t yet achieved the goals?

Then, look over each goal and ask yourself whether you’re really committed to it. Are you willing to do what it takes and make sacrifices?

And, I’d love to read about your own experiences with ambition and the process of success. Please post a comment!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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Are you struggling with relationship patterns that aren’t in your best interest? Do you wonder why the Universe keeps sending you the same kinds of partners? Are you longing and yearning for love to complete you?

If you’re familiar with my work, you’ve probably heard me talk about the Goblin before. I use the character of the Goblin to represent the wounded ego we all have. As our shadow, the Goblin holds onto what we’ve disowned in ourselves—fears, judgment, abandonment, low self-worth, victimization, shame, anger, resentment, and so on. In past blogs as well as in my book, Remembering the Future, I talk quite a bit about the Goblin and intuition. Today I want to share my insight into how your Goblin may be keeping you stuck in relationship dramas and what you need to do to get the true partnership you deserve. .

I’ve used the tale about the little Goblin to illustrate what happens when your wounded ego is in the driver’s seat of your relationships. When you’re not conscious of this wounded aspect of yourself, you give it your power. And so, filled with repressed emotions and experiences (often from childhood), your Goblin tries to protect you by repeating false ideas and patterns, as if to prove to you that they are true. For example, if you don’t think you’re lovable, your Goblin will look for an experience that will validate that false belief. If you’re unconsciously afraid of commitment or you don’t think you deserve real love, your Goblin will find you partners who are also afraid of commitment. If deep down you’re a people pleaser and think you have to change for someone to love you, then your Goblin will find you someone who is controlling. Unfortunately, when your Goblin is running the show, it can’t have a relationship with anyone else but another Goblin. Hence, you keep attracting the same kinds of “damaged” goods, leaving you feeling frustrated that you have such bad luck. Believe me, I know who how frustrating that is… I’ve been there! And I’m happy to tell you that you can change all this.

When you own your wounded ego and become conscious of the patterns, then you’ll attract a relationship that reflects the healthier part of you. The Goblin is an important part of your relationship story because it points you to opportunities for healing and growth. The problem is that many of us just keep repeating the patterns without stopping to look closely at how our unconscious beliefs may be impacting our experience. We get frustrated with other people or curse the Universe when we really need to see that we are the common denominator in all of our experiences. Though that might sound a bit scary, it’s actually quite empowering. As the common denominator, you have the ability to change your experience by digging deep within yourself and developing awareness. When you get to know and love the wounded part of yourself, you reconnect with your soul and intuition and open yourself to a mutually committed partnership.

Exercise:

Notice the patterns: Make a list of all the “positive” and “negative” qualities that are common to the people you’ve attracted. Then, look at how you also own those qualities. Pay special attention to the “negative” qualities that caused you the most frustration. How have you exhibited those qualities?

For example, let’s say Jamie says that all of the men she’s attracted have abandoned her. If she puts the attention back on herself, she may also see that she has an expectation of abandonment or that she has abandoned herself by not staying loyal to her dreams of a mutual partnership.

Send love to your Goblin!: Meditation is a great way to send love to your Goblin. So, take some time this week to do my Goblin meditation, which is in my Say Hello to Your Goblin blog.

And, please share your thoughts about this blog in the comment box. Remember we all learn from one another.

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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Here are 14 hypothetical questions about situations that resemble experiences many of us have had at some point. As you read them, put yourself in the situation and note what your reaction would be. There are no right or wrong answers to any of these. Just be honest with yourself and stick with your first answer. Then I’ll help you make more sense of your reactions.

Intuitive Self-Assessment Questions

1. You discover that your waitperson leaves an entrée off your bill. Do you speak up or hope he/she doesn’t notice?

2. A friend has asked you to be in her wedding. You aren’t as close as you used to be and you really don’t want to be a bridesmaid. Do you agree anyway?

3. Your mother always has an opinion about how you should run your life. How do you deal with it?

4. You’re waiting in line at the grocery store when someone cuts in front of you. How do you react?

5. You wake up feeling awful and should probably stay home sick. Yet, there’s so much to do at work today, and you’re not sure things will get done without you. Do you go to work or trust your coworkers can handle everything?

6. A friend calls you and starts gossiping about someone you know. Do you join the conversation?

7. Someone just criticized you. How do you react?

8. You’re heading to a local pool to relax and read for the afternoon. As you’re packing a backpack, you reach for this fascinating spiritual book you’ve been reading. But then you remember that the friends you’re going with aren’t into spiritual topics and will probably roll their eyes. Do you still bring the book?

9. You think your neighbors are abusing their dog. You hear the dog crying every night and every time you see him, he looks so fragile. What do you do?

10. You’re out shopping for a new swimsuit, trying them on in the dressing room.  How do you talk to yourself when you look in the full-length mirror?

11. You and your partner have an argument. Do you wait for him/her to apologize first?

12. A senior coworker takes credit for your work. What do you do?

13. Your mother wasn’t the greatest parent, but over the last few years she’s tried to make amends. Do you continue to hold a grudge?

14. A psychic tells you that you’re going to lose your job in the next month. You intuitively know that he’s/she’s not correct. Do you still freak out?

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As I said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. But, your reaction to each question is a mirror of where you are in your life now. How you chose to react, or wish you would choose to react is just an indication of who you are or would rather be.

We all see, hear, feel, and experience the world through lenses or filters, which come from our life experiences, egos, ancestors, and culture. Everything that enters our mind and experience moves through our filter and we respond accordingly. Often when life isn’t quite how we want it to be, we’re looking through a lens that doesn’t support our highest good—your Goblin, for example. With self-awareness, we have the power to change the filter through which we see and react to life’s ups and downs. As I’ve said before, when you first change yourself, the world responds accordingly.

So, back to the assessment… You probably breezed through some questions, indicating that those answers resonated with your higher self. Other questions likely left you wishing you had a different answer. In that case, you’ll want to look at that aspect of your life and examine what the filter you’re looking through. For example, some of your answers may have suggested you have an underlying pain you’re expressing through self-righteousness, judgment, abandonment, anger, entitlement and so on.

A great exercise for the rest of today would be to look at, and feel how you respond to every situation you encounter today. Ask your highest good why do you feel like you do. And if a situation intuitively doesn’t feel right, pay attention, what filter are you using to see with.

Remember, with self-awareness, you can change the filter through which you experience the world. And when you change your filter, you transform your entire experience.

“We must become the change we wish to see in the world” – Ghandi.

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

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While in Los Angeles for meetings this past week, I decided to browse around a few shops during some free time. As I was admiring some tunics in one store, I overheard a conversation between two women—let’s nickname them Suzy and Carol. Suzy was saying that she recently talked with her ex-boyfriend for the first time in months and they were thinking about getting back together. She asked Carol what she should do. Carol told Suzy that they absolutely shouldn’t get back together and people can’t change that much. Though visibly disappointed, Suzy started to agree with Carol even though it was clear to me that she intuitively knew Carol wasn’t right.

Now, don’t worry, I wasn’t eavesdropping! They were standing right next to me. Though I wanted to speak up and tell Suzy to follow her intuition, it just didn’t seem appropriate. I try to stick to a policy of not sharing insight with people unless they ask or it’s a life or death situation. But, I think they’ve unknowingly delivered a powerful message to all of us.

Have you ever had a similar experience of ignoring your intuition in favor of someone else’s opinions or what you think you should be doing? I think we all have. We live in a world that continuously pulls us outside of ourselves. Between our relationships, responsibilities, media, and even cultural norms, our vision seems to be constantly turned outward. Most of us also long to be liked, included, and accepted, which is only human. But, the more we look outside of ourselves for answers, the more we begin to get off course in our lives. The muck covers our eyes and we lose sight of our intuitive voice, which is constantly trying to show us who we really are and what’s in our highest good.

If you feel stuck or discontent, or that your life lacks purpose, I invite you to consider that what’s missing from your life could be actually be YOU. The great news is that you can always make a choice to step into your POWER and follow your inner voice. When you do make this choice, even in smaller ways, the pay-off is truly profound. One of the things I love about working with clients is that I get to witness their lives unfold year after year. In addition to giving them guidance in readings, I really make a point to empower people to get clear about who they are and follow their intuition. Many times in an initial reading, I’ll “meet” someone who is really stuck and unhappy and then talk with someone who has completely transformed his or her life by the time they come to me for a second reading six months or a year later.

When you step into your true power, you shine from the inside out. You connect with the All That Is and trust that when you follow your intuition, life unfolds in your highest good. You rise above judgments and stop beating yourself up. And you know that you are loved as who you really are.

Remember, we all have this intuitive power within us to completely revamp our lives and share our authentic gifts with the world.

Exercise:

Get to reacquainted with your authentic self!: Journaling is  a great way to do reestablish a relationship with yourself. Spend some time each day this week writing in your journal about your dreams, secrets, fears, and past. Don’t edit yourself. Lists are also good. Make a list of all of your special qualities, your dreams, and so on. Another step to take to tap into your true power is to try something you’ve always wanted to do, whether taking a yoga class or painting.

Put your Goblin to sleep: I talk quite a bit about our wounded egos in Remembering the Future as well as previous blogs. Each of us has this Goblin that longs for approval, focuses on judgment, and prevents us from stepping into our power. To put your Goblin to sleep, I encourage you to revisit the meditation video in my Say Goodbye to Your Goblin blog.

Open yourself to your intuition and Spirit: Here’s an exercise to help you connect with your intuition when it comes to making decisions. Get a coin and assign the two aspects of your decision to a side of the coin. For example, in Suzy’s case heads could have represented getting back together with her ex and tales could have indicated she shouldn’t. Then get quiet, close your eyes, and flip the coin. Open your eyes and look at the coin. What is your intuitive response to the coin’s answer? Of course, this isn’t about doing what the coin tells you to. It’s about connected with your intuition as your look at the coin.

I talk quite a bit about connecting with your intuition and Spirit in my books, Remembering the Future and Messages From Spirit, as well as almost all of my blogs. So, feel free to check them out for more exercises!

In service and love,

And please, if you found this information useful, then spread the love and use the Share This link below to share this post with people you know, facebook or twitter.

Become part of our wonderful community with a monthly draw for a free 15 minute reading with Colette, our newsletter, and so many giveaways. Go to the HOME page and join now!

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