Attitude

On January 20th, during the inauguration of our 44th president Barack Obama, my grandmother - Judy Barta, passed away. For the five days leading up to this experience, we consciously chose to be one hundred percent present with whatever needed to happen. We were available for each other but most importantly, for grandma, clearing a path for her to transition whenever she chose. We spent several hours testing and clearing her chakras to ensure they were open in order for her spirit to exit as easily as possible. We adorned her with essential oils of lavender and other herbs to assist in calming her anxiety. We performed Reiki and hands on healing, bathing her aura and energy body in love and light. For five days, I observed my grandmother shift from being fearful and confused to embodying peace. During her final moments, my mom and I intuitively tuned into to grandma's departing energy, recognizing she was about to transit. Without saying anything to each other, I went over to the window and opened it so that her Soul could easily exit. My mom began rattling angel bells next to Grandma's ears saying that they were calling her home and it was o.k. to go now. Then, impromptly and in unison, my mom and I began coaching grandma into the light. In perfect rythm with grandma's slowing down breath rate, we began saying out loud, "You can do this. You are doing it. You are doing it. You are almost there. You're doing it. You're doing it......" Then, with her last breath, "You did it. You're there!" And with that, while I was holding her hand, grandma went to the light. Mom and I began to cry and we were flooded with emotions of relief, sadness, gratitude and peace.

At 88 years old, my "gran gran" had finally been released from the prison and confusion of Alzheimer's. She was an inspiration to all who met her and she will be remembered for her go-getting attitude, her drive for life, and her incredible energy. She was a poet, a writer, an artist, an athlete, a teacher, an entrepreneur, and inventor.

The last word grandma spoke was "Attitude". In fact, she looped on it, saying it well over 15 times, just to make sure we would hear it clearly. I made note of it in my journal and we all commented on how perfect it was to be her last word of advice for us. Grandma always used to say, "there is no such thing as TRY. You either do it or you don't." She was always preaching about the importance of a positive attitude and was a true pioneer giving motivational speeches to others about the effects of a positive attitude on the body and our overall health. Well, if that message wasn't clear enough, this was.... Upon leaving the nursing home for the last and final time, mom and I went to exit out the side door where the car was parked. Just as I was about to open the door, I turned to my left and noticed the only picture in the hallway staring me in the face. It read, "Attitude... the little thing that makes a big difference".

I invite you this month to choose a quality of ATTITUDE. Choose to bring that quality of attitude to every event, every experience, every person you interact with this month. Choose to respond with that attitude. Choose to show up with that attitude. Choose to be the model of that attitude this month. Regardless of what is happening in your life, choose to bring a certain type of attitude to it. Question to ponder: What quality of my attitude will I choose to embody this month? (Some examples might be: an Attitude of Peace, an Attitude of Love, an Attitude of Acceptance, an Attitude of Gratitude?)

Intention

January is the perfect month to focus on the power of intention for it is the key to manifesting what we desire to have, be, or do. In order to manifest what you desire to experience, you must adjust your energy to that which you desire. You must BEcome what you desire. When we act "as if", with feeling & emotion, we begin to vibrate with different energy that literally attracts what we want. It is that simple. When we shift our awareness, our energy, and our state of mind, we attract different people and different experiences that match our vibrational output. The key is the vibrational output or energy, not just wishful, positive thinking. We must give off a resonance or vibration that matches the same resonance of what we desire. As the saying goes, "As within, so without." So, if you want to make 2009 the most incredible year of your life, become clear as to the person you desire to become and BE that person (from the inside). Invite the highest expression of yourself to be known. Write down what happens in your life when you make this shift. Notice, pay attention, and bring gratitude to what you are attracting in your life. The more aware you become about the person you desire to be, you can choose to BE that person. You cannot notice something outside of yourself without it existing inside of yourself.

Topic = Intention. Question = What do you want for yourself that would make 2009 the perfect year? What is one action step you can take this month to make your vision a reality?

Peace

Peace is a feeling that our heart and soul naturally seek as human beings. We want to be happy. We want to be loved. We want joy. Happiness, love, and joy are experiences of Peace. Yet we have been conditioned to seek more, do more, have more, which often distracts us from participating in the activities that bring us inner Peace.

So this month, you are invited to contemplate Peace by asking yourself: What does it mean to me to feel peaceful? What experiences or activities bring me Peace? Once you have answered these questions, name one action step or commitment that will bring more Peace into your life this month.

Oneness

The topic for November is ONENESS. Oneness is the recognition and experience that we are everything. It is the premise that everything is connected and unified. It is the premise that there is no such thing as separation.

To be in Oneness, we must realize that everything we see, feel, believe or experience that is outside of us, is merely a reflection of what is happening inside of us (consciously or unconsciously). If something comes into our awareness, be it a thought, a person, or interaction, it is an opportunity for us to look within and ask ourselves, "what is going on inside of me that is causing that person to show up?" "What is going on inside of me that is causing this experience?" These are powerful questions that lead to powerful truths. It is time for us to embrace and bring love to those parts of ourselves that we have disowned, shamed or judged. For it is those disowned, shamed, and judged aspects that are being reflected in our relationships, our communities, our government, and our world. It is these separated aspects of ourselves that are seeking love, attention, and acceptance. The only way to change our outer experience and state is to stop the blaming, shaming and judging and turn the attention inward.

Now, more than ever, Oneness is calling us. Oneness is asking us to embrace the disowned, separate aspects of ourselves and love them unconditionally. Oneness is asking us to love ourselves completely - the good and the bad, the light and the dark, the skinny and the fat, the black and the white, the republican and democrat. Bringing compassion, love and complete acceptance to these aspects, will radically shift our outer world from being disconnected to a state of united Oneness.

This is such a huge, powerful and timely topic. I chuckle at the fact that I picked this topic for November (the election month) way back in January. It is time for us to unite into Oneness. And to begin the dialogue and journey, we must begin with asking ourselves: "If everything is connected, what aspects of myself need unconditional love and acceptance?"

As you reflect on this question throughout the month, I invite you to check out the following resources that will help you achieve and experience a state of Oneness.

Website: www.awakeningintooneness.com
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKJ9-tV70hw
Book: Awakening Into Oneness, by Arjunah Ardagh
Book: Zero Limits, by Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len, PhD

Inspiration

The topic for September is INSPIRATION. To be "inspired" means to "be in Spirit", a simple recognition of Spirit within ourselves. Inspiration reminds us to connect to our own Source and calls us to proceed even when we are unsure of our goals and accomplishments. Therefore, the question to answer during this time is: What does being in-spirit mean to you? What sources give you inspiration? How can you cultivate those areas or things that bring you inspiration?

"Our purpose in life isn't to arrive at a destination where we find inspiration, just as the purpose of dancing isn't to end up in a particular spot on the floor. The purpose of dancing - and of life - is to enjoy every moment and every step, regardless of where we are when the music ends."

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Grace

The topic for August is GRACE. I think of Grace as a blessing or presence that is received as a gift to humankind from Source, whatever you choose Source to be. I also experience Grace as a state of being. For me it is the ability to attune myself to the natural rhythms of the universe with a presence of peace. This state comes from within me, yet it is directly connected to my higher power and the Divine. The state of Grace is an internal experience, more like a presence, unaltered by the external conditions that may be unfolding outside of ourselves. In other words, regardless of the metaphorical tornadoes, hurricanes and change that is going on outside of myself, when I am in a state of Grace, I am at peace, connected to a higher intelligence that encompasess my being. When I am in this state of Grace, I am not thinking, analyzing, or processing. I am simply present - acutely in the moment. Often times, this state happens to me, rather than inspite of me.

When I think of the gift of Grace, I also think of Deeksha, known as the Oneness Blessing. I was fortunate to be introduced to Deeksha by a serious of synchronistic events in 2006. Simply put, receiving Deeksha (a.k.a. The Oneness Blessing and the "gift of grace") results in growth in consciousness. It is an act of energy transfer by touch or by the power of intent. Each time I receive Deeksha, I experience a profound silencing of my monkey mind with an increasing ability to be present and connected. To learn more about what the Oneness Movement is and how it is sweeping the world, visit: http://www.onenessuniversity.org/oneness/cms/home/onenessblessing/index.html.

What does Grace mean to you? How can you welcome Grace into your life this month?