Do you feel what I feel?

Feeling a bit off or sensitive lately? Well, this morning was a total solar eclipse so perhaps you are/were feeling its energies. I took time this morning to read a bit about it and would like to share it with you for your own personal insight.

“This solar eclipse is encouraging our moods to acquire a new outlook on our personal image...some of you may be strongly touched by the need to get a new lease on life. If low self esteem sets you back on the ecliptic new moon, remember that you aren't inherently a failure-that's just an old pattern of behavior. A new pattern of positive self image and dignity can be created and the old beastly pattern will have to be tempered and corrected. Take time to apply self worth, self respect and discipline!”

I am not sure about you, but now that I pay attention to what the planets are doing, I observe my mood and emotions to see what is coming up for me. When I take the time to read things just seem to make sense and I can move with much more grace and ease. I have become respectful of the benefits of taking time to tap my inner resources to make the most of my life and the experiences I am having. What do I mean by that? Well, sometimes things don’t turn out the way we planned, or we find ourselves in a pickle and need to evaluate what our next move will be. Often times we look for others for guidance or see a doctor to tell us what is “wrong” with us without first checking in with the one who knows best. YOU. But in our crazy fast paced world, who really is taking time in solitude to let what ever needs to come up, come up. To really listen and respond to that inner suggestion that keeps coming up. Things such as call this person…go here…don’t eat that, you know you’ll feel like crap. Or man I really do not want to spend time with this person because when I do I feel so drained.

There is so much primal wisdom within each of us, but generally as a society we seem to be so disconnected. I grew up in Iowa where we worked hard, but rested too. It was quiet, the sky was big, the air was fresh, the nights were quiet and the relationships were our free time when not at work. A social event was not going out to dinner, but having a potluck with one of my 5200 relatives….a few families getting together which meant about 21 children having a ball. Parents played cards and we ran around the farm swinging off the ropes into bails of hay or playing ghost in the grave yard which was always a LONG game considering it took forever to find someone on a farm! So simple…so lovely.

I can remember my grandmother just sitting outside rocking in her chair and we would pick an apple up from under her tree and watch the cows walk home over the field back to my Uncle Jim’s for the night. We would watch the sun set and Grandma would stick her finger up in the air and say, we have to close the windows tonight….it is going to rain. For the love of God….how did she know that. SOLITUDE. Being quiet in nature…breathing…relaxing and just knowing.

So that said, today I found myself in an ever deep appreciation of my Iowa heritage and family. The Farmers Almanac is set according to the celestial movement and my lineage lived their life accordingly. Paying attention to the planets and my emotions today, I also observed the nutso people run around hooking horns and not managing their elevated emotions because the planets are funky. Then I came home and the advertisement on TV of course was about a pill that could make it all go away, it would help you deal with your nutso life. But the price is you’ll never be able to poop normal again and you may have ongoing headaches or heart complications as a result. Sign me up for that please Doc! Perhaps if we would just stop and take some time to listen to what our body, mind and the quiet voice of our beautiful eternal soul is trying to tell us, the world would be a kinder place.

That said, I do believe there is a shift taking place…I can see it and feel it. There is a quiet vibration under all the noise of a bustling urban city. People are beginning to turn to the wonders of solitude. More and more are taking up yoga and meditation. They are seeing the beauty and explosive taste of fresh organic produce on their tongue and following it up with a smile. They are turning to the like of Deepak Chopra and lending an ear to his message. Even Oprah is calling her audience to stretch themselves and read Ekhart Tolle and reflect on thoughts that perhaps are bigger then what their conscious mind can really understand…but their heart is fully embracing. I have faith, and I believe a shift is happening.

I hope you have the opportunity to join one of our Hip Goddess monthly events if you are in the Chicago area. Every part of me is so delighted to host the event to help build a community where we have an awareness or perhaps desire to spend a couple of hours out of our month to connect with new people and learn about a few holistic things that could encourage us to take another step in the direction of doing something for ourselves according to mother nature.

On a final note….when I blog…I am truly “blogging” I turn off all worries of making this grammatically correct….I am stepping out of my own way and just writing my peaceful thoughts as they comes up and share them with you. Tomorrow I will share with you a list of ways you can embrace your God/Goddess stature! Sleep well! Or like my Mother and Grandma Tillie says, “Nighty Night”

Wisdom

I read this quote today from Christine Northrup which eloquently speaks to my personal mission in life...to take what I have learned along my personal path of self improvement and understanding of the universal priciples that govern life and pass it along. I have deep gratitude for every author, practitioner, and friend who has exposed me to the many things that have taken me one step higher...one step closer to my dreams along the path I am walking. I do listen to what everyone has to say, and if it feels right to me, I go forward. I am my own authority.

My heart is on fire at every Hip Goddess Club as each time new faces are walking through my door. I know they are present to deliver a message to someone, or to receive a piece of wisdom from something I or one of our guests are teaching. Either way, the community is becoming more and more powerful. I hope you will join us soon! Check out www.hipgoddess.com and go to "The Club" section of the site to see when our next monthly Goddess Club is meeting.

Here is the quote from Christine.

"Every woman who heals herself helps heal all the women who came before her, and all the women who come after her." -Christine Northrup, M.D.

By the authority vested in me!

Great words right! You betcha! I am reading a terrific book at the moment that I just must share to remind you, as it did me, that we are our own best doctor, teacher, leader, mentor and parent.

So often when things go amiss in our life we turn to someone with a white coat, a couch to unload our "problems" to, or perhaps some sort of a pill to stop us from feeling or to take the pain away. The word "doctor" means "teacher". In the best of all worlds the task of these helpers is to teach you to read your symptoms, to help you understand the workings of the remedies they offer, and to show you how to collaborate with the intelligence of your body so it can heal and rejuvenate. Really. their task is to encourage self trust. But let's be honest, in most situations, this is not the case. It is, "Here take this pill and you'll be fine".

My challenge is to quiet myself, listen to what my body is really wanting, and bow to the silent invisible teacher within me and follow that guidance. I find that when I do that, the less I suffer. Trusting the intangible knowingness inside of us is certainly not an easy thing. Lots of doubt comes into play, not to mention the opinions of others. When I hear, "By the power vested in me!" it gives me such a powerful and charged feeling that YES, I am my own authority....I can do it.

Next time you are walking the tight rope, stop in your tracks, put your hand on your heart, and ask yourself what would be the wisest choice or path for me at this moment. Then be still and listen. Perhaps the answer will not show up in a new york minute, but just trust, have faith, and stand by. Allow the authority that has been with you since the day you were born to propel you forward beyond your wildest of dreams!

AMEN!

"In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy."

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine

May 5th Taurus New Moon

There are twelve two-week (new moon to full moon) cycles every year you can use to auspiciously develop intentions and initiate successful actions. We plant our seeds of intention on the new moon and "reap" them on the full moon. Here is your cosmic cycle tip for the month of May from Opulent Living's Astrologer Barbara Schermer. www.astrologyalive.com

New Moon in Earth Signs: Taurus. Use this auspicious 2 week period following today, Monday May 5th to focus on your physical life and health. Recommendations: Begin new health regimes (strengthen your body, start diets, and add nutritional support), organize and determine strategies, make systems more efficient, initiate your new business or start your new job. Perhaps this may be a good day to plant your Spring flowers. Plant your new moon intentions right into fertile mother earth!

Happy manifesting! May you reap your desires on the full moon May 19th!

What is your main purpose of life?

Good question...certainly not something you think about everyday, but it is something we all contemplate at some point in life. Personally speaking, after being confronted with my mortality and the unanswered question of just how much longer did I have to walk this planet....I certainly have contemplated this many times over.

I thought about things such as what did I want to accomplish in life....how do I want to be remembered? Should I be just living and loving the moment I had in front of me and have joy for the inhale and exhale I was able to take. Or should I be the crazy typical American and be focused on the future to improve my life, because it HAS to be better then this. Man... I should be setting goals complete with anal actions plans. UGH...should should should.

What did I do? Well for the first year post treatments I traveled and lived in the moment....I loved my family and friends..did a dance for my newly sprouted hair and did "I LOVE MYSELF" self talk in the mirror and reshaped my thoughts of fear of my body failing to thoughts such as, "For the love of God Susie, you are healed and perfect! Keep up the good work body! I trust you and thanks for the life force you are pumping through my veins"

Sure, I still do that kind of thing today, but I must admit that I do slip from celebrating the moment, to fixating on just where am I going and what do I want to accomplish. (...as I am writing I am having a flash back of a sweet and wise old Italian man advising me when I was traveling solo through Italy, "You crazy Americans...all you do is work/worry and you don't relax and enjoy." God was he right.)

OK...so I get back to the opening question of what is YOUR main purpose of life? Sure for each of us the doing will be different but the reason for the doing is all the same and that is why we have a life...it is our purpose. I am going to give you Eckhart Tolle's words directly if you can take this in.

"Discover that the main purpose in life is to bring the light of consciousness (love) into this world and so use whatever you do as a vehicle for consciousness."

In my laymans terms this translates to: Allow the main purpose of your life to bring the light of love into this world. What ever you are doing (your life work at the moment....raising a family...advancing in your career...being a student...volunteering...) may it be done for the purpose of bringing love into the world. To transmute the energy of life...the same energy that makes the flowers grow. It is hard to describe that energetic feeling, but you know it is there....you can feel it...it is real. You feel it in your heart, even if for a moment. It is that warm energy buzzing through your veins when something or someone takes your breath away. Perhaps like when you see your child being born. You cannot put words to it...but it is SOLID in your heart. IT IS REAL.

If we could all stop for a moment and ask ourselves, "Is what I am doing everyday doing something for the benefit of the whole? How do I feel when I am doing it?" Feel how that activity enriches or deepens not only your life, but that of countless others. Feel yourself being an opening through which energy flows through you for the benefit of all.

How about that for a purpose of life! Sounds...or should I say...feels good!

-peace

A lesson from the ancient redwoods

Yet another good message from Mother Nature herself....The ancient redwood trees of Northern California, huge as they are, have a very shallow root system, yet they cannot be blown over by the strongest wind. The secret of their stability is the interweaving of each tree's roots with those that stand by it. Thus, a vast network of support is formed just beneath the surface. In the wildest of storms, these trees hold each other up.

CORNY? I WISH!

This is blunt:

Live stock now consumes 80% of antibiotics in our nation. Why? Because they are now living on a corn fed diet versus grazing on grass. Eating a diet of corn and grains causes a state of acidosis. If left untreated, in this state of acidosis the animal will die. To counter act the state of acidosis, animals are fed continual low doses of antibiotics.

Why grain fed versus grass fed. It is cheaper to feed the animals a corn grain diet and they gain weight faster. Often times they suffer from ulcers brought on by over eating of grains and an acidic state.

Now then, the same is true for us. It all boils down to acid blood or alkaline blood to your health. Lots of meat and carbs means an acidic state. Then eat the meat of an acidic animal and double whammy yourself. It is basic science of acid versus alkaline. Choose wisely….eat your greens…if you choose to eat animals, then when possible look for grass fed. Whole Foods is starting to carry it and wild oats market carries it. Yes it is more expensive, but at some point we all pay for it right!

Now about the corn itself. Most of it is genetically modified now. It used to be high in nutrition…full of protein. Now genetically modified, corn can grow faster and resists the sprays we use on our crops. Nutritionally it is depleted. Most of the corn is going to produce high fructose corn syrup used in cheap foods such as sweetened soda and packaged goods. All this is contributes to the rising cases of diabetes and obesity.

Yikes….grow a garden…read your labels for non GMO…check your boxes for high fructose corn syrup….if you eat animals, eat grass fed when possible. Do something little everyday in a new direction and it will add up or down.

Check the link out below for more information!

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/

Toxic Overload! HELP!

Good Morning! So it has been almost 2 months for Gods sake since I have checked in and blogged away. Wondering where I have been? Me too for that matter. The last 3 months have been a whirl wind of listing our home on the market, living in rubber gloves cleaning for every showing, making all final decisions on the new construction of our new home...you know the drill paint, furniture etc....then actually moving in March. Three months that are a bleep in time.

All I can say is I had no idea what I had ahead of me when we started this journey. I have a entirely new respect for Realtors who deal with the buyers and sellers during this stressful time of their life, for the women out there who prepare their home, become full time maids, work AND handle a family! That is from my shoes and God knows Eric would have things to add here to. So in all this mess, something had to give...so bloggin went out the window fast!

The good news is we sold our place and moved into our new home in 3 and a half months! That's good stuff in this market. Our new home is brand spankin new. I love it with all my heart. However, as it is with life I am learning a HUGE lesson at this moment in time and would like to briefly share it with you.

Environmental toxins are so real! As I mentioned our new home is brand new. We are in a new housing development here in the city where all homes are brand new, and NOTHING is "GREEN" or environmentally friendly. That's right... toxic overload of dust and gases all over town around here!

Over the last 5 years I have done a significant amount of detoxing and my diet is rather pure living foods diet. That said, any little toxic bugger out there is detected and escorted out. Now that I am breathing in toxic fumes and dust daily, my lungs, liver and spleen are shouting, "What gives sister?". They are working overtime and as a result I am experiencing lots of flu like symptoms, headaches and loss of energy.

Why? Perhaps think about it this way, in a clean house you notice the dust bunny zoom across the floor and you snag it. 100 dust bunnies all at once may just put you over the edge! Now, if it is time for the housekeeper to come, that new dust bunny just joins the fun with the others and goes unnoticed, but the day will come when you need to clean house! It is usually called spring cleaning...translate that to the body and jump on the detox wagon! If not, then you may entertain some sort of a physical malfunction or disease later in life. It just all adds up at some point in life right!

I mention this for 2 reasons.

One, as I just described it is so important to detox your body at least once a year to stay ahead of the game and keep health issues at bay. I would suggest everyone consider taking something to support your liver on a daily basis. I will be carrying a product called "Liver Rescue" on my website http://www.hipgoddess.com/ beginning in May. That would be a terrific starting point!

Second, perhaps you may think twice about making "green" choices if you are building a new home or updating an existing one. Consider low VOC paints and Google green builders in your area if you are hiring a builder. Add lots of plants to your home to help purify and oxygenate the air.

Now, if you are in a new home and have children and pets.....PLEASE open your windows and invest in an air purifier to help move the toxins out of your home for their sweet immune systems, and YOURS! You may not feel anything, but trust me your liver is working over time!

A Gentle Reminder

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us.
It is not in some of us, it is in everyone.
-Author unknown

Does anything really need to be said in follow up to that? Have gratitude for the lovely perfection that you are! Peace!