I love being tuned in to messages from the Universe. They come through all kinds of intermediate sources; not merely limited to two leggeds, but also four leggeds, finned and winged ones. Lately, the latter have come a ’calling.

Back in April, as I was preparing for attending a life changing training called The Woman Within, which beckoned me to embark on ‘the hero’s journey’, (as explored and lauded by Joseph Campbell), I had the first of three literal, to be followed by one virtual visit by a  bird  not unfamiliar in these parts. I was prepping breakfast one morning and I heard a thump-thump-thump on my living room window. Curious, I walked over and saw a robin flapping a wing against the pane. As it sat there, making eye contact, I told it that I wasn’t going to let it in, but would gladly listen to what it had to say. It literally sat on the window sill for what seemed like 5 minutes and then flew away, only to return a few days later. I attended the weekend and emerged, feeling re-born. Once again, in the kitchen, I was drawn to my back door by the same little being, which was knocking on the glass there.

The first time it appeared, I thought about all of the references I could, connected with robins. Heralding spring, “the early bird gets the worm” and as I smiled, I recalled that my mother would sing

When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob Bobbin’ Along

When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along, along

There’ll be no more sobbin’ when he starts throbbin’ his old sweet song

 

Wake up, wake up you sleepy head

Get up, get out of your bed

Cheer up, cheer up the sun is red

Live, love, laugh and be happy

 

What if I were blue, now I’m walking through, walking through the fields of flowers

Rain may glisten but still I listen for hours and hours

I’m just a kid again doing what I did again, singing a song

When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along

Harry M. Woods (1926)

 

The lyrics resonated with the experiences I had been having around that time. Then I looked up the symbolic meaning of robin and here’s one reference that I found.

“Robin signifies stimulation of new growth and renewal in many areas of life. He teaches that any changes can be made with joy, laughter and a song in the heart. Robin shows how to ride the winds of passion within your heart and become independent through this change. Robin will teach you how to move forward with grace, tenacity, perseverance and assertion. Are you letting go of personal dramas? Ones that no longer serve your higher purpose? Are you exercising compassion and patience in mental, spiritual and emotional areas? Robin will teach how to incorporate new beginnings with faith and trust in the process. It is time to believe in yourself and use the inspiration that is given. Listen carefully. It is time sing your own song for a new period in life force abounds.” ~ Animal Totems

Important questions that I had literally been asking myself at that time and to this day.

A week or so ago, I attended yet another workshop offered by artist Jo Jayson about manifesting our dreams and desires. The friend who was hosting her, shares the name with her feathered namesake…Robin.  As we were gathering around the long tables, I noticed in front of each of us a card that Jo had designed that had several images on it. In the center was a woman, surrounded by a butterfly (which reminds me of my mom), a feather, which is one of my own spiritual symbols and a familiar crimson bibbed bird. I laughed as I shared with the group, the significance of the coming together of these items.

This past weekend, I embarked on a different type of journey, heading northward from my home in suburban Philadelphia up 95 to Providence, Rhode Island where my niece Rachael was graduating from Johnson and Wales, a world class culinary arts school. According to my GPS, the trip would likely take 5 ½ hours and I added in another 30 minutes for potty and stretch breaks. You know the saying “We make plans and God laughs?” S/he was clearly amused, since it turned into more than an 8 hour trip with the lovely addition of construction, at least one accident and a train derailment. Although I was inconvenienced, I did my best to maintain my composure, scattering only a few choice words that are not part of my ‘spiritual vocabulary’, reminding myself that I was traffic too and that there were people who were miles and miles behind me. I offered prayers for those who had more than minor disruption to their trip. I listened to music, talked with friends en route and gratefully sprawled out across the comfy Best Western bed when I arrived after 10 pm.

On my way, I took the George Washington Bridge that spans the river between New Jersey and New York. It was the site of a miracle a few years ago and the site of delight on Friday. Back in 2005 or so, on the 4^th of July weekend, I had been on my way from visiting friends and was about to cross over to NJ.  I witnessed a car sideswipe an armored car. The vehicle jumped up onto the railing above an at least 50 foot drop,  with two tires on one side and two on the other as it balanced perilously. I held up my hand and yelled out “NO!” At that moment, it landed with both tires on the road. Holy guacamole, Batman! It happened in an instant, it seemed and as I pulled over behind them, three men got out, and one instinctively reached for his gun that was in the holster, as I approached. “Put that thing away,” I called out to him. “I’m not going to rob you. I witnessed the accident.” I wasn’t about to tell them about the rest of it. A few minutes later, a fire truck that was on the street below, pulled up, followed by police. I stayed long enough to tell them what I saw, but not what I did.

This time, I eased across the span and looked to my left and my eye was drawn to a rooster casually strolling through the grass. Wondered if there is a large rooster population in the Bronx and why he showed up for me to see.

Elaine McRory – KauiiRooster

On Saturday, I arose, a bit more refreshed and had breakfast with the star of the show, as well as my sister and other assorted family members, then went back to Rachael’s apartment for some last minute cleaning out of the space that was worlds apart from the tiny dorm room I had in college, that would have fit at least three times into this place. As we were driving through town, I noticed a bit of Americana in the form of a huge ceramic rooster in front of a liquor store. It had the words God Bless America imprinted on it and the Stars and Stripes embedded in its puffed out chest. “Ok, Universe…can we bring in another one?” I love testing Spirit that way. Not two minutes later, I get to another intersection and who should be on the corner, struttin’ his stuff, but a man in a rooster suit! An ‘of course’ laugh coursed through me.

This morning, I looked up the symbolic meaning:

“Rooster is a Guardian, watcher and protector of the family. He is keenly aware of the surroundings within the physical and spiritual realms. He stimulates insights and forthrightness and confidence. Rooster has enthusiasm with optimism and will teach you the same. It’s time to open to the great mystery of the pasts to find your hidden self. Rooster will enlighten your path to take notice of your hidden powers. Time to welcome the sun with your voice and communication abilities with poise, confidence and assuredness. Rooster will show the power of persuasion and influence to accomplish endeavors. Rooster will aid in the process of presentation whether it be physical meetings or spiritual ones, communicating your heart’s intents and desires will be Rooster’s lesson.” ~ Animal Totems

When these things occur, and they do happen with glorious frequency these days since I am more open to their arrival, I remind myself that I can call in anything that is for my Highest Good. AND so can you…cockadoodle do!

Edie Weinstein, (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, and opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility, interfaith minister, social worker, cosmic concierge, BLISS coach, the host of the radio show called It’s All About Relationships on Vivid Life Radio www.vividlife.me, and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. www.liveinjoy.org

Order Edie’s book here: LIVEINJOY.ORG

Lessons Taught:

• Life as I know it, can change with the utterance of a simple sentence:  Whether it’s good or bad news, a few simple words strung together  can turn your life around. . . Once the words are said, it is up to us to figure out how to live with the news. . . that’s where the real work begins and the full impact of the sentences are revealed.  Deep breaths and doing all I can to stay focused and centered in my core stillness has been key in keeping me close to sane. . .

• Worrying is a ridiculous waste of EVERY THING: Oh boy . . . I’ve never been one to worry too much about things but in the last month or so, I was sucked in and did lots of it.  I’ve realized that worrying is an evil thing!  It does absolutely nothing worthwhile. It’s a waste of time and energy and the more I did it, the worse I felt! Time spent worrying is time that could be better spent doing anything else. . . something productive, creative, or fun!  Seriously, take it from someone that just came out of a worrying spell . . . DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME DOING THIS!!  Like the famous quote says: WORRY NEVER ROBS TOMORROW OF ITS SORROW, IT ONLY SAPS TODAY OF ITS JOY.

• In times of life challenges, what the mind can come up with, most of the time, is a million times worse than the actual situation:  I can’t begin to tell you how many outrageous scenarios of gloom and doom my mind was able to conjure up.  To the point where I felt paralyzed by fear and of course, this is all tied in to the worrying part of the equation of SUCKAGE.  You worry. Your mind comes up with things to allow you to continue to worry or worry even more.  Then you worry again, plus are fearful that what you’re imagining is really what’s going to happen and it’s an endless cycle, endless cycle, endless cycle. . .  My remedy for this, was to not allow myself to entertain negative, disruptive and false thoughts.  I wasn’t easy.  Especially if you go on the internet and look up things!! That’s a sure-fire way to allow worry and fear to run rampant.   Our thoughts, if not controlled and made to focus on the good and positive, will try and scare the crap out of us.  And once fear comes in, the battle for sanity can get even harder to win BUT, it is not impossible!!

• We are stronger than we think we are: This is so true.  I saw it the way my mother handled the news of having breast cancer and in the way she faced her surgery.  She was pure strength.  In my own case, I didn’t think I could go through with all of it without losing my mind.  I’ve never been one to handle hospitals and surgeries and blood with a good attitude.  So far, dealing with my mother’s personality has been the hardest part of it all.  The stuff that scared me, not so much.  We carry within us a strength that we can always tap into and use . . . it’s there. . . believe me.  I promise you.

• No matter what’s going on around you and what kind of fresh hell you think you’re going through, you always have a choice: This was not as easy to swallow as some of the other lessons.  There were a few days there where I wanted to just wallow in self-pity and I cursed my life.  There was one weekend where I cried so much that towards the end, I thought I’d broken something because I was dry. . . not a tear would come out.  I then looked for the shitty parts of my life and watched a few of them multiply.  Who needs that?  It wasn’t until I practically FORCED myself to think different thoughts, that I started to feel better and as a result, the things around me weren’t as horrible as I’d imagined. . . I was able to cope. . . But, I had to really FORCE myself to make the choice. . . I had to decide whether I wanted to stay in SUCKVILLE or feel better even if, believe it or not, feeling better felt harder to do.  Why is that?  I don’t really know the answer to that one, so, if you do, please leave it in the comments below. . . Why do we sometimes prefer to feel like shit instead of doing something to make ourselves feel better?

Anyway, those are a few of the lessons taught . . . I’m hoping I’ve gotten some of them down or at least, I’ll be able to take responsibility for my own actions the next time they come around. Life is a full-time class where the learning and lessons never stop. . . and you know what, there’s nothing we can do about it except be as present as possible while in this schoolroom and take as much of it in as we can.  Happy learning to all of us!!

I’m a Spiritual-Pop Artist and the founder and editor of this space, The Whirling Blog. I’m obsessed with color, getting people to love themselves, being creative and getting myself to HAPPY!

Twitter: @TheWhirlingGene

Facebook: The Whirling Blog & Gene-Manuel

Art: GENE-MANUELART.COM

Freshly showered after mowing the lawn, just as a mid-Spring rain came trickling and then pouring down, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I can look at my suburban yard and see it coming together; weed-whacking and flower planting are next. It is, as I am, a work in progress. Earlier in the day, I taught one of my favorite classes, called Writing from the Inside Out. Women ranging in age from early 30’s to mid-60’s gathered in my friend Jan’s beautifully decorated living room. As a Feng Shui practitioner and teacher and yoga instructor, her abode contains strategically placed mirrors, spiritual icons, a water fountain, inspirational books, music, and comfy furniture into which we sank. The attendees were eager to learn ways to increase their creative flow, listen to the Muse, focus their ideas into concrete results and hone their intuitive abilities. I began by telling them a story about how in the past few months, I have been unintentionally putting my clothes on either inside out or backward. A few months ago, I spoke at a conference in Maryland. As I was driving there, I looked down and noticed that my sleeveless shirt was on backward. When I arrived, I high-tailed it into the bathroom, in order to turn the shirt around. I figured I would take a pee break before stepping on stage and as I looked down again, I realized that my underwear was on inside out! I didn’t turn them around. No such thing as TMI between friends, folks. When we write, I believe that we turn ourselves inside out, exposing our innermost thoughts and feelings. It is a risk that many hesitate to take, but is ultimately rewarding when we do. So many people have a book in them that they keep from seeing the light of day, out of fear of rejection. Before I completed my Bliss Mistress book, my seasoned writer friend Jim Donovan encouraged me by reminding me that it wasn’t doing anyone any good in my head and that I needed to get it out there in the world.

I encourage fledgling writers to invoke the Goddess Nike and ‘just do it’. What I fervently believe is something that another wise wordsmith and writing teacher told me many years ago, after she and I met in-a supermarket check-out line. Donna Dvorak, who I thought of as my ‘other Jewish mother’, although nowhere near my mother’s age, said quite simply “writers write” and an adage is ‘they write what they know.’ How many of you are keen observers of life? That is an essential quality for a writer to possess, along with a curious mind and a passion for communication. When I am having an experience, one of my first thoughts, is “How can I express this so that other people can share the ride?” Readers tell me that is so for them and I have learned that per Rod Stewart “every picture tells a story’ (don’t it?), and I add that every story paints a picture. Making it a full sensory experience juices it up all the more. Before you sit down to write, I encourage to feel, taste, touch, smell and see something, anything. Today, before doing a writing exercise, I offered fresh strawberries and chocolate in which I asked them to indulge in silence. I could hear the birds chirping outside the window, see the sun peeking in out of the rain heavy clouds, feel a gentle breeze coming through the screen door, and then enjoyed the sweet treats myself.

Since this particular workshop was also about using intuitive and psychic abilities to enhance writing and using writing to enhance those gifts, we were all delighted at what I call a cosmic coincidence that occurred.

A high school classmate of Jan Schneider who hosted the workshop had registered under her married last name. As she sat on the sofa, Jan looked at her quizzically, as if sensing something familiar. When the light bulb moment came, both of them were delighted at the reconnection after several decades.

When this connection became apparent, I reminded the participants that these things happen all the time and are no longer to be considered the Twilight Zone experiences that we might have considered at earlier points in our lives. Call them synchronicities, God-incidents, serendipity, or ‘beshert’ which is Yiddish for ‘meant to be’; they call out for our attention and add color and pizazz to our writerly sensibilities.

Are you willing to let your writing ‘write you’ so that it seems that you and the words blend and merge? One exercise I enjoy and do often is called ‘automatic writing’ in which you ask a question about any aspect of your life, such as “What is my next step toward my goal?” or “What do I need to do in order to have greater peace of mind?” and then close your eyes, take a breath and let the words flow. Don’t censor or edit. Just be present to whatever arises from you. When you are finished, you will know. It will be just like being full and pushing away from the dinner table; satiated and pleased with the meal.

Then put it away for a bit and marvel when you take it out as you see what aspects have come to fruition. There are times over the years when I look back at things that I don’t recall writing, so in the moment I was when typing on a keyboard or scrawling in a journal.

I encourage all writers to carry a notebook and with them, so that when inspiration shows up at their door, they will be able to respond with hospitality and invite it in for coffee, tea or chai, and most definitely chocolate.

Write on!

Featured image: Penning A Letter by George Goodwin Kilburne

Edie Weinstein, (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, and opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility, interfaith minister, social worker, cosmic concierge, BLISS coach, the host of the radio show called It’s All About Relationships on Vivid Life Radio www.vividlife.me, and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. www.liveinjoy.org

Order Edie’s book here: LIVEINJOY.ORG

I know and sense I will be in a deeply powerful, loving, intimate partnership someday.. however for that to be, is to BE it. To be powerful, loving, intimate with myself first and foremost, to expand into ALL life.. real Intimate partnership is ALL-INCLUSIVE.

I have found when people put themselves into the dating scene, it becomes a place of judgement and inauthenticity… that dating isn’t actually about BEing fully present and connecting with someone from the heart, but is actually about putting someone into a box and judging whether they fit into that box or not… it’s very very limiting and leaves very little room for true love to expand to it’s highest and fullest potential.

All of the judgements we place on others are actually the very judgements we place on ourselves, which makes it impossible to actually show up FULLY as we are – so we actually aren’t even able to make authentic connections with others, and really feel into what the connecting actually is because we are placing too much on the outside, rather than moving from the inside-out.

KEY: It is never ever about anyone but YOU.

It is never about the other person. It is always about you.

So when we go into a situation not fully ourselves because we are more concerned about the labels of dating and judging the other person on who they could or should be to us, we aren’t actually fully ourselves in the situation (no matter how much we want to convince ourselves we are).

Then we leave the date and often find we don’t get a call back, or are upset because it didn’t go the way we had hoped. What I have found is, it actually is not that we are upset about what the other person did or didn’t do… we are actually feeling the pain of yet again having disconnected from who we are and not being fully ourselves moment to moment.

The pain of rejection is actually not from another, but the rejection of you rejecting yourself. Your highest self.

When we rely on others to fulfill on and validate our worth, rather than discovering that unchanging peace and unconditional love within, it creates unnecessary pain and suffering.

When we are connected to ourselves… loving to ourselves…. and we KNOW who we are at the core, WTH is dating? Virtually non-existent, because we begin to open ourselves up to the NOW, and love whoever and whatever is present in front of us in the moment as they are, not as who we think they should be to us… and simply BE, feel, and know. Every moment becomes Divine Light shining through, guiding the way.

When we are in the FLOW of love, what is meant to BE will BE from the truest and deepest place within… try taking ANYTHING personally from here…

So.. can you love what’s here NOW… passionately, fiercely? Can you look into the mirror, or into eyes of the person in front of you now – whether stranger, friend, family, co-worker… and LOVE them with all of your heart now?

It’s time to LOVE. What else is there to do.

Love,

Andrea

Andrea DiLorenzo is a passionate, sensitive being, and intuitive woman committed to the power of internal transformation. She has chosen the path of spiritual mastership. The path of mastership is not something you get certified or trained in by societal standards, it is the deepest commitment one can make to the healing and wholing of ONEself – connecting to the truth of who you are inside, and emanating that love into and on the world. The path of mastership requires persistence, courage, and deep observation to pave a way of LOVE, and she has fully immersed herself as a transcendor on this path. Andrea has had the privilege of working side-by-side with one of the leading change-makers in the world right now, and was also one of the 10 visionaries chosen to participate in an exclusive transformational experience in Bali.

Visit Andrea’s website: SOULFULFILLED.COM
Facebook: Soulfulfilled
Twitter: @soulfulfilled

Laura Baran (LAURABARAN.COM)

To make a long story short, after a pretty emotionally rough month of February, I was still recovering when I had the opportunity to interview artist and friend Laura Baran for Welcome to the Whirl! (Watch it here: WELCOME TO THE WHIRL LAURA BARAN!) During the course of our conversation, Laura shared how meditating just 8 to 10 minutes a day, helped her in so many unbelievable ways.  As she told me her story, I immediately felt called to do what she’d done. . . or at least, try my own version of it.

Since March 25th, 2013, I have made it a priority to devote time in the mornings for my meditation practice.  I didn’t want to write about it until I felt sure that it was something I could keep doing.  Well, now it’s May 8th and there’s not enough time for me to write all of the incredible benefits that I’ve derived from this practice.  And I’ll be honest and say that the changes began on that very first day. . . they were evident. . . they were little miracles.  Those ten minutes at the very start, completely changed my outlook on my situation at the time.  And the changes and miracles keep happening.

Moleskine Journal ( with art by Me! and the perfect companion, No Worries Bliss Mist from Sister Bliss Extreme Aromatherapy)

As the time has passed, I’ve also added to my practice.  I not only meditate but I also do what Laura mentioned, which is I write in a journal.  For another 8 to 10 minutes I write positive aspects of my day ahead, whether it’s my current day job or my life in general.  That in itself has become a writing meditation that has completely changed my outlook on my days.  What I dreaded doing before has morphed into a peaceful, productive activity.

In addition, I’ve started a Mantra Meditation practice, thanks in part to Deva and Miten’s 21-Day Mantra Meditation Journey via the Mentors Channel.  (Watch my interview with them here: WELCOME TO THE WHIRL DEVA & MITEN!) The mantras are the perfect companion to my morning ritual.  I’m concentrating on a specific mantra for 21 days that I chant or sing right after my silent meditation and before my writing. 

You might be asking, is it really working? Does this practice actually make a difference?  I can only answer for myself and the answer is a resounding YES! YES! YES!!  And as proof, the only thing I can say is that on Monday, I didn’t make time for my meditation.  I was too busy in the morning and I ran out of the house and didn’t have the chance to take even five minutes.  Ha! Wow! Was my day different!! I was hurried and scattered.  I felt annoyed and completely out of sorts for the entire day!  The beautiful calm that I am able to attain in the mornings via my meditation ritual wasn’t there.  Monday proved to me the importance, for me at least, of this practice for my overall well-being.  Meditation is also giving me strength to go through some of the challenges I’m currently facing, such as my mother’s battle with breast cancer and some major decisions that need to be made.  The practice is like a connection to the magic that’s all around us . . . tapping into miracles . . . 

If you need more proof, here are six benefits of meditation that you might not have heard of, via Rodale.com:

#1: Meditation can make you more productive.

#2: It’s good for surly teenagers.

#3: Meditation helps you ditch the painkillers.

#4: It’ll keep you happy.

#5: Meditate, combat hot flashes.

#6: Your heart loves it when you meditate.

I can’t recommend starting a meditation practice enough! Really. Please. Do this.  And don’t be afraid of it.  You don’t have to sit in complete silence and stillness without moving a muscle. . . find whatever works for you. . . do whatever will calm your mind and get you as present to the moment as you can.  Listen to soothing music and concentrate on the melody. . . try some mantras. . . pay attention to your breaths . . . Invite moments of stillness into your life and reap the incredible benefits. . . I promise, this can change your life. . . 

Namaste.

I’m a Spiritual-Pop Artist and the founder and editor of this space, The Whirling Blog. I’m obsessed with color, getting people to love themselves, being creative and getting myself to HAPPY!

Twitter: @TheWhirlingGene

Facebook: The Whirling Blog & Gene-Manuel

Art: GENE-MANUELART.COM

Welcome to Living Juicy Tuesdays; a garden of earthly delights filled with your favorite fruits, to nourish your body, mind and spirit. It is a place where you can enter, shoes off, toes tapping, grape stomping (I’ve always wanted to do that, ever since I saw the I Love Lucy episode in which she dances with abandon and then gets into a purple splashed free for all with the other woman in the barrel with her), imagination soaring, laughter lifting and perhaps even tears touching you. Come as you are….I certainly will. That way we can really get to know each other.

I’m honored that Gene-Manuel asked me to become a regular Whirler, since I have been a guest columnist for the past few months. His invitation offers yet another means of connection with kindred spirits world -wide. That’s one of the things that amazes me; as I am in the 5th decade of my life. When I was a kid, the ability to ‘meet’ people in whose physical presence I may never be, would have been science fiction. In fact, it WAS. I have been an avid Trekkie (although I’ve never been to a convention, I always fancied myself as Counselor Troi in the Next Generation series) and witness the real life use of equipment that was portrayed there. Their ‘communicators’ were the predecessors of our smart phones, tri-corders, our medical devices. I have yet to see anyone literally beamed up, although I do know some folks who are not quite on this planet.

I was introduced to the concept of living juicy by a colorfully creative artist and author whose name is an acronym – SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). Her he(artistry) offered permission to splash about in the joy and jubilance, as well as the muck and mud of life. Making mud pies can be as much fun as painting Picasso-esque portraiture. I had always been a curious child and don’t ever recall being bored, since I had an out of the box imagination that took me places I have never visited in this lifetime. I am a voracious reader; carrying a book with me wherever I go. Hard to imagine people who don’t like to read, since it opens so many portals into other realms and stretches our minds beyond the beyond. When gardening with my father in the strawberry patch on the side of our suburban South Jersey house, I thought I was digging to China. One time, I literally believed I had made it and was disappointed when my mother told me I had hit a water pipe instead. My bicycle became a horse, sticks and twigs in the woods were transformed into faerie villages. A hairbrush became a microphone as I rocked out in front of a full length mirror. Although I don’t remember having any ‘imaginary friends’ as a child, these days, I do commune with unseen beings. Good thing; being a psychiatric social worker, I know the difference between hallucinations and spiritual experiences.

Juicy living looks different for each of us. For me, it means entering each day with anticipation of what awaits moment to moment. I do my best to make my initial waking thought be one of gratitude. I look around my room and am grateful I can see it, even with my sleep blurred eyes. I take a deep breath and am glad that these lungs that used to struggle to breathe at times, due to childhood asthma, now enable me to do rigorous cardio ‘playouts’ at the gym and improv dance with friends. I am blessed that my mind, which occasionally experiences ‘middle aged moments’ still enables me to keep track of all of my activities, although a written and computerized calendar do help. I acknowledge my beautiful home that continues to be an eclectic work in progress into which I welcome family and friends. I am infinitely thankful for the sweet souls who grace my life and invite more in daily. I set an intention before getting out of bed (even before I pee) to “Have extraordinary experiences and meet amazing people.” Each day I do.

As my fingers are tapping on the keyboard of my trusty laptop companion, I am indulging in a treasured Saturday and Sunday morning ritual-listening to my favorite program on WXPN 88.5 (University of Pennsylvania Public Radio Station); called Sleepy Hollow, which is a blend of all manner of easing into the day music. That juices me and prepares me for the next 24 hours.

If you were to take a picture of me this morning, you would see that I am wearing black, white, red, pink speckled heart splashed pj bottoms with a yellow t-shirt and the finishing touch is a baby blue, pink, purple and green floral fleece robe…such a fashionista I can be at times. How are you garbed as you are reading these words? My son grimaces at times at my ‘hippie clothes’ and sensibilities. What’s funny is that at 26, he is more culturally conservative (although thankfully, not politically) than I am. I can be an embarrassment to him at times, since I dance in supermarket aisles, sing in public and flirt with babies. Oh and I smile at strangers. He used to ask if I knew the people I greeted and when I told him “Not yet,” he asked why I was saying hello to them. I reminded him that they are in my world. He would then roll his eyes, sigh and shrug.

I surround myself with beauty; feasting all my senses. I am learning to slow down and enjoy it all, when much of the time I had rushed to get through experiences to move on to the next. How much I had missed. Now I use my symbolic silly straw to get all of the juice from the bottom of the glass….sluuuuurrppp~

What juices you?  Feel free to splash back at bydivinedesign@comcast.net. I would love to keep a dialog flowing.

Edie Weinstein, (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, and opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility, interfaith minister, social worker, cosmic concierge, BLISS coach, the host of the radio show called It’s All About Relationships on Vivid Life Radio www.vividlife.me, and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. www.liveinjoy.org

Order Edie’s book here: LIVEINJOY.ORG

Most of us would be familiar with the term ‘attitude adjustment hour’ used by many pubs and hotels in Australia to promote their half price session between 5.00pm ish and 6.00pm ish. Alcohol certainly can have a dramatic influence on our attitude – not always positively of course! However, the concept of attitude adjustment hour is great.

Anyway what is ‘attitude’? The dictionary defines it as ‘posture of the body; settled behavior as showing opinion’. The thesaurus uses these words ‘stance, type, kind, pattern, frame of mind, mood.’ So that clarifies it doesn’t it?! Ha, ha.

It seems to me that attitude refers to the way we perceive things in life. What we filter all our information through; the ‘glasses’ through which we look at the world. The way we taint, color or tint what we see, hear and consequently feel. And it’s a choice – we can choose the glasses we want.

When we feel ‘up’ or positive, our posture reflects how we feel – upright and ready to face what comes, or slouched with our eyes looking down when we are negative or ‘depressed’. We are not sure if mood follows posture or posture follows mood – so until we are sure, if you feel down, make an effort to stand tall and look up and I bet it improves your mood.

(Getty Images/OJO Images)

People who have a ‘good’ attitude take responsibility for themselves and for what happens to them, and they are usually fun to be around. They can turn situations around and see the positive side; they view mistakes as learning; they choose to avoid people that drag them down; they are optimistic and expect good things to happen to them; they see the best in others.

‘Poor’ attitude people blame others for their circumstances and are stress or ‘depression carriers’! They will turn the best situation into one that is negative, and see mistakes as massive failures and as proof that life is miserable. These are the people who worry if they have nothing to worry about! They hang about other negative people and if you are feeling good they will try to point out why you should not! They expect the worst – and usually get it! Avoid them – at all costs.

We used to hear about people’s attitude problems, now we just hear that someone has ‘ an attitude’ – which means they have an attitude problem.

So the concept of an attitude adjustment period is great! What if we set aside a period of time each day to review our current attitude, the way we are viewing the world, and change it if we need to do so.

For example, at the end of the day, do you arrive home tense and in ‘hurry mode’? If you don’t think you do, you probably do! Ask your partner and children (who are brutally honest!) if your fuse is short when you come home, or if you are irritable, or if your behavior is any different from holiday behavior. This should give you valuable information about how much you unwind on the way home – and whether you need to adjust your attitude.

I wonder if it might be a good exercise to have a few attitude adjustment moments during the day. Perhaps on the way to work or anywhere, become conscious of what you are thinking about work and your day. Do you have a positive or negative attitude at that moment? Are you feeling enthusiastic or bored? And what sort of attitude or thinking could you choose instead?

Before those cynics out there in the real world cry ‘not more of this positive psychobabble!’, let me add – people who are positive in their outlook have better health, live longer, recover from disease more quickly, are more popular and suffer less stress. But other than that, being negative is just fine!

On reflection, it’s pretty easy to change your attitude to the weather. When I lived in an apartment with no garden, I used to hate rain. I would curse it and become irritable. The second I bought a house with a garden, I’d wake up to find it’s raining and think ‘hooray! I don’t have to water today’. So we can change our attitudes very quickly! If we want to.

Perhaps at lunchtime, you could spend a few minutes listening to yourself and the quality of your thoughts. How is your attitude?

One of the huge problems with having a negative, defeatist or victim mentality (another word for attitude) is that it somehow radiates out of your body and other people pick up on it. This shows up in meetings and corporate settings as much as in the home setting.

Be careful, you may infect your children with the ‘negative attitude’ virus which may affect their whole lives. You are certainly gifting your child a ‘filter’ – sort of like a pair of glasses that can be rose colored or black. And everything the child sees through your eyes will be colored the way you see it; and that’s the way they learn to view the world.

Even though some people might feel we have no control over what we are thinking, we do! The first step is to become aware of what we are thinking at any time. What are we saying to ourselves?

When we wish to change the text in a computer document we can delete and retype or just type over. Similarly with our minds, we can ‘type over’ the thoughts we would like to replace with preferred language.

Then there is your attitude to yourself. Do you like yourself? What about your body image? Do you need an attitude adjustment on your image or perception of yourself?

Why not try an attitude adjustment hour (not in the pub!) once a week, and then have ‘attitude adjustment minutes’ throughout every day. Stop, listen to your thoughts and images, replace them with more appropriate ones where necessary and then look for the difference in your life.

For those of you who think this idea sucks – try it this minute! It works! 

The Joy Project was created after Amanda had written a book on joy, called The Gospel of Joy. The Joy Project’s mission is to to change your life, find your joy, and become part of the joy movement.

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In the wake of the bombing in Boston, the world once again is reeling from a senseless act of violence. As I am typing those words, I wonder if there are any acts of violence that really do make sense. Anyone can justify lashing out, striking back or reacting if they feel that they or someone they love has been wronged. Who knows what went on in the minds of the alleged terrorists (one now dead and the other wounded and in custody) who schemed, plotted and designed to do harm to those they deemed expendable or a casualty of whatever war they were raging within themselves. I have read people’s Facebook postings that mostly blessedly focused on healing and putting the pieces back together in people’s shattered lives. Heck, if the Yankees can offer love to the Red Socks, then perhaps anything is possible. My friend Darrin asked who would join him as a warrior of love to face all of the overwhelming feelings of helplessness that erupt when he can’t wrap his mind around world events. He has had several recruits, including, as I indicate, this “peaceful warrior, armed with love.”

My perspective on this particular tragedy is that it is easy to only blame the perpetrators whose evil acts stole loved ones and threw the world into a heightened state of panic. Clearly they are sick and twisted and practice cognitive dissonance since they too have family and friends who they would not want decimated physically or emotionally by someone else’s misdeeds. The parents of Tamarlan who was 26 and Dzhokhar who at 19, with a throat wound is not able to clearly vocalize his intentions and actions, find it difficult to believe that their sons are capable of such acts. As I write this, three more people have been arrested as well.

We could express fear of the big bad wolf world in which we live or we could recognize that we too have within us a bit of that lupine energy that could gobble someone up without warning. Think about the story of the Native American grandfather who is telling his grandchildren about the two wolves who are battling for supremacy in his heart. One wolf is about greed, anger, violence and sadness. The other is about love, peace, compassion and joy. One of his grandchildren asks which one will win and his brilliant response is “The one that I feed.”

That makes so much sense to me, since I know first -hand that even though I didn’t plant the bombs that took the lives of three and hospitalized numerous others, sweeping people away emotionally, I am still part of the collective soup pot that feeds the energetic shifts. Anger begets anger and love calls unto itself and it answers. I contemplate this often and each day, I am faced with opportunities to love or fear, thereby adding my own imprint.

I recall a slogan from the 1970’s that I had seen at various women’s rights and Gay pride marches: “An Army of Lovers Cannot Fail” What if each of us claimed that for ourselves? What if we were indeed warriors for peace? I had the same reaction to the bomb attacks as I did the horrific happenings on 9/11. Simply this: I was not going to give the terrorists my fear, since that is what they intend to instill. Rather, I send out love and light, prayers for safety and recovery. I also pray for what in Judaism is called Tikkun Olam- the repair of the world, as I feed the collective soup pot.

Edie Weinstein, (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, and opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility, interfaith minister, social worker, cosmic concierge, BLISS coach, the host of the radio show called It’s All About Relationships on Vivid Life Radio www.vividlife.me, and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. www.liveinjoy.org

At the start of 2013, I came up with this crazy goal to train for my first triathlon and have that begin a 2 year training cycle that ends with me doing my first and likely LAST Ironman.  I have been keeping my eye on my friends who INSPIRE me to this massive feat of physical endurance and stamina.  I had some friends who were working the Boston Marathon, some were running and many friends who just call Boston and the surrounding areas home.  I myself called Boston home for almost two years.  It is the city that I met my very first boyfriend and fell in LOVE.  One doesn’t ever forget that and for me, Boston will always hold a special place in my heart.

When the news starting rolling in about the bombings during the marathon, I thought this couldn’t be happening.  It just seemed unreal.  Then the news started to roll in about the physical devastation of people having arms and legs blown off. A death toll had not been recognized yet as the news was too new to know that.  I thought what a disgusting twist of cruel irony that here on this day, people are at the finish line to cheer on friends and loved ones who completed something very physically demanding and challenging while celebrating the Human Spirit for endurance.  

The power of ‘new media’ which is not so new any longer, but it still carries that moniker nonetheless delivered the news quickly.  In the chaos, confusion, and anger that many of us were rightfully feeling, one person had a BEAUTIFUL, TOUCHING and UPLIFTING idea.  John Mulholland’s idea was to rally the running community to pull whoever wanted to do something symbolically unifying in standing with the City of Boston and the runners of the marathon who may have been injured and never finished and of course the people who were lost.  John asked people to run 26.2 miles in HONOR and SOLIDARITY with Boston.  It is such an AMAZING powerful idea that as I type this, there are 24, 521 runners who are running the Boston marathon distance over the course of 1 month, April 15 – May 15 to turn in miles for those who did not get to finish it themselves.   Runners from all over the world are posting their run miles for the day along with pictures of their sneakers from about mid-shin down.  It’s INCREDIBLE.

What I LOVE about this and chatted with John about, is that this was simply an idea.  A little seedling of a thought to help bring people together from such a horrific event, that he followed his heart and answered a simple call that has spoken to nearly 25,000 others to help everyone find a way to deal with this terrible tragedy in doing good for others and lifting up a wounded and shattered BOSTON.  Don’t get me wrong, Bostonians are a very tough group of folks and they jumped right back up and PUSHED back and we all know the rest of the news story relating to the 2 terrorists who did this.

I write about this to HONOR the HUMAN SPIRIT and HUMANITY that each of us is capable of showing in times of crisis.  Can you imagine though, if we all went about our daily lives doing this regardless of a need or not?  Can you IMAGINE the amount of SUCCESS, JOY, GIVING, SUPPORT, HAPPINESS, EQUALITY, and FAIRNESS each of us would experience?  It would be MIRACULOUSLY PURE JOY.  It is POSSIBLE.  

I CELEBRATE John Mulholland’s 26.2 for Boston and LOVE for his fellow Children of the LIGHT.

There is a WONDERFUL quote from Mr. Rodgers that goes…”When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.’” John Mulholland is one of those “Helpers.”

Dream. Reach. Live. Do.

Featured image courtesy of BOSTON Magazine

Featured Image: clothpaperscissors.com
Terry Christopher is a multi award-winning singer-songwriter. He has released two solo CDs, Take Another Look and Journey of a Wordsmith, to both critical and commercial acclaim. Terry is also the Executive Producer, as well as contributing artist on the 12 song compilation CD, United For The Ride Vol. Iwhich assisted raising funds for the Riders ofBraking The Cycle 2009. He is an avid cyclist and LGBT Activist focusing on the fight in HIV/AIDS who also rode in 10th Anniversary Wisconsin AIDS Ride, ACT 10 with 115 other cyclists/crew helping raise over $267,000 for the AIDS Network. Terry is based in New York City. (Photo: Drew Geraci)