On rare occasion, less often than perhaps I wish, I live in perfect harmony with the universe. I feel connected with all around me, paying attention to signs and synchronicities that show me that I am protected and guided for by universal flow. This, I believe, is a reflection of the presence of love in my life.
When we allow ourselves to stop resisting what is around us (our reality) and we move into a greater state of peace, we become more open to love’s power and to love’s potential. We are better able to respond rather than to react, especially with others, and to let go of rigid positions in our thinking, overall being less judgmental in our relationships and more generous with giving and receiving love.
Many people think of love as an ideal feeling that they wish to have more of in their lives. One way to have more love is to cultivate a feeling of generosity in your life, allowing you to give love more freely. Some people believe that generosity is something they would do only after having all that they need for themselves. Actually, it is the opposite of that. For example, in the words of St. John of the Cross: “If there is no love between you, pour in love and you shall draw out love.”
If you wish to be heard, you can listen generously. If you wish to be understood, you can seek to understand. If you wish to be noticed, you can extend yourself to be more present.
It is the love we give away that creates the love we keep.
I grew up in a family of musicians. My father is a musician by hobby and played music constantly in the evenings when I was growing up. He often played the same song all evening until he perfected it. I am fortunate that my father is an excellent musician! I sincerely contribute my ability to “tune out” distractions, but also to drop into deep relaxation easily, as a result of always hearing music in my home.
Music is vibration. We are vibrational, and so is our environment. Often we have stressful days, and it is so helpful to wind down in the evening with music that can shift our moods and relax us.
What are some types of relaxing music? Here are few suggestions:
Harp: The peaceful sounds of the harp can lead you into deep states of relaxation by reducing your stress and tension;
Animal Sounds: Beautiful sounds of dolphins and whales have been recorded on CD’s and have been shown to quiet crying babies. These sounds are deep and low and evoke slow responses in our bodies;
Classical: Certain long, slow, and rhythmic pieces such as those in symphonies are very relaxing. Newer renditions of music by groups such as Enya are very spiritual and calming, moving the emotions;
Flowing Water and Nature Sounds: The rhythms found in nature, such as a flowing river sound or the soft repetition of waves create a relaxing effect;
YOUR Own Favorite Pieces: If you have positive associations with certain songs or artists, these can relax you and also uplift your spirit.
I learned to play guitar when I was 13 and grew up loving Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Elton John, to name a few, and I still get energized by their music! What are your favorite artists or songs?
Communicating effectively whether at work or at home can improve your relationships and resolve all types of issues.
Being able to listen attentively through effective body language and eye contact is essential. It is likewise helpful to refer to the other person’s actions rather than to their sense of person. For example, if you use “I” statements rather than “you” statements, you are generally more effective. “I feel concerned. . .” is better than “You are doing that wrong.”
Here are some tips for more effective communication:
1. Listen carefully to what others say and refrain from thinking of your own response instead of listening.
2. Seek to resolve problems without being too emotional in your exchange.
3. Write down how you feel if you are emotionally charged and leave it aside for a few hours. Come back to it and re-evaluate your tone before sending any email or letter out.
4. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes in order to better understand the opposing viewpoint.
5. Be able to lighten up and even laugh at yourself in order to lessen tension.
6. Time your exchanges right. Don’t expect a person to listen when he/she is walking out the door.
7. Say you are sorry if you are: Being able to take responsibility for your errors will actually relieve your own stress.
8. Be kind not only to others, but also to yourself. Celebrate your communication successes!
Dreams present you with images and feelings. When you dream, you are often finding answers and solutions to the problems that exist in your waking life. Tapping into and understanding this source of wisdom can enhance your understanding of your life issues.
A dream symbol is an image from the unconscious that is important for you to understand in the present. Symbols can have personal associations, and exploring these associations can help you to understand the dream’s message. It is helpful, though, to understand general objective associations of the dream symbol since it may be revealing.
For example, if you dreamed about a blue horse, you may first remember upon waking that your grandmother had a blue horse figurine that sat on her dresser when you were a child. Yet upon looking further into a dream book, you would see that “horse” reflects “travel, power, and freedom.” The color “blue” may be associated with the throat in energy medicine and may symbolize “speaking your truth.” So why did you dream of a blue horse? Perhaps your grandmother herself is significant to you in her role in your childhood, yet it may reflect a need for you to look at your authentic self–your connection to travel, power, freedom, and truth in your life.
Dream symbols and themes are common among people, and even though each dream may have unique meaning for the dreamer, here are a few “simple” dream meanings based on general dream dictionary ideas:
Teeth (losing teeth or falling out): Loose teeth may relate to changes that are coming and this is considered a common theme in adolescence.
House: The house usually symbolizes the psychological or emotional self. What is the condition of the house in the dream?
Being chased: This may mean that you are being pursued by an aspect of yourself–maybe one that another part of you is avoiding.
Attic: Usually symbolizes your mind or thinking.
Bath: Taking a bath in a dream or attempting to do so may indicate a need for “inner cleansing.”
Vehicle: (What type of vehicle—bicycle, car, airplane?) A vehicle reflects our passage or journey through life. What is our method of transportation? The vehicle may indicate the “speed” of the journey.
Fences: Dreams of fences is said to indicate “boundary” issues: either a need for better boundaries or too much rigidity.
Death: Your own death in a dream reflects new beginnings!
Dreams are magical, and analyzing them is a fascinating process. Using on-line resources for dream interpretation or a good dream dictionary can provide you with insight into the meaning of the dreams, and hence, the meaning of your life!
On rare occasion, less often than perhaps I wish, I live in perfect harmony with the universe. I feel connected with all around me, paying attention to signs and synchronicities that show me that I am protected and guided for by universal flow. This, I believe, is a reflection of the presence of love in my life.