Archive for the ‘Conscious Parenting’ Category

Merry Monday!

FIRST! Before I say another word, I want to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude and appreciation to those who increased MY abundance last week! It seems I was not the only person who has experience great results from our group abundance focus! I humbly accept your monetary gratitude and wish for it to return 10 fold to you and more.

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Today I want to talk about expectations. I was watching Joel Osteen and Esther Hicks yesterday (not together of course, but what a great show that’d be!) and they got me all fired up about expectations.

Are you someone who wakes up in the morning and dreads getting out of bed? Do you lay there and think about all the reason that you DON’T want to get up? Do you lay there and curse the things that you know ware coming because you fear them or they just don’t excite you?

That isn’t the way in which we were meant to live. Heck, forget meant to. That’s not the way to live a life! What kind of life can you possibly have when your very first thoughts of the day are immediately on all the negativity that you DON’T want in your life.

We are here for joy. We are meant to rejoice in this life that’s been given to us. Just look at how amazing it all is! And it’s all just for you and your pleasure!

I’ve decided to start a new practice in my life.

I want to practice being in joy because really, why would I want to be anywhere else? I have practiced being in joy for a few years now. Practiced taking those knee jerk, reactive thoughts and turning them into, if not joyful, at least neutral thoughts. Turning my mind back to co-creation and the fact that all things outside of me are only a reflection of that which is residing inside of me.

Practicing being in joy or turning to joy is the way I’ve built my legacy thus far. Every day is an awesome gift and an opportunity to expand my life, love, and joyfulness. Every person I encounter is an opportunity to send a joyous smile out from me that will spread throughout the land.

So, a new practice.
Well, not really. I’ve been making lists of things I appreciate in the morning since the winter solstice, I’ve just not gotten a very regular practice out of it. Frankly, some mornings I don’t feel all that grateful, but I know making these lists will help change that. I also had been thinking about making a list of intentions for the day. Not a to-do list! Not things really. More like what I expect FROM the day, not what’s expected of me during the day. There’s quite a difference there.

I very highly recommend “Smart Diary Suite” as a desktop journal. It’s very easy to download and it’s 100% free. You can purchase a complete version of it for like, $20, but I’ve been using the free version for months now and I love it. I, personally, have no need to upgrade. I’ve tried quite a few diary/journal applications before and this one is by far my favorite. It’s SO easy to use that I had it all figured out and functional within 5 minutes. I didn’t even need the help section at all.

I hope you’ll join me in my new practice. The only thing you stand to lose is your bad attitude and you stand to gain everything you ever wanted! Not a bad deal by any measure!

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~ Today, Monday (3-8-10) @ 6:13am EST, the Moon went v/c and remains until 12:13pm this afternoon ~

A nice quiet morning spent writing and relaxing in the quiet house alone. Heaven.

~ When She rights her course @ 12:13pm EST, She’ll move into Capricorn where She’ll remain, from Monday afternoon until 4:59pm EST on Wednesday (3-10-10) ~

My almanac says: “Capricorn develops strong structure. Focus on traditions, responsibilities, and obligations. A good time to set boundaries and rules.”

Capricorn is conservative, competitive, practical, and unemotional. Capricorn is also high energy and persistent in the pursuit of a goal. Creative is also a good Capricorn key word.

~ Moon Manifestation Tarot Card ~

*King of Swords*

Wow! What a fantastic powerhouse for me through Wednesday! The King of Swords represents the just. The ethical and honest. Renders truthful judgment. Insightful and concerned with justice and truth. He’s well spoken and articulate. Understood.

~ My Plan: Monday afternoon through Wednesday early evening ~

Today is my Day Spa Monday and I intend to take full advantage! Having creative imagination supported so nicely in Capricorn, I intend to also spend a good amount of time today in daydream. How wonderful to actually PLAN to daydream :) My Hubby is working on starting his own business and so much in my life is expanding super fast right now, spending some time daydreaming about how things will look can only serve to assist me!

We’re taking a family trip to Colorado to visit Ash and her family in April. We’re scheduled to leave by car on Thursday, April 1st. I can’t seem to daydream ENOUGH about this! I am… well… we ALL are SOOO excited about this! I’ve been attracting this one for a while now :D

I intend to round out Tuesday with some good, manual labor. I have a ton of painting and cleaning to do in our rental property so we can get someone in it again soon. Now that the court date has passed and things are calm again, it’s time for me to turn my focus into repair and find the peace in that house again.

Wednesday, right before the Moon v/c again, I have ANOTHER appointment at the school. This time I have to go talk to my son’s 2 teachers. I already had it out with the principal, and now that the teachers have denied any wrong-doing, I have to go back in and confront them myself. The moon AND the tarot are seemingly on my side in this, which I greatly appreciate.

Of course, I’m ALWAYS fully supported by the Universe. I guess plans and readings like this simply show me that I’ve got my own head in the right place and that I’m fully supporting the direction in which the Universe is nudging me to go.

I truly can’t even recall the last time everything didn’t turn out exactly as I’d wanted or at least in an equally pleasing fashion. Ah, the joys of walking a loving path and leading a charmed life.

Be blessed in all you do. The choice is yours.

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Tell a friend!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I have a kiddo home today.  He has a lot of stress going on right now.  He needs a day.

Sometimes we forget that our children are people too.  They have thoughts and feelings and stress and anxiety and fear just like adults do.  And while the things they are stressed out about aren’t a really big deal in the long run, they are the most important things in their life, which to them, makes it just as large, ominous and imposing as anything that might be stressing you out.

I don’t advocate skipping school, but given the nature of what’s happening for him in school right now and the facts that he tried to stay home this morning, then called from the nurses office “nauseated”, and they only have a half day today anyway, I went and picked him up.  I thought he might be faking the belly ache, but then I considered that when I’m stressed out, my belly hurts too.

Cancer stimulates emotional rapport between people.  Pinpoints needs, supports growth and nurturance.  Tend to domestic concerns.

That’s where the moon has been the past couple of days and I’d intended to rest.  I’m glad I went with that because that meant I had nothing else happening while I was in the school standing up for some pretty incredible injustices upon my son.  What a HIGHLY emotional day yesterday was!! For ALL of my clan.

But I do believe there was a pinpointing of needs and it was certainly a fantastic situation for some growth.  When emotions run high though, I find myself simply exhausted!

Having that beautiful moon today begin Her transit through Leo should help me recover from the exhaustion I’m feeling from such an emotional couple of days.

Today, Thursday (2-25-10) @ 12:48pm EST, the Moon v/c until 8:08pm this evening.

Calming rest and relaxation. That is what I’m ALL about on this beautiful day.  I had a pretty large snag in my morning, but I got a fantastic cup of coffee and went through my morning wake up time aimlessly on my laptop.  Then after everyone left for the day, I set my alter and lit a candle and prayed for relaxation and love and guidance.  I prayed for happy and peace filled days for everyone in my life and everyone in their lives too.  Most especially the ones I know that are in need of the peace. *winks@Annie

I’m REALLY sold on setting an alter every morning.  It REALLY has an effect on my mood.  If any other day had started the way this one did, I’d have lost the entire day.  Today, I laugh and move on.

When She rights her course @ 8:08pm EST, she’ll move into Leo where she’ll remain, from Thursday evening until 3:15pm EST on Saturday (2-27-10).

My almanac says: Leo draws emphasis to the self, to central ideas or institutions, away from connections with others and emotional needs.  People tend to be melodramatic.

~ Moon Manifestation Tarot Card ~

Seven of Staffs

~ My Plan: Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon ~

Well, I intend to find some relaxation no matter what!  But it’s looking like overall, it’s literally not in the cards.  The seven of staffs tells me that I’m to be waging war.  I need to stand my ground and be swift and sure.

I’d figured we’d be dealing with the school for the rest of the week and I guess I was right.  I cannot allow injustice upon children.  Now, however, I know that I’m being fully supported by the Universe in this undertaking… Not that there was ever a question.

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Tell a friend!

This is what I’ve decided to construct. Not a Book of Shadows. I know that the name of that book is part of the witches tradition, but that is the beauty of being a Solitary and making your own traditions in my humble opinion.

I thought about constructing a Book of Shadows and was giving thought to what I’d want to include and the more I thought about it, the more I thought of things I would include. Then the more things I listed to include, the more the similarity of the nature of those things seemed.

The nature of all of the things I would include in my Book of Shadows are things related to energy and healing and life and creation and joy and love. Those are not things of shadow. Those are things of light.

I also believe that working around some of the seemingly darker aspects of “witchcraft” will help me to reach a broader audience and be more readily accepted if not understood. And it’s not that I’m seeking anyone’s acceptance, but more that I believe that if I can bridge the gap between myself and someone else simply by altering my language, why shouldn’t I?

Besides, I find the idea of a Book of Light so much more appealing.
I know witches are said to/to have kept information regarding their magic in their Book of Shadows, but I see it like this.

My LIFE is my magic! Everything in my life, I have created… manifested. Everything I am interested in and am pursuing is under my spell and part of my magic. And my LIFE and my interests and pursuits center specifically around my home and family and health and Spiritual growth.

Maybe it’s… non-traditional, but I went and got myself a 3 ring binder. If I read something online I want to include in my personal book, I print it, punch it and include it. I’m free to use my trusty highlighter and make notes in every margin to my heart’s content! I even have section separators and folders. It organized so many things for me. I had information floating all over about all kinds of things and now I have a single location for all of it!

This translates over to everyone! You don’t have to be a witch to have your own book. Especially for the homemaker or mother. There’s so much we do and are responsible for. It really is wonderful to have a place to put it and a place to find it later! I even include a journal, calendar and my own personal “Tame the House” cleaning schedule/routine that helps me to conquer the chaos of life with boys!

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Today, I’m posting in honor of a post my friend Ash made on her blog. She’s become a step parent and is learning her own parenting style. In honor of that, I wanted to post about a portion of MY parenting style. She’s been implementing chores for her kiddos to do and is finding it’s a winning strategy.

This is HUGE in our house. I want my boys to know how to take care of themselves. They need to know how to take care of business and not giving them responsibilities around the house where they learn these valuable lessons is a disservice in my honest opinion.

So, here is the set up that my kids follow. This is for you Ash…. and anyone else who cares to see it :)

First is the calendars. Each child has their calendar. On it I write things to them and for them. It’s part of their check list to check their calendar. It ensures communication and scheduling. Under each child’s calendar is their chore list and their “specials” list. Specials are their music, art, gym etc. I just list it there because they like to know what each day holds.

Kyle (7) collects the dirty laundry from their shared bedroom on M-W-F and Kevin (10 this month) collects laundry from the bathroom hamper M-W-F. They alternate who cleans (5 min) the bedroom and family room and the days are designated as pick up and sweep OR pick up and dust, depending on the day. On Saturday Kyle clears the living room floor so Kevin can vacuum.

In the middle they have their “Before Bed Routine.” It gives them a check list that reminds them to put jammies on, brush their teeth, pack their book bags and pick out their clothes for morning (the last 2 take the stress out of the morning!).

This is their “After school List”. It’s what they do, first thing through the door after school and consists of: Empty your book bag, hang up your coat and bag, wash your hands!, have a snack, do your chores, do your homework.

They know, beyond a doubt, that they may not play video games or watch tv until they’ve been through their lists. This makes my life SO much easier. And it helps to prepare them for their future. I add a new thing once in a while to keep up with their growth, and as of last week, they’re now incurring a dollar a week for checking off all their stuff and having it all done. And their check list paper…. First they X it off… then they scribble it out… then they color in the square… then they put a sticker on it. This keeps them checking off their accomplishments, but it’s Earth friendly because the same check list last a whole month.

It works for us and I highly recommend it to other parents. Your kids WANT to help you and you’d be surprised what they’re capable of once you show them and give them a shot. They want to surprise you and make your proud. Give them a chance!!

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Enjoy These Great Resources!

• Need Help? You Can Heal Your Life
  
• Smile Across Your Heart: The Process of Building Self Love
  
• Love Your Body, Love Your Life: 5 Steps to End Negative Body Obsession and Start Living Happily and Confidently
  

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∞ In This Full Moon Edition ∞

• What’s to Smile About?
• New Links!
• Lunar Living Featured Article ∞ “Step 1 is Where I Start!”

   

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What’s to Smile About?

Here’s a link if you can’t see the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

I thought this video was absolutely to smile about. I sat here grinning like a fool. I hope you enjoy it too :)

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New Links!

Here is a list of links that have been featured recently in my blog. Sometimes there are things we want to go back and look at later, so here’s your chance!

• The Wishing Well
• Volunteers of America
• Serve.Gov
• Volunteer Match
• Local Charities
• Catholic Charities USA
• Local Independent Charities of America
• Breathing Prosperity
• Fly Lady!
• Free Car Repair Estimates Online

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Lunar Living Featured Article

This week’s article is all about me, hee hee… sort of.

Step 1 is where I Start!

People always want to know where to start. How do I get on the wagon? What should I do first? The answers are, start here, right now, just throw yourself onto the wagon if you want on, and written below is what I have just done for myself and where I strongly suggest you start. I’ve decided I need to be a little more active this lunar cycle. I haven’t made a goal list or vision board or anything like that for several months. I mean, it’s probably been nearly 6 months.

If there’s one thing I’ve found to be the absolute truth, it’s this:
If you’re not putting conscious thought into what you’re wanting to manifest, then you’re manifesting by default. All those unconscious thoughts that constantly float through your head that you’re not even fully aware of… those are the things you’re creating if you don’t pay attention.

1. Get yourself a sheet or two of paper. I used green, lined, super sticky post it notes, and then I stick them in my journal. This way I always have an up to date version of my goal list, and it’s mobile.
2. Now title each paper at the top. Mine are titled “Personal” and “Work” because those are the areas of my life in which I wish to manifest change.
3. Take each paper, one at a time, and make a list of goals relating to the title topic. On the personal paper, I’ve made a list of things I intend to do or have or attract or start on or whatever, that is personal in nature. The work side is goals related to my website/blog. While it’s not actually “work” for me, it IS “my work”. It’s my passion. It’s what I do.
4. Now this is where people tend to stop. Does that mean nothing will manifest? No. Some of the easiest things to manifest are things we consciously acknowledge and then move on from. If your beliefs are getting in the way of a goal, however, this is NOT where you should leave it. How do you know if your beliefs are getting in the way? What’s something you’ve wanted for a long time? Why don’t you have it yet? If you didn’t say, “Because my beliefs are getting in my way!”, then you’re wrong.

   This is the step where we create a new thought to think when our goal comes to mind. An affirmation of sorts. For instance, on my list of personal goals, I’ve listed “Become more tuned in to my intuitive nature.” I’m going to create an affirmation to go with this goal, and every time this goal comes into my mind, I’m going to think this thought and hear these words, and feel this truth: *Intuition comes easily to me now as I allow Source to flow and work through me.*

   I’ve never been one to sit and repeat affirmations a billion times on a schedule. That’s got to be the most boring thing I’ve ever heard of. Some people do enjoy it though. If that’s your thing, go for it! I tend to sort of chant affirmations in my head as I’m focusing on the related topic. When I sit down to meditate later, I’ll likely spend the first few minutes just relaxing and my affirmation will probably start playing in my mind as I become still. It will serve to focus my intent upon what I hope to accomplish during this time. I find that to be a very effective method.

   You don’t have to “affirm” on a daily basis though. It’s best if it happens multiple times a day and in answer to your ego when that part of your mind wanders to thoughts about your goal. That doesn’t mean that you should sit down and think about the goal you have several times a day. It means that during the day, you think about things. If you’re setting a goal, you have something you want to see done, something to accomplish, something pertaining to your life that you want to see change.

   I’ll use money as an example because this is the big one for most people. If you set a goal to have $1000 extra this month, you don’t want to create and recite an affirmation throughout the day as it occurs to you that you don’t yet have enough money. IF it occurs to you through your day that you don’t have enough money, saying an affirmation that changes the way you see that will be helpful, but you’re not trying to change your mind about just that one thousand dollars. You need to change your mind about ALL money. In this case, a great affirmation would be something like: *Money spent returns to me double!* Then, anytime you touch money, a check book, a debit/credit card, your wallet, even change out of the bottom of the washing machine…. smile, take a deep and cleansing breath, and tell the room at large the wonderfully productive and life changing view you’re taking on money!

   THAT is how I, personally use and highly recommend creating and using affirmations. See, once you have what I like to refer to as “The Phrase that Pays!”, and you use it a few times, it sticks in your head. And once it’s sticking in your head, that’s when the belief that was previously holding you back is now shifting. And THAT is the whooooole big secret to conscious manifestation and living by the law of attraction. Changing non serving beliefs to ones that will propel you toward your goal.

Your goal list(s) don’t have to be filled with deep, meaningful, life changing goals. If you HAVE goals like that, OF COURSE you should list them. But small, insignificant goals should hit the list too. My straight laced, old school, brimstone and fire, Christian grandmother told me when I was young that I shouldn’t pray for silly little things for myself. That’s not the Christian thing to do. I’ve come to a much different conclusion of my own.

I believe deep in my soul that once you’ve expressed a desire, consciously or not, everything that happens to you after that is leading you in the direction you’ve previously expressed a desire to move in. And how you perceive and process the events surrounding you as they occur is what sets the next portion of your path into motion. However your beliefs tell you to perceive determines what you experience. If your beliefs tell you there’s not enough or that it’s impossible, then your perception of the situation can NOT be any different. You can’t see what you don’t believe you’re seeing.

Keeping this in mind, how many more opportunities are you making available to yourself by asking for EVERYTHING? I mean, there are things you want. Whether you write them down or leave them in your head, you want them. Be honest with yourself. Don’t worry about how shallow it may seem or that you’ll look stupid because no one has to see your list but you. We are here to desire. We are here to desire and expand and grow and move forward. Wanting what you want and moving toward it is what you’re supposed to do!

Maybe you’ll find yourself in the place where you’re going to find one of your unimportant, shallow desires… and while you’re there, you experience the synchronicity that leads you to one of your greatest accomplishments. That insignificant nothing was the thing that put you in the place you needed to be to receive the abundance that was waiting for you.

The Universe does not judge you. It does not think less of you for what you desire. It only holds the keys and longs for you to ask. The more destinations along the way, the more opportunities to create a more direct route! The only person judging you is you. Anyone else you think is judging you is only judging themselves, perceiving what they believe about you according to what they’ve believed about others in their past, and manifesting their own version of reality. Whatever their judgments of you are… they don’t become part of your experience unless you allow them to alter your beliefs.

To break this down in a way that I explained it to my boys that was highly effective…. If someone says you’re stupid, it’s because inside, they have a fear that they’re stupid and that that is going to make you “better” than they are. When you hear them say that and allow it to alter what you already believe to be true, which is that you’re a very smart little boy, then that’s like saying, “They’re afraid they’re not smart enough so that must mean that I’m not smart enough.”

When you say it like that, it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. And when you remove fear and emotion from the equation, the bare, unclouded version is what you’re left with.

So be honest with yourself about what you want in your life. Be honest with the Universe about what you want in your life. Know that it’s your divine right to desire and create without fear of judgment.

The full moon is a wonderful time to take these first steps. Working toward achieving these goals is something to do in the time of the new moon, during the waxing light. But now, in this cleansing full moon and as it wanes, take advantage of your time by thinking over what your goals are and identifying beliefs that may be hindering your progress. By working on identifying and remolding beliefs now, you’ll be ready to take action to create in 2 weeks when the cycle begins again :)

♥Be Blessed∞

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*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*

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Enjoy These Great Resources!

• Need Help? You Can Heal Your Life
  
• Smile Across Your Heart: The Process of Building Self Love
  
• Love Your Body, Love Your Life: 5 Steps to End Negative Body Obsession and Start Living Happily and Confidently
  

*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*
in a reader or by Email