Happy Thanksgiving! Counting our blessings…

Cheers! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Hope your day is filled with joyful times with family and friends! Don’t let expectations of the ‘perfect’ holiday ruin the incredible moments that you share. Often times, expectations can cause many of us to become stressed out about the holidays, making it hard to enjoy ourselves, crabby and naggy at our closest loved ones as we try to recreate the picture of what we think the ‘perfect’ holiday is.  Remember that really, there is only the present  moment and you get to decide how you are going to live in it.  Choose to be at peace, even if the turkey burns.  Choose to laugh when your children spill the gravy.  Choose to share love and a smile when your difficult in-laws show up.  You can choose to be happy, content and peaceful.  By choosing your emotions, others will see your peace and try to mirror it back.  It will allow everyone else to be at ease, laugh and have fun together.  Isn’t that really what the holidays are all about anyway?

This isn’t the day to bring up past fights, arguments or judgements we have about others in our lives.  It is about sharing the best parts of ourselves and opening our heart to allowing forgiveness and gratitude to shine out.  Take time today to think of something you appreciate about each person who is in your life.  It may take more time for some of the difficult people, especially if they are not choosing to be at peace today.  Remember that each person is in your life because you chose them to be there.  Receive the lesson, insight and gift that each person brings and let go of the judgement on them and yourself for the minor imperfections that make us all human. 

Gratitude Prayer –

Dear Mother Father God -

We are so thankful for this special day where we offer our thanks and gratitude for all of the blessings we have received in our lives.  Thank you for filling our lives with infinite prosperity and abundance in all things.  Thank you for this beautiful feast, prepared with loving hands and hearts filled with joy. 

Bless each hand that has played a role in the preparation of this feast, from the animals, to the farmers and everyone along the way.  Bless this food with your unconditional love and infinite peace so that it may nourish not only our bodies, but feed our minds, hearts and souls. 

Thank you for the infinite oneness we all share, may each person feel the loving connection to you and others today and not feel alone in this world.  Thank you for the joy that you bring to our lives so that each day can be filled with happiness and laughter.  Thank you for the wisdom that helps guide our lives so that it is filled with mercy, grace and compassion for ourselves and all others.  In gratitude, we thank you for every blessing in every area of our lives, today and always.  Amen!

Thank you for all of your love, laughter & friendship today and always!  We appeciate each and every one of you, for the special sparkling light that you are and the gift that you bring to our lives! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratitude Exercise for Thanksgiving

Bowl of Crystals

Would you like a fun exercise to express your gratitude at Thanksgiving?  This is a fun, new way to share what you are grateful for when gathered around the table for Thanksgiving.  It is quick and easy to prepare and doesn’t require a lot of supplies.  The exercise provides a great way to increase bonding and an increased understanding of abundance and gratitude in our every day lives.

 Supplies:

• Wine Goblet
• Crystals, Stones, Pebbles, Marbles, Coins
• Pitcher to pour water (maybe colored with food coloring)
• Plate or bowl for overflow of water

 Preparation Steps: 

1.  Test to see how many stones your goblet will need to overflow with blessings (water).  When I had performed this exercise in a group of 7, it took about 10-12 stones for each person in a wine goblet. The larger your party, the fewer stones each person will need to take.
2. The stones should be of varying sizes and shapes to provide interest.  Any color will do.  When I had performed this exercise with a group, I used mostly clear crystals with some darker colored ones thrown in.  The clear crystals represented all of the blessings we don’t always see in our lives, smaller crystals the small drops of happiness and darker crystals were easily seen or large blessings in our lives.
3. The goal of the exercise is to place as many stones into the goblet until the water overflows.  In a group of 5-6, that will take about 10-12 blessings a piece.  Larger groups may not need to take as many stones or if you have larger stones, it may take fewer blessings being shared. 

 Day of Exercise:

 Place the empty goblet into the overflow bowl and have the filled water pitcher and bowl of stones ready. 

 Say a few words to your family and friends gathered around the table to explain the exercise: 

 For example:  At this time of Thanksgiving, let us share the blessings we have received over the past year and express our gratitude for everything that is positive in our lives.  Within this pitcher is the water of life.  This water flows through each one of us and surrounds our lives in blessings of prosperity and abundance.  Watch as I pour the water of life into the goblet.  Some of you may say that the cup is half empty; others of you may say that the goblet is half full.  However, when we all share our blessings together, you may notice that all of our cups are overflowing with blessings of prosperity and abundance.  Please take 10-12 stones from the bowl as it is passed around. 

As the bowl is passed, you may explain the different types of blessings, by having some clear stones, small stones and colored stones for you to place in the cup. 

 Place a clear stone in the goblet:  Many times blessings fill our life’s cup and we hardly notice that they are there.  This could be a blessing of the sunshine, a safe commute to work or a smile on a loved one’s face. 

• Place a small stone in the cup:  other times we may feel that the blessings we receive are so small, they are hardly worth counting at all.  Though even with how tiny this blessing is, it raises the level of joy in our lives.
• Place the dark colored stone in the goblet:  other times, blessings are easy to see like this dark stone.  Such as a new job, a new car or a new friend in our lives. 

 

Speech to start sharing:  At this time, let us go around the circle and share one blessing at a time.  Together our blessings will overflow the cup with the water of life until we see the infinite blessings of abundance and prosperity in our lives.

One at a time, we will share what we are thankful for, what blessings we have received this last year and what we are grateful.  It doesn’t matter if someone else shared a similar blessing.  What matters is how much the blessing means to you.

 Continue to share until either, everyone’s stones are placed in or around the goblet or until the water has overflowed.  If your group gets into sharing, continue until no further blessings can be found. 

 Once the cup has overflowed, offer thanks and gratitude for all of the blessings you have received, share a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude.  Acknowledge that in the future you will continue to receive infinite prosperity and abundance in all of your lives.

 Simple gratitude prayer:

 We lift up our praise for all of the infinite blessings of abundance and prosperity we have received in our lives.  We are grateful for every day that is filled with love, joy and peace.  We feel honored that we will continue to receive all that we need every day of our lives.  We are grateful for the infinite abundance and prosperity that surrounds us every moment of every day.  Amen.

10 of Cups – Infinite Prosperity & Gratitude

10 of Cups, Rider-Waite-Smith

The 10 of Cups card represents many positive changes that are happening in your life.  When it shows up in a reading, it signifies that you will be receiving an overflow of blessings and infinite abundance from the Universe.  It is also a call for increased harmony, peace, gratitude and connection to your family and the Divine.  The keywords to think of for the 10 of Cups are:  abundance, family, gratitude, joy, peace and spirituality. 

 Below, each keyword is discussed in detail for what it could represent in your life if the 10 of Cups shows up in your reading.  Tomorrow, I will include information on how some cards may impact the 10 of Cups in a positive or challenging way. 

Keywords

Abundance	10 of Cups symbolizes a time of abundant blessings
	Celebrate the good fortune that is in your life!
	Experience an overflow of energy, peace and abundance in all areas of your life.
	Learning how to open up and receive infinite abundance in all areas of your life
	Open up your heart and enjoy your life!
	Rejoice! You have been victorious over struggles and trials during a challenging time in your life!

 

Family	As your blessings overflow, take time to support family and friends in need.  You have more than enough to share and care.
	At this time, your home returns to a place of harmony, peace and contentment.
	Celebrate your family.
	Create new family traditions and rituals that expand heart connections and bonding.
	Take time to forgive family and friends right now.
	The key to true happiness is found in family and friends.
	This card signifies that more time needs to be spent with family right now to create harmony through greater closeness and intimacy.
	This is a special time when family troubles can be solved by working to restore harmony.

 

Gratitude	Express gratitude by recognizing prosperity in all areas of your life.
	Express gratitude for your family, friends, health, and prosperity in all areas of your life.
	Offer thanks to the infinite creator by singing praise, prayers of thanksgiving and offering up the surrender of your heart and life for the benefit of all through service to those in need.
	Offer your thanks to the Earth by spending time in nature, taking care of earthly creatures and beautifying the Earth.
	Stay focused on receiving abundance.  Don’t step outside of the flow of blessings by looking for problems when there aren’t any to be found!
	Take time to count your blessings and express gratitude for what you have received.

 

Joy	Allow yourself to experience a joy beyond happiness, contentment and mere enjoyment!
	Embrace happiness as a choice, you can choose in each moment to be happy.
	Take delight in the world around you, notice the beauty, glory and joy that surrounds you every day.
	When this card pops up you will have more than enough joy and light to share

 

Peace	Allow yourself to experience deep inner and outer peace.
	During this time you will experience harmony and a closer connection with divine.
	Let go of stress, allow it to fly away from you on the wind.
	Release any anger, resentments or grudges that you are holding against yourself, family or friends.  Allow your heart and mind to be at peace.
	Remember that all elements of your life are in harmony and balance.
	Take time to maintain a sense of total well-being.
	When the 10 of Cups shows up, it is a sign to pamper yourself, rejuvenate your spirit and tap into the abundance of universal energy.

 

Spirituality	Divine connections offer increased intuition and ability to receive guidance and messages of wisdom.
	During this time you are in the flow of universal energy for increased prosperity, harmony and peace.
	Let joy and peace radiate from your spirit and shine a light to those around you.
	Now is the time to be in the moment and enjoy what is going on in your life as you are infinitely blessed right now!
	Now is the time to manifest and create abundance in your life fully supported by the Universe and All That Is.
	Open your heart to feel unconditional love for yourself and all others
	Radiate love and light from the depths of your soul and let it beam out of your face.
	Return to the sacred space and sanctuary found within your heart and home.  Within that sanctuary find contentment, peace, happiness & rejuvenation.
	Send thank you cards to those you love, expressing your appreciation for the gift of their love and presence in your life.
	Take the time to experience Oneness with the Universe and remember that all is good and all is well.
	Take time to meditate and receive guidance and support during this special time.
	Your spirit is walking closer with the divine now, allow the blessings from the universe to fall on you now.

Upcoming Event: Saturday 11/5 at Noon

Abundant Harvest

I will be presenting at the Tarot Illuminations Circle at Unity Church for Creative Living on Saturday, 9/11 at noon.   

• Address: 2777 Race Track Road,  St. Johns, FL 32259
• Telephone: (904) 287-1505
• Website: www.unityinjax.com

 I hope you will be able to join me there.  Cathy Mason leads Tarot Illuminations and it is a wonderful circle of spiritually active adults who support one another as we explore the tarot and other spiritual topics. 

This session’s topic is: Gratitude and the 10 of Cups

I will be leading a session on Gratitude.  I will discuss the symbols of the 10 of Cups in detail.  The 10 of Cups is the card that symbolizes overflowing abundance and infinite gratitude for the blessings received in this life.  Part of the session will include a gratitude ritual and ways to genuinely experience gratitude in every day life. 

A large body of recent work has suggested that people who are more grateful have higher levels of well-being.  Grateful people are happier, have less stress, are less depressed, and are more content with their lives and social relationships.  Through gratitude, we experience more positive ways of coping with the difficulties in life, seek out support from other people and are able to interpret and grow from the challenges in our lives.  Expressing and experiencing gratitude in our lives, helps us to sleep better each night as we think more about the positive aspect of life just before going to sleep. 

You’ve never met an ungrateful person who was happy,  nor have you ever met a grateful person who was unhappy.

- Zig Ziglar

Affirmations for Autumn 2010

Autumn provides a wonderful opportunity to both receive abundance and release negativity.  Use the natural ebb and flow of the season to give your spiritual life a boost and prepare for the coming dark reflective days of winter.  Each week between now and December 21^st, use a different affirmation to help you transition to winter. 

Keywords for meditation: abundance, prosperity, release, harmony, balance, peace and gratitude.

September 22-       Setember 29	As summer turns to fall, I offer gratitude for it all.
September 30 –         October 6	I release all that is no longer of my highest and greatest good.
October 7-                     October 13	I open my heart to receive abundance in all ways.
October 14-                 October 20	My life is filled with abundance and prosperity.
October 21-                  October 27	I only hold onto items that serve a purpose in my life.
October 28-                November 3	I express gratitude for all of the love in my life.
November 4 –                         November 10	My life is blessed with infinite prosperity and abundance in all ways.
November 11-             November 17	I release all that blocks me from living a balanced life.
November 18-             November 24	I give thanks for all that I have received and continue to receive.
November 25-        December 1	I am grateful for the blessings in my life.
December 2-                  December 8	My light shines in the darkness of night so I am at peace.
December 9-               December 15	My heart opens in love and joy every moment of every day.
December 16-               December 22	As fall turns to winter, my spirit lights the way until spring.

Autumn Equinox Ritual for Prosperity and Abundance

Autumn Equinox Crystal Grid

 

Amazing energies surround this year’s Autumn Equinox! These vibrations work with us to remove the blocks that keep us from receiving abundance and increase the opportunities for prosperity, gratitude and harmony.  With the full moon, Jupiter and Uranus almost in perfect alignment, it is an ideal time to send your intentions out to the universe.   

The Autumn Equinox is a time for celebration to observe the harvest and celebrate the abundance of the summer. We come together to offer gratitude for the prosperity received and the abundance that is yet to come. We celebrate and acknowledge the abundance that is found within our lives: spiritual, mental, emotional and physical abundance. Each area of our lives is blessed with infinite abundance. As we offer gratitude for what we have received, we open our hearts to receive infinite blessings every day of our lives.  

The Autumn Equinox is the balance between light and dark, between summer and winter. We give thanks for the abundance that the long days of summer have provided and take this time to prepare for the growing cold and dark. At this time, we balance, rest and simply BE with ourselves. In this moment and season, we remember who we are and who we would like to be. In this way, we prepare ourselves for the dark months of reflection that gives way to rebirth ourselves in the spring.  

Ritual Steps:  

1. Create sacred space by clearing with incense and intention.  

2. Bless each other with smudged sage and holy water.  

3. Open the circle by calling in the directions, elements and invoking Mother Father God.  

4. Offer the food that was brought forth for the feast and bless it for infinite abundance we have in our lives.  

5. Reflect on the blessings of this past year. We will perform a chant to raise our vibrations, release gratitude to the universe claiming infinite prosperity and abundance.  

6. Create crystal grid filled with our intentions for abundance, prosperity, harmony, balance and peace. Each person will help to create the crystal grid, placing their intentions into the crystals they place.  

7. Bless and share wine for connection to the oneness we all share.  

8. Thank Mother Father God, all of the directions and elements for their presence and close circle.  

    

    

Prosperity Crystal Grid

 

Blessings Fall on Everyone  

Alicia Crystalus  

As summer turns to fall,  

We thank God and Goddess for it All.  

The gifts we’ve received.  

And the wisdom we’ve perceived.  

The winds of change that blow  

That transform the Earth above and below  

The power of will and desire.  

The creative spark that stokes our fire.  

The rains of healing and harmony.  

The good Earth that brings forth prosperity.  

As summer turns to fall,  

We offer gratitude for it All.  

Blessings fall on every one  

For now at last our work is done.  

(Repeat as Power Rises – 3 or more times)  

As summer turns to fall,  

We offer gratitude for it All.  

Blessings fall on every one  

For now at last our work is done.

Preparing for Fall

Yellow Daisy

I can hardly believe that fall is fast approaching and summer is ending.  Perhaps this year it feels earlier than usual due to school starting a few weeks earlier in Florida than when I had lived up North and school didn’t start until after Labor Day, particularly not until after the Minnesota State Fair and the exhibition of the summer harvest in all of its magnificent glory.  In preparation for the coming fall, now is a good time to take stock of what you have accomplished over this year’s growing season.  

• Where the seeds that you planted in the spring able to take root and blossom into something you are proud of? 
• Do you still need to coax out a harvest from all the hard work you have done? 
• Perhaps some of your plants have died due to lack of water or nourishment?

Review each area of your life.  Praise yourself for all the hard work you have accomplished, even if it is not quite ready for you to harvest right now.  Perhaps what you are trying to grow is a winter crop that will bloom under the proper nourishment and support.  There is still time to reap an abundant harvest.  Are you open to receiving infinite abundance and prosperity in all areas of your life? 

Weed out of your life people, places and circumstances that take too much of your time and resources without giving anything back.  Don’t let weeds ruin the garden of your soul.  Many times weeds seem pretty and bright at first, it is only after time that you realize that they have taken over the entire garden and drowned out any other flower or plant.  You have a choice of what you allow to grow within the garden of your soul.  Be a master gardener and decide what is most important to your life and cultivate those positive choices in every aspect of your life.  You can create a masterpiece. 

Allow the energy from the full moon, release any build up of negativity and any regrets you may have over what has or hasn’t happened this summer.  Take time to rest, play and bask in the sun before the dark days of winter.  Store up all the joy, pleasure and relaxation that you can.  Give yourself permission to play with guilt-free abandon and spontaneity. 

  

Prosperity Mandala – What does Prosperity mean to you?

Last Wednesday night, a couple girlfriends and I got together for our weekly ladies’ night chat.  We often meet up to try a new place for dinner or grab a cup of coffee and discuss our lives.  Our chats often lead to spiritual discussions, reflecting on our dreams, visions, latest spiritual books we have read or methods we have tried.  Over the next few weeks we will be focusing on prosperity and abundance.  A topic we often reflect on.  Abundance comes in so many different forms from physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and materialistic wealth.  Our beliefs about prosperity and abundance can both bless us and hinder us, drawing to us what we need and blocking what we may feel we do not deserve.

One of the exercises we are performing at the moment is a Prosperity Mandala with Tarot Cards.  The first part of the Mandala is to pick out the cards that represent prosperity to you and meditate on why each of those cards represents prosperity.  If you want to do this too, shuffle your favorite tarot deck and then pick 3-5 cards that mean prosperity to you either by the picture or what you know the card represent symbolically. 

The PROSPERITY cards I chose were:

1. The Star – shining brightly, prosperity of time, relaxation, acceptance, brilliance
2. 10 of Cups – overflow of joy, blessings, prayer, praise, cup runs over with water of life, depth of hope, treasure, gifts, abundance in all things
3. 9 of Discs – abundance in the ability to do what I love, able to do the work I enjoy, soul’s purpose without the need for other work, time constraints or barriers
4. 9 of Wands – abundance of power, creativity, fire, passion, inner fire to create and manifest what I desire, life I want to live, overflow of inspiration to create ideas, paint, write, etc.

 

The next step was to figure out which cards represent items that require money and which ones require other factors besides money and why.

Cards that require money to be fulfilled:

• The Star, 10 of Cups and 9 of Cups

These cards all required money so that I can have the freedom to do the work and activities that I enjoy the most.

Cards that require more than money to be fulfilled:

• 9 of Cups, 9 of Wands, The Star

These cards require me to let my spirit be free, fully expanded and shining brightly.  They require that I set aside time to relax, enjoy myself and the world around me.  They require the belief and confidence in my self and my ability to complete my soul’s purpose.  Another factor that is required is to be at peace with myself and my life.  These cards represent abundance in spirit, infinite possibilities and courage to face my fears and live my dreams.

What cards did you pick?  What does prosperity and abundance mean to you?

Mapping Out Your Journey – Introduction

Sometimes when we are facing new challenges and developing new skills the road ahead may seem filled with unknown dangers and dark hidden passages. Each new challenge to our new way of living seems harder and harder; making the old path you were taking look easier and well-worn. That makes your old ways look more desirable, easier to do again and again in a cycle that does not end. Until you realize: “Hey, wait a minute! This is how I got here in the first place by making those same choices over and over again. I don’t want to do this any more!!” Now that you are here in this moment, you can decide to quit making those choices and choose ones that will lead you down a better path, even if it is an unknown path.

By visualizing your destination, it will make the unknown path easier to take because you know where you are headed. Much like driving your car to a new restaurant or a new friend’s house, you know where you intend to go, but need to draw a map to get there and new directions to follow. Without knowing where you intended to go, how could you possibly draw a map or choose a good direction to drive your car in, you would just drive around aimlessly until your car ran out of gas or you at last decided where you really wanted to go.

 Clearing a new path in life takes perseverance, each new step leads you out into the unknown, into the wilderness where the trees are so tall and the weeds can be so high that you have to whack them out of your way to even make that next step. You may think to yourself that it is much too difficult to go on, much too hard to make new choices but there is a fire within you that can help you push further on. Use the desire you have for a better life, the passion for what you are trying to create for yourself to keep you moving forward. By having a clear picture of what is desirable and undesirable about your present day life and what you desire to create in your new life, you can find the power within you to make it through the rough patches.

 With a clear picture of where you are headed, you can see over the hurdles that are thrown in your way and know that even though you are struggling you can see the finish line. The destination could be a healthier body, better relationships with others, finishing a college degree, having a greater sense of self-worth or blazing a completely new trail in your life that you have never done before. There is no reason to continue down a path that has not satisfied you or has left you feeling less than the best about yourself. Within you is the ability to remove the fear and blocks that keep you from choosing better habits and leaving the old ones behind.  Don’t let fear of the unknown stand in your way.  Each part of the journey will lead you from the past to the present to the future.  When you have completed each step, you will be able to create a powerful map for a successful future filled with abundance!

Summer Solstice – Embrace Abundance

Apple Blossoms

 

Happy Summer Solstice Day! 

May the start of the new season bring you bright blessings of prosperity and abundance.  The Summer Solstice is about embracing the new growth that was planted in the Spring. Did you take time this Spring to plant seeds for new blessings, adventures or changes to happen in your life?  If you didn’t, you still have time to participate in the growth energies of Summer and reap a huge harvest in the Fall.  

Sometimes seeds of growth are mysterious and bring doubts of uncertainty.  Perhaps that is due to the many months that the seeds grow and develop in the dark rich soil of the soul.  Will the seed thrive and push through the darkness to the light?  Will the seed wither from lack of love and courage?  The change can be so subtle and then all of a sudden, the seed sprouts and pushes through the darkness into the light.  The tender leaves reaching for the light as our hearts reach towards love.  

Yet the story is not yet complete, the change is still in transition and transforming.  The tender beginning requires great nurturing and care to become the flower, harvest or blessing in your life. 

Use the beneficial energies of solstice to focus on what you want to grow in your life.  Imagine and look within for your heart’s desires.  You can achieve anything if you believe and let go of the doubts that travel in the darkness.  Meditate on the changes you want to harvest in the fall.  Take active steps to nurture those changes to realize your goal.  Seek support from family and friends to help nurture you doing your transformation and provide love and light in return.  

Allow the seeds you plant to surprise you, let yourself wonder in delight at the mystery that unfolds within you.  Just as the apple seed turns into a beautiful blossom and then an apple.  If you didn’t know you planted an apple seed, you would wonder at the mystery of the tree, the flower and the end result of delicious fruit.  Within you is a beautiful mystery for  you to discover. 

Take time this week to embrace the light, embrace the solstice energies of abundance and prosperity.  Embrace the realization that the promise of Spring has been fulfilled in the early harvest of Summer and the greater abundance that will arrive in the Fall.  Your life is surrounded in blessings, allow your heart to be open to receive them!