by Christine Green | Dec 3, 2024 | Awareness, Consciousness
“Healing isn’t just about a wound having the strength to close. Healing is also about a heart finding the courage to reopen again..”
– John Roedel
Physical wounds are obvious. We can see the cut, clean and bandage it and allow it to heal. Emotional wounds are much more difficult. We cannot see them and they often unknowingly direct and influence our thinking. Thoughts become emotions and emotions dictate our actions.
On the spiritual journey, our work is to be the observer and be aware of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. As the observer, we are empowered to respond rather than react.
In his book Soul Awakening Practice, James O’Dea states that most of the time we don’t understand our emotions and we try to manipulate and control the outside world so that we won’t be faced with uncomfortable emotions. The wounds of our past are often running our present circumstances and they can limit our relationships and experiences.
There are a few helpful steps we can take to heal emotional wounds:
- Be willing to look at the emotional upset. Just like a physical wound, we have to examine what is troubling us and bring it into the light to be healed.
- Be willing to let go. Lay down any anger, separation, or belief and observe the situation in a new light. Be willing to forgive.
- Be willing to write a new story. Claim your good and declare what you want.
We often struggle with how to forgive and let go. But the good news is — we don’t have to figure it out. We can surrender to Spirit and be willing for a new story to emerge. Give thanks for the gift of awareness and allow the wound to dissolve and peace to emerge.
I am grateful for this simple prayer practice from James O’Dea’s book, Soul Awakening Practice.
Soul Awakening
Heart Opening
Light Shining
Love Flowing
Wounds Dissolving
Peace Radiating
Visualize humanity surrounded with love and peace.
You are a blessing to humanity.
by Christine Green | Dec 3, 2024 | Consciousness, Spiritual Practice
“Peace is not the absence of war. It is the pervasive presence of compassionate connection.”
– James O’Dea
My heart hurts and I suspect yours does as well. It feels like we move from one daunting experience to another.
In this trying time it can be challenging to know what to pray for. Here are three simple prayers to speak for yourself and others. There is great power in our collective prayers.
Soul Awakening Prayer by James O’Dea
The prayer is repeated four times– for yourself, for a loved one, for community and for all humanity. I like to visualize a small pulsating light that grows with each statement and circles the planet.
Soul Awakening
Heart Opening
Light Shining
Love Flowing
Wounds Dissolving
Peace Radiating
Prayer of Protection by James Dillet Freeman
The Light of God surrounds you.
The Love of God enfolds you.
The power of God protects you.
The Presence of God watches over you.
Wherever you are, God is.
And all is well. Amen.
This Thing Called You by Ernest Holmes
“When you become confused, stop and listen to your inner calm. Turn from the confusion to that deeper something within. Say:
I am submerged in peace.
I am surrounded by peace.
I am immersed in peace.
There is nothing but peace.
Peace–deep, calm, undisturbed.
Visualize humanity surrounded with love and light.
Know that you are loved!
by Christine Green | Nov 19, 2024 | Consciousness, Love, Spiritual Practice
“In the short term and in the long run, how we treat people is our legacy. We have a daily responsibility to stay conscious of that and show up in ways we can be proud of.” – Sam Horn, Talking on Eggshells
It’s holiday time! That exciting time of year when we navigate the emotional terrain of spending time with loved ones. Anxiety, anyone?
Some loved ones are a joy to be with. Others can be more challenging.
Here are some helpful tips:
- It’s not about them. We often have attachment as to how we would like our loved ones to behave. In fact WE have lots of ideas about how they can live better lives. Breathe and step back. Practice letting go.
- Respond not react. Our loved ones know how to push our buttons. Disable your button. Disconnect from your high mindedness. Dissolve the need to have the answers. Practice responding peacefully and not reacting to situations.
- Claim your intention. Instead of imagining all the terrible, awful, dreadful things that the holidays might bring, practice visualizing what you do want. What is your intention? To have loving communication? To have peaceful interactions? To have joy-filled experiences? Set your intention before you venture out the door.
- Remember to breathe. Conscious breathing keeps us grounded in our awareness of our divinity and our oneness. Allow your breathing to center yourself in love. Pause and take a breath.
- Practice gratitude. Gratitude lifts us up to a higher vibration. In that vibration of love, all things are possible.
I am grateful for my many blessings… I am grateful my family…I am grateful for my body and good health…I am grateful for my home…I bless my neighbors and my co-workers…I bless the economy…I bless our country…I bless my spiritual community…I bless the world.
I am so grateful for you. You are a blessing to the world.
by Christine Green | Aug 15, 2024 | Consciousness
“If you can’t do something about the situation in your life, go be a blessing to someone else.” Joyce Meyer
We spend so much time worrying about things we often can’t do anything about. We obsess about family and friends and wish they would change. We wake up stressing about things that haven’t happened yet. We worry for the world, for the planet, for our children.
Something powerful happens when we move from the place of needing to get something to being willing to give. The best place to start is being willing to listen. Listen to the experiences of others. Listen to their stories, their pain, their process. Practice listening and not responding. Listen without attachment.
Then when you are ready to move outside your comfort zone, a good question to ask yourself is: “How can I be of service for the highest good today? Please guide me to think the thoughts, speak the words and take the actions that will allow me to be love, and to bring that love into service.” Then observe everything from that moment forward as a sign responding to that question.
You are needed during this very important time. Some are needed to be in prayer and meditation, others are needed to give hugs or to hold signs, others are needed to service in positions of influence. Some are needed to raise a family, to care for others, or to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
You are needed. Your gifts are needed. Your presence is needed. Your love and peace are needed. Ask yourself, “Where can I be a blessing today?”
by Christine Green | Jul 17, 2024 | Consciousness, Gratitude
“Regardless of what you feel about the physical form that you stand in, your body is a joy and it is a significant one. It is what allows you to have your experience on the physical plane.” — Paul Selig, Book of Love and Creation
A friend was describing her book club to me. She said they called it a book club but it was actually an organ recital because they spent more time complaining about what was going wrong with their internal organs than they did reading the book. Funny — and completely relatable.
Let’s face it, pain in the body takes all our attention. Recognizing physical limitations can take an emotional toll on us, feeling frustration, loss of control and a deep sense of grief when we lose the physical abilities we once had. We are called to reach in and expand our compassion for ourselves. Sometimes we are much more tolerant of our friends and loved ones than we are for ourselves. Take the time to be gentle and understanding with yourself. Speak words of kindness and understanding to your body.
Remember that whatever we put our attention on increases. As we complain about what is not working, we notice more of what is not working. It’s like a car speeding down a steep hill: If you don’t stop it in the beginning, it will just pick up momentum and speed out of control. Before you know it, our aches and pains have completely taken over our thought process.
Martha Graham, dancer and choreographer, says, “The body is a sacred garment. It is your first and last garment; It is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.” I acknowledge my flexibility, strength and energy—even on those days where it feels like I don’t have any. I appreciate the parts of that are in good working order and send love to those parts that are aching and in pain.
I bless my body temple which houses my living Spirit within me. My voice is an instrument for peace, my hands a medium for service. My feet and legs transport me so that I may be vehicle to express Divine Love in the world.
I invite you to use this attunement from Paul Selig in the Book of Love and Creation as part of your daily practice:
“I am now realigning my knowing to become newly aware of my responsibility to heal my body as is required by my choices to feed myself, care for myself, and inhabit my surroundings in wellness. I am now coming to know my body is a joyful vehicle and I am celebrating it in Divine Love and thanking it for being with me on this remarkable journey in consciousness.”
Breathe. Move. Give thanks. And bless your body temple.
Affirmation: I praise my body. I raise my body. In the name of Love.
by Christine Green | Jun 14, 2024 | Awareness, Consciousness
“As I become conscious of my Oneness with God, I am filled with enthusiasm and a sense of energy and vitality.” – Ernest Holmes
Feeling tired lately? You are not alone! Vitality seems to be in short supply these days. There are so many challenges that drain our energy and can leave us sleepless and exhausted.
Vitality Is defined an exuberance; living with purpose. But some days it can be quite a feat to move from exhausted to vitality. It takes practice to take a breath, take a pause, and let go of our self-imposed demands. It often takes courage to ask for help and compassion to release our need for perfection. When we practice letting go we open the heart to more love, and we naturally feel more enthusiasm and vitality for life.
I feel vitality when I am in nature. Whether I am at the ocean, forest, or desert, I feel a newness and freshness. My friend feels it when she is with her granddaughter. The world seems to stop and she is completely in the moment and in a state of unconditional love. Another friend feels exactly the same way when playing with her dog, feeling immense love and joy.
When we tap into vitality we are tapping into our connection with the divine and we vibrate the life force energy. We feel an aliveness and appreciation for life itself. Eric Butterworth describes vitality as “All the the attributes of the Infinite are in focus as you, flowing forth through you. You are this flow.”
Pay attention to what makes you feel energized. You may not feel it every day and that’s okay. If we are willing to recognize vitality and pay attention, it happens more frequently. To some it may show up as an abundance of energy and to others it may be a quiet sense of purpose and gratitude. Wherever we are, we are connecting with the frequency of love.
I would love to hear from you. Let me know what energizes you and renews your vitality?
Affirm: Be still and know…I am in the flow.
