Intend Kindness

Like many people this past week, I watched coverage of Pope Francis’s visit to the United States. What I was particularly struck with was the Pope’s consistent message both in words and actions of inclusion and kindness.

This post is going to be very short because the message is very simple.

When you read this, set an intention to treat everyone you meet with kindness.

This post is going to be very short because the message is very simple.

When you read this, set an intention to treat everyone you meet with kindness.

Be mindful of your thoughts.

Be mindful of your words.

Be mindful of your actions.

I’m not saying being kind to everyone in thoughts, words, and deeds will be easy but give it a try.

See how it changes your world and the world of those around you.

And, if you want to challenge yourself make the commitment to treat everyone with kindness for a week. I’m going for the week because I have several days in a row when I’ll be writing and therefore not out and about.

I’d love to know how this challenge worked for you.

What was easiest?

What was hardest?

My final question is: How would your life and the world be different if treating everyone we meet with kindness was practiced by everyone?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

She is also on the Senior Teaching Faculty for TheWilliam Glasser Institute International.

Follow Judith on Twitter @JudithAshley19

Learn more about Judith’s books here.

Judith is on Facebook here.

An Intention and Then What? and Update

by Judith Ashley

First published in October 2010, I still think the message is important. Read on to see my update. For visual interest I've added this interesting picture.

An Intention and Then What?

My Intention is to post once a week. If you look back at my last post, you'll see I'm within that time frame, however I started blogging on Thursday, then went to Monday, and then to Tuesday. Last week it was Thursday or Friday and today it is Wednesday.

Why is it so hard to follow through?
Why are things 'spaced' off? or forgotten?

If I had the answer I'd let you know, I'd write articles, I'd give speeches, I'd definitely share!

What I do know is that when we beat on ourselves when we slip up, when we don't meet our expectations, we only hurt ourselves and we only increase the probability that we'll mess up again. And more than likely sooner because Anxiety is not a friend of follow-through.

Life is about experiencing, growing, living, changing.
Life is about joy, happiness, grace, and gratitude.

If you are like me, you have problems being perfect. You may know on some level you are perfect just the way you are, but ...

Welcome to Life, Welcome to the Journey. Remember to enjoy the process, be kind to yourself. If you are, you're more likely to easily and effortlessly follow through on those Intentions.

Update: If, in the last 4+ years I'd learned "The Answer" to following through and never spacing off, etc. I think my bank account would be fuller. I would have shared through articles, speeches and blogging. The answer would be showing up in my books. As it is, what I have found is the following:

1. If I over-commit, I'm more likely to mess up in some way.

2. If I don't get the rest/sleep my body really needs (which is way more than we can operate from), I also don't do as well.

3. Forgiving myself, acknowledging I'm human reduces stress and anxiety and provides me with a stronger foundation to meet my own expectations.

4. Analyzing those expectations: Where do they come from? Are they helpful? What would happen if I dropped them?

I'll be back next Monday with a fresh new post on my time with my friend and my cousin. In the mean time, if you've something to share about staying on task or staying the course and what to do when you don't, please share. I may not respond right away, but I will!

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Womens' Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual practices that nourish the soul and celebrates the journey from relationship to romance.

Learn more at her website and her Windtree Press author page.

Intention and an Easy, Effortless Life - Update

This post was first published June 10, 2010 but I've added to it!

I have a list of Intentions I focus on at the beginning of each day. I've been diligent (only missed one) since I started January 27th, 2010. And even on that day though I did not sit and read and ponder each statement, the ideas swirled through me as I sat at my computer working on my current novel.

My Intentions include words like 'easy' and 'effortlessly'. I've lived over half of my life from the point of view that if I work harder I'll have better results, I'll get ahead faster, I'll produce more, I'll make more money. This view of the world is a kindred spirit of 'no pain, no gain'.

The term 'hard work' is often associated with long hours, pushing through, getting it done which are not necessarily bad but when there is a heaviness, a 'have to' mind set that creates stress, then the joy of the work is lost. Think about the time you were engrossed in a project and the time just flew by. That is what living a life with ease and effortlessness is about.

At this point I want to have it all. I want a life of love, joy, happiness. I want to be productive, writing and publishing my novels. I want time to be with friends and family. And then there is the reality of working until my income from writing increases. With only twenty-four hours in a day, how does that come about? How do I have a life of effortlessness and ease and have all that, do all that?

Shifting my belief that life has to be hard to be good, that I have to struggle to be successful is my starting point. Since I've started my daily Intention work my life is easier, more effortless. I find myself leaving late for an appointment but arriving on time. I find ideas flow into my mind when I relax. I find people who are blessings to me show up without my having to search for them.

The experiment I'm committed to for at least a year is to see how easily and effortlessly I can live my life. How little effort it actually takes to have what I want if I'm clear about and focused on what I want (Intention). To be open to and aware of the world around me and the Synchronicities that support my goals, dreams, and desires.

I'd love to have you join me.

April 25, 2015

Almost five years have passed since I wrote this post. Where am I now?

+ Retired except for my writing and some teaching for The William Glasser Institute.

+ More focused on my own health and fitness than ever before.

+ Still working on eliminating stress/tension from my life - while I've made progress, I've still a ways to go. 

Recently I started working with a new Rehab program because of pain in my hands which is exacerbated with typing. What I really like about the two people I've worked with is they do Not endorse the "no pain, no gain" perspective. In fact, they are on the opposite side of the spectrum. "If it hurts, stop!"

They broke down all the exercises given to me to three simple concepts:

Move

Pace Yourself

Rest

*** If I don't get all the exercises done but I've moved throughout the day (I wear a step counter and my current goal is 5K steps a day), I'm good.

*** Am I taking breaks every hour from the computer? I'm good.

*** Am I getting a good night's sleep? I'm good.

My life is easier and more effortless as I go through each day. I still tend to over plan my days but not as much as I once did. I still tend to be a perfectionist, but I'm catching myself and reminding me of my priorities.

Move

Pace Myself

Rest

I've already seen the results of those three life-style changes and remain committed to stay on this path. 

Are you committed to an easier and effortless life-style?

What changes are you making?

I'm always open to learning from others, so please share!

Registraion: A Time To Connect and Reconnect

Most of the time, when I embark on an adventure, I look for Synchronicity and have a clear Intention before hand. That was true for my 2012 Desert Dreams experience.

I volunteered for Registration and was assigned to the first shift. One of the best things about volunteering is you get to Register first, meet other volunteers, and meet and greet a group of attendees. Since I subscribed to the Desert Dreams Yahoo Loop, I knew names and could put faces to them. I'd also 'met' other writers on the loop, but that's another story.

Because of the organization of Shelley Coriell, Registration was ssmmoootthh and almost 50% of attendees had their registration packets by the end of our shift. Shelley has mastered being organized without being controlling.

I met and worked along side of Taylor Lee and Nina Benneton and renewed my connections with Robin Kramme, who I'd met and talked to at Desert Dreams in 2010. One of the added gifts I've found from regularly attending smaller regional conferences is I make friends and stay in touch in between.

Why did I volunteer for Registration duty? My Intention was to support my Desert Rose Chapter at the Desert Dreams Conference. Shelley had been a guest at Romancing The Genres and I may have met her in 2010 but I was able to really put her name and face and writing together when she guested with us in April. (She writes Young Adult. Check out her website by clicking on her name). One of the first people I spotted as I walked in the Registration area was Robin Kramme, who I met in 2010. At that time we'd shared our writing goals and dreams; this time we took the time to catch up on what had happened in the intervening two years. My Intention is to remain in contact with Robin until I see her again. You can click on her link to read a bio as she is one of the LitSisters. Click here to read about her play!

Nina Benneton and Taylor Lee are new acquaintances. Taylor is active with the Indie Book Collective, a great organization that supports independently published authors. Nina is an author with Sourcebooks. Check them out. I think you'll find them interesting and accomplished women you'd like to get to know.

What Seems Hard Can Be Easy

I'm back after an extended absence which was much longer than I'd planned or even anticipated. What happened?

The easy answer is "Life".    

        

But the real answer is 'life'.

A short time after I last posted I attended the Desert Dreams Writers Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. I don't know about you but I find I'm always braver and willing to take more risks when I'm some place where most people don't know me.

Desert Dreams provided a perfect opportunity to take a leap into a known level of discomfort. You may not realize it from reading this blog and following me on Romancing The Genres, but I'm camera shy.

Hate to have my picture taken.

Is that enough of a hint for you to guess the momentous leap I took?

The conference chairs, Susan Lanier and Tina LaVon McCright, provided an opportunity for conference attendees to have a professional photograph taken by Diane Graham of Diane Graham Photography. If you live in the Tucson area, I highly recommend her.

See below what her results are with a camera- phobic client!

My Intention was to take the leap and have a professional picture taken instead of the first photo which is cropped from another photo where I at least thought I looked 'okay' which is why the shoulders are a bit odd.

Now I have a professional photo that can be cropped to fit and, if I do say so myself, I do not look like a deer caught in headlights. Both eyes are open, I've a smile on my face - what happened?

My Intention was to have a professional picture taken and Synchronicity brought me face-to-face with Diane Graham whose friendly demeanor and willingness to chat a bit so I relaxed, helped me be at my best. The first picture showed me laughing. Quick shots followed and it was over so fast I never had time to worry, tense up, or frown. Do you have a favorite between the two, and if you do, Why?

Look for the 'new me' at www.RomancingTheGenres.blogspot.com this Friday, June 1st. I'm sharing a wedding day story...

A Thoughtful Frame of Mind

As the title of this piece indicates I'm in a thoughtful frame of mind. What that means is I've reviewed and made some changes to my Intentions and sent them off to the two women I call my Intention Sisters. I deleted one, rewrote one, and added one.

What did I delete? One about learning new technology is easy, effortless, and fun. Not really...but, I am better at it; can figure problems out most of the time; don't get as stressed; know when to stop and take a break.

I rewrote one that listed a bunch of things I would/was doing to increase my visibility within the writing community. This is what it looks like now.

My visibility within the writing community positively affects my being a published author with strong book sales.

Circle of Serenity

Reviewing my Intentions while in A Thoughtful Frame of Mind, I realized that my list included things over which I have no control. What is most important is that I am visible within the writing community. I'll be open to and actually look for Synchronicity to show me how to make this happen. What did I add?

Each day I remind myself that my primary goal in life and the only real measure of my success is “above all else---be happy”.

It is important to review my Intentions every once in awhile. To take stock of where I am on my Life's Journey at this stage of my life; to see which way will take me closer to where I want to be at every fork in the road.

What do you do to keep yourself moving forward in your life?

Time Flies When...

The old adage "Time Flies When You're Having Fun" is alive and well in my life right now.

If you've been following Romancing The Genres, you know we've just launched a sister site Romance From The Genre-istas. RFTG offers Free Reads For Your Enjoyment. Saturday we went live with seven short (less than 1500 words) stories with Valentine's Day theme.

Getting ready took time. We (Sarah Raplee and I) had to create a new blog site; order cards; schedule the posts; set up links so readers can more easily move around; and write our own Flash Fiction.

I can hardly believe it has been more than a month since I last posted here. But obviously it has because my last post is dated January 5th and today is February 15th!

My Intention is to write a short post more frequently - but that didn't happen.

What did happen is that My Intention to see Romance From The Genre-istas launch took precedence. That happens in life - it isn't that we failed, it's that we succeeded in something else.

The next step is to stop, assess, and move forward either putting the initial intention on the shelf or polishing it up and acting on it.

Check back in and see how I do!

Read more about my writing at www.JudithAshleyRomance.com

The Perfect Christmas Tree

Happy New Year!!!

As I waited for the clock to strike 9 p.m. (I live on the West Coast so cheated by celebrating at 9 p.m. my time while watching the crystal ball drop in Times Square, New York City) a wave of light and lightness washed over me leaving a sense of calm joy.

Will I have challenges in 2012? Of course.
Will I have doubts in 2012? Probably
Will I meet every goal I set for myself? No

I've had an Intention for some time now (two years on 01/17) that my life is easier and it takes less effort to experience joy and happiness. That is an Intention that has been manifesting for some time now.

No, every day is not 100% but every day does have its moments of joy, moments of happiness.

One of the things I'm involved with is Romancing The Genres group blog. I'm one of the co-founders along with Sarah McDermed. In January 2011 we came up with the idea of a group blog. On May 1, 2011 we launched RTG. And this week we most likely will hit 14K (right, 14,000) page views.

I'm inviting you to stop by Romancing The Genres (see, I learned to easily and effortlessly embed a link) and see my post. Look at the pictures (I popped those in as well as these with nary a problem in sight). Click around and read other Genre-ista's post. I'm encouraging you to check out Sarah's. (another embeded link). If you look at the right side of the page, scrolling down until you see our February Guests - I did that also. Click on Guest Page and you can see my work in September and October.

One year ago I had no idea how to do any of this.

Here I am with Gimi and Connie, my Intention Sisters. Each week we talk on the phone, encouraging and supporting each other. Each day we send Intention Energy to each other. Acheiving anything is  easier when someone is there to support us. What is amazing is how important these daily and weekly practices are to me. They are written on my calendar and I take them into consideration as I look at other things I need/want to accomplish. My time with these women is a priority and I can look back over the year and see what

I've accomplished, what I've manifested because of their encouragement, support and their holding my Intentions on my behalf.

Check out my website www.JudithAshleyRomance.com I updated it in November and you can read the revised "In the Beginning" (Chapter One) of "The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl"; see what I've been up to, etc.

My wish for you in 2012 is that you find people who will support and encourage you as you manifest your dreams into your reality.

Starting Again...

Some of you may be reading Intentions and Synchonicities for the first time because you clicked on the link at Romancing The Genres. Yes, I'm a two blog writer! What do these two blogs have in common? Me!

Romancing The Genres is my writer blog. Sarah Raplee McDermed and I came up with the idea for a group blog and made it happen. We launched on May 1, 2011 and have had over 8000 page views since then. The 21 Genre-istas are from 9 states and New Zealand. Some are published authors and some are yet-to-be published authors but we've all completed at least one manuscript. (No, just finishing a manuscript does not get you published). You can read more about my writing on the blog (I post the first Friday of every month) or at my website.

Intentions and Synchronicities is my personal blog. I've been remiss at keeping up regular posts but am 'starting again'. At I&S I blog about things that interest me, share how Intentions and Synchronicities play a role in my life and invite you to join a discussion about these topics. I've friends who share these ideas and one of the things we're talking about is one or more of them joining me on this blog. Look for a post from Michele Lauren in the near future.

How do you influence events in your life? How does synchronicity play a part in your life? How do your beliefs in how the world works affect your Intentions and your perception of Synchronicity? Those questions and other topics will be discussed or ruminated about on this blog. I'd love it if you'd join me.

The Result

When all is in Synchronicity our Intentions are manifested!

This past week was Busy! Wednesday, Charlie and Jim from Comfort Heating, installed my new heat pump and mini-split. The Ruud, shown above, was designed and manufactured for the climate of the NW. It is much more energy efficient than my old one and will heat my house even when the temperature is in the low 30's! That means I'll seldom use my oil furnace...

Hiding behind my blueberry plant is the outside unit of my Daikin mini-split. Small and Quiet, unless the branches of the blueberry are moving, you don't even know it's on! Next is the inside unit - also quiet. It is on the wall in my sleeping area, keeping it cool enough to easily and effortlessly sleep in the (it's finally here) warm weather.

Also on Thursday, my Japanese Dwarf Blue Larch - Diana - arrived and was planted in my backyard. I'd gone to Drake's 7 Dees Nursery Wednesday afternoon for Ladies Night and came home with geraniums and a couple of fushias to keep Diana company.

She'll grow to be 15 - 20 feet tall and with a spread of 7 - 10 feet. In the Fall her needles will turn red and orange and drop. In the spring new, green needles with a bluish cast will grow. Her branches are somewhat twisted so her bare limbs will provide an ever-changing pattern during the winter months.

It is wonderful to sit here at my computer and glance out the window to see Diana and her Geranium buddies getting to know each other and feel comfortable in my yard, to know that a month ago I had a clear Intention of making some changes (lessening my dependence on heating oil, enhancing the comfort of my sleeping area when it is hot, and finding a tree that speaks to my soul and my creativity). And here I am, on Saturday, July 2 sharing The Results! My Intentions made Manifest through Synchronicity.

The Gift of Synchronicity - Part III

I'm looking out into my now treeless backyard. One week from today my Larch D. Diana will arrive. I've done what I can to prepare for her. The corkscrew willow is down, spindly limbs in my yard debris cans, thicker limbs ready to make into yard screens on which to grow flowering climbing plants.

Arrangements have been made for her delivery and planting. She'll arrive on the last day of the installation of my new heat pump and mini-split. By July 1 all will be in place.

Easy and effortlessly.
Intention and synchronicity

If you are interested in another of my adventures.

Check out www.RomancingTheGenres.blogspot.com

The Gift of Synchronicity Part II

When we are focused on something we want, we attract positive energy. The same is true of what we don’t want. If we are focused on what we don’t want, we attract it.

I have a cork-screw willow in my backyard. It’s as tall as my house; its canopy takes up a goodly portion of my small backyard. When my Aunt Ruth died in 1993, one of the cork-screw willow wands sprouted. My mother planted it in a pot. When she died in 2002, I brought the pot to my house and planted the root-bound tree in my backyard.

This spring it leafed out and looked lovely. I know I’m not the most observant person in the world, but one day it dawned on me that my tree was no longer green! I made calls trying to find out what was wrong and what it would cost to save it. My timing was awful. I missed the first company that came out to check the tree. The note on the door: It needs to be sprayed, call ----.

Thus began over two weeks of calling different companies attempting to get answers on how much it would cost to save my tree. To be fair, it wasn’t all the spraying companies fault. Even though it’s June, our weather has been dismal – lots of rain and spraying in the rain won’t help.
A gift card I’d received in the mail from a local nursery caught my eye: $25.00 off any purchase of $75.00 or more. During this time of attempting to get an estimate on spraying the tree two people who’d been in Landscape Maintenance took a look. “Take it down” was their advice.

Monday I went to the nursery and toured their selection of trees and had discussions about my yard, my needs and most important my wants (not a messy tree that needs constant cleaning up after), I found Larix D. Diana. She is a Larch, a deciduous conifer. Her needles turn orange and red in the fall before dropping. New ones sprout in the spring.

Yes, I purchased her. I’d fallen in love. The Universe was guiding me. One of the heroine’s in The Women’s Circle series is Diana.

The Invisible Power of Intention

Have you ever had a thought and then it seemed that the Universe opens up and what you need is suddenly there, in front of you? I’ve had the thought for some time of moving to solar energy for my house but I couldn’t figure out how to heat it without converting to electricity. My Intention was to lessen my footprint on the earth by lowering or eliminating my use of heating oil.

One day I got a Newsletter from a company I’d not done business with in decades. Curious, I glanced through it and lo and behold there was an article on a new ductless heating system that has been in wide use throughout the rest of the world. An inveterate watcher of Home and Garden Network’s House Hunters International I knew exactly what the article was talking about. I’d seen it and heard raves about how efficient this system was.

Before I had a chance to follow through by calling that company, Kevin, the person who services my furnace came by for his annual check-up. We got to talking and I mentioned my Intention and also that I needed someone to service my heat pump. He referred me to another company. I called and Jim came over the same day. Again, I got to talking with him. He knew all about the ductless system (mini-splits). A few days later, Charlie came over to assess my house and discuss options. Going fully with the mini-splits in my 1924 Craftsman-style house would be difficult but there were other options that would lessen my use of heating oil and give me more efficient comfort in either hot or cold weather.

I had the Intention of lessening my foot print on Mother Earth. I didn’t have to do anything overt. Everyone came to me with the information and answers I needed to make my decision.

The Invisible Power of Intention. The Gift of Synchronicity.

Like The Phoenix

Like the Phoenix

Intentions and Synchronicities blog was started because I wanted to start a conversation with like-minded people about the power of Intention and the importance of Synchronicity. Just over a year ago I posted my first message. In October I posted my last – until now. In the interim I’ve made some discoveries about Synchronicities and I’ve struggled with my daily Intentions.

Rising from the ashes of neglect, Intentions and Synchronicities is resurrecting itself. I’ve talked to like-minded people who will join me. Although posts will be fewer through June, they will become more regular in July.

My Intention is to post once a week. It is time, I believe, to re-energize this part of my life.

Seeing the Synchronicities

Had major technical problems last Tuesday, at least I thought I did. I couldn't figure out how to get in to post the following blog. By the time I did figure that out, Thursday, I was swamped with 'things to do' to get ready to go to Emerald City Writers Conference Friday through Sunday. This is last weeks thoughts and in a couple of days I'll post this weeks.

Each morning as I focus on my Intentions when I say my last one and ask for my day to be easily and effortlessly full of joy and happiness, I lift my arms and say

"I dedicate myself to be of service to those around me."

Simple words that I've said virtually every day since late January 2010. Last week I began a new experiment and I've paid attention to what those words mean in a different way.

Tuesday I had a person tell me about problems with a parent's estate. I realized I knew something about the problem and had some suggestions. What is the probability that someone would ask start sharing with me a problem they had and that it would be something I knew enough about I could make suggestions for solutions.

I've been paying attention and realize that almost every day something happens, usually not as 'big' as my Tuesday experience, where I am in 'service' to someone else. Helping with a minor chore, sharing some information, telling a funny story when someone needed a laugh.

It really isn't about servitude, it is about awareness. Being in the moment, looking for little ways to ease another person's life. Holding the door open for someone on crutches or using a cane or with arms loaded with groceries. Distracting the cranky child while the parent finishes checking out at the store. Little things...yes, as the old song goes...little things mean a lot.

The Wise Woman - Crone

Intentions and Synchronicities are alive and well in my life.

My friend and editor, who lives in Arizona left this a.m. after spending a week with me. A few of those days were spent on the Oregon Coast and a few of them were spent at the Women of the 14th Moon Gathering.

The Women of the 14th Moon Gathering is a time and place to honor the three aspects of the feminine: Maiden, Matron, Crone. The Crone is the wise woman, the elder to whom the younger women turn for support, advice, counsel.

This year my Maiden granddaughter attended for the first time. This was the second Gathering for my Arizona friend, but her first as a Crone. In all there were nine Crones, women who had passed through menopause and were at a new stage in life. Crones are honored from setting up camp Friday until Sunday noon. Crones cut in line for the Port-O-Potty should the need arise as well as go first through the food lines. Younger hands reach out to carry a chair, help unload or load up the car.

Saturday evening the Crone's are given 'pride of place' in The Circle, special tea is brewed, their hands are massaged with lotion, and each Crone stands and speaks her truth, her message, something that she has learned from her life's journey. What makes this so magical is that the Maidens and Matrons listen. They listen to the message beneath the words as well as the words themselves.

It is a powerful to really be listened to, to be heard. It is affirming when someone comes up to tell you how your words spoke to her heart, how something you said will make her path in life a little easier.

Where are you heard? Who listens to your words and their meanings? If there was a message, something you've learned that you'd like to pass on to others, what would it be?

A Path to Change

I've been committed to focusing the power of my Intentions toward my life being easy and effortless and full of joy and happiness. Each day since the latter part of January I've started my day listing what I want my life to be like and 'holding energy' for the Intentions of others. Many times I've felt the shift that comes from the process and seen what I want manifest beyond my dreams.

As I wrote last week, I've also had Intentions not manifest and, in fact, appear to go in the opposite direction. In my last blog, I talked about how I'd taken that reality and turned it into an opportunity to learn something about myself. That worked well and I came through the experience having a better perspective on what I want in my life.

This week I'm writing a few words about what happens when things don't work out and you can't find something that makes the experience worthwhile. Or at least not easily.

How far do I twist and turn my thinking to find something positive in a negative situation?
How long do I search for an answer that brings peace, hope, a smile?
When do I decide to give up?

These are my questions to myself. These are the questions that need answers. These questions hold my feet to the proverbial fire until I either find my path or stay mired.

Sharing our process in sorting through life's challenges is a gift we can pass on. I hope you use this blog as a means to share yours.

Getting Into The Vortex

Guest blog by Gimi Garcia now that we have the technical issues worked out.

When a healer once asked me to visualize a time when I was very happy and feel that all over again, my mind blinked right back to our family's dining room, slightly shadowed from the summer sun by the bougainvilleas outside the windows. The comforting hum and damp, cool odor of the water cooler moved in the air. Center frame was my hand-me-down sewing machine on the old heavy wood dining table, and me at it, long hair braided and out of the way, wearing the short, fluorescent orange and pink horizontally striped dress, that was cut like a long tank top, and came to be known as my 'sewing shift' because I wore it any time I sewed, as I could whip it off quickly in one movement to try on and fit my latest creation. I was 17 years-old this remembered cay, making a wardrobe for my senior year, but it could have been any of a hundred days of my adolescence, when I was alone at my cutting table and sewing machine, and probably alone in the house while my parents worked, with a glass of ice tea next to me and snips of thread and scraps of patterns and fabric on the floor till I swept up at the end of my day.
My sewing machine was freshly oiled as my grandma taught me and it was singing as I stitched flat fabric pieces that would be unrecognizable to the non-seamstress or tailor into beautiful curved and fitted garments. I was blissfully happy combining textures and colors, and modifying store-bought patterns to produce garments that were truly my own creation. Time stood still and all my teenage angst had dissipated. Sewing was my best anti-depressant. Sewing was my best mind-altering drug. It was a Summer day in 1968 and I was in the Vortex.

Abraham via Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships), urge us to get in the Vortex, where we are truly co-operative components in the creation of our own reality. The Vortex, as I understand it, is a place of pure positive energy where we participate in the expansion of the universe as we intend, manifest, and receive our desires. I know that I have been in the Vortex thousands, if not millions of times, when I have had moments of pure happiness while creating, experiencing, or remembering. And isn't it interesting how from that place of pure, positive energy more rockets of desire are launched as we experience something that spurs another great idea f something to create or do?

So why I ask myself, do I not spend more time in the Vortex? It's really kind of silly when I think about it because staying out of the Vortex has a lot to do with "doubt", "responsibilities", "work ethic", and some hierarchy of duties that is 100% self-imposed! Here's an example: "Gimi, you can't get int the Vortex yet because you haven't paid your bills!" It's along the lines of, "You can't have fun yet because you haven't done your work!" But getting in the Vortex should be my work! Haven't you heard it said a thousand times, "A child's play is their work?"
When does that change? Who says it has to? Why can't I get in the Vortex and then pay my bills or write my case notes or do the dishes? Of course I can!

My most recent intention is to spend more time in the Vortex. This means raising my vibration of joyful thoughts, feelings, and actions to that place of pure love where I am creating myself and my life as I desire to be, just like that summer day in 1958 when I was riding currents of well-being and bliss to the music of my sewing machine, long before I had ever heard of the Vortex.

Technology, Intentions, and Synchronicities

You'll be getting two blogs close together because of technology. One can have the Intention but what I'm learning is without the technical savy a blog can be delayed.

I've also just experienced that even a fervent Intention may not be answered by the Universe.

My three week trip to Nashville, Tennessee and Cincinnati, Ohio did not go smoothly and effortlessly. Delta changed my itinerary so I spent four hours in the Salt Lake City airport arriving in Nashville after midnight instead of 9 p.m. My return trip fared a similar fate for different reasons and I arrived back in Portland at 11 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.

However, there were lessons to learn because of the delays so perhaps The Universe knew better than me. If things had gone smoothly (my trip was easy and effortless) then the questions I pondered would never have been asked and answered and my life would continue in the old direction instead of a new one.

When we hold a clear and fervent Intention, it does not mean it will manifest. But that also does not mean we are not being heard. It may mean that what we want is not what we need or what will serve our highest good.

If you've had similar experiences, please share.

Synchronicities and blogging

Have you ever had a moment in time when if you had a fraction of a second you could change something. I'd just finished this weeks blog when the little finger of my right hand grazed some key and everything vanished.

My first reaction was AAAGGGHHH!!!! Then I looked at the title and thought, what is the synchronicity in having to rewrite this blog. The original post was introducing you to the three women who will be posting over the next three Thursdays (Courtney on July 8th, Michele on July 15th and Gimi on July 23).

Without Synchronicity, without Intention I'm not sure I'd have the relationships with them that I do. I met Courtney by 'accident' when she asked me a question when we were both attending the Desert Dreams Writers Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. If I hadn't had the door to my hotel room open, she wouldn't have been able to ask me a question and I wouldn't know her.

Gimi invited me to participate in an on-line class on Master Minding. I'd known Gimi for several years as we both belong to The William Glasser Institute's Northwest Region. In 1997 she was Program Chair and I was co-chair for that year's International Conference in Seattle, Washington. Through our weekly telephone calls, our relationship has grown and we consider each other to be friends.

Michele and I have been friends for well-over thirty years. Best friends for most of that time. We learned about the power of Intention and Synchronicity when we both attended Lifespring in the mid-1980's. The Intention to stay strong in our friendship, to put our relationship first over our individual needs (most of the time) is the foundation upon which we've built the longest lasting strongest personal relationship either of us has.

I invite you to look around you and see who you have in your life who adds a richness, a fuller meaning and analyze how that came to be. If you are like me, you'll see a plethora of synchronicities.