Archive for January, 2010

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Faith, Hope and Charity, is it possible that one small gift could give the recipient all of these things and more? In a world where what makes the news on a daily and hourly basis is the reporting of the failures and shadow side of humanity, we’ve lost our perspective on what is real in daily life. The fact is, on most any given day, something terribly devastating won’t happen to you and if that day does come, there are enlightened, compassionate human beings who stand ready to be of service and gather at your side.

With this thought in mind dear readers, we’ve reached the last and perhaps most important gift in our 12 Gifts of Enlightenment Series, which is: Give the Gift of Hope.

The Health Arts Network at Duke (HAND)  holds a vision of integrating the arts with healthcare and has been accomplishing this mission since 1978, offering literary, visual and performing arts to staff, visitors, patients and their families. HAND is recognized nationally as being one of most comprehensive hospital arts programs in the United States. On the HAND website, Kevin Sowers, CEO of Duke University Hospital states, ‘As we think to the future of the delivery of healthcare, more and more, we will be faced with the challenges of further understanding the mind, body and spirit connection. The arts draw on all three pieces; the mind, body and spirit. I believe advancement of our understanding of psycho-neuroimmunology and the impact and influence of the arts on healing and well-being will be an important component of the future of the delivery of healthcare’.

Offering an admirable array of services, HAND has an Artist in Residence program, where professional musicians perform at patient bedsides and waiting areas, maintains an inventory of over 2000 original artworks through the medical center, including placing original art in patient rooms, and features a touchable art gallery collection, accessible to children who are awaiting eye surgery.

Readily apparent at HAND is the outpouring of compassion and love in these programs. As a writer, I was particularly drawn to a program called the Write for You Literary Art program. Led by Grey Brown, the Literary Arts Coordinator for HAND, the program provides free journals to oncology patients, patients receiving bone marrow transplants, psychiatric care patients, high risk pregnancy mothers on long term bed rest, cardiology patients, recipients of organ transplants, family members of patients, and patients referred to the program by care givers. The program provides patients with the journals and organizes group sessions to write and read poetry and offers participants the opportunity to share their journaling if they feel comfortable doing so. According to Grey Brown, many patients are in long term care, spending their days in the hospital. One example of a therapeutic group exercise is ‘seasonal journaling’, which allows patients who are indoors to connect with nature and the seasons through their writings,  sharing their emotions and memories with others.

The program reports that the journals can help patients and their families reduce stress, explore feelings they have associated with both their illness and their healing journey, express gratitude, track physical and emotional changes on a daily basis, make notes to discuss regarding their health care, record personal feelings, fears and prayers, as well as track their medications and treatment schedules.

When speaking with Grey Brown, what I felt strongly was that the journals offered the gift of hope. There is a power in writing and in sharing and expressing those thoughts with others. For many people, journaling allows them to step out of the fray and connect with their thoughts as they physically engage in the act of writing them down. During this process, the writing releases the emotions and allows for a healing process to begin. I asked Grey, who has run this program since 1998, why she chooses to do this work, for certainly, it takes strong character and an open heart to work with patients who are dealing with life threatening illness on such a personal level. Her reply was, ‘I’m doing what I know to do, I have an ease in the hospital, it makes me happy. What I love about the patients is that they are living in the moment, it’s a privilege for me to be in their midst’. Grey, who is also a poet, began the program offering journals to the pediatric bone marrow transplant patients and families and since then it has spread to serve the six other organizations mentioned above. Her future plans for the program include expanding to community settings creating groups which combine poetry, journaling and healing as well as providing journals to hospice programs.

HAND’s  Write for You journal program, is in need of your help. In the past, some publishers donated journals to the program, but with the decline of the economy hitting the publishing industry very hard, HAND is no longer receiving journals from the publishing industry. If the spirit calls to you, Give the Gift of Hope, contact Grey Brown at HAND and send a journal to their program or a donation to purchase journals. The very journal you send today, can be in someone’s hands tomorrow, bringing peace, comfort, and hope. Let’s change the news and change the world, one step at a time. Share the news with others about HAND and encourage friends, co-workers and groups to participate and send in journals and donations and lend a helping hand. In the words of my favorite poet, Maya Angelou, ‘I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver’.

Gentle readers, as we draw to the closing of the 12 Gifts of Enlightenment, my wish is that these gifts have encouraged you to try some of them in your daily lives as well as offered inspiration as gift ideas for the metaphysically inclined people in your life. May the new year bring you great blessings and joy.

If you’ve missed any of the featured 12 Gift’s of Enlightenment, click here to view each of the gifts:  One, Two, Three, Four, Five Six,  Seven, Eight, Nine,  Ten or Eleven.  Click on the subscribe button on the top section of this page, where you’ll be notified via email each time a new article by yours truly appears.

Hoping that your days are merry and bright,
Kala

More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Enjoyed this article? Kala welcomes your comments and reads them all. For more articles by Kala Ambrose, visit her main page at National Metaphysical Spirituality Examiner.

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As we draw close to wrapping up the 12 Gifts of Enlightenment, with gift number eleven presented here, take a moment to reflect on the concept that the best gifts are the ones we give and receive with great thought and care. With the holiday season winding down, you may find yourself a little worn out from the season of celebration. In January, the long cold dark nights of winter are a reminder that we should take time to hibernate, recuperate, and create reserves of our vital energy, so that when spring arrives, we are bursting with energy.

One of the simplest, rewarding and budget friendly gifts that you can give to yourself this year, is to adopt the practice of meditation. For many, the concept of meditation is a daunting one. For those who have never tried to meditate, the idea of sitting in a very uncomfortable position in complete silence for hours is enough to discourage even the slightest attempt. True, there are those who enter into meditative practices that become an entire lifestyle, however, just like the preponderance of flowers in an English garden, there truly are hundreds of ways to meditate and connect with your inner self.

Crucial in any meditation practice, is the breath. Regardless of whether you wish to spend ten minutes in meditation or ten hours, slow deep methodical breathing will relax the body, bring in oxygen to the lungs and blood stream and help to retain focus and awareness.

This brings us to Gift Number Eleven – Give the Gift of Meditation. If you or an aspiring metaphysician in your life are looking to adopt a meditation practice, open your mind and disregard any preconceived notions of how you think a meditation practice should operate. Take this time to create a practice that feels right for you. One of the easiest ways to do this, is to adopt a simple ten minute meditation. Make a resolution for the new year, that for ten minutes every day, you will create a window of opportunity to meditate. Perhaps you’ll wake early before the rest of your household to have those ten minutes, or set aside some time during your lunch hour in your car or before you go to sleep in the evening. Given the demands of your day and the fast paced lifestyle that you may be leading, you may find that when you take those ten minutes, that it proves to be too difficult to simply relax and think of nothing. Do not feel concerned about this, this is your practice and you can create a meditation practice which is right for you at this time.

For many people, guided meditations are a wonderful way to meditate. You can have the meditation on CD or on your iPod and play in your home, car, or with headphones anywhere you are. Simply choose the meditation that appeals to you and play and enter the journey that the guided meditation provides with a guide and soft music.

If your day is full and you don’t have time for a guided meditation, create a sacred space for yourself that you can return to often. This is done by picturing a peaceful scene which you find relaxing. Perhaps it’s the beach or a mountain top or garden. Build the scene in your mind, adding beautiful details. If you find the concept of a garden to be calming, create a bench where you will sit in the garden. See the trees, the cascade of flowers blooming in a multitude of color and hear the birds chirping, along with the soft rustle of the breeze blowing through the leaves in the trees. Relax on the bench, stretch out your legs and with your eyes closed, tilt your head back and feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Take a deep breath and sigh out loud. Breathe in slow and deep and exhale fully, releasing the air from deep within. Notice the colors of the leaves and the bark on the trees. Take your shoes off and sink your feet deep into the soft grass, flexing your toes. As you breathe in again deeply, become aware of the flowers as their scent fills the garden.

Continue building this garden in great detail until you can see it fully in your mind and know it well. Then claim this scene as your sacred space. Know that you can return there anytime, all you need to do is to sit quietly, breathe deeply and imagine this scene in your mind. In this space, you can relax and spend a few minutes there every day. This act of active meditation can become a profound spiritual practice that can make a significant impact on your day and create a sense of relaxation and well-being.

Tune in tomorrow as we explore Enlightenment Gift Number Twelve. If you’ve missed Gift’s One, Two, Three, Four, Five Six,  Seven, Eight, Nine or Ten. Click on the links here to visit the articles and click on the subscribe button on the top section of this page, where you’ll be notified via email each time a new article by yours truly appears.

As Bob Marley once said, “Man is a universe within himself”.

Breathing deeply, unwinding and going within…
Kala

More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Enjoyed this article? Kala welcomes your comments and reads them all. For more articles by Kala Ambrose, visit her main page at National Metaphysical Spirituality Examiner.

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Ask any expert on how they achieved their success and they’ll tell you that it’s a dedicated combination of hard work, timing, expert planning and a little bit of luck.  As we enter the new year and a brand new decade, perhaps it’s time to gather reinforcements to take those dreams and manifest them into reality.

This brings us to Gift Ten on the 12 Gifts of Enlightenment.
Gift Ten is – Give the Gift of Good Timing.

Mystics and seers have counseled through the ages that there are favored moments of opportunity, where intention can be directed and focused with greater clarity. A time honored tradition to assist with this planning is astrology. Conscious creators would be well advised to have an astrologer to work with on a long term basis. I have several that I consult with, especially when making a major life change. Consider the fact that when you are making a major decision on real estate, you consult a realtor, and you use an expert for financial planning and medical care. When timing is a crucial factor for a decision, whether for marriage, children, career, or even a better date to have elective surgery, shouldn’t you consult with an expert for some guidance and information?  One of my favorite astrologers is Marguerite Manning, an astrologer and author of Cosmic Karma: Understanding Your Contract with the Universe. Marguerite gets right down to the heart and the soul of the matter and astrologically provides answers and guidance to your most important questions. Want to know more about Marguerite and her book? Listen to my interview with her on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show.

For the metaphysician in your life who likes to work with timing down to the days and cycles and uses herbs and candles in their work, a helpful guide to give to them is:  The Spellcaster’s Reference: Magickal Timing for the Wheel of the Year by Eileen Holland. Eileen breaks it all down to the hours of the day, astrological influences and accompanying oils, herbs, plants and other ingredients. Eileen begins the book sharing the esoteric reference of “as above, so below”, which has been taught in mystery temples throughout the ages and guides the reader through the wheel of the year and its corresponding influences. This is a well crafted guidebook that practitioners will keep close by on the shelf to refer to throughout the year.

Been working on manifesting your dreams and feel like you need a boost?  Author Judika Illes book, Magic When You Need It: 150 Spells You Can’t Live Without covers Money, Career, Love, Sex, Marriage, Children, Home and Trouble. Judika has created a handy guide with straightforward instructions and easily obtainable ingredients to conceive a ‘power pack’ assisting you on your journey. Consider it a cross blending of old world charms with new world accessibility.  One of my favorite spells is on page 110, dealing with pest control. The solution that she offers in the book, is almost exactly the same as one I was taught by a shaman years ago, which just agains reminds us that universal truths in nature and spirituality are shared by cultures all around the world. Another favorite is on page 96, Find A Home, with step by step instructions to manifest your dream home. Judika has put in the hard work to gather all of this information and put it together in an easy reference guide for all that ails you.

A calendar to mark the cycles of the moon and holidays is always a great service. This year, consider buying a copy of the Farmers Almanac as well as The Witches Alamanac. The Witches Almanac offers astrological information for the year as well as stories and a wealth of information on nature and the animal kingdom.  I particularly enjoyed the article on the Fleur De Lis, as well as the article on magical crossroads and the healing and protective properties of garlic.

Whether you choose to use a reference guide, calendar or an astrologist, the most important aspect to accomplishing your goals is timing. Prepare as best as you can, with good advice and information, but also be aware that surprises will come up, no matter how hard you plan. The real trick is to accept change and to be open to seeing pitfalls as potentials in the making. As Peaceful Warrior author Dan Millman said, “I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything… at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything”.

Tune in tomorrow as we explore Enlightenment Gift Number Eleven. If you’ve missed Gift’s One, Two, Three, Four, Five Six,  Seven, Eight, or Nine, click on the links here to visit the articles and click on the subscribe button on the top section of this page, where you’ll be notified via email each time a new article by yours truly appears.

Tempus Fugit…
*~Kala~*

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Happy New Year! This new year begins with a most auspicious sign- a Full Blue Moon in conjunction with a Mercury Retrograde. This is significant as it heralds a new cycle of energy, releasing the past and opening the door to unlimited possibilities. This new year and new decade, is going to bring a major shift in our conscious thinking and open the door to further self-realization.

Time has been moving at an unparalleled rate, which has brought us the gift of seeing our hopes, dreams, thoughts, and wishes manifest at a surprising and sometimes alarming rate. Truly this past decade has focused on the belief that ‘if we can think it, we can achieve it’.

As we’ve dared to dream and open our mind, the shift of ages from Pisces to Aquarius is gifting us with a never before seen outpouring of information. No longer are we reliant upon a particular university, library or reference text to provide information. From the heavens above, Aquarius has tipped the waters of illumination and knowledge from the gods back down to earth for us to receive. Through the air sign of Aquarius, we have seen this information fly quickly through the internet, connecting humanity on a global scale and providing information on any topic we can conceive of, at any time, with multiple resources to consider and cross reference. With this gift of knowledge in the new millennium, we’ve shared our life stories, bonded in social networks, blogged our thoughts, shopped and supported local and global businesses whose store fronts we may never see, learned about cultures throughout the world and now twitter our thoughts to thousands, as fast as we think of them.

This past decade was deemed the Age of Information and truly it has been, as many now complain of information overload, with so much available in hand. What will this new decade bring? We are proverbially set free to explore. Those that fail to see the opportunity waiting at this time, will regret in the future what they did not dare to try. As Mark Twain once said….. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”.

On our evolution as Conscious Spiritual Beings, we’ve spent this last decade becoming Conscious Creators, playing with the new toys we’ve received. Beginning in 2010, the journey continues and evolves as we move from knowledge, into wisdom. What is the different between knowledge and wisdom you ask? Knowledge is the awareness of the information. Wisdom is gained from taking the knowledge, putting it into action, observing how the action causes various reactions and then gaining discernment of how it best can be used. Once these factors have all been put into play, the result is wisdom.

In this new decade, we are moving into a new Age of Enlightenment. The Aquarian information from the gods can no longer be contained, the Divine Feminine is being released in all her glory and we will once again see a Renaissance period, where great art, architecture, philosophy, literature and science will develop and flourish. During this decade the greatest minds will stir, to share, to illuminate and to build and create works and ideas that will be marveled around the world.

You dear reader, are one of these creators. If you have been waiting for a sign, if you have wondered – when is my time, this is it, we’ve arrived. 2010 is your date, your time to shine. Fly boldly now in the direction of your dreams and use all the resources at your disposal. In this decade we will connect mind, body and spirit as the ancients did, connecting with our muses, using our intuition and dreams to guide us and we’ll work in tandem on the spiritual and on the earth planes. It’s here, we’re here and this decade will be one of historic making proportions on every level. So Celebrate, Reciprocate and Go Create!

Remember, the best is yet to come…
*~Kala~*

More about Kala Ambrose: Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Enjoyed this article? Kala welcomes your comments and reads them all. For more articles by Kala Ambrose, visit her main page at National Metaphysical Spirituality Examiner.

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