This past week, I had the privilege of tubing down the Salt River, something that I have wanted to do for years. Basically, you sit on a tube and float down the river, encountering rapids from time to time. It's a 3. 5 hr trip down a meandering river with phenomenal views of the mountains. I had the pleasure of going with 5 friends and I can't wait to go again. Tubing down the river is like the game of life. When you're tubing.you have to have a sense of direction and forethought or else you can find yourself stuck in the reeds or even in a bank where there is no water flow. You can even find yourself just going around in circles. Or you can find yourself ill-prepared for the rapids where the movement can turn you upside down if you aren't prepared and aware of your surroundings. Four of us decided to tie our tubes together. We figured that as a group, we would be more apt to weather the river as a team, rather than navigate it separately. It was less stressful since more eyes were navigating the path. Also, when some of us got turned around, others were headed in the right direction. Sometimes, one would lead the group with the others following. Some people that we met allong the way were into drama, throwing marshmellows or balls, some into just enjoying the ride, and a few needed to stop along the way to dive off the cliffs or be occupied by other diversions. So while you navigate your path of life, how do you fare? Are you one of the people who needs drama? Need to numb yourself with drinking? Stop and enjoy life's diversions? Or maybe prefer to do it alone? How ever you choose to move in life, be sure to have a map and pay attention to where you're headed. As long as a you have an idea of the path before you, you should be okay. Just pay attention to the roadblocks and make sure you're just not going around in circles or out of the flow. Life is meant to be lived and be loved, so enjoy the trip!

Filters

I recently heard a discussion on filters, the kind of filters we add when something not so good happens in our life. We start to see life through the incident, not allowing for any other possibilities. So if a partner emotionally abused you, then you see all men or women as no good or abusive. Or perhaps you see them as cheaters. What ever the story or filter that you put on people, when do you change the filter? Make today the day that you decide to throw away your filters and allow for change, allow for all the possibilities that can manifest. Miracles can happen when we allow...

Your Story

So many are dealing with big issues in their life such as loss of employment, late payments, health issues,etc. But instead of asking "why me" or "how can I get through this" the real question that they need to ask is- "what is the universe trying to tell me" or "what do I need to do to change the outcome of this story"? We all have our stories that we hold onto to, stories that define who we are- at least so we think. But who are you? Who are you really? Are you defined by that illness? Are you less of a person because you have no steady income? Or are you using your "story" to keep you stuck and limited where you are? I was speaking to a friend who has cancer. But after awhile, she has decided that the pity party was over and now its time to REALLY live her life. So many of us live our lives from the sidelines, never really getting dirty in the game of life. We pass through but never truly experience it. Or perhaps we live out lives for the expectation of others. It's time to get off the sidelines and jump into the game, regardless of how many minutes are left on the clock. Time to take the ball and run with a smile on your face. It's your life- what will be your final story? Were you the observer, or the observed? It's your decision on how history is written.

Excitotoxins

The name excitotoxin may not be familiar to you, but it is very likely that you consume it on a regular basis. So what is an excitotoxin? An excitotoxin is a substance, usually an amino acid that reacts with the brain receptors. They stimulate the brain nerves to fire rapidly to extreme exhaustion, causing the neurons to die in "exhaustion", killing off brain cells. Sadly, many of you consume these excitotoxins on a daily basis. As these brain cells are killed off, neurological diseases can form in your body, such as ALS, Parkinsons, migraines, seizures, diabetes, endocrine problems, learning disabilities, eye problems and possibly aggravating certain health conditions. The brain, in its own innate wisdom, does protect itself from excitotoxins, but when overwhelmed, it has little defense and the barrier will be broken. Many even have strong sensitivities, such as headaches and digestive issues to the food additive when consumed. So what are common excitotoxins? Aspartate and glutamate are the most common excitotoxins. Aspartate is most known as aspartame. Glutamate is most known as MSG, or monosodium glutamate. Unfortunately, the FDA has consistently overlooked the dangers of these food additives, with the exception that food manufacturers voluntarily removed MSG from baby food. But, knowing how some consumers are more informed, they have created new ingredients containing these excitotoxins. These ingredients are, or can be found in: hydrolized vegetable protein nutrasweet aspartame MSG/ monosodium glutamate L-cysteine sodium caseinate calcium caseinate textured vegetable protein malt extract malt flavoring So when you are consuming aspartame, 10% of the product is methanol, or a wood alcohol that turns into embalming fluid. 40% is aspartic acid, or the excitotoxin. The remaining 50% is a substance that causes sugar cravings! Brain tumors in women, the largest consumers of diet sodas, have increased 600% since the introduction of aspartame. But what about our children? These excitotoxins are found in flavored snacks such as BBQ chips, jellos, puddings, koolaid, vitamins, spices, broths, frozen dinners, etc. So why are they used? Excitotoxins either sweeten a food, stimulate the appetite or make a tasteless food tasty. And did you know that aspartame was discovered when a scientist was trying to create a drug for ulcers? So the next time you reach for that diet soda or bag of chips, think twice to what you are doing to your body. Now you know why it's so hard to eat just a few chips- excitotoxins.

Trust- The Hard Way

One of the biggest obstacles that we humans have is often tied to trust. And the trust I am speaking about is trusting that God or the universe will be there to support us in the way we need it. So many times in readings I say exactly that-you need to learn to trust. Well, my day to receive my words came last weekend on my way back from San Diego. I had just passed Palm Desert in California on my way to the state line. I had about a quarter tank of gas and felt that I had enough to get to Quartzsite, Arizona where the gas is about $.50 cheaper a gallon. By my calculations, I had about 100 miles worth of gas and needed to go about 50 miles give or take. Wrong. When I was about 20 miles out from Palm Desert, my gas light went on and I had no idea how much gas I had. The gas needle was on the empty line, just not completely parallel. So I turned off the air conditioner in 95+ heat to save on gas. I figured had about 26 miles to get to the nearest gas station in Blythe, CA, and needed roughly about 1 gallon's worth of gas. And if you have never been to this area of the world, you don't want to breakdown or run out of gas unless you have cold drinks and snacks to tide you over! So I prayed to my angels to help me get to the gas station prior to running out of gas. And they assured me that I would get there safely, even if meant that they would pick up my car and fly me there! But we are still human, aren't we? It's that trust issue smack dab in our face questioning whether we're going to be okay. So after driving for about 15 minutes or so, I could see the big orange 76 gas station sign about 2 miles down the road. Of course I was stuck behind a 18 wheeler going the minimum speed. I didn't want to chance passing him, for it wouldn't be too cool or safe if I ran out of gas while passing him or being in the left lane. So I needed to exercise patience! Not one of the best virtues of a Scorpio I might add. So I finally get off the exit only to have a car carrier full of cars and a motorcycle before me. The car carrier needed some momentum to get up the hill and around the bend. It was like watching a movie in slow motion. But I figured that at least at this spot it is a good half mile walk to the gas station and not 20 so I was in ectasy of having made it safely to my destination. But luckily, or perhaps with the help of my angels, I made it to the pump in my car in one piece. A good lesson on many levels but most importantly on trust. Here's to passing the trust test without having a meltdown! (Note to self: don't drive in the desert without a full tank of gas.)

House Numbers

House numbers have specific energies you can expect from them. While they are some what different, I have listed both the feng shui and numerology values: FENG SHUI 1= Honor and New Beginnings, 2= Easy (things come easily) 3= Happiness and Growth 4= Death 5= Nothing (Can be made into something) 6= Wealth 7= Knowledge 8= Money and Prosperity 9= Long Life and Good Health NUMEROLOGY 1= A Place of Independence 2= A House of Love and Partnership 3= A House of Laughter and Communication 4= A House of Security and Safety 5= A Great House Parties, Entertainment and Drama 6= A House of Beauty, Warmth and a Magnet for Children 7= A House of Study and Intellectual Development 8= A House that Encourages Financial Achievement 9= A House of the Extrovert- All are Welcome.

Poorly Written

In the movie, Brothers Bloom, one of the last lines is "there's no such thing as an unwritten life, just a poorly written one." How would you describe your life? Are you exisiting or living life to the fullest? Are victim to everyone else or do you take responsibility for the life you live? What's stopping you from rewriting your life? This reminds me of a client I once had who was very angry about his childhood. He was often triggered by the smallest things. His business suffered. His relationships suffered. He had health issues. He could never let go of anything, including his college papers from 30+ years ago. And you could never tell him anything- he knew everything. By saying that you "know everything", "Know it all" you are instantly cutting yourself off from the flow of the universe. And he did. He wondered why the business that was promised always fell through. He wondered why he could never attract a lady friend. He wondered why he thought that people were out to get him or cheat him. The truth is that he was an angry man, hard to be around, judgmental and very demanding. Never took responsibility for the actions of others. HE was the victim. And he, and only he, knew what best for his health. After all, he was a doctor. But what he didn't realize was that the Universe dispatched an angel to give him the key to the truth. When the angel appeared in the form of a human, the man was closed off. He already knew what was best and was not open to hearing the truth. And so his business continue to suffer along with his relationships. And so did his health- he was always tired from carrying around his baggage. And despite the lack he has in his life, he loves his misery. Well, he must or else he would have tossed the old stuff along time ago. It served him to be angry. It served him to hold on to all of his useless trinkets. It served him to be cheated out of money by his clients. Because most of all, it served him to hold on to all of his toxic thoughts about all the others that had hurt him over the years. What beliefs are you still holding onto that you need to let go? When is a life a poorly written one? And when is it time to start all over?