Spirit Rising Ministries

I just received a package in the mail from a friend as part of a course I am taking. We were each supposed to send something that would be symbolic to the other person. I thought it might be feathers because it was so lightweight but, when I began opening the bubble wrap, the furry looking item seemed to be moving. And, indeed it was moving.  It was expanding! This freaked me out for a moment until I realized that it was a cat-o’-nine-tail plant; you know the one that grows on a long stock and looks like a cigar. Apparently, when it was picked, it was at the beginning stage of releasing its seeds which are held within the beige, fluffy substance that the cigar transforms into in order to shed them. When I tried to brush the fluff away from what I thought was the more solid brown core, I was shocked to see more fluff gushing out at an almost alarming rate. I never knew cat-o’-nine-tail plants were like that! I sat there amazed as the fluff spread like wildfire across my table and into the air. It seemed like there was no containing it. It was so sudden and unexpected that I found myself giggling like a child and grinning from ear to ear.

 The courses I am taking are all about opening up to remembering my true nature as a spiritual being. My friend’s gift was a perfect symbol of that transformation. As she said so eloquently in her note to me, “Once we begin to open up, we can’t be contained, we fly and get free.”

 Let your spirit soar!
Paula

Read Full Post »

While visiting an art center just before Valentine’s Day, I came across a pen and ink drawing of hearts and flowers. The upper left hand quarter of the page was tightly filled with heart shapes in a variety of sizes. The way they were grouped together made me think of a large crowd of people pressing forward, waiting to pass through a narrow entrance to an event. Although people crowded together like that aren’t always happy, those heart shapes almost seemed to be smiling. The picture was a nice visual reminder that I can remember to look past outward appearances and see everyone as smiling happy hearts instead.

Read Full Post »

For many years now I have used synchronicity (or what some would call coincidence) as a guidepost; as a sign that I “should do this” or “shouldn’t do that” in certain situations. I have given whole workshops on the role that it plays in our lives and have often viewed synchronicity as “the next card I turn over to see which move to make in the game of life.”For the most part, this has served me well.

 But recently, I’ve come to adopt a different view of this phenomenon. I’ve seen how powerful my thoughts are in manifesting things in my life. Whatever I focus on expands. If I entertain thoughts about moving to Colorado, I start seeing references to Colorado in ads, articles, on-line, etc. If I drool over an object I like, I unexpectedly receive that or a similar object as a gift. A few years ago, when I was contemplating opening my shop, I began thinking that it would be nice if the shop’s phone number was easy to remember, such as ending in 1111. That afternoon while looking in an empty storefront in Chelmsford center, I was stunned to see that the realtor’s number ended in 1111, which I interpreted as a sign to move forward with renting that space. But, was it?

 I’m beginning to see that the “coincidences” that I think are showing up to guide me are actually being created by me! That puts a whole new spin on how I interpret them. Although they can be a wonderful confirmation that things are going the way I want, they also show me in what direction I am heading. They remind me that what I am thinking is actually materializing in my life and give me the chance to ask myself the all important question, Is this what I want? If not, I can be grateful for the warning, change my thoughts, and choose again.

Let your spirit soar!
Paula

Read Full Post »

I would like to continue my thoughts on the idea that “A healed mind does not plan. It carries out the plans that it receives through listening to wisdom that is not its own.”

 Do you ever have a deep sense of knowing about something before it happens?  That’s how I feel right now about me moving to a new home. I simply know it is going to happen. What I don’t know is where, when or even how it’s going to happen.

 My rational mind tells me that I should stay close to this area for many personal reasons. It says I should call a realtor, choose a location, begin the house hunt, take stock of my finances, and so on. In other words, it tells me that I need to DO something! On the other hand, my healed (peaceful) mind tells me that, yes, there will be a time for decisions and action but for now I just need to relax and not force anything. It says I will know when I need to take action and what that action will be; that no matter where I decide to live, everything will work out for the highest good; and that all will be revealed to me on a need to know basis at exactly the right time.

 Sitting with the certainty that I will be moving as well as with the un-certainty of how, where or when I’m going to move, is beginning to make more sense to me than running around trying to force something to happen based on a mental script I made up because I think I need to have a plan. I’m recalling when I surrendered my need to plan and control things on my recent trip to the Pacific Northwest. I had an extraordinary vacation and even came across a sample of my dream home way out there! So I think I will just sit tight and enjoy where I am now, trusting that when I remain peaceful, my life continues to unfold in beautiful and amazing ways.

 Let your spirit soar!
Paula

Read Full Post »