A Sunday Morning Card Reading

I love doing an oracle card reading for myself when I am facing a particular issue, or even when I just want to know the energy trends surrounding me. This morning after a peaceful meditation, I pulled cards from the Angel Answers deck by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine.

The cards I got were: Big, happy Changes, It’s Up to You, Success, Helpful People, Yes, and Ask for Help from Others. When I pull cards for myself, I also believe that they are world energies. The cards in my reading also apply to anyone who might be reading this blog post.

Basically, have hope, you will be successful, ask for and accept the help that comes to you because nothing big is accomplished in isolation. And remember, it’s up to you! You have free will on this journey through life. What do you want most? What is your soul calling for you to do, be, or become? You can do it!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

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Intuitive Journaling

I have often written about journaling on this blog. However, I have recently transitioned to automatic writing for about 20 minutes every morning. This has allowed me to tap into a higher guidance system. Rather than writing about problems or fears I am having, I pose a question, connect with my higher self, and allow myself to write down the wisdom that comes to me. I have found this to be both empowering and healing, as it allows me to step out of my day-to-day story and into a higher perspective.

This morning I sat in my meditation corner, listening to healing music, wrapped in a cozy blanket. I had trouble sleeping last night because a lot was on my mind. A project I am involved in is taking longer than I had hoped to get off the ground, and there is a lot up in the air. Instead of harping on this story, I wrote this:

What is the potential for you, if you were able to see the future as something that could be known–that there are many probable future destinations. You have the power to choose which outcome you would most like to see. The outcome you would like should be focused on solely for it to come into physical manifestation. You can draw pictures, create a vision board, and ask to see this for the highest good. When you think of how to serve others, your power increases significantly. It you were to focus on numbers and money, people would sense your fear and stay far away. But, when you focus on service and affirm that you will receive more than enough to meet your needs, all will be done in Divine Timing.

Much more empowering than a whiny journal entry about money!

If you happen to be in the area, I’m giving a workshop on Intuitive Journaling at Terraloka Wellness in Kent, CT on October 11th. Comment below if you’d like to join!

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Hello Again!

It has been almost exactly a year since I last posted on SpiritualiTea. Although there have been many changes, my overall mission has remained the same: to offer a warm, safe space to explore spirituality (with tea).

What has been going on for me? Well, I became a life coach (yay!), began doing professional intuitive readings, left my job…more on that in a later post. I’m currently living life on my terms and have never felt happier, or more inspired! I began creating other blogs that I thought would perhaps express my new self, but in the end I’ve come back to SpiritualiTea as my home.

I’m excited to begin posting here again with a new voice and renewed passion.

There will be book suggestions, helpful resources, musings on my own spiritual life, and of course tea!

I also have a new feature: I will soon be venturing into the video podcasting world, and I hope to take you along with me! Each week I will post a new video providing an intuitive reading for the coming week’s energies. Grab a cup of tea and sit down with me on Sunday morning to find out what the week will bring for you.

Finally, I have two exciting offerings: the first is an online course that trains you to be a SpiritualiTea Facilitator in your community. Learn how to start a group, keep it going, gain members, find friends, and make a little extra money along the way!

Second, I am offering private intuitive readings by phone or Skype. I would love to get to know you and offer clear, accurate, empowering guidance on any challenges you are currently facing.

It feels good to be back.

Peace,
Shannon

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2013 Unveiled

Wishing you a beautiful, miracle-filled, joyful 2013!

 

2013 holds big changes for me. I am opening my own space for SpiritualiTea! While I used to hold monthly meetings in someone else’s office, I am now holding weekly workshops, meditations, and poetry groups in my own space. As I step out and expand my business, I am feeling a range of emotions: excited, terrified, overwhelmed, hopeful…The list could be endless, and I find myself feeling one way one moment, and another the next. Questions loom over me: what if I fail? Who am I to open a center like this? Why would anyone want to listen to me?

When I feel these doubts creeping up on me, I sit down and quietly empty my mind. Who am I not to be successful? Who am I not to  speak out about a topic I am passionate about? I am free-falling, I’ve thrust myself over the edge of a precipice I have only toyed with in the past. But I realize I like this person who is willing to take risks, to leap, to face fear, much more than the person who used to hide from life. I will be new in 2013. I am not who I was in many ways, though perhaps I have just shed some layers, peeled back the heavy coat of anxiety, so that I can be seen by myself and others.

I hope that in the new year you will challenge yourself on a daily basis. Question your thoughts. Make peace. Express yourself. Now is not the time to hang back in fear. Now is the time to unveil your truest self, despite the fear, despite the doubts and worries. Who will you be in 2013? Make it big. Make it wonderful.

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What I Must Tell Myself by David Whyte

 

And though all the things I love

may pass away and

the great family of things and people

I have made around me

will see me go,

I feel them living in me

like a great gathering

ready to reach a greater home

 

When one thing dies all things

die together, and must live again

in a different way,

when one thing is missing everything is missing,

and must be found again

in a new whole

and everything wants to be complete,

everything wants to go home

and the geese traveling south

are like the shadow of my breath

flying into darkness

on great heart-beats

to an unknown land where I belong

~Excerpt from What I Must Tell Myself by David Whyte

 

As we approach 2013 I am contemplating the things in my life that have died, both physical and nonphysical. The sadness and pain that goes along with death of someone you love, a beloved pet, or even an ingrained thought pattern, is scary and overwhelming. In 2013 I am saying goodbye to the things that have passed, in the past, and learning how to “live again, in a different way.”

Happy New Year!

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Kill Greed?

Recently while I was driving I saw a sign graffitied on a bridge:

KILL GREED

Ironically, there was a peace sign drawn above these words. My first thought when I saw these words was, great, of course! Then I thought about it further. Kill greed…peace sign? If we want to have a more peaceful world, we cannot “fight” the aspects of the world that we find so terrible. Violence does not end violence. “Killing” greed is just as violent as greed itself.

Rather than focusing on hating greed or killing it, let’s celebrate everything that is not greed, accept that greed does exist at our present level of consciousness, and instead of railing against it, work on raising our personal consciousnesses as we move into 2013.

How about this:

LOVE IS EVERYTHING…peace sign.

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Winter Solstice

 

 

Happy Winter Solstice! As we prepare for the shortest day of the year, and as some believe, the continuation of a rapid shift in consciousness for our planet, do what feels right for you. Your community may be offering meditations, workshops, or yoga classes. This is a great way to celebrate the continual evolution of our planet. You may also just want to rest at home tonight, be with family members, and stay within both physically and emotionally. However you choose to honor the Winter Solstice, I wish you love, peace, and reflection in this quiet time of the year.

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A Sense a Day: Taste

How can we use our five senses to increase our spiritual awareness, provide inspiration, and foster growth? I plan on finding that out! This week each day will focus on one of the five senses and I will describe how isolating it and becoming more aware of its effect in our daily lives can make us more mindful. Here is the schedule:

Monday-Taste

Tuesday-Smell

Wednesday-Touch

Thursday-Hearing

Friday-Sight

If you would like to join in, begin focusing today on what you taste, how you taste it, and what emotions taste brings up for you. I will be posting the recipe for my dinner later on today and describing what I learned from tasting mindfully.

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Spiritual Resources from the Web and Beyond

The internet provides a wealth of websites that will inspire you to jump right onto your spiritual path. Despite technology’s reputation for eliminating face-to-face communication, it also can draw people together in new ways and provide information and connection that previously would have been impossible. Below are a few of my favorite websites that deal with spirituality and wellness:

http://www.yogamint.com/

This website contains blog posts about various spiritual matters such as mindfulness, dreaming, opening your heart and mind, and bringing love into your life. The posts are accompanied by a book recommendation at the bottom, which I love of course. There are also videos, specifically a video series on healthy cooking which is both informative and enjoyable to watch. I highly recommend checking this site out!

http://www.soundstrue.com/shop/Welcome.do

This amazing website has book and CD recommendations, online courses, and free online events. In fact, this afternoon at 4 PM eastern, there will be a 30 minute guided meditation by Jack Kornfield called Awakening Your Boundless and Loving Heart. If you can’t make it to the event at that time, it is also available a few days later online. Several weeks ago I found free energy healing exercises available from some big names in the field. Here is the link: Energy Healing from Sounds True

http://www.wholeliving.com/

http://www.yogajournal.com/

You may have read Whole Living or Yoga Journal at some point. They are both great, practical magazines that provide lots of tools to live a healthier and more mindful life. Yoga Journal is offering a free 21-day challenge beginning tomorrow, January 9th, which I will be participating in. What a great way to start the new year!

Super Soul Sunday, 8-11 AM ET OWN

This is not a website, but I do respect and admire Oprah and I really enjoy her Super Soul Sundays. She often shows spiritual documentaries which are moving and inspiring. Last week she showed the documentary I Am by Tom Shadyac, director of movies such as Ace Ventura and Bruce Almighty. Shadyac details his experience of Hollywood, buying into its messages, and then rejecting them by giving away most of his money and moving into a mobile home. Each week is something new, and I look forward to it.

I’d love any suggestions you have, as I am always looking for and open to new resources!

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Taking Gabrielle Bernstein’s Advice: Adding More -ing For A Year!

Add More -ing To Your Life by Gabrielle Bernstein is an extremely motivational book about releasing things you don’t need and creating the life you want. I am reading it now (along with about 4 other books I have also recommended on this blog…I like to read) though in a much different way than I normally read a book. It is divided into 12 sections, each of which should be practiced for 30 days. The first chapter has to do with acknowledging buried feelings and releasing them.

I began working on this a couple of days ago. Bernstein details a few steps to take in the process of releasing old feelings such as dance, meditation, and journaling. These steps are extremely cleansing and emotional, however Bernstein should write a warning: Do not attempt unless you are ready to deal with some tough stuff! I’ve done a lot of work to heal myself, but upon reading this book I again realize that the process does not have an end. There is always more to bring up and clear out. I really love her approach, however, because it is not just about reaching into the past, but creating a proactive plan for the future, which is just as healing as releasing old hurts.

I’m two days into the “Feelings” section, so in 28 days I’ll let you know how far I’ve come with this!

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