Alana Sheeren, words + energy

Oracle Sunday: Be Here, Now

By

From The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards by Colette Baron-Reid
From The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards by Colette Baron-Reid

This card is a reminder that we cannot live in the past nor in the future. They are ghost lands. The only place we are alive is in this moment, right now.

The past holds memories both beautiful and painful. We can spend a moment there but then we have to come back to now. Longing for what used to be keeps us as stuck as defining ourselves with our victim stories. We can’t live there anymore.

The future – a place full of hopes and dreams and fears – is just as ephemeral. Keep dreaming, keep taking action towards those dreams, but don’t live there either.

Live here. In this moment.

Be present with your crying child or your dying parent or your excitement, your joy, your hunger. Be with whatever life is handing you. Breathe into it and know that you have the tools to stay in it, to grow through it, to fully experience it.

Let the lessons of the past inform your present. Let the hopes for tomorrow guide today’s choices. But above all else be here, now.

If you find yourself escaping your life on a regular basis, it might be time to dig a little deeper into why. What’s wrong with what you’re experiencing now? What do you want instead? What’s one little baby step you can take today toward that desire? Will you take it?

Here are three simple ways to come back to the present moment if you find yourself checking out.

1. Breathe deeply and engage your five senses. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you taste? What do you feel against your skin?

2. Doodle, draw, or color in a coloring book. This is a great way to bring yourself into this moment, even if “art” isn’t your thing. Don’t try to figure it out in your head. Instead follow your impulses with no attachment to what the final picture looks like.

3. Do something physical. Dance it out. Shake it off. Do some pushups or a sun salutation. Wiggle your body. Roll around on the floor with your kid or your cat. It doesn’t matter what you do. The point is to get out of your head and into your body.

Once you’ve found yourself back in the present moment and before you re-engage your mind and move on, ask yourself a simple question. Something along the lines of What do I want to do now? or What does my body want right now? or What can I do next that will keep me in this moment? Whatever comes to you is fine.

Repeat the process as necessary. Try to enjoy it. This is it. This is what we have. Now.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

P.S. Want some help remembering to be here, now? Check this out. So fun.

Oracle Sunday: Step Away From the Drama

By

From the Ascended Masters Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
From the Ascended Masters Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.

Pallas Athena (also known simply as Athena) is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war and craftsmanship. She was known for being just and compassionate, for using wisdom to avoid conflicts and for her courage when called upon in battle.

Her message today is to take a deep breath and step back from whatever human drama has its hooks in you.

It’s not your job to make everyone happy. It’s not your place to make other people’s choices for them. It’s not in your best interest to gossip or judge others.

Press pause on the story you’re telling yourself about it all. Imagine yourself circling above your life like an eagle, or looking back five years from now. What’s really important to you? What do you think might actually be happening if you look at the big picture?

Can you set down the need to be right and see the situation from everyone’s point of view?

Sometimes that’s not emotionally possible, but it can be helpful to try.

And if the hooks are in too deep and you can’t step back, then it might be time to take bigger action.

For a long time I had a friend whose decisions I was completely over-invested in. When I disagreed with her choices, I couldn’t stop judging her, or arguing with her in my head, or discussing the situation with people who would tell me how right I was. It was awful and I didn’t like the person I became around her. Even though I loved her, I had to let her go in order to step away from the drama. It was painful and I am a much happier person for it.

What do you need to do in order to detach from any drama in your life?

Even if you can’t bring yourself to do it right now, it’s helpful to have an answer. And if an answer doesn’t come, it’s helpful to keep asking the question (then listening to your heart).

As humans we are attracted to the emotional rollercoaster ride of a dramatic story. It can make us feel alive. It also hurts us to be wrapped up in it. And if we are hurting, we tend to hurt others in turn.

This card is a message to leave the drama to the movies you watch or the books you read and instead focus on being the person you really want to be in all of your interactions. 

Like Athena use your hard-earned wisdom to avoid conflict wherever possible. And when it’s unavoidable, step into it with compassion, courage and the strength that comes from knowing you’re not attached to the story everyone else is buying into.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

 

P. S. Are you struggling to feel compassion for yourself and others? Not sure exactly how to step back from the drama or listen to your heart’s (or intuition’s) messages? My Shine e-book is full of simple, bite-sized practices that will help you learn to do exactly that…and so much more.

Oracle Sunday: You are a treasure

By

From The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards by Colette Baron-Reid
From The Enchanted Map Oracle Card deck by Colette Baron-Reid

This card is here to remind you that YOU are the treasure and that ultimately you are safe and divinely protected. 

The question to ask yourself is: Am I trusting too easily or have I built an impenetrable fortress out of fear?

If neither of those feels true and you know, deep in your bones, that all is well (no matter what happens) then your treasure is being well protected. Move forward confidently with the grace that this knowledge provides.

If you find yourself trusting others too quickly and repeatedly being hurt, then this card wants you to know it is time to take your power back. Don’t trade your soul for an illusion of safety.

If there is an unequal power dynamic in a number of your relationships, it would be wise to examine that. Start by privately and quietly tuning into what really matters to you. When you feel ready, take a baby step toward the relationships you want – those with integrity and equal give and take.

If this feels overwhelming to do on your own, find a trusted mentor, hire a life coach or therapist, or seek out the resources that speak to you. (This might be one).

If you’ve isolated yourself out of fear of being hurt, your treasure is being overprotected and needs room to breathe. Like a frustrated child whose parent won’t let her do anything for herself, your inner light needs air and the spark of connection to shine.

Practice sharing little bits of yourself with others – small stories from your life, an ache, a dream. Listen to your inner voice and let it guide you out of your comfort zone. Start small and let yourself see just how safe you are. It might feel risky but you have a courageous heart. Let it speak.

Remember always that you are a treasure to be cherished and valued. Allow only those who see that into your life.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

*****

P.S. Join me for free oracle card readings (for the first 8 people who comment on the correct post) this Wednesday May 27th at 9:30am PST on my Facebook page, or book a private email reading here.

 

Mantra Monday: A choose your own adventure

By

Speak the words

These last few days of the year are typically loaded for me. I tend to feel haunted by everything left undone while full of hope and dreams for the new year. The feelings are less intense this year which I owe to regular energy clearings, a continuously shifting mindset and an ever deepening trust that I am exactly where I need to be. As I move through these next days, knowing that I can’t wrap up the year in a tidy bow and that 12:01 am January 1st doesn’t really change anything, I am picking and choosing the mantras that feel most helpful. I’m wondering what you most need right now too.

Maybe you need to remind yourself that it’s okay to press pause and ask yourself what you want, letting everyone else take care of themselves for a while.

Maybe you need permission to do what’s most fun, or a reminder to look for the magic or make one more brave move before the year is done.

Or maybe all you need is to slow down, breathe and remember that you are (always) enough.

However you choose to spend this week, I’m sending you love and reminding you that I’m here if you have a story to share, a stuck spot to unstick or need a soft place for your tears or your joy to land.

May the new year bring you what you need most.

This site is secure