​So often when we feel stuck, when we become aware of some mysterious resistance in our path, it has to do with a part of ourselves that is not integrated.  We all have multiple dimensions and energies in our psyche; some psychologists call these our inner parts.  One example of an inner part that can cause resistance is an overly active Inner Critic:  Too often we have an overly developed sense of self-criticism which can cause unwanted self-doubt, insecurities, confusion, and thus tangle up our auras.  You may notice that you have conscious resistance to this part, or you may not even be aware at times that it has hijacked your mind until you feel that familiar shame and self-doubt. 
 
Your Inner Critic could be causing the resistance for several reasons (not all listed here).  You may be over-identifying with this part, causing you to be too critical.  This part may be “running the show” as we say, throughout much of your day, taking up most of your conscious mind’s space.  This does not have to be so, however, since you have other inner parts and voices that are available and interested in being a part of the show, such as a self-nurturing and self-accepting parts. 
 
Alternately, this Inner Critic may be suppressed and more subordinate in your conscious mind, but still causing you distress because it is trying to get your attention and you are ignoring it.  If this is you, you may describe yourself as having your head in the clouds and seeing things through rose-colored glasses too often.  If you are continually denying what is wrong or out of balance, it can of course lead to its own set of problems.  You can’t change or improve something until you identify what needs to be changed or improved.  Completely ignoring the Inner Critic, then, is akin to throwing away the baby with the bathwater.  You may also have a combination of these two scenarios, and find you bounce from one to another – at times magnifying and at times denying your Inner Critic.
 
Whatever the case, the key here is to integrate, rather than magnify or deny, this important inner part.  To do this, try turning toward your Inner Critic and talking with it.  (I know, this seems counter-intuitive, but stay with me). What does it want to say?  What are you not wanting to hear?  If you can recognize that this part is actually a valuable part of your psyche, and you in fact need your critical mind in order to function as a human, you may notice this part starts cooperating with you more.  We need to be able to identify qualities about ourselves and our lives that are in need of improvement so that we may actually know what to change and improve!  Perhaps the voice of this Inner Critic is annoyingly judgmental and seems more destructive than helpful.  In that case, it is in need of some re-education.  This approach involves reprograming the way it is criticizing you, rather than simply trying to silence or destroy it.  You may find as you explore this seeming enemy, it has both unhelpful ideas and beliefs attached to it, but also perhaps valuable points to offer you.  As you recognize both the value and imbalances with this part, you may notice it is more cooperative in letting other parts of your psyche have a say, and you are not blindsided by this critical voice (as much).
 
An example of this re-education with an overly-active Inner Critic might sound like this: “I appreciate the criticism you are giving me.  It is important I have the ability to use discernment and identify what is out of balance so I can make appropriate changes, and you help me with that.  So, thank you.  It is making me feel insecure to constantly focus my attention on what seems wrong with myself, my life, my body, or my decisions, etc., however, so I would like to suggest we now switch this up by also noticing what is realistic and constructive for me to work on changing.  Let’s phrase criticisms in a self-respectful, constructive way.  Let’s stop comparing ourselves to others so much and redirect the critical mind power towards other things, such as coming up with creative ideas and solutions!  Also, we need to allow Self-Acceptance to have some airtime too.”
 
(This was just one example of an inner dialogue.  You may come up with something completely different and more appropriate to your Inner Critic.)  Notice how your Inner Critic responds, perhaps it has something to say.  Is it willing to cooperate? Ask it what it wants, and try to talk with it, knowing you are the organizing consciousness behind all of your inner voices and parts.
 
Imagine another part, a Self-Accepting part, being active and welcomed in your mind and consciousness as well.  Imagine this part working together harmoniously with your Inner Critic.  Remember, they are both trying to help you, just in different ways.
 
As you call upon your Higher Self or your Higher Power, this can help you re-educate your Inner Critic with even greater power and ease.  Your Higher Self can offer words of wisdom about the higher consciousness that wants to express through your critical mind.  It can also help you get in touch with other inner parts which can help balance out your Inner Critic.  Imagine your Higher Self is present with you as you rebalance and reprogram this part, and implanting in it the values you really want to radiate: self-improvement, motivation, constructive criticism, Higher Mind ideas, solution-oriented ideas, respect for self and others, open-mindedness.  Let’s untangle our auras and heal our relationship with our Inner Critic (and with ourselves).  Self-criticism balanced with self-acceptance, informed by the wisdom of our Higher Self, can truly be powerful in our path to growth and transformation.  You might just find, surprisingly, you have turned a foe into a friend!

Know that you are important, and this does make a difference when you express love in any form. In your personal relationships, if there is conflict, remember to also align yourself with this holiness and not the other person’s problems or conflicts. Align yourself with the knowledge that we are all one and there is a peace that surrounds and penetrates all of us, even beyond an argument or difference of opinion.
-Channeled message, Archangel Raguel May 2022
 
I am amazed that this idea of simply remembering the holiness and Oneness of myself and others, even when I feel at odds with someone (or, more accurately, especially when I feel at odds with someone), creates surprising manifestations of peace and resolutions to conflicts.  Sometimes, of course, resolving conflict involves an ending or separation for everyone’s greater good, but sometimes it results in a new level of connectedness.  By remembering both me and the other person are important, by remembering me and the other person are holy, by remembering we are all One, I transcend the level of the argument or disagreement and allow a natural shift to occur.  What seemed so personal suddenly often does not seem to be so anymore.  What seemed like an attack often can be seen as a difference in perspectives or opinions.  Where we felt a need to control, we often find we can accept and lovingly let go. 
 
In yet another recent channeled message, this time from the ascended master/Egyptian goddess/collective intergalactic entity known as Hathor, I feel an expansion of this idea that our thoughts of love and peace truly do create intergalactic ripples and movements:
 
Your thoughts towards peace create a reverberation on this planet that align with the Mother Earth and her creatures, as well as your own Higher Self. This causes a reverberation of truth inside and around the planet and causes ricochets of peace, love, and trust to feed the places that need it most. The love that you put out into the planet is mirrored back to you by the law of attraction, and it is also magnified in the Earth herself and in planetary actions and experiences, as your love activates this global love. The vibrations and echoes of this energy bounce off one another and awaken in so many people that much more love, support, and trust.
-Channeled message, Hathor June 2022
 
I find this inspiring to think about, especially in a time of global change (and challenges).  Elevating my mind to the Higher Level of truth feels empowering to me in a time when it may seem easier to feel disempowered.  It feels inspiring to me in a time when it may seem more natural to feel uninspired.  It feels surprisingly natural, however, once I remind myself to actually do it.  And it makes me laugh, thinking about how gloomy and dark everything seemed from that lower place!  My prayer for you and me: Let us see past illusions to the Truth of Love and Eternity.

“Abundance is the process of letting go; that which is empty can receive.” -- Bryant H. McGill
 
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” – NIV, Luke, 14:33
 
“The root of suffering is attachment.” – Buddha
 
“Let go. Let Be. See through everything and be free, complete, luminous, at home — at ease.” — Lama Surya Das
 
 
Prosperity and spirituality; at one time we regarded them as enemies.  Many of us now sense there is a possibility that these could enhance one another, should enhance one another, even if it involves some deep reprogramming of collective fallacies.   How can we cultivate more abundance, wealth, and spiritual integrity at the same time?  Many of us are contemplating this question around the holidays as the commercial industries, media, and various personal and collective expectations press our gift-buying buttons, while we are simultaneously aware of that voice in the back of our minds reminding us to surrender to a spiritual holiday experience of rebirth, fellowship, and generosity. 
 
The spiritual ideal of valuing the nonphysical over the physical is found in countless religions worldwide.  Some even espouse poverty as a route to holiness.  Many people are moving away from values associated with organized religion and creating spiritual practices that are more uniquely suited to their present values and beliefs.  One of these collective values shifts has to do with the realization that money is not evil, and poverty is not necessarily an effective route to self-actualization.  Although this practice of denial and asceticism may be the right path for a few, most of us find it is more difficult to live our divine purpose without the usual resources needed to move through this material world and provide for the physical demands of being a human.  As we change our relationship with money (and the material world, for that matter), we find we can experience both the spiritual freedom of surrender and the divine flow of prosperity.
 
To do this, we must think about the kind of prosperity that is in alignment with the values of non-attachment and trust in our Source.  It is a practical principle.   We’ve all heard the stories:  The couple who tries to conceive for years and eventually gives up, deciding to adopt a child instead.  As soon as they adopt the baby, the woman finds she is pregnant.  The inventor who, despite thousands of experiments and calculations, cannot make his invention work properly.  She finally receives the answer in a dream, and the invention turns into a success.  The person searching tirelessly for love gives up in exasperation and embraces the single life, only to find their soul mate show up suddenly, in a most divine and unexpected way!
 
In all of the above examples, the individuals first set their intentions, tried to force the result (arguably), and finally experienced success as a result of letting go.  These types of examples also hint at the problem with being overly attached as one aspires to prosperity or success.  Holding on too tightly or over-controlling leads to a distortion of the life energy.  (What is money but energy, anyway?)  The more evolved – and effective – way to manifest what our soul really wants to experience is to set our intentions, keep our faith, and then make room for the miracles to flow in by - yes, you guessed it - letting go!  Source cannot enter and co-create with us if the channel is too cluttered with our control, worries, resentments, or over-analyzing. 
 
In my experience, my own “psychic clutter” happens when I focus on the things I want to have/be/experience that have not happened yet (emphasizing how they have YET to happen!), over-thinking about what I am “supposed” to be doing or over-analyze problems in my life.  When I worry excessively, without taking action or surrendering to Spirit, I know I inadvertently clog up the psychic space.  I aspire to the ideal of spiritual prosperity in which I can manifest the joy of my desire in the present moment (whether or not it is happening in my life at the moment), appreciate the miracles and blessings in my life that I do have, and be present.  Easier said than done, I know, but I also love the idea that these things take a lifetime to master.  (Or many lifetimes!).  The truth is: things, relationships, and situations come and go, but the power of our consciousness and connection with Source are continuous and eternal.  Hey, you can always rebuild, and it is easier to create new creations when you have shifted your powerful focus to the Eternal flowing through you/we/us.
 
So, my friend, what are you baking up this holiday?  I find a magical recipe from a few cups of clarified intentions, whisked together with a few quarts of faith, sprinkled with generous amounts compassion, and all fed through a massive sifter of divine surrender!  May you experience divine prosperity, love, and blessings this holiday.  May your prosperity flow with the ease and grace of the spirit, and may these provide the divine sustenance you deserve.
 
​

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don’t trust enough.” -Dr. Frank Crane, Presbyterian minister
 
Trust is a mysterious thing, isn’t it?  We can over-trust and under-trust.  This month, an angel (Archangel Zadkiel to be exact) has been teaching me to understand the relationship between hope and trust.  After a recent radio show in which I channeled his angelic message about this topic, I looked up the word hope in the dictionary,* and one of the archaic definitions is “a feeling of trust”.  It seems one does connect with the other.  If we can increase our trust, will we feel more hopeful and uplifted? 
 
At first, when I thought about it, it seemed to me hope is more time-bound, and trust is more grounded in present moment.  After I reflected more, however, I can see how they both have a certain connotation related to not knowing what will happen as time goes on.  This involves very often having a certain faith, outlook, or expectation the future will unfold in such a way as to be in alignment with one’s desire.  I think of the Fool card in the Tarot as an elaboration of this idea.  A man stands poised to step off a cliff into the unknown.  One must have a certain amount of courage to trust and to hope, because it involves putting ourselves in a vulnerable position.  What if I’m wrong?  What if I am betrayed?  What if things don’t work out?
 
The key, in my opinion, is to put our trust and hope in the eternal dimension, and this helps us know how and whom to trust in the time-bound dimension.  By placing your trust in that which transcends time - your Higher Self, that still small voice, your Higher Power, God/Goddess, Spirit – you will have the most stable guarantee all the resources, support, guidance and miracles needed to move those mountains will be provided.  People, circumstances, and material objects may come and go, rise and fall, but the everlasting Spirit is behind all the cycles and changes. 
 
If you put your trust only in other humans, you are dependent on an ever-changing and imperfect source.  By trusting first in the eternal, constant, and perfect Spirit, you open up doorways to increased trust with others.  Divine consciousness provides us with the understanding of how to transcend the shortcomings of other humans and gives us the strength to recover when someone does disappoint or hurt us.  Trust in others becomes natural when you trust you will always be Divinely protected and Divinely guided in all of your relationships and affairs.  We can sense the Holiness existing within us and around us, and beyond the veil of space and time.  Even if we stumble in our human experience, the gentle hands of Spirit are always there to catch us and help us to regain our footing.  Trust invites the Divine Power to enter our lives and work Miracles.
 
May you find your courage to trust in Spirit and see the Miracles and Hope flourish in your life.  May you trust that still small voice inside!
 
I will close with the full channeled message from Archangel Zadkiel from my radio show on 8/17/2021:
 
You have been a soldier plodding along, my beloved. You have traversed a great expanse of time, space, and consciousness. You are ready for a break, and you are ready to move into a new reality in which your fears are not ruling your life. You are ready to make changes that truly allow your spirit and soul to rise above the ashes and start again. I am here to tell you a message of hope and trust. You cannot have one without the other. Hope belongs to trust, it breeds trust, and your trust creates amazing ripples throughout space and time that open up doorways to more reasons to trust and grow in your faith. Place your trust and faith in that which is truly most high, truly most holy. You are entering a period of requisition, of coming to terms with what has not happened and making amends, clarifying what it is that you want as you move forward, and making adjustments as you walk through the door of your new reality. Patience is required, but also trust. You were born to be free, you were born to create a more sanctified world by trusting in what truly matters, including yourself. You have new opportunities available to you and it is time to make use of the overwhelming abundance of beautiful and useful abilities, situations, and resources available to you.  Your trust creates the resources you need to move mountains.
 
* Google’s Oxford Language Dictionary: https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
 ​

​In this month’s Intuitive Art Portal, the cormorant water bird image came out onto the page.  As I tuned into the guidance for this month’s collective energies, I felt a strong sense of humanity “swimming through the murkiness” as a means to arrive at more clarity.  I envision the cormorant spirit animal diving into the waters surrounding me.  She dives deep, focused on making the catch.  I sense the world has more opportunities for clarity and focus as we move onto this next chapter. 
 
Once she has finished, the cormorant perches on a rock and spreads her wings, opening her heart to the sun.  We must be brave and open our hearts to one another, ourselves, and our Source in order to receive this healing sunlight.  This requires trust.  I admit I am able to trust myself and the Universe enough to do this at times, other times not so much!
 
Can you open your “wings” and embrace the Universe, not knowing?  It’s part of the fun, isn’t it?  We don’t know exactly what comes next.  The cormorant uses her intuition and courage to guide her.  She enjoys the thrill of the dive.  She is teaching me to enjoy the dive, the present moment, as well as the harvest of the catch, the rewards after the work is done! 

Cindy and I, taking a page from the cormorant’s book, will be using our courage and intuition to dive into the Akashic Records next Intuitive Development Circle!  Join us and you yourself can retrieve the wisdom from your past lives that is helpful in the here-and-now!  Details below..
 
Have a blessed July, my love! 

   A few tiny things swirl around my head this morning: 1. Almost stepping on, but then relocating to safety, a tiny baby turtle; 2. Receiving a refund check from the government in the amount of exactly one dollar; 3. Giggling at the "smile" of a toy fox terrier as she is pet by her owner; 4. Reading a short but meaningful text from a loved one that brings tears to my eyes.  5. Beholding the tiny magical sparkles of stars in the night sky.
      Does size matter?  Yes, I say!  The size of your love, that is.  The size of your consciousness.  The size of your ability to recognize and appreciate these things.  Whether they appear big or small, counting each sparkle of love, beauty, creativity, joy, and wonder leads to an irrepressible accumulation of sparkles, eventually coalescing into a brilliant star!  I like to see in my mind’s eye all the little sparkles uniting.  I imagine others’ sparkles, and the stars we make together, each day.
      In the words of one of my favorite country songs:
 
Well, it's alright to be little bitty
A little hometown or a big old city
Might as well share, might as well smile
Life goes on for a little bitty while
 
(Little Bitty, by Alan Jackson)
 
     This month, I send you my admiration for all the tiny (and big) sparkles you are seeing in your life.  Are you recognizing them?  Let us do this and notice the solar systems and galaxies of wonder we can create here on the New Earth!
 ​