Thankful, Thankful!

It's Thanksgiving so I would like to mention some things in my life that are going pretty amazingly right now.

1.) I did a powerful meditation on a Friday night on attracting wealth.  I got the skin prickles and everything! The very next day,  I had a tutoring client that needed me for 8+hours!  She paid me more than I have ever made in a day and she was SO grateful, she kept apologizing for not being able to give me more!

2.) My kids are getting a lot easier!  The older they get, the easier it is! I believe our no (or very, very minimal) T.V. rule has helped here.  I'm sure the fact that they have a clearly defined work area has helped as well.  It is really easy for them to just sit and work quietly on their own.  Also, the longer you parent, the more you learn about parenting (your own children, of course).

3.) I am learning French.  It is really hard but I love that I am actually putting in the discipline and hard work - and I can see the benefits of it! I typically have the pattern of starting something... then starting something ELSE before I'm done with the previous thing.  I love to change with the wind... I read somewhere that this pattern is a recipe for never reaching your goals.  Discipline is key.  I love that I am learning it (and French at the same time!).

4.) For as long as I can remember, I struggled with allowing other people's opinions of me define how I see myself.  If someone was angry with me - I would beat myself up about it.  This year, I have been working on NOT doing that.  I've FINALLY developed the magical ability to separate myself from other people's *stuff*.  It is RIDICULOUSLY freeing!   I need to write a blog post on that...

5.) Because of the above, I am able to be more of myself!  It is super uncomfortable to shrink myself in order to fit into what makes others feel comfortable...  So happy I don't have to do that anymore!  Of course I do not want people to feel uncomfortable - and I would never knowingly offend someone.  However, I have realized that their discomfort typically has nothing to do with me. ;).

And I that is it for now!

Magic.

Last night, my friend came over for a Reiki session - and it was magical. Honestly, every session is pretty amazing.  But when there is a personal AND spiritual connection to the person I'm working on (also lots and lots of openness and transparency), minds are blown. It's like I get an energy session, too!

Even though I haven't talked to her in a few weeks - we are experiencing a lot of similar things in our spiritual lives.  It was incredibly insightful to compare notes.

Not to mention how validating it feels to have visuals during the session that coincide with her visuals! So many "wow" moments last night.

Love.This.Journey. <3

I do anything I want.

Once upon a time, I lived by very strict rules. I would only do things that matter.  I would NOT be superficial enough to shop at a mall. "Ugh".  I would not waste time on frivolous dreams. And I would NOT at all wear lipstick.

Well, things have changed.  I have a new mantra (borrowed from my friend Narinder): "I can do anything I want to do".

I shopped for black patent-leather pumps at a mall.  I wore red lipstick at my best friend's birthday dinner.  ANDDDDDD I am learning French.  I have this fantasy of sitting on a beautiful beach in the south of France, reading a French novel and talking to the locals in their native tongue in a black bikini.  Right now, it is just a fantasy.  As I am barely able to say a sentence besides "Comment ca va?"  But I am TOTALLY working on it.  And by this time next year, I hope to be speaking fluent French and planning a vacation in France... or at least Quebec!

Red Lips!

It is super tempting to put yourself in a box by believing things like: "I'm not the kind of person that does this, or I am the kind of person that does that".  But that box will eventually stop you from living life to the fullest... not to mention creating blocks and shadows (which will cause you to do things that hurt yourself and others).

Be free. Live fully.

Love and Light <3!

Love + Acceptance

I was rejected today. Well, not really. Someone said something that triggered the rejection emotion - which, in my case is a BIG emotion. I was sobbing, ruining my make-up and everything.

"That's why nobody likes you" my brother used so say.

"That's why nobody likes you" is chanted over and over in my head just below my consciousness.

Two things about this statement.

1.) That no one likes me.

2.) (and this is the worst of the two) That there is an intrinsically, unlikeable quality I possess that prevents love and acceptance.

So, I have developed methods to neutralize this quality… Some of them healthier than others. A few examples include: trying to be as attractive as possible, making really good grades, and constantly monitoring all interactions to gauge if I am deemed acceptable by the other party.

Today, I was found *unacceptable* by my gauge, which triggered a plethora of tears and wrenching emotions. 

Perhaps it was because I have a new ability to look deeper within.  Or perhaps it was because I had the words *loved* and *accepted* on my alter.  Whatever the reason, I was able to stop in the middle of my wails and listen.  I really listened. That’s when I heard the chanting so clearly. And I saw myself as a little girl, wanting acceptance and love – and all the insecure feelings came to the surface – and I cried some more. Then I gave that little girl some love.

And THEN I was good. 

I quit my job last month...

I quit my easy, fun job whose pay was not too bad that fit perfectly into my schedule.  I worked 6-11pm a few nights out of the week.  So, my husband was home by the time it was time for me to leave to go to work.    Also, we were on the quarter system so every 12 weeks, I could decide to work more or less.

It was hard to quit.  Not just because of the above reasons.  It was hard because my bosses kept asking me to stay.  The big boss literally asked me if he needed to beg.   Then he threatened to start a petition. My students also asked several times for me to stay “just until they graduated”.  I know it seems like I am bragging – but I am totally being honest.  I have never been so appreciated at a job before.  There are some great people there. (If you are in the Atlanta area with an electrical engineering degree and are looking for a part-time gig, send me your resume!)

I know what you are thinking.  Why would you quit?  All these people out here looking for a good job and you just up and leave yours????

There are a few reasons.  The first reason is because I want to focus on my Holistic Energy business.  Also, my son did not like me to go to work at night.  He hated that I had to leave before dinner and he did not get to see me until the next day.  

The main reason, though is because I want to be authentic in everything I do.  I worked at one of those night schools were the curriculum is very scripted and the students' workload is very heavy.  The curriculum is developed for all the campuses across the nation and leaves very little room for adaptability.  Anyone who teaches knows that it is impossible to implement a scripted curriculum while still maintaining a connection to the class.  Everyone learns at different rates and in different ways. So, the expectations (in my opinion) were a bit ridiculous.  I was a lot more laid back than I was supposed to be.  We *may* or may not have missed a few required quizzes.  We *may* have spent more than 50% of the class time talking about how to live a happier life + removing blocks (the former depends on the latter, by the way).  I *may* have even done some energy work on a couple of students who were having a really hard time.  All these things NOT being a part of my job description.

I was always paranoid that my boss would come in and *catch me* not doing what I was “supposed to be doing”.  When in my heart, that WAS what I was supposed to be doing.  My students needed that.  The conflict, though, was eating me up.  So, I told them I had to leave.

My kids are definitely much happier I’m home.   My husband is, too.  The money helped a lot with our financial obligations, but there is nothing like mama being home for dinner, ya know?

We decided to live with another family.

family one

A couple of months ago, I got a group text message from my friend, Kisha saying:  "Do you know anyone interested in house-sharing?  We are looking to house-share with another family."
My head spun!  I had never even HEARD of house-sharing - but I immediately sent her a message back saying: "We may be! Call me when you can".

I met Kisha at the farmer's market a couple of years ago.  It was around the time I was first considering homeschooling.  As soon as I saw her amazing free-form locs and her kids getting excited over dried figs, I knew they lived an alternative lifestyle.  I approached her and randomly asked her if she homeschooled, and she said "Why, yes I do".  And we became friends!

Our communication was mostly through text because she didn't live very close and her kids were on a different schedule than mine.  But whenever we talked, we got along really well and realized we have a lot in common.

During the call about house-sharing, Kisha and I set up a meeting so that the families could meet and see the house.  The days leading up to the meeting, I was convinced it wouldn't work out.  I mean, how could it really?  Married people can barely live together!  And wasn't it so weird to have 4 adults living together?  I didn't want to cancel.  I figured when they came, it would be clear to everyone that it wasn't a good idea.  Well, I was wrong.  Just the opposite was the case.

Our family dynamics matched very well.  We had similar goals (getting out of debt); the kids were excited, and they all liked the space.  Also (most importantly) Kisha and her husband are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.  They are extremely considerate and generous.  They are the kind of people that you just *want* to do stuff for.   We actually asked for less rent than what they offered!

They moved in about a month ago and it was definitely a great decision for us.  I can't tell you how amazing it is to have two moms in the same house.  One day I was super burned out.  I hadn't eaten and my kids were... you know, being kids.   I was so hungry, I was HANGRY.  I was so HANGRY, I didn't want to make myself anything to eat.  Kisha took one look at me, and said "You need to eat something." Then she proceeded to make me the BEST peanut butter and jelly sandwich I have ever had.

First, she toasted the super fresh bread in some super fresh organic coconut oil.  Then she spread on  peanut butter made from freshly ground peanuts, sprinkled it with a dash of salt, then she added the jelly.  She doesn't use regular jelly - she used strawberry butter .  It is really smooth.  She then mixes the peanut butter and strawberry butter together ON the bread!  Every single bite is a perfect blend of bread, peanut butter, and jelly.  YUM!

If you are in a tight financial bind, I must say it is SO worth trying to houseshare.

Here are some of the benefits:

1.) Kids have playmates all the time.  Zeke and Anaya are pretty extroverted, so company is ALWAYS welcome in their eyes.  They are way more likely, now, to play outside for extended periods of time.  Also, with that many kids, the things they come up with are hilarious and amazing.  At one point, they were all digging a hole under the deck while it was pouring rain, claiming they were *making* clay.

2.) *I* have someone to talk to all the time!  We share a lot of the same spiritual beliefs, so we always have something to talk about.

3.) Her food is AMAZING.  It is obvious that she pours her heart into all her food (and maybe even the kitchen, because I swear, MY food taste better since she's been here).  Also, she has great tips on cooking - so maybe that accounts for the better tasting food...

3.) It's really easy to share babysitting duties with 4 adults in the house.

4.) We are all saving lots on bills!

5.) I have less crap. Sharing space forces you to be more efficient with your things.

There are a few things that make sharing space less than ideal.  Some of them include:

1.)  Less space.  Yes, I am more efficient with the space that I have now. But still.

2.)  I have to always clean up after myself.  I am more of a clean-up-when-I-feel-like-it type of housekeeper.  Unfortunately, that is not the most considerate quality in a housemate situation.

3.) We have different parenting styles.  My husband and my goal in parenting and education is a lot more emotionally-conscious and less traditional than most people.  We try really hard not use shame (OR praise) to manipulate our children to do things.  We want to train our children to use their own moral compass instead of being motivated to earn our approval (or avoid our anger).  While Kisha does not use corporal punishment (if she did, we would not be able to house-share), she definitely uses a more traditional style of parenting.

4.) I can't wear booty-shorts around the house.  Or have loud *discussions* with my husband or any other thing that I probably wouldn't do in public.

All in all, though, it was a great decision for us.  We have an agreement try it for at least 6 months.  So, in October, we will all revisit the situation and see if we want to continue.  Even if we decide to part ways then, I am really happy I didn't cancel that meeting!  

This post was added to Effy's Blog Along!

Removing Blocks

Journaling in a hand-bound book.

The hardest thing about the process is knowing what they are when they come up.

In my experience, a block doesn't come up all nice and clean, revealing it's true identity.  It comes up from the ego, disguised as someone ELSE's problem.  Oftentimes, it's my husband's.

For example, E is was giving me an informal course in Programming 2, a class that I dropped in college and always think about going back and retaking.

He very good at keeping a lot of data in his head and processing it.  He rarely has to write things down in order to understand them.  So, this is the way he teaches. Unfortunately, this is not at all the way I learn. My attention goes in and out from minute to minute - and I may miss whole paragraphs focusing on something else like, the tone of his voice or what I am going to cook for dinner.  I am very much a visual learner.  If it's written down, I can just look at it in my own time, regardless of how often my attention weans and waxes...

So, the other night, I get EXTREMELY irritated while he is teaching me command line syntax.   HOW does he expect me to keep ALL that in my head without writing it down????  What kind of person does not write things they are explaining, ANYWAY?

I get SO angry at him, I tell him: forget it.  I can't take his *class* and storm off.

After I am by myself, I am still fuming.  This is definitely a block, I know.  Because it is *my* block, it is hard for me to see it for what it really is.  My ego HATES being exposed.  So, I have to get to work.  I journal.  I meditate.  I try to let go of all of my current thoughts about the situation.  And I hear a small voice (figuratively!).

It says: "You must be stupid.  Something is wrong with the way you think."  Ha!  This is it!  Obviously, I am not stupid.   But, clearly, this is a deep seated fear that I have.  This is why I got SO angry with E's teaching *style*.   Some time ago, I was taught that if I didn't understand things quickly, then I must not be *good* at it.

Side note: This is the way, unfortunately the way most of our children are taught in school and at home.  They are praised for learning something quickly - and are not praised for struggling through material.  They learn that they are *good* at something that is easy.  And that the opposite must be the case: they are *bad* at something they struggle with.  So, they learn to hate struggle.  Praise, itself, is the problem... but that is another blog post.

I go back to that *lesson* and retrain myself.  I tell myself that it is okay to have a different learning style.  It is okay to struggle with material.  This says nothing of my value.  I am enough. I know enough.  And the block is removed.

Unfortunately, sometimes, for whatever reason the last step isn't entirely successful.  Sometimes, I may have the same block come up, multiple times.  Sometimes multiple blocks come up at the same time, making identification extremely complex. But I know that they will come up, naturally.  And I will continue to retrain myself.

Since my breakTHROUGH, I have been seeing blocks left and right.  They come up several times a day.  It's pretty intense.  Sometimes, I have to excuse myself at awkward times to deal with them.  But I know that this is the key to *curing* my depression and reaching spiritual enlightenment.   So, I don't mind at all :).

I had a *productive* conversation with my higher self.

This is big news since I have had a torrid relationship with myself for a very long time.

I went to a meditation once, and in it we met with one of our spirit guides.  Mine was a skinny guy with long robes and a jolly disposition.

Another participant told us she saw herSELF as her spirit guide.  The leader of the meditation was impressed.  I was appalled.  Why in the world would I want to meet ME in a meditation?  Gross.

When I think of myself, I think of this argumentative, unattractive, know-it-all, transparent, WEIRDO who feels the incomprehensible need to share all her vulnerabilities.  WHO in their right mind would want to meet HER in a meditation?  Not me, for sure.

Meditating in the backyard.  My brother came out and
took  this picture.

I have been successfully avoiding her for most of my life.  However, when I had my recent breakdown - she came front and center.  Having learned how my shadows appear, I knew this was something I couldn't avoid much longer.

So I invited her into a conversation during a meditation.  While I am laying in bed with my daughter to help her go to sleep, I often go into a meditation.  This helps my daughter go to sleep - and it guarantees I make time to meditate.

In the meditation, I saw her big and floating above me.  Smug.  I was smashed down in the shape of a suitcase, in a box that could fit me and another few suitcases.

I asked her, "Why do I hate you?"
She responds, "You don't hate me, you are afraid of me..."
She continues, "You know I won't fit in that little pathetic suitcase carrier.  Once you become me, you will burst out of there and you will NOT fit in where you have been trying to fit in your whole life.  Some people will not like you.  Some people will not approve of you.  Some people will be afraid of you.  You have been afraid of that."

I get the familiar tingles that tell me she is telling the truth.  And I immediately realize THIS is what was trying to come up!  THIS was the source of my depression.   My higher self has been trying to get my attention, but I have been ignoring her.

"Okay, Okay. WHAT should I do to get out of here?" I ask her.
She tells me, "Just get up.  There is nothing holding you.  You think there are strings but they are not there."

I look with one eye (because my other eye is strangely covered by some other part of my body in this ridiculous contortion) and sure enough, where it seemed to be strings tying me down, there were none.  Just my imagination.

Amazing, right?

Since then, I have been constantly making an effort to get up and out.  Currently, I think I am sitting on the edge of the container.  Still wanting to be liked/loved by those I respect - but not quite willing to contort myself to be that.

One of these days, hopefully, I will be completely OUT and away from the box of acceptance and conformity.  I will realize that I am safer out than in.  That my own love and acceptance is more than enough to sustain me.  And I will be big, and floating, and fully, and completely ME.

That will be awesome. :).

Suicide

Meditation Pillow

I almost killed myself last month.  Seriously.

It all started in November at my book club.  My book club, by the way, is made up of some of the most AMAZING women I have ever met.  My friend, who happens to be an intuitive healer, talked a little about her spiritual journey.  She talked of some Kundalini exercise - where if you do it a certain ridiculous number of times, you will get a major spiritual experience.  Of course, I promptly started to practice it.  She told me that I should NOT do it.  She said that there was a good chance I wouldn't be able to handle it.  I was like: "PSHHHH!  You think that is going to stop me?  I am TOTALLY doing it!"

This spiritual journey is so SLOW going.  I want to be THERE already!  I want all my blocks to be gone.  I want to be able to communicate with my spirit guides.  I want to be able to listen to my intuition!  I want to feel energy!


SO, I did the exercise.  I did it that night. I did it the next morning.  I tried to google how to do it properly, but without the name of it- google couldn't help me.  (If you are curious, the exercise involves doing kegels, tightening your butt muscles, and pulling up your stomach muscles at the same time.)

However, as the universe would have it, there was a full moon that next night and I happened to have a Full Moon Kundalini yoga class!  And would you believe that we did THAT very exercise for most of the session. I did not have an experience that night - nor the next.

But when my moon time came around again in December (which happened to be the 21st anniversary of my monthly cycle), I was a WRECK.  Now, let me tell you, depression is no stranger to me.  I experience it pretty much every month with my period.  I get sad or mad or just irritable.  I go off in anger, or I may cry at nothing.  I have recently learned that I get depressed when blocks are trying to surface, but I push them down.  I have been getting some energy work done (mostly Reiki) to help me release them.  And it works really well.

But THIS?  This was no ordinary depression.  This was "I can't move my legs" depression.  This was "I can't even TALK" depression.  If you compare my normal monthly depression to cramps, then this would be labor pains.  It was UNBEARABLE  I remember my kids looking at me, trying to talk to me - and I literally could not speak.  Anaya (my two year old) would wipe away my tears saying "Sorry, mommy".  Because that is what she says when someone is hurt.  And BOY was I hurting.

Can you believe I almost LEFT them???

I got energy work done several times, but it wouldn't last.

I hit rock bottom on December 17.  I left my house in a RAGE after arguing with my husband.  It was super cold, I did not have a jacket, and I live in the hood (I am usually too scared to run down the street in the daylight).  However, it was well past midnight and I just COULD NOT be in the house with him anymore.   He chased after me and brought me back in (my kids were staying with grandparents).  I remember looking up in my psychotic state and seeing the full moon, and thinking "Is this real?"  Because people going crazy on the full moon is SUCH a cliche...

Anyway, I wanted to DIE.  So, I started thinking of ways that I could do it.

1.) Gun?  No, too messy: I didn't want my family to find me dead AND bloody.
2.) Hanging? Do you know how hard it is to find something in the ceiling that can support your weight?  Really, Really hard. Also, it will hurt.  I yanked something around my neck to test it.  Umm, no - I am trying to alleviate pain, thank you very much.
3.) Jumping off something really high.  That is just for people wanting attention.  I am not trying to hold up traffic.
4.) Finally, I had an epiphany!  I could die from car exhaust!  It was such a calm and clean way of dying.  People die from that without even knowing! And no blood!

Once I figured out a way, I had to figure out when. I knew I couldn't do it with my family home.  I didn't want them to die, too.  So, maybe the next time I took the kids to school and my husband was at work, I could just come home and do it.

When I had that thought, I knew it was only a matter of time.  I knew that it would mess my family and friends up.  I have heard the stories of people's lives after someone close to them committed suicide.  It would be AWFUL.  But at the same time, I was tired... so very tired.  It was like being sleepy on the road at night.  You don't want to fall asleep - but it's inevitable...

So, I told my mom.  She TOTALLY (understandably) freaked out.  Almost had me committed. But the hospital would have definitely forced me to take drugs.  In the back (waaaaay back) of my mind I knew that I had asked for this.  I had BEGGED for a breakthrough.  I just didn't know I would have to have a breakDOWN first.  So, I agreed to stay by my husband's side until I could see a therapist.

By the way, it is extremely hard to get help for people wanting to commit suicide.  I called the national suicide hotline number and they had me on hold for several minutes (both times I called) - so I hung up.  I called every therapist I could find online and NO one was available.   My husband took me to a mental hospital for emergency care - but my only options were to either 1.) commit myself for at least 3 days or 2.) the doctor would commit me for as long as deemed necessary. So, I didn't even fill out the paperwork.

I DID finally have my *spiritual* experience.  During one morning after all the drama, E and I were eating at the Flying Biscuit and I had the epiphany: "I need to stop judging my thoughts".  In Christianity, I was taught to "guard my thoughts, guard my heart".  I was taught that even a bad thought was a sin - so to prevent myself from *sinning*, I judged all my thoughts harshly.  Does this thought lead to success?  Is this a good thought? Is this a bad one?  How could I EVER listen to my intuition if I never shut up the guard dog that was constantly barking?????  Duh!

I felt like my crown chakra opened all the way and like I was floating for about 5 minutes.  It was pretty awesome.  Not the fireworks I was expecting, but pretty memorable, anyway.  After that, I have been finding and pulling up blocks left and right.  AND I had a very productive conversation with my higher self.  (more on that here!)

Also, one of the moms at my kids' school is a psychotherapist.  And she got me in contact with another psychotherapist (actually, several - but I picked Greta because she is a life coach and she is close!).  It has been working out great.  Greta is not fully convinced that I have *cured* my depression.  But I am not worried at all. I am sure I will get sad or mad or irritable again (I have already, actually).  I still have plenty of blocks, I'm sure.  However, now I have tools to help me navigate them- before they get pushed down and turn into depression.

I finally feel like my head is clear(er).  It's almost like I had a cloud over my head for my entire life, and now it's dispersed!  What a wonderful, FREEING feeling!  And without medication!

What if everyone with depression really just had blocks that need to be removed...?