This post has been a long time coming – not just the post, but the actions behind it. I have long touted that one of my number one – if not my number one – value is Authenticity/Integrity. To me this means knowing who you are and being able to step into who you are and own it. When you do, all your actions and words match and are in alignment with that persona. What you see is what you get.

For several years now, I have tiptoed around the aspect of my business that I truly love and is a big part of me and who I am. I was worried about offending people (maybe?) and definitely I was worried that people wouldn’t like me anymore. OR they would think I had “fallen off the deep end” so to speak. Amazingly, (or not) this aspect of my business is also what my customers respond to with the most excitement. What is it, you ask? It is astrology.

I love it! I love the stories behind it, I love the stars and planets in the sky, I love the beautiful combination of science, math, psychology, philosophy and art that is astrology. I love to see it in action. It works! (doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not)

And the idea I had several years ago to combine astrology and life coaching can no longer be hidden. It just makes too much sense to me and to the clients I’ve used this with. With normal astrologers, you get your annual reading and don’t see or speak to them again until the following year or if something traumatic happens in your life. Life coaching provides this added element of helping people along the way. Astrology can provide the potential of your life – your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, life purpose, and more. It is all laid out there in the blueprint of your chart. What you choose to do with this potential is up to you because we are all given free will by the Divine. This is where the coaching comes in to help people take this potential and develop it in the most positive, effective and efficient manner. Why not take into account the “weather forecast” provided by astrology to help you determine when to make certain changes in your life? I see this as a beautiful marriage between two incredibly powerful disciplines. And there is no one else out there combining them in this way.

A year ago this coming week, I left my lucrative career in the corporate world to finally live the life I felt was truly mine. For years I felt I had been living two lives. I had one life in which I put on the persona of corporate consultant, getting up each morning and being the person I was expected to be by my clients and employers. And then outside of that world I was living my “real life” as a life coach, astrologer, student of spiritual paths, etc. Last year I finally reached a breaking point in which I could no longer live two lives. I needed to jump ship from the life that wasn’t “mine” and live the one that was. So, when I quit my job, I fully anticipated that I would be flung head-long into my new life. Only, it didn’t really happen like that. It was more a process – rather than jumping from one path to the other, I began to veer from one path to the other. It was a slow and arduous process and one in which I had to step out of my comfort zone daily to show a little bit more of who I really was to the world. Astrology was one of those things I kept leaving in my back pocket and only pulling out when I felt someone could “handle it”. This process truly felt as though I was giving birth! When I described it to a gay friend of mine, he said, “Of course, you’re coming out!” Yes! That makes so much sense!

No more! This way of coaching is too powerful not to share with the world. So, this blog will now become more of a personal blog covering all kinds of issues and interests from my point of view. My business is now: www.CoachingWithTheStars.com and I invite you to check it out. There’s not much there now, but it will be filling up fast.

I will also be offering a monthly conference call on what is going on in the heavens and how it is affecting us here on earth. If you are on my email list you will receive updates to this call and get the call-in information. If not, sign up here to receive updates and information on these calls:

You will be able to listen to the recording for 24 hours after the call and then you can purchase it for $5.55. The “Blissful Living” newsletter will begin to change over to a new format supporting this focus as well.

Be sure and “Like” me on Facebook as well: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Coaching-With-The-Stars/162169020509260

So, I have decided that this is the focus that my business needs to take – it is the only way I can live in integrity with who I am and what I believe, and truly practice what I preach which is that when you are doing what you uniquely came here to do and be, then you are providing a service to the world. The world is a better place for it. So, thanks for being a part of my community and I look forward to continuing my journey with your support and love!

Join me Tuesday, May 17th as we explore how you can access your inner guidance and use it to manifest  abundance and success in your life. As the earth goes through this shift and these changes, it is becoming increasingly important to get connected with our Source and follow the guidance we are meant to follow to become the people we are meant to be.

You are here to serve a purpose. You have an important role to play that no one else but you can do. The world needs you living your purposeful life and functioning in the highest most passionate way that you can.

When you are living in the flow by following your own internal GPS and life manual, you can:

• Know clearly and align with your unique Life Purpose
• Improve relationships
• Live in a state of inner peace and calm
• Have clear direction and ease in decision-making at all times
• Improve your health level
• Live a life of abundance, purpose and passion

With this simple system, you will be able to:

Learn about your Source – who or what is it? Learn about “intuition”, guidance from your source and other forms of “knowing”.

Understand the language of Spirit, Soul or your Source. The messages from these “realms” tend to be very cryptic and sometimes even non-sensical. Learn how to interpret and understand them so that you can take clear action.

Gain mastery over your emotions so that you can live in a state of inner peace and calm even through the chaos and turmoil that may be surrounding you.

Follow your inner guidance with surety and faith. You will learn how to distinguish this voice from the voice of your own ego, which likes to interfere! Know with certainty when you are “making things up” and when you are receiving a true message.

Know your unique method of receiving information. We are all unique and different and there are many ways we can receive information from Source. Learn the way that is best suited for you so that you can maximize the information you receive.

When you attend SourceConnect: The Blissful Soul’s Guide to Accessing and Understanding Your Personal GPS and Life Manual, – here’s an overview of everything you’ll receive:

4 Teleclasses (Value $200)
4 one-hour training classes in which you will learn all the techniques for accessing your source, interpreting messages from source, and defining your unique methods of communicating and understanding.

May 17, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM Central

May 24, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM Central

May 31, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM, Central

June 7, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM, Central

1 Q&A Call (Value $50)
There will be an additional call where you can call in or submit any questions you may be having about the techniques or processes learned. You can ask about any issues that you are having with techniques and make sure that you are clear and confident in the methods presented.

Time and Date to be determined.

MP3 recordings of all calls (Value $150)
All training and Q&A classes will be recorded and you will have the MP3s to listen to again and again forever. Every time you listen, you can gain more insight and knowledge. This is an invaluable benefit that you can make use of for years to come.

SourceConnect: The Blissful Soul’s Guide to Accessing and Understanding Your Personal GPS and Life Manual Handbook (Value $40)
A handbook which accompanies the training calls so that you have a place to take notes, write down inspirations and pull out the exercises for use whenever the mood strikes you.

One Private Coaching Session with me (Value $200)

Get all your questions and concerns answered and map out a plan for using your new-found intuition skills in this 45-minute session with me.

All of this purchased individually would add up to over $600!! You can get it now for only $97! I believe this information is so crucial to succeeding in the next few years of Earth shifts and changes that I want to be sure no one is held back from it!

OR Click here for more information: http://www.theblissfulsoul.com/events/sourceconnect-the-blissful-souls-guide-to-accessing-and-understanding-your-personal-gps-and-life-manual/

Join me Tuesday, May 17th as we explore how you can access your inner guidance and use it to manifest  abundance and success in your life. As the earth goes through this shift and these changes, it is becoming increasingly important to get connected with our Source and follow the guidance we are meant to follow to become the people we are meant to be.

You are here to serve a purpose. You have an important role to play that no one else but you can do. The world needs you living your purposeful life and functioning in the highest most passionate way that you can.

When you are living in the flow by following your own internal GPS and life manual, you can:

• Know clearly and align with your unique Life Purpose
• Improve relationships
• Live in a state of inner peace and calm
• Have clear direction and ease in decision-making at all times
• Improve your health level
• Live a life of abundance, purpose and passion

When you attend SourceConnect: The Blissful Soul’s Guide to Accessing and Understanding Your Personal GPS and Life Manual, – here’s an overview of everything you’ll receive:

4 Teleclasses (Value $200)
4 one-hour training classes in which you will learn all the techniques for accessing your source, interpreting messages from source, and defining your unique methods of communicating and understanding.

May 17, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM Central

May 24, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM Central

May 31, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM, Central

June 7, 2011 3 – 4:15 PM, Central

1 Q&A Call (Value $50)
There will be an additional call where you can call in or submit any questions you may be having about the techniques or processes learned. You can ask about any issues that you are having with techniques and make sure that you are clear and confident in the methods presented.

Time and Date to be determined.

MP3 recordings of all calls (Value $150)
All training and Q&A classes will be recorded and you will have the MP3s to listen to again and again forever. Every time you listen, you can gain more insight and knowledge. This is an invaluable benefit that you can make use of for years to come.

SourceConnect: The Blissful Soul’s Guide to Accessing and Understanding Your Personal GPS and Life Manual Handbook (Value $40)
A handbook which accompanies the training calls so that you have a place to take notes, write down inspirations and pull out the exercises for use whenever the mood strikes you.

One Private Coaching Session with me (Value $200)

Get all your questions and concerns answered and map out a plan for using your new-found intuition skills in this 45-minute session with me.

All of this purchased individually would add up to over $600!! You can get it now for only $97! I believe this information is so crucial to succeeding in the next few years of Earth shifts and changes that I want to be sure no one is held back from it!

OR Click here for more information: http://www.theblissfulsoul.com/events/sourceconnect-the-blissful-souls-guide-to-accessing-and-understanding-your-personal-gps-and-life-manual/

This is a beautiful video of drumming in honor of Earth day – feel the heartbeat of Mother Earth.

The drum connects our heart to the heart beat of Mother Earth…

There was a time when man took no more
than he needed
That time is gone…
There was a time when he gave something back
That time is gone…
There was a time when he worshipped the Creator
And honored Creation
That time too is gone…
And now the waters are polluted
Our natural resources are all but gone
And creation is dying…
It’s time…
To find our way back to the Earth.

~~Kevin Thunderhorse Wright

I know there are many of you out there thinking, What is my Intuitive type? How would I know since I don’t even think I’m intuitive?” Well, let’s get rid of that myth right now! EVERYONE has intuitive abilities. We are born with them – Just like we’re all born with a brain.

Some of us may have more natural abilities and some of us exercise our abilities more so they get stronger, but we all have them. So I really would like to encourage those of you who think you don’t have them to start building your intuitive muscle!

Now, let’s see what type of intuitive you are. There are four main types and you probably are actually a combination of all of them, but there will most likely be 1 or 2 that stand out for you. These types are:

1) Visual or Clairvoyant

You are a visual intuitive is you can easily see pictures in your mind’s eye. When someone asks you to imagine something, it there in great detail for you.A more advanced visual intuitive might also be able to see auras around people, plants and animals. These are the people who say things like “I see what you mean.” or “That looks like a great idea.” Do you tend to need to see something in order to understand it or learn about it? If so, it is likely that you are a visual intuitive.

2) Auditory or Clairaudient

You are an auditory intuitive if you can easily hear things in your mind. You might easily remember conversations word-for-word or excel in music. You are the person who “hears” messages or words in your mind rather than seeing them. These are the people that say things like “I’m hearing you.” or “That sounds like a great idea.” It’s possible that if you are an auditory learner (someone who needs to hear an explanation of a lesson or new idea to understand it), you are likely an auditory intuitive.

3) Feeling or Clairsentient

These are the people who feel things in their bodies. They may get a stomach-ache when entering a room in which there’s been an argument. When making a decision, the wrong one might make them fell uptight, heart rate might go up and the right one might make them feel calm and centered. These are the people who use language like “I’ve got a felling about this.” or “I’m going with my gut on this one.”

4) Knowing or Claircognizant

These people fell as though the “just know” things. They can’t explain why – they are not necessarily “seeing”, “hearing” or “feeling” things… they just KNOW. There might even be a learning style that matches this type of person – they tend to just know the answers to things and can’t really explain how they came to the correct solution.

So have you come up with your type or combination of types? If so, you can work on improving them and the other types as well so that you can become a “well-rounded” intuitive! Check out my 4-week teleclass on this very topic here: SourceConnect: Access and Understand Your Inner GPS

Often people tell me they don’t think they are intuitive or psychic. Some people doubt these abilities even exist. The reality is that EVERYONE is intuitive! We all are born with this ability and use it to some extent or another.

Have you ever been thinking of someone only to have them call you shortly after? Have you ever had a bad feeling about going somewhere only to find out by not going you missed a disaster? Have you ever just had a “gut” feeling about someone, only to have that feeling play out?

The difference between people’s abilities is simply the amount of practice they’ve had with it. Psychics are simply (intuitive) people who have honed this skill like an athlete and can now use this skill at their command.

You can also practice this skill and apply it in your life. It doesn’t matter what your religious affiliation or spiritual belief system is. We all have this ability. In order to get started and move forward, here are three tips to enhance your intuition:

1.    Become Aware

Notice what you notice. Be calm and still and see what you see at any given moment, notice what you hear, notice the sensations in your body. Just being aware of you and your surroundings as much as possible, will start opening doors to your higher guidance. You’’ start to notice the differences in what you see hear and feel and what those differences mean to you. From that you will be able to apply what you’re learning to any given situation.

2.    Trust what you receive

When you start to notice what you are seeing, hearing and felling, you may get the sensation that you are getting a message from this divine guidance, but it can feel like you’re just making it up. One of the most difficult things is for people to trust the messages they are receiving. AS you begin to trust and act on the messages, more will come and you will get clarity around your own method and style of receiving information. The only caveat is that your guidance system will never tell you to harm yourself or others or tell you negative things, like “You’re not good enough.” That is one clear way to tell if the messages you are receiving are valid or not.

3.    Practice, Practice, Practice

Nothing beats practice. Just like any other muscle, the intuitive muscle needs to be exercised. Keep practicing. Try to see if you can tell who’s calling before picking up the ringing phone. Try to guess how many emails you have received before checking it. Make it fun!

When we access this higher intelligence, we are accessing the higher intelligence of the universe. This keeps us in contact with the Divine Intelligence and helps us to know it better. The more we practice, the closer we get to it, and then our lives start changing in ways we can’t even begin to imagine.

What is a contemplative practice?

It is a practice that can be active or still, religious or not, that brings you to the present moment, stills your mind chatter and helps you to focus, center and reconnect with yourself and the Divine.

Contemplative practices have many varied benefits, but in general, they tend to focus the mind and instill a deep sense of calm, peace and awareness. Every religion has some form of a contemplative practice within its arsenal of practices. Some of them include movement, such as the Sufi whirling dervishes or yoga; and some are much more still…such as meditation.

The benefits of incorporating a contemplative practice into your life include:

• Quiet the mind
• Develop Compassion
• Awaken consciousness
• Become aware of interconnectedness and unity
• Reduce Stress
• Enhance creativity and creative problem-solving
• Develop the ability to live proactively rather than reactively
• Ability to deal with the complexities of life

Some examples of Contemplative practices include:

Centering Prayer – this method has its roots in Christianity and the guidelines are as follows (taken from Wikipedia – according to Basil Pennington):
1.    Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
2.    Choose a sacred word that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord’s presence and open to His divine action within you (i.e. “Jesus”, “Lord,” “God,” “Savior,” “Abba,” “Divine,” “Shalom,” “Spirit,” “Love,” etc.).
3.    Let that word be gently present as your symbol of your sincere intention to be in the Lord’s presence and open to His divine action within you.
4.    Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your sacred word, your anchor.

Remembrance – this is the standard practice of Sufism and is similar to Centering prayer in that a word (in this case, the name of God, Allah) is repeated over and over again, often done aloud. The focus is on the heart.  This technique is aimed to gently open the ear of the heart, to listen with the heart. With the ear of the heart you can hear the whispers of love from the divine.  The Ah sound opens the heart opens the crown chakra and the divine vibration flows in. The “La” sound, and the La sound splashes the love into our hearts, scooping it up and drawing the love into our center.  After several minutes the floodgates open and the heart is filled with divine love and mercy.   Old wounds are healed, old grudges are forgiven, fears melt away, and the heart leaps with gratitude before the awesome mercy of God.

Walking a Labyrinth
A labyrinth (unlike a maze) has only one path leading to the center and back out again. There are no dead ends.
When you walk a labyrinth, you meander back and forth, turning 180 degrees each time you enter a different circuit. As you shift your direction you also shift your awareness from right brain to left brain. This is one of the reasons the labyrinth can induce receptive states of consciousness. It can also help to balance the chakras.
Each person’s walk is a personal experience. How one walks and what one receives differs with each walk. Some people use the walk for clearing the mind and centering. Others enter with a question or concern. T

Prayer Beads these can include Catholic rosaries, Hindu/Sikh “mala” beads, Islamic “tasbih” beads, etc. The repetitive nature of the prayers associated with each bead tend to help you clear the mind and focus on the heart.

Some other practices I haven’t included her are yoga, tai chi, rituals and ceremonies, mindful walking…What kind of contemplative practices are part of your life now? If you have none, think about one or two that you’re willing to try. Even something as simple as a hot bath with scented candles once a week can do wonders for the soul!

There is a saying that “Peace is not about avoiding trouble, work and hardships. Rather Peace is the ability to remain calm in the midst of life’s challenges”. This is something that I have struggled with and still think about sometimes. It is really easy to feel at peace and ease when things are going well and you are generally happy about the state of your life.

However, when there is chaos around us or things don’t go as planned or we have expectations that aren’t met, we can start to feel that tide of emotion rising up within us – anxiety, anger, fear, worry,  … the list goes on.

So, how does one go about finding that deep well of calm within – especially in the moment of challenge? Here are a few techniques that might help you with this:

1.    Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) – this is one of a collection of techniques that use the body’s energetic meridians to effect emotional and physical change. It is also known as “tapping”. It has been used with great effect in any number of things, but its ability to deflect and lower panic and anxiety in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients is why I’ve listed it here. Basically, you tap on various meridian points (top of head, above eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, above lips, below, lips, below collar bone and under arm on side of body) with two or three fingers while reciting “Even though I (enter the feeling you are having here – e.g., feel worried), I deeply love and respect myself. Continue repeating this as you tap your way through the points. Check yourself after one round, if you still feel the feeling or another feeling, continue until you are at a neutral point. Get help from a good EFT practitioner if you need help.

2.    Remembrance – a Sufi practice of chanting the name of god (Allah) silently or under your breath repeatedly for 5 – 20 minutes. You can sit comfortably and if possible, close your eyes and place your hands over your heart area. This technique really helps you get into your heart space, which is where the calm resides.

3.    Chanting – An example of chanting would be the Hindu peace chant:

Asato maa,

Sadgamayaa
 Tamaso maa, Jyotirgamayaa ;

Mrityor maa, Amritam Gamayaa

Here is a link to a site that explains the meaning of the chant and some mp3 links so that you can listen to it.

http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/asatomaa.php

There is something about the vibration of sound that can change your energy field instantly. If this chant is too complicated for you, try simply chanting “Ohm” over and over again until you start feeling calm.

There are many more ways to get to that place of peace. These are but a few techniques that I use regularly to get back to feeling calm and centered when I find myself feeling overwhelmed, worried, anxious, fearful, etc. And the beauty of them is that you don’t even need to know WHY you feel the way you do. Just do one of these and watch your blood pressure lower, your breath deepen and your connection with the Divine increase. What more could you ask for?

I’m often asked – what is an Interfaith minister? My short answer is that as someone who has studied and has an understanding of all the faiths, I can more easily minister to people from their own viewpoint. While I have my own personal spiritual path, I can work with someone from their own path without the need to convince them of my way or convert them to another way. I believe that we are unique individuals and God, Spirit, Allah, the Universe, etc. speaks to us in many ways. Different ways resonate with different people, and so they can follow a path that leads to the Divine that works for them. The director of my seminary, Rev. Diane Berke states:

“The implications of the“>A Course In Miracles” teaches that a universal theology is impossible, but that a universal experience is not only possible but necessary if we are to awaken from the dream of separation that has led to so much suffering. Experience is the realm of practice, and it is here that we can truly meet and enrace one another as brothers and sisters.

It is my sincere hope that this manual will be a support for you on your journey. And may the fruits of our individual and collective practice be of benefit to all living beings, and to the earth.”

Blessings,

Rev. Tricia

Dreams: Your Connection to Source

In this three day workshop you will:

• Understand how to recall dreams
• Discover what you can use to aid the dream state, such as special stones, essential oils, herbs, bells, and symbols
• Develop the skill of astral travel and lucid dreaming
• Use dreams to connect with your angels, animal totems, and master guides
• Connect with loved ones who have passed on
• Gain mystical messages
• Activate your Dream Shield and meet your Dream Guide
• Learn the most common dreams and their meanings.

You will also discover how to incubate and program dreams for:

• Past-life exploration
• Far-viewing
• Manifesting your desires
• Earth healing
• Chakra balancing
• Finding a soul mate in your dream state before meeting in person

I will teach you how to decipher the meanings
of dreams with several tools. You’ll learn:

• The mystical use of a dream journal
• The art of gestalting a dream
• The power of “drawing” the dream
• Ways to create and use a dream dictionary
• Free association
• The Replay Method
• Moon cycles and seasons and their impact on dreams
• The special meanings of colors
• The meaning of numbers
• Ancient Chinese Clock Dream Interpretation.

3 Sundays, January 16, 23 30, 2011

NiaMoves, Houston

$75 or $60 if paid before January 10, 2011

There will also be a follow-up phone session with me and the opportunity to join a dream group for analyzing dreams.