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/

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!

Often I am asked what EXACTLY is it that I do? I mean I have a lot of “labels – life coach, energy healer, spiritual teacher, astrologer, workshop leader, Reiki Master, interfaith minister…etc. That’s great – but, what do I DO?!?!?

Well, what I “DO”, bottom-line, is this: I help people to find their life purpose and live it. When you are living the purpose that you were uniquely created to fulfill, you are happy, life flows easier and you are making the world a better place – it’s a WIN-WIN for everyone!

How I do it is through a unique combination of spiritual coaching and energy healing methods. I help you get connected with your spiritual source so that you can find the answers you need within you. Then, you have this tool forever and always and can always resort to it whenever you have decisions to make in life. Some of the tools for this connection can be prayer, meditation, dreamwork, journaling, etc.I don’t want to help you get your life purpose and then leave you hanging – not knowing where to go from there. When you are done working with me, you are clear on your purpose, you have taken steps towards living it within the context of your ideal dream life and you have the tools necessary to move forward on your own!

The energy healing provides a beautiful way of releasing old patterns and beliefs, so that you are better able to surge forward into the life of your dreams as opposed to getting and staying stuck as so many of us do!

And, if you are still stuck or unclear after all of that, I also can pull out the “big guns” and determine astrologically what your purpose is and any challenges and/or positive personality traits you may have in helping you achieve it. This can be a great source of information and support in moving you forward towards your dreams.

My all-time favorite Christmas song is “The Little Drummer Boy”. I think it is a beautiful story of being yourself, knowing your gift and sharing it with the world. Please be gentle with yourself and know that you are enough just as you are – and you have something that only YOU are uniquely created to share with the world. Do you know what that is?

This is a unique rendition by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. I love the message of Peace on Earth. It’s one of my missions and passions in life. I hope you enjoy it – and remember, we are all One – no matter our religious preference, race, gender, sexual preference or country of origin. We are all equal in the “eyes” of the Divine.

I believe that once we are all living and sharing our unique gift with the world – there will be hope for a better, more peaceful world. If you would like help with determining your gift and living it, please feel free to contact me at Patricia@TheBlissfulSoul.com for a F*R*E*E session to see how we can move you forward.

Merry Christmas to all our Christian friends and Peace on Earth to ALL!!!!! Many blessings during this very holy season.

Deep Love to you,

Rev. Tricia

What is the Winter Solstice?  

Technically this is the longest night of the year – in the Northern hemisphere, this is usually around December 21st – 22nd. The world around us is dark and cold. In modern times, ignoring the rhythms of the earth, we rise while it is still dark and continue our activities – taking the kids to school, going to work, running errands – until well past the setting of the sun. With all of our artificial light, we forget how dark our surroundings are at this time.

Can you imagine a time before electricity, before scientists had explained to us that this phenomenon is simply caused by the tilt of the earth as it rotates around the sun? And that this darkness is just the result of the earth being tilted to its maximum position of 23° 26′ away from the sun…it is likely people could easily become fearful. The trees and shrubs, would freeze and dry up, often they would be buried under a layer of snow or frost. There was no guarantee that the sun would come back. People would watch as each day the sun would rise to a lower and lower point in the sky. In northern elevations, they might not see it for weeks or months at a time!

Oh, but then! They would notice that this cycle would reverse itself…can you imagine the joy and hope that entered people’s hearts at that time! The sun was returning! The world would not remain a cold, dark wasteland forevermore. This was certainly reason for celebration! And even those seemingly dead gardens would eventually spring back to life…there had been life lying dormant there all along!

The word solstice derives from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still)…the moment when the sun stands still…culturally, this event has been seen through the years as the time when the ebbing of the sun stops and it begins to return. Concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been common in many cultures through the years:

•    In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the winter and summer solstice, and Hades was permitted on Mount Olympus.
•    The Hopi Indians, also known as “The Peaceful Ones,” hold a ritual on December 21, the shortest day of the year, to ceremonially bring the sun back from its long winter sleep.
•    In many pagan and earth-based traditions, this holiday is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the “newborn” sun.
•    In modern cultures gatherings at this time of year are filled with evergreens, bright lights, large bonfires, feasts, spending time with loved ones, and dancing and singing.

This can be an opportune time to STOP the busy-ness, STOP the “doing” and follow the rhythm of the earth. Much like the winter garden lies dormant, we too should take time to sit quietly and go within. This dark, cold, quiet time of year is perfect not only for hibernating bears, but also for our hibernating souls. We need the withdrawal and rest from the hub-bub of daily living to recharge and regenerate – to bring our own light and life back into the world.

Take time this week to have a daily check-in with yourself:

1.    STOP – take 10-15 minutes and find a quiet place to sit – no radio, music, television, kids, phone, etc.

2.    Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on your breathe and imagine it flowing through you as you breath in and out.

3.    Imagine a small flame in the center of your chest. As you breathe in, the flame expands. As you breathe out, the flame flushes out anything negative in your thoughts or feelings.

4.    Sit in silence for a few more minutes. Remind yourself that there is NOTHING for you to do right NOW.

5.    When you feel complete, slowly open your eyes. Continue with your day remembering the calm darkness that envelopes you and the warmth of your light within that fuels you.

It is so important that we take the time to recharge, hibernate or go within and stay in that calm darkness, knowing that our light is always there – we only need to allow its gentle flame to regenerate and recharge in the silence of our own winter. And when we honor that cycle of death and rebirth, we will be even more prepared to perform our mission in the world – whatever it might be.

Blessings,

Rev. Tricia

Every year, I go through a review of the year and some exercises to prepare myself for the upcoming new year. This exercise has helped me successfully meet goals in all areas of my life including: financial, career, health and relationships.

This year I’d like to offer the techniques I have developed to you in this F*R*E*E call on

December 28, 2010

4 – 5:30 PM Central

Click here to register for the call – you will be given details as the date approaches

I hope you can join me for this wonderful teleclass in which we will:

• Do a review of how things worked for you in 2010
• Determine where we want to be in 2011
• Go over the steps necessary to prepare yourself to have your best year ever!
• Get clarity around your dreams and next action steps
• Implement simple yet practical steps to see real results now

My “Abundant 2011″ Live Event Teleseminar is completely complimentary–and it’s virtual–so that means you can relax and listen from the comfort of your own home.

In order to have access to the recording, you will need to enroll here:

Please share this invitation with friends.

Blessings!

Rev. Tricia

Today I was interviewed by Terri Craig of the Houston chapter of eWomen’s Network. She has a radio show in which she interviews successful women. We had a really nice chat about my background and how I got to be where I am today – doing what I love! We also talked a little about the work that I do and at the end I gave a few words of advice to those of you still out there in jobs you’re not happy with, wondering if that is all there is to life.

Here it is: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/realwomenrealresults/2010/12/09/the-terri-craig-show-real-women–real-results-1

I’d love to hear from you what you think of it!

Love and Blessings to all of you!

Rev. Tricia

So, how do you make this Divine Connection throughout the day?   

1. The first step is to create a Sacred Space – this could be an altar, a corner of a room where you can pray or meditate or even at your desk…you could also do all three of these! The idea is that you have a place that you can return to throughout the day to stop, pull away from your worldly affairs and focus on the affairs of the heart or spirit. As Joseph Campbell so eloquently puts it:

“This is a place
where you can simply experience
and bring forth what you are and what you
might be. This is the place of creative
incubation. At first you might find that
nothing happens there.
But if you have a sacred place and use it,
Something eventually will happen…Your
Sacred space is where
You find yourself again and again.”

Fill this space with objects that have meaning to you, photos of loved ones, a rock or feather from nature, sacred texts, copies of favorite poems, incense, etc. Place there anything that is meaningful to you and fills you with peace. As you use this space more and more it will become filled with the sacred energy of your prayers and meditations.

2. The Second step is to schedule time. Make this a part of your daily activities. Schedule some of these practices at natural breaks in your day such as meals, waking up and going to sleep. Others, such as the mid-day prayers I suggest should be scheduled ahead of time and an alarm set to remind you to stop and pray or meditate at those times. During these times of recharging, make sure your phone is off and any email or other alarms are off. Make sure no one will interrupt you during this time. You should not be multi-tasking at all, but taking a 5-minute break to sit with your Source.

General Guidelines
Some ideas to get you going on your appointment with Source and to listen to that inner voice are:

• Make time throughout the day
• Stop work at 5 PM – step away from the computer; clear your desk and get out what you need for the next day
• Mark transitions through mini-rituals – End of day, Start of day, Meals, Etc.

• Do not multi-task – stay in the moment, focused on your intention
• When changing tasks, do something creative – dance, sing, write, paint. For example, when changing from answering emails to writing a blog post, get up and color on a pad with some crayons, or put on some music and dance around your office.

Remember that the intention behind ritual is to develop and maintain a habit of mindfulness. Focus on the one thing you are doing each and every moment of the day – this will keep you in the present moment where you can fully open up to that still, small voice within.

Sample Day
So, a typical day might look something like the following:

7 AM        Wake-up
Before arising, lay in bed and imagine your day, think of all your scheduled activities and tasks. Imagine yourself going through each of these activities and completing them with ease and joy. Imagine all your tasks turning out in the perfect way for you. Give thanks for this new day!

7:15 AM    Shower
As the warm water is flowing over you, focus on the intention that all negativity is being washed away; that any past mistakes or regrets are flowing down the drain – you are beginning a new day, full of promise.

7:30 AM    Breakfast
Say a short blessing of gratitude over your food – imagine all the plants, animals, and people that were instrumental in getting it to your plate; ask that it fulfill and nourish you

8 AM         Begin Work
Sit down at your desk – Light a candle and state a blessing of intention to be filled with Grace toady and that all your acts are divinely-guided.

10 AM        Mid-morning – Prayer/meditation break
Set an alarm to make sure you stop. Go to your sacred space and get silent. Focus on your heart and release any tension or negativity that has built up there. Again give thanks and ask for guidance.

12 PM        Lunch
Blessing over food (as done at breakfast); after lunch, play a lively song and dance to it. This will revitalize you and get you ready for the rest of the day. As you are moving your body, notice how it feels, give thanks that you are able to move!

2 PM        Mid-afternoon – Prayer/meditation
Same as mid-morning break

5 PM        End of business day
Clean off your desk; review the tasks and appointments for the next day and place any client files or other items you need for the next day neatly on your clean desk – ready for you in the morning. Blow out the candle if it is still it.

5:15        Transition/recharge time
Take 15 minutes or so to transition back into your personal life. This can be done with a short prayer in your sacred space, a short meditation. The meditation could be as simple as closing your eyes and focusing on your breath for 15 minutes. Follow this (or do it at the same time) with Savasana. This is the yoga pose in which you lie on your back completely relaxed and let all tension flow out of you. You will find this leaves you refreshed for the rest of the evening.

6 PM        Dinner – blessing/prayer
Walk after dinner – be in nature. Nature is a simple and beautiful way to reconnect with the Divine – even in a city, you can walk and notice the sky, birds, or any other signs of nature around you.

10 PM        Prayer before bed
Review your day and look at where you could have improved and what you did well. Write down your accomplishments in your journal. Then list five things you are grateful for. When that is complete, write a letter to God with any concerns or issues you are having. You can then either listen for a response and write it down or ask to dream about it that night. Write down your dream in the morning.

Obviously your schedule may differ slightly. Perhaps you have children to take care of or odd working hours. This is really just to give you an idea and perhaps get your creative juices flowing as to how you can incorporate some of these rituals into your personal schedule.

I think that once you start incorporating moments of connection with the Divine into your day, you will find more and more ways to make every moment sacred. When you walk in sacred space every day, you will find success and abundance and inner peace in magnitudes unheard of in your prior life. I wish you all success and deep love – blessings, Rev. Tricia.

This is an excerpt from a chapter I am writing for a book that will be release in January:  

As an interfaith/interspiritual teacher and healer I am very aware of the importance of ritual. Ritual can help us see ourselves as the connection between heaven and earth – it brings the spiritual to the mundane. The word “Ritual” actually comes from an Indo-European root word, which means “to Fit together”; this is actually an act of joining the spiritual world with the physical world. Ritual is a path to the Divine.

What makes something a ritual as opposed to just a habit? INTENTION!!! There are two parts to every ritual: Intention and the Action (“Heart” and “Hand”). The intention is the purpose of the ritual – it is what we hope to accomplish by performing it. By putting our intentions into action, we create a space in which we are fully present in the moment – we are in a state of MINDFULNESS. The ego dissolves and we are connected with Source.

One of my purposes is to be always in connection with the Divine and to help others to do the same. When you are “connected”, things flow so much more smoothly, decisions are easier and conflicts are eased.  In the daily rush, it is easy to just quickly move from one task to the next – blindly going through life and not finding meaning in any of it. But ritual can help us come back to ourselves…to make that connection with our Source and to be sure we are focused and on the right track. What could be better than that?

I think many of us go into business for ourselves because we want more meaning in our lives and in our work. But, what is meaning exactly? I would venture to say that it is that spiritual, sacred essence that can so easily get brushed aside when we are always in a hurry. Ritual can take you back there in an instant – into a focused state where we can notice where we are and intend what we want.

The way to live with the Divine as your business partner is to transform everyday events into sacred moments. Any action can become a ritual by focusing intent on it. Anything from brushing your teeth or writing an email can become a sacred act.

My recommended success ritual is to connect with the Divine every day throughout the day. This is not so much one ritual, but many that can be clumped under the umbrella of “Divine Connection”. These small rituals throughout the day are what make me successful. And I know immediately when I haven’t been keeping up my daily sacred rituals to connect, because I become agitated and anxious more easily, things don’t flow as smoothly, and the river of abundance appears to be “dammed-up”!

Next week I will talk about some strategies for actually incorporating ritual into your daily life.

Blessings,

Rev. Tricia

It is said that nothing ever dies – it simply changes.  Maybe that’s true – but then what? Change???? Most people struggle deeply with the idea of change.  Companies have entire departments devoted to “managing change” so that employees can deal with it effectively.

Resistance to change comes from a fear of the unknown or an expectation of loss. The first aspect of a person’s resistance to change is how they perceive the change. The second aspect is how well they are equipped to deal with the change they expect.

How much a person resists change is determined by whether they perceive the change as good or bad, and their expectations of how severe they expect the impact of the change to be on them. In order to ultimately accept change, we need to have adequate resilience and excellent coping skills.

However, not only is change inevitable, but it is required if you are to be successful in business and in life.  How can you ensure that when change is required, you handle it skillfully and with grace? Here are four tips for dealing with change when (not “if”) it comes into your life:

Ensure that you have a quality support system
It is so important during times of transition that you have a good support system around you. This could be family and friends, or a business mastermind group. Depending on the type of transition you are going through, different types of groups might prove to be more effective than others. It is imperative that you have some sort of mentor.

Look for the silver lining in the situation
Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. Even if it appears that the world is falling down around your ears. Take some time and look at the situation. See what can be found that is positive. For example, even if you lose a job, perhaps that job wasn’t the best fit for you and now you are free to pursue a long-lost dream or some other opportunity that will make you much happier.

Continue your spiritual practice
This is not the time to quit praying, meditating, journaling or doing whatever it is that centers you and brings you peace and serenity. If you don’t already have a daily spiritual practice, then please start something before you find that you need it! It could be something as simple as taking five minutes each morning before you get out of bed to quiet your mind, breathe deeply and review your plan for the day; or write whatever comes to mind in your journal for 10 or 15 minutes each morning or evening. Just five to ten minutes each day will provide you enough peace of mind to get through any of these obstacles, with at least some amount of grace.

Create a structure to support you
When all else is failing or seemingly In chaos around you, it is important to have a structure to cling to. This can mean having a simple daily routine that you keep to each day. For example, getting up, meditating, having breakfast, etc. at the same time each morning. In the evening, spend a few minutes relaxing before eating dinner and settling in for bed. Whatever your routine is, stick to it! This will provide an important framework and touchstone amidst the change and confusion that may be going on externally.

As you can see, while change may be inevitable, it doesn’t have to be traumatic. Keep your life as simple and structured as possible, with downtime and spiritual connection included and you will find that “This too shall pass” – you will soon be acclimated to the change that has occurred and it will be smooth sailing from here on out!