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!

What do science, spirituality and you have to do with each other? I’ve talked a little about this in some other blog posts. Today, I’d like to show you how science is starting to be able to prove that anything is possible.

The Zero-Point field is a phenomenon that scientists, especially quantum physicists have been buzzing about for years. It is a field of energy generated by all the particles of the universe. The energy there is the energy present in the emptiest state of space at the lowest possible energy, the closest that motion of subatomic matter gets to zero. You might think of it as the Force in Star Wars –it represents huge amounts of potential with no polarity or charge. However, attaching conditions to it can structure it. This field holds the potential of every atom. To bring this idea home to you, at any given moment you have before you an infinite number of possibilities. Where you choose to focus your consciousness is where that potential will manifest. So, the axiom ” What you focus on grows.” is not just New Age spiritual mumbo-jumbo, It’s really scientifically true.

Be very conscious of what you are focusing on and thinking about each moment. If you find you are focusing on negative thoughts or possibilities, immediately switch over to a positive thought or possibility.Make sure your actions are in congruence with those thought and that you are taking positive action towards the outcomes you are desiring. It really does work!

So, what does quantum physics do for us? It helps explain the possibilities. It keeps our left-brains happy. It helps them to know that there is possible a scientific explanation for all this woo-woo stuff. But it is a construct of our mind as well; and so it has limitations. I want you to stay in that field of possibilities as much as possible. So, let go of the model. My warning to you would be that while this is great for our left-brains, don’t run the risk of getting too attached to the science and theory of it. Because in order to make it work for us, we need to get out of our left brains and into our right brains…this is where many of the meditative and calming techniques I have been teaching you come in.

Keep up the good work!

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?

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.

I love this book – it is one of my top 10 most important books. I read it every year at the beginning of the year as a reminder to Follow My Dream! This is a simple parable (don’t expect Shakespeare or any other literary giant) simply told. Its importance lies more in its enduring message as we follow the shepherd Santiago on his quest. Like many of us who pursue our dreams, his journey is riddled with many setbacks and there are times when he is ready to give up – but, he perseveres and learns the language of the world while pursuing his Personal Legend.

“… no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.” ~Paolo Coehlo, The Alchemist

As I mentioned yesterday, the “theme” I chose for this year – 2011 – is “I am Enough”. I chose it because I feel that I (and I know I’m not alone) have a tendency to believe that we somehow need to be “more” than we are in order to be successful or move forward or follow a dream or create something. I put off starting my business for years because I didn’t have it perfectly formed in my head – Sheeesh! I STILL don’t have it perfectly formed!

And I can’t count how many classes, courses, certifications, seminars, etc. I took and received before I saw my first coaching client when, in reality, I would have been just as prepared after my first certification course – the way I could have gotten better faster would have been to get experience from clients as opposed to another class. However, I had felt that somehow, I wasn’t enough as I was and just ONE more class was going to make me Perfect.

It doesn’t work that way – if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to take “imperfect action” – you will get much further, much faster  and improve more quickly by doing so. Overcome the idea that everything had to be perfect or complete before it can be deemed “OK”. Be gentle with yourself. The house is clean enough, you have run around the track enough for today, the kids are dressed well enough, the supper tastes good enough, I own enough stuff, … you get the idea – it can be applied to just about anything.

As I was searching the web for quotes or pictures to add to this post, I came across the I Am Enough Collaborative – a group of women bloggers who came together and wrote about this very topic. I especially like the idea of the Bare Minimum Game from Jen Lee.

Notice throughout the day, how often the principle of “enough-ness” can be applied. And then draw up a nice bubble bath and rest your weary bones – you’ve done enough for today.

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

Painting by Marica S. Lauck & Deborah Koff-Chapin

How often have you been in the middle of a dilemma – unable to decide which direction to go in, which step to take next? How to choose?  Every day we are confronted with decisions to make – some big, some small. How do you decide? You could make a list of pros and cons, you could ask your neighbor what you should do, or you can follow a Higher Power that has your best interests at heart.

There is a perfect GPS for guiding you through your life and you have access to it at all times. It goes by many names – intuition, gut feeling, higher self. It can also be “externally” directed such as – God, Allah, guardian angel, or spirit guide.

It really doesn’t matter which if these you relate to and choose to you, the methods and techniques for hearing it are the same. Below are several techniques for gaining access to this important tool in your business toolbox.

Technique #1: Get quiet
Sit quietly in meditation or just silently a few minutes each day. Just taking the time to do this, can open up the sensitivity needed to “hear” the guidance you are seeking.

Technique #2: Clear clutter
This can mean physical clutter, such as in your home or office space, but it can also mean mental clutter or time wasters. Get rid of any menial jobs or tasks that can be done by someone else, or perhaps don’t need to be done at all. Guidance needs space to work; and you need space to hear it.

Technique #3: Journal
Keep a daily journal of concerns and questions. Ask questions of your intuition in Q&A format and see what comes to you.

Technique #4: Play
Do something fun that you don’t normally do – plant a flower, go for a hike, play tag with your kids. Doing fun, playful things can disengage the mental chatter that goes on and again, create the space required for the messages to come through.

Once you have received some information, it is very important to validate it. You need to be sure it is coming from this all-knowing source and not from your own mind or ego with all of its wishes, wants, and desires. Here are a few guidelines to help you determine if this is a valid message:

1.    It is not fear-based – If you get a feeling of fear from the message, it most likely is NOT valid; if you feel peaceful about the message (even though it might provoke some anxiety), it most likely is valid.

2.    “I” versus “You” language – The message came across in the second person. For example, “You need to take the job offer.” versus “I want to take the job offer.”

3.    Declarative language – The message came in declarative, strong language – not in weak, unsure language. For example, “You need to take the job offer” versus “Maybe you should take the job.”

4.    Surprising – this was not the message you “expected” to hear. If you went into the process expecting to hear a particular message and that’s not the one you heard, it is a good indicator that this is a valid message.

Please note that some of these indicators may or may not be present. The more of them you have, the more likely the message is valid. However, the most important one is the first one – if this one is not present, the odds of the message being valid are pretty slim. God or intuition does not operate using fear-based principles. You will be guided through a feeling of peace – not through fear.

Remember to take advantage of this readily-accessible system for guiding your business and your life through anything that comes your way.

Rest In Peace

by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
inspired by the poems of Thich Nhat Hanh

I am a World Trade Center tower, standing tall in the clear blue sky, feeling a violent blow in my side, and
I am a towering inferno of pain and suffering imploding upon myself and collapsing to the ground.
May I rest in peace.

I am a terrified passenger on a hijacked airplane not knowing where we are going or that I am riding on fuel tanks that will be instruments of death, and
I am a worker arriving at my office not knowing that in just a moment my future will be obliterated.
May I rest in peace.

I am a pigeon in the plaza between the two towers eating crumbs from someone’s breakfast when fire rains down on me from the skies, and
I am a bed of flowers admired daily by thousands of tourists now buried under five stories of rubble.
May I rest in peace.

I am a firefighter sent into dark corridors of smoke and debris on a mission of mercy only to have it collapse around me, and
I am a rescue worker risking my life to save lives who is very aware that I may not make it out alive.
May I rest in peace.

I am a survivor who has fled down the stairs and out of the building to safety who knows that nothing will ever be the same in my soul again, and
I am a doctor in a hospital treating patients burned from head to toe who knows that these horrible images will remain in my mind forever.
May I know peace.

I am a tourist in Times Square looking up at the giant TV screens thinking I’m seeing a disaster movie as I watch the Twin Towers crash to the ground, and
I am a New York woman sending e-mails to friends and family letting them know that I am safe.
May I know peace.

I am a piece of paper that was on someone’s desk this morning and now I’m debris scattered by the wind across lower Manhattan, and
I am a stone in the graveyard at Trinity Church covered with soot from the buildings that once stood proudly above me, death meeting death.
May I rest in peace.

I am a dog sniffing in the rubble for signs of life, doing my best to be of service, and
I am a blood donor waiting in line to make a simple but very needed contribution for the victims.
May I know peace.

I am a resident in an apartment in downtown New York who has been forced to evacuate my home, and
I am a resident in an apartment uptown who has walked 100 blocks home in a stream of other refugees.
May I know peace.

I am a family member who has just learned that someone I love has died, and
I am a pastor who must comfort someone who has suffered a heart-breaking loss.
May I know peace.

I am a loyal American who feels violated and vows to stand behind any military action it takes to wipe terrorists off the face of the earth, and
I am a loyal American who feels violated and worries that people who look and sound like me are all going to be blamed for this tragedy.
May I know peace.

I am a frightened city dweller who wonders whether I’ll ever feel safe in a skyscraper again, and
I am a pilot who wonders whether there will ever be a way to make the skies truly safe.
May I know peace.

I am the owner of a small store with five employees that has been put out of business by this tragedy, and
I am an executive in a multinational corporation who is concerned about the cost of doing business in a terrorized world.
May I know peace.

I am a visitor to New York City who purchases postcards of the World Trade Center Twin Towers that are no more, and
I am a television reporter trying to put into words the terrible things I have seen.
May I know peace.

I am a boy in New Jersey waiting for a father who will never come home, and
I am a boy in a faraway country rejoicing in the streets of my village because someone has hurt the hated Americans.
May I know peace.

I am a general talking into the microphones about how we must stop the terrorist cowards who have perpetrated this heinous crime, and
I am an intelligence officer trying to discern how such a thing could have happened on American soil, and
I am a city official trying to find ways to alleviate the suffering of my people.
May I know peace.

I am a terrorist whose hatred for America knows no limit and I am willing to die to prove it, and
I am a terrorist sympathizer standing with all the enemies of American capitalism and imperialism, and
I am a master strategist for a terrorist group who planned this abomination.
My heart is not yet capable of openness, tolerance, and loving.
May I know peace.

I am a citizen of the world glued to my television set, fighting back my rage and despair at these horrible events, and
I am a person of faith struggling to forgive the unforgivable, praying for the consolation of those who have lost loved ones, calling upon the merciful beneficence of God/Yahweh/Allah/Spirit/Higher Power.
May I know peace.

I am a child of God who believes that we are all children of God and we are all part of each other.
May we all know peace.