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/

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.

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

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!

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.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, my daughter and I were driving on the freeway and noticed a sign that said “Drive-thru Prayer”. Just as we were saying, “Who would want to do that?”, we noticed that there was a line of cars snaking around the building!

I guess a lot of people would want to do that! I suppose that if that’s the only way or time that you can get a spiritual boost, it’s better than nothing. HEre is an article on it from the Houston Press:

Drive-Thru Prayer

Personally, I think it begs a bigger question: What kind of lifestyle are we living if we have to go through a drive-thru to get our spiritual support? Are we too lazy to get out of the car to pray or set aside some time each day? Are we reducing Spiritual support to a hamburger and fries?

Just a thought…I’d love to hear what you think… please post a comment!

Last night I attended the Interfaith Women’s Ramadan Iftar hosted by Brigid’s Place and Christ Church Cathedral. This was a wonderful dinner in which a variety of women came together to share a meal and discuss both commonalities and differences.

It began with a short program in the church. Opening remarks were made by Muffie Moroney, the representative from Christ Church Cathedral. This was followed by a short history of the iftar presented by  Maida Asofsky.  She shared how the tradition began as a Seder with Jewish women heading each table and in the past few years the iftar was added. Kafah Bachari Manna added her perspective with a beautiful speech regarding the misconceptions about the subservience (or not!) of Muslim women and a tribute to her mother, grandmothers and aunts who came before her. And finally Dr. Elora Shehabuddin of Rice University gave a talk on misconceptions about Islam and Muslim women in particular. This was followed by the sound of a cannon and the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer.

We then went into the hall to break the fast with dates and chai, this was followed by the evening or Maghreb prayer. Then we went to assigned tables where there were at least two Muslim women. The idea was that these women would head the table and lead the table in discussions around their unique life experiences. Our table actually discussed everything from the weather, to the best places to live, to our individual careers and interests – just like any other group of women geting together for the first time! The favorite topic, however, was the incredible food. This was a feast full of food representing typical Ramadan foods from all over the world. Lentil soup, rose-infused juice/tea, nuts, rice, chicken, kebab, dolma, salad, eggplant, two types of bread, sweets, etc. We were ready to pop by the end of it!

At the end of it this was a beautiful evening that I would highly recommend in which “women of all faiths will unite to celebrate and honor Muslim women’s contributions to the arts, sciences, religious and academic scholarship, politics and everyday life.” Ramadan Mubarak!!

Today I am working busily on the final touches for my workshop this weekend entitled: Ritual – Bringing the Sacred to Your Everyday Life. It is going to be full of information, exercises, creating your own rituals and lots of fun making new friends. I can hardly wait!

There are so many little things that have to get done before then: Type up the outline, pick out some supporting stories, poems, etc., create the handouts, create the parting gifts (oh, yes – fun stuff!), and purchase supplies…I’m sure there’s more, but no need to bore you with the details!

If you are in the Houston area on Saturday, I encourage you to join us. The cost is only $45 and it lasts from 1 PM until 5 PM – giving you plenty of time for morning errands and evening fun!

We will be going over:

• What is ritual? It may not be what you think!
• Who does it? Everyone at some point or another!
• Why do they do it? Different and varied reasons
• When should you do it? You tell me!
• Where should you do it? Anywhere and everywhere! Oh dear, how does that work??
• And last, but not least, how??? Well, come on over and find out!

If you feel like your days have become meaningless and unfocused, bringing the sacred into your everyday life will certainly bump things up a notch! Click here to register: http://theblissfulsoul.com/events/ritual-bringing-the-sacred-to-everyday-life/

See you there!

Rev. Trish