To Thy Own Self Be True January 31, 2012

How does one go about this?  I mean, how does one be true to thy own self?  It really depends on how you view “self”.  The interpretation will be slightly different for each person, so this means trillions of ways!

I will share my viewpoint and you can integrate it into yours.  In the process we both will grow… how is that for divine beauty?   If you have been reading my blog over the years you know that I have a Unity Consciousness point of view, meaning we are all One.  God is all there is!  Once I started looking it showed up everywhere and all doubt was chased away.  The more I questioned the deeper my belief.  I see Oneness everywhere I look these days and the most significant portion of this is I know this means all is Divine!

Yes, this means that thy own self is Divine!  We are all God…Godding   Simply put, we are each doing as we are guided to do as an expression of God (Universal Consciousness, Great Spirit, Allah, or whatever you like to call it).  Some follow the ego mind and this gets them in all sorts of predicaments, while the others are listening to the Divine guidance of Holy Spirit.  It is not hard once you know the difference to choose the Divine.  The still quiet voice, the loving, caring, compassionate guidance is of Divine Spirit.  If you choose to say hurtful words, take harmful action, or even entertain ill thoughts this is ego in action.

The choice is often unconscious, so I invite you to bring the Divine into consciousness!  The mind is under your control and by “your” I mean the Spirits control unless it is not, which means you have not claimed this control.  The ego will take control of your mind and use fear and pain to control you if you allow it, but it has no power unless you fail to claim your God given rights.  In order to make your claim simply state to the Universe and with God as your witness:

I release the past, and see myself in new light, the light of God as an equal to God.  If this is beyond my abilities at this time then I remain open to this possibility and ask that I be given the opportunity for this realization.  I hereby withdraw all power which I have given to other people or to situations which control my experiences.  I am in control of my experiences and I choose Love, Joy, and Peace!  In my sexual relationship with you dearly Beloved (all relationships I have ever experienced) I hereby release and forgive you for the blame which I placed falsely upon you.  I understand this was a mistake and not a sin, so I am simply correcting an error on my part.  The more I practice this and make this a part of my life the deeper will I experience this Truth.  Holy Spirit I ask for your help in making this so, so that I may know myself in my True form.  Help me in forgiving the past and in knowing the essence of my being.  I Love You!

Now that you have released ego mind, being “true to thy own self” is a no brainer!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Free eBooks click here

 

 

Life is your Mirror January 25, 2012

What does your lifestyle say about you?  Look around and see for yourself!  Is your car cluttered with “stuff”?  What about your desk, bedroom, living room, yard, or closet?  Is this stuff a sense of identity for you?  It is for most people and I question this.  Not if it is right or wrong, that is subjective, but what purpose does identifying with works of art or advanced technological devices serve for you?

Have you ever considered why you have to have the latest computer or that cute trinket from your vacation?  Everything you do, say, or think defines you.  Take a step back and see this.  Who are you?  Really?

Your environment also defines you and tells you much about the person you are.  Is your life about clutter or order, dirty or clean, scarcity or abundance?  The cluttered mind is reflected in a cluttered life, dirty thoughts are reflected in a dirty life, and abundant thoughts beget an abundant life.  I hope you will take a minute to look at your life and start living with intention and purpose.  Make a conscious choice to be one way or the other.  Clean your house because that reflects the type of person you are, not because I or anyone else says you should.

Life is a reflection of your thoughts, words, and actions.  So if you wish to know yourself, just look at your friends, family, job, activities, and living space.  It can be a sobering event!  And it can be inspiring too.  This is one of the most important principles you can learn! Once you start living on purpose, the world becomes your oyster and you are the pearl.

Living Consciously means being aware of the details, appreciating them, but not obsessing on them.  It is a fine line, but one that is very rewarding!  What is important to you?  Who are you?  What do you need to align with this?  The mirror is your best friend, as is pain, the bully that kicked your ass, and the accident you had last month.

“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”  Ken Keyes

Be the Love (insert your choice) you desire!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity

Extra-Terrestrial Love January 24, 2012

Aliens are not strange creatures from a foreign land, but the feeling of disconnection and separation from life itself. They are an Illusion! The mind is a powerful image projector or reality creator and I have no doubt that eventually the human race will conger up Extra-Terrestrial visitors.  If you search the internet and watch TV the examples are bountiful.

In the movie “Matrix”, Morpheus asks the question, “What is Real?” and then goes on to explain that it is purely a matter of perception by the mind, processed by the brain.  Certain energy frequencies steer the mind in certain directions.  Fear or the vibrational frequency = to fear will produce scary and destructive experiences.  This is what is called separation mentality.

Love on the other hand or the vibrational frequency = to Love produces pleasant, creative, and constructive experiences.  This is referred to as Unity mentality.  It is important to understand that fear serves a purpose and is not all bad.  The beauty of life is the Holy Spirit takes what it gets and makes the most of it.  Fear can be transformed to the constructive.  If you would like to know more about Love and Fear please read the free eBooks available on Unity in Gender Diversity website.

Getting back to the point, we all desire Love!  In this illusion of separation from Love the mind often goes running about flinging open doors in a desperate search that leads nowhere.  This is the ego mind at work.  The ego leads you on a wild goose chase but will never let you attain your goal, because it is the aspect of you that really is separate from God.  Ego is the illusion of separation.  The Truth is God is all there is and any sense of separation from God is the devils work (ego mind).  Since God makes up your very being, separation is not possible!

We are attracted to the image of extra-terrestrials because we desire to belong somewhere!!  We want to be Loved, so we create something to Love.  Almost all of your life is created for the purpose of Loving, being Loved, observing Love, or sharing Love.  All else separates you from Love, and the ego mind is working constantly to de-rail your experience of Love.  It creates false love in many forms; ETs are simply one of them. 

Remember the beauty of Love is Holy Spirit corrects these misperceptions and keeps us on track as long as we stay open to the guidance.  This guidance comes in a myriad of forms, movies, TV, books, advertisements, advice from a friend, etc., the important thing to keep in mind is that Love is unconditional, uplifting, and supportive.  So, if this is not your experience you are off track.  Try thinking of ETs as your future self.  Since there really is only One, what other possibility is there?

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Free eBooks click here

 

 

Silence January 21, 2012

The possession of God is the silence of the heart. The thought of God is the silence of the mind. ~Mother Mary of St Austin

Chapter 6 from the eBook, Methods of Raising Our Energy, The following chapter discusses Silence as a tool for not only Spiritual Enlightenment but for daily practice.  For more on this topic please check out the free eBooks found on the website listed below.

A still soul is the pathway to God, for God resides in the silence in between reality.  The journey within begins with a desire to know God and is never finished.  When you sit in silence and hold nothing in your mind you are opening the door to the heart.  The heart is the seat of the soul thus connecting you to your higher self.  The next time you have a day off do nothing at all, and I do mean nothing!  This takes a lot of practice, but can lead to awesome shifts in perception of what is (Enlightenment).

Silence is the folding of the wings of the intellect to open the door of the heart. ~Catherine de Hueck Doherty

Meditation is the simple act of continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature.  Many people use meditation as a method of clearing the mind and finding the nothingness we all are looking for.  The mind is a tool and it is always on.  Let me say it again, the mind is always on.  Meditation is focusing the mind on something, or nothing and since focusing on nothing is very challenging for the beginner start with something (a flame, spot on the wall, picture, or just about anything).  When using “nothing” as your focus for meditation, try imagining a white room with no furniture or anything. Mantras (an often repeated word, formula, or phrase) also work well, such as “I am Peace and Love”.  It is simply a statement that you resonate with as truth.  In your meditations focus on your desires in a positive way as if it is already true.

For Instance, say you desire Peace in your life, get comfortable, relax, let go, and focus on Peace.  Ask yourself questions such as these.  What does Peace mean?  What does it feel like?  Is it a place?  Is it temporary or permanent?  Where does it come from?  You get the point, to simply dwell deeper on the subject or object of focus.  It is also helpful to imagine Peace as a building and you are exploring its many levels starting with the grand front door.  See it in your mind!  Walking up will raise your consciousness and going into the basement will expose your fears which can be quite healing.

If another thought comes in, allow it to pass, and re-focus on the subject.  At first this will happen frequently, so just relax, and let it flow.  As you practice meditation it gets easier and easier, but the changes are not always apparent.  Not to worry, change is constant and with focus the change is in the order of increased energy!  If things appear to be going poorly that is OK too.  Whether you are experiencing this truth you meditation upon is due to many factors.  Some of which I discuss in my first book, Livin’ Large.

Suffice it to say that thoughts plus emotions equal feelings and let your feelings be your guide, not what you think you see.  Persistence and consistency always pay off.  Remember that meditation is a simple act and can last for a few seconds or hours, it can occur when you least expect it, like while cleaning, exercising, or working, or it can occur when you deliberately focus on it.  Without meditation in its purest form humans would perish!  So you do it already, and you can get much greater benefit by doing it on purpose.  Awareness is the path to freedom.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Livin’ Large For Free January 20, 2012

What you focus on – Grows

Where you put your attention, your energy goes.  Another way to say that is an object in motion tends to stay in motion. This is basic physics and easily provable with a little time and effort.  Of course, physics is nothing more than the study of physical “things”.  How does this affect me?  Well, everyday gravity affects you as does the laws of motion.

Since I am not a physics teacher and simply an observer of life and how things work (or don’t), what I am telling you is based more on my experience than anything else.  Sure I went to college and had the usual science classes and even some math, but the point I am making here is don’t take my word for it. Be the observer and test life to see how it works!  Yes, get out there and break some eggs, just be prepared to do the clean-up.  When you are sitting in class wondering why in the heck you are there, remember this is Life, this is why you are here, to be the observer and understand the principles of living a happy, healthy, prosperous life.  For example YOU are the object in the law stated above and the more you move in a certain direction the harder it is to change that direction and the more energy it takes to change.  This means that when you have been doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts, and speaking the same way for years, it will take time and effort to change. So hang in there and stay FOCUSED on that which you desire.  It may take a few tries or even a few thousand tries, but it will work.  As you practice focusing on that which you desire it will get easier and easier to live the life of your dreams.  You do have dreams don’t you?  Oh good, then try writing them down and sharing them with those you Love.

The above paragraph is from the eBook “Livin’ Large” which is available free at this link.  I invite you to explore the four eBooks offered there and to peruse the pages of prose on the website, some of it may be relevant and some may not be, but I guarantee you will learn something.  Thank you for reading Transitions Blog!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity    Free eBooks

The Art of Detachment Revisited January 17, 2012

The art of detachment is a Buddhist technique that also has its Christian counterpart.  The technique works like this; be in the world but not of it.  Jesus taught this and likely learned it from his Buddhist teachers.  What this means is to fully experience life and at the same time release any attachment you have to it.  It is very simple once fully understood, however getting to this point can sometimes take years or even lifetimes.  I pray this blog assists you in the process.

As you are fully immersed in your life understand that everything is a reflection of who you are, this is why you are drawn to it.  The partner you love so much is a reflection of who you are, but they are not you.  The town you were born in, the town you grew up in, or the town you fell in love with is a reflection of who you are, but it is not where you are. Your favorite drinking cup, diamond earrings, dream car, childhood football, and all the things you are attached to for sentimental reasons are a reflection of who you are, however they are not what you are.  Embracing these facts is the first step in the art of detachment.

Allowing yourself to fully love a person, place, or thing while remaining free of any attachment to it is the goal.  Understand that you are both connected and separate from everything in life.  Not being attached means being able to give it to someone else.  It can also mean being able to walk away from it without feeling you have lost anything.  Through the principle of Oneness you realize that everyone and everything is of the One, a drop from the sea of life.

If however you think of this process as a loss, the actual power from this attachment is being held onto and the effect is disempowering.  So even if the person, place, or thing is long gone, until you consciously or unconsciously give it away you remained attached to it and thus disempowered.  It is like having a glass that is full, there is no way to pour in more water.

When you long for something you experienced before this can be nostalgic and society teaches this is a good thing.  In reality nostalgia is disempowering.  Each experience is a unique gift that cannot be repeated exactly.  Living in the past is not living at all. When you love the experience in the moment – laughing, appreciating, and engaging life – this is living!

Being able to move on to the next experience without missing people, places, and things of the past is the art of detachment.  You can experience these things again any time you like and this is why many people will live in the same town all their life, or drink coffee, or go for walks, or because they love the experience (the feeling it brings).  What you are ultimately getting is an experience of yourself!

“Detachment means rising above the status quo, without passing judgment, and watching the drama unfold without becoming physically or emotionally involved. Detachment doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand so that you need not watch the action as it unfolds; it means, being there, observing from an objective space, and remembering who you are, a spiritual being watching the drama of polarization reach its climax and fail so that a new paradigm of victory can be birthed by those of us who refuse to buy into a perpetual game of winners and losers. Detachment addresses the need of the spiritually inclined to remove oneself from the chaos while observing and learning valuable lessons about this temporary physical existence. … But remember, we are spiritual beings having a human experience and not the other way around. So we can remove ourselves from the drama when we’ve learned all we need to know about polarization and separation. When we finally realize who we really are, and how we are all equally part of the same creative manifestation, we will finally learn the fine art of detachment and the truth behind our cosmic ancestry and oneness.” (Dawn Abel, 2002)

The key is to tap into your desire and experience it fully, and once experienced you release it and move to the next.  Here is a different view of Detachment that provides a deeper insight to its value and use.

“Detachment not only releases joy; it is also the secret of health. It is the best medical insurance in the world, and not only because it can keep us free from physical habits that sap our vitality. Most illness has a serious emotional element. While there is an important place for physical measures in the treatment of disease, a mind at peace, and a heart flooded with love can release healing powers that strengthen and revitalize the physical system. Strength can be regained even after years of emotional instability. In extreme cases, I believe, recovery can be brought about even from what seems a terminal illness.

Today, of course, it is widely appreciated that because of advances in medical knowledge, we can expect to live much longer than was reasonable at the beginning of the twentieth century. But we can lead lives that are not only longer but richer, more loving, and more productive. The next steps in stretching the limits of human health and longevity, I believe, will not be in biotechnology. They will come from learning to govern the way we think and feel. Detachment is a longevity skill. Freedom from compulsive emotional entanglements is the best insurance against stress. More than that, by opening a window onto a fuller, loftier view of life than that dictated by self-interest, detachment brings a sense of purpose. Without a reason for living, the human being withers and dies inside. However paradoxical it may sound, it is detachment that enables us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to worthwhile work without ever getting depressed, despondent, or burned out – right into the last days of our lives.” (The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation)

I wish I could describe the feeling of Joy that comes from detachment, but I will just say “Give it a go – put this to the test”!  Completely love your partner, family, pet, job, home, etc. without being attached to any outcomes.

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Free eBooks click here

Restroom Etiquette January 16, 2012

Restroom etiquette touches each and every one of us, however for those in the Transgender community it is an especially touchy subject.  This should be common sense and quite obvious although from the news articles and first person reports which bathroom you use is very important.

In an ideal world you simply use whichever bathroom you want, when you want, and dressed whatever way you are at the time (the way it used to be done).  Depending on where you are this still actually does work.  In other places not so much.  The first separate toilets for men and women appeared at a ball in Paris, 1739.  So the concept of gender privacy is fairly new.

We can blame our puritanical Anglo-Saxon roots for the need for privacy as it would seem that most beliefs surrounding the embarrassment and shame have been instilled by Christianity.  The separation of men and women restrooms is simply an extension of these practices.  In many societies around the world, men and women are not allowed to mingle, again based on religious beliefs.  Since the modern toilet did not become popular till around the mid 1800’s this is when men’s and woman’s rooms became the norm and this extended well into the 1900’s depending on the location and the level of development of the community.

Everyone must use a restroom in the developed “civilized” world, so the question then becomes do you use the men’s or women’s?  Unisex toilets do exist, and are growing in popularity not only for transgender use but for families needing to attend to babies and small children.  Unisex toilets are meant for anyone, so use at your discretion.

The unspoken rule for transgender restroom use is simply to use the restroom appropriate to the gender in which you present.  Meaning if you are dressed as a woman then you use the women’s room.  Since most restrooms these days have separate stalls, this is not a problem.  The bigger issue arises in dressing rooms or locker rooms since there is often no privacy there.  Most transgender individuals simply avoid these situations in fear of being ridiculed, run out, or more drastically forcibly removed.

It is sad that the human race is not mature enough to respect one another no matter their physical presentation or sexual differences.  If common decency etiquette is followed there would be no concern of safety or embarrassment!  Part of the issue at hand is a personal one of feeling worthy to use the restroom to which you identify.  The rule is to live & let live and unless the other person is in danger of harming themself or someone else leave them without judgment or persecution.

The advice I give any person including transgender/transsexual individuals is be yourself, act naturally, and life will simply flow.  Problems arise when you are trying to be something you are not.  The biggest challenge concerning this is for crossdressers who identify male and are dressed as a woman, or vice versa although this is much less common.  It is important to be that which you present.  If you are dressed as a woman, do not stand nor face the toilet to urinate.  Do your business and move on.  Of course for women “doing your business” means checking your makeup and hair, washing your hands, and making pleasant conversation after actually using the restroom.  In the men’s room it means do your business and get out after washing your hands and combing your hair if need be.

Stop feeling guilty going to the bathroom!  We are human beings and this is part of the package.  Embrace the social aspects however seems best for you by what feels right, mind your own business, and all is well!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

 

Divine Ego January 12, 2012

Murder, war, disaster, scandal, political games, and gossip are indeed entertaining.  They might even make for good movie material, but do you really want those things in your life?  What you focus on grows…. One of the things that makes this 2012 era so amazing is the shift in consciousness and the opportunity to move beyond these ego based activities.

Spirit works at a whole different level of energy than ego does.  And one of your greatest challenges is knowing the difference!  Making a clear choice is sometimes difficult because you do not understand that the ego, separation mindedness, often feels very good.  Think of five things you enjoy doing that bring you pleasure.  For me it is TV, Movies (at a theatre), Good Food, Warm Comfortable Clothing, and Sex.  Each of these can be a source of ego or Spirit depending on the energy I bring to the experience.

Knowing the difference is not really that difficult.  Keep it simple!  Ego is all about separation, while Spirit is about Unity.  If the experience creates Unity, then it is sourced by Spirit and lifts you up.  The feeling it brings is peaceful, serene, and joyful.  Ego on the other hand creates separation.  The feeling can be good, elating, and powerful; however, the end result brings you and those around you – down.  Sort of like, “what goes up must come down.”  Can you think of an example?

Take TV or Movies for instance.  The whole family can gather in the evening to share in entertainment, Unity!  The family can each enjoy the experience on their own level and share the Love which makes up a family, or they can force their opinions and viewpoints about the experience on the rest of the family creating separation.  Or take sex as an example, the experience can be all about the pleasure and your partner is simply a means to an end or it can be a joining of souls for the mutual experience of Divine connection!

The “A Course in Miracles” and books written to explain it are a great source of wisdom concerning the concept I present here today.  I highly recommend you take the course, it will tell you at the beginning that it is a required course.  If you have difficulty with the course, then try some of the other books written about it, like Marianne Williamson’s “A return to Love” or Gary Renard’s “Disappearance of the Universe”.  I know there are many more books as well.  “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle is very good at explaining ego, so you may give it a read as well.

Once these concepts are internalized and expressed, life will take on new meaning and value for you.  Colors will be more vivid and relationships will be more fulfilling.  Miracles are a daily experience and if you are not experiencing this then maybe it is time to wake up and re-align.

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Download Free eBooks click here

 

What is Learning? January 11, 2012

What exactly is happening when you learn something?  To answer this question an understanding of how energy works, what the human body is for, and what makes up knowledge is required.  We cover them briefly here, so if you do not follow, please check out the materials available on the website (Link below).

I will trust that you have had basic science and physics, so you know that Energy is Everything – it is matter, it is thought, and it is the thread that holds reality together.  Energy can be a wave or it can be a particle and more importantly it cannot be created nor destroyed.

The human body has one purpose – to communicate Love.  Anything that is done with the body either communicates Love (Divine Love, God’s Love) or what is not Love (ego).  There are many ways we communicate including the five senses, body language, and mentally (telepathy – and Yes you are).

Knowledge is an awareness of a fact, skill, or circumstance. Everything there is to know exists right now through Infinite Mind, Cosmic Consciousness, or GOD.  So learning is not acquiring something you did not have before.  It is becoming aware of a skill, fact or circumstance you were not aware of before.  So let’s look deeper.

Since everything is energy this means that all knowledge is energy.  Energy has a vibrational frequency and thus knowledge exists on different levels of vibrational frequency.  You are familiar with the grades we all went through in school.  As our knowledge grew, so did our vibrational frequency as we aligned with the awareness of certain facts, skills, or circumstances.  For those who stay aware, this process never ends!

Malcolm Knowles’s theory of Andragogy provides principles which are the corner stone of all learning above the age of 12 and include the following; adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction, experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for learning activities, adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life, and adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented. (http://tip.psychology.org/knowles.html)

The final and defining aspect to learning offered here today is that all Knowledge or Wisdom exists all ways and always.  Learning then is an alignment with this wisdom and the allowing of it to flow through you by expressing it with your actions or speaking it with your words.  This is why the idea of copyright seems so absurd to me.  Knowledge is Universal!  It belongs to no one and everyone.  Of course there is nothing wrong with honoring the person who offers wisdom by citing the source.  We know the Ultimate source is Universal Intelligence (God).

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Coping with Constant Change January 6, 2012

The only constant in the Universe is Change!  It is about time you learn to cope with it, and the first step is understanding what change is and how it serves you.  Unrealistic expectations are the root of disharmony.  To expect anything to stay the same is resisting the very flow of life.  Even rocks change!

In order to perceive change, time has to exist and a measurement must be made at two different points in time.  Since the very molecules that make up matter are constantly moving,… change must occur.  Change is observed by measuring these differences over time.

What most people do not understand is that the changes are not out there, but within your own mind.  Each person experiences these changes differently because we each have different points of view and perspective attained over a lifetime of both direct and indirect learning.  The Heisenberg principle states that the simple act of observing, changes the results because the observer becomes a part of the outcome.  Once the mind has new data to consider it is then integrated into the outcome.   Of course you do realize there is but One mind, right?   The observer becomes the observed.  The question then becomes, “how does this serve you?”

Change is good because it is a reflection of your thoughts and when you focus on your dreams and desires they are created!  The catch here is if you are focused on what you do not want or are afraid of then this very focus gives this circumstance energy to manifest.  The feared or undesired does not always occur though, because your thoughts are not the only ones affecting life.

The forces for good in the Universe are often more powerful than most give them credit for.  It is arrogant to assume you know what is best for you or anyone else.  Instead try giving your desires, wants, and needs over to a Higher Power.  In effect this is allowing your Spiritual self or Oversoul to guide the way.  It is best to go with the flow!

The best way to cope with change is to flow with it while looking for the good that exists everywhere in each situation.  Expect things to work out in your favor and even if it does not, look for the good that exists in all things, events, or circumstances.

Expectations are like a flashlight, they focus energy on a certain person, event, or circumstance, so use this tool wisely.  Knowing your desired outcome greatly increases the likelihood of a favorable result.  Always expect the best, but be prepared for whatever happens knowing that goodness is there in every case.

Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here