Self Realization Articles

Zen meditation is the path of awareness. You are about to learn how to attain witness consciousness, how to be free from desire and how to tell the difference between witnessing a thought versus getting identified with it. In Zen meditation, you learn to witness thoughts by learning to stop identifying with them. If a thought arises 'I would really like an ice-cream' and you consider yourself the 'I' in that sentence that wants an ice-cream, that is identification. With identification, you are in a dream state.

Before taking some much needed time off for the Labor Day holiday, we submitted our last blog post (Would You Rather Be Right Or Happy?) and, as usual, we were almost immediately provided with an opportunity to practice what we preach. The other day, while running an errand, we decided to stop ...

Self-confidence is sometimes hard to come by unless we are fortunate to be raised by a family that instilled that attribute into our minds and hearts. Yes, it dwells within us innately, but the nurturing and positive guidance from parents and older siblings definitely encourages it.

Have you ever wanted to be there – wherever that was? The only requirement for there is that it is far from here. There is a place where things just seem to work out. A place you have long dreamed of going to. A place where the puzzle pieces of your life somehow fit together. There is a place where faith rules over fear. A place where positivity and gratitude are far more powerful than negativity and anxiety. There is a place where everything is in abundance – love, money, time, self worth, laughter, joy. You always have more than enough.

I started writing a post about organization. And in it I talked about how in my ideal life everything flowed beautifully and life was magical. And then I started talking about my actual life and how things truly weren’t running as seamlessly as I would like them to. I talked about the endless list of to-dos and the piles upon piles of folders and projects and orders and call backs and write tos that needed to be finished.

Something challenging has come up between you and someone close to you and you're not sure what the most life-giving and healing approach is to such a situation. Life can be so darn complicated, at least sometimes, right? Who hasn't had this arise in their experience? Few, if any, of us, I am sure. It is easy to get caught up in our story about the issue and our story about the people involved in the issue.

In order to find out what your true calling is - what life path you are meant to be on, you can tune in to your inner voice. You can sit still, breathe, and listen to what your wisdom deep inside wants you to know. Another way to find this out is by gaining clarity through contrast. Have you ever done something that seemed so far away from what you knew deep inside you were meant to do? Many people feel this way about their jobs. They realize exactly what they want in a new job by recognizing what they don't want in their current job.r

An intriguing discussion popped up on social media. It all started with a question: “Is crying in the workplace okay? Does it show you are genuinely human or weak or overly sensitive or ______________(fill in the blank)?” Unde eath a question like that is the proverbial value assessment: ‘Is crying a good or a bad thing?’ Martha Stewart would approve.

Forgiveness is the most misunderstood and difficult “act” for so many people because forgiveness “creates” change and most would rather “suffer in quiet desperation” than find the courage to face the “unknown” and experience change.

Why do over 50% of all people on a diet fail? There are many explanations that can be given to this. You might think to yourself, “I don’t have the time to work out properly,” or “I can’t possibly do it by myself but who has the money to waste on a weight loss program that probably won’t work?” ...

Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. - Einstein This is one of my favorite quotes because it's so true. We all have active imaginations, and we are all thinking a million thoughts each day - many of which we aren't even aware of. Have you ever had someone ask you what you were thinking and realized that it was hard to put it into words because either 1.) you were thinking many different things at the same time or 2) you are so used to being on auto pilot that you had absolutely no idea.

Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it's dark. ~Zen Proverb

Ask Astrid - How can I shift out of a downward spiral? Do you pick up a cigarette when you're feeling uncomfortable and needing to "leave". Are you the kind that blows up, or goes running? And when you're spinning down, do you refuse to get out of bed? To take flight or refuge from going downwards is Natural! Don't beat yourself up for it. It's your way of saying, "Stop. I need time - to myself." But do it right. Go and do take time for yourself. Find that safe, healthy, comfortable place where you can recuperate.

Now that you have invested in a new company, is the CEO doing what is necessary to maximize your investment? Success does not happen by accident. It takes a lot of hard work and a commitment to a set of core principles, which become a foundation and pathway during times of development, crises, and change. Technical ...

Dear Keith and Maura, Do you think it means anything if a guy you like at work happens to give you his cell phone number out of the blue, or if you ask that guy – joking around – if he can give you a ride home from work and he has a big grin on his face? I work at a grocery store ...

WELCOME! SHALOM! NAMASKAR! BARAKA! BASHAD! MAY THE BLESSINGS BE! NAMASTE! ADONAI! OM SAI RAM! OM MANI PADME OM beloved Reader! I hope that this note finds you very well and happy and healthy and in inner peace!:) The Integrated Ascended Master has enormous personal power and do not give his/her to other people or situations! And most importantly he/she uses his personal power only with unconditional love and spiritual and psychological wisdom as well! Self discipline is the continuous use of your personal power, will and self-mastery

"Drive for show, putt for dough." We have all heard this saying and it is true. Mostnmajor tou aments, even local amateur club events, come down to a single stroke that is made on the green. It seems like the simplest part of the game, just roll the ball a few feet, but it can be the most ...

With all the changes taking place on the planet and in each country, the media and many religious institutions are screaming out fear, gloom and doom. Darwin taught us that evolution happens through survival of the fittest, competition…. which leads to a belief in lack and limitation. It also leads to greed, with people, companies and countries attempting to have power over others. But is this the truth?

Did you know that when there is stress it is usually carried in our bodies somewhere? Not only that but it can create health issues and sometimes these issues can play a role in how we function daily in our lives. These issues can wreak havoc in our minds and our bodies if we let it or we can find ways to release the stress and incorporate these into our daily practice so we can live much more balanced lives.

There is something very empowering about realizing that we control our own life. When we recognize that our thoughts become our reality, we also recognize that we have the power to create the exact life that we want. This can be a wonderful feeling - and it can also be a scary feeling.

Definition of virtue: a. Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness. b. An example or kind of moral excellence: the virtue of patience

Have you ever pushed yourself way beyond your comfort zone and taken yourself to a place you never thought you could go? Have you ever felt so strongly about a path you were meant to be on that you took a huge leap of faith knowing that it would all work out? Have you ever listened to your intuition and went with your gut instead of your mind? Have you ever gone against what you knew in order to experience what you felt you truly needed in your life? Have you ever pushed fear out of the driver's seat and replaced it with faith and hope?

The Meaning Of Light: As a lighting specialist, I've become interested in the use of the word "light" in our language. How many times do we refer to light in one day? Let me count the ways. THE SCIENTIFIC DEFINITION The scientific definition of light is--a wavelength of electromagnetic ...

It is easier to “manipulate” words than thoughts, feelings or emotions. Start to change your words and you'll change your life. The other day I was talking with my best friend (a very handsome man) about how we feel when somebody says that we are an "ugly" person or something unpleasant about us. These commentaries hurt our feelings. I've been working on my self-esteem for the last five years and I've had good results. I'm not hurting myself anymore when somebody says som

If it weren’t for nomadic gypsies, we wouldn’t have Tasseomancy to forecast a tall, dark stranger coming to us at afte oon tea-time. The gypsies brought the art of tea leaf reading from China in the 1800s, and it has been used as a fun way to divine the future ever since. Reading tea leaves is a bit like interpreting a Rorschach Inkblot Test – everyone gets something different out of the shapes they can see. But if you follow these basic guidelines you’ll get an insight on how to do a tea-leaf reading for yourself.

10 Steps to Becoming A Great Public Speaker ISBN 978-0-0-986-5572-2-4 Methotology Press, 2011 A Free Multimedia onscreen eBook by Phil L. Méthot So your boss has asked you to prepare a PowerPoint presentation and present it to the sales team, so what do you do? Like most people - PANIC!!!

Why is it so hard to step into our own power? Why do so many of us have such a hard time claiming our talents and shouting them from the rooftops? We have no problem tooting our loved ones’ horns, yet when it comes to tooting our own, we suddenly become mute.

By Jim Phillips 9/22/10

How do you know what your calling in life is? Some people know very early in life. Mozart wrote his first symphony at the age of eight; Paul McCartney wrote his first song when he was fourteen. So some have it figured out quite early. Not all of us do. Or sometimes we know and ignore it or don't move to action to develop our talent(s). Regardless, if you are looking to discover your core genius, your talent, how do you go about it? We'll get more into this in a moment. Let's take a look at how you feel at this time to determine where you are mentally.

Now the young plant grows steadily toward the Sun and it's maturity. Leaves multiply and bring a living interaction with the environment, while the stem thickens and branches out. Any earlier set backs are now either overcome or adapted to in preparation for the flowering which follows. The Lunar Cycles Report ~ Philip Levine

To realize oneness in meditation, first we start with the breath, just to help bring us into this moment. So notice your breathing. Allow yourself to breathe. That may sound strange, as you are already breathing, but really let your attention rest on allowing the breath to freely move in and out of your body. Relax your body all the way into stillness so that breathing is happening effortlessly without your trying to change it in any way. And in that relaxation, allow your attention to rest on allowing yourself to breathe. This is meditation.

Charisma is a four dimensional-phenomenon of the manifestation of individual’s potential energy or life force. And the power of charisma depends on the inner potential of the energy that every person has. The more energy the individual has, the more charismatic he may become. I call this energy as potential energy because it is the individual’s potential or chance to live life fully and totally in all aspects. In the previous article I have talked about physical charisma.

I’ve noticed lately more than ever that giving is considered virtuous. The more you give, the better you are. So guess what we all do? We give and give and give even more. I am certainly guilty of this. I love to give. I love working with others who also have generous spirits. It feels good to give, right? We feel good about ourselves when we make someone feel better. And all of this is good. Except for one thing. What happens when we are so busy giving and giving and giving to others and making their lives better and happier and fuller that we forget to give to ourselves?

Just recently at a Toastmasters Open House, I gave a speech where I talked about the real benefit of learning how to speak in public. Sure, most people say they joi Toastmasters in order to learn how to speak in public, to hone existing skills, or to get over shyness doing so.

Financial meltdown, economic slowdown, health care horror stories (mixed with miracles), touch the psyche. Things are not the same as they used to be. As Einstein said, “the thinking/consciousness that created the situation is not the thinking that will get us out.” There are two ways to ...

Sometimes what seems like libido dysfunction is simply the lack of desire to get close to the person that you have become distant to. If your relationship is mutually empowering, and you feed each others' sense of self, than physical desireis usually not too far away. But... if the feeling of getting close to your mate has an emotional 'cost' attached to it, than, libido isn't the problem, it's a symptom.

Who defines you? What do you say when asked, “what do you do?” Do you ever feel like just a mom, just a daughter, a girlfriend, a husband? The wacky aunt, maybe? I ask you this because we have almost reached winter. Winter is typically the time of introspection for the year, but of course, this winter is even more special. We are a few weeks away from the most special solstice of our lifetimes. And by the way, I’m sure that all of you know we are not in danger of materializing or anything like that. We’ll wake up just fine on December 22nd.

"For every complex problem there is answer that is clear, simple and wrong." H.L. Mencken "Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer." William S. Burroughs Questions and answers. We spend so much time caught up trying to find answers to questions. Every time a question comes up that requires an answer we put ourselves through a huge series of mental gymnastics.

What an incredible time of year! When I first started writing this article the trees were ablaze with vibrant reds, golds and oranges. Now they are mostly bare but still beautiful in silhouette against the tangerine and blue early morning sky.The air is crisp, clear and clean. There is an energy that flows through everything in preparation for the long winter slumber. There is a beauty that this time of year offers that is like no other as Mother Nature makes yet another seasonal transition. Allow this beauty into your heart, embrace it, feel it and most importantly enjoy it.

I read a true story once about a guy who suddenly became inexplicably interested in photography. He surrendered to this strong interest, and indulged himself. One day he came across a flyer advertising a free local photography meeting, and decided to attend. When he got there, he found a group of mostly seniors, sharing stories about their photographs.

Oftentimes, when we take a leap and step into the life that we feel we are meant to live, we feel afraid and unsure and unsettled. We wonder if we have made the right choice. We look around us, and it seems that everyone else is confident and entirely sure of themselves and their choices. And this causes us to feel alone and isolated in our frightened state of mind. We worry that something must be wrong with us – why can’t we just take the leap, be okay with it, and get on with our lives?

Past Lives - we have all had them - some more than others, yet the fact remains we all have some experience of lives before this one. All of us have at least some Karmic Debt that is still playing out in our lives today, sometimes it is also useful to understand what that debt is and why you seem to be repeating patterns. So before we start there are a few things I feel I must say to you.rnFirstly do not be disappointed if you find the life you lead previously is not someone

The clock struck midnight on December 31, 1999 and a new century was born. The world held its breath and waited to see if the much-hyped Y2K Bug would tear a hole in the modern universe. A few hours later, we heaved a collective sigh of relief. Our greatest fears faded quickly into memory and we got back to the business of living in an environment of speed and progress.

By changing your behavior the world changes too. Your inner growth can't be seen by others and while it may seem to others that you are just the same you have been for years, they can't see what has happened in your inner domain if they don't know you very well of course. Little by little when we become more aligned with our true self we begin to change the way we act in the world, we loose interest in things that once was important and we find more depth in our being. Our words starts to change, the inner ones first and then also what we say out loud.

Dear Keith and Maura, I just found your website and podcasts yesterday and they totally resonate with me. I am a very active youthful 55. I was widowed suddenly at 32 with 2 babies. My soulmate died and I was lost and devastated. I banged around for 10 years raising my boys, working and trying to find a similar loving relationship as I had. I met losers, liars, cheaters, alcoholics, and abusers.

How would it feel if you packed you and your life into a suitcase and attempted to live out of this confined space? How restricted would the energy flow be in there? This is what happens when you choose to identify with being an ego instead of a soul inca ate, you choose to live in the fear farm. All human actions are motivated at their deepest level by one of two emotions – fear or love. There are only two emotions – only two words in the language of the soul. Fear is the energy which contracts, closes down, draws in, runs, hides, hoards and harms.

Since childhood I have had the memory (or "a vision of the future", if that's easier to understand) of people living in relatively small intentional communities. I say small relative to the large cities which have become increasingly the normal way of life in the past few hundred years. We might be looking at anything from a few hundred people through to perhaps 50,000 people.

Reiki is a form of energetic hands-on healing that originated in Japan. Most people know and understand Reiki as an “in-person” form of energy work, treating everything from stress to helping to speed healing after surgery. It is increasingly being utilized in hospitals throughout the world and ...

I’m not the one earning your salary and I’m not the one spending your money – you are! So start by asking yourself: Do I currently have the income I desire and if not, how can I change that? As you resolve that, pay more attention to what an how you spend and see if you can make a difference there too.

Have you ever looked in the mirror, gasped in horror at the bulge of flab hanging over your waistband and said, "That's it! I'm going on a diet"? Yes? Join the crowd. Unless you're one of those lucky Metabolism Lottery winners who can eat everything in sight and never gain an ounce (in which case, why the hell are you reading this article?), you've probably played that little scene out more than once in the last several years.