[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="1378" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wikipedia defines higher Consciousness as “the consciousness of a higher Self, transcendental reality, or God”. It is understandable why this concept is gaining in popularity, because we humans, as well as the culture we’re in, are evolving. As a result, many people have been searching for more meaning in their lives and have found that traditional methods for accomplishing that, such as religion,...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text] [caption id="attachment_1390" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo by Gerome Viavant on Unsplash[/caption] We’re excited about the emerging concept of the evolution of consciousness through relationship. The traditional approach to emotional and spiritual growth has been at the level of the individual. The focus of counseling and psychotherapy has usually been on the thoughts, emotions, and behavior of the individual person. Likewise, the traditional path of the seeker of enlightenment has been to pursue one’s spiritual longings in a solitary manner. The path has often entailed working...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 8th day of the 8th month has been dubbed Infinity Day. The number 8 is considered to be auspicious in several cultures and the infinity sign is in the shape of an 8.  We consider today to be "Infinite Possibilities Day” at the suggestion of Mike Dooley. Mike is the creator of “Totally Unique Thoughts,” a daily email inspiration and also wrote the book “Infinite Possibilities.” Both are definitely worth checking out. LEAP teaches that we are infinite beings living in...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text] [caption id="attachment_1387" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Photo by Ben White on Unsplash[/caption]   Tip #1: Don’t concern yourself with quieting your mind. After teaching dozens of folks to meditate I’ve discovered that the most common frustration people report is that that they are unable to quiet their mind. Meditation is a simple, gentle practice that is all about “allowing,” including allowing thoughts! It is, in my experience, very common for beginning meditators to judge their mediations as inadequate because they just can’t quiet their mind....

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text] I’ve been on a path of intensive spiritual seeking and growth over the past seven years (my teacher reminds me it’s really been my entire life) that has awakened in me insights I could have never foreseen. As part of our spiritual practice, Trish and I read inspiring books every morning. Most recently we read Charles Eisenstein’s book entitled The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible. We learned of this book from Lissa Rankin, MD who left her traditional practice...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="1382" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Meditation and Mindfulness: both popular topics right now, are beautiful and effective practices for bringing about much of what we all want in our lives, like peace of mind and less reactivity. People are often confused about what Mindfulness actually is because in reading articles about Mindfulness and Meditation, I see their descriptions used interchangeably. It is my understanding that Mindfulness and Meditation are...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text] [caption id="attachment_977" align="alignright" width="225"] Source: Time magazine[/caption] One of the reasons our country is in turmoil is our lack of a more refined and evolved definition of Truth. For the purpose of this discussion, Truth is defined as a set of ideals and values upon which honorable, responsible, and compassionate individuals can agree. Right now, there is the idea that your truth is your truth and my truth is mine. Both of us are right, neither of us is wrong, in other words,...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Karma has become such a common word in our everyday language that it has lost much of its original meaning. Of course we know that the term derives from the teachings of the ancient wisdom traditions, but many of us are only vaguely familiar with the concept of karma as it was originally described. The Eastern definition of karma is simply, “action.” In everyday usage, the term karma is usually thought of as punishment for some misdeed. Another closely associated idiom is “what...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you’re like many people, you’re putting off practices that you know will help you, like meditation and yoga, until your life settles down. Too much is going on; you're busy and “life gets in the way” of what you know is likely to be helpful. If your response to this is, “Yep, that’s right, that’s what’s going on with me,” then maybe it’s time to face the following: The best and perhaps the only way to create a life that runs smoothly is...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The subject of relationship is coming up a lot lately. There is a belief out there that finding one’s soul mate results in a relationship that is easy and idyllic. This is a myth. Being in relationship with another person is inevitably challenging, at least some of the time. It can also be wonderfully fulfilling. One of the greatest forms of fulfillment occurs when individuals rely on relationship as an avenue for their own personal growth. In my relationship with Mike, I’ve...