Welcome 2018

As with many of you, I suspect that you’re happy to see 2017 pass, and that you’re welcoming the New Year with hope and joy.  We here at Higher Self are also grateful for all that 2017 taught us and are genuinely looking forward to what 2018 will bring.  As we look forward to this coming year, we are reminded that we are still in the “teenage” years of this new millennia, still in the throes of moving from adolescence into adulthood.  Those of you who have raised children can look back at your children’s time around the age of 18 and recall what it was like (if I could put an eye-roll in here I would).  It’s a time of asserting their independence and expressing their personal power as they test waters, test boundaries, and accumulate new experiences.  This is just what most 18 year olds do, and that is the same thing we can expect in the coming year.  The global consciousness will express and bring into your life all the energies of an 18 year old (oh my!).  Numerologists look at 2018 in many ways; some will break it down so that it adds up to 11, a master number.  It is instinctual, charismatic, dynamic and capable when its sights are set on a concrete goal. The 11 can also be anxious, shy, stressed, conflicted, and scattered. When focus is not applied toward a goal, the 11 can be extremely self-sabotaging.  Hmmmm, there’s some food for thought.  Others look at the last 2 numbers and don’t break them down giving us the energy of 18.  Eighteen is comprised of a “1”, all about the masculine energy and independence, a focus on self.  “8” is the number of balance and power, exploring power, and the proper use of power.  Some say money is also part of 8.   The number 8, more than any other number, puts the emphasis in the areas of career, business, finances, and authority. The 8 is the great Karmic equalizer, a force that just as easily creates as it destroys.  All of this combines to bring the lessons of compassion, strength and empathy– preparing us for the energy of 2020.  18 is also a great manifesting number so our hope is that as you move through 2018 you use the power and energy that this year has to bring to create the compassion and empathy that is so needed for humanity and for the world.  So our New Year’s wish for everyone:  may you live in the moment, experience the blessings, and pass on your inner joy to those around you.

Joy !!

What is it that makes this time of year so much more pleasant for most?  Did you know that there are over 100 songs that are played just for the holiday  season from all spiritual paths that contain the word “Joy” in them?  It’s no wonder that we seem to be more tolerant, a little more patient, a little more forgiving as we head into December.  According to Dr. Hawkins' book, Measuring Consciousness Levels, Joy (when said outloud) vibrates at 540 which is higher than Love at 500.  Imagine if you will the impact that hearing the word Joy and seeing the word Joy this time of year is having on all of us.  It’s no wonder that our spirits rise, and collectively we start to move just a bit nearer toward harmony and unity.  So let’s see what would happen if we keep Joy around just a bit longer and be more intentional about using the word Joy more often.  Think of what might happen to our ability to be more resilient – resilient to disease, fear and disharmony.  So spread Joy this holiday season and help to reverse the other frequencies we are bombarded with.
Joy to you all !!  Jeff & Jo

Falling Leaves Time

October brings with it the time of falling leaves, fun in leaf piles and a slowing down of things around us.  In nature we see things strengthen and prepare for the cycle of sleep and renewal that is about to come.  This time is also about introspection -- the energy of the west.  This is when we too can go inside and strengthen ourselves by using our inner resources for the solutions that we seek on our paths of purpose and personal growth.  This is also a time of gratitude for all that we have accomplished in summertime, our “time in the sun”, and to use all that we gathered to sustain us through the coming winter months.  We can use this time to turn ourselves to the more spiritual aspects of our lives.  We can look back upon our accomplishments and gain power and resolved from all that was done.  It need not be big grandiose things that we accomplished; for some simply getting from one day to the next was a great accomplishment.  This is not to minimize or to create comparison, simply to celebrate what is was that we have done.  This is also the time of winds, west winds, reminding us of the maturity that we have gained though this last cycle.  It is the recognition of what we have learned that is important in this time.  Now is the time to consolidate so that you have a clearer sense of direction and purpose.  So like the plants and animals in nature, let them be our teachers.  As they strengthen and go inside, let us do the same in positive introspection.  Use your community and trusted mentors and friends to provide the strength and safety that you feel you need as you embrace this time.

The Shadow

2017 promised to be a year of change, and it sure is delivering on its promise so far.  It feels like everywhere we turn we are barraged with events, experiences, and information that moves us from our place of comfort.  As all of this is coming at us, it is easy to lose our light and our way, becoming victims to what is happening.  I invite you to view what is happening as a way to show us those parts of ourselves that we haven’t healed or that we have been rejecting as belonging to us – our shadow side.  As I reflect on the events that are happening here locally, around the country, and the world, I am grateful that it has provided me an opportunity to become aware of where I still hold biases:  old thinking and behaviors that are holding me back from creating the future I desire.  It is so easy to project my thoughts and feelings to others, getting caught up in all the rhetoric and activities, but all that does is feed and energize all of that which I truly don’t desire.  If I am going to help others, the world, and be of service, then I have to first start with facing those things in me that come up – that shadow.  So rather than give in to the fear and anger as I see or read about something, I first give thanks for making that particular issue so visible.  No more hiding, pretending or rejecting.  Then I work on partnering with that issue.  How can I work with these feelings and emotions and make them into constructive forces in my life?  To embrace and move through this change, I invite you to consider mustering the courage to face this side and partner with it.  Otherwise it will just keep coming up over and over.  

These Changing Times

As you might imagine, at the Higher Self Bookstore we get all kinds of emails from spiritual teachers, authors, and concerned customers.  As we read through all these messages, it seems that there is a common thread resonating through many of them that revolves around F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real).  As I write this, I don’t want to minimize in any way the feelings any single individual may have for these are real and personal and must be honored.  And, I don’t intend to promote a particular individual or party for all diverse perspectives have value.  Instead, I’m looking at the energy of all that is occurring -- from the events at Standing Rock to the U.S. election on November 8^th and all that has transpired since then because the energy currents are strong.  Let’s look first at what the global consciousness chose on November 8^th.  The global consciousness (all of us) were faced with a choice between slow and difficult change or fast and chaotic change.  The global consciousness chose fast and chaotic.  We hear the words ‘hate talk’ thrown around a lot, and I wonder if that isn’t being misinterpreted.  I don’t believe for a moment that the global consciousness is still at the place of hate for others; we’ve ascended too much for that.  Instead, I believe that ‘hate talk’ represents hate of the ‘status quo’.  How you define ‘status quo’ is where the chaos comes into play.  Each individual lens is different and defines ‘status quo’ in a way that is personally unique.   We need to honor that if we are to move forward in a constructive way.  In a recent shamanic journey circle that we held, the group journeyed and asked to be shown how we each can transmute our personal fears into constructive passion.  I feel this is something we can all meditate on and learn from.  The global consciousness has made a choice, and we have a choice to help make this next transition as quiet, simple, painless, and complete as possible.  We can do this by first turning inward and addressing our own fears, transmuting these fears into constructive passion and engagement, and then becoming that example for others so that they may do the same.  In this way we help move through these times to the ‘better times’ we dream of.  One spiritual teacher I listened to mentioned the changes that each of us can look upon for ourselves – understanding what “The Divine Feminine” really is.  For women (who generally work and act from the heart), it’s about moving away from having a ‘reactive heart’ and moving into having a ‘responsive heart’.  For men (who generally work from the mind), it’s about moving away from having a 'defensive mind' to developing a 'diplomatic mind'.  We’ve already seen and felt the impact of what happens when ‘reactive hearts’ meet ‘defensive minds’.  Imagine for a moment what could happen when ‘responsive hearts’ meet ‘diplomatic minds’.  For me' I see these times as an opportunity to transmute our fears into constructive passion and begin to use our ‘responsive hearts’ and ‘diplomatic minds’ constructively and with intention.  These can become the methods and tools that will allow us to move through this fast and chaotic change that was chosen in the least difficult way.  It is my sincere hope that some of this will resonate with you to bring peace and understanding to this confusing and chaotic time that we are experiencing.

In love and light, 

Jeff

Septembers Preparation

September Currier’s Corner

September - that time when school starts back up, we once again settle into routines and schedules, and nature prepares for fall by giving us one last burst of harvest time and color.  It’s also a time for reflection on what we’ve accomplished so far, and how we want to change course for the last few months of the year before winters settles in.

Fall reminds us to take stock, to make sure all our preparations are made for the shifting seasons.  This a time to express gratitude for the bounty that we have been given.  There are many celebrations around the time of harvest that are a reminder to us to be grateful for all that we have been given.  The importance of gratitude in our life is sometimes overlooked as we move along our spiritual path.  But it is gratitude, both the recognizing it and the expressing of it, that brings happiness and joy into our lives.  Gratitude acknowledges that we have received gifts of many different varieties from many sources.  It says to the universe, “I see your great deeds” and through this recognition we are in a position to recognize the blessings that we do have.  Gratitude then shifts to appreciation whereby we begin to acknowledge and grow from even the challenging aspects of our life.  By focusing on what we have and what we have shifted, we are able to manifest and bring more joy into our life.  There is a saying, “Energy flows where attention goes…” and that is what occurs when we take time to slow down and express gratitude and appreciation for what we have and what we have experienced. 

Sometimes finding gratitude can be difficult as we tend to look at big material things as source for our gratitude.  Simply being grateful for and appreciating waking up each day can bring about improved health.  Being grateful for one thing in a meal can manifest more food and nourishment.  Gratitude is a way to de-energize the “lack of” thoughts and generate abundance in all areas of your life.  So as we move into this phase of our seasonal cycle, take a moment and just express gratitude for the fact that you were able to read this article.  Then go thank a teacher. :)

Life Is A Spiral

In the last several months, two reoccurring themes have been coming forward through conversations  and social media – the first is the concept of living a heart centered life in which everything flows easily, and the other is that life seems crazy, chaotic, and moving at an accelerated pace.  Sounds like two opposite ends of a spectrum, or a duality, doesn’t it?  Well, here we would like to offer a visual analogy that brings order and harmony into these two ideas. 

All of life is a spiral, a sacred spiral.  It begins at our own personal heart center, the place where our soul-self is protected and nurtured and flows forth in the never-ending story of our personal journey.  Our heart center or heart chakra truly is in balance when we can honestly, completely, and unselfishly love our soul self.  And oh, my, is that challenging for most of us!  Liking, let alone loving, the person you are in your personality, ego based self is almost impossible because you look outwards for validation.  But I encourage you to simply spend some time resting in your true heart, mediating, listening to, and loving the soul that you are.  Your soul self doesn’t need outside validation or labels.  You are not someone else’s ideal.  Remember, even the labels we associate as “good” define and limit you.  When you live in a heart centered place, one in which your true self manifests your reality, you begin to live authentically which translates into a life of joy, creativity, non-judgment, and compassion. 

Now think about the expressions we use – “My life is spiraling out of control”, or “I feel like I’m spinning around and around but not getting anywhere.”  These expressions illustrate how important it is to allow your life to flow while understanding the concept of a heart-centered, spiraling life.  Think about it this way -- A spiral can be seen when in contrast, visible as a curve of light around darkness, such as a black line against a white background.  The lessons we choose to learn circle around us, giving us an opportunity to grow and expand.   When the spiral is traced clockwise, from the inside out, it allows us to share and give of ourselves to others, to shine our light and live from a place of love and light.  It also allows us to look at aspects of our divine nature and to enfold all other aspects within that divinity.  When we spiral and trace the circles in a counter-clockwise manner, we gain an opportunity to revisit our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions.  This is how we learn and grow; how we release dis-ease, doubt, karmic debt, and disharmony. 

Creation itself reflects a spiral.  Think of sacred geometry including the Fibonacci sequence that creates a spiral.  Stars burst forth from cosmic spirals!  Nature abounds with spirals – Nautilus and other sea shells, vine tendrils, flower centers, pine cones, snail shells, the way millipedes curl up, goat’s horns, and on and on.  It is an ancient and recurring pattern.  And, although not visible, it energetically occurs within each of us beginning at our heart.  So now, take some time and begin to connect with your internal sacred spiral.  Are you able to sense the center of this spiral at your heart?  Is your energy moving clockwise or counter-clockwise?  Are you in the flow of living a compassionate, trusting, non-judgmental life?