6 Ways to Live a Life of Abundance

The Vision of an Ideal Life

 When I was in my 20s, I had a vision of being a stay-at-home Mom, where I would spend afternoons with the kids, make healthy meals for the family, tend a garden where most of our produce came from, and hang the laundry on the line to capture the soft breeze that blew over the meadow.

Idyllic, right? It didn't happen that way at all. Life rarely works out the way you envision. Don't get me wrong! There is nothing wrong with dreaming, but to get caught up in the details of this ideal future is an effort in futility. It also drags us down, creates stress, evokes anger and frustration, and keeps us stuck.

So, what do you do when you want a simple life with all the juicy details? Here is what I have discovered:

Love Note #14

It's been a rough couple of months...years...decades...centuries! Is it true that we, as a society are inherently violent? Are we in a violent time? You would think so because we're living through it. However, historically speaking this is the least violent time in history.

That someone, anyone would be targeted as less-worthy because of the color of his or her skin, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, does not click with my mind, heart, or soul. As a white woman, who has been profiled to be every possible religion, race, color, and sexual orientation...I know what it is like to be different. I've never understood it, but I have felt it.

Are we that afraid of differences? Have we always been afraid of differences?

Let's look to the children. They don't see skin color, religion, or gender. They see another human being, a life that they want to get to know. Therefore, we are taught hatred, and it is up to each of us to cull this hatred from our lives and replace it with love.

Maya Angelou said, "Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet."


I've cried a thousand tears over the senseless deaths throughout my life, (from 9/11 to Sandy Hook and the Indigenous mass killings to Black men being shot for just "being." None of these affected me directly, but affected me none-the-less. I have to clear the negative energy from my Being—Every, Single, Time!

It's time we look at the wo-man in the mirror and ask..."Is there hatred and violence in my life?" and "Where do I need to show more Compassion, Empathy, and Love?" When I asked these questions of myself, my answer was, "No way! I'm a person of peace and understanding. I'm not filled with hate."

But then...

...I really looked deep. I have walked across the street to avoid a Black Man coming toward me, instead of walking by and saying "Hello." I have watched violence on TV and in the movies, because it's only make-believe, right? I have a burning hatred for those who spout hatred and racism. But am I in the right? I have bashed another person's religion because they bashed my own beliefs. Does that make me right?

The problems we face as a society are systemic. However, each of us, as individuals, has to be mindful and willing to look in the mirror and really examine our life. How are you adding to the growing problems in our society?



If we are more mindful and loving toward one another, perhaps we can get some momentum going and change the systems. What do you think?

How will you be more mindful of the hatred that creeps into your life? Tell me in the comments below.

Pass the Story

http://www.heatherdakota.com/books.html

I just received the proof for Pass the Story! A dream that started almost three years ago has come to fruition. Cheers to "Wo-manifesting!" I wanted to share a little bit of its history, and of course, a story!

Several years ago, I was sitting around a campfire with a group of women I didn't know. Quite frankly, I had very little regard for women. I thought all of them were bat-shit crazy, backstabbing bitches, including myself. None of us was good enough, worthy enough, smart enough, or beautiful enough. WE weren't enough...period...end of discussion. These were my experiences, my words, and my story. All of our stories become filters through which we see reality.

6 Secrets About Climbing that Mountain

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." ~Eckhart Tolle

Hello Beautiful,
----------
After the last post, I want to thank everyone who reached out. You made me feel loved and accepted exactly where I was.

The reason I wrote my story was because too often, especially with social media, we're bombarded with perfect scenarios and everyone else's life seems to be way better than our own. Well, I just wanted to point out that it just isn't true. We all go through the ringer a time or two in our lives.

I was actually not going to post anymore. Then, all week I kept hearing (from many different sources) "Don't quit before the miracle."

Well, I just got back from a seven-mile walk to the post office. There is nothing like a good walk in the fresh air to get clear on what needs to be said.

On my seven-mile walk, the first half was downhill. Perfect, I got to look around, take in the scenery, listen to the birds, and hoof it down the mountain. It was Beautiful! I made it there in 20 minutes. There was a breeze, shade, and no problems. Life is like that sometimes.

But then...

It's Always a Good Day When...

"Do what you LOVE, LOVE what you do."

Polar Bear's Magic by Tracy Whichard    What's your magic?

I absolutely LOVE that statement, because it sums up how I feel about my work in the world. As a book and website designer for Artists, Authors, Healers, and Magic Makers, I get to meet some amazing people.

This week, I'd like to introduce you to Tracy Morgan Whichard! She is a newly published author.

Tracy came to me with big dreams of publishing a children's book. In her words, "I didn't have a clue what I was doing." I helped her write the story and then designed the book for her. We walked hand-in-hand and step-by-step through the entire publishing process.

Tracy is now a published author!

Her book Polar Bear's Magic is available on Amazon!

Come on an adventure with Polar Bear to discover the magic of each animal from Owl to Buffalo and Seagull to Honeybee. Polar Bear learns that there are no mistakes and that everyone has a different kind of magic.

Whimsical and fun illustrations

Perfect bedtime story

Great for beginning readers

Repetitious sounds

Adorable animal characters

What's your magic?
Join me in throwing the confetti and having a virtual glass of champagne by leaving a comment and congratulations for Tracy below! Woohoo!!!!

About Tracy:
Tracy is an experienced mixed media artist and the founder of Ladybug Studio and Fearless Girl Art (art expression for kids), "I feel compelled to share my passion for art, animals, and nature through creativity, intuition, and self-expression."  Tracy encourages children (adults, too) to believe in themselves through a sense of "wide-eyed" magic and wonder. She is constantly dreaming of ways to make art fun for all ages. "I believe the need for laughter and humor is a must!"

Face-to-Face with YOU

"Fear keeps us focused on the past and worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Porcupine brings a sense of joy and curiosity to bring you out of the muck of grief.
Engage Porcupine Medicine to help you stay afloat through troubled waters.

When I lived on a farm in Kentucky many years ago, we had a cistern for our water needs. About once a month or so, we had to put a stick into the cistern to see how much water we had left. There were various measurements on the stick to determine the amount of water in the cistern.

In the last month, I did a test on myself and found that my Energy Cistern was running on low or very low, which invited a big bunch of Fear to come visit me. It was the general sticky like Velcro kind of Fear. I worried. I had anxiety. I couldn't sleep. I was in full-blown panic mode. Two weeks ago, my warrior-Self was ready to do battle with this monster. It was almost an obsession to "get to the bottom of why I was feeling these feelings." That's a lot of "doing" and not a lot of "being." Sitting with Fear is no joke. Luckily my intuition stepped in and made me realize that I had to get very clear on what is real and true for me in this moment.

How to Go Where Spirit Leads

 

How to Go Where Spirit Leads...Wo-manifesting Your Dreams!

 

Hey There Soul Sister,

Holy-schmoly what a month! I just packed up my entire life and my young bloods and moved across the country. It was freakin' scary. I did it anyway!

If you missed last month's newsletter, I explained that a move had been in the works for a while. I talked about the heartbreak and synchronous events that led to the big move.

Would you like to hear the "why?"

When I was in my late 20s, I was living in a teepee in northern New Mexico. One dark night, we were visited by a bear. Strong earth medicine, no? She was and is my healer and protector. She connects me to the Great Mother. That night, I had a dream about a beautiful piece of land that I remember in detail to this day.

There was a small simple cabin with fruit trees, a garden with herbs and vegetables, some animals, and a small river behind the cabin. I saw myself walk out of the cabin toward the gardens. My hair was long, gray, and braided down the back. It swayed in the wind as I walked. There was peace in this place and within me.

I intuitively knew that there had been an apocalyptic event, but it didn't seem to matter in this sacred place. I looked up from my gardening chores and noticed a rag-tag group of people coming toward me. They were skin and bones. It was obvious that they had not eaten in a long time. I welcomed them in and had them sit around a fire to warm up. I gave them fresh baked bread, dried fish, cheese, and handmade blankets.

Then, I looked up on the mountain where three men stood. Two of them I knew were my sons. The other man was unknown (and still is). They all had long hair and beards. They had killed a deer and brought it back to camp. There was enough for all of us. I gave thanks to the Deer and Great Spirit for this clean kill and food to nourish all of us. And the dream ended.

I have never forgotten that dream. When the dream took place, my twin boys had not been born. I wasn't even pregnant. Sometimes the dream has been on the back burner simmering as other things in my life took place. In a recent journey, Spirit reminded me of this dream and said "it is time."

So, I began plans to move where Spirit led me...New Mexico. Even as a child, I was drawn to the southwest and perhaps now, I know why.

To me, it's important to follow where the Great Mystery leads me, even though I often question the method and choices.

This is why I moved. I know it's time. The land, Mother Earth is calling me in a very insistent way. I know in my heart and soul that this retreat center will happen and probably not in any way I can possibly imagine.

Any thoughts and prayers for its manifestation are greatly appreciated. May it be a place of refuge for all sisters and brothers.

How do you wo-manifest your dreams? Tell us in the comments.

Find Your Place and It Will Nourish You

Hummingbird Medicine brings Joy, Happiness, and Love. Find your place and it will nourish you.

 "We are Divine enough to ask, and we are important enough to receive." ~Wayne Dyer

Hiya Gorgeous,

Phew...what a month it has been! Spring is showing me what rebirth is really all about, and it's not necessarily all sunshine and roses. I've been in a releasing and death phase for the past two years. Finally, the Phoenix is rising from the ashes of my former life. The stories I believed in are no longer valid, and I had to break my heart in order to regain my soul.

Last year was a test of human endurance, confidence in myself, and trust in the Divine.

Find Your Place and It Will Nourish You

Find Your Place & It Will Nourish You

"We are Divine enough to ask, and we are important enough to receive."  ~Wayne Dyer

Phew...what a month it has been!  Spring is showing me what rebirth is really all about, and it's not necessarily all sunshine and roses. I've been in a releasing and death phase for the past two years. Finally, the Phoenix is rising from the ashes of my former life. The stories I believed in are no longer valid, and I had to break my heart in order to regain my soul.

Last year was a test of human endurance, gaining confidence in myself, and trusting in the Divine.

As you may remember, I quit my full-time job to pursue my dream of running my own business. About the same time, my sons and I decided we were going to move out of Florida. The where and when were sort of up in the air, but April 2016 was our target month. So a tentative plan was set in motion. I  sent tobacco prayers on the wind and prayed to the four directions that all works out for our highest good, and that the where and when would be shown to me over time.

I showed up, did some research, had some preliminary discussions with key players in my life, and watched the signs.

Then all of a sudden a series of life happenings seemed to derail the entire dream. One of my sons was arrested on conspiracy to sell and distribute a controlled substance. He worked in a shop that sold Hemp Oil, or so he thought. His mugshot was plastered all over the news. I was embarrassed. He was embarrassed and scared. But we vowed to stick together despite some people turning on him and thinking he was a drug dealer. He learned a lot. I learned a lot. Life is full of unexpected surprises.

Then my 7 year relationship began to fall apart. We tried to keep it together, and I love him deeply. Ultimately, our lifestyles are too different to be in it for the long haul. I'm a wanderer. He's not. He didn't want to move. I didn't want to stay. I learned a lot. He learned a lot. Love is weepy.

My other son was going to move in with my brother after his lease was up, (while we waited for his twin brother to finish his community service for his brush with the law). My brother seemed to have a lot of rules and requests that were unreasonable (in my humble opinion). My young blood decided against moving in. We both respect my brother for stating his needs, even if that wasn't what we wanted to hear.

Heartbroken. Now what?

My young blood decided to move out west. I decided to go with him with a minor adjustment to his plan. I wasn't going to ride my bike the whole way. Then his twin brother received word that he could do his community service out of state. He was able join us. All of this fell into place within two weeks and started a month after I chose the place...Albuquerque.

The Universe had heard my prayers and was conspiring with everything and everyone to make it happen, even the fact that April is when we're moving. Funny how that works, huh?

So the week of April 18th, I am packing up a truck with our minimal things, a snake, a cat, and a one young blood, and heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The other son will join us a few days later. It's a whirlwind of a move back to a place that nourishes my soul, and where my sons were born. It's an amazing kind of rebirth.

It has also been a great lesson for me in trusting Great Spirit. It, He, She is working for your highest good. All you have to do is pray and show up.

May the Divine work miracles in your life, too!

Friday Fun Zone #2

Self-care Kitty woke me very early this morning, but I was able to do something I don't get to do often enough...meditate with my camera.

Today's thoughts:

"Every morning is permission to start over." 


Have a beautiful day!

Your permission to start over

Mockingbird Morning

Golden Morning Warbler

4 Steps to Cleanse, Clear, and Release In Your Business Each Year

2015 Releasing Ritual

For more than 10 years at the end of each year, I go through a cleansing, clearing, and releasing ritual in my life and business. It is a great opportunity to reflect, re-member, and release what no longer serves. I usually take November and December to do this, so I don't feel rushed to get it all done in a week, or something silly like that. Focus on one area at a time!

Here are the 4 steps that I use:

1. Choose an animal guide. This year my guide for reflecting, remembering, and releasing is Ibis. During a journey, Ibis explained that I needed to bring more balance into my life, revive and restore my heart and soul. Therefore, I will be working with her during this phase. You can find out more about journey work here.
2. Cleanse, clear, and clean EVERYTHING! This means from my spiritual tools to sweeping and mopping the floor. My inner world and outer world both get a thorough going through. This includes backing up and clearing out computer files and paper files, gathering tax papers, putting old notes in a new idea journal, and feng shuiing my space. I sing the song Holy Mother that I heard from Pixie Lighthorse several years ago for all of my inner and outer cleaning. It connects me deeper to the tasks of cleansing, clearing, and cleaning.

Mining the Inner World For Your Business

A Journey to the Spirit Realm looks and feels like this.

 
What is journey work? I get that question a lot!

Here's what it is and how I use it to help other women soul-o-preneurs:

A journey is a powerful meditative state and the gateway to non-ordinary reality. Ordinary reality is the world we can see, touch, and feel in our every day. Journeying is the method that I use to access other worlds where the spirit helpers are found. These unseen forces have guided and protected you since you were born. Non-ordinary reality is the realm of the spirit, of visions and dreams, and the sources of your energy, creativity, passions, and love. Being there is an honor and a blessing not just for me, but for those I journey for. I bring back wisdom and words of empowerment that relate to you and your business.

How it's done: